Curio Cabinet
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January 20, 2021
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : January 20, 2021
gulosity \goo-LAH-suh-tee\ noun
Definition
: excessive appetite : greediness
Did You Know?
Gulosity is a rare word fo...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : January 20, 2021
gulosity \goo-LAH-suh-tee\ noun
Definition
: excessive appetite : greediness
Did You Know?
Gulosity is a rare word fo...
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4 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree3 CQ
Michael McFaul, who was the US ambassador to Russia from 2012 to 2014, worked closely with Antony Blinken and Joe Biden during his time with the Obama admini...
with PRI's The WorldMichael McFaul, who was the US ambassador to Russia from 2012 to 2014, worked closely with Antony Blinken and Joe Biden during his time with the Obama admini...
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FREEArchitecture Daily Curio #2169Free1 CQ
If you're a fan of movie chase scenes, you're likely familiar with the Los Angeles River. The dreary, and rather dystopian river is about to undergo a facelift, thanks to renowned architect Frank Gehry. Before 1941, the Los Angeles river flowed freely from the foothills of the Simi Hills and the Santa Monica and Santa Susana Mountains all the way to the Pacific Ocean. That year, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed the Sepulveda Dam, a project commissioned in response to historic flooding in 1938. They also built concrete channels from Elysian Park to Long Beach to prevent the 51-mile river from spilling out of its banks again. Unfortunately, these measures left the LA River looking like an open-air sewer fed by runoff and wastewater. In 2009, the nonprofit River LA formed with the mission of reviving the river. By reinvigorating the riparian zone, supporters hope to improve air and water quality, and provide much-needed green spaces for neighboring communities. After all, a quarter of all Angelenos live within a mile of the river.
In 2015, the city of Los Angeles provided funding to River LA to commission a study on the river. To many people's surprise, they selected Frank Gehry and his team for the project. While Gehry's designs—from the Loyola Law School and Walt Disney Concert Hall downtown to the Chiat/Day Complex in Venice—already mark the Los Angeles landscape, they are not known for blending into their environments. Nonetheless, Gehry and his team bravely took on the task, working pro bono to research the river. They compiled and published data regarding water flow, land use, public health, and more. Ultimately, Gehry realized revitalizing the river meant working with the existing structure. Although most people agree the concrete is an eyesore, reconfiguring it would endanger nearby communities.
One solution Gehry recently shared is a $150-million cultural center at the confluence of the Los Angeles River and Rio Hondo River in the South Gate community. Gehry's design features wide, elevated platforms covered in green space. Spanning the river, and extending 3 miles, the platforms will be several times larger than New York City's Central Park. Not only will they serve as important sites for community gatherings and recreational activities, but they will also host local flora and fauna. (The region is a biodiversity hotspot with over 45,000 endemic species.) Of course, Gehry's plan is not without controversy. Critics worry he's only adding more concrete. Until Gehry's master plan to revitalize the river is released next year, we can only speculate. Here's to hoping for an urban oasis!
Below, Frank Gehry discusses the project:
Image credit & copyright: A sketch of Gehry’s platforming concept for a three-mile stretch of the L.A. River, which would create acres of parkland above the existing riverbed. Courtesy of Oline / Richard Roark.If you're a fan of movie chase scenes, you're likely familiar with the Los Angeles River. The dreary, and rather dystopian river is about to undergo a facelift, thanks to renowned architect Frank Gehry. Before 1941, the Los Angeles river flowed freely from the foothills of the Simi Hills and the Santa Monica and Santa Susana Mountains all the way to the Pacific Ocean. That year, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed the Sepulveda Dam, a project commissioned in response to historic flooding in 1938. They also built concrete channels from Elysian Park to Long Beach to prevent the 51-mile river from spilling out of its banks again. Unfortunately, these measures left the LA River looking like an open-air sewer fed by runoff and wastewater. In 2009, the nonprofit River LA formed with the mission of reviving the river. By reinvigorating the riparian zone, supporters hope to improve air and water quality, and provide much-needed green spaces for neighboring communities. After all, a quarter of all Angelenos live within a mile of the river.
In 2015, the city of Los Angeles provided funding to River LA to commission a study on the river. To many people's surprise, they selected Frank Gehry and his team for the project. While Gehry's designs—from the Loyola Law School and Walt Disney Concert Hall downtown to the Chiat/Day Complex in Venice—already mark the Los Angeles landscape, they are not known for blending into their environments. Nonetheless, Gehry and his team bravely took on the task, working pro bono to research the river. They compiled and published data regarding water flow, land use, public health, and more. Ultimately, Gehry realized revitalizing the river meant working with the existing structure. Although most people agree the concrete is an eyesore, reconfiguring it would endanger nearby communities.
One solution Gehry recently shared is a $150-million cultural center at the confluence of the Los Angeles River and Rio Hondo River in the South Gate community. Gehry's design features wide, elevated platforms covered in green space. Spanning the river, and extending 3 miles, the platforms will be several times larger than New York City's Central Park. Not only will they serve as important sites for community gatherings and recreational activities, but they will also host local flora and fauna. (The region is a biodiversity hotspot with over 45,000 endemic species.) Of course, Gehry's plan is not without controversy. Critics worry he's only adding more concrete. Until Gehry's master plan to revitalize the river is released next year, we can only speculate. Here's to hoping for an urban oasis!
Below, Frank Gehry discusses the project:
Image credit & copyright: A sketch of Gehry’s platforming concept for a three-mile stretch of the L.A. River, which would create acres of parkland above the existing riverbed. Courtesy of Oline / Richard Roark. -
FREEMusic Appreciation Song CurioFree2 CQ
A little competition can be a great thing! Despite British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran's laid-back demeanor, it turns out he can be pretty competitive...against himself, anyway. In 2014, Sheeran released Thinking Out Loud, a love song that quickly became a hit. The song was co-written with folk singer Amy Wadge, meaning that Sheeran had to share credit for the career-defining tune. In 2017, Sheeran sought to remedy this by releasing Perfect, a love song he'd written entirely on his own. "I just wanted to beat Thinking Out Loud. I wasn't in any other mind," he said in one interview. Perfect did end up being a smash hit, topping the Billboard Top 100 on this day, in 2018. Sheeran even released two versions of the song, one solo and one as a duet with none other than Beyoncé. Even without all the attention Queen Bey surely brought to the tune, Perfect is a catchy and unique song. Written in three-quarter time, it features straightforward but touching lyrics about getting married and raising a family. Who would have guessed that such a gentle ballad was born of Sheeran's urge to one-up himself!
Image credit & copyright: Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP
Written by: Maria C.
