Curio Cabinet
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March 26, 2023
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day
: March 26, 2023\kav-ul-KAYD\ noun
What It Means
Cavalcade refers to a series or procession of usually related things. It can...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day
: March 26, 2023\kav-ul-KAYD\ noun
What It Means
Cavalcade refers to a series or procession of usually related things. It can...
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FREEActing PP&T CurioFree1 CQ
This action star’s year is off to a great start. Michelle Yeoh recently became the first Asian woman to win Best Actress at the 2023 Academy Awards. She received the Oscar for her role in the unconventional sci-fi film Everything Everywhere All at Once, in which she shows off her martial arts skills while playing an everyday woman on a multiverse-trekking adventure. Yeoh’s acting career had unconventional beginnings. In fact, the famously tough actress, known for performing her own fighting stunts, had a passion for ballet long before she developed a taste for theater or martial arts.
Born Yeoh Choo Kheng in 1962 in Ipoh, Malaysia, Yeoh showed a childhood passion for dance and studied ballet throughout her childhood, beginning at age 4. After her family moved to the U.K. during her teenage years, she continued studying ballet in boarding school and then at the Royal Academy of Dance. Unfortunately, during an otherwise normal practice session, Yeoh injured her back, suffering a herniated disk. Doctors told Yeoh that, while she would recover from her injury, she would no longer be able to practice ballet rigorously every day, thus ending her dream of becoming a prima ballerina.
But Yeoh was still drawn to the stage. She went on to study acting in college and received a BA in Creative Arts with a minor in Drama. Her break into the acting world began when she co-starred in a television commercial for luxury watches alongside none other than martial arts film star Jackie Chan…though Yeoh had no idea, at first, that Chan would be there. The job listed Chan’s Cantonese name, Sing Long, as her co-star, and the part was offered to her via a phone call in Cantonese, which Yeoh could partially understand but not speak. After that role, Yeoh made it a point to learn Cantonese, in addition to the Malay and English she already knew.
Her commercial caught the eye of D&B Films, a film production company in Hong Kong. The company suggested that Yeoh use the name Michelle Khan for her acting roles, saying that the name would be more marketable to a western audience. By 1985, Yeoh was starring in martial arts films for D&B under the name. In an interview with NPR, Yeoh recounted how she came to do her own action scenes under unconventional circumstances: “My first movie, I played a social worker. And we were bullied by, you know, the juvenile delinquents who took great pleasure in teasing us and giving us a hard time. And then the guys who were the martial arts experts were the ones who would rescue us constantly. So when I watched them, I went to my producers, and I say, you know what? I would love to be able to try to do martial arts. They looked at me and thought I was insane…But then they thought, well, what do we have to lose?”
Yeoh excelled at action scenes, which helped her make the leap to Hollywood in 1997, with her role as Wai Lin in the James Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies. Pierce Brosnan, who played Bond at the time, described Yeoh as a “female James Bond” because she didn’t use a body double for her action scenes. Yeoh would go on to say that her tolerance for pain was something she learned from ballet. However, it was Ang Lee’s 2000 martial arts hit Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon that truly catapulted Yeoh to international fame and even earned her a BAFTA nomination. Though she didn’t yet speak Mandarin when she got the role (she had to learn her lines phonetically) she went on to learn the language after filming, bringing the number of languages she could speak to four.
Over the next decade, Yeoh starred in action movies (and racked up some painful injuries from doing her own stunts), founded her own production company, and became the face of several brands. In 2018, she starred in the widely acclaimed Crazy Rich Asians, and in 2021 she made her way into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with her role as Ying Nan in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Then, in 2022, Yeoh starred in Everything Everywhere All at Once. In her role as laundromat owner Evelyn Wang, she travels the multiverse in a surreal, comedic, sometimes heart-wrenching attempt to connect with different versions of her daughter. The role earned her a multitude of awards, including a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award and, to top it all off, the Academy Award for Best Actress. At 60 years old, Yeoh has become one of the most iconic female action stars in Hollywood, and her career only seems to be ramping up. Who knows what movie set she’ll be smashing her way through next!
[Image description: Michelle Yeoh speaks at a conference in Burma.] Credit & copyright: Wikimedia Commons, William Ng, Public Domain per 17 U.S.C. section 101 and section 105.This action star’s year is off to a great start. Michelle Yeoh recently became the first Asian woman to win Best Actress at the 2023 Academy Awards. She received the Oscar for her role in the unconventional sci-fi film Everything Everywhere All at Once, in which she shows off her martial arts skills while playing an everyday woman on a multiverse-trekking adventure. Yeoh’s acting career had unconventional beginnings. In fact, the famously tough actress, known for performing her own fighting stunts, had a passion for ballet long before she developed a taste for theater or martial arts.
Born Yeoh Choo Kheng in 1962 in Ipoh, Malaysia, Yeoh showed a childhood passion for dance and studied ballet throughout her childhood, beginning at age 4. After her family moved to the U.K. during her teenage years, she continued studying ballet in boarding school and then at the Royal Academy of Dance. Unfortunately, during an otherwise normal practice session, Yeoh injured her back, suffering a herniated disk. Doctors told Yeoh that, while she would recover from her injury, she would no longer be able to practice ballet rigorously every day, thus ending her dream of becoming a prima ballerina.
