GREAT PEOPLE BRITIAN
Some of the colourful characters that make up
the history of Britain seem as if they’ve just
jumped off the pages of a storybook. Making
great strides in the worlds of culture,
engineering, science and more, here are some
of key figures that have made their mark on
Britain in years gone by.
Queen Boudica (Around 60 AD)
Boudica was the Queen of the Iceni, an
ancient Brittonic tribe that lived in what we
know now as East Anglia. When her husband
died, Roman leaders brought their armies to
seize Boudica’s kingdom. Boudica responded
by gathering her people to stage a rebellion;
capturing
the
Roman
settlement
of
Camulodunum (now known as Colchester) and
burning the Roman capital, Londinium, to the
ground. Boudica is remembered as a fierce
warrior Queen that had the courage to face
the might of Rome, and in 1902, a bronze
statue of her in her chariot was placed on the
Thames embankment in London.
King Henry VIII (1491 – 1547)
King Henry VIII is one of the most infamous
characters in British history. Desperate for a
male heir, Henry asked the Pope to annul his
marriage to his first wife, Catherine of Aragon,
who had failed to produce a son. When this
was refused, Henry VIII broke with the Catholic
Church and married Catherine’s lady-inwaiting, Anne Boleyn, starting the Protestant
Church of England and beginning the English
reformation. Henry married three times before
a son was born, and in total married six
times. “Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced,
Beheaded, Survived” is a quick rhyme used to
remember the fates of Henry’s wives.
Queen
1603)
Elizabeth
I
(1533
–
The daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife
Anne Boleyn, Queen Elizabeth I ruled England
for 44 years. She is considered by many as one
of the greatest monarchs in English history,
and the time of her reign is often referred to
as The Golden Age. Inheriting a troubled
kingdom, Elizabeth saw the country through
religious unrest, expanded the influence of the
empire overseas and supported the blossoming
of theatre and culture. Her penchant for
knowledge and interest in courtly and
extravagant dress brought fashion and
education to the fore. Refusing to marry
despite pressure from Parliament, she became
known as ‘The Virgin Queen’, and died at the
age of 69, much beloved by her people.
William Shakespeare (Birth date Unknown,
Baptised 1564 – 1616)
Often heralded as one of the world’s greatest
writers, William Shakespeare’s plays are still
celebrated and performed to this day. His
impact upon the English language is
unprecedented, and many modern words and
phrases that are still commonly used were
coined in his writing. The universal themes and
insights into the human condition have allowed
his works to transcend the time they were
written, and are still relevant to an audience
more than 400 years later. Some of his most
famous works are Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet,
and Macbeth.
Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806 – 1859)
One of the most famous engineers that ever
lived,
Isambard
Kingdom
Brunel
was
responsible for the design of ships, tunnels,
railway lines and bridges – many of which you
can still see today. His work allowed people to
travel faster and trade more efficiently.
Brunel designed the railway line between
Bristol and London, and built a ship that only
took 15 days to get from Liverpool to New
York. The Clifton Suspension Bridge that
crosses the River Avon was built from Brunel’s
design, and is still operational to this day.
Charles Darwin (1809 – 1882)
Charles Darwin was a naturalist, most famous
for establishing the theory of evolution. His
book, On the Origin of Species, made us
rethink our place in the world by putting
forward the idea that humans shared a
common ancestor with apes. In 1831, Darwin
embarked on a voyage aboard the HMS Beagle.
On this trip, he amassed a great collection of
natural specimens from all around the world,
and was able to witness first-hand the
principles of zoology, botany and geology.
Gathering together all of the evidence he had
seen during his travels, he came to believe
that species survived through a process
called natural selection. His views were
illustrated in his book On the Origin of
Species, which despite the controversy it faced
at the time, has become a cornerstone of
evolutionary science.
Queen Victoria (1819 – 1901)
Queen Victoria is associated with a great age
of industrial revolution, economic progress and
the expansion of empire. She ascended the
throne at the modest age of 18, and became
the second longest reigning monarch in British
history, beaten only by her great-greatgranddaughter, the current Queen, Elizabeth
II. In 1840 she married Prince Albert of SaxeCoburg and Gotha; when he died in 1861 she
sank into a deep depression, and wore only
black for the rest of her reign. Under
Victoria’s rule there were advances in science
and technology, and Britain’s empire
expanded to encompass Canada, Australia,
India and various countries in Africa and the
South Pacific. Victoria became the Empress of
India in 1877, and was hugely popular with her
people, as she became a symbol of empire and
progress for the country.
Emmeline
1928)
Pankhurst
(1858
–
Emmeline Pankhurst was a leading women’s
rights advocate who played a key role in the
suffrage movement. In 1903, she created the
Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU),
focused on securing women’s right to vote.
