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March 30, 2025
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day
: March 30, 2025\un-TOH-erd\ adjective
What It Means
Untoward is a formal word that describes something that is improper or i...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day
: March 30, 2025\un-TOH-erd\ adjective
What It Means
Untoward is a formal word that describes something that is improper or i...
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9 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
Student loan borrowers saw a bit of a reprieve during the pandemic and the following years, with many lenders stopping repayment obligations and freezing int...
Student loan borrowers saw a bit of a reprieve during the pandemic and the following years, with many lenders stopping repayment obligations and freezing int...
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FREEUS History PP&T CurioFree1 CQ
Rags to riches is an understatement. Madam C.J. Walker, the daughter of two former slaves, worked her way up the ladder of a prejudiced society to earn enormous riches as an entrepreneur. Today we're celebrating her birthday with a look back at her remarkable career.
As a young black woman living in St. Louis in the 1890s, Walker didn't start out looking for the "next big idea." She was eking out a living for her and her daughter as a washerwoman. It wasn't until she found a job as a sales agent with a haircare company that things started taking off. The role was personal for her, as she suffered from scalp rashes and balding. Plus, her brothers worked in the hair business as barbers.
Walker was successful selling other people's hair products, but employment was getting in the way of her dream. Literally: a man who visited her in a dream inspired her to start her own company, selling hair and beauty products geared towards black women. The Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company, of which Walker was the sole stakeholder, made its fortunes on sales of Madam Walker’s Wonderful Hair Grower. 19th-century hygiene called for only infrequent hair washing, which led to scalp infections, bacteria, lice, and—most commonly—balding. Walker's Hair Grower combatted balding and was backed by Walker's own guarantee that she used it to fix her own hair issues. A marketing strategy focused on black women, a neglected but growing portion of consumers, was a key ingredient for success.
As the business grew, Walker revealed bigger ambitions. “I am not merely satisfied in making money for myself," she said. "I am endeavoring to provide employment for hundreds of women of my race." Her company employed some 40,000 “Walker Agents” to teach women about proper hair care. Walker stepped beyond the boundaries of her business as a social activist and philanthropist. She donated thousands to the NAACP and put her voice behind causes like preserving Frederick Douglass's home and fighting for the rights of black World War I veterans.
It's often claimed that Walker was America's first black female self-made millionaire. But when she passed away in 1919, assessors found out her estate totaled around $600,000. Not that the number matters at all, really; Walker's legacy is priceless. We're guessing the businessmen and women she inspired could more than make up the difference.Rags to riches is an understatement. Madam C.J. Walker, the daughter of two former slaves, worked her way up the ladder of a prejudiced society to earn enormous riches as an entrepreneur. Today we're celebrating her birthday with a look back at her remarkable career.
As a young black woman living in St. Louis in the 1890s, Walker didn't start out looking for the "next big idea." She was eking out a living for her and her daughter as a washerwoman. It wasn't until she found a job as a sales agent with a haircare company that things started taking off. The role was personal for her, as she suffered from scalp rashes and balding. Plus, her brothers worked in the hair business as barbers.
Walker was successful selling other people's hair products, but employment was getting in the way of her dream. Literally: a man who visited her in a dream inspired her to start her own company, selling hair and beauty products geared towards black women. The Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company, of which Walker was the sole stakeholder, made its fortunes on sales of Madam Walker’s Wonderful Hair Grower. 19th-century hygiene called for only infrequent hair washing, which led to scalp infections, bacteria, lice, and—most commonly—balding. Walker's Hair Grower combatted balding and was backed by Walker's own guarantee that she used it to fix her own hair issues. A marketing strategy focused on black women, a neglected but growing portion of consumers, was a key ingredient for success.
As the business grew, Walker revealed bigger ambitions. “I am not merely satisfied in making money for myself," she said. "I am endeavoring to provide employment for hundreds of women of my race." Her company employed some 40,000 “Walker Agents” to teach women about proper hair care. Walker stepped beyond the boundaries of her business as a social activist and philanthropist. She donated thousands to the NAACP and put her voice behind causes like preserving Frederick Douglass's home and fighting for the rights of black World War I veterans.
It's often claimed that Walker was America's first black female self-made millionaire. But when she passed away in 1919, assessors found out her estate totaled around $600,000. Not that the number matters at all, really; Walker's legacy is priceless. We're guessing the businessmen and women she inspired could more than make up the difference.
March 29, 2025
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day
: March 29, 2025\ih-LOO-suh-dayt\ verb
What It Means
To elucidate something is to make it clear or easy to understand.
// Th...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day
: March 29, 2025\ih-LOO-suh-dayt\ verb
What It Means
To elucidate something is to make it clear or easy to understand.
// Th...
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9 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
The current economic landscape, marked by tariffs and other policy-driven uncertainty, could be a particularly difficult one for Fed decision-makers to navig...
The current economic landscape, marked by tariffs and other policy-driven uncertainty, could be a particularly difficult one for Fed decision-makers to navig...
