Instagram active users slams Twitter by 2x

The folks at Instagram have announced that they’ve hit a major milestone in the brief history of their existence. They’ve racked up a cool 700-million monthly active users, with growth between 600M and 700M happening at a rate greater than any other 100M span they had before. Of course there were other major events in the history of this photo-based … Continue reading

How Air Pollution Gets Into The Bloodstream And Damages The Heart

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Inhaled nanoparticles like those pumped out in vehicle exhausts can work their way through the lungs and into the bloodstream where they can raise the risk of heart attack and stroke, scientists said on Wednesday.

In experiments using harmless ultra-fine particles of gold, the scientists were able for the first time to track how such nanoparticles are breathed in, pass through the lungs and then gain access to the blood.

Most worryingly, the researchers said at a briefing in London, the nanoparticles tend to build up in damaged blood vessels of people who already suffer from coronary heart disease – the condition that causes heart attacks – and make it worse.

“There is no doubt that air pollution is a killer, and this study brings us a step closer to solving the mystery of how air pollution damages our cardiovascular health,” said Jeremy Pearson, a professor and associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation charity, which part-funded the study.

Experts have long known that air pollution carries serious health risks and can trigger fatal heart attacks and strokes. According to the World Health Organization, outdoor air pollution in both cities and rural areas was estimated to cause 3.0 million premature deaths worldwide in 2012.

But until now, scientists had not been sure how particles inhaled into the lungs go on to affect heart health. The new findings, published on Wednesday in the journal ACS Nano, build on previous evidence and show that particles in the air we breathe get into blood and are carried to many different parts of the body, including arteries, blood vessels and the heart

“If reactive particles like those in air pollution … reach susceptible areas of the body then even (a) small number of particles might have serious consequences,” said Mark Miller, a senior research scientist at the University of Edinburgh, who led the study.

Miller’s team used specialist techniques to track harmless gold nanoparticles breathed in by volunteers. They found the nanoparticles can migrate from the lungs into the bloodstream within 24 hours and are still detectable three months later.

The researchers also analyzed surgically removed plaques from people at high risk of stroke and found that the nanoparticles tended to accumulate in the fatty plaques that grow inside blood vessels and cause heart attacks and strokes.

Nicholas Mills, a professor of cardiology who also worked on the study, said the findings showed the importance of cutting emissions and limiting peoples’ exposure to nanoparticles.

 

(Editing by Catherine Evans)

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101-Year-Old Becomes Oldest Woman Ever To Win Gold In 100-Meter Race

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A 101-year-old from Chandigarh, India, made history at the World Masters Games on Monday when she became the oldest woman ever to claim gold in the 100-meter dash. 

Man Kaur completed the sprint in 74 seconds. She was the only athlete to compete in her age bracket.

Kaur celebrated her win with a little dance, the BBC reported.

This year’s World Masters Games are being held in Auckland, New Zealand. The Olympic-style event is held every four years and features participants of varying abilities, usually age 35 and older.

A multi-sport athlete, Kaur also took home gold in the 200-meter dash and shot-put events, according to CNN. She will compete in the javelin throw on Thursday.

The New Zealand media has taken to calling her the “miracle from Chandigarh,” according to the BBC.

But did Kaur even give it her all? The Times of India quoted her son, Gurdev Singh, as saying, “Mother could have run faster.”

Here are a few more pictures of the incredible Man Kaur:

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News Roundup for April 26

Lots of news today. Just like every other day.

1. A Federal Judge has blocked Trump’s attempts to punish sanctuary cities. Is it just us, or is Trump (thankfully) not very effective? More here.

2. Michael Flynn probably broke the law. We cannot wait for the Lifetime movie about Trump’s presidency. So. Much. Scandal. More here.

3. Kelly Wright is joining the racial discrimination lawsuit against Fox. None of us are surprised that Fox nurtured a racist attitude off air. More here.

4. The fight for Obamacare is now threatening government shutdown. Democrats are using the budget as leverage to force Republicans hands in supporting the ACA. More here.

5. Are we finally in the era where sexual harassment and rape are not tolerated and perpetrators actually have to face consequences? Probably not, but we can dream. More here.

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32 Museums Across NYC Are 'Trading Places' And Taking Fans With Them

On April 26, museums across New York City are switching Instagram accounts with one another for the sake of art lovers everywhere. The social media initiative, called #MuseumInstaSwap, hopes to introduce loyal followers of certain institutions to other local spots they have not yet explored. 

