Curio Cabinet
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June 16, 2024
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
Israel is withholding $35 million in tax revenues from the Palestinian Authority, which provides limited self-governance for the Palestinian people in the We...
Israel is withholding $35 million in tax revenues from the Palestinian Authority, which provides limited self-governance for the Palestinian people in the We...
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FREECooking PP&T CurioFree1 CQ
As pride month continues, so does our celebration of extraordinary LGBTQ+ figures. This week, we’re taking a closer look at the late, great, American chef, James Beard. Even outside the culinary world, the James Beard award is well-known as one of the most coveted prizes that a chef or restaurant can receive. Read on to learn how this award’s namesake became one of America’s first culinary superstars, and the unconventional way that he chose to come out, later in life.
Born May 5, 1903, Beard grew up in Oregon where his parents taught him to fish and forage for food in the bountiful waters and forests of the Pacific Northwest. He was also exposed to fine dining as a child, as his mother ran a boarding house and was known for her cooking. While the passion for cooking with locally sourced ingredients was thus imparted on him at a young age, Beard’s first career choice had nothing to do with the kitchen. Instead, he traveled abroad and trained for theater as a young man, but he never found much success as an actor and struggled to make ends meet. Beard returned to the U.S. in 1927, but had no better luck in the entertainment industry stateside. In 1937, Beard started a catering business called Hors d’Oeuvre Inc. to supplement his income. Not too long afterward, though, this enterprise born out of necessity became a financial success and reignited his childhood passion for cooking.
In 1940, Beard published his first cookbook, Hors d’Oeuvre & Canapés, and in 1942, he published Cook It Outdoors. Then, in 1946, he achieved his former ambition of making it onto the screen in a roundabout way, when he began hosting a cooking segment on I Love to Eat on NBC. His books and TV appearances made him a household name in post-WWII America. What set him apart from other culinary personalities emerging around the same time was his focus on identifying and creating distinctly American dishes. As much as Italian and French cuisine were beginning to capture home cooks’ imaginations, Beard defined American cuisine as a worthy contender with its own unique traditions and merits. That’s not to say that he was one to snub other culinary traditions, of course. He himself was well-traveled and wrote extensively about everything he tried in the U.S. and abroad, particularly in Europe. Beard was also close friends with Julia Child, another American food personality who was responsible for making French cuisine accessible to the average home cook. The two met in 1961 and remained close until Beard passed away in 1985. She once said of him, “People just adored him. He was so jolly, so nice, and so generous… He was so open, he had such a general love of food, and I think he encouraged everybody.” Child was instrumental in the creation of the James Beard Foundation after his death, which awards exceptional contributions to American culinary arts and related fields.
Sadly, as successful as he was professionally, Beard’s fame made him feel pressured to keep his sexuality hidden from the public for most of his life. He only came out in 1981 in the revised version of his autobiography, Delights & Prejudices: A Memoir with Recipes, where he wrote about his relationship with his partner, Gino Cofacci. The couple spent 30 years together, and when Beard passed away in 1985, the late chef left Cofacci an apartment in his townhouse. Even so late in life, coming out was a risky thing for a celebrity like Beard to do, especially during the AIDS epidemic and anti-LGBTQ atmosphere of the 1980s. Then, as now, being a celebrity can be a double-edged chef’s knife.As pride month continues, so does our celebration of extraordinary LGBTQ+ figures. This week, we’re taking a closer look at the late, great, American chef, James Beard. Even outside the culinary world, the James Beard award is well-known as one of the most coveted prizes that a chef or restaurant can receive. Read on to learn how this award’s namesake became one of America’s first culinary superstars, and the unconventional way that he chose to come out, later in life.
Born May 5, 1903, Beard grew up in Oregon where his parents taught him to fish and forage for food in the bountiful waters and forests of the Pacific Northwest. He was also exposed to fine dining as a child, as his mother ran a boarding house and was known for her cooking. While the passion for cooking with locally sourced ingredients was thus imparted on him at a young age, Beard’s first career choice had nothing to do with the kitchen. Instead, he traveled abroad and trained for theater as a young man, but he never found much success as an actor and struggled to make ends meet. Beard returned to the U.S. in 1927, but had no better luck in the entertainment industry stateside. In 1937, Beard started a catering business called Hors d’Oeuvre Inc. to supplement his income. Not too long afterward, though, this enterprise born out of necessity became a financial success and reignited his childhood passion for cooking.
