Curio Cabinet
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January 17, 2021
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : January 17, 2021
modicum \MAH-dih-kum\ noun
Definition
: a small portion : a limited quantity
Did You Know?
What does modicum have to ...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : January 17, 2021
modicum \MAH-dih-kum\ noun
Definition
: a small portion : a limited quantity
Did You Know?
What does modicum have to ...
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7 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
It’s never been more risky during the pandemic for essential front-line workers to do their jobs. Yet many companies are no longer offering hazard pay. Plus,...
It’s never been more risky during the pandemic for essential front-line workers to do their jobs. Yet many companies are no longer offering hazard pay. Plus,...
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5 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree3 CQ
David Hofmann, a professor of sociology at the University of New Brunswick, has studied the rise of white extremism in Canada. He spoke to The World’s host M...
with PRI's The WorldDavid Hofmann, a professor of sociology at the University of New Brunswick, has studied the rise of white extremism in Canada. He spoke to The World’s host M...
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FREEUS History PP&T CurioFree1 CQ
Let's face it: presidential election cycles can be a hot mess. Even before 2020's Four Seasons Total Landscaping press conference, certain lame duck elected officials were infamous for their late-term ineffectiveness. Luckily in 1933, a constitutional amendment was passed to remedy that… the 20th, to be precise.
Before the 20th Amendment passed, the duration of presidential and congressional terms were ambiguous. Article 1 of the Constitution mandated Congress meet at least once a year, usually in December to perform their federal duties: all went as planned during odd years, but in even (election) years, lame duck sessions ensured little was accomplished. While such inaction during the year might make us think of them as the precursor to a "do nothing Congress," the reality was that in the 18th and 19th century, politicians often had to set their affairs in order at home over several months before undergoing travel to the nation's capital. It also didn't help that Congress and the new president had to wait between Election Day in November and March 4th the next year to start their new jobs. That date was chosen by the 1789 Congress of the Confederation (the original unicameral legislative and executive body) as the beginning of new elected terms. The four-month long delays heavily tested the country's mettle during events like the secession of the Southern states in February 1861, which proved national emergencies wait for no man or new body politic to come into power.
The one-month Congress became a bigger and bigger problem as it failed to meet the needs of a growing nation transformed by trains, planes, and automobiles. Among the champions of progressive politics in the Senate was Republican George W. Norris of Nebraska, who advocated for labor rights, direct election of senators, and isolationism in foreign policy. In 1923, Norris proposed a resolution to shorten the lame duck session of the legislative and executive bodies. The resolution didn't pick up much steam during the roaring 20s, however the onset of the Great Depression demanded New Deal reforms in the social safety net, and the way Washington did business. The 72nd Congress proposed the 20th Amendment on March 2, 1932, with Section 1 addressing much needed changes to the four-month lame duck period:Section 1. The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.
After being ratified by three-fourths of the states, the 20th Amendment was passed on January 23, 1933, incidentally during a lame duck period. Franklin D. Roosevelt would become the last president to take office on March 4th in 1933, and also the first to be inaugurated on January 20th in 1937 under the 20th Amendment changes. In 1935 Clerk of the House South Trimble noted “This is the first time in 146 years that an old Congress dies and a new one is born on the 3d day of January…today we inaugurate the first session of the Seventy-fourth Congress.”
While the 20th Amendment also outlines other important procedural actions in the executive and legislative branches, like the chain of succession to the presidency, it's mostly known these days for setting the date for the Inauguration Day ceremony and celebrations at the Capitol Building and National Mall. And in these days of high speed internet and other forms of instant gratification, some are upset about the lame duck delay between Election Day and January 20th! Not to worry though, the president elect and his transition team are, by all accounts, kept incredibly busy during the transition period between presidents. We might even say it's a time for the newly-elected ducklings to get to work and start quacking!
Image credit & copyright: Alex Wong, Getty Images
Written by: Esther P.Let's face it: presidential election cycles can be a hot mess. Even before 2020's Four Seasons Total Landscaping press conference, certain lame duck elected officials were infamous for their late-term ineffectiveness. Luckily in 1933, a constitutional amendment was passed to remedy that… the 20th, to be precise.
Before the 20th Amendment passed, the duration of presidential and congressional terms were ambiguous. Article 1 of the Constitution mandated Congress meet at least once a year, usually in December to perform their federal duties: all went as planned during odd years, but in even (election) years, lame duck sessions ensured little was accomplished. While such inaction during the year might make us think of them as the precursor to a "do nothing Congress," the reality was that in the 18th and 19th century, politicians often had to set their affairs in order at home over several months before undergoing travel to the nation's capital. It also didn't help that Congress and the new president had to wait between Election Day in November and March 4th the next year to start their new jobs. That date was chosen by the 1789 Congress of the Confederation (the original unicameral legislative and executive body) as the beginning of new elected terms. The four-month long delays heavily tested the country's mettle during events like the secession of the Southern states in February 1861, which proved national emergencies wait for no man or new body politic to come into power.
The one-month Congress became a bigger and bigger problem as it failed to meet the needs of a growing nation transformed by trains, planes, and automobiles. Among the champions of progressive politics in the Senate was Republican George W. Norris of Nebraska, who advocated for labor rights, direct election of senators, and isolationism in foreign policy. In 1923, Norris proposed a resolution to shorten the lame duck session of the legislative and executive bodies. The resolution didn't pick up much steam during the roaring 20s, however the onset of the Great Depression demanded New Deal reforms in the social safety net, and the way Washington did business. The 72nd Congress proposed the 20th Amendment on March 2, 1932, with Section 1 addressing much needed changes to the four-month lame duck period:Section 1. The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.
After being ratified by three-fourths of the states, the 20th Amendment was passed on January 23, 1933, incidentally during a lame duck period. Franklin D. Roosevelt would become the last president to take office on March 4th in 1933, and also the first to be inaugurated on January 20th in 1937 under the 20th Amendment changes. In 1935 Clerk of the House South Trimble noted “This is the first time in 146 years that an old Congress dies and a new one is born on the 3d day of January…today we inaugurate the first session of the Seventy-fourth Congress.”
While the 20th Amendment also outlines other important procedural actions in the executive and legislative branches, like the chain of succession to the presidency, it's mostly known these days for setting the date for the Inauguration Day ceremony and celebrations at the Capitol Building and National Mall. And in these days of high speed internet and other forms of instant gratification, some are upset about the lame duck delay between Election Day and January 20th! Not to worry though, the president elect and his transition team are, by all accounts, kept incredibly busy during the transition period between presidents. We might even say it's a time for the newly-elected ducklings to get to work and start quacking!
Image credit & copyright: Alex Wong, Getty Images
Written by: Esther P.