A little competition can be a great thing! Despite British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran's laid-back demeanor, it turns out he can be pretty competitive...against himself, anyway. In 2014, Sheeran released Thinking Out Loud, a love song that quickly became a hit. The song was co-written with folk singer Amy Wadge, meaning that Sheeran had to share credit for the career-defining tune. In 2017, Sheeran sought to remedy this by releasing Perfect, a love song he'd written entirely on his own. "I just wanted to beat Thinking Out Loud. I wasn't in any other mind," he said in one interview. Perfect did end up being a smash hit, topping the Billboard Top 100 on this day, in 2018. Sheeran even released two versions of the song, one solo and one as a duet with none other than Beyoncé. Even without all the attention Queen Bey surely brought to the tune, Perfect is a catchy and unique song. Written in three-quarter time, it features straightforward but touching lyrics about getting married and raising a family. Who would have guessed that such a gentle ballad was born of Sheeran's urge to one-up himself!
Image credit & copyright: Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP
Written by: Maria C.
January 19, 2021
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FREESTEM Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
Thank you, thank you very much, vaccines. As the COVID-19 vaccines roll out this year, we're reminded of Elvis Presley's role in promoting polio vaccinations. Just before his second appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show on October 28, 1956, the King posed for photos while receiving the new polio vaccine. Presley had been recruited by the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (NFIP, later renamed March of Dimes) to help promote the vaccine among teenagers and young adults. Those populations were not being sufficiently immunized, even though they were a vulnerable population. The NFIP would further court Presley's audience by having him record public service announcements, holding exclusive "Salk hops"—named after the inventor of the polio vaccine Jonas Salk, and offering signed photos to Elvis fan clubs who could prove all of their members were vaccinated. The efforts by Presley and the NFIP helped polio cases drop by 81% between the years of 1955 and 1957. Now that's what we call a little less conversation, a little more vaccinations!
Image credit & copyright: Seymour Wally / NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images
Written by: Esther P.
Thank you, thank you very much, vaccines. As the COVID-19 vaccines roll out this year, we're reminded of Elvis Presley's role in promoting polio vaccinations. Just before his second appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show on October 28, 1956, the King posed for photos while receiving the new polio vaccine. Presley had been recruited by the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (NFIP, later renamed March of Dimes) to help promote the vaccine among teenagers and young adults. Those populations were not being sufficiently immunized, even though they were a vulnerable population. The NFIP would further court Presley's audience by having him record public service announcements, holding exclusive "Salk hops"—named after the inventor of the polio vaccine Jonas Salk, and offering signed photos to Elvis fan clubs who could prove all of their members were vaccinated. The efforts by Presley and the NFIP helped polio cases drop by 81% between the years of 1955 and 1957. Now that's what we call a little less conversation, a little more vaccinations!
Image credit & copyright: Seymour Wally / NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images
Written by: Esther P.
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6 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree4 CQ
ISIS took responsibility for the attack — the latest example of their systematic targeting of Hazaras in recent years.
with PRI's The WorldISIS took responsibility for the attack — the latest example of their systematic targeting of Hazaras in recent years.
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6 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
From the BBC World Service: There’s competition between carmakers and electronics manufacturers over vital semiconductor chips. Plus, India’s automobile hub ...
From the BBC World Service: There’s competition between carmakers and electronics manufacturers over vital semiconductor chips. Plus, India’s automobile hub ...
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : January 19, 2021
conjecture \kun-JEK-cher\ verb
Definition
1 : to arrive at or deduce by surmise or guesswork : guess
2 : to form a sup...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : January 19, 2021
conjecture \kun-JEK-cher\ verb
Definition
1 : to arrive at or deduce by surmise or guesswork : guess
2 : to form a sup...
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1 minFREEPoetry Poem CurioFree1 CQ
A poem from From A Winter Notebook. By Matvei Yankelevich.
with Poetry FoundationA poem from From A Winter Notebook. By Matvei Yankelevich.
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FREEMind + Body Daily Curio #2168Free1 CQ
You've heard about sled dogs, but what about sled docs? For a team of healthcare workers in Alaska, travelling by sled or snowmobile is all part of a day's work—and the only way to transport much-needed COVID-19 vaccines. The largest state, Alaska is over 663,300 square miles. Put in perspective it's bigger than Texas, California, and Montana combined. The state's size, coupled with its extreme climate, limits healthcare options for residents. 75% of Alaskan communities do not have direct access to a hospital, and 25% are only reachable by boat or aircraft (modes of transportation frequently interrupted by inclement weather). Although the state is one of the least-populated, its 730,000 residents are incredibly diverse in terms of race, gender, and age. The average age of an Alaska resident is 34, lower than the national average. Nonetheless, the state has a growing elderly population. Elderly Alaskans, particularly those living in rural and/or indigenous communities, face health disparities because of their remote locations and high poverty rates. COVID-19 is only exacerbating these disparities.
A team of healthcare professionals is working overtime to serve these isolated populations in the Maniilaq Association. Based in the northwest city of Kotzebue, Katrine Bengaard, Meredith Dean, Heather Kenison, and James Austin, have been transporting and dispensing COVID-19 vaccines in frigid conditions. Both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines must be kept at precise temperatures. To ensure the vaccines safely arrive, the team has chartered boats and bush planes, and even driven sleds and snowmobiles. During some deliveries, team members have protected the vaccine from freezing by storing it in a protective pouch tucked inside their coats. Talk about going the extra mile!
Image credit & copyright: Dec. 2020, courtesy of Katrine Bengaard. From left to right, nurse Heather Kenison, pharmacist Meredith Dean, nurse James Austin and Dr. Katrine Bengaard.You've heard about sled dogs, but what about sled docs? For a team of healthcare workers in Alaska, travelling by sled or snowmobile is all part of a day's work—and the only way to transport much-needed COVID-19 vaccines. The largest state, Alaska is over 663,300 square miles. Put in perspective it's bigger than Texas, California, and Montana combined. The state's size, coupled with its extreme climate, limits healthcare options for residents. 75% of Alaskan communities do not have direct access to a hospital, and 25% are only reachable by boat or aircraft (modes of transportation frequently interrupted by inclement weather). Although the state is one of the least-populated, its 730,000 residents are incredibly diverse in terms of race, gender, and age. The average age of an Alaska resident is 34, lower than the national average. Nonetheless, the state has a growing elderly population. Elderly Alaskans, particularly those living in rural and/or indigenous communities, face health disparities because of their remote locations and high poverty rates. COVID-19 is only exacerbating these disparities.
