Curio Cabinet
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April 17, 2021
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day : April 17, 2021
purloin \per-LOYN\ verb
Definition
: to appropriate wrongfully and often by a breach of trust
Did You Know?
The word pu...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : April 17, 2021
purloin \per-LOYN\ verb
Definition
: to appropriate wrongfully and often by a breach of trust
Did You Know?
The word pu...
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
From the BBC World Service: Economists say it’s difficult to compare the start of this year with the period between January and March 2020, because activity ...
From the BBC World Service: Economists say it’s difficult to compare the start of this year with the period between January and March 2020, because activity ...
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6 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree4 CQ
Most Syrian children have missed years — if not decades — of schooling due to war and displacement. The conditions in Lebanon mean they could miss even more.
with PRI's The WorldMost Syrian children have missed years — if not decades — of schooling due to war and displacement. The conditions in Lebanon mean they could miss even more.
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FREEPlay Teaser Curio #282Free1 CQ
Guam has two slogans: "Tano I' ManChamorro" (Land of the Chamorros) and "Where America's Day Begins." Home to the indigenous Chamorro people, Guam is the westernmost territory of the United States. The island is 17 hours ahead of the west coast. That means 9AM on Thursday in Pacific Standard Time is 2AM on Friday in Guam. Tune in tomorrow to learn more about the Chamorro people. In the meantime, can you solve this word square?
Remember: a word square is similar to a square crossword puzzle, but the same words appear across and down.Here's an example of a 3x3 word square:
CAT AGO TOYBelow are four clues, not in order. Can you make a 4x4 word square out of it?
A species of fish: the second clue plus this.
Thousands have grit.
A sting from a Craronidae might leave you feeling.
Water-related prefix.Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #282" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
[Image description: Curious Teaser Logo, a pink brain graphic overlaid on a blue virtual maze.]Guam has two slogans: "Tano I' ManChamorro" (Land of the Chamorros) and "Where America's Day Begins." Home to the indigenous Chamorro people, Guam is the westernmost territory of the United States. The island is 17 hours ahead of the west coast. That means 9AM on Thursday in Pacific Standard Time is 2AM on Friday in Guam. Tune in tomorrow to learn more about the Chamorro people. In the meantime, can you solve this word square?
Remember: a word square is similar to a square crossword puzzle, but the same words appear across and down.Here's an example of a 3x3 word square:
CAT AGO TOYBelow are four clues, not in order. Can you make a 4x4 word square out of it?
A species of fish: the second clue plus this.
Thousands have grit.
A sting from a Craronidae might leave you feeling.
Water-related prefix.Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #282" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
[Image description: Curious Teaser Logo, a pink brain graphic overlaid on a blue virtual maze.]
April 16, 2021
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8 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree5 CQ
Some African American soldiers of the segregated 92nd Infantry Division remain unknown. But new technology could now help to identify them.
with PRI's The WorldSome African American soldiers of the segregated 92nd Infantry Division remain unknown. But new technology could now help to identify them.
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
Those numbers: An 18.3% jump in GDP for China in the first quarter and U.S. stock market highs yesterday. They reflect an optimistic economic outlook going f...
Those numbers: An 18.3% jump in GDP for China in the first quarter and U.S. stock market highs yesterday. They reflect an optimistic economic outlook going f...
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day : April 16, 2021
lodestone \LOHD-stohn\ noun
Definition
1 : magnetite possessing polarity
2 : something that strongly attracts
Did You K...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : April 16, 2021
lodestone \LOHD-stohn\ noun
Definition
1 : magnetite possessing polarity
2 : something that strongly attracts
Did You K...
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1 minFREEPoetry Poem CurioFree1 CQ
At the Un-national Monument along the Canadian Border. .
with Poetry FoundationAt the Un-national Monument along the Canadian Border. .
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FREEMusic Appreciation Song CurioFree2 CQ
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
For Jack White, creating the White Stripes' most iconic song meant going back to the basics. The song Seven Nation Army—released on the album Elephant in April of 2003—was borne of a seven-note riff White came up with during the White Blood Cells tour. The title itself was a reference to how White pronounced "Salvation Army" as a child; it acted as a placeholder until White had time to flesh out the tune. When it came time to record the track, White traveled to London, England to work in an all-analog studio called Toe Rag, even bragging in the liner notes about how "no computers were used during the writing, recording, mixing, or mastering of this record." With a retro Kay guitar plugged into a DigiTech Whammy pedal, White laid down infectious, bass-like lines as he sang about fame, infamy, and what it was like to lose a sense of privacy to the band's newfound celebrity status. With a vertigo-inducing video, the White Stripes didn't quite get their anonymity back, though they did create one of the most memorable headbanging riffs of the aughts!
Other streaming options
Image credit & copyright: Dean Chalkley
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
For Jack White, creating the White Stripes' most iconic song meant going back to the basics. The song Seven Nation Army—released on the album Elephant in April of 2003—was borne of a seven-note riff White came up with during the White Blood Cells tour. The title itself was a reference to how White pronounced "Salvation Army" as a child; it acted as a placeholder until White had time to flesh out the tune. When it came time to record the track, White traveled to London, England to work in an all-analog studio called Toe Rag, even bragging in the liner notes about how "no computers were used during the writing, recording, mixing, or mastering of this record." With a retro Kay guitar plugged into a DigiTech Whammy pedal, White laid down infectious, bass-like lines as he sang about fame, infamy, and what it was like to lose a sense of privacy to the band's newfound celebrity status. With a vertigo-inducing video, the White Stripes didn't quite get their anonymity back, though they did create one of the most memorable headbanging riffs of the aughts!
Other streaming options
Image credit & copyright: Dean Chalkley
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FREEArt Appreciation Art CurioFree1 CQ
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
Artist: unknown
Created: 10th century, India (Madhya Pradesh); Kalacuri
Medium: mottled red sandstone
Dimensions: 20 x 36 tall in (50.8 x 91.4 cm)
Current location: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York
December 21 through 25 marks the modern five-day Hindu festival honoring Lord Ganesha (also Ganapati), remover of obstacles and patron of the arts. By the time this 10th-century sandstone sculpture had been carved, Ganesha had already been a prominent Hindu deity for six centuries. His most recognizable features are his elephant head and ample belly, and the dancing gesture is one of the most common poses you'll find him in. Notice Ganesha's trunk is turned to his left towards a delicacy in his hand, representing the sweetness of enlightenment. Other symbols include the rope over his head—to lasso people back to their true path if led astray—and the small hook in his middle left hand—to destroy ignorance in the world. Even if you're unfamiliar with Pancha Ganapati, you may feel inspired by today's festival theme; December 22 is devoted to giving gifts and making amends with neighbors and close friends. Here's to new beginnings, no matter what you celebrate!It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
Artist: unknown
Created: 10th century, India (Madhya Pradesh); Kalacuri
Medium: mottled red sandstone
Dimensions: 20 x 36 tall in (50.8 x 91.4 cm)
Current location: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York
December 21 through 25 marks the modern five-day Hindu festival honoring Lord Ganesha (also Ganapati), remover of obstacles and patron of the arts. By the time this 10th-century sandstone sculpture had been carved, Ganesha had already been a prominent Hindu deity for six centuries. His most recognizable features are his elephant head and ample belly, and the dancing gesture is one of the most common poses you'll find him in. Notice Ganesha's trunk is turned to his left towards a delicacy in his hand, representing the sweetness of enlightenment. Other symbols include the rope over his head—to lasso people back to their true path if led astray—and the small hook in his middle left hand—to destroy ignorance in the world. Even if you're unfamiliar with Pancha Ganapati, you may feel inspired by today's festival theme; December 22 is devoted to giving gifts and making amends with neighbors and close friends. Here's to new beginnings, no matter what you celebrate! -
FREEPhotography Photo CurioFree1 CQ
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
In 2016, the WildLife SOS Elephant Conservation and Care Center in Northern India teamed with local villagers to fashionably prepare the elephants at their sanctuary for the colder months. Because the creatures were rescued from dire living situations, some can catch pneumonia in colder months and others painful arthritis. In total, 23 elephants were knitted colorful patchwork sweaters to keep them warm. Knitting one complete sweater took an entire month, and each of the designs was unique to specific elephants. Caring for these highly social pachyderms is just one of the ways WildLife SOS protects wildlife, studies biodiversity, and promotes conservation efforts in India. Making elephants warm, comfy, and stylish are all additional benefits of the program. And if it is true that an elephant never forgets, we know that these ones will be grateful for the sweaters and kindness for years to come!
