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Showing posts from February, 2021

Need help with your classes?

     For some of us, online learning can be a challenge. But thankfully, online tutoring can help. From now until May 7th, you can get help with Writing, Math, and Accounting. Schedules are located on this page:  https://www.nashuacc.edu/student-services/academic-success-center . Don't be afraid to ask for help with your academics, were here for you. 

Creamy baked Italian Chicken.

  A simple recipe today. But don't be mistaken, it is still one of the most delicious ways to bake a chicken. Ingredients:  6 boneless chicken breasts 1 cup mayonnaise 1 packet Italian dressing seasoning/mix 1/2 grated parmesan Directions: get out a 12x8 baking pan and cover its surface with aluminum foil. spray the foil wit nonstick cooking spray.  place your six pieces of chicken breasts on the foil. next, in a mixing bowl, add in the 1 cup mayo, one Italian dressing mix, and the half cup of grated parmesan, and mix contents until fully incorporated. Next, use a rubber spatula and evenly spread the mix on top of the chicken breasts. finally, place the chicken into a 400 degree oven in the center rack for 40-45min, or until fully cooked through. Allow the chicken to cool for five minutes and then dig in to your creamy, delicious chicken. 

Reminder: Submit Photos and Poems For Windows.

       Reminder: March 5th is the deadline to submit up to two poems and two photos for the Windows Literary Magazine. Don't miss your chance to get your work published. Email Submissions at nccwindows@ccsnh.edu. 

Month in review, Februraury

      I'd say that February was a small improvement over January, unless you live in Texas. Everybody probably knows this, but Texas was frozen over for about a week, and millions of Texans were without power. It is a horrible situation, made worse with senators leaving to Mexica on vacation and fake news about the snow being fake and Wind Turbines being frozen.      On brighter news, Over 50 million people received at least one dose, and my Dad just got his second. Even better, around 1.6 million doses are given daily, and NH has started the next phase of vaccine distribution. I know this year has been 2020 2.0, but I think things are starting to look up. 

Multiplayer games to stay connected during quarantine.

      Since we are all staying inside during the pandemic, it can be difficult to stay connected with friends. That's why 2020 saw the rise of multiplayer video games. Here are a few that I recommend playing with friends. 1.) Among Us. Play as a crewmate and complete tasks to win, but watch out, since some other players are imposters, looking to sabotage your ship, and literally stab you in the back. This game is perfect for fans of deduction games, and with proxy chat added to the PC version, you can have conversations while deceiving your friends.  2.) Phasmophobia. Fan of  Ghost Hunters? Then this is the game for you. Play with your friends while you navigate haunted locations while trying to figure out what kind of ghost your dealing with. Watch out when your light starts to flicker, because of the ghost catches you, then you'll join it. Available on Steam.  3.) Club House Games: 51 Worldwide Classics for Nintendo Switch. This is a personal favorite of mine. Play, as the ti

What did you think of the Club Fair?

 The club fair was last week, and I was wondering what everyone thought of the new format. I personally liked it more than the straight up zoom call that last semester had, since I could talk to the clubs I had interest in the entire time instead of waiting to hear about them near the end of a zoom meeting. I myself am part of the Nerd Club and GSA, which I met with during the club fair.      My question to you is, what clubs did you join this semester? were you already a part of a club, or is this your first time joining one? let me know in the comments. 

Fat Tuesday Doughnut Recipe

     With tomorrow being Fat Tuesday, I thought that it would be nice to share a Doughnut recipe I found on cooking.nytimes.com. The recipe is titled Doughnuts and was written by Mark Bittman, here's the link: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017060-doughnuts INGREDIENTS 1 ¼   cups milk 2 ¼   teaspoons (one package) active dry yeast 2   eggs 8   tablespoons (1 stick) butter, melted and cooled ¼   cup granulated sugar 1   teaspoon salt 4 ¼   cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling out the dough 2   quarts neutral oil, for frying, plus more for the bowl. PREPARATION 1.)Heat the milk until it is warm but not hot, about 90 degrees. In a large bowl, combine it with the yeast. Stir lightly, and let sit until the mixture is foamy, about 5 minutes. 2.)Using an electric mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, beat the eggs, butter, sugar and salt into the yeast mixture. Add half of the flour (2 cups plus 2 tablespoons), and mix until combined, then mix in the rest of the

Disney+ is at it Again

    I just found out that Disney is releasing their new film Raya and The Last Dragon on Disney+, for $30. I would have thought Disney would learn their lesson after the horrible backlash they got for doing the same thing with Mulan, but I guess this time they expect people to actually pay that ridiculous fee. At the very least it is being released to theater on March 4, but many of us don't feel safe going out to a theater during a pandemic.      Thankfully, Disney also announced that Raya  will be released to watch, for free, on Disney+ in early June, So I recommend waiting the few extra months. Let's just hope they don't do the same for Black Widow when that finally releases.      So, are hoping to see  Raya and The Last Dragon? Are you going to pay the $30, risk seeing it in theaters, or wait the few extra months to watch it on Disney+? let me know in the comments. 