A team of healthcare professionals is working overtime to serve these isolated populations in the Maniilaq Association. Based in the northwest city of Kotzebue, Katrine Bengaard, Meredith Dean, Heather Kenison, and James Austin, have been transporting and dispensing COVID-19 vaccines in frigid conditions. Both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines must be kept at precise temperatures. To ensure the vaccines safely arrive, the team has chartered boats and bush planes, and even driven sleds and snowmobiles. During some deliveries, team members have protected the vaccine from freezing by storing it in a protective pouch tucked inside their coats. Talk about going the extra mile!
Image credit & copyright: Dec. 2020, courtesy of Katrine Bengaard. From left to right, nurse Heather Kenison, pharmacist Meredith Dean, nurse James Austin and Dr. Katrine Bengaard. -
FREESports Photo CurioFree1 CQ
Let's get ready to rumble! The ancient sport of Japanese Sumo wrestling has been around for at least two thousand years, yet in Japan, women are still not allowed to compete in the sport professionally. That hasn't stopped amateur teams and tournaments from popping up through the years. In the photo above, female sumo wrestlers Tokuko Saito (left) and Mayuki Matsumoto (right) position themselves for their middleweight match in the 1997 All-Japan New Sumo Tournament in Osaka. Both women are in the usual crouched sumo form, and sport traditional wide belts. Although the All-Japan New Sumo Tournament no longer exists, other all-female tournaments have had real staying power, such as the Female Only Sumo Grand Tournament, which began in 1991. This is in spite of traditions which officially prohibit women from even touching a sumo wrestling ring or dohyō. At places like Asahi University in Mizuho, Japan, mixed-gender sumo clubs have had great success, leading some to hope that women will one day be allowed to compete professionally. In the battle for equal representation in sports, one thing is clear: these tough athletes won't be stepping out of the ring any time soon.
Below: members of the 2018 Asahi University sumo club.
Image credit & copyright: AP Photo, Itsuo Inouye, Laura Liverani, The Guardian
Written by: Maria C.
Let's get ready to rumble! The ancient sport of Japanese Sumo wrestling has been around for at least two thousand years, yet in Japan, women are still not allowed to compete in the sport professionally. That hasn't stopped amateur teams and tournaments from popping up through the years. In the photo above, female sumo wrestlers Tokuko Saito (left) and Mayuki Matsumoto (right) position themselves for their middleweight match in the 1997 All-Japan New Sumo Tournament in Osaka. Both women are in the usual crouched sumo form, and sport traditional wide belts. Although the All-Japan New Sumo Tournament no longer exists, other all-female tournaments have had real staying power, such as the Female Only Sumo Grand Tournament, which began in 1991. This is in spite of traditions which officially prohibit women from even touching a sumo wrestling ring or dohyō. At places like Asahi University in Mizuho, Japan, mixed-gender sumo clubs have had great success, leading some to hope that women will one day be allowed to compete professionally. In the battle for equal representation in sports, one thing is clear: these tough athletes won't be stepping out of the ring any time soon.
Below: members of the 2018 Asahi University sumo club.
Image credit & copyright: AP Photo, Itsuo Inouye, Laura Liverani, The Guardian
Written by: Maria C.
January 18, 2021
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7 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
From the BBC World Service: China was the only major economy to expand in 2020, even after a historic plunge in growth between January and March. Plus, the S...
From the BBC World Service: China was the only major economy to expand in 2020, even after a historic plunge in growth between January and March. Plus, the S...
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : January 18, 2021
preeminent \pree-EM-uh-nunt\ adjective
Definition
1 : exhibiting eminence especially in standing above others in some q...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : January 18, 2021
preeminent \pree-EM-uh-nunt\ adjective
Definition
1 : exhibiting eminence especially in standing above others in some q...
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4 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree3 CQ
It’s taken years of rare bipartisan cooperation, but the US has now quietly taken a step that draws a red line for China in Tibet.
with PRI's The WorldIt’s taken years of rare bipartisan cooperation, but the US has now quietly taken a step that draws a red line for China in Tibet.
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FREEStyle Daily Curio #2167Free1 CQ
If you spent the holidays binge-watching Bridgerton, the salacious period piece produced by Shonda Rhimes, you're not alone. Based on a series of historical romance novels by Julia Quinn, including The Duke & I and The Viscount Who Loved Me, Bridgerton is set in England during the Regency era (1795-1837 C.E.)—so-named because the Prince Regent served as a proxy leader for his unwell father, George III. The Netflix adaptation indulges in this indulges in this historical drama, as well as contemporary settings (enhanced by CGI), costumes, and vocabulary. The main characters are often headed to the modiste, a term from milliner or dressmaker derived from the French word for fashion, mode. (If something is à la mode it is "in fashion," not topped with ice cream.) There is also much talk of "leading strings," an expression tossed around in Regency romances that suggests the person in question is either quite young or under the control of someone else.
During the early modern period in Europe, leading strings were pieces of fabric attached to a child's garments. Their shape evolved with fashion trends, going from hanging sleeves to shorter and narrower strips, like ribbons. Used as a training tool, leading strings were intended to help children learn to walk. A caregiver would hold the strings and guide the child, much like a puppeteer manipulates a marionette or a coachmen steers a horse. Their use was controversial, with some doctors cautioning they could affect the child's health and disposition. Other medical professionals encouraged their use, with a dose of patience. In a 19th-century household medical reference book, H. Müller argues leading strings help "preserve the child from the accident of a dangerous fall." He believes "children very easily lose confidence in themselves when their first attempts to stand or to walk have painful consequences." Once a child could remain upright for an extended period, the leading strings served as a form of restraint, preventing children from running off or injuring themselves—a precursor to those safety harness "backpacks" seen at amusement parks. By the 18th century, leading strings on a young girl's garments also indicated she was unmarried, and still under the legal control of her parents. Talk about a fashion statement.
Image credit & copyright: Galerie des modes et costumes français, 32nd notebook, 2nd figure, c. 1778-1787If you spent the holidays binge-watching Bridgerton, the salacious period piece produced by Shonda Rhimes, you're not alone. Based on a series of historical romance novels by Julia Quinn, including The Duke & I and The Viscount Who Loved Me, Bridgerton is set in England during the Regency era (1795-1837 C.E.)—so-named because the Prince Regent served as a proxy leader for his unwell father, George III. The Netflix adaptation indulges in this indulges in this historical drama, as well as contemporary settings (enhanced by CGI), costumes, and vocabulary. The main characters are often headed to the modiste, a term from milliner or dressmaker derived from the French word for fashion, mode. (If something is à la mode it is "in fashion," not topped with ice cream.) There is also much talk of "leading strings," an expression tossed around in Regency romances that suggests the person in question is either quite young or under the control of someone else.
