Daily Curio
An amusing daily fact from Justin Kitch, Curious CEO.
Curio Cabinet
- By Date
- By Type
October 18, 2019
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3 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree2 CQ
Does your winter wear come with sheep included? If you're shopping at Sheep Inc., it does. But for co-founder Edzard van der Wyck it's not a gimmick — it's a...
with PRI's The WorldDoes your winter wear come with sheep included? If you're shopping at Sheep Inc., it does. But for co-founder Edzard van der Wyck it's not a gimmick — it's a...
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4 minFREESTEM Nerdy CurioFree3 CQ
Today's Nerdy Curio is brought to you by Engines of Our Ingenuity. Episode: 1756 The Death of Bigfoot. Today, a requiem for a beast.
Today's Nerdy Curio is brought to you by Engines of Our Ingenuity. Episode: 1756 The Death of Bigfoot. Today, a requiem for a beast.
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FREEJazz Guitar Song CurioFree2 CQ
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
It's been over 70 years since Jackie Robinson debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first African-American player to appear in a Major League Baseball game. Integration supporters celebrated the groundbreaking event in lots of ways—not the least of which was through song. Count Basie and his Orchestra released Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball? " in 1949, two years after #42 won NL Rookie of the Year. It was an instant baseball classic. The informal chorus of voices and plodding horn section transport us to a nostalgic vision of baseball's early days—complete with ball-hitting-wooden-bat sound effects. But within the lyrics of the song, there's something more serious: tacit pride in Robinson as a role model for young black Americans hoping to achieve things once thought impossible in the postwar American racial climate. And that's not all. He stole home—19 times, to be exact.
Other streaming options
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
It's been over 70 years since Jackie Robinson debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first African-American player to appear in a Major League Baseball game. Integration supporters celebrated the groundbreaking event in lots of ways—not the least of which was through song. Count Basie and his Orchestra released Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball? " in 1949, two years after #42 won NL Rookie of the Year. It was an instant baseball classic. The informal chorus of voices and plodding horn section transport us to a nostalgic vision of baseball's early days—complete with ball-hitting-wooden-bat sound effects. But within the lyrics of the song, there's something more serious: tacit pride in Robinson as a role model for young black Americans hoping to achieve things once thought impossible in the postwar American racial climate. And that's not all. He stole home—19 times, to be exact.
Other streaming options
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FREEComposition Photo CurioFree1 CQ
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
Who needs their face on a Wheaties box when there are perfectly good pies to have on one's face? Outfielder Adam Jones (pictured right) was known for his goofy antics in the Baltimore Orioles baseball dugout, most prominently the pies-to-the-face he dealt teammates like Joey Rickard here. Jones' jokes may have made for some of the silliest moments in sports photography, but he was hardly the first to begin the tradition. Pieing teammates who have completed walk-off runs to win the game in the bottom of the final inning has been a baseball tradition for decades—though Jones extended the celebrations to no-hitter pitchers and other difficult plays. He originally used shaving cream instead of pie filling, like many other players, but the grooming substance frequently inflamed eyes. His pies soon became the real deal as he partnered with Dangerously Delicious Pies for two provided desserts per game, with crust and cream were seen flying off his fellow players. In 2016, the Orioles banned pies-to-the-face for safety reasons (and likely frustration with the joke), though it only took one game for Jones to disobey the rule. Old habits sure do pie hard!
Below: Jones pieing more of his fellow Orioles including Yefry Ramírez and Chris Davis, and running into a taste of his own pastry medicine.
Image credit & copyright: Getty Images, Baltimore Sun, Movie TV Tech Geeks
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
Who needs their face on a Wheaties box when there are perfectly good pies to have on one's face? Outfielder Adam Jones (pictured right) was known for his goofy antics in the Baltimore Orioles baseball dugout, most prominently the pies-to-the-face he dealt teammates like Joey Rickard here. Jones' jokes may have made for some of the silliest moments in sports photography, but he was hardly the first to begin the tradition. Pieing teammates who have completed walk-off runs to win the game in the bottom of the final inning has been a baseball tradition for decades—though Jones extended the celebrations to no-hitter pitchers and other difficult plays. He originally used shaving cream instead of pie filling, like many other players, but the grooming substance frequently inflamed eyes. His pies soon became the real deal as he partnered with Dangerously Delicious Pies for two provided desserts per game, with crust and cream were seen flying off his fellow players. In 2016, the Orioles banned pies-to-the-face for safety reasons (and likely frustration with the joke), though it only took one game for Jones to disobey the rule. Old habits sure do pie hard!
Below: Jones pieing more of his fellow Orioles including Yefry Ramírez and Chris Davis, and running into a taste of his own pastry medicine.
Image credit & copyright: Getty Images, Baltimore Sun, Movie TV Tech Geeks
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FREEArt Appreciation Art CurioFree1 CQ
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
Title: T206 Honus Wagner
Created: 1909-1911
Medium: print on paper
Dimensions: 1.1 x 2.6 in (2.9 x 6.7 cm)
Current location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, New York
Grab a mitt and throw on a cap—let's head to a baseball… exhibit. Baseball's World Series is right around the corner, and we're celebrating by taking a looking at the T206 Honus Wagner, known as the "Holy Grail" of baseball cards for its unrivaled worth. The coveted rectangle depicts dapper Hall of Famer and Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop, Honus Wagner. Its graphic design sure is bland, but that's because it was made using the lithographic process—where water keeps oil color from spreading. The process had to be repeated for every color and feature, meaning mass-production would've been a nightmare if craftsmen attempted to embellish the borders (or make Wagner holographic). The American Tobacco Company initially concocted the card as a ploy to sell cigarettes to children; but unlike most players, Wagner didn't condone smoking. He demanded his card be pulled from circulation in 1911, the reason why under 70 of them exist today. Wagner's card flew under the radar until 1991, when former hockey player Wayne Gretzky purchased one for $451,000. The price tag has risen since then; in 2016, one sold for a record $3.12 million. Surprisingly, the Metropolitan Museum of Art has a Wagner—the cherry on top of its 30,000-strong baseball card collection!