The group’s members were the first to be
dubbed suffragettes, and the group gained
notoriety throughout the country for its
activities. Pankhurst was arrested for her
demonstrations on many occasions throughout
the years, and was subject to violent forcefeeding by the government after going on
hunger strikes. When the country went to war
in 1914 Pankhurst encouraged women to
support the war effort. Women’s contributions
during this time lead the British government to
give them limited voting rights. Pankhurst did
not live to see it, but on July 2 1928,
Parliament finally gave women voting rights on
a par with men’s.
Sir Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965)
As Prime Minister during WWII, Winston
Churchill led the country to victory against
Adolf Hitler and his forces. He was part of a
minority that disagreed with the government’s
original policy of appeasement towards Hitler,
voicing concern about the militarisation of the
German army and demanding action be taken.
In 1940 he became Prime Minister, his
speeches kept morale around the country high
in the face of invasion. He led Britain through
the Blitz and the Battle of Britain, meeting
with soldiers and factory workers and visiting
towns that had been damaged by bombs. In
1945, Nazi Germany was defeated, and
Churchill’s legacy still stands as Britain’s
greatest wartime leader.
Diana, Princess Of Wales (1961 – 1997)
Known as The People’s Princess, Diana married
the heir to the British throne, Prince Charles,
in 1981. In many ways Diana encompassed the
burgeoning age of celebrity, as she lived and
died at the scrutiny of an increasingly intrusive
media presence. Loved by the public for her
down-to-earth attitude and the sense of
accessibility she brought to the royal family,
Diana was involved with dozens of charities.
She was famous for her work in publicising the
plight of people with AIDS, and championing
the cause to end the use of landmines. The
breakup of her marriage to Prince Charles in
1996 was highly publicised in the media. Diana
died in a car crash whilst being chased by
paparazzi at the age of 36. She is survived by
her two sons, William and Harry.
The superstations in our and other countries
Two weeks into the new year, and it's already
Friday the 13th. What did we do to deserve this?
Is it an omen for the trajectory of the year?
Probably not. Because we mark time with the
Gregorian
calendar,
it's impossible
to
avoid Friday the 13th. The good news, though, is
that we'll never have more than three in a year,
as was the case in 2015. This year there are only
two: January and October's.
In honor of the spooky day, here are 13
superstitions from around the world, some more
common than others:
1. Knocking on Wood
You've probably knocked on wood to avoid
jinxing yourself at some point in your life without
knowing why. This widely-known superstition is
a modern take from medieval times, where
European churchgoers would touch wood the
churches claimed was from the cross, according
to Yahoo. Touching the wood supposedly gave a
connection to divinity and thus good luck.
2. The Evil Eye
Has someone ever complimented something
you own only for it to later to be broken or
ruined? Some superstitious folk might say that
was the evil eye at work. To guard against such
disastrous gazes, people in Turkey have an
amulet called the "nazar boncuğu." The charms
are typically blue and white (blue is thought to be
a ward of the evil eye as well), and resemble an
eye themselves. These charms are common sights
in Greece,
Egypt,
Iran,
Morocco and
Afghanistan, among other countries.
3. Black Cats/Birds
Black cats have always had a bad rap,
especially around Halloween, given their
perceived allegiance to witches. The poor critters
are just as avoided any day of the year, and it's
common superstition that a black cat crossing
your path is bad luck. But they're not alone.
In South Korea, crows are seen as bad luck and
possibly even harbingers or death. Ravens too,
especially in the U.K., could foretell doom.
There's an old British superstition that says six
ravens must remain at the Tower of London at all
times or the crown will fall. And in Ireland and
Scotland, seeing a single magpie is supposed bad
luck, but two or more is fine.
4. Trimming Nails at Night
Apparently it's bad luck to trim your finger
or toenails after dark, at least according to
superstitions in Turkey, India and South Korea.
One Japanese superstition even claims you could
have a premature death. Historically, knives or
other sharp cutting tools would be used to trim
long nails. Darkness plus sharp objects and a
then-lack of medical access could have equaled
deadly infections.
5. Tuesday the 13th
In Spain and Spanish speaking countries, it's
Tuesday the 13th that gets people wound up.
Martes, Tuesday in Spanish, comes from the
Roman god of war, Mars, forever tying the day to
violence, death and bloodshed. In conjunction,
Constantinople supposedly fell on a Tuesday
during the Fourth Crusade. And then Ottoman
Turks supposedly claimed the the city on a
Tuesday more than 200 years later.
6. Whistling
OK, so not just whistling in general, but
specifically whistling indoors and at the sun are
both ill-advised actions according to Russian and
Norwegian superstitions, respectively. Whistling
indoors supposedly leads to financial problems in
Russia. In Norway, whistling
supposedly causes rain.
at
the
sun
7. Sitting at the Corner of a Table
According to Hungarian and Russian
superstitions, and surely others as well, sitting at
the corner of the table is bad luck. The unlucky
diner will allegedly never get married. Some say
the bad luck only hangs around for seven years,
but as with most superstitions, why chance it?
8. Purse/Wallet on the Ground
Potential dirtiness aside, superstitions in some
Central and South American countries as well as
the Philippines say resting your purse or wallet
on the ground will lead to bad financial luck. In
other
on-the-ground-bad-luck
superstitions,
sitting directly on the cold ground can lead to a
woman never having children, according to
Russian myth.
