Category: Culture

Benjamin Franklin, a pioneer of self-education, established the Junto, a Philadelphia-based discussion group for “mutual improvement” through intellectual debate in 1727.

Recognizing the need for a reliable source to verify facts due to the scarcity and high cost of books in colonial America, Franklin came up with a new idea. He envisioned a library funded by subscription fees. This vision materialized as the Library Company of Philadelphia in 1731, which made books accessible to those of modest means.

At first, members bought shares at a low cost that could be inherited by future generations. Prioritizing volumes in English for broader comprehension, the Library Company attracted eager interest. Eventually, the library opened its doors to non-shareholders for a nominal fee, setting a precedent that lead to over 40 lending libraries across the United States by 1800.

In the same period in Britain, philanthropists contributed books to libraries to enhance community learning, though these books remained within the library premises; typically, these institutions did not lend out their collections. To safeguard against theft, some libraries even secured books to the shelves with chains.

By 1771, on the brink of the Revolution, Franklin noted in his autobiography the pivotal role of lending libraries crediting them with elevating the intellect of Americans: “These libraries have improved the general conversation of the Americans” and “made the common tradesmen and farmers as intelligent as most gentlemen from other countries.”

During its tenure in Philadelphia, the Library Company acted as the first de facto Library of Congress until 1800. Today, the Library Company endures as an independent research library, open and free to the public, still sustained by shareholders. In addition to the circulating portion, it houses an extensive, non-circulating collection, including some of its earliest acquisitions like Franklin’s own copy of Logic, or, the Art of Thinking. While now focusing on American history up to 1900, the Library Company’s foundational mission of facilitating access to knowledge persists.

At the age of eight years, six months, and 11 days, Ashwath Kaushik from Singapore made history by becoming the youngest player ever to defeat a grandmaster in classical tournament chess. This remarkable feat was achieved when he triumphed over Poland’s Jacek Stopa, 37, during round four of the Burgdorfer Stadthaus Open in Switzerland, breaking the previous record by four months.

Ashwath’s journey into chess began with his parents recognizing the increasing screen time in his life and introducing him to the ancient board game through ChessKid.com. As the pandemic hit and Singapore enforced strict lockdowns, Ashwath found himself with ample time to dedicate to practice.

Despite his young age, he displayed a mature understanding of the game and his aspirations, aiming for a 2,000 rating and eventually the title of world champion.

Ashwath’s journey in chess has been fully supported by his family, who provide him with the necessary time and space to pursue his passion.

Under the guidance of experienced coaches like Chess GM Kevin Goh Wei Ming has had other notable achievements such as completing GM Jacob Aagaard’s entire Grandmaster series. While he excels in tactical maneuvers, his coaches wish to further develop his strategic thinking as he continues to learn.

One of the great things about our modern era is the ability to see and listen to things from cultures far away from us.

A particularly enchanting example of this is when something, in this case music, is combined from two different cultures and creates something unique and beautiful.

Finland consistently secures the top spot as the happiest country in the world, as per the annual United Nations World Happiness Report, a position it has maintained since 2018.

The Finnish people attribute their happiness to four fundamental factors: a strong bond with nature, a pragmatic lifestyle, emphasis on fresh and local food, and a commitment to sustainability.

They view happiness not as an enigmatic concept but rather as a set of attainable skills, cultivated through daily activities such as forest walks, sea dips post-sauna, and meals crafted from locally sourced ingredients.
To commemorate their happiness status and following the success of the 2023 Masterclass in Happiness, Finland’s official tourism board and Helsinki Partners are inviting applicants worldwide to participate in a happiness hack-a-thon. This five-day curated experience will take place in Helsinki, the world’s happiest capital.

Scheduled for June 2024, the Helsinki Happiness Hacks urban expedition offers selected participants an opportunity to learn from five Helsinki residents, each sharing their strategies for finding joy in the city.

The lineup includes Lena Salmi, a seventy-year-old skateboarder and avid swimmer, who will share insights on urban swimming; Luka Balac, a renowned chef focused on sustainability, who will discuss his approach to social gastronomy; Adela Pajunen, a well-being expert and biologist, who will shed light on Finland’s natural remedies; designer Tero Kuitunen, who will demonstrate how Helsinki’s urban and natural elements intersect; and Tapio Hakanen, also known as DJ Orkidea, who will introduce participants to the concept of a “sauna rave.”

Heli Jimenez, Senior Director of International Marketing at Business Finland, expresses enthusiasm about sharing Finnish happiness practices with the world. She states, “As the world’s happiest country, we believe in sharing our happiness. We are excited to welcome people from across the globe to discover the keys and hacks to Finnish happiness.”