Tag Archives: history

Esther Peterson, the woman who advocated for the Equal Pay Act and made it possible in 1963 – GOOD

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In a rendition of "Santa Baby," Miley Cyrus sings, "A girl's best friend is equal pay." The remix might be new but debates and discussions about equal pay have been quite long-standing. Esther Peterson was the woman who pushed the Equal Pay Act in 1963 and paved the way for discussions and actions around the same. The bill was signed by President John F. Kennedy on June 10, 1963, to ensure that there was no sex-based wage discrimination.

Peterson was the leading reason behind the act and was the highest-ranking woman in Kennedy's administration. The president appointed her as the Head of the Women's Bureau at the beginning of his term. She was later promoted to Assistant Secretary of Labor in 1963. As per History TV 18, Peterson remembered advocating for the Equal Pay Act even when it was not a top agenda at White House in a 1970 interview.

Equal pay was never a top priority, she said in the interview and added, [The White House] helped me at certain times, but Ive literally carried that bill up. However, the Equal Pay Act was not the first time someone had pushed for equal pay for women. As per the source, the interest in this topic began in 1896, when it was first brought to the Republican party platform. As a senator, Kennedy co-sponsored the Equal Pay bill in 1957 but never held much discussion around it. Although he supported equal pay it was not a priority for him. Peterson confirmed this in the 1970 interview and shared that the White House didn't intervene much in the work of the Women's Bureau on the Equal Pay Bill. She said, We were given the responsibility and we lobbied it through. She was asked if the bill was a top priority at the White House, to which she replied, No. We didnt get help from them We got the bill through ourselves, frankly.

She played a key role in putting together the testimony for the hearing on the Equal Pay Bill in 1962. She also liaised with other groups to lobby members of Congress to support the bill. The next year Congress passed the bill through amendments to the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to protect against wage-based discriminations. However, the bill was slightly different from what Peterson had advocated for. She advocated for "Equal Pay for comparable work" while the bill passed was for "Equal pay for equal work." Peterson believed that the bill needed some strengthening and work.

Peterson was proven right because, as per the Pew Research Centre report in 2022, gender-based and ethnicity-based discrimination in wages still exists. As per the report, black women earned 70 percent of what white men earned while Hispanic women earned 65 percent of what white men earned.

In 2023, Congress even considered the Paycheck Fairness Act to strengthen the Equal Pay Act but didn't pass it. Peterson's contribution was not restricted to this single act though. After JFK's assassination in 1963, she continued to work for Lyndon B. Johnsons administration. He appointed her as Special Assistant to the President for Consumer Affairs, a role she returned for during Jimmy Carters term. She advocated for food labels to list nutritional information and grocery stores to list down prices per unit so consumers could make better decisions. She also advocated for better child care. Her endeavor for the act is an inspiration for women in power and for women around the world to keep pushing for their rights.

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Esther Peterson, the woman who advocated for the Equal Pay Act and made it possible in 1963 - GOOD

Gurman: Apple working on personal robotics as next skunkworks project – 9to5Mac

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Apple turned Jetsons-style video calling into reality with FaceTime. Now the company sees personal robotics as an area worth exploration, reports Mark Gurman for Bloomberg. Is Rosey the Robot the next Jetsonian technology to become a reality?

Its way too early to know if Apple will popularize the robot house maid, but Mark Gurman has some very interesting details about a private skunk-works project going on at the company.

Engineers at Apple have been exploring a mobile robot that can follow users around their homes, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the skunk-works project is private. The iPhone maker also has developed an advanced table-top home device that uses robotics to move a display around, they said.

Gurman adds that the robotic display is further along than an Apple mobile bot for the home. However, the robo monitor has been added and removed from the companys product road map over the years, he reports.

Given the history of that product, Gurman has regularly reported on details of the iPad-like product with a robotic arm for the home over the years.

Whats different now? For starters, Apple cleared the runway for its next product category when the firm canceled its electric car project this year. AI and a continued interest in smart home technology also fuel Apples interest in home robotics. Much like the car project, though, Tesla already has shown its work on its own robotics project.

Gurman further describes the table-top robotics hardware as something that will have the display mimic the head movements such as nodding of a person on a FaceTime session. It would also have features to precisely lock on to a single person among a crowd during a video call.

Obstacles include creating something with a reasonable price and gaining executive sign-off on the project before it progresses. Gurman highlights that a job listing from Apple openly discusses next-gen Apple products that use robotics and AI, however, so there are already external signs of life for the department.

Read the full report from Bloomberg here.

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Gurman: Apple working on personal robotics as next skunkworks project - 9to5Mac

Code and paint show at Lincoln Elementary for students and community members interested in robotics – WNBJ 39

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Code and paint show at Lincoln Elementary for students and community members interested in robotics - WNBJ 39

This Week’s Awesome Tech Stories From Around the Web (Through April 6) – Singularity Hub

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To Build a Better AI Supercomputer, Let There Be Light Will Knight | Wired Lightmatter wants to directly connect hundreds of thousands or even millions of GPUsthose silicon chips that are crucial to AI trainingusing optical links. Reducing the conversion bottleneck should allow data to move between chips at much higher speeds than is possible today, potentially enabling distributed AI supercomputers of extraordinary scale.

Apple Has Been Secretly Building Home Robots That Could End up as a New Product Line, Report Says Aaron Mok | Business Insider Apple is in the early stages of looking into making home robots, a move that appears to be an effort to create its next big thing after it killed its self-driving car project earlier this year, sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. Engineers are looking into developing a robot that could follow users around their houses, Bloomberg reported. Theyre also exploring a tabletop at-home device that uses robotics to rotate the display, a more advanced project than the mobile robot.

A Tantalizing Hint That Astronomers Got Dark Energy All Wrong Dennis Overbye | The New York Times On Thursday, astronomers who are conducting what they describe as the biggest and most precise survey yet of the history of the universe announced that they might have discovered a major flaw in their understanding of dark energy, the mysterious force that is speeding up the expansion of the cosmos. Dark energy was assumed to be a constant force in the universe, both currently and throughout cosmic history. But the new data suggest that it may be more changeable, growing stronger or weaker over time, reversing or even fading away.

