Curio Cabinet
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March 23, 2023
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9 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
From the BBC World Service: After the Federal Reserve, it’s the turn of the Bank of England to make a decision on interest rates. Central banks are juggling ...
From the BBC World Service: After the Federal Reserve, it’s the turn of the Bank of England to make a decision on interest rates. Central banks are juggling ...
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day
: March 23, 2023\sim-bee-OH-sis\ noun
What It Means
In the field of biology, symbiosis refers to the relationship between two...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day
: March 23, 2023\sim-bee-OH-sis\ noun
What It Means
In the field of biology, symbiosis refers to the relationship between two...
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FREEScience Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
So you’ve managed to get to Mars—now what? Getting to the Red Planet is one thing, but another head-scratcher that scientists have been trying to solve is how to feed the first humans who will land on Mars once they get there. According to a study presented during the 54th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference by researchers from the University of Arkansas, the answer may be a heaping bowl of rice. Researcher Abhilash Ramachandran and his team have demonstrated that it might be possible to grow rice in Martian soil. The biggest hurdle is the presence of perchlorate, a toxic chemical that is found on the surface of Mars. Researchers found that rice could grow in simulated Martian soil without any perchlorate, so they moved on to identifying varieties of rice that would be resilient against the chemical. What they found was that rice with the modified gene, SnRK1a was able to grow in soil with 1 gram of perchlorate per kilogram. While the plant only managed to grow a root and a shoot—a far cry from an abundant field of rice—identifying the gene responsible is a major step toward being able to grow food on Mars. The next step is to further experiment with SnRK1a to create a cultivar that is resistant to the toxic chemical. Some people might prefer organic to GMO, but you don’t have much of a choice when you’re millions of miles from the nearest grocery store.
[Image description: A photograph of Mars.] Credit & copyright: WikiImages, Pixabay
So you’ve managed to get to Mars—now what? Getting to the Red Planet is one thing, but another head-scratcher that scientists have been trying to solve is how to feed the first humans who will land on Mars once they get there. According to a study presented during the 54th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference by researchers from the University of Arkansas, the answer may be a heaping bowl of rice. Researcher Abhilash Ramachandran and his team have demonstrated that it might be possible to grow rice in Martian soil. The biggest hurdle is the presence of perchlorate, a toxic chemical that is found on the surface of Mars. Researchers found that rice could grow in simulated Martian soil without any perchlorate, so they moved on to identifying varieties of rice that would be resilient against the chemical. What they found was that rice with the modified gene, SnRK1a was able to grow in soil with 1 gram of perchlorate per kilogram. While the plant only managed to grow a root and a shoot—a far cry from an abundant field of rice—identifying the gene responsible is a major step toward being able to grow food on Mars. The next step is to further experiment with SnRK1a to create a cultivar that is resistant to the toxic chemical. Some people might prefer organic to GMO, but you don’t have much of a choice when you’re millions of miles from the nearest grocery store.
[Image description: A photograph of Mars.] Credit & copyright: WikiImages, Pixabay
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FREEWorld History Daily Curio #2624Free1 CQ
Pirates weren’t the only seafaring raiders to leave behind buried treasure. In 2018, archaeologists began excavating the remains of a viking ship near the Oslo Fjord, in Norway. After years of salvaging and cataloging, they’re finally announcing what they’ve found. It may seem surprising, but historians and archaeologists don’t actually have a lot of accurate information about viking culture. Despite their fearsome reputation and their persistence in popular imaginations for centuries, vikings left very little record of their existence. Even their portrayal in paintings, books, and recent media like the TV show Vikings contradicts what little is known about them—they weren’t even known to wear horned helmets or fashionable leather armor. That’s why finds like the Gjellestad Ship are so important, and it’s proving to be a treasure trove of information. It’s the first viking ship excavation since 1904, and it’s yielded around 8,000 fragments of different artifacts in various states of decay.