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FREESports Sporty CurioFree1 CQ
This goal comes courtesy of the Great Lake State. The New York Sirens made hockey history during a recent Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) game, when forward Abby Roque made the league’s very first “Michigan” goal. This difficult style of goal happens when a player picks up a puck behind the net with their stick, lifts it into the air, and shoots it back into the net at a short distance. Roque is a native of (where else?) Michigan. Though the Sirens lost the match 5-2 to the Ottawa Charge, the goal still marks an important moment in women’s hockey, as Michigan goals are exceedingly difficult to pull off. In post game media, Roque was in high spirits as she explained that a Michigan goal had been, well, a goal of hers for a long time. “...it's something that I jokingly say every day when I come to the rink. I'm like, Okay, Michigan today, and I don't actually mean it, but the opportunity presented itself, so I had to try,” she said. Michiganders represent!
This goal comes courtesy of the Great Lake State. The New York Sirens made hockey history during a recent Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) game, when forward Abby Roque made the league’s very first “Michigan” goal. This difficult style of goal happens when a player picks up a puck behind the net with their stick, lifts it into the air, and shoots it back into the net at a short distance. Roque is a native of (where else?) Michigan. Though the Sirens lost the match 5-2 to the Ottawa Charge, the goal still marks an important moment in women’s hockey, as Michigan goals are exceedingly difficult to pull off. In post game media, Roque was in high spirits as she explained that a Michigan goal had been, well, a goal of hers for a long time. “...it's something that I jokingly say every day when I come to the rink. I'm like, Okay, Michigan today, and I don't actually mean it, but the opportunity presented itself, so I had to try,” she said. Michiganders represent!
March 28, 2025
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9 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
From the BBC World Service: As Canada’s prime minister, Mark Carney, says the U.S. is no longer a reliable partner, Canadian businesses that work with Americ...
From the BBC World Service: As Canada’s prime minister, Mark Carney, says the U.S. is no longer a reliable partner, Canadian businesses that work with Americ...
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day
: March 28, 2025\DAIR-uh-likt\ adjective
What It Means
Derelict is a formal word that describes something that is no longer c...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day
: March 28, 2025\DAIR-uh-likt\ adjective
What It Means
Derelict is a formal word that describes something that is no longer c...
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FREEMind + Body Daily CurioFree1 CQ
You can’t help but catch a whiff as you chow down with this dish. Referring to a food as “stinky” might seem rude, but it’s actually a point of pride for makers of stinky tofu. This Chinese dish’s actual name, chòu dòufu, literally translates to “smelly tofu”, and is lovingly referred to as stinky tofu in English. The dish has gone viral in recent years as influencers descend on Asian food markets to try unusual dishes on camera, but stinky tofu’s history predates the internet by quite a few years. In fact, it’s ancient.
Stinky tofu is, of course, a kind of tofu, which is a gelatinous food made from soybean paste. The paste is mixed with soy milk, then an acidic coagulant is added, causing the milk to curdle, thus producing solid pieces of tofu. Normal tofu has a very mild smell, though it’s great at soaking up the smells and flavors of dishes that it’s added to. Unlike regular tofu, stinky tofu is fermented, and its pungent aroma, which is sometimes compared to that of rotting vegetables, comes from the brine it’s made in. Fermentation is the same process that turns cucumbers into pickles; it involves submerging food into a brine and keeping it in a sealed container until yeast and bacteria create chemical changes that make it taste (and smell) different. Stinky tofu is usually fermented in a brine of veggies like bamboo shoots and greens, meat products like dried shrimp, fermented milk, and spices. While stinky tofu’s flavor is stronger than that of normal tofu, it’s not nearly as overpowering as its smell. The dish is creamy and rich, with a sour, somewhat salty flavor. It can be eaten in many different ways: cold, steamed, or fried. It’s usually served with spicy sauce for dipping.
Stinky tofu dates all the way back to China’s Qing Dynasty, which lasted from 1644 to 1912. Unlike many ancient foods, we actually know who invented stinky tofu: a scholar-turned-tofu-merchant named Wang Zhihe. In 1669, he journeyed to Beijing from his home in Anhui province to try his hand at becoming part of China’s state bureaucracy. However, he failed the official examination for the job, and found himself low on funds after his journey. To keep afloat, Zhihe set up a tofu stand in the city. His bad luck continued, though, and he ended up with a lot of unsold tofu. Rather than let it go to waste, Zhihe fermented the tofu in jars. This new, stinky tofu was a hit, as it stood out from Beijing’s other street food offerings. To this day, stinky tofu is mainly sold as a street food, both at permanent food stalls and at pop up events, like festivals and night markets. It’s especially popular in Taiwan, and is considered by many to be Taiwan’s unofficial “national snack food.” Sometimes, pungency is perfection.