It’s basically “Freaky Friday,” but with museums. 

There are 32 museums participating in the campaign, including the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Guggenheim Museum, the Studio Museum in Harlem, the Jewish Museum, the El Museo del Barrio, the Met Breuer, MoMA PS1 and many more institutions that are must-visits for people living in or traveling to NYC.

During #MuseumInstaSwap, each participating organization is assigned a partner museum and, throughout the day, is encouraged to post photos from the other’s collection, giving peeks into rarely seen corners while drawing parallels to their own holdings.

Museums can sometimes feel like isolated, enclosed worlds, but they are in fact part of a significant network of New York art centers, engaged in constant conversation. The swap hopes to illuminate the connections between museums like the American Folk Art Museum and the Japan Society, or the New Museum and the Drawing Center, thereby enhancing the experience of both. 

This year, most major New York institutions seem to be participating, though some historic havens like the Met are represented by their smaller outposts ― the Met Breuer. A few particularly interesting partnerships include the Museum of the City of New York and the Queens Museum, meant to illustrate the ways in which the two New York establishments approach the city’s history. The American Folk-Japan Society swap started the morning off by introducing their followers to the former’s stunning “Third Gender” show, now on view. 

The social media initiative will hopefully introduce art lovers to new museums and collections they might not be familiar with, through the spaces they already know and love.

Follow #museuminstaswap today to get your full serving of art and museum history. 

Today is #MuseumInstaSwap day! We’ll be exploring works from @JapanSociety_NYC’s current #exhibition “A Third Gender: Beautiful Youths in Japanese Prints” and making connections between our two institutions. We hope you enjoy this unique exchange! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ “A Third Gender” is the first exhibition in North America dedicated to “wakashu,” the word for attractive young males who were considered neither men nor women, but who occupied a distinct and desirable third gender category during #Japan’s #Edo period (1603–1868). The numerous depictions of #wakashu in #prints and #paintings suggest their popularity and importance within the cultural fabric of the time. Featuring over 65 woodblock prints, “#AThirdGender” is largely comprised of works on paper, much like our two current #exhibitions #Gabritschevsky and #Zinelli. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This late 18th–early 19th century “bijin-ga” (pictures of beauties) woodblock titled “Wakashu with a Shoulder Drum” is a great starting point in identifying wakashu through hairstyle. Having not yet transitioned into the role of an adult man­—symbolized by the ceremonious removal of their entire forelocks—the wakashu can be identified by the small shaved spot on the crown of their heads. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Image: Wakashu with a Shoulder Drum, Hosoda Eisui (act. 1790–1823), late 18th–early 19th century, color #woodblock print, ROM, Sir Edmund Walker Collection, 926.18.701. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #museumlove #nyc #museums #japanese #worksonpaper #nycmuseum #JapanSociety

A post shared by American Folk Art Museum (@afamuseum) on Apr 26, 2017 at 6:40am PDT

It’s #MuseumInstaSwap and today @afamuseum is is taking over our account to show us what is on view at their institution at Lincoln Center! We will be introducing & drawing parallels between our our exhibitions and institutions all day long! We hope you enjoy ! Like our current exhibition #AThirdGender, “Eugen Gabritschevsky:Theater of the Imperceptible” and “Carlo Zinelli (1916 ‒1974)” are the first major exhibitions focused on a particular subject matter- these artists’ works- in the United States. Both exhibitions illuminate these artists’ practices on works on paper. Eugen Gabritschevsky (1893–1979), was a Russian-born artist and scientist whose work relied on the “accidental image” that echo techniques and styles of surrealist artists. He once wrote that “there are some processes in art that engage the unforeseen, putting us in direct contact with the magical essence of nature.” Carlo Zinelli (1916 ‒1974) was a self-taught, Italian painter and a exemplary artist of art brut, a term coined by the painter Jean Dubuffet to refer to a range of art forms outside the conventional dictates of the art world. His works-often double sided-feature repetitions of his personal iconography, vocabulary, and format that link to his past. #gabritschevsky #Zinelli Carlo Zinelli (1916–1974) Untitled San Giacomo Hospital, Verona, Italy 1957–1958 Gouache on paper 19 1/2 × 27 1/2″ Collection of Audrey B. Heckler Photo by Visko Hatfield © Fondazione Culturale Carlo Zinelli Eugen Gabritschevsky (1893–1979) Untitled Haar, Germany 1949 Gouache on paper

A post shared by Japan Society (@japansociety_nyc) on Apr 26, 2017 at 8:04am PDT

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25 Vintage Boy Names Worth Reviving

If you’re looking for a baby boy name that’s not all-the-rage right now, Nameberry has some suggestions with a vintage flair.

