Category: News Pie!

Allergic To Everything?

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Well, almost everything.

Caroline Cray, a woman from Boston has gained attention for her extremely limited diet due to a rare condition called Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). Based on the reports, Caroline can only safely consume two foods (oatmeal and hypoallergenic baby formula) because her immune system reacts severely to almost everything else. Her condition causes her mast cells to overreact, releasing chemicals that trigger allergic responses, including anaphylaxis, to a wide range of foods and even environmental factors.

Her journey started with allergies as a young child, but things escalated dramatically in 2017 when she had a severe reaction to an ice cream sandwich during her first week of college. After months of tests and recurring reactions, she was diagnosed with MCAS in 2018. By spring 2019, her diet had narrowed to just oatmeal and baby formula after a hospitalization revealed these were the only things she could tolerate. She mixes the formula into her oats to meet her nutritional needs (three cups for breakfast, two for lunch, and three for dinner) since the formula provides essential proteins, fats, carbs, and vitamins that oatmeal alone can’t supply.

Caroline’s case is extreme even among MCAS patients, as the condition varies widely in severity. While MCAS is considered rare, its true prevalence might be underreported due to diagnostic challenges. For her, everyday triggers like fish, nuts, sesame, mustard and even the act of digesting food can be dangerous. Despite this, she adapts by bringing her own food to social events and maintains a positive outlook, working with specialists to slowly reintroduce foods like broccoli or boiled chicken.

STORY IS HERE

A Forgotten Story?

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A forgotten story about a woman who invented the dishwasher centers on Josephine Cochrane, a remarkable figure whose ingenuity transformed household chores.

Born on March 8, 1839, in Ashtabula County, Ohio, Josephine grew up in a family with a legacy of innovation as her father, John Garis, was a civil engineer, and her grandfather, John Fitch, had worked on steamboat technology.

She later moved to Shelbyville, Illinois, where she married William Cochran, a merchant and politician, in 1858. The couple lived a comfortable life, hosting frequent dinner parties with their prized 17th-century heirloom China dishes.

However, Josephine became frustrated when her servants chipped the delicate dishes during handwashing. Determined to find a solution, she initially took on the task herself but quickly grew tired of it, famously declaring, “If nobody else is going to invent a dishwashing machine, I’ll do it myself.”

FULL STORY HERE

It’s A Full Moon!

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This week, the Worm Moon (the full moon of March) will transform into a striking “blood moon” due to a total lunar eclipse. On the nights of March 13th and 14th, 2025, the moon will pass through Earth’s shadow, reaching peak illumination at 2:55 A.M. ET on Friday, March 14th. During the eclipse, the moon will take on a reddish hue for about 65 minutes, from 2:26 A.M. to 3:31 A.M. ET, as sunlight filters through Earth’s atmosphere, casting a spooky, warm glow. This event, often called a “Blood Worm Moon,” will be visible across North America and parts of South America, western Europe, and western Africa, weather permitting.

The “Worm Moon” name comes from Native American traditions, tied to the emergence of earthworms or beetle larvae as spring nears, signaling the end of winter. The blood red color during the eclipse adds a dramatic twist, making it a captivating celestial event. You can catch the moon looking especially large near the horizon on Thursday evening as it rises, thanks to the “Moon illusion,” or watch the eclipse unfold overnight. If there’s light rain, you might even spot a rare moonbow (a lunar rainbow) adding to the spectacle!

STORY IS HERE

Is This True?

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Sarah Wynn-Williams, a former New Zealand diplomat who worked at Facebook for over six years, has published a book titled Careless People. In it, she claims she faced sexual harassment from her boss, Joel Kaplan (then a vice president for global public policy, now Meta’s chief global affairs officer) and alleges the company retaliated against her by firing her after she reported it. She also accuses Facebook of ignoring internal warnings about its impact on human rights and democracy, particularly during its pursuit of growth in places like China.

Meta, which owns Facebook, has pushed back hard, calling her allegations a mix of outdated claims and false accusations. They say an investigation in 2017 cleared Kaplan of any wrongdoing and that Wynn-Williams was let go for “poor performance and toxic behavior,” not retaliation. Her former supervisor, Elliot Schrage, backed this up, citing her repeated failures in her role. Meanwhile, Wynn-Williams stands by her story, saying Meta’s trying to discredit her because she’s exposing uncomfortable truths about their culture and decisions.

STORY IS HERE

Actual Factual Pie – March 11th!

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The year is 1888, a monstrous blizzard slammed into the northeastern US, unleashing chaos. Dubbed the “Great White Hurricane,” it buried cities in snowdrifts up to 50 feet high. Around 400 souls perished, mostly from exposure, as the storm raged for days. A brutal reminder of nature’s raw power.

In 1930, William Howard Taft, the 27th U.S. President, became the first president to be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. Taft, who also served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, left a lasting legacy in American history.

In 1969, fashion took a groovy turn as Levi-Strauss began selling bell-bottomed jeans. These iconic flared pants, wider from the knee down, became a symbol of the counterculture era. They were perfect for free spirits and disco dancers alike. Levi’s stitched itself into history with this bold style move!