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
Title: T206 Honus Wagner
Created: 1909-1911
Medium: print on paper
Dimensions: 1.1 x 2.6 in (2.9 x 6.7 cm)
Current location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, New York
Grab a mitt and throw on a cap—let's head to a baseball… exhibit. Baseball's World Series is right around the corner, and we're celebrating by taking a looking at the T206 Honus Wagner, known as the "Holy Grail" of baseball cards for its unrivaled worth. The coveted rectangle depicts dapper Hall of Famer and Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop, Honus Wagner. Its graphic design sure is bland, but that's because it was made using the lithographic process—where water keeps oil color from spreading. The process had to be repeated for every color and feature, meaning mass-production would've been a nightmare if craftsmen attempted to embellish the borders (or make Wagner holographic). The American Tobacco Company initially concocted the card as a ploy to sell cigarettes to children; but unlike most players, Wagner didn't condone smoking. He demanded his card be pulled from circulation in 1911, the reason why under 70 of them exist today. Wagner's card flew under the radar until 1991, when former hockey player Wayne Gretzky purchased one for $451,000. The price tag has risen since then; in 2016, one sold for a record $3.12 million. Surprisingly, the Metropolitan Museum of Art has a Wagner—the cherry on top of its 30,000-strong baseball card collection!
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FREESports Daily CurioFree1 CQ
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
You’re out! On this day in 1974, the Cleveland Indians made one of the biggest mistakes in professional baseball history: 10-cent beer night. The occasion was a game versus the Texas Rangers, whom the Indians had played a week earlier in a tumultuous affair featuring: a brawl, several head-hunting pitches, and fans hurling beer at the visiting Indians. So the Indians were eager for revenge, but there was a problem. The team’s lackluster season was attracting tiny crowds, making the Indians massive stadium appear empty. The Indians’ marketing department decided drastic action was required if they wanted to return the favor to the Rangers for events from the week before. That’s how they came up with 10-cent beer night and one-dollar bleacher tickets. It worked; over 25,000 fans showed up.
Accounts vary about the size of the beers, but there was no limit. Fans could get as many beers as they could carry and then hand them out to any and everybody. The fun began in the first inning, when a woman jumped the wall, took off her shirt in the batter’s circle, then tried to kiss the home plate umpire. In the fourth inning a completely naked man evaded officials and slid into second base. Ouch. In the fifth inning, two men leapt over the outfield fence and mooned the Rangers’ outfielders. Soon packs of fans were roaming the outfield between innings—many of them in the buff—at one point removing a section of the outfield fence.
Then things got really ugly in the ninth. The Rangers rallied to tie the game, with the winning run on second base. A fan ran onto the field and grabbed the cap of the Rangers’ centerfielder, knocking him down. The Rangers players had had enough. Their dugout emptied onto the field. When they made it to their fallen comrade, a gang of over 200 drunken fans armed with chains, knives and clubs made from metal seats was waiting for them. By the time the melee was over, the umpires had declared a forfeit (in favor of the Rangers), and players, fans and umpires were bleeding from virtually every body part. The Indians players accepted the loss, and escorted the Rangers to their bus to ensure the ugly scene didn’t get worse. And the Indians’ marketing team learned from the experience as well. Sort of. They had another 10-cent beer night just a few weeks later, but at least they imposed a two-drink maximum!It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
You’re out! On this day in 1974, the Cleveland Indians made one of the biggest mistakes in professional baseball history: 10-cent beer night. The occasion was a game versus the Texas Rangers, whom the Indians had played a week earlier in a tumultuous affair featuring: a brawl, several head-hunting pitches, and fans hurling beer at the visiting Indians. So the Indians were eager for revenge, but there was a problem. The team’s lackluster season was attracting tiny crowds, making the Indians massive stadium appear empty. The Indians’ marketing department decided drastic action was required if they wanted to return the favor to the Rangers for events from the week before. That’s how they came up with 10-cent beer night and one-dollar bleacher tickets. It worked; over 25,000 fans showed up.
Accounts vary about the size of the beers, but there was no limit. Fans could get as many beers as they could carry and then hand them out to any and everybody. The fun began in the first inning, when a woman jumped the wall, took off her shirt in the batter’s circle, then tried to kiss the home plate umpire. In the fourth inning a completely naked man evaded officials and slid into second base. Ouch. In the fifth inning, two men leapt over the outfield fence and mooned the Rangers’ outfielders. Soon packs of fans were roaming the outfield between innings—many of them in the buff—at one point removing a section of the outfield fence.
Then things got really ugly in the ninth. The Rangers rallied to tie the game, with the winning run on second base. A fan ran onto the field and grabbed the cap of the Rangers’ centerfielder, knocking him down. The Rangers players had had enough. Their dugout emptied onto the field. When they made it to their fallen comrade, a gang of over 200 drunken fans armed with chains, knives and clubs made from metal seats was waiting for them. By the time the melee was over, the umpires had declared a forfeit (in favor of the Rangers), and players, fans and umpires were bleeding from virtually every body part. The Indians players accepted the loss, and escorted the Rangers to their bus to ensure the ugly scene didn’t get worse. And the Indians’ marketing team learned from the experience as well. Sort of. They had another 10-cent beer night just a few weeks later, but at least they imposed a two-drink maximum! -
7 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
The IMF is pessimistic about global growth. Business schools warn Trump about a future dearth of high-skilled work visas. Plus, Atlanta is struggling to keep...
The IMF is pessimistic about global growth. Business schools warn Trump about a future dearth of high-skilled work visas. Plus, Atlanta is struggling to keep...
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2 minFREEPoetry Poem CurioFree2 CQ
Poem of the Day: Ode for the American Dead in Asia. By Thomas McGrath.
with Poetry FoundationPoem of the Day: Ode for the American Dead in Asia. By Thomas McGrath.
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day : January 7, 2017
beguile \bih-GHYLE\ verb
Definition
1 : to lead by deception
2 : to deceive by cunning means
3 : to draw notice or int...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : January 7, 2017
beguile \bih-GHYLE\ verb
Definition
1 : to lead by deception
2 : to deceive by cunning means
3 : to draw notice or int...
October 17, 2019
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4 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree3 CQ
Léon Theremin was a cellist and a physicist and found out that you can create a sound by moving your hand in electromagnetic fields.
with PRI's The WorldLéon Theremin was a cellist and a physicist and found out that you can create a sound by moving your hand in electromagnetic fields.