January 16, 2021
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : January 16, 2021
effusive \ih-FYOO-siv\ adjective
Definition
1 : marked by the expression of great or excessive emotion or enthusiasm
2...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : January 16, 2021
effusive \ih-FYOO-siv\ adjective
Definition
1 : marked by the expression of great or excessive emotion or enthusiasm
2...
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9 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
WhatsApp, owned by Facebook, is the world’s most popular messaging app. But it’s losing business to smaller competitors like Signal and Telegram for a number...
WhatsApp, owned by Facebook, is the world’s most popular messaging app. But it’s losing business to smaller competitors like Signal and Telegram for a number...
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5 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree3 CQ
On the campaign trail, candidate Joe Biden pledged to end the Trump administration's "Remain in Mexico" program on day one. But the president-elect has walke...
with PRI's The WorldOn the campaign trail, candidate Joe Biden pledged to end the Trump administration's "Remain in Mexico" program on day one. But the president-elect has walke...
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FREEPlay Teaser Curio #269Free1 CQ
In 4 days, a new President and Vice President will be sworn in. If you're wondering who selected January 20 as inauguration day, and why, tune in tomorrow! In the meantime can you solve this riddle?
Nearly every president has had one of these. To figure out what it is, you'll need to select the correct letter for each of the clues. Hint: there may be more than one answer for each clue.
The first letter is in FORD but not COOLIDGE.
The second letter is in NIXON but not JACKSON.
The third letter is in MONROE but not MADISON.
The fourth letter is in BUSH but not BUCHANAN.
The fifth letter is in TRUMAN but not VAN BUREN.
The sixth letter is in LINCOLN but not JACKSON.
The seventh letter is in REAGAN but not PIERCE.
The eighth letter is in ADAMS but not WASHINGTON.
The ninth letter is in HAYES but not HOOVER.
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #269" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!In 4 days, a new President and Vice President will be sworn in. If you're wondering who selected January 20 as inauguration day, and why, tune in tomorrow! In the meantime can you solve this riddle?
Nearly every president has had one of these. To figure out what it is, you'll need to select the correct letter for each of the clues. Hint: there may be more than one answer for each clue.
The first letter is in FORD but not COOLIDGE.
The second letter is in NIXON but not JACKSON.
The third letter is in MONROE but not MADISON.
The fourth letter is in BUSH but not BUCHANAN.
The fifth letter is in TRUMAN but not VAN BUREN.
The sixth letter is in LINCOLN but not JACKSON.
The seventh letter is in REAGAN but not PIERCE.
The eighth letter is in ADAMS but not WASHINGTON.
The ninth letter is in HAYES but not HOOVER.
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #269" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
January 15, 2021
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6 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
From the BBC World Service: The tech giant changed its algorithm for 1% of Australian users as it tests the value of its service to news providers. Also, onl...
From the BBC World Service: The tech giant changed its algorithm for 1% of Australian users as it tests the value of its service to news providers. Also, onl...
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : January 15, 2021
vulcanize \VUL-kuh-nyze\ verb
Definition
: to treat crude or synthetic rubber or similar plastic material with chemical...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : January 15, 2021
vulcanize \VUL-kuh-nyze\ verb
Definition
: to treat crude or synthetic rubber or similar plastic material with chemical...
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5 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree3 CQ
J.M. Berger, author of the book, "Extremism," says his most urgent question is how and where the large and radicalized community of extremists in the US will...
with PRI's The WorldJ.M. Berger, author of the book, "Extremism," says his most urgent question is how and where the large and radicalized community of extremists in the US will...
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FREEMusic Appreciation Song CurioFree2 CQ
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
One of the most divine friendships of the Civil Rights era was that of gospel singer Mahalia Jackson and Martin Luther King, Jr. The two met at the National Baptist Convention in 1953, and soon after, Jackson accompanied King to many of his rallies. Perhaps the most moving story of their friendship came during the '63 March on Washington. That day, Jackson performed an a capella (solo voice) version of the gospel standard I've Been Buked, a song that speaks to the suffering and perseverance of those at the march, and to those who protested the cruelties of segregation. Her solemn and mournful tone set the stage for King's I Have a Dream speech, but that isn't where the story ends. King was said to have made several revisions of his famous oration and didn't necessarily intend on speaking about dreams. As King's speech grew more and more inspiring and he went off-script, Jackson, as a confidant of King's, was heard yelling: "Tell them about the dream, Martin!" And the rest, as they say, is history.
Other streaming options
Image credit & copyright: Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
One of the most divine friendships of the Civil Rights era was that of gospel singer Mahalia Jackson and Martin Luther King, Jr. The two met at the National Baptist Convention in 1953, and soon after, Jackson accompanied King to many of his rallies. Perhaps the most moving story of their friendship came during the '63 March on Washington. That day, Jackson performed an a capella (solo voice) version of the gospel standard I've Been Buked, a song that speaks to the suffering and perseverance of those at the march, and to those who protested the cruelties of segregation. Her solemn and mournful tone set the stage for King's I Have a Dream speech, but that isn't where the story ends. King was said to have made several revisions of his famous oration and didn't necessarily intend on speaking about dreams. As King's speech grew more and more inspiring and he went off-script, Jackson, as a confidant of King's, was heard yelling: "Tell them about the dream, Martin!" And the rest, as they say, is history.
Other streaming options
Image credit & copyright: Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
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FREEArt Appreciation Art CurioFree1 CQ
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
Title: King’s Wish (Martin Luther’s Dream)
Artist: Jack Whitten (b. 1939)
Created: 1968
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimensions: 51.75 x 67.88 in (131.4 x 172.4 cm)
We have a dream. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom left an indelible mark on many. It also inspired this 1968 piece by abstract painter Jack Whitten, who was awarded a National Medal of Arts by President Obama last year. Experimenting with abstract expressionism, the artist dragged paint across the canvas with non-traditional tools like squeegees and Afro combs. Take a closer look to fully appreciate the results: abstracted faces of all shapes and colors floating among the vibrant brushstrokes. Whitten wanted to take emphasis away from the faces' skin tones by using blended, saturated tones. His unique subjects work together to form a harmonious whole, both vibrant and balanced. Not unlike King's hope for a nation free of racism. Let's hope current and future generations continue the fight to make good on that vision.
Image credit & copyright: Jack Whitten
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
Title: King’s Wish (Martin Luther’s Dream)
Artist: Jack Whitten (b. 1939)
Created: 1968
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimensions: 51.75 x 67.88 in (131.4 x 172.4 cm)
We have a dream. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom left an indelible mark on many. It also inspired this 1968 piece by abstract painter Jack Whitten, who was awarded a National Medal of Arts by President Obama last year. Experimenting with abstract expressionism, the artist dragged paint across the canvas with non-traditional tools like squeegees and Afro combs. Take a closer look to fully appreciate the results: abstracted faces of all shapes and colors floating among the vibrant brushstrokes. Whitten wanted to take emphasis away from the faces' skin tones by using blended, saturated tones. His unique subjects work together to form a harmonious whole, both vibrant and balanced. Not unlike King's hope for a nation free of racism. Let's hope current and future generations continue the fight to make good on that vision.
