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December 9, 2018
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : December 9, 2018
galumph \guh-LUMF\ verb
Definition
: to move with a clumsy heavy tread
Did You Know?
Bump, thump, thud. There's no do...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : December 9, 2018
galumph \guh-LUMF\ verb
Definition
: to move with a clumsy heavy tread
Did You Know?
Bump, thump, thud. There's no do...
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1 minFREEPoetry Poem CurioFree1 CQ
Poem of the Day: Love (III). by George Herbert (read by Forrest Gander).
with Poetry FoundationPoem of the Day: Love (III). by George Herbert (read by Forrest Gander).
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FREEUS History PP&T CurioFree1 CQ
Women capture the vote—for all the wrong reasons.
Decades before the 19th Amendment passed in 1920, women like Esther Morris, shown above, were serving as judges and voting in the Wyoming territory. Before it even became a state, Wyoming's legislature enacted laws to give women the vote and other rights unheard of in the U.S. in the 1860s. Were they ahead of their time? The answers aren't quite so simple.
Wyoming itself was in a precarious place by the late 1860s. The land that became the territory was acquired in parts through the 1803 Louisiana Purchase, the 1846 Oregon Treaty between Britain and the U.S., and the 1848 Mexican Cession following the Mexican-American War. In July of 1868, President Andrew Johnson signed the Organic Act, which took land from Dakota, Idaho, and Utah territories to form Wyoming—a name taken from the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania and the Munsee Indian word for "near the big river flat," or prairie region. To add to the location's identity crisis, the Union Pacific Railroad landed in Cheyenne in 1867. What should have been a celebration of railroad jobs arriving in the region was marked by the scarcity of working bodies—or any bodies, for that matter—nearby. Wyoming had a population problem, and its governing body knew that.
As if attracting and keeping settlers in the region wasn't a hard enough task, the Wyoming Territorial legislature wasted no time picking a political fight over the task ahead of them. In 1868 President Grant appointed General John Campbell as governor of the Wyoming territory, hoping to establish Republican favor in the region. But as elections were held in September, Confederate-sympathetic Democrats won all 22 seats of the territorial legislature. In an effort to undermine the Republican governor's efforts at unification, President of the Council William H. Bright introduced the female suffrage bill; it was meant to pit Republicans vs. Democrats and abolitionists vs. suffragists, all while boosting publicity for the state. Despite all the ulterior political motives, the hopes of luring women to head out west were indeed genuine, as men outnumbered women in the region six to one.
The suffrage bill passed in a seven-to-four vote in the House and was ultimately approved in December 1869 by a hesitant Governor Campbell. As a result, an unprecedented number of gender-equality firsts occurred within the next year. The city of Laramie become the first location to include women in a public jury in March, Martha Symons Boies was appointed the first female bailiff there, and Louisa Swain cast the first women's vote in a general election in September. Over in Cheyenne, Esther Morris became the first justice of the peace and a figurehead for women's suffrage across the nation.
Were there really any good intentions on Bright's, or any of the legislature's parts, in introducing the women's suffrage bill? In 1871, a new session of the Wyoming Territorial legislature did attempt to repeal the bill to no avail. Stories circulated about how the whole thing had been intended as a joke in the first place, yet the bill was treated with all the seriousness of any other item of legislation. The person who may have had the most eloquent explanation of exactly what happened with women's suffrage in Wyoming was none other than Esther Morris' husband William, who stated, "It is a fact that all great reforms take place, not where they are most needed, but in places where opposition is weakest; and then they spread."
Below: the text of the Wyoming Territorial legislature's women's suffrage bill.
Female Suffrage
Chapter 31
An Act to Grant to the Women of Wyoming Territory the Right of Suffrage, and to Hold Office
Be it enacted by the Council and House of Representatives of the Territory of Wyoming:
Sec. 1. That every woman of the age of twenty-one years, residing in this territory, may at every election to be holden under the laws thereof, cast her vote. And her rights to the elective franchise and to hold office shall be the same under the election laws of the territory, as those of electors.
Sec. 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
Approved, December 10, 1869.
Image credit & copyright: Adam ProcterWomen capture the vote—for all the wrong reasons.
Decades before the 19th Amendment passed in 1920, women like Esther Morris, shown above, were serving as judges and voting in the Wyoming territory. Before it even became a state, Wyoming's legislature enacted laws to give women the vote and other rights unheard of in the U.S. in the 1860s. Were they ahead of their time? The answers aren't quite so simple.
Wyoming itself was in a precarious place by the late 1860s. The land that became the territory was acquired in parts through the 1803 Louisiana Purchase, the 1846 Oregon Treaty between Britain and the U.S., and the 1848 Mexican Cession following the Mexican-American War. In July of 1868, President Andrew Johnson signed the Organic Act, which took land from Dakota, Idaho, and Utah territories to form Wyoming—a name taken from the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania and the Munsee Indian word for "near the big river flat," or prairie region. To add to the location's identity crisis, the Union Pacific Railroad landed in Cheyenne in 1867. What should have been a celebration of railroad jobs arriving in the region was marked by the scarcity of working bodies—or any bodies, for that matter—nearby. Wyoming had a population problem, and its governing body knew that.
As if attracting and keeping settlers in the region wasn't a hard enough task, the Wyoming Territorial legislature wasted no time picking a political fight over the task ahead of them. In 1868 President Grant appointed General John Campbell as governor of the Wyoming territory, hoping to establish Republican favor in the region. But as elections were held in September, Confederate-sympathetic Democrats won all 22 seats of the territorial legislature. In an effort to undermine the Republican governor's efforts at unification, President of the Council William H. Bright introduced the female suffrage bill; it was meant to pit Republicans vs. Democrats and abolitionists vs. suffragists, all while boosting publicity for the state. Despite all the ulterior political motives, the hopes of luring women to head out west were indeed genuine, as men outnumbered women in the region six to one.
The suffrage bill passed in a seven-to-four vote in the House and was ultimately approved in December 1869 by a hesitant Governor Campbell. As a result, an unprecedented number of gender-equality firsts occurred within the next year. The city of Laramie become the first location to include women in a public jury in March, Martha Symons Boies was appointed the first female bailiff there, and Louisa Swain cast the first women's vote in a general election in September. Over in Cheyenne, Esther Morris became the first justice of the peace and a figurehead for women's suffrage across the nation.
Were there really any good intentions on Bright's, or any of the legislature's parts, in introducing the women's suffrage bill? In 1871, a new session of the Wyoming Territorial legislature did attempt to repeal the bill to no avail. Stories circulated about how the whole thing had been intended as a joke in the first place, yet the bill was treated with all the seriousness of any other item of legislation. The person who may have had the most eloquent explanation of exactly what happened with women's suffrage in Wyoming was none other than Esther Morris' husband William, who stated, "It is a fact that all great reforms take place, not where they are most needed, but in places where opposition is weakest; and then they spread."
Below: the text of the Wyoming Territorial legislature's women's suffrage bill.
Female Suffrage
Chapter 31
An Act to Grant to the Women of Wyoming Territory the Right of Suffrage, and to Hold Office
Be it enacted by the Council and House of Representatives of the Territory of Wyoming:
Sec. 1. That every woman of the age of twenty-one years, residing in this territory, may at every election to be holden under the laws thereof, cast her vote. And her rights to the elective franchise and to hold office shall be the same under the election laws of the territory, as those of electors.
Sec. 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
Approved, December 10, 1869.
Image credit & copyright: Adam Procter -
2 minFREEWork Business CurioFree2 CQ
In Florida, changing climate and a lack of good diagnostic tools make it easier for insect-borne diseases like Eastern Equine Encephalitis to spread.
with MarketplaceIn Florida, changing climate and a lack of good diagnostic tools make it easier for insect-borne diseases like Eastern Equine Encephalitis to spread.
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5 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree3 CQ
Sir John A. Macdonald is as close to a founding father as Canada has and monuments in his memory are sprinkled across the country. But now Macdonald is being...
with PRI's The WorldSir John A. Macdonald is as close to a founding father as Canada has and monuments in his memory are sprinkled across the country. But now Macdonald is being...
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3 minFREESTEM Nerdy CurioFree2 CQ
Today's Nerdy Curio is brought to you by Engines of Our Ingenuity. Episode: 3193 Purple Men: The History of the Color Purple. Today, we see purple.
