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May 9, 2024
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FREEPhysics Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
Time to shed a little light on a new discovery. Scientists at MIT have found that light alone (that is, without heat) can cause water to evaporate, according to a paper published in PNAS. While a watched pot supposedly never boils, the fact is that as long as enough heat is applied to water, it will eventually turn it into vapor. Heat excites the water molecules, causing them to separate from each other. Now, we know that light can do the same thing in a phenomenon called the photomolecular effect. The discovery was partially made by accident, when researchers noticed that hydrogel was losing its water molecules at a faster rate than anticipated when accounting for thermal energy, seemingly violating the law of conservation of energy. Hydrogel is a material that resembles gelatin and contains water molecules held in a lattice of thin membranes that form a matrix. Researchers found that when light hits the material, it causes the water on its surface to evaporate—notably, the rate of evaporation can be several times faster than with thermal energy. In their experiments, the scientists exposed water-laden hydrogel to various wavelengths of light—which is independent of thermal energy—and found that green light was most efficient at evaporation. The researchers hope that their discovery can lead to innovations in solar desalination and possibly lead to solar-based evaporative cooling. It’s a green light to the future.
[Image description: Water droplets on a green leaf.] Credit & copyright: Min An, Pexels
Time to shed a little light on a new discovery. Scientists at MIT have found that light alone (that is, without heat) can cause water to evaporate, according to a paper published in PNAS. While a watched pot supposedly never boils, the fact is that as long as enough heat is applied to water, it will eventually turn it into vapor. Heat excites the water molecules, causing them to separate from each other. Now, we know that light can do the same thing in a phenomenon called the photomolecular effect. The discovery was partially made by accident, when researchers noticed that hydrogel was losing its water molecules at a faster rate than anticipated when accounting for thermal energy, seemingly violating the law of conservation of energy. Hydrogel is a material that resembles gelatin and contains water molecules held in a lattice of thin membranes that form a matrix. Researchers found that when light hits the material, it causes the water on its surface to evaporate—notably, the rate of evaporation can be several times faster than with thermal energy. In their experiments, the scientists exposed water-laden hydrogel to various wavelengths of light—which is independent of thermal energy—and found that green light was most efficient at evaporation. The researchers hope that their discovery can lead to innovations in solar desalination and possibly lead to solar-based evaporative cooling. It’s a green light to the future.
[Image description: Water droplets on a green leaf.] Credit & copyright: Min An, Pexels
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FREEWorld History Daily Curio #2870Free1 CQ
Who would have thought that Camelot was in Spain all along? Archaeologists have been studying a 1,000-year-old sword found in Valencia, an ancient weapon that seems to bear striking similarities to the “Sword in the Stone” of Arthurian legend. Originally discovered in 1994 under Chabàs Street, archaeologists were unable to identify, at the time, what culture the sword belonged to. Valencia has been occupied by a variety of different groups throughout its long history, and there wasn’t enough left of the sword to clearly indicate its provenance. What they did know was that the sword had bronze components and that the blade was made of iron and curved slightly.
These details couldn’t be linked to any culture in particular, but there was something unusual about this sword—it was embedded in the ground in an upright position when it was discovered, earning it the nickname “Excalibur.” Excalibur, of course, is the sword wielded by King Arthur of legend. In some versions of the legend, Excalibur was a sword that had been stuck in a stone, and a prophecy stated that whoever pulled it from its resting place would be crowned king of England. When a young Arthur lifted the sword from the stone, he was declared the new king. But in other versions of the story, the sword in the stone and Excalibur are not one and the same. While the former grants him the crown, King Arthur doesn’t acquire Excalibur until much later, when it’s given to him by the Lady of the Lake. The sword in Valencia, however, was likely never wielded by an Englishman at all. Instead, recent analysis shows that the sword likely belonged to an ancient Muslim warrior. Spain was once a part of Roman territory, but between 500 and 1000 C.E., control over the Iberian peninsula passed between the Byzantine, Visigoth, and Arab forces. By 1000 C.E., control of the peninsula was secured by an Arab caliphate, who called the region Al-Andalus. Centuries later, control of the peninsula returned to Iberian Christians who expelled the Muslim population. With so many people passing through, the area’s like a lost and found of bygone civilizations.Who would have thought that Camelot was in Spain all along? Archaeologists have been studying a 1,000-year-old sword found in Valencia, an ancient weapon that seems to bear striking similarities to the “Sword in the Stone” of Arthurian legend. Originally discovered in 1994 under Chabàs Street, archaeologists were unable to identify, at the time, what culture the sword belonged to. Valencia has been occupied by a variety of different groups throughout its long history, and there wasn’t enough left of the sword to clearly indicate its provenance. What they did know was that the sword had bronze components and that the blade was made of iron and curved slightly.