Image credit & copyright: Jack Whitten
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FREEUS History Photo CurioFree1 CQ
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
These men are tight-lipped, but their signs say it all. There was no better rallying cry than the affirmative "I am a man" for the African-American sanitation workers of the 1968 Memphis Sanitation Strike. Tensions between low-income waste collectors and Memphis mayor Henry Loeb were already high when a malfunctioning truck killed two workers in February. 1,300 workers staged a strike to call attention to poor working conditions and low wages. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. showed his solidarity by marching with protesters on March 28, when this photo was taken. In a chillingly foretelling speech given a week later, on the eve of his assassination, King inspired persistence and hope: "Like anybody, I would like to live a long life—longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now… I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land." The strike ended on April 16 when negotiators agreed to recognize unions and increase wages. But "I am a man" would stay relevant as a symbol of the Civil Rights Movement. In the continuing fight for equality, the phrase is still salient—along with its updated, hashtagged relatives.
Image credit: Richard Copley
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
These men are tight-lipped, but their signs say it all. There was no better rallying cry than the affirmative "I am a man" for the African-American sanitation workers of the 1968 Memphis Sanitation Strike. Tensions between low-income waste collectors and Memphis mayor Henry Loeb were already high when a malfunctioning truck killed two workers in February. 1,300 workers staged a strike to call attention to poor working conditions and low wages. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. showed his solidarity by marching with protesters on March 28, when this photo was taken. In a chillingly foretelling speech given a week later, on the eve of his assassination, King inspired persistence and hope: "Like anybody, I would like to live a long life—longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now… I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land." The strike ended on April 16 when negotiators agreed to recognize unions and increase wages. But "I am a man" would stay relevant as a symbol of the Civil Rights Movement. In the continuing fight for equality, the phrase is still salient—along with its updated, hashtagged relatives.
Image credit: Richard Copley
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FREEUS History Daily CurioFree1 CQ
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
Gesundheit, MLK. One of the darkest days in American history was the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. on April 4, 1968. But the world almost lost him ten years earlier. On September 20, 1958, a mentally disturbed woman named Izola Ware Curry stabbed King while he signed copies of his book Stride Toward Freedom at Blumstein’s Department Store in Harlem, New York. Curry stabbed King with a seven-inch steel letter opener, striking him in the upper left chest area. He was rushed to a local hospital where doctors performed several hours of surgery to repair the wound. One of his surgeons later remarked that “had Dr. King sneezed or coughed the weapon would have penetrated the aorta.” This quote formed the foundation of King’s “I have been to the mountaintop” speech which he delivered on the last evening of his life. He was speaking at the Mason Temple Church in Memphis. In the climax of that speech, Dr. King told the story of his attack ten years earlier, recounting the well-wishings he had received during his recovery:
I had received one from the president and the vice president; I've forgotten what those telegrams said. I'd received a visit and a letter from the governor of New York, but I've forgotten what that letter said. But there was another letter that came from a little girl… I looked at that letter and I'll never forget it. It said simply,
"Dear Dr. King: I am a ninth-grade student at the White Plains High School." She said, "While it should not matter, I would like to mention that I'm a white girl. I read in the paper of your misfortune and of your suffering. And I read that if you had sneezed, you would have died. And I'm simply writing you to say that I'm so happy that you didn't sneeze."
I want to say tonight that I… am happy that I didn't sneeze. Because if I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been around here in 1960, when students all over the South started sitting-in at lunch counters. And I knew that as they were sitting in, they were really standing up for the best in the American dream and taking the whole nation back to those great wells of democracy, which were dug deep by the founding fathers in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been around here in 1961, when we decided to take a ride for freedom and ended segregation in interstate travel.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been around here in 1962, when Negroes in Albany, Georgia, decided to straighten their backs up. And whenever men and women straighten their backs up, they are going somewhere, because a man can't ride your back unless it is bent.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been here in 1963, when the black people of Birmingham, Alabama, aroused the conscience of this nation and brought into being the Civil Rights Bill.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have had a chance later that year, in August, to try to tell America about a dream that I had had.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been down in Selma, Alabama, to see the great movement there.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been in Memphis to see a community rally around those brothers and sisters who are suffering. I'm so happy that I didn't sneeze… I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land.
I don’t think we have gotten to the Promised Land yet, but we would be a lot further away if MLK had sneezed on September 20, 1958!
It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
Gesundheit, MLK. One of the darkest days in American history was the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. on April 4, 1968. But the world almost lost him ten years earlier. On September 20, 1958, a mentally disturbed woman named Izola Ware Curry stabbed King while he signed copies of his book Stride Toward Freedom at Blumstein’s Department Store in Harlem, New York. Curry stabbed King with a seven-inch steel letter opener, striking him in the upper left chest area. He was rushed to a local hospital where doctors performed several hours of surgery to repair the wound. One of his surgeons later remarked that “had Dr. King sneezed or coughed the weapon would have penetrated the aorta.” This quote formed the foundation of King’s “I have been to the mountaintop” speech which he delivered on the last evening of his life. He was speaking at the Mason Temple Church in Memphis. In the climax of that speech, Dr. King told the story of his attack ten years earlier, recounting the well-wishings he had received during his recovery:
I had received one from the president and the vice president; I've forgotten what those telegrams said. I'd received a visit and a letter from the governor of New York, but I've forgotten what that letter said. But there was another letter that came from a little girl… I looked at that letter and I'll never forget it. It said simply,
"Dear Dr. King: I am a ninth-grade student at the White Plains High School." She said, "While it should not matter, I would like to mention that I'm a white girl. I read in the paper of your misfortune and of your suffering. And I read that if you had sneezed, you would have died. And I'm simply writing you to say that I'm so happy that you didn't sneeze."
I want to say tonight that I… am happy that I didn't sneeze. Because if I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been around here in 1960, when students all over the South started sitting-in at lunch counters. And I knew that as they were sitting in, they were really standing up for the best in the American dream and taking the whole nation back to those great wells of democracy, which were dug deep by the founding fathers in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been around here in 1961, when we decided to take a ride for freedom and ended segregation in interstate travel.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been around here in 1962, when Negroes in Albany, Georgia, decided to straighten their backs up. And whenever men and women straighten their backs up, they are going somewhere, because a man can't ride your back unless it is bent.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been here in 1963, when the black people of Birmingham, Alabama, aroused the conscience of this nation and brought into being the Civil Rights Bill.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have had a chance later that year, in August, to try to tell America about a dream that I had had.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been down in Selma, Alabama, to see the great movement there.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been in Memphis to see a community rally around those brothers and sisters who are suffering. I'm so happy that I didn't sneeze… I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land.