9. Toasting with Water
Want to wish death upon someone, toast to them
with water, at least that's according
to German superstition. This tale is derived from
Greek myth where the spirits of the dead would
drink the water from the river Lethe. Lethe, the
goddess and river of forgetfulness, would cause
the spirit to forget its earthly past before it passed
on into the underworld.
10. Hagia Sophia Thumb Turning
Once a church, a mosque and now a museum, the
Hagia Sophia in Turkey is also home to a column
that has a thumb-deep hole in it. The story
goes that the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I had
a nagging headache cured after touching the
column. People now wait in line to put their
thumb in the hole and rotate their hand in a
circle because of the rumored healing powers.
11. Mirrors
Another widely-known superstition is that
breaking a mirror will result in seven years of
bad luck. In some folklore, a person's reflection
in a mirror was thought to house or be connected
to a piece of the person's soul. With that in mind,
breaking a mirror, especially if it has your
reflection in it at the time, doesn't sound too
great. As a soul-stealing aside: Some lore claims
photographs capture a piece of a subject's soul in
them when they're taken, which really brings the
selfie craze into question.
12. Birds Flying Into Your Home
An old wives tale says that a bird flying into
your home is a bad sign, especially if said bird
circles the room and lands on the back of
someone's chair and then leaves. That supposedly
means the person whose chair the bird chose
would die. A more specific flying death omen can
be found in Mexican and Caribbean folklore: the
black witch moth. The moth is bat-shaped, dark
in color, nocturnal and pretty big. Female moths
can have wingspans of around six and a half
inches.
13. Argentinian Werewolves
And last but not least, there's a superstition
in Argentina that claims seventh sons will turn
into werewolves ... unless the president of the
country adopts them. The superstition was
reportedly brought to Argentina in 1907 by two
Russian immigrants, where the custom held that
the Tsar became the godfather to seventh sons.
Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, Argentina's
president from 2007 to 2015, was said to have
adopted a boy as her godson because of the
centuries-old superstition.
Hobbies and pastimes
Using Allpastimes to find hobbies couldn’t be
simpler. There is a list of hobbies and pastimes to
pick up. Simply, view the different hobbies to see
what catches your eye. Once a new hobby takes
your interest, then you can click through to learn
more about how to get started with it!
Alternatively, if you have an idea for a new
hobby in mind, then you can use our handy
search function. Just type in the keywords you
have in mind for your new hobby, hit enter, and
hey presto- plenty of great ideas will pop up!
Just what is a hobby? Well, the short answer is: it
can be just about anything! From sports and
social activities to arts and crafts, there are so
many different good hobbies out there.
Essentially, anything which you can devote a lot
of time to, and which gives you a sense of
enjoyment, can be considered a hobby.
Hobbies let you take a step back from the stresses
of daily life
Nowadays, most of us have to face quite a lot of
stress in our lives. From being overloaded with
work to social commitments that take up our
valuable free time, it can feel like opportunities to
genuinely enjoy yourself can be few and far
between. On the other hand, having a hobby
means you’re setting time aside to relax and do
something you love. When you’re devoting time
to hobbies and interests, you’re allowing all that
stress to flow away- making your professional life
much
more
bearable!
Hobbies offer a challenge
As well as being fun, hobbies are also valuable
because they can present us with a challenge in
life. All too often, we live in routines, doing the
same things day-in-day-out. A hobby, however,
can break up that monotony, and instead give us
something to focus on. Instead of being bored
with life, you’ll find that your fun hobby presents
a challenge that’s a blast to take on. Your hobby
can help you to learn new skills, and give you a
real sense of achievement. What more could you
ask
for!
Hobbies can lower the risks of mental health
problems
As we mentioned earlier, there’s a lot of stress in
the world today. Naturally, that can have an
impact on your mental health, with the rates of
depression and other related disorders
skyrocketing. So, how do we do something about
that? The answer could be to put our hobbies and
interests front and center and give this downtime
the respect it deserves. According to the latest
research, having a hobby can lower the risks of
mental illness, while also boosting your
confidence.
They’re great for your physical health, too
While the health benefits of sports might be
obvious, what most people fail to realize is that
pretty much all hobbies can actually be good for
your body as well as your mind. When you’re
enjoying yourself, your body works betterresearch has shown that those who regularly
engage in hobbies and interests that they find fun
have lower blood pressure, a healthier BMI, and
overall
better
health.
Of course, there is a list of hobbies to pick up, but
the hardest part is choosing the hobbies that you
are good at and that you find interesting. To save
you from the stress, we’ve got that covered! With
over 2000 hobby ideas to choose from and all the
guidance you need to get started, Allpastimes is
the perfect place to get started with fun hobbies!
