Curio Cabinet / Daily Curio

Talk about generosity! Not many high-school graduates receive $40,000 scholarships, let alone give them away. Yet that’s just what Harvard-bound graduate Verda Tetteh did during her June 4 graduation from Fitchburg High School in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. During the ceremony, Tetteh was awarded her school’s General Excellence Scholarship, which covers $10,000 worth of books, computers, and living expenses for four years. However, just a few minutes later, Tetteh unexpectedly came back to the podium and shocked the crowd with a selfless gesture. “It is such a great honor, but I also know that I am not the most in need of it,” Verda said. Instead, she suggested that her school give the scholarship to a student who might be struggling to pay for college, or who may be attending community college. Tetteh explained to CBS Boston that her spontaneous decision was inspired by her mother, Rosemary, who brought Tetteh and the rest of her family to the U.S. from Ghana, when they were children. Rosemary attended community college and received her own degree when she was 47. Tetteh’s generous gesture inspired an immediate standing ovation from the crowd, and an emotional response from Fitchburg High’s Principal, Jeremy Roche. “When she started speaking on the microphone, I was overwhelmed,” he said. “I think a lot of people in the stadium were, honestly. I was so moved by her generosity.” Tetteh’s mother clearly felt the same way, telling CBS Boston, “Now I’m 100-percent sure she is ready to go into the world on her own.” Tetteh certainly has a bright future ahead of her. She’ll soon be studying biochemistry at Harvard, with several other scholarships under her belt. Fitchburg High School hasn’t yet announced who will receive the scholarship that Tetteh gave away, but one thing’s for sure: that student is unlikely to ever forget Tetteh's generous spirit.

 
[Image description: Verda Tetteh, wearing red and gold graduation robes and cords, speaks at her high school graduation ceremony.] Credit & copyright: CBS Boston
 
Written by: Maria C.

Should men be the only ones required to sign up for the U.S. Selective Service, or draft? Should anyone be required to sign up at all? The U.S. Supreme Court avoided answering these questions on June 7, when it declined to hear a challenge to the constitutionality of the Military Selective Service Act. This federal law, enacted in 1917, requires only men to sign up for the draft when they turn 18. Men who fail to do so can face penalties and even criminal charges. Two members of the Coalition for Men, James Lesmeister and Anthony Davis, represented by members of the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) wrote a petition urging the Supreme Court to hear the case. It argued that the Military Selective Service Act’s sex-based language was discriminatory and that “It imposes selective burdens on men, reinforces the notion that women are not full and equal citizens, and perpetuates stereotypes about men's and women's capabilities.” The petition did not ask the Supreme Court to require women to sign up for the draft, but rather for the Supreme Court to consider the constitutionality of the existing Military Selective Service Act.

 
Although the justices failed to take up the case, the question of whether women should be required to register for the draft–or whether anyone should–is clearly at the forefront of America’s public consciousness. It's been inspiring internet debates and spurring opinion pieces for years now. Justice Sonia Sotomayor acknowledged this in a recent statement, while also explaining why she agrees with the court’s decision not to take up the case. “...at least for now, the Court's long-standing deference to Congress on matters of national defense and military affairs cautions against granting review while Congress actively weighs the issue,” she said. Meanwhile, ACLU leaders expressed their disappointment. Ria Tabacco Mar, Director of the ACLU Women’s Rights Project, said, “We’re disappointed the Supreme Court allowed one of the last examples of overt sex discrimination in federal law to stand. We urge Congress to update the law either by requiring everyone to register for the draft, regardless of their gender, or by not requiring anyone to register.” It’s possible that Congress may soon choose to take up this issue themselves, which is bound to be its own kind of battle!

 
[Image description: A female U.S. Army recruit kneels with her weapon while practicing building-clearing exercises.] Credit & copyright: John Bazemore/AP

 
Written by: Maria C.

This is one story that has the makings of a Hollywood blockbuster. One of the 300 skeletons found in 1980 on a beach in Herculaneum (now Campania, Italy) has recently been identified as a Praetorian Roman soldier sent on a rescue mission to Pompeii. The military officer was unfortunately unsuccessful, as he was killed during the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D., along with the residents of Pompeii and Herculaneum. The body was previously unidentified due to archaeological oversights, though in 2017 a new director at the site named Francesco Sirano began efforts to identify tools found next to the body. The Praetorian guard stood out among the commoners due to his ornate dagger, sword with an iron hilt, and his decorated belt. He also had a bagful of coins, "[which] coincidentally [was] the same amount of a praetorian’s monthly wage,” Sirano remarked. But what was an elite Roman soldier doing so far away from home? It's likely that he joined Pliny the Elder's unsuccessful attempt to launch a naval rescue mission for Vesuvius refugees at the Bay of Naples. Pliny and the Praetorian likely had no idea of the extent of damage Vesuvius' eruption was causing, as Pliny likely died in Stabiae, while the Praetorian was knocked face down into the Herculaneum sand during an earthquake caused by the volcanic eruption. Sirano and the other archaeologists are taking what they've learned about the deceased Praetorian guard and begining a new excavation project to uncover the details of Vesuvius' effects on Herculaneum. As for the Praetorian and his rescue mission? Well, that story sounds like one that's right up Justice League director Zack Snyder's alley!