I don’t think we have gotten to the Promised Land yet, but we would be a lot further away if MLK had sneezed on September 20, 1958!
January 14, 2021
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
From the BBC World Service: Matteo Renzi, the ex-prime minister, and his party object to the current spending plan for EU COVID-19 relief. Also, Lebanon’s ro...
From the BBC World Service: Matteo Renzi, the ex-prime minister, and his party object to the current spending plan for EU COVID-19 relief. Also, Lebanon’s ro...
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : January 14, 2021
servile \SER-vul\ adjective
Definition
1 : of or befitting a menial position
2 : meanly or cravenly submissive : abjec...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : January 14, 2021
servile \SER-vul\ adjective
Definition
1 : of or befitting a menial position
2 : meanly or cravenly submissive : abjec...
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FREEPolitical Science Daily Curio #2166Free1 CQ
Disney. AirBnB. BlueCross BlueShield. Marriott. What do these corporations have in common? They suspended donations to Republicans who objected to the certification of the Electoral College's votes on January 6, 2021. These corporations are holding Ted Cruz (Texas), Josh Hawley (Missouri), Tommy Tuberville (Alabama), and 144 other congresspersons responsible for the violence at the Capitol, which interrupted certification proceedings. Other corporations have followed suit with some suspending all political donations and others reviewing their current policies. To be clear, corporations cannot donate directly to candidates or their campaigns, per Federal Election Commission (FEC) regulations. Instead, all money must be funneled through other channels, such as separate segregated funds (SSFs), political committees financially supported by a corporation or labor group. SSFs are better known as PACs or political action committees. PACs are defined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as 527 organizations, and are tax-exempt. Traditional PACs may directly donate to a campaign, but are subject to federal and state limitations.
In 1907, Congress passed the Tillman Act prohibiting corporations and banks from donating to political candidates in federal elections. In 1943, the Smith-Connally Act extended those restrictions to include labor unions. That year, union leaders responded by forming the Congress of Industrial Organizations to support the re-election of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and other pro-labor candidates. In 1971, the Federal Election Campaign Act (amended in 1974 and 1976), further regulated political campaign spending. The most influential change to PAC spending, however, came in 2010. In a landmark decision (Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission), the Supreme Court reversed federal campaign donation restrictions for corporations and other groups. Currently, PACs can spend an unlimited amount on federal campaign advertising, provided they are not directly coordinating with a specific party or candidate. This has led to the creation of super PACs, and an increase in dark money, contributions made to a trade or social welfare organization whose primary purpose is not influencing elections. Donors do not have to disclose these contributions, and typically benefit from the anonymity. In recent federal elections, including the 2020 presidential election, corporations have funneled billions of dollars into PACs on behalf of both political parties. While the effects of these donation freezes remain to be seen, one thing is certain—corporations are being pressured to address their role in electing candidates who, directly or indirectly, have threatened America's democratic processes.
Image credit & copyright: Opensecrets.orgDisney. AirBnB. BlueCross BlueShield. Marriott. What do these corporations have in common? They suspended donations to Republicans who objected to the certification of the Electoral College's votes on January 6, 2021. These corporations are holding Ted Cruz (Texas), Josh Hawley (Missouri), Tommy Tuberville (Alabama), and 144 other congresspersons responsible for the violence at the Capitol, which interrupted certification proceedings. Other corporations have followed suit with some suspending all political donations and others reviewing their current policies. To be clear, corporations cannot donate directly to candidates or their campaigns, per Federal Election Commission (FEC) regulations. Instead, all money must be funneled through other channels, such as separate segregated funds (SSFs), political committees financially supported by a corporation or labor group. SSFs are better known as PACs or political action committees. PACs are defined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as 527 organizations, and are tax-exempt. Traditional PACs may directly donate to a campaign, but are subject to federal and state limitations.
In 1907, Congress passed the Tillman Act prohibiting corporations and banks from donating to political candidates in federal elections. In 1943, the Smith-Connally Act extended those restrictions to include labor unions. That year, union leaders responded by forming the Congress of Industrial Organizations to support the re-election of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and other pro-labor candidates. In 1971, the Federal Election Campaign Act (amended in 1974 and 1976), further regulated political campaign spending. The most influential change to PAC spending, however, came in 2010. In a landmark decision (Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission), the Supreme Court reversed federal campaign donation restrictions for corporations and other groups. Currently, PACs can spend an unlimited amount on federal campaign advertising, provided they are not directly coordinating with a specific party or candidate. This has led to the creation of super PACs, and an increase in dark money, contributions made to a trade or social welfare organization whose primary purpose is not influencing elections. Donors do not have to disclose these contributions, and typically benefit from the anonymity. In recent federal elections, including the 2020 presidential election, corporations have funneled billions of dollars into PACs on behalf of both political parties. While the effects of these donation freezes remain to be seen, one thing is certain—corporations are being pressured to address their role in electing candidates who, directly or indirectly, have threatened America's democratic processes.
Image credit & copyright: Opensecrets.org -
5 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree3 CQ
The installation by artist Péter Szalay is a kneeling sculpture of the Statue of Liberty, illuminated in rainbow colors with her left hand raised in a fist. ...
with PRI's The WorldThe installation by artist Péter Szalay is a kneeling sculpture of the Statue of Liberty, illuminated in rainbow colors with her left hand raised in a fist. ...
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1 minFREEPoetry Poem CurioFree1 CQ
Afternoon Walk: The Sea Ranch. by Sandra Gilbert.
with Poetry FoundationAfternoon Walk: The Sea Ranch. by Sandra Gilbert.
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FREESTEM Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
The days may be shorter in winter, but for one group of Korean scientists, the sun never sets—because it's artificial and indoors! The superconducting fusion device known as KSTAR (Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research), also known as the "Korean artificial sun" uses superconducting magnets and hydrogen isotopes to mimic the sun's fusion reactions inside a specially-built room at the National Fusion Research Institute in Daejeon, South Korea. In late December, 2020, KSTAR achieved an important milestone when it broke its own record and kept its temperature at 100 million degrees for 20 seconds. Previously, in 2019, it had maintained this temperature for 8 seconds. When the KSTAR reactor is switched on, its magnets agitate hydrogen isotopes into a plasma state separating the ions and electrons. This separation leads to a massive release of energy, resulting in the extreme high temperatures the KSTAR reactor is famous for maintaining. KSTAR is part of ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor), an international research and engineering project. The project's goal? To find a way to make nuclear fusion the green energy source of the future. Imagine being able to harness the power of the sun all year long!