In 1940, Beard published his first cookbook, Hors d’Oeuvre & Canapés, and in 1942, he published Cook It Outdoors. Then, in 1946, he achieved his former ambition of making it onto the screen in a roundabout way, when he began hosting a cooking segment on I Love to Eat on NBC. His books and TV appearances made him a household name in post-WWII America. What set him apart from other culinary personalities emerging around the same time was his focus on identifying and creating distinctly American dishes. As much as Italian and French cuisine were beginning to capture home cooks’ imaginations, Beard defined American cuisine as a worthy contender with its own unique traditions and merits. That’s not to say that he was one to snub other culinary traditions, of course. He himself was well-traveled and wrote extensively about everything he tried in the U.S. and abroad, particularly in Europe. Beard was also close friends with Julia Child, another American food personality who was responsible for making French cuisine accessible to the average home cook. The two met in 1961 and remained close until Beard passed away in 1985. She once said of him, “People just adored him. He was so jolly, so nice, and so generous… He was so open, he had such a general love of food, and I think he encouraged everybody.” Child was instrumental in the creation of the James Beard Foundation after his death, which awards exceptional contributions to American culinary arts and related fields.
Sadly, as successful as he was professionally, Beard’s fame made him feel pressured to keep his sexuality hidden from the public for most of his life. He only came out in 1981 in the revised version of his autobiography, Delights & Prejudices: A Memoir with Recipes, where he wrote about his relationship with his partner, Gino Cofacci. The couple spent 30 years together, and when Beard passed away in 1985, the late chef left Cofacci an apartment in his townhouse. Even so late in life, coming out was a risky thing for a celebrity like Beard to do, especially during the AIDS epidemic and anti-LGBTQ atmosphere of the 1980s. Then, as now, being a celebrity can be a double-edged chef’s knife.
June 15, 2024
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day
: June 15, 2024\un-bih-NOHNST\ adjective
What It Means
Unbeknownst means “without being known about by (a specified person or...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day
: June 15, 2024\un-bih-NOHNST\ adjective
What It Means
Unbeknownst means “without being known about by (a specified person or...
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7 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
Federal campaigns get much of the spotlight, but state and local races can be as consequential for residents’ lives. Funders know that. Today, we’ll trace so...
Federal campaigns get much of the spotlight, but state and local races can be as consequential for residents’ lives. Funders know that. Today, we’ll trace so...
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FREESports Sporty CurioFree1 CQ
We recently wrote about the retirement of Takeru Kobayashi, the “Godfather” of competitive eating and a frequent winter of Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. Now, another legend is being forced to step away from the competition, this time due to a ban. Competitive eater Joey Chestnut was declared persona non grata by contest organizers for signing a sponsorship deal with vegetarian brand Impossible Foods. In a shocking twist, however, it was announced shortly after Chestnut’s ban that he and Kobayashi will face each other in a head-to-head hot dog eating contest to air on Netflix some time in September. While it may seem harsh that Chestnut was banned in the first place, organizers of the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest at Major League Eating (MLE) does have what they call “basic hot dog exclusivity provisions” that prohibit competitors from representing rival brands, and no brand is more antithetical to Nathan’s than Impossible Foods, the purveyor of plant-based meat-substitute products. It’s still shocking, though, that the MLE would outright ban Chestnut from this year’s competition considering that he’s the 16-time champion and de facto face of the event. Furthermore, Chestnut holds the top 10 records for the event, and in 2021, he broke the world record for the second year in a row by downing 76 hot dogs in 10 minutes, beating his previous record of 75 hot dogs. The following year, he managed to place a protester who rushed the event in a chokehold in the middle of competition, barely skipping a beat between hot dogs. You can’t blame him for not setting another record that time!
[Image description: A long hot dog in a bun sitting on tin foil.] Credit & copyright: Waz8, Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.
