The Daily Drift

Welcome to today's issue of Carolina Naturally

'Nuff Said!

Today is January 1, 2023

Today is: Nude Year's Day 

On This Day In History

In 1960CE: Johnny Cash plays first of many free concerts behind bars at San Quentin Prison, California; Merle Haggard is among the inmate audience

Ain't That The Truth

Editorial Comment

2023 has arrived!

The welcome party was a raging success and the main attraction said 'yes' so, now a wedding is in the works.

With everyone hoping for a good year let us all work to make it happen.

We do want to give a shout out to our readers from around the globe and say thanks for stopping by to read Carolina Naturally.

Remember to have fun and enjoy life.

Editorial Staff

Ancient Viking Hall of Harald Bluetooth’s Reign Discovered Near Mysterious Rune Stone

Extracting fact from fiction in the Norse Sagas has been an ongoing effort for archaeologists and a new Viking Hall discovery could hold the key to solving more ancient mysteries. A giant hall dating back to the reign of Harald Bluetooth was found in Denmark during a routine subdivision on a detached house plot of land. The structure is dated back to the late 10th century when Harald infamously introduced christianity to the area, a date which coincides with a nearby runestone. 
There are believed to be more structures in the surrounding area because it would be extremely rare for a hall such as this to exist as a stand-alone building. This is a major archaeological find and excavations are likely to turn up more runic messages from the past which can shed further light on what fueled the nation’s conversion to christianity. There are currently conflicting historical accounts, the most interesting of which purports King Harald performed a miracle to prove his delusions. The miracle claimed is that he was able to carry a great weight of fire-heated iron without being burned.
The miracle of being “untouched by fire nor iron” may tickle another Norse myth in your brain - the legendary Berserker warriors. These apex fighters were said to go into a frenzied fighting trance that allowed them to go through fire and swords without harm. They were associated with wolves and bears, sometimes being thought to transform into these creatures with supernatural abilities. This has led some to believe they may have even inspired the original werewolf mythology. 
Very little is known about these mysterious figures as few historical attentions survived, however it is shown they went from prized and highly valued warriors and royal guards to being outlawed at the beginning of the 11th century on the heels of christianity being introduced to the region. The pagan worship of the Norse god Odin was associated with the Berserkers, so these tales of King Harald would be consistent with religious appropriation of pagan beliefs to lend credence to the christian delusion.

Yesterday's Girl

Your Doctor Doesn’t Even Follow Medication Instructions

The next time your doctor tells you to lay off the ibuprofen, it might be because they want more for their own pain relief.
In a new study, passive-aggressively titled “A Taste of Their Own Medicine: Guideline Adherence and Access to Expertise,” researchers from MIT found that physicians and their families are more likely to violate medication instructions compared to the rest of us plebs. “There’s a lot of concern that people don’t understand guidelines, that they’re too complex to follow, that people don’t trust their doctors,” Amy Finkelstein, a professor in MIT’s Department of Economics, said in a press release. “If that’s the case, you should see the most adherence when you look at patients who are physicians or their close relatives. We were struck to find that the opposite holds — that physicians and their close relatives are less likely to adhere to their own medication guidelines.”
Finkelstein and her team analyzed prescription drug purchases, hospital visits and medical diagnoses from nearly 6,000,000 people in Sweden, including 149,399 doctors and their family members. While the general populace only followed medication guidelines 54.4 percent of the time, doctors and their kin were about 3.8 percentage points behind that.
Your Doctor Doesn’t Even Follow Medication Instructions

The Badass Backstories of 5 Incredibly Mundane Things

You might be familiar with the saying, “familiarity breeds contempt.” It’s most often used to talk about relationships, and the way that spending a ton of time with someone can exacerbate their worst traits. I think it can apply to much more than just romance, though. Almost anything, when we’re overly used to it, can start to lose the curiosity and wonder it deserves. Things that are pretty incredible can quickly become boring or even annoying. In our modern lives, there are so many small things we take for granted without ever wondering where they might have come from, what problems they might have solved or if they have some hidden insane history.
Along those lines, here are five mundane things that have a much more badass backstory than you might assume.
The Badass Backstories of 5 Incredibly Mundane Things

