The Lighter Side
The Lighter Side

The Lighter Side

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Senior Living Facility Has Police Ban Bingo Just in Time for April Fool’s Day
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Senior Living Facility Has Police Ban Bingo Just in Time for April Fool’s Day

If you have a senior citizen in your life, you know they’re pretty serious about a few things. Don’t take their hard candy. Let them watch their stories. And if you want to live another day, don’t mess with their bingo games. Seniors take the game extremely seriously, and the folks at Story Point Senior Living understand that. This year, the staff thought they’d have some fun with residents for April Fool’s Day and ban bingo. They had a police officer come in to make the rouse even more believable. And yes, it was just as funny as you’d imagine. @storypointseniorliving Bingo has been banned #seniorliving #fyp #AprilFools ♬ original sound – StoryPoint Senior Living The Bingo Ban Made Plenty of Seniors Upset The officer walked into a room of seniors and began his speech. “I don’t want to be the bearer of bad news, but here I am,” he said. “All of you live in the township of Algoma. Unfortunately, the township has passed a new law that kind of restricts gambling.” He continues to pass out a paper outlining the new guidelines while condemning the local government. He then breaks the news that the senior facility must abide by the bingo ban. “You are all officially served with the notice,” he said. “We do have to go ahead and clear the tables. We are not allowed to play bingo in Algoma Township.” The seniors immediately began to grumble about the bingo ban until someone called the police officer’s bluff. He laughed and let them in on his April Fool’s Day joke. The joke tickled TikTokers who knew just how important bingo is and that a ban would ruin their day. “The last time I saw my grandma before she died, I went to visit her at her senior living facility & was there about 10 minutes before she said ‘I know you drove 300 miles to see me, but bingo starts in 10 minutes, so let’s just say our love yous real quick & you can go.’ That’s how serious bingo is to these folks,” someone wrote. Others praised the prankster. “Whoever thought of this is a genius,” a comment reads. This story’s featured image can be found here.

‘Grain Bank Accounts’ Free Indian Farmers from Middleman Through Online Marketplace
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‘Grain Bank Accounts’ Free Indian Farmers from Middleman Through Online Marketplace

From the Indian state of Bihar comes the story of a life-changing argi-tech application that’s giving farmers unprecedented control over the financial destiny of their crop. Called Ergos, this digital “grain account” is linked to a network of “grain banks” where farmers can store their crops, monitor inventory and national prices, and sell when they’re […] The post ‘Grain Bank Accounts’ Free Indian Farmers from Middleman Through Online Marketplace appeared first on Good News Network.

Chefs share 7 frugal ways to ‘gourmet-ify’ the humble chicken breast
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Chefs share 7 frugal ways to ‘gourmet-ify’ the humble chicken breast