The ship as a whole couldn’t be raised, but the wood in the keel dates to around the 8th Century and reveals that the ship saw action sometime in the following centuries before it was buried. There’s also evidence that the ship’s contents were picked over by grave robbers. And yes, the ship likely did serve as a grave. Important figures were buried in ships filled with valuables as a sign of power and wealth. Among the buried hoard was a large amber bead that may have once been attached to jewelry or even a weapon. Then there are items that might have been added for the deceased to make use of in the afterlife, like a comb and a whetstone for sharpening their weapons. The variety of items is important because it helps historians understand the vikings’ customs. It also gives them an idea of what their trade network might have been like in its heyday. While vikings are best known as raiders who terrorized the coasts, they were, in fact, big players in the commerce of early medieval Europe. These mysterious people did it all: they were raiders, waders and traders.
[Image description: A viking-style boat sails between mountains.] Credit & copyright: WFlore, PixabayPirates weren’t the only seafaring raiders to leave behind buried treasure. In 2018, archaeologists began excavating the remains of a viking ship near the Oslo Fjord, in Norway. After years of salvaging and cataloging, they’re finally announcing what they’ve found. It may seem surprising, but historians and archaeologists don’t actually have a lot of accurate information about viking culture. Despite their fearsome reputation and their persistence in popular imaginations for centuries, vikings left very little record of their existence. Even their portrayal in paintings, books, and recent media like the TV show Vikings contradicts what little is known about them—they weren’t even known to wear horned helmets or fashionable leather armor. That’s why finds like the Gjellestad Ship are so important, and it’s proving to be a treasure trove of information. It’s the first viking ship excavation since 1904, and it’s yielded around 8,000 fragments of different artifacts in various states of decay.
The ship as a whole couldn’t be raised, but the wood in the keel dates to around the 8th Century and reveals that the ship saw action sometime in the following centuries before it was buried. There’s also evidence that the ship’s contents were picked over by grave robbers. And yes, the ship likely did serve as a grave. Important figures were buried in ships filled with valuables as a sign of power and wealth. Among the buried hoard was a large amber bead that may have once been attached to jewelry or even a weapon. Then there are items that might have been added for the deceased to make use of in the afterlife, like a comb and a whetstone for sharpening their weapons. The variety of items is important because it helps historians understand the vikings’ customs. It also gives them an idea of what their trade network might have been like in its heyday. While vikings are best known as raiders who terrorized the coasts, they were, in fact, big players in the commerce of early medieval Europe. These mysterious people did it all: they were raiders, waders and traders.
[Image description: A viking-style boat sails between mountains.] Credit & copyright: WFlore, Pixabay
March 22, 2023
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10 minFREEWork Business CurioFree6 CQ
From the BBC World Service: As the Islamic holy month of Ramadan gets underway, we look at the significance of dates and the multi-billion dollar business of...
From the BBC World Service: As the Islamic holy month of Ramadan gets underway, we look at the significance of dates and the multi-billion dollar business of...
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day
: March 22, 2023\AHB-duh-rut\ adjective
What It Means
Obdurate is a formal word that means “resistant to persuasion.” It is u...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day
: March 22, 2023\AHB-duh-rut\ adjective
What It Means
Obdurate is a formal word that means “resistant to persuasion.” It is u...
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FREEEntrepreneurship Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
Breaking a smartphone case may be easy, but breaking into a saturated market is tough. Colorful smartphone cases can be found just about anywhere, from mall bodegas to truck stops. They’re so ubiquitous that creating a new type of case that consumers haven’t seen before is a somewhat herculean task. Enter Wes Ng and Ronald Yeung, co-founders of Casetify. Launched a decade ago during the height of instagram’s popularity, Casetify made a name for itself by allowing customers to create custom phone cases by printing their own photos onto them. Realizing that it would be tough to get the word out about their product when so many other phone case companies existed, the Hong Kong-based entrepreneurs began reaching out to some of instagram’s first big influencers for marketing purposes. Today, influencer marketing is extremely common, but at the time of Casetify’s founding it was still a new and largely untested way of doing things. As the years went by and the company’s popularity grew, Ng and Yeung deployed new strategies to stay relevant in the ever-popular phone case market, including marketing with bigger celebrities, and partnering with artists and franchises to create case collections that would appeal to specific fan groups. At the same time, they grew their recognition in the tech world by engineering tougher, crack-resistant cases to protect high-end phones. Today, Casetify is one of the best-known phone case brands in the world, earning around $300 million per year. While they continue to market through influencers on Instagram, Ng and Yeung have been careful to stay on top of the changing social media landscape, marketing through Youtubers and on TikTok as well. The modern business world sits still for no brand.