Below: villagers from Northern India knit elephant sweaters while the eager recipients look on.
Image credit & copyright: Roger Allen
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
In 2016, the WildLife SOS Elephant Conservation and Care Center in Northern India teamed with local villagers to fashionably prepare the elephants at their sanctuary for the colder months. Because the creatures were rescued from dire living situations, some can catch pneumonia in colder months and others painful arthritis. In total, 23 elephants were knitted colorful patchwork sweaters to keep them warm. Knitting one complete sweater took an entire month, and each of the designs was unique to specific elephants. Caring for these highly social pachyderms is just one of the ways WildLife SOS protects wildlife, studies biodiversity, and promotes conservation efforts in India. Making elephants warm, comfy, and stylish are all additional benefits of the program. And if it is true that an elephant never forgets, we know that these ones will be grateful for the sweaters and kindness for years to come!
Below: villagers from Northern India knit elephant sweaters while the eager recipients look on.
Image credit & copyright: Roger Allen
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FREEUS History Daily CurioFree1 CQ
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
In February 1882, devious showman P. T. Barnum purchased Jumbo the Elephant from London Zoo in England. The rest of Jumbo's career would resemble the fall of a self-destructive rockstar. Born around Christmas of 1860, in Sudan, the African bush elephant was captured as a calf. He likely took his name from the local port of Jumbo, which he may have been shipped through to the Paris zoo, Jardin des Plantes. From there, he ended up at the London Zoo and became a star of the British Empire and a darling of Queen Victoria. He traveled the world and grew to a remarkable height of 10' 7". But tragedy struck. One day, Jumbo suffered a seizure and snapped off his tusks on a wall of oak while in convulsions. The incident left Jumbo with a permanently abscessed upper lip. Which caused his tusks to grow in crooked the rest of his life. Tusks are upper incisors, essentially teeth, so Jumbo was consistently in pain and acting erratically. His peculiar behavior, tusks, and size flashed dollar signs in Barnum's eyes.
The London Zoo controversially sold Jumbo to Barnum after the elephant developed a dangerous temper. Barnum wasn't concerned about it; he knew that investing in an international star was sure to have returns. So life grew a lot more complicated for Jumbo. His bouts of anger continued, not only due to his abcessed lip but also the loss of his old caretakers. Barnum assuaged the elephant by letting him knock back bottles of champagne or whiskey. Jumbo's fall into alcoholism was swift and his favorite food became biscuits soaked in whiskey. A peaceful drunk, he headlined shows at Madison Square Garden and the Brooklyn Bridge, quickly recuperating Barnum's investment. Then his pain was cut short. On September 15, 1885, at a railway yard in St. Thomas, Ontario, Jumbo noticed his tiny clown elephant co-star, Tom Thumb, was strolling on the train tracks. As Jumbo, possibly drunk, struggled to budge Tom Thumb from the path of danger, both were struck by a locomotive. Some sources say Tom Thumb survived, but Jumbo was killed. An autopsy revealed keys, rivets, various English coins and a police whistle in his stomach. Today, Jumbo's sad story endures and feeds the animal activist movement. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus no longer uses elephants in its shows. It's the right call. If all the mentions of Jumbo as an elephant were left from his tale, I'd have thought I was following the life of a human being.
Image credit & copyright: Tufts University
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
In February 1882, devious showman P. T. Barnum purchased Jumbo the Elephant from London Zoo in England. The rest of Jumbo's career would resemble the fall of a self-destructive rockstar. Born around Christmas of 1860, in Sudan, the African bush elephant was captured as a calf. He likely took his name from the local port of Jumbo, which he may have been shipped through to the Paris zoo, Jardin des Plantes. From there, he ended up at the London Zoo and became a star of the British Empire and a darling of Queen Victoria. He traveled the world and grew to a remarkable height of 10' 7". But tragedy struck. One day, Jumbo suffered a seizure and snapped off his tusks on a wall of oak while in convulsions. The incident left Jumbo with a permanently abscessed upper lip. Which caused his tusks to grow in crooked the rest of his life. Tusks are upper incisors, essentially teeth, so Jumbo was consistently in pain and acting erratically. His peculiar behavior, tusks, and size flashed dollar signs in Barnum's eyes.
The London Zoo controversially sold Jumbo to Barnum after the elephant developed a dangerous temper. Barnum wasn't concerned about it; he knew that investing in an international star was sure to have returns. So life grew a lot more complicated for Jumbo. His bouts of anger continued, not only due to his abcessed lip but also the loss of his old caretakers. Barnum assuaged the elephant by letting him knock back bottles of champagne or whiskey. Jumbo's fall into alcoholism was swift and his favorite food became biscuits soaked in whiskey. A peaceful drunk, he headlined shows at Madison Square Garden and the Brooklyn Bridge, quickly recuperating Barnum's investment. Then his pain was cut short. On September 15, 1885, at a railway yard in St. Thomas, Ontario, Jumbo noticed his tiny clown elephant co-star, Tom Thumb, was strolling on the train tracks. As Jumbo, possibly drunk, struggled to budge Tom Thumb from the path of danger, both were struck by a locomotive. Some sources say Tom Thumb survived, but Jumbo was killed. An autopsy revealed keys, rivets, various English coins and a police whistle in his stomach. Today, Jumbo's sad story endures and feeds the animal activist movement. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus no longer uses elephants in its shows. It's the right call. If all the mentions of Jumbo as an elephant were left from his tale, I'd have thought I was following the life of a human being.
Image credit & copyright: Tufts University
April 15, 2021
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6 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree4 CQ
With online news outlets and streaming platforms now under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, content creators may face new layers of bureaucracy,...
with PRI's The WorldWith online news outlets and streaming platforms now under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, content creators may face new layers of bureaucracy,...
