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October 20, 2024
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day
: October 20, 2024\dee-fen-uh-STRAY-shun\ noun
What It Means
Defenestration is most often used to refer to a usually swift di...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day
: October 20, 2024\dee-fen-uh-STRAY-shun\ noun
What It Means
Defenestration is most often used to refer to a usually swift di...
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FREELiterature PP&T CurioFree1 CQ
Halloween approaches, and with it a host of familiar, spooky tales, many of which have their basis in classic novels. Oscar Wilde’s The Picture Dorian Gray isn’t quite as famous as Dracula or Frankenstein, but this novel is just as spooky, and it’s had its fair share of pop culture appearances and film adaptations too. It’s not exactly a story about a monster… but about the monstrous faults that lurk in all of us.
The Picture Dorian Gray was first published in 1890 in Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine as a novella, which was common for new stories at the time. It follows the titular character through his descent into moral decay. Dorian Gray is a handsome, rich young man who enjoys a relatively carefree life. Gray’s friend, Basil Hallward, paints his portrait and discusses Gray’s extraordinary beauty with Lord Henry Wotton, a hedonistic socialite. When Gray arrives to see the finished piece, Wotton describes his personal life philosophy: that one should live to indulge their impulses and appetites. He goes on to say to Gray, “…you have the most marvelous youth, and youth is the one thing worth having.” As Hallward places the finishing touches on the painting, Gray declares, “But this picture will remain always young. It will never be older than this particular day of June…If it were only the other way! If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old! For that—for that—I would give everything! Yes, there is nothing in the whole world I would not give! I would give my soul for that!” From that point on, Gray begins to commit cruel and even violent transgressions, the first of which leads to the death of his lover, Sibyl Vane. Yet, he remains ageless and beautiful while his portrait warps into an increasingly grotesque reflection of his inner self. Ultimately, even his attempt to redeem himself by a kind act is revealed to be self-serving, as the portrait changes to reflect his cunning. Eventually, Gray murders the portrait's creator after Hallword discovers how hideous it has become. When a crazed Gray stabs the portrait in frustration, a servant hears him scream and comes to his aid, only to find the body of an ugly, old man with a knife in his chest. The portrait, meanwhile, has reverted back to its original, beautiful form.
Wilde’s novel didn’t have quite the reception he’d hoped for. When it was unleashed upon the Victorian readership, it set off a storm of controversy with Wilde at the center. This was despite the fact that Lippincott’s editor, J. M. Stoddart, had heavily edited the novella to censor portions that he believed were too obscene for Victorian sensibilities. The cuts to the text were made without Wilde’s input or consent, and largely targeted the homosexual undertones present in the interactions between some of the male characters. In particular, Hallward was originally characterized as having much more overt homosexual inclinations toward Gray. Stoddart also removed some of the more salacious details surrounding the novel’s heterosexual relationships. When the book was engulfed in scandal, Wilde himself made further edits of his own accord, but to no avail. When Wilde was accused of having engaged in a homosexual relationship with Lord Alfred Douglas by Douglas’s father, the author sued the latter for libel. The suit fell apart in court after the homosexual themes in The Picture of Dorian Gray were used as evidence against Wilde, and the failure of the suit left him open to criminal prosecution for homosexuality under British law. After two trials, Wilde was sentenced to two years of hard labor in 1895. After his release, he was plagued by poor health while commercial success eluded him. Wilde passed away in Paris, France, in 1900 of acute meningitis.
Today, The Picture of Dorian Gray is seen in a much different light. The work is considered one of the best examples of Wilde’s wit and eye for characterization. It’s also the most representative of Wilde’s Aestheticism, a worldview espoused by several characters in the novella. Nowadays, a version true to the author’s original intent is available as The Picture of Dorian Gray: An Annotated, Uncensored Edition (2011), which restores material cut from the text by Stoddart and Wilde. It may not be so controversial for modern sensibilities, but just in case, make sure you’re wearing some pearls so you have something to clutch if you buy a copy.
[Image description: A 1908 illustration from Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray] Credit & copyright:
Eugène Dété (1848–1922) after Paul Thiriat (1868–1943), 1908. Mississippi State University, College of Architecture Art and Design, Wikimedia Commons. This work is in the public domain in its source country and the United States because it was published (or registered with the U.S. Copyright Office) before January 1, 1929.Halloween approaches, and with it a host of familiar, spooky tales, many of which have their basis in classic novels. Oscar Wilde’s The Picture Dorian Gray isn’t quite as famous as Dracula or Frankenstein, but this novel is just as spooky, and it’s had its fair share of pop culture appearances and film adaptations too. It’s not exactly a story about a monster… but about the monstrous faults that lurk in all of us.