[Image description: A plate of five thick tofu squares with shredded vegetables in the center.] Credit & copyright: Pilzland, Wikimedia Commons. The copyright holder of this work has made it available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.You can’t help but catch a whiff as you chow down with this dish. Referring to a food as “stinky” might seem rude, but it’s actually a point of pride for makers of stinky tofu. This Chinese dish’s actual name, chòu dòufu, literally translates to “smelly tofu”, and is lovingly referred to as stinky tofu in English. The dish has gone viral in recent years as influencers descend on Asian food markets to try unusual dishes on camera, but stinky tofu’s history predates the internet by quite a few years. In fact, it’s ancient.
Stinky tofu is, of course, a kind of tofu, which is a gelatinous food made from soybean paste. The paste is mixed with soy milk, then an acidic coagulant is added, causing the milk to curdle, thus producing solid pieces of tofu. Normal tofu has a very mild smell, though it’s great at soaking up the smells and flavors of dishes that it’s added to. Unlike regular tofu, stinky tofu is fermented, and its pungent aroma, which is sometimes compared to that of rotting vegetables, comes from the brine it’s made in. Fermentation is the same process that turns cucumbers into pickles; it involves submerging food into a brine and keeping it in a sealed container until yeast and bacteria create chemical changes that make it taste (and smell) different. Stinky tofu is usually fermented in a brine of veggies like bamboo shoots and greens, meat products like dried shrimp, fermented milk, and spices. While stinky tofu’s flavor is stronger than that of normal tofu, it’s not nearly as overpowering as its smell. The dish is creamy and rich, with a sour, somewhat salty flavor. It can be eaten in many different ways: cold, steamed, or fried. It’s usually served with spicy sauce for dipping.
Stinky tofu dates all the way back to China’s Qing Dynasty, which lasted from 1644 to 1912. Unlike many ancient foods, we actually know who invented stinky tofu: a scholar-turned-tofu-merchant named Wang Zhihe. In 1669, he journeyed to Beijing from his home in Anhui province to try his hand at becoming part of China’s state bureaucracy. However, he failed the official examination for the job, and found himself low on funds after his journey. To keep afloat, Zhihe set up a tofu stand in the city. His bad luck continued, though, and he ended up with a lot of unsold tofu. Rather than let it go to waste, Zhihe fermented the tofu in jars. This new, stinky tofu was a hit, as it stood out from Beijing’s other street food offerings. To this day, stinky tofu is mainly sold as a street food, both at permanent food stalls and at pop up events, like festivals and night markets. It’s especially popular in Taiwan, and is considered by many to be Taiwan’s unofficial “national snack food.” Sometimes, pungency is perfection.
[Image description: A plate of five thick tofu squares with shredded vegetables in the center.] Credit & copyright: Pilzland, Wikimedia Commons. The copyright holder of this work has made it available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.
March 27, 2025
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7 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
From the BBC World Service: The global auto industry has been rocked by sweeping 25% tariffs on all imports of cars and car parts to the United States under ...
From the BBC World Service: The global auto industry has been rocked by sweeping 25% tariffs on all imports of cars and car parts to the United States under ...
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day
: March 27, 2025\AHR-kih-type\ noun
What It Means
Archetype refers to someone or something that is seen to be a perfect examp...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day
: March 27, 2025\AHR-kih-type\ noun
What It Means
Archetype refers to someone or something that is seen to be a perfect examp...
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FREEChemistry Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
These molecules are long on drama. Long-chain organic molecules recently discovered on Mars are causing quite a stir in the world of planetary science. Discovered by NASA’s Curiosity rover, the molecules are the largest found on Mars to date, and they could be evidence that life once existed, in some form, on the Red Planet.
Curiosity is constantly taking samples of Martian rock, but it can’t send them back to Earth to be analyzed. Instead, the rover has a built-in sample-analyzing lab called Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM). It’s made up of three instruments that can determine the chemical composition of rocks picked up by Curiosity: a gas chromatograph, a quadrupole mass spectrometer, and a tunable laser spectrometer. The samples are heated to over 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, releasing gases whose chemical composition is then recorded. In a recent rock sample, Curiosity discovered three compounds that are made up of long chains of carbons. These carbon chains are likely the remnants of fatty acids, which are considered some of the building blocks of life.
This doesn’t definitively prove that life once existed on Mars, as fatty acids can also be made through non-biological chemical reactions. Still, this discovery shows that we’ve just scratched the surface when it comes to molecular findings on Mars. For now, we’ll stay curious about what Curiosity will unearth next.[Image description: A starry sky with some purple light visible.] Credit & copyright: Felix Mittermeier, Pexels
These molecules are long on drama. Long-chain organic molecules recently discovered on Mars are causing quite a stir in the world of planetary science. Discovered by NASA’s Curiosity rover, the molecules are the largest found on Mars to date, and they could be evidence that life once existed, in some form, on the Red Planet.
Curiosity is constantly taking samples of Martian rock, but it can’t send them back to Earth to be analyzed. Instead, the rover has a built-in sample-analyzing lab called Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM). It’s made up of three instruments that can determine the chemical composition of rocks picked up by Curiosity: a gas chromatograph, a quadrupole mass spectrometer, and a tunable laser spectrometer. The samples are heated to over 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, releasing gases whose chemical composition is then recorded. In a recent rock sample, Curiosity discovered three compounds that are made up of long chains of carbons. These carbon chains are likely the remnants of fatty acids, which are considered some of the building blocks of life.
