Contributor Posts

Over half of Stockton, California’s residents are diabetic or prediabetic. A prescribed meal program aims to change that. More at Reasons to be Cheerful ➜

"Language is an instrument of great precision and poignancy — our best tool for telling each other what the world is and what we are, for conveying the blueness of blue and the wonder of being alive. But it is also a thing of great pliancy and creativity — a living reminder that how we name things changes what we see, changes the seer" .....Read more at the Marginalian

"Much like love itself, St. Valentine and his reputation as the patron saint of love are not matters of verifiable history, but of faith". Read more

Leadership, discovery, and global change often define February. From George Washington’s birth and the founding of the Boy Scouts to the Yalta Conference and the discovery of Pluto, events in February highlight decisions and breakthroughs that shaped nations and expanded human understanding.

Across eras, February often marks turning points—when alliances form, ideas take hold, and scientific advances push history in new directions. These moments show how even a short month can leave a lasting imprint on the world.

Explore historical events throughout February by viewing the full month timeline, or jump to a specific date to see what happened on this day in history—from February 1 through February 28 (or 29). Use the timeline to research individual dates or trace the events that define February’s place in history.

"It’s the big threat. A cheap, white powder — 50 times more powerful than heroin — which kills more than 70,000 people each year in the United States and countless others across the rest of the Western Hemisphere. EL PAÍS, in a long-term investigation that spanned two continents and included interviews with anti-drug czars in the U.S. and China, visited the clandestine laboratories in Sinaloa, where fentanyl is manufactured".......Read More at El Pais ➜  Also Read: How the United States got hooked on fentanyl 

Many people are wired to seek and respond to rewards. Your brain interprets food as rewarding when you are hungry and water as rewarding when you are thirsty. But addictive substances like alcohol and drugs of abuse can overwhelm the natural reward pathways in your brain, resulting in intolerable cravings and reduced impulse control. More at The Conversation ➜

"This revolutionary prosthetic limb is giving amputees the chance to regain natural movement. Developed by bioengineers at Johns Hopkins University, the prosthetic limb connects directly to the wearer's peripheral nervous system. The limb is controlled by the wearer's own thoughts, allowing them to move the prosthesis with the same ease as a real limb. More at WIRED UK ➜

"In a “time bank,” members accumulate bankable hours, for instance by babysitting or doing repairs, and get “repaid” with assistance when they need it, usually later in life"   More at Reasons to be Cheerful ➜ 

"Kochava, the self-proclaimed industry leader in mobile app data analytics, is locked in a legal battle with the Federal Trade Commission in a case that could lead to big changes in the global data marketplace and in Congress’ approach to artificial intelligence and data privacy"  More at The Conversation ➜

"Supporters are calling on the school to reinstate what would have been 87-year-old artist’s first retrospective in the US...a show, titled Centers of Energy .... according to a missive penned by a board member of the  artist’s foundation, Madison Gordon, the school abruptly canceled the show via email in late December due to “safety concerns....The circulating petition, and emails reviewed by Hyperallergic, suggest that the university’s decision is related to Halaby’s vocal pro-Palestine advocacy, including her social media activity". More at Hyperallergic ➜    

"The strategy behind the “No-Blame” approach is counterintuitive but effective: enlisting the bullies’ help to solve the problem." More at Reasons to be Cheerful ➜

The removal of the Great Works Dam on the Penobscot River in Old Town, Maine shows that when dams are removed, a river and its fish can recover with surprising speed. More at Reasons to be Cheerful ➜ Krause