FYI May 16, 2020

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On This Day

1866 – The United States Congress establishes the nickel.[6]
A nickel is a five-cent coin struck by the United States Mint. Composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel, the piece has been issued since 1866. Its diameter is .835 inches (21.21 mm) and its thickness is .077 inches (1.95 mm). Due to inflation, the purchasing power of the nickel continues to drop, and currently the coin represents less than 1% of the federal hourly minimum wage. In 2018, over 1.26 billion nickels were produced at the Philadelphia and Denver mints.

The silver half dime, equal to five cents, had been issued since the 1790s. The American Civil War caused economic hardship, driving gold and silver from circulation; in response, in place of low-value coins, the government at first issued paper currency. In 1865, Congress abolished the five-cent fractional currency note after Spencer M. Clark, head of the Currency Bureau (today the Bureau of Engraving and Printing), placed his own portrait on the denomination. After the successful introduction of two-cent and three-cent pieces without precious metal, Congress also authorized a five-cent piece consisting of base metal; the Mint began striking this version in 1866.

The initial design of the Shield nickel was struck from 1866 until 1883, then was replaced by the Liberty Head nickel. The Buffalo nickel was introduced in 1913 as part of a drive to increase the beauty of American coinage; in 1938, the Jefferson nickel followed. In 2004 and 2005, special designs in honor of the bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition were issued. In 2006, the Mint reverted to using Jefferson nickel designer Felix Schlag’s original reverse (or “tails” side), although a new obverse, by Jamie Franki, was substituted. As of the end of FY 2013, it cost more than nine cents to produce a nickel;[1] the Mint is exploring the possibility of reducing cost by using less expensive metals.

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Born On This Day

1862 – Margaret Fountaine lepidopterist and diarist (d.1940)
Margaret Elizabeth Fountaine (16 May 1862 – 21 April 1940),[1] was a Victorian lepidopterist who published in The Entomologist’s Record and Journal of Variation. She is also known for her personal diaries, which were edited into two volumes by W. F. Cater for the popular market and published posthumously.

She was an accomplished natural history illustrator and had a great love and knowledge of butterflies, travelling and collecting extensively through Europe, South Africa, India, Tibet, America, Australia and the West Indies, publishing numerous papers on her work. She raised many of the butterflies from eggs or caterpillars, producing specimens of great quality, 22,000 of which are housed at the Norwich Castle Museum and known as the Fountaine-Neimy Collection. Her four sketch books of butterfly life-cycles are held at the Natural History Museum in London. The butterfly genus Fountainea was named in her honour.

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FYI

By Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone: Fred Willard, ‘Best in Show’ and ‘A Mighty Wind’ Actor, Dead at 86 Prolific comic actor was master of mockumentary genre
 
 
 
 
By Kevin P. Keefe, Trains: Rail writer, editor, historian Peter A. Hansen dies Editor of Railroad History made wide-ranging contributions to Trains, Classic Trains, documentaries
 
 
 
 
TMZ: ‘Trading Spaces’ Frank Bielec Dead at 72
 
 
 
 
By Vanessa Romo, NPR: ‘Her Gift To The Beatles Was Immeasurable’: Photographer Astrid Kirchherr Dies At 81
 
 
 
 
By Colin Dwyer, NPR: Rwanda’s Most-Wanted Fugitive, Félicien Kabuga, Arrested For War Crimes
 
 
 
 
By Lucy Davies, The Gazette; ‘What we achieved is almost unimaginable’ – Second World War filmmakers and photographers tell all The AFPU shot the defining images of the Second World War. Here, the unit’s five survivors tell their story for the first time
 
 
 
 
By Jessica Napoli, Fox News: Keith Urban performs private, drive-in concert for medical workers
 
 
 
 
Today’s email was written by Ephrat Livni and illustrated by Art Lien, edited by Annaliese Griffin, and produced by Tori Smith. Quartz Daily Obsession: Ruth Bader Ginsburg: The tiny giant of jurisprudence
 
 
 
 
The Passive Voice: Children’s book wins Australia Book of the Year award for first time.
 
 
 
 
By Josh Jones, Open Culture: John Mayer Teaches Guitarists How to Play the Blues in a 45-Minute Masterclass
 
 
 
 
Kathryn’s Report: Cessna A185F Skywagon, N5454E: Fatal accident occurred May 14, 2020 near Teshekpuk Lake Observatory, Alaska
 
 
 
 
https://youtu.be/zdnps6YMKSE
 
 
https://youtu.be/MnTa3s5epHA
 
 
https://youtu.be/GtNhN3fBunM

Recipes

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