PRONOUNS. FAST FOOD
Fast
food is
a
type
of mass-produced food
designed for commercial resale, with a strong priority
placed on speed of service. It is a commercial term,
limited to food sold in a restaurant or store with
frozen, preheated or precooked ingredients and served
in packaging for take-out/takeaway. Fast food was
created as a commercial strategy to accommodate
large numbers of busy commuters, travelers and wage
workers. In 2018, the fast food industry was worth an
estimated $570 billion globally.
The fastest form of "fast food" consists of precooked meals which reduce waiting periods to mere
seconds.
Other
fast
food
outlets,
primarily hamburger outlets
such
as McDonald's and Burger King use mass-produced,
pre-prepared
ingredients
(bagged
buns
and
condiments, frozen beef patties, vegetables which are
pre-washed, pre-sliced, or both; etc.) and cook the
meat and french fries fresh, before assembling "to
order".
Fast
food
restaurants are
traditionally
distinguished by the drive-through. Outlets may be
stands or kiosks, which may provide no shelter or
seating, or fast food restaurants (also known as quick
service restaurants). Franchise operations that are part
of restaurant
chains have
standardized
foodstuffs
shipped to each restaurant from central locations.[4]
Many fast foods tend to be high in saturated fat,
sugar, salt and calories. Fast food consumption has
been linked to increased risk of cardiovascular
disease, colorectal
cholesterol, insulin
cancer, obesity, high
resistance
conditions and depression. These correlations remain
strong even when controlling for confounding lifestyle
variables, suggesting a strong association between fast
food consumption and increased risk of disease and
early mortality.
History
The concept of ready-cooked food for sale is
closely connected with urban developments. Homes in
emerging cities often lacked adequate space or proper
food
preparation
accoutrements.
Additionally,
procuring cooking fuel could cost as much as
purchased produce. Frying foods in vats of searing oil
proved as dangerous as it was expensive. Homeowners
feared that a rogue cooking fire "might easily
conflagrate an entire neighborhood".Thus, urbanites
were encouraged to purchase pre-prepared meats or
starches, such as bread or noodles, whenever possible.
This also ensured that customers with strictly limited
time (a commuter stopping to procure dinner to bring
home to their family, for example, or an hourly
laborer
on
a
short lunch
break)
were
not
inconvenienced by waiting for their food to be cooked
on-the-spot (as is expected from a traditional "sit
down" restaurant). In Ancient Rome, cities had street
stands – a large counter with a receptacle in the
middle from which food or drink would have been
served. It was during post-WWII American economic
boom that Americans began to spend more and buy
more as the economy boomed and a culture
of consumerism bloomed. As a result of this new desire
to have it all, coupled with the strides made by women
while the men were away, both members of the
household began to work outside the home. Eating
out, which had previously been considered a luxury,
became a common occurrence, and then a necessity.
Workers, and working families, needed quick service
and inexpensive food for both lunch and dinner. The
traditional
family
dinner
is
increasingly
being
replaced by the consumption of takeaway fast food. As
a result, the time invested on food preparation is
getting lower, with an average woman in the United
States spending 47 minutes per day preparing food
and the average man spending 19 minutes per day in
2013.
Pre-industrial Old World
In the cities of Roman antiquity, much of the urban
population living in insulae, multi-story apartment
blocks, depended on food vendors for many of their
meals; the Forum itself served as a marketplace where
Romans could purchase baked goods and cured
meats. In the mornings, bread soaked in wine was
eaten as a quick snack and cooked vegetables and
stews later in popina, a simple type of eating
establishment. In Asia, 12th century Chinese ate fried
dough, soups and stuffed buns, all of which still exist
as
contemporary
snack
food.
Their
Baghdadi
contemporaries supplemented home-cooked meals
with processed legumes, purchased starches, and even
ready-to-eat meats. During the Middle Ages, large
towns
and
major
urban
as London and Paris supported
that
sold
areas
numerous
dishes
such
vendors
such
as pies, pasties, flans, waffles, wafers, pancakes and
cooked meats. As in Roman cities during antiquity,
many of these establishments catered to those who did
not have means to cook their own food, particularly
single households. Unlike richer town dwellers, many
often could not afford housing with kitchen facilities
and thus relied on fast food. Travelers such
as pilgrims en route to a holy site, were among the
customers
In areas with access to coastal or tidal waters, 'fast
food' frequently included local shellfish or seafood,
such as oysters or, as in London, eels. Often this
seafood was cooked directly on the quay or close
by. The development of trawler fishing in the midnineteenth century led to the development of a British
favourite, fish and chips, and the first shop in 1860.
Fish and chips in a wrapper
A blue plaque at Oldham's Tommyfield Market marks
the origin of the fish and chip shop and fast food
industries. As a cheap fast food served in a wrapper,
fish
and
chips
became
a
stock
meal
among
the Victorian working classes.[20] Via the Industrial
Revolution the fish and chip business expanded
rapidly in Britain during the 19th century to satisfy
the needs of the growing industrial population. By
1910, there were more than 25,000 fish and chip shops
across the UK, and in the 1920s there were more than
35,000 shops. Harry Ramsden's fast food restaurant
chain opened its first fish and chip shop in Guiseley,
West Yorkshire in 1928. On a single day in 1952, the
shop served 10,000 portions of fish and chips, earning
a place in the Guinness Book of Records.
