Thursday, April 3rd, 2025

Good Morning! 🌞

Today is National Burrito Day! 🌯 Whether you prefer your burrito loaded with beef, chicken, or tofu, or you like it piled high with guac and salsa, there’s no better time to enjoy this versatile meal. From breakfast burritos to the classic bean and rice combo, it’s a day to savor all the flavors wrapped up in one convenient, handheld package. Grab yours and enjoy!

Culture

€15M Painting Found After 100 Years

A long-lost portrait by Austrian master Gustav Klimt has resurfaced nearly a century after vanishing in the lead-up to World War II. The painting, created in 1897, depicts Prince William Nii Nortey Dowuona of the Ga people from present-day Ghana. After being sold in 1923 and last seen in 1928, the artwork disappeared following the rise of Nazism in Austria. It is now on display at the Wienerroither & Kohlbacher Gallery in Vienna, carrying a €15 million price tag.

The portrait’s rediscovery is the result of a two-decade search by a dedicated art historian, who authenticated the work through a faded stamp on the back of the canvas. The painting was once owned by the Klein family, Austrian Jews who acquired it for an exhibition after converting Klimt’s former studio into a villa. When the family fled Austria in 1938 due to growing antisemitism, the painting’s trail went cold. “The composition and execution show Klimt’s shift toward decorative elements, which shaped his later work,” said Alfred Weidinger, the expert who confirmed the painting's authenticity.

Prince Dowuona had traveled to Vienna for the Völkerschau, a colonial-era human exhibition that controversially displayed individuals from colonized regions. A friend of Klimt discovered Dowuona there, prompting both Klimt and his colleague Franz Matsch to paint him. Although the unsigned Klimt version remained in Europe—possibly due to a client's preference for Matsch’s rendition—it now joins Klimt’s growing legacy, which includes recent sales reaching $108 million. For now, there are no plans to auction the newly uncovered portrait.

Entertainment

A Beautiful Nordic Twist

Today we’re diving into a mesmerizing take on a rock classic—one that’s as haunting as it is breathtaking. The Harp Twins have reimagined Paranoid by Black Sabbath in a way you’ve never heard before—transforming the high-energy metal anthem into a Nordic-inspired, ethereal masterpiece. Their twin harps weave an enchanting spell, blending delicate plucks with an almost otherworldly energy that gives the song an entirely new dimension.

A huge shoutout to Linda, one of our most avid readers, for sending this our way! If you haven’t seen it yet, you’re in for a treat. Watch the full performance below and let us know what you think—chillingly beautiful or just plain magical?

Sports

Weather-Adaptive Golf Ball

A groundbreaking new golf ball featuring a "water-absorbing" coating could revolutionize how players perform across changing weather conditions. Developed by polymer chemist Thomas J. Kennedy III, the coating adapts to its environment by moderating the ball's speed—slowing it on fast, dry greens and speeding it up on wet, sluggish ones. Kennedy, who heads Massachusetts-based Chemical Innovative Solutions Inc., is set to present his research at the upcoming American Chemical Society (ACS) meeting in San Diego.

According to Kennedy, the coating works by subtly absorbing water molecules without disrupting the ball's aerodynamics. “Golf is heavily influenced by surface interactions,” he explains. “Putting involves both spin and how the grass affects the ball’s roll.” By increasing the surface energy of the ball, the coating balances out weather extremes—drawing in water to add friction on dry greens and reducing resistance on damp ones. Testing with a Stimpmeter revealed that coated balls maintained more consistent speeds than standard ones, regardless of moisture levels.

While some might question the fairness of such technology, Kennedy insists this is not cheating but progress within the game’s regulatory framework. The United States Golf Association (USGA) maintains strict rules on size, weight, symmetry, and distance, but leaves room for innovation. Beyond golf, Kennedy envisions the coating benefiting other industries—particularly solar panels, where it could help water wash away dust and debris. With provisional patents secured and product launch expected within months, Kennedy sums it up best: “Golf has existed since the 15th century, but there’s always room for innovation.”

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Mind Stretchers

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Which country always wins in chess?

Yesterday’s Answers to the Mind Stretchers:

What can you catch but not throw? — a cold 👃 Chris Hostetler got this early! 🌞 

Be the first to send us the correct answer for today’s mind stretcher for a shout-out with the answer tomorrow. Just send us the answer and your name to[email protected]or reply to email.

If you have any uplifting stories and experience you might want to share, send those over to [email protected] for the chance to be featured.