Curio Cabinet
- By Date
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January 26, 2021
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4 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree3 CQ
To curb the spread of new, highly contagious coronavirus variants found in the UK, South Africa, and Brazil, France has implemented a 6 p.m.-to-6 a.m. curfew.
with PRI's The WorldTo curb the spread of new, highly contagious coronavirus variants found in the UK, South Africa, and Brazil, France has implemented a 6 p.m.-to-6 a.m. curfew.
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7 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
From the BBC World Service: To build a new coalition government, Giuseppe Conte would need to resolve disagreement over how to spend EU COVID-19 recovery fun...
From the BBC World Service: To build a new coalition government, Giuseppe Conte would need to resolve disagreement over how to spend EU COVID-19 recovery fun...
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : January 26, 2021
obeisance \oh-BEE-sunss\ noun
Definition
1 : a movement of the body made in token of respect or submission : bow
2 : a...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : January 26, 2021
obeisance \oh-BEE-sunss\ noun
Definition
1 : a movement of the body made in token of respect or submission : bow
2 : a...
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FREESTEM Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
Life's lowest moments sometimes lead to great triumphs! That has certainly proved true for Reuben Schoots. The Australian man became an expert in horology—the study and measurement of time and the instruments which tell time—under unlikely circumstances. During a trip to South America in 2015, Schoots contracted three rare tropical viruses and a parasite. Left partially bedridden for two years, he searched for ways to pass the time. A friend lent him a book by famed watchmaker George Daniel, reigniting Schoots' childhood fascination with mechanical watches. After months of careful study, Schoots decided he wanted to build a pocketwatch of his own, entirely by hand, knowing full well that it would take around three years working full-time. Handmade mechanical watches are extremely rare in modern times. Their internal mechanisms are so complex that creating one by hand is impossible for all but the most skilled and dedicated. If he succeeded, Schoots knew he would become one of only true watchmakers of the modern age, and one of the youngest ever. In late 2020, almost three years after starting his project, Schoots announced that his pocket watch is almost complete. Talk about dedication to one's craft!
Image credit & copyright: Reuben Schoots
Written by: Maria C.
Life's lowest moments sometimes lead to great triumphs! That has certainly proved true for Reuben Schoots. The Australian man became an expert in horology—the study and measurement of time and the instruments which tell time—under unlikely circumstances. During a trip to South America in 2015, Schoots contracted three rare tropical viruses and a parasite. Left partially bedridden for two years, he searched for ways to pass the time. A friend lent him a book by famed watchmaker George Daniel, reigniting Schoots' childhood fascination with mechanical watches. After months of careful study, Schoots decided he wanted to build a pocketwatch of his own, entirely by hand, knowing full well that it would take around three years working full-time. Handmade mechanical watches are extremely rare in modern times. Their internal mechanisms are so complex that creating one by hand is impossible for all but the most skilled and dedicated. If he succeeded, Schoots knew he would become one of only true watchmakers of the modern age, and one of the youngest ever. In late 2020, almost three years after starting his project, Schoots announced that his pocket watch is almost complete. Talk about dedication to one's craft!
Image credit & copyright: Reuben Schoots
Written by: Maria C.
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FREEVideography Daily Curio #2172Free1 CQ
Move over Spielberg and get out of the way Lucas, there's a new team of blockbuster filmmakers taking the world by storm. The Critics Company is a group of young Nigerian filmmakers who have caught the attention of Hollywood moguls. The Critics Company began when several of the original members became fed up with watching the same old plots play out in Nollywood (Nigeria's movie industry) films. They started using their iPhones to shoot their own short films, and taught themselves how to create special effects and use video editing software with YouTube tutorials. In their five years together, The Critics Company has created over 20 short films, including Another Star Wars Story, a tale of two Jedi sisters battling a Darth Vader-like Sith character. The short caught the eye of Star Wars: The Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams who became such a fan of their work, he recently sent them a care package which included expensive computers, cameras, and other professional film equipment. To thank Abrams, the team put together a creative sci-fi piece called J.J. Abrams Sent Us a Large Shipment! showing the delivery boxes being too heavy for several men to lift. Luckily, a girl with telekinesis powers arrives, lifting the heavy load with her mental powers. Even with their newfound viral fame and fancy equipment, The Critics Circle hasn't lost sight of their original goals: "We want to continue to tell African stories in our own unique way, through our own lenses," said Raymond Yusuf, one of the filmmakers. "We want to inspire creativity in the next generation of filmmakers and storytellers." If their previous work is any indication, we're looking forward to seeing the kids in The Critics Circle produce more gorgeous sci-fi movies with heaps of inventiveness and heart.
Below: the charming, pink-light sabered short Another Star Wars Story and J.J. Abrams Sent Us a Large Shipment!
Image credit & copyright: The Critics
Written by: Esther P.Move over Spielberg and get out of the way Lucas, there's a new team of blockbuster filmmakers taking the world by storm. The Critics Company is a group of young Nigerian filmmakers who have caught the attention of Hollywood moguls. The Critics Company began when several of the original members became fed up with watching the same old plots play out in Nollywood (Nigeria's movie industry) films. They started using their iPhones to shoot their own short films, and taught themselves how to create special effects and use video editing software with YouTube tutorials. In their five years together, The Critics Company has created over 20 short films, including Another Star Wars Story, a tale of two Jedi sisters battling a Darth Vader-like Sith character. The short caught the eye of Star Wars: The Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams who became such a fan of their work, he recently sent them a care package which included expensive computers, cameras, and other professional film equipment. To thank Abrams, the team put together a creative sci-fi piece called J.J. Abrams Sent Us a Large Shipment! showing the delivery boxes being too heavy for several men to lift. Luckily, a girl with telekinesis powers arrives, lifting the heavy load with her mental powers. Even with their newfound viral fame and fancy equipment, The Critics Circle hasn't lost sight of their original goals: "We want to continue to tell African stories in our own unique way, through our own lenses," said Raymond Yusuf, one of the filmmakers. "We want to inspire creativity in the next generation of filmmakers and storytellers." If their previous work is any indication, we're looking forward to seeing the kids in The Critics Circle produce more gorgeous sci-fi movies with heaps of inventiveness and heart.