We recently wrote about the retirement of Takeru Kobayashi, the “Godfather” of competitive eating and a frequent winter of Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. Now, another legend is being forced to step away from the competition, this time due to a ban. Competitive eater Joey Chestnut was declared persona non grata by contest organizers for signing a sponsorship deal with vegetarian brand Impossible Foods. In a shocking twist, however, it was announced shortly after Chestnut’s ban that he and Kobayashi will face each other in a head-to-head hot dog eating contest to air on Netflix some time in September. While it may seem harsh that Chestnut was banned in the first place, organizers of the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest at Major League Eating (MLE) does have what they call “basic hot dog exclusivity provisions” that prohibit competitors from representing rival brands, and no brand is more antithetical to Nathan’s than Impossible Foods, the purveyor of plant-based meat-substitute products. It’s still shocking, though, that the MLE would outright ban Chestnut from this year’s competition considering that he’s the 16-time champion and de facto face of the event. Furthermore, Chestnut holds the top 10 records for the event, and in 2021, he broke the world record for the second year in a row by downing 76 hot dogs in 10 minutes, beating his previous record of 75 hot dogs. The following year, he managed to place a protester who rushed the event in a chokehold in the middle of competition, barely skipping a beat between hot dogs. You can’t blame him for not setting another record that time!
[Image description: A long hot dog in a bun sitting on tin foil.] Credit & copyright: Waz8, Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.
June 14, 2024
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9 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
From the BBC World Service: Every year, more than a million Muslims from around the globe make a pilgrimage in Mecca. But there’s a lucrative trade in fake p...
From the BBC World Service: Every year, more than a million Muslims from around the globe make a pilgrimage in Mecca. But there’s a lucrative trade in fake p...
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FREEMind + Body Daily CurioFree1 CQ
Paddle that boat and eat that dumpling! China’s Dragon Boat Festival, which recently took place June 10, sees celebrants racing traditional dragon boats in honor of historical figure Qu Yuan, a beloved poet and Deputy Prime Minister of China’s Chu state from around 600 B.C.E. to 200 B.C.E. Racers also eat plenty of zongzi. These bamboo-leaf-wrapped dumplings have been eaten in China for centuries, and they come in so many regional varieties, it could take years to try them all.
Zongzi are made with glutinous rice, also known as sticky rice, which holds its shape when molded. The rice is stuffed with a variety of fillings, from savory pork, sausage, nuts, or seafood, to sweet jujubes, dried fruit, or red bean paste. The stuffed rice is then wrapped in bamboo leaves and steamed or boiled for around four hours. In addition to being savory or sweet, Zongzi can also be spicy, or have complex, herbal flavors depending on the ingredients used. In general, Zongzi served in northern China tend to be sweet, while southern Zongzi tend to come in more savory varieties.
It’s hard to say exactly how zongzi came to be associated with the Dragon Boat Festival. There are plenty of legends and stories explaining the connection, all of which are so ancient that they’re impossible to verify. Most have to do with zongzi being thrown into the Miluo River, where Qu Yuan drowned himself after being exiled in 278 B.C.E., in order to distract hungry fish from eating the poet’s body. Another story says that Qu Yuan turned into a river spirit upon his death, and that his spirit feeds on the zongzi thrown into the river during the festival. Either way, some zongzi are still thrown into the river today…but the vast majority end up being eaten by hungry celebrants. After a rough day of rowing, they’ve got to be a good pick-me-up.
[Image description: Two plates of zongzi on a wooden table with traditional Chinese decorations.] Credit & copyright: 玄史生, Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.Paddle that boat and eat that dumpling! China’s Dragon Boat Festival, which recently took place June 10, sees celebrants racing traditional dragon boats in honor of historical figure Qu Yuan, a beloved poet and Deputy Prime Minister of China’s Chu state from around 600 B.C.E. to 200 B.C.E. Racers also eat plenty of zongzi. These bamboo-leaf-wrapped dumplings have been eaten in China for centuries, and they come in so many regional varieties, it could take years to try them all.
Zongzi are made with glutinous rice, also known as sticky rice, which holds its shape when molded. The rice is stuffed with a variety of fillings, from savory pork, sausage, nuts, or seafood, to sweet jujubes, dried fruit, or red bean paste. The stuffed rice is then wrapped in bamboo leaves and steamed or boiled for around four hours. In addition to being savory or sweet, Zongzi can also be spicy, or have complex, herbal flavors depending on the ingredients used. In general, Zongzi served in northern China tend to be sweet, while southern Zongzi tend to come in more savory varieties.
It’s hard to say exactly how zongzi came to be associated with the Dragon Boat Festival. There are plenty of legends and stories explaining the connection, all of which are so ancient that they’re impossible to verify. Most have to do with zongzi being thrown into the Miluo River, where Qu Yuan drowned himself after being exiled in 278 B.C.E., in order to distract hungry fish from eating the poet’s body. Another story says that Qu Yuan turned into a river spirit upon his death, and that his spirit feeds on the zongzi thrown into the river during the festival. Either way, some zongzi are still thrown into the river today…but the vast majority end up being eaten by hungry celebrants. After a rough day of rowing, they’ve got to be a good pick-me-up.
