Joshua Gallaudet: The Founding and Early Establishment of Gallaudet University

Gallaudet University Chapel Halls and College Halls

photo credit: Sdkb / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Key Takeaways

  • Gallaudet University began in 1856 as a small school for deaf and blind students in Washington, D.C.
  • Amos Kendall’s land donation and congressional incorporation established the institution’s legal and physical foundation.
  • Edward Miner Gallaudet expanded the school’s mission and led its transition into a degree-granting college in 1864.
  • Presidential signatures on diplomas became a lasting tradition beginning with Ulysses S. Grant.
  • The institution evolved into a federally supported center for deaf education, later renamed Gallaudet College in 1894.
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Adithan Arunachalam: An Examination Of Soviet Espionage In The United States

Espionage

Key Takeaways

  • Soviet intelligence agencies such as the NKVD, KGB, and GRU infiltrated American institutions to gather political, military, and technological intelligence.
  • The Manhattan Project was penetrated by operatives who accelerated the Soviet Union’s development of nuclear weapons.
  • Espionage networks extended into journalism, federal agencies, and high-level economic policy circles.
  • The Venona Project uncovered Soviet codebreaking vulnerabilities and revealed numerous covert agents.
  • Defections and investigative breakthroughs significantly weakened Soviet spy operations in the United States.
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Jeremy Orgel: Understanding Why and How the Houston Psychoanalytic Society Offers Public Events

HPS seminar

photo credit: Matheus Bertelli / Pexels

Key Takeaways

  • The Houston Psychoanalytic Society (HPS) publicly offers educational events to extend psychoanalytic learning beyond closed professional circles.
  • HPS programming includes lectures, study groups, and conferences with clear agendas and continuing education credits.
  • Topics range from clinical concepts like dissociation and shame to developmental research and cultural analysis.
  • Many events are accessible via Zoom, making psychoanalytic education available to both local and global audiences.
  • Jeremy Orgel’s background in psychiatry and psychoanalysis reflects the type of professional engagement HPS programming supports.
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Bryan Hackleman: Tips for Avoiding Watercolor Mistakes

Watercolor artist

Key Takeaways

  • Watercolor is translucent and fast-drying, making mistakes harder to correct than with opaque mediums like oil paint.
  • Overworking a painting can damage the paper and reduce vibrancy, so planning layers in advance is essential.
  • Using a larger brush can minimize excessive strokes and help prevent overworking detailed areas.
  • Proper paint-to-water balance is critical, as over-dilution reduces control and affects color intensity.
  • Patience during drying and thoughtful correction techniques, such as lifting or light sanding, can help manage unavoidable errors.
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David Horovitz, MD: A Clinical Overview of Urinary System Cancer Types and Risks

Bladder cancer awareness

Key Takeaways

  • More than 90% of urinary tract cancers are urothelial carcinomas arising from transitional cells lining the urinary system.
  • Cigarette smoking is the leading risk factor for bladder cancer, significantly increasing risk compared to nonsmokers.
  • Hematuria (blood in the urine) is the most common warning sign and requires prompt medical evaluation.
  • Treatment varies by stage and type, ranging from endoscopic tumor removal to intravesical therapy, radical surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation.
  • Recurrence rates are high in certain bladder cancers, making long-term surveillance such as regular cystoscopy essential.
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Alp De Waal: A Clear Guide To Understanding ADHD In Children And Families

ADHD

photo credit: Tara Winstead / Pexels

Key Takeaways

  • ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting more than 11% of children worldwide, with symptoms typically appearing before age 12.
  • The condition impacts attention regulation rather than overall attention span and may include hyperfocus alongside inattention or impulsivity.
  • There are multiple ADHD presentations – inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, combined, and unspecified – each with distinct symptom patterns.
  • Genetics play a central role in ADHD, though prenatal exposures and birth factors may increase likelihood.
  • Early diagnosis and comprehensive treatment plans can significantly improve academic, behavioral, and emotional outcomes.
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Haden Kirkpatrick: Understanding How Modern Insurance Pricing Works

Insurance pricing

Key Takeaways

  • Modern insurance pricing combines actuarial science, human expertise, and artificial intelligence to balance fairness with financial solvency.
  • Actuaries, underwriters, and adjusters work together to create and refine rates using data, probability modeling, and real-world claims feedback.
  • Usage-based insurance (UBI) and IoT technologies enable granular, behavior-driven pricing rather than broad demographic assumptions.
  • Dynamic pricing engines powered by AI allow insurers to adjust rates in real time based on market shifts, inflation, and claims trends.
  • Policyholders can actively lower premiums by adopting measurable risk-reduction strategies such as safety upgrades and cybersecurity protections.
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Luke Noble: Advancing Financial Literacy Education for Young Students

Financial management education for kids

Key Takeaways

  • Financial literacy is a foundational life skill that supports long-term economic stability.
  • Teaching children how to earn money helps them understand the value of work and reward.
  • Early saving habits encourage delayed gratification and financial discipline.
  • Introducing investing concepts prepares students for wealth accumulation over time.
  • Financial education benefits individuals, families, and the broader economy.
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Alexander Apostolopoulos: Examining How Films Use Discomfort and Restraint to Sustain Attention

Filmmaking

Key Takeaways

  • Discomfort in film can be created through restraint rather than shock or spectacle.
  • Limited cues and slow pacing encourage viewers to actively interpret meaning.
  • Narrative withholding sustains attention by delaying clarity and resolution.
  • Long takes shift focus from rapid plot to subtle visual and auditory details.
  • Restraint invites critical engagement rather than delivering emotional guidance.
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Abel Oonnoonny: The 5 Coaches with the Most Wins in New York Giants History

Steve Owen and Kyle Rote

Kyle Rote (left) and Steve Owen (right) of 1951 New York Giants – photo credit: CC0

Key Takeaways

  • The New York Giants’ coaching history reflects long-term leadership and championship success.
  • Steve Owen holds the franchise record for most regular-season wins.
  • Tom Coughlin and Bill Parcells each led the team to two Super Bowl titles.
  • Jim Fassel and Allie Sherman round out the top five in total coaching victories.
  • Coaching longevity and postseason performance define legacy within the organization.
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