FYI December 16 & 17, 2020

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On This Day

755 – An Lushan revolts against Chancellor Yang Guozhong at Yanjing, initiating the An Lushan Rebellion during the Tang dynasty of China.
The An Lushan Rebellion was a rebellion against the Tang dynasty of China. The rebellion’s overt phase began on 16 December 755,[1] when general An Lushan mobilized his army and marched to Fanyang, and ended when his Yan dynasty fell on 17 February 763[2] (although the effects lasted past this). This event is also known (especially in Chinese historiography) as the An–Shi Rebellion or An–Shi Disturbances (simplified Chinese: 安史之乱; traditional Chinese: 安史之亂; pinyin: Ān Shǐ zhī luàn), as it continued after An Lushan’s death under his son An Qingxu, his deputy and successor Shi Siming, and Shi’s son and successor Shi Chaoyi, or as the Tianbao Rebellion (天寶之乱), as it began in the 14th year of that era. The rebellion spanned the reigns of three Tang emperors against the rival Yan Dynasty before it was finally quashed. Besides the Tang dynasty loyalists, others involved were anti-Tang forces, especially those in An Lushan’s base area in Hebei and Sogdian forces or influences, among others. The rebellion and subsequent disorder resulted in a huge loss of life and large-scale destruction. It significantly weakened the Tang dynasty and led to the loss of the Western Regions. The Tang dynasty hired 4,000 mercenaries from Abbasid territories and the Uyghur Khaganate intervened for the Tang dynasty against An Lushan.

The Uyghur Khaganate exchanged princesses in marriage with Tang dynasty China in 756 to seal the alliance against An Lushan. The Uyghur Khagan Bayanchur Khan had his daughter Uyghur Princess Pijia (毗伽公主) married to Tang dynasty Chinese Prince Li Chengcai (李承采), Prince of Dunhuang (敦煌王), son of Li Shouli, Prince of Bin. while the Tang dynasty Chinese princess Ninguo married Uyghur Khagan Bayanchur.

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546 – Siege of Rome: The Ostrogoths under king Totila plunder the city, by bribing the Byzantine garrison.

The Sack of Rome in 546 was carried out by the Gothic king Totila during the Gothic War of 535–554 between the Ostrogoths and the Byzantine Empire. Totila was based at Tivoli and, in pursuit of his quest to reconquer the region of Latium, he moved against Rome. The city endured a siege lasting almost a year before falling to the Goths.

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Born On This Day

1849 – Mary Hartwell Catherwood, American author and poet (d. 1902)[10]
Mary Hartwell Catherwood (December 16, 1847 – December 26, 1902) was an American writer of popular historical romances, short stories, and poetry. Early in her career she published under her birth name, Mary Hartwell, and under the pseudonym Lewtrah (Hartwell spelled backwards, with the final letter dropped).[1]:64 She was known for setting her works in the Midwest, for a strong interest in American dialects, and for bringing a high standard of historical accuracy to the period detail of her novels.

Dame Mary Lucy Cartwright, DBE, FRS, FRSE (17 December 1900 – 3 April 1998)[1] was a British mathematician. She was one of the pioneers of what would later become known as chaos theory.[2] Along with J. E. Littlewood, Cartwright saw many solutions to a problem which would later be seen as an example of the butterfly effect.

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FYI

By David S. Wallens, Grassroots Motor Sports: Godspeed, Patrick, Fellow Gearhead | Cancer Sucks

Webneel: 50 Best Christmas Greeting Card Designs from top designers – 2021

Vector’s World: Australian road trains

CutterLight: No Bananas! Our Project with B&H Photo is Up and Running!