Below: the charming, pink-light sabered short Another Star Wars Story and J.J. Abrams Sent Us a Large Shipment!
Image credit & copyright: The Critics
Written by: Esther P. -
FREEPhoto CurioFree1 CQ
2021 is the year digital artist Ted Chin makes a big splash in the world. His Flamingo Cloud has been chosen as the 2021 opening Splash Screen for Adobe Photoshop. Chin's gorgeously surreal images and Photoshop mastery began as a hobby born out of necessity—he had recently moved from Taiwan to attend graduate school in San Francisco, and didn't have the time or money to travel. "One day I came across Erik Almas’ work at a local art event, and I was really inspired by his dream-like romantic composite photography," Chin has said. From there, he decided to apply his Photoshop skills to creating his own fantastical worlds, like the above pink and teal tropical scene of Flamingo Clouds. Chin's talent for blending colors, details, and his own unimaginable yet visually realistic scenes is undeniable—and can each be seen in the cloud-bodies that are pink color-matched to the heads of the avian creatures. Now that's what we call partying like a flock star!
Below: additional artwork as relevant
Image credit & copyright: Ted Chin
Esther P.
2021 is the year digital artist Ted Chin makes a big splash in the world. His Flamingo Cloud has been chosen as the 2021 opening Splash Screen for Adobe Photoshop. Chin's gorgeously surreal images and Photoshop mastery began as a hobby born out of necessity—he had recently moved from Taiwan to attend graduate school in San Francisco, and didn't have the time or money to travel. "One day I came across Erik Almas’ work at a local art event, and I was really inspired by his dream-like romantic composite photography," Chin has said. From there, he decided to apply his Photoshop skills to creating his own fantastical worlds, like the above pink and teal tropical scene of Flamingo Clouds. Chin's talent for blending colors, details, and his own unimaginable yet visually realistic scenes is undeniable—and can each be seen in the cloud-bodies that are pink color-matched to the heads of the avian creatures. Now that's what we call partying like a flock star!
Below: additional artwork as relevant
Image credit & copyright: Ted Chin
Esther P.
January 25, 2021
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5 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree3 CQ
South Korea wants more couples to have babies — but not all families are equal. Same-sex marriage is banned, and there are no laws that protect the LGBTQ com...
with PRI's The WorldSouth Korea wants more couples to have babies — but not all families are equal. Same-sex marriage is banned, and there are no laws that protect the LGBTQ com...
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6 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
The president will sign an executive order Monday in a step toward fulfilling his campaign pledge to strengthen U.S. manufacturing. Plus, how the Paycheck Pr...
The president will sign an executive order Monday in a step toward fulfilling his campaign pledge to strengthen U.S. manufacturing. Plus, how the Paycheck Pr...
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day : January 25, 2021
optimization \ahp-tuh-muh-ZAY-shun\ noun
Definition
: an act, process, or methodology of making something (such as a de...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : January 25, 2021
optimization \ahp-tuh-muh-ZAY-shun\ noun
Definition
: an act, process, or methodology of making something (such as a de...
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FREEMusic Daily Curio #2171Free1 CQ
Just a stone's throw from the U.S.-Mexico border, the town of San Juan, Texas has a harmonious
custom garnering global attention. At the Catholic Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle, a mariachi band performs devotional music every week. Since 1985, the band has regularly performed in the church's services. Their repertoire includes hymns, pastorelas (nativity plays), Easter songs, and more under the direction of Francisco Morales. Band members live in Texas, as well as Mexico. Like many in the Rio Grande Valley, they cross the border for daily activities. Due to the pandemic, the band's Mexican members are staying home, leaving only 6 musicians to perform for socially-distanced audiences.
Mariachi is a genre of music derived from Spanish theatrical orchestras, small regional orchestras, composed of violins, guitars, and harps. When conquistadors like Hernán Cortés colonized Mexico, they brought their instruments and music with them. Mestizos—those of indigenous Mexican and Spanish descent—adapted the genre in the 19th century. Mestizo musicians in Guadalajara, and other towns in the Mexican state of Jalisco, incorporated the instruments in their folk music. In the early 20th century, mariachi bands accompanied ranchera singers, performing in the garb of charros (traditional horsemen). Their costumes included wide-brimmed sombreros, embroidered or highly-decorated pants, skirts, and short jackets with silk ties. Today, a full mariachi band usually includes two trumpets, a vihuela (a nylon-stringed guitar), and a guitarrón (a six-string acoustic bass), although their composition and repertoire varies by region. Everything from corridos (Mexican ballads) to minuets, polkas, and waltzes can be heard at mariachi performances. Since 1934, September 14 has been the Día Nacional del Charro (National Day of the Charro) in Mexico, celebrating the culture of the horsemen and women. Mariachi songs often tell tales of Mexican culture, land, and people. In 2011, UNESCO added Mariachi to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, recognizing how mariachi is a tradition passed down by ear. These days, mariachi bands commonly perform at baptisms, weddings, and even funerals. If you're having trouble getting out of bed, try listening to Las mananitas (The morning song). That should wake you up!
Image credit & copyright: Brenda Bazán, Texas MonthlyJust a stone's throw from the U.S.-Mexico border, the town of San Juan, Texas has a harmonious
custom garnering global attention. At the Catholic Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle, a mariachi band performs devotional music every week. Since 1985, the band has regularly performed in the church's services. Their repertoire includes hymns, pastorelas (nativity plays), Easter songs, and more under the direction of Francisco Morales. Band members live in Texas, as well as Mexico. Like many in the Rio Grande Valley, they cross the border for daily activities. Due to the pandemic, the band's Mexican members are staying home, leaving only 6 musicians to perform for socially-distanced audiences.
