Today in History: D.W. Griffith's ‘The Birth of a Nation' premieres
Today in history:
On Feb. 8, 1915, D.W. Griffith's controversial epic film 'The Birth of a Nation' premiered in Los Angeles.
Also on this date:
In 1587, Mary, Queen of Scots was beheaded at Fotheringhay Castle in England after she was implicated in a plot to murder her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I.
In 1693, a charter was granted for the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg in the Virginia Colony.
In 1904, Japan launched a surprise attack on the Russian Navy at Port Arthur (now Dalian, China), marking the beginning of the Russo-Japanese War.
In 1910, the Boy Scouts of America was incorporated by William D. Boyce.
In 1924, the first execution by gas in the United States took place at the Nevada State Prison in Carson City as Gee Jon, a Chinese immigrant convicted of murder, was put to death.
In 1936, the first NFL draft was held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Philadelphia.
In 1960, work began on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located on Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Los Angeles.
In 1968, three Black students were killed and 28 wounded as state troopers opened fire on student demonstrators on the campus of South Carolina State College in Orangeburg in the wake of protests over a whites-only bowling alley. The event would become known as the Orangeburg Massacre.
In 1971, NASDAQ, the world's first electronic stock exchange, held its first trading day.
Today's birthdays: Composer-conductor John Williams is 93. Broadcast journalist Ted Koppel is 85. Actor Nick Nolte is 84. Comedian Robert Klein is 83. Actor-rock musician Creed Bratton is 82. Actor Mary Steenburgen is 72. Author John Grisham is 70. Hockey Hall of Famer Dino Ciccarelli is 65. Rock singer Vince Neil (Mötley Crüe) is 64. Basketball Hall of Famer Alonzo Mourning is 55. Actor Seth Green is 51. Actor William Jackson Harper is 45. Actor-comedian Cecily Strong is 41. Hip-hop artist Anderson .Paak is 39. Professional surfer Bethany Hamilton is 35.
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Boston Globe
14 minutes ago
- Boston Globe
A professor's hunt for the rarest Chinese typewriter
It went into a suitcase and he took it back to California, where it joined a growing collection of Asian-language typing devices he'd hunted down. But there was one typewriter that Mullaney had little hope of ever finding: the MingKwai. Made by an eccentric Chinese linguist turned inventor living in Manhattan, the machine had mechanics that were a precursor to the systems almost everyone now uses to type in Chinese. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Only one -- the prototype -- was ever made. Advertisement 'It was the one machine,' he said recently, 'which despite all my cold-calling, all my stalking, was absolutely, 100 percent, definitely gone.' Mullaney's mania for clunky text appliances began in 2007, when he was preparing a talk on the disappearance of Chinese characters and found himself contemplating the disintegration of everything. Among the vast number of characters in the Chinese language -- around 100,000, by some estimates -- there are hundreds that no one alive knows how to pronounce. They are written down, plain as day, in old books, but their sounds, even their meanings, have been lost. Advertisement Sitting in his office, wondering at how something seemingly immortalized in print could be forgotten, Mullaney went down a mental rabbit hole. It would have been physically impossible to build a typing machine to include all the characters that were historically written out by hand, he thought. Some characters must have made the cut, while others were left behind. He sat back in his chair and asked himself: Could he recall ever having seen a Chinese typewriter? Two hours later, he was lying on the floor of his office, looking at patent documents for such devices. There had been, over the last century and a half, dozens of different Chinese typewriters made. Each one was an inventor's take on how to incorporate thousands of characters into a machine without making it unusable -- a physical manifestation of their ideas about language. Never plentiful, the typewriters were now increasingly rare, gone the way of most obsolete technology. Mullaney was fascinated. That evening turned into months of research, which turned into years of searching, as Chinese typewriters became one of his areas of historical expertise. He cold-called strangers and left voicemail messages for private collectors, people whom he suspected, from faint traces left on the internet, of having typewriters. He pored over looking for the next of kin of the last known owner of a particular machine. He called museums and asked, 'Do you, by any chance, have a Chinese typewriter?' Sometimes, they said yes. A private museum in Delaware happened to have a surviving IBM Chinese typewriter, of which only two or three were ever made. Someone at a Chinese Christian church in San Francisco got in touch with him to say they owned a typewriter that they were trying to get rid of. Mullaney took it off their hands. Advertisement The MingKwai is legendary among the handful of people who know about Chinese