Equal Pay Day is a day to show the difference between what men and women are paid in the US. This always falls on a Tuesday in April but official wage figures are not available until late August / September.
Word of the Day
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| Definition: | (noun) A jumble; a hodgepodge. | ||
| Synonyms: | patchwork, melange, ragbag | ||
| Usage: | Inside the chest, he found a gaudy gallimaufry of old dresses, feathers, and sequins. | ||
History
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 | The kinetoscope is an early motion picture exhibition device that creates the illusion of movement by conveying a filmstrip of sequential images over a light source with a high-speed shutter. The first public kinetoscope parlor was opened in New York City in 1894 and introduced the basic approach that would become the standard for all cinematic projection before the advent of video. The venue had 10 machines, each showing a different short movie. | ||
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 | Serpico is a retired New York City police officer who is most famous for being the first officer in US history to testify about widespread police corruption. Just months before he testified in 1971, he was shot in the face during a drug bust under suspicious circumstances, leading some to believe that corrupt officers had set him up. Shortly thereafter, Serpico, a film based on his life and starring Al Pacino, was released. | ||
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 | The International Union of American Republics (now called the Pan American Union)—general secretariat of the Organization of American States (OAS)—designated April 14 as Pan American Day in 1930. Although each member country holds its own celebration, it is at the Pan American Union building in Washington, DC, that one of the largest observances takes place. Students from all over the Western Hemisphere travel to Washington where, against a backdrop of flags in the courtyard of the House of the Americas, they perform folk songs and dances. | ||
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| As if being small in stature weren't already enough of an issue in today's world obsessed with seven-foot-tall basketball stars and leggy models, now scientists have found that your height appears to be inversely correlated with your risk of heart disease thanks to your genes. READ MORE | |||
1828 - The first edition of Noah Webster's dictionary was published under the name "American Dictionary of the English Language."
1860 - The first Pony Express rider arrived in San Francisco with mail originating in St. Joseph,MO.
1865 - U.S. President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in Ford's Theater by John Wilkes Booth. He actually died early the next morning.
1902 - James Cash (J.C.) Penney opened his first retail store in Kemmerer, WY. It was called the Golden Rule Store.
1912 - The Atlantic passenger liner Titanic, on its maiden voyage hit an iceberg and began to sink. 1,517 people lost their lives and more than 700 survived.
1939 - The John Steinbeck novel "The Grapes of Wrath" was first published.
1981 - America's first space shuttle, Columbia, returned to Earth after a three-day test flight. The shuttle orbited the Earth 36 times during the mission.
Titanic in Cork harbour, 11 April 1912
The First Lady of Country, Loretta Lynn (née Webb) is 83 today.
If You Were Born Today, April 14
You are spunky and vivacious, with a personal presence that is powerful indeed. Although you are assertive, you are also very gracious and poised. There is a restlessness to your nature that keeps you on the move. There is also a distinct spiritual side. Your love nature is playful, and you are capable of making big sacrifices for those you love. Famous people born today: Pete Rose, Loretta Lynn, Anthony Michael Hall, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Robert Carlyle.
Lighting the Night
Photograph by Fabio Manca, National Geographic
“We arrived in Hoi An right after Typhoon Haiyan had hit the Vietnamese coast,” writes Fabio Manca. “The streets in the old part of the city were flooded for several days, and people were using small speed boats to move around. Others were simply trying to push the water out from their homes and shops. Eventually we could ‘walk’ to the city center, where life had started again and shops reopened. There was a full moon that night, and young girls in colorful pink traditional dresses were selling candles to honor their ancestors and bring good luck.”
knit
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Magic Stripe Hot Pad or Scarf pattern by Sara H. Baldwin
The magic about this pattern is that the stripes are vertical on one side, and horizontal on the other! This slip stitch pattern may seem a bit fussy at first, but ...
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knit
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Chevron Lace Top pattern by Patons
Vertical eyelets with lacy chevrons make this a perfect summer top.
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knit
knit, 3 - 7 yrs and dolly, too!
knit
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crochet, vintage
crochet (must register)
Color Bright Baby Blanket
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Over 6,000 Free Patterns on LionBrand.com
Discover over 800 yarns and 6,000 free knit, crochet, and craft patterns on LionBrand.com. Discover the perfect pattern for you.
