Former President Donald Trump leads President Joe Biden in five key battleground states expected to go a long way in determining this year's race for the White House, according to new polls by The New York Times, Siena College, and The Philadelphia Inquirer.

This moist Hawaiian Poke Cake is the perfect summertime dessert! Pineapple and coconut flavors combine to make the ultimate (and easy) cake! A TROPICAL FRUIT POKE CAKE It’s no secret that I love a good poke cake! I’ve made tons and tons of tasty poke cakes over the years because I love them so much! This Hawaiian Poke Cake really tastes like summer! If you’ve never made a poke cake, now is the time. They are simple to make but pack so much flavor. My family raved over this one and I took some to the neighbors and everyone asked for the recipe! I promise that this one will quickly become a family favorite! FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What size cake mix do I use? Over the last few years, manufacturers have changed the size of cake mixes. A few years ago, cake mixes were 18.25 ounces, then they went down to 15.25, and now, some brands are down to 13.25 ounces. Duncan Hines is still my go-to and at the time that I’m writing this, they’re still 15.25 ounces. Great Value (the Wal-Mart brand is also still 15.25 ounces) However, this can change without notice. This recipe has been tested with a 13.25 ounce cake mix as well and it worked just fine, with NO changes needed. This poke cake recipe will work with any of the cake mix sizes. Can I used pineapple tidbits be used instead? Yes, instead of using crushed pineapple, tidbits can be used. Obviously this will give it a different texture though. Why is using room temperature eggs helpful? It’s good to use room temperature eggs for this cake, and any other baked goods because they mix in better to the batter. But, don’t stress out, if you forget to take them out, this recipe will still work.  How to store leftover Hawaiian Cake? Any leftover cake should be tightly wrapped with plastic wrap or foil and should be kept in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. I wouldn’t freeze this cake because the topping consistency would change and the cake consistency would change. Plus, the flavor start to change then too. INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE) Duncan Hines French vanilla cake mix– you can use other brands, I just prefer Duncan Hines. Any yellow cake mix or white cake mix will also work well. You can even use a banana or coconut flavored cake mix. large eggs whole milk– I really recommend whole milk but you could use 2% milk. Do not use skim milk. unsalted butter– You can use salted butter too if that is all you have. There is only a 1/4 teaspoon of salt in a whole stick of butter so the amount is negligible. sour cream– if you don’t have this on hand, you can just omit it. You don’t have to worry about adding something in its place. This is just going to add additional moistness (you don’t taste it in the batter). banana cream instant pudding– This pudding mix can be swapped out for vanilla instant pudding mix. Other options to try are French vanilla or white chocolate cheesecake instant pudding mix or coconut instant pudding mix. crushed pineapple – don’t drain it right away because we will need some of the juices. whipped topping– Any brand will work, or you can make your own homemade whipped cream. fresh pineapple and toasted coconut – these are optional garnishes but I think the coconut really rounds out the tropical flavors. HOW TO MAKE A HAWAIIAN POKE CAKE Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. In a large bowl with an electric hand mixer (or the bowl of a stand mixer) add the cake mix, eggs, milk, butter and sour cream. Mix for 2 minutes until combined well. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish.  Bake the cake for 25-30 minutes or until the cake springs back under your finger and/or  a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool for about 5 minutes. Make large holes in rows across the cake. A round wooden spoon handle works well for this. You want them large enough so the pudding can go into them.  In a bowl whisk together the instant pudding, milk and one cup of the crushed pineapple with juice until combined and slightly thickened. Pour the prepared pudding into the holes. Lightly pressing down with a spatula to ensure they are fully filled.  Evenly spread the remaining pudding mixture across the top of the cake. Drain the remaining crushed pineapple and spread it on top of the pudding layer. Finally, evenly spread the whipped topping on top.  Cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3-4 hours or overnight. Poke cakes are better when they’ve had time to sit. Serve slices garnished with fresh pineapple or toasted coconut, optional.  CRAVING MORE RECIPES?  