Curio Cabinet
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March 2, 2021
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
New York Attorney General Letitia James is warning that the hypersonic rise of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin has brought more crooks into the mix. Plus, high...
New York Attorney General Letitia James is warning that the hypersonic rise of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin has brought more crooks into the mix. Plus, high...
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : March 2, 2021
organoleptic \or-guh-noh-LEP-tik\ adjective
Definition
1 : being, affecting, or relating to qualities (such as taste, colo...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : March 2, 2021
organoleptic \or-guh-noh-LEP-tik\ adjective
Definition
1 : being, affecting, or relating to qualities (such as taste, colo...
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4 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree3 CQ
In Germany, the pandemic has ushered in a new crop of vocabulary words like impfneid, the feeling of resentment that other people are getting vaccinated befo...
with PRI's The WorldIn Germany, the pandemic has ushered in a new crop of vocabulary words like impfneid, the feeling of resentment that other people are getting vaccinated befo...
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FREEUS History Daily Curio #2192Free1 CQ
The lack of presidential pets in the White House over the last four years was pretty unusual. President Joe Biden's inauguration was also a celebration for animal lovers who welcomed his two German Shepherds, Champ and Major, and the presence of pets back in the White House. Major is also the first shelter-adopted dog to live on the grounds, an event marked by his former caretakers at the Delaware Humane Association with an "Indoguration" ceremony and fundraiser on Zoom. The event had over 7,500 virtual attendees, and raised $200,000. The two shepherds have even earned the Twitter hashtag #DOTUS, and have a fan account called The Oval Pawffice to track their activities on social media.
So what does the average day for a White House pet look like? The Washington Post recently uncovered the "day-to-day doggie logistics". The pet care responsibilities are generally decided by the First Family with the Executive Residence staff (responsible for all living quarters duties) offering support when required. George H.W. and Barbara Bush were known to take on all of the responsibilities of dog ownership, even bathing their Springer Spaniels Millie and her pup Ranger by themselves. Gerald Ford's pregnant Golden Retriever Liberty was once the cause of a Secret Service emergency when the residence doors were bolted shut and the elevators had been shut down after the president took her out for a 3am potty walk. For more serious issues, veterinarians will make house calls, and the Chief groundskeeper Dale Hanley serves as a volunteer dog trainer. Hanley has worked with Presidential pets for decades, beginning with Richard Nixon's Irish Setter King Timahoe in the 1970s, and he's already been spotted out and about with Champ and Major. The training is welcomed, as most pet interactions are pleasant, but every once and a while a Chocolate Labrador Buddy Clinton can nearly cause a messy catastrophe by running full speed towards a holiday dessert display in the Grand Foyer. Otherwise White House pets are allowed to roam the grounds as they please, often adding levity and fuzzy fun to the serious work performed at the executive branch. Now who's up for a game of fetch on the South Lawn?
Credit and copyright: Delaware Humane Association / Pumpkin Petcare, Ronald Reagan Presidential Library / NARA, David Hume Kennerly / Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, White House / Michael SargentBelow: former Presidents and their furry companions, including President Ronald Reagan with Lucky the sheep dog and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the Rose Garden; President Gerald Ford seated in the Oval Office and offering his golden retriever Liberty some good ear scrichies; and President George H. W. Bush with his Springer Spaniel, Millie, and her five puppies on the White House South Lawn.
Written by: Esther P.
The lack of presidential pets in the White House over the last four years was pretty unusual. President Joe Biden's inauguration was also a celebration for animal lovers who welcomed his two German Shepherds, Champ and Major, and the presence of pets back in the White House. Major is also the first shelter-adopted dog to live on the grounds, an event marked by his former caretakers at the Delaware Humane Association with an "Indoguration" ceremony and fundraiser on Zoom. The event had over 7,500 virtual attendees, and raised $200,000. The two shepherds have even earned the Twitter hashtag #DOTUS, and have a fan account called The Oval Pawffice to track their activities on social media.
So what does the average day for a White House pet look like? The Washington Post recently uncovered the "day-to-day doggie logistics". The pet care responsibilities are generally decided by the First Family with the Executive Residence staff (responsible for all living quarters duties) offering support when required. George H.W. and Barbara Bush were known to take on all of the responsibilities of dog ownership, even bathing their Springer Spaniels Millie and her pup Ranger by themselves. Gerald Ford's pregnant Golden Retriever Liberty was once the cause of a Secret Service emergency when the residence doors were bolted shut and the elevators had been shut down after the president took her out for a 3am potty walk. For more serious issues, veterinarians will make house calls, and the Chief groundskeeper Dale Hanley serves as a volunteer dog trainer. Hanley has worked with Presidential pets for decades, beginning with Richard Nixon's Irish Setter King Timahoe in the 1970s, and he's already been spotted out and about with Champ and Major. The training is welcomed, as most pet interactions are pleasant, but every once and a while a Chocolate Labrador Buddy Clinton can nearly cause a messy catastrophe by running full speed towards a holiday dessert display in the Grand Foyer. Otherwise White House pets are allowed to roam the grounds as they please, often adding levity and fuzzy fun to the serious work performed at the executive branch. Now who's up for a game of fetch on the South Lawn?
Credit and copyright: Delaware Humane Association / Pumpkin Petcare, Ronald Reagan Presidential Library / NARA, David Hume Kennerly / Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, White House / Michael SargentBelow: former Presidents and their furry companions, including President Ronald Reagan with Lucky the sheep dog and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the Rose Garden; President Gerald Ford seated in the Oval Office and offering his golden retriever Liberty some good ear scrichies; and President George H. W. Bush with his Springer Spaniel, Millie, and her five puppies on the White House South Lawn.
Written by: Esther P.
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FREEWorld History Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
Sometimes mysteries are hidden in plain sight! Australian researchers recently discovered that a mummy, which has been on display at the Chau Chak Wing Museum in Sydney for over 150 years, was extremely unique. The 3,000-year-old mummy, first unearthed in Egypt in the 1850s, is cocooned in a mud shell. Researchers have never seen a mummy prepared this way. Thought to be a woman between the ages of 26-35, analysis shows that the mud was applied to the woman's body after it had been buried for some, and after post-mortem damage was done (possibly by ancient tomb-raiders). Some archaeologists suggest that the mud was applied for appearance's sake, to hide damage. Others believe that the mud shell was added to the body to mimic the resin shells that rich Egyptians were encased in. There could also be a spiritual explanation. Ancient Egyptians believed that their dead journeyed to the realm of Osiris, God of the Underworld. In Egyptian mythology, Osiris's own body was once reassembled, so re-assembling a person's body after it was harmed could be an effort to stay in the god's good graces. Osiris was also associated with fertile soil, so mud may have been perfect for repairing a body to his liking. Adding more mystery is the fact that the mummy has been found to be much older than its ornate coffin, which is inscribed with the name "Meruah". This "body swap" was likely done by artifact dealers in the 19th Century, seeking to sell the mummy for a high price. One can only guess what other secrets and mysteries the "mud mummy" may reveal in years to come!
[Image description: A mud-covered mummy from the front, back, and sides.] Credit & copyright: Chau Chak Wing Museum/Macquarie Medical Imaging/CC BY 4.0
Written by: Maria C.