Today's Nerdy Curio is brought to you by Engines of Our Ingenuity. Episode: 3193 Purple Men: The History of the Color Purple. Today, we see purple.
December 8, 2018
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1 minFREEPoetry Poem CurioFree1 CQ
Poem of the Day: Misgivings. By William Matthews.
with Poetry FoundationPoem of the Day: Misgivings. By William Matthews.
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : December 8, 2018
approbation \ap-ruh-BAY-shun\ noun
Definition
1 : commendation, praise
2 : an act of approving formally or officially
...with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : December 8, 2018
approbation \ap-ruh-BAY-shun\ noun
Definition
1 : commendation, praise
2 : an act of approving formally or officially
... -
2 minFREEAstronomy Nerdy CurioFree2 CQ
Learn what to look for in the night sky with today's Nerdy Curio from Stardate. A big dust storm blanketed the planet Mars for much of this year, hiding much...
with StardateLearn what to look for in the night sky with today's Nerdy Curio from Stardate. A big dust storm blanketed the planet Mars for much of this year, hiding much...
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FREEPlay Teaser Curio #167Free1 CQ
Nothing gets the juices flowing (brain juices and blood juices) like a math teaser in winter. If your furnace is out, or you've cranked down the heat to help save the planet, or you think heat is for the weak, warm up your brain with this one.
The weather outside is frightful, a frigid n°. As it turns out, if you divide n2 by 5, you get the remainder 4. And, as it also turns out, if you divide n3 by 5, you get the remainder 3. Bored out of your skull because you don't want to go outside, you decide to divide n by 5. What remainder to you get?
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #167" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!Nothing gets the juices flowing (brain juices and blood juices) like a math teaser in winter. If your furnace is out, or you've cranked down the heat to help save the planet, or you think heat is for the weak, warm up your brain with this one.
The weather outside is frightful, a frigid n°. As it turns out, if you divide n2 by 5, you get the remainder 4. And, as it also turns out, if you divide n3 by 5, you get the remainder 3. Bored out of your skull because you don't want to go outside, you decide to divide n by 5. What remainder to you get?
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #167" and let us know, or check back next week to find out! -
6 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree4 CQ
After nearly two decades of war, prospects for peace talks have been gaining momentum in Afghanistan. This has created a sense of optimism and anxiety among ...
with PRI's The WorldAfter nearly two decades of war, prospects for peace talks have been gaining momentum in Afghanistan. This has created a sense of optimism and anxiety among ...
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1 minFREEWork Business CurioFree1 CQ
Consumers are paying more for iceberg lettuce and other leafy greens.
with MarketplaceConsumers are paying more for iceberg lettuce and other leafy greens.
December 7, 2018
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6 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
From the BBC World Service… OPEC is on day two of a meeting aimed at cutting the cartel’s production amid plunging global oil prices. With members struggling...
From the BBC World Service… OPEC is on day two of a meeting aimed at cutting the cartel’s production amid plunging global oil prices. With members struggling...
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : December 7, 2018
sandbag \SAND-bag\ verb
Definition
1 : to bank, stop up, or weight with sandbags
2 a : to hit or stun with or as if wi...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : December 7, 2018
sandbag \SAND-bag\ verb
Definition
1 : to bank, stop up, or weight with sandbags
2 a : to hit or stun with or as if wi...
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9 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree5 CQ
The daughter of Huawei's founder, a top executive at the Chinese technology giant, was arrested in Canada and faces extradition to the United States.
with PRI's The WorldThe daughter of Huawei's founder, a top executive at the Chinese technology giant, was arrested in Canada and faces extradition to the United States.
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FREEMusic Song CurioFree2 CQ
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this desert-themed favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
Make classical music cool again! Hans Zimmer is leading a new charge to bring orchestral works to the masses, if only ones from his highest-grossing movies. The German-born film score composer was persuaded to "look [his] audience in the eye" by his unlikely musical buds, Johnny Marr (guitarist for the Smiths) and Pharrell Williams (legendary hip-hop producer and absurd hat wearer). So he scheduled a massive world tour fit for his epic compositions. It's hard to think of a better person than Zimmer to bring classical music to the masses. His scores—which include Pirates of the Caribbean, The Lion King, Rain Man, and the Batman trilogy—sometimes make use of unconventional orchestra instruments like electric guitar and bass. Not to mention Zimmer has some pop chops; he used to fill in on keyboards for the Buggles, of Video Killed the Radio Star fame. Hans Zimmer Live pulled into town at Indio, California, to do an evening set at the second weekend of Coachella 2017. We're loving his medley of music from the scores of Inception and Interstellar, although we can't imagine it was easy for fans to listen to an hour of film score mashups, only to be followed by the usual festival fare. If you, like the rest of us mortals, weren't able to make it out to the festival, check out a clip of the performance below:
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this desert-themed favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
Make classical music cool again! Hans Zimmer is leading a new charge to bring orchestral works to the masses, if only ones from his highest-grossing movies. The German-born film score composer was persuaded to "look [his] audience in the eye" by his unlikely musical buds, Johnny Marr (guitarist for the Smiths) and Pharrell Williams (legendary hip-hop producer and absurd hat wearer). So he scheduled a massive world tour fit for his epic compositions. It's hard to think of a better person than Zimmer to bring classical music to the masses. His scores—which include Pirates of the Caribbean, The Lion King, Rain Man, and the Batman trilogy—sometimes make use of unconventional orchestra instruments like electric guitar and bass. Not to mention Zimmer has some pop chops; he used to fill in on keyboards for the Buggles, of Video Killed the Radio Star fame. Hans Zimmer Live pulled into town at Indio, California, to do an evening set at the second weekend of Coachella 2017. We're loving his medley of music from the scores of Inception and Interstellar, although we can't imagine it was easy for fans to listen to an hour of film score mashups, only to be followed by the usual festival fare. If you, like the rest of us mortals, weren't able to make it out to the festival, check out a clip of the performance below:
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FREEAesthetic Photo CurioFree1 CQ
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this desert-themed favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
Forecast: sandy. What looks to be an encroaching black sky is actually the shadowy side of a dune ridge in the Namib desert. This striking optical illusion, photographed by Jirawat Plekhongthu, is a testament to the height of the desert's rust-colored dunes. Towering over 1,000 feet, the dunes are located in the desert's driest expanse along the coast of southwestern Africa. It's so arid here that dead trees can't decompose, turning into the skeletal shapes seen in the foreground above. The average annual rainfall there is less than eight inches, with June marking the start of the dry season. Still, a wide range of plants and animals—from elephants to beetles—have adapted to survive there on moisture provided by heavy fogs. As for humans? The desert, though largely uninhabited by man, has become a new hotspot for sand-skiing—which is exactly what it sounds like. Note to participants: bring lots of water, and watch out for the dark side of the dune!
Image credit & copyright: Jirawat Plekhongthu
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this desert-themed favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
Forecast: sandy. What looks to be an encroaching black sky is actually the shadowy side of a dune ridge in the Namib desert. This striking optical illusion, photographed by Jirawat Plekhongthu, is a testament to the height of the desert's rust-colored dunes. Towering over 1,000 feet, the dunes are located in the desert's driest expanse along the coast of southwestern Africa. It's so arid here that dead trees can't decompose, turning into the skeletal shapes seen in the foreground above. The average annual rainfall there is less than eight inches, with June marking the start of the dry season. Still, a wide range of plants and animals—from elephants to beetles—have adapted to survive there on moisture provided by heavy fogs. As for humans? The desert, though largely uninhabited by man, has become a new hotspot for sand-skiing—which is exactly what it sounds like. Note to participants: bring lots of water, and watch out for the dark side of the dune!
Image credit & copyright: Jirawat Plekhongthu
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FREEAesthetic Art CurioFree1 CQ
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this desert-themed favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
Title: concept painting of C-3PO and R2-D2
Artist: Ralph McQuarrie (1929-2012)
Created: 1975
Medium: painting
Though Star Wars was originally the brainchild of director George Lucas, the appearance of the galaxy far, far away owes a heavy debt to concept artist Ralph McQuarrie. Pictured above is one of his early designs for the desert planet Tatooine, with the two droids R2-D2 and C-3PO in the foreground. McQuarrie modeled the arid landscape after Morro Rock in Morro, California, and Threepio's humanoid appearance after the robot Maria from the 1927 Fritz Lang film Metropolis. Lucas initially recruited McQuarrie to help visualize and market the original Star Wars sci-fi opera concept to Fox Studios; McQuarrie accomplished far more than Lucas ever expected, designing the iconic looks of Darth Vader, Chewbacca, and the interior of the Death Star. McQuarrie's vibrant and emotional views of Star Wars worlds lead him to other massively popular sci-fi projects, including E.T., Battlestar Galactica, and Cocoon, the latter earning him an Oscar for Best Visual Effects in 1986. The Force and paintbrushes were strong with this one!
