A twice weekly newsletter designed to keep you sane and connected MAR 23. 2020 | ISSUE 2

In this Issue: A Note From Kelsey Social Distancing Network Riddle Me This New Knowledge Nuggets What to do? Short Story Club Who Doesn't Love a Puzzle? Solutions from the Last Issue

Happy Monday! I happen to know it is Monday thanks to my calendar, but the days are starting to blend together. If you haven't made yourself a weekly schedule yet, you might want to. It will help give you some structure to hang your hat on, and that will help give you a sense of normalcy and control. Then again, maybe you thrive in the deep chaos that comes with a global pandemic. Trying to figure out what to do in your non-schedule time? Check out the curated list in this issue from Echols Council. Have something you’d like to submit? Send it to  EcholsProgram@virginia.edu ! We really do want to hear from you. If we don't hear from you, you will be subjected to (what my husband tells me is) my terrible sense of humor. 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)

Rachel Walet 3rd year from Omaha, Nebraska. Majoring in Government, minoring in Spanish, and getting her MPP from Batten. Two truths and a lie: I played softball in high school. The only bone I've ever broken is my #skull. I love chocolate cake. "Here’s a picture of a basil plant I’m growing from a seed. See if you can spot the teeny tiny first leaves!!" -Rachel

Sabrina Lee 1st year from Richmond, VA. Planning to major in cognitive science. Two Truths and a Lie I’ve never had my hair cut professionally I know how to do the worm I pronounce the word "notification" incorrectly.

"I've been having some time for art." -Sabrina

Riddle Me This

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

Licensed to Puzzle You're driving on a lovely spring day in Charlottesville, and you notice that the car in front of you catches your eye. You can see that the license plate is from Virginia, and reads T-A-N-0-9-0. What kind of car is it?

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.

Elephants can't jump! -Max Pilloff 1st year (learn more here ) This word casually showed up in my daughter's psych book: " Floccinaucinihilipilification" I learned how to pronounce it. -Kelsey nth year

What to do?

14 Fresh and Fulfilling Activities to Enjoy While Social Distancing Brought to you by Echols Council

1) Purge your closet/childhood bedroom and donate!!  2) Pull out the embroidery floss or other string that's been sitting in your closet since summer camp in 2011 and make friendship bracelets. 3) The Down Dog yoga app is free through April 1; Headspace and Insight Timer meditation apps have free versions as well! Take the extra down time we've been given to check in with your mental health. 4) Go for a run, hike, or walk around the block once (or more) each day. Getting moving, sharing a friendly wave or smile with strangers from 6+ feet away as you pass, and breathing fresh air works wonders for overall happiness! 5) SLEEP. This Ted Talk outlines why sleep is so vital to both our long and short-term health, performance, and overall well-being. 6) The Trulli Travel app, launched by a UVA Darden grad last year, is looking for students to help get it up and running. Fill out this survey with your personal travel recommendations to earn up to $20 in Amazon gift cards (we have personal contact with the founder, and this is not a pyramid scheme)! This is a great opportunity to sort through old photos and reminisce on your favorite trips, and take advantage of your friends' suggestions for future traveling :)  7) Call your grandma--or another friend, acquaintance, or neighbor you haven’t checked in with in awhile! Many of our older or otherwise immunocompromised community members are struggling particularly with isolation right now. 8) Check out the Cincinnati Zoo live stream, every day at 3 PM :') 9) Start a new audiobook or e-book! The mobile app Libby is FREE with your public library card and has thousands of titles available for 3-week checkout. 10) Experiment with the language you’ve always wanted to learn! In addition to the classic Duolingo, Babbel and Memrise are highly-rated options. 11) Spa day! Do your nails if that’s your thing, moisturize, or check out these DIY facemasks (most of which can be made with kitchen staples!)  12) Try a new recipe! Or any recipe, if you’ve never cooked or baked! See how well-rounded of a meal you can make with the food you have. 13) Tap into your creative side with this awesome technique for paper-making, and create your own papier-mâché art book!   14) Start a journal! It might not feel like it now, but how cool will it be to look back on this historic time in the future? If you’re not a pen and paper thinker, here’s a list of journaling apps.

Short Story Club kind of like a book club, but shorter Each Monday we will suggest a short story that we can all read together. What could be more fun? Read it here! "Asimov tells a story that stretches billions of years into the future with both characteristic seriousness and a nod to the comical. At that point, even if the question is answered, but man is no longer around, is the question relevant?” - Goodreads Want to be part of an on-line discussion group? Email echolsprogram@virginia.edu, subject line "Short Story Club"

Who Doesn't Love a Puzzle?

Solutions from the Last Issue Did you miss the last issue? Check it out here !

Anna Wolz 3rd year from Alexandria, VA,  Majoring in physics Two truths and a lie: I play trombone in the marching band - LIE! My favorite band is Vulfpeck  I hate blue cheese 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 - LIE!  I was propelled down from a chairlift on a rope after it broke down mid-ascent

A Burning Question Because the ropes burn at inconsistent rates, you can't simply measure 75 percent of the way down one rope and call that 45 minutes. The rope might burn slightly faster or slower in that last 25 percent. However, if you light one of the ropes on fire at both ends at the same time, it will burn up in 30 minutes, even if one side burns faster than the other. So here's what you do: Light one of the ropes on fire on both ends  and  light the second rope on one end at the same time. When the first rope burns out, 30 minutes have elapsed. At that exact moment, you light the unlit end of the second rope.  Because 30 minutes of the second rope have already been used up, 30 more remain (though this does not necessarily mean that half of the rope's length has been burned, it could be more or less). Lighting the other end at the moment the first rope burns up will cause the remaining part of the second rope to burn up in 15 minutes. Once the second rope has been consumed by the flames, exactly 45 minutes have passed.

Have a great week! The next issue coming your way on Friday.