typewriters. It was invented by Lin Yutang, a Chinese linguist and public intellectual who had begun to worry in the 1930s that without some way to convert ink-brush characters into easily reproduced text, China would be left behind technologically -- perhaps destroyed at the hands of foreign powers. Attempts to create typing machines usually stumbled over the problem of cramming a galaxy of characters into a single machine. Lin's solution was an ingenious system housed in what looked like a large Western typewriter. But when you tapped the keys, something remarkable happened. Any two keystrokes, representing pieces of characters, moved gears within the machine. In a central window, which Lin called the Magic Eye, up to eight different characters containing those pieces then appeared, and the typist could select the right one. Lin had made it possible to type tens of thousands of characters using 72 keys. It was almost as if, Mullaney said, Lin had invented a keyboard with a single key capable of typing the entire Roman alphabet. He named his machine MingKwai, which roughly translates to 'clear and fast.' Lin, who was then living with his wife and children on Manhattan's Upper East Side, hired a New York machinist firm to make a prototype, at enormous cost to himself. He presented that prototype in a demonstration to executives from Remington, the typewriter manufacturer. Advertisement It was a failure. The machine malfunctioned at a crucial moment. Lin went bankrupt and the prototype was sold to Mergenthaler Linotype, a printing company in Brooklyn. And that, as far as Mullaney had been able to find out, was the machine's last known location. When Mergenthaler Linotype moved offices sometime in the 1950s, the machine disappeared. In his 2017 book, 'The Chinese Typewriter,' Mullaney wrote that he believed the MingKwai had most likely ended up on a scrap heap. This past January, Jennifer and Nelson Felix were in their home in Massapequa, N.Y., going through boxes that had been in storage since Felix's father died in Arizona five years before. They were looking at a wooden crate sitting among the cardboard boxes. 'What's this?' Jennifer Felix asked her husband. He'd had a peek in the crate back in Arizona. Oh, he said, it's that typewriter. She opened it, and realized it was not a typical typewriter. The symbols on the keys looked like Chinese. Nelson Felix, who often sold and bought items on Facebook, quickly found a group called 'What's My Typewriter Worth?' and posted some photos. Then they set it aside and moved on to other things. An hour later, Nelson Felix checked on his post. There were hundreds of comments, many written in Chinese. People kept tagging someone named Tom. The couple looked at each other. 'Who's Tom?' Mullaney was in Chicago to give a talk when his phone started going off -- ping, ping, ping. The small community of people he'd encountered in his long quest were sending up digital flares, urgently trying to get his attention. As soon as he saw the post, he knew exactly what he was looking at. It was the MingKwai. Advertisement But he didn't rejoice. He didn't sigh with relief. He was gripped with fear. What if they didn't know what they had and sold it before he could get to it? Someone could buy it with a click on eBay. They could make it into a coffee table. Take it apart and make steampunk earrings. It would be gone, just like that. He posted a comment on Facebook, asking the poster to contact him right away. After a few frantic hours, he got a reply, and the next day he and the Felixes were on the phone. He told them the MingKwai's story. He said that while it was up to them what they did with it, he hoped they would consider selling it to a museum. He was afraid that if it were sold at auction, it would disappear, a trophy hidden in the vacation home of an oil tycoon. Jennifer Felix was bewildered by what was happening. It was just a typewriter in a basement. But Mullaney had made an impression. 'It was lost for half a century,' she said. 'We didn't want it to get lost again.' 'To me it's just a typewriter,' she continued. 'But to other people it's history; it's a story, a life, a treasure.' Instructions and a box of tools were used to cast more Chinese character bars for the MingKwai 9 typewriter. CHRISTIE HEMM KLOK/NYT Mullaney figured out that Jennifer Felix's grandfather, Douglas Arthur Jung, had been a machinist at Mergenthaler Linotype. It's likely that when the company moved offices, he took the machine home. Then it was passed down to Felix's father, who, for more than a decade, had kept the MingKwai with him. 'That's what my dad decided to keep and bring across the country when they moved,' Felix said. Advertisement Keys on the MingKwai 9 typewriter. CHRISTIE HEMM KLOK/NYT Why, of all he had inherited from his own father, did he hang on to this typewriter? She doesn't know. But she feels it must have been a conscious choice: The MingKwai would not have been packed by accident. It weighs more than 50 pounds. In April, the couple made their decision. They sold the machine for an undisclosed amount to the Stanford University Libraries, which acquired it with the help of a private donor. This spring, the MingKwai made its way back across the country. When it was lifted out of the crate onto the floor at a Stanford warehouse, Mullaney lay down to look at it. The history professor could see that it was full of intricate machinery, far more delicate than any other typewriter he'd seen, and he began to imagine how engineers might help him understand it -- perhaps revealing what was going on in Lin's mind in 1947 when he invented a machine he thought could rescue China. Perhaps they could even build a new one. Lying on his stomach, Mullaney began to wonder. The MingKwai 9 typewriter. CHRISTIE HEMM KLOK/NYT This article originally appeared in