Image credit & copyright: Eco Central
Written by: Maria C.
The days may be shorter in winter, but for one group of Korean scientists, the sun never sets—because it's artificial and indoors! The superconducting fusion device known as KSTAR (Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research), also known as the "Korean artificial sun" uses superconducting magnets and hydrogen isotopes to mimic the sun's fusion reactions inside a specially-built room at the National Fusion Research Institute in Daejeon, South Korea. In late December, 2020, KSTAR achieved an important milestone when it broke its own record and kept its temperature at 100 million degrees for 20 seconds. Previously, in 2019, it had maintained this temperature for 8 seconds. When the KSTAR reactor is switched on, its magnets agitate hydrogen isotopes into a plasma state separating the ions and electrons. This separation leads to a massive release of energy, resulting in the extreme high temperatures the KSTAR reactor is famous for maintaining. KSTAR is part of ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor), an international research and engineering project. The project's goal? To find a way to make nuclear fusion the green energy source of the future. Imagine being able to harness the power of the sun all year long!
Image credit & copyright: Eco Central
Written by: Maria C.
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FREEAesthetic Photo CurioFree1 CQ
Remy from Ratatouille isn't the only one with good taste around here. Recently, theater artist Jonothon Lyons donned his best brown suit and tail to become Buddy the Rat, a performance art rodent who makes his way around New York City. Lyons came up with the idea in 2008 while working on a stage show in Portland, Oregon called Frogs. After playing the part of several animals, including an anteater, polar bear, and penguin, he developed a desire to portray the mischievous city rat. Earlier this year Lyons teamed up with director Todd Strauss-Schulson (A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas) to film the three-minute short Rat on the streets of New York City. Lyons had so much fun with the film, he took the character out for random acts of performance art around the city: whether it was catching a ride on the subway, showing people how to wear a triple-mask during covid, or paying homage to the original "pizza rat" meme by lugging his own slice of pie across town, Buddy the Rat is causing quite the stir in the city that never sleeps!
Image credit & copyright: Jonothon Lyons
Written by: Esther P.Remy from Ratatouille isn't the only one with good taste around here. Recently, theater artist Jonothon Lyons donned his best brown suit and tail to become Buddy the Rat, a performance art rodent who makes his way around New York City. Lyons came up with the idea in 2008 while working on a stage show in Portland, Oregon called Frogs. After playing the part of several animals, including an anteater, polar bear, and penguin, he developed a desire to portray the mischievous city rat. Earlier this year Lyons teamed up with director Todd Strauss-Schulson (A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas) to film the three-minute short Rat on the streets of New York City. Lyons had so much fun with the film, he took the character out for random acts of performance art around the city: whether it was catching a ride on the subway, showing people how to wear a triple-mask during covid, or paying homage to the original "pizza rat" meme by lugging his own slice of pie across town, Buddy the Rat is causing quite the stir in the city that never sleeps!
Image credit & copyright: Jonothon Lyons
Written by: Esther P.
January 13, 2021
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5 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree3 CQ
Expanding vaccine access helps China reframe the narrative of the pandemic and improve China’s image, said Yangzhong Huang, a senior fellow for global health...
with PRI's The WorldExpanding vaccine access helps China reframe the narrative of the pandemic and improve China’s image, said Yangzhong Huang, a senior fellow for global health...
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
You can add Walmart and Disney to the list. They’re specifically cutting off donations to lawmakers who voted against certifying the Electoral College result...
You can add Walmart and Disney to the list. They’re specifically cutting off donations to lawmakers who voted against certifying the Electoral College result...
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : January 13, 2021
rapport \ra-POR\ noun
Definition
: a friendly, harmonious relationship; especially : a relationship characterized by ag...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : January 13, 2021
rapport \ra-POR\ noun
Definition
: a friendly, harmonious relationship; especially : a relationship characterized by ag...
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FREEScience Daily Curio #2165Free1 CQ
Buzz, buzz. What's that? It's the newest (old) French fad in skin care—royal jelly. Homeopaths and skincare fanatics have long touted the powers of bee products. Six bee products are marketed for human consumption and/or topical application: honey, a superfood allowing bees to store food over winter; beeswax, a natural wax used for lubrication and waterproofing; propolis, an infection-fighting compound used as a protective coating on hives; pollen, bee's primary food source; bee venom, the acidic liquid excreted from stingers with anti-inflammatory and inflammatory compounds; and royal jelly, a secretion from the hypopharyngeal glands of female worker bees fed to the queen larvae. Queen larvae are those selected to become queen bees, and fed royal jelly to promote sexual maturity. Royal jelly or "bee milk," is a complex compound made of, "water (50%–60%), proteins (18%), carbohydrates (15%), lipids (3%–6%), trace minerals, water-soluble vitamins, free amino acids" and more.
Royal jelly enthusiasts proclaim the product's benefits range from enhancing collagen production to reducing the symptoms of PMS and menopause. Harvesting royal jelly, however, is a controversial practice. Beekeepers must move day-old larvae into specialized queen cups, and then a brood chamber so they can collect the jelly being produced to feed the larvae. There is rarely an over-abundance of royal jelly, that is when the queen larvae cannot consume the royal jelly as quickly as it is produced. While entomologists have possibly found more humane ways to harvest royal jelly, it remains a costly product. Sensitive to light, heat, and air, it must be carefully handled using wood, plastic, or glass, and stored in a controlled environment. Supposedly, the pricey substance was applied and even consumed throughout history by everyone from Cleopatra to Napoléon Bonaparte. Today, beauty producers market the product to consumers looking to shrink pores, even complexions, fight acne, or reduce the appearance of wrinkles. For those seeking the fountain of youth, this "bee milk" might be worth the buzz.
Image credit & copyright: Mirko Graul, ShutterstockBuzz, buzz. What's that? It's the newest (old) French fad in skin care—royal jelly. Homeopaths and skincare fanatics have long touted the powers of bee products. Six bee products are marketed for human consumption and/or topical application: honey, a superfood allowing bees to store food over winter; beeswax, a natural wax used for lubrication and waterproofing; propolis, an infection-fighting compound used as a protective coating on hives; pollen, bee's primary food source; bee venom, the acidic liquid excreted from stingers with anti-inflammatory and inflammatory compounds; and royal jelly, a secretion from the hypopharyngeal glands of female worker bees fed to the queen larvae. Queen larvae are those selected to become queen bees, and fed royal jelly to promote sexual maturity. Royal jelly or "bee milk," is a complex compound made of, "water (50%–60%), proteins (18%), carbohydrates (15%), lipids (3%–6%), trace minerals, water-soluble vitamins, free amino acids" and more.