During the early modern period in Europe, leading strings were pieces of fabric attached to a child's garments. Their shape evolved with fashion trends, going from hanging sleeves to shorter and narrower strips, like ribbons. Used as a training tool, leading strings were intended to help children learn to walk. A caregiver would hold the strings and guide the child, much like a puppeteer manipulates a marionette or a coachmen steers a horse. Their use was controversial, with some doctors cautioning they could affect the child's health and disposition. Other medical professionals encouraged their use, with a dose of patience. In a 19th-century household medical reference book, H. Müller argues leading strings help "preserve the child from the accident of a dangerous fall." He believes "children very easily lose confidence in themselves when their first attempts to stand or to walk have painful consequences." Once a child could remain upright for an extended period, the leading strings served as a form of restraint, preventing children from running off or injuring themselves—a precursor to those safety harness "backpacks" seen at amusement parks. By the 18th century, leading strings on a young girl's garments also indicated she was unmarried, and still under the legal control of her parents. Talk about a fashion statement.
Image credit & copyright: Galerie des modes et costumes français, 32nd notebook, 2nd figure, c. 1778-1787 -
FREEArt Appreciation Art CurioFree1 CQ
Horses at Moonlight
William Sommar (1867-1949)
oil on cardboard
32 x 24 inches
Who says there's only one way to paint a midwestern landscape? Born on this day in 1867, American painter William Sommer introduced European modernism to the American midwest, particularly Ohio. Modernist works tend to focus more on conveying emotions than on strict realism. In Horses at Moonlight, three horses graze in a hilly pasture at night. Each of the painting's subjects are easily identifiable from the trees to the moon to the spoked red wheels of a piece of farm equipment, yet each one is abstract, with thick outlines and bright colors. Some aspects of the painting, such as the puddle in the foreground which shows a horse's reflection, are extremely detailed. Other details, such as the horses' eyes, are absent. Sommer's style was greatly influenced by his time studying in Germany and New York City, as well as his friendship with William Zorach, an American artist known for his early embrace of cubism. Eventually, Sommer, along with some artist friends, bought an abandoned schoolhouse in Brandywine, around 30 miles south of Cleveland, and turned it into an art gallery which further helped to normalize modernist art in the midwest. That's one way to spread culture!
Below: two more of Sommer's paintings, Houses and Pink Clouds and Woman with Striped Stockings.
Written by: Maria C.
Horses at Moonlight
William Sommar (1867-1949)
oil on cardboard
32 x 24 inches
Who says there's only one way to paint a midwestern landscape? Born on this day in 1867, American painter William Sommer introduced European modernism to the American midwest, particularly Ohio. Modernist works tend to focus more on conveying emotions than on strict realism. In Horses at Moonlight, three horses graze in a hilly pasture at night. Each of the painting's subjects are easily identifiable from the trees to the moon to the spoked red wheels of a piece of farm equipment, yet each one is abstract, with thick outlines and bright colors. Some aspects of the painting, such as the puddle in the foreground which shows a horse's reflection, are extremely detailed. Other details, such as the horses' eyes, are absent. Sommer's style was greatly influenced by his time studying in Germany and New York City, as well as his friendship with William Zorach, an American artist known for his early embrace of cubism. Eventually, Sommer, along with some artist friends, bought an abandoned schoolhouse in Brandywine, around 30 miles south of Cleveland, and turned it into an art gallery which further helped to normalize modernist art in the midwest. That's one way to spread culture!
Below: two more of Sommer's paintings, Houses and Pink Clouds and Woman with Striped Stockings.
Written by: Maria C.
January 17, 2021
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : January 17, 2021
modicum \MAH-dih-kum\ noun
Definition
: a small portion : a limited quantity
Did You Know?
What does modicum have to ...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : January 17, 2021
modicum \MAH-dih-kum\ noun
Definition
: a small portion : a limited quantity
Did You Know?
What does modicum have to ...
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7 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
It’s never been more risky during the pandemic for essential front-line workers to do their jobs. Yet many companies are no longer offering hazard pay. Plus,...
It’s never been more risky during the pandemic for essential front-line workers to do their jobs. Yet many companies are no longer offering hazard pay. Plus,...
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5 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree3 CQ
David Hofmann, a professor of sociology at the University of New Brunswick, has studied the rise of white extremism in Canada. He spoke to The World’s host M...
with PRI's The WorldDavid Hofmann, a professor of sociology at the University of New Brunswick, has studied the rise of white extremism in Canada. He spoke to The World’s host M...
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FREEUS History PP&T CurioFree1 CQ
Let's face it: presidential election cycles can be a hot mess. Even before 2020's Four Seasons Total Landscaping press conference, certain lame duck elected officials were infamous for their late-term ineffectiveness. Luckily in 1933, a constitutional amendment was passed to remedy that… the 20th, to be precise.
Before the 20th Amendment passed, the duration of presidential and congressional terms were ambiguous. Article 1 of the Constitution mandated Congress meet at least once a year, usually in December to perform their federal duties: all went as planned during odd years, but in even (election) years, lame duck sessions ensured little was accomplished. While such inaction during the year might make us think of them as the precursor to a "do nothing Congress," the reality was that in the 18th and 19th century, politicians often had to set their affairs in order at home over several months before undergoing travel to the nation's capital. It also didn't help that Congress and the new president had to wait between Election Day in November and March 4th the next year to start their new jobs. That date was chosen by the 1789 Congress of the Confederation (the original unicameral legislative and executive body) as the beginning of new elected terms. The four-month long delays heavily tested the country's mettle during events like the secession of the Southern states in February 1861, which proved national emergencies wait for no man or new body politic to come into power.
The one-month Congress became a bigger and bigger problem as it failed to meet the needs of a growing nation transformed by trains, planes, and automobiles. Among the champions of progressive politics in the Senate was Republican George W. Norris of Nebraska, who advocated for labor rights, direct election of senators, and isolationism in foreign policy. In 1923, Norris proposed a resolution to shorten the lame duck session of the legislative and executive bodies. The resolution didn't pick up much steam during the roaring 20s, however the onset of the Great Depression demanded New Deal reforms in the social safety net, and the way Washington did business. The 72nd Congress proposed the 20th Amendment on March 2, 1932, with Section 1 addressing much needed changes to the four-month lame duck period:Section 1. The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.
After being ratified by three-fourths of the states, the 20th Amendment was passed on January 23, 1933, incidentally during a lame duck period. Franklin D. Roosevelt would become the last president to take office on March 4th in 1933, and also the first to be inaugurated on January 20th in 1937 under the 20th Amendment changes. In 1935 Clerk of the House South Trimble noted “This is the first time in 146 years that an old Congress dies and a new one is born on the 3d day of January…today we inaugurate the first session of the Seventy-fourth Congress.”