How ASML Took Over the Chipmaking Chessboard Mat Honan and James ODonnell | MIT Technology Review When asked what he thought might eventually cause Moores Law to finally stall out, van den Brink rejected the premise entirely. Theres no reason to believe this will stop. You wont get the answer from me where it will end, he said. It will end when were running out of ideas where the value we create with all this will not balance with the cost it will take. Then it will end. And not by the lack of ideas.'

The Very First Jet Suit Grand Prix Takes Off in Dubai Mike Hanlon | New Atlas A new sport kicked away this month when the first ever jet-suit race was held in Dubai. Each racer wore an array of seven 130-hp jet engines (two on each arm and three in the backpack for a total 1,050 hp) that are controlled by hand-throttles. After that, the pilots use the three thrust vectors to gain lift, move forward and try to stay above ground level while negotiating the coursefaster than anyone else.

Toyotas Bubble-ized Humanoid Grasps With Its Whole Body Evan Ackerman | IEEE Spectrum Many of those motions look very human-like, because this is how humans manipulate things. Not to throw too much shade at all those humanoid warehouse robots, but as is pointed out in the video above, using just our hands outstretched in front of us to lift things is not how humans do it, because using other parts of our bodies to provide extra support makes lifting easier.

A Brief History of the Future Offers a Hopeful Antidote to Cynical Tech Takes Devin Coldewey | TechCrunch The future, he said, isnt just what a Silicon Valley publicist tells you, or what Big Dystopia warns you of, or even what a TechCrunch writer predicts. In the six-episode series, he talks with dozens of individuals, companies and communities about how theyre working to improve and secure a future they may never see. From mushroom leather to ocean cleanup to death doulas, Wallach finds people who see the same scary future we do but are choosing to do something about it, even if that thing seems hopelessly small or nave.

This AI Startup Wants You to Talk to Houses, Cars, and Factories Steven Levy | Wired Weve all been astonished at how chatbots seem to understand the world. But what if they were truly connect to thereal world? What if the dataset behind the chat interface was physical reality itself, captured in real time by interpreting the input of billions of sensors sprinkled around the globe? Thats the idea behind Archetype AI, an ambitious startup launching today. As cofounder and CEO Ivan Poupyrev puts it, Think of ChatGPT, but for physical reality.'

How One Tech Skeptic Decided AI Might Benefit the Middle Class Steve Lohr | The New York Times David Autor seems an unlikely AI optimist. The labor economist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is best known for his in-depth studies showing how much technology and trade have eroded the incomes of millions of American workers over the years. But Mr. Autor is now making the case that the new wave of technologygenerative artificial intelligence, which can produce hyper-realistic images and video and convincingly imitate humans voices and writingcould reverse that trend.

Image Credit:Harole Ethan / Unsplash

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This Week's Awesome Tech Stories From Around the Web (Through April 6) - Singularity Hub

Maryland: Building on an Aerospace Legacy: Maryland companies navigate the commercial space race. – Site Selection Magazine

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A

n incubator of aerospace and aviation engineering going back nearly a century, the Lockheed Martin plant at Little River, Maryland, has a storied history. It was there that the Glenn L. Martin Companys developed the B-26, a medium-range bomber that flew more than 100,000 sorties during World War II. Parts of Gemini and Apollo spacecraft came out of the plant decades later. Shuttered last year as part of a corporate re-organization, the cavernous facility in fairly short order has received a new lease on life.

Literally. Rocket Lab, an agile player in the evolving commercial space game, agreed in November to rent and refurbish 113,000 sq. ft. from Lockheed Martin for a Space Structures Complex. To assist with project costs, the Maryland Department of Commerce is providing a $1.56 million repayable loan through its Advantage Maryland program. Slotted to create 65 new jobs, its a project the state government seemed eager to get.

With our states close proximity to several federal and defense agencies, combined with Marylands abundance of talented tech and engineering workers, said Commerce Secretary Kevin Anderson in a statement, this facility is sure to bring much success to both Rocket Lab and Marylands innovative space industry.

Founded in New Zealand in 2003 and headquartered now in Long Beach, California, Rocket Lab is what founder and CEO Peter Beck calls a one-stop space shop. It provides satellite design and manufacturing for both the U.S. government and private clients and launch services to customers that include NASA, the U.S. Space Force and the National Reconnaissance Office. Rocket Lab technology went into the James Webb Telescope, developed in part at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, just northwest of Washington, D.C.

Most aerospace companies, youre either a satellite guy or youre a rocket guy, Beck tells Site Selection. Were both, he says. So, when a customer comes to us, we can build a satellite, then we can launch the satellite and we can even operate the satellite with them.

Among recent, high-profile projects, a Rocket Lab Electron rocket sent NASAs CAPSTONE CubeSat on a path toward the moon from the companys Launch Pad 1 in New Zealand. CAPSTONE has settled into a pioneering lunar orbit, the same orbit planned for Gateway, a small space station from which NASA plans to return humans to the Moon.

We operated the spacecraft, says Beck, until it was time to turn it over to NASA.

Rocket Labs Middle River facility is to focus on composites and composite structures Were the only company, says Beck, thats building fully carbon composite launch vehicles with an eye toward building ever larger rockets.

For us to be able to pick up a facility of this size, one with large, open spaces and a hugely thick foundation, is incredibly rare, Beck says of the Lockheed Martin complex.

The facility offers other advantages, as well. Barge access will allow Rocket Lab to float spacecraft and rockets down Chesapeake Bay to its installation at NASAs Wallops Flight Facility at Wallops Island, Virginia. Wallops, says Beck, will be the exclusive launch platform for the companys Neutron rocket, now in development.

Having manufacturing capability so near the launch site is super, super helpful, he says.

The Space Structures Complex will expand Rocket Labs existing footprint in Maryland, where the company already operates a manufacturing facility for satellite separation systems and CubeSat dispensers in Silver Spring. Its experience in Maryland, Beck believes, bodes well for Rocket Labs expansion there.

Theres a deep aerospace community with lots of experience. Theres also a really deep composites industry. You can have a great building, but youre going to need to fill it with the best people to be successful, and what weve seen is a culture of getting stuff done that really aligns with our companys core values.

