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Échame la Culpa

I threw my sports bag in the back of my running partner’s new van and then climbed in the passenger seat, ready for a weekend away to run a couple of footraces, the first that afternoon and the second the following morning. I was in a good mood. And it would have lasted beyond the first two minutes if I hadn’t plucked a hair off my fleece jacket and let it fall from my fingers. I live with two cats and two dogs, and a hair on my jacket is like a speck of mortar on the sleeve of a brick mason, or

11 Niche Gifts for Your Unconventional Loved Ones

Looking for more ideas? Check out our recommendations from past years. Maybe this year, you beat the holiday frenzy with gifts unlike the rest. Maybe you finally floor that one person no one knows how to shop for. Maybe you treat yourself to a shirt covered in isopods, pop a bag of citrus rinds, and just chill. Complete with gifts for animal lovers, armchair travelers, fashionistas, and people who desperately need to crush something, this assortment is sure to please—assuming your people a

Chester L. Krause Legacy Park in Iola, Wisconsin

At first glance, tiny Iola, Wisconsin, does not look like the seat of a publishing empire, but maybe it was just a flip of a coin that led to its success. For Iola was the home of Chester L. “Chet” Krause, one of the world’s most famous numismatists, and in 2023, a park was dedicated to celebrate his legacy. Much like fellow Wisconsinite Gary Gygax, Krause would turn his hobbies and collections into a business that would come to redefine his town. Chet was born near Iola, in Helvetia Township.

Wat Sutthi Wararam in Bangkok, Thailand

The metropolitan area of Bangkok is estimated to be home to at least 400 Buddhist temples (wats), with only about 100 of them no longer operational. The most common sect of Buddhism in Thailand is Theravāda, which places a great value on its monastic orders. As such, most temples in Bangkok will actually home and educate monks, depending on donations for their food, clothing, and other needs. Since a large percentage of the male population will think of becoming a monk as a temporary option rat

Grave of Hambone Jr. in Alresford, England

Hambone Jr. was the beloved canine companion of the U.S. Army’s 47th Infantry Regiment, 9th Division during World War II. The "scruffy little terrier" brought delight and distraction for the American soldiers stationed in Alresford in 1944 as they prepared for the D-Day Landings. Tragically, as the troops who so adored him were preparing to depart for Normandy via Southampton and Portsmouth, Hambone Jr. was struck by a military vehicle and died. Moved by the heartwarming story of companionship

Roman Relief on Rue du Saint-Esprit in Luxembourg, Luxembourg

Luxembourg may not be the first country to come to your mind when thinking of Roman heritage, but there are quite a number of ruins and sites across the grand duchy, even in its capital city. For instance, there is an unassuming house standing in a corner on Rue du Saint-Esprit at No. 12, with an ancient Roman relief preserved as is on the exterior walls. It depicts a row of people working on the upper half and some sort of animal, perhaps a horse or deer, on the lower half. According to the 1

Art Detective Arthur Brand Is Like Indiana Jones but With a More Elegant Wardrobe

The walls of Arthur Brand’s Amsterdam apartment have been graced with masterpieces by Picasso and Van Gogh. Once, he briefly displayed the blood of Jesus Christ on his counter. And for a little while, his finger donned a ring previously owned by Oscar Wilde. These treasures come to Brand just for a night or two, as he plays middleman between the world of fine art and Europe’s criminal underbelly. For nearly 15 years, Brand has made his reputation as what he calls an “art detective.” As a self

Fontana dei Dodici Mesi in Turin, Italy

Located on the southern end of Turin’s Valentino Park, the Fontana dei Dodici Mesi (Fountain of the Twelve Months) is a monument sure to catch the eye of anyone interested in architecture, art, and mythology. Two water jets spring from a decorated basin fed by a waterfall. Surrounding the basin are 12 statues of graceful female figures that personify each month of the year. The personalities of each month shine through, especially in how they interact with the elements of the season. Poor Janu

Lascaris War Rooms in Valletta, Malta

At the start of World War II, the Allied forces immediately recognized that the islands of Malta would be strategically important. Located in the center of the Mediterranean Sea just south of Italy, the islands could be used both to control shipping and to command landing forces in Southern Europe. Hence, in 1940, the U.K. military secretly excavated a set of tunnels 150 feet under Valletta, which are now called the Lascaris War Rooms. This complex housed the British military’s headquarters an

Doña Aurora Street Art in Angono, Philippines

Angono is known as the "art capital of the Philippines." The town is home to several museums and art galleries, and is known for being the birthplace of several nationally known artists. Its most celebrated son is Carlos "Botong" Francisco. Botong's obra maestro is the mural History of Manila, popularly known as the "The Filipino Struggles through History." It measures nearly nine feet tall and 260 feet long and is displayed at the National Museum of the Philippines. In honor of Botong and the

“Defeat” by Kahlil Gibran

Amanda Holmes reads Kahlil Gibran’s “Defeat.” Have a suggestion for a poem by a (dead) writer? Email us: [email protected]. If we select your entry, you’ll win a copy of a poetry collection edited by David Lehman. This episode was produced by Stephanie Bastek and features the song “Canvasback” by Chad Crouch. The post “Defeat” by Kahlil Gibran appeared first on The American Scholar.