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1 minFREESTEM Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
Today's Nerdy Curio is brought to you by 60-Second Science. Adult corals can reshuffle their symbiotic algae species to adapt to warming waters—and, it appea...
with 60-Second ScienceToday's Nerdy Curio is brought to you by 60-Second Science. Adult corals can reshuffle their symbiotic algae species to adapt to warming waters—and, it appea...
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FREEPsychology Daily Curio #1925Free1 CQ
As time goes by, more and more scientists are lauding the therapeutic uses of psilocybin, the psychedelic hallucinogen found in "magic mushrooms." Matthew Johnson, an experimental psychologist at Johns Hopkins University, has been spearheading research into the substance's ability to overcome addiction—namely that of nicotine. For several years now, he has conducted experiments that couple long-term counseling with one-off psilocybin sessions. His patients prep extensively for their session, and pop a pill inside a controlled "trip room." Johnson admits it all sounds pretty "woo-woo," but 80 percent of his patients quit and half have remained smoke-free a year after their sessions—making his treatment twice as effective as nicotine patches. Psilocybin, like other hallucinogenic drugs, has been used by indigenous communities for millennia. However, American public perception of it soured in the '70s, when the counterculture movement mistook hallucinogens as cure-alls for modern society's ills. People abused the drug, and stories of frightening delusions and visions entered the era's zeitgeist. Hallucinogens like psilocybin can indeed arouse states of euphoria or terror where one "hears colors" or "sees sounds." People with a family history of psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, are strongly advised against taking the drug, as there's a small chance it could induce a psychotic break from reality. Psilocybin is currently a Schedule I drug under federal U.S. drug policy. It's worth noting, though, that it is non-addictive, comparatively free of long-term damage, and remarkably safe in regards to overdosing. In fact, it seems to "reset" the mind, allowing users to reconsider their negative, ingrained thought patterns. Other experiments suggest that this trait has potential as an antidepressant and anti-anxiety medication. Johnson is currently helming a new experiment designed to test the "profoundly healing" efficacy of psilocybin against nicotine patches using MRI scans. And with the cities of Oakland and Denver having decriminalized magic mushrooms earlier this year, it seems Americans are finally willing to give psychedelics a chance to prove their use. It's a trend that may or may not coincide with the return of tie-dye clothing!
Image credit & copyright: Qieer Wang for NPR
As time goes by, more and more scientists are lauding the therapeutic uses of psilocybin, the psychedelic hallucinogen found in "magic mushrooms." Matthew Johnson, an experimental psychologist at Johns Hopkins University, has been spearheading research into the substance's ability to overcome addiction—namely that of nicotine. For several years now, he has conducted experiments that couple long-term counseling with one-off psilocybin sessions. His patients prep extensively for their session, and pop a pill inside a controlled "trip room." Johnson admits it all sounds pretty "woo-woo," but 80 percent of his patients quit and half have remained smoke-free a year after their sessions—making his treatment twice as effective as nicotine patches. Psilocybin, like other hallucinogenic drugs, has been used by indigenous communities for millennia. However, American public perception of it soured in the '70s, when the counterculture movement mistook hallucinogens as cure-alls for modern society's ills. People abused the drug, and stories of frightening delusions and visions entered the era's zeitgeist. Hallucinogens like psilocybin can indeed arouse states of euphoria or terror where one "hears colors" or "sees sounds." People with a family history of psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, are strongly advised against taking the drug, as there's a small chance it could induce a psychotic break from reality. Psilocybin is currently a Schedule I drug under federal U.S. drug policy. It's worth noting, though, that it is non-addictive, comparatively free of long-term damage, and remarkably safe in regards to overdosing. In fact, it seems to "reset" the mind, allowing users to reconsider their negative, ingrained thought patterns. Other experiments suggest that this trait has potential as an antidepressant and anti-anxiety medication. Johnson is currently helming a new experiment designed to test the "profoundly healing" efficacy of psilocybin against nicotine patches using MRI scans. And with the cities of Oakland and Denver having decriminalized magic mushrooms earlier this year, it seems Americans are finally willing to give psychedelics a chance to prove their use. It's a trend that may or may not coincide with the return of tie-dye clothing!
Image credit & copyright: Qieer Wang for NPR
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
Banks are trying to figure out how to make money with interest rates this low. Softbank is trying to make WeWork work. Plus, more women are at the top of the...
Banks are trying to figure out how to make money with interest rates this low. Softbank is trying to make WeWork work. Plus, more women are at the top of the...
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FREEInterior Design Art CurioFree1 CQ
Title: Gallivant
Artist: Sebastian Brajkovic (b. 1975)
Created: 2019
Medium: grey bronze, gold copper embroidered purple linen
Dimensions: 20.5 x 70.9 x 19.7 in (52 x 180 x 50 cm)
Current location: David Gill Gallery, London, England
What would our physical therapists say about the "ergonomic" design of this seat? In Sebastian Brajkovic's piece Gallivant, the Dutch sculptor deconstructs elements of French furniture design in twisted ways. The gilded seat takes inspiration from the baroque traditions of the Palace of Versailles in Paris, France—though Brajkovic isn't satisfied with merely replicating historical pieces. Instead of using the period-accurate carved wood as a construction base, Brajkovic uses a much heavier and malleable bronze metal, upholstering it in fine gold and lilac cloths. As Brajkovic notes, the results of this construction process challenge more than notions of good interior design: "I like the aspect that time is visible in the work that I make…. things untwining or extruding, growing and becoming older, metaphysical experiences, and surreal vision." Even if his pieces aren't really made for sitting, they'd still be quite the conversation piece in anyone's living room!
Below: more examples of Brajkovic's trippy furniture.
Image credit & copyright: David Gill Gallery, Sebastian Brajkovic
Title: Gallivant
Artist: Sebastian Brajkovic (b. 1975)
Created: 2019
Medium: grey bronze, gold copper embroidered purple linen
Dimensions: 20.5 x 70.9 x 19.7 in (52 x 180 x 50 cm)
Current location: David Gill Gallery, London, England
What would our physical therapists say about the "ergonomic" design of this seat? In Sebastian Brajkovic's piece Gallivant, the Dutch sculptor deconstructs elements of French furniture design in twisted ways. The gilded seat takes inspiration from the baroque traditions of the Palace of Versailles in Paris, France—though Brajkovic isn't satisfied with merely replicating historical pieces. Instead of using the period-accurate carved wood as a construction base, Brajkovic uses a much heavier and malleable bronze metal, upholstering it in fine gold and lilac cloths. As Brajkovic notes, the results of this construction process challenge more than notions of good interior design: "I like the aspect that time is visible in the work that I make…. things untwining or extruding, growing and becoming older, metaphysical experiences, and surreal vision." Even if his pieces aren't really made for sitting, they'd still be quite the conversation piece in anyone's living room!