Sometimes mysteries are hidden in plain sight! Australian researchers recently discovered that a mummy, which has been on display at the Chau Chak Wing Museum in Sydney for over 150 years, was extremely unique. The 3,000-year-old mummy, first unearthed in Egypt in the 1850s, is cocooned in a mud shell. Researchers have never seen a mummy prepared this way. Thought to be a woman between the ages of 26-35, analysis shows that the mud was applied to the woman's body after it had been buried for some, and after post-mortem damage was done (possibly by ancient tomb-raiders). Some archaeologists suggest that the mud was applied for appearance's sake, to hide damage. Others believe that the mud shell was added to the body to mimic the resin shells that rich Egyptians were encased in. There could also be a spiritual explanation. Ancient Egyptians believed that their dead journeyed to the realm of Osiris, God of the Underworld. In Egyptian mythology, Osiris's own body was once reassembled, so re-assembling a person's body after it was harmed could be an effort to stay in the god's good graces. Osiris was also associated with fertile soil, so mud may have been perfect for repairing a body to his liking. Adding more mystery is the fact that the mummy has been found to be much older than its ornate coffin, which is inscribed with the name "Meruah". This "body swap" was likely done by artifact dealers in the 19th Century, seeking to sell the mummy for a high price. One can only guess what other secrets and mysteries the "mud mummy" may reveal in years to come!
[Image description: A mud-covered mummy from the front, back, and sides.] Credit & copyright: Chau Chak Wing Museum/Macquarie Medical Imaging/CC BY 4.0
Written by: Maria C.
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FREESports Photo CurioFree1 CQ
Talk about staying cool under pressure. On this day in 1968, American figure skater Peggy Fleming earned her third consecutive win at the World Figure Skating Championships in Geneva, Switzerland. Just one month prior, however, Fleming had claimed the most coveted prize of all—a gold medal at the 1968 Olympics. In the photo above, a 20-year-old Fleming skates in an outdoor practice ring in the Olympic village, in Grenoble, France. Even as she strikes a pose, balancing on one skate with her arms lifted, her expression is serene. Fleming's famous light green dress was chosen when her mother learned that nearby monks, in Grenoble, made Chartreuse Liqueur—a green, herbal drink. Fleming had been training for an Olympic performance since childhood. When she was 12, she faced a career setback and tragedy in one: her coach, William Kipp, was killed when a plane carrying the U.S. figure skating team crashed in Belgium. When a memorial fund was set up to help rebuild the sport, Fleming became a beneficiary and used the money to buy new skates. Just a few years later, in 1964, she placed first at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. The rest, as they say, is history.
Below: a video of Peggy Fleming's 1968 Olympic performance, which won her a Gold Medal.[Image description: Figure skater Peggy Flemming wearing a long-sleeved, light green dress and white skates strikes a skating pose with her arms spread and legs crossed, 1968.] Credit & copyright: AFP/Getty Images
Written by: Maria C.Talk about staying cool under pressure. On this day in 1968, American figure skater Peggy Fleming earned her third consecutive win at the World Figure Skating Championships in Geneva, Switzerland. Just one month prior, however, Fleming had claimed the most coveted prize of all—a gold medal at the 1968 Olympics. In the photo above, a 20-year-old Fleming skates in an outdoor practice ring in the Olympic village, in Grenoble, France. Even as she strikes a pose, balancing on one skate with her arms lifted, her expression is serene. Fleming's famous light green dress was chosen when her mother learned that nearby monks, in Grenoble, made Chartreuse Liqueur—a green, herbal drink. Fleming had been training for an Olympic performance since childhood. When she was 12, she faced a career setback and tragedy in one: her coach, William Kipp, was killed when a plane carrying the U.S. figure skating team crashed in Belgium. When a memorial fund was set up to help rebuild the sport, Fleming became a beneficiary and used the money to buy new skates. Just a few years later, in 1964, she placed first at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. The rest, as they say, is history.
Below: a video of Peggy Fleming's 1968 Olympic performance, which won her a Gold Medal.[Image description: Figure skater Peggy Flemming wearing a long-sleeved, light green dress and white skates strikes a skating pose with her arms spread and legs crossed, 1968.] Credit & copyright: AFP/Getty Images
Written by: Maria C. -
FREEJazz Guitar Song CurioFree2 CQ
Pixar's newest animated film, Soul, is really taking the "Jazzing" from the New York clubs into people's homes. To capture the main character Joe Gardner's flair for music, the Pixar team partnered with musician Jon Batiste to create the jazz score for the film. Previously known for his work as the bandleader on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Batiste displays an encyclopedic knowledge of music on tracks like It's Alright. The track begins with Batiste playing jaunty gospel-influenced chords—though after a few verses, he digs into the instrumental solos, letting the jazz substitutions—when a set of notes are transposed onto different chords or melodies for varied effect—flow. Meanwhile the classical-influenced trills and glissandos influence the speed and feel of the piece. It all adds up to a tender performance that is unmistakably Batiste, and a fitting tribute to the rich history of jazz music in America.
[Image description: A still frame from Pixar's animated Soul, Joe Gardner, voiced by Jamie Foxx, wears a top hat, glasses, and trench coat.] Courtesy of Pixar and Disney.
Written by: Esther P.
Pixar's newest animated film, Soul, is really taking the "Jazzing" from the New York clubs into people's homes. To capture the main character Joe Gardner's flair for music, the Pixar team partnered with musician Jon Batiste to create the jazz score for the film. Previously known for his work as the bandleader on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Batiste displays an encyclopedic knowledge of music on tracks like It's Alright. The track begins with Batiste playing jaunty gospel-influenced chords—though after a few verses, he digs into the instrumental solos, letting the jazz substitutions—when a set of notes are transposed onto different chords or melodies for varied effect—flow. Meanwhile the classical-influenced trills and glissandos influence the speed and feel of the piece. It all adds up to a tender performance that is unmistakably Batiste, and a fitting tribute to the rich history of jazz music in America.
[Image description: A still frame from Pixar's animated Soul, Joe Gardner, voiced by Jamie Foxx, wears a top hat, glasses, and trench coat.] Courtesy of Pixar and Disney.
Written by: Esther P.
March 1, 2021
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
There’s fresh, peer-reviewed research out of Stanford that “Zoom fatigue” is a real thing. Plus, Senate Democrats are reportedly dropping their Plan B for ra...
There’s fresh, peer-reviewed research out of Stanford that “Zoom fatigue” is a real thing. Plus, Senate Democrats are reportedly dropping their Plan B for ra...
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : March 1, 2021
gazette \guh-ZET\ noun
Definition
1 : a paper that is printed and distributed usually daily or weekly and that contains ne...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : March 1, 2021
gazette \guh-ZET\ noun
Definition
1 : a paper that is printed and distributed usually daily or weekly and that contains ne...
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4 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree3 CQ
To boost the public’s confidence, the French government is putting power in the hands of everyday citizens in the form of a 35-person collective — selected a...
with PRI's The WorldTo boost the public’s confidence, the French government is putting power in the hands of everyday citizens in the form of a 35-person collective — selected a...
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FREEHumanities Daily Curio #2191Free1 CQ
Happy March! Our selections for the Books of the Month follow this Curio.
Post-World War II, American babies born prematurely were given excessively high concentrations of oxygen in incubators. This unknowingly caused a blindness epidemic. Because babies' eyes rapidly develop in the last 12 weeks of pregnancy, babies born prematurely may not have fully formed retinas. Too much oxygen can inhibit eye development and lead to retrolental fibroplasia, abnormal and fragile blood vessels growing throughout the retina. Renamed retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), retrolental fibroplasia can cause scarring and retinal detachment, leaving babies visually impaired or blind. Between the 1940s and 1950s, an estimated 10,000 babies lost their vision due to ROP.
The blindness epidemic led to an influx of visually impaired students in the public school system. Schools for the blind, like the Perkins School in Massachusetts, sought ways to serve this population by modernizing assistive technology. 70 years ago, they consulted with David Abraham, a British carpenter and machinist, to reinvent the braillewriter, a mechanical machine for writing braille.