British fast food had considerable regional variation.
Sometimes the regionality of a dish became part of the
culture of its respective area, such as the Cornish
pasty and deep-fried Mars bar. The content of fast
food pies has varied, with poultry (such as chickens)
or wildfowl commonly being used. Since the Second
World War, turkey has been used more frequently in
fast food. The UK has adopted fast food from other
cultures
as
well,
such
as pizza, doner
kebab,
and curry. More recently, healthier alternatives to
conventional fast food have also emerged.
United States
As automobiles became popular and more affordable
following World War I, drive-in restaurants were
introduced. The American company White Castle,
founded by Billy Ingram and Walter Anderson
in Wichita, Kansas in 1921, is generally credited with
opening
the
first
fast
food
outlet
and
first hamburger chain, selling hamburgers for five
cents each. Walter Anderson had built the first White
Castle restaurant in Wichita in 1916, introducing the
limited menu,
high-volume,
low-cost,
high-speed
hamburger restaurant. Among its innovations, the
company allowed customers to see the food being
prepared. White
Castle was
successful
from
its
inception and spawned numerous competitors.
Franchising was introduced in 1921 by A&W Root
Beer, which franchised its distinctive syrup. Howard
Johnson's first franchised the restaurant concept in
the
mid-1930s,
formally
menus, signage and advertising.
standardizing
Curb service was introduced in the late 1920s and was
mobilized
in
the
1940s
when carhops strapped
on roller skates.
The United States has the largest fast food industry in
the world, and American fast food restaurants are
located
in
over
100
countries.
Approximately
5.4 million U.S. workers are employed in the areas of
food preparation and food servicing, including fast
food in the US as of 2018. Worries of an obesity
epidemic and its related illnesses have inspired many
local government officials in the United States to
propose to limit or regulate fast-food restaurants. Yet,
US adults are unwilling to change their fast food
consumption even in the face of rising costs and
unemployment characterized by the great recession,
suggesting an inelastic demand. However, some areas
are more affected than others. In Los Angeles County,
for example, about 45% of the restaurants in South
Central
Los
Angeles are
fast-food
chains
or
restaurants with minimal seating. By comparison, only
16% of those on the Westside are such restaurants.
Working conditions
The National Employment Law Project wrote in 2013,
"according to a study by researchers at the University
of California-Berkeley, more than half (52 percent) of
front-line fast-food workers must rely on at least one
public assistance program to support their families. As
a result, the fast-food-industry business model of low
wages, non-existent benefits, and limited work hours
costs taxpayers an average of nearly $7 billion every
year". They claim this funding allows these workers to
"afford health care, food, and other basic necessities".
On the go
See also: Convenience food
McDonald's first two-lane drive-thru was at the Rock
N Roll McDonald's in Chicago.
Fast food outlets are take-away or take-out providers
that promise quick service. Such fast food outlets often
come with a "drive-through" service that lets
customers order and pick up food from their vehicles.
Others have indoor or outdoor seating areas where
customers can eat on-site. The boom in IT services has
allowed customers to order food from their homes
through their smartphone apps in recent times.
Nearly from its inception, fast food has been designed
to be eaten "on the go," often does not require
traditional cutlery, and is eaten as a finger food.
Common menu items at fast food outlets include fish
and
chips, sandwiches, pitas, hamburgers, fried
chicken, french
fries, onion
rings, chicken
nuggets, tacos, pizza, hot dogs, and ice cream, though
many fast food restaurants offer "slower" foods
like chili, mashed potatoes, and salads.
Filling stations
Convenience stores located within many petrol/gas
stations sell pre-packaged sandwiches, doughnuts, and
hot food. Many gas stations in the United States and
Europe also sell frozen foods, and have microwave
ovens on the premises in which to prepare them.
Petrol Stations in Australia sell foods such as hot pies,
sandwiches, and chocolate bars, which are easy for a
customer to access while on their journey. Petrol
stations are a place that are often open long hours and
are open before and after shop trading hours,
therefore, it makes it easy to access for consumers.
Traditional street food is available around the world,
usually
through
small
and
independent vendors operating from a cart, table,
portable grill or motor vehicle. Common examples
include Vietnamese rice soup vendors, Middle Eastern
falafel stands, New York City hot dog carts, and taco
trucks. Turo-Turo vendors (Tagalog for point point)
are a feature of Philippine life. Commonly, street
vendors provide a colorful and varying range of
options designed to captivate passers-by and attract as
much attention as possible quickly.
Multiple street vendors may specialize in specific types
of food; typically, they are characteristic of a given
cultural or ethnic tradition depending on the locale. In
some cultures, it is typical for street vendors to call out
prices, sing or chant sales-pitches, play music, or
engage in other forms of "street theatrics" to engage
prospective customers. In some cases, this can garner
more attention than the food.