Below: more images from Ralph McQuarrie's Star Wars concept art.
Image credit & copyright: Ralph McQuarrie, Star Wars
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this desert-themed favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
Title: concept painting of C-3PO and R2-D2
Artist: Ralph McQuarrie (1929-2012)
Created: 1975
Medium: painting
Though Star Wars was originally the brainchild of director George Lucas, the appearance of the galaxy far, far away owes a heavy debt to concept artist Ralph McQuarrie. Pictured above is one of his early designs for the desert planet Tatooine, with the two droids R2-D2 and C-3PO in the foreground. McQuarrie modeled the arid landscape after Morro Rock in Morro, California, and Threepio's humanoid appearance after the robot Maria from the 1927 Fritz Lang film Metropolis. Lucas initially recruited McQuarrie to help visualize and market the original Star Wars sci-fi opera concept to Fox Studios; McQuarrie accomplished far more than Lucas ever expected, designing the iconic looks of Darth Vader, Chewbacca, and the interior of the Death Star. McQuarrie's vibrant and emotional views of Star Wars worlds lead him to other massively popular sci-fi projects, including E.T., Battlestar Galactica, and Cocoon, the latter earning him an Oscar for Best Visual Effects in 1986. The Force and paintbrushes were strong with this one!
Below: more images from Ralph McQuarrie's Star Wars concept art.
Image credit & copyright: Ralph McQuarrie, Star Wars
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FREEPlay Daily CurioFree1 CQ
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this desert-themed favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
Location, location, location. Nathan Mendelsohn apparently wasn't aware of this real estate mantra when he bought 82,000 acres in the Mojave desert in 1958. Mendelsohn's plan was to build a desert mecca, called "California City," to rival nearby Los Angeles and Palm Springs. But whereas it took centuries for those towns to develop into thriving cities, Mendelsohn decided to build out his town before it had any inhabitants. Bad move. Today, California City is the third largest city in California by area but has a population of less than 15,000. Satellite photos of the miles of roads that were supposed to be lined with houses and businesses instead look like abstract sand etchings. At first, Mendelsohn had success attracting potential buyers. Most bought inexpensive lots without visiting the town. A few actually settled there to escape the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. Within a few years, though, it became clear most of the speculators had no intention of moving in. Too late for Mendelsohn, who had already commissioned a 160-acre "central park" and hooked up the entire grid to central power and water. Now those aging, never-used pipes are leaking mightily: California City was named the number one water waster in the state last year. If you visit there today, you'll find significantly more life than in China's ghost cities, from Curio #1081. It's a sleepy desert town with an Air Force base, a very nice park, a state correctional facility, and a desert tortoise preserve—where the tortoises have a lot of room to roam.
Image credit & copyright: Google Maps
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this desert-themed favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
Location, location, location. Nathan Mendelsohn apparently wasn't aware of this real estate mantra when he bought 82,000 acres in the Mojave desert in 1958. Mendelsohn's plan was to build a desert mecca, called "California City," to rival nearby Los Angeles and Palm Springs. But whereas it took centuries for those towns to develop into thriving cities, Mendelsohn decided to build out his town before it had any inhabitants. Bad move. Today, California City is the third largest city in California by area but has a population of less than 15,000. Satellite photos of the miles of roads that were supposed to be lined with houses and businesses instead look like abstract sand etchings. At first, Mendelsohn had success attracting potential buyers. Most bought inexpensive lots without visiting the town. A few actually settled there to escape the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. Within a few years, though, it became clear most of the speculators had no intention of moving in. Too late for Mendelsohn, who had already commissioned a 160-acre "central park" and hooked up the entire grid to central power and water. Now those aging, never-used pipes are leaking mightily: California City was named the number one water waster in the state last year. If you visit there today, you'll find significantly more life than in China's ghost cities, from Curio #1081. It's a sleepy desert town with an Air Force base, a very nice park, a state correctional facility, and a desert tortoise preserve—where the tortoises have a lot of room to roam.
Image credit & copyright: Google Maps
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4 minFREESTEM Nerdy CurioFree3 CQ
Today's Nerdy Curio is brought to you by Engines of Our Ingenuity. Episode: 2835 Reverse Engineering the Brain. Today, we look to the brain.
Today's Nerdy Curio is brought to you by Engines of Our Ingenuity. Episode: 2835 Reverse Engineering the Brain. Today, we look to the brain.
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1 minFREEPoetry Poem CurioFree1 CQ
Poem of the Day: The Mysterious Arrival of an Unusual Letter. By Mark Strand.
with Poetry FoundationPoem of the Day: The Mysterious Arrival of an Unusual Letter. By Mark Strand.
December 6, 2018
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : December 6, 2018
dossier \DOSS-yay\ noun
Definition
: a file containing detailed records on a particular person or subject
Did You Know...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : December 6, 2018
dossier \DOSS-yay\ noun
Definition
: a file containing detailed records on a particular person or subject
Did You Know...
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
The arrest of Chinese tech giant Huawei's CFO in Canada sends the financial markets tumbling. What does Meng Wanzhou's potential extradition to the U.S. mean...
The arrest of Chinese tech giant Huawei's CFO in Canada sends the financial markets tumbling. What does Meng Wanzhou's potential extradition to the U.S. mean...
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3 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree2 CQ
The 41st president was known for reaching across the aisle and supporting a range of issues, including birth control. His support even earned him the nicknam...
with PRI's The WorldThe 41st president was known for reaching across the aisle and supporting a range of issues, including birth control. His support even earned him the nicknam...
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FREESociology Daily Curio #1674Free1 CQ
It's the most wonderful time of the year… for some. In today's Saint Nicholas Day Themed Thursday, we're investigating the Netherlands' version of St. Nick, Sinterklaas. A tall and trim predecessor to Santa, he wears bishops' clothing, a miter hat, and a stylish ruby ring as he rides around on a white horse delivering presents to good children. When Dutch families settled in America in the late 18th century, they brought along the legend of Sinterklaas, which slowly evolved into that of portly, reindeer-riding Santa Claus. But there are a few critical differences between the two. While Santa employs sweet-toothed elves to manufacture his toys, Sinterklaas' little helper happens to be Zwarte Piet, or "Black Pete." Black Pete is said to be of Moorish descent: a population of Muslims who were expelled from modern-day Spain. He has dark skin attributed to his ethnicity and a knack for slipping down chimneys. He also has plump red lips, a thick afro, and wears vibrant clothing and massive hoop earrings inspired by old Moorish fashion. This character, who appears identical to racist blackface caricatures, arrives on a boat from Spain to dance, wave, and offer treats to kids during parades. And the Dutch find little issue with him. In a 2015 poll, 81 percent of voters defended Black Pete's traditional appearance. But they may not get their way. This year, Dutch public broadcaster NTR announced that their representation of Black Pete will only have a soot-covered face. An increasing number of schools are also phasing out the character, or at least scaling back his jarring visage. This comes as a response to a litany of complaints from Dutch citizens of color, who complain their children are being teased and branded Black Pete in class. Even more disturbing, white extremists recently adopted Black Pete as a mascot and uniform, impersonating him as they block highways and tell teachers of color to "go back to your own country." In 2015, the United Nations urged the Dutch to retire Black Pete, calling him a lingering "vestige of slavery." But many Dutch refuse to budge. Meanwhile, the movement against Black Pete is gaining momentum. Sorry Dutch friends, but it seems to me there is only one right solution here: retire Black Pete and spend the time saved making more hilarious Zondag met Lubach videos.