[Image description: Two plates of zongzi on a wooden table with traditional Chinese decorations.] Credit & copyright: 玄史生, Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.
June 13, 2024
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7 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
From the BBC World Service: Demonstrators argued that the measures, which include cutting state spending and watering down workers’ rights, will hurt million...
From the BBC World Service: Demonstrators argued that the measures, which include cutting state spending and watering down workers’ rights, will hurt million...
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FREEAstronomy Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
There’s a lot that can go wrong in space, but there’s one thing that always does—the human immune system. Though it’s well known that astronauts risk their lives with every mission, most people don’t realize that they’re all but guaranteed to get at least a little sick. Now, researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College are beginning to uncover the mechanism behind this medical phenomenon, according to a paper published in Nature Communications. It’s been well-documented since the old days of the space race that simply being in zero-gravity seems to leave people more susceptible to disease. To figure out why, researchers conducted a study with 14 astronauts who spent up to 6.5 months at the International Space Station and analyzed their immune systems. They found that when an astronaut is in the microgravity environment of the space station, the gene expression in leukocytes (white blood cells) declines. This happens quickly too, with gene expression going down to a third of its normal levels within just days of exposure to microgravity. Fortunately, the effect is immediately reversed upon the astronauts’ return to Earth. Researchers hope to discover exactly why the immune system responds this way, and for long-term space missions or colonization to be possible, it's a problem that needs to be solved. Until then, wash your hands frequently if you happen to find yourself in outer space!
There’s a lot that can go wrong in space, but there’s one thing that always does—the human immune system. Though it’s well known that astronauts risk their lives with every mission, most people don’t realize that they’re all but guaranteed to get at least a little sick. Now, researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College are beginning to uncover the mechanism behind this medical phenomenon, according to a paper published in Nature Communications. It’s been well-documented since the old days of the space race that simply being in zero-gravity seems to leave people more susceptible to disease. To figure out why, researchers conducted a study with 14 astronauts who spent up to 6.5 months at the International Space Station and analyzed their immune systems. They found that when an astronaut is in the microgravity environment of the space station, the gene expression in leukocytes (white blood cells) declines. This happens quickly too, with gene expression going down to a third of its normal levels within just days of exposure to microgravity. Fortunately, the effect is immediately reversed upon the astronauts’ return to Earth. Researchers hope to discover exactly why the immune system responds this way, and for long-term space missions or colonization to be possible, it's a problem that needs to be solved. Until then, wash your hands frequently if you happen to find yourself in outer space!
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FREEWorld History Daily Curio #2890Free1 CQ
Look upon his works, ye mighty, and despair! Ramses II was one of the most renowned pharaohs of ancient Egypt, responsible for commissioning monumental construction projects. Yet of all his works, his sarcophagus was lost until very recently. To clear up any confusion—the ornate, gold-clad coffin of Ramses II that bears his likeness was discovered in the 19th century along with his mummy, and they have been on display ever since. However, the stone sarcophagus that once held the pharaoh’s coffin and remains was thought to be lost. The search for the missing sarcophagus never stopped, of course, and among those searching for it was Frédéric Payraudeau, an Egyptologist at Sorbonne University in France. Payraudeau was sorting through fragments of a granite sarcophagus discovered in 2009 at the ancient Egyptian necropolis Abydos, but he wasn’t expecting to find anything related to Ramses II. The sarcophagus once held the remains of two individuals, one of whom was a high priest and the other a high-ranking official. As it turns out, one of the fragments bore hieroglyphs that spelled out the name of Ramses II, allowing Payraudeau to identify the sarcophagus as the former resting place of the pharaoh. Ramses II, also known as Ramses the Great or Ozymandias by the Greeks, was a pharaoh of the 19th dynasty, ruling between 1279 and 1213 B.C.E. The ambitious pharaoh was known for expanding Egypt’s trade routes and for his successful military campaigns against the Hittites of Anatolia and the Syrians, continuing the work of his father, Seti I. But Egypt’s imperial expansion ended with the death of Ramses II, and the kingdom became more isolationist afterward. There are many historians that question the pharaoh’s legacy, though, as there’s evidence to suggest that some of his deeds may have been exaggerated. No matter the time period, politicians always tend to overstate things a bit.