While the 20th Amendment also outlines other important procedural actions in the executive and legislative branches, like the chain of succession to the presidency, it's mostly known these days for setting the date for the Inauguration Day ceremony and celebrations at the Capitol Building and National Mall. And in these days of high speed internet and other forms of instant gratification, some are upset about the lame duck delay between Election Day and January 20th! Not to worry though, the president elect and his transition team are, by all accounts, kept incredibly busy during the transition period between presidents. We might even say it's a time for the newly-elected ducklings to get to work and start quacking!
Image credit & copyright: Alex Wong, Getty Images
Written by: Esther P.Let's face it: presidential election cycles can be a hot mess. Even before 2020's Four Seasons Total Landscaping press conference, certain lame duck elected officials were infamous for their late-term ineffectiveness. Luckily in 1933, a constitutional amendment was passed to remedy that… the 20th, to be precise.
Before the 20th Amendment passed, the duration of presidential and congressional terms were ambiguous. Article 1 of the Constitution mandated Congress meet at least once a year, usually in December to perform their federal duties: all went as planned during odd years, but in even (election) years, lame duck sessions ensured little was accomplished. While such inaction during the year might make us think of them as the precursor to a "do nothing Congress," the reality was that in the 18th and 19th century, politicians often had to set their affairs in order at home over several months before undergoing travel to the nation's capital. It also didn't help that Congress and the new president had to wait between Election Day in November and March 4th the next year to start their new jobs. That date was chosen by the 1789 Congress of the Confederation (the original unicameral legislative and executive body) as the beginning of new elected terms. The four-month long delays heavily tested the country's mettle during events like the secession of the Southern states in February 1861, which proved national emergencies wait for no man or new body politic to come into power.
The one-month Congress became a bigger and bigger problem as it failed to meet the needs of a growing nation transformed by trains, planes, and automobiles. Among the champions of progressive politics in the Senate was Republican George W. Norris of Nebraska, who advocated for labor rights, direct election of senators, and isolationism in foreign policy. In 1923, Norris proposed a resolution to shorten the lame duck session of the legislative and executive bodies. The resolution didn't pick up much steam during the roaring 20s, however the onset of the Great Depression demanded New Deal reforms in the social safety net, and the way Washington did business. The 72nd Congress proposed the 20th Amendment on March 2, 1932, with Section 1 addressing much needed changes to the four-month lame duck period:Section 1. The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.
After being ratified by three-fourths of the states, the 20th Amendment was passed on January 23, 1933, incidentally during a lame duck period. Franklin D. Roosevelt would become the last president to take office on March 4th in 1933, and also the first to be inaugurated on January 20th in 1937 under the 20th Amendment changes. In 1935 Clerk of the House South Trimble noted “This is the first time in 146 years that an old Congress dies and a new one is born on the 3d day of January…today we inaugurate the first session of the Seventy-fourth Congress.”
While the 20th Amendment also outlines other important procedural actions in the executive and legislative branches, like the chain of succession to the presidency, it's mostly known these days for setting the date for the Inauguration Day ceremony and celebrations at the Capitol Building and National Mall. And in these days of high speed internet and other forms of instant gratification, some are upset about the lame duck delay between Election Day and January 20th! Not to worry though, the president elect and his transition team are, by all accounts, kept incredibly busy during the transition period between presidents. We might even say it's a time for the newly-elected ducklings to get to work and start quacking!
Image credit & copyright: Alex Wong, Getty Images
Written by: Esther P.
January 16, 2021
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : January 16, 2021
effusive \ih-FYOO-siv\ adjective
Definition
1 : marked by the expression of great or excessive emotion or enthusiasm
2...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : January 16, 2021
effusive \ih-FYOO-siv\ adjective
Definition
1 : marked by the expression of great or excessive emotion or enthusiasm
2...
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9 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
WhatsApp, owned by Facebook, is the world’s most popular messaging app. But it’s losing business to smaller competitors like Signal and Telegram for a number...
WhatsApp, owned by Facebook, is the world’s most popular messaging app. But it’s losing business to smaller competitors like Signal and Telegram for a number...
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5 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree3 CQ
On the campaign trail, candidate Joe Biden pledged to end the Trump administration's "Remain in Mexico" program on day one. But the president-elect has walke...
with PRI's The WorldOn the campaign trail, candidate Joe Biden pledged to end the Trump administration's "Remain in Mexico" program on day one. But the president-elect has walke...
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FREEPlay Teaser Curio #269Free1 CQ
In 4 days, a new President and Vice President will be sworn in. If you're wondering who selected January 20 as inauguration day, and why, tune in tomorrow! In the meantime can you solve this riddle?
Nearly every president has had one of these. To figure out what it is, you'll need to select the correct letter for each of the clues. Hint: there may be more than one answer for each clue.
The first letter is in FORD but not COOLIDGE.
The second letter is in NIXON but not JACKSON.
The third letter is in MONROE but not MADISON.
The fourth letter is in BUSH but not BUCHANAN.
The fifth letter is in TRUMAN but not VAN BUREN.
The sixth letter is in LINCOLN but not JACKSON.
The seventh letter is in REAGAN but not PIERCE.
The eighth letter is in ADAMS but not WASHINGTON.
The ninth letter is in HAYES but not HOOVER.
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #269" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!In 4 days, a new President and Vice President will be sworn in. If you're wondering who selected January 20 as inauguration day, and why, tune in tomorrow! In the meantime can you solve this riddle?
Nearly every president has had one of these. To figure out what it is, you'll need to select the correct letter for each of the clues. Hint: there may be more than one answer for each clue.
The first letter is in FORD but not COOLIDGE.
The second letter is in NIXON but not JACKSON.
The third letter is in MONROE but not MADISON.
The fourth letter is in BUSH but not BUCHANAN.
The fifth letter is in TRUMAN but not VAN BUREN.
The sixth letter is in LINCOLN but not JACKSON.
The seventh letter is in REAGAN but not PIERCE.
The eighth letter is in ADAMS but not WASHINGTON.
The ninth letter is in HAYES but not HOOVER.
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #269" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
January 15, 2021
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6 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
From the BBC World Service: The tech giant changed its algorithm for 1% of Australian users as it tests the value of its service to news providers. Also, onl...
From the BBC World Service: The tech giant changed its algorithm for 1% of Australian users as it tests the value of its service to news providers. Also, onl...
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : January 15, 2021
vulcanize \VUL-kuh-nyze\ verb
Definition
: to treat crude or synthetic rubber or similar plastic material with chemical...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : January 15, 2021
vulcanize \VUL-kuh-nyze\ verb
Definition
: to treat crude or synthetic rubber or similar plastic material with chemical...