Never too late to try new foods

      Last weekend, I tried Lebanese food for the very time. It goes without saying that it was  delicious, but also very unique. for appetizers, we had homemade hummus and peta bread, but also stuffed grape leaves. the hummus was homemade, so naturally it was the best hummus I ever had, which went well with the soft and fluffy peta bread. But the biggest surprise was the stuffed grape leaves. I don't know what's in it, but I highly recommend it. The main course was a type of fried dumpling-like dish. I forget what its called, but I recommend ordering it.      So I recommend trying new foods during this pandemic. not only are you trying new things, but you are also supporting local businesses. Let me know what new foods you tried  during the pandemic. 

Interested In Esports?

      During this pandemic, we all spent a lot of time inside. And during our time inside, we all brushed up on our video game skills. My question to you is, want to put your gaming skills to the test?      Contact bscott@ccsnh.edu if you want to put your skills to the test. Games include Fortnight, Rocket League, and even more. Play will begin on Monday, February 22. Can't wait to see you there.  

Reminder: Club Fair

      Just a quick and friendly reminder that the club fair will be held tomorrow via zoom from 6-7pm. If you can't make it tomorrow, it will be held again on Wednesday from 12-1pm. I myself will attend, as well as the club leaders and members of the Student Senate. So please attend if you can, and I can't wait to see you there.  

Stocks

      Recently, the stock market has been given more attention than ever before. A group of Redditors are beating Wall Street at their own game, and it is so satisfying to watch. All of this news has renewed people's interest in the stack market, my self included. I'm even invested in my Dad's stocks for Moderna, which still continues to rise.      I might even buy some stocks at some point (probably when I'm more financially stable), so I can hopefully make some money as an investor. Maybe I'll invest in Johnson and Johnson, since their vaccine is under review for emergency use.      So, are any of you investors? If so, what stocks do you own? Let me know in the comments, and share any tips with one another. 

Weekly Recipe: Meatloaf

      We all know the cliché of the bland meatloaf served in school lunches in cartoons and kids media. It is a cliché that I never understood, since the meatloaf I had growing up was always delicious, I even based my meatball recipe off of it. Today, I am going to share that recipe with all of you. Ingredients: 1 lbs. ground beef 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs  1tbsp red pepper flakes 2 tbsp. salt 1tsp black pepper 1 whole onion chopped 1tbsp garlic powder 1 whole egg 1 cup tomato sauce or BBQ sauce Directions: place the ground beef and other ingredients,  minus the sauce, in a large mixing bowl. Then,  using your hands, mix together the ingredients until fully incorporated. place the meatloaf mixture in a glass baking sheet and spread the mixture to each side, until it is molded into the shape of the container. Pour the desired sauce on top  of the meatloaf mixture and spread evenly across its surface. Finally, place the meatloaf into a 375 degree Fahrenheit oven for fort minutes. After w

Bonus Recipe: Lemonade Sunrise Smoothie

      This little smoothie recipe is based on the Campuses own sunrise smoothie, but with a twist.  Ingredients:  2 cups chopped Pineapple 1 cup dice mango 1cup diced peaches 1 cup lightly sweetened lemonade.  ice (optional)     I think we all know how to make a smoothie, but for those who somehow never did, just add the solid ingredients to a blender first, then the lemonade, the blend for one minute or until the solids turn to liquid. And there you have it, a cool, refreshing beverage perfect for a summer day, or tricking yourself into thinking its a summer day. 

Books and Quarantine

     What books have you read in the past year? I know that a lot of people had time to catch up on reading, myself included. After watching HBO's Watchmen  series, I decided to reread the graphic novel, this time keeping its sequel TV series in mind. And I have to say, it holds up for the most part. Their are more than a few moments that shows the book is a product of its time, but its look at society and the anxieties of the cold war feel more relevant today than ever before.  Definitely give it a read if you haven't done so already. You can find a copy, digital or physical, anywhere books are sold.      So what do you think of W atchmen ? What other book have you read to past the time? Comment below and let me know about any books you'd recommend. 