The Picture Dorian Gray was first published in 1890 in Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine as a novella, which was common for new stories at the time. It follows the titular character through his descent into moral decay. Dorian Gray is a handsome, rich young man who enjoys a relatively carefree life. Gray’s friend, Basil Hallward, paints his portrait and discusses Gray’s extraordinary beauty with Lord Henry Wotton, a hedonistic socialite. When Gray arrives to see the finished piece, Wotton describes his personal life philosophy: that one should live to indulge their impulses and appetites. He goes on to say to Gray, “…you have the most marvelous youth, and youth is the one thing worth having.” As Hallward places the finishing touches on the painting, Gray declares, “But this picture will remain always young. It will never be older than this particular day of June…If it were only the other way! If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old! For that—for that—I would give everything! Yes, there is nothing in the whole world I would not give! I would give my soul for that!” From that point on, Gray begins to commit cruel and even violent transgressions, the first of which leads to the death of his lover, Sibyl Vane. Yet, he remains ageless and beautiful while his portrait warps into an increasingly grotesque reflection of his inner self. Ultimately, even his attempt to redeem himself by a kind act is revealed to be self-serving, as the portrait changes to reflect his cunning. Eventually, Gray murders the portrait's creator after Hallword discovers how hideous it has become. When a crazed Gray stabs the portrait in frustration, a servant hears him scream and comes to his aid, only to find the body of an ugly, old man with a knife in his chest. The portrait, meanwhile, has reverted back to its original, beautiful form.
Wilde’s novel didn’t have quite the reception he’d hoped for. When it was unleashed upon the Victorian readership, it set off a storm of controversy with Wilde at the center. This was despite the fact that Lippincott’s editor, J. M. Stoddart, had heavily edited the novella to censor portions that he believed were too obscene for Victorian sensibilities. The cuts to the text were made without Wilde’s input or consent, and largely targeted the homosexual undertones present in the interactions between some of the male characters. In particular, Hallward was originally characterized as having much more overt homosexual inclinations toward Gray. Stoddart also removed some of the more salacious details surrounding the novel’s heterosexual relationships. When the book was engulfed in scandal, Wilde himself made further edits of his own accord, but to no avail. When Wilde was accused of having engaged in a homosexual relationship with Lord Alfred Douglas by Douglas’s father, the author sued the latter for libel. The suit fell apart in court after the homosexual themes in The Picture of Dorian Gray were used as evidence against Wilde, and the failure of the suit left him open to criminal prosecution for homosexuality under British law. After two trials, Wilde was sentenced to two years of hard labor in 1895. After his release, he was plagued by poor health while commercial success eluded him. Wilde passed away in Paris, France, in 1900 of acute meningitis.
Today, The Picture of Dorian Gray is seen in a much different light. The work is considered one of the best examples of Wilde’s wit and eye for characterization. It’s also the most representative of Wilde’s Aestheticism, a worldview espoused by several characters in the novella. Nowadays, a version true to the author’s original intent is available as The Picture of Dorian Gray: An Annotated, Uncensored Edition (2011), which restores material cut from the text by Stoddart and Wilde. It may not be so controversial for modern sensibilities, but just in case, make sure you’re wearing some pearls so you have something to clutch if you buy a copy.
[Image description: A 1908 illustration from Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray] Credit & copyright:
Eugène Dété (1848–1922) after Paul Thiriat (1868–1943), 1908. Mississippi State University, College of Architecture Art and Design, Wikimedia Commons. This work is in the public domain in its source country and the United States because it was published (or registered with the U.S. Copyright Office) before January 1, 1929. -
7 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
From the BBC World Service: When NASA astronauts return to the moon for the first time in more than 50 years, they will do so in style … wearing Prada. We’ll...
From the BBC World Service: When NASA astronauts return to the moon for the first time in more than 50 years, they will do so in style … wearing Prada. We’ll...
October 19, 2024
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
For this month’s Econ Extra Credit , we’re watching “Join or Die: A Film About Why You Should Join a Club.” Today, we’re joined by the films co-producers to ...
For this month’s Econ Extra Credit , we’re watching “Join or Die: A Film About Why You Should Join a Club.” Today, we’re joined by the films co-producers to ...
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FREEGames Sporty CurioFree1 CQ
Is nothing sacred anymore? The conker community has been left shaken after potentially devastating allegations of cheating have emerged following the annual World Conker Championships. Conkers is a traditional English game involving the seeds of horse chestnut trees, also known as—you guessed it—conkers. Players thread a string through their seed, then take turns whacking it against an opponent’s conker. If a player’s conker breaks or is lost, they lose. This year, around 200 conkers enthusiasts gathered in the village of Southwick to crown a new champion. At first, it seemed that 82-year-old veteran of the sport Dave Jakins was the clear winner of the men’s division, but not long after being declared the winner, the runner-up started slinging accusations of cheating. Alastair Johnson-Ferguson, who lost to Jakins, accused the latter of using a steel chestnut in the finals, telling The Telegraph that his chestnut “disintegrated in one hit.” Prior to going against Johnson-Ferguson, Jakins had advanced through the quarter and semi finals with similar one-hit knockouts. Organizers announced that an investigation has been opened against Jakins, and they were able to verify that Jakins did indeed have a steel chestnut in his pocket, but it’s unclear whether he used it against opponents or whether it was simply a harmless prop; the investigation is ongoing. Regardless, Jakins was dethroned as “King Conker” (overall champion) after being defeated by Kelci Banschbach, a 34-year-old from Indianapolis, U.S., who won the women’s division and is the first American to ever be crowned “Queen Conker.” It’s been a while since America has had royalty.
