Wednesday, April 30
Portrait of a Musician
This painting by Thomas Hart Benton is a portrait of an African American jazz musician who played in Kansas City. In this painting, you can see that the curving lines of the double bass the musician is playing are repeated or echoed in the curves of the his face, hands, and body. Seeing the repetition of so many lines in similar but different ways reminds us of the way that jazz music often repeats the same musical phrases with variations, making the music sound similar but slightly different each time it is repeated.
The model for Portrait of a Musician was a jazz bassist who played in a Kansas City nightclub that Benton often went to in the 1940s. He was interested in representing African American culture in Missouri and he particularly enjoyed drawing and painting jazz players and folk musicians. African Americans were often ignored by most white artists in the first half of the 20th century, making this an unusual painting for the time period.
The model for Portrait of a Musician was a jazz bassist who played in a Kansas City nightclub that Benton often went to in the 1940s. He was interested in representing African American culture in Missouri and he particularly enjoyed drawing and painting jazz players and folk musicians. African Americans were often ignored by most white artists in the first half of the 20th century, making this an unusual painting for the time period.
Robert Reich
This week's Neville Chamberlain Award goes to
Friends,
Sorry to intrude on you again today but I need to add this week’s winner of the Neville Chamberlain Award, given to the most cowardly effort to appease a tyrant.
(This week’s original winners were Shari Redstone and Paramount, for intruding on the editorial independence of “60 Minutes” in order to suck up to Trump, so he’d settle his frivolous lawsuit against CBS — thereby allowing them to sell off a chunk of CBS for billions.)
But this week’s bigger winner is Jeff Bezos.
It was reported this morning that Bezos’s Amazon planned to alert consumers to how much more they’ll be paying for all sorts of items because of Trump’s tariffs.
At A Glance
World's first T. rex leather handbags are coming.
Child damages $57M Rothko painting.
See footage from Florida dog surfing competition.
All-women WWII unit receives congressional medal.
Peek inside a storybook-inspired tiny cottage community.
Animals may have regional accents.
Turtle uses mobility aid made of Lego bricks.
Photos of a snake fighting a blue heron.
Clickbait: Fish farming on the moon.
In The NEWS
Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> Outkast, Cyndi Lauper, and Chubby Checker headline 2025 class of 13 inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (More) | The history of rock (More) | Join 1440 Society & Culture (Sign up here)
> Final autopsy report on Gene Hackman's death reveals the actor died of hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease days after his wife Betsy died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (More)
> Halle Berry, Jeremy Strong, and six others join Oscar-winning French actress Juliette Binoche for competition jury at 2025 Cannes Film Festival (May 13-24) (More)
Science & Technology
> President Donald Trump dismisses all scientists working on the National Climate Assessment, a congressionally mandated climate change report (More) | Scientists solve key question limiting carbon-dioxide-to-fuel chemical reactions (More) | Artificial photosynthesis 101 (More, w/video)
> New immunotherapy drug significantly increases life expectancy for patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer in phase 3 trial (More) | What do we know about how cancer works? (More)
> Researchers reveal a new type of atomic clock with improved precision measuring quantum beats from a "fountain" of cesium atoms; clock would be off by one second after 100 million years (More)
Business & Markets
> US stock markets close near flatline (S&P 500 +0.1%, Dow +0.3%, Nasdaq -0.1%) as investors brace for packed week of earnings reports (More)
> IBM pledges to invest $150B in the US over the next five years, including $30B to advance American manufacturing of its mainframe and quantum computers (More) | What is quantum computing? (More)
> Chinese retailer Temu adds import surcharges, ranging between 130% and 150%, to items sold to US customers amid US-China trade fight (More)
Politics & World Affairs
> Prime Minister Mark Carney wins federal elections in Canada, with his Liberal Party holding narrow lead in the House of Commons as of this writing (More) | See latest election results (More) | See previous write-up (More)
> Conclave process to elect a new pope will begin May 7, when high-ranking clergy will sequester themselves in the Sistine Chapel until a new pope is selected (More) | See previous write-up (More)
> Russian President Vladimir Putin announces unilateral 72-hour ceasefire in Ukraine beginning May 8, calls for Ukraine to join; there have been more than 20 ceasefires in the conflict to date, many failing within minutes (More)
SOURCE: 1440 NEWS
One Last BIG Vacation
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When my wife and I retired in 2015, we traveled somewhere every other month for a week until COVID hit in 2020.