Image credit & copyright: ANP
It's the most wonderful time of the year… for some. In today's Saint Nicholas Day Themed Thursday, we're investigating the Netherlands' version of St. Nick, Sinterklaas. A tall and trim predecessor to Santa, he wears bishops' clothing, a miter hat, and a stylish ruby ring as he rides around on a white horse delivering presents to good children. When Dutch families settled in America in the late 18th century, they brought along the legend of Sinterklaas, which slowly evolved into that of portly, reindeer-riding Santa Claus. But there are a few critical differences between the two. While Santa employs sweet-toothed elves to manufacture his toys, Sinterklaas' little helper happens to be Zwarte Piet, or "Black Pete." Black Pete is said to be of Moorish descent: a population of Muslims who were expelled from modern-day Spain. He has dark skin attributed to his ethnicity and a knack for slipping down chimneys. He also has plump red lips, a thick afro, and wears vibrant clothing and massive hoop earrings inspired by old Moorish fashion. This character, who appears identical to racist blackface caricatures, arrives on a boat from Spain to dance, wave, and offer treats to kids during parades. And the Dutch find little issue with him. In a 2015 poll, 81 percent of voters defended Black Pete's traditional appearance. But they may not get their way. This year, Dutch public broadcaster NTR announced that their representation of Black Pete will only have a soot-covered face. An increasing number of schools are also phasing out the character, or at least scaling back his jarring visage. This comes as a response to a litany of complaints from Dutch citizens of color, who complain their children are being teased and branded Black Pete in class. Even more disturbing, white extremists recently adopted Black Pete as a mascot and uniform, impersonating him as they block highways and tell teachers of color to "go back to your own country." In 2015, the United Nations urged the Dutch to retire Black Pete, calling him a lingering "vestige of slavery." But many Dutch refuse to budge. Meanwhile, the movement against Black Pete is gaining momentum. Sorry Dutch friends, but it seems to me there is only one right solution here: retire Black Pete and spend the time saved making more hilarious Zondag met Lubach videos.
Image credit & copyright: ANP
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2 minFREEPoetry Poem CurioFree2 CQ
Poem of the Day: ABC Plus E: Cosmic Aloneness Is the Bride of Existence. By Mary Jo Bang.
with Poetry FoundationPoem of the Day: ABC Plus E: Cosmic Aloneness Is the Bride of Existence. By Mary Jo Bang.
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3 minFREESTEM Nerdy CurioFree2 CQ
Today's Nerdy Curio is brought to you by 60-Second Science. The single organism that is the Utah aspen grove known as Pando is on the decline due to herbivor...
with 60-Second ScienceToday's Nerdy Curio is brought to you by 60-Second Science. The single organism that is the Utah aspen grove known as Pando is on the decline due to herbivor...
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FREEMusic Appreciation Song CurioFree2 CQ
Saint Nicholas' benevolence has been the subject of countless stories and artworks, though one, in particular, could give Stephen Sondheim's Sweeny Todd a run for its money. The French children's song La légende de Saint Nicolas tells of three boys who end up in the salting-tub of an evil butcher after they seek lodging in his home. After the initial scare of the first few verses, St. Nicholas meets the same butcher years later. As his cannibalistic plot is discovered, the butcher runs away from his house, wracked with guilt. The three boys, now free from their captor, are then restored to their whole forms when St. Nicholas performs a miracle. Though the song may tread odd territory with its terrifying butcher (in other countries, the butcher is an innkeeper), the tale is actually a common one told of St. Nicholas' good deeds and his dedication to protecting the lives of children. No matter how difficult their circumstances may be!
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Image credit & copyright: 123RF
Saint Nicholas' benevolence has been the subject of countless stories and artworks, though one, in particular, could give Stephen Sondheim's Sweeny Todd a run for its money. The French children's song La légende de Saint Nicolas tells of three boys who end up in the salting-tub of an evil butcher after they seek lodging in his home. After the initial scare of the first few verses, St. Nicholas meets the same butcher years later. As his cannibalistic plot is discovered, the butcher runs away from his house, wracked with guilt. The three boys, now free from their captor, are then restored to their whole forms when St. Nicholas performs a miracle. Though the song may tread odd territory with its terrifying butcher (in other countries, the butcher is an innkeeper), the tale is actually a common one told of St. Nicholas' good deeds and his dedication to protecting the lives of children. No matter how difficult their circumstances may be!
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Image credit & copyright: 123RF
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FREEAesthetic Art CurioFree1 CQ
Title: Arm Reliquary of Saint Nicholas
Artist: unknown
Created: 1315
Medium: Silver with parcel-gilded silver sheet, twisted filigree, and gemstones
Dimensions: 18.69 x 3.75 w in (47.5 x 9.5 cm)
Current location: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York
Saint Nicholas was known for selflessly giving a helping hand, so it's no wonder one of the artworks chosen to represent him in medieval Armenia was the cherished arm reliquary. The bejeweled piece, which features an image of the bishop engraved on the outside palm, was initially a gift to the head of the Armenian church, Constantine I of Cilicia. Christianity has been part of Armenian culture since St. Gregory converted King Tiridates III in the early fourth century; and a number of historical religious art pieces have been collected for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Armenia! show, which is on display until next month. These works display a resounding, centuries-long commitment to a faith through art—whether through illuminated manuscripts, bejeweled crosses, or holy reliquaries like the one above. They also tell of a cosmopolitan Middle Eastern locale which welcomed artistic influences from nearby cultures and religions. We bet St. Nick is giving the thumbs up!
Image credit & copyright: Metropolitan Museum of Art
Title: Arm Reliquary of Saint Nicholas
Artist: unknown
Created: 1315
Medium: Silver with parcel-gilded silver sheet, twisted filigree, and gemstones
Dimensions: 18.69 x 3.75 w in (47.5 x 9.5 cm)
Current location: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York
Saint Nicholas was known for selflessly giving a helping hand, so it's no wonder one of the artworks chosen to represent him in medieval Armenia was the cherished arm reliquary. The bejeweled piece, which features an image of the bishop engraved on the outside palm, was initially a gift to the head of the Armenian church, Constantine I of Cilicia. Christianity has been part of Armenian culture since St. Gregory converted King Tiridates III in the early fourth century; and a number of historical religious art pieces have been collected for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Armenia! show, which is on display until next month. These works display a resounding, centuries-long commitment to a faith through art—whether through illuminated manuscripts, bejeweled crosses, or holy reliquaries like the one above. They also tell of a cosmopolitan Middle Eastern locale which welcomed artistic influences from nearby cultures and religions. We bet St. Nick is giving the thumbs up!
Image credit & copyright: Metropolitan Museum of Art
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FREEPhotography Photo CurioFree1 CQ
Forget stocking stuffers because St. Nicholas takes his treats to another item of footwear: our shoes. The tradition of shoe stuffing for St. Nicholas Day seems to stem from tales of Saint Nicholas of Myra, a wealthy Christian bishop who was known to secretly disperse his wealth to those in need—sometimes by leaving coins in their boots. As the tales have evolved through the years, so has the tradition; on St. Nicholas Eve, a family member dresses up as the white-bearded saint and, together, the family recount their good deeds and shortcomings over the past year. When it's time for bed, everyone's shoes are laid out in a row, sometimes with a bit of carrots or grains left for St. Nick's trusty horse. When children and adults wake up the next day, they may find sneakers full of oranges, candy canes, and gold chocolate coins as signs of good fortune in the future. This is one holiday tradition that's sure to put a bit of sugar-pep in our step!
Image credit & copyright: Our Sunday Visitor
Forget stocking stuffers because St. Nicholas takes his treats to another item of footwear: our shoes. The tradition of shoe stuffing for St. Nicholas Day seems to stem from tales of Saint Nicholas of Myra, a wealthy Christian bishop who was known to secretly disperse his wealth to those in need—sometimes by leaving coins in their boots. As the tales have evolved through the years, so has the tradition; on St. Nicholas Eve, a family member dresses up as the white-bearded saint and, together, the family recount their good deeds and shortcomings over the past year. When it's time for bed, everyone's shoes are laid out in a row, sometimes with a bit of carrots or grains left for St. Nick's trusty horse. When children and adults wake up the next day, they may find sneakers full of oranges, candy canes, and gold chocolate coins as signs of good fortune in the future. This is one holiday tradition that's sure to put a bit of sugar-pep in our step!
Image credit & copyright: Our Sunday Visitor
December 5, 2018
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6 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
From the BBC World Service… Takeda Pharmaceuticals shareholders gave the green light for a $59-billion takeover of U.K.-listed Shire. It clears the way for J...