[Image description: A stone statue of Ramesses II Colossus in Luxor Temple.] Credit & copyright: Than217 at English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons. This work has been released into the public domain by its author, Than217 at English Wikipedia. This applies worldwide.Look upon his works, ye mighty, and despair! Ramses II was one of the most renowned pharaohs of ancient Egypt, responsible for commissioning monumental construction projects. Yet of all his works, his sarcophagus was lost until very recently. To clear up any confusion—the ornate, gold-clad coffin of Ramses II that bears his likeness was discovered in the 19th century along with his mummy, and they have been on display ever since. However, the stone sarcophagus that once held the pharaoh’s coffin and remains was thought to be lost. The search for the missing sarcophagus never stopped, of course, and among those searching for it was Frédéric Payraudeau, an Egyptologist at Sorbonne University in France. Payraudeau was sorting through fragments of a granite sarcophagus discovered in 2009 at the ancient Egyptian necropolis Abydos, but he wasn’t expecting to find anything related to Ramses II. The sarcophagus once held the remains of two individuals, one of whom was a high priest and the other a high-ranking official. As it turns out, one of the fragments bore hieroglyphs that spelled out the name of Ramses II, allowing Payraudeau to identify the sarcophagus as the former resting place of the pharaoh. Ramses II, also known as Ramses the Great or Ozymandias by the Greeks, was a pharaoh of the 19th dynasty, ruling between 1279 and 1213 B.C.E. The ambitious pharaoh was known for expanding Egypt’s trade routes and for his successful military campaigns against the Hittites of Anatolia and the Syrians, continuing the work of his father, Seti I. But Egypt’s imperial expansion ended with the death of Ramses II, and the kingdom became more isolationist afterward. There are many historians that question the pharaoh’s legacy, though, as there’s evidence to suggest that some of his deeds may have been exaggerated. No matter the time period, politicians always tend to overstate things a bit.
[Image description: A stone statue of Ramesses II Colossus in Luxor Temple.] Credit & copyright: Than217 at English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons. This work has been released into the public domain by its author, Than217 at English Wikipedia. This applies worldwide.
June 12, 2024
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
From the BBC World Service: The European Commission will add tariffs to electric vehicles coming into the European Union from China, and China’s not too happ...
From the BBC World Service: The European Commission will add tariffs to electric vehicles coming into the European Union from China, and China’s not too happ...
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FREEEconomics Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
The stock market is volatile enough without social media getting involved! Be that as it may, strange economic activity fueled by the so-called “meme stock” craze isn’t going away any time soon. The latest example, which saw a meteoric rise (and subsequent fall) in stock prices for the electronics retail company GameStop, was fueled by a single influencer. Keith Gill, a financial analyst and Youtuber who goes by “Roaring Kitty” online, recently convinced many investors to buy GameStop stock, which sent the stocks’ price up by 47 percent in an extremely short time period. Gill is known for hyping up “meme stocks”, stocks in companies that have grown popular on social media, usually because of memes shared among traders there. Gill held around $115 million GameStop shares, so an increase in stock value certainly would have benefited him. Unfortunately, like many meme-fueled crazes, the uptick in GameStop value didn’t last, and stock prices for the company swiftly changed, plummeting more than 50 percent in two days. Gill likely lost out on around $350 million in profits due to the fall. Things might be “easy come, easy go” on social media, but big monetary losses still sting in real life.
The stock market is volatile enough without social media getting involved! Be that as it may, strange economic activity fueled by the so-called “meme stock” craze isn’t going away any time soon. The latest example, which saw a meteoric rise (and subsequent fall) in stock prices for the electronics retail company GameStop, was fueled by a single influencer. Keith Gill, a financial analyst and Youtuber who goes by “Roaring Kitty” online, recently convinced many investors to buy GameStop stock, which sent the stocks’ price up by 47 percent in an extremely short time period. Gill is known for hyping up “meme stocks”, stocks in companies that have grown popular on social media, usually because of memes shared among traders there. Gill held around $115 million GameStop shares, so an increase in stock value certainly would have benefited him. Unfortunately, like many meme-fueled crazes, the uptick in GameStop value didn’t last, and stock prices for the company swiftly changed, plummeting more than 50 percent in two days. Gill likely lost out on around $350 million in profits due to the fall. Things might be “easy come, easy go” on social media, but big monetary losses still sting in real life.