We visited Europe, Canada, Mexico, cruised in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Alaska, and Hawaii.
We flew to several places in the USA, like Vegas, Los Angeles, South Padre Island, Vancouver, Boston and drove to many places that were 8-10 hours away from our home in East Tennessee.
After COVID, we pretty much just went two places each year, somewhere in Florida in April/May for a week and Myrtle Beach in September/October for a week. Both places we drive; the first trip is about 10 hours, the second trip is 6-7 hours.
This year, 2025, we already have reservations at Fort Walton and Myrtle Beach. BUT... in 2026, we are planning one last BIG VACATION before we get too old to enjoy it.
Our BIG VACATION will be to fly to Hawaii and take our second island cruise. We have managed to save over 400,000 frequent flyer miles on Delta via the AmEx card, so we are going to fly FIRST CLASS from Atlanta to Honolulu and back.
It is not the first class where the seats make into beds, that is now DELTA ONE... but first class is good enough for us. Then we will get a cabin with a balcony when we normally get an inside cabin on a lower deck so we can have more money for excursions.
I've got 6 Hawaiian shirts that I have picked up over the years and I'll be able to wear a different one each night for dinner.
New type of quantum entanglement will transform real-world technology
Researchers have long studied quantum entanglement to understand how photons appear to influence each other instantaneously.
This peculiar link first emerged when Albert Einstein pointed to what he called “spooky action at a distance,” suggesting that this peculiar behavior contradicted intuitive views of cause and effect. The conversation around these phenomena has evolved through the decades.
Ph.D. student Amit Kam and Dr. Shai Tsesses from Technion are now adding a twist to this story by exploring surprising effects in photons that occupy incredibly tight spaces.
Understanding quantum entanglement
Quantum entanglement is a strange but very real phenomenon where two particles become linked in such a way that their states depend on each other, even when separated by huge distances.
Imagine you take a pair of gloves, put one in a box, and send it to the other side of the universe. The moment you open the box and see a left glove, you instantly know the other box has the right one.
Quantum entanglement is a strange but very real phenomenon where two particles become linked in such a way that their states depend on each other, even when separated by huge distances.
Imagine you take a pair of gloves, put one in a box, and send it to the other side of the universe. The moment you open the box and see a left glove, you instantly know the other box has the right one.
Tuesday, April 29
Trump's First 100 Days
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First of all, this achievement happened a few days ago and second, I belong to neither party; I just want what is best for me and my family.
Despite the fact that the USA is almost perfectly divided, what I have noticed is that TRUMP has done exactly what he said he was going to do when he was running for office. The only issue on which there is negativity from me, is the TIMETABLE he claimed would happen. Trump was wrong on that, and those comments were probably prompted by EGO.
- Trump has stopped illegal immigration
- Trump is deporting criminal illegal immigrants
- Trump is reducing waste in government
- Trump is reducing inflation
- Trump is eliminating DEI initiatives
- Trump is building up our military
- Trump is building the wall
- Trump is lowering taxes
- Trump is using tariffs to create FREE TRADE
Trump, whether you like it or not, has accomplished more in 100 days that Biden accomplished in FOUR YEARS and more than all other Presidents have accomplished during their first 100 days.
REASONS:
- The GOP controls the House & Senate
- Trump learned from his first term
- Trump's cabinet picks are with him
- Trump's cabinet pick were approved quickly
- The Dems were powerless to stop him
- The Supreme Court is conservative
- Biden left an easy to fix mess
CBS, NBC, and ABC reports on Trump are 95% negative and were 60% positive on BIDEN... This clearly shows that those three media networks are biased against Trump and the GOP which helps fuel the general public towards Trump.
It is also obvious that lower district court judges are trying to slow down Trump's momentum in the hopes that this will cause him TO FAIL...
What kind of a nation is the USA where the opposing party and the judicial system that favors the opposing party WANT THE PRESIDENT OF THE USA TO FAIL...
Think about that a minute...
The Democrats want President Trump and hope that President Trump FAILS at his POTUS job.
I did not like Biden and what he was doing but I did not want him to fail...
