FYI December 19, 2019

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On This Day

1776 – Thomas Paine publishes one of a series of pamphlets in The Pennsylvania Journal entitled “The American Crisis”.
The American Crisis, or simply The Crisis, is a pamphlet series by eighteenth-century Enlightenment philosopher and author Thomas Paine, originally published from 1776 to 1783 during the American Revolution.[1] Thirteen numbered pamphlets were published between 1776 and 1777, with three additional pamphlets released between 1777 and 1783.[2] The first of the pamphlets was published in The Pennsylvania Journal on December 19, 1776.[3] Paine signed the pamphlets with the pseudonym, “Common Sense”.

The pamphlets were contemporaneous with early parts of the American Revolution, when colonists needed inspiring works. The American Crisis series was used to “recharge the revolutionary cause.”[4] Paine, like many other politicians and scholars, knew that the colonists were not going to support the American Revolutionary War without proper reason to do so. Written in a language that the common person could understand, they represented Paine’s liberal philosophy. Paine also used references to God, saying that a war against Great Britain would be a war with the support of God. Paine’s writings bolstered the morale of the American colonists, appealed to the British people’s consideration of the war, clarified the issues at stake in the war, and denounced the advocates of a negotiated peace. The first volume famously begins: “These are the times that try men’s souls.”

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Born On This Day

1875 – Grace Marie Bareis, American mathematician (d. 1962)
Grace Marie Bareis (December 19, 1875 – June 15, 1962) was an American mathematician and educator who became the first person to receive a doctorate degree in mathematics from Ohio State University. Bareis was an assistant professor at Ohio State University where she taught for 40 years until her eventual retirement in 1946.[1]

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FYI

Open Culture: The Zen of Bill Murray: I Want to Be “Really Here, Really in It, Really Alive in the Moment”; Ronan Farrow’s Catch and Kill Podcast: Stream a Gripping ‘Audio Companion’ to His Bestselling Book; The Phenomena of Physics Illustrated with Psychedelic Art in an Influential 19th-Century Textbook and more ->
 
 
 
 
By Rocky Parker, Beyond Bylines: Year-End Review: 5 Top Media Stories of 2019
 
 
 
 
By Tim Elfrink, The Washington Post: ‘Racism is a taught behavior’: High-schoolers disciplined for wearing white robes and a hood on ‘Spirit Day’
 
 
 
 
The Rural Blog: Rural Virginians assert gun rights after Democratic control; As ‘The Rise of Skywalker’ hits theaters, a reflection on the rural spirit of Star Wars; Study finds cooperatives deployed most rural fiber broadband, recommends ways to help co-ops do more and more ->
 
 
 
 
By Daniel Clery, Science: 2019 Breakthrough of the year
 
 
By Emily Petersen, Science: Our favorite Science photos of 2019
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Ideas

By Meglymoo87: The Impossible Bookshelf
 
 
By XYZAidan: Recycle Cardboard Into Anything With 3D Printing!
 
 

ByReadsInTrees: How to Make 6-Pointed Paper Snowflakes
 
 
 
 

Recipes

Coleen’s Recipes: ALMOND JOY BITES
 
 

A Taste of Alaska: Sunday Breakfast