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Chanson En Crochet pattern by Mari Lynn Patrick
Pattern description from Wrap Style: “Mari Lynn Patrick begins this capelet with a simple crocheted chain for the neck edge. Then she has fun by working...
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crochet
RECIPE
a spicy perspective
Baked Zucchini Chips
YIELD: 8 servings
PREP TIME:20 minutes
COOK TIME:2 hours
Ingredients:
- 4 large zucchini, evenly sliced 1/8 inch thick
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt
- ½ teaspoon Hot Smoked Paprika (optional)
- ½ teaspoon Cumin (optional)
Directions:
- Slice the zucchini. (Using a mandolin helps keep the slices consistent.) Lay the zucchini slices on paper towels in a single layer. Cover with more paper towels and set a baking sheet on top of the zucchini slices. Press down on the baking sheet, applying slight pressure, to help squeeze out some of the moisture.
- Preheat the oven to 235 degrees F. (Preheat two ovens if you have them to fit more in at once.) Line several baking sheets with parchment paper. Brush the parchment paper lightly with olive oil. Lay the zucchini slices in a single layer on the parchment paper. Fit as many on each baking sheet as possible. Then lightly brush the top of the zuchini with olive oil. Sprinkle the zucchini slices with salt. You can also sprinkle with a little cumin and smoked paprika for extra flavor.
- Bake for 1 1/2 - 2 hours until crisp and golden. If some zucchini chips are still a little flimsy or damp, remove the crisp chips and place the damp chips back in the oven for a few more minutes. Allow the zucchini chips to cool on the paper towels to absorb any extra oil. Store in an air-tight container.
CROCKPOT RECIPE
stephanie o'dea
Easy Chimichangas Thanks to the CrockPot
These are amazing and wonderful and since our family has gone gluten free, nothing we could have had unless we made our own.
The Ingredients.
--1 1/2 pound hunk o' meat (I used top round. I bet you could use pork!)
--salt and pepper
--1/2 cup water
--1 T dried minced onion, or 1 diced fresh onion
to add later:
--1 can tomatoes and chiles--drained
--1 can diced tomatoes--drained
burrito-sized tortillas, and whatever toppings your family likes
The Directions.
You are going to have to be in the kitchen if you plan on making the meat mixture into chimichangas. It doesn't take long, but there is no way around this---you need to fry up the cute little tortilla packets.
If you are feeling cranky and aren't in the mood to cook, don't make this.
In the morning:
salt and pepper your meat on all sides. Plop it into the crockpot and cover with 1/2 cup of water. Cook on low all day---I cooked this for 8 hours.
Shop for fresh ingredients for toppings, tortillas. If you aren't gluten free, I'd pick the whole grain no-lard flour tortillas (because I'm mean).
After your meat has cooked all day, remove it carefully. Skim the fat out of the liquid at the bottom of
your stoneware, and remove excess juice. You really only need about a cup of juice left in the crock.
your stoneware, and remove excess juice. You really only need about a cup of juice left in the crock.
Put your meat back inside, and shred it with two forks. The meat should come apart easily. If it doesn't, cut it in pieces and cook on low a few more hours.
Add the can of drained diced tomatoes and drained tomatoes and chiles.
Turn your crock to high to warm everything up.
Prepare your toppings.
When the meat is hot again, start making your little chimichanga packets. Steam a few tortillas at a time by stacking them on a plate and covering with a dampened paper towel. Microwave for 60 seconds.
Take a steamed tortilla and plop a spoonful of meat in the center. If you use too much meat, it won't fold correctly. Trust me.
Fold the bottom and top of the tortilla, then the sides. The sides need to overlap a bit, so the meat doesn't escape.
Heat up some oil in a big skillet. When it is super hot, carefully put the chimichanga into the oil, seam-side down. Fry until golden brown (about 1 min) then flip.
Top with cheese, salsa, sour cream and guacamole.
The Verdict.
Oh my. These were amazing. My children have never had anything like this, and were thrilled to try the "crunchy burritos." We all ate too much, and were so happy we had the opportunity to do so.
PUZZLE
CHILDREN'S CORNER .. coloring
CRAFT
DOILY TOTE and SHARPIE!
A little Sharpie® and some alcohol and your fabric will never, ever be the same.