Is nothing sacred anymore? The conker community has been left shaken after potentially devastating allegations of cheating have emerged following the annual World Conker Championships. Conkers is a traditional English game involving the seeds of horse chestnut trees, also known as—you guessed it—conkers. Players thread a string through their seed, then take turns whacking it against an opponent’s conker. If a player’s conker breaks or is lost, they lose. This year, around 200 conkers enthusiasts gathered in the village of Southwick to crown a new champion. At first, it seemed that 82-year-old veteran of the sport Dave Jakins was the clear winner of the men’s division, but not long after being declared the winner, the runner-up started slinging accusations of cheating. Alastair Johnson-Ferguson, who lost to Jakins, accused the latter of using a steel chestnut in the finals, telling The Telegraph that his chestnut “disintegrated in one hit.” Prior to going against Johnson-Ferguson, Jakins had advanced through the quarter and semi finals with similar one-hit knockouts. Organizers announced that an investigation has been opened against Jakins, and they were able to verify that Jakins did indeed have a steel chestnut in his pocket, but it’s unclear whether he used it against opponents or whether it was simply a harmless prop; the investigation is ongoing. Regardless, Jakins was dethroned as “King Conker” (overall champion) after being defeated by Kelci Banschbach, a 34-year-old from Indianapolis, U.S., who won the women’s division and is the first American to ever be crowned “Queen Conker.” It’s been a while since America has had royalty.
October 18, 2024
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
From the BBC World Service: China’s GDP grew in the third quarter at the slowest pace since early last year. Then, in Japan, the anime industry has hit a mil...
From the BBC World Service: China’s GDP grew in the third quarter at the slowest pace since early last year. Then, in Japan, the anime industry has hit a mil...
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day
: October 18, 2024\ZEST\ noun
What It Means
Zest refers to an enjoyably exciting quality, or to keen enjoyment itself. In cul...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day
: October 18, 2024\ZEST\ noun
What It Means
Zest refers to an enjoyably exciting quality, or to keen enjoyment itself. In cul...
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FREEMind + Body Daily CurioFree1 CQ
Fall is in the air. Time for warm blankets and cider…not just by the cup, but by the box. Apple cider donuts have long been a New England favorite, but these days you can find them across the U.S. every fall. These small, cinnamon-sprinkled donuts pack a powerful, apple-y punch, and have a history that dates all the way back to the first donut machine.
Apple cider donuts are cake donuts (donuts made from a leavened batter, giving them a cake-y texture) flavored with apple cider in the batter. Cider with pulp is sometimes used for a fruitier effect, so that bits of cooked apple end up in the finished donuts. The batter usually includes spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, and the donuts are sometimes sprinkled with cinnamon before serving.
Cider pastries date back to the American colonies, when leftover animal fat was used for frying. Americans began growing apples in the 17th century, after the first apple trees and seeds were brought from Europe. Each fall, farms would harvest, sell, and bake their apples in addition to turning them into cider and eating them fresh. Still, the fruits didn’t last long, so finding ways to preserve the inevitable leftovers was important. Chopping up leftover apples and cooking them into fried dough helped them last longer than fresh apples alone.
Still, round, boxed donuts as we know them today didn’t come about until Adolph Levitt, an enterprising baker and Russian refugee living in New York City, happened to meet an engineer on a long train ride in 1916. The two men began talking about a machine to make pastries quickly and efficiently, and even sketched out some ideas. After a few failed attempts at making the prototype, Levitt eventually got it right in 1921. The new machine created circles of dough which rode along a conveyor belt into a pot in which they were fried. Once Levitt placed the machine in the window of his bakery, crowds of New Yorkers came by to gawk at it—and to buy his donuts, of course. Levitt eventually formed a company that sold the machines to other bakeries and farm stands. Roadside farm stands were popular at the time thanks to the rising appeal of cars and, therefore, road trips. Apples were one of the most common fall donut varieties available at farm stands using Levitt’s machines.
Today, apple cider donuts are still found at apple orchards and country stores (not to mention some big chain retailers) all over the country each fall, but they’re still especially popular in New England. It’s a land of tradition, after all…and chilly autumns in need of a little spice.
[Image description: A donut on a white plate with fruit sauce drizzled over it.] Credit & copyright: Laura Baez, PexelsFall is in the air. Time for warm blankets and cider…not just by the cup, but by the box. Apple cider donuts have long been a New England favorite, but these days you can find them across the U.S. every fall. These small, cinnamon-sprinkled donuts pack a powerful, apple-y punch, and have a history that dates all the way back to the first donut machine.
Apple cider donuts are cake donuts (donuts made from a leavened batter, giving them a cake-y texture) flavored with apple cider in the batter. Cider with pulp is sometimes used for a fruitier effect, so that bits of cooked apple end up in the finished donuts. The batter usually includes spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, and the donuts are sometimes sprinkled with cinnamon before serving.
Cider pastries date back to the American colonies, when leftover animal fat was used for frying. Americans began growing apples in the 17th century, after the first apple trees and seeds were brought from Europe. Each fall, farms would harvest, sell, and bake their apples in addition to turning them into cider and eating them fresh. Still, the fruits didn’t last long, so finding ways to preserve the inevitable leftovers was important. Chopping up leftover apples and cooking them into fried dough helped them last longer than fresh apples alone.
Still, round, boxed donuts as we know them today didn’t come about until Adolph Levitt, an enterprising baker and Russian refugee living in New York City, happened to meet an engineer on a long train ride in 1916. The two men began talking about a machine to make pastries quickly and efficiently, and even sketched out some ideas. After a few failed attempts at making the prototype, Levitt eventually got it right in 1921. The new machine created circles of dough which rode along a conveyor belt into a pot in which they were fried. Once Levitt placed the machine in the window of his bakery, crowds of New Yorkers came by to gawk at it—and to buy his donuts, of course. Levitt eventually formed a company that sold the machines to other bakeries and farm stands. Roadside farm stands were popular at the time thanks to the rising appeal of cars and, therefore, road trips. Apples were one of the most common fall donut varieties available at farm stands using Levitt’s machines.