Butterfinger Poke Cake Coconut Poke Cake Boston Cream Poke Cake Twinkie Poke Cake Carrot Poke Cake Banana Pudding Poke Cake Lime Jell-O Poke Cake Chocolate Poke Cake 35 Poke Cake Recipes Print Hawaiian Poke Cake A sweet and fruity flavored pudding poke cake featuring pineapple and coconut flakes with a whipped topping. Course DessertCuisine American Prep Time 10 minutes minutesCook Time 30 minutes minutesChill Time 4 hours hoursTotal Time 4 hours hours 40 minutes minutes Servings 12 servings Calories 377kcal Author Brandie @ The Country Cook IngredientsCake:1 box Duncan Hines French vanilla cake mix (you are not following the amounts or directions on the back of the box)3 large eggs, room temperature1 cup whole milk⅓ cup unsalted butter, melted2 Tablespoons sour creamFilling and Topping:2 (3.4 ounce) boxes banana cream instant pudding3 cups cold whole milk20 ounce can crushed pineapple, divided use8 ounce container whipped topping, thawedoptional garnishes: fresh pineapple, toasted coconut InstructionsPreheat the oven to 350F degrees. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.In a large bowl with an electric hand mixer (or the bowl of a stand mixer) add 1 box Duncan Hines French vanilla cake mix, 3 large eggs, room temperature, 1 cup whole milk, ⅓ cup unsalted butter, melted, and 2 Tablespoons sour cream. Mix for 2 minutes until combined well. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish. Bake the cake for 25-30 minutes or until the cake springs back under your finger and/or a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool for about 5 minutes. Make large holes in rows across the cake. A wooden spoon handle works well for this. You want them large enough so the pudding can go into them. In a bowl whisk together 2 (3.4 ounce) boxes banana cream instant pudding, 3 cups cold whole milk and and one cup of the crushed pineapple with juice until combined and slightly thickened. Pour the prepared pudding into the holes. Lightly pressing down with a spatula to ensure they are fully filled. Evenly spread the remaining pudding mixture across the top of the cake. Drain the remaining crushed pineapple and spread it on top of the pudding layer. Finally, evenly spread 8 ounce container whipped topping, thawed on top. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3-4 hours or overnight. Poke cakes are better when they’ve had time to sit.Serve slices with optional garnishes: fresh pineapple, toasted coconut. Notes Please refer to my FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions. NutritionCalories: 377kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 13g | Sodium: 393mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 30g

The first shark attack victim in Steven Spielberg’s 1975 thriller movie Jaws was played by Susan Backlinie, who recently died of a heart attack in her California home. The 77-year-old had a lifelong career as an excellent swimmer and actress, which she began pursuing at 10 years old. Susan grew up swimming miles off the coast of West Palm Beach in Florida and was a freestyle champion during high school. She scored her most famous role as Chrissie Watkins after sending in her nude photo to Jaws’ production executive, which piqued Steven’s interest. Remembering Susan Backlinie JAWS, Susan Backlinie, 1975 Jaws opens with “Chrissie” swimming in shark-infested waters, after which she is dragged to her death by the killer animal. Her piercing screams were a memorable moment from the scene, with speculations later arising that she got injured in real life by the back harness that jerked her about. RELATED: Spielberg Says One Of The Worst Parts Of ‘Jaws’ Was A ‘Blessing In Disguise’ Unlike the rumors about Susan truly screaming in pain, she was startled by the unexpected pull underwater, which none of the crew warned her about. Her co-star Richard Dreyfuss admitted being terrified by her performance and revealed in the Jaws: The Inside Story documentary that Steven later recorded her shrieks by pouring water in her mouth. JAWS, Susan Backlinie, 1975 Susan also reprised her role as a parody in Steven’s 1941, where she got swallowed by a Japanese submarine’s periscope rather than a shark. She also appeared in movies like Jim Henson’s The Great Muppet Caper, The Grizzly & the Treasure, A Stranger in My Forest, Day of the Animals, and series including The Quest, Quark, and The Fall Guy. JAWS, Susan Backlinie, 1975 Susan was also a stunt woman for The Villain and Donald W. Thompson’s Image of the Beast. After retiring from the spotlight, the former animal trainer worked as a computer accountant in Ventura, California. Susan is survived by her husband Harvey Swindall, who called her “the most amazing person” in his recently released heartfelt tribute. Click for next Article The post First Shark Attack Victim In Hit ’70s Film ‘Jaws’ Susan Backlinie Dies At 77 appeared first on DoYouRemember? - The Home of Nostalgia. Author, Peace A