Since boy names tend to stay on the popularity lists longer than girls’ names, these examples are quite unusual in that most of them were in common use at one time but then slid into obscurity.  See which ones you think are ripe for revival.

Alaric — An ancient regal name that sparks with electricity, it starred in Stephen King’s The Dark Tower series and in The Vampire Diaries. Emeric is a similar possibility.

Aldous — Associated with Brave New World’s Aldous Huxley, more recently seen in “Orphan Black,” Aldous boasts the popular s-ending for boys

Ambrose — As rosy as Rose, as amiable as Amelia, this early Latin name has loads of history, both religious and literary.

Art — Sure it’s familiar as a vintage nickname for Arthur, but there’s a lot more to Art. In Ireland it’s the stand-alone name of a pagan High King (perhaps why Chris O’Dowd chose it for his son), and of course it’s a culture-saturated word name as well.

Burl — A long-lost nature name related to trees, Burl has a down-home feel, and was in the Top 1000 for 81 years, ranking as high as number 381. A notable namesake: folk singer and Oscar-winning actor Burl Ives.

Clive — If you’re looking for a sleek and polished one-syllable name with a refined British accent and the charisma of Clive Owen, consider Clive.

Cosmo — A name with cosmic breadth and a stylish o-ending; as long as you can banish all thoughts of cocktails and Kramer.

Crispin — Harry Potter-related, crisp and curly-haired (its literal meaning), Crispin is now ranked number 518 on Nameberry.

Cyprian — A rare and noble ancient Latin saint and Harry Potter name (such a treasure trove!), Cyprian is related to the island of Cyprus.

Doyle — This friendly Irish surname, which hasn’t been heard from since 1980, was a well-used choice for about a hundred years, peaking at number 195 in 1931. Doyle McMaster was a recurring character on “Gilmore Girls” — one of the name’s few modern appearances. It could make a cool choice for Sherlock Holmes aficionados.

Eben — Most of us are not ready for Ebenezer, but short, stand-alone Eben has lots of appeal, it was as high as 528 in the 1880s but hasn’t been used much since then.

Esmond — An interesting alternative to Edmond or Desmond with a distinguished air and literary cred via Thackeray’s novel The History of Henry Esmond.

Eustace — The monocled New Yorker magazine symbol and, curiously, the middle name of both Ross on “Friends” and the female Paris on “Gilmore Girls.”

Florian — This name shares the gentle floral quality of Flora and Florence, with solid saintly and literary cred (Harry Potter once more!). It ranks at number 55 in Germany right now.

Garland — A generic floral name that isn’t primarily female: it was used for boys through the 1980s. Garland was a military name in “Twin Peaks.”

Giles — The G is pronounced as J in this single-syllable British aristo appellation. It’s another one with lots of literary connections.

Green — Blue is now an accepted unisex name, as are many shades of green. And Green itself actually ranked on the popularity list for at least 32 past years, reaching as high as number 254 in the 1880s.

Guthrie — Now that Arlo has taken off, how about surname Guthrie? It has a nice cowboyish feel, a la Wylie, and even hit the Top 1000 for one year, back in 1895.

Hardy — A name with the solid, strong yet spirited Hardy Boys image, Hardy fell off the list in 1960, but in this era of word names, deserves a new look. British fashion designer Hardy Amies (born Edwin), official dressmaker to Queen Elizabeth II, was its most notable bearer.

Ignatius — The ancient Roman name of several saints, it was used in the U.S. in the early decades of the 20th century, primarily by religious families. Actresses Cate Blanchett and Julianne Nicholson both chose it for their sons; and if you’re wondering about Iggy Pop and Iggy Azalea, the former was born with the name James, while the latter grew up with jewel name Amethyst.

Ives — This cool single-syllable surname has lots of cultural cred, via composer Charles Ives, singer Burl (see above), and James Merritt Ives, half of the renowned Currier and Ives printmaking duo.