Whereas the modern typewriter was invented in 1868, the first modern braillewriter was not invented until 1892. The original design had six keys, one for each of the dots in a braille cell. In Braille, each braille letter or cell is made up of six numbered dots (i.e. dot 1, dot 2, dot 3, etc.). Unique combinations of dots represent different letters and numbers. The idea for the writing system came from the Napoleonic army—Charles Barbier, an artillery officer, invented an embossed note-taking system that allowed militia to read notes without needing to strike a match and potentially alert the enemy to their location. Louis Braille spent years standardizing this system. When the Perkins school commissioned Abraham to redesign the braillewriter, they had several goals. They wanted to design a machine that was lightweight, easy to transport, durable, and quieter. Abraham's design may look deceptively simple, but it revolutionized braille writing. Today, the reading and writing system has numerous variants, many of which the Perkins Brailler can accommodate.
[Image description: The Perkins Brailler, a blue-green colored machine with six black keys, a space key, and a line space key, as well as two side knobs for advancing paper.] Copyright by the Perkins School for the Blind.
Below, the Braille alphabet, and a demonstration of how the Perkins Brailler works.
Happy March! Our selections for the Books of the Month follow this Curio.
Post-World War II, American babies born prematurely were given excessively high concentrations of oxygen in incubators. This unknowingly caused a blindness epidemic. Because babies' eyes rapidly develop in the last 12 weeks of pregnancy, babies born prematurely may not have fully formed retinas. Too much oxygen can inhibit eye development and lead to retrolental fibroplasia, abnormal and fragile blood vessels growing throughout the retina. Renamed retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), retrolental fibroplasia can cause scarring and retinal detachment, leaving babies visually impaired or blind. Between the 1940s and 1950s, an estimated 10,000 babies lost their vision due to ROP.
The blindness epidemic led to an influx of visually impaired students in the public school system. Schools for the blind, like the Perkins School in Massachusetts, sought ways to serve this population by modernizing assistive technology. 70 years ago, they consulted with David Abraham, a British carpenter and machinist, to reinvent the braillewriter, a mechanical machine for writing braille.
Whereas the modern typewriter was invented in 1868, the first modern braillewriter was not invented until 1892. The original design had six keys, one for each of the dots in a braille cell. In Braille, each braille letter or cell is made up of six numbered dots (i.e. dot 1, dot 2, dot 3, etc.). Unique combinations of dots represent different letters and numbers. The idea for the writing system came from the Napoleonic army—Charles Barbier, an artillery officer, invented an embossed note-taking system that allowed militia to read notes without needing to strike a match and potentially alert the enemy to their location. Louis Braille spent years standardizing this system. When the Perkins school commissioned Abraham to redesign the braillewriter, they had several goals. They wanted to design a machine that was lightweight, easy to transport, durable, and quieter. Abraham's design may look deceptively simple, but it revolutionized braille writing. Today, the reading and writing system has numerous variants, many of which the Perkins Brailler can accommodate.
[Image description: The Perkins Brailler, a blue-green colored machine with six black keys, a space key, and a line space key, as well as two side knobs for advancing paper.] Copyright by the Perkins School for the Blind.
Below, the Braille alphabet, and a demonstration of how the Perkins Brailler works.
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FREEAesthetic Art CurioFree1 CQ
Jean Negulesco (1900-1993)
1975
ink on paper
27 x 21 in (68.58 x 53.34 cm)It takes a special kind of artist to excel in more than one medium! Romanian artist Jean Negulesco, born in February 1900, is best remembered as a Hollywood director in the 1940s and 50s. Yet his paintings and lithographs were dazzling audiences years before his movies made it to the silver screen. His lithographs—prints created by etching a design onto a metal plate and filling the grooves with ink—were uniquely modernist at a time when the medium was mainly used to create either simple cartoons or highly-realistic images. In the untitled lithograph print above, A woman's profile is conveyed with one continuous, black line, which loops and zigzags to form hair, facial features, and even jewelry. The image is repeated twice, in this particular print, but other prints have featured Negulesco's same design, in various colors and on various backgrounds. Though much of Negulesco's work focuses on the human form, he leaned heavily toward abstraction, using looping lines to create whimsical figures. Negulesco continued creating lithographs and paintings even after he directed hit films like 1953's How to Marry a Millionaire, starring Marilyn Monroe. His Hollywood clout helped make his artworks into the valuable collector pieces they are today. How's that for a film-worthy story?
Below: two more of Negulesco's pieces, an untitled line drawing and a watercolor painting, New York City.
Written by: Maria C.
Jean Negulesco (1900-1993)
1975
ink on paper
27 x 21 in (68.58 x 53.34 cm)It takes a special kind of artist to excel in more than one medium! Romanian artist Jean Negulesco, born in February 1900, is best remembered as a Hollywood director in the 1940s and 50s. Yet his paintings and lithographs were dazzling audiences years before his movies made it to the silver screen. His lithographs—prints created by etching a design onto a metal plate and filling the grooves with ink—were uniquely modernist at a time when the medium was mainly used to create either simple cartoons or highly-realistic images. In the untitled lithograph print above, A woman's profile is conveyed with one continuous, black line, which loops and zigzags to form hair, facial features, and even jewelry. The image is repeated twice, in this particular print, but other prints have featured Negulesco's same design, in various colors and on various backgrounds. Though much of Negulesco's work focuses on the human form, he leaned heavily toward abstraction, using looping lines to create whimsical figures. Negulesco continued creating lithographs and paintings even after he directed hit films like 1953's How to Marry a Millionaire, starring Marilyn Monroe. His Hollywood clout helped make his artworks into the valuable collector pieces they are today. How's that for a film-worthy story?
Below: two more of Negulesco's pieces, an untitled line drawing and a watercolor painting, New York City.
Written by: Maria C.
February 28, 2021
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : February 28, 2021
deference \DEF-uh-runss\ noun
Definition
: respect and esteem due a superior or an elder; also : affected or ingratiat...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : February 28, 2021
deference \DEF-uh-runss\ noun
Definition
: respect and esteem due a superior or an elder; also : affected or ingratiat...
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7 minFREEWork Daily CurioFree4 CQ
From the BBC World Service: Hundreds of people are offering land stolen from indigenous communities. Some sellers admit they don’t even have proof of ownersh...
From the BBC World Service: Hundreds of people are offering land stolen from indigenous communities. Some sellers admit they don’t even have proof of ownersh...
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6 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree4 CQ
The company wants to hire an archivist to examine its collection of 3,000 insurance relics to suss out connections to the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
with PRI's The WorldThe company wants to hire an archivist to examine its collection of 3,000 insurance relics to suss out connections to the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
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FREEHumanities PP&T CurioFree1 CQ
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas...unless you become internationally renowned magicians! Such was the case with famed entertainers Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn—the original Tiger Kings. Although Roy Horn passed away last year due to COVID-19, and Fischbacher died from pancreatic cancer just 8 months later, the duo's legacy is destined to endure. Together, they shared a career powerful enough to spawn its own T.V. show, and a personal relationship strong enough to endure a life-altering tragedy.
Siegfried and Roy were both born in Germany during World War II. They met in 1960 aboard the TS Bremen, a cruise ship where 17-year-old Siegfried worked as a performing magician and where 13-year-old Roy worked as a waiter. One night, Siegfried asked Roy to join him onstage as an audience volunteer. The young men quickly bonded over their love of exotic animals and their unhappy childhoods. Siegfried, the son of a homemaker and veteran, had grown up feeling distant from other children, and used his love of magic to cope. Roy, whose father had died in the war and whose mother had worked factory jobs to make ends meet, felt similarly lonely. Siegfried was overjoyed to learn that Roy had direct access to exotic animals, since his mother's friend was the founder of the Bremen Zoo. Together, they planned a magic act centered around animals. They were soon fired from the TS Bremen, however, for bringing a cheetah onto the ship.