Royal jelly enthusiasts proclaim the product's benefits range from enhancing collagen production to reducing the symptoms of PMS and menopause. Harvesting royal jelly, however, is a controversial practice. Beekeepers must move day-old larvae into specialized queen cups, and then a brood chamber so they can collect the jelly being produced to feed the larvae. There is rarely an over-abundance of royal jelly, that is when the queen larvae cannot consume the royal jelly as quickly as it is produced. While entomologists have possibly found more humane ways to harvest royal jelly, it remains a costly product. Sensitive to light, heat, and air, it must be carefully handled using wood, plastic, or glass, and stored in a controlled environment. Supposedly, the pricey substance was applied and even consumed throughout history by everyone from Cleopatra to Napoléon Bonaparte. Today, beauty producers market the product to consumers looking to shrink pores, even complexions, fight acne, or reduce the appearance of wrinkles. For those seeking the fountain of youth, this "bee milk" might be worth the buzz.
Image credit & copyright: Mirko Graul, Shutterstock -
FREEMusic Song CurioFree2 CQ
Laissez les bons temps rouler! During Mardi Gras, Big Chief Romeo Bougere of the 9th Ward Hunters and Big Chief Jermaine Bossier of the 7th Ward Creole Hunters lead their New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian "gangs" in local (play) war games. When the two aren't bedecked in hand-sewn costumes inspired by indigenous regalia, they put their differences aside and come together as the 79rs Gang, a New Orleans duo serving up a hot batch of creole-inspired hip-hop on tracks like 79rs Bout to Blow. Over a bed of syncopated drum machines, African percussion instruments, and a buzzy horn section, Bougere and Bossier trade rhymes about their NOLA pride. The duo began as intense rivals who would challenge each other to sing and rap during the war games. When they realized they both had immense talent and would be better off creating music together, the 79rs Gang was born, proving that if you can't beat 'em, you should definitely join 'em in. Together, they make some of the best new music coming out of New Orleans.
Image credit & copyright: Diwang Valdez
Written by: Esther P.
Laissez les bons temps rouler! During Mardi Gras, Big Chief Romeo Bougere of the 9th Ward Hunters and Big Chief Jermaine Bossier of the 7th Ward Creole Hunters lead their New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian "gangs" in local (play) war games. When the two aren't bedecked in hand-sewn costumes inspired by indigenous regalia, they put their differences aside and come together as the 79rs Gang, a New Orleans duo serving up a hot batch of creole-inspired hip-hop on tracks like 79rs Bout to Blow. Over a bed of syncopated drum machines, African percussion instruments, and a buzzy horn section, Bougere and Bossier trade rhymes about their NOLA pride. The duo began as intense rivals who would challenge each other to sing and rap during the war games. When they realized they both had immense talent and would be better off creating music together, the 79rs Gang was born, proving that if you can't beat 'em, you should definitely join 'em in. Together, they make some of the best new music coming out of New Orleans.
Image credit & copyright: Diwang Valdez
Written by: Esther P.
January 12, 2021
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5 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree3 CQ
Fiona Hill was a key witness in the previous impeachment proceedings. Hill was Trump’s top Russia adviser from 2017 to 2019 and also served on the National S...
with PRI's The WorldFiona Hill was a key witness in the previous impeachment proceedings. Hill was Trump’s top Russia adviser from 2017 to 2019 and also served on the National S...
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6 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
From the BBC World Service: More paperwork to move goods into Northern Ireland after Brexit causes trade difficulties. Plus, Ford exits Brazil. And, India’s ...
From the BBC World Service: More paperwork to move goods into Northern Ireland after Brexit causes trade difficulties. Plus, Ford exits Brazil. And, India’s ...
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : January 12, 2021
pedantic \pih-DAN-tik\ adjective
Definition
1 : of, relating to, or being a pedant
2 : narrowly, stodgily, and often o...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : January 12, 2021
pedantic \pih-DAN-tik\ adjective
Definition
1 : of, relating to, or being a pedant
2 : narrowly, stodgily, and often o...
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FREESTEM Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
Last month, construction crews completed the largest accessible land bridge in the United States. The Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge connects 7.5 miles of trails in the 330-acre Phil Hardberger Park in San Antonio, Texas. Spanning the Wurzbach Parkway, a busy 12-mile east-west thoroughfare, the land bridge also restores fractured habitats. Not only will native wildlife like armadillos, coyotes, and deer be able to safely navigate the pass, but so will park visitors. Land bridges, defined as strips of land connecting two landmasses, also encourage biodiversity. During the Cretaceous period (145.5-65.5 million years ago), the Hardberger Park site was covered in shallow seas. Today, limestone from the era, known as the Buda Formation, remains. Conservationists are working to transform the land bridge into a savanna, an open grassland with trees. Before 2009, the park site was a cattle and dairy farm. Years of overgrazing killed off many of the native plant species, and allowed non-native (and invasive) species to flourish. Restoring the natural habitat is an ongoing process. While the land bridge might look a bit sparse at the moment, artist renderings show how the newly planted vegetation will eventually create a lush and verdant landscape.
Image credit & copyright: Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy
See the bridge's construction process:Last month, construction crews completed the largest accessible land bridge in the United States. The Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge connects 7.5 miles of trails in the 330-acre Phil Hardberger Park in San Antonio, Texas. Spanning the Wurzbach Parkway, a busy 12-mile east-west thoroughfare, the land bridge also restores fractured habitats. Not only will native wildlife like armadillos, coyotes, and deer be able to safely navigate the pass, but so will park visitors. Land bridges, defined as strips of land connecting two landmasses, also encourage biodiversity. During the Cretaceous period (145.5-65.5 million years ago), the Hardberger Park site was covered in shallow seas. Today, limestone from the era, known as the Buda Formation, remains. Conservationists are working to transform the land bridge into a savanna, an open grassland with trees. Before 2009, the park site was a cattle and dairy farm. Years of overgrazing killed off many of the native plant species, and allowed non-native (and invasive) species to flourish. Restoring the natural habitat is an ongoing process. While the land bridge might look a bit sparse at the moment, artist renderings show how the newly planted vegetation will eventually create a lush and verdant landscape.
Image credit & copyright: Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy
See the bridge's construction process: -
FREEBiology Daily Curio #2164Free1 CQ
On November 17, marine scientists initiated a drop of acoustic recording equipment in the Pacific Ocean about 100 miles north of the Islas San Benito, an uninhabited isle off the coast of Baja California, Mexico. To their surprise, they saw three massive beaked whales unlike any species they recognized. There are currently 23 identified species of beaked whales, a relatively unknown group of cetaceans, that is marine mammals including whales, dolphins, and porpoises. These deep sea creatures prefer to swim at depths of up to 2,000 meters, avoiding their primary predator, the killer (orca) whale. Primarily found in the Pacific ocean, they have beaks and small, triangular dorsal fins. Male beaked whales have one pair of tusk-like teeth, presumed to be used when vying for a female reproductive partner. Teeth in female beaked whales remain hidden under their gums.
