On This Day
1741 – Eruption of Oshima–Ōshima and the Kampo tsunami: At least 2,000 people along the Japanese coast drown in a tsunami caused by the eruption of Oshima.[3]
The devastating eruption of Oshima–Ōshima began on the 18th of August, 1741 and ended on May 1 the next year.[4] Five days into the eruption, the Kampo tsunami (Japanese: 寛保津波, Hepburn: Kampo tsunami) with estimated maximum heights of over 90 meters swept across neighboring islands in Japan and the Korean Peninsula.
Born On This Day
1847 – Sarah Frances Whiting, American physicist and astronomer (d. 1927)
Sarah Frances Whiting (August 23, 1847 – September 12, 1927) was an American physicist and astronomer. She was one of the founders and the first director of the Whitin Observatory at Wellesley College. She instructed several notable astronomers and physicists, including Annie Jump Cannon.
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FYI
LPT: Silence is a choice and not engaging people is often a wise move. Don’t feel the need to offer an opinion nor talk to people if you don’t have to.
LPT: You can improve your quality of life in large ways by doing very small things for yourself everyday.
Productivity
This may have been posted before, but I’ve been trying this in my own life and have had wonders worked for me. For example, have to take lots of medication everyday? I always forget if I’ve taken one of mine. So I portion them out into containers so I always know how many I’ve got left for the day. Another, I exercise for 30 minutes every morning which greatly improves my mood regardless of losing weight. Create a To-Do list so I don’t get overwhelmed with my daily tasks. Things that take such small amounts of time can have big impacts on you mentally!
Edit: Thank you for the awards kind strangers!
LPT: Do not ask to hang out with somebody again if you’ve unsuccessfully tried three consecutive times. Your time and confidence are more important than competing with whatever else they’ve prioritized.
Social
Edit: there are lot of salty people in here who apparently like getting asked to hang out, but never put in the effort to return the favor after three consecutive times. Additional LPT: Maybe ask your friends to hang out at least once every four times (or offer an alternative) so the relationship isn’t so one sided.
The Instant Pot Folks!
By Natalie Johnson, Methow Valley News: UPDATED: Company donates 2,000 air purifiers, replacement filters to Methow Valley
The Passive Voice, From The Guardian: How Charles Dickens built Bleak House
Al Cross and Heather Chapman at The Rural Blog: Rural-urban digital divide narrows; less than 1/3 of rural adults said government should make sure all are connected; Feds create portal to directly forgive PPP loans after banks drag feet; top banks opt out, leaving businesses at their mercy; Rural Midwestern bankers still optimistic about economy, but worry about drought, hiring shortages, and infrastructure bill ; The Everly Brothers are both gone now; Don passes at 84; Sense of community, common sacrifice missing among many in pandemic, especially politicians, Silas House writes; Tom T. Hall, who did ‘a rhyming journalism of the heart,’ dies
Recipes
What are the chances these items are available in Alaska?
By Heather McClees, The Kitchn: The 10 Best Frozen Dinner Shortcuts to Buy at Costco Right Now
Sarah Tramonte, Taste of Home Associate Culinary Producer: Baked Feta Pasta
Food Network Kitchen: Salmon and Zucchini Sheet Pan Dinner
Betty Crocker Kitchens: “Tie-Dye” Cupcakes
RecipeTinEats
- 2024 Ultimate Christmas menu planning guide December 12, 2024Here’s a handy list of my Christmas recipes, organised by make-ahead and reheating suitability, and those best made fresh. Perfect for menu planning, especially alongside the new Christmas recipe index! I thrive on holiday menu planning. It’s like the Olympics of cooking – except less athleticism and more butter! The goal, as always, is a... […]Nagi
- Easy Christmas Cheesecake Slab – no bake! December 6, 2024This no bake Christmas cheesecake is designed for sizzling Aussie summers – no sweating over a hot oven! Designed to serve a crowd, it’s the easiest cheesecake recipe I know yet it still captures all the hallmarks of a beautiful classic baked cheesecake. Decorate with whipped cream, berries and rosemary sprigs for an effortless, pretty... […]Nagi
wikimedia
- Wikimedia Commons picture of the day for December 26 December 26, 2024Picture of the day Khone Phapheng Falls, Si Phan Don, Laos. Located on the Mekong River near the border with Cambodia, at 10.7 kilometres (6.6 mi) wide, it is the widest waterfall in the world.
- Wikimedia Commons picture of the day for December 25 December 25, 2024Picture of the day Nativity of Christ scene from the Kefermarkt Altarpiece. Today is Christmas.
E-book Deals:
The Book Junction: Where Readers Go To Discover Great New Fiction!
Mystery & Thriller Most Wanted
Book Blogs & Websites:
Welcome to the Stump the Bookseller blog!
Stump the Bookseller is a service offered by Loganberry Books to reconnect people to the books they love but can’t quite remember. In brief (for more detailed information see our About page), people can post their memories here, and the hivemind goes to work. After all, the collective mind of bibliophiles, readers, parents and librarians around the world is much better than just a few of us thinking. Together with these wonderful Stumper Magicians, we have a nearly 50% success rate in finding these long lost but treasured books. The more concrete the book description, the better the success rate, of course. It is a labor of love to keep it going, and there is a modest fee. Please see the How To page to find price information and details on how to submit your Book Stumper and payment.
Thanks to everyone involved to keep this forum going: our blogging team, the well-read Stumper Magicians, the many referrals, and of course to everyone who fondly remembers the wonder of books from their childhood and wants to share or revisit that wonder. Isn’t it amazing, the magic of a book?