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“A dream come true.”“I never expected this!”“The most amazing light show I’ve ever seen in my life!”“Once in a lifetime!”“No doubt, this weekend will be remembered as ‘that weekend.’” That’s how people described their views of the Aurora borealis this weekend, which put on a breathtaking celestial show around the world, and at lower latitudes than usual. This allowed hundreds of millions of people to see the northern lights for the first time in their lives. People as far south as Arizona and Florida in the US and France, Germany and Poland in Europe got the views of their life as a series of intense solar storms – the most powerful in more than 20 years – impacted Earth’s atmosphere starting Friday and through the weekend. As we reported on Friday, a giant Earth-facing sunspot group named AR3664 hurled at least six coronal mass ejections our way, triggering a dazzling display of breathtaking celestial shows over several nights. NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center issued a geomagnetic storm watch in anticipation of G4 or G5 events; G5 is the highest rating on NOAA’s space weather scale. This means not only was there a spectacular sky show, but some electrical grid systems could have experienced blackouts; however, there was no widespread reports of any problems or damage to electrical grids. “Watches at this level are very rare,” the SWPC said in an advisory on Saturday. Let’s take a look at the incredible views of our readers and friends, many shared on Universe Today’s Flickr page. Our lead image comes from Julien Looten, who took this photo at the cliffs of Étretat in northern France. Looten said, “These auroras began to be visible around 10:30 PM, even before nightfall… From then on, they were visible to the naked eye until dawn… Without interruption…” A spectacular light show over North Cascades National Park, Washington state, USA. Credit: Patrick Vallely. Used by permission. A 360° panorama of the May 10/11, 2024 great aurora display, as seen in southern Alberta, Canada. This is a stitch of 20 segments, each 13-second exposures, with “very odd vertical blue and magenta rays.” Credit: Alan Dyer/AmazingSky.com A unique orange and red aurora seen over Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Credit: Karla Thompson. No doubt this weekend will be remembered as 'that weekend'. Here's my rushed, ordinary photos of an extraordinary event.Taken locally in Cheshire during the 'spike' at 03:00 Saturday. Zero colour enhancement in post processing. The greens were JUST visible with the naked eye: pic.twitter.com/Z9uQA4fFaW— Andy Saunders – Apollo Remastered (@AndySaunders_1) May 12, 2024 Ohio’s Aurora 05-10-2024, captured in front of John Chumack’s observatory domes at JBSPO in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Canon 6DDSLR 16mm F2.8 lens, ISO 1250, 10 second exposure. Credit: John Chumack, galacticimages.com. Used by permission. "Once in a Lifetime" – The Needles, Isle of Wight, UKCredit @chadpowellphoto pic.twitter.com/NAoi6k9h9E— Chad Powell (@chadpowellphoto) May 12, 2024 “Bonkers” aurora display in Tucson, Arizona, USA. Credit: Robert Sparks. Used by permission. 8 hrs, 2 camera batteries, 500 photos & a full memory card later, we're home after our epic aurora hunt. Just a magical, magnificent night. Aurora filling the sky at one point, green curtains/ red/pink rays & beams, reflected in the reservoir we were parked next to up nr Shap… pic.twitter.com/0iApnjZ05H— Stuart Atkinson (@mars_stu) May 11, 2024 Aurora over Raisting Earth Station near near Raisting, Bavaria, Germany. “We experienced three waves of incredibly strong Aurora, especially for our rather Southern latitude. During the second wave we saw individual pulsating filaments dancing over our heads. What a breathtaking experience!” Credit: Simeon Schmauß, used by permission. I asked a complete stranger to take my photo during the stunning aurora show. I did the same for her. Seeing the aurora from our location was incredible. We will treasure the memory of our shared experience. 10.05.24 Bedfordshire UK #aurora #auroraUK #StormHour #ThePhotoHour pic.twitter.com/vWwAjSQK2I— Dawn (@DawnSunrise1) May 12, 2024 This colorful auroral display was visible from Bishopmill, Scotland, UK on May 10, 2024. “It was capped by several beautiful coronae, the holy grail for many aurora photographers. At times, the colours were clearly visible to the unaided eye.” Credit: Alan Tough. Used by permission. The sky opened over Bear Lake, Utah pic.twitter.com/zW3nSRafZa— Riding with Robots (@ridingrobots) May 11, 2024 Aurora on May 10/11 2024, taken from Ottawa, Canada with an iPhone 14 Pro Max. Credit: Andrew Symes. Used by permission. Aurora Borealis on May 10, 2024 From British Columbia, Canada. Credit: Debra Ceravolo. Used by permission. “The moment when the Great Aurora of 2024 went from looking average to exploding and filling the entire sky. Until that moment, it looked cool, but nothing I hadn’t seen from this location before. The curious part was it was in the western sky instead of the north when I normally see it. But in this moment, the entirity of the visible sky lit up in the most amazing light show I’ve ever seen in my life. Credit: Dark Arts Astrophotography. Used by permission. Unique view of the KP9 aurora on May 11, 2024 at Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada. Credit: Northern Lights Graffiti. Used by permission The amount of insane beauty that’s on my memory cards right now is almost overwhelming. Aurora chasing may be my new addiction.I also will likely release a shot or two in print, so if you want a memento from this event make sure you’re on my email list! pic.twitter.com/OjrthGlqJB— Andrew McCarthy (@AJamesMcCarthy) May 12, 2024 Aurora and the Moon seen over central Minnesota, USA. Credit: Nancy Atkinson The post What a Weekend! Spectacular Aurora Photos from Around the World appeared first on Universe Today.