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
You know the one we’re talking about: sans-serif fonts, pastel palettes, long-limbed cartoon figures. Why is it so ubiquitous? And what is it hiding? Plus, e...
You know the one we’re talking about: sans-serif fonts, pastel palettes, long-limbed cartoon figures. Why is it so ubiquitous? And what is it hiding? Plus, e...
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day : April 15, 2021
obstreperous \ub-STREP-uh-rus\ adjective
Definition
1 : marked by unruly or aggressive noisiness : clamorous
2 : stubbor...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : April 15, 2021
obstreperous \ub-STREP-uh-rus\ adjective
Definition
1 : marked by unruly or aggressive noisiness : clamorous
2 : stubbor...
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FREELiterature Daily Curio #2218Free1 CQ
One could easily argue that children’s authors are as powerful as superheroes, but have even more responsibility. After all, they influence how generations of children grow up! Never was this truer than in the case of beloved American children’s author Beverly Cleary, who passed away last month at age 104. Cleary used two simple tools to create her timeless characters: her own childhood memories and the advice of children.
Although Cleary loved to read and write, she had a difficult time finding stories about average American children. “I wanted to read about the sort of boys and girls that I knew in my neighborhood and in my school,” Cleary told NPR in a 1999 interview. “And in my childhood, many years ago, children's books seemed to be about English children, or pioneer children. And that wasn't what I wanted to read.” Cleary published her first book, Henry Huggins, in 1950. Henry was an ordinary boy from Oregon who got into funny situations with neighboring children and his dog, Ribsy. The book also introduced a character who would go on to be Cleary’s most famous: Henry’s neighbor, Ramona Quimby. Ramona’s scrappy, mischievous nature, as well as many of her adventures, were based on memories from Cleary’s own childhood. Neither a model of perfect femininity nor a one-to-one stand-in for a male character, Ramona had a lovable quality all her own, which resonated with young female readers.
Cleary’s habit of listening to her young fans and changing with the times paid off, throughout her career. During the Women’s Movement of the 1960s and 70s, Cleary began integrating working mothers into her stories. In 1982, Cleary received letters from children asking if she could write a story about divorced parents. In response, she published Dear Mr. Henshaw, about a young boy struggling with his parents’ divorce. In 1984, it was awarded the John Newbery Medal. When asked how her books managed to stay relevant from the 1950s into the internet age, Cleary told the Atlantic, “I think it is because I have stayed true to my own memories of childhood, which are not different in many ways from those of children today. Although their circumstances have changed, I don't think children's inner feelings have changed.” If the current popularity of Cleary’s work is any indication, her legacy will continue to inspire children well into the future.
[Image description: Author Beverly Cleary sits, smiling, in a room beside a table lamp, with flowers in the foreground. ] Credit & copyright: Peter DaSilva
Written by: Maria C.One could easily argue that children’s authors are as powerful as superheroes, but have even more responsibility. After all, they influence how generations of children grow up! Never was this truer than in the case of beloved American children’s author Beverly Cleary, who passed away last month at age 104. Cleary used two simple tools to create her timeless characters: her own childhood memories and the advice of children.
Although Cleary loved to read and write, she had a difficult time finding stories about average American children. “I wanted to read about the sort of boys and girls that I knew in my neighborhood and in my school,” Cleary told NPR in a 1999 interview. “And in my childhood, many years ago, children's books seemed to be about English children, or pioneer children. And that wasn't what I wanted to read.” Cleary published her first book, Henry Huggins, in 1950. Henry was an ordinary boy from Oregon who got into funny situations with neighboring children and his dog, Ribsy. The book also introduced a character who would go on to be Cleary’s most famous: Henry’s neighbor, Ramona Quimby. Ramona’s scrappy, mischievous nature, as well as many of her adventures, were based on memories from Cleary’s own childhood. Neither a model of perfect femininity nor a one-to-one stand-in for a male character, Ramona had a lovable quality all her own, which resonated with young female readers.
Cleary’s habit of listening to her young fans and changing with the times paid off, throughout her career. During the Women’s Movement of the 1960s and 70s, Cleary began integrating working mothers into her stories. In 1982, Cleary received letters from children asking if she could write a story about divorced parents. In response, she published Dear Mr. Henshaw, about a young boy struggling with his parents’ divorce. In 1984, it was awarded the John Newbery Medal. When asked how her books managed to stay relevant from the 1950s into the internet age, Cleary told the Atlantic, “I think it is because I have stayed true to my own memories of childhood, which are not different in many ways from those of children today. Although their circumstances have changed, I don't think children's inner feelings have changed.” If the current popularity of Cleary’s work is any indication, her legacy will continue to inspire children well into the future.
[Image description: Author Beverly Cleary sits, smiling, in a room beside a table lamp, with flowers in the foreground. ] Credit & copyright: Peter DaSilva
Written by: Maria C. -
FREESTEM Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
Hey, who left the chicken in the barbecuer...since the Cretaceous age? The image on the left is actually the newly discovered remains of an oviraptorosaur perched atop its nest of 24 eggs, which was located in Ganzhou City, China. Oviraptorosaurs were a type of theropod dinosaur. Theropods lived over 70 million years ago and were identified by their bipedal movement, short forelimbs, and carnivorous diet—traits which helped scientists identify them as ancestors to modern birds. This particular fossil is unique for being the evidence of a non-avian dinosaur brooding on eggs with preserved embryonic material, proving the species had to care for their young even before hatching. The mother oviraptorosaur also had stones in its abdomen, which may indicate that gastrolith (digestive stones) helped break down meals in the body. We're just glad these carnivorous dinos ate stones instead of writers like us for breakfast.
[Image description: left, the bones and fossilized nest of an oviraptorosaur. Right, an illustration of two blue-and-brown oviraptorosaurs nesting. ] Credit & copyright: Shundong Bi, Zhao Chuang
Written by: Esther P.
Hey, who left the chicken in the barbecuer...since the Cretaceous age? The image on the left is actually the newly discovered remains of an oviraptorosaur perched atop its nest of 24 eggs, which was located in Ganzhou City, China. Oviraptorosaurs were a type of theropod dinosaur. Theropods lived over 70 million years ago and were identified by their bipedal movement, short forelimbs, and carnivorous diet—traits which helped scientists identify them as ancestors to modern birds. This particular fossil is unique for being the evidence of a non-avian dinosaur brooding on eggs with preserved embryonic material, proving the species had to care for their young even before hatching. The mother oviraptorosaur also had stones in its abdomen, which may indicate that gastrolith (digestive stones) helped break down meals in the body. We're just glad these carnivorous dinos ate stones instead of writers like us for breakfast.
[Image description: left, the bones and fossilized nest of an oviraptorosaur. Right, an illustration of two blue-and-brown oviraptorosaurs nesting. ] Credit & copyright: Shundong Bi, Zhao Chuang
Written by: Esther P.