Here is a tote bag I made using:
Sharpies®
Doilies (not Grandma’s but the kind you buy in the craft store)
A tote bag
Eye dropper
Needle & Thread or Fabri-Tac
Darice Rhinestone Setter
Rhinestones
Choose plain cotton doilies.
Color them with your Sharpie® markers. You might want to use older markers as coloring on the doily will make the tip of your marker pretty rough.
Color them all!
Time for the alcohol. Just regular old rubbing alcohol and an eye dropper for this project.
Slowly drop alcohol on the colored doilies until the color starts to run.
Too much alcohol might possibly wash the color out too much so just do a few drops at a time.
Let dry.
Place the dried doilies on your tote bag in a pleasing arrangement and either sew down with needle and thread or use Fabri-Tac for a quicker finish. (I used Fabri-Tac and it worked just fine!) Go back, after the glue dries if you used it, and add rhinestones with the rhinestone setter.
QUOTE
30 MILLION LIVE IN CAVES IN CHINA
China is one of the fastest growing and technologically evolving nations in the world – with high-tech building industries flexing their ample construction muscles for the past decade in places like Beijing and Shanghai, it’s pretty unbelievable that tens of millions still live in underground homes just a few hundred miles away.
'where's the bathroom?' in Polish - Gdzie jest toaleta?
CLEVER
DIY Log Planter
EYE OPENER
This Guy is Plating Junk Food Like High End Cuisine and It’s Awesome
by twisted sifter
Instagram chef ‘Jacques La Merede‘ is poking a little fun at Haute cuisine, skilfully plating junk food to look like fancy, high end cuisine.
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RASPBERRY POPTART PARFAIT W/ VANILLA SNACKPACK + GRAPE CRUSH SCENTED GEL AND ENHANCED W/ MIKE N IKES, CRY BABIES AND FRUITY MENTOS
2.
THIS IS A DUO OF POGOS W/ MARBLE CHEEZE SLICES, HONEY HAM ROSETTES, SPONGEBOB SQRPANTS ZOODLES AND MUSTARD TEARS
3.
FILET O FISH VALUE MEAL !!!! FRENCH FRY PUREE, WARM BREADED FISH SLAB, TARTAR SAUCE SPHERES AND COLESLAW ASH
4.
HAWAIIAN BAGEL BITES, CHEETOS, BABY CARROT + RANCH PURÉE, SMALL VEGETABLES AND CHIPOTLE OIL
5.
DUNKIN MUNCHKINS, BIRTHDAY CAKE OREO SOIL, SNICKERS HACHÉ, SHAMROCK SHAKE FLUID GEL!!! ALMOST 4GOT MOOSETRACKS ICE CREAM QUENELLE!
6.
I CALL THIS DISH “BUGS ON A STICK” B/C THE CRAISINS R THE “BUGS” AND THE CHEEZE WHIZ/CELERY IS THE STICK. ALSO CELERY SODA CAVIAR, GRAHAM CRKR SOIL, CANOLA OIL PWDR + KALE SHREDS
7.
ON OUR MENU WE CALL THIS “THE HUNGRY MAN DINNER” B/C ITS ACTUALLY A HUNGRY MAN DINNER. (BROWNIE NOT PICTURED!!!)
8.
CHEF BOYARDEE BEEF RAVIOLI, SHARDS OF TRISCUIT CRACKER AND A MIRACLE WHIP CREMA
9.
SPAM TORCHON W/ FUZZY PEACHES, WHITE CHEESE BALLS AND NUTS W/ LOCAL GREENS
10.
HAY BAKED HOT POCKETS W/ HIDDEN VALLEY BACON RANCH SPHERES AND A PUREE OF ZOODLES (WHOLE WHEAT)
11.
MICROWAVED SPICY BEEF N’ BEAN BURRITO, BEEF JERKY, WISHBONE CAESAR CREMA AND LEMON LIME GATORADE SPHERES FOR A HIT OF ACIDITY. YES, THAT IS ZESTY CHEESE DORITOS SOIL
12.
HOSTESS CUPCAKE W/ RAINBOW DUNK-A-ROOS, YOGURT RAISINS, SOME NIBZ AND STRBUCKS MOCHA FRAP CAVIAR. TINY MINT AND A PIECE OF FANCY MOSS!
Junk food plates do have a certain fascination:)
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