Below: more examples of Brajkovic's trippy furniture.
Image credit & copyright: David Gill Gallery, Sebastian Brajkovic
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2 minFREEPoetry Poem CurioFree2 CQ
Poem of the Day: The Boatman. By Carolyn Forché.
with Poetry FoundationPoem of the Day: The Boatman. By Carolyn Forché.
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day : January 6, 2017
factitious \fak-TISH-us\ adjective
Definition
1 : produced by humans rather than by natural forces
2 a : formed by or a...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : January 6, 2017
factitious \fak-TISH-us\ adjective
Definition
1 : produced by humans rather than by natural forces
2 a : formed by or a...
October 16, 2019
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FREELiterature Daily Curio #1924Free1 CQ
A missing chapter of the revered Japanese epic The Tale of Genji was discovered earlier this month. If you're unfamiliar with the story, you would be forgiven. Written around 1010 C.E. by Murasaki Shikibu, a royal widow, The Tale of Genji is widely considered the first modern novel ever written. It's a winding journey through the life, politics, and love affairs of Genji, the son of an emperor. Literati place it in the ranks of Don Quixote (1605) by Miguel de Cervantes, and draw comparisons between the observant prose of Murasaki and Jane Austen. It's a tome containing 1,300 pages, 54 chapters, and some 400 painstakingly developed characters with minimal plot. How did it come to be? Murasaki, who lived during Japan's Heian period, was born into a minor branch of the powerful Fujiwara clan. She was a wallflower and observed Japan's Imperial court from the sidelines, recorded everything in a diary, and translated it into her novel. The first persons to read installments of Genji are believed to have been aristocratic ladies-in-waiting. Unfortunately, that's all we know of the novel's backstory: the original manuscript was lost and the oldest known credible translation, made two centuries later, has long been incomplete. Luckily, a missing excerpt from that translation was just discovered in the family chest of one Motofuyu Okochi, a direct ancestor to a feudal lord. The Okochi family's meticulous records confirm the excerpt's authenticity, so it will offer an untampered view into everyday life in Japan's Imperial court. Which, further brought back to light, will certainly be a win for Japanese culture, historians, and bookworms. Because, as Murasaki wrote in Genji, "Real things in the darkness seem no realer than dreams."
A missing chapter of the revered Japanese epic The Tale of Genji was discovered earlier this month. If you're unfamiliar with the story, you would be forgiven. Written around 1010 C.E. by Murasaki Shikibu, a royal widow, The Tale of Genji is widely considered the first modern novel ever written. It's a winding journey through the life, politics, and love affairs of Genji, the son of an emperor. Literati place it in the ranks of Don Quixote (1605) by Miguel de Cervantes, and draw comparisons between the observant prose of Murasaki and Jane Austen. It's a tome containing 1,300 pages, 54 chapters, and some 400 painstakingly developed characters with minimal plot. How did it come to be? Murasaki, who lived during Japan's Heian period, was born into a minor branch of the powerful Fujiwara clan. She was a wallflower and observed Japan's Imperial court from the sidelines, recorded everything in a diary, and translated it into her novel. The first persons to read installments of Genji are believed to have been aristocratic ladies-in-waiting. Unfortunately, that's all we know of the novel's backstory: the original manuscript was lost and the oldest known credible translation, made two centuries later, has long been incomplete. Luckily, a missing excerpt from that translation was just discovered in the family chest of one Motofuyu Okochi, a direct ancestor to a feudal lord. The Okochi family's meticulous records confirm the excerpt's authenticity, so it will offer an untampered view into everyday life in Japan's Imperial court. Which, further brought back to light, will certainly be a win for Japanese culture, historians, and bookworms. Because, as Murasaki wrote in Genji, "Real things in the darkness seem no realer than dreams."
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7 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
From the BBC World Service… U.S. sanctions on Turkey have had a limited impact. Cell phone users in Kashmir get service back after a 70-day suspension. Plus,...
From the BBC World Service… U.S. sanctions on Turkey have had a limited impact. Cell phone users in Kashmir get service back after a 70-day suspension. Plus,...
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2 minFREESTEM Nerdy CurioFree2 CQ
Today's Nerdy Curio is brought to you by 60-Second Science. The brains of blind people repurpose the vision regions for adaptive hearing, and they appear to ...
with 60-Second ScienceToday's Nerdy Curio is brought to you by 60-Second Science. The brains of blind people repurpose the vision regions for adaptive hearing, and they appear to ...
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5 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree3 CQ
Northern Ireland has dominated the Brexit negotiations over the last few months. But even if British Prime Minister Boris Johnson manages to appease those on...
with PRI's The WorldNorthern Ireland has dominated the Brexit negotiations over the last few months. But even if British Prime Minister Boris Johnson manages to appease those on...
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FREEJazz Guitar Song CurioFree2 CQ
Last month, jazz lovers mourned the loss of a star whom Dizzy Gillespie once called his "protégé": self-described "trumpetiste" Clora Bryant, who emerged as a bebop and West Coast jazz pioneer in the 1940s. On tracks like This Can't Be Love, Bryant led her own quartet as a singer and soloist. Her hardscrabble contralto voice compliments the lyrics of a cynical person who might have just found the greatest love of her life. In contrast, her solo comes out swingin' smoothly with variations on the jazz chorus. While Bryant is often overlooked by jazz historians, her contemporaries were far more effusive with praise. "She has the feeling of the trumpet. The feeling, not just the notes," Gillespie remarked. Despite battling sexism all her life, Bryan shined as a soloist for the U.S.'s leading all-female swing ensemble, the International Sweethearts of Rhythm, and emerged as a band leader in the '50s. In 1989, she became the first American jazz artist to perform in the U.S.S.R. If Bryant's legacy on wax is any indication, jazz trumpet aficionados who love a swingin' good tune will be grooving to her for many years to come.
