Quote of the Week:
“It's enough for me to be sure that you and I exist at this moment.” ― Gabriel García Márquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude
Fact of the Week:
“Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink.”
So goes the saying for a sailor dying of thirst, surrounded by saltwater and unable to drink any. If a sailor were fortunate enough to be stranded at a certain point in the Atlantic Ocean, however, he would be able to drink.
How? It’s all thanks to the Amazon River.
The Amazon flows with such strength and volume that the water is still drinkable 100 miles into the Atlantic. No land would be in sight this far out, yet with a taste, one would realize the water is (mostly) free of salt.
The Amazon releases about 200,000 liters of freshwater into the ocean every second. That’s so much water that it actually increases the sea-level of the Caribbean Sea by a little more than an inch. During the dry season, the river, at its widest, is 7 miles across. During the wet season, that distance can increase to up to 30 miles. Other accounts list the Amazon as being up to 120 miles wide, although that’s measuring the width of the delta.
This is all to say that if you’re ever stranded in the ocean on a life raft dying of thirst, give the water a taste. You just might find it to your liking.
Tree Hugger contributed to this article.
News Update:
Via The Washington Post. Credit: Uschools/Getty Images
Wellesley College, an all-female school, held a vote for its students on whether or not to admit all transgender and non-binary people. Currently, the school accepts applications from transgender women and those who identify as non-binary but were assigned female at birth. It does not accept applications from transgender men and those who identify as non-binary but were assigned male at birth.
The results of yesterday’s student referendum showed that the majority of students approved opening applications to all transgender and non-binary people. The college did not release vote counts or a percentage of how many students voted in favor.
According to CNN, “The ballot measure also proposed that the college’s communications ‘replace all gender-specific language with gender-neutral language in reference to its student body.’ That would include saying ‘students’ instead of ‘women’ or using ‘they/them’ instead of ‘she/her’ pronouns.”
These results do not mean Wellesley will change its policies. A spokesperson said there are no plans in place for any alterations, although the school will continue to engage with students in discussion.
Ahead of the vote, Wellesley College President Paula Johnson sent an email reminding the students of the school’s commitment to admitting “(cisgender), trans, and nonbinary students—all who consistently identify as women. Wellesley is also an inclusive community that embraces students, alumnae, faculty, and staff of diverse gender identities,” she continued. “I believe the two ways of seeing Wellesley are not mutually exclusive.”
The editorial board of the campus newspaper, The Wellesley News, responded, “We disapprove of and entirely disagree with President Johnson’s email. As journalists, we understand the power of rhetoric to do good or harm.”
The statement finished, “We want to end with our unequivocal support for transgender, nonbinary and gender non-conforming people — at Wellesley and everywhere — who enrich all communities they are part of.”
The school is steeped with history and has produced notable alumni like former Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and Madeleine Albright.
The Hill and CNN contributed to this article.
Sports Update:
Via The Houston Chronicle. Credits: Tim Warner/Contributor
Ah, at last. March Madness is here.
The least productive time of the year is upon us. Starting Thursday, the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament begins (the First Four games have already kicked off), which means getting no work done and finding as many screens as possible to enjoy all the games.
In order to get a men’s bracket in on time, you must fill it out before 12:15 pm tomorrow. For the women’s tournament, it must be done by 11:30 am Friday. There’s never been a perfect bracket, but who knows? This could be your year. I sure think it’s mine.
What we’re here to do is help you pick a winner. It’s not always propitious to pick a number one seed, although this year they do look like a good bet. On the men’s side, here are yesterday’s odds to win the championship (for any team with 25-1 or better), courtesy of Caesar’s Sportsbook.
Houston: 6-1
Alabama: 7-1
Kansas: 10-1
Purdue: 10-1
Texas: 12-1
UCLA: 12-1
Arizona: 12-1
Gonzaga: 15-1
UConn: 15-1
Marquette: 20-1
Duke: 20-1
Tennessee: 25-1
Baylor: 25-1
On the women’s side, there’s a clear favorite. But, as we know, this tournament is called March Madness—emphasis on the “madness”—for a reason.
South Carolina: 1-2
Stanford: 7-1
Indiana 7-1
UConn: 9-1
Iowa: 18-1
LSU: 20-1
Utah: 30-1
Maryland: 35-1
CBS contributed to this article.
Want to win 50% off Last Cup Scaries’ Fire Island t-shirt? DM the correct answer of this riddle to lastcupclothing on Instagram, and if you’re the first person to respond correctly, we’ll send you a code! Previous winners are excluded.
What has a neck and no head, two arms and no hands?
I predict FDU to upset Purdue in the first round.