Were super lucky, Beck believes, because not just in Maryland but down the road at Wallops Island weve always been greeted with warmth and, quite frankly, excitement. Theyve really rolled out the red carpet, and its been a great experience for us.

Genesis: Beyond the Logo

Like Rocket Labs, Genesis Engineering has its fingers in numerous pies, opportunities being what they are in the new Wild West of space travel. Unlike Rocket Labs, Genesis is Maryland-born and bred. And Genesis, let it be known, engineered a singular coup in the history of product placement.

The Genesis logo, attached to Space Shuttle Discovery

Photo courtesy of Genesis Engineering

As astronaut Mike Massimino dangled outside Space Shuttle Discovery during a 2009 spacewalk, a NASA camera swung around to capture what looked like a bumper sticker. Blue letters on a white background, it read Genesis Engineering. Today, that memento hangs on a wall at a Genesis conference room at the companys headquarters in Lanham, near NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center.

That was the last time they allowed a contractor to fly their logo, says Robert Rashford, Genesis founder and CEO. We got free advertising for two days in space. Then they said, No more of that.

Rashford himself is an interesting story. The native of Kingson, Jamaica, emigrated to the U.S. in 1978, earning a degree in mechanical engineering from Temple University. After landing his first aerospace job with the space division of RCA in New Jersey, he moved to Maryland for a position with Fairchild Space and Defense, where he says he learned to build tools employed by spacewalking astronauts. Banking that experience, Rashford struck out on his own. He founded Genesis in 1993, seeding the new companys bank account with $350.

Today, Genesis employs about 200 people spread across four buildings in Lanham. The work that earned it that bumper sticker included supplying NASA with tools and tool lockers for stowing all manner of space gear packed to exacting specifications.

We also wrote scripts for the astronauts on the cadence of the spacewalk. That was our bread and butter for several years. Then, we designed and built hardware for the James Webb Telescope.

Having manufacturing capability so near the launch site is super, super helpful.

Peter Beck, Founder & CEO, Rocket Labs

The granular knowledge Genesis gathered from supporting shuttle spacewalks inspired one of the companys most ambitious projects to date. Who knew that spacesuits designed for EVAs (Extravehicular Activities), are essentially one-size-fits all? Ill-fitting suits, says Rashford, can cause skin abrasions and joint problems. Heating and cooling systems can leak water, cutting spacewalks short. The Genesis Single Person Spacecraft, (SPS) designed with the International Space Station, NASAs Gateway program and space tourism in mind, is a self-propelled module that a spacewalker would board to operate outside the mothership sans spacesuit and without the lengthy hours of pre-breathing required to prevent getting the outer space version of the bends.

You can eliminate all of that, says Rashford, because the pressure inside the vehicle is the same as inside the spacecraft.

Orbital Reef, conceived as a space-based business park, is a potential partner for SPS, although Rashford suggests that project led by Blue Origin is being slow-walked due to other Blue Origin priorities. Genesis, says Rashford, is looking for an investor to see SPS to the finish line.

In the meantime, Genesis is developing its first CubeSat, a miniaturized satellite for space research, creating a propulsion system for a private customer and bidding on a billion-dollar contract with Goddard to produce mass spectrometers for space applications.

We feel the time is right to do it, Rashford says. We have the staff, the confidence, the know-how and the partnerships. We think we stand a good chance of winning that contract because of what we have to offer.

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Maryland: Building on an Aerospace Legacy: Maryland companies navigate the commercial space race. - Site Selection Magazine

Hubble telescope exhibit gives hands-on experience – Coastal Review Online

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A scale model of the Hubble Space Telescope and its contributions to the exploration of planets, stars, galaxies and the universe make up a hands-on experience on display through June 23 at Cape Fear Museum of History and Science in Wilmington.

Hubble Space Telescope: New Views of the Universe is a traveling exhibit through National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or NASA. Hubble, a space-based observatory launched and deployed by the space shuttle Discovery in 1990, orbits 326 miles above the Earth, according to NASA.

The exhibit features the telescopes various instruments and the role that each one plays in providing new images and discoveries, and showcases Hubbles images and data of planets, galaxies, regions around black holes, and many other fascinating cosmic entities.

Visitors also get a glimpse of the various hurdles Hubble faced in its career and discover the role that astronauts played in repairing and servicing the observatory, and be introduced to the James Webb Space Telescope launched Dec. 25, 2021.

Cape Fear Museum at 814 Market St. is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Standard admission prices are $8 for adults; $7 for seniors, students and military with valid ID; $5 for children 6-17; and free for children 5 and under and for museum members.

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Hubble telescope exhibit gives hands-on experience - Coastal Review Online

Why the Odysseus Moon Landing Is So Important – TIME

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Early this week, Facebook provided me with a sweet piece of serendipity when it served up a picture of the late Gene Cernan. I had taken and posted the picture in 2014, when Cernan, the last man on the moon, was being feted at the premiere of the documentary about his life, titled, straightforwardly, The Last Man On the Moon. I had gotten to know Gene well over the course of many years of reporting on the space program, and was keenly saddened when we lost him to cancer three years later.

But this week, on Feb. 22, Cernan made news in a bank-shot sort of way, when the Odysseus spacecraft touched down near the south lunar pole, marking the first time the U.S. had soft-landed metal on the moon since Cernan feathered his lunar module Challenger down to the surface of the Taurus-Littrow Valley on Dec. 11, 1972. The networks made much of that 52-year gulf in cosmic history, but Odysseus was significant for two other, more substantive reasons: it marked the first time a spacecraft built by a private company, not by a governmental space program, had managed a lunar landing, and it was the first time any ship had visited a spot so far in the moons south, down in a region where ice is preserved in permanently shadowed craters. Those deposits could be harvested to serve as drinking water, breathable oxygen, and even rocket fuel by future lunar astronauts.

Today, for the first time in more than a half century, the U.S. has returned to the moon, said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson in a livestream that accompanied the landing. Today, for the first time in the history of humanity, a commercial company and an American company launched and led the voyage up there.

