#american woods in delhi

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 3.22 (before 1950)

106 – Start of the Bostran era, the calendar of the province of Arabia Petraea. 235 – Roman emperor Severus Alexander is murdered, marking the start of the Crisis of the Third Century. 871 – Æthelred of Wessex is defeated by a Danish invasion army at the Battle of Marton. 1185 – Battle of Yashima: the Japanese forces of the Taira clan are defeated by the Minamoto clan. 1312 – Vox in excelso: Pope Clement V dissolves the Order of the Knights Templar. 1508 – Ferdinand II of Aragon commissions Amerigo Vespucci chief navigator of the Spanish Empire. 1621 – The Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony sign a peace treaty with Massasoit of the Wampanoags. 1622 – Jamestown massacre: Algonquians kill 347 English settlers around Jamestown, Virginia, a third of the colony's population, during the Second Anglo-Powhatan War. 1631 – The Massachusetts Bay Colony outlaws the possession of cards, dice, and gaming tables. 1638 – Anne Hutchinson is expelled from Massachusetts Bay Colony for religious dissent. 1739 – Nader Shah occupies Delhi in India and sacks the city, stealing the jewels of the Peacock Throne. 1765 – The British Parliament passes the Stamp Act that introduces a tax to be levied directly on its American colonies. 1784 – The Emerald Buddha is moved with great ceremony to its current location in Wat Phra Kaew, Thailand. 1792 – Battle of Croix-des-Bouquets: Black slave insurgents gain a victory in the first major battle of the Haitian Revolution. 1794 – The Slave Trade Act of 1794 bans the export of slaves from the United States, and prohibits American citizens from outfitting a ship for the purpose of importing slaves. 1829 – In the London Protocol, the three protecting powers (United Kingdom, France and Russia) establish the borders of Greece. 1849 – The Austrians defeat the Piedmontese at the Battle of Novara. 1871 – In North Carolina, William Woods Holden becomes the first governor of a U.S. state to be removed from office by impeachment. 1873 – The Spanish National Assembly abolishes slavery in Puerto Rico. 1894 – The Stanley Cup ice hockey competition is held for the first time, in Montreal, Canada. 1895 – Before the Société pour L'Encouragement à l'Industrie, brothers Auguste and Louis Lumière demonstrate movie film technology publicly for the first time. 1896 – Charilaos Vasilakos wins the first modern Olympic marathon race with a time of three hours and 18 minutes. 1906 – The first England vs France rugby union match is played at Parc des Princes in Paris. 1913 – Mystic Phan Xích Long, the self-proclaimed Emperor of Vietnam, is arrested for organising a revolt against the colonial rule of French Indochina, which was nevertheless carried out by his supporters the following day. 1916 – Yuan Shikai abdicates as Emperor of China, restoring the Republic and returning to the Presidency. 1920 – Azeri and Turkish army soldiers with participation of Kurdish gangs attack the Armenian inhabitants of Shushi (Nagorno Karabakh). 1933 – Cullen–Harrison Act: President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs an amendment to the Volstead Act, legalizing the manufacture and sale of "3.2 beer" (3.2% alcohol by weight, approximately 4% alcohol by volume) and light wines. 1933 – Nazi Germany opens its first concentration camp, Dachau. 1934 – The first Masters Tournament is held at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia. 1939 – Germany takes Memel from Lithuania. 1942 – World War II: In the Mediterranean Sea, the Royal Navy confronts Italy's Regia Marina in the Second Battle of Sirte. 1943 – World War II: The entire village of Khatyn (in present-day Republic of Belarus) is burnt alive by Schutzmannschaft Battalion 118. 1945 – World War II: The city of Hildesheim, Germany, is heavily damaged in a British air raid, though it had little military significance and Germany was on the verge of final defeat. 1945 – The Arab League is founded when a charter is adopted in Cairo, Egypt. 1946 – The United Kingdom grants full independence to Transjordan.

[kidzletplaystructures1]

Best Playground Equipment for All Ages | Kidzlet Play Structures

Playgrounds are more than just swings and slides. They're vibrant hubs of imagination, fostering physical development, social interaction, and a sense of adventure in children. For parks, schools, daycare centers, and any space where children gather, creating a safe and engaging play environment is crucial. This is where commercial playground equipment comes in.

Here, we'll delve into the exciting world of playground equipment, exploring the best options for various age groups and spaces. We'll also introduce you to Kidzlet Play Structures Pvt. Ltd., a leading manufacturer in Delhi specializing in top-tier outdoor playground slide, outdoor gym equipment, and more, ensuring you have a trusted partner to equip the fun!

Enhancing Play for Every Age:

A well-designed playground caters to a range of ages and abilities. Here's a breakdown of some popular equipment choices for different age groups:

Preschoolers (2-5 years): This age group thrives on exploration and sensory experiences. Look for climbers with manageable heights,  a Turtle Sand Pit (Small) for imaginative play, and spring riders that encourage balance and coordination. Kidzlet Play Structures offers a fantastic selection of themed playhouses and toddler-sized climbing structures that spark early creativity.

School-aged Children (6-12 years): As children grow, their desire for physical challenges intensifies. Consider swing sets with various configurations,  Monkey Climber for upper body strength, and slides in different heights and styles., Kidzlet Play Structures offers a variety of options to create a thrilling Seesaw experience that adheres to safety standards.

Teenagers (13+): Teenagers crave social interaction and activities that test their physical limits. Challenge courses with climbing walls, balance beams, and rope bridges provide a stimulating space. Fitness zones with outdoor gym equipment like pull-up bars and leg presses encourage healthy habits. Kidzlet Play Structures offers a range of heavy-duty outdoor exercise equipment suitable for teenagers and adults, fostering a multi-generational play environment.

Optimizing Space:

Not all playgrounds have vast expanses. Don't worry! Here's how to create a fantastic play area even in limited space:

Vertical Play Structures: Utilize climbing walls, rope ladders, and slides that extend upwards. Kidzlet Play Structures offers a variety of space-saving vertical climbers that maximize play value without a large footprint.

Multifunctional Equipment: Opt for equipment that serves multiple purposes, like climbers with slides or swings with attached climbing nets. Kidzlet Play Structures has a great selection of combination playsets that offer a variety of activities in a compact design.

Soft Play Areas: For younger children or areas with limited fall height restrictions, consider soft play equipment like padded climbers and play mats. Kidzlet Play Structures manufactures a range of soft play elements that provide a safe and stimulating environment for little ones.

Safety First: Choosing Durable and Safe Equipment

Safety is paramount. Here's what to look for:

Material: Choose equipment made from high-quality, durable materials like recycled plastic, steel, or treated wood. Kidzlet Play Structures prioritizes using materials that are safe for children and can withstand harsh weather conditions.

Compliance with Safety Standards: Ensure the equipment meets all relevant safety standards set by organizations like the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).

Fall Protection: Consider the use of soft surfacing like shredded rubber or sand under climbing structures and slides to minimize the risk of injury during falls.

Regular Maintenance: Schedule regular inspections and maintenance to ensure the equipment remains safe and in good condition.

Kidzlet Play Structures: Your Trusted Partner in Play

Kidzlet Play Structures Pvt. Ltd., a leading manufacturer in Delhi, understands the importance of creating safe and engaging play experiences. They offer a comprehensive range of commercial playground equipment, including:

Outdoor Playground Slides in various shapes and sizes to add thrilling fun.

Outdoor Gym Equipment designed for all ages and fitness levels, promoting healthy habits.

Themed Playhouses that spark children's imaginations and encourage role-playing.

Climbing Structures with varying difficulty levels to challenge and develop motor skills.

Swings & Seesaws - timeless classics that never go out of style.

Kidzlet Play Structures prioritizes safety and uses high-quality materials that meet international safety standards. Their team of experts can also assist you in designing a playground that caters to your specific needs and space constraints.

Equipping the Fun

Creating a playground is more than just installing equipment; it's about fostering a space for laughter, learning, and physical development. By understanding the needs of different age groups, optimizing space effectively, and prioritizing safety, you can create a playground that sparks endless joy for children. Kidzlet Play Structures stands ready to be your partner in equipping the fun, providing top-tier commercial playground equipment slides that will transform your space into a vibrant hub

[bhbcas]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: NWOT-Michael Aram Bamboo Challah(Bread)Board and Decorative Serrated Bread Knife.

[trophykartindia]

The Importance of Sports Trophies

The Importance of Trophies as a Means of Motivating the Athlete

Trophies are actually a reward. Most of the athletes or other sportsman enjoys achieving a trophy which is the great appreciation for his or her hard work all year. There is nothing to do with how much the trophy is valued; it ought to do with the symbol of achievement. As such, a trophy is gratitude and appreciation, which means future positive practices. Attaining to in games is no special case. So there is a big importance of Sports Trophies in Athletes life.

Whatever your purposes behind getting to reward a sports athlete, normal trophy or a big silver plated trophy, there is no difference; these two things still signify the similar thing. The athlete that wins the trophy treasures the pride felt inside and the legacy that accompanies the honor. The trophy symbolizes the triumph that the players have made.