This doesn’t definitively prove that life once existed on Mars, as fatty acids can also be made through non-biological chemical reactions. Still, this discovery shows that we’ve just scratched the surface when it comes to molecular findings on Mars. For now, we’ll stay curious about what Curiosity will unearth next.[Image description: A starry sky with some purple light visible.] Credit & copyright: Felix Mittermeier, Pexels
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FREEBiology Daily Curio #3054Free1 CQ
This four-sided sighting is rarer than a four-leafed clover. Conservationists around the world were pleasantly surprised when four snow leopards were recently spotted traversing harrowing mountain terrain together in Pakistan. These elusive cats are notoriously hard to spot on camera. Native to Asia, snow leopards live at elevations between 6,000 and 18,000 feet. They thrive in cold, snowy, mountainous terrain, and with only around 6,500 individuals left in the wild, any sighting of them is good news.
For big cats, snow leopards aren’t all that big, weighing between 50 to 120 pounds. Combined with their camouflage and their ability to deftly navigate the most impassable terrain, snow leopards are practically invisible in the mountains. These cats tend to lead solitary lives, with each individual claiming up to 15.4 square miles of territory. Capturing a single snow leopard on camera often involves days or weeks of tracking, so finding four of them together is fairly unheard of. According to the photographer who captured the snow leopards on video in Central Karakoram National Park, the foursome consists of a mother and her three cubs. Aside from being a rare sight, the video is evidence that conservation efforts in Pakistan might be paying off. While snow leopards are proficient predators and have no equal in their natural habitat, that habitat is under threat from climate change, human encroachment, and poaching. These amazing animals are currently listed as "vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). That's a welcome improvement from their previous status of "endangered," which was changed back in 2017 after conservationists discovered a calculation error in a 2008 population assessment. Who could blame them for the mistake, considering how elusive snow leopards are?
[Image description: A snow leopard sitting in green grass at the Doué-la-Fontaine Zoo in France.] Credit & copyright: Vassil, Wikimedia Commons. The copyright holder of this work, has released it into the public domain. This applies worldwide.This four-sided sighting is rarer than a four-leafed clover. Conservationists around the world were pleasantly surprised when four snow leopards were recently spotted traversing harrowing mountain terrain together in Pakistan. These elusive cats are notoriously hard to spot on camera. Native to Asia, snow leopards live at elevations between 6,000 and 18,000 feet. They thrive in cold, snowy, mountainous terrain, and with only around 6,500 individuals left in the wild, any sighting of them is good news.
For big cats, snow leopards aren’t all that big, weighing between 50 to 120 pounds. Combined with their camouflage and their ability to deftly navigate the most impassable terrain, snow leopards are practically invisible in the mountains. These cats tend to lead solitary lives, with each individual claiming up to 15.4 square miles of territory. Capturing a single snow leopard on camera often involves days or weeks of tracking, so finding four of them together is fairly unheard of. According to the photographer who captured the snow leopards on video in Central Karakoram National Park, the foursome consists of a mother and her three cubs. Aside from being a rare sight, the video is evidence that conservation efforts in Pakistan might be paying off. While snow leopards are proficient predators and have no equal in their natural habitat, that habitat is under threat from climate change, human encroachment, and poaching. These amazing animals are currently listed as "vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). That's a welcome improvement from their previous status of "endangered," which was changed back in 2017 after conservationists discovered a calculation error in a 2008 population assessment. Who could blame them for the mistake, considering how elusive snow leopards are?
[Image description: A snow leopard sitting in green grass at the Doué-la-Fontaine Zoo in France.] Credit & copyright: Vassil, Wikimedia Commons. The copyright holder of this work, has released it into the public domain. This applies worldwide.
March 26, 2025
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7 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
From the BBC World Service: Russia and Ukraine have agreed to “eliminate the use of force” in the Black Sea after parallel talks with U.S. negotiators in Sau...
From the BBC World Service: Russia and Ukraine have agreed to “eliminate the use of force” in the Black Sea after parallel talks with U.S. negotiators in Sau...
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FREEBiology Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
You might not expect to run into a big cat in the Great Lake State, but these days, you could! Two cougar cubs were recently spotted in Michigan’s western Upper Peninsula. According to the state's Department of Natural Resources, it’s the first time in more than a century that cubs have been seen in Michigan. It could be an anomaly, or it could be a sign that these big cats are heading back to breed in one of their ancestral homes.
Cougars, also called mountain lions, pumas, or catamounts, are highly adaptable animals, able to live in states with varying terrain, from the mountains of Colorado to the forests of California to Arizona’s Sonoran Desert. They’re the second-largest wild cats in North America, the largest being jaguars. Males can reach lengths of up to eight feet and weigh up to 220 pounds, while females are smaller, reaching lengths of around six feet and weighing up to 140 pounds. While that’s nowhere near the size of big cats like lions or tigers, cougars still pack a mighty punch. Able to reach top speeds of around 50 miles per hour, cougars can chase down enormous animals like moose and elk, then use their powerful jaws and claws to kill their prey. It’s no wonder, then, that hikers in areas with large cougar populations, like Colorado, are advised to be cautious and avoid interactions with the big cats.