Cuisine
Modern commercial fast food is often ultra-processed
food and prepared in an industrial fashion, i.e., on a
large
scale
with
standard
ingredients
and
standardized cooking and production methods. It is
usually rapidly served in cartons or bags or in plastic
wrapping, in a fashion that minimizes cost. In most
fast food operations, menu items are generally made
from processed ingredients prepared at a central
supply facility and then shipped to individual outlets
where
they
are
reheated,
cooked
(usually
by
microwave or deep frying) or assembled in a short
amount of time. This process ensures a consistent level
of product quality. It is key to being able to deliver the
order quickly to the customer and eliminate labor and
equipment costs in the individual stores.
Because of commercial emphasis on quickness,
uniformity and low cost, fast food products are often
made with ingredients formulated to achieve a certain
flavor or consistency and to preserve freshness.
Variants
Chinese
takeaways/takeout
restaurants
are
particularly popular in Western countries such as the
US and UK. They normally offer a wide variety
of Asian
food (not
always
Chinese),
which
has
normally been fried. Most options are some form of
noodles, rice, or meat. In some cases, the food is
presented as a smörgåsbord, sometimes self service.
The customer chooses the size of the container they
wish to buy, and then is free to fill it with their choice
of food. It is common to combine several options in
one container, and some outlets charge by weight
rather than by item. In large cities, these restaurants
may offer free delivery for purchases over a minimum
amount.
Sushi has seen rapidly rising popularity recently in the
Western world. A form of fast food created in Japan
(where bentō is the Japanese variety of fast food),
sushi is normally cold sticky rice flavored with a
sweet rice vinegar and served with some topping
(often fish), or, as in the most popular kind in the
West, rolled in nori (dried green laver) with filling.
The filling often includes fish, seafood, chicken
or cucumber.
Pizza is a common fast food category in the United
States,
with
nationwide
chains
including Papa
John's, Domino's Pizza, Sbarro and Pizza Hut. It trails
only the burger industry in supplying children's fast
food
calories.[34] Menus
are
more
limited
and
standardized than in traditional pizzerias, and pizza
delivery is offered.
Kebab houses are a form of fast food restaurant from
the
Middle
East,
especially Turkey and Lebanon.
Meat is shaven from a rotisserie, and is served on a
warmed flatbread with salad and a choice of sauce and
dressing.
These doner
kebabs or shawarmas are
distinct from shish kebabs served on sticks. Kebab
shops
are
also
found
throughout
the
world,
especially Europe, New Zealand and Australia but
they generally are less common in the US.
Fish and chip shops are a form of fast food popular in
the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. Fish
is battered and then deep fried, and served with deepfried potato strips.
The Dutch have their own types of fast food. A Dutch
fast food meal often consists of a portion of french
fries (called friet or patat) with a sauce and a meat
product. The most common sauce to accompany
french fries is fritessaus. It is a sweet, vinegary and
low
fat mayonnaise substitute,
that
the
Dutch
nevertheless still call "mayonnaise". When ordering it
is very often abbreviated to met (literally "with").
Other popular sauces are ketchup or spiced ketchup
("curry"), Indonesian style peanut sauce ("satésaus"
or "pindasaus") or piccalilli. Sometimes the fries are
served
with
combinations
of
sauces,
most
famously speciaal (special): mayonnaise, with (spiced)
ketchup and chopped onions; and oorlog (literally
"war"): mayonnaise and peanut sauce (sometimes also
with ketchup and chopped onions). The meat product
is
usually
a
deep
fried
the frikandel (a
deep
meat sausage),
and
snack;
fried
this
includes
skinless minced
the kroket (deep
fried
meat ragout covered in breadcrumbs).
In Portugal, there are some varieties of local fast-food
and restaurants specialized in this type of local cuisine.
Some of the most popular foods include frango
assado (Piri-piri grilled
chicken
previously
marinated), francesinha, francesinha
poveira, espetada (turkey or pork meat on two sticks)
and bifanas (pork cutlets in a specific sauce served as
a sandwich). This type of food is also often served with
french fries (called batatas fritas), some international
chains started appearing specialized in some of the
typical Portuguese fast food such as Nando's.
An example of a local form of fast food in Poland
is pasztecik szczeciński, a deep-fried yeast dough
stuffed with meat or vegetarian filling, typical fast
food dish of the city of Szczecin well known in many
other cities in the country. A dish is on Polish List of
traditional products. The first bar serving pasztecik
szczeciński, Bar "Pasztecik" founded in 1969, is
located on Wojska Polskiego Avenue 46 in Szczecin.
A
fixture
of East
Asian cities
is
the noodle shop. Flatbread and falafel are
today
ubiquitous in the Middle East. Popular Indian fast
food dishes include vada pav, panipuri and dahi vada.