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FREEPlay Daily Curio #2889Free1 CQ
The Sunshine State is getting a little brighter, ecologically speaking. Though flamingos are heavily associated with Florida, they haven’t actually lived there for over a century. Recently, though, some flamingos have been settling back down in their erstwhile home turf. Flamingos are known for their fashionably flamboyant pink feathers, but once upon a time, it was fashion that did them in. Flashy plumage was once a must-have accessory for ladies’ hats, and flamingos had some of the flashiest around. As such, the birds were hunted extensively in Florida, where they flocked in large colonies of thousands. By the time that hunting flamingos and other migratory wading birds was outlawed in the early 20th century, the damage was done, and there were no more established populations of flamingos in Florida. Since then, they’ve made pit stops in Florida, especially when they’ve been blown off course by hurricanes, but they haven’t settled down in the state—until now. Last August, Hurricane Idalia forced some migrating flamingos to touch down in Florida, where at least 100 seem to have settled down for good. Nearly a year after they first landed, birders around the state are still consistently reporting flamingo sightings. They’re not the only birds on the rebound either—in recent years, the state has seen a significant uptick in the populations of other wading birds like roseate spoonbills and wood storks. Oddly enough, despite the flamingo’s history in the state, Florida has never recognized them as a native species, and efforts to classify them as such have been rejected, along with efforts to have them recognized as a threatened species. In any case, Florida’s future might just contain more real flamingos than the plastic, lawn-ornament variety.
[Image description: A group of pink flamingos standing in a swampy area.] Credit & copyright: Singlespeedfahrer, Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.The Sunshine State is getting a little brighter, ecologically speaking. Though flamingos are heavily associated with Florida, they haven’t actually lived there for over a century. Recently, though, some flamingos have been settling back down in their erstwhile home turf. Flamingos are known for their fashionably flamboyant pink feathers, but once upon a time, it was fashion that did them in. Flashy plumage was once a must-have accessory for ladies’ hats, and flamingos had some of the flashiest around. As such, the birds were hunted extensively in Florida, where they flocked in large colonies of thousands. By the time that hunting flamingos and other migratory wading birds was outlawed in the early 20th century, the damage was done, and there were no more established populations of flamingos in Florida. Since then, they’ve made pit stops in Florida, especially when they’ve been blown off course by hurricanes, but they haven’t settled down in the state—until now. Last August, Hurricane Idalia forced some migrating flamingos to touch down in Florida, where at least 100 seem to have settled down for good. Nearly a year after they first landed, birders around the state are still consistently reporting flamingo sightings. They’re not the only birds on the rebound either—in recent years, the state has seen a significant uptick in the populations of other wading birds like roseate spoonbills and wood storks. Oddly enough, despite the flamingo’s history in the state, Florida has never recognized them as a native species, and efforts to classify them as such have been rejected, along with efforts to have them recognized as a threatened species. In any case, Florida’s future might just contain more real flamingos than the plastic, lawn-ornament variety.
[Image description: A group of pink flamingos standing in a swampy area.] Credit & copyright: Singlespeedfahrer, Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.
June 11, 2024
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
We’re heading into another summer with the specter of serious supply chain disruptions. The union representing dockworkers at ports on the East and Gulf Coas...
We’re heading into another summer with the specter of serious supply chain disruptions. The union representing dockworkers at ports on the East and Gulf Coas...
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day
: June 11, 2024\FOH-ment\ verb
What It Means
To foment something, such as hostility or opposition, is to cause it, or try to ...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day
: June 11, 2024\FOH-ment\ verb
What It Means
To foment something, such as hostility or opposition, is to cause it, or try to ...
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FREENutrition Daily Curio #2888Free1 CQ
It’s pool season! While that means fun in the summer sun, for some people it also means anxiety about baring skin, which is why summer has become a prime time for dieting. But just how did modern calorie-counting come to be? To learn that, we need to look at a surprising amount of medical history. The word “calorie” was initially used as a unit of energy in relation to the heating of water in steam engines. Then, in 1887, American scientist Wilbur Atwater began measuring the amount of potential energy in food using calories, the time the measurement was used in relation to nutrition. Decades later in 1918, another American by the name of Dr. Lulu Hunt Peters published Diet and Health: With Key to the Calories, using Atwater’s work as a foundation. Peters advised her readers that the way to lose weight was by counting the estimated number of calories in food. Counting calories has remained a steadfast dieting method ever since.