Pets in Quarantine

      For many of us, our pets are the only thing keeping us sane during quarantine. So when my brother, who moved in before the start of the pandemic, adopted a Pitbull mix, I was overjoyed to have a new dog in the house (although my cats were far from happy about it). His dog's name is Moon, and he is just the sweetest, most hyper dog you've ever met.      My brother has been training him nonstop, so know he knows ho to sit, laydown, stay, and go in his crate on command. But he is still a handful at times, he often chases the cats (not to be mean, just to play, as proved by the fact we found him gently liking one of them while they slept), gets into trash when we aren't paying attention, and barks whenever someone knocks at the door. But all of that just endears us to him more.     So, have any off you adopted pets during quarantine? Did they adjust well to their new life? Comment to let us know.   

Skills Learned in Quarantine

      Today, I want to share some skills I learned in Quarantine. One such skill that I've already been sharing is cooking. Before 2020, the only dish I knew how to make is pasta and smoothies, but know I know how make fresh meatballs, cookies, meatloaf, and other dishes. I even learned how to make sugar glass.      Another skill I learned was how to make a fire. This I learned vicariously through survival shows, but it is still one I'm still proud to have learned. I once used the roots of a dead household plant as fire starter, and it worked magnificently. Another good fire start is Dominoes Pizza boxes. Those things are so  greasy that all it takes is one spark sometimes to set it ablaze. This skill definitely came in handy when winter started, warming yourself up next to the fire place felt so rewarding, and making smores by it was icing on the cake.      But what skills have you learned in Quarantine? it can be as minor as learning to knit or as big as learning to code. Let

Golden Globes

      The Golden Globe nominations are out, and Hamilton got nominated for Best Picture- Musical or Comedy. The idea of a pre-recorded Broadway show being nominated has me exited.       Back in my first year of high school, I managed to go on a school trip to see Wicked live on Broadway.  It was one of the best experiences of my life, but I was also disappointed in the fact that I would never see it again. But with the success of the filmed version of Hamilton, it wouldn't surprise me if Disney does the same thing for Wicked, since they own the rights to it. Even better, if Hamilton wins the Golden Globe, other companies will start doing the same thing and released filmed versions of live plays like The Phantom of the Opera and a good version of Cats.      Other nominations I'm happy with are the multiple noms for Promising Young Women and Viola Davis getting nominated for  BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA.      But what nominations are you exited for?

Reddit

       I recently started going on Reddit to casually pass the time. Some of my favorite sub-reddits include r/murderedbywords and r/AWWWW. watching Karens and Anti-maskers get verbally destroyed is extremely cathartic to watch, especially if you ever worked in the food industry and retail. r/AWWWW is my go to sub-reddit when I had a bad day and want to relieve stress by watching videos of cute animals doing cute things.      If their are any Redditors reading this, what sub-reddits are you a part of? Do you enjoy watching cute animals, seeing people verbally destroyed, or make millions off of GameStop Stocks? Comment and let us know. 

Spoiler Free Review: Class Action Park

     Class Action Park  is a Documentary film about the world's most dangerous water park, Action Park. The film had a limited release on virtual film festivals in 2020, but was recently released on HBO Max. The film interviews many people who have some connection to the park, from employees, to park goers, to the son of Action Park's founder.      The best way I can describe the tone of the film is Tiger King meets Jackass. It is baffling watching the film and seeing people go down these extremely dangerous rides while the rides construction is being described to you. Perhaps the most famous of these is a water slide that was advertised as having the biggest loop in all of America. Minor spoilers here, but lets just say that of few people lost teeth in the loop, and some even more unfortunate soles found them later.      This film, and Action Park as a whole, is like a car crash, it is just a disaster at every corner, but you just can't look away. And it is by this nature

What movies are you looking forward to?

      Are their any movies that you can't wait to watch? For me, my most anticipated film is Godzilla vs Kong. I've been a fan of Kaiju movies since I was little, so seeing Kong and Godzilla clash is a dream come true. Personally, I'm rooting for The Big G, although the trailer seems to be making Kong out to be the main character.  Other films I'm looking forward to are the Mortal Kombat reboot film, and the Black Widow solo film.  But what films are you looking forward to watching? Do you have an attachment to these franchises, or is it you looking forward to a non-blockbuster being released. Comment below, and remember to stay safe out there. 