Times Imprisonment Gave Birth to Awesome Ideas

Arguably the worst thing about prison, aside from the shitty food, potential violence, and general systemic inequality, is the loss of control. There’s always someone telling you where to go, what to do, who to do it with, and what role you’ll be playing in Shakespeare on the Block that season. While at home, you can do anything you can find a YouTube tutorial for, it’s very hard to learn, say, ballroom dancing in prison. The guards do not like it when you cut in – not since the incident.
That’s why it’s all the more impressive when people do manage major accomplishments on the inside. Through sheer human perseverance (and a LOT of “me” time), they earn degrees, get buff, master the shiv shave, you name it. The truly special have even created masterpieces, cured diseases, and built entire business empires, all from a cramped and probably deeply unpleasant-smelling cell.

15 Times Imprisonment Gave Birth to Awesome Ideas

Science “Facts” That Aren’t Facts At All

Think back to your high school science classes. Seriously, try really hard. Do you remember literally anything? Of course not. You were just trying to scribble down whatever you thought the teacher wanted to hear and then forcefully ejecting it from your brain the moment the bell rang so you could focus on your real passion: color guard.
As a result, most of us don’t actually know that much about science, which is kind of a good thing. If we did, we’d all be scientists, and that would be chaos. Who would drive the buses? Build the buildings? Decorate the erotic cakes? No one wants to live in a world without those things, so don’t feel too bad if you were walking around out there, on your way to your job at the erotic bakery, believing these myths, but you should make an effort to educate yourself as much as possible. No one likes a dummy penis froster.
15 Science “Facts” That Aren’t Facts At All

Truly Bizarre Old-Timey Fitness Fads And Contraptions

Ah, the ever-evolving history of health and wellness! From the 19th century mechanotherapy of Dr. Zander to the 21st century Bongo Boarding of the beach babes, the human race has always sought out ways to stay healthy, fit, and beautiful. And, of course, our methods of achieving these goals have changed drastically over the years. From the Reduce-o-Matic of the 1940s to the Vinegar and Water Diet of Lord Byron’s 1820s, we’ve seen it all.
But one thing has remained constant: our human desire to look and feel our best. From the Molby Revolving Hammock of the 1920s to the portable Finnish saunas of the 1960s, we have always sought out new and innovative ways to stay in shape and look our best.
So, if you’re looking to get in shape and stay healthy, why not take a journey through time and explore some of the most interesting and unusual fitness trends of the past? From the belt vibrators of the 1900s to the facial exercises of centuries ago, this list has it all. So buckle up and get ready to explore the wild and wonderful world of fitness from the past!
15 Truly Bizarre Old-Timey Fitness Fads And Contraptions

Dreaming Of Yesteryear

‘Small Dick Energy’: Greta Thunberg's Epic Smackdown Of Andrew Tate

British social media influencer had his ass handed to him by the teenage climate activist.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg had a fiery response to controversial influencer Andrew Tate's attempt to boast about his carbon-dioxide-emitting cars.
Tate, a self-described “success coach” who has been criticized online for a brand that many people describe as misogynistic, tweeted an image of himself with a car Tuesday. He addressed Thunberg directly, tagging her and writing: “Please provide your email address so I can send a complete list of my car collection and their respective enormous emissions.”
Thunberg — who is known for her signature no-nonsense, blunt style of speaking — quipped back Wednesday. She wrote, "yes, please do enlighten me." She then shared a fake email address at which to reach her: "smalldickenergy@getalife.com."
The stupid thing about this is that after her epic smackdown it'll be Tate that's gloating as he gets worldwide attention for being a knob.
‘Small Dick Energy’: Greta Thunberg's Epic Smackdown Of Andrew Tate

Watch Massive Dickhead Andrew Tate Get Arrested For Human Trafficking

Teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg thoroughly savaged British-American media personality, former professional kickboxer Andrew Tate. Yes, big badass Andrew got beat up by Greta, which was glorious.
Tate's day just got worse as he and his brother Tristan were hauled in by Romanian authorities in a human trafficking probe.
Watch Massive Dickhead Andrew Tate Get Arrested For Human Trafficking

Greta Thunberg mocks Andrew Tate after he was arrested in Romania

• Greta Thunberg tweeted gleefully after Andrew Tate was arrested in Romania.