When the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society researchers boarded their vessel, the Martin Sheen (named after the actor, a longtime supporter), they were trying to study another species, the Perrin beaked whale. Researchers had only seen the corpses of Perrin whales washed upon the shores of Mexico. Imagine their surprise when they saw three living deep sea whales the size of Clydesdale horses under their boat! When the researchers spotted the whales, they suspected they had stumbled upon a new species, especially because the cetaceans emitted distinct sounds. The researchers, including Dr. Gustavo Cárdenas Hinojosa from the Marine Mammal Research Group of CONANP, Dr. Jay Barlow, and Dr. Elizabeth Henderson, Leader of the Whale Acoustic Reconnaissance Program, are currently studying the acoustic signals and performing genetic samplings. They're also revisited recordings taken in 2018 along the California coast. At the time, the recordings were suspected to be of Perrin whales, but may have been misattributed. One thing's for sure, this whale of a tale will make the research team the envy of their colleagues.
See footage from the Sea Shepherd team below.
Image credit & copyright: Simon Ager, Sea ShepherdOn November 17, marine scientists initiated a drop of acoustic recording equipment in the Pacific Ocean about 100 miles north of the Islas San Benito, an uninhabited isle off the coast of Baja California, Mexico. To their surprise, they saw three massive beaked whales unlike any species they recognized. There are currently 23 identified species of beaked whales, a relatively unknown group of cetaceans, that is marine mammals including whales, dolphins, and porpoises. These deep sea creatures prefer to swim at depths of up to 2,000 meters, avoiding their primary predator, the killer (orca) whale. Primarily found in the Pacific ocean, they have beaks and small, triangular dorsal fins. Male beaked whales have one pair of tusk-like teeth, presumed to be used when vying for a female reproductive partner. Teeth in female beaked whales remain hidden under their gums.
When the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society researchers boarded their vessel, the Martin Sheen (named after the actor, a longtime supporter), they were trying to study another species, the Perrin beaked whale. Researchers had only seen the corpses of Perrin whales washed upon the shores of Mexico. Imagine their surprise when they saw three living deep sea whales the size of Clydesdale horses under their boat! When the researchers spotted the whales, they suspected they had stumbled upon a new species, especially because the cetaceans emitted distinct sounds. The researchers, including Dr. Gustavo Cárdenas Hinojosa from the Marine Mammal Research Group of CONANP, Dr. Jay Barlow, and Dr. Elizabeth Henderson, Leader of the Whale Acoustic Reconnaissance Program, are currently studying the acoustic signals and performing genetic samplings. They're also revisited recordings taken in 2018 along the California coast. At the time, the recordings were suspected to be of Perrin whales, but may have been misattributed. One thing's for sure, this whale of a tale will make the research team the envy of their colleagues.
See footage from the Sea Shepherd team below.
Image credit & copyright: Simon Ager, Sea Shepherd -
FREEUS History Photo CurioFree1 CQ
Sometimes a boxer's most important match takes place outside the ring. On this day in 1967, a Kentucky review board ruled that heavyweight boxing champion Muhammed Ali was not exempt from the draft (conscription). This eventually led to one of the most famous moments of the 1960s—Ali refused to step forward during his scheduled military induction on April 28. In the photo above, Ali is escorted from the Armed Forces Examining and Entrance Station in Houston wearing a suit and confident expression. Ali faced the prospect of jail time for his decision and had his boxing license stripped. As the Vietnam War grew unpopular, Ali became a speaker at anti-war events, saying that he couldn't fight on behalf of a country that treated Black people as second-class citizens. To those who criticized him, Ali had a heartfelt reply: "those of the people who think that I lost so much by not taking this step, I would like to say that I did not lose a thing up until this very moment, I haven’t lost one thing. I have gained a lot. Number one, I have gained a peace of mind. I have gained a peace of heart."
Image credit & copyright: Associated Press
Written by: Maria C.
Sometimes a boxer's most important match takes place outside the ring. On this day in 1967, a Kentucky review board ruled that heavyweight boxing champion Muhammed Ali was not exempt from the draft (conscription). This eventually led to one of the most famous moments of the 1960s—Ali refused to step forward during his scheduled military induction on April 28. In the photo above, Ali is escorted from the Armed Forces Examining and Entrance Station in Houston wearing a suit and confident expression. Ali faced the prospect of jail time for his decision and had his boxing license stripped. As the Vietnam War grew unpopular, Ali became a speaker at anti-war events, saying that he couldn't fight on behalf of a country that treated Black people as second-class citizens. To those who criticized him, Ali had a heartfelt reply: "those of the people who think that I lost so much by not taking this step, I would like to say that I did not lose a thing up until this very moment, I haven’t lost one thing. I have gained a lot. Number one, I have gained a peace of mind. I have gained a peace of heart."
Image credit & copyright: Associated Press
Written by: Maria C.
January 11, 2021
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7 minFREEHumanities Worldly CurioFree4 CQ
Morals are the stock-in-trade of the Islamic Defenders Front, which is likely the largest vigilante group in Asia. They claim millions of followers — though ...
with PRI's The WorldMorals are the stock-in-trade of the Islamic Defenders Front, which is likely the largest vigilante group in Asia. They claim millions of followers — though ...
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
Paycheck Protection Program funds for businesses once again become available starting Monday. Initially, only first-time loan applications from businesses wo...
Paycheck Protection Program funds for businesses once again become available starting Monday. Initially, only first-time loan applications from businesses wo...
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day : January 11, 2021
mimesis \muh-MEE-sis\ noun
Definition
: imitation, mimicry
Did You Know?
Mimesis is a term with an undeniably classic...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day : January 11, 2021
mimesis \muh-MEE-sis\ noun
Definition
: imitation, mimicry
Did You Know?
Mimesis is a term with an undeniably classic...
