A twice weekly newsletter designed to keep you sane and connected APR 20, 2020 | ISSUE 10

In this Issue: A Note From Kelsey Social Distancing Network Riddle Me This New Knowledge Nuggets Your Pantry is Calling Short Story of the Week Who Doesn't Love a Puzzle? Solutions from the Last Issue Raffle Winner!

It's a____(adj)_____ rainy Monday morning in Central Virginia. What adjective to you insert? I'm actually genuinely curious to know how your choice of adjective might be related to other factors. But that would be a whole psych experiment, and I haven't done an IRB for that. I LOVE the rain. Sleeping to the sound of rain falling. Waking up to the rich organic scent of the ground. The cleansing of the air. And Water! Water is an incredible molecule with properties that make is totally unique and essential for life as we know it. Don't even get me started on the physics -- watching water droplets play and merge on a pane of glass, or capture light and invert it. Cascade over a water fall. Create a rainbow by bending light. Pure beauty. My challenge to you this week; Find everyday things in nature you may take for granted -- a water droplet, a leaf, a rock, an ant, whatever. Find the beauty and elegance in it. Be grateful that it exists, and that everything in the universe over the last 13.7 billion years had to be exactly the way it was to allow for it to exist. Same goes for you by the way. Enjoy the rain, Kelsey As always send things our way via email to   EcholsProgram@virginia.edu

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)

Katie Cantone 4th year from Midlothian, VA majoring in Spanish and Media Studies with a minor in Latinx Studies Two truths and a lie: I hate possums I hate Halloween I hate mushrooms The sweet pup I'm taking care of, enjoying the morning sun :) -Katie

Max Pilloff 1st year from Tysons Corner, VA studying Economics, Math, and Statistics Two truths and a lie: I've been to 5 continents I've never had a pet before I have 3 siblings

My grandma drew this of my twin brother and me on our first day of kindergarten. It's hung up directly outside of my bedroom. -Max

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.

By moon or by sun, I shall be found. Yet I am undone, if there’s no light around. What am I?

New Knowledge Nuggets

Help all of us keep learning cool new things! Send all New Knowledge Nuggets to echolsprogram@virginia.edu to be featured in future issues.

"I learned that a virus becomes less deadly the longer it has to evolve"  -Vishnu Karri 2nd Year You can learn more about the evolution of viruses here . "The irrational desperation to buy toilet paper is actually real and not just some made up meme for the internet. " - Mahdin Hossain 1st year Here you can find out why!

Your Pantry is Calling

Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies Submitted by Dasha Schneyder Here's what you'll need: 3/4 cup refined coconut oil, melted* (see notes) 3/4 cup organic granulated sugar 3/4 cup packed organic brown sugar 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce 2 teaspoons vanilla 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (see notes for gluten-free option) 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1 1/4 cups vegan chocolate chips Instructions: Once you mix all of the ingredients together in a large bowl, use a tablespoon sized scooper (you can use a cookie scooper or even just a tablespoon measuring spoon) to create mounds of dough and then pop them onto a lined baking sheet. No need to press the dough down, it will expand as it bakes! Arrange 12 mounds per sheet and bake them for about 13 minutes.

Short Story fo the Week

The Lottery is one of the most famous short stories in American literature. If you've read it before, read it again and see if you have any new perspectives in the context of the world today.

Who Doesn't Love a Puzzle? Can you decode this message?

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

Katherine Viti 3rd year, from Clarke County, VA, majoring in PPL and Russian Two truths and a lie: I play the ukulele. LIE! I have double-jointed shoulders  I love Star Wars Shriya Dodwani 3rd year from Louisville, Kentucky majoring in Foreign Affairs and Global Studies: Middle East & South Asia with a minor in French Two truths and a lie: I spent 6 weeks abroad this semester before I had to come home. I have read 10 new books in the time I have been home. LIE! (though I wish it was true) My favorite show to binge watch is How I Met Your Mother 

Last Week's Riddle What is black when you buy it, red when you use it, and grey when you throw it away? Charcoal! 

Last Week's Riddle Raffle Winner is...

Katie Cantone!! Katie will receive a set of Uni-Corn holders!

Stay tuned for the next issue on Friday!