What to Remember

    Since the beginning of time, man has accumulated information. Historical finds have documented this fact with the the discoveries in art, writing, the printed word, and song. Due to limited literacy, most cultures have relied at least somewhat on oral tradition and memorization to capture and retain the important things. With the advent of the Internet, handheld computers, and cloud-based storage, the result has been the “outsourcing” of memory. We now load pertinent knowledge to external sources for retrieval on demand. Because of this ability to quickly and easily access almost anything online, it seems logical to ask what—if anything—is worth memorizing? Obviously, it is unrealistic to memorize everything. However, there are times when having the ability to easily pull a fact from memory is both quicker and more productive than looking something up. In addition, in the unexpected event of restricted access to stored information, (e.g. theft, power failure, hard-drive damage, loss of a phone, hacked account, etc.), there are certain pieces of data that it would be helpful to know. Whether for convenience, preparedness, or pleasure, here is a list of Things Worth Memorizing.

Things Worth Memorizing

BLUE = for my students

Important Numbers

• Social Security number

• A major credit card number, CCV (security code) and expiration date

• Debit card number and pin

• Your license plate number

• Passwords you frequently use/change

• Combination for locker/bicycle lock/garage door

• Alarm code

• Phone numbers for yourself and key family members

• Nearby pharmacy number

• Your attorney’s phone number

• Passport number

• Driver’s license number

• Wifi password for your home and office

 

Basic Facts

• 1 inch = 2.54 cm

• 32 degrees F = 0 degrees Celsius

• 5280 feet = 1 mile (think of the phrase ‘5 Tomatoes’)

• 4 quarts in a gallon, 2 pints in a quart

• Multiplication table

• Military Phonetic Alphabet (aka the Radio Alphabet)

 

About You

• Your address and those of close family members

• Address of key locations

• Family birthdays

• Anniversary date

• Your blood type (and that of your spouse & children)

• Current medications and dosages

 

Citizenship

• Your rights (e.g. Miranda Rights, Bill of Rights)

• Words to your National Anthem (e.g. The Star Spangled Banner)

• Names of your country’s leaders, both current & historical (e.g. US Presidents)

 

Inspiration

• Meaningful scripture verses 

• Favorite poems

• A good joke 

A guy walks into a bar and asks the bartender, “What’s the quickest way to get to Chicago?”

The Bartender says, “Are you walking or driving?”

The guy says, “I’m driving.”

The Bartender says, “That’s the quickest way.” ~ Milt Abel

 

* * * * *

Mnemonic devices are key to helping us with memorization. 

Music, rhymes and acronyms are all helpful. 

Find your best memory devices and go for it!

Why You Should Make Useless Things | Simone Giertz

Paying Tribute on Independence Day

• By FRANK L. VANDERSLOOT 
Today,  Americans celebrate the birth of our nation, pay tribute to our nation's founders and honor the sacrifices made by our veterans, soldiers and their families.
And it is a sacred time of reflection for the many lives that have been given to protect the freedoms that we now enjoy.Unfortunately, some are condemning the founders of our great nation for their flaws and their mistakes. There seems to be a movement to vilify our beloved nation's history because of its blemishes. I am shocked by the many reports of vandalism occurring at historic sites.
Absolutely, without question, we must make it clear in this country that hateful acts that deprive anyone of their basic freedoms, their dignity and their equal rights will simply not be tolerated. Every human being deserves the respect and basic freedoms afforded by the Constitution of the United States. There can be no tolerance for racial prejudice.
But now is not the time to erase history. Now is the time to learn from history — to focus on the greatest ideals ever conceived, to appreciate the sacred freedoms that we enjoy and, as a country, to move forward together and to be better because of it.
In 1776, 56 brave men solemnly put pen to parchment, signing the Declaration of Independence, which raised the curtain for the United States of America. In doing so, they pledged everything — their "lives, fortune, and sacred honor" — to open the greatest epoch of liberty that the world has ever seen.
And just like every one of us, every one of them had flaws and failings. Yet, despite this, the founders rose to the ultimate occasion to bring forth the Declaration of Independence and usher in history's most impactful document: the Constitution of the United States.
Those brilliant men who framed the Constitution and who labored and argued over every word endowed all future citizens with rights never before experienced in any society. And those freedoms and rights have endured the test of time. The result is the most prosperous and the freest nation in the world.
Although brilliant and well-intended, these men were not perfect. They had many flaws, but their contribution to hundreds of millions of future Americans should cause us to defend their honor and defend the Constitution that they created and the great nation that is the result of their work and sacrifices.


The signers of the Declaration of Independence knew they would be relentlessly pursued by the crown, and, if the war was lost, they would be hanged as traitors. And they were right. Many of them paid a horrible price.
So yes, today we honor our founders, flaws, mistakes and all, whose courage and devotion sparked a mighty revolution. Those brave men and women fought for independence, for justice and for a world free from tyranny. They fought with words and ideas, with pen and parchment, with powder and musket. They fought for their homes, for their children and for future generations.
Let us also pay tribute to the countless American heroes who have answered the sacred call of duty to protect our homeland, liberate oppressed nations and eliminate global terror. We not only honor the 1.2 million Americans who have laid down their lives on our behalf during wartime but also all who have returned home having been wounded in combat.
Our freedom was paid by their total dedication to a greater cause as well as their actual blood, sweat and tears. Let us all be united in our responsibility to ensure the sacred torch of freedom is passed to the next generation. We do exactly that as we celebrate them on the day we know as the Fourth of July.
https://www.postregister.com/opinion/guest_column/paying-tribute-on-independence-day/article_ae1bcb89-08d4-5d9e-8d3f-aa5dc67f68db.html?fbclid=IwAR3LMgC63oI9y9qT_wqObtB3kHAmRPCesXS0mbMJKaf37m_yCZgsUh0r--8

Easter DIY Centerpiece

Last Minute Guests? Charcuterie in a Snap!