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5 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree3 CQ
J.M. Berger, author of the book, "Extremism," says his most urgent question is how and where the large and radicalized community of extremists in the US will...
with PRI's The WorldJ.M. Berger, author of the book, "Extremism," says his most urgent question is how and where the large and radicalized community of extremists in the US will...
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FREEMusic Appreciation Song CurioFree2 CQ
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
One of the most divine friendships of the Civil Rights era was that of gospel singer Mahalia Jackson and Martin Luther King, Jr. The two met at the National Baptist Convention in 1953, and soon after, Jackson accompanied King to many of his rallies. Perhaps the most moving story of their friendship came during the '63 March on Washington. That day, Jackson performed an a capella (solo voice) version of the gospel standard I've Been Buked, a song that speaks to the suffering and perseverance of those at the march, and to those who protested the cruelties of segregation. Her solemn and mournful tone set the stage for King's I Have a Dream speech, but that isn't where the story ends. King was said to have made several revisions of his famous oration and didn't necessarily intend on speaking about dreams. As King's speech grew more and more inspiring and he went off-script, Jackson, as a confidant of King's, was heard yelling: "Tell them about the dream, Martin!" And the rest, as they say, is history.
Other streaming options
Image credit & copyright: Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
One of the most divine friendships of the Civil Rights era was that of gospel singer Mahalia Jackson and Martin Luther King, Jr. The two met at the National Baptist Convention in 1953, and soon after, Jackson accompanied King to many of his rallies. Perhaps the most moving story of their friendship came during the '63 March on Washington. That day, Jackson performed an a capella (solo voice) version of the gospel standard I've Been Buked, a song that speaks to the suffering and perseverance of those at the march, and to those who protested the cruelties of segregation. Her solemn and mournful tone set the stage for King's I Have a Dream speech, but that isn't where the story ends. King was said to have made several revisions of his famous oration and didn't necessarily intend on speaking about dreams. As King's speech grew more and more inspiring and he went off-script, Jackson, as a confidant of King's, was heard yelling: "Tell them about the dream, Martin!" And the rest, as they say, is history.
Other streaming options
Image credit & copyright: Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
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FREEArt Appreciation Art CurioFree1 CQ
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
Title: King’s Wish (Martin Luther’s Dream)
Artist: Jack Whitten (b. 1939)
Created: 1968
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimensions: 51.75 x 67.88 in (131.4 x 172.4 cm)
We have a dream. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom left an indelible mark on many. It also inspired this 1968 piece by abstract painter Jack Whitten, who was awarded a National Medal of Arts by President Obama last year. Experimenting with abstract expressionism, the artist dragged paint across the canvas with non-traditional tools like squeegees and Afro combs. Take a closer look to fully appreciate the results: abstracted faces of all shapes and colors floating among the vibrant brushstrokes. Whitten wanted to take emphasis away from the faces' skin tones by using blended, saturated tones. His unique subjects work together to form a harmonious whole, both vibrant and balanced. Not unlike King's hope for a nation free of racism. Let's hope current and future generations continue the fight to make good on that vision.
Image credit & copyright: Jack Whitten
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
Title: King’s Wish (Martin Luther’s Dream)
Artist: Jack Whitten (b. 1939)
Created: 1968
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimensions: 51.75 x 67.88 in (131.4 x 172.4 cm)
We have a dream. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom left an indelible mark on many. It also inspired this 1968 piece by abstract painter Jack Whitten, who was awarded a National Medal of Arts by President Obama last year. Experimenting with abstract expressionism, the artist dragged paint across the canvas with non-traditional tools like squeegees and Afro combs. Take a closer look to fully appreciate the results: abstracted faces of all shapes and colors floating among the vibrant brushstrokes. Whitten wanted to take emphasis away from the faces' skin tones by using blended, saturated tones. His unique subjects work together to form a harmonious whole, both vibrant and balanced. Not unlike King's hope for a nation free of racism. Let's hope current and future generations continue the fight to make good on that vision.
Image credit & copyright: Jack Whitten
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FREEUS History Photo CurioFree1 CQ
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
These men are tight-lipped, but their signs say it all. There was no better rallying cry than the affirmative "I am a man" for the African-American sanitation workers of the 1968 Memphis Sanitation Strike. Tensions between low-income waste collectors and Memphis mayor Henry Loeb were already high when a malfunctioning truck killed two workers in February. 1,300 workers staged a strike to call attention to poor working conditions and low wages. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. showed his solidarity by marching with protesters on March 28, when this photo was taken. In a chillingly foretelling speech given a week later, on the eve of his assassination, King inspired persistence and hope: "Like anybody, I would like to live a long life—longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now… I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land." The strike ended on April 16 when negotiators agreed to recognize unions and increase wages. But "I am a man" would stay relevant as a symbol of the Civil Rights Movement. In the continuing fight for equality, the phrase is still salient—along with its updated, hashtagged relatives.
Image credit: Richard Copley
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
These men are tight-lipped, but their signs say it all. There was no better rallying cry than the affirmative "I am a man" for the African-American sanitation workers of the 1968 Memphis Sanitation Strike. Tensions between low-income waste collectors and Memphis mayor Henry Loeb were already high when a malfunctioning truck killed two workers in February. 1,300 workers staged a strike to call attention to poor working conditions and low wages. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. showed his solidarity by marching with protesters on March 28, when this photo was taken. In a chillingly foretelling speech given a week later, on the eve of his assassination, King inspired persistence and hope: "Like anybody, I would like to live a long life—longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now… I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land." The strike ended on April 16 when negotiators agreed to recognize unions and increase wages. But "I am a man" would stay relevant as a symbol of the Civil Rights Movement. In the continuing fight for equality, the phrase is still salient—along with its updated, hashtagged relatives.
Image credit: Richard Copley
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FREEUS History Daily CurioFree1 CQ
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
Gesundheit, MLK. One of the darkest days in American history was the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. on April 4, 1968. But the world almost lost him ten years earlier. On September 20, 1958, a mentally disturbed woman named Izola Ware Curry stabbed King while he signed copies of his book Stride Toward Freedom at Blumstein’s Department Store in Harlem, New York. Curry stabbed King with a seven-inch steel letter opener, striking him in the upper left chest area. He was rushed to a local hospital where doctors performed several hours of surgery to repair the wound. One of his surgeons later remarked that “had Dr. King sneezed or coughed the weapon would have penetrated the aorta.” This quote formed the foundation of King’s “I have been to the mountaintop” speech which he delivered on the last evening of his life. He was speaking at the Mason Temple Church in Memphis. In the climax of that speech, Dr. King told the story of his attack ten years earlier, recounting the well-wishings he had received during his recovery:
I had received one from the president and the vice president; I've forgotten what those telegrams said. I'd received a visit and a letter from the governor of New York, but I've forgotten what that letter said. But there was another letter that came from a little girl… I looked at that letter and I'll never forget it. It said simply,
"Dear Dr. King: I am a ninth-grade student at the White Plains High School." She said, "While it should not matter, I would like to mention that I'm a white girl. I read in the paper of your misfortune and of your suffering. And I read that if you had sneezed, you would have died. And I'm simply writing you to say that I'm so happy that you didn't sneeze."