Trump's second term in office will go down in the history books as the most memorable four years in PRESIDENTIAL HISTORY...
His first 100 days sets the stage for that to happen.
Robert Reich
How you may find yourself on the front line of Trump's crackdown on immigration
Are you willing to hold the line?
Friends,
The most important constraints on the Trump regime during its heinous first hundred days have been (1) federal courts, (2) stock and bond markets, (3) China and its response to Trump’s tariff madness, (4) some state and local governments (in ways I’ll get to in a moment), and (5) we the people (as I’ll also describe).
Trump has temporarily backed down from the tariffs that shook stock and bond markets. He has also backed away from a trade war with China.
Increasingly, though, the Trump regime has ignored federal court orders (see: Abrego Garcia), but has not yet overtly thumbed its nose at the Supreme Court.
What about state and local governments? What about we the people?
Yesterday, Trump signed an executive order targeting local jurisdictions that are not cooperating with its aggressive crackdown on immigration.
At A Glance
Speedboat flips through air at over 200 mph. (w/video)
The science of how soap keeps you clean.
... and what your earwax says about your health.
Violin built in concentration camp reveals hidden note.
Why are so many Southern porch ceilings blue?
Man rescued from Mount Fuji twice in one week.
The reason why a duffel bag is called a duffel.
Fifteen movies to watch in theaters this summer.
Clickbait: Inside America's saddest airport lounge.
In The NEWS
Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> The 2025 NFL Draft wrapped over the weekend; see draft grades for all 32 teams (More) | QB Shedeur Sanders, son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, falls from a predicted first-round pick to the fifth round, one of the biggest slides in draft history (More) | See complete list of all 257 picks (More)
> White House Correspondents' Dinner carries on without comedian headliner after association disinvites Amber Ruffin; Ruffin—a former writer for Seth Meyers—had made comments critical of President Donald Trump (More)
> Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa wins 2025 London Marathon, breaks record for a women's-only race; Kenya's Sabastian Sawe wins the men's race (More) | Liverpool wins English Premier League, beats Tottenham 5-1 (More)
Science & Technology
> Meta's AI-powered "digital companions" can engage in sexually charged conversations even when users identify themselves as minors; some of the avatars were reportedly designed to include "romantic roleplay" behaviors (More) | Learn more about generative AI (More)
> Researchers identify antibiotic capable of treating Lyme disease at 1% of the dosage required in current best-in-class drugs; low dosages also decrease the impact on healthy gut bacteria (More) | Zoonotic diseases 101 (More)
> Oldest-known ant specimen discovered in Brazil; 113-million-year-old fire ant fossil sheds light on early insect evolution (More)
Business & Markets
> US stock markets close higher Friday (S&P 500 +0.7%, Dow +0.1%, Nasdaq +1.3%); tech earnings expected to drive markets this week (More)
> Slate unveils electric pickup truck expected to cost $20K after incentives when it goes to market next year; truck does not have touch screen, stereo (More)
> California surpasses Japan as world's fourth-largest economy, with a nominal gross domestic product of $4.1T, per report from Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) (More)
Politics & World Affairs
> An explosion at Iran's largest port kills at least 40 people and wounds over 1,200 others; local authorities blame a shipment of missile propellant chemicals (More) | Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, 89, names close ally as his vice president and likely successor (More)
> Virginia Giuffre, who prominently accused Jeffrey Epstein and Prince Andrew of sexual abuse, dies at age 41; family says she died by suicide (More)
> Black Hawk helicopter pilot ignored calls to change course seconds before colliding with passenger jet near Washington DC airport in January, new report finds; the collision killed 67 people (More)
SOURCE: 1440 NEWS
Stress and Anxiety
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Whether we want to admit it or not, working in the marketplace creates a lot of stress. It does not matter if you own the company and people work for you or someone else owns the company and you work for them, there is still STRESS.
There will always be someone telling you what to do, when to do it, and how to do it, regardless of what position you have. Even if you are the CEO of a company, you still must report to a Board of Directors and if your company is public and sells stock, then you are accountable to the stockholders, especially the ones who own a majority interest.
If you are a consultant, then the people or company that hires you, tells you what to do and bitches at you if it is not done the way they expect... threatening you with a bad referral in the hopes of ruining your business.
Those of you that are married, understand what it is like to live with someone if you don't agree on a direction, especially if there are children involved or if you are heavily in debt.