Buzz Feed
4 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
31 Pairs Of Comfy Shoes Your Feet Will Love
Floral ballet flats that'll really up your shoe game, thanks to the oh-so-adorable cutouts that also allow your feet to breathe. Plus, they're so darn flexible, you can easily roll them up to pack for your vacays! Vintage Reebok sneakers to add a lil' retro vibe to your OOTD. They're so versatile that you can pair 'em with anything — dresses, skirts, sweats, you name it — and you'll absolutely slay while staying comfy all day. The midsoles are designed to absorb impact, and the padded foam sock liners will keep your feet nice and cushy. New Balance 574 Core Sneakers that are a cult-favorite, and deservedly so. Not only are they incredibly stylish, but they also feel like plush clouds with every step you take, thanks to the EVA midsole. Promising review: "I'm in love with these shoes! I love the look of them which I feel is very retro. The sizing is perfect as described. They are extremely comfortable and durable. I bought them before completing a month of walking 100 miles and they held up perfectly!" —A. WieseGet them from Amazon for $89.99 (available in sizes 5–12, wide sizes, and eight colors). Braided sandals, your new go-to summer shoes because why have flip-flops when you can have a plethora of straps?! The braids may look a lil' scratchy but fear not, they're soft AND adjustable. You can either dress them up for a fancy brunch or down for a walk on the beach — no matter what, you're going to look 🎶 H-O-T-T-O-G-O 🎶 !!! FYI, these are best suited for narrow to medium-sized feet. Promising reviews: "These sandals are like cotton candy clouds for your feet. Basically the Rolls-Royce of sandals." —A. Alphonse"Comfort is a key feature that sets Plaka sandals apart from the rest. The soft and flexible sole provides excellent cushioning and support, making them incredibly comfortable to wear for long periods. The sandals conform to the natural curves of my feet, offering a glove-like fit that feels like walking on clouds. The adjustable straps ensure a customized and secure fit, allowing me to walk with ease and without any discomfort or blisters." —AshleyGet them from Amazon for $34.95+ (available in whole sizes 5–11 and in 24 colors). Sorel wedge sandals with molded platform soles that'll give you the extra height you so desire without the pain. You'll be able to walk for miles without any aches because of the secure straps and molded EVA footbed! Braided heel sandals to rock it out on the dance floor at your bestie's wedding without having to take your shoes off before the "Cupid Shuffle" comes on. Heels that won't make your feet ache and throb? Yes, please!!! Handmade mules if you want to look as chic as possible (ofc you do)! These have pointed toes, gorgeous cutouts, and a slight heel — aren't you obsessed? Because I sure am. Zou Xou Shoes is a Black woman-owned business that has been creating handcrafted shoes by Argentinian shoemakers since 2015. The styles are easy and classic so they can be worn for years. These mules are handmade to order in European sizes, and they suggest sizing up. See the sizing chart (last photo on the listing) for more details!Promising review: "These shoes are very high quality and feel like butter every time I put them on. They only took two wears to break in and are one of the most comfortable shoes I've ever owned. Make sure to size up if you plan on ordering these beautiful shoes!" —gingerbread24Get them from Zou Xou Shoes on Etsy for $254 (available in European sizes 36-42, or US sizes 5.5–11). Mesh sneakers that are sooo comfy, reviewers have run 5Ks, hiked for miles, and stood for up to 18 hours in these bad boys without feeling any pain! Espadrille platform sandals so your feet can stay pain-free during sunshine-filled walks through the streets of Italy. Psst — reviewers with wide feet love these and say they fit perfectly! Allbirds Tree Runners — you *shouldn't* get these if you hate ridiculously lightweight and comfortable shoes. They're made with eucalyptus tree fibers (#sustainable, yay) so they're super breathable, aka your feet won't be marinating in sweat. If they do get sweaty or dirty, though, you can just toss 'em in the washing machine! Allbirds are known for their superior comfort, and the Tree Runners are no exception. Its shoelaces are even made from recycled plastic bottles!Note: Be sure to let them air dry after washing. Promising review: "Why did I wait so long??? I wish I could wear these shoes all day for everything! They're so comfortable and lightweight." —Stone, them from Allbirds for $100 (available in whole sizes 5–11 and 21 colors). Quick-drying, long-lasting Teva