From the BBC World Service… Takeda Pharmaceuticals shareholders gave the green light for a $59-billion takeover of U.K.-listed Shire. It clears the way for J...
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : December 5, 2018
abandon \uh-BAN-dun\ noun
Definition
: a thorough yielding to natural impulses; especially : enthusiasm, exuberance
D...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : December 5, 2018
abandon \uh-BAN-dun\ noun
Definition
: a thorough yielding to natural impulses; especially : enthusiasm, exuberance
D...
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FREEHumanities Daily Curio #1673Free1 CQ
If yesterday's Curio has you considering celebrating Kwanzaa this year, then be ready to "pour one out." That's slang for the ritual of libations, where ancestors are honored by pouring the first sips of water, wine, or alcohol onto the ground. It's a common Kwanzaa tradition. Libations first came on the pop culture scene in 1996, as a way to honor the murder of Tupac Shakur. Tupac had recorded Pour Out a Little Liquor two years before his death, causing fans to honor his passing in that way. But the roots of libations are far deeper than gangsta rap. Humans have been doing it for at least 5,000 years. That's when ancient Egyptians are first recorded pouring water, milk, honey, or wine onto the ground to honor fallen kin. The ancient Greeks got into the act shortly thereafter, preferring to use sweetened wine. It gets a whole line in The Illiad: "Wait till I fetch you some sweet honeyed wine… to pour a libation." Ancient indigenous African, Chinese, and South Americans cultures had similar traditions as well. But it's the Romans who took things a step further. They built stone chalices into tombs, so mourners could pour wine into tubes which funneled directly into the entombed corpse. That way family members could have a meal at the gravesite and then "share" the wine with the deceased. I have to say, as a lover of red wine, this concept seems brilliant to me. But please, give me the good stuff!
If yesterday's Curio has you considering celebrating Kwanzaa this year, then be ready to "pour one out." That's slang for the ritual of libations, where ancestors are honored by pouring the first sips of water, wine, or alcohol onto the ground. It's a common Kwanzaa tradition. Libations first came on the pop culture scene in 1996, as a way to honor the murder of Tupac Shakur. Tupac had recorded Pour Out a Little Liquor two years before his death, causing fans to honor his passing in that way. But the roots of libations are far deeper than gangsta rap. Humans have been doing it for at least 5,000 years. That's when ancient Egyptians are first recorded pouring water, milk, honey, or wine onto the ground to honor fallen kin. The ancient Greeks got into the act shortly thereafter, preferring to use sweetened wine. It gets a whole line in The Illiad: "Wait till I fetch you some sweet honeyed wine… to pour a libation." Ancient indigenous African, Chinese, and South Americans cultures had similar traditions as well. But it's the Romans who took things a step further. They built stone chalices into tombs, so mourners could pour wine into tubes which funneled directly into the entombed corpse. That way family members could have a meal at the gravesite and then "share" the wine with the deceased. I have to say, as a lover of red wine, this concept seems brilliant to me. But please, give me the good stuff!
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6 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree4 CQ
Protests in France that initially targeted an increase in the gas tax have turned into a broader anti-Macron demonstration. Over the weekend, protesters torc...
with PRI's The WorldProtests in France that initially targeted an increase in the gas tax have turned into a broader anti-Macron demonstration. Over the weekend, protesters torc...
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FREEComposition Photo CurioFree1 CQ
The above photo may look like just another moment in a synagogue, yet it represents a highly unusual break from protocol. Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson of Brooklyn's Lubavitch-Chabad Hasidim stares into the camera of Chie Nishio, a Japanese-American artist who, at the time, was not entirely successful at her project: documenting the lives of notoriously private Hasidic Jews in New York during the 1990s. Nishio would have been in her 60s, an accomplished photojournalist who initially went in search of Judaism to understand an unspoken of part her husband's family history. With Rabbi Schneerson's gesture—handing an outsider woman a roll of nickels as a lesson on charity—and the growing acceptance of her presence in the Crown Heights congregation, Nishio was able to bring these intimate moments into the public eye. In 2014, Brooklyn Public Library collected her work with the Hasidic Jewish community; Nishio's ability to capture the beauty of unassuming moments of faith are finally on permanent display.
Below: more of Nishio's photos of Lubavitch-Chabad Hasidim: celebrating Chanukah in December, a young boy reading a prayer book, and a portrait of artist Michael Muchnik.
Image credit & copyright: Chie Nishio
The above photo may look like just another moment in a synagogue, yet it represents a highly unusual break from protocol. Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson of Brooklyn's Lubavitch-Chabad Hasidim stares into the camera of Chie Nishio, a Japanese-American artist who, at the time, was not entirely successful at her project: documenting the lives of notoriously private Hasidic Jews in New York during the 1990s. Nishio would have been in her 60s, an accomplished photojournalist who initially went in search of Judaism to understand an unspoken of part her husband's family history. With Rabbi Schneerson's gesture—handing an outsider woman a roll of nickels as a lesson on charity—and the growing acceptance of her presence in the Crown Heights congregation, Nishio was able to bring these intimate moments into the public eye. In 2014, Brooklyn Public Library collected her work with the Hasidic Jewish community; Nishio's ability to capture the beauty of unassuming moments of faith are finally on permanent display.
Below: more of Nishio's photos of Lubavitch-Chabad Hasidim: celebrating Chanukah in December, a young boy reading a prayer book, and a portrait of artist Michael Muchnik.
Image credit & copyright: Chie Nishio
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2 minFREESTEM Nerdy CurioFree2 CQ
Today's Nerdy Curio is brought to you by 60-Second Science. Smart meters on shower heads encouraged hotel guests to conserve—even though they personally save...
with 60-Second ScienceToday's Nerdy Curio is brought to you by 60-Second Science. Smart meters on shower heads encouraged hotel guests to conserve—even though they personally save...
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FREEMusic Appreciation Song CurioFree2 CQ
For a song about letting one's guard down, singer-songwriter KT Tunstall's video for Human Being sure inspire us to suit up with arm and shin guards. Maybe it's because the '80s synth and guitar-sounds are set to a VHS-quality recording of Eccaia Sampson's nunchuck skills, which are as dazzling as they are dangerous. Tunstall was introduced to Sampson's work by her father, who is a guitar tech for the Canadian band Barenaked Ladies, and once she saw the eight-year-old girl's work, she knew it was perfect for Human Being. "The song is all about fighting to be something… you're trying to impress, you're trying to be the best that you can possibly be, but at the end of it all, you are just human," the musician said. For Tunstall, who broke out nearly a decade ago with her hit Black Horse and the Cherry Tree, her newest single reflects a wider conversation about physicality. If Human Being's video is any indicator, the visceral side of Tunstall's songwriting is sounding as exciting and electric as ever.
Other streaming options
Image credit & copyright: KT Tunstall
For a song about letting one's guard down, singer-songwriter KT Tunstall's video for Human Being sure inspire us to suit up with arm and shin guards. Maybe it's because the '80s synth and guitar-sounds are set to a VHS-quality recording of Eccaia Sampson's nunchuck skills, which are as dazzling as they are dangerous. Tunstall was introduced to Sampson's work by her father, who is a guitar tech for the Canadian band Barenaked Ladies, and once she saw the eight-year-old girl's work, she knew it was perfect for Human Being. "The song is all about fighting to be something… you're trying to impress, you're trying to be the best that you can possibly be, but at the end of it all, you are just human," the musician said. For Tunstall, who broke out nearly a decade ago with her hit Black Horse and the Cherry Tree, her newest single reflects a wider conversation about physicality. If Human Being's video is any indicator, the visceral side of Tunstall's songwriting is sounding as exciting and electric as ever.