Charcuterie* in a Snap!

BE PREPARED
1) Keep a couple of types of cheese in your refrigerator at all times. Sandwich cheese does not count. :)

2) Make sure you always have fruit on hand. Think grapes, strawberries, apples, mandarin oranges, figs.

3) Stock your pantry with 2 kinds of guest crackers. Use those goldfish, Ritz and saltines for kid-guests. :) If you happen to have a baguette on hand, use that, too!

4) Always have fresh almonds or walnuts around. Good for the family and great for your charcuterie adornment.

There are a couple of tricks to creating an appetizing board:

1. Treasure hunt for the smallest board you can find. Wood is best because it will not crack under the pressure of guests slicing cheese on it. Place everything close together so your board looks abundant to the point of overflowing

2. Garnish the board! This is a food stylist secret! Use some type of greenery: fresh rosemary, basil, cilantro, parsley, or dill will work. Or, in a pinch, use pieces of evergreen from your backyard. Just do not eat that! 

#) Lagniappe! Consider keeping other goodies on hand. You could add olives, dried dates or apricots, pepperoni, hard salami, (these keep in the frig for quite a while)

You can magically create a board at the drop of a hat or ring of the doorbell!

*Charcuterie (pronounced "shahr-ku-tuh-ree") is the art of preparing and assembling an assortment of finger foods (usually cured meats, cheeses, fruits etc.) 

Charcuterie shopping list (buy the things that YOU like):

CHEESES ~2 to 3 types

• Aged: Gouda, Sharp Cheddar, Gruyere.

• Soft and creamy: Brie, Camembert, Epoisses, Burrata, Fresh Buffalo Mozzarella.

• Crumbly: Goat and Feta Cheese.

• Firm: Parmigiano Reggiano, Manchego, Gouda.

• Smoked: Smoked Gouda, Provolone, and Cheddar.

• Blue: Gorgonzola, Stilton, Roquefort.

CRACKERS/BREAD (for grown-ups)  Variety is key. Choose buttery flaky crackers, grain crackers and/or thinly sliced and toasted baguettes.

FRUITS:  grapes, strawberries, apples, mandarin oranges, figs 

LAGNIAPPE: olives, dried dates or apricots, pepperoni, hard salami

GARNISH: fresh rosemary, basil, cilantro, parsley, dill OR a sprig of evergreen, a single flower.  I have a friend who uses a very delicate and pretty sprig of artificial flowers.  

6 Crock-Pot Secrets

I am a busy Mama with a career that allows me to choose where I work. Home is my first choice . . . but that doesn't mean I have extra time for elaborate home cooked meals. I like simple but delicious home cooked meals for my family. That is why I love my crock pot. Here are six sumptuous secrets that I have learned about crock pot cooking.  Bon Appétit!

1. Use fattier meat
Lean meat cooked for a long time-no matter what the temperature-gets tough and stringy. Big hunks of fatty meat like short ribs and pork shoulder work best in a crock pot. The fat will keep the meat moist, and the slow cooking breaks down the connective tissue that makes those types of cuts tough. So with a slow cooker, fatty meat = good. You can always chill and lift the fat off later.

2. Always brown beef on the stove first
Everyone wants a crock-pot recipe where you just toss everything in the pot, then magically have an amazing dinner eight hours later. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that. Do not throw beef in raw. Always brown your meat on the stove first- it adds a layer of caramelized flavor you can’t get otherwise.

3. Add ingredients with low notes or sweetness
A low note is a flavor that adds a depth and richness to a dish-like bacon, browned onions, black pepper, and Worcestershire sauce-and they’re integral to any good crock-pot recipe. As are sweet ingredients like brown sugar and tomato paste. Because most flavors break down and become one, those types of strong flavors make a great base for a sauce.

4. Add bright notes, crunchy vegetables, and dairy at the very end

Bright notes are fresh flavors like acid and herbs. They’ll get lost in the mix (and your herbs will turn brown and limp, ew), so it’s better to add those ingredients last. If you want some kind of crunchy vegetable in your dish, it’s also best to add it toward the end to avoid mushy veggies. And dairy? It will curdle, which looks terrible. Stir in any dairy at the very last moment.

5. Take that skin off of the chicken
Do you like rubbery, chewy, gelatinous chicken skin? Then take it off before throwing your bird into the crock pot. Do leave in the bones, though-they’ll help the meat stay tender. And chicken is the magic meat that doesn’t need browning before going into the pot, mostly because it would be cooked too much after a long stint in the slow cooker.

6. Cook things that do not need to hold structure
Macaroni and cheese? Lasagna? Sure, there are slow-cooker recipes for them out there, but you definitely shouldn’t attempt to make them. More often than not, pasta (and other things that should hold their shape) becomes a mushy mess. Just don’t do it.  If you really want a delicious and easy crock pot meal, make something like chili, stew, or soup instead.

Because we NEED to Know This Stuff

Just in time for all your holiday festivities!