Photo: WinslowDumaine via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Chicago is home to dozens of attractions that draw thousands of locals and tourists every year. And yet, none have caused the commotion the Chicago Rat Hole sparked a few months ago. While the buzz may have died down with time, the rat hole still prompted visits and tributes. Unfortunately, its tale has come to an end…at least for now. A few days ago, the city of Chicago extracted the sidewalk section where a rodent left its mark.

“Crews removed and successfully preserved the square of sidewalk containing the famous ‘Chicago Rat Hole’ and are storing it temporarily while its future location is determined,” a spokesperson for the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) said in a statement. “Given the notoriety, the goal was to remove it intact.”

The Chicago Rat Hole was located in the Roscoe Village neighborhood. The residents claimed that the dent had existed for decades, but it wasn't until January 2024 that it went viral on Twitter. People quickly made their way to West Roscoe Street, building a makeshift shrine, complete with a photo of a mouse, candles, and a cardboard coffin. Hundreds of eager visitors would stretch down the block. People paid their respects by leaving coins, stuffed toys, flowers, and wacky objects, like pills and store coupons.

Understandably, neighbors were upset by the trash and food littered at the site, as well as the noise made by visitors well into the night. Some people tried to take the matter into their own hands, filling and digging out the hole on multiple occasions since January. After months of issues, the alderman’s office asked CDOT to determine if the section of sidewalk met the criteria for repair and removal. Aware of the world-famous status of the rat hole, they aimed to save it in one piece, although they weren't sure if they'd be able to at first.

Now, the concrete slab with the rat hole is safely being stored by the CDOT while its future is determined. Although some would like it to go to a museum, it's unclear where it could it be displayed next, if at all. “There’s discussion about what could or should happen with it,” Paul Sajovec, chief of staff for 32nd Ward Ald. Scott Waguespack, who represents the area, told the Chicago Tribune. “It’s a piece of city infrastructure.”

A few days ago, the city of Chicago removed the sidewalk section where the world-famous Chicago Rat Hole stood.

Photo: JunLpermode via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Now, the concrete slab with the rat hole in it is safely stored away by the Chicago Department of Transportation while its future is determined.

The Chicago Rat Hole Memorial at night, a few hours after the cement/plaster had been cleared. (Photo: Piemadd via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

h/t: [Chicago Tribune]

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READ: Chicago Removes the World-Famous “Rat Hole” From Its Sidewalk

Photo: EnginKorkmaz/Depositphotos

Many artists work very hard, hoping for their breakthrough moment when galleries and museums finally exhibit their work. Instead of waiting for that invitation, one creative took matters into his own hands. A staff member at a German museum drilled two holes in a wall and mounted his own painting with the hopes of kickstarting his career. Much to his dismay, he has promptly been fired from the museum.

This took place at Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich. The museum is home to one of the most important modern art collections in Europe, as it features the works of Pablo Picasso, Max Ernst, Paul Klee, and Salvador Dalí among others. They also hold temporary exhibits celebrating the best in design and architecture.

The striving artist is a 51 year-old-man who was part of the museum's technical services team. He was helping install an exhibition in the architecture section when he snuck into the modern art floor to hang his own artwork while the museum was closed. “He was carrying tools, that’s why he went totally unnoticed,” said Tine Nehler, a museum spokeswoman, per The New York Times. “As a technician, he was able to move around all areas of the building outside of opening hours.”

The painting, measuring 23 x 47 inches, was hung in an empty passageway. While it’s not clear exactly how long it was hanging there, Nehler said it was promptly spotted by the supervisors. The piece was then returned to the man, who was fired and banned from visiting the museum again. Adding to his troubles, the local police were also investigating him for property damage due to the holes he drilled into the wall to place his artwork.

The man may have been inspired by a similar tale that took place months before in the city of Bonn, when a student smuggled and taped a painting at the Bundeskunsthalle. However, that tale had a much happier ending. Not only was the artwork only noticed towards the end of the exhibit, but the museum also found it hilarious. Once the artist's identity was revealed, they even helped them find a buyer for the piece. “We think it's funny and we want to get to know the artist. So get in touch! There's no trouble. Word of honor,” the gallery posted on Twitter.

Of course, this case in Munich has had a different outcome. It has led some in the art industry to question how much harm is done by these minor acts of rebellion and what the appropriate response is. In fact, many people took to social media to even request to see the man's artwork. Others have pointed out how this stunt would have earned praise, if it was done by someone like Banksy. The museum may have swiftly responded to it all, but the conversation is far from over for the industry as a whole.