For the next five years, Siegfried and Roy toured Europe's night club circuit to great success. In 1967, talent scout Tony Azzie offered them a job performing in Las Vegas, where they soon went from sharing billing with other performers to being a headlining act. In 1981, producer Ken Feld started the Beyond Belief show at the New Frontier Hotel and Casino. The show's name was a reference to the magic Seigfriend and Roy performed and also to the unbelievable relationship they seemed to share with their performing animals. By 1988, Seigfriend and Roy had rocketed to fame, become U.S. citizens, and bought a 100-acre estate in Las Vegas, where they raised lions and tigers. Though some animal rights groups criticized them for exploiting big cats, and for putting themselves in danger by performing with them, Siegfried and Roy maintained that their bond with the animals kept them safe. "Sleeping with lions and tigers means you don't need many pillows," Roy famously said, in one interview. "Their bellies are just as comfortable."
The grandiose and risky nature of Siegfried and Roy's act had a profound impact on Las Vegas entertainment, as other acts procured more elaborate costumes and sets to keep up. Like other celebrities, Siegfried and Roy lived under constant press scrutiny, and were hounded over the nature of their personal relationship. Although it is still assumed that the two were romantically involved, they never talked openly about their sexuality. Seigfriend and Roy's devotion to one another became all the more clear, however, after a career-ending tragedy in the early 2000s.
On October 3, 2003, just as a T.V. show based on their act, Father of the Pride, was beginning production, Siegfried and Roy's show at the Mirage Theatre went horribly wrong. When Roy held a microphone to the mouth of a seven-year-old white tiger named Montecore, the cat bit him on the arm. When Roy fell onto his back, the tiger attacked, biting Roy's neck and dragging him offstage. By the time rescuers reached him, Roy had suffered severe injuries, including a severed spine and major blood loss, which triggered a stroke (although Roy would later insist that he'd had a stroke beforehand, and Montecore had tried to get him to safety by dragging him offstage).
Roy survived his injuries and Father of the Pride went on to air from 2004 to 2005. However the attack ended Siegfried and Roy's career, other than a farewell performance, in 2010. Roy did not regain the ability to walk until 2005, and his speaking ability was greatly impacted. Siegfried was his caregiver until his condition improved. "He helps me every day to do my exercises," Roy said, in one interview. "Siegfried told me once, 'The one who is a hero is the one who can hang on just one minute longer.'" Although their career ended far less happily than they'd hoped, there's no doubt that Siegfried and Roy's impact on Las Vegas will be felt for years to come. Their 60-year relationship will also be remembered as one of the strongest in history between two famous performers.
[Image description: Wearing sequined jackets, entertainers Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn pose with a white lion.] Credit & copyright: Carol M. Highsmith/Library of Congress
Written by: Maria C.What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas...unless you become internationally renowned magicians! Such was the case with famed entertainers Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn—the original Tiger Kings. Although Roy Horn passed away last year due to COVID-19, and Fischbacher died from pancreatic cancer just 8 months later, the duo's legacy is destined to endure. Together, they shared a career powerful enough to spawn its own T.V. show, and a personal relationship strong enough to endure a life-altering tragedy.
Siegfried and Roy were both born in Germany during World War II. They met in 1960 aboard the TS Bremen, a cruise ship where 17-year-old Siegfried worked as a performing magician and where 13-year-old Roy worked as a waiter. One night, Siegfried asked Roy to join him onstage as an audience volunteer. The young men quickly bonded over their love of exotic animals and their unhappy childhoods. Siegfried, the son of a homemaker and veteran, had grown up feeling distant from other children, and used his love of magic to cope. Roy, whose father had died in the war and whose mother had worked factory jobs to make ends meet, felt similarly lonely. Siegfried was overjoyed to learn that Roy had direct access to exotic animals, since his mother's friend was the founder of the Bremen Zoo. Together, they planned a magic act centered around animals. They were soon fired from the TS Bremen, however, for bringing a cheetah onto the ship.
For the next five years, Siegfried and Roy toured Europe's night club circuit to great success. In 1967, talent scout Tony Azzie offered them a job performing in Las Vegas, where they soon went from sharing billing with other performers to being a headlining act. In 1981, producer Ken Feld started the Beyond Belief show at the New Frontier Hotel and Casino. The show's name was a reference to the magic Seigfriend and Roy performed and also to the unbelievable relationship they seemed to share with their performing animals. By 1988, Seigfriend and Roy had rocketed to fame, become U.S. citizens, and bought a 100-acre estate in Las Vegas, where they raised lions and tigers. Though some animal rights groups criticized them for exploiting big cats, and for putting themselves in danger by performing with them, Siegfried and Roy maintained that their bond with the animals kept them safe. "Sleeping with lions and tigers means you don't need many pillows," Roy famously said, in one interview. "Their bellies are just as comfortable."
The grandiose and risky nature of Siegfried and Roy's act had a profound impact on Las Vegas entertainment, as other acts procured more elaborate costumes and sets to keep up. Like other celebrities, Siegfried and Roy lived under constant press scrutiny, and were hounded over the nature of their personal relationship. Although it is still assumed that the two were romantically involved, they never talked openly about their sexuality. Seigfriend and Roy's devotion to one another became all the more clear, however, after a career-ending tragedy in the early 2000s.
On October 3, 2003, just as a T.V. show based on their act, Father of the Pride, was beginning production, Siegfried and Roy's show at the Mirage Theatre went horribly wrong. When Roy held a microphone to the mouth of a seven-year-old white tiger named Montecore, the cat bit him on the arm. When Roy fell onto his back, the tiger attacked, biting Roy's neck and dragging him offstage. By the time rescuers reached him, Roy had suffered severe injuries, including a severed spine and major blood loss, which triggered a stroke (although Roy would later insist that he'd had a stroke beforehand, and Montecore had tried to get him to safety by dragging him offstage).
Roy survived his injuries and Father of the Pride went on to air from 2004 to 2005. However the attack ended Siegfried and Roy's career, other than a farewell performance, in 2010. Roy did not regain the ability to walk until 2005, and his speaking ability was greatly impacted. Siegfried was his caregiver until his condition improved. "He helps me every day to do my exercises," Roy said, in one interview. "Siegfried told me once, 'The one who is a hero is the one who can hang on just one minute longer.'" Although their career ended far less happily than they'd hoped, there's no doubt that Siegfried and Roy's impact on Las Vegas will be felt for years to come. Their 60-year relationship will also be remembered as one of the strongest in history between two famous performers.
[Image description: Wearing sequined jackets, entertainers Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn pose with a white lion.] Credit & copyright: Carol M. Highsmith/Library of Congress
Written by: Maria C.
February 27, 2021
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day : February 27, 2021
turbid \TER-bid\ adjective
Definition
1 a : thick or opaque with or as with roiled sediment
b : heavy with smoke or m...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : February 27, 2021
turbid \TER-bid\ adjective
Definition
1 a : thick or opaque with or as with roiled sediment
b : heavy with smoke or m...
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
Other countries have wider access to cheap, easy, at-home COVID tests. Will more people in the U.S. see that soon? Plus, the state of unemployment claims in ...
Other countries have wider access to cheap, easy, at-home COVID tests. Will more people in the U.S. see that soon? Plus, the state of unemployment claims in ...
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5 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree3 CQ
The Chinese government hasn’t actually forbidden travel this year, but they’re strongly discouraging it.
with PRI's The WorldThe Chinese government hasn’t actually forbidden travel this year, but they’re strongly discouraging it.