Jennings — Looking for a distinguished but unusual surname ending in ‘s’?  This one, which ranked at number 244 in 1897 (likely the William Jennings Bryan influence) could make a neat namesake for a family member, Jenny.

Morley — A pleasant surname name that has never ranked. Now that Marley is becoming popular for girls, this could make a nice option for boys. It was long associated with Morley Safer of “60 Minutes.”

Roscoe ― If you’re looking for a forgotten o-sound-ending name, Roscoe may be your boy. It’s got a slightly quirky but warm and friendly feel. Once a Top 200 name, it’s now given to fewer than 75 boys a year.

Teddy — Yes, I know Theo is the current nickname du jour for Theodore, but there’s something so irresistibly warm about Teddy. Used on its own in the U.S. until the early 1990s (peaking at 239 in 1933), its one of the enthusiastically revived nicknames in England and Wales — now at number 42!

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19 Mother's Day Gifts That Are Way Better Than Boring Ol' Flowers

Mother’s Day is fast approaching ― it’s May 14 ― but the good news is, you still have ample time to buy something special for your mom. 

Below, 19 gifts to get the woman who gave you everything in life, including, well, life. 

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Salma Hayek Gives The Mexican Slang Lesson You Didn't Know You Needed

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While President Donald Trump hopes to build a wall between Mexico and the United States, Salma Hayek wants to make sure there’s never a language barrier.

In a fun Vanity Fair video posted Wednesday, Hayek, the star of “How To Be A Latin Lover” and a native of Coatzacoalcos, Mexico, gives a fun lesson in Mexican slang. Who knew so many phrases could involve pedo, which means fart?

So, if you really want to impress people with your Spanish at a party, you might want to try “Ando bien pedo.”

Just make sure you don’t drive afterward.

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Bernie Sanders And Democrats Are Introducing A New $15 Minimum Wage Bill

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WASHINGTON ― In a major win for the labor union-backed Fight for $15 movement and the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) are introducing a bill to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.

Sanders, who caucuses with Democrats, introduced a similar $15 minimum wage bill in July 2015, but it garnered the support of just six senators, including himself.

With a more gradual phase-in period, the new legislation already has the backing of at least 23 senators, including Murray, the ranking member on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), ranking member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, are debuting companion legislation in the House.

Asked Wednesday if Democrats had finally arrived on a minimum wage plan they could all agree on, Murray told HuffPost that was the “wrong question.”

“The question is will the Republicans work with us to raise the minimum wage,” Murray said. “I think that we have designed [this bill] in a way that people across the country can get behind it.”

This is a case for economic justice.
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)

The Raise the Wage Act, as the bill is known, would phase in an increase beginning this July, with the largest boost occurring in the first year of its implementation.

Under the proposal, the federal minimum wage would go from $7.25 to $9.25 in 2017, before proceeding to $12 in 2020 and $15 in 2024. Thereafter, the minimum would rise in tandem with median wage growth.

The legislation would also gradually increase the lower minimum wages for tipped workers and workers with disabilities employed in specialized workplaces so they achieve parity with the broader minimum wage.

Sanders, Murray, Schumer, Ellison, Scott and other lawmakers joined with striking federal contract workers for a rally on Capitol Hill Wednesday morning to announce the new legislation. (The lawmakers will formally introduce the legislation sometime next month.)

Schumer told the crowd that Democrats “are going to stop nibbling around the edges” and start fighting for “bold legislation” like the $15 proposal.

“It’s not just about a number,” he said. “This is a case for economic justice.”

Sanders alluded to the fact that Democrats were proposing the higher minimum wage on the same day the White House began pushing for corporate tax cuts.

“There is something profoundly wrong when we have a president, and we have Republican congressional leaders, who are working overtime for tax breaks for billionaires, but they have nothing to say about raising the minimum wage,” he said. 

By the time it would take full effect in 2024, the minimum wage proposal would raise the pay of 41.5 million workers, according to an analysis released by the progressive Economic Policy Institute timed to coincide with the Capitol Hill rally. The bill would ensure that in 2019 the minimum wage would exceed the inflation-adjusted peak it reached in 1968, EPI estimates.

EPI is an influential think tank in Democratic circles. It did not endorse previous $15 minimum wage proposals in Congress, but it does back this one ― another sign that the more gradual escalation of the wage floor in this plan has broadened the tent of supporters on the left.