A staff member at a German museum drilled two holes in a wall and mounted his own painting with the hopes of kickstarting his career.

Photo: anyaberkut/Depositphotos

Much to his dismay, he has promptly discovered and fired from the museum.

Photo: AllaSerebrina/Depositphotos

h/t: [BBC]

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READ: Museum Fires Employee for Hanging His Own Painting in an Exhibition

Photo: racorn/Depositphotos

Teachers are often some of the most influential people in their students' lives. They can encourage and support a child in a way that few others can. However, teachers routinely need to pay for their own classroom supplies, which cuts into their already limited paycheck. According to a recent report, educators in the United States spent approximately $3.24 billion of their own money on school supplies in 2023, with the average teacher spending $853.90.

These staggering numbers set a record for the highest amount ever reported. They could be partially linked to the increased prices due to inflation, but could also be related to the fact that salaries haven't increased to mitigate its effects. These factors, coupled with the after effects of COVID-19, has led to many educators leaving the industry and seeking other careers.

This information has made its way to Reddit, and the comment sections is full of current and former educators sharing their experiences. A top comment states, “My wife is a teacher here in the U.S. The amount of money we've spent on school supplies and snacks for these kids so they have stuff to eat each year would amaze.” Another comment reads, “The fact that teachers can only deduct 600 buck[s] on their taxes from what they spend is criminal. Teachers have to spend so freaking much of their own money, just to keep the schools running.”

The data is extremely revealing about the selfless spending of caring teachers and how budget cuts in education leads to more strain on teachers and, by extension, can lead to a poorer quality of learning for young minds. It is certainly something that requires more attention and needs to be addressed by the local and federal government.

A recent report discovered that teachers spent $3.24 billion dollars of their own money in 2023 on school supplies for their classrooms. Redditors chimed in to share their own experiences.

Comment
byu/GotTime4That from discussion
indataisbeautiful

Comment
byu/GotTime4That from discussion
indataisbeautiful

h/t: [My eLearning World]

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READ: Teachers in the United States Spent $3.24 Billion of Their Own Money in 2023

Photo: Aix-en-Provence

When Paul Cézanne was a young man, his father purchased a mansion in the French town of Aix-en-Provence. And, as any artist is apt to do, Cézanne took it upon himself to decorate the walls with his art. While it was thought that all of his oil paintings, watercolors, and murals in the home, known as Bastide du Jas de Bouffan, had been documented, we now know that this is not true.

During a renovation of the “Grand Salon” in August 2023, the remains of a previously unknown mural were discovered. Prior to the discovery, art historians had recorded nine Cézanne pieces in the home, which was sold by the artist and his sister in 1899. Those murals were transferred to canvas and dispersed to different museums. Now, this newly recovered work was recently presented at a press conference attended by Cézanne's great-grandson, as well as the mayor of Aix-en-Provence, and experts from Société Paul Cézanne and the Musée Granet.

Found under layers of plaster and wallpaper, the remains of the mural appear to show a maritime scene. The borders contain ship masts and banners flying in the breeze, though unfortunately, the central and lower sections have been ripped away, not allowing us to see what else the Post-Impressionist painter had in mind. “A sky, banners atop a ship’s mast? A port entrance? With this unexpected discovery, Cézanne has not finished moving us, either,” the mayor and French senator Sophie Joissains shared on Facebook.

Visitors will be able to enjoy the fragments of this new work once renovations are complete in time for the 2025 celebration that Aix-en-Provence is planning for Cézanne. Joissans added, “The public will then be able to discover this place, enriched by the updating of its first paintings produced from 1859, as well as by the arrival in Aix of the most famous of Cézanne’s paintings, The Card Players.”

And while you may be wondering if Cézanne left any more surprises, researchers shared that the rest of the home has been checked thoroughly, so they don't expect anything else to be discovered.

A mural by Paul Cézanne was discovered under wallpaper in plaster in his family home.

“House and Farm at Jas de Bouffan” by Paul Cézanne. 1887. (Photo: WikiArt, Public domain)

The remains of the mural appear to show a seascape, with ship masts and banners still visible.

Photo: Sophie Joissains

h/t: [Smithsonian Magazine]

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READ: Hidden Cézanne Mural Discovered in the Walls of the Post-Impressionist Artist’s Family Home

Granada Relocation Center, Amache, Colorado. A general all over view of a section of the emergency center looking north and west. (Photo: Parker, Tom, Photographer via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

The U.S. has a new national park—one that spotlights an important episode of recent American history. “Camp Amache,” also known as the Granada Relocation Center, was an incarceration camp for Japanese Americans during World War II. Now, it has been turned into the Amache National Historic Site, safeguarding the memory of this difficult chapter.