Mariachi is a genre of music derived from Spanish theatrical orchestras, small regional orchestras, composed of violins, guitars, and harps. When conquistadors like Hernán Cortés colonized Mexico, they brought their instruments and music with them. Mestizos—those of indigenous Mexican and Spanish descent—adapted the genre in the 19th century. Mestizo musicians in Guadalajara, and other towns in the Mexican state of Jalisco, incorporated the instruments in their folk music. In the early 20th century, mariachi bands accompanied ranchera singers, performing in the garb of charros (traditional horsemen). Their costumes included wide-brimmed sombreros, embroidered or highly-decorated pants, skirts, and short jackets with silk ties. Today, a full mariachi band usually includes two trumpets, a vihuela (a nylon-stringed guitar), and a guitarrón (a six-string acoustic bass), although their composition and repertoire varies by region. Everything from corridos (Mexican ballads) to minuets, polkas, and waltzes can be heard at mariachi performances. Since 1934, September 14 has been the Día Nacional del Charro (National Day of the Charro) in Mexico, celebrating the culture of the horsemen and women. Mariachi songs often tell tales of Mexican culture, land, and people. In 2011, UNESCO added Mariachi to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, recognizing how mariachi is a tradition passed down by ear. These days, mariachi bands commonly perform at baptisms, weddings, and even funerals. If you're having trouble getting out of bed, try listening to Las mananitas (The morning song). That should wake you up!
Image credit & copyright: Brenda Bazán, Texas Monthly -
FREEArt Appreciation Photo CurioFree1 CQ
Waiting for the Shepherd
Eugenie Fish Glaman (1873-1956)
etching on paper
10 x 8 in. (25.3 x 20.3 cm)
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Can sheep be muses? For American artist Eugenie Fish Glaman, born on this day in 1873, they certainly were! After growing up on her father's farm in Kansas, Glaman found herself unimpressed with other artists' (such as the Dutch painter Josef Israels) depiction of sheep, her favorite farm animals. Glaman thus set out to capture the fluffy flock. In Waiting for the Shepherd, a flock of around ten sheep stand loosely huddled inside a barn. Every visible sheep wears a unique expression—the one in the foreground seems wary, while those further back seem content, and one rests its head against the bar door. Glaman accomplished great detail through the medium of etching, in which ink is applied to a design on a carved metal plate, then pressed onto paper. At a time when women were not expected to be artists, and those that were were expected to adhere to certain "feminine" themes, Glaman's rugged depictions of farm life broke the mold. What baa-ter way to expand the scope of the art world?
Below: two more of Glaman's animal-focused works, Shearing Sheep and The Rest Hour.
Written by: Maria C.Waiting for the Shepherd
Eugenie Fish Glaman (1873-1956)
etching on paper
10 x 8 in. (25.3 x 20.3 cm)
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Can sheep be muses? For American artist Eugenie Fish Glaman, born on this day in 1873, they certainly were! After growing up on her father's farm in Kansas, Glaman found herself unimpressed with other artists' (such as the Dutch painter Josef Israels) depiction of sheep, her favorite farm animals. Glaman thus set out to capture the fluffy flock. In Waiting for the Shepherd, a flock of around ten sheep stand loosely huddled inside a barn. Every visible sheep wears a unique expression—the one in the foreground seems wary, while those further back seem content, and one rests its head against the bar door. Glaman accomplished great detail through the medium of etching, in which ink is applied to a design on a carved metal plate, then pressed onto paper. At a time when women were not expected to be artists, and those that were were expected to adhere to certain "feminine" themes, Glaman's rugged depictions of farm life broke the mold. What baa-ter way to expand the scope of the art world?
Below: two more of Glaman's animal-focused works, Shearing Sheep and The Rest Hour.
Written by: Maria C.
January 24, 2021
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : January 24, 2021
insouciance \in-SOO-see-unss\ noun
Definition
: lighthearted unconcern : nonchalance
Did You Know?
Don't worry; be in...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : January 24, 2021
insouciance \in-SOO-see-unss\ noun
Definition
: lighthearted unconcern : nonchalance
Did You Know?
Don't worry; be in...
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5 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree3 CQ
Starting this year, fathers in Spain have four months of federal mandated paid leave — the same amount of time mothers have had for years. While that puts Sp...
with PRI's The WorldStarting this year, fathers in Spain have four months of federal mandated paid leave — the same amount of time mothers have had for years. While that puts Sp...
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10 minFREEWork Business CurioFree6 CQ
Extending the freeze on evictions through the end of March. Plus, more evidence of the U.S. economy’s K-shaped recovery. And, the Biden administration has ad...
Extending the freeze on evictions through the end of March. Plus, more evidence of the U.S. economy’s K-shaped recovery. And, the Biden administration has ad...
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FREEFootball PP&T CurioFree1 CQ
It was one of the most famous criminal trials of all time and a defining moment of the 1990s. The murder trial of famed American football player O.J. Simpson began on this day in 1995, and had a lasting impact on popular culture and the country's legal landscape.
Born in San Francisco in 1947, Orenthal James Simpson had record-breaking careers in college and professional football, earning him the moniker "The Juice" (because of his nickname, OJ, the abbreviation for "orange juice"). By 1985, Simpson had been inducted into both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame. He acted in movies, worked as a football broadcaster, and endorsed commercial products. All of that changed, however, on June 12, 1994, when Simpson's ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman were found stabbed to death outside Nicole's condo in Los Angeles.
Because Simpson's marriage had ended due to domestic violence—he had pleaded no contest to spousal abuse charges in 1989—Simpson immediately became a murder suspect. He was ordered to turn himself in on June 17, 1994. Instead, Simpson fled with his friend, Al Cowlings, in a white Ford Bronco. Police pursued the pair, and a 45-minute, televised, slow-speed chase ensued, with around 95 million Americans watching. Eventually, both men surrendered to police. On January 24 the following year, prosecutors gave their opening statements in what would soon become "The Trial of the Century."
The prosecution seemed to have a strong case against Simpson. His former record and brief flight painted a grim picture, as did bloodstains found inside his car and house. Prosecutors Marcia Clark and Christopher Darden spoke passionately and plainly about Simpson's motivations. At one point, Darden told the jury that Simpson "killed her because he couldn't have her."