Sanders’ previous legislation phased in the $15 minimum wage increase by 2020. The new legislation’s slightly longer phase-in period was the result of a negotiation with Murray and Scott aimed at getting their support.

Congressional aides with knowledge of the discussions said the lawmakers agreed from the get-go that $15 needed to be the target, however. That is a change from April 2015 when Murray and Scott introduced a bill that would raise the federal minimum wage to $12 by 2020.

Economists are divided on the points at which increases in the minimum wage would reduce employment and create a risk that’s no longer worth the benefit of raising low-wage workers’ living standards. 

Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, a liberal think tank, worried that Sanders’ 2015 legislation would have led to a “noticeable increase in unemployment.” That would not only hurt workers but also provide fodder for conservatives to argue against future increases, Baker reasoned.

“I feel much better about this one,” Baker said of the current bill. “I wouldn’t say the risk is zero with that as a target in 2024, but it’s certainly much smaller.”

The federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour hasn’t been raised since 2009, after the last of a series of increases signed into law by President George W. Bush. President Barack Obama was the first president since Ronald Reagan not to put his signature on a minimum wage package. It wasn’t for a lack of trying, though. Obama spent much of his second term stumping for a hike ― at first to $9, but later for the $12 proposal backed by moderate Democrats.

Republicans in Congress have been steadfast in not holding a vote on any minimum wage measures, saying a hike would hurt job growth and hiring. So far, there’s been no change in the political dynamic to suggest this year will be different. 

You’re seeing Democrats unify around a common political agenda and at the top of that is a $15 minimum wage bill.
Joseph Geevarghese, Good Jobs Nation

Although Democrats aren’t making much progress with their colleagues across the aisle, it appears they’re at least finding more unity within their own party on the issue. Just a few years ago, it would have been virtually impossible to envision a national $15 minimum wage becoming the consensus position among congressional Democrats.

Then, in 2012, the Service Employees International Union and other union allies launched the Fight for $15 movement to demand that fast-food and other service-sector workers get a $15 minimum wage and a union. Propelled by a series of one-day strikes from low-wage workers and growing liberal momentum behind the movement, major cities and states have since adopted the $15 minimum, beginning with SeaTac, Washington, in 2013 and Seattle the following year.

Good Jobs Nation, an offshoot of the union-led campaign, extended the Fight for $15 to employees who worked for companies with federal contracts, including the cafeteria workers in the halls of Congress. Sanders, Ellison and other progressives in Congress championed these workers’ struggles and pressed the Obama administration to use the contracting power of the federal government to boost their pay.

Obama ultimately signed executive orders raising the federal contract workers’ minimum pay to $10.10 in February 2014 and mandating that they receive paid sick days in September 2016. 

President Donald Trump has thus far kept those two orders in place. He overturned a third measure, the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces rule, which required the federal government to refuse contracts to companies with a history of wage law violations.

“It is significant that during the week that the nation is marking Trump’s first 100 days in office, you’re seeing Democrats unify around a common political agenda and at the top of that is a $15 minimum wage bill,” said Joseph Geevarghese, director of Good Jobs Nation

The new legislative initiative shows Democrats are warming to the populist pitch of Sanders, Ellison and their allies in a bid to counter Trump with a proactive economic message, according to Geevarghese.

“This $15 minimum wage bill helps make the economic contrast between Democrats and Republicans, who ran as populists and are governing as business as usual,” he said. “This is more than we are not the party of Trump, it is we are the party of raising wages and of workers.”

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The C.E.O. Of H.I.V.

Last May, at the height of the Democratic presidential campaign, two weeks before the California primary, Bernie Sanders flew to San Bernardino, Calif., for a meeting with leading AIDS groups. The gathering was arranged by Peter Staley, the esteemed activist and founder of the Treatment Action Group, which in the 1990s helped speed the development of antiretroviral drugs. The meeting was called to secure the Sanders campaign’s support for a spike in federal spending to combat AIDS, but as the session began, those in attendance were puzzled to find the conversation oddly strained. Sanders’s demeanor, Staley recalled, “was very wary — he was very chilly when we shook hands.” Sanders seemed to be churning internally about something until, dispensing with ceremony, he blurted out: “Let me be blunt. Do any of you get money from the drug companies?”

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