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FREEPlay Teaser Curio #275Free1 CQ
In an interview with Esquire magazine titled "What I've Learned," Roy Horn described how rivalry kept his onstage relationship with Siegfried Fischbacher fresh, "Siegfried and I are partners, but at the same time, we are competitors. Each one wants the spotlight. Each one fights for it. Guess who gets it? The cat. Cats always get the spotlight." Siegfried and Roy, masters of the impossible, astonished millions with their magic tricks, and feline friends. Tune in tomorrow to learn more about the original tiger kings, Siegfried and Roy. In the meantime, can you solve this ferocious word ladder?
Can you make a word ladder from TIGER to STAGE?TIGER
Things some sorters make.
American retailer.
STAGEHint: there are two solutions to this puzzle, an 8-step answer, and a 13-step answer. We are looking for the 13-step solution.
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #275" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
[Image description: Curious Teaser Logo, a pink brain graphic overlaid on a blue virtual maze.]
In an interview with Esquire magazine titled "What I've Learned," Roy Horn described how rivalry kept his onstage relationship with Siegfried Fischbacher fresh, "Siegfried and I are partners, but at the same time, we are competitors. Each one wants the spotlight. Each one fights for it. Guess who gets it? The cat. Cats always get the spotlight." Siegfried and Roy, masters of the impossible, astonished millions with their magic tricks, and feline friends. Tune in tomorrow to learn more about the original tiger kings, Siegfried and Roy. In the meantime, can you solve this ferocious word ladder?
Can you make a word ladder from TIGER to STAGE?TIGER
Things some sorters make.
American retailer.
STAGEHint: there are two solutions to this puzzle, an 8-step answer, and a 13-step answer. We are looking for the 13-step solution.
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #275" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
[Image description: Curious Teaser Logo, a pink brain graphic overlaid on a blue virtual maze.]
February 26, 2021
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
What these disappearing features of the American landscape mean to us. And, Texas weather may be back in the mid-70s, but the people there are still dealing ...
What these disappearing features of the American landscape mean to us. And, Texas weather may be back in the mid-70s, but the people there are still dealing ...
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day : February 26, 2021
megillah \muh-GHIL-uh\ noun
Definition
1 slang : a long involved story or account
2 slang a : an elaborate, complicat...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : February 26, 2021
megillah \muh-GHIL-uh\ noun
Definition
1 slang : a long involved story or account
2 slang a : an elaborate, complicat...
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5 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree3 CQ
Over the past week, thousands of protesters rallied in rapper Pablo Hasél’s defense while hundreds of artists — including Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar a...
with PRI's The WorldOver the past week, thousands of protesters rallied in rapper Pablo Hasél’s defense while hundreds of artists — including Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar a...
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FREEMusic Song CurioFree2 CQ
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
Mary J. Blige is known for bringing the house down when she sings, so it's no wonder her performance of Mighty River at the 2018 Oscars was a showstopper. Blige arrived onstage solo, using her powerful voice to lead the soulful piano ballad nominated for Best Original Song from the film Mudbound. Mighty River's themes of love overcoming racial boundaries might have been enough reason for Blige to make a memorable appearance at the awards ceremony, but it was far from the only reason she was there; Blige also played the role of Florence Jackson in the film about two World War II veterans—one black and one white—dealing with segregation and PTSD in Mississippi. Blige was nominated for [Best] Actress in a Supporting Role, becoming the first person ever nominated for both Original Song and Supporting Actress in the same year. Those are definitely reasons enough to bring out the gospel-influenced choir and celebrate with a few choruses of Mighty River!
Other streaming options
Image credit & copyright: Lainey Gossip
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
Mary J. Blige is known for bringing the house down when she sings, so it's no wonder her performance of Mighty River at the 2018 Oscars was a showstopper. Blige arrived onstage solo, using her powerful voice to lead the soulful piano ballad nominated for Best Original Song from the film Mudbound. Mighty River's themes of love overcoming racial boundaries might have been enough reason for Blige to make a memorable appearance at the awards ceremony, but it was far from the only reason she was there; Blige also played the role of Florence Jackson in the film about two World War II veterans—one black and one white—dealing with segregation and PTSD in Mississippi. Blige was nominated for [Best] Actress in a Supporting Role, becoming the first person ever nominated for both Original Song and Supporting Actress in the same year. Those are definitely reasons enough to bring out the gospel-influenced choir and celebrate with a few choruses of Mighty River!
Other streaming options
Image credit & copyright: Lainey Gossip
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FREEAnimation Art CurioFree1 CQ
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
Title: Blind Vaysha
Artist: Theodore Ushev (b. 1968), National Film Board of Canada
Created: 2016
Medium: digital animation
Released in February 2016, Blind Vaysha was a nominee for the Best Animated Short Oscar. The eight-minute film by Bulgarian-Canadian filmmaker Theodore Ushev tells the tale of a beautiful girl named Vaysha with an unusual disability; her left eye only sees a version of the world set in the past, whereas her right eye only sees the future. Torn between two unreliable versions of reality—one nostalgic and safe, another sinister and foreboding—she ponders which to choose to better live in the present moment. The unique narrative's images are made to resemble linocut, a type of relief carving done on a linoleum block. Ushev, who also created the illustrations, has been working with linocuts since age 12 and wanted the digital renderings to stay true to the unforgiving technique. He did so by "carving" away the images using a Cintiq tablet and not allowing himself to use the "undo" command. An estimated 12,000 to 13,000 drawings were created over six months for the final product. Whether it wins the award or not, we recommend seeing it for the impressive and beautiful execution. The sage message about the passage of time won't disappoint, either.
Watch the trailer below.
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
Title: Blind Vaysha
Artist: Theodore Ushev (b. 1968), National Film Board of Canada
Created: 2016
Medium: digital animation
Released in February 2016, Blind Vaysha was a nominee for the Best Animated Short Oscar. The eight-minute film by Bulgarian-Canadian filmmaker Theodore Ushev tells the tale of a beautiful girl named Vaysha with an unusual disability; her left eye only sees a version of the world set in the past, whereas her right eye only sees the future. Torn between two unreliable versions of reality—one nostalgic and safe, another sinister and foreboding—she ponders which to choose to better live in the present moment. The unique narrative's images are made to resemble linocut, a type of relief carving done on a linoleum block. Ushev, who also created the illustrations, has been working with linocuts since age 12 and wanted the digital renderings to stay true to the unforgiving technique. He did so by "carving" away the images using a Cintiq tablet and not allowing himself to use the "undo" command. An estimated 12,000 to 13,000 drawings were created over six months for the final product. Whether it wins the award or not, we recommend seeing it for the impressive and beautiful execution. The sage message about the passage of time won't disappoint, either.
Watch the trailer below.
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FREEPhotography Photo CurioFree1 CQ
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
Academy what? The first ever Academy Awards, which took place in May 1929, attracted only 270 people. Tickets to the event cost as little as 5 dollars (about $70 in today's currency) and the ceremony portion lasted a full 15 minutes. And it wasn't broadcast to outside audiences because winners had already been announced three months prior. Despite lacking the significance and glitz of today's Academy Awards, the event was actually attended by many film industry pioneers of the time, including some that hadn't yet become famous. In the picture above, see if you can spot Walt Disney, the Warner brothers, Charlie Chaplin, or Emil Jannings. The first award for Outstanding Picture (now known as Best Picture) was presented to the producers of Wings, a romance and war film based on World War I. Winners in all twelve categories received a firm handshake from Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Douglas Fairbanks, as well as a shiny gold statuette. That statuette would come to be known as "Oscar": the most coveted man in Hollywood for 92 years and counting.