Other streaming options
Image credit & copyright: KT Tunstall
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FREEArt Appreciation Art CurioFree1 CQ
Title: Respecting the Circle
Artist: Manasiah Akpaliapik (b. 1955)
Created: 1989
Medium: whalebone, ivory, dark grey stone, antler, baleen, rust stone, horn
Current location: Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
We're putting our best face forward this winter, though we've probably got nothing on what Manasiah Akpaliapik's Respecting the Circle has to say about that. Akpaliapik was taught how to carve whalebone by his Inuit family in the Baffin Islands in northeast Canada. After suffering the death of his wife and children during a fire in 1980, Akpaliapik moved to the city of Montreal as part of a healing process and began carving professionally. Though his sculptures hearken back to more traditional forms of Inuit sculpting, the sheer multitude of creatures and faces put Akpaliapik's work into a category all its own, one full of maximum engagement with Inuit history and legends. "Everything that I'm doing is trying to capture some of the culture," Akpaliapik once said, "...simple things like hunting, wearing traditional clothing, harpoons, using legends. I feel that the only way we can preserve the culture is if people can see it." If Respecting the Circle is any indicator, Akpaliapik is doing just fine imbuing his work with Inuit motifs and eye-catching creatures.
Below: more of Akpaliapik's stunning sculptures.
Image credit & copyright: Art Gallery of Ontario, Deidra Kelly
Title: Respecting the Circle
Artist: Manasiah Akpaliapik (b. 1955)
Created: 1989
Medium: whalebone, ivory, dark grey stone, antler, baleen, rust stone, horn
Current location: Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
We're putting our best face forward this winter, though we've probably got nothing on what Manasiah Akpaliapik's Respecting the Circle has to say about that. Akpaliapik was taught how to carve whalebone by his Inuit family in the Baffin Islands in northeast Canada. After suffering the death of his wife and children during a fire in 1980, Akpaliapik moved to the city of Montreal as part of a healing process and began carving professionally. Though his sculptures hearken back to more traditional forms of Inuit sculpting, the sheer multitude of creatures and faces put Akpaliapik's work into a category all its own, one full of maximum engagement with Inuit history and legends. "Everything that I'm doing is trying to capture some of the culture," Akpaliapik once said, "...simple things like hunting, wearing traditional clothing, harpoons, using legends. I feel that the only way we can preserve the culture is if people can see it." If Respecting the Circle is any indicator, Akpaliapik is doing just fine imbuing his work with Inuit motifs and eye-catching creatures.
Below: more of Akpaliapik's stunning sculptures.
Image credit & copyright: Art Gallery of Ontario, Deidra Kelly
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1 minFREEPoetry Poem CurioFree1 CQ
Poem of the Day: Noah / Ham: Fathers of the Year. by Douglas Kearney.
with Poetry FoundationPoem of the Day: Noah / Ham: Fathers of the Year. by Douglas Kearney.
December 4, 2018
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : December 4, 2018
perspicacious \per-spuh-KAY-shus\ adjective
Definition
: of acute mental vision or discernment : keen
Did You Know?
P...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : December 4, 2018
perspicacious \per-spuh-KAY-shus\ adjective
Definition
: of acute mental vision or discernment : keen
Did You Know?
P...
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7 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
From the BBC World Service… Parliamentary debate begins in England today on Brexit just after a non-binding, early opinion from a European Court of Justice l...
From the BBC World Service… Parliamentary debate begins in England today on Brexit just after a non-binding, early opinion from a European Court of Justice l...
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6 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree4 CQ
Qatar's decision to leave the oil cartel comes after Saudi Arabia created a blockade in 2017 and issued a proposal this year to dig a ditch separating the tw...
with PRI's The WorldQatar's decision to leave the oil cartel comes after Saudi Arabia created a blockade in 2017 and issued a proposal this year to dig a ditch separating the tw...
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FREEHumanities Daily Curio #1672Free1 CQ
Here in the U.S. it's after Thanksgiving, which means the Christmas season is in full swing. As if it isn't hard enough to enjoy the holiday, given the rampant commercialization, along comes a modern-day gimmick that just might push parents to celebrate only Kwanzaa. It's called the Elf on a Shelf. Starting the day after Thanksgiving, the small action figure elf is supposed to be placed in a spot where your kids can see it, but not touch it, and then be moved every day. The legend of the Elf on a Shelf—which you can learn about in the companion book or DVD or made-for-TV-movie—is that each night the Elf reports back to Santa at the North Pole about how well the children are behaving. Parents are supposed to reward the kids with small gifts or treats for each day of good behavior on their march towards Christmas. After starting as a self-published book in 2005, the company now generates $10 million in annual sales from their doll sales, books, DVDs, and—naturally—changes of clothes for the Elf. I'm not begrudging the homegrown success of a creative new holiday product, but I do wonder if this is what the world really needs. Further bribing the kids with mini holiday presents each day before Christmas doesn't just turn parents into lunatics. If you read the Amazon reviews for the Elf, apparently it often has the additional effect of turning the kids into ungrateful brats for the other 11 months of the year. Kwanzaa is definitely sounding better and better!
Image credit & copyright: Gina Bacon
Here in the U.S. it's after Thanksgiving, which means the Christmas season is in full swing. As if it isn't hard enough to enjoy the holiday, given the rampant commercialization, along comes a modern-day gimmick that just might push parents to celebrate only Kwanzaa. It's called the Elf on a Shelf. Starting the day after Thanksgiving, the small action figure elf is supposed to be placed in a spot where your kids can see it, but not touch it, and then be moved every day. The legend of the Elf on a Shelf—which you can learn about in the companion book or DVD or made-for-TV-movie—is that each night the Elf reports back to Santa at the North Pole about how well the children are behaving. Parents are supposed to reward the kids with small gifts or treats for each day of good behavior on their march towards Christmas. After starting as a self-published book in 2005, the company now generates $10 million in annual sales from their doll sales, books, DVDs, and—naturally—changes of clothes for the Elf. I'm not begrudging the homegrown success of a creative new holiday product, but I do wonder if this is what the world really needs. Further bribing the kids with mini holiday presents each day before Christmas doesn't just turn parents into lunatics. If you read the Amazon reviews for the Elf, apparently it often has the additional effect of turning the kids into ungrateful brats for the other 11 months of the year. Kwanzaa is definitely sounding better and better!
Image credit & copyright: Gina Bacon
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FREEPhotography Photo CurioFree1 CQ
Acclaimed actor Willem Dafoe has gone and outdone himself, slipping into the very skin of Vincent van Gogh for filmmaker Julian Schnabel's new biographical drama, At Eternity's Gate. Pictured above, Dafoe is almost indistinguishable from van Gogh, sporting his ruddy beard, ear gauze, and distant artistic gaze. But Dafoe's performance as the tortured Dutch artist dives beneath appearances; aside from poring over the bounty of letters that van Gogh left behind, Dafoe learned how to maneuver and view the world as an artist under the tutelage of Schnabel. Schnabel, a successful painter known for his trademark "plate paintings"—each full of shattered ceramic plates—conducted a series of one-on-one art sessions with Dafoe, each a few hours long, in between takes. The cinematic results are an accurate, and downright uncanny, portrayal that may just win Dafoe an elusive Academy Award—in spite of the fact that the actor is 63, and van Gogh died at 37. Needless to say, this movie is Goghing to be great!
Below: more shots of Dafoe impersonating van Gogh.
Image credit & copyright: Lily Gavin
Acclaimed actor Willem Dafoe has gone and outdone himself, slipping into the very skin of Vincent van Gogh for filmmaker Julian Schnabel's new biographical drama, At Eternity's Gate. Pictured above, Dafoe is almost indistinguishable from van Gogh, sporting his ruddy beard, ear gauze, and distant artistic gaze. But Dafoe's performance as the tortured Dutch artist dives beneath appearances; aside from poring over the bounty of letters that van Gogh left behind, Dafoe learned how to maneuver and view the world as an artist under the tutelage of Schnabel. Schnabel, a successful painter known for his trademark "plate paintings"—each full of shattered ceramic plates—conducted a series of one-on-one art sessions with Dafoe, each a few hours long, in between takes. The cinematic results are an accurate, and downright uncanny, portrayal that may just win Dafoe an elusive Academy Award—in spite of the fact that the actor is 63, and van Gogh died at 37. Needless to say, this movie is Goghing to be great!
Below: more shots of Dafoe impersonating van Gogh.
Image credit & copyright: Lily Gavin
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1 minFREEPoetry Poem CurioFree1 CQ
Poem of the Day: My Fathers, Coming and Going. By George Szirtes.
with Poetry FoundationPoem of the Day: My Fathers, Coming and Going. By George Szirtes.
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3 minFREESTEM Nerdy CurioFree2 CQ
Herein we explain that birds do not hibernate in lakes, do not migrate to the moon, but DO go on very unique journeys, which we humans have learned about in ...
with Minute EarthHerein we explain that birds do not hibernate in lakes, do not migrate to the moon, but DO go on very unique journeys, which we humans have learned about in ...