These details couldn’t be linked to any culture in particular, but there was something unusual about this sword—it was embedded in the ground in an upright position when it was discovered, earning it the nickname “Excalibur.” Excalibur, of course, is the sword wielded by King Arthur of legend. In some versions of the legend, Excalibur was a sword that had been stuck in a stone, and a prophecy stated that whoever pulled it from its resting place would be crowned king of England. When a young Arthur lifted the sword from the stone, he was declared the new king. But in other versions of the story, the sword in the stone and Excalibur are not one and the same. While the former grants him the crown, King Arthur doesn’t acquire Excalibur until much later, when it’s given to him by the Lady of the Lake. The sword in Valencia, however, was likely never wielded by an Englishman at all. Instead, recent analysis shows that the sword likely belonged to an ancient Muslim warrior. Spain was once a part of Roman territory, but between 500 and 1000 C.E., control over the Iberian peninsula passed between the Byzantine, Visigoth, and Arab forces. By 1000 C.E., control of the peninsula was secured by an Arab caliphate, who called the region Al-Andalus. Centuries later, control of the peninsula returned to Iberian Christians who expelled the Muslim population. With so many people passing through, the area’s like a lost and found of bygone civilizations.
May 8, 2024
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FREEFinance Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
It’s one of the biggest companies in the world, and it’s headed by none other than famed businessman Warren Buffett, but what does it actually do? Berkshire Hathaway is a massive, American-based, multinational conglomerate, meaning that it owns controlling stakes in many smaller companies. Yet, it had humble beginnings—at least compared to what it is today. The company that would become Berkshire Hathaway was founded in 1839 by American businessman Oliver Chace. It was a textile manufacturing company in Valley Falls, Rhode Island, appropriately called the Valley Falls Company. In 1929, the company underwent the first of many, many mergers when it combined with the Berkshire Cotton Manufacturing company to become Berkshire Fine Spinning Associates. The company gained the “Hathaway” portion of its eventual name in 1955, when it merged with another textiles business, the Hathaway Manufacturing Company. Warren Buffett came onto the scene in 1962, when he began buying stock in Berkshire Hathaway. Eventually, he came to control the entire company, but there was just one problem—the U.S. textiles industry was puttering out. Soon, with Buffett at the helm, Berkshire Hathaway began buying up other companies unrelated to the textiles industry, the first of which was National Indemnity Company. By 1985, Berkshire Hathaway had ceased its textiles operations altogether. Today, Berkshire Hathway owns large stakes in enormous companies like Coca-Cola, as well as entire businesses in the transportation, insurance, and retail industries, among others. So, as for what the company does, the answer really is “a bit of everything!”
[Image description: An illustration of the Berkshire Cotton Manufacturing Company in Adams, Massachusetts, featuring several buildings and two large smokestacks.] Credit & copyright: Mason Machine Works, Taunton, Massachusetts, U.S.A. 1899 catalog, Wikimedia Commons. This image is in the public domain.It’s one of the biggest companies in the world, and it’s headed by none other than famed businessman Warren Buffett, but what does it actually do? Berkshire Hathaway is a massive, American-based, multinational conglomerate, meaning that it owns controlling stakes in many smaller companies. Yet, it had humble beginnings—at least compared to what it is today. The company that would become Berkshire Hathaway was founded in 1839 by American businessman Oliver Chace. It was a textile manufacturing company in Valley Falls, Rhode Island, appropriately called the Valley Falls Company. In 1929, the company underwent the first of many, many mergers when it combined with the Berkshire Cotton Manufacturing company to become Berkshire Fine Spinning Associates. The company gained the “Hathaway” portion of its eventual name in 1955, when it merged with another textiles business, the Hathaway Manufacturing Company. Warren Buffett came onto the scene in 1962, when he began buying stock in Berkshire Hathaway. Eventually, he came to control the entire company, but there was just one problem—the U.S. textiles industry was puttering out. Soon, with Buffett at the helm, Berkshire Hathaway began buying up other companies unrelated to the textiles industry, the first of which was National Indemnity Company. By 1985, Berkshire Hathaway had ceased its textiles operations altogether. Today, Berkshire Hathway owns large stakes in enormous companies like Coca-Cola, as well as entire businesses in the transportation, insurance, and retail industries, among others. So, as for what the company does, the answer really is “a bit of everything!”