The Passive Voice: Murphy’s Law and Its Offspring

By Alex Dalenberg, Pocket Collections: The Best Little Dolly Parton Reader on the Internet

By Josh Jones, Open Culture: Dave Grohl & Greg Kurstin Cover 8 Songs by Famous Jewish Artists for Hanukkah: Bob Dylan, Beastie Boys & More

By Josh Jones, Open Culture: Discover the Ambient Music of Hiroshi Yoshimura, the Pioneering Japanese Composer

By Colin Marshall, Open Culture: The Art of Movie Posters: View Online 40,000+ Movie Posters & Learn How They’re Made

Team Never Quit

Ideas

By BrittLiv: Life-Size Charmander Flame Lamp

Recipes

By In The Kitchen With Matt: Easy Cheese Ball

By Pete Scherer, The Spruce Eats: Grilled Cheese With Mayo

By Cathy Jacobs, The Spruce Eats: 15 Easy Crockpot Chicken Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight

Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Enchiladas November 23, 2024
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our privacy policy for details. Best way to use up your leftover holiday turkey (or chicken!). A crowd-pleaser for kids + grown ups! We all love a leftover turkey slider. But have we had leftover Thanksgiving turkey enchiladas stuffed with melted cheddar cheese both inside and on […]
Chungah @ Damn Delicious
Creamy Chicken Tortellini Soup November 9, 2024
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our privacy policy for details. An easy one pot soup using rotisserie chicken and quick-cooking tortellini, made in 40 min start to finish! Cozy, comforting, rich with an oh-so-creamy chicken broth…what more do you need here? Oh that’s right, cheesy tortellini. Yes, please! Not to mention, this […]
Chungah @ Damn Delicious

Nutella Stuffed Cookies November 22, 2024
Nutella Stuffed Cookies. Yes, they are as naughty and indulgent as they look. But so much easier to make than you think! No electric beater, just a wooden spoon. That moment when the melty Nutella floods in your mouth…. send help! Nutella Stuffed Cookies This is no ordinary cookie. This is a cookie that is... […]
Nagi
New Orleans Chicken Wings November 19, 2024
Why settle for plain chicken wings when you can have bold, spicy, New Orleans sass?! Tossed in Creole seasoning and garlic butter then baked until golden, the smell alone will make you drool. Easy enough for dinner, excellent for parties. Get in my belly! New Orleans Chicken Wings Today’s recipe is inspired by New Orleans... […]
Nagi

E-book Deals:

BookGorilla

The Book Blogger List

BookBub

The Book Junction: Where Readers Go To Discover Great New Fiction!

Love Swept & The Smitten Word

Mystery & Thriller Most Wanted

Pixel of Ink

The Rock Stars of Romance

Book Blogs & Websites:

Alaskan Book Cafe

Alternative-Read.com

Stacy, Carol RT Book Reviews

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?

Alaska News Nightly: Friday, November 22, 2024 November 23, 2024
Alaska's U.S. senators differed on confirming judges recently. And scientists look at how a beached whale in Anchorage lived and died.
Casey Grove, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage
A fish plant fueled King Cove’s economy. Without it, can the community survive? November 23, 2024
In rural Alaska, the barriers to participating in the electoral process can be much greater than in urban areas.
Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media - Juneau

Alaska News Nightly: Friday, November 22, 2024 November 23, 2024
Alaska's U.S. senators differed on confirming judges recently. And scientists look at how a beached whale in Anchorage lived and died.
Casey Grove, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage
A fish plant fueled King Cove’s economy. Without it, can the community survive? November 23, 2024
In rural Alaska, the barriers to participating in the electoral process can be much greater than in urban areas.
Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media - Juneau

Recent Research Spreadsheets
Our students have compiled research in three topic areas. Below are the links to their research tables that can be downloaded for searching and viewing. For a state-by-state review of Mandatory Reporter laws, click here. For a state-by-state review of Background Check laws, click...
feigleycommunications
Legislative Drafting Students
Our students spend the summer working on the research project of the LDICP. Through their extensive research, massive databases of information on state statutes regarding the abuse of children have been created and will be posted here as their work is finalized. Here are...
feigleycommunications

Figurative Language in Poetry Writing – by Melissa Donovan… November 23, 2024
on Writing Forward: What is figurative (as opposed to literal) language? Figurative language says one thing but means another. However, figurative language does not intend to deceive. There is an expectation that figurative language will be understood and correctly interpreted by the listener or reader. We get the term “figure of speech” from figurative language. […]
Chris The Story Reading Ape