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FREEAesthetic Art CurioFree1 CQ
Imagine an entire treeful of leaves like this one! Although you won't find this beautiful foliage in nature, embroidered leaves are a staple of American artist Hillary Water Fayle's work, which has recently grown popular online. In the untitled piece above, a green camellia leaf has been embroidered with a paisley design in shades of red, orange, and blue, which stretches upward from the leaf's stem. Fayle, who holds degrees in Craft/Material Studies and Fiber Design, first began embroidering leaves while working at an environmentalist summer camp. Inspired by the nature around her, she applied her embroidery skills to the most abundant material available—leaves. At first, she didn't try to preserve her works, allowing them to dry out, curl up, and eventually tear apart. For a time, she added stiffeners to make the leaves easier to embroider, and glazes to preserve them. However, these days she prefers to simply press the leaves, if she preserves them at all. "I’ve grown more and more of an appreciation for the simplicity of just using a needle and thread and the leaf itself, with nothing added or in between," she explained, in an interview with Mr X Stitch. Talk about pure art!
Hillary Waters Fayle, 2020, hand-stitched leaves, hand-dyed thread
Below: two more of Fayle's untitled embroidered leaves.
Written by: Maria C.
Imagine an entire treeful of leaves like this one! Although you won't find this beautiful foliage in nature, embroidered leaves are a staple of American artist Hillary Water Fayle's work, which has recently grown popular online. In the untitled piece above, a green camellia leaf has been embroidered with a paisley design in shades of red, orange, and blue, which stretches upward from the leaf's stem. Fayle, who holds degrees in Craft/Material Studies and Fiber Design, first began embroidering leaves while working at an environmentalist summer camp. Inspired by the nature around her, she applied her embroidery skills to the most abundant material available—leaves. At first, she didn't try to preserve her works, allowing them to dry out, curl up, and eventually tear apart. For a time, she added stiffeners to make the leaves easier to embroider, and glazes to preserve them. However, these days she prefers to simply press the leaves, if she preserves them at all. "I’ve grown more and more of an appreciation for the simplicity of just using a needle and thread and the leaf itself, with nothing added or in between," she explained, in an interview with Mr X Stitch. Talk about pure art!
Hillary Waters Fayle, 2020, hand-stitched leaves, hand-dyed thread
Below: two more of Fayle's untitled embroidered leaves.
Written by: Maria C.
April 14, 2021
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5 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree3 CQ
Many refugees have already been vetted and approved for entry, but President Joe Biden has yet to make an official commitment to rebuilding the US refugee pr...
with PRI's The WorldMany refugees have already been vetted and approved for entry, but President Joe Biden has yet to make an official commitment to rebuilding the US refugee pr...
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
The cryptocurrency exchange company will be the first major crypto business to go public in the U.S. Plus, the Ever Given cargo ship of Suez Canal fame is st...
The cryptocurrency exchange company will be the first major crypto business to go public in the U.S. Plus, the Ever Given cargo ship of Suez Canal fame is st...
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day : April 14, 2021
discomfit \diss-KUM-fit\ verb
Definition
1 : to put into a state of perplexity and embarrassment : disconcert
2 a : to f...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : April 14, 2021
discomfit \diss-KUM-fit\ verb
Definition
1 : to put into a state of perplexity and embarrassment : disconcert
2 a : to f...
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FREEUS History Daily Curio #2217Free1 CQ
Friday the 13th? That's child's play when it comes to actual bad luck days. On her album release of Time (The Revelator) (2001), alt-country singer Gillian Welch crowned April 14th "Ruination Day" in America, and with good historical support for her claim. The earliest date mentioned in Welch's song Ruination Day (Part II) is April 14, 1865: that evening, John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theater while watching Our American Cousin. The second April 14th tragedy occurred in 1912 when the RMS Titanic struck an iceberg and sank, and some 1,500 people died in the freezing North Atlantic waters. The third and final date was April 14, 1935, when the "black blizzards" of dust reached the droughted southern plains states, causing the Associated Press to coin the term "Dust Bowl."
Welch took musical inspiration for Ruination Day from the works of folk singer Woody Guthrie and bluesman "Blind" Willie Johnson—though one doesn't have to dig into the lore of 20th century folk music to get a handle on how bad the middle of April is in U.S. history. A 2014 Vice article highlighted some of the worst American tragedies that happened not only on April 14th, but the third week of April, and they're a doozy: the devastating 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck San Francisco on April 18, 1906, the Oklahoma City bombing occurred April 19, 1995, and the Columbine massacre in Colorado happened on April 20, 1999.
So what's with all the bad luck and trouble in April? In the northern hemisphere, there is evidence that warming temperatures have some correlation with rises in crime rates, but causation hasn't been scientifically determined in such studies. Or maybe there's something to the T.S. Eliot quote from "The Wasteland" that "April is the cruelest month." Barring natural disasters or an anachronistic rise in unsinkable boat-theories, April 2021 is looking to be a transitory time at the end of covid rather than a tragic one. Let's remember to stay safe, follow CDC guidelines, and thank the artists who's creative works have kept us entertained and intrigued during these trying times.
Below: Ruination Day (Part II) by Gillian Welch.
[Image description: The bow of the sunken Titanic. Located 370 south-southeast of Newfoundland in the Atlantic Ocean.] Credit & copyright: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2004.
Written by: Esther P.Friday the 13th? That's child's play when it comes to actual bad luck days. On her album release of Time (The Revelator) (2001), alt-country singer Gillian Welch crowned April 14th "Ruination Day" in America, and with good historical support for her claim. The earliest date mentioned in Welch's song Ruination Day (Part II) is April 14, 1865: that evening, John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theater while watching Our American Cousin. The second April 14th tragedy occurred in 1912 when the RMS Titanic struck an iceberg and sank, and some 1,500 people died in the freezing North Atlantic waters. The third and final date was April 14, 1935, when the "black blizzards" of dust reached the droughted southern plains states, causing the Associated Press to coin the term "Dust Bowl."
Welch took musical inspiration for Ruination Day from the works of folk singer Woody Guthrie and bluesman "Blind" Willie Johnson—though one doesn't have to dig into the lore of 20th century folk music to get a handle on how bad the middle of April is in U.S. history. A 2014 Vice article highlighted some of the worst American tragedies that happened not only on April 14th, but the third week of April, and they're a doozy: the devastating 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck San Francisco on April 18, 1906, the Oklahoma City bombing occurred April 19, 1995, and the Columbine massacre in Colorado happened on April 20, 1999.
So what's with all the bad luck and trouble in April? In the northern hemisphere, there is evidence that warming temperatures have some correlation with rises in crime rates, but causation hasn't been scientifically determined in such studies. Or maybe there's something to the T.S. Eliot quote from "The Wasteland" that "April is the cruelest month." Barring natural disasters or an anachronistic rise in unsinkable boat-theories, April 2021 is looking to be a transitory time at the end of covid rather than a tragic one. Let's remember to stay safe, follow CDC guidelines, and thank the artists who's creative works have kept us entertained and intrigued during these trying times.
Below: Ruination Day (Part II) by Gillian Welch.
[Image description: The bow of the sunken Titanic. Located 370 south-southeast of Newfoundland in the Atlantic Ocean.] Credit & copyright: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2004.