midform sandals since wearing hiking shoes in the middle of summer feels like walking through a swamp — yuck, no thanks! These are cute enough to wear to festivals, amusement parks, and everything in between, and they come in so many colors and designs that you're guaranteed to find one that fits your vibe. Water-resistant Dr. Scholl's slip-on sneakers because we don't have time to be tying our shoes in the morning! Reviewers say these give off Vans vibes but prefer these because they're way comfier — Dr. Scholl did not come to play with the cushioned insoles and arch support. Rhinestone pointed slip-on mules that are begging to be put in your cart because everything is better when it's ~bedazzled~. If you're on your feet all day long but want to add some bling-bling to your 'fit, you need these because they have both arch *and* heel support. Stretchy knit Rothy's flats, which run a little more on the expensive side but are totally worth the splurge because they're like heaven for your feet. They're made with a soft, stretchy material so you don't even have to break them in — I bet you didn't even think that was possible with flats, huh? *Plus* they're machine washable, so when they get sweaty and stinky, just toss 'em in the laundry! Or breathable pointed-toe ballet flats that come in such unique and fun prints and colors! The toe box is five degrees wider than standard pointed flats so your piggies won't feel cramped and suffocated. They have heel padding to prevent blisters (need), arch support (NEED), and a shock-absorbing midsole. (NEEEEED!!!) *Or* some budget-friendly ballet flats with over 48,000 5-star ratings — I mean, it just makes sense. The insoles are padded memory foam AND have a heel pillow to relieve any pressure (thank you, comfort gods). Life hack: Reviewers love keeping these in their purse as a backup shoe whenever they have to wear heels! Sam Edelman loafers guaranteed to girl-bossify you. They're going to be your go-to office shoes because they'll look absolutely fire with slacks, a skirt, and yes, even a dress. Birkenstock sandals so you can enjoy your hot girl walks without any pain because the footbed molds to the shape of your feet, with a deep heel cup, arch support, and raised toe bar providing unmatched comfort. Break these bad boys in, and you'll finally understand all the hype around Birks. Huarache sandals with leather strips woven into a hypnotic design — if you stare at these long enough, they'll probably talk you into buying them (but you won't regret it). They're 100% handmade and woven by Mexican artisans, so each pair is a little unique! Macarena Collection is a small biz based in Buena Park, California! Since they only make whole sizes, they suggest sizing down if you're in between sizes as the shoes will stretch and mold to your feet as you wear them. Promising review: "Can I give these 1,000 stars? They are soooooo comfortable!!! I was afraid because my feet are on the wider side, but oh my do they fit absolutely amazingly well!! Don't hesitate to buy them!! I love them! I love them! I Love them!!" —Jennifer BaezGet them from Macarena Collection on Etsy for $48.74 (originally $64.99; available in sizes 5–10). Lightweight Tioseban sneakers — they're definitely shoes, but they *feel* a bit like socks because the stretchy, breathable mesh top expands with your feet as you walk! Sizing up a half size if you have wide feet is review: "I like these shoes so much, I bought two pairs. My feet are very narrow, and I have trouble finding shoes that fit without coming off my heels. These have the comfort band that makes them very comfortable." —Jane from MAGet them from Amazon for $36.99+ (available in sizes 5–13, wide sizes, and in 32 colors). Lug sole sandals that'll seriously make a statement. They're so cute, so chunky, so lightweight — ugh, I'm obsessed. Reviewers say these earned them nonstop compliments, so don't say I didn't warn ya! High-top, platform Converse sneakers, aka the zhuzhed-up version of your classic Chuck Taylors. Not only do the platforms give you extra height, but they also provide an extra layer of cushioning! Nisolo flatform sandals, perfect for summer because their lightweight, breathable design won't let your feet overheat. Plus, you can strap 'em on and go for a 5-mile walk as soon as they arrive because they don't need a break-in period! Pillowy slippers that must have been made by the comfort gods themselves because over 800 reviewers say they're like walking on clouds ☁️ and as a proud owner of a pair myself, I wholeheartedly agree with that. Dr. Martens platform sandals with adjustable buckles (slay), super lightweight EVA soles (slaaay), and ripple tread platforms (SLAAAAY). Doc Martens always reign supreme in terms of style and quality, and the same is true of these adorable yet comfy sandals! 