Thought of the Day
When in doubt, look intelligent.
February 7th 2025
Concha Bread
Concha Bread
Concha Bread Recipe from Delish
Prep time: 3 hours and 15 minutes
Cooking time: 22 minutes
Serving size: 12 servings
Ingredients
Dough:
- 2/3 cup whole milk
- 1 (1/4-oz.) packet active dry yeast (2 1/4 tsp.)
- 1/4 cup plus 1 tsp. granulated sugar
- 4 to 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp. kosher salt
- 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into 16 pieces, room temperature, plus more for bowl
Topping and Assembly:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for assembly
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 3/4 cup vegetable shortening
- 2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder (optional)
- 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- Pinch of kosher salt
Directions
Dough:
- Activate Yeast:
In a small pot over medium heat, warm milk until about 105°F (warm to the touch, not hot). Transfer to a liquid measuring cup, stir in yeast and 1 tsp. granulated sugar. Let sit until foamy, about 5 minutes. - Mix Dry Ingredients:
In the large bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together 4 cups of flour, salt, and the remaining 1/4 cup of granulated sugar. - Combine Ingredients:
Once the milk mixture is foamy, add it to the flour mixture along with the eggs. Stir with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms. - Knead Dough:
Attach the bowl to the stand mixer fitted with the dough hook. Mix on medium-low speed, adding more flour 1 tablespoon at a time if the dough sticks to the bottom. Knead until smooth and elastic but still firm, about 10-12 minutes. - Incorporate Butter:
With the mixer running, add butter one piece at a time. Wait until each piece is fully incorporated before adding the next. This process might take up to 10 minutes. - First Rise:
Brush a medium bowl with softened butter. Shape the dough into a ball, transfer it to the prepared bowl, and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm, draft-free area until nearly doubled in size, about 1 hour.
Topping and Assembly:
- Prepare Topping:
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat together 1 cup flour, powdered sugar, shortening, cocoa powder (if using), vanilla, and a pinch of salt on low speed. Increase to medium speed and beat until smooth, resembling frosting (about 1 minute). - Shape Dough:
Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Turn the dough onto a clean surface and divide it into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and place 6 balls on each sheet. - Add Topping:
Using damp hands, scoop about 2 heaping tablespoons of topping and pat it into a 3-inch disc. Drape the disc over each dough ball, leaving about 1/4-inch of dough exposed at the bottom. Smooth the topping gently with damp fingers. - Score Topping:
Use a conchas mold or a sharp knife dipped in flour to score the topping into patterns. Let the conchas rise again until the dough balls are about one-third bigger, about 1 hour.
Bake:
- Preheat Oven:
Arrange racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven. Preheat to 350°F. - Bake Conchas:
Bake for 20-22 minutes, rotating the baking sheets halfway through, until golden and risen. - Cool and Serve:
Transfer conchas to a wire rack to cool before serving.
NC-based Honeywell, one of the few remaining US industrial conglomerates, will split into three companies
By MICHELLE CHAPMAN AP Business Writer
Honeywell, one of the last remaining U.S. industrial conglomerates, will split into three independent companies, following in the footsteps of manufacturing giants like General Electric and Alcoa.
The company said Thursday that it will separate from its automation and aerospace technologies businesses. Including plans announced earlier to spin off its advanced materials business, Honeywell will consist of three smaller entities in hopes that they will each be more agile.
“The formation of three independent, industry-leading companies builds on the powerful foundation we have created, positioning each to pursue tailored growth strategies, and unlock significant value for shareholders and customers,” Honeywell Chairman and CEO Vimal Kapur said in a statement.
Honeywell had said in December that it was considering spinning off its aerospace division. The public announcement arrived about one month after Elliott Investment Management revealed a stake of more than $5 billion in the aerospace, automation and materials company. Elliott had been pushing for the Charlotte, North Carolina, company to separate its automation and aerospace businesses.
The board of Honeywell International Inc. had been exploring strategic options for the company since earlier in 2024.
The company, which makes everything from eye solution to barcode readers, has been seeking ways to make itself more nimble. Over the past year and a half, just after Kapur took over as CEO, Honeywell has announced plans for the advanced materials business spinoff, entered into an agreement to sell its personal protective equipment business, and made several acquisitions.
The separation of the automation and aerospace technologies businesses is expected to be completed in the second half of 2026. The spinoff of the advanced materials business is anticipated to be completed by the end of this year or early next year.
Like Honeywell, other U.S. conglomerates have been pressured by shareholders to simplify their structures, allowing each segment of the company to move more freely and adapt to changes in their respective markets.
Iconic CEOs like Jack Welch of General Electric spent years building corporate American behemoths with the belief that with scale came power. Yet those massive companies were forced to compete with upstarts with a narrow focus and a more clearly defined set of goals.