Image credit & copyright: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
Academy what? The first ever Academy Awards, which took place in May 1929, attracted only 270 people. Tickets to the event cost as little as 5 dollars (about $70 in today's currency) and the ceremony portion lasted a full 15 minutes. And it wasn't broadcast to outside audiences because winners had already been announced three months prior. Despite lacking the significance and glitz of today's Academy Awards, the event was actually attended by many film industry pioneers of the time, including some that hadn't yet become famous. In the picture above, see if you can spot Walt Disney, the Warner brothers, Charlie Chaplin, or Emil Jannings. The first award for Outstanding Picture (now known as Best Picture) was presented to the producers of Wings, a romance and war film based on World War I. Winners in all twelve categories received a firm handshake from Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Douglas Fairbanks, as well as a shiny gold statuette. That statuette would come to be known as "Oscar": the most coveted man in Hollywood for 92 years and counting.
Image credit & copyright: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
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FREEComposition Daily CurioFree1 CQ
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
There are leading ladies, and then there are leader ladies. In 2018, the Oscar for best leading lady went to Frances McDormand for her role in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. As opposed to leader ladies, who served as a way for film technicians to assure analog film had been properly processed and exposed. Attached to the film's leader—a piece of film that projectionists used to thread the film into the projector—were three to five frames of a glamorous-looking girl showing a decent amount of skin. These images allowed technicians to make sure the skin tone looked natural and consistent, given the subtle changes in lighting conditions and film stock from scene to scene and movie to movie. Lab workers used the leader ladies to make sure each copy of the negative preserved its true colors; and by assessing the quality of the skin tones, experts could determine the quality of the print. The women—and they were always women, save for the occasional mannequin—posed like movie stars, and were sometimes called "China Girls" because of their porcelain skin tones. Lab workers often had girlfriends, family members, or even reluctant coworkers pose for the images. Since they never were seen by the public, China Girl images inadvertently created a photo-documentation of the styles through the decades. Now, researchers from Harvard and the Chicago Film Society are finally giving them their overdue recognition with an exhibition and online archive. Leader ladies are finally getting a leading role.
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
There are leading ladies, and then there are leader ladies. In 2018, the Oscar for best leading lady went to Frances McDormand for her role in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. As opposed to leader ladies, who served as a way for film technicians to assure analog film had been properly processed and exposed. Attached to the film's leader—a piece of film that projectionists used to thread the film into the projector—were three to five frames of a glamorous-looking girl showing a decent amount of skin. These images allowed technicians to make sure the skin tone looked natural and consistent, given the subtle changes in lighting conditions and film stock from scene to scene and movie to movie. Lab workers used the leader ladies to make sure each copy of the negative preserved its true colors; and by assessing the quality of the skin tones, experts could determine the quality of the print. The women—and they were always women, save for the occasional mannequin—posed like movie stars, and were sometimes called "China Girls" because of their porcelain skin tones. Lab workers often had girlfriends, family members, or even reluctant coworkers pose for the images. Since they never were seen by the public, China Girl images inadvertently created a photo-documentation of the styles through the decades. Now, researchers from Harvard and the Chicago Film Society are finally giving them their overdue recognition with an exhibition and online archive. Leader ladies are finally getting a leading role.
February 25, 2021
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6 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
President Joe Biden’s executive order to review supply chains will include everything from semiconductor chips to personal protective equipment. Plus, new ev...
President Joe Biden’s executive order to review supply chains will include everything from semiconductor chips to personal protective equipment. Plus, new ev...
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day : February 25, 2021
slipshod \SLIP-SHAHD\ adjective
Definition
1 a : wearing loose shoes or slippers
b : down at the heel : shabby
2 : c...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : February 25, 2021
slipshod \SLIP-SHAHD\ adjective
Definition
1 a : wearing loose shoes or slippers
b : down at the heel : shabby
2 : c...
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4 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree3 CQ
With the pandemic mostly behind them now, along with a lack of data around the efficacy of Chinese vaccines, many citizens are taking the “wait-and-see” appr...
with PRI's The WorldWith the pandemic mostly behind them now, along with a lack of data around the efficacy of Chinese vaccines, many citizens are taking the “wait-and-see” appr...
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FREEUS History Daily Curio #2190Free1 CQ
Last week, Texas experienced unprecedented power outages amid Winter Storm Uri. This wasn't the first time the system, managed by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), dealt with freeze-related failure. In 2011, during Super XLV, generators failed, leading to rolling blackouts. Turns out many of those generators had similarly failed in 1989. To understand why these generators failing led to mass blackouts requires some background on how the United States gets energy to consumers. In the contiguous United States, there are three electrical power grids: the Western Interconnection, the Eastern Interconnection, and ERCOT. Formally established in 1970, ERCOT is a nonprofit organization overseen by the Public Utility Commission of Texas, the Texas Legislature, and an unelected board (one third of whom lived outside of Texas before resigning yesterday). ERCOT covers most, but not all of Texas—parts of the panhandle, like El Paso, and East Texas, receive utilities from nearby states.
Because Texas is "off the grid," that is not connected to the other 47 mainland states, it cannot borrow energy in times of crisis. This design was intentional. During World War II, there was a substantial need for power along the Gulf Coast. Separate utilities in North and Central Texas combined forces to send excess energy to the region. For Texas, this interconnection also offered another opportunity—to evade federal oversight. Several years earlier, in 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Federal Power Act to regulate interstate energy commerce. Texas utilities vowed to keep all power created within the state, avoiding federal regulation. Even today, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission cannot interfere in the state's energy operations or wholesale electricity sales. This system has always been a point of pride for free-market advocates. In the late 1990s, Texas went a step further in deregulating utilities. The legislature broke up existing utility companies into power generating, transmission and distribution, and consumer-serving companies. Supporters have argued this decision benefited companies and consumers. However, Texas must now reckon with the devastating outcomes of a system that allowed companies to self-regulate. By ignoring recommendations to winterize infrastructure, Texas energy companies prioritized profits over people. Some even cashed in from the surge in demand as people died of hypothermia, burned their possessions to stay warm, and faced food and water shortages. Meanwhile other companies are facing financial ruin.
And in case you're wondering clean energy is not to blame for the crisis. Texas only gets 1% of its energy from solar power, 11% from nuclear power, and 17% from wind power. (It turns out wind turbines thrive in cold places...even Antarctica.) The rest of the state's energy comes from natural gas and coal.
[Image description: The three large electric interconnections that span the United States, large parts of Canada, and a small part of Mexico. A very modest amount of power flows among these three regions over direct current cables so that the 60 Hz power is not synchronized among the regions. Hydro Québec, which is not shown, provides power to many states in the northeastern United States.] Credit & copyright: U.S. Department of Energy, 2016.Last week, Texas experienced unprecedented power outages amid Winter Storm Uri. This wasn't the first time the system, managed by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), dealt with freeze-related failure. In 2011, during Super XLV, generators failed, leading to rolling blackouts. Turns out many of those generators had similarly failed in 1989. To understand why these generators failing led to mass blackouts requires some background on how the United States gets energy to consumers. In the contiguous United States, there are three electrical power grids: the Western Interconnection, the Eastern Interconnection, and ERCOT. Formally established in 1970, ERCOT is a nonprofit organization overseen by the Public Utility Commission of Texas, the Texas Legislature, and an unelected board (one third of whom lived outside of Texas before resigning yesterday). ERCOT covers most, but not all of Texas—parts of the panhandle, like El Paso, and East Texas, receive utilities from nearby states.