Nelsons enthusiasm was not misplaced. The six Apollo lunar landings might have been epochal events, but they were also abbreviated ones. The longest stay any of the crews logged on the surface was just three days by Cernan and his lunar module pilot Harrison Schmitt. The shortest stay was less than 21 hours, by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin during the Apollo 11 mission, the first lunar landing, in 1969. That so-called flags and footprints model was fine for the days when the U.S. lunar program was mostly about doing some basic spelunking and, not for nothing, beating the much-feared Soviet Union at planting a flag in the lunar regolith.

But the 21st-century moon program is different. Ever since NASA established its Artemis program in 2017, the space agency has made it clear that the new era of exploration will be much more ambitious. The goal is in part for American astronauts to establish at least a semi-permanent presence on the moon, with a mini-space station known as Gateway positioned in lunar orbit, allowing crews to shuttle to and from the surface. NASA also plans to create a south pole habitat that the crews could call home. And all of this will be done by a much more diverse corps of astronauts, with women and persons of color joining the all-white, all-male list of astronauts who traveled to the moon the first time around.

There is, however, a catch: money. In the glory days of Apollo, NASA funding represented 4% of the total federal budget; now its just 0.4%. That means taking the job of designing and building spacecraft off of the space agencys plate and outsourcing it to private industry, the way SpaceX now ferries crews to the International Space Station, charging NASA for the rides the way it charges satellite manufacturers and other private customers. The Commercial Crew Program, of which SpaceX is a part, was established in 2011, and has been a rousing success, so much so that, in 2018, NASA took things a step further, announcing the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, similarly outsourcing the delivery of equipment that astronaut-settlers will need.

CLPS, however, stumbled out of the gate. On Jan. 8 of this year, the Peregrine lander, built by Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic Technology, was launched to a similar lunar region that Odysseus targeted, carrying 20 payloads, including mini-rovers, a spectrometer designed to scour the soil for traces of water, and another to study the moons exceedingly tenuous atmosphere. Peregrine was not destined to make it out of Earths orbit, however, after an engine failure stranded itleaving the ship to plunge back into the atmosphere 10 days after launch.

There will be some failures, Astrobotic CEO John Thornton told TIME before the Peregrine mission launched. But if even half of these missions succeed, it is still a wild, runaway success.

Odysseus landed in that second, happier column. Built by Houston-based Intuitive Machines, the spacecraft carries six science instruments, including stereoscopic cameras, an autonomous navigation system, and a radio wave detector to help measure charged particles above the surfacecritical to determining the necessary sheathing in an eventual habitat. NASA has at least eight other CLPS missions planned, including two more by Intuitive Machines and another by Astrobotic, through 2026. After that, the program is expected to go on indefinitelysupplying lunar bases for as long as Artemis has astronauts on the moon.

Just when those explorers will arrive is unclear. The Artemis II mission, which was expected to take astronauts on a circumlunar journey in November of this year, has been postponed until September of 2025, due to R&D issues in both the Space Launch System moon rocket and the Orion spacecraft. Artemis III, set to be the first landing since the Apollo 17 astronauts trod the regolith, will likely not come until 2026 at the earliest.

That 52 year wait would not have sat well with that long-ago crew. In the same year in which they flew, the National Football Leagues Miami Dolphins made a less consequential history of their own, when they became the first and so far only team to go through an entire season undefeated. The surviving members of that legendary squad have waited out the seasons that have followed, pulling for their record to standand conceding relief when the final undefeated team at last records a loss. Cernan, for his part, wanted nothing to do with his own last man record. We leave here as we came and, God willing, we shall return, with peace and hope for all mankind, he said before he climbed back up the ladder of his lunar module and left the moon behind. The success of Odysseus does not make the fulfillment of Cernans wish imminent, but it does nudge it closer.

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Why the Odysseus Moon Landing Is So Important - TIME

The Dutch Under Nazi Rule: German WWII Occupation of the Netherlands – The Collector

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Despite the fact that the Netherlands was a neutral country, it formed a strategically vital target for the Germans, who invaded on May 10, 1940. Five days later, after the bombing of Rotterdam, the Dutch surrendered.

The occupation lasted almost five years; for the Dutch, it was the most difficult period in their countrys history.

Dutch resolve, however, was not broken, and resistance continued amid brutal reprisals, starvation, and mass deportations that would see the Netherlands lose three-quarters of its Jewish population.

On May 10, 1940, Germany launched an invasion of the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium as part of Operation Fall Gelb (Operation Case Yellow) without any formal declaration of war. Clearly unprepared for modern styles of warfare, the Netherlands fell quickly.

It was one of the first examples of using paratroopers to seize objectives before the advance of the main ground forces. For the Germans, the entire operation was a stunning success.

The German advances were overwhelming, and the bombing of Rotterdam left incredible destruction. The Dutch knew that further resistance would be futile and only leave more destruction in its wake.

By May 14, the Dutch army had surrendered, although a small contingent in Zeeland continued fighting until May 17.

Queen Wilhelmina fled the country and formed a government-in-exile in the United Kingdom. Many believed that she had abandoned her country, but she was adamant that she would never become a puppet ruler under the Germans, and today, her flight is seen as a pragmatic move. She continued to address the Dutch people via radio throughout the war. The rest of her family escaped to Canada. The escape of the Dutch royal family was achieved with the assistance of the British, who led a rescue mission.

At the beginning of the Second World War, the Dutch had remained neutral in the hopes that they could avoid the conflict, but after the invasions of Denmark and Norway, it became clear to most that the Netherlands was likely a prime target. Hasty preparations were made, but it was not enough.

There was a significant amount of denial within the country, with many people expecting Germany to leave the Netherlands alone. Nevertheless, for those who were more pragmatic and for those living in hope, the reaction was the same. Outrage swept the country.

A few days later, the fighting was over, and the emotion of outrage was joined with relief, humiliation, and a sense of abandonment, as many Dutch felt that the French and British should have stationed troops in the Netherlands to protect it from German invasion.

From the German perspective, the Dutch constituted fellow Aryans, and the Germans intended to treat the Dutch people a lot better than the citizens of many other conquered areas of Europe. From the Dutch perspective, they didnt expect to be treated well, as they had a significant distrust of the Germans.