Written by: Esther P. -
FREEMusic Song CurioFree2 CQ
Marvel and Disney Plus' hit show WandaVision sure bewitched viewers with its nod to sitcom nostalgia. To help tap into the retro charm of TV theme songs, Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez were recruited to add a bit of their Oscar-winning musical magic (Remember Me from Coco and Let It Go from Frozen). Whether it was homages to I Dream of Genie, The Partridge Family, or a host of TGIF '80s themes, the duo wove a central four-note motif throughout that relies on octaves and tritones to give a bit of otherworldly, dissonant, and spacey-feel to each episode's theme song. Besides giving millions of viewers a crash course in how small motifs can be used to build incredible musical ideas, Anderson-Lopez and Lopez also gave the world another gift: the iTunes #1 track Agatha All Along. The four-note motif reappears here in the melody of a kooky and spooky homage to the show's big bad villain. We're happy to do the twist to Agatha All Along, but that doesn't mean we won't try to pogo or electric slide to some of the other hip tunes from WandaVision!
Below: an analysis of the four-note motif that reappears throughout the sitcom themes and other songs in WandaVision. And a short video of Agatha Harkness' theme song Agatha All Along.
[Image description: Marvel's Scarlet Witch and Vision are fractured into contemporary and 1950s sitcom selves.] Credit & copyright: Marvel Studios and Disney.
Written by: Esther P.
Marvel and Disney Plus' hit show WandaVision sure bewitched viewers with its nod to sitcom nostalgia. To help tap into the retro charm of TV theme songs, Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez were recruited to add a bit of their Oscar-winning musical magic (Remember Me from Coco and Let It Go from Frozen). Whether it was homages to I Dream of Genie, The Partridge Family, or a host of TGIF '80s themes, the duo wove a central four-note motif throughout that relies on octaves and tritones to give a bit of otherworldly, dissonant, and spacey-feel to each episode's theme song. Besides giving millions of viewers a crash course in how small motifs can be used to build incredible musical ideas, Anderson-Lopez and Lopez also gave the world another gift: the iTunes #1 track Agatha All Along. The four-note motif reappears here in the melody of a kooky and spooky homage to the show's big bad villain. We're happy to do the twist to Agatha All Along, but that doesn't mean we won't try to pogo or electric slide to some of the other hip tunes from WandaVision!
Below: an analysis of the four-note motif that reappears throughout the sitcom themes and other songs in WandaVision. And a short video of Agatha Harkness' theme song Agatha All Along.
[Image description: Marvel's Scarlet Witch and Vision are fractured into contemporary and 1950s sitcom selves.] Credit & copyright: Marvel Studios and Disney.
Written by: Esther P.
April 13, 2021
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4 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree3 CQ
England’s potential COVID-19 certificate scheme would require customers to show proof of vaccination, a negative COVID-19 test or immunity status to gain ent...
with PRI's The WorldEngland’s potential COVID-19 certificate scheme would require customers to show proof of vaccination, a negative COVID-19 test or immunity status to gain ent...
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
Economists say there’s nothing inherently wrong with the federal government spending more than it has, given its borrowing power and this pandemic emergency....
Economists say there’s nothing inherently wrong with the federal government spending more than it has, given its borrowing power and this pandemic emergency....
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : April 13, 2021
minatory \MIN-uh-tor-ee\ adjective
Definition
: having a menacing quality
Did You Know?
Knowing that minatory means "th...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : April 13, 2021
minatory \MIN-uh-tor-ee\ adjective
Definition
: having a menacing quality
Did You Know?
Knowing that minatory means "th...
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FREEDaily Curio #2216Free1 CQ
In early March, The Conversation caught the internet’s attention with a story about alewives—female ale brewers in the 14th to 17th centuries who often owned alehouses, before the process of ale-making was industrialized. The story claimed that some classic witch iconography, such as black hats, was based on the garb of alewives, and that women were driven from the brewing profession due to accusations of witchcraft. However, Smithsonian Magazine later added an editor's note to their re-publication of the story, pointing out that historians disagreed with certain parts of it. So what is the truth about women brewers? Were they really pushed out of the brewing industry due to discrimination? Were witch’s wardrobes really based on their clothing?
The history of women and brewing goes back a long way. The earliest fermented beverage, a mixture of fruit, honey and rice, is dated to around 7000 to 5700 B.C.E. It was discovered in what is now Jiahu, China, and evidence suggests that the beverage was created by women. In fact, for thousands of years, women were the ones to gather ingredients for and brew fermented drinks while men hunted. Even some mythology recognized women’s part in producing beverages like beer. In Slavic and Baltic myths, the goddess Raugutiene divinely protected all beer. Ale, a low-alcohol drink that was often safer to drink than water due to fermentation killing off bacteria, was also brewed by European women for centuries.
However, the 1600s saw a rise in religious persecution of women in England and Germany, with thousands being killed for supposed witchcraft. At the same time, Europe was becoming increasingly industrialized. Home-brewing and small alehouses run by local alewives gave way to larger taverns, and men began stepping in to replace women, and make money. Depictions of alewives in literature and art became more negative. Some historians believe that there may be a connection between anti-witch propaganda and the sidelining of alewives–after all, alewives did wear large black hats, stir pots of frothing liquid, and hang brooms outside their doors to indicate that drinks were available. Other historians, however, say that depictions of witches as black-hat-wearing broomstick-riders didn’t appear until the 18th Century, long after most European women had stopped brewing. What’s known for sure, however, is that women brewers played an important and often-overlooked role in history. All hail the alewives!
[Image description: a black and white photo of three women in historical alewife costumes, drinking from mugs.] Credit & copyright: Hulton-Deutsch Collection / Corbis via Getty Images
Written by: Maria C.In early March, The Conversation caught the internet’s attention with a story about alewives—female ale brewers in the 14th to 17th centuries who often owned alehouses, before the process of ale-making was industrialized. The story claimed that some classic witch iconography, such as black hats, was based on the garb of alewives, and that women were driven from the brewing profession due to accusations of witchcraft. However, Smithsonian Magazine later added an editor's note to their re-publication of the story, pointing out that historians disagreed with certain parts of it. So what is the truth about women brewers? Were they really pushed out of the brewing industry due to discrimination? Were witch’s wardrobes really based on their clothing?
The history of women and brewing goes back a long way. The earliest fermented beverage, a mixture of fruit, honey and rice, is dated to around 7000 to 5700 B.C.E. It was discovered in what is now Jiahu, China, and evidence suggests that the beverage was created by women. In fact, for thousands of years, women were the ones to gather ingredients for and brew fermented drinks while men hunted. Even some mythology recognized women’s part in producing beverages like beer. In Slavic and Baltic myths, the goddess Raugutiene divinely protected all beer. Ale, a low-alcohol drink that was often safer to drink than water due to fermentation killing off bacteria, was also brewed by European women for centuries.
However, the 1600s saw a rise in religious persecution of women in England and Germany, with thousands being killed for supposed witchcraft. At the same time, Europe was becoming increasingly industrialized. Home-brewing and small alehouses run by local alewives gave way to larger taverns, and men began stepping in to replace women, and make money. Depictions of alewives in literature and art became more negative. Some historians believe that there may be a connection between anti-witch propaganda and the sidelining of alewives–after all, alewives did wear large black hats, stir pots of frothing liquid, and hang brooms outside their doors to indicate that drinks were available. Other historians, however, say that depictions of witches as black-hat-wearing broomstick-riders didn’t appear until the 18th Century, long after most European women had stopped brewing. What’s known for sure, however, is that women brewers played an important and often-overlooked role in history. All hail the alewives!
