Tag: pie

An Incredible Reunion!

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It’s a heartwarming story of a cat named Aggie and her reunion with her owner, Katherine Kiefer, after the Palisades wildfire in Los Angeles.

In January 2025, the wildfire destroyed Katherine’s home, and Aggie, a 5-year-old Maine Coon, went missing during the chaotic evacuation. Katherine, an 82-year-old woman, feared the worst but held onto hope. Two months later, on March 8th, 2025, the West Los Angeles Animal Shelter contacted her with the incredible news that Aggie had been found alive near the ruins of their home.

The reunion, captured in a TikTok video by Katherine’s daughter Carolyn Kiefer, showed an emotional Katherine crying tears of joy as Aggie curled up in her arms. The video quickly went viral, amassing over 1 million likes, with viewers touched by the bond between the two. Aggie had survived in a dire state (described as “skin and bone” and suffering from starvation) requiring multiple blood transfusions and specialist care. The family raised over $21,000 of a $30,000 GoFundMe goal to cover her vet bills, and they were set to be fully reunited when Aggie was released from the hospital on March 13th, 2025.

Katherine, who had received Aggie as a gift during the COVID 19 pandemic, shared a message with other pet owners: “Don’t underestimate cats,” reflecting on her feline companion’s remarkable resilience. This story has captured widespread attention, highlighting the strength of pets and the hope that can persist even after disaster.

STORY IS HERE

Do You Stack?

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I mean, who doesn’t stack?

Ever wonder why pancakes end up in a wobbly tower on your plate instead of fanned out like some breakfast buffet masterpiece? Turns out, there’s more to it than just tradition.

First off, stacking is practical. Pancakes fresh off the griddle are hot and piling them up keeps that warmth trapped longer than if you spread them out to cool like a deck of cards. Plus, it saves space. When you’re drowning them in syrup or plopping butter on top, a stack keeps the mess contained. Spread them out and you’re mopping sticky chaos off the table.

Then there’s the vibe that stacked pancakes are the image. We want you to think diner menus, Saturday morning cartoons, or those Instagram food pics with syrup cascading down the sides. It’s not just food; it’s a mood. Spreading them out? That’s for people with too much time and a ruler, not a fork.

Sure, you could argue spreading them means more topping per bite, but who’s measuring? Stacking is the easy way. Take it straight from pan to plate, no rearranging required. It’s less about logic and more about what feels right. So next time you’re flipping flapjacks, don’t overthink it. Stack ‘em high and dig in.

Making History…

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History is full of incredible women who didn’t just step up—they kicked down doors, shattered glass ceilings and paved the way for the rest of us. From science to sports, politics to the arts, these female firsts dared to go where no woman had gone before.

These women (and so many others) didn’t just achieve “firsts” for the sake of a title. They faced skepticism, outright hostility and systems built to keep them out. Yet they pushed forward, proving that talent, determination and a little bit of rebel spirit can rewrite the rules. Every time a woman steps into a new role today (whether it’s in a boardroom, a cockpit, or a lab) she’s standing on the shoulders of these giants.

Inspired by a fantastic roundup from our friends at Reader’s Digest, let’s take a moment to celebrate some of these pioneers who changed the game.

STORY IS HERE

Actual Factual Pie – March 12th!

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The year is 1894 and Coca Cola takes a fizzy step forward as it is sold in bottles for the first time! This iconic drink, born in Atlanta, went from soda fountains to portable glass, thanks to Joseph Biedenharn’s bottling vision. A refreshing milestone that popped the cap on Coke’s global journey!

In 1912, Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low founded the Girl Scouts in Savannah, Georgia. Inspired by the Boy Scouts, she aimed to empower young girls through outdoor activities, leadership, and community service. The first troop had just 18 members. Today, millions have embraced her vision of building courage, confidence, and character in girls worldwide.

In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered the first of his iconic “Fireside Chats.” Speaking via radio from the White House, he addressed a nation gripped by the Great Depression, explaining the banking crisis in a calm, relatable way. These Sunday evening talks became a hallmark of his presidency, offering hope and clarity during turbulent times.

In 1959, a historic moment unfolded as the U.S. House of Representatives voted to approve Hawaii’s statehood, following the Senate’s lead. This paved the way for Hawaii to become the 50th state of the United States, officially joining the Union on August 21st of that year. A milestone in American history!

In 1994, a historic moment unfolded as the Church of England ordained its first women priests, breaking centuries of tradition. At Bristol Cathedral, 32 women were welcomed into the priesthood, marking a significant step toward gender equality in the church. This bold move sparked both celebration and debate, reshaping the religious landscape forever.

Music History Wednesday!

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The Year: 1988

Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up” hits #1 in the US. The video, which shows a buttoned-up Astley singing his way around London, does well on VH1, but really takes off two decades later with the Rickrolling trend, as webmasters point links to the song’s YouTube video to trick unsuspecting readers into watching it.

Bonus Slice +++

The Year: 1974

John Lennon and Nilsson get drunk and disorderly at a Smothers Brothers comedy show at the Troubadour in Los Angeles. They get thrown out and Nilsson takes heat in the press for being a bad influence on Lennon. Said Nilsson: “It ruined my reputation for 10 years. Get one Beatle drunk and look what happens.”

Dinosaur Dandruff?

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Imagine a feathered dinosaur strutting through a 125-million-year-old forest, shaking off pesky skin flakes like a bird with a bad hair day. Sounds wild, right? Well, researchers studying some of the oldest dinosaur fossils ever found have uncovered evidence that these ancient creatures might’ve dealt with their own version of dandruff.

In a fascinating discovery, paleontologists looked at incredibly well-preserved fossils (think Microraptor or Beipiaosaurus) and spotted tiny traces of corneocytes, the dead skin cells that make up dandruff in modern birds. These flaky clues, locked in stone for over a hundred million years, suggest that feathered dinosaurs had skin shedding habits not so different from today’s pigeons or parrots.

Why does this matter? It’s a window into how dinosaur skin evolved alongside their feathers. Dandruff might’ve helped them keep their plumage clean, ditch parasites, or even stay aerodynamic. Unlike scaly reptiles that shed their skin in big patches, these dinosaurs flaked off bits at a time. This is even more proof they were closer to birds than we might’ve thought.

So next time you brush some dandruff off your shoulder, just picture a dinosaur doing the same millions of years ago. Who knew grooming could connect us to the Cretaceous?

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