• She seemed to allude to a theory that he led police to him with a pizza box in a post insulting her.

• Tate was arrested as part of a human-trafficking investigation.

Greta Thunberg mocked Andrew Tate Friday after he was detained by police in Romania, appearing to zoom in on a theory that a pizza box contributed to his arrest.

It came after Tate, an influencer known for misogynistic posts, picked a fight with Thunberg, a Swedish teen climate activist, bragging about his carbon emissions and prompting a put-down from the 19-year-old activist.

Greta Thunberg mocks Andrew Tate after he was arrested in Romania, likely over a tip-off theory from their Twitter fight 

The Battle Over the Ken Doll's Bulge

Ruth Handler designed an adult fashion doll for little girls to play with. Her name was Barbie, and she hit the market in 1959. The Barbie doll became a hit, and soon Handler decided she should have a boyfriend. Mattel went to work on a doll named Ken, after Handler's son. But there was a problem. The dolls were meant to be dressed and undressed, because they were fashion dolls. Barbie appeared anatomically correct (if unrealistic) for an adult woman. What would Ken look like undressed?
No one wanted to give Ken realistic genitalia, but Handler wanted him to have a "bulge" in his pelvis. The male executives at Mattel were horrified and resisted the idea. The doll would not be anatomically correct without one, and it would look weird even with clothing on. But how big would such a bulge be? Would a bulge traumatize little girls, or would the lack of one be worse? After all, little girls have fathers and brothers. And Mattel executives knew that the first thing a child does to a fashion doll is to undress it. Maybe they could paint permanent underwear on Ken. Read about the fight over Ken's crotch and how he ended up the way he is at Business Insider.

Nine states seeking to ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth in 2023

In 2023, nine states will introduce legislation to block transgender youth from seeking gender-affirming care, The Hill reports.
The states include Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. Over 20 bills have been introduced in these states in an attempt to block the life-saving medical care.
Nine states seeking to ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth in 2023

Way Back When

Women Who Do These 5 Things Are The Ones Who Find Truly Romantic Love

The quest for romantic love is one of the most primitive and powerful urges we have.
More than a simple feeling or emotion, love is what the ancient Greeks called “the madness of the Gods.”
Today, we know it as both a natural addiction and a physiological drive like hunger or thirst. With so much primal brain power at work, it is no wonder that finding true love can seem like an overarching goal. Yet love is elusive, and the harder we try to find it, the more it seems to slip through our grasp.
Although there are no surefire methods for discovering your true love, science shows us that certain elements need to be in place before it can happen.
You need to have a loving and open relationship with yourself, and an innate understanding of what you need and desire from your ideal mate.
Focus on solving these mysteries, and you will open the door for true love to find you
Women Who Do These 5 Things Are The Ones Who Find Truly Romantic Love

Things Women Wish Men Would Stop Doing Altogether

What’s something you wish men would stop doing altogether? Recently someone asked the women of a popular internet forum this question. Thousands of women deliberated to deliver this list. 

10 Terrible Things Women Wish Men Would Stop Doing Altogether

Fantasizing About Someone Else During Sex: How Much Is Too Much?

If you’re in a monogamous relationship, then you’ve already agreed not to wander into bed with someone else. Going there in your mind, however, is something else entirely. Fantasies are fair game. And they’re also almost impossible to police. Though our partners may want to assume themselves the only erotic muse around, the reality is some understudy has probably graduated to the lead role in our mental movies on far more than one occasion. Chances are you fantasize about someone else during sex. But does that habit ever pose a problem? 