It is easy to see how the working person turns to alcohol and drugs or pills to offset the stress that is occurring in their lives. In some cases, stress can cause the mentally weak one to want to commit suicide to end the stress of living.
EGOS cause more stress than you can imagine, and I would submit that the bigger the ego, the more stress that person will encounter during their lifetime.
Someone is getting wealthy off of our stress and anxiety or depression. In case you are wondering that market in 2024 was $3.21 BILLION...
In 2015, my wife and I retired and by 2020, I could tell that my levels of stress and anxiety had diminished significantly. My sleep was more intense and relaxing. There were no worries unless I had to undergo an MRI without sedation. My cats noticed the change and wanted to spend more time with me.
Now, it still bothers me when my wife tells me how to mow the lawn, but I just ignore her suggestions and still sleep like a baby. lol
Legendary Nobel Prize winning physicist explains why intelligent people make the worst decisions
Richard Feynman is one of the top scientific minds in modern history. He was invited to participate in the Manhattan Project, helping develop the first atomic bomb. When the Challenger shuttle tragically exploded, it was Feynman who figured out what went wrong to prevent future NASA disasters. He was even given the Nobel Prize for his work in physics for essentially remaking the concept of quantum electrodynamics. He was also riddled with self doubt, incredibly unsure of himself, and criticized people of high intelligence.
Why was this so? Well, because in his mind and in life, people who are highly intelligent tend to rely on their intelligence to the point in which they make mistakes in judgment. In trusting in their own smarts, something gets overlooked or a mistake is made—but it's covered over in pride. They could also become too afraid of asking the right questions that could lead to the next answer. Some argue that Feynman’s greatest scientific finding wasn’t in physics, but in human ignorance and ego.
Monday, April 28
Robert Reich
The first 100 days: Why we must mobilize
Now is the time for all of us to become activists and force this despicable regime out of office
Friends,
Today is the start of the 14th week of the odious Trump regime. Wednesday will mark its first 100 days.
The U.S. Constitution is in peril. Civil and human rights are being trampled upon. The economy is in disarray.
At this rate, we won’t make it through the second hundred days.
Federal judges in more than 120 cases so far have sought to stop Trump — judges appointed by Republicans as well as Democrats, some appointed by Trump himself — but the regime is either ignoring or appealing their orders. It has even arrested a municipal judge in Milwaukee who merely sought to hear a case involving an undocumented defendant.
At A Glance
Oldest known US rock is 3.6 billion years old.
Titanic letter auctioned for almost $400K.
World's largest rogue wave sends buoy up 58 feet.
See the rarest baby name in your state.
Inside the Dutch village designed for people with dementia.
Endangered "dinosaur tree" bears fruit in couple's garden.
The US island speaking Elizabethan English.
Man unintentionally buys back his stolen car.
Clickbait: Why speaks like this, Yoda does.
Exploring Horse Racing
The story of ultra-successful horse trainer Bob Baffert
Few names are as synonymous with American horse racing as Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. He has trained seven Kentucky Derby winners and two Triple Crown winners. But he also amassed over 30 drug violations in his career. This LA Times article dives into the suspensions and bans, and gives Baffert a space to defend his complex legacy. Read here.
A journalist recounts anecdotes of Secretariat's career and life
This Sports Illustrated article from 1990 dives into the deeply personal connection between renowned sports writer William Nack and legendary horse Secretariat. Using masterful storytelling, Nack discusses the horse's personality and temperament, highlighting his playful yet focused nature. Explore the details of the iconic horse's life here.
The economics of horse racing
The Triple Crown races last less than three minutes, but the training and resources needed to create a winning thoroughbred are extensive. This Fox Business article dives into the costs associated with owning and training a racehorse, which can range from $1,000 to over $1 million. Learn the numbers behind the events here.
The long shot victory of Rich Strike at the Derby
Thanks to a last-minute scratch by Ethereal Road, Rich Strike made the 2022 Kentucky Derby field. He only had one win out of six races prior, and was listed as an 80-1 long shot. This USA Today article lays out the favorable draw and strategic ride that led to the biggest upset since 1913. Watch the wire-to-wire replay of his historic comeback here.
