During the time of P.T. Barnum, Circassian beauties were women supposedly blending the “Western notions of white beauty” and the “exoticism” of the non-white other. Paraded around as chaste virgins rescued from Turkish harems, they fed into the fantasies of contemporary America. However, they were, more often than not, a sham; new European immigrants playing a role; even their Afro-textured hairstyles, the Circassian beauties’ defining feature, was fake, achieved by washing their hair in beer. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