A trophy is a prize, so no matter it is plain or attractive. All Athletes appreciate achieving the sports trophies not because the trophy has any monetary value. They only enjoy it as these prizes represent success. Let's be honest. Appreciation and gratefulness inspire positive future conduct. Furthermore accomplishments in games are no special case.

Golf Trophies

Other than winning the huge check reward, numerous golf tournaments award the winners with trophy, big and small. There are some golf trophies which are large silver cups, while others are in the forms of golfers swinging clubs.

On the other hand, a few tournaments additionally prefer to perceive golfers who have the expertise the toughest shot in the game the hole-in-one. Hole-in-one golf trophies might likewise be recompensed to skillful golfers who might not have essentially placed in the tournament, however have done this noteworthy accomplishment.

Desirable golf trophies and recompenses are ordinarily made using silver, gold, pewter, sap, acrylic, bronze, gem, or even wood.

Football Trophies

We all know that the football is the most prestigious sports. Heisman is the most popular Football Trophies. The best players of a tournament are awarded with this trophy in college football. There have been a few victors of this trophy all through the recent years that have gone ahead to play professional football. The Heisman is produced using die cast bronze.

Not all football trophies are as celebrated as the Heisman; nonetheless, all players of football deserve some kind of recognition, as this is a standout amongst the most demanding games there are. In secondary school, players get plaques and football trophies. The trophy is the image of the greater part of the diligent work of a finished season in this all-requesting game, football.

Baseball Trophies

Baseball, the All-American game, prides itself on its custom of providing trophies and plaques to its extraordinary players. From Little League to the majors, all levels of play are praised with unique honors. Some remarkable expert baseball trophies include:

• Gold Glove Award honored to top fielders

• Rookie of the Year, given to the top tenderfoot player of the year

• Cy Young Award recompensed to outstanding pitchers

Anyhow, not all trophies as an award are given at a professional level. Numerous players, youthful and old, appreciate this famous game as an interest and have joined baseball associations in their own towns. Baseball trophies honored in these littler leagues may incorporate Best Outfielder, Best Batting Average, Best Home-Run Hitter, Most Improved and on and on! Grants are additionally given for no particular reason and sportsmanship.

Trophykart; leading Medals & Trophy manufacturers in Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai, Gurugram, India offers sports awards & trophies like Badminton Cricket Soccer Football Table Tennis Volleyball Throwball Chess etc.

[oswomsmoke]

How to Choose the Different Types of Smoking Pipes

 Smoking Pipes Manufacturers in America have been around for centuries and continue to be a popular way of consuming tobacco. From classic wooden pipes to modern glass designs, there are many types of smoking pipes available to choose from. In this blog,  we will discuss the different types of smoking pipes and provide some tips on how to choose the right one for you.

Briar Pipes

Briar pipes are perhaps the most popular type of smoking pipe. These pipes are made from the roots of the white heath tree, and they are known for their durability and heat resistance. Briar pipes are available in a range of styles and sizes, and they offer a natural wood grain pattern that can add to their aesthetic appeal. They are a great choice for both beginner and experienced smokers.

Glass Pipes

Glass Pipes are a more modern option for smokers. They are typically made from borosilicate glass and offer a clean and pure smoking experience. Glass Pipes Manufacturers in Delhi are available in a range of styles and designs and can be a beautiful addition to any collection. They are fragile, however, and require careful handling to avoid breakage.

Bongs

Bongs Exporters in India also known as water pipes, are smoking devices that have been used for centuries to consume tobacco and other herbs. They typically consist of a water-filled chamber, a bowl for the tobacco or herbs, and a stem or tube that leads to the mouthpiece. When the tobacco or herbs are heated, smoke is drawn through the water, which cools and filters it before it is inhaled

Meerschaum Pipes

Meerschaum pipes are made from a soft white mineral that is found in Turkey. These pipes are known for their ability to provide a cool and dry smoke, making them a popular choice for many smokers. Meerschaum pipes are also valued for their unique and intricate carvings. They are more fragile than briar pipes, however, and require a bit more care.

Clay Pipes

Clay pipes have been around for centuries and were once a popular choice for smokers due to their affordability. While they are less commonly used today, they still offer a unique smoking experience. Clay pipes are very porous and allow for a cool smoke. However, they are also very fragile and can crack easily. They are best suited for occasional use rather than frequent smoking.

Corn Cob Pipes

Corn cob pipes are a classic American style of smoking pipe. They are made from the cobs of corn and are known for their affordability and light weight. Corn cob pipes offer a mild and cool smoke and are ideal for beginners or those on a tight budget. They are less durable than other types of pipes, however, and may not last as long.

Metal Pipes

Metal pipes are a durable and portable option for smokers. They are typically made from aluminum or brass and are easy to clean. However, metal pipes can get very hot during use and may not offer the same smoking experience as traditional wooden pipes. They are a good choice for outdoor use or when traveling.

Tips for Choosing the Right Smoking Pipe

Now that you know about the different types of Smoking Pipes Manufacturers in USA available, how do you choose the right one for you? Here are some tips to help you make the right decision:

1.      Consider your smoking habits. Do you prefer a mild or strong smoke? Do you smoke frequently or occasionally? These factors can help you determine the right type of pipe for you. For example, if you smoke frequently, you may want to choose a durable and heat-resistant pipe like a briar pipe.

2.      Think about your budget. Smoking pipes can range in price from very affordable to very expensive. Consider your budget when choosing a pipe. Corn cob pipes and clay pipes are typically the most affordable options, while meerschaum and briar pipes can be more expensive.

3.      Consider the size and weight of the pipe. Smoking pipes come in a range of sizes and weights. Consider how portable you need your pipe to be and whether you prefer a heavier or lighter pipe. Corn cob pipes are typically very light, while metal pipes can be heavier.

 4.      Think about the aesthetic appeal. While the smoking experience is the most important factor, the aesthetic appeal of a pipe can also be important. Consider the style.

In conclusion, choosing the right type of smoking pipe is a personal decision that depends on your smoking habits, budget, and personal preferences.

[yathraemagazine]

THE TREASURY OF TRANQUILITY - an  exhibition of art works of renowned artist SURESH PUSHPANGATHAN  

1 February 2023

THE TREASURY OF TRANQUILITY 

DRAVIDAM BANGALORE presents THE TREASURY OF TRANQUILITY - an  exhibition of art works of renowned artist SURESH PUSHPANGATHAN  at Visual Art Gallery, India Habitat Centre, Gate 2, Lodhi Road, New Delhi from 10 February 2023 to 13 February 2023.

 “I feel a certain rhythm in nature when I try to observe it. It has its own diverse moods that are reflected in the form of vibrations. And this is exactly what I try to capture in my work”, says artist Suresh Pushpangathan who can best be described as a nature lover.

His artwork is a perfect interplay of light and colour. A childhood exposure to nature led Suresh to start painting at an early stage, eventually committing to his creativity when he enrolled at the Karnataka Chitrakala  Parishath, Bangalore, graduating in 2002.  

In 2011, he completed a Master’s degree in Art & Design from the University of Bedfordshire, Luton, United Kingdom.

Art aficionado and curator Akumal Ramachander, the man who stunned the art world with his discovery of American abstract expressionist Harold Shapinsky, met Suresh Pushpangathan early in his career. Under Akumal’s mentorship, Suresh blossomed and has over the years, continued to grow as an artist of recognizable talent.

“I think Suresh’s works are wonderful abstracts of nature. He is more of a colourist than a draughtsman. He enjoys the paint more than the line and structure itself.  He has the fine knack of creating the ambience of nature by delineating light,” remarks Golak Khandual, renowned Artist, architect and environmentalist.

“The son of a traditional sculptor, Suresh grew up watching his father at work and, it is at his feet that the young boy sat whittling away at pieces of wood. This was his introduction to the fascinating world of art. His early childhood was spent wandering in the lush tropical countryside of Varkala in Kerala, an area speckled with backwater reflections, serene lily ponds and enchanting seascapes. It had a lasting impact on his work as an artist and this is a memory that he constantly revisits in his haunting work so relevant in a world of fast disappearing flora and fauna.

His inborn talent, a childhood spent in rural Kerala and later-day training as an art student are reflected in his sensitive work. Deft brushstrokes in thick and thin paints, smooth blends, the interplay of light and the ability to convey perspective, mystery and texture is a reflection of Pushpangathan’s creativity and skill as an artist for whom memories feed his visuals. Some of the canvases bring the viewer right to the edge of a pond while others look across the leafy expanse of water to the other bank presenting the aquatic fauna amid a play of rich colour and texture with vivid impact. Clearly apparent in his evocative work is the influence of the Impressionists and the Post Impressionists particularly Claude Monet. Suresh often adopts a middle path between representation and abstraction and his visuals are free from the confines of strict realism. To him the palette and application are as important as the subject matter and integral to the effective expression of an emotion. Suresh Pushpangathan’s latest body of work, ‘The Treasury of Tranquility’ echoes the serenity and harmony of a childhood spent in the lap of nature. Days spent splashing amidst lotuses in water bodies, watching colourful birds, butterflies and dragonflies, the pristine beauty of coffee plantations during flowering season and lush groves are clearly some of the memories that the artist wistfully captures in the tranquil images that he transfers onto canvas,” says Curator Jaya Mani.