Smorgasbord Christmas Book Fair – #Romance #Historical Jan Sikes, #Romance #France J. Arlene Culiner, #Historical #Romance #Mystery by Christa Polkinhorn, #Christmas #Romance Jacquie Biggar November 23, 2024
Welcome to the Christmas Book Fair and authors I have personally recommended and also the new book spotlight authors from 2024 to give their books another boost. The first featured book today is by Jan Sikes with her latest book … Continue reading →
Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

Sunny Ann Starling, July 2, 1943 - January 6, 2023 January 10, 2023
All-American patriot, artist, designer, entrepreneur, flower arranger, chef, and joyful servant, Sunny Lou Starling, was carried on the wings of angels to the arms of her savior, Jesus Christ, on Friday, January 6, 2023. She once said her mission was to “Gather and feed all you can, as often as you can, because you never know if […]
Unknown
WASP Final Flight February 28, 2022
WASP Deanie Bishop Parrish, 44-W-4"Failure isn't failure unless you let it be. It's simply a change in direction. Just count your many blessings move on. With God's help, anything is possible!"Deanie Bishop Parrish passed away peacefully in her home in Waco, Texas, on February 24, 2022, just one day shy of her 100th birthday. She met every challenge […]
Unknown

Four Fun Kodachrome Car Image Series No. 519 October 30, 2024
Editors Note: After posting over five thousand features and twenty five thousand images over the last thirteen years, the time has come to end posting weekly features here on The Old Motor. At this point, the site’s future hasn’t been decided, although it will remain online for the foreseeable future. There may be future updates...
David Greenlees
Four Fun Kodachrome Car Image Series No. 518 October 23, 2024
In this weekly series, we ask our readers to tell us the year, make, and model of all of these vehicles along with the location where the image was taken and anything else you find of interest in the photos. You can look back on all the earlier parts of this series here. The photos are via Americar....
David Greenlees

PCC Trolley: 1943 November 23, 2024
April 1943. "Baltimore, Maryland. Repairing the motor of a PCC (Presidents' Conference Committee) trolley -- the most recent streetcar model, designed in 1936 by a group of manufacturers and transit companies in an effort to standardize, simplify, and bring down the price; at the damage shop, maintenance terminal of the Baltimore Transit Company." Acetate negative […]
Dave
Baltimore Transit: 1943 November 23, 2024
April 1943. "Baltimore, Maryland. One-armed painter, hired since the war, repainting the interior of a trolley at the maintenance terminal of the Baltimore Transit Company." Acetate negative by Marjory Collins for the Office of War Information. View full size.
Dave

Jefferson and 7th November 20, 2024
In reply to Lynchburg Depot: 1943: Vachon might be standing on the Seventh Street bridge that takes you over the rail lines shown in this picture, and Blackwater Creek. A least one of these buildings still exists. Now, leading off the road, where you can see people have worn a trail of convenience, is the […]
sittininlab
NB Handy November 20, 2024
In reply to Lynchburg Depot: 1943: Still in business today: HANDY DISTRIBUTION was founded in 1891 by Nathan Bryant Handy, who began his family-owned business delivering galvanized black sheets, steel roofing, copper, solder and accessories to his customers by horse and wagon.
Baxado

Hungarian Wax Peppers October 18, 2024
Here’s an old Italian recipe for canning peppers, one of my husband’s favorites. Searching the internet, you’ll come across many variations — all probably good — but here’s a basic recipe to start you on your course. The kids and I canned these using the boiling method, though pressure canners might make the process easier. Not sure how, […]
gardenfrisk
Easy Microgreens June 13, 2023
Microgreens seem to be all the rage these days and for good reason: they are packed with nutrients and easy to grow! The USDA and University of Maryland found that leaves from microgreens had more nutrients than the mature leaves of the same plants. And great flavor. Plus, you don’t need a lot of space […]
gardenfrisk

Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Enchiladas November 23, 2024
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our privacy policy for details. Best way to use up your leftover holiday turkey (or chicken!). A crowd-pleaser for kids + grown ups! We all love a leftover turkey slider. But have we had leftover Thanksgiving turkey enchiladas stuffed with melted cheddar cheese both inside and on […]
Chungah @ Damn Delicious
Creamy Chicken Tortellini Soup November 9, 2024
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our privacy policy for details. An easy one pot soup using rotisserie chicken and quick-cooking tortellini, made in 40 min start to finish! Cozy, comforting, rich with an oh-so-creamy chicken broth…what more do you need here? Oh that’s right, cheesy tortellini. Yes, please! Not to mention, this […]
Chungah @ Damn Delicious

Navy fires commander of E-2 Hawkeye squadron for “loss of confidence” November 23, 2024
The Navy fired the commander of a California-based squadron of E-2 Hawkeye airborne command and control planes Friday, officials announced. Cmdr. Charles Diehl was relieved as the commander of Airborne Command & Control Squadron 115, or VAW-115, for “a loss of confidence in his ability to command.” That phrasing is typical in Navy announcements of […]
Matt White
Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue, who commanded 82nd Airborne in Kabul, caught by Senate hold for fourth star November 22, 2024
The last soldier to board the final U.S. military plane out of Afghanistan was on track to be named a four-star general and command U.S. Army Europe-Africa, but his name has now been held back from a promotion. Army Lt. Gen. Christopher T. Donahue’s promotion appeared on a list of generals released by the Pentagon […]
Patty Nieberg

Tepees and Buckley's Golf Balls November 14, 2024
Tuesday, November 12A pretty mellow day for Martha and I, this day marks the 29th Anniversary of her putting up with me as a husband. I say it often, the woman should be sainted!No festivities planned for or wanted by either of us, there'll be trips to foreign lands in our future we'd rather save […]
redlegsrides
Post-Snow Storm Views of Mount Blue Sky November 10, 2024
Record-breaking snow falls, this past three days. We approached two feet of snow accumulation I think here in our cul-de-sac in the SE portion of the mess which is Metro Denver!Lets just say I spent quite a bit of time running the snow-blower and doing some shoveling along with my loving wife Martha.I elected not […]
redlegsrides

Hey Democrats: It’s Not the Volume, It’s the Frequency November 9, 2024
The reference might be a bit antiquated in our online age, but frequency means the radio station you’re dialed in to. Volume, of course, is how loudly the radio is turned up.I’m sure there are some exceptions, but the overwhelming majority of explanations I’ve seen from Democrats following their crushing loss in what they constantly […]
Barry Eisler
Some Post-Election Thoughts November 6, 2024
Obviously there’s a lot to discuss about the 2024 election results. I’ll offer just the following.None of this is about the merits of either candidate; it’s about the broad dynamics that shaped the outcome. You don’t have to like those dynamics any more than you like any other aspect of reality. But as the saying […]
Barry Eisler

Kashevaroff Mountain April 6, 2019
Long before we were a sailing family, Alisa and I were a young couple in love with adventuring in Alaska. The opportunity to introduce Eric and Elias to the delights of outdoor living in the Great Land was one of the big bright sides of our return to Alaska. Earlier this winter, the boys and […]
Letting go March 20, 2019
So...this beautiful island is our home. See the barky? The boys just had their spring break. A week off from school and nothing to keep us from buggering off in Galactic. The weather was generally poor - nothing like the pics above for the most part - so we just snuck off to the west […]

PDS on PBS II Cross post from "Frozen Grin" April 5, 2024
Here is a link to a story about my struggle to draw with Parkinson's Disease. the story is from "The Daily Cartoonist" a Web journal concerning the world of professional cartooning. It was occasioned by the release of the documentary "Matters of Mind, My Parkinson's" which follows three families and their efforts to cope […]
Peter Dunlap-Shohl
Matter of Mind, My Parkinson's, PBS Looks at PD and PD-S March 4, 2024
Here is a short trailer for the PBS documentary "Matter of Mind, My Parkinson's. It follows the attempts of three people and their families to cope with the progressive, disabling and incurable neurological condition. The film won the Audience Choice Award for documentaries at the recent San Francisco Film Festival, possibly due to a scenery-chewing […]
Peter Dunlap-Shohl