 
[Image description: A marble statue of Roman Praetorian guards.] Credit & copyright: Faces of Ancient Europe via Twitter

 
Written by: Esther P.

Last month the world lost Eric Carle, the beloved children's book author and illustrator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Carle's "picture writer" artistic style of using tissue paper cutouts and acrylic paints for The Very Hungry Caterpillar illustrations may have charmed millions of children around the world, but it was his own childhood which informed the casual curiosity of the insect gourmand. Carle was born on June 25, 1929, in Syracuse, New York to German-immigrant parents. He credited walks with his father in rural Syracuse for his own childhood appetite for discovering nature's wonders. His mother eventually became homesick and the Carle family returned to Stuttgart, Germany at the outbreak of World War II. Carles' dad was drafted into the German army and taken prisoner by Soviet forces. Carle himself was conscripted by the Nazis with other boys to dig trenches on the Siegfried Line. His family was emotionally scarred by the events of World War II, and Carle claimed the grays, browns, greens, and other dull colors used by Nazis to camouflage their buildings made him yearn for the U.S. and the natural vibrancy of Syracuse. After World War II, Carle studied typography and graphic art at the State Academy of Fine Arts in Stuttgart, and moved to New York City in 1952 where he took a job as a graphic designer at The New York Times. After a stint in the U.S. military, stationed as a mail clerk in Germany, Carle left The Times in 1963 to become a freelance artist. His first major project was illustrating Bill Martin Jr.'s 1967 children's book Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?. Just two years after the success of Brown Bear, Carle released his own children's book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, a title that helps children grasp concepts like numbers and days of the week. The Very Hungry Caterpillar has sold over 55 million copies worldwide, and speaking on the longevity of the book's themes in 2019, Carle noted the optimism in its narrative. "Children need hope. You, little insignificant caterpillar, can grow up into a beautiful butterfly and fly into the world with your talent. Will I ever be able to do that? Yes, you will. I think that is the appeal of that book,” he said.

 
[Image description: Author and artist Eric Carle holds a copy of his best known book The Very Hungry Caterpillar.] Credit & copyright: Jodi Hilton

 
Written by: Esther P

Howard University forever! In a move to honor the legacy of late actor and alumni Chadwick Boseman, Howard University, one of the nation’s leading historically Black colleges, is naming their reestablished College of Fine Arts after him. The Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts will include not only standard fine arts departments, such as theatre and visual art, but also the Cathy Hughes School of Communications and the university’s television and radio stations, WHUT-TV and WHUR 96.3 FM. Fittingly, Boseman was always a strong proponent of re-establishing the College of Fine Art’s independent status after it was merged with the College of Arts and Sciences in a controversial late-1990s move. He even participated in protests against the merge before his graduation in 2000. It wasn’t until 2018, however, that Howard University announced their plan to re-establish the College of Fine Arts as an independent entity. That same year, Boseman addressed a crowd of over 8,000 at Howard University’s historic 150th commencement ceremony. The Black Panther star called his alma mater a “magical place” and advised graduates to find purpose, rather than just a career. “Purpose is an essential element of you that crosses disciplines,” Boseman said. After Boseman’s death, on August 28, 2020, Howard University announced that Bob Iger, executive chairman of the Walt Disney Company (which owns Marvel Studios) will lead fundraising for an endowment to build the college’s new fine arts facility. In a recent statement, Iger said of Boseman, “Through his tremendous example he inspired millions to overcome adversity, dream big and reach beyond the status quo. And this college named in his honor...will provide opportunities for future generations of artists to follow in his footsteps and pursue their dreams.” It’s surely an honor worthy of one of Howard University’s most famous alumni (and Wakanda’s one true king.)

 
[Image description: Late actor Chadwick Boseman in a crowd at Howard University’s 150th commencement ceremony, in 2018, wearing a ceremonial medallion and black robes.] Credit & copyright: Eric Thayer/Reuters

 
Written by: Maria C.