Located in rural southeastern Colorado, the Granada Relocation Center was one of ten such facilities. Following the Pearl Harbor attack in 1942, a wave of mistrust led the Roosevelt administration to detain over 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry, even those who were American citizens. Most of them were forced to leave their homes and live in camps, surrounded by barbed wire and armed guards, for the rest of the war.

President Biden designated Camp Amache as a national historical site nearly two years ago. With that, it is now the seventh internment camp from that period to get this designation. To make this a reality, the nearby town of Granada acquired and donated the land needed to establish the new national park. Before that, Amache was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on May 18, 1994, and designated a National Historic Landmark on Feb. 10, 2006.

Just a few days before the national Day of Remembrance of Japanese Incarceration During World War II on February 19, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland formally established the Amache National Historic Site. “Today’s establishment of the Amache National Historic Site will help preserve and honor this important and painful chapter in our nation’s story for future generations,” said Haaland in the statement. “As a nation, we must face the wrongs of our past in order to build a more just and equitable future.”

On top of emphasizing the importance of the site, the establishment of Amache as a national park means that it is now eligible for federal assistance. This way, not only they can get funding for protecting the original buildings, but also supporting the maintenance of reconstructed and restored structures from the WWII era, like a barrack, recreation hall, guard tower and water tank.

“Amache’s addition to the National Park System is a reminder that a complete account of the nation’s history must include our dark chapters of injustice,” National Park Service Director Chuck Sams said. “To heal and grow as a nation we need to reflect on past mistakes, make amends, and strive to form a more perfect union.”

Amache National Historic Site, a former incarceration camp for Japanese Americans during World War II, is the newest national park.

View of Granada War Relocation Center from the interpretive signs at the entrance. (Photo: Coasterlover1994 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

“Today’s establishment of the Amache National Historic Site will help preserve and honor this important and painful chapter in our nation’s story for future generations,” said Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland in the statement.

Granada Relocation Center, Amache, Colorado. Elementary school block at the Granada Project, Amache, Colorado.(Photo: Iwasaki, Hikaru, via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

National Park Service: Website
h/t: [Smithsonian Magazine]

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READ: Former Japanese Internment Camp in Colorado Is America’s Newest National Park

 

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Less than an hour after Banksy confirmed a new installation in South London, it vanished. But how is not a mystery. Two men were filmed taking down the traffic sign, which was covered in three planes that resembled military drones. The videos of two men taking bolt cutters to the stop sign were widely circulated on social media, with police already making arrests in the case.

This latest Banksy installation went up in the southeast district of Peckham, and while the elusive artist posted it to Instagram without a caption, it's largely believed to be a call for a ceasefire in Gaza. The artist has a long history in the region, with many of his iconic pieces going up in the West Bank, including his iconic girl holding a balloon.

As soon as Banksy posted the image, followers began commenting that it would soon be stolen. And, indeed, they were correct. The video shows one man holding a bicycle steady for another to climb on with bolt cutters. After prying the sign loose, they ran off.  The stop sign was then swiftly replaced by the city as a matter of public safety.

“We said, ‘What are you doing?’ but no one really knew what to do, we sort of just watched it happen,” a witness told a local news outlet. “We were all a bit bemused, there was some honking of car horns. He ripped it off and ran across the road and ran away. He said nothing. He didn’t seem to care that much about the art itself.”

A day later, local police arrested a 20-year-old man in connection with the crime. According to authorities, he has been released on bail. A second arrest was made the next day, with authorities stating that the man is in his 40s without releasing further details.

The drone imagery in relation to the West Bank is not uncommon for Banksy. The BBC points out that similar imagery was used in the artist's 2017 Walled Off Hotel, which opened in Bethlehem with a view of the Separation Barrier. At the time, the artist released the following statement: “2017 marks a hundred years since the British took control of Palestine and helped kick start a century of confusion and conflict.”

A new piece by Banksy, interpreted as a call for a ceasefire in Gaza, went up in London.

Embed from Getty Images

Less than an hour after Banksy confirmed authorship, the sign was stolen.

Embed from Getty Images

The two men, who were filmed in the act, have both been taken into custody by police.

Embed from Getty Images

Banksy: Instagram | Website
h/t: [The Guardian]

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READ: Two Men Arrested After Stealing Banksy Installation in Broad Daylight

Source: Google

Ever since it was created, Google has changed the way we learn and how we explore the world. As the company turns 25 years old, Google is looking back at the most searched topics, people, and events of the last two and a half decades. The tech company released a short film featuring everything from contemporary pop culture figures to world-changing historical events.

