The strange report baffled scientists before they realized how huge it was

News Your Monster Melissa Barrera Has an Unusual Roommate in the Trailer forYour Monster Maybe your childhood terrors aren’t so terrifying after all By Molly Templeton | Published on September 13, 2024 Screenshot: Vertical Comment 0 Share New Share Screenshot: Vertical As “ways of getting over a terrible breakup” go, this one’s new: Recently dumped and miserable actress Laura (Melissa Barrera), whose friends keep telling her to stop crying, starts screaming instead when she finds a literal monster in her closet. In the monster’s defense, he didn’t do anything scary. He just said, “What’s up.” Is is, you have to admit, one way to be really distracted from heartache. Your Monster, which is written and directed by Caroline Lindy, was described by The Hollywood Reporter as “a sharp, witty confection.” It seems like this trailer may be hiding the film’s love for Broadway jams; Barrera, who also starred in In the Heights, does eventually get to sing. Here’s the synopsis: After her life falls apart, soft-spoken actor Laura Franco finds her voice again when she meets a terrifying, yet weirdly charming Monster living in her closet. A romantic-comedy-horror film about falling in love with your inner rage. The Monster is played by Tommy Dewey (Casual, The Mindy Project), returning to a role he played in Lindy’s short film of the same name. Edmund Donovan (High Fidelity) is Laura’s shitty ex, who dumped her while she was in the hospital—and pushed her out of the starring role in a musical she helped develop. The Bold Type’s Meghann Fahy and The Deuce’s Kayla Foster also star. Your Monster comes out of the closet on October 25th.[end-mark] The post Melissa Barrera Has an Unusual Roommate in the Trailer for<i>Your Monster</i> appeared first on Reactor.

Books Terry Pratchett Book Club Terry Pratchett Book Club: The Shepherd’s Crown, Part I Even Death had some feelings about this particular collection… By Emmet Asher-Perrin | Published on September 13, 2024 Comment 0 Share New Share The death of a legend, you might say. Well… she certainly wouldn’t. She’d like that you said so, though, even if she’d never admit it. Summary Tiffany’s ancestor, Daniel Aching, finds an echinoid fossil that he keeps and gets passed down to family. Tiffany finds herself drawn to the stone circle above the Chalk and isn’t sure why, but Jeannie also sent Rob there, so she’s getting a vibe too. Tiffany talks to the kelda, who tells her that she needs someone to look after her while she’s busy looking after everyone else. Lord Swivel has three sons, one beyond the “heir and spare” number rich folks prefer to have. The elder two are Harry and Hugh; the youngest is named Geoffrey, who learns from his tutor Mr. Wiggall about the whole world. His father eventually sends his tutor away, so Geoffrey takes to hanging out with McTavish, who works at the stables. He helps nurse a runt baby goat to health and calls it Mephistopheles, and the goat follows him everywhere and defends him. Geoffrey sees a witch on a broom and wants to be one and be free that way, but he’s required to join a fox hunt. When he refuses to partcipate properly, his father beats him. Geoffrey stops the beating and tells his father that he’s leaving home. He takes his goat and a cart and hears the wind whisper “Lancre” to him. Granny aids a young lumberjack who almost took his own leg off with an ax and brings him home to his mother. She helps people for the rest of the day, and suddenly knows she’s about to die. Death comes to retrieve her and compliments her on a life well-lived. As she goes, the Disc reverberates with her passing… while in another world, an elf named Peaseblossom knows the Disc’s edges are once again weak to attack. Tiffany midwifes a birth that was supposed to be twins, but it turns out to be two boys with a triplet sister. The family names the girl after Tiffany, but none of them seem to care about the girl at all, which worries Tiffany. You shows up, and Rob arrives to tell her that she needs to go see the big hag. Tiffany arrives at Granny’s to find Nanny Ogg, then finds Granny in bed with her usual sign now reading “I IS PROBABLY DEAD.” She’s woven her own coffin from willow and written a note leaving her steading to Tiffany. Tiffany understandably balks at this, but Nanny insists that they do what needs doing and not worry about that at present. Mustrum Ridcully hears the news and cries, and makes to leave the University at once for Esme’s funeral, while Mrs. Earwig is keen to have one of her girls installed in Granny’s place. Tiffany stays up a long while to watch over Granny’s body and wonders what she’ll do about all of this. The next morning, Tiffany and Nanny bring Granny’s body downstairs and take her to the spot where she wanted to be buried, leaving her there with no special marking, not even a stone. Woodland creatures arrive from the forest to pay respects. Mustrum Ridcully lands at the house and asks if it’s true. Then he asks to be taken to Esme’s resting place and cries, and heads home a little drunk on Nanny’s booze. People from town start arriving and bringing little gifts, mostly of food. Then the witches arrive, and there’s eating and drinking and dancing. The senior witches have a discussion about who