[Image description: A display case filled with phone cases.] Credit & copyright: ArtisticOperations, Pixabay. (Phone cases shown are not associated with Casetify and aren’t meant to endorse Casetify)Breaking a smartphone case may be easy, but breaking into a saturated market is tough. Colorful smartphone cases can be found just about anywhere, from mall bodegas to truck stops. They’re so ubiquitous that creating a new type of case that consumers haven’t seen before is a somewhat herculean task. Enter Wes Ng and Ronald Yeung, co-founders of Casetify. Launched a decade ago during the height of instagram’s popularity, Casetify made a name for itself by allowing customers to create custom phone cases by printing their own photos onto them. Realizing that it would be tough to get the word out about their product when so many other phone case companies existed, the Hong Kong-based entrepreneurs began reaching out to some of instagram’s first big influencers for marketing purposes. Today, influencer marketing is extremely common, but at the time of Casetify’s founding it was still a new and largely untested way of doing things. As the years went by and the company’s popularity grew, Ng and Yeung deployed new strategies to stay relevant in the ever-popular phone case market, including marketing with bigger celebrities, and partnering with artists and franchises to create case collections that would appeal to specific fan groups. At the same time, they grew their recognition in the tech world by engineering tougher, crack-resistant cases to protect high-end phones. Today, Casetify is one of the best-known phone case brands in the world, earning around $300 million per year. While they continue to market through influencers on Instagram, Ng and Yeung have been careful to stay on top of the changing social media landscape, marketing through Youtubers and on TikTok as well. The modern business world sits still for no brand.
[Image description: A display case filled with phone cases.] Credit & copyright: ArtisticOperations, Pixabay. (Phone cases shown are not associated with Casetify and aren’t meant to endorse Casetify) -
FREEEngineering Daily Curio #2623Free1 CQ
Let there be (less) light! Around the world, there's an overabundance of artificial light at night. Known as light pollution, it's a serious environmental concern, yet few places take much care to mitigate it. Now, one building will serve as the testing ground for a new lighting system that may help decrease light pollution. Camilla Rathsach, a graduate student at Aalborg University in Denmark, was inspired to design a new lighting system for a church on Anholt Island after seeing how bright a moonlit night could be. Far from any major city, the island has very little light pollution, and Rathsach thought it would be a perfect place to test out something called “adaptive lighting.” While conventional lighting helps people see everything at night except the night sky, too much can block out the stars. Light pollution is increasing at a rate of 10 percent a year, and it’s not just the stargazers who suffer. At night, artificial light can disrupt people’s sleeping patterns and confuse wildlife. Some insects, like fireflies, are particularly vulnerable since they use bioluminescence to communicate and perform courtship rituals, and they are easily overwhelmed by artificial lights. On Anholt Island, even with as rural as the area is, there was still enough light to potentially disorient the island’s population of seabirds that hunt in nearby waters. To mitigate this problem, Rathsach devised a lighting system that adjusts to the amount of available light on any given night. She started in complete darkness and only added enough light around the church building to allow visitors to safely find their way around. The lights are located under eaves to prevent light from shining up, and depending on how much moonlight is detected, the lights on the building and the walkways dim, sometimes even turning off if there is enough ambient light. Rathsach is still working on perfecting the design, which hasn’t been implemented yet, but it could be an important step forward. Here’s hoping the future isn’t too bright.