“Suresh’s three dimensional paintings are an immersive theatrical experience where the viewer cannot help but almost merge into the artist’s pictorial space,” Curator Jaya Mani says.

[newscast1]

3 Indian Americans dead after falling through ice on Arizona lake

3 Indian Americans dead after falling through ice on Arizona lake

Three Indian nationals, including a woman, drowned as they fell through ice while walking on a frozen lake in Arizona, United States. New Delhi,UPDATED: Dec 28, 2022 11:34 IST The incident occurred on December 26 at Woods Canyon Lake in Arizona (Photo: File | Representative) By India Today Web Desk: Three Indian nationals, including a woman, have drowned after they fell through the ice while…

[delhidutyfree]

Are you looking for the finest single-malt whisky from Glenfiddich? Then look no further than Delhi, India! Here, you will find a wide selection of some of the world’s best single malts from Glenfiddich. Whether you are an experienced whisky connoisseur or just getting started in your journey of enjoying fine spirits, you can be sure to find something that satisfies your palate and takes it to new heights. Read on for our guide about the finest single malts, Glenfiddich price in Delhi, and the best places to get them.

Why Glenfiddich Whisky?

Glenfiddich is one of the oldest and most respected names in Scotch whisky production since its founding in 1886 by William Grant & Sons Ltd., who still own and operate it today. There’s been a long-standing tradition of excellence when it comes to their selection of premium whiskies – whether they’re blended, peated, or single malt – all crafted using traditional methods that have been passed down through generations. Their portfolio includes some iconic expressions such as their 15 Year Old Solera Reserve Single Malt Whisky which has become one of their signature bottles over the years. But this isn’t where their range ends; there are many other whiskies available throughout Delhi ranging from 12-year-old Highland Malts to 21-year-old Speyside Malts – each offering up unique tasting notes that make them stand out amongst other whiskies around the world. So, get to know about Glenfiddich whisky prices in Delhi and the best places to order. 

Where Do you Find This? 

So how do you go about finding these exquisite dreams? Let us start by giving an overview of what makes each expression so special before delving into deeper detail about which ones offer up unique flavor profiles specific to this region – thus enabling us to provide an easy guide for those seeking out only top-quality Scotches during visits here!

When exploring different kinds of scotch whisky, there are several factors at play that determine its overall characteristics such as location (i.e., Highlands versus Lowlands), the ageing process (i.e., cask type), and distillation method (i.e., pot still vs column still). There is so much more to a Whisky than Glenfiddich whisky price in Delhi. 

Generally speaking though, all Scotches share certain common characteristics such as smokiness due mainly to peat being used in production processes along with subtle sweetness arising from oak casks imparting flavours onto maturing liquids inside them over extended periods of time; however individual brands may emphasise either one more depending on how they choose craft each variety respectively – making things even more interesting when tasting each bottle side-by-side!

Glenfiddich Collection

Glenfiddich offers a number of exceptional whiskies ranging from 12 Years Old Highland Single Malt Whisky aged exclusively in American Oak Casks sourced directly from Kentucky Bourbon Barrels. You can easily know about the Glenfiddich 12 price in Delhi and source them from places like Duty-Free Bar. 

This scotch provides robust flavours associated with vanilla bean pods plus nutty undertones leading up toward a smooth finish; 30 Years Old Speyside Single Malt Whisky matured slowly using three types of wood barrels imparting deep layers of complexity and full body taste while retaining characteristic lightness emanating throughout glass upon the first sip. 

[sairavats]

Pyramid Ply & Wood Products (P) Ltd. offers highest quality Timber products. We offer American Hardwood, African Hardwood, European Hardwood, Malaysian Hardwood & Indian Hardwood. Our Services Include wooden flooring, high pressure laminates, Veneer, Pergola, Imported wallpapers, PVC panelling & artificial grass.

[somerabbitholes]

Essays

Here’s a (non-exhaustive) list of essays I like/find interesting/are food for thought; I’ve tried to sort them as much as possible. The starred (*) ones are those I especially love

also quick note: some of these links, especially the ones that are from books/anthologies redirect you to libgen or scihub, and if that doesn’t work for you, do message me; I’d be happy to send them across!

Literature + Writing

Godot Comes to Sarajevo - Susan Sontag

The Strangeness of Grief - V. S. Naipaul*

Memories of V. S. Naipaul - Paul Theroux*

A Rainy Day with Ruskin Bond - Mayank Austen Soofi

How Albert Camus Faced History - Adam Gopnik

Listen, Bro - Jo Livingstone

Rachel Cusk Gut-Renovates the Novel - Judith Thurman

Lost in Translation: What the First Line of “The Stranger” Should Be - Ryan Bloom

The Duke in His Domain - Truman Capote*

The Cult of Donna Tartt: Themes and Strategies in The Secret History - Ana Rita Catalão Guedes

Never Do That to a Book - Anne Fadiman*

Affecting Anger: Ideologies of Community Mobilisation in Early Hindi Novel - Rohan Chauhan*

Why I Write - George Orwell*

Rimbaud and Patti Smith: Style as Social Deviance - Carrie Jaurès Noland*

Art + Photography (+ Aesthetics)

Looking at War - Susan Sontag*

Love, sex, art, and death - Nan Goldin, David Wojnarowicz

Lyons, Szarkowski, and the Perception of Photography - Anne Wilkes Tucker

The Feminist Critique of Art History - Thalia Gouma-Peterson, Patricia Mathews

In Plato's Cave - Susan Sontag*

On reproduction of art (Chapter 1, Ways of Seeing) - John Berger*

On nudity and women in art (Chapter 3, Ways of Seeing) - John Berger*

Kalighat Paintings  - Sharmishtha Chaudhuri

Daydreams and Fragments: On How We Retrieve Images From the Past -  Maël Renouard

Arthur Rimbaud: the Aesthetics of Intoxication - Enid Rhodes Peschel

Cities

Tragic Fable of Mumbai Mills - Gyan Prakash

Whose Bandra is it? - Dustin Silgardo*

Timur's Registan: noblest public square in the world? - Srinath Perur

The first Starbucks coffee shop, Seattle - Colin Marshall*

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai's iconic railway station - Srinath Perur

From London to Mumbai and Back Again: Gentrification and Public Policy in Comparative Perspective -  Andrew Harris

The Limits of "White Town" in Colonial Calcutta - Swati Chattopadhyay

The Metropolis and Mental Life - Georg Simmel

Colonial Policy and the Culture of Immigration: Citing the Social History of Varanasi - Vinod Kumar, Shiv Narayan

A Caribbean Creole Capital: Kingston, Jamaica - Coln G. Clarke (from Colonial Cities by Robert Ross, Gerard J. Telkamp

The Colonial City and the Post-Colonial World - G. A. de Bruijne

The Nowhere City - Amos Elon*

The Vertical Flâneur: Narratorial Tradecraft in the Colonial Metropolis - Paul K. Saint-Amour

Philosophy

The trolley problem problem - James Wilson

A Brief History of Death - Nir Baram

Justice as Fairness: Political not Metaphysical - John Rawls*

Should Marxists be Interested in Exploitation? - John E. Roemer

The Discomfort You’re Feeling is Grief - Scott Berinato*

The Pandemic and the Crisis of Faith - Makarand Paranjape

If God Is Dead, Your Time is Everything - James Wood

Giving Up on God - Ronald Inglehart

The Limits of Consensual Decision - Douglas Rae*

The Science of "Muddling Through" - Charles Lindblom*

History

The Gruesome History of Eating Corpses as Medicine - Maria Dolan

The History of Loneliness - Jill Lepore*

From Tuskegee to Togo: the Problem of Freedom in the Empire of Cotton - Sven Beckert*

Time, Work-Discipline, and Industrial Capitalism - E. P. Thompson*

All By Myself - Martha Bailey*

The Geographical Pivot of History - H. J. Mackinder

The sea/ocean

Rim of Life - Manu Pillai

Exploring the Indian Ocean as a rich archive of history – above and below the water line - Isabel Hofmeyr, Charne Lavery

‘Piracy’, connectivity and seaborne power in the Middle Ages - Nikolas Jaspert (from The Sea in History)*

The Vikings and their age - Nils Blomkvist (from The Sea in History)*

Mercantile Networks, Port Cities, and “Pirate” States - Roxani Eleni Margariti

Phantom Peril in the Arctic - Robert David English, Morgan Grant Gardner*

Assorted ones on India

A departure from history: Kashmiri Pandits, 1990-2001 - Alexander Evans *

Writing Post-Orientalist Histories of the Third World - Gyan Prakash

Empire: How Colonial India Made Modern Britain - Aditya Mukherjee

Feminism and Nationalism in India, 1917-1947 - Aparna Basu

The Epic Riddle of Dating Ramayana, Mahabharata - Sunaina Kumar*

Caste and Politics: Identity Over System - Dipankar Gupta

Our worldview is Delhi based*

Sports (you’ll have to excuse the fact that it’s only cricket but what can i say, i’m indian)