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FREEArt Appreciation Art CurioFree1 CQ
Title: Faust
Artist: Richard Nicolaas Roland Holst (1868 – 1938)
Created: 1918
Medium: lithograph poster
Dimensions: 43.5 x 31.5 in (110.5 x 80 cm)
No deal with the devil was necessary for Richard Nicolaas Roland Holst to create this exquisite piece of artisanship. The Dutch illustrator, who was born 150 years ago today, embraced traditional art forms and was a noted forerunner of the Arts and Crafts movement, a return to pre-industrial art forms; but Holst was also a symbolist, filling his works with mythical creatures, like the devil shown in this lithograph-printed Faust poster. When many artists in Europe were dabbling with abstract art in the 1920s, favoring form over content, Holst created prophets and demons for full display in Utrecht's stained-glass cathedral windows and on Dutch magazine covers. His elaborate lines, patterns, and ability to paint Faust's moral dilemma in black and red made Holst a favorite artistic of the Koninklijke Vereeniging Het Nederlandsch Tooneel theater company at Den Haag in the Netherlands. We're not saying Holst and the Tooneel theater's pairing was a match made in heaven—although if it were up to the demon Mephistopheles, the match would have been made in a much different place!
Below: more of Holst's work with Tooneel in the poster for Electra; Holst's style was also an influence on art deco works, as shown in his magazine covers.
Title: Faust
Artist: Richard Nicolaas Roland Holst (1868 – 1938)
Created: 1918
Medium: lithograph poster
Dimensions: 43.5 x 31.5 in (110.5 x 80 cm)
No deal with the devil was necessary for Richard Nicolaas Roland Holst to create this exquisite piece of artisanship. The Dutch illustrator, who was born 150 years ago today, embraced traditional art forms and was a noted forerunner of the Arts and Crafts movement, a return to pre-industrial art forms; but Holst was also a symbolist, filling his works with mythical creatures, like the devil shown in this lithograph-printed Faust poster. When many artists in Europe were dabbling with abstract art in the 1920s, favoring form over content, Holst created prophets and demons for full display in Utrecht's stained-glass cathedral windows and on Dutch magazine covers. His elaborate lines, patterns, and ability to paint Faust's moral dilemma in black and red made Holst a favorite artistic of the Koninklijke Vereeniging Het Nederlandsch Tooneel theater company at Den Haag in the Netherlands. We're not saying Holst and the Tooneel theater's pairing was a match made in heaven—although if it were up to the demon Mephistopheles, the match would have been made in a much different place!
Below: more of Holst's work with Tooneel in the poster for Electra; Holst's style was also an influence on art deco works, as shown in his magazine covers.
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FREEMusic Song CurioFree2 CQ
Ludwig van Beethoven's music is known for its passionate tones, but perhaps none so much as the Bagatelle No. 25 in A minor for solo piano, otherwise known as Für Elise. Penned for a romantic interest, Beethoven's Für Elise is a popular example of rondo music, which features an obsessive principal refrain that alternates with contrasting themes. Like a letter from a secret admirer, the subdued tune was actually meant for Beethoven's love interest rather than a public audience. Born this month in 1770, Beethoven never published the piece during his lifetime; instead, music scholar Ludwig Nohl discovered it 40 years after the composer's death, sparking widespread interest in the woman for whom it had been written. But there was little confirmation of the existence of this mysterious woman; instead, it turned out that Beethoven had fallen in love with—and in 1810 proposed to—a woman named Therese. Unlucky for Beethoven, Therese opted to go the more practical route and marry a state official rather than a musician. Lucky for listeners, his unrequited love yielded a gorgeous, melancholy tune that has stood the test of time—even if the love that inspired it didn't!
Other streaming options
Ludwig van Beethoven's music is known for its passionate tones, but perhaps none so much as the Bagatelle No. 25 in A minor for solo piano, otherwise known as Für Elise. Penned for a romantic interest, Beethoven's Für Elise is a popular example of rondo music, which features an obsessive principal refrain that alternates with contrasting themes. Like a letter from a secret admirer, the subdued tune was actually meant for Beethoven's love interest rather than a public audience. Born this month in 1770, Beethoven never published the piece during his lifetime; instead, music scholar Ludwig Nohl discovered it 40 years after the composer's death, sparking widespread interest in the woman for whom it had been written. But there was little confirmation of the existence of this mysterious woman; instead, it turned out that Beethoven had fallen in love with—and in 1810 proposed to—a woman named Therese. Unlucky for Beethoven, Therese opted to go the more practical route and marry a state official rather than a musician. Lucky for listeners, his unrequited love yielded a gorgeous, melancholy tune that has stood the test of time—even if the love that inspired it didn't!
Other streaming options
December 3, 2018
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
The U.S. and China reached a 90-day truce in its trade war at the G20 Summit this past week, but the two countries still don't appear to be on the same page....
The U.S. and China reached a 90-day truce in its trade war at the G20 Summit this past week, but the two countries still don't appear to be on the same page....
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : December 3, 2018
circumvent \ser-kum-VENT\ verb
Definition
1 : to manage to get around especially by ingenuity or stratagem
2 a : to he...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : December 3, 2018
circumvent \ser-kum-VENT\ verb
Definition
1 : to manage to get around especially by ingenuity or stratagem
2 a : to he...
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FREEHumanities Daily Curio #1671Free1 CQ
Want to be vexed by vexillology? That's the study of the symbolism, usage, and history of flags. Flags, as it turns out, are quite fascinating. Take Nepal. In December 1962, Nepal introduced the only non-rectangular national flag in history—a few years after being admitted to the United Nations. Why all other flags are rectangular is also interesting. Before the 17th century, countries didn't really have flags. People almost never traveled between countries given the cost and time involved; and national identity was far less important than allegiance to local municipalities or states, usually ruled by lords. Countries didn't have flags but rather a coat of arms from the royal family—which changed with each new ruling power. Most flags were reserved for wars, to identify military units on the field of battle. Each regiment had its own insignia. It wasn't until countries began trading with each other via ships that national flags became a thing. Almost all nations created their first flags in the 18th century, during the Age of Sail. This coincided with the emergence of the free nation as a concept, spearheaded by the French and American Revolutions. Since flags were designed to be flown on ships, the rectangular shape was best for catching the wind and being readable from a distance. Once European nations had set the rectangular standard, all other new nations followed suit. Except for Nepal! The landlocked nation saw no reason to be like everybody else. Their flag is two triangles stacked together, forming a five-sided shape with two tapering points, called pennons. Pennons were a common shape for banners in Asia for centuries, mostly used in Hindu and Buddhist temples. But only Nepal turned them into a flag. The resulting double-peaked shape stands out instantly in a sea of national flags, and is the source of much pride in Nepal. It's brilliant branding actually. They literally zigged when everybody else zagged!
Image credit & copyright: Berger Paints
Want to be vexed by vexillology? That's the study of the symbolism, usage, and history of flags. Flags, as it turns out, are quite fascinating. Take Nepal. In December 1962, Nepal introduced the only non-rectangular national flag in history—a few years after being admitted to the United Nations. Why all other flags are rectangular is also interesting. Before the 17th century, countries didn't really have flags. People almost never traveled between countries given the cost and time involved; and national identity was far less important than allegiance to local municipalities or states, usually ruled by lords. Countries didn't have flags but rather a coat of arms from the royal family—which changed with each new ruling power. Most flags were reserved for wars, to identify military units on the field of battle. Each regiment had its own insignia. It wasn't until countries began trading with each other via ships that national flags became a thing. Almost all nations created their first flags in the 18th century, during the Age of Sail. This coincided with the emergence of the free nation as a concept, spearheaded by the French and American Revolutions. Since flags were designed to be flown on ships, the rectangular shape was best for catching the wind and being readable from a distance. Once European nations had set the rectangular standard, all other new nations followed suit. Except for Nepal! The landlocked nation saw no reason to be like everybody else. Their flag is two triangles stacked together, forming a five-sided shape with two tapering points, called pennons. Pennons were a common shape for banners in Asia for centuries, mostly used in Hindu and Buddhist temples. But only Nepal turned them into a flag. The resulting double-peaked shape stands out instantly in a sea of national flags, and is the source of much pride in Nepal. It's brilliant branding actually. They literally zigged when everybody else zagged!