In
the
French-speaking
nations
of West
Africa, roadside stands in and around the larger cities
continue to sell—as they have done for generations—a
range of ready-to-eat, char-grilled meat sticks known
locally as brochettes (not to be confused with the
bread snack of the same name found in Europe)
Business
In the United States, consumers spent $160 billion on
fast food in 2012 (up from $6 billion in 1970). In 2013,
the US restaurant industry had total projected sales of
$660.5 billion. Fast food has been losing market
share to fast casual dining restaurants, which offer
more robust and expensive cuisines. Due to this
competition, fast food giants have seen dramatic drops
in their sales. While overall fast food sales have fallen,
the number of Americans who eat in these restaurants
"once a month or 'a few times a year'" has risen.
In contrast to the rest of the world, American citizens
spend a much smaller amount of their income on food
— largely due to various government subsidies that
make fast food cheap and easily accessible. Calorie for
calorie, foods sold in fast food restaurants, costs less
and is more energy-dense, and is made mostly of
products that the government subsidizes heavily: corn,
soy, and beef.
The Australian fast food market is valued at more
than 2.7 billion GPB and is composed of 1.4 billion fast
food meals. This includes meals serviced at 17,000 fast
food outlets. The fast food market has experienced an
average annual growth rate of 6.5 percent, which is
the most rapidly growing sector of the retail food
market.
Advertising
The neutrality of
this
section
is disputed. Relevant discussion may be
found on the talk page. Please do not
remove this message until conditions to
do so are met. (April 2017) (Learn how
and
when
to
remove
this
template
message)
In 2012, fast food restaurants spent roughly US$4.6
billion on advertising campaigns, which represented
an 8% increase from 2009. In the same period of
time, McDonald's spent nearly three times as much on
advertising as all water, milk, and produce advertisers
spent combined.
A study done by researchers from the Geisel School of
Medicine at Dartmouth
College saw
results
that
suggest that when children watch more commercial
television (and see more advertisements on fast food),
they are more inclined to ask to visit these subsequent
fast
food
restaurants.
Specifically,
fast
food
restaurants have been increasing their advertising
efforts that target Black and Hispanic youth. A 2021
report from the Rudd Center for Food Policy &
Obesity indicated that fast-food restaurants spent
about $318 million on Spanish-language TV channels.
The same report found that fast-food restaurants
spent about $99 million on majority Black viewer TV
channels. Black youth groups viewed fast-food
advertisements about more than white youth groups.
The Council of Better Business Bureaus started the
Children's Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative
in 2006 which asked fast food companies to pledge to
"advertise only more healthful products to children"
with McDonald's and Burger King signing on.
However, despite a slight increase in healthful food
advertising, the effectiveness of this initiative has been
disputed by studies that reveal that "children couldn't
remember or identify healthful foods in the ads, and
that 81 percent of the 99 3 to 7 year olds in that study
recalled French fries" even though there were no
french fries in the advertisement.
Employment
This section needs to be updated. Please
help update this article to reflect recent
events
or
newly
available
information. (April 2022)
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,
about 4.1 million U.S. workers are employed in food
preparation and serving (including fast food) as of
2010. The BLS's projected job outlook expects average
growth and excellent opportunity as a result of high
turnover. However, in April 2011, McDonald's hired
approximately 62,000 new workers and received a
million
applications
for
those
positions—an
acceptance rate of 6.2%. The median age of workers
in the industry in 2013 was 28. Obtaining Human
Resource Management diploma or diploma in Fast
Food Management can help to get a job in major fast
food restaurants since it is one of the most desired.[51]
Globalization
This
section may
be confusing
or
unclear to readers. Please help clarify the
section. There might be a discussion
about
this
on the
talk
page. (April
2012) (Learn how and when to remove this
template message)
In 2006, the global fast-food market grew by 4.8% and
reached a value of £102.4 billion and a volume of
80.3 billion
transactions. McDonald's alone,
has
outlets in 126 countries on 6 continents and operates
over 31,000 restaurants worldwide.
One example of McDonald's expansion on a global
scale was its introduction to the Russian market. In
order for the American business to succeed it would
have to be accepted and integrated into the daily lives
of natives in Moscow. Thus, the restaurant was
strategically implemented so that its offerings would
align with the distinct and established eating habits,
also known as the customs around food, eating and
cooking, of Muscovites. One significant characteristic
of Russian food culture is the emphasis on knowing
about the locality of goods that are consumed.
Essentially, in order to successfully launch this
American brand in a foreign country, McDonald's
interpreted the local interests of consumers in Moscow
by promoting the origins of the produce used in the
restaurant. On January 31, 1990, McDonald's opened
a restaurant in Moscow and broke opening-day
records for customers served. The Moscow restaurant
is the busiest in the world.
The largest McDonald's in the world, with 25,000 feet
of play tubes, an arcade and play center, is located
in Orlando, Florida, United States
There are numerous other fast food restaurants
located all over the world. Burger King has more than
11,100 restaurants in more than 65 countries. KFC is
located in 25 countries. Subway is one of the fastest
growing franchises in the world with approximately
39,129 restaurants in 90 countries as of May 2009, the
first non-US location opening in December 1984
in Bahrain. Wienerwald has spread from Germany
into Asia and Africa. Pizza Hut is located in 97
countries, with 100 locations in China. Taco Bell has
278 restaurants located in 14 countries besides the
United States.
