Toumani Diabaté, a virtuoso of the kora, a 21-stringed West African instrument, which he often put into dialogue with other musical traditions from around the globe, died on Friday in Bamako, Mali. He was 58.His death, in a hospital, was caused by kidney failure, said his manager, Saul Presa.Born in Mali to a line of griots, or traditional West African musician-historians, that he traced back more than 70 generations, Mr. Diabaté was devoted to celebrating the heritage of Mandé-speaking peoples throughout West Africa, and to sharing that history with the world.“If you think of West Africa as a body, then…
Author: catfish
For the last three years, scientists in South Africa have been trying to unravel a grim marine mystery: What was happening to the Cape fur seals?The boisterous marine mammals, which are common along the nation’s shores, began washing up dead in enormous numbers. Pregnant females delivered dead premature pups. And some seals began displaying unusually aggressive behavior, attacking humans, dogs and each other.Some scientists suspected that a neurotoxin produced by algae might be to blame. In recent weeks, however, another specter has come into focus: rabies.So far, 17 seals have tested positive for the virus, said Tess Gridley, a founding…
Stanford researchers gave a popular A.I. chatbot a language test.They asked the bot in Vietnamese to write a traditional poem in the form known as “song thất lục bát” that follows a pattern of lines made up of seven, seven, six, then eight words. When the bot spit out an answer, it wrote a poem, but didn’t follow the format.The team tried a different prompt, asking what the proper Vietnamese word was for a mother’s younger brother, and it responded with the words for a father’s younger and older siblings.These flaws are not unique to Claude 3.5, the chatbot by…
Book Review of What Is Math Good For, Anyway?Sponsored* | All opinions are our ownThe Children’s Book Review Written by Nicole Frankel Illustrated by Firman Putra Ages 4+ | 31 Pages Publisher: Nicole Frankel Books (2024) | ISBN-13: 9798987604335 What to Expect: Education, math, practical knowledge, and problem-solving. Math can be one of the most challenging subjects to get young readers excited about, perhaps because it can feel very abstract. In this cheerful picture book, readers discover that math is a part of everyday life and can help them solve problems and get what they want. Bennie, like many of…
Woolworths and BIG W are teaming up with The Walt Disney Company Australia for the launch of ‘Disney Worlds of Wonder Collector Cards’, a new free collectible featuring favourites from Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars. From 14 August 2024 customers will be able to collect a free Disney Worlds of Wonder card pack, containing three cards, with every $30 shop in store and online at Woolworths and Big W. There will be 108 cards in total to collect spanning across four worlds, including fan favourite characters such as Simba, Joy, Spider-Man and Darth Vader. Also in the mix is…
Heating Systems OverviewWinter demands reliable heating systems, and you have several options. Each system has its own set of benefits, suitable for different home layouts and personal preferences. Let’s check out these:1. Oil Furnace Furnaces are among the most common heating systems in colder regions. Their long-lasting popularity shows they provide quick, substantial warmth, perfect for cold winter days. Not only do they heat up homes quickly, but their reliability is also well-regarded among homeowners.It’s crucial to maintain an adequate supply of heating oil to maximize the performance of your oil furnace during the colder months. In fact, the professionals at…
The African National Congress, South Africa’s governing party announced on Monday that it had expelled the country’s former president, Jacob Zuma, officially severing ties with the once-celebrated anti-apartheid fighter after he helped form a rival political party.Though Mr. Zuma has been a vaunted figure in the A.N.C. for decades, his tenure as president and party leader were marked by a series of corruption scandals that tarnished the party’s image. He was pressured to step down as South Africa’s president in 2018. This year, he used his broad political support to campaign for uMkhonto weSizwe, a rival party known by the…
Book Review of Freckles’ Best RibbitSponsored* | All opinions are our ownThe Children’s Book Review Written by Lori Rotter Illustrated by Vaughan Duck Ages 4-6 | 38 Pages Publisher: LFR Creative, LLC (2024) | ISBN-13: 9788988752936 What to Expect: Being different, self-acceptance, diversity, and animal sounds. Freckles’ Best Ribbit uses a simple animal story to teach a sophisticated lesson about perfectionism, self-acceptance, and self-criticism. Freckles the Frog wants to try out for the Spring Chorus, but he can’t—his ribbit is not right! Whenever he opens his mouth, instead of a ribbit like the other frogs, he makes a sneeze, hiccup,…
The streets of North Adelaide feature works from the David Roche Collection in a self-guided trail from July until September 2024, creating an outdoor art gallery to explore. Review by Claire Davill The Fermoy on Foot Art Trail features fourteen reproductions of art pieces on the walls of buildings throughout North Adelaide’s streets, including Melbourne Street, Brougham Place and Tynte Street. The art pieces are designed to highlight stories of North Adelaide’s history and buildings – you’ll find a painting of a Lion outside the Lion Hotel, and a butcher-themed painting outside a local butcher, for example. This is a…
How to Deal with Emotional OutburstsDealing with emotional outbursts from children on moving a day requires patience, understanding, and some strategic planning. It’s not uncommon for kids to feel overwhelmed by the upheaval of moving, especially during a long-distance move.For example, moving long distances from New York to California, the drastic change in environment, and the long travel time can make children anxious. So, prepare your kids for this by discussing what to expect and assuring them that their feelings are valid and understood. When tantrums or meltdowns do occur, it’s important to remain calm and provide a comforting presence.After…