“Having sexual fantasies of someone other than your long-term partner is completely natural,” says Dr. Tarra Bates-Duford, a marriage and family therapist. “Erotic fantasies are often pleasant daydreams that can be used to explore one’s creative side, act upon sexual desires we have difficulty acting out in ‘real life.’”

Fantasizing About Someone Else During Sex: How Much Is Too Much?

Things Science Taught Us About Sex In 2022

Olivia tells us:
2022 has been memorable for a lot of reasons—including what science taught us about sex. So here’s a quick recap of some of the many interesting things we learned about sex this year, as well as some of 2022’s top sexuality headlines in the news.
1.) Most romantic relationships develop between friends, not strangers. 
Relationship research has historically focused quite heavily on relationships that form between strangers, but what about the friend-to-lovers pathway? A study published this year tackled this question by examining data from 7 different relationship studies featuring 1,900 adults from North America. For heterosexual people, dating someone you were friends with first was common, with 68% having experienced this. However, among gay and queer participants, the rate was much higher at 85%. Do folks set out to find relationships through friends first, or does it happen naturally? While this study did not ask that particular question, it did address whether participants thought of the friend-to-lover pipeline as desirable, and nearly half did. Additional research is needed in this area, but this preliminary work certainly raises interesting questions regarding whether friends-first relationships are stronger than other types of relationships, as well as how online dating apps might adapt in the future in light of these findings.
2.) LGBTQ+ Identification in the U.S. has doubled since 2012, and LGBTQ+ marriage rates have been stable since 2015. 
Over the last decade, the LGBTQ+ community has grown. For example, according to annual Gallup polls on sexual identification, the percentage of Americans identifying as LGBTQ+ has increased from 3.5% in 2012 to 7.1% in 2022, with the largest percentage of folks within this group (4%) identifying as bisexual. It’s likely that these changes stem, in part, from more accepting attitudes toward and visibility of gender and sexual diversity. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Gen Z and Millennials report the highest LGBTQ+ identification rates at 20.8% and 10.5%, respectively. But when it comes to marriage rates among LGBTQ+ folks, a different story emerges. Immediately following Obergefell vs. Hodges, the 2015 Supreme Court case that legalized same-sex marriage, marriage rates jumped from 8% to 10%. Since then, those rates have remained stable at around 10% even as LGBTQ+ identification continues to increase. It’ll be interesting to see how those rates change in the coming years, especially since the passage of the Defense of Marriage Act, which provides additional protection for same-sex and interracial marriage.  
3.) Americans’ attitudes towards sex are the most liberal on record.
Media surrounding the 2022 U.S. midterm elections focused heavily on the impact that new Gen Z voters made on the results given their increasingly progressive political views. However, on questions relating to sex, it looks like Americans overall are becoming more liberal in their attitudes, especially when it comes to beliefs surrounding the LGBTQ+ community. Gallup’s 2022 Moral Issues Survey shows that approval of gay and lesbian relationships jumped from 40% in the early 2000s to 71% in 2022. The survey recorded significant leaps in other areas of sexual morality attitudes as well, including increased acceptability of divorce (59% to 81%), having a baby outside of marriage (45% to 70%), and polygamy (7% to 23%). Also, in light of this year’s Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, which previously guaranteed a constitutional right to abortion, we’ve seen that the moral acceptability of abortion has increased ten percentage points over the last 20 years and now has majority support. You can learn more about this survey here. 
4.) There are 7 major relationship “dealbreakers.”
While honesty, intelligence, and a sense of humor consistently rise to the top in psychology research focused on what people want out of a relationship, research published this year illuminates the traits that might not get you a second date. Among 2,400 heterosexual European adults, seven “deadly sins” of a potential partner emerged for both men and women, including ambitiousness, arrogance, and physical unattractiveness. However, some variation in the ranking of these traits emerged when considering short-term vs. long-term relationship contexts. The study focused on self-report in a hypothetical dating context, so future research on whether people actually stick to these dealbreakers could provide more insight into how personality traits affect dating success in both the short and long term. To see the full list and learn more about this study, check out this article.  
5.) On average, people report having 3-4 orgasms per week.
How many orgasms do you have in a given week? In a study on orgasm frequency published this year, researchers found that, on average, people report having between three and four of them (or about one every other day). However, the average for men was closer to four, while the average for women was closer to three. Roughly half of those orgasms were estimated to occur during masturbation, while the other half were reported to occur during partnered activity. However, some people are orgasming quite a bit more. In fact, about one in four men and one in ten women report having 7 or more orgasms per week (or at least one per day on average). Why is this important to know? Some people have argued that orgasm frequency may be an objective measure of hypersexuality, or having a sex drive that is “too high,” and they have specifically proposed that 7 or more orgasms per week is the cutoff. However, using this cutoff arbitrarily categories a huge number of people as having a problem when, in fact, no such problem may exist. For this reason, looking at orgasm frequency as a proxy for hypersexuality is problematic. Learn more about the debate surrounding hypersexuality and how it is defined here.   
6.) Another viral outbreak renewed debates regarding sexual risk and public health. 
Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, another outbreak dominated the news: mpox, formerly known as monkeypox. Unlike COVID-19, mpox is not a novel virus, but rather an existing one that had a resurgence in the spring of 2022 with a peak in late summer. Characterized by a painful rash accompanied by flu-like symptoms, mpox is certainly alarming, but thankfully much less dangerous than its viral cousin smallpox. Additionally, due to mpox’s global circulation over the past several decades, a vaccination was already developed and deployed within the U.S. soon after the outbreak began. But another story with mpox has to do with a number of myths about the virus that in some ways reflect earlier public health debates surrounding HIV and AIDS. For example, because early reporting from the CDC and other health organizations identified the virus’ spread within LGBTQ+ communities, some outlets began describing mpox as a “gay disease” and as an STI, both of which are untrue. Check out this article to learn more about mpox, challenges to the myths surrounding it, and what to do to keep yourself safe.
7.) Sex education in 2022: we’re moving backwards.
In January 2022, updated statistics regarding sex education in the U.S. highlighted the nation’s lack of investment in this area, with 21 states lacking any legislation requiring any form of sex education at all, as well as a lackluster degree of implementation for effective comprehensive sex education across the nation. That’s bad news, especially in a year when access to reproductive health services were seriously curtailed, given that one of the most effective strategies for reducing unintended pregnancies and abortions is comprehensive sex education and access to no-cost contraceptives. Teachers and educators also encountered new restrictions on what they can and can’t discuss with students in the classroom with at least 20 states introducing “Don’t Say Gay” bills this year. At a time when we need comprehensive sex ed more than ever, it’s (sadly) becoming increasingly difficult to come by.