But Yeoh was still drawn to the stage. She went on to study acting in college and received a BA in Creative Arts with a minor in Drama. Her break into the acting world began when she co-starred in a television commercial for luxury watches alongside none other than martial arts film star Jackie Chan…though Yeoh had no idea, at first, that Chan would be there. The job listed Chan’s Cantonese name, Sing Long, as her co-star, and the part was offered to her via a phone call in Cantonese, which Yeoh could partially understand but not speak. After that role, Yeoh made it a point to learn Cantonese, in addition to the Malay and English she already knew.
Her commercial caught the eye of D&B Films, a film production company in Hong Kong. The company suggested that Yeoh use the name Michelle Khan for her acting roles, saying that the name would be more marketable to a western audience. By 1985, Yeoh was starring in martial arts films for D&B under the name. In an interview with NPR, Yeoh recounted how she came to do her own action scenes under unconventional circumstances: “My first movie, I played a social worker. And we were bullied by, you know, the juvenile delinquents who took great pleasure in teasing us and giving us a hard time. And then the guys who were the martial arts experts were the ones who would rescue us constantly. So when I watched them, I went to my producers, and I say, you know what? I would love to be able to try to do martial arts. They looked at me and thought I was insane…But then they thought, well, what do we have to lose?”
Yeoh excelled at action scenes, which helped her make the leap to Hollywood in 1997, with her role as Wai Lin in the James Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies. Pierce Brosnan, who played Bond at the time, described Yeoh as a “female James Bond” because she didn’t use a body double for her action scenes. Yeoh would go on to say that her tolerance for pain was something she learned from ballet. However, it was Ang Lee’s 2000 martial arts hit Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon that truly catapulted Yeoh to international fame and even earned her a BAFTA nomination. Though she didn’t yet speak Mandarin when she got the role (she had to learn her lines phonetically) she went on to learn the language after filming, bringing the number of languages she could speak to four.
Over the next decade, Yeoh starred in action movies (and racked up some painful injuries from doing her own stunts), founded her own production company, and became the face of several brands. In 2018, she starred in the widely acclaimed Crazy Rich Asians, and in 2021 she made her way into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with her role as Ying Nan in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Then, in 2022, Yeoh starred in Everything Everywhere All at Once. In her role as laundromat owner Evelyn Wang, she travels the multiverse in a surreal, comedic, sometimes heart-wrenching attempt to connect with different versions of her daughter. The role earned her a multitude of awards, including a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award and, to top it all off, the Academy Award for Best Actress. At 60 years old, Yeoh has become one of the most iconic female action stars in Hollywood, and her career only seems to be ramping up. Who knows what movie set she’ll be smashing her way through next!
[Image description: Michelle Yeoh speaks at a conference in Burma.] Credit & copyright: Wikimedia Commons, William Ng, Public Domain per 17 U.S.C. section 101 and section 105. -
6 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
From the BBC World Service: For the first time since 2019, China is hosting its three-day development forum to show the world that it’s back in business. How...
From the BBC World Service: For the first time since 2019, China is hosting its three-day development forum to show the world that it’s back in business. How...
March 25, 2023
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day
: March 25, 2023\ay-tee-SIKS\ verb
What It Means
Eighty-six is an informal word that means “to eject, dismiss, or remove some...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day
: March 25, 2023\ay-tee-SIKS\ verb
What It Means
Eighty-six is an informal word that means “to eject, dismiss, or remove some...
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10 minFREEWork Business CurioFree6 CQ
No, right now, central banks around the world have moved to a second level of coordination. All of the economic jitters have more people around the world tur...
No, right now, central banks around the world have moved to a second level of coordination. All of the economic jitters have more people around the world tur...
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FREESports Daily CurioFree1 CQ
Is he safe? Is he out? He’s a bit of both. A member of the Cuban national team defected to the United States after they were eliminated from the World Baseball Classic earlier this week, having disappeared shortly before the players boarded their flight home. Iván Prieto, a bullpen catcher for the Cuban team, managed to evade the team’s management and staff as the players were being gathered together just hours after their 14-2 loss against the U.S. in the semifinals. His defection was confirmed by the Center for a Free Cuba, an advocacy organization that supports Cuban democracy. How he managed to escape from the Cuban officials is unclear, but Prieto is said to have met up with his brother who was already in the country, along with other members of his family. Unfortunately, Prieto is leaving behind other family members back in Cuba, including an infant daughter. Prieto’s defection was preceded by protests from Cuban-American activists outside LoanDepot park in Miami, Florida. Even inside the stadium, Cuban-American fans packed the seats and chanted “Freedom,” “Down with communism,” and “Patria y Vida” while the Cuban team played. The last phrase is a reference to the rallying cry used during island-wide anti-government protests in Cuba in 2021. Meanwhile, back in Cuba, where baseball is being promoted as the national sport, the returning team was greeted by crowds of cheering fans. The Cuban government didn’t immediately acknowledge the defection. With several Cuban athletes defecting in recent years to escape their country’s current authoritarian regime, Prieto’s actions couldn’t have come entirely out of left field.