“25 years ago, the world started to search,” begins the video. Among the topics depicted in the video are “the most searched first step in history,” introducing the Apollo 11 landing on the Moon.  Some of the queries provide some insight into what some of the most popular things are, like the 1980s being the most searched decade, while Cristiano Ronaldo is the most searched athlete ever. Pop culture is heavily represented in the recap, with Google presenting the Harry Potter actors as the “most searched cast,” Taylor Swift as the “most searched songwriter,” and Spongebob Squarepants as the “most searched cartoon.”

In addition to the video, Google also shared Search Playground, a “Where's Waldo”-style game where users can find 25 of the most-searched people, food, places, and moments from the past 25 years by testing their knowledge and following the clues. “Trends were our compass,” writes the team. “We dove headfirst into the world's most searched queries, and from that treasure trove, we hand-picked 25 trends that capture the zeitgeist, spark global curiosity, and span every corner of the spectrum. There's something for everyone, zoom in enough and you’ll see.”

Also faithful to their annual traditions, Google present their Year in Search 2023. Globally, the top news story was the war in Israel and Gaza, while Damar Hamlin's health scare and recovery landed him atop of the most searched people list. Following the box office trend, Barbie was the most searched movie, while Hogwarts Legacy was the most searched game. Google also shared the top searches for Maps, where the most searched museum in the world was the Louvre and Barcelona's Park Güell was the most popular park.

You can browse Google's Year in Search 2023 report in its entirety here, as well as exploring what your local community is exploring by entering your city or zip code here.

Google is celebrating its 25th anniversary by looking back at the most searched terms with a poignant video and a game.

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Photo: astfreelancer/123RF

As 2023 comes to a close, we look back not only at the things we talked about all year, but also how we talked about them. Nothing encapsulates this as well as the Oxford Word of the Year, selected via public vote and the insight of a team of language experts. For 2023, the Word of the Year is “rizz,” a noun defined as “style, charm, or attractiveness; the ability to attract a romantic or sexual partner.”

Oxford University Press, which organizes the voting, writes: “2023 marked the era of personal—and professional—PR. And what does it take to command attention? A whole lot of charisma, or the shortened form, ‘rizz.’ Pertaining to someone’s ability to attract another person through style, charm, or attractiveness, this term is from the middle part of the word ‘charisma,’ which is an unusual word formation pattern. Other examples include ‘fridge’ (refrigerator) and ‘flu’ (influenza).”

According to the Oxford Monitor Corpus of English, the world barely began widespread usage in late 2022, before peaking in summer 2023. The term seems to have been carried to victory by actor Tom Holland. In June 2023, the Spider-Man star was asked in a Buzzfeed interview about the secret to his rizz, to which he answered, “I have no rizz whatsoever, I have limited rizz. My brother Paddy has ultimate rizz.”

“One of the reasons it’s moving from being a niche social media phrase into the mainstream is, it’s just fun to say,” Casper Grathwohl, president of Oxford Languages, told The New York Times. “When it comes off your tongue, there’s a little bit of joy that comes with it.”

On the way to becoming the 2023 Word of the Year, “rizz” beat out a group of finalists that also reflect the main stories of the year. The terms that almost made it to the top were “prompt,” an instruction given to an AI programs, algorithms, etc., which determines or influences the content it generates; “situationship,” a mix of “situation” and “relationship” that captures a romantic or sexual relationship that is not considered to be formal or established; and “swiftie,” a term to describe an enthusiastic fan of Taylor Swift.

While 2022 Word of the Year, “goblin mode” seems to have fizzled out, the 2018 winner, “toxic,” seems to remain strong and commonplace. Only time will tell if rizz, used mainly by Gen Zers, gets to maintain its hold on popular culture.

The 2023 Oxford Word of the Year is “rizz,” defined as “style, charm, or attractiveness; the ability to attract a romantic or sexual partner.”

The term seems to have been carried to victory by Tom Holland. In June 2023, the actor was asked about the secret to his rizz, to which he answered, “I have no rizz whatsoever, I have limited rizz.”

Photo: imagepressagency/Depositphotos

h/t: [Smithsonian Magazine]

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READ: ‘Rizz’ Is Named Oxford’s 2023 Word of the Year Thanks to Tom Holland

The Inverted Jenny stamp, 1918. (Photo: Siegel Auction Galleries)

Everyone has their hobby, and one of the most paradigmatic is stamp collecting. The hobby has existed since the 19th century when adhesive stamps began to be created, sold, and used. Enthusiasts can count among their members John Lennon, Amelia Earhart, Freddie Mercury, and King George V. But few of even the most elite stamp collectors get to purchase the stamp-collecting holy grail, the Inverted Jenny. Created by mistake in 1918, this pristine stamp sold for a hammer price at $1.7 million, or over $2 million with fees.