[Image description: A cityscape at night, with a sky glowing from light pollution.] Credit & copyright: wimkantona, PixabayLet there be (less) light! Around the world, there's an overabundance of artificial light at night. Known as light pollution, it's a serious environmental concern, yet few places take much care to mitigate it. Now, one building will serve as the testing ground for a new lighting system that may help decrease light pollution. Camilla Rathsach, a graduate student at Aalborg University in Denmark, was inspired to design a new lighting system for a church on Anholt Island after seeing how bright a moonlit night could be. Far from any major city, the island has very little light pollution, and Rathsach thought it would be a perfect place to test out something called “adaptive lighting.” While conventional lighting helps people see everything at night except the night sky, too much can block out the stars. Light pollution is increasing at a rate of 10 percent a year, and it’s not just the stargazers who suffer. At night, artificial light can disrupt people’s sleeping patterns and confuse wildlife. Some insects, like fireflies, are particularly vulnerable since they use bioluminescence to communicate and perform courtship rituals, and they are easily overwhelmed by artificial lights. On Anholt Island, even with as rural as the area is, there was still enough light to potentially disorient the island’s population of seabirds that hunt in nearby waters. To mitigate this problem, Rathsach devised a lighting system that adjusts to the amount of available light on any given night. She started in complete darkness and only added enough light around the church building to allow visitors to safely find their way around. The lights are located under eaves to prevent light from shining up, and depending on how much moonlight is detected, the lights on the building and the walkways dim, sometimes even turning off if there is enough ambient light. Rathsach is still working on perfecting the design, which hasn’t been implemented yet, but it could be an important step forward. Here’s hoping the future isn’t too bright.
[Image description: A cityscape at night, with a sky glowing from light pollution.] Credit & copyright: wimkantona, Pixabay
March 21, 2023
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
From the BBC World Service: Sri Lanka has been battling economic breakdown for nearly a year. A foreign reserve crisis toppled the country’s president and le...
From the BBC World Service: Sri Lanka has been battling economic breakdown for nearly a year. A foreign reserve crisis toppled the country’s president and le...
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FREEWriting Music Song CurioFree2 CQ
They were a dynamic, music-making duo…until they weren’t. In 1967’s The Two of Us, British composers and songwriters Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent, the latter of whom passed away on this day in 2015, seem like the perfect couple. Indeed, the husband-and-wife team not only wrote, sang, and composed music together, they also wrote hits for the likes of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. Their joint career was so successful that they came to be known as “Mr. and Mrs. Music.” The Two of Us has the feel of a sitcom theme song with its bouncy, repeating refrain and lyrics about a couple enjoying the simple things in life. Yet, after a massively successful musical partnership and a 35-year marriage, Trent and Hatch had a famously messy divorce. It included legal disputes over which spouse wrote which of their most recent songs, with Trent fighting to be recognized as songwriter on several tracks that Hatch took full credit for. Sometimes, as Sinatra would say, That’s Life!
[Image description: A digital illustration depicting a woman singing in front of a piano and two horn players.] Credit & copyright: Mollyroselee, Pixabay
They were a dynamic, music-making duo…until they weren’t. In 1967’s The Two of Us, British composers and songwriters Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent, the latter of whom passed away on this day in 2015, seem like the perfect couple. Indeed, the husband-and-wife team not only wrote, sang, and composed music together, they also wrote hits for the likes of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. Their joint career was so successful that they came to be known as “Mr. and Mrs. Music.” The Two of Us has the feel of a sitcom theme song with its bouncy, repeating refrain and lyrics about a couple enjoying the simple things in life. Yet, after a massively successful musical partnership and a 35-year marriage, Trent and Hatch had a famously messy divorce. It included legal disputes over which spouse wrote which of their most recent songs, with Trent fighting to be recognized as songwriter on several tracks that Hatch took full credit for. Sometimes, as Sinatra would say, That’s Life!
[Image description: A digital illustration depicting a woman singing in front of a piano and two horn players.] Credit & copyright: Mollyroselee, Pixabay
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FREEUS History Daily Curio #2622Free1 CQ
Not everything you see on TV is real, but this man was. Fans of the show Yellowstone might have heard that there will be a new spin-off featuring Bass Reeves, a historical figure who helped shape the American West. Born into slavery in 1838, Reeves grew up in Texas before escaping north to the Indian Territories. There, he became acquainted with various tribes, including the Cherokee, Creek, and Seminole. During the Civil War, his knowledge of the region made him a valuable asset as a soldier to the Union Indian Home Guard Regiments, and after the war, he assisted peace officers searching for outlaws. Indeed, many outlaws were known to flee into the Indian Territories to evade officers of the law, few of whom knew how to navigate the area effectively. While Reeves had settled down as a farmer in Arkansas, he used his experience to serve as a scout and tracker for U.S. Marshals before being sworn in as a deputy himself in 1875.