Today, apple cider donuts are still found at apple orchards and country stores (not to mention some big chain retailers) all over the country each fall, but they’re still especially popular in New England. It’s a land of tradition, after all…and chilly autumns in need of a little spice.
[Image description: A donut on a white plate with fruit sauce drizzled over it.] Credit & copyright: Laura Baez, Pexels
October 17, 2024
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
A shortage of IV fluid is forcing hospitals across the country to conserve and even postpone surgeries and procedures after an IV fluid production facility i...
A shortage of IV fluid is forcing hospitals across the country to conserve and even postpone surgeries and procedures after an IV fluid production facility i...
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3 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day
: October 17, 2024\fyoo-GAY-shus\ adjective
What It Means
Fugacious is a formal word that describes something that lasts only...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day
: October 17, 2024\fyoo-GAY-shus\ adjective
What It Means
Fugacious is a formal word that describes something that lasts only...
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FREEBiology Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
Smell ya later? No, smell ya now! The human sense of smell isn’t known for being very powerful compared to other animals, but recent research shows that it’s at least faster than previously thought. Compared to vision, a person’s ability to detect odors seems wholly outclassed. However, researchers at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Ohio State University just published a study showing that the human nose might be underappreciated. Until now, the sense of smell has been considered a “slow sense,” unable to discern changing smells in the same way the eyes can perceive flickering colors or the ears can hear fluctuating beats as they morph in the moment. Now, that idea has been called into question. Researchers asked 229 volunteers to try out an apparatus that uses check valves to deliver different odorants directly to the nose, with scents ranging from apples to onions. When the volunteers were presented with the different scents in quick succession, the researchers were surprised to find that they could detect the change in as little as 60 milliseconds. To put that into perspective, it takes the human eye 180 milliseconds to blink. This is a far cry from previous research showing that it took 1,200 milliseconds for the olfactory sense to register a change. It seems that even if the human nose is less sensitive than those of famously good smellers like dogs and bears, the ability to detect change is just as keen as in other species. There’s more to this study than redeeming the human nose, though. This new information could lead to therapeutic breakthroughs for people with olfactory loss, or even aid in the development of more accurate electronic noses. Researchers are on the right track, let’s just hope they keep their noses to the grindstone.
[Image description: A blue mug full of steaming tea with a lemon wedge.] Credit & copyright: Lisa Fotios, Pexels
Smell ya later? No, smell ya now! The human sense of smell isn’t known for being very powerful compared to other animals, but recent research shows that it’s at least faster than previously thought. Compared to vision, a person’s ability to detect odors seems wholly outclassed. However, researchers at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Ohio State University just published a study showing that the human nose might be underappreciated. Until now, the sense of smell has been considered a “slow sense,” unable to discern changing smells in the same way the eyes can perceive flickering colors or the ears can hear fluctuating beats as they morph in the moment. Now, that idea has been called into question. Researchers asked 229 volunteers to try out an apparatus that uses check valves to deliver different odorants directly to the nose, with scents ranging from apples to onions. When the volunteers were presented with the different scents in quick succession, the researchers were surprised to find that they could detect the change in as little as 60 milliseconds. To put that into perspective, it takes the human eye 180 milliseconds to blink. This is a far cry from previous research showing that it took 1,200 milliseconds for the olfactory sense to register a change. It seems that even if the human nose is less sensitive than those of famously good smellers like dogs and bears, the ability to detect change is just as keen as in other species. There’s more to this study than redeeming the human nose, though. This new information could lead to therapeutic breakthroughs for people with olfactory loss, or even aid in the development of more accurate electronic noses. Researchers are on the right track, let’s just hope they keep their noses to the grindstone.
[Image description: A blue mug full of steaming tea with a lemon wedge.] Credit & copyright: Lisa Fotios, Pexels
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FREESTEM Daily Curio #2962Free1 CQ
You never know what people are smuggling these days. Guns? Drugs? How about… turtles? A woman who was caught attempting to smuggle 29 eastern box turtles from the U.S. to China by way of Canada recently pleaded guilty, and is due to be sentenced in December. It might seem like something out of a wacky comedy movie, but it’s actually part of a disturbing and growing international trend. Back in June, a 41-year-old woman was apprehended by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police while paddling across Lake Wallace (which borders the U.S. in Vermont and Canada in Quebec) on an inflatable kayak with a duffel bag full of the turtles, individually wrapped in socks. As it turns out, box turtles can fetch as much as $1,000 each in China. They are sometimes kept as prized pets thought to bring good fortune. In other instances, they’re eaten for their supposed aphrodisiac effects. Apparently, the humble reptiles get this reputation due to their gold and red markings, which are considered auspicious colors in Chinese cultures.