Chicken, and chicken breast in particular, is a staple in many households. It’s relatively affordable compared to other meats, versatile, and can be cooked in a variety of ways. It works well in pasta, casseroles, sandwiches, tacos, or even on its own. It’s easy to see the appeal. However, let’s be honest: not many people get overly excited about chicken night. Chicken breast, in particular, is high in protein but can be bland due to its low fat content. It needs the right seasonings or marinade, along with the right cooking methods, to really bring it to life. Professional chefs are sharing the secret techniques to “gourmet-ify” chicken without adding much, if any, extra cost. These tips can help turn a $3 chicken breast into a restaurant-quality dish: 1. Brine Experts overwhelmingly recommend one step that almost everyone skips: brining. A dry brine is popular for Thanksgiving turkeys, where salt is rubbed all over the skin the night before. But chicken breasts can benefit even more from a wet brine, or soaking overnight in a saltwater bath. This technique not only allows the salt to penetrate deep into the meat, enhancing flavor, but also helps it retain moisture during cooking, resulting in a more tender texture. Brines can be as simple or as complex as you like, from just salt and water to mixtures with garlic, vegetables, vinegar, and more. Alternatively, a longer marinade can have a similar effect. 2. Sous vide Baking in the oven isn’t necessarily the worst way to cook chicken (take a bow, microwave), but it’s definitely one of the easiest to screw up. Most people are all too familiar with baked chicken that’s dry and bland, or even undercooked. One easy way to achieve perfectly cooked chicken every time is to skip the oven and use a sous vide instead. A sous vide device heats a water bath to a precise temperature and maintains it for as long as needed. Better yet, it doesn’t require close monitoring like a grill or pan. You can usually pick one up for under $100 and use it every week. Just bag the chicken with your chosen marinade, butter, oil, and spices, then set the sous vide. All that juicy goodness will infuse into the perfectly cooked chicken in just an hour or two. Perfectly seared chicken breasts. Photo credit: Canva 3. Sear and rest Alternatively, many chefs prefer searing chicken in a pan on high heat. It quickly locks in juices and flavors, gives the outside a nice golden color, and doesn’t require constant poking and prodding. Crucially, it’s important not to oversear and burn the chicken breast. Expert chefs recommend removing it from the heat when it’s just slightly underdone—around 155°F internally—and allowing it to finish cooking as it rests. (Cooking chicken to 165°F is one of the biggest mistakes people make with chicken breasts, according to cooking educator and YouTuber Ethan Chlebowski.) 4. Trim and slice Jack Croft, head chef at one of London’s top restaurants, Fallow, demonstrates how he prepares a chicken breast in a recent YouTube video, using techniques from a Michelin-starred kitchen. Before cooking, he painstakingly removes blood spots, sinew, and other imperfections from the chicken breast to ensure the most tender final product possible. It’s not a necessary step for home chefs, but if you’re buying cheaper cuts—and who could blame you—it can make a noticeable difference in the final result. 5. Use the juices “Chicken au jus” sounds fancy, but it really just means the chef saved some of the chicken’s natural cooking juices and reincorporated them into the dish. Anyone can do that at home. Pan drippings from a chicken breast are often rich in flavor, despite the meat’s low fat content, and can easily be turned into a sauce or gravy that really elevates the dish. The jus can even be stored with leftover chicken to help keep it moist when reheating. 6. Salt and butter Chlebowski is adamant that you’re probably not using enough salt on your chicken breast. “Undersalted chicken tends to taste like diet food,” he says. “Properly salted food tastes like dinner.” If all else fails, add butter. Chicken’s dryness problem can be easily solved with a little butter in the pan before and toward the end of cooking, while its flavor problem can be fixed with the right amount of salt. It may make the dish slightly less “healthy,” but the flavor improves dramatically. Anthony Bourdain famously said that butter is the main reason restaurant food often tastes better than what we make at home. 7. Wrap or stuff it Croft says stuffing chicken is one of the best ways to impress at a dinner party or date night at home—and it’s not nearly as difficult as it looks. Some great fillings for chicken breast include: Mushrooms Cream cheese mixtures Spinach Sauces (pesto, BBQ) Mozzarella Inviting someone over and serving chicken breast isn’t likely to wow anyone. But a mushroom-stuffed chicken breast wrapped in bacon? That’s guaranteed to have people’s eyes popping. Chicken, when cooked right, is a good choice amid rising prices The price of most foods is going up. While chicken breast may be hard to describe as a “cheap” option (especially a quality cut) it is still more affordable than ground beef, lunch meat, ground chicken or turkey, and many other protein options. That’s what makes it such a great building block for your family’s meal plan. With a few chef-approved techniques up your sleeve, you can make it taste like a dish from your favorite restaurant. The post Chefs share 7 frugal ways to ‘gourmet-ify’ the humble chicken breast appeared first on Upworthy.

Comedian nails why the Millennial midlife crisis is unique and how to deal with it
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Comedian nails why the Millennial midlife crisis is unique and how to deal with it

We’ve historically seen the midlife crisis represented by large and lavish purchases, or maybe by questionable dating choices. But for Millennials, the next in line to approach this milestone, the image doesn’t really resonate. A 35-year-old New York comedian was able to perfectly capture why.  Mike Mancusi recently went viral on TikTok and Instagram after pointing out why the Millennial midlife crisis looks a little different from those of previous generations. What makes the Millennial midlife crisis unique? For one thing, Millennials, by and large, can’t afford to buy “Lamborghinis” or get “second families,” Mancusi quipped. Instead, they cope with nostalgia, like going to Disneyland to relive their childhoods. View this post on Instagram Similarly, Mancusi argued that while other generations trigger their midlife crises by “looking forward” (“Whoa, I’m going to be old someday”), the Millennial midlife crisis is ignited by “looking back” and realizing that even though they “followed the blueprint” to success, they still aren’t “happy” or “fulfilled.” “That is a way different crisis,” Mancusi said, noting that it often manifests as a career-specific midlife crisis. Many Millennials come to the stark realization that, 15 years into a job they thought would give them meaning, it simply doesn’t deliver. Mancusi said there’s only one solution: build meaning outside of your job  View this post on Instagram “The more that you allow some job that you don’t even like to define your entire existence, the more it’s going to crush your soul,” Mancusi said. “You have to find something else to do. Whatever you want to call it. A hobby. A passion. But it has to be something that’s for you. It’s not to make you money, not to please your family, it’s for you.” While Mancusi said that interest could potentially grow into a career, that’s not really the point. What matters is that it allows you to “move forward” with a sense of autonomy and your passion intact. In the comments, many Millennials shared their newly discovered passions “I’m writing again after 5 years. I used to do it constantly. But then life got in the way after I lost all my notes for the last thing I was working on, bills, debts, and this summer, when I had all but given up hope, my creativity came roaring back like a Phoenix reborn.” “Started recording and releasing music this year.I can confidently say although it is actively losing me ALOT of money. I’m much happier than I was last year.” View this post on Instagram “For me, this has now become running. Quite the form of therapy in my opinion. Since it seems like very few people affording therapy.” “I started going out dancing/clubbing this year, something I basically skipped in my teens and 20s, and love being immersed in the music so much. I try to go at least one or 2 weekends a month.” Mancusi may have prescribed this midlife crisis antidote for Millennials, but the wisdom applies to any generation. No matter your age, time on this planet is temporary and nothing is guaranteed. So you might as well spend it doing the things that bring you joy—or die trying. The post Comedian nails why the Millennial midlife crisis is unique and how to deal with it appeared first on Upworthy.