[Image description: a black and white photo of three women in historical alewife costumes, drinking from mugs.] Credit & copyright: Hulton-Deutsch Collection / Corbis via Getty Images
Written by: Maria C. -
FREESTEM Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
Earth is facing some unprecedented challenges, but researchers won’t let their hopes be eclipsed! After all, the moon is a mere 238,855 miles away. Why not use all that empty space to store seed, sperm and egg samples in case of an earthly catastrophe? One researcher from the University of Arizona, along with a team of his students, recently presented a proposal for just such a “Lunar arc” at the IEEE Aerospace Conference, in early March. Jekan Thanga, a Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, created detailed plans for a moon-based facility that could store biological samples from around 6.7 million Earth species. Similar to Norway’s Svalbard Global Seed Vault ("doomsday vault”), which holds over a million seeds in case of a catastrophe, Thanga’s lunar arc is more likely to be left untouched by disaster. The moon is even equipped with the perfect infrastructure for the arc. Lava tubes, naturally occurring tunnels beneath the moon’s surface formed by lava billions of years ago, would provide adequate protection from solar radiation and temperature changes.
Samples would have to be stored at incredibly cold temperatures, some as low as minus 320 degrees. This would be accomplished via special floating shelves made of a cryo-cooled superconductor material. It would utilize quantum levitation, a process in which superconductive objects are levitated over a magnetic source, similar to the way that some high-speed trains work. “When you get to cryogenic temperatures, strange things happen. Some of it just looks like magic but is based on tried and laboratory-tested physics principles at the edge of our understanding,” Thanga explained, in an interview with CBS News. It’s safe to say that Thanga’s proposed lunar arc is cool in more ways than one. Let’s just hope that we never have need of it![Image description: vials of sperm samples with differently-colored caps inside a circular, metal cooling container.] Credit & copyright: REUTERS/Christian Hartmann
Written by: Maria C.
Earth is facing some unprecedented challenges, but researchers won’t let their hopes be eclipsed! After all, the moon is a mere 238,855 miles away. Why not use all that empty space to store seed, sperm and egg samples in case of an earthly catastrophe? One researcher from the University of Arizona, along with a team of his students, recently presented a proposal for just such a “Lunar arc” at the IEEE Aerospace Conference, in early March. Jekan Thanga, a Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, created detailed plans for a moon-based facility that could store biological samples from around 6.7 million Earth species. Similar to Norway’s Svalbard Global Seed Vault ("doomsday vault”), which holds over a million seeds in case of a catastrophe, Thanga’s lunar arc is more likely to be left untouched by disaster. The moon is even equipped with the perfect infrastructure for the arc. Lava tubes, naturally occurring tunnels beneath the moon’s surface formed by lava billions of years ago, would provide adequate protection from solar radiation and temperature changes.
Samples would have to be stored at incredibly cold temperatures, some as low as minus 320 degrees. This would be accomplished via special floating shelves made of a cryo-cooled superconductor material. It would utilize quantum levitation, a process in which superconductive objects are levitated over a magnetic source, similar to the way that some high-speed trains work. “When you get to cryogenic temperatures, strange things happen. Some of it just looks like magic but is based on tried and laboratory-tested physics principles at the edge of our understanding,” Thanga explained, in an interview with CBS News. It’s safe to say that Thanga’s proposed lunar arc is cool in more ways than one. Let’s just hope that we never have need of it![Image description: vials of sperm samples with differently-colored caps inside a circular, metal cooling container.] Credit & copyright: REUTERS/Christian Hartmann
Written by: Maria C.
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FREEGolf Photo CurioFree1 CQ
That’s one fancy jacket! Taken on this day in 1997, this photo captures one of the most important moments of famed professional golfer Tiger Woods’ career. Woods had just become the youngest player, at 21 years-old, to win the The Masters Tournament, one of the four major championships in professional golf. The tournament’s previous winner, Nick Faldo, helps Woods into the tournament’s traditional symbol of victory—a green golfer jacket. Woods, wearing a red Nike shirt, grins. Woods’ victory was groundbreaking in more than one way. His Masters victory represented the first time a Black man had won on a golf course which had only begun allowing black players in 1975, and had only admitted its first black member seven years prior to Tiger’s victory, in 1990. Two months after this photo was taken, Woods set another record, this time for the fastest ascent to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Rankings. While Woods has made headlines for everything from his marital affairs to his recent car crash, today is a great day to reflect on the ways that Woods re-shaped the sport of golf throughout the 90s and early 2000s.
[Image description: Former Masters Tournament Champion Nick Faldo places a green jacket on Tiger Woods’ shoulders. ] Credit & copyright: AP Photo/Dave Martin
Written by: Maria C.
That’s one fancy jacket! Taken on this day in 1997, this photo captures one of the most important moments of famed professional golfer Tiger Woods’ career. Woods had just become the youngest player, at 21 years-old, to win the The Masters Tournament, one of the four major championships in professional golf. The tournament’s previous winner, Nick Faldo, helps Woods into the tournament’s traditional symbol of victory—a green golfer jacket. Woods, wearing a red Nike shirt, grins. Woods’ victory was groundbreaking in more than one way. His Masters victory represented the first time a Black man had won on a golf course which had only begun allowing black players in 1975, and had only admitted its first black member seven years prior to Tiger’s victory, in 1990. Two months after this photo was taken, Woods set another record, this time for the fastest ascent to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Rankings. While Woods has made headlines for everything from his marital affairs to his recent car crash, today is a great day to reflect on the ways that Woods re-shaped the sport of golf throughout the 90s and early 2000s.
[Image description: Former Masters Tournament Champion Nick Faldo places a green jacket on Tiger Woods’ shoulders. ] Credit & copyright: AP Photo/Dave Martin
Written by: Maria C.
April 12, 2021
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4 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree3 CQ
The Biden administration faces pushback from Republicans as it tries to pass legislation to further regulate "ghost guns" assembled with homemade parts.
with PRI's The WorldThe Biden administration faces pushback from Republicans as it tries to pass legislation to further regulate "ghost guns" assembled with homemade parts.
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
From the BBC World Service: Restaurants can also serve diners outdoors, and nonessential stores can reopen, as England starts to relax COVID restrictions. Pl...
From the BBC World Service: Restaurants can also serve diners outdoors, and nonessential stores can reopen, as England starts to relax COVID restrictions. Pl...
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day : April 12, 2021
gallant \GAL-unt\ adjective
Definition
1 : showy in dress or bearing : smart
2 a : splendid, stately
b : spirited, brav...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : April 12, 2021
gallant \GAL-unt\ adjective
Definition
1 : showy in dress or bearing : smart
2 a : splendid, stately
b : spirited, brav...