The artist who paints Preakness winners in silk
Since 1988, Lawrence Jones has climbed into Pimlico’s cherry picker to paint the Preakness winner’s silks on its iconic weathervane—a tradition born in 1909. This America’s Best Racing profiles Jones, a retired graphic artist, and how he has to meticulously paint the weathervane, even under challenging conditions. Learn the rich history of the event here.
The art of race strategy from a jockey’s perspective
Racing a thoroughbred isn’t just about riding a horse as fast as you can. There is a complex racing strategy that forces jockeys to balance aggression and patience, conserving energy for that final stretch. This article explores the split-second decisions jockeys make during high-pressure races and moves they make to outsmart their opponents.
Few names are as synonymous with American horse racing as Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. He has trained seven Kentucky Derby winners and two Triple Crown winners. But he also amassed over 30 drug violations in his career. This LA Times article dives into the suspensions and bans, and gives Baffert a space to defend his complex legacy. Read here.
A journalist recounts anecdotes of Secretariat's career and life
This Sports Illustrated article from 1990 dives into the deeply personal connection between renowned sports writer William Nack and legendary horse Secretariat. Using masterful storytelling, Nack discusses the horse's personality and temperament, highlighting his playful yet focused nature. Explore the details of the iconic horse's life here.
The economics of horse racing
The Triple Crown races last less than three minutes, but the training and resources needed to create a winning thoroughbred are extensive. This Fox Business article dives into the costs associated with owning and training a racehorse, which can range from $1,000 to over $1 million. Learn the numbers behind the events here.
The long shot victory of Rich Strike at the Derby
Thanks to a last-minute scratch by Ethereal Road, Rich Strike made the 2022 Kentucky Derby field. He only had one win out of six races prior, and was listed as an 80-1 long shot. This USA Today article lays out the favorable draw and strategic ride that led to the biggest upset since 1913. Watch the wire-to-wire replay of his historic comeback here.
The artist who paints Preakness winners in silk
Since 1988, Lawrence Jones has climbed into Pimlico’s cherry picker to paint the Preakness winner’s silks on its iconic weathervane—a tradition born in 1909. This America’s Best Racing profiles Jones, a retired graphic artist, and how he has to meticulously paint the weathervane, even under challenging conditions. Learn the rich history of the event here.
The art of race strategy from a jockey’s perspective
Racing a thoroughbred isn’t just about riding a horse as fast as you can. There is a complex racing strategy that forces jockeys to balance aggression and patience, conserving energy for that final stretch. This article explores the split-second decisions jockeys make during high-pressure races and moves they make to outsmart their opponents.
LUCK & Being Prepared
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So, here's the thing... I am not sure if I believe this...
WHY?
For one, there have been several documented cases where people missed airline flights that crashed because of forces that were beyond their control to anticipate or PREPARE for.
On the other side of the coin, the more we perform DUE DILLIGENCE, the better prepared we are to take advantage of unexpected situations as they occur.
So, the quote can be proved to be accurate for both sets of beliefs... it just is not true is ALL SITUATIONS.
With that said, it is better to be prepared than not to be prepared.
- A carpenter measures twice and cuts once.
- Students are better prepared for class when they do their homework.
- A family is likely to be more satisfied if they know where they are going on their vacation.
- Buying a home or car should only be done after proper research has been conducted.
LUCK, unfortunately and/or fortunately is part of life and it is something that, in my opinion, we just have to accept.
Gamma-ray bursts reveal largest structure in the universe is bigger and closer to Earth than we knew
The universe's largest structure, the Hercules-Corona Borealis Great Wall, was already a challenge to explain with models of the universe due to its incredibly vast size — and now, using the most powerful blasts of energy in the universe, Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs), astronomers have discovered this structure is even bigger than they realized. Plus, the team even found that parts of the Hercules-Corona Borealis Great Wall are actually closer to Earth than previously suspected.
The Hercules-Corona Borealis Great Wall is a so-called "supercluster" of galaxies; it's a filament of the cosmic web around which the first galaxies in the universe gathered and grew. Its name was coined by Johndric Valdez, a Filipino teenager who aspires to be an astronomer. That name isn't very literal, however. This is because the round-shaped Great Wall spans not just the constellations Hercules and Corona Borealis but also the region of the celestial sphere from the constellations Boötes to Gemini.
Sunday, April 27
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