7 Things Science Taught Us About Sex In 2022

Four of Yore

The Weird Thing About Geosynchronous Orbits

Floating high above our world, there's a network of satellites that are watching us. They relay information from and to earth, and to each other. They enable our global phone, TV, and internet systems. They geolocate us and allow GPS to send us on our way. And since they appear to stay in the same place all the time, they must have very specific orbits. Geosynchronous orbits and geostationary orbits are not exactly the same, but they are both rather weird. They would not be possible if our planet were the slightest bit different from the way it is. In other words, if we lived on Jupiter or Venus, we couldn't have satellite TV. Imagine that. Minute Physics tells us why.

The Weird Thing About Geosynchronous Orbits

The 5 Strangest Fish Caught

2022 was another year of weird fish. After a number of unusual underwater creatures were caught in 2021, anglers managed to document some truly wild specimens this year. These aren't the biggest fish of the year—but they're some of the most notable catches regardless. If anything, it underscores one of the best parts about fishing: You never really know what you might reel in.

The 5 Strangest Fish Caught

Cloistered Arctic Whales Face A Bigger Climate Threat Than Polar Bears

They swim in icy waters off the coast of Greenland, dive to depths of nearly two kilometers and are so secluded that, once upon a time, their long, straight tusks could be pawned off by Vikings on gullible Europeans as unicorn horns.
Narwhals, like other animals that live year-round in the Arctic Ocean, belong to an exclusive club that faces increasing numbers of gatecrashers.
Cloistered Arctic Whales Face A Bigger Climate Threat Than Polar Bears

Animal Pictures

The Daily Drift

Welcome to today's issue of Carolina Naturally

'Nuff Said!