[Image description: An illustration of the Berkshire Cotton Manufacturing Company in Adams, Massachusetts, featuring several buildings and two large smokestacks.] Credit & copyright: Mason Machine Works, Taunton, Massachusetts, U.S.A. 1899 catalog, Wikimedia Commons. This image is in the public domain. -
FREEBiology Daily Curio #2869Free1 CQ
It’s not easy finding healthcare in the middle of a jungle, unless you’re an orangutan. Great apes like chimpanzees and orangutans have been known for decades to use tools, but scientists have just observed the first recorded case of an orangutan using plants to treat a wound. Rakus is a male orangutan who lives at the Gunung Leuser National Park in Sumatra, Indonesia, and like other males of his species, his flanges are his pride and joy. Flanges are the flaps filled with fatty tissue on the sides of male orangutan’s faces. But misfortune struck Rakus when, during a fight with another male, he sustained an injury that left a gaping wound on his cheek. In most animals, even a flesh wound has the potential to be deadly because it can easily become infected, but Rakus had a trick up his hairy sleeve. Researchers at the park noticed that days after receiving the injury, Rakus was chewing on liana leaves. Lianas are a type of vine abundant in the area where Rakus lives, but the leaves are seldom consumed as food. Rakus was first observed chewing some of the leaves in a deliberate fashion, avoiding other plants while picking liana leaves from the vine. Then, he spit the leaves back out and pressed them against his wound. Rakus also took the time to convalesce, keeping physical activity to a minimum while regularly chewing and even swallowing more liana leaves. Upon analysis, researchers found that the leaves contained anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and antiviral compounds as well as antioxidants and cancer-fighting compounds. By eating the leaves, Rakus was essentially taking antibiotics while also applying them topically as a poultice. As to how he learned such medicinal skills, it’s likely that its benefits were discovered by orangutans long ago, and that knowledge of its use spread through the population via social learning, something that apes have shown themselves capable of time and time again in regard to tools and other skills. Orangutan medical school would certainly be a hoot and a holler.
[Image description: An orangutan with its arms crossed, staring downward.] Credit & copyright: Miguel Cuenca, PexelsIt’s not easy finding healthcare in the middle of a jungle, unless you’re an orangutan. Great apes like chimpanzees and orangutans have been known for decades to use tools, but scientists have just observed the first recorded case of an orangutan using plants to treat a wound. Rakus is a male orangutan who lives at the Gunung Leuser National Park in Sumatra, Indonesia, and like other males of his species, his flanges are his pride and joy. Flanges are the flaps filled with fatty tissue on the sides of male orangutan’s faces. But misfortune struck Rakus when, during a fight with another male, he sustained an injury that left a gaping wound on his cheek. In most animals, even a flesh wound has the potential to be deadly because it can easily become infected, but Rakus had a trick up his hairy sleeve. Researchers at the park noticed that days after receiving the injury, Rakus was chewing on liana leaves. Lianas are a type of vine abundant in the area where Rakus lives, but the leaves are seldom consumed as food. Rakus was first observed chewing some of the leaves in a deliberate fashion, avoiding other plants while picking liana leaves from the vine. Then, he spit the leaves back out and pressed them against his wound. Rakus also took the time to convalesce, keeping physical activity to a minimum while regularly chewing and even swallowing more liana leaves. Upon analysis, researchers found that the leaves contained anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and antiviral compounds as well as antioxidants and cancer-fighting compounds. By eating the leaves, Rakus was essentially taking antibiotics while also applying them topically as a poultice. As to how he learned such medicinal skills, it’s likely that its benefits were discovered by orangutans long ago, and that knowledge of its use spread through the population via social learning, something that apes have shown themselves capable of time and time again in regard to tools and other skills. Orangutan medical school would certainly be a hoot and a holler.