For a minority of Dutch people, the invasion was a blessing. The Dutch Nationaal-Socialistische Beweging (National-Socialist movement / NSB) welcomed the German occupation as it brought the members of this right-wing movement significant power. Its leader, Anton Mussert, had expected to be installed as the ruler of a Dutch state allied to the Germans, but in reality, the occupation was under the control of the Austrian politician Arthur Seyss-Inquart, who served as the Reichskommissar of the Netherlands from May 29, 1940, to May 7, 1945.

The distrust of the Germans was exacerbated by the immediate effects of the German occupation in terms of food. The Germans blockaded the ports and effectively ended the importation of foodstuffs from abroad. Instead, the Dutch people would be fed by the Germans with careful rationing. The food that was distributed was healthy and based on modern dietary needs. It was low in fat, and the Dutch, who were used to a high-fat diet, began to lose weight; many assumed the Germans were starving them. This turned out not to be the case, at least not at this point in the occupation. Later on, as the Germans became more harsh towards the Dutch people, the threat of famine would turn into a reality.

Many Dutch people believed the occupation would be short-lived, some expecting it to be over by Christmas. Until then, they adopted a policy of conforming to the desires of the occupiers, or at least the appearance of conformity.

While the German soldiers, on the whole, treated the Dutch well during the beginning of the occupation, German leadership took control of all aspects of society and the economy, banning free speech and propagating Nazi ideology among the populace of the Netherlands. Naturally, most Dutch people saw this as an attempt to convert the country. While the NSB saw some initial growth, swelling to around 100,000 members, it remained a fringe group in terms of the total population and was utterly despised by the rest of Dutch society.

Before the war, Dutch society had been fractured and split along social, religious, and political lines. With the exception of the small minority of those who supported the NSB and the Nazis, the vast majority of the Dutch population found itself with a common enemy, and as such, a sense of unity thrived.

Around 5% of the Dutch people joined the resistance. While this may (or may not) have been a relatively small percentage, this was the section of society that went into hiding and used violent tactics to strike at German assets. Other forms of resistance were common and were much less active. The Dutch people took to hiding those wanted by the Germans. In particular, Jewish people found hope and protection in the families that secreted them away in the attics of houses. The famous Anne Frank was one of these Jews who were looked after by compassionate and brave Dutch people.

When those in the Dutch resistance were caught and executed, the Dutch were horrified. Given the initial attitude of the Germans towards the Dutch at the beginning of the occupation, it came as a shock. Especially since in the Netherlands, the death penalty had been outlawed for many decades, and the Dutch were not used to anybody being executed.

It was also not just Jewish people who the Nazi occupiers were after. Communists and outspoken critics of the regime were targeted, as well as people with mental disabilities.

Life was tough for everybody under Nazi occupation. Forced labor was implemented, and adult men were drafted to work in German factories, which were often targeted by Allied bombing runs.

After the German conquest of the Netherlands, a Joodse Raad was created, a council that acted as a liaison between the Jews and the Nazi occupiers. The Raad was run by Abraham Asscher and David Cohen, supplied the Germans with information, and was responsible for organizing and selecting Jews for deportation. Asscher and Cohen were both tried for collaboration by the Jewish Community in the Netherlands after the war but were exonerated. Many Jews found themselves in difficult situations, being forced to collaborate on pain of death.

For their part, the Dutch did not sit quietly and do nothing. With the first waves of antisemitic policies came pushback in the form of protests and strikes from the Dutch populace. In February 1941, a strike was met with violent suppression by the Nazi regime, which tried thereafter to limit the amount of violence dealt to non-Jewish Dutch people.

This situation of being forced to collaborate was not just a situation for the Jews. Many Dutch people, especially those in the government and the police, were compelled to perform heinous acts in order to protect themselves and their families. Forced collaboration was an incredibly difficult issue that raised many questions, especially after the war, when people were put on trial for their assistance to the Nazi regime.

The outcome of the Nazi policies in the Netherlands was that over 70% of Dutch Jews were deported. This was a higher proportion than in any other German-occupied territory in Western Europe.

Not all collaboration was forced, however. Some elements of Dutch society supported the Nazis and did so openly. Up to 25,000 Dutch men even volunteered to join the German army and the Waffen-SS.

Hope became a reality in September 1944 with the beginning of Operation Market Garden. Although the operation achieved very limited gains, it represented the beginning of the collapse of German resistance. In the following months, the Netherlands was freed from German control bit by bit. The Allies, however, concentrated their efforts on Germany, not the Netherlands, and Berlin fell before Amsterdam was liberated. Many parts of the Netherlands were only free of German occupation once the Germans had officially surrendered.

However, the months in which liberation was achieved were not as happy as they could have been. The Germans cut off supply to the western region of the country where 4.5 million people lived, and as a result of the Hongerwinter (Hunger Winter), around 18,000 Dutch people starved to death, with relief only arriving as late as May 1945, with the complete surrender of the German forces in Europe.

By the end of the war, 205,901 Dutch people had died from war-related causes. Just over half of them were victims of the Holocaust. This total represented 2.36% of the entire Dutch population at the time and was the highest proportion in Western Europe.

For Dutch people today, the occupation of their country represents an awful time in their history. Generally being a liberal people who value freedom, the five years of Nazi governance is seen as a time that flew directly in the face of Dutch beliefs.

Not only did it aggravate Dutch ways of life, but it humiliated the Dutch people, who, for the most part, did what they could to resist.

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The Dutch Under Nazi Rule: German WWII Occupation of the Netherlands - The Collector

From Jamaica to the Dominican Republic, the Best Golf and Spa Resorts – Caribbean Journal

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A majority of luxury resorts in the Caribbean offer spa services; far fewer have golf courses, and the list of resorts with both great golf and top-notch spas is shorter still. For many couples, though, these kinds of resorts can be the perfect blend of indulgence and wellness, activity and relaxation.

Couples looking to work on their golf stroke as well as getting some relaxing strokes in at the spa would do well to pack their clubs for these great Caribbean resorts. Here are our favorite golf-and-spa resorts in the Caribbean.