Lasting nearly a year, the case was far from cut and dry, especially once it became clear that race would play a major role. Simpson's Defense team, headed by Robert Shapiro and Johnnie Cochran, pointed out that LAPD had been involved in many recent, racially-charged scandals. These included shootings of unarmed Black people and unwarranted searches of Black people's homes. O.J. Simpson was a known hero to the Black American community, and the defense argued that he was yet another victim of a racist criminal justice system. In March, the defense pointed out that LAPD Detective Mark Fuhrman, who was testifying on behalf of the prosecution, had used racial slurs and admitted to planting drugs on Black suspects during recorded interviews between himself and writer Laura McKinny. During cross-examination, defense attorneys flat-out asked Fuhrman whether he was racist.
In what became the trail's most iconic moment, the defense team had Simpson try on a pair of gloves believed to have been worn by the killer. Famously, the gloves didn't appear to fit on Simpson's hands, leading attorney Johnnie Cochran to tell the jury, during his closing argument, "if it doesn't fit, you must acquit."
To the relief of some and the shock of others, the jury did, indeed, acquit Simpson of murder. He was immediately released from custody, and returned to his Los Angeles estate. Legal troubles have followed Simpson for much of his post-trial life. In 2008, he was convicted of armed robbery and kidnapping, among other crimes, and sentenced to 33 years in prison. He was granted parole and released in October, 2017.
Today, the verdict of the O.J. Simpson murder trial remains one of the most controversial in history. The trial led many prosecutors to rely more heavily on forensic evidence than witness testimony. The domestic violence proceeding Nicole's murder also motivated Congress to pass a 1996 law prohibiting domestic batterers from purchasing guns. Whatever one believes about Simpson's guilt or innocence, one thing is clear: the O.J. Simpson trial fundamentally changed how many Americans understand race relations and the criminal justice system.
Image credit & copyright: Vince Bucci, AFP, Getty Images
Written by: Maria C.It was one of the most famous criminal trials of all time and a defining moment of the 1990s. The murder trial of famed American football player O.J. Simpson began on this day in 1995, and had a lasting impact on popular culture and the country's legal landscape.
Born in San Francisco in 1947, Orenthal James Simpson had record-breaking careers in college and professional football, earning him the moniker "The Juice" (because of his nickname, OJ, the abbreviation for "orange juice"). By 1985, Simpson had been inducted into both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame. He acted in movies, worked as a football broadcaster, and endorsed commercial products. All of that changed, however, on June 12, 1994, when Simpson's ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman were found stabbed to death outside Nicole's condo in Los Angeles.
Because Simpson's marriage had ended due to domestic violence—he had pleaded no contest to spousal abuse charges in 1989—Simpson immediately became a murder suspect. He was ordered to turn himself in on June 17, 1994. Instead, Simpson fled with his friend, Al Cowlings, in a white Ford Bronco. Police pursued the pair, and a 45-minute, televised, slow-speed chase ensued, with around 95 million Americans watching. Eventually, both men surrendered to police. On January 24 the following year, prosecutors gave their opening statements in what would soon become "The Trial of the Century."
The prosecution seemed to have a strong case against Simpson. His former record and brief flight painted a grim picture, as did bloodstains found inside his car and house. Prosecutors Marcia Clark and Christopher Darden spoke passionately and plainly about Simpson's motivations. At one point, Darden told the jury that Simpson "killed her because he couldn't have her."
Lasting nearly a year, the case was far from cut and dry, especially once it became clear that race would play a major role. Simpson's Defense team, headed by Robert Shapiro and Johnnie Cochran, pointed out that LAPD had been involved in many recent, racially-charged scandals. These included shootings of unarmed Black people and unwarranted searches of Black people's homes. O.J. Simpson was a known hero to the Black American community, and the defense argued that he was yet another victim of a racist criminal justice system. In March, the defense pointed out that LAPD Detective Mark Fuhrman, who was testifying on behalf of the prosecution, had used racial slurs and admitted to planting drugs on Black suspects during recorded interviews between himself and writer Laura McKinny. During cross-examination, defense attorneys flat-out asked Fuhrman whether he was racist.
In what became the trail's most iconic moment, the defense team had Simpson try on a pair of gloves believed to have been worn by the killer. Famously, the gloves didn't appear to fit on Simpson's hands, leading attorney Johnnie Cochran to tell the jury, during his closing argument, "if it doesn't fit, you must acquit."
To the relief of some and the shock of others, the jury did, indeed, acquit Simpson of murder. He was immediately released from custody, and returned to his Los Angeles estate. Legal troubles have followed Simpson for much of his post-trial life. In 2008, he was convicted of armed robbery and kidnapping, among other crimes, and sentenced to 33 years in prison. He was granted parole and released in October, 2017.
Today, the verdict of the O.J. Simpson murder trial remains one of the most controversial in history. The trial led many prosecutors to rely more heavily on forensic evidence than witness testimony. The domestic violence proceeding Nicole's murder also motivated Congress to pass a 1996 law prohibiting domestic batterers from purchasing guns. Whatever one believes about Simpson's guilt or innocence, one thing is clear: the O.J. Simpson trial fundamentally changed how many Americans understand race relations and the criminal justice system.
Image credit & copyright: Vince Bucci, AFP, Getty Images
Written by: Maria C.
January 23, 2021
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day : January 23, 2021
ad hominem \ad-HAH-muh-nem\ adjective
Definition
1 : appealing to feelings or prejudices rather than intellect
2 : mar...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : January 23, 2021
ad hominem \ad-HAH-muh-nem\ adjective
Definition
1 : appealing to feelings or prejudices rather than intellect
2 : mar...
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7 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree4 CQ
More than 3,000 people died of the coronavirus in Wuhan, China. But there hasn’t been a case there since last spring.
with PRI's The WorldMore than 3,000 people died of the coronavirus in Wuhan, China. But there hasn’t been a case there since last spring.
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7 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
From the BBC World Service: Two French newspapers, Le Monde and Le Figaro, have agreed to a paid deal so Google can show excerpts of their stories in search ...