'Massa Day Done:' Cricket as a Catalyst for West Indian Independence: 1950-1962 - John Newman*

Playing for power? rugby, Afrikaner nationalism and masculinity in South Africa, c.1900–70 - Albert Grundlingh

When Cricket Was a Symbol, Not Just a Sport - Baz Dreisinger

Cricket, caste, community, colonialism: the politics of a great game - Ramachandra Guha*

Cricket and Politics in Colonial India - Ramchandra Guha

MS Dhoni: A quiet radical who did it his way*

Music

Brega: Music and Conflict in Urban Brazil - Samuel M. Araújo

Color, Music and Conflict: A Study of Aggression in Trinidad with Reference to the Role of Traditional Music - J. D. Elder

The 1975 - ‘Notes On a Conditional Form’ review - Dan Stubbs*

Life Without Live - Rob Sheffield*

How Britney Spears Changed Pop - Rob Sheffield

Concert for Bangladesh

From “Help!” to “Helping out a Friend”: Imagining South Asia through the Beatles and the Concert for Bangladesh - Samantha Christiansen 

Gender

Clothing Behaviour as Non-verbal Resistance - Diana Crane

The Normalisation of Queer Theory - David M. Halperin

Menstruation and the Holocaust - Jo-Ann Owusu*

Women’s Suffrage the Democratic Peace - Allan Dafoe

Pink and Blue: Coloring Inside the Lines of Gender - Catherine Zuckerman*

Women’s health concerns are dismissed more, studied less - Zoanne Clack

Food

How Food-Obsessed Millennials Shape the Future of Food - Rachel A. Becker (as a non-food obsessed somewhat-millennial, this was interesting)

Colonialism's effect on how and what we eat - Coral Lee

Tracing Europe's influence on India's culinary heritage - Ruth Dsouza Prabhu

Chicken Kiev: the world’s most contested ready-meal*

From Russia with mayo: the story of a Soviet super-salad*

The Politics of Pancakes - Taylor Aucoin*

How Doughnuts Fuelled the American Dream*

Pav from the Nau

A Short History of the Vada Pav - Saira Menezes

Fantasy (mostly just harry potter and lord of the rings)

Purebloods and Mudbloods: Race, Species, and Power (from The Politics of Harry Potter)

Azkaban: Discipline, Punishment, and Human Rights (from The Politics of Harry Potter)*

Good and Evil in J. R. R. Tolkien's Lengendarium - Jyrki Korpua

The Fairy Story: J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis - Colin Duriez (from Tree of Tales)*

Tolkien’s Augustinian Understanding of Good and Evil: Why The Lord of the Rings Is Not Manichean - Ralph Wood (from Tree of Tales)*

Travel

The Hidden Cost of Wildlife Tourism

Chronicles of a Writer’s 1950s Road Trip Across France - Kathleen Phelan

On the Early Women Pioneers of Trail Hiking - Gwenyth Loose

On the Mythologies of the Himalaya Mountains - Ed Douglas*

More random assorted ones

The cosmos from the wheelchair (The Economist obituaries)*

In El Salvador - Joan Didion

Scientists are unravelling the mystery of pain - Yudhijit Banerjee

Notes on Nationalism - George Orwell

Politics and the English Language - George Orwell*

What Do the Humanities Do in a Crisis? - Agnes Callard*

The Politics of Joker - Kyle Smith

Sushant Singh Rajput: The outsider - Uday Bhatia*

Credibility and Mystery - John Berger

happy reading :)

[handeaux]

Even More Curious Cincinnati Street Names: The Syphilis Doctor, The Janitor, And The Confederate General

Ravogli Avenue (Westwood) Dr. Augustus Ravogli had an important but unusual specialty. He was a syphilologist. In the days before penicillin and other antibiotics became available, Ravogli and his colleagues struggled to find a cure for syphilis, or what the newspapers of the day referred to as the “loathsome disease.” He was also a renowned dermatologist, and served as Italian consul in Cincinnati. His efforts to improve the image of Italian-Americans by condemning organized crime earned him several death threats, purportedly from the Mafia.

Red Light Boulevards (West End) From the late 1870s until around 1917, Cincinnati maintained a red-light district in the West End, from Central Avenue west to Mound Street and from Fifth Street north to Seventh Street. Between Fifth and Sixth ran a street called Longworth. Between Sixth and Seventh ran George Street. Most of the red-light brothels were located on Longworth and George, mingled among otherwise respectable homes. Those residents not profiting from the sins of the flesh regularly petitioned the city to change the name of their block to remove the salacious taint. Consequently, parts of Longworth became Carlisle Avenue and Opera Place, while parts of George became Kenyon Street and Shillito Place.

Richmond Street (Downtown) Bordering the north side of City Hall is the only street in Cincinnati to honor a janitor. John Lambert Richmond left New York State with just a few weeks’ schooling, determined to become a medical doctor. With no formal education, admission to any of Cincinnati’s medical schools was impossible, but he secured a position as janitor at the Ohio Medical College. While working, he would linger at the classroom doors, absorbing the lectures. College president Daniel Drake recognized Richmond’s interest and acuity and encouraged his studies. Richmond eventually learned enough to go into practice. In 1827, at Newtown, Ohio, Richmond performed the first caesarian section birth in the United States.

Romance Lane (Delhi Township) There is a real romance behind Romance Lane in Delhi. Way back in 1915, a young salesman named Fred Duebber met a young lady named Alma Stetter at a picnic grove known as Green’s Woods off Anderson Ferry Road. Their courtship blossomed and they married on 28 November 1918. Forty years later, Fred, now investing in real estate, bought a portion of Green’s Woods to develop as home sites. There must have been some magic in those woods. For some years, Green’s Woods provided the venue for the reunions of the Rutenschroer family, with attendance regularly topping 100 offspring of offspring.

Salvador Street (Mount Washington) Salvator (notice the T) was a great horse, a hall-of-fame horse that dominated racetracks from 1888 through 1890, setting a world record for the mile. Despite his talents, Salvator could not spell, and nor could the Cincinnati city functionary who named this street “Salvador” in honor of the equine champion. It appears that the city was in a hurry to replace the old name for the street, Flour Barrel Avenue. The original name derived from a property owner who paved his sidewalks with the lids of old flour barrels.

Slack Street (Mount Auburn) The name of this street has nothing to do with a deficiency in tension, nor is it the singular of slacks, nor does it refer to the main goal of the Church of the SubGenius. Little Slack Street, bounded on the south by WLWT-TV, honors the memory of Dr. Elijah Slack, Presbyterian minister, first president of Cincinnati College, and among the founders of Cincinnati’s first medical school. Known as a good chemist with no sense of humor, Slack once picked up a pig’s bladder – used at the time as a laboratory container – and announced, “I shall now fill my bladder and proceed to make water.” He could not understand why his class broke into hilarious laughter.

Stacon Street (Columbia-Tusculum) There are some streets for which the origin of their names will forever remain a mystery. One is the short, address-less Stacon Street off Stanley Avenue in Columbia-Tusculum. Although there are people named Stacon, none appear to have ever settled in Cincinnati. A company in Illinois named Stacon manufactured temperature-control devices and we might imagine a clerk at City Hall, stumped while trying to imagine a name for a vacant street, finding inspiration on the thermostat. A reporter for the old Cincinnati Times-Star [27 November 1954] was skeptical when informed “Stacon” was a combination of two proper names and preferred to think it was just “No cats” spelled backwards.

Stonewall Street (Over-the-Rhine) You will search in vain for this street which, for 100 years, memorialized Confederate General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson. Up until 1917, this hilly ramp among the old breweries was known as Hamburg Street. As the United States entered World War I, public sentiment demanded that any streets with “Hunnish” names get relabeled pronto. As Berlin Street became Woodrow Street and Hanover Street became Yukon Street, Hamburg Street became Stonewall Street. The anti-German designation for a handful of Cincinnati streets was reversed in 2017, due to the efforts of local historian Don Heinrich Tolzmann. Stonewall was returned to Hamburg.

Thornton Avenue (Sayler Park) Farmer John Fitzhugh Thornton died in 1907 at the age of 65 and his obituary mostly mentioned his famous grandfather, William Henry Harrison, and his cousin Benjamin Harrison. In 1912, Thornton’s widow, Eliza, donated a triangular bit of land just off River Road as a memorial to her late husband and decorated it with a fountain topped by the iron statue of a Native American warrior named Standing Watch or, in some tellings, Tecumseh. All was well until 21 December 1940 when James Bemberling, 21, of Covington, Kentucky, crashed into the monument and sent Standing Watch (or Tecumseh) crashing to the pavement. A few months later, residents of the Fernbank neighborhood were shocked to learn that their Indian had been sold for scrap, and for only $10 at that! The buyer, Nell Doctor of Aurora, Indiana, said she was willing to sell the statue back to the Cincinnati Park Board, but wanted $300 because her husband, Harry, had repaired and restored the damages caused by the crash. Mr. Bemberling’s insurance company coughed up $400, Mrs. Doctor was paid, and the statue was remounted on 14 April 1941.