Peak District Lead Mining Museum in Matlock Bath, England

Along a clean, modern street in Derbyshire, walking through the right door can take you back in time, and down a mine. At the Peak District Lead Mining Museum, visitors can explore models of mines and shafts to see how lead miners did their jobs in this town for generations. Across the street, take a tour of Temple Mine, a real 1920s fluorite mine. Lead ore, called galena, has been mined in the Peak District since Roman times. Mining supported the families of Derbyshire for generations up unti

Kat Wiese

When interdisciplinary artist Kat Wiese watched a documentary about Sandhill cranes, she was struck by the similarities between their migratory patterns and the Great Migration of the 20th century, in which millions of southern Black Americans moved north to escape Jim Crow. Wiese, who grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska, and recently finished her MFA program at Yale School of Art, is part of that legacy: her great-grandfather moved to Detroit from Alabama to seek work and a while later, in 1969, her g

Dora I in Trondheim, Norway

A U-boat bunker located in the Nyhavna port district in northern Trondheim, Norway, stands as a testament to the city’s wartime history. It was constructed during Nazi Germany’s occupation of Norway in World War II, when the city became the hub of the most important German Naval base in the Northern Atlantic. The bunker, with its colossal concrete walls, was one of two sister bunkers built at the site to shelter German submarines participating in the Battle of the Atlantic. In 1943, an America

Bones in Jars in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin

At first glance, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin seems like a place filled with quintessential small-town American charm. The town’s motto is “Life here is good,” and the most famous resident of Beaver Dam is the actor Fred MacMurray, star of such family-friendly fare as My Three Sons and Flubber. However, much like Fred MacMurray’s performance in Double Indemnity, a wholesome exterior can conceal darkness underneath. And in Beaver Dam, one local young artist is bringing gothic horror to his hometown thr

Spencer the Marathon Dog Statue in Ashland, Massachusetts

Route 135 through Ashland, Massachusetts, is a relatively quiet area. But one day per year, in April, this road is packed with thousands of people running the Boston Marathon cheered on by spectators. There are several historical markers commemorating the event, but one located directly across from the Ashland Community Center is a little different as it’s not dedicated to a particular person but to a dog. One who became the official mascot of the 126th Boston Marathon in 2022.  Spencer, a gol

Scratch Patch in Cape Town, South Africa

Pretty stones are often high on the list of things to bring back from a faraway country, but now that more and more places are cracking down on this kind of environmental theft, it's important to find ethical alternatives. In Cape Town, a place called the Scratch Patch offers just this. At first glance, you'll see an old-looking wooden house that leads to a shop specializing in stones of various sizes and rarity. What sets this establishment apart from other gem and mineral shops is its small

Verfmolen De Kat in Zaandam, Netherlands

This 18th-century windmill produces pigments the old-fashioned way: with wind power. The windmill has a fascinating history tied to the Dutch Golden Age when the Netherlands was not only a maritime power but also a center for fine arts, supplying vibrant pigments to the likes of Rembrandt and Vermeer. A windmill was initially built at this site in 1646, but that original mill was damaged and a new one was built in 1782. Four giant blades harness the wind to power grinding stones, which crush d

Meridian Line of Basilica di San Petronio in Bologna, Italy

The Basilica di San Petronio at the center of Bologna may stand out at first glance because it is an impressively large Italian Gothic cathedral—the largest church in Bologna, in fact. But while the church's vaulted ceilings and richly decorated chapels may be noteworthy, what truly stands out is the massive sundial laid out on the floor.   This sundial was created by the astronomer Giovanni Domenico Cassini, whose most notable accomplishments included discovering four of Saturn’s moons and a

Fat Bears and 5 Other Stories of Preparing for Winter

As you prepare for the cold months to come, you can be glad you're not a painted turtle—the species evolved to be freeze-tolerant and hatchlings spend winter just chillin', literally, in sandy burrows—or a grotesquely engorged ant about to make the ultimate sacrifice to feed the colony. Instead, forage some of the last sweet berries, get your mind right for the dark winter, and enjoy these stories about preparing for the cold. All Winter, These Ants Make the Ultimate Sweet Sacrifice to Their Co