Reeves became one of the first Black deputy Marshals in the West, and he soon gained a reputation as a capable lawman. During his 32 years with the U.S. Marshals, he was the most feared lawman in the Indian Territories, which was known for being dangerous. Reeves survived several attempts on his life by disgruntled outlaws, and was known to have killed at least 14 in the line of duty, though some sources claim that number is even higher.
Being a peace officer in the Wild West took more than just guts and guns. Despite being illiterate, Reeves had a sharp mind that allowed him to memorize writs and warrants. He often wore disguises to get information from criminals, allowing him to capture those who had evaded other lawmen. Some, like the notorious Belle Starr, turned themselves in willingly when they learned that their warrant had been assigned to Reeves. The lawman was known for his integrity. When his own son committed murder, Reeves brought him in to be tried and convicted for the crime. The legend of Bass Reeves fell into obscurity for a time, but has seen a resurgence in interest in recent years. Hopefully, the new show will do him justice.
[Image description: A black and white photo of Bass Reeves.] Credit & copyright: NPS, Wikimedia Commons, Work of the U.S. federal government, Public DomainNot everything you see on TV is real, but this man was. Fans of the show Yellowstone might have heard that there will be a new spin-off featuring Bass Reeves, a historical figure who helped shape the American West. Born into slavery in 1838, Reeves grew up in Texas before escaping north to the Indian Territories. There, he became acquainted with various tribes, including the Cherokee, Creek, and Seminole. During the Civil War, his knowledge of the region made him a valuable asset as a soldier to the Union Indian Home Guard Regiments, and after the war, he assisted peace officers searching for outlaws. Indeed, many outlaws were known to flee into the Indian Territories to evade officers of the law, few of whom knew how to navigate the area effectively. While Reeves had settled down as a farmer in Arkansas, he used his experience to serve as a scout and tracker for U.S. Marshals before being sworn in as a deputy himself in 1875.
Reeves became one of the first Black deputy Marshals in the West, and he soon gained a reputation as a capable lawman. During his 32 years with the U.S. Marshals, he was the most feared lawman in the Indian Territories, which was known for being dangerous. Reeves survived several attempts on his life by disgruntled outlaws, and was known to have killed at least 14 in the line of duty, though some sources claim that number is even higher.
Being a peace officer in the Wild West took more than just guts and guns. Despite being illiterate, Reeves had a sharp mind that allowed him to memorize writs and warrants. He often wore disguises to get information from criminals, allowing him to capture those who had evaded other lawmen. Some, like the notorious Belle Starr, turned themselves in willingly when they learned that their warrant had been assigned to Reeves. The lawman was known for his integrity. When his own son committed murder, Reeves brought him in to be tried and convicted for the crime. The legend of Bass Reeves fell into obscurity for a time, but has seen a resurgence in interest in recent years. Hopefully, the new show will do him justice.
[Image description: A black and white photo of Bass Reeves.] Credit & copyright: NPS, Wikimedia Commons, Work of the U.S. federal government, Public Domain
March 20, 2023
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FREEArt CurioFree1 CQ
It’s a place that still exists…but not really. American artist Allan Rohan Crite was born on this day in 1910. His piece above, Corner of Washington & Northampton Sts., depicts the eponymous intersection on a crowded day in black and white. In the foreground, people are passing without interacting with one another, and in the background, there is an elevated train track with stairs leading up to it. A small child stands out at the center of the crowd as he walks with a large parcel. Crite spent most of his life and career in Boston, Massachusetts, and his art often reflects daily life in the city. His paintings, many of which rely on his keen observations of people and scenery, provide unique glimpses into a city that has changed rapidly in the last century. Much of his work depicts Black residents of the city engaged in everyday activities. Since Black Americans weren’t often portrayed in the art world during Crite’s early life, he stated that his goal was to “paint people of color as normal human beings.” It wasn’t every day that you could see something so everyday.