Smuggling animals is frowned upon at the best of times, but times are not the best for the would-be smugglers or the turtles. Eastern box turtles are native to the U.S., and while box turtles are common in the wild in North America, eastern box turtles are a protected species with the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Much of this is due to habitat loss, as their native woodlands and wetlands are destroyed to make way for farmland. Unfortunately, their increasing rarity has only caused demand for them on the black market to rise, making them an appealing target for smugglers. Adding to the problem is that eastern box turtles typically live 25 to 35 years in captivity, and when owners get tired of them and release their pet turtles into the wild, they can introduce disease that further decimates wild populations. As for the woman who tried to smuggle turtles, she might end up in captivity herself for up to 10 years after sentencing, along with a $250,000 fine. That’s the equivalent of 250 turtles!
[Image description: An orange-and-black Eastern box turtle with its head raised in the grass.] Credit & copyright: Jasper Shide, Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.You never know what people are smuggling these days. Guns? Drugs? How about… turtles? A woman who was caught attempting to smuggle 29 eastern box turtles from the U.S. to China by way of Canada recently pleaded guilty, and is due to be sentenced in December. It might seem like something out of a wacky comedy movie, but it’s actually part of a disturbing and growing international trend. Back in June, a 41-year-old woman was apprehended by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police while paddling across Lake Wallace (which borders the U.S. in Vermont and Canada in Quebec) on an inflatable kayak with a duffel bag full of the turtles, individually wrapped in socks. As it turns out, box turtles can fetch as much as $1,000 each in China. They are sometimes kept as prized pets thought to bring good fortune. In other instances, they’re eaten for their supposed aphrodisiac effects. Apparently, the humble reptiles get this reputation due to their gold and red markings, which are considered auspicious colors in Chinese cultures.
Smuggling animals is frowned upon at the best of times, but times are not the best for the would-be smugglers or the turtles. Eastern box turtles are native to the U.S., and while box turtles are common in the wild in North America, eastern box turtles are a protected species with the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Much of this is due to habitat loss, as their native woodlands and wetlands are destroyed to make way for farmland. Unfortunately, their increasing rarity has only caused demand for them on the black market to rise, making them an appealing target for smugglers. Adding to the problem is that eastern box turtles typically live 25 to 35 years in captivity, and when owners get tired of them and release their pet turtles into the wild, they can introduce disease that further decimates wild populations. As for the woman who tried to smuggle turtles, she might end up in captivity herself for up to 10 years after sentencing, along with a $250,000 fine. That’s the equivalent of 250 turtles!
[Image description: An orange-and-black Eastern box turtle with its head raised in the grass.] Credit & copyright: Jasper Shide, Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.
October 16, 2024
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
The Small Business Administration’s disaster loan program has run dry, meaning the feds can’t make new, low-interest loans to help people rebuild after Hurri...
The Small Business Administration’s disaster loan program has run dry, meaning the feds can’t make new, low-interest loans to help people rebuild after Hurri...
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day
: October 16, 2024\ig-ZAKT\ verb
What It Means
To exact something (such as payment or revenge) is to demand it and get it, es...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day
: October 16, 2024\ig-ZAKT\ verb
What It Means
To exact something (such as payment or revenge) is to demand it and get it, es...
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FREEDaily Curio #2961Free1 CQ
Heavy metal might be fun for the ears, but it’s not so great for the environment. Fortunately, researchers at MIT have found that emissions of mercury have been declining for the last few decades, despite earlier numbers that seemed to suggest otherwise. Mercury is a toxic metal that’s unfortunately all too common. While there are natural sources of mercury emissions like volcanoes, the vast majority of emissions come from burning fossil fuels. Part of what makes mercury dangerous is that it lingers for a long time by cycling between the soil and the air. In the form of organic methylmercury, the element can even last for decades at a given site, and even when it is removed, it’s not really gone. Much of the mercury actually makes its way into the food chain, and because it can bioaccumulate in living organisms, those higher on the food chain end up with the highest concentrations of mercury. Exposure to mercury in humans is particularly a concern when eating fish, and too much mercury can cause a host of medical issues.
With such risks to consider, it’s no wonder that there are monitoring stations tracking the concentrations of atmospheric mercury. Well, MIT researchers recently published a study after analyzing data from all such monitoring stations in the northern hemisphere (51 in total), and they found something wholly unexpected: globally, mercury emissions seem to have declined by 10 percent between 2005 and 2020. This might have something to do with the Minamata Convention, an international treaty signed in 2013 with the goal of reducing man made mercury emissions. Curiously, when the treaty was signed, mercury emissions seemed to be on the rise, yet the data monitoring stations indicate that, overall, they’ve been on the decline. As for the source of the discrepancy, the researchers aren’t quite sure, though they do have some ideas. Mercury emissions can be difficult to track since they can stay hidden for so long and take so many forms, so there may be other sources of mercury pollution that are yet unaccounted for. One day, perhaps, we’ll clear the air on this matter once and for all.Heavy metal might be fun for the ears, but it’s not so great for the environment. Fortunately, researchers at MIT have found that emissions of mercury have been declining for the last few decades, despite earlier numbers that seemed to suggest otherwise. Mercury is a toxic metal that’s unfortunately all too common. While there are natural sources of mercury emissions like volcanoes, the vast majority of emissions come from burning fossil fuels. Part of what makes mercury dangerous is that it lingers for a long time by cycling between the soil and the air. In the form of organic methylmercury, the element can even last for decades at a given site, and even when it is removed, it’s not really gone. Much of the mercury actually makes its way into the food chain, and because it can bioaccumulate in living organisms, those higher on the food chain end up with the highest concentrations of mercury. Exposure to mercury in humans is particularly a concern when eating fish, and too much mercury can cause a host of medical issues.