[Image description: An orangutan with its arms crossed, staring downward.] Credit & copyright: Miguel Cuenca, Pexels
May 7, 2024
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FREESTEM Daily Curio #2868Free1 CQ
What’s that droning noise? Only the sound of a flying minesweeper. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has left the latter country dealing with deadly landmines laid throughout their territory. Removing such mines is a dangerous, time-consuming process, but drones and AI are now making it safer and easier. The use of landmines is forbidden by the UN per a treaty signed by 167 nations, but they continue to be used anyway. Part of the reason for the ban is that landmines are, by their very design, difficult to detect. The danger they pose during wartime is devastating enough, but in many cases, landmines continue to do harm years after whatever conflict elicited their use has ended. Even today, it’s not uncommon to hear about mines from long-concluded wars taking the lives of unsuspecting civilians. And it’s not just mines but undetonated bombs and shells lurking underground. There are a number of ways to find these dangerous weapons, but everything from metal detectors to people scanning aerial photographs to spot mines are excruciatingly slow. With conventional methods like these, it could take Ukraine as long as 750 years to be totally clear of landmines in the 67,000-square-mile area that is thought to be affected. That’s why they’re now turning to a method that’s currently considered unconventional, but might soon be the norm—a combination of drones and AI. A company called Safe Pro AI has developed an algorithm that can scan thousands of aerial photographs taken by drones and identify 70 types of landmines and other explosives with an accuracy rate of 90 percent. Currently, the technology is limited to land mines that are close to the surface and not obscured by vegetation, but the company hopes to improve on this by adding thermal imaging and radars to find more well-hidden mines. The technology isn’t meant to completely replace conventional methods of mine detection; instead, it’s meant to drastically ease the burden of locating the majority of them. This is one job that we’re glad to see AI take over.
What’s that droning noise? Only the sound of a flying minesweeper. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has left the latter country dealing with deadly landmines laid throughout their territory. Removing such mines is a dangerous, time-consuming process, but drones and AI are now making it safer and easier. The use of landmines is forbidden by the UN per a treaty signed by 167 nations, but they continue to be used anyway. Part of the reason for the ban is that landmines are, by their very design, difficult to detect. The danger they pose during wartime is devastating enough, but in many cases, landmines continue to do harm years after whatever conflict elicited their use has ended. Even today, it’s not uncommon to hear about mines from long-concluded wars taking the lives of unsuspecting civilians. And it’s not just mines but undetonated bombs and shells lurking underground. There are a number of ways to find these dangerous weapons, but everything from metal detectors to people scanning aerial photographs to spot mines are excruciatingly slow. With conventional methods like these, it could take Ukraine as long as 750 years to be totally clear of landmines in the 67,000-square-mile area that is thought to be affected. That’s why they’re now turning to a method that’s currently considered unconventional, but might soon be the norm—a combination of drones and AI. A company called Safe Pro AI has developed an algorithm that can scan thousands of aerial photographs taken by drones and identify 70 types of landmines and other explosives with an accuracy rate of 90 percent. Currently, the technology is limited to land mines that are close to the surface and not obscured by vegetation, but the company hopes to improve on this by adding thermal imaging and radars to find more well-hidden mines. The technology isn’t meant to completely replace conventional methods of mine detection; instead, it’s meant to drastically ease the burden of locating the majority of them. This is one job that we’re glad to see AI take over.
May 6, 2024
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FREEArt Appreciation Art CurioFree1 CQ
No need to beg for mercy from this deity; mercy is kind of their whole thing. Guanyin is a deity of Chinese mythology and Buddhism who helps people in the afterlife. The ancient sculpture above, Seated Guanyin, depicts the deity sitting with one leg raised and one arm resting atop it. The figure is wearing a crown and jewelry, and there are faint traces of red and gold paint. Guanyin was the Chinese name for the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. A bodhisattva is someone who is on their way to attaining Buddhahood, and they are often revered as deities in their own right. In the case of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva vowed to delay his own Buddhahood until every sentient being escaped Samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth. In China, Guanyin is mostly depicted in their female form, and English translations of her title refer to her as the Goddess of Mercy. When someone manages to leave Samsara and is on their way to the Pure Land, the eternal afterlife, Guanyin is said to send them on their way in the heart of a lotus. It seems a fitting way to get around in a blissful afterlife.