Casa de Campo, La Romana, Dominican Republic

The Teeth of the Dog and Dye Fore golf courses at Casa de Campo are perhaps the most famous names in Caribbean golf. Both are Pete Dye designs but with very different aspects: the 18-hole Teeth of the Dog plays along the edge of the Caribbean Sea, whereas Dye Fore has 27 holes in total, including five with drops over 300-foot cliffs. The Links, another Dye design, offers a challenging yet eminently playable layout. The 18,000-square-foot resort spa offers exotic services like JetPeel facials and binaural acoustic and dynamic stimulation a form of guided meditation employing music and vibration alongside a more typical menu of massages and other body treatments.

Half Moon, Jamaica

A favorite of visiting royalty, the Half Moon resort in Montego Bay has been challenging and charming golfers since 1962. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., the course plays over the grounds of a former sugarcane estate; the Sugar Mill restaurant testifies to the history while offering both a romantic setting and fine dining. Fern Tree, a Salamander Spa has a spa garden with a pool and waterfall, aromatherapy steam and sauna rooms, body treatments incorporating local herbs, spices, and fruit, and a Rastafarian inspired Ital Cafe serving vegetarian food and natural fruit juices.

Baha Mar, Bahamas

Why gamble at the casino when you can try your luck (and skill) at the Baha Mar resorts Royal Blue golf course? A Jack Nicklaus Signature course, Royal Blues 18 holes are laid out in the shadow of the resorts hotel towers and amid sand dunes and natural limestone formations. At the end of the day, Baha Mar has two spas standing ready to ease any accumulated aches: the only ESPA in the Caribbean overlooks the ocean, while treatments at the Sense spa at the Rosewood resort include exclusive scalp treatments designed by Miriam Quevedo.

Sanctuary Cap Cana, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

The par 72, Jack Nicklaus designed Punta Espada Golf Course is a centerpiece of the Cap Cana resort community; the oceanfront course, site of PGA tournaments, is often ranked as tops in the Caribbean. Among the seven resorts at Cap Cana, the Sanctuary Spa at the Sanctuary Cap Cana is the best retreat for couples relaxation with its village-like setting and extensive treatment menus.

Dorado Beach, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Puerto Rico

Originally opened as a hotel by Laurence Rockefeller, Dorado Beach oozes luxury, and the golf here is no exception. The Sugarcane Course is the more challenging of the resorts two golf courses, but the Robert Trent Jones designed East Course is no slouch, either, as the ball marks on the trunks of trees lining the fairways will attest. The Spa Botanico lives up to its name with lush grounds including a pineapple garden surrounding treatment rooms and a very private waterfall plunge pool.

Four Seasons Nevis

Your foursome may become a more some if you get paid a visit by the green monkeys who inhabit the golf course at this beachfront resort in Nevis. Designed by Robert Trent Jones II, the 18-hole, par-71 course slopes gently downhill towards the ocean. The signature Nevisian Massage is thankfully monkey-free but does employ a variety of soothing local spices.

Puntacana Resort and Club, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

The Corales Golf Course at the Puntancana Club only reinforces the notion that the Dominican Republic is the golf capital of the Caribbean. Designed by Tom Fazio, the course has six oceanside holes among its 18. The La Cana Course is, if anything, even more scenic, with 14 ocean-view holes on a 27-hole layout designed by P.B. Dye. The club is home to the only Six Senses Spa in the Caribbean and offers treatments that blend traditional touch and wellness science. You can stay at either the Tortuga Bay resort or the Westin Puntacana.

Sandy Lane, Barbados

Rocky cliffs undulate among the greens and fairways of the Green Monkey, one of three golf courses gracing this icon of Caribbean luxury accommodations in Barbados. The course is about as exclusive as golf gets: just 10 tee times are available each day. If you dont snare one, theres ample consolation to be had at the lake-dotted, Tom Fazio designed Country Club at Sandy Lane championship course and the venerable Old Nine, which weaves among groves of mahogany trees. The exquisite Spa at Sandy Lane has 47,000 square feet devoted to treatment rooms, fitness facilities, and indoor and outdoor relaxation areas.

Aurora Anguilla

This luxury resort has Anguillas only golf course two of them, in fact. The Aurora International Golf Club features 18 holes that run alongside beaches, challenge golfers to make a par 5 on a 600-yard layout, and ends with a mandatory shot over a salt pond. The Greg Norman designed Avalon Links short course, with nine compact holes, is designed for quick play and makes for a nice warmup for a day on the main course. The Sorana Spa augments treatment rooms and a fitness center with a steam room, sauna, and hydrotherapy course.

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From Jamaica to the Dominican Republic, the Best Golf and Spa Resorts - Caribbean Journal

25 Most Beautiful Places in the Caribbean From Emerald-colored Sinkholes to Private Islands – Travel + Leisure

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Lush paradise, turquoise waters,idyllic getaway these are all phrases often used to describe the Caribbean. And though this collection of countries in the middle of the ocean contains a shared allure of natural wonders, each one also has its own history and cultural traditions.

Ive been fortunate to visit a number of Caribbean nations, bordered by white, black, and pink sands below swaying palms, and it never grows old. The vendors with freshly plucked coconuts and plastic cups filled with dark rum to enjoy as the sun sinks into sherbet-colored clouds. A plate of jerk chicken pulled from a charcoal-fired pit on the side of the road and splashed with mango chutney to cool the scotch bonnet. A parade of smiles and feathers and palatable joy as revelers make their way down the road for Carnival Tuesday. These are all moments that make the Caribbean beautiful.

Below, youll find a list of places that expand on that idea, from sustainable, jungle-shrouded hotels without any crowds to flavorful, farm-to-table experiences tucked on quiet hillsides. We tapped two Caribbean experts writer, editor and on-air travel expert Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon and author and chef Adrian Forte to help us compile a list of 25 of the most beautiful places in the Caribbean.