Investors also wanted a more clear view of the priorities within each division, which became more murky as the companies grew.
In 2015 metals maker Alcoa said that it was splitting into two independent companies, separating its bauxite, aluminum and casting operations from its engineering, transportation and global rolled products businesses.
GE announced in 2021 that it was dividing itself into three public companies focused on aviation, health care and energy. At the time, the move was viewed as a potential signal of the end of conglomerates as a whole thanks to the move toward a digital economy.
Shares fell almost 3% before the market opened Thursday.
Irv Gotti, music executive who created Murder Inc. Records, dies at 54
NEW YORK (AP) — Irv Gotti, a music mogul who founded Murder Inc. Records and was behind major hip-hop and R&B artists such as Ashanti and Ja Rule, has died. He was 54.
Def Jam Recordings, which was the parent company of Murder Inc., announced Gotti’s death in a statement late Wednesday night. It did not give a cause of death.
Gotti, whose real name is Irving Lorenzo, founded Murder Inc. with his brother in the late 1990s, with the label gaining worldwide prominence through platinum-selling artists Ashanti and Ja Rule. Gotti had also worked with artists DMX, Fat Joe and Jay-Z, among other huge names in the genre.
“His creative genius and unwavering dedication to the culture birthed countless hits, defining an era of music that continues to resonate with fans worldwide,” the statement from Def Jam read.
The label, which got its name after Gotti watched a documentary on the original Murder, Inc. crew of mob hitmen, once came under investigation for allegedly laundering drug money for a notorious crack kingpin, leading to criminal charges against Gotti. He was eventually acquitted.
The bad press around the investigation led to Gotti dropping the word “Murder” from the title of the label to change its name to The Inc.
“All of these big records, and people would still come back and focus on the negative word ‘murder,’” he said when he announced the change.
Still, Gotti never changed the nickname he shared with the late Gambino family boss John Gotti, which he said was given to him by Jay-Z.
“I ain’t going to change it,” he said of his name.
Lyor Cohen, a former Def Jam executive who is now global head of music at YouTube and Google, said “Def Jam has lost one of it’s most creative soldiers.”
“He was hip hop, and when we were on bended knee he brought the heat and saved our asses. He comes from a very tight, beautiful family from Queens and it’s an honor and a privilege to have known him. Irv you will be missed,” Cohen said in a statement.
February 6th 2025
Thought of the Day
Haste is waste.
Summer Rolls
Summer Rolls
Summer Rolls Recipe from The Kitchn
Prep time: 45 minutes
Cooking time: N/A
Serving size: 16 rolls
Ingredients
For the filling:
- 1 quart water
- 24 medium uncooked shrimp (about 1 pound), peeled, deveined, and tails removed
- 1/2 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon fish sauce
- Juice of 1/2 medium lime (about 1 tablespoon)
- 1 small seedless cucumber, julienned
- 1 medium carrot, peeled and julienned
- 2 large radishes, julienned
- 1 medium scallion, thinly sliced
To assemble the rolls:
- 4 ounces dried cellophane noodles (bean threads)
- 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 16 (8 1/2-inch) rice paper wrappers
- 30 fresh basil or mint leaves
- 8 leaves bibb or butter lettuce, halved
Directions
Cook the Shrimp:
- Bring 1 quart of water to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Prepare an ice water bath.
- Add the shrimp to the boiling water and cook for 1 minute. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to the ice water bath. Let sit for 5 minutes, then drain. Slice shrimp in half horizontally (butterfly) and set aside. Reserve the water for the noodles.
Prepare the Vegetables:
- In a large bowl, whisk together rice vinegar, sugar, fish sauce, and lime juice.
- Add cucumber, carrot, radishes, and scallion. Toss to combine and set aside.
Cook the Noodles:
- If needed, break the noodles into smaller pieces. Reheat the reserved shrimp water until boiling, then turn off the heat.
- Add the noodles and let sit for about 10 minutes (or according to package instructions) until tender. Drain, toss with sesame oil, and set aside.
Prepare the Rice Paper Wrappers:
- Fill a pie plate halfway with room-temperature water. Submerge one rice paper wrapper for about 30 seconds until soft. Carefully remove and lay flat on a clean surface.
Assemble the Rolls:
- Place 2-3 basil or mint leaves slightly left of center on the wrapper. Lay 3-4 shrimp pieces, cut side up, over the herbs.
- Hold a lettuce leaf in your hand and fill it with 1/4 cup vegetable mixture and 1-2 tablespoons of noodles. Place the lettuce cup next to the shrimp.
Roll the Spring Rolls:
- Fold the top and bottom of the wrapper over the filling.
- Roll the left side over the shrimp, then roll tightly until sealed.
- Place seam-side down on a baking sheet and cover with a damp towel. Repeat with remaining wrappers and filling.
Serve:
- Cut rolls in half if desired and serve with peanut sauce for dipping.