Seated Guanyin, late 1100s–1200s, Wood with polychromy and gilding, 54.31 in. (138 cm.), The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio
[Image credit & copyright: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1984.70, Public Domain Creative Commons Zero (CC0) designation.]No need to beg for mercy from this deity; mercy is kind of their whole thing. Guanyin is a deity of Chinese mythology and Buddhism who helps people in the afterlife. The ancient sculpture above, Seated Guanyin, depicts the deity sitting with one leg raised and one arm resting atop it. The figure is wearing a crown and jewelry, and there are faint traces of red and gold paint. Guanyin was the Chinese name for the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. A bodhisattva is someone who is on their way to attaining Buddhahood, and they are often revered as deities in their own right. In the case of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva vowed to delay his own Buddhahood until every sentient being escaped Samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth. In China, Guanyin is mostly depicted in their female form, and English translations of her title refer to her as the Goddess of Mercy. When someone manages to leave Samsara and is on their way to the Pure Land, the eternal afterlife, Guanyin is said to send them on their way in the heart of a lotus. It seems a fitting way to get around in a blissful afterlife.
Seated Guanyin, late 1100s–1200s, Wood with polychromy and gilding, 54.31 in. (138 cm.), The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio
[Image credit & copyright: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1984.70, Public Domain Creative Commons Zero (CC0) designation.] -
FREEOutdoors Daily Curio #2867Free1 CQ
Bon appétit! The French are renowned for their culinary fare, but they’ll be adding a new twist on May 26, when Parisians will be holding a truly giant picnic. The event will take place at Champs-Élysées, one of the most iconic streets in the city, and will accommodate 4,000 diners and even more bystanders. Unlike most picnics, baskets needn’t be brought, as one will be provided to each participant for free with a variety of culinary contributions from nine area restaurants. The oversized picnic is the brainchild of the Champs-Élysées Committee and LG Electronics France, and is intended to encourage tourism. Paris is the most visited city in the world, but the pandemic dealt a massive blow to the travel industry. Over the last two years, visitors have been returning to the City of Light en masse, and in 2023, the city saw 44 million visitors throughout the year. That’s still 13 percent lower than it was before the pandemic in 2019, so organizers of the picnic hope that their event will encourage more tourism in the near future. While the picnic will be open to anyone—residents and tourists alike—tickets will only be available in a raffle, with winners chosen at random for two time slots—one at noon and another at 2 p.m. Despite its expected size, this actually won’t be the biggest picnic ever held. According to Guinness World Records, the world’s largest picnic took place in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2009 and saw 22,232 diners. That, too, was the result of local officials trying to boost tourism, and the picnic successfully drew in people from all around the country. However, the picnic in Paris will still set another world record. For the event, organizers will roll out the world’s largest giant picnic blanket, which will be over 700 feet long. Each square of the red-and-white checkered blanket will be large enough to seat six people. If you’re at the picnic and happen to spill some red wine, just try to do it on one of the red squares.
[Image description: Croissants and other food on a blue picnic blanket outdoors.] Credit & copyright: Maksim Goncharenok, PexelsBon appétit! The French are renowned for their culinary fare, but they’ll be adding a new twist on May 26, when Parisians will be holding a truly giant picnic. The event will take place at Champs-Élysées, one of the most iconic streets in the city, and will accommodate 4,000 diners and even more bystanders. Unlike most picnics, baskets needn’t be brought, as one will be provided to each participant for free with a variety of culinary contributions from nine area restaurants. The oversized picnic is the brainchild of the Champs-Élysées Committee and LG Electronics France, and is intended to encourage tourism. Paris is the most visited city in the world, but the pandemic dealt a massive blow to the travel industry. Over the last two years, visitors have been returning to the City of Light en masse, and in 2023, the city saw 44 million visitors throughout the year. That’s still 13 percent lower than it was before the pandemic in 2019, so organizers of the picnic hope that their event will encourage more tourism in the near future. While the picnic will be open to anyone—residents and tourists alike—tickets will only be available in a raffle, with winners chosen at random for two time slots—one at noon and another at 2 p.m. Despite its expected size, this actually won’t be the biggest picnic ever held. According to Guinness World Records, the world’s largest picnic took place in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2009 and saw 22,232 diners. That, too, was the result of local officials trying to boost tourism, and the picnic successfully drew in people from all around the country. However, the picnic in Paris will still set another world record. For the event, organizers will roll out the world’s largest giant picnic blanket, which will be over 700 feet long. Each square of the red-and-white checkered blanket will be large enough to seat six people. If you’re at the picnic and happen to spill some red wine, just try to do it on one of the red squares.