Image credit & copyright: Berger Paints
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2 minFREEAstronomy Nerdy CurioFree2 CQ
Today's Nerdy Curio is brought to you by NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab. December brings the Geminids, a visible comet, and a fond farewell.
Today's Nerdy Curio is brought to you by NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab. December brings the Geminids, a visible comet, and a fond farewell.
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5 minFREEPoetry Poem CurioFree3 CQ
Poem of the Day: Summer Garden. by Louise Glück.
with Poetry FoundationPoem of the Day: Summer Garden. by Louise Glück.
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6 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree4 CQ
Fighters get $200 a month as a stipend as they reintegrate into Colombian society but those payments won't last forever, so some are turning to tourism and c...
with PRI's The WorldFighters get $200 a month as a stipend as they reintegrate into Colombian society but those payments won't last forever, so some are turning to tourism and c...
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FREEArt Appreciation Photo CurioFree1 CQ
These aren't the Native Americans we're looking for. The work of First Nations multimedia artist Nicholas Galanin, like the above Things Are Looking Native, Native's Looking Whiter, occupies a precarious position in the art world, and the world at large. Expectations of "Native art" tend to pigeonhole Galanin and other contemporary Native American artists into recreating the animal carvings, basket weaving, and blanket knitting of yore in order to express their cultural and visual artistry. "Culture is rooted in connection to land; like land, culture cannot be contained," Galanin once wrote, and, as a Tlingit and Unangax̂ from Alaska who went to college in England and New Zealand, his worst enemy may just be what people are expecting his art to address. At a time when fashion trends seek to appropriate Native American artistry, elucidating the cultural connection between a Star Wars rebel princess' hairdo and its Tewa tribe and Southwest indigenous origins enriches everyone's understandings of sacred histories.
Below: for the most recent American Indian Heritage Day, we're taking a look at a few of Galanin's other works which embrace contemporary mediums—with a twist; Inert Wolf, and God Complex.
Image credit & copyright: Nicholas Galanin, Hyperallergic, My Modern Met
These aren't the Native Americans we're looking for. The work of First Nations multimedia artist Nicholas Galanin, like the above Things Are Looking Native, Native's Looking Whiter, occupies a precarious position in the art world, and the world at large. Expectations of "Native art" tend to pigeonhole Galanin and other contemporary Native American artists into recreating the animal carvings, basket weaving, and blanket knitting of yore in order to express their cultural and visual artistry. "Culture is rooted in connection to land; like land, culture cannot be contained," Galanin once wrote, and, as a Tlingit and Unangax̂ from Alaska who went to college in England and New Zealand, his worst enemy may just be what people are expecting his art to address. At a time when fashion trends seek to appropriate Native American artistry, elucidating the cultural connection between a Star Wars rebel princess' hairdo and its Tewa tribe and Southwest indigenous origins enriches everyone's understandings of sacred histories.
Below: for the most recent American Indian Heritage Day, we're taking a look at a few of Galanin's other works which embrace contemporary mediums—with a twist; Inert Wolf, and God Complex.
Image credit & copyright: Nicholas Galanin, Hyperallergic, My Modern Met
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FREEArt Appreciation Art CurioFree1 CQ
Title: Our Friend Fluid Metal
Artist: Nancy Rubins (b. 1952)
Created: 2013
Medium: aluminum, stainless steel
Dimensions: 132 x 168 x 96 in (335.3 x 426.7 x 243.8 cm)
Current location: Gagosian, New York, New York
One person's junk is Nancy Rubin's gravity-defying sculpture. The Southern California-based artist is known for repurposing found objects into giant vertical trails, like the above Our Friend Fluid Metal. Rubins began working with thrown-away items as art back in the '70s as a thrift store shopper in San Francisco; decades later, she'd find herself in Topanga Canyon in Southern California, buying recycled aluminum airplane parts and playground equipment for 10 cents a pound. In addition to the childhood nostalgia of the items, Rubins began to see the faded elephant and horse forms like swaths of paint on an abstract artist's canvas, each capable of expressing a multitude of ideas with its form, rather than what the object was in a previous lifetime. With the input of an engineer, Rubins has been able to install her amazing forms in indoor and outdoor climates, using cables to keep the works in their precarious configurations. For her 66th birthday today, we'd get Rubins an Entenmann's cake, but we hear she likes to throw those onto mattresses in her sculptures!
Below: additional views of Rubins' gravity-defying sculptures: Monochrome for Austin made from aluminum canoes, a closer look at Mattresses and cakes, and another piece from Our Friend Fluid Metal.
Image credit & copyright: Gagosian, Paul Bardagjy, Fabric Workshop and Museum, Whitewall
Title: Our Friend Fluid Metal
Artist: Nancy Rubins (b. 1952)
Created: 2013
Medium: aluminum, stainless steel
Dimensions: 132 x 168 x 96 in (335.3 x 426.7 x 243.8 cm)
Current location: Gagosian, New York, New York
One person's junk is Nancy Rubin's gravity-defying sculpture. The Southern California-based artist is known for repurposing found objects into giant vertical trails, like the above Our Friend Fluid Metal. Rubins began working with thrown-away items as art back in the '70s as a thrift store shopper in San Francisco; decades later, she'd find herself in Topanga Canyon in Southern California, buying recycled aluminum airplane parts and playground equipment for 10 cents a pound. In addition to the childhood nostalgia of the items, Rubins began to see the faded elephant and horse forms like swaths of paint on an abstract artist's canvas, each capable of expressing a multitude of ideas with its form, rather than what the object was in a previous lifetime. With the input of an engineer, Rubins has been able to install her amazing forms in indoor and outdoor climates, using cables to keep the works in their precarious configurations. For her 66th birthday today, we'd get Rubins an Entenmann's cake, but we hear she likes to throw those onto mattresses in her sculptures!
Below: additional views of Rubins' gravity-defying sculptures: Monochrome for Austin made from aluminum canoes, a closer look at Mattresses and cakes, and another piece from Our Friend Fluid Metal.
Image credit & copyright: Gagosian, Paul Bardagjy, Fabric Workshop and Museum, Whitewall
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FREEMusic Song CurioFree2 CQ
This historical epic made some history of its own. Directed by Sergei Eisenstein, the film Alexander Nevsky, released 80 years ago this month, features the thrilling music of Sergei Prokofiev. The Russian composer brought the full range of his talents to the score, which tells the story of 13th-century Teutonic knights from the Holy Roman Empire invading Russia. The film uses music instead of dialogue to advance the plot. While filming, Eisenstein read some early drafts of Prokofiev's score for inspiration before shooting scenes, such as the famous Battle of Ice scene that has inspired similar moments in many later films. When the armies march towards each other, Prokofiev has the brass instruments in the orchestra play low, static chords that create a "chug-chug" sound to evoke impending conflict. Meanwhile, woodwinds give a sense of the furious wind that's swirling around both armies. Prokofiev and Eisenstein's experimentation was possible partly because sound was a relatively new addition to cinema in the 1930s. Nowadays, composers only score films once they've been completely shot. But if they can find a composer like Prokofiev, we might beg modern directors to reconsider.
Other streaming options
Image credit & copyright: Chicago Symphony Orchestra
This historical epic made some history of its own. Directed by Sergei Eisenstein, the film Alexander Nevsky, released 80 years ago this month, features the thrilling music of Sergei Prokofiev. The Russian composer brought the full range of his talents to the score, which tells the story of 13th-century Teutonic knights from the Holy Roman Empire invading Russia. The film uses music instead of dialogue to advance the plot. While filming, Eisenstein read some early drafts of Prokofiev's score for inspiration before shooting scenes, such as the famous Battle of Ice scene that has inspired similar moments in many later films. When the armies march towards each other, Prokofiev has the brass instruments in the orchestra play low, static chords that create a "chug-chug" sound to evoke impending conflict. Meanwhile, woodwinds give a sense of the furious wind that's swirling around both armies. Prokofiev and Eisenstein's experimentation was possible partly because sound was a relatively new addition to cinema in the 1930s. Nowadays, composers only score films once they've been completely shot. But if they can find a composer like Prokofiev, we might beg modern directors to reconsider.
Other streaming options
Image credit & copyright: Chicago Symphony Orchestra