Today is December 31, 2022

Today is: Nude Year's Eve 

On This Day In History

In 1879CE: Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera "Pirates of Penzance" premieres in NYC

Ain't That The Truth

Editorial Comment

Starting the festivities with Springtime weather and continuing into Autumn weather this evening - if only the rain would be light ... but being wet is part of the evening's plans, what with the hot tub and all. And of course, the fire pit will be blazing.

It will be nice to ring in the Nude Year with a few dozen naked friends.

And is plans go as planned Susan will say "yes" to Larry's ring ... she has said for years that when she was proposed to, she would be nude when it happened - after Larry came into her life he listened and tonight her prediction will become reality.

We do want to give a shout out to our readers in France and the US and say thanks for stopping by to read Carolina Naturally.

Remember to have fun and enjoy life.

Editorial Staff

Happy Nude Year

A Vast 2,000-Year-Old Mayan ‘Kingdom’ Discovered in Guatemala Challenges Ideas of Mesoamerica

The remains of a vast Mayan “kingdom” were found in Northern Guatemala, raising questions over the daily lives and demise of its inhabitants 2,000 years ago, according to a report published in the journal Ancient Mesoamerica earlier this month.

The ancient metropolis contained more than 1,000 settlements densely packed together over 650 square miles — challenging the theory that most Mesoamerican settlements were sparsely populated. The site was discovered by an international team of researchers from the United States and France, who published their findings in the journal.

A Vast 2,000-Year-Old Mayan ‘Kingdom’ Discovered in Guatemala Challenges Ideas of Mesoamerica

This May Be The Oldest Archeological Site In The United States

• Cactus Hill Challenging The Accepted Theory

• The Cactus Hill Archeological Site & What Was Discovered

• Is The Cactus Hill Archeological Site Visitable?

It has long been thought that the populating of the Americas after their break out of the Bering Land Bridge area only occurred around 12-14,000 ago (the remains of the Bering Land Bridge are now preserved in the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve in Alaska). But there are a number of archeological sites around the Americas that are now challenging that view. One archeological find is the preserved footprints in the White Sands National Park that may be over 20,000 years old.
But perhaps the oldest and most persuasive archeological site in the United States is Cactus Hill in Virginia. It is located on sand dunes only around 45 miles south of Richmond and may have been inhabited 18,000 to 20,000 years ago. Cactus Hill was named for the prickly pear cacti that grow in numbers in the area.

This May Be The Oldest Archeological Site In The United States

The Top Art and Archaeological Discoveries in 2022

With the year coming to a close, we think that it’s the right time for listing all the highlights we had in the year. While we can talk about pop culture and other topics that went on the news, there’s also another thing that we should highlight for 2022: exploration and discovery. 
It may seem that we’re pandering to academia more, but we believe that it’s always nice to acknowledge what mankind found out this year about our past or the very planet we’re living on. From random discoveries of rings, while using a metal detector, to discovering a Byzantine-era mosaic artwork on somebody’s farm, CNN has compiled its list of the top art and archaeological discoveries in 2022. 
One of the most bizarre and unexpected discoveries featured in the list was experts finding a secret tunnel that leads to what potentially could be Cleopatra’s tomb. You know, the one place that eluded archaeologists for decades. 
If you’re intrigued to learn more, check CNN’s full piece here.

Party Crowd

 

100 Facts We Learned in 2022

If you've got some free time between holidays, you might want to read, or at least skim through, a list of some things we learned in 2022 on a wide-ranging number of subjects, like animals, artificial intelligence, art, archaeology (wait, is this list in alphabetical order?), music, space, celebrities, health (I guess not), pets, chemistry, food, history, and more. You need to know about how a new Guinness World record was set for a mass gathering of vampires, how monkeys use tools for masturbation, and how a poll to name a Uranus probe didn't result in "Uranus Probe."  