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FREEArchitecture Daily Curio #2215Free1 CQ
When we think of great architects like Frank Lloyd Wright or an I. M. Pei, we often marvel at what they could build with materials and space. This year's Pritzker Architecture Prize has gone to two French architects who seemingly buck all the trends of building new and marvelous structures: Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal have made careers out of restoring and repurposing existing buildings in what The New York Times called an effort of "architectural ingenuity and civic rejuvenation." For example, their work on the Palais de Tokyo gallery in Paris, pictured above, found Lacaton and Vassal extending the usable space into the basement with minimalist materials to reflect the aesthetic of the former 1937 World's Fair building. At the Tour Bois-le-Prêtre, the two collaborated with Frédéric Druot to extend the floor plates to increase the room sizes in the 1960s housing project, and added balconies and gardens to the location—an effort that won a Dezeen Award from the design magazine of the same name.
To add to the completely unorthodox nature of their work, Lacaton and Vassal did not displace the residents of the Tour Bois-le-Prêtre while completing their work, and they are known for disturbing the inhabitants of their residential projects about as much as they are for changing the facades and overall structures of their commissions. That is to say, their holistic approach to design attends to the housing and other human needs, which is no doubt a benefit in covid lockdown times. Even more unique are their efforts to work inside out on their projects, as Lacton once noted "we like to assemble, to mix, to adapt and to recompose in order to design and invent each new project." As a result of their approach, fans of architecture and design are unlikely to discover a uniform aesthetic to the outer facades of Lacaton and Vassal's works. Those more interested in preservation, functionality, and the environmental impact of design might just find themselves right at home in a building that Lacaton and Vassal have beautified with their unique visions.
[Image description: An interior view of the Palais de Tokyo Gallery in Paris, France, with a grand staircase.] Credit & copyright: Source
Written by: Esther P.When we think of great architects like Frank Lloyd Wright or an I. M. Pei, we often marvel at what they could build with materials and space. This year's Pritzker Architecture Prize has gone to two French architects who seemingly buck all the trends of building new and marvelous structures: Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal have made careers out of restoring and repurposing existing buildings in what The New York Times called an effort of "architectural ingenuity and civic rejuvenation." For example, their work on the Palais de Tokyo gallery in Paris, pictured above, found Lacaton and Vassal extending the usable space into the basement with minimalist materials to reflect the aesthetic of the former 1937 World's Fair building. At the Tour Bois-le-Prêtre, the two collaborated with Frédéric Druot to extend the floor plates to increase the room sizes in the 1960s housing project, and added balconies and gardens to the location—an effort that won a Dezeen Award from the design magazine of the same name.
To add to the completely unorthodox nature of their work, Lacaton and Vassal did not displace the residents of the Tour Bois-le-Prêtre while completing their work, and they are known for disturbing the inhabitants of their residential projects about as much as they are for changing the facades and overall structures of their commissions. That is to say, their holistic approach to design attends to the housing and other human needs, which is no doubt a benefit in covid lockdown times. Even more unique are their efforts to work inside out on their projects, as Lacton once noted "we like to assemble, to mix, to adapt and to recompose in order to design and invent each new project." As a result of their approach, fans of architecture and design are unlikely to discover a uniform aesthetic to the outer facades of Lacaton and Vassal's works. Those more interested in preservation, functionality, and the environmental impact of design might just find themselves right at home in a building that Lacaton and Vassal have beautified with their unique visions.
[Image description: An interior view of the Palais de Tokyo Gallery in Paris, France, with a grand staircase.] Credit & copyright: Source
Written by: Esther P. -
FREEArt Appreciation Art CurioFree1 CQ
The Great Wave off Kanagawa
Jumpei Mitsui (1997-)
2021
LEGO bricks
Hankyu Brick Museum, Osaka, JapanWho says you can't teach old art new bricks? Few pieces of art are more recognizable than Katsushika Hokusai's The Great Wave off Kanagawa. Although the original woodblock print was created between 1829 and 1833, it still appears on cards, posters and other commercial products today. Recently, the famed image took on another new form: a LEGO sculpture by Japanese artist Jumpei Mitsui. The sculpture seeks to recreate the original print down to the finest detail. Blue and white LEGO bricks make up the main wave, including the iconic white curls along its crest. Ridges on the wave's underside create the lines present in the original artwork. Three boats full of rowers are positioned in the choppy water. The massive LEGO sculpture is over five feet long, contains 50,000 pieces, and took Mitsui around 400 hours to complete. It's all in a day's work for Mitsui, though. In 2011, at 24 years old, he became the youngest LEGO Certified Professional in the world. His job is to create one-of-a-kind LEGO artworks by sketching out detailed designs, turning them into blueprints involving specific LEGO pieces, and then rendering them in bricks. Sounds like a dream job worth the difficulty!
[Image description: A recreation of Katsushika Hokusai's The Great Wave off Kanagawa made from LEGO bricks, complete with blue and white waves and three boats with blue-clad figures inside.]
Below: the original painting, The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai, and Mitsui's working on his LEGO version.
Written by: Maria C.The Great Wave off Kanagawa
Jumpei Mitsui (1997-)
2021
LEGO bricks
Hankyu Brick Museum, Osaka, JapanWho says you can't teach old art new bricks? Few pieces of art are more recognizable than Katsushika Hokusai's The Great Wave off Kanagawa. Although the original woodblock print was created between 1829 and 1833, it still appears on cards, posters and other commercial products today. Recently, the famed image took on another new form: a LEGO sculpture by Japanese artist Jumpei Mitsui. The sculpture seeks to recreate the original print down to the finest detail. Blue and white LEGO bricks make up the main wave, including the iconic white curls along its crest. Ridges on the wave's underside create the lines present in the original artwork. Three boats full of rowers are positioned in the choppy water. The massive LEGO sculpture is over five feet long, contains 50,000 pieces, and took Mitsui around 400 hours to complete. It's all in a day's work for Mitsui, though. In 2011, at 24 years old, he became the youngest LEGO Certified Professional in the world. His job is to create one-of-a-kind LEGO artworks by sketching out detailed designs, turning them into blueprints involving specific LEGO pieces, and then rendering them in bricks. Sounds like a dream job worth the difficulty!
[Image description: A recreation of Katsushika Hokusai's The Great Wave off Kanagawa made from LEGO bricks, complete with blue and white waves and three boats with blue-clad figures inside.]
Below: the original painting, The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai, and Mitsui's working on his LEGO version.
Written by: Maria C.
April 11, 2021
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : April 11, 2021
drub \DRUB\ verb
Definition
1 : to beat severely
2 : to berate critically
3 : to defeat decisively
Did You Know?
Spor...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : April 11, 2021
drub \DRUB\ verb
Definition
1 : to beat severely
2 : to berate critically
3 : to defeat decisively
Did You Know?
Spor...
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1 minFREEPoetry Poem CurioFree1 CQ
In the Basement of the Goodwill Store. By Ted Kooser.
with Poetry FoundationIn the Basement of the Goodwill Store. By Ted Kooser.
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7 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
As it turns out, there’s a Dollar General within 5 miles of 75% of Americans, the company says. The U.S. government is considering using Dollar General store...
As it turns out, there’s a Dollar General within 5 miles of 75% of Americans, the company says. The U.S. government is considering using Dollar General store...
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6 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree4 CQ
When drinking bubble tea — the straw is essential. How else can you suck up all those chewy tapioca balls? Complaints from bubble-tea drinkers have sparked a...
with PRI's The WorldWhen drinking bubble tea — the straw is essential. How else can you suck up all those chewy tapioca balls? Complaints from bubble-tea drinkers have sparked a...