Still, humans pose a much greater threat to cougars than they do to us. Michigan is a perfect example of this; at one time, cougars roamed widely throughout the state. The cats were blamed for killing cattle, though, and bounties on cougars became common in the late 1800s, as did trophy hunting. Within a few decades, cougars were completely eradicated in Michigan. Protections have been passed in recent decades that prevent cougar hunting in the state, but until now it seemed that it wasn’t enough to bring the big cats back. Though some adults have been seen in the state in recent years, it was thought that these cougars were passersby, roaming in and out of Michigan from states with healthier cougar populations. Now that cubs have been spotted though, it seems that a breeding population might be making a new home in the Great Lake State. Maybe the environmental protections are paying off. Or maybe the cougars were just nostalgic.
[Image description: A mountain lion sitting, surrounded by greenery.] Credit & copyright: USFWS National Digital Library, Gentry, George, USFWS.
NATIONAL CONSERVATION TRAINING CENTER-PUBLICATIONS AND TRAINING MATERIALS, Item ID: WV-7941-Centennial CD. Public Domain.You might not expect to run into a big cat in the Great Lake State, but these days, you could! Two cougar cubs were recently spotted in Michigan’s western Upper Peninsula. According to the state's Department of Natural Resources, it’s the first time in more than a century that cubs have been seen in Michigan. It could be an anomaly, or it could be a sign that these big cats are heading back to breed in one of their ancestral homes.
Cougars, also called mountain lions, pumas, or catamounts, are highly adaptable animals, able to live in states with varying terrain, from the mountains of Colorado to the forests of California to Arizona’s Sonoran Desert. They’re the second-largest wild cats in North America, the largest being jaguars. Males can reach lengths of up to eight feet and weigh up to 220 pounds, while females are smaller, reaching lengths of around six feet and weighing up to 140 pounds. While that’s nowhere near the size of big cats like lions or tigers, cougars still pack a mighty punch. Able to reach top speeds of around 50 miles per hour, cougars can chase down enormous animals like moose and elk, then use their powerful jaws and claws to kill their prey. It’s no wonder, then, that hikers in areas with large cougar populations, like Colorado, are advised to be cautious and avoid interactions with the big cats.
Still, humans pose a much greater threat to cougars than they do to us. Michigan is a perfect example of this; at one time, cougars roamed widely throughout the state. The cats were blamed for killing cattle, though, and bounties on cougars became common in the late 1800s, as did trophy hunting. Within a few decades, cougars were completely eradicated in Michigan. Protections have been passed in recent decades that prevent cougar hunting in the state, but until now it seemed that it wasn’t enough to bring the big cats back. Though some adults have been seen in the state in recent years, it was thought that these cougars were passersby, roaming in and out of Michigan from states with healthier cougar populations. Now that cubs have been spotted though, it seems that a breeding population might be making a new home in the Great Lake State. Maybe the environmental protections are paying off. Or maybe the cougars were just nostalgic.
[Image description: A mountain lion sitting, surrounded by greenery.] Credit & copyright: USFWS National Digital Library, Gentry, George, USFWS.
NATIONAL CONSERVATION TRAINING CENTER-PUBLICATIONS AND TRAINING MATERIALS, Item ID: WV-7941-Centennial CD. Public Domain. -
FREEWorld History Daily Curio #3053Free1 CQ
Cults are dangerous at the best of times, and 1995 was not the best of times. On March 20 of that year, a group then known as the AUM Shinrikyo terrorized Tokyo with a series of deadly sarin gas attacks on the city's subway system. The cult, which mixed some aspects of Buddhism and Christianity while emphasizing a series of doomsday prophecies, was seemingly attempting to speed up the apocalypse with their attacks. Now known as Aleph, the cult carried out the attacks during morning rush hour, targeting several different trains and subway lines, leading to 14 deaths and around 6,000 injuries. It’s considered one of the worst terrorist attacks in postwar Japan, and to this day many survivors continue to deal with the health consequences of being exposed to the gas.
Sarin was invented in 1938 and was originally meant to be used as a pesticide. When it was discovered that the gas worked as a deadly nerve agent, some considered using it as a chemical weapon during WWII, but the idea was scrapped. The consequences would have been disastrous, since sarin can taint water supplies and contaminate food in addition to killing people via inhalation. The gas is a deadly neurotoxin that affects the function of muscles and the respiratory system.