With such risks to consider, it’s no wonder that there are monitoring stations tracking the concentrations of atmospheric mercury. Well, MIT researchers recently published a study after analyzing data from all such monitoring stations in the northern hemisphere (51 in total), and they found something wholly unexpected: globally, mercury emissions seem to have declined by 10 percent between 2005 and 2020. This might have something to do with the Minamata Convention, an international treaty signed in 2013 with the goal of reducing man made mercury emissions. Curiously, when the treaty was signed, mercury emissions seemed to be on the rise, yet the data monitoring stations indicate that, overall, they’ve been on the decline. As for the source of the discrepancy, the researchers aren’t quite sure, though they do have some ideas. Mercury emissions can be difficult to track since they can stay hidden for so long and take so many forms, so there may be other sources of mercury pollution that are yet unaccounted for. One day, perhaps, we’ll clear the air on this matter once and for all. -
FREEBiology Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
As Halloween approaches, you may be chilled by strange shrieks coming from the woods…but it’s probably just a tiny bird. Eastern screech owls are some of the smallest owls in the world at around 9.8 inches long. As their name implies, though, they’ve got surprisingly big voices.
Screech owls evolved during the Miocene period, around 23 million years ago, from what was probably a slightly larger ancestor. While it may seem odd for a predatory bird to get smaller, being petite has its advantages. First, it makes it easier to blend in. Owls are nocturnal, meaning that they must sleep during the day when plenty of other predators, like hawks and snakes, are active. That makes hiding a top priority. Camouflage is a good trick, and screech owls certainly employ it with their patchy brown feathers, which help them blend into tree bark. But being small makes hiding even easier, since screech owls can squeeze into small crevices between rocks or in trees that predators simply can’t access. Being smaller can also be an advantage while hunting, as it's harder for screech owls’ prey, like mice and small birds, to see them coming.
Of course, hiding isn’t always at the top of a screech owl’s agenda. The tiny birds pack a big vocal punch, as their namesake screeches can carry for miles. Usually, the birds’ loudest vocalizations happen in times of aggression or stress, such as when a screech owl is declaring its territory or chasing attackers away from its nest. Like all birds, though, screech owls make more than one sound, and some of them are quite soft. One type of screech owl call, called a tremolo, is used by male and female screech owl mates to keep in touch. Tremolos are trembly, purr-like calls—hardly the stuff of Halloween nightmares. With their tufted ears, large, yellow eyes and varied vocalizations, you could say these little owls are more treat than trick.
[Image description: The face and upper body of Isaiah, an Eastern Screech Owl, with large yellow eyes.] Credit & copyright: Tanya Flores, Forest Service, USDA, Wikimedia Commons. This image is a work of the Forest Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image is in the public domain.As Halloween approaches, you may be chilled by strange shrieks coming from the woods…but it’s probably just a tiny bird. Eastern screech owls are some of the smallest owls in the world at around 9.8 inches long. As their name implies, though, they’ve got surprisingly big voices.
Screech owls evolved during the Miocene period, around 23 million years ago, from what was probably a slightly larger ancestor. While it may seem odd for a predatory bird to get smaller, being petite has its advantages. First, it makes it easier to blend in. Owls are nocturnal, meaning that they must sleep during the day when plenty of other predators, like hawks and snakes, are active. That makes hiding a top priority. Camouflage is a good trick, and screech owls certainly employ it with their patchy brown feathers, which help them blend into tree bark. But being small makes hiding even easier, since screech owls can squeeze into small crevices between rocks or in trees that predators simply can’t access. Being smaller can also be an advantage while hunting, as it's harder for screech owls’ prey, like mice and small birds, to see them coming.
Of course, hiding isn’t always at the top of a screech owl’s agenda. The tiny birds pack a big vocal punch, as their namesake screeches can carry for miles. Usually, the birds’ loudest vocalizations happen in times of aggression or stress, such as when a screech owl is declaring its territory or chasing attackers away from its nest. Like all birds, though, screech owls make more than one sound, and some of them are quite soft. One type of screech owl call, called a tremolo, is used by male and female screech owl mates to keep in touch. Tremolos are trembly, purr-like calls—hardly the stuff of Halloween nightmares. With their tufted ears, large, yellow eyes and varied vocalizations, you could say these little owls are more treat than trick.
[Image description: The face and upper body of Isaiah, an Eastern Screech Owl, with large yellow eyes.] Credit & copyright: Tanya Flores, Forest Service, USDA, Wikimedia Commons. This image is a work of the Forest Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image is in the public domain.
October 15, 2024
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7 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
From the BBC World Service: Leaders and officials from India, Pakistan, China and other countries in the region will meet in Islamabad during the Shanghai Co...
From the BBC World Service: Leaders and officials from India, Pakistan, China and other countries in the region will meet in Islamabad during the Shanghai Co...
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day
: October 15, 2024\ren-DISH-un\ noun
What It Means
A rendition, simply put, is the act or result of rendering something. That...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day
: October 15, 2024\ren-DISH-un\ noun
What It Means
A rendition, simply put, is the act or result of rendering something. That...