I want to say tonight that I… am happy that I didn't sneeze. Because if I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been around here in 1960, when students all over the South started sitting-in at lunch counters. And I knew that as they were sitting in, they were really standing up for the best in the American dream and taking the whole nation back to those great wells of democracy, which were dug deep by the founding fathers in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been around here in 1961, when we decided to take a ride for freedom and ended segregation in interstate travel.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been around here in 1962, when Negroes in Albany, Georgia, decided to straighten their backs up. And whenever men and women straighten their backs up, they are going somewhere, because a man can't ride your back unless it is bent.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been here in 1963, when the black people of Birmingham, Alabama, aroused the conscience of this nation and brought into being the Civil Rights Bill.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have had a chance later that year, in August, to try to tell America about a dream that I had had.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been down in Selma, Alabama, to see the great movement there.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been in Memphis to see a community rally around those brothers and sisters who are suffering. I'm so happy that I didn't sneeze… I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land.
I don’t think we have gotten to the Promised Land yet, but we would be a lot further away if MLK had sneezed on September 20, 1958!
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
Gesundheit, MLK. One of the darkest days in American history was the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. on April 4, 1968. But the world almost lost him ten years earlier. On September 20, 1958, a mentally disturbed woman named Izola Ware Curry stabbed King while he signed copies of his book Stride Toward Freedom at Blumstein’s Department Store in Harlem, New York. Curry stabbed King with a seven-inch steel letter opener, striking him in the upper left chest area. He was rushed to a local hospital where doctors performed several hours of surgery to repair the wound. One of his surgeons later remarked that “had Dr. King sneezed or coughed the weapon would have penetrated the aorta.” This quote formed the foundation of King’s “I have been to the mountaintop” speech which he delivered on the last evening of his life. He was speaking at the Mason Temple Church in Memphis. In the climax of that speech, Dr. King told the story of his attack ten years earlier, recounting the well-wishings he had received during his recovery:
I had received one from the president and the vice president; I've forgotten what those telegrams said. I'd received a visit and a letter from the governor of New York, but I've forgotten what that letter said. But there was another letter that came from a little girl… I looked at that letter and I'll never forget it. It said simply,
"Dear Dr. King: I am a ninth-grade student at the White Plains High School." She said, "While it should not matter, I would like to mention that I'm a white girl. I read in the paper of your misfortune and of your suffering. And I read that if you had sneezed, you would have died. And I'm simply writing you to say that I'm so happy that you didn't sneeze."
I want to say tonight that I… am happy that I didn't sneeze. Because if I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been around here in 1960, when students all over the South started sitting-in at lunch counters. And I knew that as they were sitting in, they were really standing up for the best in the American dream and taking the whole nation back to those great wells of democracy, which were dug deep by the founding fathers in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been around here in 1961, when we decided to take a ride for freedom and ended segregation in interstate travel.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been around here in 1962, when Negroes in Albany, Georgia, decided to straighten their backs up. And whenever men and women straighten their backs up, they are going somewhere, because a man can't ride your back unless it is bent.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been here in 1963, when the black people of Birmingham, Alabama, aroused the conscience of this nation and brought into being the Civil Rights Bill.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have had a chance later that year, in August, to try to tell America about a dream that I had had.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been down in Selma, Alabama, to see the great movement there.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been in Memphis to see a community rally around those brothers and sisters who are suffering. I'm so happy that I didn't sneeze… I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land.
I don’t think we have gotten to the Promised Land yet, but we would be a lot further away if MLK had sneezed on September 20, 1958!
January 14, 2021
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
From the BBC World Service: Matteo Renzi, the ex-prime minister, and his party object to the current spending plan for EU COVID-19 relief. Also, Lebanon’s ro...
From the BBC World Service: Matteo Renzi, the ex-prime minister, and his party object to the current spending plan for EU COVID-19 relief. Also, Lebanon’s ro...
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : January 14, 2021
servile \SER-vul\ adjective
Definition
1 : of or befitting a menial position
2 : meanly or cravenly submissive : abjec...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : January 14, 2021
servile \SER-vul\ adjective
Definition
1 : of or befitting a menial position
2 : meanly or cravenly submissive : abjec...
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FREEPolitical Science Daily Curio #2166Free1 CQ
Disney. AirBnB. BlueCross BlueShield. Marriott. What do these corporations have in common? They suspended donations to Republicans who objected to the certification of the Electoral College's votes on January 6, 2021. These corporations are holding Ted Cruz (Texas), Josh Hawley (Missouri), Tommy Tuberville (Alabama), and 144 other congresspersons responsible for the violence at the Capitol, which interrupted certification proceedings. Other corporations have followed suit with some suspending all political donations and others reviewing their current policies. To be clear, corporations cannot donate directly to candidates or their campaigns, per Federal Election Commission (FEC) regulations. Instead, all money must be funneled through other channels, such as separate segregated funds (SSFs), political committees financially supported by a corporation or labor group. SSFs are better known as PACs or political action committees. PACs are defined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as 527 organizations, and are tax-exempt. Traditional PACs may directly donate to a campaign, but are subject to federal and state limitations.
In 1907, Congress passed the Tillman Act prohibiting corporations and banks from donating to political candidates in federal elections. In 1943, the Smith-Connally Act extended those restrictions to include labor unions. That year, union leaders responded by forming the Congress of Industrial Organizations to support the re-election of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and other pro-labor candidates. In 1971, the Federal Election Campaign Act (amended in 1974 and 1976), further regulated political campaign spending. The most influential change to PAC spending, however, came in 2010. In a landmark decision (Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission), the Supreme Court reversed federal campaign donation restrictions for corporations and other groups. Currently, PACs can spend an unlimited amount on federal campaign advertising, provided they are not directly coordinating with a specific party or candidate. This has led to the creation of super PACs, and an increase in dark money, contributions made to a trade or social welfare organization whose primary purpose is not influencing elections. Donors do not have to disclose these contributions, and typically benefit from the anonymity. In recent federal elections, including the 2020 presidential election, corporations have funneled billions of dollars into PACs on behalf of both political parties. While the effects of these donation freezes remain to be seen, one thing is certain—corporations are being pressured to address their role in electing candidates who, directly or indirectly, have threatened America's democratic processes.