Even three decades later, many survivors of the subway attacks experience severe nerve pains, fatigue, dizziness, and other debilitating symptoms. While there are antidotes against the toxin, there is unfortunately no cure or universal treatment available for those who suffer permanent damage. As for the attacks themselves, they were the deadly climax to a series of smaller-scale attacks by members of the cult, one of which claimed eight lives and injured around 500 people. Luckily, many members involved with the attacks—including the leader—were arrested, though the very last suspect wasn't caught until 2012. Better for justice to come late than never.Cults are dangerous at the best of times, and 1995 was not the best of times. On March 20 of that year, a group then known as the AUM Shinrikyo terrorized Tokyo with a series of deadly sarin gas attacks on the city's subway system. The cult, which mixed some aspects of Buddhism and Christianity while emphasizing a series of doomsday prophecies, was seemingly attempting to speed up the apocalypse with their attacks. Now known as Aleph, the cult carried out the attacks during morning rush hour, targeting several different trains and subway lines, leading to 14 deaths and around 6,000 injuries. It’s considered one of the worst terrorist attacks in postwar Japan, and to this day many survivors continue to deal with the health consequences of being exposed to the gas.
Sarin was invented in 1938 and was originally meant to be used as a pesticide. When it was discovered that the gas worked as a deadly nerve agent, some considered using it as a chemical weapon during WWII, but the idea was scrapped. The consequences would have been disastrous, since sarin can taint water supplies and contaminate food in addition to killing people via inhalation. The gas is a deadly neurotoxin that affects the function of muscles and the respiratory system.
Even three decades later, many survivors of the subway attacks experience severe nerve pains, fatigue, dizziness, and other debilitating symptoms. While there are antidotes against the toxin, there is unfortunately no cure or universal treatment available for those who suffer permanent damage. As for the attacks themselves, they were the deadly climax to a series of smaller-scale attacks by members of the cult, one of which claimed eight lives and injured around 500 people. Luckily, many members involved with the attacks—including the leader—were arrested, though the very last suspect wasn't caught until 2012. Better for justice to come late than never.
March 25, 2025
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
From the BBC World Service: Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD has passed $100bn in annual revenue for the first time, putting Elon Musk’s Tesla in second pl...
From the BBC World Service: Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD has passed $100bn in annual revenue for the first time, putting Elon Musk’s Tesla in second pl...
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day
: March 25, 2025\HAH-bit\ noun
What It Means
A hobbit is a member of a fictitious peaceful and friendly race of small humanli...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day
: March 25, 2025\HAH-bit\ noun
What It Means
A hobbit is a member of a fictitious peaceful and friendly race of small humanli...
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FREEMusic Appreciation Song CurioFree2 CQ
Sometimes hitmakers aren’t the ones to make a hit. As we remember British-American singer and record producer Scott Walker, who died this month in 2019, it’s worth thinking about how unlikely one of his biggest hits actually was. 1966’s The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore) was originally written for Frankie Valli of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons at the height of his popularity. It seemed destined that the song would be yet another hit for him; it was written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio who had penned plenty of Valli’s other chart-toppers. Yet, Valli’s 1965 recording performed meagerly. It wasn’t until Scott Walker’s The Walker Brothers took a crack at it that the song finally rocketed to number one on the UK Singles Chart and number 13 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. For their version, the band utilized the “wall of sound” recording technique created by Phil Spector earlier that decade. The layered instrumentation and vocals created a deep, somber sound perfect for such a sad song, while Scott’s heartfelt vocals and signature low voice really drove the heartbreak home. Sometimes you have to crank up the sadness to move up the charts.
Sometimes hitmakers aren’t the ones to make a hit. As we remember British-American singer and record producer Scott Walker, who died this month in 2019, it’s worth thinking about how unlikely one of his biggest hits actually was. 1966’s The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore) was originally written for Frankie Valli of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons at the height of his popularity. It seemed destined that the song would be yet another hit for him; it was written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio who had penned plenty of Valli’s other chart-toppers. Yet, Valli’s 1965 recording performed meagerly. It wasn’t until Scott Walker’s The Walker Brothers took a crack at it that the song finally rocketed to number one on the UK Singles Chart and number 13 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. For their version, the band utilized the “wall of sound” recording technique created by Phil Spector earlier that decade. The layered instrumentation and vocals created a deep, somber sound perfect for such a sad song, while Scott’s heartfelt vocals and signature low voice really drove the heartbreak home. Sometimes you have to crank up the sadness to move up the charts.
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FREEHumanities Daily Curio #3052Free1 CQ
Who put the "art" in escape artist? Harry Houdini, of course! The Hungarian-American magician was born this month in 1874, and nearly a century after his untimely death, his name remains synonymous with the type of escape performances that he popularized. Yet, when he wasn’t wowing audiences, Houdini was a surprisingly grounded man. It might seem an unlikely role for a magician, but Houdini was a vocal skeptic in his time, especially as a spiritualist movement swept through America. This movement convinced many people that they could speak to dead loved ones, or pay someone to do so, but Houdini was having none of it.
Houdini started performing at an early age. By the time he was nine, he was part of a trapeze act. Starting from the age of 17, he adopted his stage name, Harry Houdini (his birth name was Ehrich Weisz) and started performing magic acts. As his career exploded around the turn of the century, Houdini became particularly famous for his escape acts. These death-defying stunts, in which Houdini was often chained underwater with seemingly no way out, seemed like magic when he managed to slip his bonds and survive. However, Houdini was a vocal critic of anyone who claimed to have true supernatural powers, especially spiritual mediums.