[Image description: Croissants and other food on a blue picnic blanket outdoors.] Credit & copyright: Maksim Goncharenok, Pexels
May 5, 2024
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FREESports PP&T CurioFree1 CQ
Can you hold on? That simple question is the heart of bull riding, the most popular event in modern rodeos. There are plenty of other events too, though, from barrel racing to calf roping, and all of them grew out of what were once daily chores for ranch workers. Some rodeo fans might be surprised to learn that, despite the sport’s all-American image, rodeos were originally shaped by Mexican and Spanish traditions. In fact, the very word “rodeo” comes from the Spanish word “rodear,” which means “to ride.”
While humans have surely been trying to ride unruly animals since time immemorial, rodeos as they are today have their origins in 19th-century Mexico. The pioneers of the sport were vaqueros—Mexican cowboys—who traveled constantly in search of work. Vaqueros, like their American counterparts, were a rowdy, diverse bunch hailing from all ethnic backgrounds. The work of driving cattle was difficult, unglamorous, and basically available to anyone willing to take the job. Due to their lifestyle, the vaqueros had little money or property to their names. What they could own were bragging rights by showing off the skills of their trade. Vaqueros would come together between busy seasons to participate in competitions that tested their abilities. The most prestigious event was, unsurprisingly, riding broncos—wild horses who did not take kindly to strangers on their backs. These mighty beasts would buck and jump in an effort to throw off a rider, and whoever could hold on longest was the winner. It was a simple format for a sport, but it’s mostly the same today.
Rodeos began gaining popularity in the American West with the annexation of a large part of Mexico in 1845. Along with the land came vaquero culture, which mingled with existing cowboy culture in U.S. territories. The first American to really bring the sport into the limelight was William F. Cody, better known as Buffalo Bill. Cody wasn’t just another cowboy in the fading Wild West of America, but an enterprising showman. Until then, rodeos had been small, loosely organized events used to pass the downtime in rural areas. Cody began marketing rodeos to large audiences as a sporting extravaganza. In 1883, Cody launched Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, which featured a variety of acts like stunt shows and sharpshooters. But the most enduring events were bronc riding and bull riding, the latter of which had roots in bullfighting and bulldogging, in which a cowboy would attempt to wrestle a bull to the ground. If these activities sound absurdly dangerous, that’s because they are, but that was also their appeal. Buffalo Bill’s show drew in 3 million attendees in 1893 during the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, and the show ran for decades.
Today, the rules are much the same: for either broncs or bulls, hold on for dear life for eight seconds. There are more rules, of course, such as using only one hand and being scored based on the difficulty of the mount. There have also been some changes over the years, like helmets and puncture-proof vests for bull riders. When those aren’t enough, though, rodeo clowns come in to distract the animal and get a fallen rider to safety. The biggest bull riding league today is Professional Bull Riders (PBR), which draws talent from around the world to events in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, and Australia. They may also be implementing a major change: instead of eight seconds, PBR is shortening the ride to just six seconds to address the increasingly stronger animals being bred for the sport. You just can’t take those bulls by the horns…seriously, it’s not advised to do so.
[Image description: A black-and-white photo of a man riding a bull with one hand in the air.] Credit & copyright: Published by Southwest Georgia Regional Library, Bainbridge, Georgia. 1944. Wikimedia Commons. This media file is in the public domain in the United States.Can you hold on? That simple question is the heart of bull riding, the most popular event in modern rodeos. There are plenty of other events too, though, from barrel racing to calf roping, and all of them grew out of what were once daily chores for ranch workers. Some rodeo fans might be surprised to learn that, despite the sport’s all-American image, rodeos were originally shaped by Mexican and Spanish traditions. In fact, the very word “rodeo” comes from the Spanish word “rodear,” which means “to ride.”
While humans have surely been trying to ride unruly animals since time immemorial, rodeos as they are today have their origins in 19th-century Mexico. The pioneers of the sport were vaqueros—Mexican cowboys—who traveled constantly in search of work. Vaqueros, like their American counterparts, were a rowdy, diverse bunch hailing from all ethnic backgrounds. The work of driving cattle was difficult, unglamorous, and basically available to anyone willing to take the job. Due to their lifestyle, the vaqueros had little money or property to their names. What they could own were bragging rights by showing off the skills of their trade. Vaqueros would come together between busy seasons to participate in competitions that tested their abilities. The most prestigious event was, unsurprisingly, riding broncos—wild horses who did not take kindly to strangers on their backs. These mighty beasts would buck and jump in an effort to throw off a rider, and whoever could hold on longest was the winner. It was a simple format for a sport, but it’s mostly the same today.