Warsaw & Cleves-Warsaw (Price Hill) Price Hill is not now, nor has it ever been, particularly Polish. And yet, this neighborhood boasts two streets named after the capital of that eastern European country – Warsaw Avenue and Cleves-Warsaw Pike. The anomaly is explained by examining old maps which reveal that a small village named Warsaw (even though it was founded and populated by Germans, not Poles) existed for many years along what is now Glenway Avenue between Sunset Avenue and Rapid Run Road. Cleves-Warsaw Pike ran, not surprisingly, from Cleves to Warsaw, and Warsaw Avenue ran from Cincinnati to Warsaw.

Wilaray Terrace (Mount Washington) Right off Beechmont Avenue, there’s a monument to the World Champion 1919 Cincinnati Reds that thousands of commuters pass each day without notice. Wilaray Terrace memorializes two stalwarts of that team, short-stop William Lorenz “Larry” Kopf and outfielder Raymond Bloom "Rube" Bressler who got into real estate development while still participating in pro ball during the summers. While early advertisements for the Wilaray subdivision featured baseball stars Larry and Rube, their silent partner (the “Wil” of Wilaray) was Willard Kopf, apparently the only Kopf brother without a significant athletic career. It’s reported that some of the first sales were to teammates and that some houses have baseball-themed stained glass. (Thanks to Robert Hayes for the tip.)

Zodiac Drive (Colerain Township) It was 1957 and the space race was on when developer Bob Terris laid out a new subdivision off Compton Road west of Mount Healthy. To give that project space-age flavor, he named his development Skyline Acres and boasted about completely electric kitchens, Plextone washable walls and automatic radial heat. In addition to Zodiac Drive, Skyline Acres includes streets named Neptune, Mars, Mercury, Venus, Uranus, Sunlight, Moonlight, Planet, Comet, Eclipse, Polaris, Aquarius, Sirius and Morningstar.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 3.22

106 – Start of the Bostran era, the calendar of the province of Arabia Petraea. 235 – Roman emperor Severus Alexander is murdered, marking the start of the Crisis of the Third Century. 871 – Æthelred of Wessex is defeated by a Danish invasion army at the Battle of Marton. 1185 – Battle of Yashima: the Japanese forces of the Taira clan are defeated by the Minamoto clan. 1312 – Vox in excelso: Pope Clement V dissolves the Order of the Knights Templar. 1508 – Ferdinand II of Aragon commissions Amerigo Vespucci chief navigator of the Spanish Empire. 1621 – The Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony sign a peace treaty with Massasoit of the Wampanoags. 1622 – Jamestown massacre: Algonquians kill 347 English settlers around Jamestown, Virginia, a third of the colony's population, during the Second Anglo-Powhatan War. 1631 – The Massachusetts Bay Colony outlaws the possession of cards, dice, and gaming tables. 1638 – Anne Hutchinson is expelled from Massachusetts Bay Colony for religious dissent. 1739 – Nader Shah occupies Delhi in India and sacks the city, stealing the jewels of the Peacock Throne. 1765 – The British Parliament passes the Stamp Act that introduces a tax to be levied directly on its American colonies. 1784 – The Emerald Buddha is moved with great ceremony to its current location in Wat Phra Kaew, Thailand. 1794 – The Slave Trade Act of 1794 bans the export of slaves from the United States, and prohibits American citizens from outfitting a ship for the purpose of importing slaves. 1829 – In the London Protocol, the three protecting powers (United Kingdom, France and Russia) establish the borders of Greece. 1849 – The Austrians defeat the Piedmontese at the Battle of Novara. 1871 – In North Carolina, William Woods Holden becomes the first governor of a U.S. state to be removed from office by impeachment. 1873 – The Spanish National Assembly abolishes slavery in Puerto Rico. 1894 – The Stanley Cup ice hockey competition is held for the first time, in Montreal, Canada. 1895 – Before the Société pour L'Encouragement à l'Industrie, brothers Auguste and Louis Lumière demonstrate movie film technology publicly for the first time. 1896 – Charilaos Vasilakos wins the first modern Olympic marathon race with a time of three hours and 18 minutes. 1906 – The first England vs France rugby union match is played at Parc des Princes in Paris. 1913 – Mystic Phan Xích Long, the self-proclaimed Emperor of Vietnam, is arrested for organising a revolt against the colonial rule of French Indochina, which was nevertheless carried out by his supporters the following day. 1916 – Yuan Shikai abdicates as Emperor of China, restoring the Republic and returning to the Presidency. 1920 – Azeri and Turkish army soldiers with participation of Kurdish gangs attack the Armenian inhabitants of Shushi (Nagorno Karabakh). 1933 – Cullen–Harrison Act: President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs an amendment to the Volstead Act, legalizing the manufacture and sale of "3.2 beer" (3.2% alcohol by weight, approximately 4% alcohol by volume) and light wines. 1933 – Nazi Germany opens its first concentration camp, Dachau. 1934 – The first Masters Tournament is held at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia. 1939 – Germany takes Memel from Lithuania. 1942 – World War II: In the Mediterranean Sea, the Royal Navy confronts Italy's Regia Marina in the Second Battle of Sirte. 1943 – World War II: The entire village of Khatyn (in what is the present-day Republic of Belarus) is burnt alive by Schutzmannschaft Battalion 118. 1945 – World War II: The city of Hildesheim, Germany is heavily damaged in a British air raid, though it had little military significance and Germany was on the verge of final defeat. 1945 – The Arab League is founded when a charter is adopted in Cairo, Egypt. 1946 – The United Kingdom grants full independence to Transjordan. 1960 – Arthur Leonard Schawlow and Charles Hard Townes receive the first patent for a laser. 1963 – The Beatles release their debut album Please Please Me. 1972 – The United States Congress sends the Equal Rights Amendment to the states for ratification. 1972 – In Eisenstadt v. Baird, the United States Supreme Court decides that unmarried persons have the right to possess contraceptives. 1975 – A fire at the Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Plant in Decatur, Alabama causes a dangerous reduction in cooling water levels. 1978 – Karl Wallenda of The Flying Wallendas dies after falling off a tight-rope suspended between two hotels in San Juan, Puerto Rico. 1982 – NASA's Space Shuttle Columbia is launched from the Kennedy Space Center on its third mission, STS-3. 1988 – The United States Congress votes to override President Ronald Reagan's veto of the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987. 1992 – USAir Flight 405 crashes shortly after takeoff from New York City's LaGuardia Airport, leading to a number of studies into the effect that ice has on aircraft. 1992 – Fall of communism in Albania: The Democratic Party of Albania wins a decisive majority in the parliamentary election. 1993 – The Intel Corporation ships the first Pentium chips (80586), featuring a 60 MHz clock speed, 100+ MIPS, and a 64 bit data path. 1995 – Cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov returns to earth after setting a record of 438 days in space. 1997 – Tara Lipinski, aged 14 years and nine months, becomes the youngest women's World Figure Skating Champion. 1997 – Comet Hale–Bopp reaches its closest approach to Earth at 1.315 AU. 2004 – Ahmed Yassin, co-founder and leader of the Palestinian Sunni Islamist group Hamas, two bodyguards, and nine civilian bystanders are killed in the Gaza Strip when hit by Israeli Air Force Hellfire missiles. 2006 – Three Christian Peacemaker Team (CPT) hostages are freed by British forces in Baghdad after 118 days of captivity and the murder of their colleague from the U.S., Tom Fox. 2013 – At least 37 people are killed and 200 are injured after a fire destroys a camp containing Burmese refugees near Ban Mae, Thailand. 2016 – Three suicide bombers kill 32 people and injure 316 in the 2016 Brussels bombings at the airport and at the Maelbeek/Maalbeek metro station. 2017 – A terrorist attack in London near the Houses of Parliament leaves four people dead and at least 20 injured. 2017 – Syrian civil war: Five hundred members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are airlifted south of the Euphrates by United States Air Force helicopters, beginning the Battle of Tabqa. 2019 – The Special Counsel investigation on the 2016 United States presidential election concludes when Robert Mueller submits his report to the United States Attorney General. 2019 – Two buses crashed in Kitampo, a town north of Ghana's capital Accra, killing at least 50 people. 2020 – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announces the country's largest ever self-imposed curfew, in an effort to fight the spread of COVID-19. 2020 – Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announces a national lockdown and the country's first ever self-imposed curfew, in an effort to fight the spread of COVID-19. 2021 – Ten people are killed in a mass shooting in Boulder, Colorado.