Houdini felt that, as a performer himself, he had a duty to expose the fraudulent practices rife in the spiritualism industry. His criticism reached the point of activism when he testified before Congress to call for the criminalization of fortune-telling and similar practices. Houdini's skepticism also led to public tensions with his longtime friend, Sherlock Holmes author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Doyle was a believer of spiritualism and regularly held seances with his wife, who claimed to be a medium herself. Sometime before he died, Houdini and his wife devised a way to prove to themselves whether mediumship was actually real. They created a coded message that they agreed to pass to each other from beyond the grave, should they ever truly be contacted. In the decade following Houdini’s death (at Halloween, no less), his wife held seances, challenging any medium to pass along their secret message. None succeeded, and on the 10th anniversary of his death, the widow announced to the world that her husband was unable to be reached. Even in death, Houdini was still putting on a show and keeping skepticism alive.
[Image description: Harry Houdini making a mysterious face with one hand raised near his cheek.] Credit & copyright: Library of Congress, 1925. This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published (or registered with the U.S. Copyright Office) before January 1, 1930.Who put the "art" in escape artist? Harry Houdini, of course! The Hungarian-American magician was born this month in 1874, and nearly a century after his untimely death, his name remains synonymous with the type of escape performances that he popularized. Yet, when he wasn’t wowing audiences, Houdini was a surprisingly grounded man. It might seem an unlikely role for a magician, but Houdini was a vocal skeptic in his time, especially as a spiritualist movement swept through America. This movement convinced many people that they could speak to dead loved ones, or pay someone to do so, but Houdini was having none of it.
Houdini started performing at an early age. By the time he was nine, he was part of a trapeze act. Starting from the age of 17, he adopted his stage name, Harry Houdini (his birth name was Ehrich Weisz) and started performing magic acts. As his career exploded around the turn of the century, Houdini became particularly famous for his escape acts. These death-defying stunts, in which Houdini was often chained underwater with seemingly no way out, seemed like magic when he managed to slip his bonds and survive. However, Houdini was a vocal critic of anyone who claimed to have true supernatural powers, especially spiritual mediums.
Houdini felt that, as a performer himself, he had a duty to expose the fraudulent practices rife in the spiritualism industry. His criticism reached the point of activism when he testified before Congress to call for the criminalization of fortune-telling and similar practices. Houdini's skepticism also led to public tensions with his longtime friend, Sherlock Holmes author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Doyle was a believer of spiritualism and regularly held seances with his wife, who claimed to be a medium herself. Sometime before he died, Houdini and his wife devised a way to prove to themselves whether mediumship was actually real. They created a coded message that they agreed to pass to each other from beyond the grave, should they ever truly be contacted. In the decade following Houdini’s death (at Halloween, no less), his wife held seances, challenging any medium to pass along their secret message. None succeeded, and on the 10th anniversary of his death, the widow announced to the world that her husband was unable to be reached. Even in death, Houdini was still putting on a show and keeping skepticism alive.
[Image description: Harry Houdini making a mysterious face with one hand raised near his cheek.] Credit & copyright: Library of Congress, 1925. This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published (or registered with the U.S. Copyright Office) before January 1, 1930.
March 24, 2025
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FREESports Daily Curio #3051Free1 CQ
Bullfights without blood? It’s no bull! Legislators in Mexico City recently banned "violent" bullfighting. The controversial sport has existed for centuries in various forms; some cultures favored the practice of pitting bulls against bulls, while others had them face off against people. The most popular iteration of bullfighting comes from the Spanish tradition. It started as a sport in which human participants lanced bulls from horseback, but in the 18th century, Joaquín Rodríguez Costillares became one of the first professional matadors to bullfight on foot. He was also responsible for introducing much of the pomp and panache associated with modern bullfighting. Thanks to him, dramatic movements and flamboyant costumes became the norm for matadors.
While bullfighting remains popular in parts of Spain and many Spanish-speaking countries, it has its fair share of detractors. Every year, around 180,000 bulls are killed after bullfights, during which the animals are skewered with short spears. The recent bill in Mexico City, which passed 61 to 1, isn't the first time a ban on violent bullfighting has been tried. A previous ban in 2022 was overturned back in 2023, hailing the return of an industry that generates around $400 million a year and employs 80,000 in Mexico. However, the current ban may play out differently. The bill doesn't ban bullfighting outright, but allows for a less violent version of the sport in which matadors attempt to "skewer" the bulls using harmless poles against a Velcro pad attached to the animals’ backs. Still, the bill attracted fervent opposition from supporters of traditional bullfighting, many of whom consider the sport a point of national pride. Of course, while the bulls will be safer in this new version, the matadors won’t be any better protected. They’ll still have to remember that when you mess with the bull, you get the horns!
