Cambodia, Shadow Puppets, Reconnection, How to be Productive when you can't focus, Ted Talks, Galileo, What if he had dropped Bobsleds from the tower of Pisa, Warriors and Peaceful Waters, Fly Fishing with Vets, sent to their homes during Covid 19, The Power of Teachers to Transform, How to engage students in Elections process, The Salmon Sisters want to teach you how to cook, Mediterranean diet recipes, From Thrive Market, How to make many Cosmetic and Beauty items, Interesting things Dogs can smell, Weekend Reads, and a Frank Lloyd Wright House for Sale in Chicago.
Friday
6/12
“I’m a big believer in boredom. Boredom allows one to indulge in curiosity, and out of curiosity comes everything.”
–Steve Jobs, American business leader and co-founder of Apple, Inc.
Cambodia
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| https://www.britannica.com/place/Cambodia |
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Cambodian Shadow puppets
Various kinds of shadow theater have existed for centuries across much of Asia and Europe — particularly Indonesia, Turkey, Thailand, China, Egypt and India, though some studies, such as one published in 2003 in the journal JSTOR, suggest that the long-standing practice originated in Central Asia or India. Others claim that it originated in China. Sea routes and travel across the steppes of Eurasia may have been the thread that connected these far-flung shadow theaters in different parts of the region.
One Southeast Asian country, in particular, has achieved a worldwide reputation for perfecting the art of shadow puppetry: Cambodia.
The History of Shadow Puppets in Cambodia
Jennifer Goodlander is an associate professor of comparative literature at Indiana University and president of the Association for Asian Performance. In an email interview, Goodlander, who also wrote the book, "Puppets and Cities: Articulating Identities in Southeast Asia," discusses the two best-known forms of shadow puppetry in Cambodia: sbeik thom (large shadow puppets) and sbeik touch (small shadow puppets).
These terms refer to the single piece of leather material typically used to carve the puppets, which then cast shadows on the walls through the movements and dancing of the performers holding them using one or two bamboo sticks that are approximately 3 feet (1 meter) tall.
Sbeik thom (also written as sbek thom) means 'large leather' and sbeik touch (also written as sbek thom, sbeak touch or sbek touch) means 'small leather.' Both types of performances often narrate tales from the Reamker, which is the Khmer (Cambodian) version of the Indian religious epic, the Ramayana.
The first written recordings of the large shadow puppet theater appeared in a Thai royal court record from 1458. Given the proximity between Thailand and Cambodia, it's unclear whether the practice originated in Thailand or in Cambodia, though some experts speculate that the Thai people brought the performance style back to their home country after sacking the Cambodian capital, known as Angkor, in the 1400s.
Reconnection
The novelty of reconnecting isn’t just valuable; it’s enjoyable, too. Conversations with our strong ties can get mundane pretty quickly. What did you do today? I made tacos for dinner! When we reconnect with dormant ties, they have more meaningful updates to share.
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An extreme example is David Wisnia and Helen Spitzer who fell in love in 1943 while in the Auschwitz concentration camp. Before they were separated, they made a plan to reunite in Warsaw after the war ended, but they never found each other. Last fall, after 72 years, they were finally able to reconnect. Over the next two hours, they reminisced about how they had met and shared how their lives had unfolded. They talked about their children and their work and their grandchildren. He sang the song she had taught him all those years ago, and got the answer to a question that had been on his mind for seven decades: Had Helen saved his life? Not just once, he learned, but five times.
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Although moments of reconnection can be powerful, we often miss out on them. The mere thought of reaching out can make us uncomfortable. “I groaned,” one participant in the study confided. “If there are dormant contacts, they are dormant for a reason, right?” But in most cases they aren’t dormant for a reason. We get busy, we change jobs, we move. We didn’t mean to fall out of touch. In one study, many people felt anxious before reconnecting, but 90 percent reported afterward that it was fun and enjoyable.
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Even when we decide we want to reconnect, we’re often unsure about how to do it. It helps to put ourselves in the other person’s shoes: How would we want them to reach out to us? It becomes clear that we don’t have to wait to ping them until we need something.
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Their relationship lasted several months. One afternoon in 1944 they realized it would probably be their final climb up to their nook. The Nazis were transporting the last of the camp prisoners on death marches and destroying evidence of their crimes.
As crematories were demolished, there were whispers within the camp that the Soviets were advancing. The war might end soon. Mr. Wisnia and Ms. Spitzer had survived Auschwitz for more than two years while most prisoners never made it past a few months. In Auschwitz alone, 1.1 million people were murdered.
During their last rendezvous they made a plan. They would meet in Warsaw when the war was over, at a community center. It was a promise.
Mr. Wisnia left before Ms. Spitzer on one of the last transports out of Auschwitz. He was transferred to the Dachau concentration camp in December 1944. Soon after, during a death march from Dachau, he happened upon a hand shovel. He struck an SS guard and ran. The next day, while hiding in a barn, he heard what he thought were Soviet troops approaching. He ran to the tanks and hoped for the best. It turned out to be Americans.
He couldn’t believe his good fortune. Since he was 10 years old, Mr. Wisnia had dreamed of singing opera in New York. Before the war, he’d written a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt requesting a visa so he could study music in America. His mother’s two sisters had emigrated to the Bronx in the 1930s, and he’d memorized their address. Throughout his ordeal in Auschwitz, that address had become a sort of prayer for him, a guidepost.
Mr. Wisnia and Ms. Tichauer never saw each other again. She died last year at age 100. On their last afternoon together, before Mr. Wisnia left her apartment, she asked him to sing to her. He took her hand and sang her the Hungarian song she taught him in Auschwitz. He wanted to show her that he remembered the words.
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| A book about the Holocaust, about two boys. Mixed reviews, but an account of the atrocities from children's perspective. |
How to be Productive when you can’t focus
When your brain detects imminent danger, the prefrontal cortex—the area responsible for critical thinking, impulse control, and focus—gives way to more primitive functions that protect you in the present moment. The pandemic is an ongoing threat, but most of us are not in immediate danger. Yet this often-chaotic situation demands clarity. To keep a business afloat or plan for an ever-changing future, you need to think strategically—not frantically.
The good news? Strategic thinking is a practice. Even as the world shifts below our feet, we can cultivate the ability to generate new ideas and make ingenious, unexpected connections. Here are three ways to focus on the big picture.
Ted Talks, many talks to choose from.
What if Galileo had dropped Bobsleds from the Tower of Pisa?
According to Munroe, the answer to this question is quite simply air resistance. The reason why Galilei’s trial does not actually result as described is air resistance. Gravity actually pulls everything evenly over the surface of the earth. But weather resistance causes objects to fall to the ground for different periods of time. Relatively heavier objects fall faster than objects that are lighter when they are thrown together. Because heavy objects can beat the air resistance more easily.
Drag calculations enable us to estimate how much faster a heavier object will fall than a similarly-shaped lighter one. If Galileo dropped a 12-pound bowling ball and a 13-pound bowling ball from the Tower of Pisa simultaneously, by the time they reached the ground, the heavier bowling ball would probably be several inches ahead of the lighter one. The difference might be hard to spot without a high-speed camera.
Warriors and Peaceful Waters Montana
Shipped fishing equipment to Vets.
Fly fishing
The Power of Teachers to Transform
How a pedagogy based on racial justice can help end systemic oppression and fulfill the promise of education for all
Ways to engage students in electoral issues up until the Presidential election in 2020
Here are many good ideas here for conversation in light of the issues happening with Demonstrations, Government, Politics, and Covid 19 among others.
But in the midst of this pandemic, voters are not only looking for someone whose positions they support, but also someone who can lead us through this crisis. Saharsh Satheesh, a student from Collierville High School in Tennessee, wrote this in response to our Student Opinion question “What Makes a Great Leader?”:
A good leader isn’t just someone who tells people what to do; they have to set an example themselves and quite literally “lead” the people down the correct path. They must be upstanding and a good role-model. We need effective leaders now more than ever to be an example to everyone around them.
Do you agree? What qualities do you think our next president should have? Why? Do either of the candidates demonstrate these qualities? Share your thoughts on our question, which will be open for comment all summer.
For inspiration, here are some short student-made videos and podcasts about issues from KQED’s “Let’s Talk About Election 2020” youth media challenge. You might also answer our Student Opinion question, “What Issues in the 2020 Presidential Race Are Most Important to You?” We’ll be drawing on what’s posted for a reprise of our 2016 Civil Conversation Challenge, coming this fall, so make sure to add your thoughts.
The Salmon Sisters want to teach us how to cook.
“My dream was to sell seafood, but I realized no job was going to let me take five months off to go commercial fishing.” The sisters decided to return home to Alaska after graduating to continue working on a boat. During the long winter off-season, however, they needed something to occupy their time. Emma learned how to screen print while attending art school in Italy and started selling shirts and bags with ocean-inspired designs on Etsy. “Young fishermen in our Alaskan community were excited to have something to wear that represented their livelihood,” she says.
Encouraged by the positive feedback, the women formed Salmon Sisters in 2012. The brand now sells nautical-inspired apparel and housewares, ranging from fish-patterned XtraTuf boots to T-shirts sporting the mantra “Know Your Fisherman.” They also flash-freeze and ship more than 2,000 pounds of wild halibut, sablefish, Pacific cod, and salmon throughout the United States. This summer, the sisters opened a Homer, Alaska–based flagship shop in a shipping container that, no surprise, once transported fish, and they took their seafood on the road to remote Alaskan communities via a mobile pop-up shop. “We’re so crazy fortunate this little Alaskan community raised us,” says Claire. “Salmon Sisters is our opportunity to give back.”
(Photo: Courtesy of Salmon Sisters)
Ages: Claire, 27, and Emma, 26
Job: Commercial fisherwomen and business owners
Home Base: Claire: Homer, Alaska; Emma: Seattle, Washington
Education: Claire studied business and nutrition at the University of Vermont; Emma studied English and art at Williams College and is currently pursuing a masters in design at the University of Washington.
Mediterranean diet Recipes from Oldways.org
Thrive Online Market.
https://thrivemarket.com/blog/fill-your-free-time-with-these-fun-and-practical-diys?utm_medium=email&utm_source=promo&utm_campaign=content&utm_content=na&utm_term=2020_05_15_Content_COVID19Notebook_MembersInactive30
https://thrivemarket.com/blog/need-a-shortcut-to-radiant-party-ready-skin-try-this-diy-luminizer
https://thrivemarket.com/blog/need-a-shortcut-to-radiant-party-ready-skin-try-this-diy-luminizer
Make Your Own Cosmetics + Beauty Items
Mica, a mineral powder, gives this creamy highlighter a captivating gleam while coconut oil helps skin retain its moisture. The result? A nourishing but lightweight shimmer that can be worn alone or over your normal makeup.
Can’t hit the beach right now? No problem! This sea salt hairspray recipe will give you beachy waves wherever you are. Sea salt adds volume, while coconut oil and conditioner lock in moisture so your locks don’t become brittle. Including a few drops of essential oil is optional, but it’s a great way to sneak in some aromatherapy, too!
This DIY deodorant costs way less than the store-bought variety—and you probably already have the ingredients at home! Baking soda helps fight odor, and hydrating coconut oil keeps the delicate skin of your underarm feeling smooth and soft. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil for a subtle fragrance.
No need to toss another disposable makeup wipe! This reusable version will keep your beauty routine eco-friendly—no sewing required.
Make Your Own Household Products
If you’ve run out of toilet bowl cleaner, no need to worry—it’s easy to get your bathroom sparkling clean using nontoxic ingredients that won’t break the bank. This recipe is easy to make and easy to use.
Fresh out of plastic wrap? Make your own vegan, eco-friendly version that will last you an entire year.
It’s time to spice up your stay-at-home routine using a DIY fabric sanitizer. Refresh your fabrics, rugs, sheets, and closets with this DIY recipe that only uses four ingredients.
We’re using our yoga mats a lot nowadays— so it’s time to show them some TLC. This five-ingredient recipe will clear away grime and leave behind a calming, fresh scent.
Interesting Things Dogs can smell
“Your sense of smell is a huge — one of your five senses, yet we don’t understand how the brain does it,” Jacobs said. Consider, she said, the act of smelling coffee. Scientists know the first step (the coffee scent drifts into the nose and activates smell neurons) and the last step (brain thinks coffee) — but much of what’s in between is a black box.
“We have no idea how coffee gets encoded,” Jacobs said. “And that’s crazy, because in vision we know it all the way back. We can trace a photon from hitting your retina to all the way through all your visual brain cortices.”
The week started with a bout of brainstorming, modeled after speed dating. The scientists were directed to form an outside circle of 15 people and an inside circle of 15, and then to pair off into teams of two, Jacobs recalled. Then the organizers blew a whistle, and each team had five minutes to come up with a collaborative project. The first days included other camp-style activities, such as playing with Play Dough, tossing around Slinkys and sketching the faces of other scientists onto paper bags.
“It was a really unusual way of generating a project. Some people who were there called it Survivor for scientists,” said Nathan Urban, an olfactory neuroscientist at the University of Pittsburgh, who is now on the Cracking the Olfactory Code team. “But the idea was to bring together people from a number of different disciplines — biologists, physicists, mathematicians, statisticians — to think about the problems that are confronting the field.”
The seven-member COC team emerged from the fray as victors, splitting a $15 million pot with two other teams. Their goal, they determined at the time, was to answer three overarching questions: What does a smell look like? How do animals react to smells? And can you program those reflexes into a robot brain?
Lucia Jacobs’ lab is focused on the the middle question: How do animals react to smells? When Jacobs observes dogs, leopard slugs, a death’s head cockroach or humans, she see similarities in how they move in reaction to smells. Her lab’s contribution to the COC team is to make quantifiable measurements of these behaviors.
“With the dogs, we can put microphones near their nose to measure their sniff rate. We can put GPS trackers and GoPro cameras on them,” Jacobs said. All this tech is needed, because dogs have evolved a range of intricate tricks to follow smells. Take circling for example. Jacobs said dogs and other smell navigators circle when a scent starts breaking up. Odor isn’t a uniform cloud. Its shape is scraggly and wild, with portions that are stretched like taffy.
Sitting inside an odor plume doesn’t tell you much. You’re surrounded by a jumbled mess, but traveling along the edge of an odor offers context and directions.
“You also see the same pattern in homing pigeons, which rely heavily on olfaction when they’re released from a new place,” Jacobs said. “They circle before they take off, then they seem to pick up something and take off.”
But scientists don’t possess much quantitative data on these behaviors. Jacobs plans to commit the same watchful eye to the other animals, such as hermit crabs and cockroaches. Those creatures smell using two antenna, which allow them to sniff things in stereo, akin to hearing with two ears.
Imagine a world of three-dimensional smells, and you’re probably not far from being inside the olfactory brain of a crab.
Dogs have an extraordinary sense of smell—at least 10,000 times as acute as ours. While humans boast 6 million olfactory receptors, dogs are blessed with up to 300 million. It's no wonder they're being trained to detect a wide range of objects by smell, from bombs to viruses to fertile cows. Dogs are proving themselves more than our best friends—they are also astoundingly precise odor hunters. Here are seven unusual items they've been taught to sniff out.
1. THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS
Viruses have specific odors, and scientists have discovered that dogs can detect them. Dogs have been able to distinguish between three types of bovine viruses, for example—those causing diarrhea, herpes, and influenza. Now, dogs are being taught to smell viruses that affect humans. Cindy Otto, director of the University of Pennsylvania's Working Dog Center, is training eight Labrador retrievers to sniff out SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus responsible for COVID-19. If the pilot study works, canine surveillance teams may one day help screen travelers at airports, patients at hospitals, or attendees at conferences.
Dogs that have already been trained to detect malaria are being put to a similar test at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Scientists have collected viral samples to train the dogs, and if all goes well, the UK's government hopes to deploy six dogs to screen travelers from abroad at airports.
Weekend reads
Architecture history
Frank Lloyd Wright house for Sale.
South Harvard Avenue in Chicago's West Pullman neighborhood.
Thanks for Stopping By,
Eliza
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