[Image description: A red and black baseball bat lies in the grass.] Credit & copyright: Marisa_Sias, Pixabay
Is he safe? Is he out? He’s a bit of both. A member of the Cuban national team defected to the United States after they were eliminated from the World Baseball Classic earlier this week, having disappeared shortly before the players boarded their flight home. Iván Prieto, a bullpen catcher for the Cuban team, managed to evade the team’s management and staff as the players were being gathered together just hours after their 14-2 loss against the U.S. in the semifinals. His defection was confirmed by the Center for a Free Cuba, an advocacy organization that supports Cuban democracy. How he managed to escape from the Cuban officials is unclear, but Prieto is said to have met up with his brother who was already in the country, along with other members of his family. Unfortunately, Prieto is leaving behind other family members back in Cuba, including an infant daughter. Prieto’s defection was preceded by protests from Cuban-American activists outside LoanDepot park in Miami, Florida. Even inside the stadium, Cuban-American fans packed the seats and chanted “Freedom,” “Down with communism,” and “Patria y Vida” while the Cuban team played. The last phrase is a reference to the rallying cry used during island-wide anti-government protests in Cuba in 2021. Meanwhile, back in Cuba, where baseball is being promoted as the national sport, the returning team was greeted by crowds of cheering fans. The Cuban government didn’t immediately acknowledge the defection. With several Cuban athletes defecting in recent years to escape their country’s current authoritarian regime, Prieto’s actions couldn’t have come entirely out of left field.
[Image description: A red and black baseball bat lies in the grass.] Credit & copyright: Marisa_Sias, Pixabay
March 24, 2023
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9 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
But at least this week they borrowed less than they did last week. That’s a good sign. We look at why the U.S. central bank is making it easier for banks to ...
But at least this week they borrowed less than they did last week. That’s a good sign. We look at why the U.S. central bank is making it easier for banks to ...
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day
: March 24, 2023\ZAY-nee\ noun
What It Means
A zany is a person who acts like a buffoon to amuse others, or one who is genera...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day
: March 24, 2023\ZAY-nee\ noun
What It Means
A zany is a person who acts like a buffoon to amuse others, or one who is genera...
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FREEMind + Body Daily CurioFree1 CQ
Oh, fudge! The origins of this creamy confection are as disputed as its best flavor (is it chocolate? Peanut butter? One of the countless other varieties?) but there are several theories about how fudge came to be. What is known for certain is that the term “fudge”, meaning to flub or mess something up, is older than the food itself. The word dates back to the 17th-Century word “fadge”, meaning to put something together in a clumsy way. This has led some historians to believe that, since fudge didn’t appear as a confection until the 19th Century, it may have been invented by accident or through clumsy experimentation. After all, it is a pretty simple food. Many early fudge recipes called for just three ingredients: sugar, butter, and milk.
We may never know exactly who invented fudge or how, but we do know that it was invented in the U.S., and that it owed its explosion in popularity in the late 19th Century to women’s colleges. These institutions were home to young, unmarried women who were allowed to pursue degrees for the first time in American history, after centuries of women being barred from higher education. In their free time, students would socialize and cook together, and since fudge was simple and inexpensive to make, it naturally became popular. At Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, fudge became a campus-wide phenomenon, with various school organizations selling boxes of it and recipe books detailing how to make it. 1895’s Fudges at Vassar described how to make a few varieties of fudge, which the book referred to as “Vassar chocolates.” Before long, fudge took a leap into the non-academic world, becoming famous as a sort of “in-between” treat—not as expensive as traditional chocolates, but much better quality than readily-available corner store candy.
Today, fudge is eaten all over the world and comes in an eye-popping array of flavors. Modern recipes often call for vanilla extract in addition to flavoring agents like cocoa powder or peanut butter. Despite all the variety, chocolate remains America’s most popular fudge flavor. You just can’t beat a classic.
[Image description: A stack of chocolate fudge with coconut flakes on top.] Credit & copyright: 5671698, PixabayOh, fudge! The origins of this creamy confection are as disputed as its best flavor (is it chocolate? Peanut butter? One of the countless other varieties?) but there are several theories about how fudge came to be. What is known for certain is that the term “fudge”, meaning to flub or mess something up, is older than the food itself. The word dates back to the 17th-Century word “fadge”, meaning to put something together in a clumsy way. This has led some historians to believe that, since fudge didn’t appear as a confection until the 19th Century, it may have been invented by accident or through clumsy experimentation. After all, it is a pretty simple food. Many early fudge recipes called for just three ingredients: sugar, butter, and milk.
We may never know exactly who invented fudge or how, but we do know that it was invented in the U.S., and that it owed its explosion in popularity in the late 19th Century to women’s colleges. These institutions were home to young, unmarried women who were allowed to pursue degrees for the first time in American history, after centuries of women being barred from higher education. In their free time, students would socialize and cook together, and since fudge was simple and inexpensive to make, it naturally became popular. At Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, fudge became a campus-wide phenomenon, with various school organizations selling boxes of it and recipe books detailing how to make it. 1895’s Fudges at Vassar described how to make a few varieties of fudge, which the book referred to as “Vassar chocolates.” Before long, fudge took a leap into the non-academic world, becoming famous as a sort of “in-between” treat—not as expensive as traditional chocolates, but much better quality than readily-available corner store candy.
