Tag Archives: New York Times

Things I Learned this Week

Among the things I learned this week:

* Unmarried Lithuanian women have last names that end in “aite”. Married Lithuanian women take their husbands’ last names but add a “iene” to it. (Courtesy: JS via ZS, confirmed by RS).

* Bosoms wrinkle. (Courtesy: NYT)

* I noticed a few companies no longer allowing customers to add tips to the credit card charge. The reason is because the company, rather than the employee being tipped, is held liable for taxes on tips. (Courtesy: SK)

* It is easier to buy season tickets for the Kennedy Center than The Met. (Courtesy: Kennedy Center and The Met)

Things I Learned this Week

Among the things I learned this week:

* A significant number of music videos from Russian artists have Soviet- or tsarist-era imagery and symbolism. (Courtesy: Music Box)

* I live as well (better, really) as Kim Jong Il, based on the brands of “luxury” goods he has imported. (Courtesy: North Korean Economy Watch)

* Jazz, or at least open jazz clubs, do not exist in Athens during the summer. (Courtesy: Athens)

* Pigeon houses (for more, see this description and this photo) are a serious deal in Tinos and directly connected to its arts/sculpture tradition. (Courtesy: Tinos)

* Bootlegging in the US is often dominated by immigrant populations. I suspect this is because of the high capital costs of creating a legal distillery and emigres’ limited access to capital and credit. (Courtesy: NYT)

Things I Learned this Week

Among the things I learned this week:

* Mannequins are more complex, expensive, interesting, and industry supporting than I expected. (Courtesy: NYT)

* My local farmer’s market is pretty good, but it lacks the ready-to-eat variety–including any real coffee options–for which I had hoped. (Courtesy: Farmers)

* Fortified milk is one of the few sources of Vitamin D for vegetarians. (Courtesy: Internet)

* Scalable vector graphics aren’t too difficult to work with, although learning new software is always a pain. This is independent of the JRK as YSL piece I did. (Courtesy: Inkscape)