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FREELiterature PP&T CurioFree1 CQ
It takes quite an author to successfully release a novel about travel during lockdown! Then again, bestselling Korean-American author Chang-rae Lee is known for his bold writing choices. Unlike the dystopian novel Lee released in 2014, My Year Abroad, released February 2, 2021, is so optimistic that the New York Times Book Review called it “a manifesto to happiness.”
Born July 29, 1965, in South Korea, Lee’s family immigrated to the United States when he was three years old. Although he earned a B.A. in English from Yale University in 1987, it wasn’t immediately clear to Lee or his family if he would choose to write professionally. In fact, following his graduation, he took a job on Wall Street as an equities analyst. It wasn’t until a year later that Lee decided the finance world wasn’t for him, and began working toward his Masters of Fine Arts degree in writing at the University of Oregon. The manuscript he’d been writing in his spare time became his thesis, and would eventually transform into his first novel, Native Speaker, in 1995. Realizing his passion for teaching, Lee became an assistant professor of creative writing at the very university he’d just graduated from. Over the following years, Lee would hold teaching positions at several universities, including Stanford and Princeton.
Lee’s novels often explore issues of identity and belonging, especially relating to the experiences of Asian-Americans. Lee’s first book, Native Speaker, focuses on the internal struggle of a young Korean-American man who is hired to ruin the reputation of a Korean-American politician in New York City. In A Gesture Life, released in 1999, an ethnically-Korean man, who was adopted by a Japanese family and served in the Japanese army, deals with haunting memories and struggles to break out of his routine in order to reconnect with his estranged adopted daughter. 2004’s Aloft features Lee’s first non-Asian-American protagonist, an Italian-American retiree who is forced to grapple with the fact that his life and family aren’t as perfect as he had always supposed. Lee’s 2011 novel The Surrendered, which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, tells the story of three characters who survived the Korean war and are reunited years later. On Such a Full Sea, published in 2014, takes place in a dystopian future-Baltimore. It’s Chinese-American protagonist works a dangerous job as a diver at a fish farm.
While many of Lee’s books focus on older characters, 2021’s My Year Abroad stars a young college student named Tiller, who describes himself as “twelve and one-half percent Asian.” Unlike the older, world-weary protagonists of Lee’s most famous novels, Tiller is portrayed as ordinary and relatively unremarkable. However, when Chinese-American business mogul Pong Lou brings Tiller along on a trip across Asia, a range of wild experiences open Tiller’s eyes to the wider world. Tiller also finds that, although his ethnicity causes him some difficulty fitting in, in the U.S., he is also considered foreign in Asia, leading him to question where he truly belongs. In an interview with NPR, Lee described My Year Abroad as a subversion of the typical American story, where a white protagonist travels abroad to expand their horizons. “We all know that story, of course. And it's essentially a colonial story. And I think we're all done with that story. And what we want is to find out a little bit more about ourselves, as we always do, as peoples everywhere do. But the ways in which we get that story isn't as easy and simple as it's been told to us before,” he explained.
My Year Abroad has already garnered praise from critics, many of whom see the novel as a lampooning of capitalism as well as an exploration of identity. As Tiller faces increasingly bizarre situations on his trip, sometimes fueled by expensive alcohol or drugs, the novel makes it clear that luxuries don’t always equate to a great time, and there is such a thing as too much excess. Readers who have been stuck at home for the past year, however, may well find My Year Abroad's wacky misadventures in far-flung locales a welcome break from the COVID-19 blues.
[Image description: Author Chang-rae Lee, wearing a blue shirt, sits at a table in an otherwise empty library.] Credit & copyright: Penguin Random House
Written by: Maria C.It takes quite an author to successfully release a novel about travel during lockdown! Then again, bestselling Korean-American author Chang-rae Lee is known for his bold writing choices. Unlike the dystopian novel Lee released in 2014, My Year Abroad, released February 2, 2021, is so optimistic that the New York Times Book Review called it “a manifesto to happiness.”
Born July 29, 1965, in South Korea, Lee’s family immigrated to the United States when he was three years old. Although he earned a B.A. in English from Yale University in 1987, it wasn’t immediately clear to Lee or his family if he would choose to write professionally. In fact, following his graduation, he took a job on Wall Street as an equities analyst. It wasn’t until a year later that Lee decided the finance world wasn’t for him, and began working toward his Masters of Fine Arts degree in writing at the University of Oregon. The manuscript he’d been writing in his spare time became his thesis, and would eventually transform into his first novel, Native Speaker, in 1995. Realizing his passion for teaching, Lee became an assistant professor of creative writing at the very university he’d just graduated from. Over the following years, Lee would hold teaching positions at several universities, including Stanford and Princeton.
Lee’s novels often explore issues of identity and belonging, especially relating to the experiences of Asian-Americans. Lee’s first book, Native Speaker, focuses on the internal struggle of a young Korean-American man who is hired to ruin the reputation of a Korean-American politician in New York City. In A Gesture Life, released in 1999, an ethnically-Korean man, who was adopted by a Japanese family and served in the Japanese army, deals with haunting memories and struggles to break out of his routine in order to reconnect with his estranged adopted daughter. 2004’s Aloft features Lee’s first non-Asian-American protagonist, an Italian-American retiree who is forced to grapple with the fact that his life and family aren’t as perfect as he had always supposed. Lee’s 2011 novel The Surrendered, which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, tells the story of three characters who survived the Korean war and are reunited years later. On Such a Full Sea, published in 2014, takes place in a dystopian future-Baltimore. It’s Chinese-American protagonist works a dangerous job as a diver at a fish farm.
While many of Lee’s books focus on older characters, 2021’s My Year Abroad stars a young college student named Tiller, who describes himself as “twelve and one-half percent Asian.” Unlike the older, world-weary protagonists of Lee’s most famous novels, Tiller is portrayed as ordinary and relatively unremarkable. However, when Chinese-American business mogul Pong Lou brings Tiller along on a trip across Asia, a range of wild experiences open Tiller’s eyes to the wider world. Tiller also finds that, although his ethnicity causes him some difficulty fitting in, in the U.S., he is also considered foreign in Asia, leading him to question where he truly belongs. In an interview with NPR, Lee described My Year Abroad as a subversion of the typical American story, where a white protagonist travels abroad to expand their horizons. “We all know that story, of course. And it's essentially a colonial story. And I think we're all done with that story. And what we want is to find out a little bit more about ourselves, as we always do, as peoples everywhere do. But the ways in which we get that story isn't as easy and simple as it's been told to us before,” he explained.
My Year Abroad has already garnered praise from critics, many of whom see the novel as a lampooning of capitalism as well as an exploration of identity. As Tiller faces increasingly bizarre situations on his trip, sometimes fueled by expensive alcohol or drugs, the novel makes it clear that luxuries don’t always equate to a great time, and there is such a thing as too much excess. Readers who have been stuck at home for the past year, however, may well find My Year Abroad's wacky misadventures in far-flung locales a welcome break from the COVID-19 blues.
[Image description: Author Chang-rae Lee, wearing a blue shirt, sits at a table in an otherwise empty library.] Credit & copyright: Penguin Random House
Written by: Maria C.