[Image description: A painting depicting two 18th century bullfights in a divided arena with a large crowd.] Credit & copyright: Bullfight in a Divided Ring, Attributed to Goya (Francisco de Goya y Lucientes) (Spanish, Fuendetodos 1746–1828 Bordeaux). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Collection, Wolfe Fund, 1922. Public Domain.Bullfights without blood? It’s no bull! Legislators in Mexico City recently banned "violent" bullfighting. The controversial sport has existed for centuries in various forms; some cultures favored the practice of pitting bulls against bulls, while others had them face off against people. The most popular iteration of bullfighting comes from the Spanish tradition. It started as a sport in which human participants lanced bulls from horseback, but in the 18th century, Joaquín Rodríguez Costillares became one of the first professional matadors to bullfight on foot. He was also responsible for introducing much of the pomp and panache associated with modern bullfighting. Thanks to him, dramatic movements and flamboyant costumes became the norm for matadors.
While bullfighting remains popular in parts of Spain and many Spanish-speaking countries, it has its fair share of detractors. Every year, around 180,000 bulls are killed after bullfights, during which the animals are skewered with short spears. The recent bill in Mexico City, which passed 61 to 1, isn't the first time a ban on violent bullfighting has been tried. A previous ban in 2022 was overturned back in 2023, hailing the return of an industry that generates around $400 million a year and employs 80,000 in Mexico. However, the current ban may play out differently. The bill doesn't ban bullfighting outright, but allows for a less violent version of the sport in which matadors attempt to "skewer" the bulls using harmless poles against a Velcro pad attached to the animals’ backs. Still, the bill attracted fervent opposition from supporters of traditional bullfighting, many of whom consider the sport a point of national pride. Of course, while the bulls will be safer in this new version, the matadors won’t be any better protected. They’ll still have to remember that when you mess with the bull, you get the horns!
[Image description: A painting depicting two 18th century bullfights in a divided arena with a large crowd.] Credit & copyright: Bullfight in a Divided Ring, Attributed to Goya (Francisco de Goya y Lucientes) (Spanish, Fuendetodos 1746–1828 Bordeaux). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Collection, Wolfe Fund, 1922. Public Domain. -
FREEArt Appreciation Art CurioFree1 CQ
How’d you like to have this baby in your parlor? Panel: Spring is a rug manufactured some time around 1715 by the Royal Savonnerie Manufactory, Chaillot Workshops in Paris, France. It’s extremely ornate, detailed with colors and images of spring. Near the bottom of the rug, goats and sheep mingle by an open basket and vase of flowers. Birds appear near the top of the design, along with a coat of arms. Gold borders and ornamentation surround the mostly light-blue, pastel-yellow, and white designs. The factory where this rug was produced could certainly boast about its work. After all, it supplied the royal palace with nearly all of its carpets, tapestries, and upholstery. Not everyone who bought these wares was royal, though. French aristocrats and noblemen, wanting to model their aesthetics after royal ones, commissioned their own housewares from the Royal Savonnerie. This rug, made with an impressive 144 symmetrical rug knots per square inch, is one example of a commissioned piece. It might not have adorned the palace, but making it was still surely a royal feat!
Panel: Spring, Royal Savonnerie Manufactory, Chaillot Workshops, c. 1715, Savonnerie knotted-pile; wool, hemp, 108 x 86.5 in. (274.3 x 219.7 cm.), The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio
[Image credit & copyright: Royal Savonnerie Manufactory, Chaillot Workshops. The Cleveland Museum of Art, John L. Severance Fund 1952.14, Public Domain, (CC0) designation.]How’d you like to have this baby in your parlor? Panel: Spring is a rug manufactured some time around 1715 by the Royal Savonnerie Manufactory, Chaillot Workshops in Paris, France. It’s extremely ornate, detailed with colors and images of spring. Near the bottom of the rug, goats and sheep mingle by an open basket and vase of flowers. Birds appear near the top of the design, along with a coat of arms. Gold borders and ornamentation surround the mostly light-blue, pastel-yellow, and white designs. The factory where this rug was produced could certainly boast about its work. After all, it supplied the royal palace with nearly all of its carpets, tapestries, and upholstery. Not everyone who bought these wares was royal, though. French aristocrats and noblemen, wanting to model their aesthetics after royal ones, commissioned their own housewares from the Royal Savonnerie. This rug, made with an impressive 144 symmetrical rug knots per square inch, is one example of a commissioned piece. It might not have adorned the palace, but making it was still surely a royal feat!
Panel: Spring, Royal Savonnerie Manufactory, Chaillot Workshops, c. 1715, Savonnerie knotted-pile; wool, hemp, 108 x 86.5 in. (274.3 x 219.7 cm.), The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio
[Image credit & copyright: Royal Savonnerie Manufactory, Chaillot Workshops. The Cleveland Museum of Art, John L. Severance Fund 1952.14, Public Domain, (CC0) designation.] -
8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
Current and former U.S. Agency for International Development workers are being allowed into USAID headquarters in Washington, D.C. for a second day today to ...
Current and former U.S. Agency for International Development workers are being allowed into USAID headquarters in Washington, D.C. for a second day today to ...