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Located on the southern end of Elbow Cay in the Bahamas, and only accessible by foot, boat, or bike, Tahiti Beach stays with you long after you've left it. As many times as Ive been to the Caribbean and to the Bahamas, youd think Id be immune to the beauty of this sandbar, which disappears at high tide. But its silky white sand, surrounded by a swath of iconic Bahamian blue, stuns me every single time, says Greaves-Gabbadon. Alaska Airlines also recently launched a number of nonstop flights from my hometown of Los Angeles to Nassau, so Ill be heading back to the country for Carnival next year.

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Untouched by cruise ships and crowds, Canouan is a 3.2-square-mile island in the Grenadines, just a 40-minute plane ride from Barbados. It's home to the jungly Soho Beach House and the coral-hued beachfront Mandarin Oriental. Snorkeling here is also supreme, with water so vibrantly blue, it glows.

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With 135 acres of private coastline floating in the Grenadines, Petit St. Vincent is a luxury resort with just 22 cottages steps away from cerulean waters. Posh but unpretentious, this all-inclusive private island resort is a bit of a haul to reach (from Miami, it takes two planes, a golf cart, and a boat), but the journey is worth it, says Greaves-Gabbadon. When Im not reading on the porch of my cottage (all serviced by butlers in a fleet of Mini Mokes), I like to hike up Marni Hill, laze on any (or all) of the four beaches, or sip a rum punch at the beach bar, Goatie's.

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I can close my eyes and see the roads from Kingston bumpy and winding but worth the three-hour drive to reach this slice of solitude on Jamaicas south coast. You won't find high-rise hotels or crowds here. Upon arrival, its a straightaway to my home away from home at Jakes, a boutique hotel with seaside bungalows and villas spread about Treasure Beachs rugged coastline. Spend a day at Jakes' poolside bar, order a rum punch, and repeat. In the morning, have a filling breakfast of ackee and salt fish with fried plantain at the propertys restaurant. And, if you love to read like I do, come for the biannual Calabash International Literary Festival, a weekend that includes communing with some of the worlds greatest literary minds as they read from their work with lapping waves in the background.

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Located on a cliffside on Antiguas west coast, this is dining with a view taken up a notch. It doesnt get much sexier than this waterfront restaurant at Cocobay Resort, where you can dine in cabanas built into the cliffs edge and swim in ocean-view plunge pools between courses, says Greaves-Gabbadon.

This plant-based, farm-to-table experience is offered in the hills ofSt. Ann, near Ocho Rios. Here, the flavors of Jamaica are presented as a love letter to the surrounding terrain that produces the food. Owners Chris and Lisa Binns seek to connect visitors to the earth at every turn, with a farm tour and rustic dinner of rotating dishes that have included a Jamaican mezze board of crispy plantain chips, coconut-crusted yams, and pineapple croquettes.

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Grace Bay in Providenciales sees its fair share of visitors and for good reason: The white-sand beach rivals those seen in the Maldives.

But go beyond Provo and youll reach Middle Caicos, the largest of the islands in Turks and Caicos, with a wild beauty of its own. Few visitors ever venture far enough to see this wild and wonderful beach, secreted at the southern tip of Middle Caicos, so I feel fortunate to have been introduced to it by a resident, says Greaves-Gabbadon. Walk through the stand of casuarina trees shielding the beach from the road and youll be rewarded with quite a sight: two miles of completely deserted, blinding-white sand that meets gin-clear water, knee-deep for almost a mile out. If beach was a religion, this would be its cathedral.

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Known for its world-class rums, Martinique has a slew of impressive beaches, too, from Le Diamant to Les Anses-d'Arlet. For a trip away from the islands sandy shores, head to Jardin de Balata and learn why Martinique is called the Island of Flowers. At this thriving, three-hectare botanical garden just outside the capital of Fort-de-France, more than 3,000 varieties of flora and fauna bloom brightly. Take a canopy ride for panoramic views. And for cultural events, there's Martiniques three-day Carnival in February, where Ive recently learned the crowd is entirely part of the parade in what's called a vid.

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On an island known for its exclusivity and luxury, visitors can opt for an adventure that only requires a good pair of walking shoes and a bathing suit. After a 30-minute walk along a winding path, youll reach two natural pools enclosed by craggy rocks jutting from the sea. If the waves are strong, it's best to watch from a distance, but on a clear day, floating in the emerald-colored water is simply magical.

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One of the most sought-after locations in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, the crystal-clear waters of the Blue Hole are surrounded by vegetation and a hilly interior. This is a series of natural limestone sinkholes and lush untouched forestry. I visited with my fianc and a few of our closest friends. The view from the top of the tropical falls is stunning, and if youre the adventurous type like me, jumping off a 30-foot cliff makes you feel like you can conquer anything afterward, says Forte.

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Nicknamed the Nature Island, Dominica is home to rain forests, bubbling rivers, ocean kayaking trails, and rushing waterfalls. A few of the islands most beautiful natural wonders include Morne Trois Pitons National Park, Champagne Reef, and the Botanic Gardens. For an eco-friendly retreat, check into Coulibri Ridge, a 14-suite, off-the-grid luxury hotel that uses solar energy as its main power source and features an open-air yoga pavilion. For a black-sand beach escape, my favorite pick is Secret Bay, set on a secluded cliff with residential-style villas that have their own plunge pools. In February, the streets become filled with revelers for Dominicas Mas Domnik Carnival celebration, which includes music competitions, a variety of parties, and masqueraders dressed in bright regalia.

Courtesy of Nayara Bocas del Toro Treehouses

With 16 overwater villas, this adults-only eco-resort on a private island along the Caribbean coast does not disappoint. Flanked by three miles of coral reefs teeming with sea life, snorkelers will have lots to explore at Nayara Bocas del Toro. Kayak, paddleboard, and swim directly from your room, but not before enjoying Caribbean breakfast classics like johnnycakes. Some villas here include glass floor panels for viewing underwater life, while two one-bedroom bamboo tree houses tower some 40 feet above the ground. The property also boasts the worlds first overwater beach, suspended on stilts and stretching 90 feet long by 20 feet wide.