From the BBC World Service: Two French newspapers, Le Monde and Le Figaro, have agreed to a paid deal so Google can show excerpts of their stories in search ...
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2 minFREEPoetry Poem CurioFree2 CQ
The Children of the Poor. by Gwendolyn Brooks (read by Quraysh Ali Lansana).
with Poetry FoundationThe Children of the Poor. by Gwendolyn Brooks (read by Quraysh Ali Lansana).
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FREEPlay Teaser Curio #270Free1 CQ
Dubbed the "trial of the century," the People of the State of California v. Orenthal James Simpson garnered global interest. Hundreds of millions tuned in to witness infamous moments, like the defendant trying on the pair of bloodied leather gloves. Supposedly, the gloves didn't fit Simpson because he had stopped taking arthritis medication two weeks earlier, leading his hands to swell. Tune in tomorrow to learn more about Simpson's trial, and subsequent acquittal for the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. In the meantime can you unscramble the phrases in defense attorney Johnnie Cochran's statement to the jury?
The phrases of the original quote have the number of words and letters shown below. The phrases were scrambled independently (i.e., the letters from the first phrase aren't scrambled into the second phrase). Can you figure out the original phrase?
"Let me show you something. This is a knit cap. Let me put this knit cap on. You have seen me for a year. If I put this knit cap on, who am I? I'm still Johnnie Cochran with a knit cap. And if you looked at O.J. Simpson over there—and he has headgear rare halt—O.J. Simpson in a knit cap from two blocks away is still O.J. Simpson. It's no disguise. It makes no sense. Foisted tint. If foisted tint, you must acquit." — Johnnie Cochran
"Let me show you something. This is a knit cap. Let me put this knit cap on. You have seen me for a year. If I put this knit cap on, who am I? I'm still Johnnie Cochran with a knit cap. And if you looked at O.J. Simpson over there—and he has (1) (6) (5) (4)—O.J. Simpson in a knit cap from two blocks away is still O.J. Simpson. It's no disguise. It makes no sense. (2) (6) (3). If (2) (6) (3), you must acquit." — Johnnie Cochran
Hint: South Park dubbed this legal strategy the "Chewbacca defense" in a 1998 episode ("Chef Aid"), satirizing Cochran's reasoning using Star Wars.
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #270" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
Dubbed the "trial of the century," the People of the State of California v. Orenthal James Simpson garnered global interest. Hundreds of millions tuned in to witness infamous moments, like the defendant trying on the pair of bloodied leather gloves. Supposedly, the gloves didn't fit Simpson because he had stopped taking arthritis medication two weeks earlier, leading his hands to swell. Tune in tomorrow to learn more about Simpson's trial, and subsequent acquittal for the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. In the meantime can you unscramble the phrases in defense attorney Johnnie Cochran's statement to the jury?
The phrases of the original quote have the number of words and letters shown below. The phrases were scrambled independently (i.e., the letters from the first phrase aren't scrambled into the second phrase). Can you figure out the original phrase?
"Let me show you something. This is a knit cap. Let me put this knit cap on. You have seen me for a year. If I put this knit cap on, who am I? I'm still Johnnie Cochran with a knit cap. And if you looked at O.J. Simpson over there—and he has headgear rare halt—O.J. Simpson in a knit cap from two blocks away is still O.J. Simpson. It's no disguise. It makes no sense. Foisted tint. If foisted tint, you must acquit." — Johnnie Cochran
"Let me show you something. This is a knit cap. Let me put this knit cap on. You have seen me for a year. If I put this knit cap on, who am I? I'm still Johnnie Cochran with a knit cap. And if you looked at O.J. Simpson over there—and he has (1) (6) (5) (4)—O.J. Simpson in a knit cap from two blocks away is still O.J. Simpson. It's no disguise. It makes no sense. (2) (6) (3). If (2) (6) (3), you must acquit." — Johnnie Cochran
Hint: South Park dubbed this legal strategy the "Chewbacca defense" in a 1998 episode ("Chef Aid"), satirizing Cochran's reasoning using Star Wars.
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #270" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
January 22, 2021
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
President Joe Biden has signed some more executive actions and other measures to bolster economic relief and protections for workers. What’s included? Plus: ...
President Joe Biden has signed some more executive actions and other measures to bolster economic relief and protections for workers. What’s included? Plus: ...
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : January 22, 2021
sarcophagus \sahr-KAH-fuh-gus\ noun
Definition
: a stone coffin; broadly : coffin
Did You Know?
Body-eating coffins m...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : January 22, 2021
sarcophagus \sahr-KAH-fuh-gus\ noun
Definition
: a stone coffin; broadly : coffin
Did You Know?
Body-eating coffins m...
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8 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree5 CQ
Former diplomat Richard Haass wrote recently that a "post-America world" may come sooner than we think — and that it's been hastened by the Jan. 6 riots at t...
with PRI's The WorldFormer diplomat Richard Haass wrote recently that a "post-America world" may come sooner than we think — and that it's been hastened by the Jan. 6 riots at t...
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2 minFREEPoetry Poem CurioFree2 CQ
Eating Chocolate Ice Cream: Reading Mayakovsky. By Barbara Guest.
with Poetry FoundationEating Chocolate Ice Cream: Reading Mayakovsky. By Barbara Guest.
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FREEMusic Appreciation Song CurioFree2 CQ
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
"I think it'll probably be another day singing it," Paul McCartney concluded after a ninth take of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. The opening track to the band's revered 1967 album of the same name clocked in at just two minutes, but was a challenge to record due to its high-pitched vocal lines. Now, thanks to a 50th-anniversary re-release, Beatles fans get to enjoy the song's many takes, warts and all. Take nine, as you can hear below, doesn't feature the punch of George Harrison's squealy, overdriven lead guitar part, John Lennon's overdubbed backing vocals, or the classic French horn riff expected at 0:35. But it does include a fun, improvised outro, drenched in beautiful guitar feedback. "Gotta be free now," McCartney repeats until the whole thing falls apart and is taken over by studio chatter. You know a song is good when even the outtakes sound like this.