[antoine-roquentin]

In 1807, Heinrich von Kleist published a short story called The Earthquake in Chile. Its heroes are a man sitting in prison and a woman in a convent, each confined for the crime of conceiving their child out of wedlock. All of a sudden, an earthquake hits, the buildings that house them collapse, and the couple rediscover each other in the wreckage. Seeking shelter in the woods, they meet people who know of their sin but welcome rather than judge them. In the flush of the emergency, all is transformed: “Instead of the usual trivial tea-table gossip about the ways of the world, everyone was now telling stories of extraordinary heroic deeds.” Exhilarated, the couple follows the masses to the only remaining cathedral, where to their horror, the preacher rages against their transgressions. At the climax of the sermon, the crowd identifies the pair and clubs them to death. The inverted world is gone as soon as it came.

As the Covid-19 contagion passed through China, Western Europe, and the United States, we had our own version of the earthquake. Lockdowns have merged with uncertainty about economic growth to crater oil prices and spike unemployment rates to heights with no historical comparison.

As has become routine during such shocks—from the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis to the Global Financial Crisis in 2008 to the victories of Trump and Brexit in 2016—the rumor ricocheted through the op-eds and articles, think pieces, and tweets, that neoliberalism was dead.

How could anyone claim that markets were the solution to all social problems when it was the countries with strong states and safety nets—Germany, South Korea, Taiwan—where the virus was under control and those with a libertarian streak—the US and the UK—where leaders hesitated to intervene and let different parts of the country outbid each other for life-saving ventilators, test kits, and face masks? Daily applause for frontline health care workers must mean new value for the agents of social reproduction. Generous tips for delivery drivers and gestures of solidarity with Amazon warehouse workers must mean a clear-eyed look at the underpaid labor that makes modern life so frictionless. Visions of blue sky over Delhi and Beijing, air pollution indices registering green in the center of Los Angeles, companies paying people to take barrels of oil they no longer wanted… Surely, after the pandemic we would recognize we had been living in a cursed world and this is the correct one. Humanity had an unearned chance for redemption.

But if we were the couple in the story taking refuge in the woods, we are all now streaming into the cathedral for the fateful service. In the past weeks, a $2 trillion rescue package breezed through US Congress that will overwhelmingly benefit large corporations and the super rich, not ordinary workers. Speculation of a bailout for the US oil sector will surely keep high-carbon capitalism churning onward, especially as the Environmental Protection Agency has lifted regulations for the duration of the crisis. In Canada, the premier of Alberta pledged $7 billion for its own cherished pipeline project. The value of nurses and other health care workers has been recognized in the United States, but only in the sense that they are one of the few exceptions in a presidential executive order that otherwise provisionally banned all immigration to the country.

America has found its own sin-drenched couple to turn on. This week a strategy memo urged Republican candidates to “Attack China.” More than half of Americans surveyed want reparations from China for the virus; the United States has defunded the World Health Organization in protest against its supposed subordination to the country; and the state of Missouri has sued the People’s Republic of China (and a string of associated institutions) in a domestic court. A Fox News commentator beloved by the president shouted that politicians must “start working on how you’re going to punish, ostracize, alienate, and financially sanction and make China accountable for what they did to us and the rest of the world.” A fragile unity will be restored—as it so often is—by targeting the outsider, the alien, the nonwhite person.

Without intervention, the community after the earthquake reconstitutes the one that preceded it. The interregnum extends only if there are social formations to carry it. And right now, the streets are empty, with would-be marchers self-distancing and juggling children and babies.

The leading mainstream political opponent to Trump is an elderly man in a Delaware basement with a habit of vanishing from the public eye for long stretches of time. Joe Biden was the safety candidate against an insurgent Bernie Sanders. He now sits in a bunker with no movement behind him.

We have seen a world where capitalism stops. But it will start again. When America “reopens,” it will be much like the old America. Big companies will be bigger, ever more beholden to the leader for having saved them. Arguments for austerity will return in the wake of the unprecedented spending.

The “thought leaders” in Trump’s recently announced Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups are all from the “free market” think tanks that have advised the GOP since the days of Ronald Reagan—Heritage Foundation, Cato Institute, Hoover Institution, American Legislative Exchange Council—they’re the priests arriving to give their sermon. The church of neoliberalism will be rebuilt and the flash of paradise in the emergency snuffed out.

For the real story, look up. Above the steeple, the vultures are circling. The Wall Street Journal predicts a wave of defaults, bankruptcies, and restructurings. Imperiled companies will see their devalued stock scooped by so-called distressed debt specialists, more commonly known as vulture investors, who make use of the generosities of US Chapter 11 law to strip employees of benefits or offload them to the state before flipping their acquisitions at a profit.

A pioneer in vulture investing and now the commerce secretary, Wilbur Ross praised bankruptcy in 2003 as “the corporate form of Darwinism.” Howard Marks, director of investment fund Oaktree Capital Management, was even more graphic in a recent letter to shareholders quoted in The Wall Street Journal. “Capitalism without bankruptcy is like Catholicism without hell,” he wrote, suggesting that federal bailouts shouldn’t shield market actors from “a healthy fear of loss.” He failed to add that people like himself have learned how to monetize the flames. His own Oaktree Capital Fund is reportedly raising “$15 billion for what would be the biggest-ever distressed-debt fund.”

The next year will be a litany of the “workouts and turnarounds” that bankruptcy specialists are known for, ruthlessly wringing the value out of companies, while ignoring the human or social costs. Distressed debt funds are the loan sharks of the business world, and will feel no compunction about pursuing the bottom line. We have seen a preview of such dispassionate calculation in the last month, as stock values soared alongside record unemployment numbers and mounting deaths. The combination seemed shocking to some people, even scandalous. “The stock market doesn’t care about your feelings,” was the response of a Los Angeles Times business reporter, “nor should it.”

[bhbcas]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: NWOT-Michael Aram Bamboo Challah(Bread)Board and Decorative Serrated Bread Knife.

[ziastarss]

WORLD LITERATURE

Each literature signifies our nations even our culture, it has its own artistic and national features. It is essential to study our world as it helps us to understand more, the life and people with different perspectives. It forms our world outlook and familiarize us with the masterpieces of their literature. 

a.) Southeast Asia - The entire region of Southeast Asia, with the exception of Thailand due to it’s not a country yet; fell under colonial rule. From this we could actually perceived even from the word “under colonial rule” that they were oppressed. The historical experiences of people have been deeply intertwined for centuries. Colonialism has altered Southeast Asian social structure and brought modern western ideas and concepts into society as well. Most of their literatures are actually consists of how they were repressed those dark times, the reason why their literature reflects their philosophies of life, and the struggles and success of their developing nations and its people.

Some Southeast Asian Literature:

Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado Y Alonso Realonda

- Was a Filipino nationalist and polymath during the tail end of the Spanish colonial period of the Philippines. He is tagged as the national hero (pambansang bayani) of the Filipino people. An ophthalmologist by profession, Rizal became a writer and a key member of the Filipino Propaganda Movement, which advocated political reforms for the colony under Spain. He was executed by the Spanish colonial government for the crime of rebellion after the Philippine Revolution, inspired in part by his writings, broke out.

 - Noli Me Tangere Together with its sequel, El Filibusterismo are widely considered as the national epic of the Philippines. Jose Rizal conceived the idea of writing the novel that would expose the ills of Philippines society and he preferred that the prospective novel express the way Filipino culture was perceived to be backward and anti-progress.

- Burmese Days, first novel by English writer George Orwell, set in British Burma during the waning days of Empire, when Burma was ruled from Delhi as part of British India, it is "a portrait of the dark side of the British Raj."

b.) East Asia - It includes Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Mongolian, Taiwanese Literature. East Asian literature reached prominence in the Literary World. The literatures of East Asia are drawing inspirations from pluralistic sources, within as well as beyond their region. The Chinese literary norms, canons of poetry, lyrical prose and classical novels have shaped the literary taste of the gentry and the ruling class of East Asian countries, especially Japan and Korea. Modern literature in East Asia subsequently developed along a more dichotomized east/west traditional/modern path. The spread of World Literature is heavily dependent on translation. In the case of East Asia, the language of literature was largely monolingual in classical times. 

Some East Asian Literature:

Tale of Genji -  a classic work of Japanese literature written in the early 11th century by the noblewoman and lady-in-waiting Murasaki Shikibu. The tale concentrates on Genji's romantic life and describes the customs of the aristocratic society of the time. It may be the world's first novel, the first modern novel, the first psychological novel or the first novel still to be considered a classic

The Vegetarian - A South Korean three-part novel written by Han Kang and first published in 2007. Based on Han's 1997 short story "The Fruit of My Woman", The Vegetarian is set in modern-day Seoul and tells the story of Yeong-hye, a part-time graphic artist and home-maker, whose decision to stop eating meat after a bloody, nightmarish dream about human cruelty leads to devastating consequences in her personal and familial life.