Today, fudge is eaten all over the world and comes in an eye-popping array of flavors. Modern recipes often call for vanilla extract in addition to flavoring agents like cocoa powder or peanut butter. Despite all the variety, chocolate remains America’s most popular fudge flavor. You just can’t beat a classic.
[Image description: A stack of chocolate fudge with coconut flakes on top.] Credit & copyright: 5671698, Pixabay
March 23, 2023
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9 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
From the BBC World Service: After the Federal Reserve, it’s the turn of the Bank of England to make a decision on interest rates. Central banks are juggling ...
From the BBC World Service: After the Federal Reserve, it’s the turn of the Bank of England to make a decision on interest rates. Central banks are juggling ...
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day
: March 23, 2023\sim-bee-OH-sis\ noun
What It Means
In the field of biology, symbiosis refers to the relationship between two...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day
: March 23, 2023\sim-bee-OH-sis\ noun
What It Means
In the field of biology, symbiosis refers to the relationship between two...
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FREEScience Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
So you’ve managed to get to Mars—now what? Getting to the Red Planet is one thing, but another head-scratcher that scientists have been trying to solve is how to feed the first humans who will land on Mars once they get there. According to a study presented during the 54th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference by researchers from the University of Arkansas, the answer may be a heaping bowl of rice. Researcher Abhilash Ramachandran and his team have demonstrated that it might be possible to grow rice in Martian soil. The biggest hurdle is the presence of perchlorate, a toxic chemical that is found on the surface of Mars. Researchers found that rice could grow in simulated Martian soil without any perchlorate, so they moved on to identifying varieties of rice that would be resilient against the chemical. What they found was that rice with the modified gene, SnRK1a was able to grow in soil with 1 gram of perchlorate per kilogram. While the plant only managed to grow a root and a shoot—a far cry from an abundant field of rice—identifying the gene responsible is a major step toward being able to grow food on Mars. The next step is to further experiment with SnRK1a to create a cultivar that is resistant to the toxic chemical. Some people might prefer organic to GMO, but you don’t have much of a choice when you’re millions of miles from the nearest grocery store.
[Image description: A photograph of Mars.] Credit & copyright: WikiImages, Pixabay
So you’ve managed to get to Mars—now what? Getting to the Red Planet is one thing, but another head-scratcher that scientists have been trying to solve is how to feed the first humans who will land on Mars once they get there. According to a study presented during the 54th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference by researchers from the University of Arkansas, the answer may be a heaping bowl of rice. Researcher Abhilash Ramachandran and his team have demonstrated that it might be possible to grow rice in Martian soil. The biggest hurdle is the presence of perchlorate, a toxic chemical that is found on the surface of Mars. Researchers found that rice could grow in simulated Martian soil without any perchlorate, so they moved on to identifying varieties of rice that would be resilient against the chemical. What they found was that rice with the modified gene, SnRK1a was able to grow in soil with 1 gram of perchlorate per kilogram. While the plant only managed to grow a root and a shoot—a far cry from an abundant field of rice—identifying the gene responsible is a major step toward being able to grow food on Mars. The next step is to further experiment with SnRK1a to create a cultivar that is resistant to the toxic chemical. Some people might prefer organic to GMO, but you don’t have much of a choice when you’re millions of miles from the nearest grocery store.
[Image description: A photograph of Mars.] Credit & copyright: WikiImages, Pixabay
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FREEWorld History Daily Curio #2624Free1 CQ
Pirates weren’t the only seafaring raiders to leave behind buried treasure. In 2018, archaeologists began excavating the remains of a viking ship near the Oslo Fjord, in Norway. After years of salvaging and cataloging, they’re finally announcing what they’ve found. It may seem surprising, but historians and archaeologists don’t actually have a lot of accurate information about viking culture. Despite their fearsome reputation and their persistence in popular imaginations for centuries, vikings left very little record of their existence. Even their portrayal in paintings, books, and recent media like the TV show Vikings contradicts what little is known about them—they weren’t even known to wear horned helmets or fashionable leather armor. That’s why finds like the Gjellestad Ship are so important, and it’s proving to be a treasure trove of information. It’s the first viking ship excavation since 1904, and it’s yielded around 8,000 fragments of different artifacts in various states of decay.
The ship as a whole couldn’t be raised, but the wood in the keel dates to around the 8th Century and reveals that the ship saw action sometime in the following centuries before it was buried. There’s also evidence that the ship’s contents were picked over by grave robbers. And yes, the ship likely did serve as a grave. Important figures were buried in ships filled with valuables as a sign of power and wealth. Among the buried hoard was a large amber bead that may have once been attached to jewelry or even a weapon. Then there are items that might have been added for the deceased to make use of in the afterlife, like a comb and a whetstone for sharpening their weapons. The variety of items is important because it helps historians understand the vikings’ customs. It also gives them an idea of what their trade network might have been like in its heyday. While vikings are best known as raiders who terrorized the coasts, they were, in fact, big players in the commerce of early medieval Europe. These mysterious people did it all: they were raiders, waders and traders.