🙏 Breathable sport shoes you can slip on to play pickleball in the morning, run errands in the afternoon, and walk around the city at night — yup, they're that comfy. Plus, the stitching and adorable designs are to die for! Promising review: "I have never been compelled to write a review, but these shoes are soooo beautiful!!! I got the pink and gold and they are comfy and pretty. I cannot keep count of the total strangers on the street stopping me and saying how much they love my shoes and asking me where I got them!!! This price is amazing, and I truly can say I got bang for my buck! True to size, I'm an 8 and ordered the 8 and they fit perfectly." —Dora them from Amazon for $20.99+ (available in sizes 6–11 and in eight colors). Fuzzy memory foam slippers so you can lounge around in style 24/7! But they're more than just adorable house slippers — they have waterproof, anti-slip soles so you can totally wear them to walk your doggo, grab the mail, and even go grocery shopping. Plus, the open-toe design makes them pretty breathable, so the fuzz won't make you overheat! Slip-on mules that are so elegant yet surprisingly comfy — perfect for wearing to the office, then straight to dinner with friends. They're also quite similar to Madewell's Gemma mules, so if you're looking for a budget-friendly alternative, these are just for you. Promising reviews: "I was so happy to find stylish shoes to fit my small feet (size 5)! That is not an easy feat these days. I love the shoes. When I first put them on, I did not think they were going to be comfortable. However, after I had worn them for just a short while, I realized they were actually very, very comfortable. They are also not smooth on the bottom but have a sole that has slight ridges, and therefore not slippery, which you find with some flats." —Karen Hulshouser "I really love these shoes. I've been eyeing the Madewell Gemma mules for months, but stumbled upon these and decided to take a chance. These are super comfortable and easy to walk in." —Hannah NewsomeGet them from Amazon for $35.97+ (available in sizes 5–11 and five colors and patterns). Platform sandals letting you have the 🎶 best of both worlds 🎶, aka the comfort of sandals and the stylish look of heels — a double life, if you will. They have cushioned insoles, adjustable ankle straps, and ridged soles that'll give you peak stability! A reliable pair of Crocs that may not be the *most* stylish of shoes but are definitely the comfiest. I think we should all be glad that these have made their comeback from the early 2000s because their cushy soles and ventilation ports are blessings for sweaty feet. Plus, you can add on some charms to give 'em personality! A pair of comfortable clogs because the Birkenstock Boston clogs are cute and all, but you know what's not? The hefty price. These look exactly the same, minus the logo — but let's be so real, no one's checking for that. And you know what's funny? A lot of reviewers actually think that these are comfier than Birks!
USA Today
5 hours ago
- USA Today
Beyoncé fans are paying close attention to her hair color as tour ends: Here's why
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter is about to wrap up her "Cowboy Carter" tour in Las Vegas, and fans are already searching for clues about what's next for the superstar. Their current focus is the hair color of some of Beyoncé's dancers. The Grammy-winning singer kicked off her first concert at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on July 25. The concert marked her first of two shows at the stadium on her Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin' Circuit Tour. She is set to perform again July 26. As she took the stage, Beyoncé donned a floor-length American flag coat with a matching bodysuit and white cowboy hat. However, it was her blond hair color that immediately caught the attention of some fans. Prior to Friday's show, rumors began to swirl when fans noticed some of her dancers appearing to change their hair color to jet black. One account wrote on X, "Beyoncé's dancers are reportedly dyeing their hair black, sparking rumors that it's a visual clue for the third installment of her trilogy: act iii." As fans know, Beyoncé released her eighth studio album "Cowboy Carter" March 29. The country album has already made history on multiple fronts and put a spotlight on Black country artists. In July 2022 Beyoncé released her seventh studio album "Renaissance." The project earned her four Grammys in 2023 including best dance/electronic music album, making her the most decorated artist in the awards' history. She later announced the album was the first part of a three-act project, making "Cowboy Carter" Act 2. After releasing albums in the country and dance categories, there has been growing speculation that the last project in the trilogy could be a rock album. Beyoncé only fueled this idea after she posed as funk-rock diva Betty Davis for Halloween — and yes, she was wearing jet black hair. However, during the July 25 performance, not only was Beyoncé's hair not black, but many of her dancers' hair colors also varied from black to red and more. One fan wrote, "And the black hair theories are dismissed." However, others were reluctant to abandon the idea entirely, noting that there's still one more show to go. Some fans even went so far as to point out that last show date falls on Davis' birthday. There are always fan theories floating around, and fans can expect even more as Beyoncé closes out her tour and the Act 2 era leaving them to eagerly await Act 3. As always, only time will tell. Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network's Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @cachemcclay.