Identifying Devil’s Club Plant August 10, 2023
Devil’s Club is a common wild plant in Alaska that’s large & covered in hidden sharp thorns, growing everywhere from remote forests to even well-groomed Anchorage city trails. Just because you’re “in town” doesn’t mean you won’t run into devil’s club. It’s smart to stay on the trails, particularly if you’re not confident spotting it. […]
Ashley
Pumpkin BOO-berry Muffins (Fun Halloween Toddler Snacktivity!) October 21, 2022
Here’s a delicious fall-time spin on classic blueberry muffins. If you’re a solo adult who likes good food, this recipe is for you. Or if you’ve got extra kitchen “helpers” around (read: kids who need entertainment), turn baking these Halloween muffins into a fun toddler snacktivity. Pumpkin BOO-berry Muffin Recipe Ingredients: 2 boxes Jiffy brand […]
Ashley

"Home" vs. "Away" May 20, 2022
I’m home now. I’m looking at the flea market couch I brought up from California; I had cushions made three times over the years till I got it just right. Now it’s just right. It’s been in my life 42 years. Tim has been in my life 34 years, but he had to be out of […]
CloudyinAK
Goodbye, Toronto May 10, 2022
I’m saying my goodbyes to Toronto. I’ve seen my last Hot Docs Festival film, and I’m just back from my last author program. I’ve probably had my last roti, checked out my last book at my local branch library, gone to my last art workshop. Horror of horrors, I’ve even watched my last play. The thing […]
CloudyinAK

Malnourished launches today January 21, 2020
It’s here. The big day. My memoir, the one I spent 15 years struggling over, launches today from Raised Voice Press. I’m feeling very exposed, very vulnerable. This is not at all similar to when Dolls Behaving Badly launched from Hachette Book Group. That was a novel, and while some of it was based on… […]
cinthiaritchie
Book review: Secondhand Summer by Dan Walker December 1, 2019
I had had Alaska writer Dan Walker’s YA novel SECONDHAND SUMMER on my list for a long time, and two weeks ago finally had the chance to dive in. I wasn’t disappointed. Walker’s book, geared for middle school readers (but still immensely enjoyable for adults), follows 14-year-old Sam’s move to Anchorage from the small fishing… […]
cinthiaritchie

Sitka Nature Show #318 – Kari Sagel and Brooke Schafer June 30, 2024
Download Radio Show The June 30th show featured a conversation with Kari Sagel and Brooke Schafer in our semi-regular cross-over between the Sitka Library Show and the Sitka Nature Show. If you have questions or observations you want to share, please feel free to leave a comment here or on the page I’ve set up […]
matt goff
Sitka Nature Show #317 – Daniel Graham and Zach LaPerriere June 16, 2024
Download Radio Show The June 16th show featured a conversation with Daniel Graham and Zach LaPerriere. Daniel was the artist who crafted the Sitka violin commissioned for the Sitka Summer Music Festival by Marcel and Connie LaPerriere, it was the made out of wood sourced in Sitka by Zach LaPerriere. We discussed the of the […]
matt goff

Sandra’s Overnight Artisan 10" Cast Iron Soft Bread-No Knead March 2, 2024
INGREDIENTS3-1/4 cups all-purpose flour1 teaspoon active yeast (not rapid or instant)1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt1-1/2 cups slightly warm water (tepid)--2 teaspoons canola oil (For top and bottom of dough ball so it doesn't stick or form crust while rising)-2 TB butter melted in ramekin, with brush (set aside)--10” Seasoned Cast Iron SkilletMETHODAdd flour to bowl. Add yeast […]
sandra
Sandra's Fresh Apple Pecan Cake (9x13") September 18, 2023
My husband loves this cakeso much he had two pieces 'after' eating lunch...Ingredients2 Eggs1 ½ cup Canola Oil2 cups Granulated Sugar3 cups A-P Flour2 teaspoons Ground Cinnamon½ teaspoon Ground Nutmeg½ teaspoon Kosher Salt1 ½ teaspoons Baking Soda4 cups Chopped Apples (peeled and cored): measure after chopping1 cup chopped Pecans: measure after chopping1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract⅔ […]
sandra