Frustrated teen fixes neglected potholes for just $60 at Home Depot
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Frustrated teen fixes neglected potholes for just $60 at Home Depot

An 18-year-old in Michigan is getting attention for a bold move many disgruntled drivers understand, even if they wouldn’t take the same risk. Ali Chami, who lives near the border of Dearborn Heights and Inkster, had grown tired of navigating the pothole-ridden stretch of Cherry Hill Road during his daily commute. Like many others in the area, the issue had gone from a minor annoyance to an expensive problem. As reported by WXYZ-TV, he spent more than $600 replacing damaged tires over the past six months. He also saw a friend’s tire pop after hitting one of the same potholes. At a certain point, the frustration boiled over So on a Saturday afternoon, instead of waiting for repairs, he decided to act. Chami went to Home Depot, spent about $60 on asphalt, and headed to the road to start filling potholes himself. Home Depot. Photo credit: Canva He documented the process on TikTok, where his candid commentary quickly struck a chord “Why is every single road but Cherry Hill getting fixed?” Chami asked in a video. “That s*** is pissing me off. I swear to God. So you want to know what I’m about to do? I’m about to go to Home Depot and I’m about to put some f****** asphalt on the road for all the these potholes.” Using a simple method, he got to work. “So pretty much, I just grabbed the cap of the bucket and I just scooped it out and spread it out, and I used it as a pushing point where I could just step on it and flatten it out,” Chami said. In a follow-up video, he celebrated the effort. “Yup, wallah, I do this s***,” Chami quipped. Other drivers passing by seemed to share his sentiment, honking or shouting in support. One driver even called out, “Potholes are getting horrible. I had to change my tire last week.” Videos go viral The videos quickly gained traction online, racking up more than 175,000 views and drawing the attention of local officials. View this post on Instagram John Danci, a representative from the Dearborn Heights Department of Public Works, acknowledged that the road has been a known issue for years. According to him, the delay is partly due to the complexity of the situation, as the road falls under three jurisdictions: the Wayne County Federal Aid Committee, Dearborn Heights, and Inkster. “Historically, between Dearborn Heights and the city of Inkster, the funding for a road project like this is much higher relative to our city budgets versus the county that gets a lot of state revenue,” Danci told WXYZ-TV. Mayor Mo Baydoun also responded, noting that temporary fixes have been attempted but are difficult to maintain in colder temperatures. “I can tell you that we have patched Cherry Hill a few times already,” Baydoun wrote on Instagram. “Unfortunately, nothing is going to stick with the temperatures continuing to drop. The good news is that the city has been awarded a $2.6 million grant to fix all of Cherry Hill from Gully-Inkster. Project is expected to begin June 1st.” Image of a pothole. Photo credit: Canva While officials emphasized that residents should not attempt their own repairs due to safety concerns, Danci acknowledged the impact of Chami’s actions. “You did something that at least gained a lot of attention,” he told Chami. Chami, for his part, is not ruling out doing it again. “If it happens [raises money], then I’ll do it,” he told WXYZ-TV. Whether or not you agree with Chami’s actions, his feelings are certainly understandable Yes, taking on road repairs yourself can be dangerous and is not recommended. At the same time, when problems go unresolved for too long, it’s natural to want to be the solution that seemingly will never come on its own.  For many people, it’s not just about fixing the specific issue, but about feeling heard. And in this case, one teenager’s decision did just that, bringing new attention to an issue years in the making. The post Frustrated teen fixes neglected potholes for just $60 at Home Depot appeared first on Upworthy.