will take the steading, but Nanny is adamant that Granny’s last words be followed and shows them all the card she left, naming Tiffany as her successor. Tiffany doesn’t feel good about this, or ready for it, but the choice has been made. In the fairy realm, the Queen is angered at her diminished glory since going up against Tiffany, and also angered that the goblins are no longer doing their bidding. She meets with a renamed goblin, now called Of the Lathe the Swarf, who has brought iron into the kingdom (he works on the railway) as a threat and might aid her just to mess with humans, if the queen treats him better. He tells her Granny is dead. Tiffany cleans Granny’s home until it’s spotless and goes home for a few days. She’s shuffled back and forth; it doesn’t seem that there’s ever enough time, with two steadings to look after. One night she’s home with family and her brother Wentworth mentions that he might want to work for the railroad, while their father won’t hear of it; it’s his job as the only son to inherit their land. Tiffany’s father gives her a shepherd’s crown (the fossil) that belonged to Granny Aching, something he saved just for her. Tiffany begins to cry at the table and her parents tell her she needs to rest and that they’re worried for her. Tiffany’s mother gives her the latest letter from Preston. Geoffrey is nearly to Lancre; the locals at the pub meet his goat who can count and use the privy. He breaks up a fight between two bruisers with ease. Tiffany is still having difficulty with two steadings, and Nanny suggests she let some of the apprentices take work off her plate in Lancre. Tiffany visits Miss Tick and suggests that she might need to train and apprentice for the Chalk too, but Miss Tick insists that she doesn’t need to worry about the doubt Mrs. Earwig has been planting in everyone’s heads. Commentary The book’s dedication reads: For Esmerelda Weatherwax— mind how you go. It’s the last Discworld book. The last book, full stop, in fact. Pratchett’s assistant and friend, Rob Wilkins, has stated that many parts of this book were being written in the midst of writing Raising Steam, and that it was not entirely finished. That Pratchett wanted to write more of it. Another author (whose name I don’t need to bring up right now given recent allegations) claimed that Pratchett’s original plan had been for Granny to have placed her consciousness into You the cat: Death would have truly collected her in the epilogue to the story, where she’d “leave on her own terms.” I find myself wondering if Pratchett would appreciate having those thoughts revealed. Not because those choices were bad or good in one way or another, but because he was so very adamant about leaving behind precisely what he left. He had a steamroller run over his hard drive with unused work and notes—he did not want anyone picking at the bones of his ideas, publishing unfinished scenes and mullings and marveling over what might have been ad nauseam. *stares at the Tolkien Estate* Whatever his reasons, I wonder how he’d feel about those little bits making their way out. Because you can’t unknow them, once you do. Either ending is frankly a fitting one for Granny Weatherwax, though I understand the impulse to give her the final say in her exit, and to give her the chance to watch after Tiffany a little while longer. But the important endnote is in what she says to Death, with her enduring lack of fuss: “And I never wanted the world—just a part of it, a small part which I could keep safe, which I could keep away from storms. Not the ones of the sky, you understand: there are other kinds.” She is one of Terry Pratchett’s greatest characters, and this was all she desired. Perhaps not all she ever desired—we know about Mustrum and paths not taken, we know that she didn’t always want to be good, that it was difficult and painful to stick to it—but it’s what she wanted the most often. Often enough to make a life of that task. The cloying adage goes “Protect your peace.” Granny Weatherwax instead says “Protect your piece”—of the world, of your moment in time. Nurture and look after it, guard it from harm as best you can. It’s not likely that you’ll get thanked for it, but when you die, you’ll have Death’s respect. And not many people can say that. I hope that Terry Pratchett felt the same way, when he left. It tells us something that she was the one who left with him. For an author who never put stock in killing off characters for shock value: This happened because it was important. The Disc will continue to grow and change (in our minds if nothing else), but it will do so without him and without her. They had a small part of the world that they kept safe—and now they’re gone. That shelter is lost, and we can only retrieve it through memory. I only wish that reading it didn’t feel like losing them all over again. But the work continues for everyone else, of course. And Tiffany’s part in this story is built of her ongoing need to learn how to ask for help. She’s already getting better at it—she tries to ask Miss Tick to help her find an apprentice to train, something that I don’t believe she’d have done even one book previous—but there’s not enough confidence yet to really demand the support she requires. And then there’s Geoffrey, which brings me to this quote from