Rodeos began gaining popularity in the American West with the annexation of a large part of Mexico in 1845. Along with the land came vaquero culture, which mingled with existing cowboy culture in U.S. territories. The first American to really bring the sport into the limelight was William F. Cody, better known as Buffalo Bill. Cody wasn’t just another cowboy in the fading Wild West of America, but an enterprising showman. Until then, rodeos had been small, loosely organized events used to pass the downtime in rural areas. Cody began marketing rodeos to large audiences as a sporting extravaganza. In 1883, Cody launched Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, which featured a variety of acts like stunt shows and sharpshooters. But the most enduring events were bronc riding and bull riding, the latter of which had roots in bullfighting and bulldogging, in which a cowboy would attempt to wrestle a bull to the ground. If these activities sound absurdly dangerous, that’s because they are, but that was also their appeal. Buffalo Bill’s show drew in 3 million attendees in 1893 during the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, and the show ran for decades.
Today, the rules are much the same: for either broncs or bulls, hold on for dear life for eight seconds. There are more rules, of course, such as using only one hand and being scored based on the difficulty of the mount. There have also been some changes over the years, like helmets and puncture-proof vests for bull riders. When those aren’t enough, though, rodeo clowns come in to distract the animal and get a fallen rider to safety. The biggest bull riding league today is Professional Bull Riders (PBR), which draws talent from around the world to events in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, and Australia. They may also be implementing a major change: instead of eight seconds, PBR is shortening the ride to just six seconds to address the increasingly stronger animals being bred for the sport. You just can’t take those bulls by the horns…seriously, it’s not advised to do so.
[Image description: A black-and-white photo of a man riding a bull with one hand in the air.] Credit & copyright: Published by Southwest Georgia Regional Library, Bainbridge, Georgia. 1944. Wikimedia Commons. This media file is in the public domain in the United States.
May 4, 2024
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FREEFootball Sporty CurioFree1 CQ
He might be a newbie, but he's not exactly green. The Buffalo Bills just drafted Travis Clayton, a man who has never played American football competitively. Yet, the pick isn’t raising many eyebrows. That’s because Clayton is a rugby player and a graduate of the NFL's International Player Pathway (IPP) program. The program is an intensive, 10-week boot camp for athletes who, like Clayton, have limited experience playing football. To qualify for the program, the candidate must not be a resident of the U.S. or Canada, and must not have attended high school in either country for more than two years. Since it was established in 2017, the program has produced 37 international players to date, with 18 still on rosters. Among them is Jordan Mailata, an offensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles who also came from rugby before stepping on the gridiron. Clayton will be playing the same position, and he’s following in some impressive footsteps, as Mailata is one of the best OTs in the NFL right now. On paper, the 303-pound, 6-foot-7-inch Clayton seems more than capable, running a 4.79 second 40-yard dash. No wonder they put him on the fast track.
He might be a newbie, but he's not exactly green. The Buffalo Bills just drafted Travis Clayton, a man who has never played American football competitively. Yet, the pick isn’t raising many eyebrows. That’s because Clayton is a rugby player and a graduate of the NFL's International Player Pathway (IPP) program. The program is an intensive, 10-week boot camp for athletes who, like Clayton, have limited experience playing football. To qualify for the program, the candidate must not be a resident of the U.S. or Canada, and must not have attended high school in either country for more than two years. Since it was established in 2017, the program has produced 37 international players to date, with 18 still on rosters. Among them is Jordan Mailata, an offensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles who also came from rugby before stepping on the gridiron. Clayton will be playing the same position, and he’s following in some impressive footsteps, as Mailata is one of the best OTs in the NFL right now. On paper, the 303-pound, 6-foot-7-inch Clayton seems more than capable, running a 4.79 second 40-yard dash. No wonder they put him on the fast track.
May 3, 2024
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Fancy a wee bit o' haggis? This legendary food, long considered the national dish of Scotland, might be something of an acquired taste. Many a tourist has squirmed at the thought of eating a stuffed sheep’s stomach, but haggis plays an integral role in Scottish history…and in a common Scottish joke.
Haggis is considered to be a pudding in the UK. While “pudding” is a custardy dessert in the U.S., in the UK the word refers to any savory or sweet dish that is boiled or steamed inside of something, from a covered pan to a piece of cloth. Traditionally, haggis is cooked (and served) in a sheep’s stomach. The stomach is stuffed with chopped sheep’s “pluck” or “offal”, meaning organ meat or other body parts. These can include the heart, liver, tongue, lungs, and even brain. Stock made from the offal, as well as the offal itself, are stuffed inside a sheep’s stomach along with suet (animal fat), oatmeal, minced onions, and spices like pepper, nutmeg, and coriander. The stomach is then tied off and simmered in water to cook. The end result is a meal that resembles a crumbly sausage with a savory, gamey flavor.