Cyber attacks on our personal information are bad enough, but what happens when part of our societal infrastructure is taken down in a hail of digital warfare? The recent spike in gasoline prices in the U.S. has been, in part, due to the ransomware attacks on Colonial Pipeline, a petroleum transportation company which provides over half the fuel used on the East Coast. Ransomware is malware used to steal personal information or prevent the use of digital applications—usually holding it hostage with the intent to extort a fee for safe unlocking or decryption. The FBI has placed blame for the attack on DarkSide, a Russian-based hacking group. The ransomware was found in Colonial Pipeline computer systems on May 7, with effects reverberating across the country. Some people had to wait hours to fill up their cars, others were unable to find gas at all, and gas prices spiked at four dollars per gallon. As Colonial Pipeline struggled to get their pipelines back in working order, President Biden issued an Executive Order on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity, removing barriers to sharing threat information and establishing a Cyber Safety Review Board to assess major cyber threats. As for Colonial Pipeline, they resumed full operations around May 17th.
 

The Colonial Pipeline attack reveals uncomfortable truths about our nation’s vulnerable infrastructure. Josephine Wolff, assistant professor of cybersecurity policy at Tufts University, told Scientific American that major infrastructure resources like hospitals and electricity grids should be "...trying to lock down their perimeter defenses—which is to say all of the security controls that they use to try and prevent malware from being delivered to their computers in the first place. That could be things such as two-factor authentication, e-mail warnings for external mail, and screening of new USB drives or other devices that are plugged into your system." Wolff also doesn't think that companies like Colonial Pipeline should simply hand over the large ransoms that hackers ask for. While Colonial Pipeline was able to write off the insurance costs of the payment, Wolff hopes that making ransomware less profitable will make such crimes less appealing. Now if you'll excuse us, we're going to log into our important online accounts and start those two-step authentication processes to secure our information!

 
[Image description: Colonial Pipeline storage tanks in Pelham, Alabama] Credit & copyright: Jim Lo Scalzo / EPA via Shutterstock

 
Written by: Esther P.

He once was lost, but now he’s found! California hiker George Null went missing on Saturday, May 15 in Angeles National Forest outside of Los Angeles. Five days later, thanks to the work of a dedicated rescue team, he was found alive and airlifted to safety. Because Null is an experienced outdoorsman, his family was surprised when he didn’t return from what was supposed to be a weekend hike. The Angeles National Forest is an expansive woodland, spanning over 700,000 acres, but it has marked paths which usually keep hikers on track. However, in September 2020, a wildfire known as the Bobcat Fire burned down several trail markers in the forest, some of which have yet to be replaced.
 

According to Null’s sister, Rebecca Latta, the missing trail markers might have caused Null to become disoriented. After authorities were notified that Null was missing, a massive rescue effort was undertaken by the LASD (Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department). Teams of rescuers moved through the forest calling for Null, while others circled the forest from above, in helicopters. Eventually Null was spotted waving to a helicopter from deep in Bear Canyon, in the remote Mount Waterman area. In an interview with CBS L.A., LASD Sergeant John Gilbert explained, "The area he was located was about 2,500 feet. The mountaintop he came off of in order to get there is at approximately 8,000 feet, so over several days, he'd made a lot of progress downstream." A harness was lowered to Null, allowing him to be airlifted out of the canyon and back to civilization. Although authorities didn’t comment on Null’s condition at the time of his rescue, photos posted to LASD’s Twitter showed him in seemingly good spirits with no serious visible injuries. Latta told CBS L.A., “"He gave me a huge hug. I think he's so exhausted that I really think he doesn't have a lot of words right now, and he's a little bit delirious after five days of wandering around in the forest.” Hopefully not too delirious to enjoy some creature comforts after being stuck in Los Angeles County’s not-so-concrete jungle!

 
[Image description: Hiker George Null, covered in dirt, makes the “rock on” hand sign with one of his helmeted rescuers aboard a rescue aircraft.] Credit & copyright: Special Enforcement Bureau/LASD/Twitter

 
Written by: Maria C.

It's Flashback Friday! Enjoy this favorite from the Curio Cabinet archives.
 

Maj. Gen. John Logan founded Decoration Day—the precursor to Memorial Day—in 1868 to adorn the graves of Union soldiers with flowers but some historians now believe the true origins of Memorial Day began three years earlier, in the tattered remains of a Confederate Prison Camp. On May 1, 1865, an impromptu ceremony was conducted by freed slaves at a racetrack in Charleston, South Carolina. They were honoring the 260 Union officers who had been tortured and killed while kept as Confederate prisoners of war inside the clubhouse of Charleston's Washington Race Course and Jockey Club. The event included a parade with as many as 10,000 newly freed slaves, including 3,000 black school children singing Union songs while carrying armloads of flowers. At the end of the parade, the children laid the flowers on the graves of the Union soldiers who had died for their freedom—graves the slaves had dug after exhuming the bodies from a mass burial pit behind the track's grandstands two weeks earlier. After the event, the former slaves erected a fence and an archway which read "Martyrs of the Race Course." Each subsequent May, they honored those who also suffered at the hands of their former oppressors. Sounds like the true spirit of Memorial Day to me.