Other streaming options
Image credit & copyright: Loomis Dean / LIFE Picture Collection / Getty Images
Last month, jazz lovers mourned the loss of a star whom Dizzy Gillespie once called his "protégé": self-described "trumpetiste" Clora Bryant, who emerged as a bebop and West Coast jazz pioneer in the 1940s. On tracks like This Can't Be Love, Bryant led her own quartet as a singer and soloist. Her hardscrabble contralto voice compliments the lyrics of a cynical person who might have just found the greatest love of her life. In contrast, her solo comes out swingin' smoothly with variations on the jazz chorus. While Bryant is often overlooked by jazz historians, her contemporaries were far more effusive with praise. "She has the feeling of the trumpet. The feeling, not just the notes," Gillespie remarked. Despite battling sexism all her life, Bryan shined as a soloist for the U.S.'s leading all-female swing ensemble, the International Sweethearts of Rhythm, and emerged as a band leader in the '50s. In 1989, she became the first American jazz artist to perform in the U.S.S.R. If Bryant's legacy on wax is any indication, jazz trumpet aficionados who love a swingin' good tune will be grooving to her for many years to come.
Other streaming options
Image credit & copyright: Loomis Dean / LIFE Picture Collection / Getty Images
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day : January 5, 2017
maelstrom \MAIL-strum\ noun
Definition
1 : a powerful often violent whirlpool sucking in objects within a given radius
...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : January 5, 2017
maelstrom \MAIL-strum\ noun
Definition
1 : a powerful often violent whirlpool sucking in objects within a given radius
...
October 15, 2019
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FREEArt Appreciation Daily Curio #1923Free1 CQ
Have you ever noticed that Renaissance paintings tend to be dark, as if someone dimmed the lighting within the frames? Scientists recently discovered why, and it proves that the Old Masters actually favored much brighter colors. A team of researchers at the French National Centre for Scientific Research, led by chemist Didier Gourier, first attributed the dull coloration to light and oxygen exposure. In particular, they were interested in how an archaic pigment called verdigris reacted to those conditions. Verdigris, or copper acetate, was traditionally created by seeping copper in vinegar for around three weeks. The resultant blue-green copper acetate film developed for the same reasons the Statue of Liberty shines blue-green. In fact, verdigris was described as a very flashy pigment meant to pop. It was popular from the 15th through the 17th century, but fell out of favor in the 19th century. It was flagged as toxic, and art historians started noticing that verdigris succumbed to a high rate of darkening: objects like trees, bushes, and green fabrics kept fading into the shadows of scenes.
To isolate verdigris as the culprit, Gourier and his team first took an electron microscope to samples from two Renaissance masterpieces, Agnolo Bronzino's Noli me tangere (1561) and Jean Fouquet's Pietà (c. 1470). Certain sections of verdigris, those shielded from light by each painting's frame, had aged better and gleamed far brighter than unprotected areas. A closer look also linked oxygen diffusion in cracked paint to the darkening. But Gourier wasn't satisfied with his findings yet. Next, he and the team replicated traditional Renaissance verdigris and applied it to a thin glass plate. They then subjected the plate to 16 hours of LED light, to simulate centuries of normal light exposure. Within that time frame, the verdigris samples on the plate wilted and turned murky brown, just like it had in the masterpieces. This just goes to show that, even though Renaissance masters took a solemn approach to their craft, they didn't purposefully select drab colors. It also means that a broad swath of famous paintings—from Boticelli to van Eyck—will require better methods of preservation. Which I'm onboard for, so long as art historians don't hide these works away in the dark!
Have you ever noticed that Renaissance paintings tend to be dark, as if someone dimmed the lighting within the frames? Scientists recently discovered why, and it proves that the Old Masters actually favored much brighter colors. A team of researchers at the French National Centre for Scientific Research, led by chemist Didier Gourier, first attributed the dull coloration to light and oxygen exposure. In particular, they were interested in how an archaic pigment called verdigris reacted to those conditions. Verdigris, or copper acetate, was traditionally created by seeping copper in vinegar for around three weeks. The resultant blue-green copper acetate film developed for the same reasons the Statue of Liberty shines blue-green. In fact, verdigris was described as a very flashy pigment meant to pop. It was popular from the 15th through the 17th century, but fell out of favor in the 19th century. It was flagged as toxic, and art historians started noticing that verdigris succumbed to a high rate of darkening: objects like trees, bushes, and green fabrics kept fading into the shadows of scenes.
To isolate verdigris as the culprit, Gourier and his team first took an electron microscope to samples from two Renaissance masterpieces, Agnolo Bronzino's Noli me tangere (1561) and Jean Fouquet's Pietà (c. 1470). Certain sections of verdigris, those shielded from light by each painting's frame, had aged better and gleamed far brighter than unprotected areas. A closer look also linked oxygen diffusion in cracked paint to the darkening. But Gourier wasn't satisfied with his findings yet. Next, he and the team replicated traditional Renaissance verdigris and applied it to a thin glass plate. They then subjected the plate to 16 hours of LED light, to simulate centuries of normal light exposure. Within that time frame, the verdigris samples on the plate wilted and turned murky brown, just like it had in the masterpieces. This just goes to show that, even though Renaissance masters took a solemn approach to their craft, they didn't purposefully select drab colors. It also means that a broad swath of famous paintings—from Boticelli to van Eyck—will require better methods of preservation. Which I'm onboard for, so long as art historians don't hide these works away in the dark!
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5 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree3 CQ
This week, the Turkish military began an incursion into northeastern Syria, prompting residents in the area to flee south.
with PRI's The WorldThis week, the Turkish military began an incursion into northeastern Syria, prompting residents in the area to flee south.
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< 1 minFREEPoetry Poem CurioFree1 CQ
Poem of the Day: At a Standstill. By Samuel Menashe.
with Poetry FoundationPoem of the Day: At a Standstill. By Samuel Menashe.
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
Investors end the week optimistically as a partial trade deal between the U.S. and China becomes more likely. Worldwide demand for oil dips. Plus, a new game...
Investors end the week optimistically as a partial trade deal between the U.S. and China becomes more likely. Worldwide demand for oil dips. Plus, a new game...
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2 minFREESTEM Nerdy CurioFree2 CQ
Today's Nerdy Curio is brought to you by 60-Second Science. The 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry goes to John Goodenough, M. Stanley Whittingham and Akira Yoshi...
with 60-Second ScienceToday's Nerdy Curio is brought to you by 60-Second Science. The 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry goes to John Goodenough, M. Stanley Whittingham and Akira Yoshi...