[Image description: A viking-style boat sails between mountains.] Credit & copyright: WFlore, PixabayPirates weren’t the only seafaring raiders to leave behind buried treasure. In 2018, archaeologists began excavating the remains of a viking ship near the Oslo Fjord, in Norway. After years of salvaging and cataloging, they’re finally announcing what they’ve found. It may seem surprising, but historians and archaeologists don’t actually have a lot of accurate information about viking culture. Despite their fearsome reputation and their persistence in popular imaginations for centuries, vikings left very little record of their existence. Even their portrayal in paintings, books, and recent media like the TV show Vikings contradicts what little is known about them—they weren’t even known to wear horned helmets or fashionable leather armor. That’s why finds like the Gjellestad Ship are so important, and it’s proving to be a treasure trove of information. It’s the first viking ship excavation since 1904, and it’s yielded around 8,000 fragments of different artifacts in various states of decay.
The ship as a whole couldn’t be raised, but the wood in the keel dates to around the 8th Century and reveals that the ship saw action sometime in the following centuries before it was buried. There’s also evidence that the ship’s contents were picked over by grave robbers. And yes, the ship likely did serve as a grave. Important figures were buried in ships filled with valuables as a sign of power and wealth. Among the buried hoard was a large amber bead that may have once been attached to jewelry or even a weapon. Then there are items that might have been added for the deceased to make use of in the afterlife, like a comb and a whetstone for sharpening their weapons. The variety of items is important because it helps historians understand the vikings’ customs. It also gives them an idea of what their trade network might have been like in its heyday. While vikings are best known as raiders who terrorized the coasts, they were, in fact, big players in the commerce of early medieval Europe. These mysterious people did it all: they were raiders, waders and traders.
[Image description: A viking-style boat sails between mountains.] Credit & copyright: WFlore, Pixabay
March 22, 2023
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10 minFREEWork Business CurioFree6 CQ
From the BBC World Service: As the Islamic holy month of Ramadan gets underway, we look at the significance of dates and the multi-billion dollar business of...
From the BBC World Service: As the Islamic holy month of Ramadan gets underway, we look at the significance of dates and the multi-billion dollar business of...
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day
: March 22, 2023\AHB-duh-rut\ adjective
What It Means
Obdurate is a formal word that means “resistant to persuasion.” It is u...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day
: March 22, 2023\AHB-duh-rut\ adjective
What It Means
Obdurate is a formal word that means “resistant to persuasion.” It is u...
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FREEEntrepreneurship Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
Breaking a smartphone case may be easy, but breaking into a saturated market is tough. Colorful smartphone cases can be found just about anywhere, from mall bodegas to truck stops. They’re so ubiquitous that creating a new type of case that consumers haven’t seen before is a somewhat herculean task. Enter Wes Ng and Ronald Yeung, co-founders of Casetify. Launched a decade ago during the height of instagram’s popularity, Casetify made a name for itself by allowing customers to create custom phone cases by printing their own photos onto them. Realizing that it would be tough to get the word out about their product when so many other phone case companies existed, the Hong Kong-based entrepreneurs began reaching out to some of instagram’s first big influencers for marketing purposes. Today, influencer marketing is extremely common, but at the time of Casetify’s founding it was still a new and largely untested way of doing things. As the years went by and the company’s popularity grew, Ng and Yeung deployed new strategies to stay relevant in the ever-popular phone case market, including marketing with bigger celebrities, and partnering with artists and franchises to create case collections that would appeal to specific fan groups. At the same time, they grew their recognition in the tech world by engineering tougher, crack-resistant cases to protect high-end phones. Today, Casetify is one of the best-known phone case brands in the world, earning around $300 million per year. While they continue to market through influencers on Instagram, Ng and Yeung have been careful to stay on top of the changing social media landscape, marketing through Youtubers and on TikTok as well. The modern business world sits still for no brand.
[Image description: A display case filled with phone cases.] Credit & copyright: ArtisticOperations, Pixabay. (Phone cases shown are not associated with Casetify and aren’t meant to endorse Casetify)Breaking a smartphone case may be easy, but breaking into a saturated market is tough. Colorful smartphone cases can be found just about anywhere, from mall bodegas to truck stops. They’re so ubiquitous that creating a new type of case that consumers haven’t seen before is a somewhat herculean task. Enter Wes Ng and Ronald Yeung, co-founders of Casetify. Launched a decade ago during the height of instagram’s popularity, Casetify made a name for itself by allowing customers to create custom phone cases by printing their own photos onto them. Realizing that it would be tough to get the word out about their product when so many other phone case companies existed, the Hong Kong-based entrepreneurs began reaching out to some of instagram’s first big influencers for marketing purposes. Today, influencer marketing is extremely common, but at the time of Casetify’s founding it was still a new and largely untested way of doing things. As the years went by and the company’s popularity grew, Ng and Yeung deployed new strategies to stay relevant in the ever-popular phone case market, including marketing with bigger celebrities, and partnering with artists and franchises to create case collections that would appeal to specific fan groups. At the same time, they grew their recognition in the tech world by engineering tougher, crack-resistant cases to protect high-end phones. Today, Casetify is one of the best-known phone case brands in the world, earning around $300 million per year. While they continue to market through influencers on Instagram, Ng and Yeung have been careful to stay on top of the changing social media landscape, marketing through Youtubers and on TikTok as well. The modern business world sits still for no brand.