Corner of Washington & Northampton Sts., Allan Rohan Crite (1910-2007), 1935-1943, 7 x 5.25 in. (17.7 x 13.3 cm.), Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts
[Image credit & copyright: Allan Rohan Crite, Boston Public Library, Wikimedia Commons, Public DomainIt’s a place that still exists…but not really. American artist Allan Rohan Crite was born on this day in 1910. His piece above, Corner of Washington & Northampton Sts., depicts the eponymous intersection on a crowded day in black and white. In the foreground, people are passing without interacting with one another, and in the background, there is an elevated train track with stairs leading up to it. A small child stands out at the center of the crowd as he walks with a large parcel. Crite spent most of his life and career in Boston, Massachusetts, and his art often reflects daily life in the city. His paintings, many of which rely on his keen observations of people and scenery, provide unique glimpses into a city that has changed rapidly in the last century. Much of his work depicts Black residents of the city engaged in everyday activities. Since Black Americans weren’t often portrayed in the art world during Crite’s early life, he stated that his goal was to “paint people of color as normal human beings.” It wasn’t every day that you could see something so everyday.
Corner of Washington & Northampton Sts., Allan Rohan Crite (1910-2007), 1935-1943, 7 x 5.25 in. (17.7 x 13.3 cm.), Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts
[Image credit & copyright: Allan Rohan Crite, Boston Public Library, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain -
8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
The Biden administration has called for a boost in funding for the Environmental Protection Agency in the wake of the derailment of a Norfolk Southern train ...
The Biden administration has called for a boost in funding for the Environmental Protection Agency in the wake of the derailment of a Norfolk Southern train ...
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FREEActing Daily Curio #2621Free1 CQ
Lights, camera...but not too much action. The 2023 Academy Awards saw some changes that set it apart from years past, though it’s uncertain whether all of the modifications will be permanent. The first, most obvious change was the color of the carpet that welcomed the star-studded crowd. While the term “red carpet” has become synonymous with exclusive, ostentatious event, organizers decided to go with a “champagne” carpet this year. Supposedly, the color was meant to better fit this year’s design elements, which included a lot of vintage fashion. The light color did cause some problems, though, when foot traffic made it visibly dirty early in the night.
Speaking of fashion, the Academy set forth dress guidelines this year with the aim of being more sustainable. Attendees were encouraged to rent existing outfits from fashion houses or wear something that had already been worn to another event. Otherwise, they were encouraged to wear clothing made of natural, more sustainable fabrics like linen or wool. To guide them in their wardrobe choices, the Academy partnered with Red Carpet Green Dress (RCGD), who sent out a Sustainable Style Guide, so that attendees could make informed but fashionable decisions.
Lastly, following the incident from last year’s ceremony in which a certain actor slapped a presenter on stage, the Academy had a newly-formed crisis team ready to handle any similar outbursts. Academy CEO Bill Kramer told Time, “Because of last year, we’ve opened our minds to the many things that can happen at the Oscars. We have a whole crisis team, something we’ve never had before, and many plans in place.” According to Kramer, the team was meant to deal with unscripted mishaps during the live broadcast, as well as handling public relations after the fact. No more off-script shenanigans for this awards show.
[Image description: A digital illustration showing an Oscar trophy being handed from one person to another. The background is split between red and pink.] Credit & copyright: mohamed_hassan, PixabayLights, camera...but not too much action. The 2023 Academy Awards saw some changes that set it apart from years past, though it’s uncertain whether all of the modifications will be permanent. The first, most obvious change was the color of the carpet that welcomed the star-studded crowd. While the term “red carpet” has become synonymous with exclusive, ostentatious event, organizers decided to go with a “champagne” carpet this year. Supposedly, the color was meant to better fit this year’s design elements, which included a lot of vintage fashion. The light color did cause some problems, though, when foot traffic made it visibly dirty early in the night.
Speaking of fashion, the Academy set forth dress guidelines this year with the aim of being more sustainable. Attendees were encouraged to rent existing outfits from fashion houses or wear something that had already been worn to another event. Otherwise, they were encouraged to wear clothing made of natural, more sustainable fabrics like linen or wool. To guide them in their wardrobe choices, the Academy partnered with Red Carpet Green Dress (RCGD), who sent out a Sustainable Style Guide, so that attendees could make informed but fashionable decisions.
Lastly, following the incident from last year’s ceremony in which a certain actor slapped a presenter on stage, the Academy had a newly-formed crisis team ready to handle any similar outbursts. Academy CEO Bill Kramer told Time, “Because of last year, we’ve opened our minds to the many things that can happen at the Oscars. We have a whole crisis team, something we’ve never had before, and many plans in place.” According to Kramer, the team was meant to deal with unscripted mishaps during the live broadcast, as well as handling public relations after the fact. No more off-script shenanigans for this awards show.