Because Texas is "off the grid," that is not connected to the other 47 mainland states, it cannot borrow energy in times of crisis. This design was intentional. During World War II, there was a substantial need for power along the Gulf Coast. Separate utilities in North and Central Texas combined forces to send excess energy to the region. For Texas, this interconnection also offered another opportunity—to evade federal oversight. Several years earlier, in 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Federal Power Act to regulate interstate energy commerce. Texas utilities vowed to keep all power created within the state, avoiding federal regulation. Even today, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission cannot interfere in the state's energy operations or wholesale electricity sales. This system has always been a point of pride for free-market advocates. In the late 1990s, Texas went a step further in deregulating utilities. The legislature broke up existing utility companies into power generating, transmission and distribution, and consumer-serving companies. Supporters have argued this decision benefited companies and consumers. However, Texas must now reckon with the devastating outcomes of a system that allowed companies to self-regulate. By ignoring recommendations to winterize infrastructure, Texas energy companies prioritized profits over people. Some even cashed in from the surge in demand as people died of hypothermia, burned their possessions to stay warm, and faced food and water shortages. Meanwhile other companies are facing financial ruin.
And in case you're wondering clean energy is not to blame for the crisis. Texas only gets 1% of its energy from solar power, 11% from nuclear power, and 17% from wind power. (It turns out wind turbines thrive in cold places...even Antarctica.) The rest of the state's energy comes from natural gas and coal.
[Image description: The three large electric interconnections that span the United States, large parts of Canada, and a small part of Mexico. A very modest amount of power flows among these three regions over direct current cables so that the 60 Hz power is not synchronized among the regions. Hydro Québec, which is not shown, provides power to many states in the northeastern United States.] Credit & copyright: U.S. Department of Energy, 2016. -
FREESTEM Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
While some teens spend their summers prepping for the SATs or playing in the pool, others discover new planets. NASA recently published its findings on TOI-1338 b, an exoplanet or planet outside of our Solar System. 17-year-old intern Wolf Cukier discovered the planet in 2019. The teen was put in charge of the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), a device used to survey Earth-like planets in the universe. On his third day he discovered the unknown planet. TOI-1338 b is the only planet in the TOI-1338 system, which is 1,300 light years away. About seven times the size of Earth, it orbits its two stars, meaning it is a circumbinary planet. It completes its orbit every 95 days. TOI-1338 b is too far away to get a visual of the surface. Nonetheless, computer-generated images like the one above show the gaseous Neptune-like planet with a pink pastel-colored surface. Is it habitable? Absolutely not, but that won't stop us from wishing we could take our next summer vacation there!
[Image Description: a computer-generated rendering of the pink and purple gas giant planet TOI-1338 b.] Credit & copyright: NASA GODDARD
Written by: Esther P.
While some teens spend their summers prepping for the SATs or playing in the pool, others discover new planets. NASA recently published its findings on TOI-1338 b, an exoplanet or planet outside of our Solar System. 17-year-old intern Wolf Cukier discovered the planet in 2019. The teen was put in charge of the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), a device used to survey Earth-like planets in the universe. On his third day he discovered the unknown planet. TOI-1338 b is the only planet in the TOI-1338 system, which is 1,300 light years away. About seven times the size of Earth, it orbits its two stars, meaning it is a circumbinary planet. It completes its orbit every 95 days. TOI-1338 b is too far away to get a visual of the surface. Nonetheless, computer-generated images like the one above show the gaseous Neptune-like planet with a pink pastel-colored surface. Is it habitable? Absolutely not, but that won't stop us from wishing we could take our next summer vacation there!
[Image Description: a computer-generated rendering of the pink and purple gas giant planet TOI-1338 b.] Credit & copyright: NASA GODDARD
Written by: Esther P.
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FREEPhotography Photo CurioFree1 CQ
Regal is as regal does when it comes to Pat McGrath and her makeup work. McGrath recently became the first makeup artist to receive the title of Dame as a Member of the Order of the British Empire. While looking at McGrath's 2016 W magazine cover and editorial work with pop star Rihanna, it's easy to see why McGrath's inventiveness has made her one of the most in-demand makeup artists of the past 30 years. To give Rihanna the bejeweled look, McGrath initially applied a foundation from her own line called McGrath Labs Skin Fetish 003. From there, three-dimensional Cartier jewelry pieces were placed together to create the golden eyepiece. Gold flakes and liquid-appearing makeup effects were added beneath the eye, as well as the red lip color and paillettes. The overall effect is a futuristic baroque look, and definitely one of McGrath's most memorable works. We might even call it one of her crown jewels!
Image credit & copyright: Steven Klein / W Magazine
Written by: Esther P.
Regal is as regal does when it comes to Pat McGrath and her makeup work. McGrath recently became the first makeup artist to receive the title of Dame as a Member of the Order of the British Empire. While looking at McGrath's 2016 W magazine cover and editorial work with pop star Rihanna, it's easy to see why McGrath's inventiveness has made her one of the most in-demand makeup artists of the past 30 years. To give Rihanna the bejeweled look, McGrath initially applied a foundation from her own line called McGrath Labs Skin Fetish 003. From there, three-dimensional Cartier jewelry pieces were placed together to create the golden eyepiece. Gold flakes and liquid-appearing makeup effects were added beneath the eye, as well as the red lip color and paillettes. The overall effect is a futuristic baroque look, and definitely one of McGrath's most memorable works. We might even call it one of her crown jewels!
Image credit & copyright: Steven Klein / W Magazine
Written by: Esther P.
February 24, 2021
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
The latest development in the net neutrality saga. Plus, a milestone in the initiative aimed at reducing the vaccine divide between richer and developing cou...
The latest development in the net neutrality saga. Plus, a milestone in the initiative aimed at reducing the vaccine divide between richer and developing cou...
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : February 24, 2021
fathom \FA-thum\ verb
Definition
1 : to make a searching exploratory investigation : probe
2 : to take soundings
3 :...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : February 24, 2021
fathom \FA-thum\ verb
Definition
1 : to make a searching exploratory investigation : probe
2 : to take soundings
3 :...
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4 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree3 CQ
Experts say that as the US rejoins the UN Human Rights Council, it should hold allies — and itself — accountable for human rights violations.
with PRI's The WorldExperts say that as the US rejoins the UN Human Rights Council, it should hold allies — and itself — accountable for human rights violations.
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FREEBiology Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
Move over Dolly, there's a new clone in town—and she's here to save a species! Born December 10th, Elizabeth Ann is a black-footed ferret unlike any other. Created from the genetic material a ferret named Willa who died more than 30 years ago, Elizabeth Ann is the first clone of a U.S. endangered species in history. Elizabeth Ann was created in a joint effort between five conservation and technology organizations. First, researchers extracted genetic material from Willa, who was frozen upon her death in 1988. They then transferred it into an egg cell which had had its own genetic material removed. The egg was implanted into the uterus of a domestic ferret, which gave birth to Elizabeth Ann. The process took seven years. As lead researcher Pete Gober remarked in an interview with CBS, "It takes extraordinary efforts to put humpty dumpty back together once you let him fall off the wall and get cracked." The "humpty-dumpty" Gober referred to is the black-footed ferret species, which used to roam throughout central North America.
Due to human encroachment, much of the prairie dog population, which black-footed ferrets depend on for survival, was wiped out. Today, only around 350 black-footed ferrets survive in the wild. All naturally-born black-footed ferrets alive today share the same seven ancestors. Such close inbreeding causes homozygosity, a state in which offspring are disproportionately affected by harmful recessive traits that would normally be selected out of the gene pool. Elizabeth Ann's genetic material would introduce much-needed genetic diversity to the species.
Researchers are now theorizing that cloning could be key to saving other endangered species, or even bringing back extinct ones, such as passenger pigeons or even wooly mammoths. To think such big things might be possible thanks to one little ferret!
[Image description: Elizabeth Ann, a cloned back-footed ferret, pokes her head out of a tube. Her fur is light brown and white with a dark brown stripe across her eye-area.] Credit & copyright: CNN
Written by: Maria C.