[Image description: A display case filled with phone cases.] Credit & copyright: ArtisticOperations, Pixabay. (Phone cases shown are not associated with Casetify and aren’t meant to endorse Casetify) -
FREEEngineering Daily Curio #2623Free1 CQ
Let there be (less) light! Around the world, there's an overabundance of artificial light at night. Known as light pollution, it's a serious environmental concern, yet few places take much care to mitigate it. Now, one building will serve as the testing ground for a new lighting system that may help decrease light pollution. Camilla Rathsach, a graduate student at Aalborg University in Denmark, was inspired to design a new lighting system for a church on Anholt Island after seeing how bright a moonlit night could be. Far from any major city, the island has very little light pollution, and Rathsach thought it would be a perfect place to test out something called “adaptive lighting.” While conventional lighting helps people see everything at night except the night sky, too much can block out the stars. Light pollution is increasing at a rate of 10 percent a year, and it’s not just the stargazers who suffer. At night, artificial light can disrupt people’s sleeping patterns and confuse wildlife. Some insects, like fireflies, are particularly vulnerable since they use bioluminescence to communicate and perform courtship rituals, and they are easily overwhelmed by artificial lights. On Anholt Island, even with as rural as the area is, there was still enough light to potentially disorient the island’s population of seabirds that hunt in nearby waters. To mitigate this problem, Rathsach devised a lighting system that adjusts to the amount of available light on any given night. She started in complete darkness and only added enough light around the church building to allow visitors to safely find their way around. The lights are located under eaves to prevent light from shining up, and depending on how much moonlight is detected, the lights on the building and the walkways dim, sometimes even turning off if there is enough ambient light. Rathsach is still working on perfecting the design, which hasn’t been implemented yet, but it could be an important step forward. Here’s hoping the future isn’t too bright.
[Image description: A cityscape at night, with a sky glowing from light pollution.] Credit & copyright: wimkantona, PixabayLet there be (less) light! Around the world, there's an overabundance of artificial light at night. Known as light pollution, it's a serious environmental concern, yet few places take much care to mitigate it. Now, one building will serve as the testing ground for a new lighting system that may help decrease light pollution. Camilla Rathsach, a graduate student at Aalborg University in Denmark, was inspired to design a new lighting system for a church on Anholt Island after seeing how bright a moonlit night could be. Far from any major city, the island has very little light pollution, and Rathsach thought it would be a perfect place to test out something called “adaptive lighting.” While conventional lighting helps people see everything at night except the night sky, too much can block out the stars. Light pollution is increasing at a rate of 10 percent a year, and it’s not just the stargazers who suffer. At night, artificial light can disrupt people’s sleeping patterns and confuse wildlife. Some insects, like fireflies, are particularly vulnerable since they use bioluminescence to communicate and perform courtship rituals, and they are easily overwhelmed by artificial lights. On Anholt Island, even with as rural as the area is, there was still enough light to potentially disorient the island’s population of seabirds that hunt in nearby waters. To mitigate this problem, Rathsach devised a lighting system that adjusts to the amount of available light on any given night. She started in complete darkness and only added enough light around the church building to allow visitors to safely find their way around. The lights are located under eaves to prevent light from shining up, and depending on how much moonlight is detected, the lights on the building and the walkways dim, sometimes even turning off if there is enough ambient light. Rathsach is still working on perfecting the design, which hasn’t been implemented yet, but it could be an important step forward. Here’s hoping the future isn’t too bright.
[Image description: A cityscape at night, with a sky glowing from light pollution.] Credit & copyright: wimkantona, Pixabay
March 21, 2023
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
From the BBC World Service: Sri Lanka has been battling economic breakdown for nearly a year. A foreign reserve crisis toppled the country’s president and le...
From the BBC World Service: Sri Lanka has been battling economic breakdown for nearly a year. A foreign reserve crisis toppled the country’s president and le...
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FREEWriting Music Song CurioFree2 CQ
They were a dynamic, music-making duo…until they weren’t. In 1967’s The Two of Us, British composers and songwriters Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent, the latter of whom passed away on this day in 2015, seem like the perfect couple. Indeed, the husband-and-wife team not only wrote, sang, and composed music together, they also wrote hits for the likes of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. Their joint career was so successful that they came to be known as “Mr. and Mrs. Music.” The Two of Us has the feel of a sitcom theme song with its bouncy, repeating refrain and lyrics about a couple enjoying the simple things in life. Yet, after a massively successful musical partnership and a 35-year marriage, Trent and Hatch had a famously messy divorce. It included legal disputes over which spouse wrote which of their most recent songs, with Trent fighting to be recognized as songwriter on several tracks that Hatch took full credit for. Sometimes, as Sinatra would say, That’s Life!