[Image description: A digital illustration showing an Oscar trophy being handed from one person to another. The background is split between red and pink.] Credit & copyright: mohamed_hassan, Pixabay
March 19, 2023
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
This past week, banks have been ramping up their cash borrowing at record rates to shore up reserves in the wake of recent bank failures. We look at who’s be...
This past week, banks have been ramping up their cash borrowing at record rates to shore up reserves in the wake of recent bank failures. We look at who’s be...
March 18, 2023
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
It’s St. Patrick’s Day, meaning people around the world will be wearing green and celebrating Irish culture — even those who don’t have roots there. But acco...
It’s St. Patrick’s Day, meaning people around the world will be wearing green and celebrating Irish culture — even those who don’t have roots there. But acco...
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FREESports Daily CurioFree1 CQ
It’s not always a bad thing to be remembered for a flop. High jump pioneer Dick Fosbury passed away on Monday at the age of 76, but his legacy remains in the groundbreaking technique named after him, the “Fosbury flop.” Before Fosbury won the gold medal in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, athletes competing in the high jump primarily used the Western roll or the straddle technique. Both of these methods were straight jumps forward that turned the athlete to their side in midair, with them ending up face down and parallel to the crossbar. The Fosbury flop, on the other hand, has the athlete turning backward as they jump, leaping over the bar facing upward with the bar passing under their arched back. Fosbury came up with the technique while competing in high school and honed his skills in college before qualifying for the Olympics. Although the technique had its skeptics early on, Fosbury’s gold-winning jump in Mexico City made the flop the standard. There were some holdouts, however. At the next Summer Olympics in Munich in 1972, most competitors used the flop, but the gold went to the Soviet Union’s Jüri Tarmak, who used the straddle technique. Still, the newer method caught on, and since 1976, every world record holder and Olympic medalist has used the flop. You could say that the sport changed by leaps and bounds.
[Image description: An athlete performing the Fosbury flop during a high jump.] Credit & copyright: domeckopol, Pixabay
It’s not always a bad thing to be remembered for a flop. High jump pioneer Dick Fosbury passed away on Monday at the age of 76, but his legacy remains in the groundbreaking technique named after him, the “Fosbury flop.” Before Fosbury won the gold medal in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, athletes competing in the high jump primarily used the Western roll or the straddle technique. Both of these methods were straight jumps forward that turned the athlete to their side in midair, with them ending up face down and parallel to the crossbar. The Fosbury flop, on the other hand, has the athlete turning backward as they jump, leaping over the bar facing upward with the bar passing under their arched back. Fosbury came up with the technique while competing in high school and honed his skills in college before qualifying for the Olympics. Although the technique had its skeptics early on, Fosbury’s gold-winning jump in Mexico City made the flop the standard. There were some holdouts, however. At the next Summer Olympics in Munich in 1972, most competitors used the flop, but the gold went to the Soviet Union’s Jüri Tarmak, who used the straddle technique. Still, the newer method caught on, and since 1976, every world record holder and Olympic medalist has used the flop. You could say that the sport changed by leaps and bounds.
[Image description: An athlete performing the Fosbury flop during a high jump.] Credit & copyright: domeckopol, Pixabay
March 17, 2023
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7 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
From the BBC World Service: There have been protests inside and outside the French parliament as President Emmanuel Macron invoked special constitutional pow...
From the BBC World Service: There have been protests inside and outside the French parliament as President Emmanuel Macron invoked special constitutional pow...
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day
: March 17, 2023\air-un-guh-BRAW\ phrase
What It Means
Erin go bragh is an Irish phrase that means “Ireland forever.”
// The...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day
: March 17, 2023\air-un-guh-BRAW\ phrase
What It Means
Erin go bragh is an Irish phrase that means “Ireland forever.”
// The...
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Welcome to Foodie Friday, a new weekly tradition in which we’ll explore the histories of foods from all over the world. Don’t let it make you too hungry!
Imagine you’ve sat down for dinner in 1860s England. Your host places an elaborate, porcelain pie mold on the table and lifts the lid to reveal a raised, golden-brown crust. You’re then told that the pie is filled with a mix of pigeon and hare—as well as fruits and spices, of course. Believe it or not, you'd probably be very pleased. After all, this dish, known as game pie, is at the height of its popularity.