Tiffany, that ironically doesn’t have anything to do with him at all: “Being a witch is a man’s job: that’s why it needs women to do it.” It’s a funny one because what I assume Tiffany is meaning is that being a witch demands a level of competence that people assume only men have, but in reality only women achieve? I think? I’m pretty sure that’s the takeaway we’re meant to have. I suppose it could be a simple as: People think that men’s jobs are harder, but they’re plainly not at all. It’s an understandable thing to say in a moment of frustration, though we’re being set up to learn that witching can, in fact, be a man’s job on occasion. But I can’t deny that I love the weird symmetry of Granny’s arc in these books; her very first story was about bringing a little girl to the city to become a wizard, and her final chapter ends with a young man who is clearly on his way to being a witch. More of that later, of course… Asides and little thoughts The narrative tells us that Geoffrey’s mother believed he “had a star in his hand.” I believe that’s an old saying meant to suggest that a person will have great influence over important things in the world? But I’m not sure where exactly it came from… The importance of Tiffany’s family in this story, of her various supports, really shine through here: The need to have Jeannie around to talk to; the way her parents can see that she’s struggling; the talk Nanny tries to give her about letting the Lancre apprentices take some of the weight. Tiffany is a character who is more comfortable handling things on her own, but the people around her have learned to pay attention to that impulse and to at least attempt to intervene. I dunno, just the fact that the two people who were most important to Tiffany were one biological and one surrogate grandmother. The importance of good grandmothers, even the sort who never had kids. More of that in fiction, please. Pratchettisms She walked briskly into the woods, You trailing behind, curious as only a cat can be until at least the first eight of its lives have been used up. In fact, Nanny Ogg had done a great deal of everything, and was commonly held to be so broad-minded that you could pull her mind out through her ears and tie a hat on with it. She had chosen to sparkle today. And then they blew out the candles, and they slept, thinking of their Tiffany, a skylark among sparrows. It was rather stuffy inside with the usual rural tint of agricultural armpit. Next week we’ll read chapters 7–13![end-mark] The post Terry Pratchett Book Club: <i>The Shepherd’s Crown</i>, Part I appeared first on Reactor.

Come learn how to preserve garlic. When properly dried and cured, fresh garlic should last for many months in cool dry storage. But what happens when it starts to go bad? Or, if you harvest homegrown garlic too early, so it can’t be cured and stored long term? Don’t let it go to waste! This post will highlight several easy ways to preserve garlic from the garden: how to dry garlic into powder, freeze it, pickle it, make fermented honey garlic, and more. Variety is the spice of life, after all! I’ll also cover the hidden dangers of preserving garlic in olive oil, why garlic sometimes turns blue, and the best way to store garlic to make it last.Disclosure: Homestead and Chill is reader-supported. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.RELATED: Ready to grow your own? Come learn how to plant and grow garlic in our easy step-by-step guide, or visit this article for tips on when and how to harvest, cure and store garlic to make it last!How to Store GarlicFor maximum shelf life, it’s best to store garlic at room temperature in a cool, dry, dark location such as a pantry, root cellar, basement, or spare closet. The optimum storage temperature for garlic is 50-60°F. Avoid refrigerating garlic, as colder temperatures stimulates the garlic to break dormancy and start sprouting. Garlic sprouts rapidly between 40-50°F. Store garlic in an open container to promote good airflow and dry conditions, such as a mesh bag, woven basket, wire racks, or open cardboard box (but not in a deep pile). The time garlic lasts in storage depends on the type, variety, and storage conditions. After harvesting and curing garlic, hardneck varieties should last about 3 to 4 months in storage, while softneck varieties can last 6 to 9 months. Routinely check on your stored bulbs and give them a squeeze. Use or preserve any that are starting to go soft or sprout. Yes, it’s okay to eat garlic that has sprouted – or plant it!1) Dried Garlic PowderMaking homemade garlic powder is one of my favorite ways to preserve garlic. It’s easy to do, versatile to use, and the flavor is incredibly fresh compared to any other garlic powder you’ll ever try. We love to sprinkle garlic powder on top of sautéed or roasted veggies, in dips, soups, sauces, pasta, bread dough and more.You can dry garlic in a food dehydrator or in the oven, then grind it into fine powder using a good blender or food processor. Once dehydrated and ground, garlic powder will last well over a year in dry storage! Plus it condenses a lot of garlic into one small jar, which is a huge space saver. You can also mix 1 part dried garlic powder with 3 parts sea salt to make DIY garlic salt. See full instructions on how to make garlic powder