The thing is, the advice given by Peters—while revolutionary—relied on the accuracy of Atwater’s work, which only counted calories from protein, carbohydrates and fat, despite the fact that food contains more than just those three components. There’s also the fact that counting calories has led to dietary trends that value low-calorie foods without regard for nutrition. For much of the 20th century after Peters published her work, foods were advertised as low-fat or fat-free but were packed with sugar instead to replace the lost flavor from lack of fat. We now know that such foods contribute to high blood sugar levels. They can also lead to overeating, because sugar isn’t as satiating as fat. As far as healthy dieting goes, the solution is complex and varies from person to person. Generally, though, high sugar consumption should be avoided, and foods should be chosen for their nutritional value, not just their caloric value. Of course, that’s a lot of information to digest!
[Image description: A white bowl filled with salad on a picnic blanket. A container of dressings sits to the right.] Credit & copyright: Jill Wellington, PexelsIt’s pool season! While that means fun in the summer sun, for some people it also means anxiety about baring skin, which is why summer has become a prime time for dieting. But just how did modern calorie-counting come to be? To learn that, we need to look at a surprising amount of medical history. The word “calorie” was initially used as a unit of energy in relation to the heating of water in steam engines. Then, in 1887, American scientist Wilbur Atwater began measuring the amount of potential energy in food using calories, the time the measurement was used in relation to nutrition. Decades later in 1918, another American by the name of Dr. Lulu Hunt Peters published Diet and Health: With Key to the Calories, using Atwater’s work as a foundation. Peters advised her readers that the way to lose weight was by counting the estimated number of calories in food. Counting calories has remained a steadfast dieting method ever since.
The thing is, the advice given by Peters—while revolutionary—relied on the accuracy of Atwater’s work, which only counted calories from protein, carbohydrates and fat, despite the fact that food contains more than just those three components. There’s also the fact that counting calories has led to dietary trends that value low-calorie foods without regard for nutrition. For much of the 20th century after Peters published her work, foods were advertised as low-fat or fat-free but were packed with sugar instead to replace the lost flavor from lack of fat. We now know that such foods contribute to high blood sugar levels. They can also lead to overeating, because sugar isn’t as satiating as fat. As far as healthy dieting goes, the solution is complex and varies from person to person. Generally, though, high sugar consumption should be avoided, and foods should be chosen for their nutritional value, not just their caloric value. Of course, that’s a lot of information to digest!
[Image description: A white bowl filled with salad on a picnic blanket. A container of dressings sits to the right.] Credit & copyright: Jill Wellington, Pexels
June 10, 2024
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FREEArt Appreciation Art CurioFree1 CQ
This is certainly one way to beat the heat. French-born British artist Edmund Dulac painted this scene of the Queen of Sheba staying cool as she rides on the back of a camel. The Queen of Sheba depicts the titular queen in an elaborate dress sitting on a camel litter. The camel is being led by its reins, and a city is visible in the distance. The Queen of Sheba is a figure who appears in a number of texts in Abrahamic religions, and though accounts differ somewhat, she is invariably described as being a woman of fantastical splendor who was adorned in the finest jewels. It’s only natural, then, that she would be portrayed by Dulac. A prolific book illustrator known for his dreamlike imagery, Dulac spent much of his career creating artwork to accompany the literature of everyone from Hans Christen Andersen to Edgar Allan Poe. His style is defined by meticulous detail and an otherworldly atmosphere that lends itself well to portraying scenes written by similarly imaginative authors. If this depiction isn’t classy enough for you, then you just might be the “Queen of Sheba” yourself.
The Queen of Sheba, Edmund Dulac (1882–1953), 1911, Pen and brown ink, watercolor, and gouache, with graphite and color wax crayon, on artist’s drawing board, 12.43 x 10 in. (31.6 x 25.4 cm.), The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio
[Image credit & copyright:The Cleveland Museum of Art, Edmund Dulac, Bequest of James Parmelee 1940.738. Public Domain, CC0 1.0 Universal.]This is certainly one way to beat the heat. French-born British artist Edmund Dulac painted this scene of the Queen of Sheba staying cool as she rides on the back of a camel. The Queen of Sheba depicts the titular queen in an elaborate dress sitting on a camel litter. The camel is being led by its reins, and a city is visible in the distance. The Queen of Sheba is a figure who appears in a number of texts in Abrahamic religions, and though accounts differ somewhat, she is invariably described as being a woman of fantastical splendor who was adorned in the finest jewels. It’s only natural, then, that she would be portrayed by Dulac. A prolific book illustrator known for his dreamlike imagery, Dulac spent much of his career creating artwork to accompany the literature of everyone from Hans Christen Andersen to Edgar Allan Poe. His style is defined by meticulous detail and an otherworldly atmosphere that lends itself well to portraying scenes written by similarly imaginative authors. If this depiction isn’t classy enough for you, then you just might be the “Queen of Sheba” yourself.