The Inverted Jenny was printed in 1918 to memorialize the beginning of regular air mail. However, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing messed up the printing of the 24-cent stamp. The image is flipped. Most of the misprints were destroyed, but one sheet was sold for $24 to a collector. Since then, it has achieved legendary status among stamp collectors. A group of four sold for $4.86 million with fees at Sotheby's in 2021. In 2018, a single in excellent condition sold for $1.35 million.

This most recent example was examined by two stamp grading authorities, dubbed “Mint Never-Hinged.” This is the pinnacle of stamp conditions. On November 8, 2023, it went to auction at Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries. “This is a historic moment for the hobby,” president Scott Trepel told ARTnews. “The Inverted Jenny we sold today is the best example of the 100 stamps from the sheet. We have tracked each of the stamps and are certain no other example compares to this one. For the collector, it simply doesn’t get better than this and the sale price of over $2 million reflects that fact.” While the stamp might seem like a niche prize, its has even penetrated popular culture, featuring in The Simpsons. It has even been forged. In a cute twist, the Post Office released a 95th anniversary set of Inverted Jenny stamps with two dollar value. Ironically, they made some right-side-up too, just to add to the collecting fun for everyone.

The Inverted Jenny stamp is the holy grail of stamp collecting, and fetched a hammer price of $1.7 million at auction.

“Le Philatéliste” or “The Philatelist,” by François Barraud, 1929. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

h/t: [Hype Beast, ARTnews]

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READ: Prized ‘Inverted Jenny’ Stamp Sells for $1.7 Million

Photo: sepavone/Depositphotos

Homelessness is an issue that many cities are trying to address and solve. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, a study found that a little help can put those in a vulnerable position on the right track. A project carried out by the Denver Basic Income Project found that direct cash assistance reduced homelessness, improved mental health, and increased employment among unhoused people in the city.

For the study, 800 unhoused residents of Denver were handed out monthly payments, no strings attached. They were divided in three groups: One receives $1,000 a month for a year; another is given $6,500 up front and then $500 a month; and the last one gets just $50 a month.

As the experiment reached the six month mark, many reported feeling safer, as well as having access to more stable living arrangements. “Many participants reported that they have used the money to pay off debt, repair their car, secure housing, and enroll in a course,” Mark Donovan founder and executive director of the Denver Basic Income Project told Insider. “These are all paths that could eventually lead participants out of poverty and allow them to be less dependent on social support programs.”

Donovan, an entrepreneur, first created Denver Basic Income Project in 2021. Having made money off Wooden Ships, a clothing company that specializes in sweaters for women, as well as an investment in Tesla, he decided to use some of that cash for good. With a $2 million contribution from the city of Denver, he began distributing money to others last year.

Of course, the results for each vary depending on how much money they received. While those who got $50 didn't report a significant improvement—and even felt a little more stressed—those who received $500 a month or more saw a dramatic change. According to an interim report, 8% of the participants reported sleeping outside at the beginning, which fell to 2% at the six-month follow-up. Meanwhile, 23% reported sleeping in a shelter before the experiment, which was reduced to 10% six months later.

Other cities have launched similar projects, like San Francisco and Vancouver. Both places are known for their high cost of living, which have pushed those who work minimum wage jobs to the brink. By comparison, the Denver experiment had similar findings to those preceding cases. “Housing improved, it reduced homelessness, it increased spending and savings over time, and was a net savings for government and taxpayers,” Jiaying Zhao, an associate professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia, who oversaw the Vancouver project, told The Guardian.

In the end, many systemic changes would be needed to fully eradicate homelessness. However, it's hopeful to see that, by using tools already at hand, vulnerable populations can be helped in concrete ways, improving their situation in the long run.

A study carried out by the Denver Basic Income Project found that direct cash assistance reduced homelessness, improved mental health, and increased employment among unhoused people in the city.

Photo: AlexBrylovy/Depositphotos

“Many participants reported that they have used the money to pay off debt, repair their car, secure housing, and enroll in a course,” said Mark Donovan founder and executive director of the Denver Basic Income Project.

Photo: felixtm/Depositphotos

h/t: [Futurism]

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READ: Denver Gave People $1,000 a Month, Led to Reduced Homelessness and Increased Full-Time Employment