Good Morning! 🌞 

First of, we would like to apologize for yesterdays newsletter. In error we sent out the incomplete draft instead of the finished one. All the articles were good to go, but as you might have noticed, there was no intro, the date was wrong, and the subject line said (title not completed). Funny enough, the title was complete. 😅 

Once again, our apologies. I hope you enjoy today’s articles!

p.s. Make sure to read the article below regarding unclaimed tax refunds. I’m sure we have someone amongst our readers who can benefit from this information.

Economy

$1 Billion in Federal Tax Refunds Unclaimed

If you failed to submit a tax return during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and think you might qualify for a refund, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) thinks you should reach out.

The agency recently announced that it holds over $1 billion in unclaimed refunds from the 2020 tax year, which eligible taxpayers can still claim.

During the pandemic, the deadline for filing returns to claim refunds for the 2020 tax year was extended to May 17, 2024, beyond the standard three-year period.

IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel emphasized the urgency for those who haven’t filed their 2020 returns to do so before the upcoming deadline. With an estimated median refund of $932 for 2020, many may not realize they are entitled to a refund. The pandemic created unique circumstances that led to some individuals, including students and part-time workers, potentially overlooking their refunds.

Additionally, individuals, particularly those with lower to moderate incomes, might qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), potentially worth up to $6,660 for the 2020 tax year for those with eligible children.

The IRS also pointed out that refunds for 2020 might be withheld if tax returns for 2021 and 2022 have not been filed. Taxpayers are encouraged to review their records and prepare their filings to avoid missing out on any potential refunds.

If you think you might be one of those people, it might be worth looking into further.

Culture

Stunning Portrait Restored to Its Former Glory

For the first time in almost four centuries, the public has the opportunity to view Anne of Cleves as Henry VIII did: clad in stunning red velvet set against a vibrant blue background.

Hidden beneath years of accumulated dirt and grime, these striking details have been brought to light by the Louvre's conservators. It was this portrait, painted by Hans Holbein the Younger, that convinced the Tudor monarch to propose marriage to Anne.

This decision ultimately proved regrettable for Henry, who was disappointed by Anne's physical presence upon her arrival in England in 1540, despite the painting's favorable impression. "I like her not! I like her not!" he reportedly exclaimed upon their first meeting. Despite his initial reluctance, the marriage proceeded, only to be annulled six months later.

Residing in the Louvre since its inauguration in 1793, the Holbein portrait has only recently undergone its first significant restoration. This process has revealed the exceptional skill of Holbein, one of the premier portrait artists of his time.

"Indeed, Holbein ranks among the top portraitists of his era," notes art historian Adam Busiakiewicz in a commentary. "The facial expression, color palette, and meticulous details are simply sublime."

Before the restoration, the portrait presented a much more subdued version of Anne, with the background appearing greenish rather than blue and her dress's vibrant red dimmed to a faded brown.

Heather R. Darsie, in her piece for On the Tudor Trail, describes the pre-conservation painting as "dark, shadowy." Now, thanks to the restoration, it is possible to appreciate "the vibrancy of early modern portraiture and the true beauty of [Anne]," offering viewers a vivid glimpse into the colorful artistry of the period.

You can see up-close pictures on the Lourve website and here is a longer article by the Smithsonian Magazine that is well worth the read if you are interested in knowing more.

Environment

Making Whiskey Out of Invasive Crabs

A New Hampshire distillery is tackling the invasion of green crabs along the East Coast by creating "Crab Trapper," a unique crab-flavored whiskey.

Will Robinson the product developer at Tamworth Distilling shared with NPR's Kai McNamee: "People are going to hear crab whiskey, and I'd venture to say three-quarters of them are going to go, 'No, absolutely not,'" said Robinson. "But if you can get them to taste it, they totally change their tune for the most part."

"Crab Trapper" is crafted from a crab stock base, distilled under vacuum, and infused with spices such as mustard seed, coriander, and cinnamon, along with a bourbon base, resulting in a distinctive flavor that Steven Grasse, the distillery's owner, describes to Food & Wine's Mike Pomranz as a "briny and better Fireball." Each bottle incorporates about a pound of crabs.

The European green crab, Carcinas maenas, introduced to the U.S. East Coast around 200 years ago, has become one of North America's most formidable invasive marine species, according to Gabriela Bradt, a marine biologist at the University of New Hampshire. With a voracious appetite and high reproductive capacity, these crabs pose a significant threat to local marine life.

Despite historically being controlled by New England's cold winters, rising temperatures over the past decade have led to a population surge. While green crabs are a delicacy in some European regions, such as Venice, New England has been slower to adopt them as a food source. The NH Green Crab Project at the University of New Hampshire is investigating the potential for establishing a fishery and market for these crabs in the U.S.

Currently, crabbers lack financial motivation to catch green crabs in quantities significant enough to reduce the invasive species’ population. However, the introduction of new products utilizing the crab, such as fishing bait, whiskey, fish sauce, and others, could start to change that.

Grasse emphasizes the distillery's commitment to sustainability and the inspiration drawn from local wildlife for their product innovations. The success of "Crab Trapper" whiskey, an unexpected yet sustainable twist on Fireball, is certainly a unique flavor combination in spirit production.

World News

Panamanian Tomb Holds Ancient Artifacts

El Caño is renowned for its ancient burial sites, with this newly discovered tomb marking the ninth unearthed since excavation efforts commenced in 2008. Inside, researchers found an array of ceramic, bone, and gold artifacts, including breastplates, belts, bells, skirts, flutes, and various jewelry items, notably earrings crafted from sperm whale teeth plated in gold.

Julia Mayo, the director of the El Caño Foundation and leader of the excavation, estimates the age of the deceased Coclé lord to be between 30 and 40 years old. The presence of musical instruments rather than weapons within the tomb suggests the individual likely held a religious leadership role, leading the researchers to nickname him the "Lord of the Flutes."

The Coclé people, who inhabited the central region of present-day Panama from approximately 200 B.C.E. to 1550 C.E., were known for their skilled pottery and metalwork, vibrant culture, and elaborate ceremonial practices.
Elaborate group burials were customary for high-ranking Coclé individuals, with multiple bodies discovered alongside the Lord of the Flutes. Some of these individuals were possibly sacrificed to accompany the important figure in the afterlife.

One intriguing discovery within the tomb was the burial of a woman directly beneath the Coclé lord, with his body positioned face down over hers. While such a burial posture was common in the region during that era, the specific positioning of the male over the female is unusual. Experts speculate that there was likely a significant social relationship between the two individuals during their lifetimes, which was intended to be preserved even in death.
Excavation efforts on the ninth tomb began in 2022 and are still ongoing. Based on previous tombs, it is anticipated that between eight and 32 bodies in total may be unearthed from the site.

Mind Stretchers

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What 3-digit number (including a decimal point) will give you the same answer whether you subtract 5 or divide by 5?

Yesterday’s Answers to the Mind Stretchers:
Friday

Jennye Smith got the correct answer first! That riddle really threw me for a loop the first time I read it.

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.