Haruki Murakami -  A Japanese writer,  Murakami's most notable works include A Wild Sheep Chase (1982), Norwegian Wood (1987), The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle (1994–95), Kafka on the Shore (2002), and 1Q84 (2009–10).

c.) South and West Asia - 21st Century Middle Eastern Literature encompasses a rich variety of genres and addresses human experience often through a realist approach. In the Hellenistic period literature and flourished in Western Asia. Traditional literary forms such as lists continued to be produced by the native population and were adapted by the new rulers. The works by these South and West Asian authors captures the heart of their reader, also their minds. Often dealing with controversial or emotional subject matters, these writers have a unique ability to calmly discuss or explore contentious issues.

Some South and West Asian Literature:

The Epic of Gilgamesh -  The Epic of Gilgamesh is an epic poem from ancient Mesopotamia, regarded as the earliest surviving great work of literature and the second oldest religious text, after the Pyramid Texts. These independent stories were later used as source material for a combined epic in Akkadian.

My Name is Red -  My Name Is Red  is a 1998 Turkish novel by writer Orhan Pamuk. The novel incorporates metafiction in such ways as making frequent reference to the reader and to the narrators' awareness that they are characters in a book. Each chapter of the novel has a different narrator, and usually there are thematic and chronological connections between chapters.

Nilanjana Sudeshna -  "Jhumpa" Lahiri is an American author known for her short stories, novels and essays in English, and, more recently, in Italian. Lahiri's early short stories faced rejection from publishers "for years". Lahiri's writing is characterized by her "plain" language and her characters, often Indian immigrants to America who must navigate between the cultural values of their homeland and their adopted home.

d.) Anglo-American and Europe - The united states was one a colony of Britain, as such, its early literature was closely linked to traditional English Literature. English is a main language and a British culture and the British empire have had significant historical ethnic, linguistic, and cultural impact. American literature has produced some of the significant prose and poetry the world has seen, American literature began as an extension of English literature. It encompasses literature written in Old English, epic poetry is the common style and religious literature continued to enjoy popularity and Hagiographies were written and adapted. 

Some Anglo-American Literature:

Beowulf -   An Old English epic poem consisting of 3,182 alliterative lines. It is one of the most important works of Old English literature. The story is set in Scandinavia in the 6th century. Beowulf, a hero of the Geats, comes to the aid of Hrothgar, the king of the Danes, whose mead hall in Heorot has been under attack by a monster known as Grendel. After Beowulf slays him, Grendel's mother attacks the hall and is then also defeated. Victorious, Beowulf goes home to Geatland and becomes king of the Geats. Fifty years later, Beowulf defeats a dragon, but is mortally wounded in the battle. After his death, his attendants cremate his body and erect a tower on a headland in his memory.

The Canterbury Tales - A collection of 24 stories that runs to over 17,000 lines written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer between 1387 and 1400. The tales (mostly written in verse, although some are in prose) are presented as part of a story-telling contest by a group of pilgrims as they travel together from London to Canterbury to visit the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. The prize for this contest is a free meal at the Tabard Inn at Southwark on their return.

Walt Whitman -  was an American poet, essayist, and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the father of free verse. Whitman's work breaks the boundaries of poetic form and is generally prose-like. He also used unusual images and symbols in his poetry, including rotting leaves, tufts of straw, and debris.

e.) Africa - African Literature oftentimes refers back to its colonial past, and it is in this reference that its literature becomes unique, subersive and expressive. Africa’s literature includes slave narratives, protests colonization, calls for independence, African pride and their hope for their future. This literature is essential because it offers opportunity to hear the voices of African people, and to spread awareness to the one’s who’s lacking.

Some African Literature:

Things Fall Apart -  The debut novel by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, first published in 1958. Its story chronicles pre-colonial life in the southeastern part of Nigeria and the arrival of Europeans during the late 19th century. It is seen as the archetypal modern African novel in English, and one of the first to receive global critical acclaim.

Half of a Yellow Sun - A novel by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. The story in Half of a Yellow Sun centres on the war. Adichie grew up in the aftermath of the war: "The need to write about it came from growing up in its shadow. This thing that I didn't quite understand was my legacy. It hovered over everything". She has stated she believes that many of the issues that caused the war remain today. Because none of the major political events were changed in the book, Adichie said that the book contained "emotional truth", and that the book showed the war had a significant impact upon the people of Nigeria.

Chimamanda Adichie - A Nigerian writer whose works range from novels to short stories to nonfiction. She was described in The Times Literary Supplement as "the most prominent" of a "procession of critically acclaimed young anglophone authors [which] is succeeding in attracting a new generation of readers to African literature", particularly in her second home, the United States. Adichie, a feminist, has written the novels Purple Hibiscus (2003), Half of a Yellow Sun (2006), and Americanah (2013), the short story collection The Thing Around Your Neck (2009), and the book-length essay We Should All Be Feminists (2014). Her most recent book, Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions, was published in March 2017.In 2008, she was awarded a MacArthur Genius Grant.

f.) Latin America - Latin American literature is characterized by mysticism, magic, uniqueness, raw creativity and wonder. Over the years, they developed a rich and complex diversity of theme, forms, creative idiom and styles. The colonial period was important because it was the beginning of the written tradition in Latin American Literature, they began to take shapes, they wrote documents that recorded the way life change after the Spanish infiltrated their lands. 

Some Latin American Literature:

One Hundred Years of Solitude -  a landmark 1967 novel by Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez that tells the multi-generational story of the Buendía family, whose patriarch, José Arcadio Buendía, founded the (fictitious) town of Macondo. The novel is often cited as one of the supreme achievements in literature. The magical realist style and thematic substance of One Hundred Years of Solitude established it as an important representative novel of the literary Latin American Boom of the 1960s and 1970s, which was stylistically influenced by Modernism (European and North American) and the Cuban Vanguardia (Avant-Garde) literary movement.

The Alchemist - A  novel by Brazilian author Paulo Coelho that was first published in 1988. An allegorical novel, The Alchemist follows a young Andalusian shepherd in his journey to the pyramids of Egypt, after having a recurring dream of finding a treasure there. The book's main theme is about finding one's destiny, although according to The New York Times, The Alchemist is "more self-help than literature.

Gabriel García Márquez - Was a Colombian novelist, short-story writer, screenwriter, and journalist, known affectionately as Gabo throughout Latin America. Considered one of the most significant authors of the 20th century, particularly in the Spanish language, he was awarded the 1972 Neustadt International Prize for Literature and the 1982 Nobel Prize in Literature. García Márquez started as a journalist and wrote many acclaimed non-fiction works and short stories, but is best known for his novels, such as One Hundred Years of Solitude (1967), Chronicle of a Death Foretold (1981), and Love in the Time of Cholera (1985). His works have achieved significant critical acclaim and widespread commercial success, most notably for popularizing a literary style known as magic realism, which uses magical elements and events in otherwise ordinary and realistic situations.

[newstfionline]

Monday, January 11, 2021

The workers hit hardest during Covid-19’s first wave are getting pummeled again (Yahoo Finance) Since the beginning of the pandemic, one group of workers has been hurt far more than others: those working in the service industries, specifically in leisure and hospitality jobs. And in December after some progress, that industry lost jobs once again. “The most recent surge in coronavirus cases is once again battering the US labor market,” Indeed’s economic research director Nick Bunker wrote in a note. “The economic fallout from this wave of cases is hitting the industries and workers pummeled hardest by the initial damage before they fully bounced back from that first hit.” The latest hit isn’t as bad as the spring, as vaccines are rolling out and certain measures are in place, but restaurants, bars, and other jobs that depend on people interacting still cannot do business in a pandemic environment.

Squelched by Twitter, Trump seeks new online megaphone (AP) One Twitter wag joked about lights flickering on and off at the White House being Donald Trump signaling to his followers in Morse code after Twitter and Facebook squelched the president for inciting rebellion. Though deprived of his big online megaphones, Trump does have alternative options of much smaller reach. The far right-friendly Parler may be the leading candidate, though Google and Apple have both removed it from their app stores and Amazon decided to boot it off its web hosting service. Trump may launch his own platform. But that won’t happen overnight, and free speech experts anticipate growing pressure on all social media platforms to curb incendiary speech as Americans take stock of Wednesday’s violent takeover of the U.S. Capitol. Facebook and Instagram have suspended Trump at least until Inauguration Day. Twitch and Snapchat also have disabled Trump’s accounts, while Shopify took down online stores affiliated with the president and Reddit removed a Trump subgroup. Twitter also banned Trump loyalists including former national security advisor Michael Flynn in a sweeping purge of accounts promoting the QAnon conspiracy theory and the Capitol insurrection. Some had hundreds of thousands of followers.