The Queen of Sheba, Edmund Dulac (1882–1953), 1911, Pen and brown ink, watercolor, and gouache, with graphite and color wax crayon, on artist’s drawing board, 12.43 x 10 in. (31.6 x 25.4 cm.), The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio
[Image credit & copyright:The Cleveland Museum of Art, Edmund Dulac, Bequest of James Parmelee 1940.738. Public Domain, CC0 1.0 Universal.] -
FREEBiology Daily Curio #2887Free1 CQ
Is the sky falling or is it just a few extra spiders? Colorful joro spiders have arachnophobes wringing their hands as their population continues to rise in parts of the United States. To be fair, they are venomous, and they do have the ability to parachute from above…but they aren’t as dangerous as those two facts might lead one to believe. Joro spiders are native to Asia, but made their way to North America years ago. Even far from home, these tenacious spiders have done well for themselves, startling unsuspecting humans with their stunning red, yellow, and blue coloration and their long, spindly legs that can reach lengths of four inches. They’re also capable of taking to the air in a process called “ballooning,” in which they spin a long silk thread that catches the wind and lifts them up. Flying, venom-filled spiders sound like the premise of a cheesy horror movie, but these arachnids are actually fairly innocuous. First of all, full-grown adult joro spiders aren’t whizzing through the air on wings of silk—that’s something only tiny hatchlings can do because they’re too heavy as adults. While the ability has allowed them to spread to new territories, they’re not exactly swooping down to assail unsuspecting victims. In fact, they rarely come into contact with humans. They prefer secluded areas where they can quietly spin large webs to catch their prey. On the rare occasion that a joro spider does bite a person, their venom isn’t particularly dangerous to adults. Most people only experience mild itchiness, which is harmless unless the bite victim happens to be severely allergic, as with bee stings. The only real threat joro spiders pose is to native species of spiders. After all, joro spiders are an invasive species. Unless you have eight legs, though, you really don’t have to worry about these invaders.
[Image description: An empty spider web between branches.] Credit & copyright: TGoeller, Wikimedia Commons. the copyright holder of this work, release this work into the public domain. This applies worldwide.Is the sky falling or is it just a few extra spiders? Colorful joro spiders have arachnophobes wringing their hands as their population continues to rise in parts of the United States. To be fair, they are venomous, and they do have the ability to parachute from above…but they aren’t as dangerous as those two facts might lead one to believe. Joro spiders are native to Asia, but made their way to North America years ago. Even far from home, these tenacious spiders have done well for themselves, startling unsuspecting humans with their stunning red, yellow, and blue coloration and their long, spindly legs that can reach lengths of four inches. They’re also capable of taking to the air in a process called “ballooning,” in which they spin a long silk thread that catches the wind and lifts them up. Flying, venom-filled spiders sound like the premise of a cheesy horror movie, but these arachnids are actually fairly innocuous. First of all, full-grown adult joro spiders aren’t whizzing through the air on wings of silk—that’s something only tiny hatchlings can do because they’re too heavy as adults. While the ability has allowed them to spread to new territories, they’re not exactly swooping down to assail unsuspecting victims. In fact, they rarely come into contact with humans. They prefer secluded areas where they can quietly spin large webs to catch their prey. On the rare occasion that a joro spider does bite a person, their venom isn’t particularly dangerous to adults. Most people only experience mild itchiness, which is harmless unless the bite victim happens to be severely allergic, as with bee stings. The only real threat joro spiders pose is to native species of spiders. After all, joro spiders are an invasive species. Unless you have eight legs, though, you really don’t have to worry about these invaders.
[Image description: An empty spider web between branches.] Credit & copyright: TGoeller, Wikimedia Commons. the copyright holder of this work, release this work into the public domain. This applies worldwide. -
8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
As you’ve likely heard by now, Claudia Sheinbaum won Mexico’s presidential election in a landslide victory and is slated to become the nation’s first female ...
As you’ve likely heard by now, Claudia Sheinbaum won Mexico’s presidential election in a landslide victory and is slated to become the nation’s first female ...