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FREEPolitical Science Daily Curio #2163Free1 CQ
What happens when dozens of lawmakers vow to overturn a democratic election? Chaos, as it turns out. January 6 is marked in the 12th Amendment to the United States Constitution as the day that Congress, presided over by the Vice President, meets in a joint session to count certified votes from each state. In accordance with the 1887 Electoral Count Act, lawmakers have the opportunity to object to a state's certified votes, and even to debate and vote on whether to count them as legitimate. Still, "counting day" has historically been a ceremonial or pro forma affair. Not this year. In the weeks leading up to January 6, in a move which many criticized as an act of political theatre, over 100 Republican House representatives and a handful of Republican senators were planning to raise objections to the electoral votes in several swing states. Their objections, according to Senator Ted Cruz, of Texas, had to do with concerns about election integrity in the 2020 Presidential election. Despite a lack of evidence, these claims were also being pushed by President Trump, on Twitter and other media platforms. (These claims have been repeatedly rejected by the judicial system.) This unprecedented attempt to overturn the results of a U.S. election made January 6th into a must-watch event, for many Americans, and an unfortunate target for violence.
When an objection to a state's certified votes is supported by both a House Representative and a Senator, a two-hour debate is triggered in Congress. Congresspeople objected to electoral votes in 1969, 2001, 2005 and, most recently, in 2017, when several House democrats objected to Trump's election. No debates were triggered in 2017, however, since none of the House Representatives could find senators to sign on to their cause. This year's joint session was poised to be the most contentious in history. However, on January 6, 2021, in the middle of a debate over Arizona's certified votes, lawmakers were suddenly interrupted. Police officers entered the Congressional chamber to announce that pro-Trump rioters had breached the Capitol building. Vice-President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi were ushered to secure locations, while other lawmakers were given evacuation hoods—plastic head coverings meant to filter out chemicals—and told to shelter in place. A gunshot rang out as one rioter, Ashli Babbit, of California, was fatally shot by police. Eventually, members of Congress were led from the chamber into an undisclosed, secure room in the Capitol complex. The images that followed, of domestic terrorists parading and looting their way through the halls and chambers of the Capitol building and lawmaker's offices, were shocking. Once the National Guard was deployed, and the building cleared of rioters, Congress re-convened to continue their work. As for the lawmakers who originally planned to object to states' votes, a handful changed their minds, after the day's unprecedented events. Joe Biden's victory was confirmed around 3:40 a.m., January 7.
Image credit & copyright: REUTERS
Written by: Maria C.What happens when dozens of lawmakers vow to overturn a democratic election? Chaos, as it turns out. January 6 is marked in the 12th Amendment to the United States Constitution as the day that Congress, presided over by the Vice President, meets in a joint session to count certified votes from each state. In accordance with the 1887 Electoral Count Act, lawmakers have the opportunity to object to a state's certified votes, and even to debate and vote on whether to count them as legitimate. Still, "counting day" has historically been a ceremonial or pro forma affair. Not this year. In the weeks leading up to January 6, in a move which many criticized as an act of political theatre, over 100 Republican House representatives and a handful of Republican senators were planning to raise objections to the electoral votes in several swing states. Their objections, according to Senator Ted Cruz, of Texas, had to do with concerns about election integrity in the 2020 Presidential election. Despite a lack of evidence, these claims were also being pushed by President Trump, on Twitter and other media platforms. (These claims have been repeatedly rejected by the judicial system.) This unprecedented attempt to overturn the results of a U.S. election made January 6th into a must-watch event, for many Americans, and an unfortunate target for violence.
When an objection to a state's certified votes is supported by both a House Representative and a Senator, a two-hour debate is triggered in Congress. Congresspeople objected to electoral votes in 1969, 2001, 2005 and, most recently, in 2017, when several House democrats objected to Trump's election. No debates were triggered in 2017, however, since none of the House Representatives could find senators to sign on to their cause. This year's joint session was poised to be the most contentious in history. However, on January 6, 2021, in the middle of a debate over Arizona's certified votes, lawmakers were suddenly interrupted. Police officers entered the Congressional chamber to announce that pro-Trump rioters had breached the Capitol building. Vice-President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi were ushered to secure locations, while other lawmakers were given evacuation hoods—plastic head coverings meant to filter out chemicals—and told to shelter in place. A gunshot rang out as one rioter, Ashli Babbit, of California, was fatally shot by police. Eventually, members of Congress were led from the chamber into an undisclosed, secure room in the Capitol complex. The images that followed, of domestic terrorists parading and looting their way through the halls and chambers of the Capitol building and lawmaker's offices, were shocking. Once the National Guard was deployed, and the building cleared of rioters, Congress re-convened to continue their work. As for the lawmakers who originally planned to object to states' votes, a handful changed their minds, after the day's unprecedented events. Joe Biden's victory was confirmed around 3:40 a.m., January 7.
Image credit & copyright: REUTERS
Written by: Maria C. -
FREEPhotography Art CurioFree1 CQ
Chikuho-Coal
Ramon Todo (b. 1969)
2020
Coal, glass
Art Front Gallery, Tokyo, JapanTalk about looking through history! Japanese artist Ramon Todo employs a unique method to draw attention to stone artifacts that might otherwise be overlooked. In Chikuho-Coal, dark grey stones are piled on top of each other, in a wooden crate. In the middle of each stone is a thick panel of transparent blueish-green glass. In most of his work, Todo uses stones from historical sites around Dusseldorf, Germany and Kanagawa, Japan—the two cities where he most often lives. Chikuho-Coal makes use of stone called Bota, from the Chikuho coal mine on Kyushu Island, in Japan. Bota stones do not quite meet the criteria to be considered usable coal, and are usually discarded. Todo explained that this was exactly why he felt compelled to turn them into art: "These Bota are treasures to me, while they are just debris of no use for ordinary people, who have thrown away these wasted coal blocks. That is why I feel sympathy to [sic] them," he said in an interview. Further evidence that artists are experts at revealing hidden beauty.
Below: Chikuho-Coal from a different angle and another of Todo's pieces, Mt. Broken, Germany.
Written by: Maria C.Chikuho-Coal
Ramon Todo (b. 1969)
2020
Coal, glass
Art Front Gallery, Tokyo, JapanTalk about looking through history! Japanese artist Ramon Todo employs a unique method to draw attention to stone artifacts that might otherwise be overlooked. In Chikuho-Coal, dark grey stones are piled on top of each other, in a wooden crate. In the middle of each stone is a thick panel of transparent blueish-green glass. In most of his work, Todo uses stones from historical sites around Dusseldorf, Germany and Kanagawa, Japan—the two cities where he most often lives. Chikuho-Coal makes use of stone called Bota, from the Chikuho coal mine on Kyushu Island, in Japan. Bota stones do not quite meet the criteria to be considered usable coal, and are usually discarded. Todo explained that this was exactly why he felt compelled to turn them into art: "These Bota are treasures to me, while they are just debris of no use for ordinary people, who have thrown away these wasted coal blocks. That is why I feel sympathy to [sic] them," he said in an interview. Further evidence that artists are experts at revealing hidden beauty.
Below: Chikuho-Coal from a different angle and another of Todo's pieces, Mt. Broken, Germany.
Written by: Maria C.