April Fools’ Day is this Sunday!

April Fools Day is this Sunday, so watch out for pranksters!  We hope this prank doesn’t happen to you:

 

Car Prank - Why is Everything Turned On

Get inside their car and turn all the controls to the on position in the car. The wipers, the radio, the signal, parking brake, adjust the mirrors, move the seat all the way to the front or back, and turn on the vents (Point them all at the drivers seat on high). Not an evil prank but it will certainly wake them up in the morning. For bonus points set all the preset dials on the radio station to their least favorite station.

 

To read about more car pranks, check out the full article here: http://www.discoverfun.com/april-fools-practical-jokes-prank-website/great-april-fools-day-pranks/car-prank.html

Have an Egg-citing Spring!

 

Winter officially ended at 1:14 a.m. EST on Tuesday, March 20, 2012, making today the first full day of spring!  Did you try to balance an egg on its end?  Myth says the the Spring and Fall equinoxes are the only times you can balance and egg on its tip, but is this true?  Check this out:

You can actually balance an egg on its end on the Vernal Equinox. Just ask anybody who's ever tried.

Of course, they'll probably neglect to tell you that you can also perform this feat any other day of the year. That's because it has nothing to do with celestial alignment.

The reasonings behind egg-balancing are creaky. The typical ramifications are based on gravity. According to these theories, gravity is 'balanced' when the Sun is over the Earth's equator; alternatively, the Sun exerts significantly greater gravitational attraction on the Earth during the equinoxes. And, as mentioned earlier, there are some who assert that the particular line-up of the Sun, Earth and Egg are just right for this balancing feat…

…there is one very simple way of verifying whatever truth there may be to this legend. If it is true that you can only balance an egg on the Vernal Equinox, it would stand to reason that you should not be able to accomplish this on any other day.

Alas for the Vernal Equinox vigilants, scientists and students alike have blown the theory completely out of the water. Fired by his scepticism, Philip Plait, author of the book Bad Astronomy set out to balance eggs on his kitchen counter, and with the help of his wife, managed a grand total of eight. Then he contacted the weatherman of a local TV station, who excitedly quizzed his crew on the validity of the equinox theory. A sportscaster believed that the equinox had nothing to do with egg-balancing; two news anchors did. Three guesses as to which one managed to get his egg to balance.

Read the whole article here: http://h2g2.com/dna/h2g2/A2181377

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone!  Check out these fun facts and may the luck of the Irish smile upon you!

Fun Facts about St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick’s Day is observed on March 17 because that is the feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It is believed that he died on March 17 in the year 461 AD. It is also a worldwide celebration of Irish culture and history. St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday in Ireland, and a provincial holiday in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The actual color of St. Patrick is blue. Green became associated with St. Patrick's Day during the 19th century. Green, in Irish legends, was worn by fairies and immortals, and also by people to encourage their crops to grow.

St. Patrick did not actually drive snakes out of Ireland; the snakes represent the pagans that he converted to Christianity.

The very first St. Patrick's Day parade was not in Ireland. It was in Boston in 1737.

In Chicago, on St. Patrick's Day, the rivers are dyed green.

In Seattle, there is a ceremony where a green stripe is painted down the roads.

Most Catholics attend mass in the morning and then attend the St. Patrick's Day parade.

Shamrocks are worn on the lapel on this day.

In Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day, people traditionally wear a small bunch of shamrocks on their jackets or caps. Children wear orange, white and green badges, and women and girls wear green ribbons in their hair

Many young people dye their hair green for the special day.

Many people wear green on this holiday to avoid being pinched.

The phrase, "Drowning The Shamrock" is from the custom of floating the shamrock on the top of whiskey before drinking it. The Irish believe that if you keep the custom, then you will have a prosperous year.

Many bars in the United States, and abroad, serve green beer to celebrate St. Patty's Day.

Fun Facts about the Irish

34 million Americans have Irish ancestry, according to the 2003 US Census. That’s almost nine times the population of Ireland, which has 4.1 million people.

Nine of the people who signed our Declaration Of Independence were of Irish origin, and nineteen Presidents of the United States proudly claim Irish heritage -- including our first President, George Washington.

The harp is the symbol of Ireland. The color green is also commonly associated with Ireland, also known as “the Emerald Isle.”

The Irish flag is green, white and orange. The green symbolizes the people of the south, and orange, the people of the north. White represents the peace that brings them together as a nation.

The name “leprechaun” has several origins. It could be from the Irish Gaelic word “leipreachan,” which means “a kind of aqueous sprite.” Or, it could be from “leath bhrogan,” which means “shoemaker.”

Fun Facts about Clovers

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the highest number of leaves found on a clover is 14.

One estimate suggests that there are about 10,000 regular three-leaf clovers for every lucky four-leaf clover.

Legend says that each leaf of the clover means something: the first is for hope, the second for faith, the third for love and the fourth for luck.

Read more: http://www.whsv.com/seasonal/misc/40129602.html

Daylight Saving Time Begins This Sunday!

Remember, Daylight Saving Time begins this Sunday, March 11th at 2am.  Be sure to “Spring Forward” and set your clocks ahead an hour!

What is Daylight Saving Time?  Here are a few FAQs and their answers:

Q: Why do we do this every year in March and November, anyway?

A: Short answer: To give us an extra hour of sunshine in the warmest months of the year. Long answer: Daylight saving time was established in the Act of March 19,1918, sometimes called the Standard Time Act. DST was repealed in 1919, then reestablished during World War II. The 1966 Uniform Time act provided standardization in the dates DST is observed, but local exemptions were permitted. Since then, the start date has shifted several times, beginning as early as January during the energy crisis years in the ’70s. As of 2007, DST starts on the second Sunday in March, and ends on the first Sunday in November.