[Image description: A digital illustration depicting a woman singing in front of a piano and two horn players.] Credit & copyright: Mollyroselee, Pixabay
They were a dynamic, music-making duo…until they weren’t. In 1967’s The Two of Us, British composers and songwriters Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent, the latter of whom passed away on this day in 2015, seem like the perfect couple. Indeed, the husband-and-wife team not only wrote, sang, and composed music together, they also wrote hits for the likes of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. Their joint career was so successful that they came to be known as “Mr. and Mrs. Music.” The Two of Us has the feel of a sitcom theme song with its bouncy, repeating refrain and lyrics about a couple enjoying the simple things in life. Yet, after a massively successful musical partnership and a 35-year marriage, Trent and Hatch had a famously messy divorce. It included legal disputes over which spouse wrote which of their most recent songs, with Trent fighting to be recognized as songwriter on several tracks that Hatch took full credit for. Sometimes, as Sinatra would say, That’s Life!
[Image description: A digital illustration depicting a woman singing in front of a piano and two horn players.] Credit & copyright: Mollyroselee, Pixabay
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FREEUS History Daily Curio #2622Free1 CQ
Not everything you see on TV is real, but this man was. Fans of the show Yellowstone might have heard that there will be a new spin-off featuring Bass Reeves, a historical figure who helped shape the American West. Born into slavery in 1838, Reeves grew up in Texas before escaping north to the Indian Territories. There, he became acquainted with various tribes, including the Cherokee, Creek, and Seminole. During the Civil War, his knowledge of the region made him a valuable asset as a soldier to the Union Indian Home Guard Regiments, and after the war, he assisted peace officers searching for outlaws. Indeed, many outlaws were known to flee into the Indian Territories to evade officers of the law, few of whom knew how to navigate the area effectively. While Reeves had settled down as a farmer in Arkansas, he used his experience to serve as a scout and tracker for U.S. Marshals before being sworn in as a deputy himself in 1875.
Reeves became one of the first Black deputy Marshals in the West, and he soon gained a reputation as a capable lawman. During his 32 years with the U.S. Marshals, he was the most feared lawman in the Indian Territories, which was known for being dangerous. Reeves survived several attempts on his life by disgruntled outlaws, and was known to have killed at least 14 in the line of duty, though some sources claim that number is even higher.
Being a peace officer in the Wild West took more than just guts and guns. Despite being illiterate, Reeves had a sharp mind that allowed him to memorize writs and warrants. He often wore disguises to get information from criminals, allowing him to capture those who had evaded other lawmen. Some, like the notorious Belle Starr, turned themselves in willingly when they learned that their warrant had been assigned to Reeves. The lawman was known for his integrity. When his own son committed murder, Reeves brought him in to be tried and convicted for the crime. The legend of Bass Reeves fell into obscurity for a time, but has seen a resurgence in interest in recent years. Hopefully, the new show will do him justice.
[Image description: A black and white photo of Bass Reeves.] Credit & copyright: NPS, Wikimedia Commons, Work of the U.S. federal government, Public DomainNot everything you see on TV is real, but this man was. Fans of the show Yellowstone might have heard that there will be a new spin-off featuring Bass Reeves, a historical figure who helped shape the American West. Born into slavery in 1838, Reeves grew up in Texas before escaping north to the Indian Territories. There, he became acquainted with various tribes, including the Cherokee, Creek, and Seminole. During the Civil War, his knowledge of the region made him a valuable asset as a soldier to the Union Indian Home Guard Regiments, and after the war, he assisted peace officers searching for outlaws. Indeed, many outlaws were known to flee into the Indian Territories to evade officers of the law, few of whom knew how to navigate the area effectively. While Reeves had settled down as a farmer in Arkansas, he used his experience to serve as a scout and tracker for U.S. Marshals before being sworn in as a deputy himself in 1875.
Reeves became one of the first Black deputy Marshals in the West, and he soon gained a reputation as a capable lawman. During his 32 years with the U.S. Marshals, he was the most feared lawman in the Indian Territories, which was known for being dangerous. Reeves survived several attempts on his life by disgruntled outlaws, and was known to have killed at least 14 in the line of duty, though some sources claim that number is even higher.
Being a peace officer in the Wild West took more than just guts and guns. Despite being illiterate, Reeves had a sharp mind that allowed him to memorize writs and warrants. He often wore disguises to get information from criminals, allowing him to capture those who had evaded other lawmen. Some, like the notorious Belle Starr, turned themselves in willingly when they learned that their warrant had been assigned to Reeves. The lawman was known for his integrity. When his own son committed murder, Reeves brought him in to be tried and convicted for the crime. The legend of Bass Reeves fell into obscurity for a time, but has seen a resurgence in interest in recent years. Hopefully, the new show will do him justice.
[Image description: A black and white photo of Bass Reeves.] Credit & copyright: NPS, Wikimedia Commons, Work of the U.S. federal government, Public Domain
March 20, 2023
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FREEArt CurioFree1 CQ
It’s a place that still exists…but not really. American artist Allan Rohan Crite was born on this day in 1910. His piece above, Corner of Washington & Northampton Sts., depicts the eponymous intersection on a crowded day in black and white. In the foreground, people are passing without interacting with one another, and in the background, there is an elevated train track with stairs leading up to it. A small child stands out at the center of the crowd as he walks with a large parcel. Crite spent most of his life and career in Boston, Massachusetts, and his art often reflects daily life in the city. His paintings, many of which rely on his keen observations of people and scenery, provide unique glimpses into a city that has changed rapidly in the last century. Much of his work depicts Black residents of the city engaged in everyday activities. Since Black Americans weren’t often portrayed in the art world during Crite’s early life, he stated that his goal was to “paint people of color as normal human beings.” It wasn’t every day that you could see something so everyday.