Navy’s Priciest Carrier Ever Struggles to Get Jets On, Off Deck (Bloomberg) Aircraft takeoff and landing systems on the USS Gerald R. Ford remain unreliable and break down too often more than three years after the $13.2 billion carrier was delivered, according to the Pentagon’s top tester. The latest assessment of the costliest warship ever built “remains consistent” with previous years, director of testing Robert Behler said in his new summary of the program obtained by Bloomberg News before its release in an annual report. The Ford’s new systems—which propel planes off the deck and into the sky and then snag them on landing—are crucial to justifying the expense of what’s now a four-vessel, $57 billion program intended to replace the current Nimitz class of aircraft carriers. The continuing reliability woes with the carrier systems built by General Atomics of San Diego are separate from another continuing challenge: the installation and certification of elevators needed to lift munitions from below deck. As of November, six of 11 “advanced weapons elevators” that should have been installed when the ship was delivered in May 2017 are now operational.

In Central America, tensions rise as soldiers aim to stop migrants (Reuters) Guatemalan and Honduran soldiers will be deployed to prevent new U.S.-bound migrant caravans from advancing, military officials said, amid growing desperation among those seeking to cross and signs that some groups will depart later this month. Two devastating hurricanes late last year along with severe economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic have pushed millions of people in the already-poor region closer to hunger, leading to a steady rise in U.S.-bound migration through Mexico. In online forums, many Honduras have indicated they plan to leave next weekend in a new caravan, which has caught the attention of U.S. officials who have called on the region’s governments to stop them. Many migrants in recent years have chosen to travel by caravan because being part of a large group offers protection from criminals who might prey on them, even though traveling alone is often faster.

Johnson under fire as UK again faces onslaught of COVID-19 (AP) The crisis facing Britain this winter is depressingly familiar: Stay-at-home orders and empty streets. Hospitals overflowing. A daily toll of many hundreds of coronavirus deaths. The U.K. is the epicenter of Europe’s COVID-19 outbreak once more, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative government is facing questions, and anger, as people demand to know how the country has ended up here—again. Many countries are enduring new waves of the virus, but Britain’s is among the worst, and it comes after a horrendous 2020. More than 3 million people in the U.K. have tested positive for the coronavirus and 81,000 have died—30,000 in just the last 30 days. The economy has shrunk by 8%, more than 800,000 jobs have been lost and hundreds of thousands more furloughed workers are in limbo. Even with the new lockdown, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said Friday that the situation in the capital was “critical,” with one in every 30 people infected. “The stark reality is that we will run out of beds for patients in the next couple of weeks unless the spread of the virus slows down drastically,” he said.

In the Cold and Rain, India’s Farmers Press Their Stand Against Modi (NYT) Under a rain-slick tarpaulin, half a dozen elderly women bake roti on a wood-fired griddle—flattening dough, flipping browned bread from dawn until the sun retreats into Delhi’s evening smoke. Anyone who walks in gets served rice and cooked vegetables and, to wash it down, a cumin-flavored yogurt drink. Across the road, Jagjeet Singh, a burly man with a large fanny pack and a light purple turban, churns a hefty pot of milk coffee from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. The scenes stretching for miles around the Indian capital don’t come from a fair. They make up one of the largest sustained protests the country has seen in decades, persisting through steady rains and dozens of deaths that farmers and the Indian media have attributed to the weather, illness or suicide. For six weeks now, tens of thousands of farmers have choked the city’s four main entry points. They are challenging Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has crushed all other opposition and stands as the country’s dominant political force, over his effort to reshape how farming in India has been done for decades. “They sold everything else. Only the farmers are left,” said 18-year old Ajay Veer Singh, who has been at the protest with his 67-year-old grandfather since it began in November. “Now they want to sell the farmers to their corporate friends too.”

China sees growing outbreak south of Beijing (AP) More than 360 people have tested positive in a growing coronavirus outbreak south of Beijing in neighboring Hebei province. The outbreak has raised particular concern because of Hebei’s proximity to the nation’s capital. Travel between the two has been restricted, with workers from Hebei having to show proof of employment in Beijing to enter the city. Almost all of the cases are in Shijuazhuang, the provincial capital, which is about 260 kilometers (160 miles) southwest of Beijing. A handful have also been found in Xingtai city, 110 kilometers (68 miles) farther south. Both cities have conducted mass testing of millions of residents, suspended public transportation and restricted residents to their communities or villages for one week.

Pompeo voids restrictions on diplomatic contacts with Taiwan (AP) Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Saturday that the State Department is voiding longstanding restrictions on how U.S. diplomats and others have contact with their counterparts in Taiwan, another move that is expected to upset China as the Trump administration winds to an end. The Trump administration has sought to strengthen bilateral relations with Taiwan. It announced Thursday that U.N Ambassador Kelly Craft would go to Taiwan, a move that sparked sharp criticism from Beijing and a warning that the U.S. would pay a heavy price. In August, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar became the first Cabinet member to visit Taiwan since 2014. Pompeo said that the State Department has created complex restrictions when it comes to contacts between the two parties. He said those actions were taken to appease the Communist regime in Beijing. “No more,” Pompeo declared in a statement. “Today I am announcing that I am lifting all of these self-imposed restrictions.” The Chinese government maintains that mainland China and Taiwan are parts of “one China.” China has been stepping up its threats to bring the self-governing island under its control by military force with frequent war games and aerial patrols. It has been using its diplomatic clout to stop Taiwan from joining any organizations that require statehood for membership.

Japanese pray for end to pandemic in annual ice bath ritual at Tokyo shrine (Reuters) Men wearing traditional loin clothes and women dressed in white robes clapped and chanted before going into an ice water bath during a Shinto ritual at a Tokyo shrine on Sunday to purify the soul and pray for the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Only a dozen people took part in the annual event at Teppou-zu Inari Shrine, scaled down this year due to the health crisis, compared to over a hundred in early 2020. After doing warming-up exercises and chanting under a clear sky with outside temperatures at 5.1 degree Celsius (41.18 Fahrenheit), the nine male and three female participants went into a bath filled with cold water and large ice blocks. Fewer participants at the Shinto ritual made the water extra cold, participant Naoaki Yamaguchi told Reuters. “Normally we have more participants and it makes the water temperature a little bit warmer. But this year, there were just twelve people, so it (the cold) was crazy,” the 47-year-old said.

Indonesian divers find parts of plane wreckage in Java Sea (AP) Indonesian divers on Sunday located parts of the wreckage of a Boeing 737-500 at a depth of 23 meters (75 feet) in the Java Sea, a day after the aircraft with 62 people onboard crashed shortly after takeoff from Jakarta. Earlier, rescuers pulled out body parts, pieces of clothing and scraps of metal from the surface. It’s still unclear what caused the crash. There was no sign of survivors. Fishermen in the area between Lancang and Laki islands, part of an archipelago around Thousand Islands north of Jakarta’s coast, reported hearing an explosion around 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

At a Yemen hospital wracked by U.S. funding cuts, children are dying of hunger (Washington Post) Her infant son, weakened by hunger, needed a better-equipped hospital in the capital, Sanaa, roughly 30 miles away. But Hanan Saleh could no longer afford even the $30 taxi fare. Before, she depended on a Western aid organization, Save the Children, for funds, drawn from money donated by the United States, to cover the travel costs, said employees of the organization and hospital officials. But last year, the United States slashed its funding to United Nations groups and others such as Save the Children. So Saleh had to raise money to treat her son, Mohammed, in Sanaa until those funds ran out, too. Her last option was a small hospital in this northern Yemen market town, a 15-minute walk from their home. The staff tried to build up his skeletal, malnourished 9-month-old body. “He died two months ago,” Saleh recalled in November, breaking down in tears. Aid cuts by the Trump administration and other Western countries, intended to prevent Yemen’s Houthi rebels from diverting or blocking funds, are worsening the country’s humanitarian crisis, already considered the most severe in the world. Last year’s pledges totaling $1.61 billion were less than half of 2019’s funding, and hundreds of millions of dollars committed by donors have not yet been paid, according to the U.N.’s humanitarian office for Yemen. At least 15 of the U.N.’s 41 major programs have been scaled back or closed, and additional programs could shutter in the months to come, if more funds are not received, U.N. officials say.

The Tiny Satellites That Will Connect Cows, Cars and Shipping Containers to the Internet (WSJ) Scientists who track the health of Adélie penguins on the ice-covered wastes of Antarctica are managing their cameras from thousands of miles away—via tiny satellites orbiting above our heads. Energy companies are exploring using the same technology for monitoring hard-to-reach wind farms; logistics companies for tracking shipping containers; and agribusiness companies for minding cattle. It even helped National Geographic track a discarded plastic bottle from Bangladesh to the Indian Ocean. In the near future, it isn’t unreasonable to imagine this evolving satellite technology could put a distress beacon in every automobile, allow remote monitoring of wildlife in any environment on earth, and track your Amazon shipment—not just when it’s on a truck, but backward, all the way to the factory that produced it. And it could be done at a fraction of the cost of earlier satellite tracking systems. These novel networks of nanosats—aka cubesats—are a result of a number of factors. First, the satellites themselves are smaller, cheaper and more capable than ever. Just as important, there’s the rollout and adoption of new long-distance, low-power wireless communication standards that can work just as well in outer space as they do on the ground. In the next year, hundreds of satellites from more than a dozen companies are set to launch.