Game is a term for meat from non-domesticated animals. Game meat was acquired by hunting, which in Victorian England was a means of survival for the poor and a popular hobby for the rich. Game pies, consisting of hotwater crust (a savory crust made from flour, salt, fat, and water) have been around since the days of ancient Rome, when they were only eaten by the very wealthy. In medieval Europe, game pies were consumed by rich and poor alike, though peasants had to work with inferior cuts of meat and smaller portions. Since pie tins and baking molds were difficult to produce in medieval times, the pastry of the pie itself functioned as the “tin” and was constructed to have high sides and even a thick “lid”. This raised pastry, sometimes called a “coffin”, was often so thick that it couldn’t even be eaten. It wasn’t until the Victorian Era (from 1837 to 1901) that game pies became elaborate works of culinary art.
By the Victorian Era, the industrial revolution had changed the lives of many British people. New types of jobs gave workers the opportunity to improve their economic class. At the same time, mass production of things like pots, pans, and baking molds began in earnest. Suddenly, everyday people could create elaborate meals that had previously been reserved for the rich. Thus, game pies became centerpieces at many an English table. Victorian game pies were often made using mass produced, high-sided molds. These molds were often elaborate, imprinting pie crusts with all sorts of hunting-themed designs. Along with the meats, dried fruits and spices like nutmeg, coriander, and cloves were often found inside, as mixing fruits and meat was common practice in England at the time. Victorian dinner hosts would sometimes even place taxidermied birds atop their pie tins as decoration, and to show off what type of meat was featured in the pie. You can’t get much more Victorian than that.
[Image description: Description ] Credit & copyright: Minton Pottery and Porcelain Factory, Bequest of Dr. Paul J. Vignos, Jr., Cleveland Museum of Art, Wikimedia Commons, CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain DedicationWelcome to Foodie Friday, a new weekly tradition in which we’ll explore the histories of foods from all over the world. Don’t let it make you too hungry!
Imagine you’ve sat down for dinner in 1860s England. Your host places an elaborate, porcelain pie mold on the table and lifts the lid to reveal a raised, golden-brown crust. You’re then told that the pie is filled with a mix of pigeon and hare—as well as fruits and spices, of course. Believe it or not, you'd probably be very pleased. After all, this dish, known as game pie, is at the height of its popularity.
Game is a term for meat from non-domesticated animals. Game meat was acquired by hunting, which in Victorian England was a means of survival for the poor and a popular hobby for the rich. Game pies, consisting of hotwater crust (a savory crust made from flour, salt, fat, and water) have been around since the days of ancient Rome, when they were only eaten by the very wealthy. In medieval Europe, game pies were consumed by rich and poor alike, though peasants had to work with inferior cuts of meat and smaller portions. Since pie tins and baking molds were difficult to produce in medieval times, the pastry of the pie itself functioned as the “tin” and was constructed to have high sides and even a thick “lid”. This raised pastry, sometimes called a “coffin”, was often so thick that it couldn’t even be eaten. It wasn’t until the Victorian Era (from 1837 to 1901) that game pies became elaborate works of culinary art.
By the Victorian Era, the industrial revolution had changed the lives of many British people. New types of jobs gave workers the opportunity to improve their economic class. At the same time, mass production of things like pots, pans, and baking molds began in earnest. Suddenly, everyday people could create elaborate meals that had previously been reserved for the rich. Thus, game pies became centerpieces at many an English table. Victorian game pies were often made using mass produced, high-sided molds. These molds were often elaborate, imprinting pie crusts with all sorts of hunting-themed designs. Along with the meats, dried fruits and spices like nutmeg, coriander, and cloves were often found inside, as mixing fruits and meat was common practice in England at the time. Victorian dinner hosts would sometimes even place taxidermied birds atop their pie tins as decoration, and to show off what type of meat was featured in the pie. You can’t get much more Victorian than that.
[Image description: Description ] Credit & copyright: Minton Pottery and Porcelain Factory, Bequest of Dr. Paul J. Vignos, Jr., Cleveland Museum of Art, Wikimedia Commons, CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication