Intellectual Content from around the Web…
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- Appeals court upholds actor Jussie Smollett's convictions and jail sentenceby The Associated Press on December 1, 2023 at 8:06 pm
An appeals court upheld the disorderly conduct convictions of the "Empire" actor, who was accused of staging a racist, homophobic attack against himself in 2019 and lying about it to Chicago police.
- Rachel Maddow uncovers a WWII-era plot against the U.S. governmentby Terry Gross on December 1, 2023 at 6:37 pm
In her book, Prequel, Maddow describes ultra-right plots to overthrow the government in the days leading up to WWII — a subject she covered in her podcast Ultra. Originally broadcast Dec. 15, 2022.
- Taiwan is driving China-U.S. tensions. Meet the person right in the middleby Emily Feng on December 1, 2023 at 5:20 pm
Chinese leader Xi Jinping called Taiwan the "most important" and "most sensitive" issue driving U.S.-China tensions. Sandra Oudkirk is trying to navigate that tricky terrain.
- Sandra Day O'Connor, first woman on the Supreme Court, diesby Nina Totenberg on December 1, 2023 at 3:04 pm
Sandra Day O'Connor was called "the most powerful woman in America" during her quarter of a century as a Supreme Court justice.
- Avoid cantaloupe unless you know its origins, CDC warns amid salmonella outbreakby Emily Olson on December 1, 2023 at 2:55 pm
At least 117 people in 34 states have gotten sick from salmonella infections. U.S. health officials believe two brands of cantaloupe — and dozens of fruit cups and medleys — may have been the cause.
- Executions are on the rise in the U.S., even as public support wanesby Vanessa Romo on December 1, 2023 at 10:01 am
Twenty-four executions have been carried out in 2023 — five more than last year, the Death Penalty Information Center says. Meanwhile, 50% of Americans say the death penalty is applied unfairly.
Big Think Big Think
- Starts With A Bangby Big Think on December 1, 2023 at 7:00 am
- Ask Ethan: Why is there no antigravity?by Big Think on December 1, 2023 at 7:00 am
In General Relativity, the matter and energy curve spacetime, which we experience as gravity. Why can't there be an "antigravity" force?
- What was it like when the first elements formed?by Big Think on December 1, 2023 at 6:27 am
Early on during the hot Big Bang, there were only free protons and neutrons: no atomic nuclei. How did the first elements form from them?
- What was it like when the last antimatter disappeared?by Big Think on November 29, 2023 at 2:09 pm
In the early stages of the hot Big Bang, matter and antimatter were (almost) balanced. After a brief while, matter won out. Here's how.
- The simplest explanation for ultra-high-energy cosmic raysby Big Think on November 28, 2023 at 5:00 am
The highest-energy particles could be a sign of new, unexpected physics. But the simplest, most mundane explanation is particularly iron-ic.
- 8 ‘Doctor Who’ Aliens That Used Surprisingly Realistic Technologyby Cris Andrews on December 1, 2023 at 11:00 pm
‘Doctor Who’ has featured hostile aliens using advanced technology to attack Earth since the BBC show premiered back in 1963.
- Red Lobster Reports $11 Million in Losses Because Customers Are Eating Way Too Much Unlimited Shrimpby Jake Rossen on December 1, 2023 at 6:07 pm
The seafood giant promised patrons as much shrimp as they could eat. It turns out they could eat a lot.
- Recreate Buddy the Elf’s Iconic Breakfast Spaghetti With This Meal Kitby Ellen Gutoskey on December 1, 2023 at 4:02 pm
Buddy the Elf tops his spaghetti with syrup, marshmallows, and Pop-Tarts. You can, too.
- A Los Angeles Book Club Has Spent 28 Years Reading James Joyce’s ’Finnegans Wake’ and Still Doesn’t Understand Itby Marla Mackoul on November 30, 2023 at 9:00 pm
James Joyce once famously declared, “The demand that I make of my reader is that he should devote his whole life to reading my works.“ After 28 years, members of a Venice, California-based book club have come pretty close.
- Kraft's Classic Mac and Cheese Is Now Available Without Any Cheeseby Jake Rossen on November 30, 2023 at 5:19 pm
The neon orange comfort food now comes in a plant-based version.
- Archetype Family: Thinking
- Other Expressions: Professional, Student, Scholar, Judge
- Life Journey: To pursue knowledge for the sake of discovering thruth in all areas of life.
- Unique Challenge: To recognize when I’ve locked myself into a line of thinking
based on my education or experience; to remain open to new ideas. - Lesson To Learn: To learn to listen to my gut, and to discern the differences between reason and truth.
- Defining Grace: Wisdom
- Challenge To Self: I will avoid paralysis by analysis.
THE CRONE: The wise woman who hands down information to younger women on the path to womanhood. You can also become bitter, cranky and intolerant with age.
THE SEEKER: You are on a search for truth and wisdom wherever it can be found. You can also be a lost soul.
THE PHILOSOPHER: You are on a pursuit to better understand the meaning of life . You can also become too opinionated and “certain”.
THE THEOLOGIAN: You are passionate about the study of a particular religion. You can also be dogmatic.
THE JUDGE: You excel at mediation, arbitration and cutting through to the heart of the matter with compassion , fairness and balance. You can also be prone to excessive criticism, profiling, lack of compassion, misuse of laws.
THE INVENTOR: You are a modern day alchemist that converts matter into energy or energy into matter. You can apply your skills between the spiritual , entertainment or visionary realms. You can also use your knowledge to trick , manipulate, or alter facts or systems with criminal implications.
THE SCHOLAR/STUDENT: Scholars and students bring a lively curiosity with them wherever they go.
THE GEEK: Geeks and nerds are true to themselves, and because of this they can be inspiring as friends who don’t judge books by their covers or people by their shoes.
THE SCIENTIST: Scientists are able to keep several ideas in their heads at the same time. They are as happy listening as talking and are always up for an intelligent conversation.
THE LIAR: When individuals whose stock and trade is their wisdom and knowledge cannot deliver the goods, they resort to fabrication, hiding behind their authority.
THE MISANTHROPE: While many Intellectuals are humanists, drawing information from all kinds of people and delighting in imparting wisdom to just as many, some are misanthropic.