Devils Food Cookies
Devils Food Cookies
Devils Food Cookies Recipe from Taste of Home
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes
Serving size: 28 cookies
Ingredients
- 1 package Devil’s Food cake mix (regular size)
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
Directions
Prepare the Dough:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, eggs, butter, and water. The batter will be thick.
- Gently fold in the chocolate chips.
Shape and Bake:
- Drop tablespoonfuls of dough 2 inches apart onto baking sheets coated with cooking spray.
- Bake for 10-13 minutes, or until the cookies are set and the edges are lightly browned.
Cool and Serve:
- Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 2 minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely.
Glazed Ranch Carrots
Glazed Ranch Carrots
Glazed Ranch Carrots Recipe from Taste of Home
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Serving size: 12 servings
Ingredients
- 2 pounds fresh baby carrots
- 1/2 cup butter, cubed
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 envelopes ranch salad dressing mix
- Minced fresh parsley, optional
Directions
- Cook the Carrots:
- Place the baby carrots in a saucepan and add 1 inch of water.
- Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover, and cook for 8-10 minutes or until the carrots are crisp-tender.
- Drain the carrots and set them aside.
- Make the Glaze:
- In the same saucepan, combine the butter, brown sugar, and ranch salad dressing mix. Stir until blended and smooth.
- Glaze the Carrots:
- Return the carrots to the saucepan. Cook and stir over medium heat for 5 minutes, or until the carrots are evenly coated and glazed.
- Serve:
- Sprinkle with minced fresh parsley, if desired, and serve warm.
Hobbies
Hobbies to Take Up
Time Consideration
You may have a full-time job or be in school, so choosing a hobby that fits your current obligations is important. Consider how many days per week you can dedicate to a hobby, how often you’ll participate, and the overall free time you have. You might wonder how your friend manages to attend yoga classes four times a week when your schedule feels completely booked. In that case, consider a hobby that is less time-consuming and tailored to your specific routine.
Family and Friends Influence
While you may not have the same amount of free time as your friends or family, you can always dip your toe into their hobbies. That friend who goes to yoga four times a week? Maybe you could join them once a week. Doing hobbies with loved ones makes it more likely you’ll stick with them and enjoy the experience.
Feeling Like a Kid Again
Think back to when you were a kid. What hobbies did you enjoy? You might consider picking one of them back up. Did you love to bake but stopped making time for it? Hobbies you already know and enjoy are often the easiest to maintain because they bring you joy and familiarity.
Make it Manageable
Start small. It’s easy to jump into something with full enthusiasm, but before committing too much time or money to a hobby, make sure it’s sustainable. For example, if you’re interested in scrapbooking, buy a few basic supplies to get started and dedicate just one hour per week to it. Keeping your hobby manageable is essential for sticking with it.
30 Hobbies to Try as an Adult
- Learning to cook
- Painting/coloring
- Starting a small indoor garden
- Pickleball or tennis
- Joining a book club
- Learning a new instrument
- Scrapbooking
- Knitting and crocheting
- Sticker making
- Joining intramural sports
- Learning to rock climb
- Candle Making
- Hiking or going for walks
- Needlepoint
- Jewelry making
- Reading self-help books
- Doing your nails
- Air-dry clay projects
- Adult dance or gymnastics classes
- Keeping a Wreck-It Journal
- Photography
- Taking self-defense classes
- Puzzling
- Cake decorating
- Punch needling
- Meditation
- Yoga classes
- Masterclasses
- Starting a podcast
- Volunteering
Wreck-It Journal
Wreck-It Journals are becoming popular on social media platforms like TikTok. They’re a creative space to jot down your thoughts, plans, and goals while incorporating elements of scrapbooking. Unlike traditional scrapbooks, which often feature polished layouts, Wreck-It Journals are all about imperfection and spontaneity. That sushi takeout receipt you got the other day? Throw it in there. That random raffle ticket you didn’t win with? Add it, too! You can even use a portable thermal printer for quick and easy prints.
Learning to Cook
Learning to cook is a valuable skill that combines practicality with fun. Are you stuck in a microwave-meal routine? Find simple recipes for meal prep instead! TikTok is an excellent resource for all kinds of recipes, from step-by-step meal prep guides to elaborate dinner party ideas. Choose a creator or website you like and start by cooking two or three meals per week. If you want to go the extra mile, book a cooking class for yourself (and maybe a friend).
Sticker Making
Sticker-making can be a fun and relaxing hobby. There are plenty of methods, from using a Cricut machine to DIY tape stickers. A Cricut is versatile, allowing you to create stickers, permanent decals, or even iron-on designs for t-shirts. These stickers can be used as gifts, home organization tools, or just for fun. You can design your own stickers using platforms like Canva or find pre-made templates online.