Other streaming options
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
"I think it'll probably be another day singing it," Paul McCartney concluded after a ninth take of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. The opening track to the band's revered 1967 album of the same name clocked in at just two minutes, but was a challenge to record due to its high-pitched vocal lines. Now, thanks to a 50th-anniversary re-release, Beatles fans get to enjoy the song's many takes, warts and all. Take nine, as you can hear below, doesn't feature the punch of George Harrison's squealy, overdriven lead guitar part, John Lennon's overdubbed backing vocals, or the classic French horn riff expected at 0:35. But it does include a fun, improvised outro, drenched in beautiful guitar feedback. "Gotta be free now," McCartney repeats until the whole thing falls apart and is taken over by studio chatter. You know a song is good when even the outtakes sound like this.
Other streaming options
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FREEComposition Photo CurioFree1 CQ
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
This pretty pepper photographs better than most of us! It helps that the man behind the lens was Edward Weston. He was a master of black-and-white compositions and close-up studies of organic subjects. The photographer first snapped peppers in 1929 against plain burlap and muslin cloth backdrops. Not loving the results, he tried again in August 1930 with a white cardboard backdrop that proved too stark against the green pepper. In a last ditch effort, he placed the vegetable inside a large funnel. The funnel's curve, visible above, allowed for Weston's lighting to reflect off the pepper from multiple directions, accentuating its striking shape and texture. In the artist's own words: "It is a classic, completely satisfying—a pepper—but more than a pepper; abstract, in that it is completely outside subject matter. It has no psychological attributes, no human emotions are aroused: this new pepper takes one beyond the world we know in the conscious mind." Notice Weston's mention that "no human emotions are aroused"; some critics and viewers would disagree, pointing to sensual or even erotic shapes in the subject. Weston dismissed these, preferring not to have his work "pigeonholed by those who bring to it their own obviously abnormal, frustrated condition."
Image credit: Beetles & Huxley
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
This pretty pepper photographs better than most of us! It helps that the man behind the lens was Edward Weston. He was a master of black-and-white compositions and close-up studies of organic subjects. The photographer first snapped peppers in 1929 against plain burlap and muslin cloth backdrops. Not loving the results, he tried again in August 1930 with a white cardboard backdrop that proved too stark against the green pepper. In a last ditch effort, he placed the vegetable inside a large funnel. The funnel's curve, visible above, allowed for Weston's lighting to reflect off the pepper from multiple directions, accentuating its striking shape and texture. In the artist's own words: "It is a classic, completely satisfying—a pepper—but more than a pepper; abstract, in that it is completely outside subject matter. It has no psychological attributes, no human emotions are aroused: this new pepper takes one beyond the world we know in the conscious mind." Notice Weston's mention that "no human emotions are aroused"; some critics and viewers would disagree, pointing to sensual or even erotic shapes in the subject. Weston dismissed these, preferring not to have his work "pigeonholed by those who bring to it their own obviously abnormal, frustrated condition."
Image credit: Beetles & Huxley
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FREEArt Appreciation Art CurioFree1 CQ
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
Title: Spring Ready-to-Wear Collection 2018
Artist: Gareth Pugh (b. 1981)
Created: 2017
Medium: fashion textiles
Current location: Paris, France
London Fashion Week was seeing red in October 2017. British designer Gareth Pugh rocked the fashion world with his spring collection inspired by fire. Foregoing the usual runway show with front-row celebrities, Pugh instead chose to make a short film collaboration with other artists and show it at the largest screen in Europe, the BFI IMAX in London. The video features Pugh and French artist Olivier de Sagazan using clay and paints in a visceral performance art piece, professional dancers making grand physical gestures in his dresses, and a final section with blinded gold-and-black-outfitted models. For Pugh, bringing his creations to performance is nothing new. He began his career working with the English National Youth Theater as a costume designer and the grandiose shapes of his spring collection reflect that history. Pugh has been likened to other British designers like Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen—both boundary-pushers and provocateurs in their own right. Since Pugh has worked with Kylie Minogue and Beyoncé before, maybe we'll see some of these highly imaginative pieces on other pop stars soon. Or they could be worn by aliens in the next big popcorn sci-fi blockbuster!
Below: some of the more modest-yet-futuristic designs from Pugh's spring collection.
Image credit & copyright: Gareth Pugh
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
Title: Spring Ready-to-Wear Collection 2018
Artist: Gareth Pugh (b. 1981)
Created: 2017
Medium: fashion textiles
Current location: Paris, France
London Fashion Week was seeing red in October 2017. British designer Gareth Pugh rocked the fashion world with his spring collection inspired by fire. Foregoing the usual runway show with front-row celebrities, Pugh instead chose to make a short film collaboration with other artists and show it at the largest screen in Europe, the BFI IMAX in London. The video features Pugh and French artist Olivier de Sagazan using clay and paints in a visceral performance art piece, professional dancers making grand physical gestures in his dresses, and a final section with blinded gold-and-black-outfitted models. For Pugh, bringing his creations to performance is nothing new. He began his career working with the English National Youth Theater as a costume designer and the grandiose shapes of his spring collection reflect that history. Pugh has been likened to other British designers like Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen—both boundary-pushers and provocateurs in their own right. Since Pugh has worked with Kylie Minogue and Beyoncé before, maybe we'll see some of these highly imaginative pieces on other pop stars soon. Or they could be worn by aliens in the next big popcorn sci-fi blockbuster!
Below: some of the more modest-yet-futuristic designs from Pugh's spring collection.