How was your January?

     I've been thinking of starting a new series of blog posts at the end of each month asking about how it went for everyone. This instalment is obviously about January, and I know There will be a lot to talk about.      My January started out rough, with news of the Capitol riot disturbing me to my core, as I'm sur it did to the rest of us. My thoughts are with the family of the officer who lost his life defending the Capitol. But as the month went on, things started getting better for me and my family. My Dad got his first dose of the vaccine, my brother and his fiancé announced they were getting married, and I won a $50 dollar Amazon Gift card at a online trivia night. Overall, my January was a mixed bag, with very low lows but extremely high highs.      But what was your January like, was it rough all the way to the end, or did it eventually get better. comment below to let us know.

Which Team are you Rooting for This Super Bowl

            This year's Super Bowl will be the Chiefs vs Buccaneers. So I was wondering, which teams are you rooting for? I usually root for the team I see as the underdog, in this case being the Buccaneers, since the team hasn't won a Super Bowl yet. But I still understand why you'd root for the Chiefs. After all, they gained a lot of respect as a football team last year, and rooting for the defending champion can be exiting. So please share which team you are rooting for in the comments, and share your reasoning why you think they'll win, and how you'll celebrate. 

Cooking in Quarantine Week 2: Homemade Meatballs

      The Super Bowl is around the corner, and tradition My family and I hold every year is to make meatball subs for the big game. This week, I will be sharing my recipe for homemade meatballs that will be the highlight of your big game appetizers.  Ingredients:  1lbs ground beef 1 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs 1 tablespoon garlic powder 2 tablespoons onion  powder 1 large egg 1 tablespoon salt 1 teaspoon ground black pepper Directions: Add the ground beef to a large mixing bowl. Add in all the other ingredients, and start mixing with your hands (definitely wash your immediately before and after this step). After mixing thoroughly, roll the meat into balls two inches in diameter, and place them about 1 inch apart on a baking sheet. place the baking sheet in a 375 degree oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked all the way through. how to serve in next is up to you; you can preheat some tomato sauce on the stove while the meatballs are in the oven and serve it as me

Be safe out there

 Over the next few days, we are expected to get 10-18 inches of snow in the Nashua area. It is recommended that you don't leave your house unless it is an emergency while its snowing. I also recommend stacking up on fire wood if you have a fireplace, and jugs of water if your pipes freeze over. I also recommend having extra fuel for any back u generator you may have, since if you lose power during this storm, you will definitely need to keep your generator running. Once again, I ask you to be safe out there if you have to leave your house for whatever reason in the next few days, and to keep warm stay warm. 

Nashua Community College Virtual Transfer Fair

 On February18, from 11:30 to 1:30 Nashua Community College will host a virtual Transfer Fair. I highly suggest that you should attend, especially if you plan transferring your credits to a University. To register, go to www. nashua.edu/transfer-fair, or call advising at 578-8906 for more information. I hope you can attend!

Gaming in quarantine

 This question is a simple one, which games have you been playing in quarantine. I have been mostly playing the popular ones like Animal Crossing and Among Us, but I've also been playing some more obscure ones like Pikmin. My favorite game to play during quarantine is the aforementioned Among Us, since the proximity chat allows to to talk with your friends, joke around a bit and catch u with their lives, before literally stabbing them in the back.  So, what games have you been playing during quarantine? If their are any you personally recommend, then comment below. 

Staying fit while in quarantine.

 One struggle that I've had has been staying fit while in lockdown. Recently, however, I found a solution, Tae Bo.    I found a lot of old Tae Bo videos on  YouTube, so every afternoon after my classes are done, I bring up YouTube Tae Bo videos on my TV and work out to the video. I already feel much better physically and mentally since starting to work out again, and I suggest you try looking up Tae Bo videos as well.  If you have any quarantine work out tips, leave them in the comments.   

How have you stayed connected?

 I was wondering how some of you stayed connected with friends during this pandemic? I personally keep in touch with the Nerd Club and GSA with Discord. I also entered Trivia night last week, were we basically played different trivia games like The Price is Right and Are you Smarter than a Fifth Grader  over Zoom, and I even won a 50 dollar gift card.  So please share any methods you used to stay connect with fiends and family in the comments, as well as any other online events you attended that other might be interested in.