Q: Are there any benefits to DST other than extra sunshine?

A: Proponents say that it provides more time in the day for exercise and socialization, which makes people happier. Some say that the extra hour increases visibility and helps decrease traffic accidents, while others say that the lost hour of sleep can actually increase accidents. The extra daylight also may save energy, decreasing the amont of time that we use lights and appliances — according to some. Other studies have found that DST has had little effect on energy consumption. The tourism industry believes that DST gives them a boost, and a founder of the Daylight Saving Coalition once testified in Congress that fast-food restaurants sell more french fries in DST.

Q: Is there anything else I should do when my clocks change on Sunday?

A: Some suggest that the day is a good reminder to check your smoke detectors and create a home preparedness kit.

 

Check out the whole article here:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/arts-post/post/daylight-saving-time-frequently-asked-questions/2012/03/09/gIQAH4JY1R_blog.html

Spring Cleaning!

Is it time for your Spring Cleaning projects yet?  Here are some ideas to get you started:

Freshen Up Your Fridge

If your refrigerator is anything like mine, it collects its share of smears and dribbles, plus a selection of partially used containers, and even a science experiment or two that somehow got pushed into a hidden corner. Here’s how to give it a good makeover: Pull out your picnic cooler and unload everything from the fridge into the cooler. Take out all the removable shelves and bins and set them aside, wipe out any loose crumbs, and spray down all the interior surfaces with a nontoxic spray cleaner (see our story on nontoxic cleaners for an easy recipe). Close the fridge door to let the cleanser soak the insides while you clean the bins and shelves that you removed. Spray those, and clean using a scrub brush or rough sponge on the shelves, and a regular sponge or damp cloth on the bins (so you don't scratch them). The bathtub makes a good place to do this if your sink is too small. A retired toothbrush is great for getting into cracks where food residues may lurk.

Allow the bins and shelves to dry (outside in the sun if possible). While they're drying, scrub or wipe all the surfaces inside the fridge clean. Be sure to scrub in and under the door gasket. Wipe off the dirty water with clean terry cloth rags until everything is sparkling and dry. Reinstall all the shelves and bins, and put your food away, careful to dump or compost anything that's unrecognizable, moldy, or past its expiration date. Clean off any sticky containers, too, before replacing them.

Do the same thing for your freezer, only wipe down sprayed surfaces immediately so your cleaner doesn't freeze. Put an open container of baking soda in each part of the fridge to soak up stray odors.

Spring is also a good time to clean dust off the condenser coils of your fridge so it works more efficiently and uses less energy. If the coils are on the back of your fridge, pull it away from the wall and unplug it, and use your vacuum cleaner or a damp sponge to remove dust buildup on the coils. If they're on the bottom, unplug your fridge and remove the coil cover panel. Vacuum the coils with the wand attachment until you don't see any more dust (use a flashlight if need be).

Oven Overhaul

Keeping baked-on messes in check will reduce the amount of fumes released every time you turn on your oven. But noxious, chemical oven cleaners can be the harshest products in your kitchen because they contain corrosive ingredients that can burn skin and trigger asthma attacks (particularly if they're in aerosol form). I’d also skip the stove's automatic-cleaning feature, as it uses up fossil fuel and releases all that crud into the air, but if you do use it, be sure to run your exhaust fan the entire time.

Ready to tackle you cleaning project yet?  Be sure to check out the whole list of ideas here:  http://www.organicgardening.com/living/how-spring-clean-your-kitchen?cm_mmc=Facebook-_-OrganicGardening-_-Content-Living-_-clean

Happy Valentine’s Day!

 

Valentine’s Day is tomorrow!  Are you ready?  If you are still looking for a simple and meaningful gift idea for your special someone, here are some ideas courtesy of chiff.com:

• Create your own Valentine’s Day card. Compose a poem or an expression of love that expresses your personality.
• Create a "recollection collection" scrapbook filled with favorite photographs, love letters, keepsakes from special occasions, and cherished mementos.
• Make a CD of your favorite songs as a couple including love songs that you both enjoy listening to. Buy some romantic CDs, classic videos or DVDs and wrap them all together with red ribbon.
• Jewelry is always a favorite. For the woman in your life, buy a heart-shaped locket and put a picture of yourself in it. Personalize the locket with your loved one’s initials so she’ll have something to wear that’s hers alone. Package it in a heart-shaped box or tied to fresh flowers. For your man, a good choice is the classic sterling silver ID bracelet or cuff links with his name or initials custom-engraved.
• Give silk or glass flowers, which will last forever. If your beloved has a green thumb, give a flowering plant to put in the garden to enjoy year after year.
• Prepare your loved one’s favorite dinner and serve it on a romantically set table and dine by candlelight on Valentine’s Day. For the sweetheart with a sweet tooth, make a decadent dessert such as a chocolate fondue with melted chocolate mixed with a touch of heavy cream, and serve it with fruit or cookies

 

Read more tips here: http://www.chiff.com/a/Valentines-Day-Tips.htm

Are You Ready for Super Bowl Sunday?

 

It is Super Bowl weekend!  Are you ready for some football?  How about your Super Bowl party?  If you are in need of some quick football food fast, here is simple bean dip recipe to get you started (courtesy of Food.com):

Ingredients

• 1 (16 ounce) can fat-free refried beans
• 1 cup salsa (I like medium)
• 4 ounces green chilies
• 1 cup cheese , shredded (I like a Mexican or taco blend)

Directions:

1. Spray a pie plate.

2. Mix all ingredients and place in pie plate.

3. Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes or hot in the center.

4. Add extra cheese and anything else you want on top.

Check out this and other great Super Bowl Sunday recipes here: http://cheese.food.com/recipe/mexican-mess-bean-dip-293219#ixzz1lMH6yTi1