In 1973, tensions boiled over at Wounded Knee, South Dakota, during a 71 day standoff between Native American activists and federal authorities. Amid the chaos, an FBI agent was shot, escalating an already volatile situation. The occupation, rooted in demands for tribal sovereignty and justice, marked a pivotal moment in Indigenous resistance.

In 1990, Lithuania boldly declared its independence from the Soviet Union, becoming the first Soviet republic to do so. This historic act, led by the Sąjūdis movement, marked a pivotal step toward the Baltic state’s sovereignty and inspired others in the USSR to follow suit. Freedom rang loud that day!

Music History Tuesday!

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The Year: 2006

The High School Musical soundtrack reaches #1 on the US albums chart, the first TV soundtrack album to top the tally since the Miami Vice soundtrack, which was #1 for eight weeks in 1985 and another three in 1986. Nine songs from the album make the Hot 100, led by “Breaking Free,” sung by Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, which reaches #4.

Bonus Slice +++

The Year: 1972

Neil Young’s album Harvest hits #1 in America, supplanting Don McLean’s American Pie, which has been on top for seven weeks.

Mystery Solved?

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The recent discovery of a submerged car in the Columbia River may be linked to the disappearance of the Martin family from Oregon 67 years ago.

In December 1958, Ken and Barbara Martin, along with their three daughters Barbara (14), Virginia (12), and Susan (10) set out from Portland to collect Christmas greenery in the Columbia River Gorge. They never returned. The family’s Ford station wagon vanished without a trace, leaving behind a decades-long mystery.

In May 1959, the bodies of Susan and Virginia were found in the river near Bonneville Dam, about 40 miles apart, but no sign of Ken, Barbara, or the youngest daughter, Barbara, was ever uncovered. Theories ranged from an accidental plunge into the river to foul play, but the case went cold. However, things have now changed.

In late 2024, a diver named Archer Mayo, who had been searching for the vehicle for seven years, located a Ford station wagon upside down, 50 feet underwater and 90% buried in sediment in the Columbia River near Cascade Locks.

On March 7th, 2025, after two days of dredging, a crane pulled the car’s frame from the river. The body of the vehicle detached during the process and remains underwater, but authorities are confident it matches the description of the Martins’ car. No human remains were found inside during the initial recovery, though the car was filled with rocks and debris.

The frame is now headed to a warehouse for forensic analysis, which could finally shed light on whether the family’s disappearance was a tragic accident (perhaps a plunge off a cliff or road into the river) or something more sinister. The discovery has reignited hope for closure in a case that’s haunted Oregon for nearly seven decades.

STORY IS HERE

High Speed Maneuvers!

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On March 10th, 2025, a notable incident occurred in Georgia where a pursuit exceeding 90 mph concluded with a PIT maneuver.

The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office chased a suspect in a pickup truck, wanted for aggravated assault, along a two-lane highway after a neighboring sheriff’s department issued an alert. The chase ended when deputies used the PIT maneuver to stop the fleeing vehicle.

The PIT maneuver, or Precision Immobilization Technique, is a tactic where a pursuing vehicle makes controlled contact with the rear side of a fleeing car, causing it to spin out and stop.

While effective, it’s controversial due to its risks. Nationwide reports say it’s been linked to at least 30 deaths between 2016 and 2020, often in high-speed scenarios or for minor offenses, according to various sources.

In this Georgia case, specific outcomes like injuries or arrests weren’t detailed in the brief reports, but the maneuver successfully halted the pursuit.

STORY IS HERE

Robotic Bees?

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MIT researchers have been working on tiny robotic insects that could revolutionize agriculture by assisting with pollination, particularly as natural bee populations decline due to factors like pesticides, habitat loss, and climate change.

These robotic bees are engineered to mimic the behavior of real bees, using advanced sensors and artificial intelligence to navigate and locate flowers with precision. They’re lightweight (often less than a gram) and capable of sustained flight, with some models hovering for over 1,000 seconds (more than 16 minutes), a significant leap from earlier designs.

The robots feature flapping wings powered by artificial muscles made from materials like elastomers and carbon nanotubes, allowing them to perform complex maneuvers like flips and precise path following. This agility and endurance make them promising candidates for pollinating crops in controlled environments, such as greenhouses or vertical farms, where natural pollinators might struggle.

STORY IS HERE

Making S’mores?

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According to authorities, the suspected cause of the recent Long Island wildfires was a resident attempting to make s’mores in their backyard. On Saturday, March 8th, 2025, a person in Suffolk County, New York, reportedly used cardboard to start a fire around 9:30 a.m. ET.

Strong northwest winds made it difficult to ignite initially, but once lit, the fire quickly spread beyond control. Embers from this initial blaze are believed to have been carried by winds gusting up to 45 mph, sparking multiple fires that burned approximately 600 acres of the Pine Barrens region.

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina described this as the “operating theory,” supported by an ongoing investigation involving 25 arson detectives, though it’s considered strongly accidental in origin as of this post.

The incident led to a state of emergency, injured two firefighters and damaged at least two commercial structures, with over 600 firefighters from 80 volunteer departments responding to the crisis.

STORY IS HERE