Image credit & copyright: Gareth Pugh
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FREEBiology Daily CurioFree1 CQ
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
It turns out canine noses are as good at locating heat sources as smells. In fact, a 2020 study conducted at Sweden's Lund University gave strong evidence that dog noses function like infrared heat sensors. The study was fairly simple. First, scientists trained three dogs to approach objects warmed to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Then the researchers placed one of these warmed objects into a container sealed with electrical tape, aside an identical, room-temperature control box. When tasked with selecting the box with the warm object, the dogs succeeded over and over. This intrigued the team, so they placed 13 similarly-trained dogs into an fMRI scanner. The pooches' left somatosensory cortices in their brains all lit up when introduced to the heated object. Researchers are uncertain how the dogs do this, but they believe the rhinarium is partially responsible. The rhinarium is the moist, sniffly, nerve-loaded tip of a dog's nose, which has up to 300 million olfactory receptors. Considering the rhinarium's ability to overcome the experiment's physical barriers, the appendage seems to function as a thermal radiation sensor, meaning it detects infrared radiation directly from bodies or shifting photons. This differs from conduction sensors, which measure heat transfer through direct contact, and convection sensors, which pick up on heat passing through mediums. Dogs have officially joined the ranks of other heat-sensing animals, like snakes, bats, and certain beetles. It's interesting to note that the standard prey of dogs and wolves tend to have very thick coats of fur relative to their body mass. So it seems those smaller mammals have adapted to give off less heat, to slip under the rhinarium's radar. But even then, the dogs still have their smelling ability. If dogs are "man's best friend," then I think physics are dogs' best friend!
Image credit & copyright: loriklaszlo/Depositphotos
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
It turns out canine noses are as good at locating heat sources as smells. In fact, a 2020 study conducted at Sweden's Lund University gave strong evidence that dog noses function like infrared heat sensors. The study was fairly simple. First, scientists trained three dogs to approach objects warmed to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Then the researchers placed one of these warmed objects into a container sealed with electrical tape, aside an identical, room-temperature control box. When tasked with selecting the box with the warm object, the dogs succeeded over and over. This intrigued the team, so they placed 13 similarly-trained dogs into an fMRI scanner. The pooches' left somatosensory cortices in their brains all lit up when introduced to the heated object. Researchers are uncertain how the dogs do this, but they believe the rhinarium is partially responsible. The rhinarium is the moist, sniffly, nerve-loaded tip of a dog's nose, which has up to 300 million olfactory receptors. Considering the rhinarium's ability to overcome the experiment's physical barriers, the appendage seems to function as a thermal radiation sensor, meaning it detects infrared radiation directly from bodies or shifting photons. This differs from conduction sensors, which measure heat transfer through direct contact, and convection sensors, which pick up on heat passing through mediums. Dogs have officially joined the ranks of other heat-sensing animals, like snakes, bats, and certain beetles. It's interesting to note that the standard prey of dogs and wolves tend to have very thick coats of fur relative to their body mass. So it seems those smaller mammals have adapted to give off less heat, to slip under the rhinarium's radar. But even then, the dogs still have their smelling ability. If dogs are "man's best friend," then I think physics are dogs' best friend!
Image credit & copyright: loriklaszlo/Depositphotos
January 21, 2021
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6 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
Biden will implement one tool for fighting COVID-19 that the previous administration used sparingly: the Defense Production Act. Plus, why some banks are len...
Biden will implement one tool for fighting COVID-19 that the previous administration used sparingly: the Defense Production Act. Plus, why some banks are len...
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : January 21, 2021
exact \ig-ZAKT\ verb
Definition
1 : to call for forcibly or urgently and obtain
2 : to call for as necessary or desira...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : January 21, 2021
exact \ig-ZAKT\ verb
Definition
1 : to call for forcibly or urgently and obtain
2 : to call for as necessary or desira...
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4 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree3 CQ
The incoming Biden administration has said it will overturn policies such as the bilateral agreements the Trump administration made with Guatemala, Honduras ...
with PRI's The WorldThe incoming Biden administration has said it will overturn policies such as the bilateral agreements the Trump administration made with Guatemala, Honduras ...
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FREEAstronomy Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
Who needs a dark side of the Moon when it can disappear altogether? Scientists have recently uncovered an explanation to the Moon's disappearance for a night in medieval England. On the night of May 5, 1110 C.E. a total lunar eclipse was documented in the middle of the night, lasting into the day time. According to researchers from the University of Geneva in Switzerland, the secret to the eclipse was in the trees and snow: ice core samples taken from glaciers date sulphuric aerosol particles from volcanic activity to 1110 C.E. In addition, tree rings dating from the same period reveal unusually ring thinning and cold weather for the year. Several accounts from the time note crop failures, famine, and other incidents of unfavorable weather. While previous research pointed to an eruption at Iceland's Hekla volcano as the cause of the lunar eclipse, the University of Geneva researchers point to a months-long eruption at Japan's Mount Asama in 1108 as the likely culprit of the blackout. Whatever the reasons, we bet the visible moon couldn't come back fast enough on May 6th.
Image credit & copyright: CoffmanCMU / Getty Images / iStockphoto
Written by: Esther P.
Who needs a dark side of the Moon when it can disappear altogether? Scientists have recently uncovered an explanation to the Moon's disappearance for a night in medieval England. On the night of May 5, 1110 C.E. a total lunar eclipse was documented in the middle of the night, lasting into the day time. According to researchers from the University of Geneva in Switzerland, the secret to the eclipse was in the trees and snow: ice core samples taken from glaciers date sulphuric aerosol particles from volcanic activity to 1110 C.E. In addition, tree rings dating from the same period reveal unusually ring thinning and cold weather for the year. Several accounts from the time note crop failures, famine, and other incidents of unfavorable weather. While previous research pointed to an eruption at Iceland's Hekla volcano as the cause of the lunar eclipse, the University of Geneva researchers point to a months-long eruption at Japan's Mount Asama in 1108 as the likely culprit of the blackout. Whatever the reasons, we bet the visible moon couldn't come back fast enough on May 6th.
Image credit & copyright: CoffmanCMU / Getty Images / iStockphoto
Written by: Esther P.
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FREEMind + Body Daily Curio #2170Free1 CQ
Ah, America. Land of the free, home of the…special interest groups? Every year, hundreds of groups lobby Congress and federal agencies on issues affecting their constituents. In 2020, the Association for Dressings & Sauces lobbied the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to repeal the regulation of a controversial condiment, French dressing. Currently, the FDA defines French dressing as, "[the] separable liquid food or the emulsified viscous fluid food prepared from vegetable oil(s) and one or both of the acidifying ingredients specified." Manufacturers of the sweet and tangy orange dressing, which the French would certainly repudiate, must also adhere to these guidelines. Their recipes are allowed additives such as tomato paste, catsup (ketchup), or sherry wine, monosodium glutamate (MSG), preservatives, thickeners, and food coloring.