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FREEHumanities Daily Curio #2960Free1 CQ
It’s not often that a mystery starts solving itself. Around 100 years ago, two British mountaineers, George Mallory and Andrew “Sandy” Irvine, disappeared during their attempt to be the first to summit Mount Everest. Mallory’s remains were found in 1999, but Irvine's were missing until recently, when his boot and foot were discovered by a National Geographic documentary team. Born on April 8, 1902, Irvine was a young but talented mountaineer serving as the oxygen officer in Mallory’s doomed expedition to Everest. Since the pair went missing during their ascent, they have been the subject of the most famous mountaineering mystery in history: did they reach the summit? When Mallory’s body was discovered in 1999, it shed some light on the matter. Inside one of the mountaineer’s pockets were his dark goggles, indicating that it was dark when he became injured. Missing was a photograph of his wife, which he had promised to leave on the summit. These two bits of evidence suggested that Mallory may have been descending later in the evening, possibly having reached the summit. However, there wasn’t anything definitive to prove the expedition’s success. What might settle the debate once and for all is Irvine’s film roll. Irvine was known to have carried a camera on the expedition, and had they reached the summit, he surely would have snapped a photo or two. Although Irvine’s complete remains are yet to be discovered, a 1933 expedition located his ice ax on the northeast ridge of the Central Rongbuk Glacier. Back in September, the National Geographic documentary team led by filmmaker Jimmy Chin discovered an oxygen tank belonging to that expedition, giving them a clue as to Irvine’s final resting place. Soon after, they found a boot—still containing a sock-covered foot—that had melted out of the glacier. Chine immediately knew who the foot belonged to, because stitched into the sock in red thread were letters that spelled out “A.C. IRVINE.” For now, the remains are in the custody of the China-Tibet Mountaineering Association, though Chin took a DNA sample to confirm that it truly belongs to Irvine. But even that may not be entirely necessary. As Chin told National Geographic, “But I mean, dude. There's a label on it.” After 100 years though, what’s a few more days of waiting?
[Image description: Mount Everest and surrounding mountain peaks.] Credit & copyright: Gavin Challand (Gavidipus), Wikimedia Commons. This work has been released into the public domain by its author, Gavidipus at English Wikipedia. This applies worldwide.It’s not often that a mystery starts solving itself. Around 100 years ago, two British mountaineers, George Mallory and Andrew “Sandy” Irvine, disappeared during their attempt to be the first to summit Mount Everest. Mallory’s remains were found in 1999, but Irvine's were missing until recently, when his boot and foot were discovered by a National Geographic documentary team. Born on April 8, 1902, Irvine was a young but talented mountaineer serving as the oxygen officer in Mallory’s doomed expedition to Everest. Since the pair went missing during their ascent, they have been the subject of the most famous mountaineering mystery in history: did they reach the summit? When Mallory’s body was discovered in 1999, it shed some light on the matter. Inside one of the mountaineer’s pockets were his dark goggles, indicating that it was dark when he became injured. Missing was a photograph of his wife, which he had promised to leave on the summit. These two bits of evidence suggested that Mallory may have been descending later in the evening, possibly having reached the summit. However, there wasn’t anything definitive to prove the expedition’s success. What might settle the debate once and for all is Irvine’s film roll. Irvine was known to have carried a camera on the expedition, and had they reached the summit, he surely would have snapped a photo or two. Although Irvine’s complete remains are yet to be discovered, a 1933 expedition located his ice ax on the northeast ridge of the Central Rongbuk Glacier. Back in September, the National Geographic documentary team led by filmmaker Jimmy Chin discovered an oxygen tank belonging to that expedition, giving them a clue as to Irvine’s final resting place. Soon after, they found a boot—still containing a sock-covered foot—that had melted out of the glacier. Chine immediately knew who the foot belonged to, because stitched into the sock in red thread were letters that spelled out “A.C. IRVINE.” For now, the remains are in the custody of the China-Tibet Mountaineering Association, though Chin took a DNA sample to confirm that it truly belongs to Irvine. But even that may not be entirely necessary. As Chin told National Geographic, “But I mean, dude. There's a label on it.” After 100 years though, what’s a few more days of waiting?
[Image description: Mount Everest and surrounding mountain peaks.] Credit & copyright: Gavin Challand (Gavidipus), Wikimedia Commons. This work has been released into the public domain by its author, Gavidipus at English Wikipedia. This applies worldwide.
October 14, 2024
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FREEArt Appreciation Art CurioFree1 CQ
It’s like looking at a landscape through tears of awe. American painter George Inness was a prolific artist whose style was characterized by reverence for nature. His piece above, Sunny Autumn Day, depicts a grove of trees with red and orange leaves against a blue sky. In the background are some buildings and in the foreground is the faint trace of a walking path. Born in 1825, Inness created over 1,000 paintings in the span of 50 years. Almost exclusively a landscape painter, Inness only briefly received any formal training. Instead, he derived his personal style from careful studies of works by artists like Claude Lorrain, Salvator Rosa, Thomas Cole, and Asher B. Durand. Inness was also inspired by the idea that there was divine influence in nature, and he sought to capture this in his paintings by being as faithful to the subject as possible. The piece above comes from later in his career, when his works were defined by loose brushwork that captured the essence of the scenery while stripping away the extraneous. It’s like a cozy autumn dream, but too vibrant to be just your imagination.
