A twice weekly newsletter designed to keep you sane and connected MAR 20. 2020 | ISSUE 1

In this Issue: A Note From Kelsey Social Distancing Network Riddle Me This New Knowledge Nuggets Cooking for Calm Who Doesn't Love a Puzzle? Weekend Horoscopes

I will confess that I’m a deep introvert, and I have tried to learn to pretend to be social out in the world. So this whole quarantine thing isn’t so bad for me. Yet. My kids might drive me crazy though. If you have siblings, you know what I’m talking about. As much as you may love your family and friends, being confined with anyone 24/7 may not be your ideal situation. We want to help keep you sane and connected to a community outside your home, so we are thrilled to introduce… (drum roll!) The Echols Quarantimes ! Content generated by both the Echols team and you amazing students. Have something you’d like to submit? Send it to  EcholsProgram@virginia.edu !  Be safe, Kelsey

Social Distancing Network

Social distancing is important, but community is important too. We can still get to know each other virtually. Each issue we will shine a spotlight on members of the Echols community. We hope this will make you feel more connected. We encourage you to participate by sending a picture of yourself, basic introductory information, two truths and a lie, and a picture from your home/pets/life etc. to echolsprogram@virginia.edu. (Answers will be provided in the following issue)

Anna Wolz 3rd year from Alexandria, VA, Majoring in physics Two truths and a lie: I play trombone in the marching band My favorite band is Vulfpeck I hate blue cheese "My living room bookshelf and plant (fun story: this plant came from my high school band director, and the pot came from his high school German teacher. My director was going to throw the plant out, so I adopted it and it is now thriving!)" -Anna

Katherine Schwartz 1st year from Washington, DC majoring in English and minoring in Spanish Two Truths and a Lie I’ve played lacrosse with former First Lady, Michelle Obama I’ve never had Chick-Fil-A I was propelled down from a chairlift on a rope after it broke down mid-ascent

Katherine's precious dog, Angus

Ish Sethi 1st year from Chantilly, VA hoping to major in neuroscience on the pre-med track Two truths and a lie I once taught a class on the science behind rock, paper, scissors I know how to juggle I was interviewed on the news once

"Here’s a picture of me and the book I want to read this week. As long as we are online for classes, I want to read one book a week." -Ish

Riddle Me This

Send your answers to echolsprogram@virginia.edu. Respondents with correct answers will be entered into a raffle to win a random item from Kelsey's home! ...we're serious.

A Burning Question You have two ropes coated in an oil to help them burn. Each rope will take exactly 1 hour to burn all the way through. However, the ropes do not burn at constant rates; there are spots where they burn a little faster and spots where they burn a little slower, but it always takes 1 hour to finish the job. With a lighter to ignite the ropes, how can you measure exactly 45 minutes?

New Knowledge Nuggets

You know how Kelsey frequently harasses you to share things that you've recently learned? You don't get off the hook just because you aren't on grounds... Send all New Knowledge Nuggets to echolsprogram@virginia.edu to be featured in future issues.

I learned that the Texas state motto is just "Friendship." -Nicole Avidon 2nd year I learned that you're statistically less likely to die during an economic depression, which is rather counterintuitive. -Caleb Barnes 2nd year

Cooking for Calm

Cooking can be very therapeutic, and for many of us right now, any form of stress relief would be time well spent. So for those who enjoy culinary self-care, we invite you to try a weekly recipe, each will use only a few ingredients that you are likely to have around the house. (Please don't make unnecessary trips to the store just for ingredients for these recipes, your health is more important than a meringue.) Please send pictures or videos of your cooking experiences to echolsprogram@virginia.edu for a chance to be featured in the next issue!

Simple Meringue Cookies

INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven to 250° Beat egg whites in medium bowl with electric mixer (or wire whisk if you're feeling particularly bold) until frothy Add cream of tartar and beat until soft peaks form. While continuing to beat, add vanilla extract and begin slowly incorporating the sugar. Beat until fully dissolved and stiff peaks form. (pull your mixer straight out, if you have little points standing proudly, you have stiff peaks!) Distribute mixture evenly in ≈ 2 inch ooey globs on a foil lined baking sheet. (For added fun, snip the tip of a ziplock bag and use it to pipe out swirls or shapes!) Bake for 40-45 minutes, then turn off the oven and let rest for an additional hour. Don't open your oven, you want to use that trapped heat. Remove from oven, arrange on a plate and take a picture of your beautiful meringues! You did it! Now email those babies to echolsprogram@virginia.edu ;)

INGREDIENTS 3 egg whites (room temperature) 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1 tsp Vanilla extract* 1/4 tsp cream of tartar* * indicates an optional ingredient *Pro Tip* Make sure your bowl and mixing tools are completely grease and oil free! Any residual fats will leave you whipping your egg whites endlessly and those triumphant peaks you want just wont happen! You can degrease your tools by splashing them with vinegar and giving them a good rub down + rinse before getting started.

Who Doesn't Love a Puzzle?