Haggis has been around for centuries; its name might have evolved from a French word used in the Middle Ages: “hachis”, which means chopped animal parts. The first written record of the Scottish dish comes from the 1430 cookbook Liber Cure Cocorum, where it was referred to as “hagws of a schepe”, roughly meaning “chopped parts of a sheep.” Haggis became a popular peasant dish since it helped preserve offal, which was usually quick to spoil. Its popularity surged in 1786, when famed Scottish poet Robert Burns wrote Address to a Haggis, in which he referred to the dish as the “great chieftain o' the puddin-race.” To this day, many Scots enjoy what is known as a “Burns supper” on the night of January 25, the writer’s birthday. The meal consists of haggis with "neeps", or boiled rutabaga, and "tatties", or mashed potatoes. A dram, or glass of Scottish whisky, is also served.
Haggis isn’t all about tradition and solemnity, though. One long-standing Scottish joke is that haggis isn’t made from sheep at all—it’s actually the meat of a shaggy, rodent-like animal. This fictional beast is said to have long legs on one side of its body so that it can run around mountains without falling over. Drawings, sculptures, and even stuffed animals of the folkloric haggis can be found in gift shops throughout Scotland. Plenty of gullible tourists have been fooled by the joke. In fact, one poll revealed that 33 percent of Americans visiting Scotland believed in wild haggises. Or is it “haggi” when there’s more than one?
[Image description: A close-up photo of a sheep’s face looking down at the camera.] Credit & copyright: Rudy and Peter Skitterians, Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.Fancy a wee bit o' haggis? This legendary food, long considered the national dish of Scotland, might be something of an acquired taste. Many a tourist has squirmed at the thought of eating a stuffed sheep’s stomach, but haggis plays an integral role in Scottish history…and in a common Scottish joke.
Haggis is considered to be a pudding in the UK. While “pudding” is a custardy dessert in the U.S., in the UK the word refers to any savory or sweet dish that is boiled or steamed inside of something, from a covered pan to a piece of cloth. Traditionally, haggis is cooked (and served) in a sheep’s stomach. The stomach is stuffed with chopped sheep’s “pluck” or “offal”, meaning organ meat or other body parts. These can include the heart, liver, tongue, lungs, and even brain. Stock made from the offal, as well as the offal itself, are stuffed inside a sheep’s stomach along with suet (animal fat), oatmeal, minced onions, and spices like pepper, nutmeg, and coriander. The stomach is then tied off and simmered in water to cook. The end result is a meal that resembles a crumbly sausage with a savory, gamey flavor.
Haggis has been around for centuries; its name might have evolved from a French word used in the Middle Ages: “hachis”, which means chopped animal parts. The first written record of the Scottish dish comes from the 1430 cookbook Liber Cure Cocorum, where it was referred to as “hagws of a schepe”, roughly meaning “chopped parts of a sheep.” Haggis became a popular peasant dish since it helped preserve offal, which was usually quick to spoil. Its popularity surged in 1786, when famed Scottish poet Robert Burns wrote Address to a Haggis, in which he referred to the dish as the “great chieftain o' the puddin-race.” To this day, many Scots enjoy what is known as a “Burns supper” on the night of January 25, the writer’s birthday. The meal consists of haggis with "neeps", or boiled rutabaga, and "tatties", or mashed potatoes. A dram, or glass of Scottish whisky, is also served.
Haggis isn’t all about tradition and solemnity, though. One long-standing Scottish joke is that haggis isn’t made from sheep at all—it’s actually the meat of a shaggy, rodent-like animal. This fictional beast is said to have long legs on one side of its body so that it can run around mountains without falling over. Drawings, sculptures, and even stuffed animals of the folkloric haggis can be found in gift shops throughout Scotland. Plenty of gullible tourists have been fooled by the joke. In fact, one poll revealed that 33 percent of Americans visiting Scotland believed in wild haggises. Or is it “haggi” when there’s more than one?
[Image description: A close-up photo of a sheep’s face looking down at the camera.] Credit & copyright: Rudy and Peter Skitterians, Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.