Mental Floss has put together a mega-list recapping the tidbits of knowledge that crawled across the internet in 2022. You can listen to it the Mental Floss List Show video, but it's 52 minutes long. Lucky for us, they also give us the text version, so you can skip the stuff you already know, if that's what you prefer.   

100 Facts We Learned in 2022

Parks Canada Announces the Most Memorable Public Toilets Of 2022

There are plenty of lists detailing the events of 2022, and ranking the movies, albums, celebrities, and other things that made a splash during the year. If you happen to cover, or be an expert in, something that's a bit off the beaten path, there's no reason you can't make your own year-end list of what you know. And so, we have a list of 2022's most memorable public latrines offered by Canada's national parks and historic sites. The federal agency Parks Canada puts in a lot of work to make sure visitors are able to go when they need to go. The facilities are designed to serve while blending in with the natural world.  

Canadian travel writer Jennifer Bain has visited all the parks, which are large and natural, meaning there isn't modern plumbing available everywhere. The particular benefit of each outhouse is honestly described. They are all functional, which is most important, but they all have something that makes them interesting, like a clever design, a wonderful view, or surprising features like motion-sensor lights. The roundup is a lot more interesting than you would imagine, and it may even entice you to visit some of these parks. 

Sherlock Holmes and Other Works Entering the Public Domain in 2023

Every year, many classical creative works enter the public domain on January 1^st under US copyright law. Most are forgotten and forgettable, but some still draw in audiences. Smithsonian magazine has a roundup of some of the more famous works that will no longer pay royalties to the estates of their creators. Among them are the original Sherlock Holmes stories of Arthur Conan Doyle, who died in 1930.
Another is, appropriately, the song “The Best Things in Life are Free,” written by Buddy DeSylva, Lew Brown, and Ray Henderson in 1927. This song, which revived in popularity due to film performances in the 1950s, is still commanding popular attention—it was recently featured in the TV series White Lotus.
Some classic films are also entering the public domain, including Alan Crosland’s The Jazz Singer and Fritz Lang’s Metropolis. Learn about them and more at Smithsonian.

Party Starting

Former Nazi concentration camp secretary, 97, appeals guilty verdict

A 97-year-old former secretary at a Nazi concentration camp has filed an appeal against the guilty verdict she was given for her role in the deaths that took place at her place of work during World War II.

The appeal means that Germany's highest criminal court, the Federal Court of Justice, has to examine whether a procedural error was made.

"The verdict is thus not legally binding," the lower court in Itzehoe in northern Germany said on Wednesday.

Identified only as Irmgard F under German privacy laws, she was found guilty on December 20 of complicity in more than 10,500 cases of murder and given a two-year suspended sentence by a court in northern Germany.

Seventy-seven years after the end of World War II, Irmgard F's case is sure to be one of the last trials held in Germany dealing with the crimes of the Holocaust.

Imgard F had worked as a civilian employee in the commandant's office of Stutthof near what was then the Free City of Danzig, now Gdańsk in northern Poland, from June 1943 to April 1945, and therefore was found culpable for having assisted those in charge of the concentration camp in the systematic killing of inmates.

Because she was only 18 to 19 years old at the time of the crimes, the trial was held before a juvenile court in the small town of Itzehoe.

The Wiesenthal Centre, which has become known for its search for Nazi criminals in hiding, criticized the appeal as an "insult to the memory of those who died in Stutthof."

The appeal is "totally unwarranted and unjust," the head of the Wiesenthal Centre in Israel, Efraim Zuroff, said.

"This female criminal was lucky to be spared any incarceration, in view of her role in the deaths of over 10,000 innocent victims," he said. An acquittal would be akin to "erasing the memory of the crimes she helped commit and the memory of those who perished."

The court's suspended sentence was in line with what the prosecution had requested. The defense had demanded acquittal.

During the Holocaust, the German Nazi regime systematically murdered about 6 million Jews in Europe between 1941 and 1945, a genocide that amounted to about two-thirds of Europe's Jewish population.

Read More