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FREEPhotography Photo CurioFree1 CQ
Nature is majestic, but it can also be hilarious. For proof, look no further than the zany Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards, which will be announcing its winners November 13th. Entrants include dancing foxes to winking monkeys: animals that are captured at their funniest and most relatable. In Thomas Mangelsen's Chest Bump, pictured above, an emperor penguin and a sea lion appear to share a friendly chest bump. Both their mouths are open, as if they're laughing (or perhaps shouting "Bro!"). Of course, it could be that the two animals are actually threatening one another, since sea lions are penguins' natural predators—but you can be the judge of that! The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards were established four years ago to promote interest in wildlife and conservation. Everyone who views or submits photos are encouraged to visit the Born Free Foundation's website and donate if they are able. The Born Free Foundation is a wildlife charity focused on goals like ending the illegal pet trade and advocating against trophy hunting. Funny to think that such big goals may be met with the help of animals in silly poses. We'll chest bump to that!
Below: more entries from the 2019 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards.
Image credit & copyright: Thomas Mangelsen, Alastair Marsh, Harry Walker, Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards
Nature is majestic, but it can also be hilarious. For proof, look no further than the zany Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards, which will be announcing its winners November 13th. Entrants include dancing foxes to winking monkeys: animals that are captured at their funniest and most relatable. In Thomas Mangelsen's Chest Bump, pictured above, an emperor penguin and a sea lion appear to share a friendly chest bump. Both their mouths are open, as if they're laughing (or perhaps shouting "Bro!"). Of course, it could be that the two animals are actually threatening one another, since sea lions are penguins' natural predators—but you can be the judge of that! The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards were established four years ago to promote interest in wildlife and conservation. Everyone who views or submits photos are encouraged to visit the Born Free Foundation's website and donate if they are able. The Born Free Foundation is a wildlife charity focused on goals like ending the illegal pet trade and advocating against trophy hunting. Funny to think that such big goals may be met with the help of animals in silly poses. We'll chest bump to that!
Below: more entries from the 2019 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards.
Image credit & copyright: Thomas Mangelsen, Alastair Marsh, Harry Walker, Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day : January 4, 2017
deem \DEEM\ verb
Definition
1 : to come to think or judge : consider
2 : to have an opinion : believe
Examples
The co...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : January 4, 2017
deem \DEEM\ verb
Definition
1 : to come to think or judge : consider
2 : to have an opinion : believe
Examples
The co...
October 14, 2019
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FREETravel Daily Curio #1922Free1 CQ
Tired of the same old vacation? How about a tour through the ruins of the world's worst nuclear-power-plant accident? Just fly on over to Pripyat, Ukraine, where the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone has recently been opened for tourism. For those in need of a quick refresher, the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear reactor meltdown reduced 1,000 square miles of northern Ukraine into an uninhabitable wasteland. Over the years, the area has partially recovered and wildlife has returned in amazing abundance. But the Reactor 4 control room, the heart of the disaster, has been closed to the public for over 30 years. That changed in June, when Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky—a key player in a certain, um, controversy in the news these days—rebranded Reactor 4 as a tourist destination. A ticket to the control room comes with a catch, though: you'll have to wear a hazmat suit, mask, helmet, and industrial boots. This is because radiation levels in Reactor 4 are estimated to be 40,000 times higher than standard levels. Excursions into the room will last no longer than five minutes, with two radiology screenings upon exit. Personally, I prefer to keep my hair on my head and my number of arms at two. That being said, I can see why adrenaline junkies would seek out such a storied site. Just remember if you start glowing on the plane ride home that you signed the release waiver!
Image credit & copyright: Sergey Dolzhenko/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Tired of the same old vacation? How about a tour through the ruins of the world's worst nuclear-power-plant accident? Just fly on over to Pripyat, Ukraine, where the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone has recently been opened for tourism. For those in need of a quick refresher, the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear reactor meltdown reduced 1,000 square miles of northern Ukraine into an uninhabitable wasteland. Over the years, the area has partially recovered and wildlife has returned in amazing abundance. But the Reactor 4 control room, the heart of the disaster, has been closed to the public for over 30 years. That changed in June, when Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky—a key player in a certain, um, controversy in the news these days—rebranded Reactor 4 as a tourist destination. A ticket to the control room comes with a catch, though: you'll have to wear a hazmat suit, mask, helmet, and industrial boots. This is because radiation levels in Reactor 4 are estimated to be 40,000 times higher than standard levels. Excursions into the room will last no longer than five minutes, with two radiology screenings upon exit. Personally, I prefer to keep my hair on my head and my number of arms at two. That being said, I can see why adrenaline junkies would seek out such a storied site. Just remember if you start glowing on the plane ride home that you signed the release waiver!
Image credit & copyright: Sergey Dolzhenko/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
Crude prices are up after an Iranian oil tanker is attacked. The GM auto workers strike is in its fourth week as the company faces an existential crisis. Plu...
Crude prices are up after an Iranian oil tanker is attacked. The GM auto workers strike is in its fourth week as the company faces an existential crisis. Plu...
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5 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree3 CQ
"I feel like a war reporter, but there are no battle lines." In one of the world's deadliest country for journalists, some are collaborating and alerting eac...
with PRI's The World"I feel like a war reporter, but there are no battle lines." In one of the world's deadliest country for journalists, some are collaborating and alerting eac...
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1 minFREEAstronomy Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
Today's Nerdy Curio is brought to you by NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab. NASA's InSight lander on Mars is trying to use its robotic arm to get the mission’s heat ...
Today's Nerdy Curio is brought to you by NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab. NASA's InSight lander on Mars is trying to use its robotic arm to get the mission’s heat ...
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FREEArt Appreciation Art CurioFree1 CQ
Title: Desocupados (Unemployed)
Artist: Antonio Berni (1905-1981)
Created: 1934
Medium: tempera on burlap
Dimensions: 120 x 84 in (304 x 213 cm)
There are other ways to change the political landscape than running for public office. Argentinian artist Antonio Berti, who died in October, 1981, used his paintings to shed light on the serious social, political, and economic issues of 1930s and 1940s Argentina. In Desocupados (Unemployed), men and women are shown sleeping in the street, staring at the ground and cradling children, many with worried or hopeless expressions. Sleeping figures in the foreground almost seem to blend into a single mass, while in the background a wood floor gives way to open desert. The surreal setting seems to hint at the unknown. Berni's most political works were created after he returned to Argentina, in 1931, after having studied art in Europe for several years. By then, a military coup had taken over his country and ushered in what is now known as the Infamous Decade, during which poverty and unemployment were widespread. Berni's political artworks like Desocupados showed the effects of the decade on the average Argentinian, and inspired those struggling to unionize and resist. To that, we raise our picket signs in solidarity.