Move over Dolly, there's a new clone in town—and she's here to save a species! Born December 10th, Elizabeth Ann is a black-footed ferret unlike any other. Created from the genetic material a ferret named Willa who died more than 30 years ago, Elizabeth Ann is the first clone of a U.S. endangered species in history. Elizabeth Ann was created in a joint effort between five conservation and technology organizations. First, researchers extracted genetic material from Willa, who was frozen upon her death in 1988. They then transferred it into an egg cell which had had its own genetic material removed. The egg was implanted into the uterus of a domestic ferret, which gave birth to Elizabeth Ann. The process took seven years. As lead researcher Pete Gober remarked in an interview with CBS, "It takes extraordinary efforts to put humpty dumpty back together once you let him fall off the wall and get cracked." The "humpty-dumpty" Gober referred to is the black-footed ferret species, which used to roam throughout central North America.
Due to human encroachment, much of the prairie dog population, which black-footed ferrets depend on for survival, was wiped out. Today, only around 350 black-footed ferrets survive in the wild. All naturally-born black-footed ferrets alive today share the same seven ancestors. Such close inbreeding causes homozygosity, a state in which offspring are disproportionately affected by harmful recessive traits that would normally be selected out of the gene pool. Elizabeth Ann's genetic material would introduce much-needed genetic diversity to the species.
Researchers are now theorizing that cloning could be key to saving other endangered species, or even bringing back extinct ones, such as passenger pigeons or even wooly mammoths. To think such big things might be possible thanks to one little ferret!
[Image description: Elizabeth Ann, a cloned back-footed ferret, pokes her head out of a tube. Her fur is light brown and white with a dark brown stripe across her eye-area.] Credit & copyright: CNN
Written by: Maria C.
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FREESTEM Daily Curio #2189Free1 CQ
If you watched Super Bowl LV (that's 55), you might have been shocked to see so many people in the stadiums. While there were 25,000 people in attendance—a number substantially above the Center for Disease Control's current recommendations—there were also 30,000 cardboard cutouts designed to space out seats and make the stadium look fuller. Surprisingly, the cardboard cutouts were only one of the many safety measures being used by the National Football League (NFL) during the game. Each of the players was fitted with a contact tracing device designed by the German company KINEXON. The 15.4-gram sensor measures 47 x 33 x 7.55 millimeters, and was placed under the players' shoulder pads. (The NBA has also been using them in players' waistbands.) Equipped with an accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer, the devices can produce metrics on players' acceleration, velocity, heart rate, core temperature, and more. While the sensors were designed as a training tool to evaluate players overall performance, they also are effective contact tracers. They generate data regarding how long players are in contact with one another, and at what proximity, with a margin of error of only 4 inches.
Alongside everyday preventative measures like hand washing and social distancing, contact tracing is one of the best ways to control the spread of Covid-19. If infected individuals are identified before they are symptomatic, isolated from others, and given treatment, additional transmission can be prevented. That's why KINEXON is now offering their modified devices to operations around the globe to assist with contract tracing. Of course, despite these measures, the Super Bowl still could have been a Covid-19 super spreader event. Of the 25,000 attendees, 7,500 were vaccinated healthcare workers who received free tickets and 3,000 were regularly test players, personnel, and staff. The remaining 14,500 fans were not required to be tested or vaccinated. Even in the open-air stadium, there was plenty of opportunity for Covid-19 transmission. With fans cheering or shouting, they could spread their droplets. Not to mention the fact that alcohol consumption increases the likelihood people do not follow safety protocols. Only time will tell if the Super Bowl was a super spreader event, especially as gatherings also occurred in bars, restaurants, and private homes across the country.
[Image description: A hand holds the Player Tracking Device.] Credit & copyright: KINEXON.If you watched Super Bowl LV (that's 55), you might have been shocked to see so many people in the stadiums. While there were 25,000 people in attendance—a number substantially above the Center for Disease Control's current recommendations—there were also 30,000 cardboard cutouts designed to space out seats and make the stadium look fuller. Surprisingly, the cardboard cutouts were only one of the many safety measures being used by the National Football League (NFL) during the game. Each of the players was fitted with a contact tracing device designed by the German company KINEXON. The 15.4-gram sensor measures 47 x 33 x 7.55 millimeters, and was placed under the players' shoulder pads. (The NBA has also been using them in players' waistbands.) Equipped with an accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer, the devices can produce metrics on players' acceleration, velocity, heart rate, core temperature, and more. While the sensors were designed as a training tool to evaluate players overall performance, they also are effective contact tracers. They generate data regarding how long players are in contact with one another, and at what proximity, with a margin of error of only 4 inches.
Alongside everyday preventative measures like hand washing and social distancing, contact tracing is one of the best ways to control the spread of Covid-19. If infected individuals are identified before they are symptomatic, isolated from others, and given treatment, additional transmission can be prevented. That's why KINEXON is now offering their modified devices to operations around the globe to assist with contract tracing. Of course, despite these measures, the Super Bowl still could have been a Covid-19 super spreader event. Of the 25,000 attendees, 7,500 were vaccinated healthcare workers who received free tickets and 3,000 were regularly test players, personnel, and staff. The remaining 14,500 fans were not required to be tested or vaccinated. Even in the open-air stadium, there was plenty of opportunity for Covid-19 transmission. With fans cheering or shouting, they could spread their droplets. Not to mention the fact that alcohol consumption increases the likelihood people do not follow safety protocols. Only time will tell if the Super Bowl was a super spreader event, especially as gatherings also occurred in bars, restaurants, and private homes across the country.
[Image description: A hand holds the Player Tracking Device.] Credit & copyright: KINEXON. -
FREEMusic Appreciation Song CurioFree2 CQ
The Beach Boys had a famously wholesome vibe, but sometimes the gloves came off! Although 1965's earworm Help Me Rhonda went on to become the Beach Boys' second number-one single, the song got off to a rough start. The band first attempted to record it on January 8, 1965, but an interloper took over during their studio session. Murry Wilson, father of band members Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson, and uncle of band member Mike Love, showed up to the session seemingly just to disrupt it. Wilson drunkenly yelled at the band, focusing most of his abuse on his son Brian. Brian began shouting back and Wilson eventually left. The Beach Boys re-recorded the song's vocals the next day, and met on February 24 to re-do the song in its entirety before release. Al Jardine, the Beach Boys' lead guitarist, ended up singing lead vocals for the first time on the released version. The song was certainly worth all the trouble. With its boppy beat and repetitious, easy-to-remember chorus, Help Me Rhonda topped the charts for two weeks, beating out The Beatles' Ticket to Ride for the number one spot. Take that, Dad!
Image credit & copyright: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Written by: Maria C.
The Beach Boys had a famously wholesome vibe, but sometimes the gloves came off! Although 1965's earworm Help Me Rhonda went on to become the Beach Boys' second number-one single, the song got off to a rough start. The band first attempted to record it on January 8, 1965, but an interloper took over during their studio session. Murry Wilson, father of band members Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson, and uncle of band member Mike Love, showed up to the session seemingly just to disrupt it. Wilson drunkenly yelled at the band, focusing most of his abuse on his son Brian. Brian began shouting back and Wilson eventually left. The Beach Boys re-recorded the song's vocals the next day, and met on February 24 to re-do the song in its entirety before release. Al Jardine, the Beach Boys' lead guitarist, ended up singing lead vocals for the first time on the released version. The song was certainly worth all the trouble. With its boppy beat and repetitious, easy-to-remember chorus, Help Me Rhonda topped the charts for two weeks, beating out The Beatles' Ticket to Ride for the number one spot. Take that, Dad!
Image credit & copyright: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Written by: Maria C.