So why is the Association for Dressing & Sauces lobbying to repeal this broad list of regulations? Food scientists believe producers want more leeway in their recipes. Meanwhile the FDA maintains the current standard does not meet consumer expectations. They argue this repeal would align with their Nutrition Innovation Strategy (NIS), and would allow "industry flexibility for innovation to produce more healthful foods." Of course, if consumers are looking for the healthiest option, they can always make real French dressing, aka vinaigrette, at home. French dressing is simply an emulsion of fat (oil) and acid (vinegar or citrus juice) that is seasoned. Julia Child described the ideal ratios as being like a "very dry martini, since you can always add more vinegar or lemon but you can't take it out." Take James Bond's advice and make that dressing shaken, not stirred.
*In case you're wondering, the United States isn't the only country to regulate its food and beverage products. In France, L'Institut national de l'origine et de la qualité (The National Institute of Origin and Quality) oversees the designation of appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC, controlled designation of origin). Consumers look for the AOC label on everything from Champagne, which must be produced in the Champagne region, to Roquefort cheese, which must be aged in the Combalou caves of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon.
Image credit & copyright: Amelia RampeAh, America. Land of the free, home of the…special interest groups? Every year, hundreds of groups lobby Congress and federal agencies on issues affecting their constituents. In 2020, the Association for Dressings & Sauces lobbied the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to repeal the regulation of a controversial condiment, French dressing. Currently, the FDA defines French dressing as, "[the] separable liquid food or the emulsified viscous fluid food prepared from vegetable oil(s) and one or both of the acidifying ingredients specified." Manufacturers of the sweet and tangy orange dressing, which the French would certainly repudiate, must also adhere to these guidelines. Their recipes are allowed additives such as tomato paste, catsup (ketchup), or sherry wine, monosodium glutamate (MSG), preservatives, thickeners, and food coloring.
So why is the Association for Dressing & Sauces lobbying to repeal this broad list of regulations? Food scientists believe producers want more leeway in their recipes. Meanwhile the FDA maintains the current standard does not meet consumer expectations. They argue this repeal would align with their Nutrition Innovation Strategy (NIS), and would allow "industry flexibility for innovation to produce more healthful foods." Of course, if consumers are looking for the healthiest option, they can always make real French dressing, aka vinaigrette, at home. French dressing is simply an emulsion of fat (oil) and acid (vinegar or citrus juice) that is seasoned. Julia Child described the ideal ratios as being like a "very dry martini, since you can always add more vinegar or lemon but you can't take it out." Take James Bond's advice and make that dressing shaken, not stirred.
*In case you're wondering, the United States isn't the only country to regulate its food and beverage products. In France, L'Institut national de l'origine et de la qualité (The National Institute of Origin and Quality) oversees the designation of appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC, controlled designation of origin). Consumers look for the AOC label on everything from Champagne, which must be produced in the Champagne region, to Roquefort cheese, which must be aged in the Combalou caves of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon.
Image credit & copyright: Amelia Rampe -
FREEMusic Song CurioFree2 CQ
Revenge is a dish best served on Mars… or at least that was the case for David Bowie. One of his most endearing tunes, the 1973 hit Life on Mars?, began as something he wrote for crooner Frank Sinatra. Pre-fame Bowie worked for a music publishing company in the late 1960s when he got the opportunity to write English lyrics to the French chanson (song) Comme d’habitude, eventually performed by Frank Sinatra. Bowie's effort would be called Even a Fool Learns to Love. Unfortunately for the Starman, Paul Anka bought the rights and wrote Sinatra's signature song My Way. Not one to be outdone, when Bowie recorded his breakthrough sophomore album Hunky Dory in 1971, he returned to his previous failure, lifting the Life on Mars? descending verse melody directly from i>My Way. In true Bowie fashion he didn't stop there: the song has a completely rewritten bridge which changes keys as it ascends into the big, surreal chorus. The back of the Hunky Dory vinyl even lists a parenthetical note to Life on Mars? as "(Inspired by Frankie)." Remembering David Bowie on the anniversary of his birthday, we're glad he did things his own space oddity-way.
Below: the three versions of the chanson: Claude François' Comme d'habitude, Sinatra's My Way, and Bowie's Life on Mars?
Image credit & copyright: David Bowie, WMG
Written by: Esther P.
Revenge is a dish best served on Mars… or at least that was the case for David Bowie. One of his most endearing tunes, the 1973 hit Life on Mars?, began as something he wrote for crooner Frank Sinatra. Pre-fame Bowie worked for a music publishing company in the late 1960s when he got the opportunity to write English lyrics to the French chanson (song) Comme d’habitude, eventually performed by Frank Sinatra. Bowie's effort would be called Even a Fool Learns to Love. Unfortunately for the Starman, Paul Anka bought the rights and wrote Sinatra's signature song My Way. Not one to be outdone, when Bowie recorded his breakthrough sophomore album Hunky Dory in 1971, he returned to his previous failure, lifting the Life on Mars? descending verse melody directly from i>My Way. In true Bowie fashion he didn't stop there: the song has a completely rewritten bridge which changes keys as it ascends into the big, surreal chorus. The back of the Hunky Dory vinyl even lists a parenthetical note to Life on Mars? as "(Inspired by Frankie)." Remembering David Bowie on the anniversary of his birthday, we're glad he did things his own space oddity-way.
Below: the three versions of the chanson: Claude François' Comme d'habitude, Sinatra's My Way, and Bowie's Life on Mars?
Image credit & copyright: David Bowie, WMG
Written by: Esther P.
January 20, 2021
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10 minFREEWork Business CurioFree6 CQ
From the BBC World Service: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen outlined hopes for cooperation with the U.S. as a new administration is instal...
From the BBC World Service: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen outlined hopes for cooperation with the U.S. as a new administration is instal...
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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.