Below: Two more of Berni's pieces, Procesion and La gran Ilusion.
Image credit & copyright: Antonio Berni
Title: Desocupados (Unemployed)
Artist: Antonio Berni (1905-1981)
Created: 1934
Medium: tempera on burlap
Dimensions: 120 x 84 in (304 x 213 cm)
There are other ways to change the political landscape than running for public office. Argentinian artist Antonio Berti, who died in October, 1981, used his paintings to shed light on the serious social, political, and economic issues of 1930s and 1940s Argentina. In Desocupados (Unemployed), men and women are shown sleeping in the street, staring at the ground and cradling children, many with worried or hopeless expressions. Sleeping figures in the foreground almost seem to blend into a single mass, while in the background a wood floor gives way to open desert. The surreal setting seems to hint at the unknown. Berni's most political works were created after he returned to Argentina, in 1931, after having studied art in Europe for several years. By then, a military coup had taken over his country and ushered in what is now known as the Infamous Decade, during which poverty and unemployment were widespread. Berni's political artworks like Desocupados showed the effects of the decade on the average Argentinian, and inspired those struggling to unionize and resist. To that, we raise our picket signs in solidarity.
Below: Two more of Berni's pieces, Procesion and La gran Ilusion.
Image credit & copyright: Antonio Berni
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< 1 minFREEPoetry Poem CurioFree1 CQ
Poem of the Day: All my friends are homeless. By Samuel Menashe.
with Poetry FoundationPoem of the Day: All my friends are homeless. By Samuel Menashe.
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day : January 3, 2017
oligopsony \ah-luh-GAHP-suh-nee\ noun
Definition
: a market situation in which each of a few buyers exerts a disproporti...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : January 3, 2017
oligopsony \ah-luh-GAHP-suh-nee\ noun
Definition
: a market situation in which each of a few buyers exerts a disproporti...
October 13, 2019
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7 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
From the BBC World Service… The U.S. and China signal a limited trade deal might be possible. Vacuum cleaner giant Dyson scraps an ambitious plan for electri...
From the BBC World Service… The U.S. and China signal a limited trade deal might be possible. Vacuum cleaner giant Dyson scraps an ambitious plan for electri...
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6 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree4 CQ
Are fewer women named Nobel laureates just because there have been fewer women scientists?
with PRI's The WorldAre fewer women named Nobel laureates just because there have been fewer women scientists?
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4 minFREESTEM Nerdy CurioFree3 CQ
Today's Nerdy Curio is brought to you by Engines of Our Ingenuity. Episode: 1751 Robert Hooke, Isaac Newton, and science in transition. Today, conflict as s...
Today's Nerdy Curio is brought to you by Engines of Our Ingenuity. Episode: 1751 Robert Hooke, Isaac Newton, and science in transition. Today, conflict as s...
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FREEUS History PP&T CurioFree1 CQ
It takes a village to raise a witch hunt.
It's all fun and superstition until someone gets hurt—then it's mass hysteria. That could have been the motto of the 1692 Salem witch trials which, however monumental or shameful, were an indicator that many things had gone terribly awry in the colonial Massachusetts village. Contentiousness, greed, fear, and judicial prejudices led to nothing but double, double, toil and trouble for the accused.
Many recountings of the Salem witch trials begin in 1692, with the first accusations of witchcraft. But Salem's sordid history dates further back. Prior to the trials, Salem encompassed several towns and villages in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, though the earliest trials were located in Salem Village, which is now part of modern-day Danvers. Disputes between the inhabitants of Salem Village and its neighbors were known far and wide, with many describing the people of the area as quarrelsome.
Land rights were a major source of contention among the inhabitants, as was a wave of xenophobia exacerbated by the influx of refugees from King William's War. In 1672, Salem Village voted on hiring a minister to sort out these and other issues. But their first two quit over low wages, while the third left after Salem's church refused to ordain him. The final choice, Samuel Parris, inflamed disputes when he delayed his acceptance in 1689 by conducting his own draconian searches for "iniquitous behavior," publicly shaming well-liked church members for their minor errors.
As it turned out, the paranoid apple didn't fall far from the tree in the Parris family. Samuel Parris' high suspicions of devilry eventually crept into the imaginations of his daughter and niece. In February of 1692, Betty Parris and Abigail Williams began experiencing hysterical fits and complained of being pinched and pricked with pins. Puritanical beliefs at the time claimed women were more susceptible to the influence of the Devil than men were, and soon other girls in the village came down with inexplicable ailments. One in particular, the 12-year-old Ann Putnam, Jr., was part of a village-wide dispute between the Putnams and Porters. Taking the wrong side in an argument concerning the families often resulted in fisticuffs with either party.
Soon, there were real consequences to Salem Village's hostilities. The first three victims of the "possessed" girls' accusations were some of the locale's most vulnerable inhabitants: Sarah Good was a homeless beggar, Sarah Osborne was an elderly and impoverished woman, and Tituba was an indigenous Kalina slave owned by the Parris family. Their forced confessions led to the establishment of a Special Court to hear and judge the appeals of other suspected witches. The first person charged by the court was Bridget Bishop, an older woman considered promiscuous by her neighbors. She was also the first person hanged at the execution site later known as Gallows Hill. Over the next year, the accusations mounted. They got so out of hand that Governor William Phipps ended up dissolving many of the Special Court's powers to accept spectral evidence and mete out punishments—but only after his own wife was accused of witchcraft. The prisoners were subsequently released, too.
In total, some 200 individuals were accused during the Salem witch trials, with 19 hanged at Gallows Hill. It took over 250 years for Massachusetts to formally apologize for the events of 1692, though the town continues to experience a mixed legacy with its witchy history. On the 300th anniversary of the trials in 1992, a memorial park was dedicated with speeches by Elie Wiesel and Arthur Miller, author of The Crucible, comparing Salem's history to McCarthyism. Each Halloween also sees the annual "Festival of the Dead" as a giant party and tourist attraction located in Salem. However Salem is remembered, there's no denying it continues to cast a spell on those who visit the place.