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Youve likely seen images of Trinidads Carnival one of the greatest and most beautiful traditions in the Caribbean but you may not know its origin, which is rooted in rebellion and celebration against all odds by enslaved West Africans. Today, Trinidads capital, Port of Spain, draws travelers from around the Caribbean, Europe, and even Japan to party into the early morning rum in hand. My favorite moment of it all is Jouvert a call to meet the rising sun, bodies splashed in powder and paint and Caesars Armys A.M. Bush a wild party that takes place in an open field. A word to the wise: Get tickets early, as Caesars Army events are always the most popular during Carnival. In 2024, the energy is sure to be as magnetic as ever.

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Easily one of the most picturesque beaches in the Caribbean, Pigeon Point contains all the elements of a postcard-perfect day: sugary white sand, strikingly turquoise water, and palm trees swaying slowly above it all. Located on the southwestern tip of Tobago, its a popular place for sunbathing and water sports, without much foot traffic or noise.

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Tucked in the North Sound area of Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands, Oil Nut Bay is 400 acres of luxurious relaxation. Visitors here will find a beach club with three pools and a swim-up bar; Nova, an overwater restaurant; and hiking trails with views overlooking the Caribbean. One of the villas, Compass Rose, spans 3,653 square feet and features two swimming pools. Another way to see the British Virgin Islands? The Moorings offers chartered catamarans and yachts to various destinations around the region, including Virgin Gorda, the less-frequented coral island of Anegada, and Saba Rock.

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Nicknamed the Caribbeans Spice Isle because of its abundance of cinnamon, nutmeg, and more, Grenada lures visitors with fewer crowds than neighboring islands, beautiful Grand Anse Beach, the history of Jab Jab during Carnival season (when bodies are splashed in black oil and paint as a symbol of Black pride), and an addictive plate of crabback at BBs. To take in the island's beauty, drive up to Fort Frederick for a panoramic view. Want to learn more about the island? My favorite guide, Roger Augustine, provides the best tours on the island. When its time to find a hotel, my first choice is always the Black-owned Spice Island Beach Resort. Six Senses La Sagesse will also open in early 2024, stretching across 38 acres in the bucolic parish of St. David.

Courtesy of Jade Mountain

Set between two beaches on St. Lucias southwestern coast, Jade Mountain offers views that seamlessly blend into its cliffside location above the Piton Mountains, plus rooms with 15-foot ceilings, infinity pools, and 24-hour butler service. Even from a distance while approaching by boat, its easily one of the most striking hotels in the Caribbean. Looking for a honeymoon location? This is it. It will be hard to leave your room, but if you do, the village of Soufrire, filled with great restaurants like Orlandos and the islands famous Sulphur Springs, is not far.

Courtesy of Yemaya Reefs

Past rows of mangroves and jungle, Yemaya Reefs on Little Corn Island reveals itself some 50 miles off Nicaraguas eastern coast. Step onto the sand and head to one of 16 individual casitas, some with plunge pools. Everything here is intimate, from the service to the communal yoga pavilion and thatched-roof restaurant. The food at Yemaya Reefs is particularly impressive, with dishes that celebrate Afro-Nicaraguan influences like gallo pinto (rice and beans) and rondn, a filling coconut-based stew with root vegetables and seafood like fish and crab. To get to Yemaya, youll need to take a 90-minute flight from the capital city of Managua, then a 30-minute boat ride from Big Corn Island all of which can be coordinated with the hotel.

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A tropical nature reserve located just off the coast of St. Martin, Pinel Island checks off all the boxes for a memorable beach day: soft white sand, beachfront restaurants, and a number of water activities. The best way to spend the day here? Grab a table or beach lounger at Karibuni and choose from dishes like octopus ceviche or a platter of conch boudin and cod fish fritters. The ocean views are worth admission alone.

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When I first visited Flamenco Beach on the island of Culebra, I stood still for a few moments, knowing the short plane ride I feared was well worth this remote slice of beach in front of me. The horse-shaped bay with shallow turquoise waters can be reached via a 15-minute flight or a 1.5-hour ferry. Upon arriving, there are a number of food stalls to enjoy as well.

Courtesy of Ambergris Cay

This 1,100-acre private island is a place to get away from it all, with 17 bungalows, eight villas, and a collection of privately owned homes and luxury accommodations. You'll share the place with sunbathing iguanas and, if youre lucky, a few whales in the distance. My favorite rooms are the beachfront suites with private plunge pools and an unobstructed view between the front door and the ocean.

If youre looking for the perfect Caribbean afternoon, this is your place. It includes all the necessary elements: good rum and wine; a pristine, uncrowded beach; and, of course, easy vibes. La Cabane on Barbados west coast provides a St. Tropez-style beach club experience without any unnecessary frills. Walk barefoot and order a lobster. While you wait, take a dip in Batts Rock Beach just steps away, and dont leave without a rum punch.Another favorite? Cutters. Ive frequented Barbados for the last five years consecutively to attend the Food and Rum Festival. I can say, without a doubt, the best experience Ive had on the island is at Cutters. They make the best rum punch in the world, using the best ingredients, including freshly pressed sugar cane for their simple syrup says Forte.

Courtesy of Guana Island

Total seclusion is king at this private island in the British Virgin Islands. There are private-island resorts and then theres Guana Island, a private-island resort thats so exclusive, non-guests cant even swing by for a drink or dinner. The result? A luxe, low-key getaway thats reliably tranquil, and whose seven beaches youll share with a maximum of 31 other (lucky) guests, says Greaves-Gabbadon.

Courtesy of Emara Estate

For a gorgeous group getaway located on eight acres, check into Emara Estate in Providenciales. This 17-bedroom villa is tucked away on its own private peninsula, nestled between tropical trees. Its one of the most beautiful private villas Ive been to and it was also formerly owned by legendary musician Prince Rogers Nelson, says Forte.

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Sprouting from the Caribbean Sea like a scene from Jurassic Park, these two volcanic plugs on St. Lucias southwestern coast leave me in awe every time I see them. While winding the hillsides of the country, the mountains peak out at various turns, but my favorite spot to view them is by boat or from the sand at Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort. Afterward, head to the town of Soufrire and have lunch at Fedos. (Tip: Dont skip the fresh juice of the day.)

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25 Most Beautiful Places in the Caribbean From Emerald-colored Sinkholes to Private Islands - Travel + Leisure