DIY Nails
DIY nail products like Gel X are becoming increasingly popular because they’re relatively quick and easy to learn. I started doing my own nails four years ago, and I haven’t been to a salon since. While it may take a little longer to do them yourself, it’s a great way to relax and disconnect.
You can buy Gel X kits or press-ons from retailers like Amazon, and TikTok has detailed tutorials to get you started. Be sure to follow proper safety precautions, such as fully curing your nails and avoiding contact between the gel and your skin. For an extra step, consider using HEMA-free nail polishes for a safer alternative.
Cake Decorating
Cake decorating was a hobby I loved as a kid, but as I grew older, I found myself with less free time and not as much of a sweet tooth. For me, it was more about the decorating than the baking. I enjoyed gifting small cakes and cupcakes to friends and family. This hobby is perfect for a slow Sunday and is something you can enjoy with loved ones.
Why Are Hobbies Important?
Mental Health
Hobbies provide a way to unwind, whether you’re coming off a 40-hour workweek, a day with the kids, or a long study session. Engaging in enjoyable activities helps release dopamine, the “feel-good” hormone, which can reduce stress and improve your mood.
Creativity
Hobbies encourage you to think outside the box and try new things. Creative hobbies can improve problem-solving skills and spark innovative ideas that help in all areas of life.
Social Connection
Hobbies are a great way to bond with others. Whether you’re attending classes, joining clubs, or trying something new with friends, hobbies create opportunities to build connections and expand your social circle.
Hobbies are an essential part of a well-rounded life. They provide joy, relaxation, and personal growth opportunities. Whether you’re reconnecting with a childhood passion or exploring something entirely new, the possibilities are endless. So, what’s stopping you? Start your hobby journey today!
Salvage crews remove large portion of commercial jet from river after deadly air collision near DC
By DAVID R. MARTIN, MICHAEL R. SISAK and CLAUDIA LAUER Associated Press
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Salvage crews have removed a large portion of a commercial jet from the Potomac River near Washington’s Reagan National Airport on Monday, five days after a midair collision last week that killed 67 people.
Authorities have said the operation to remove the plane will take several days and they will then work to remove the military helicopter involved in the crash.
The crash between the American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter over Washington D.C. on Wednesday was the deadliest U.S. air disaster since 2001.
Authorities have recovered and identified 55 of the 67 people killed in the crash and Washington, D.C., Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly has said they are confident all will be found. Crews early Monday could be seen aboard a vessel with a crane.
More than 300 responders were taking part in the recovery effort at any given time, officials said. Two Navy barges were also deployed to lift heavy wreckage.
Divers and salvage workers are adhering to strict protocols and will stop moving debris if a body is found, Col. Francis B. Pera of the Army Corps of Engineers said Sunday. The “dignified recovery” of remains takes precedence over all else, he said.
Portions of the two aircraft that collided over the river Wednesday night near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport — an American Airlines jet with 64 people aboard and an Army Black Hawk helicopter with 3 aboard — are being loaded onto flatbed trucks and will be taken to a hangar for investigation.
The crash occurred when the jet, en route from Wichita, Kansas, was about to land. The Black Hawk was on a training mission. There were no survivors.
On Sunday, family members were taken in buses with a police escort to the Potomac River bank near where the two aircraft came to rest after colliding.
The plane’s passengers included figure skaters returning from the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita and a group of hunters returning from a guided trip. Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, 28, of Lilburn, Georgia; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, of Great Mills, Maryland; and Capt. Rebecca M. Lobach, of Durham, North Carolina, were in the helicopter.
Federal investigators were working to piece together the events that led to the collision. Full investigations typically take a year or more. Investigators hope to have a preliminary report within 30 days.
Wednesday’s crash was the deadliest in the U.S. since Nov. 12, 2001, when a jet slammed into a New York City neighborhood just after takeoff, killing all 260 people on board and five on the ground.
Experts stress that plane travel is overwhelmingly safe, but the crowded airspace around Reagan Airport can challenge even experienced pilots.
The NTSB said Saturday that preliminary data showed conflicting readings about the altitudes of the airliner and the helicopter.
Investigators also said that about a second before impact, the jet’s flight recorder showed a change in its pitch. But they did not say whether that change in angle meant that pilots were trying to perform an evasive maneuver to avoid the crash.
Data from the jet’s flight recorder showed its altitude as 325 feet (99 meters), plus or minus 25 feet (7.6 meters), when the crash happened, NTSB officials told reporters. Data in the control tower, though, showed the Black Hawk at 200 feet (61 meters), the maximum allowed altitude for helicopters in the area.
The discrepancy has yet to be explained.
Investigators said they hoped to reconcile the difference with data from the helicopter’s black box and planned to refine the tower data, which can be less reliable.
___
Maryclaire Dale in Philadelphia and Christopher Weber in Los Angeles contributed reporting.