It takes a village to raise a witch hunt.
It's all fun and superstition until someone gets hurt—then it's mass hysteria. That could have been the motto of the 1692 Salem witch trials which, however monumental or shameful, were an indicator that many things had gone terribly awry in the colonial Massachusetts village. Contentiousness, greed, fear, and judicial prejudices led to nothing but double, double, toil and trouble for the accused.
Many recountings of the Salem witch trials begin in 1692, with the first accusations of witchcraft. But Salem's sordid history dates further back. Prior to the trials, Salem encompassed several towns and villages in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, though the earliest trials were located in Salem Village, which is now part of modern-day Danvers. Disputes between the inhabitants of Salem Village and its neighbors were known far and wide, with many describing the people of the area as quarrelsome.
Land rights were a major source of contention among the inhabitants, as was a wave of xenophobia exacerbated by the influx of refugees from King William's War. In 1672, Salem Village voted on hiring a minister to sort out these and other issues. But their first two quit over low wages, while the third left after Salem's church refused to ordain him. The final choice, Samuel Parris, inflamed disputes when he delayed his acceptance in 1689 by conducting his own draconian searches for "iniquitous behavior," publicly shaming well-liked church members for their minor errors.
As it turned out, the paranoid apple didn't fall far from the tree in the Parris family. Samuel Parris' high suspicions of devilry eventually crept into the imaginations of his daughter and niece. In February of 1692, Betty Parris and Abigail Williams began experiencing hysterical fits and complained of being pinched and pricked with pins. Puritanical beliefs at the time claimed women were more susceptible to the influence of the Devil than men were, and soon other girls in the village came down with inexplicable ailments. One in particular, the 12-year-old Ann Putnam, Jr., was part of a village-wide dispute between the Putnams and Porters. Taking the wrong side in an argument concerning the families often resulted in fisticuffs with either party.
Soon, there were real consequences to Salem Village's hostilities. The first three victims of the "possessed" girls' accusations were some of the locale's most vulnerable inhabitants: Sarah Good was a homeless beggar, Sarah Osborne was an elderly and impoverished woman, and Tituba was an indigenous Kalina slave owned by the Parris family. Their forced confessions led to the establishment of a Special Court to hear and judge the appeals of other suspected witches. The first person charged by the court was Bridget Bishop, an older woman considered promiscuous by her neighbors. She was also the first person hanged at the execution site later known as Gallows Hill. Over the next year, the accusations mounted. They got so out of hand that Governor William Phipps ended up dissolving many of the Special Court's powers to accept spectral evidence and mete out punishments—but only after his own wife was accused of witchcraft. The prisoners were subsequently released, too.
In total, some 200 individuals were accused during the Salem witch trials, with 19 hanged at Gallows Hill. It took over 250 years for Massachusetts to formally apologize for the events of 1692, though the town continues to experience a mixed legacy with its witchy history. On the 300th anniversary of the trials in 1992, a memorial park was dedicated with speeches by Elie Wiesel and Arthur Miller, author of The Crucible, comparing Salem's history to McCarthyism. Each Halloween also sees the annual "Festival of the Dead" as a giant party and tourist attraction located in Salem. However Salem is remembered, there's no denying it continues to cast a spell on those who visit the place.
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day : January 2, 2017
baleful \BAIL-ful\ adjective
Definition
1 : deadly or pernicious in influence
2 : foreboding or threatening evil
Examp...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : January 2, 2017
baleful \BAIL-ful\ adjective
Definition
1 : deadly or pernicious in influence
2 : foreboding or threatening evil
Examp...
October 12, 2019
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FREEPlay Teaser Curio #208Free1 CQ
In an attempt to resolve their differences on the correct way to macaronage when making French macarons, Larry, Moe, and Curly have decided to step into the Octagon. As all fine bakers know, that's the only way to settle disputes. After a disturbingly brutal Round 1, the referee sent each of them to random corners of the Octagon for the break before Round 2 (of course, octagons have corners; they're just not right angles). Unfortunately, they're so angry with each other that if two of them end up on adjacent corners, they'll just continue fighting. What is the probability we'll have a peaceful break between rounds?
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #208" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
In an attempt to resolve their differences on the correct way to macaronage when making French macarons, Larry, Moe, and Curly have decided to step into the Octagon. As all fine bakers know, that's the only way to settle disputes. After a disturbingly brutal Round 1, the referee sent each of them to random corners of the Octagon for the break before Round 2 (of course, octagons have corners; they're just not right angles). Unfortunately, they're so angry with each other that if two of them end up on adjacent corners, they'll just continue fighting. What is the probability we'll have a peaceful break between rounds?
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #208" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
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7 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
Will China’s olive branch on trade do anything to ease tensions in Congress? Mayors from around the world pledge to lower climate change emissions. Assessing...
Will China’s olive branch on trade do anything to ease tensions in Congress? Mayors from around the world pledge to lower climate change emissions. Assessing...
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4 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree3 CQ
Olga Tokarczuk, 57, won the Nobel Prize for "a narrative imagination that with encyclopedic passion represents the crossing of boundaries as a form of life,"...
with PRI's The WorldOlga Tokarczuk, 57, won the Nobel Prize for "a narrative imagination that with encyclopedic passion represents the crossing of boundaries as a form of life,"...
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3 minFREESTEM Nerdy CurioFree2 CQ
Today's Nerdy Curio is brought to you by 60-Second Science. The 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics goes to James Peebles "for theoretical discoveries in physical co...
with 60-Second ScienceToday's Nerdy Curio is brought to you by 60-Second Science. The 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics goes to James Peebles "for theoretical discoveries in physical co...
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< 1 minFREEPoetry Poem CurioFree1 CQ
Poem of the Day: Beautiful Woman. By A. R. Ammons.
with Poetry FoundationPoem of the Day: Beautiful Woman. By A. R. Ammons.
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day : January 1, 2017
rejuvenate \rih-JOO-vuh-nayt\ verb
Definition
1 : to make young or youthful again : give new vigor to
2 : to restore to...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : January 1, 2017
rejuvenate \rih-JOO-vuh-nayt\ verb
Definition
1 : to make young or youthful again : give new vigor to
2 : to restore to...