Sunny Autumn Day, George Inness (1825–1894), 1892, Oil on canvas, 31.87 x 41.75 in. (81 x 106 cm.), The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio
[Image credit & copyright: George Inness (1825–1894), The Cleveland Museum of Art, Anonymous Gift 1956.578. Public domain, Creative Commons Zero (CC0) designation.It’s like looking at a landscape through tears of awe. American painter George Inness was a prolific artist whose style was characterized by reverence for nature. His piece above, Sunny Autumn Day, depicts a grove of trees with red and orange leaves against a blue sky. In the background are some buildings and in the foreground is the faint trace of a walking path. Born in 1825, Inness created over 1,000 paintings in the span of 50 years. Almost exclusively a landscape painter, Inness only briefly received any formal training. Instead, he derived his personal style from careful studies of works by artists like Claude Lorrain, Salvator Rosa, Thomas Cole, and Asher B. Durand. Inness was also inspired by the idea that there was divine influence in nature, and he sought to capture this in his paintings by being as faithful to the subject as possible. The piece above comes from later in his career, when his works were defined by loose brushwork that captured the essence of the scenery while stripping away the extraneous. It’s like a cozy autumn dream, but too vibrant to be just your imagination.
Sunny Autumn Day, George Inness (1825–1894), 1892, Oil on canvas, 31.87 x 41.75 in. (81 x 106 cm.), The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio
[Image credit & copyright: George Inness (1825–1894), The Cleveland Museum of Art, Anonymous Gift 1956.578. Public domain, Creative Commons Zero (CC0) designation. -
FREEGardening Daily Curio #2959Free1 CQ
Weeds: the bane of every fastidious gardener’s existence—or are they? Many plants are much maligned as unwanted weeds even in their own native habitats, where they can be helpful to local wildlife and soil quality. The University of Oxford is looking to change that by setting up a garden where the plants are pampered rather than pulled. Located within Oxford’s Begbroke Science Park, The Weed Garden is just what it sounds like. Filled with native plants alongside limestone furniture, the garden showcases many species that are considered undesirable today by horticulturalists. But once upon a time, some of these plants were valued for their utility and beauty. Some were used as medicine, while others were used to flavor food. Others, like dandelions, can be safely eaten from root to leaves. The designer of The Weed Garden, Sarah Alun-Jones, explained to Positive News that weeds’ bad reputation is mostly due to the aesthetic standards set by horticulturalists, despite the fact that many popular garden plants were originally developed from wild ones. Of course, the wild counterparts of selectively bred flowers and shrubs do look a little rough around the edges, but they can still play a valuable role in yards. Many gardeners nowadays are actually allowing native plants to grow in their lawns because they can cycle nutrients in the soil while providing sustenance to native insect species and pollinators, creating a healthier ecosystem. As The Weed Garden rehabilitates the image of native plants, it’s also undoing some of the damage done in the past at its home in Begbroke Science Park. Begbroke was once the site of the Weed Research Organisation, which developed herbicides between 1960 and 1985. Still, the Weed Research Organisation never came up with a definition for what a weed actually is, nor has anyone else. According to Alun-Jones, the horticultural definition of a weed is simply “a plant in the wrong place.” In that case, if all the plants in The Weed Garden are meant to be there, is it really a weed garden?
[Image description: A cluster of yellow dandelions with green leaves surrounded by grass.] Credit & copyright: Cbaile19, Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.Weeds: the bane of every fastidious gardener’s existence—or are they? Many plants are much maligned as unwanted weeds even in their own native habitats, where they can be helpful to local wildlife and soil quality. The University of Oxford is looking to change that by setting up a garden where the plants are pampered rather than pulled. Located within Oxford’s Begbroke Science Park, The Weed Garden is just what it sounds like. Filled with native plants alongside limestone furniture, the garden showcases many species that are considered undesirable today by horticulturalists. But once upon a time, some of these plants were valued for their utility and beauty. Some were used as medicine, while others were used to flavor food. Others, like dandelions, can be safely eaten from root to leaves. The designer of The Weed Garden, Sarah Alun-Jones, explained to Positive News that weeds’ bad reputation is mostly due to the aesthetic standards set by horticulturalists, despite the fact that many popular garden plants were originally developed from wild ones. Of course, the wild counterparts of selectively bred flowers and shrubs do look a little rough around the edges, but they can still play a valuable role in yards. Many gardeners nowadays are actually allowing native plants to grow in their lawns because they can cycle nutrients in the soil while providing sustenance to native insect species and pollinators, creating a healthier ecosystem. As The Weed Garden rehabilitates the image of native plants, it’s also undoing some of the damage done in the past at its home in Begbroke Science Park. Begbroke was once the site of the Weed Research Organisation, which developed herbicides between 1960 and 1985. Still, the Weed Research Organisation never came up with a definition for what a weed actually is, nor has anyone else. According to Alun-Jones, the horticultural definition of a weed is simply “a plant in the wrong place.” In that case, if all the plants in The Weed Garden are meant to be there, is it really a weed garden?
[Image description: A cluster of yellow dandelions with green leaves surrounded by grass.] Credit & copyright: Cbaile19, Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. -
9 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
Medicare does not pay for general, long-term care. Now, Kamala Harris, the Democrat’s candidate for president, wants to expand Medicare to pay for long-term ...
Medicare does not pay for general, long-term care. Now, Kamala Harris, the Democrat’s candidate for president, wants to expand Medicare to pay for long-term ...