Criticism
Fast-food chains have come under criticism over
concerns ranging from claimed negative health effects,
alleged animal cruelty, cases of worker exploitation,
and claims of cultural degradation via shifts in
people's eating patterns away from traditional foods.
The intake of fast food is increasing worldwide. A
study done in the city of Jeddah has shown that
current fast-food habits are related to the increase of
overweight and obesity among adolescents in Saudi
Arabia. In
2014,
the World
Health
Organization published a study which claims that
deregulated food markets are largely to blame for the
obesity crisis, and suggested tighter regulations to
reverse
the
trend. In
the
United
States,
local
governments are restricting fast food chains by
limiting the number of restaurants found in certain
geographical areas.
To combat criticism, fast-food restaurants are starting
to offer more health-friendly menu items. In addition
to health critics, there are suggestions for the fast-food
industry to become more eco-friendly. The chains have
responded by "reducing packaging waste".
Although trying to overcome criticism through healthy
options on fast food menus, Marion Nestle, who serves
as the chair of New York University's Department of
Nutrition and Food Studies, suggests that fast-food
industries intentionally market unhealthy foods to
children through advertising options and therefore
create customers for life.
Despite so much popularity, fast foods and fast-food
chains have adverse impacts not only on the job and
social skills, but on the health and academic
performance of students. Fifty-six percent of students
consume fast food on a weekly basis.[83] The researcher
who wrote Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser, highlights
this fact, arguing that this is not only a financial but
also a psychological bait, in that the students are lured
towards this early employment opportunity knowing
little that the time spent on this no-skill-learning job is
wasted. The dangerous impacts and consequences
regarding the hiring and firing of teenage school-goers
in the fast-food industry have also been a point of
criticism of the fast food industry. Kelly Brownwell
of The Atlantic has further supported this argument
that Burger King and McDonald's adopted another
dangerous
practice
for
marketing
to
innocent
children.
In a research study conducted by Professors Purtell
Kelly and Gershoff, they found that the students of
fifth grades, who ate fast foods as compared to the
students of the same age after some other social
factors were controlled. Also, the percentage of the
students having consumed fast food and showed poor
grades was around 11 percent more than those who
used organic foods. They are of the view that other
social factors such as television watching, video games
and playing were controlled to assess the real impacts
of fast foods.
There have been books and films, such as the 2004
film Super Size Me, designed to highlight the potential
negative health effects from the overconsumption of
fast food such as its contribution to obesity.
Library and books.
A library is a place where books and sources of
information are stored. They make it easier for people to
get access to them for various purposes. Libraries are very
helpful and economical too. They include books,
magazines, newspapers, DVDs, manuscripts and more. In
other words, they are an all-encompassing source of
information.
A public library is open to everyone for fulfilling the need
for information. They are run by the government, schools,
colleges, and universities. The members of the society or
community can visit these libraries to enhance their
knowledge and complete their research.
Importance of Libraries
Libraries play a vital role in providing people with reliable
content. They encourage and promote the process of
learning and grasping knowledge. The book worms can get
loads of books to read from and enhance their knowledge.
Moreover, the variety is so wide-ranging that one mostly
gets what they are looking for.
Furthermore, they help the people to get their hands on
great educational material which they might not find
otherwise in the market. When we read more, our social
skills and academic performance improves.
Most importantly, libraries are a great platform for making
progress. When we get homework in class, the libraries
help us with the reference material. This, in turn,
progresses our learning capabilities and knowledge. It is
also helpful in our overall development.
Uses of Library
A library is a very useful platform that brings together
people willing to learn. It helps us in learning and
expanding our knowledge. We develop our reading habits
from a library and satisfy our thirst and curiosity for
knowledge. This helps in the personal growth of a person
and development.
Similarly, libraries provide authentic and reliable sources
of information for researchers. They are able to complete
their papers and carry out their studies using the material
present in a library. Furthermore, libraries are a great place
for studying alone or even in groups, without any
disturbance.
Moreover, libraries also help in increasing our
concentration levels. As it is a place that requires pin drop
silence, a person can study or read in silence. It makes us
focus on our studies more efficiently. Libraries also
broaden our thinking and make us more open to modern
thinking.
Most importantly, libraries are very economical. The
people who cannot afford to buy new books and can
simply borrow books from a library. This helps them in
saving a lot of money and getting information for free.
In short, libraries are a great place to gain knowledge. They
serve each person differently. They are a great source of
learning and promoting the progress of knowledge. One
can enjoy their free time in libraries by reading and
researching. As the world has become digitized, it is now
easier to browse through a library and get what you are
looking for. Libraries also provide employment
opportunities to people with fair pay and incredible
working conditions.
Thus, libraries help all, the ones visiting it and the ones
employed there. We must not give up on libraries due to
the digital age. Nothing can ever replace the authenticity
and reliability one gets from a library.