Corner of Washington & Northampton Sts., Allan Rohan Crite (1910-2007), 1935-1943, 7 x 5.25 in. (17.7 x 13.3 cm.), Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts
[Image credit & copyright: Allan Rohan Crite, Boston Public Library, Wikimedia Commons, Public DomainIt’s a place that still exists…but not really. American artist Allan Rohan Crite was born on this day in 1910. His piece above, Corner of Washington & Northampton Sts., depicts the eponymous intersection on a crowded day in black and white. In the foreground, people are passing without interacting with one another, and in the background, there is an elevated train track with stairs leading up to it. A small child stands out at the center of the crowd as he walks with a large parcel. Crite spent most of his life and career in Boston, Massachusetts, and his art often reflects daily life in the city. His paintings, many of which rely on his keen observations of people and scenery, provide unique glimpses into a city that has changed rapidly in the last century. Much of his work depicts Black residents of the city engaged in everyday activities. Since Black Americans weren’t often portrayed in the art world during Crite’s early life, he stated that his goal was to “paint people of color as normal human beings.” It wasn’t every day that you could see something so everyday.
Corner of Washington & Northampton Sts., Allan Rohan Crite (1910-2007), 1935-1943, 7 x 5.25 in. (17.7 x 13.3 cm.), Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts
[Image credit & copyright: Allan Rohan Crite, Boston Public Library, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain -
8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
The Biden administration has called for a boost in funding for the Environmental Protection Agency in the wake of the derailment of a Norfolk Southern train ...
The Biden administration has called for a boost in funding for the Environmental Protection Agency in the wake of the derailment of a Norfolk Southern train ...
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FREEActing Daily Curio #2621Free1 CQ
Lights, camera...but not too much action. The 2023 Academy Awards saw some changes that set it apart from years past, though it’s uncertain whether all of the modifications will be permanent. The first, most obvious change was the color of the carpet that welcomed the star-studded crowd. While the term “red carpet” has become synonymous with exclusive, ostentatious event, organizers decided to go with a “champagne” carpet this year. Supposedly, the color was meant to better fit this year’s design elements, which included a lot of vintage fashion. The light color did cause some problems, though, when foot traffic made it visibly dirty early in the night.
Speaking of fashion, the Academy set forth dress guidelines this year with the aim of being more sustainable. Attendees were encouraged to rent existing outfits from fashion houses or wear something that had already been worn to another event. Otherwise, they were encouraged to wear clothing made of natural, more sustainable fabrics like linen or wool. To guide them in their wardrobe choices, the Academy partnered with Red Carpet Green Dress (RCGD), who sent out a Sustainable Style Guide, so that attendees could make informed but fashionable decisions.
Lastly, following the incident from last year’s ceremony in which a certain actor slapped a presenter on stage, the Academy had a newly-formed crisis team ready to handle any similar outbursts. Academy CEO Bill Kramer told Time, “Because of last year, we’ve opened our minds to the many things that can happen at the Oscars. We have a whole crisis team, something we’ve never had before, and many plans in place.” According to Kramer, the team was meant to deal with unscripted mishaps during the live broadcast, as well as handling public relations after the fact. No more off-script shenanigans for this awards show.
[Image description: A digital illustration showing an Oscar trophy being handed from one person to another. The background is split between red and pink.] Credit & copyright: mohamed_hassan, PixabayLights, camera...but not too much action. The 2023 Academy Awards saw some changes that set it apart from years past, though it’s uncertain whether all of the modifications will be permanent. The first, most obvious change was the color of the carpet that welcomed the star-studded crowd. While the term “red carpet” has become synonymous with exclusive, ostentatious event, organizers decided to go with a “champagne” carpet this year. Supposedly, the color was meant to better fit this year’s design elements, which included a lot of vintage fashion. The light color did cause some problems, though, when foot traffic made it visibly dirty early in the night.
Speaking of fashion, the Academy set forth dress guidelines this year with the aim of being more sustainable. Attendees were encouraged to rent existing outfits from fashion houses or wear something that had already been worn to another event. Otherwise, they were encouraged to wear clothing made of natural, more sustainable fabrics like linen or wool. To guide them in their wardrobe choices, the Academy partnered with Red Carpet Green Dress (RCGD), who sent out a Sustainable Style Guide, so that attendees could make informed but fashionable decisions.
Lastly, following the incident from last year’s ceremony in which a certain actor slapped a presenter on stage, the Academy had a newly-formed crisis team ready to handle any similar outbursts. Academy CEO Bill Kramer told Time, “Because of last year, we’ve opened our minds to the many things that can happen at the Oscars. We have a whole crisis team, something we’ve never had before, and many plans in place.” According to Kramer, the team was meant to deal with unscripted mishaps during the live broadcast, as well as handling public relations after the fact. No more off-script shenanigans for this awards show.
[Image description: A digital illustration showing an Oscar trophy being handed from one person to another. The background is split between red and pink.] Credit & copyright: mohamed_hassan, Pixabay