Image credit & copyright: Opensecrets.orgDisney. AirBnB. BlueCross BlueShield. Marriott. What do these corporations have in common? They suspended donations to Republicans who objected to the certification of the Electoral College's votes on January 6, 2021. These corporations are holding Ted Cruz (Texas), Josh Hawley (Missouri), Tommy Tuberville (Alabama), and 144 other congresspersons responsible for the violence at the Capitol, which interrupted certification proceedings. Other corporations have followed suit with some suspending all political donations and others reviewing their current policies. To be clear, corporations cannot donate directly to candidates or their campaigns, per Federal Election Commission (FEC) regulations. Instead, all money must be funneled through other channels, such as separate segregated funds (SSFs), political committees financially supported by a corporation or labor group. SSFs are better known as PACs or political action committees. PACs are defined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as 527 organizations, and are tax-exempt. Traditional PACs may directly donate to a campaign, but are subject to federal and state limitations.
In 1907, Congress passed the Tillman Act prohibiting corporations and banks from donating to political candidates in federal elections. In 1943, the Smith-Connally Act extended those restrictions to include labor unions. That year, union leaders responded by forming the Congress of Industrial Organizations to support the re-election of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and other pro-labor candidates. In 1971, the Federal Election Campaign Act (amended in 1974 and 1976), further regulated political campaign spending. The most influential change to PAC spending, however, came in 2010. In a landmark decision (Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission), the Supreme Court reversed federal campaign donation restrictions for corporations and other groups. Currently, PACs can spend an unlimited amount on federal campaign advertising, provided they are not directly coordinating with a specific party or candidate. This has led to the creation of super PACs, and an increase in dark money, contributions made to a trade or social welfare organization whose primary purpose is not influencing elections. Donors do not have to disclose these contributions, and typically benefit from the anonymity. In recent federal elections, including the 2020 presidential election, corporations have funneled billions of dollars into PACs on behalf of both political parties. While the effects of these donation freezes remain to be seen, one thing is certain—corporations are being pressured to address their role in electing candidates who, directly or indirectly, have threatened America's democratic processes.
Image credit & copyright: Opensecrets.org -
5 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree3 CQ
The installation by artist Péter Szalay is a kneeling sculpture of the Statue of Liberty, illuminated in rainbow colors with her left hand raised in a fist. ...
with PRI's The WorldThe installation by artist Péter Szalay is a kneeling sculpture of the Statue of Liberty, illuminated in rainbow colors with her left hand raised in a fist. ...
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1 minFREEPoetry Poem CurioFree1 CQ
Afternoon Walk: The Sea Ranch. by Sandra Gilbert.
with Poetry FoundationAfternoon Walk: The Sea Ranch. by Sandra Gilbert.
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FREESTEM Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
The days may be shorter in winter, but for one group of Korean scientists, the sun never sets—because it's artificial and indoors! The superconducting fusion device known as KSTAR (Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research), also known as the "Korean artificial sun" uses superconducting magnets and hydrogen isotopes to mimic the sun's fusion reactions inside a specially-built room at the National Fusion Research Institute in Daejeon, South Korea. In late December, 2020, KSTAR achieved an important milestone when it broke its own record and kept its temperature at 100 million degrees for 20 seconds. Previously, in 2019, it had maintained this temperature for 8 seconds. When the KSTAR reactor is switched on, its magnets agitate hydrogen isotopes into a plasma state separating the ions and electrons. This separation leads to a massive release of energy, resulting in the extreme high temperatures the KSTAR reactor is famous for maintaining. KSTAR is part of ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor), an international research and engineering project. The project's goal? To find a way to make nuclear fusion the green energy source of the future. Imagine being able to harness the power of the sun all year long!
Image credit & copyright: Eco Central
Written by: Maria C.
The days may be shorter in winter, but for one group of Korean scientists, the sun never sets—because it's artificial and indoors! The superconducting fusion device known as KSTAR (Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research), also known as the "Korean artificial sun" uses superconducting magnets and hydrogen isotopes to mimic the sun's fusion reactions inside a specially-built room at the National Fusion Research Institute in Daejeon, South Korea. In late December, 2020, KSTAR achieved an important milestone when it broke its own record and kept its temperature at 100 million degrees for 20 seconds. Previously, in 2019, it had maintained this temperature for 8 seconds. When the KSTAR reactor is switched on, its magnets agitate hydrogen isotopes into a plasma state separating the ions and electrons. This separation leads to a massive release of energy, resulting in the extreme high temperatures the KSTAR reactor is famous for maintaining. KSTAR is part of ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor), an international research and engineering project. The project's goal? To find a way to make nuclear fusion the green energy source of the future. Imagine being able to harness the power of the sun all year long!
Image credit & copyright: Eco Central
Written by: Maria C.
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FREEAesthetic Photo CurioFree1 CQ
Remy from Ratatouille isn't the only one with good taste around here. Recently, theater artist Jonothon Lyons donned his best brown suit and tail to become Buddy the Rat, a performance art rodent who makes his way around New York City. Lyons came up with the idea in 2008 while working on a stage show in Portland, Oregon called Frogs. After playing the part of several animals, including an anteater, polar bear, and penguin, he developed a desire to portray the mischievous city rat. Earlier this year Lyons teamed up with director Todd Strauss-Schulson (A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas) to film the three-minute short Rat on the streets of New York City. Lyons had so much fun with the film, he took the character out for random acts of performance art around the city: whether it was catching a ride on the subway, showing people how to wear a triple-mask during covid, or paying homage to the original "pizza rat" meme by lugging his own slice of pie across town, Buddy the Rat is causing quite the stir in the city that never sleeps!
Image credit & copyright: Jonothon Lyons
Written by: Esther P.Remy from Ratatouille isn't the only one with good taste around here. Recently, theater artist Jonothon Lyons donned his best brown suit and tail to become Buddy the Rat, a performance art rodent who makes his way around New York City. Lyons came up with the idea in 2008 while working on a stage show in Portland, Oregon called Frogs. After playing the part of several animals, including an anteater, polar bear, and penguin, he developed a desire to portray the mischievous city rat. Earlier this year Lyons teamed up with director Todd Strauss-Schulson (A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas) to film the three-minute short Rat on the streets of New York City. Lyons had so much fun with the film, he took the character out for random acts of performance art around the city: whether it was catching a ride on the subway, showing people how to wear a triple-mask during covid, or paying homage to the original "pizza rat" meme by lugging his own slice of pie across town, Buddy the Rat is causing quite the stir in the city that never sleeps!
Image credit & copyright: Jonothon Lyons
Written by: Esther P.