here.2) Freezing GarlicFreezing garlic is one of the most quick and easy ways to preserve it. You can freeze garlic cloves whole, raw, roasted, minced, in olive oil… any way you like it!To freeze whole garlic cloves raw, simply peel and pack them into freezer-safe containers such as ziplock bags, reusable silicone food storage bags, or these durable BPA-free freezer containers. To use frozen garlic, you can grate the frozen cloves or allow them to slightly defrost at room temperature before chopping or otherwise preparing them. Frozen garlic cloves are good for up to a year in the freezer. You can also mince garlic to freeze plain or in olive oil. To create the perfect ready-to-use portions, I love to finely chop garlic (or use a handy garlic press), pack it into silicone ice cube trays, pour olive oil in to fill each each cube, and then freeze. Once frozen, pop the garlic oil cubes out of the tray to store together in a sealed freezer bag or container. Then they’re ready to toss into a pan of stir fry, sauce, or soup at any time.Freezing some of our homegrown green garlic (immature garlic that was harvested early – before it has papery skins over each clove) which can’t otherwise be cured for dry storage.Freezing basil in olive oil in ice cube trays is my favorite way to preserve it – and you can easily do the same with minced garlic. Pro tip: soaking the trays plain white vinegar will help get the garlic smell out later.3) Fermented Garlic HoneyHere is another fantastic way to preserve garlic, and create your own delicious cold and flu medicine while you’re at it!Fermented garlic honey is a simple natural health remedy that is used to support the immune system, cardiovascular system, and digestive health. It can also help soothe cold and flu symptoms including coughs or sore throats. Garlic honey is incredibly easy to make: simply pour honey over raw garlic cloves and let it sit to ferment awhile. Once made, it lasts for many years in the pantry. You can eat it by the spoonful, add it to homemade salad dressing, dips or marinades, drizzle it over roasted vegetables, cheese and crackers, and more!See full instructions in our easy fermented garlic honey recipe along with more ways to use it. 4) Pickled GarlicPickling garlic in a vinegar brine is a great way to preserve fresh garlic. Because garlic is a naturally low-acid food, there are no safe tested recipes for canning garlic alone (without vinegar). You can make quick pickled garlic that will last a few months in the refrigerator, or follow a pickled garlic recipe that is safe for water bath canning to make it shelf-stable for over year. We especially love pickled garlic with apple cider vinegar, dill, mustard seeds and red chili flakes. Mellowed by the vinegar and spices, pickled garlic has a more tangy, sweet, and mildly spicy flavor than sharp raw garlic. It is the perfect addition to homemade dips, spreads, salad dressings, or charcuterie boards. Serve it with olives, cheese, crackers, sandwiches and more. Pickled garlic (or the brine) can also be used in cocktails like Bloody Marys or dirty martinis, or in other recipes that calls for fresh garlic, such as in vegetable stir fry, pasta salad, soup or stew. Or, snack on it straight out of the jar!5) Lacto-Fermented Garlic One final way you can preserve garlic is to ferment it. Fermented garlic is similar to pickling it, but without the vinegar – and with added nutrients and probiotics! We’re huge fans of fermented foods around here, and fermented garlic is no exception.Made by submerging raw garlic cloves in a dilute salt water brine, natural beneficial bacteria ferments the garlic and produces lactic acid that lowers the pH, effectively preserving it. When fermented, the garlic develops increasingly tangy, mild, and complex flavors compared to raw. The lacto-fermentation process also introduces millions of gut-healthy probiotics, and makes all the impressive vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and other nutrients found in garlic even easier to digest.Here is one popular fermented garlic recipe, or check out this other option too.Can you preserve garlic in olive oil?Did you also grow up seeing pretty bottles of olive oil with garlic cloves floating in them? As nostalgic or tasty as it may seem, please don’t be tempted to preserve your own garlic in olive oil at home! It isn’t safe. Or if you do, proceed at your own risk.Submerging garlic in oil creates an anaerobic environment (without air) and one with a neutral pH. This creates the perfect recipe for botulism to grow – and you can’t see, smell, or taste botulism!Deadly botulism toxins are caused by bacteria called Clostridium botulinum, which is often found in soil. Since garlic bulbs grow below the soil surface, garlic is at an even higher risk for botulism than many other vegetables. Commercial producers of garlic oil have strict requirements to add acidifying agents and other preservatives to prevent the growth of botulism.Blue GarlicFAQ: Why does my garlic turn blue? Garlic may turn blue, purple, or green when it’s pickled, fermented or even cooked. It’s caused by a natural reaction that occurs when enzymes in garlic come in contact with something acidic, such as vinegar, fermentation brine or lemon juice. However, blue garlic is still completely safe to eat! And that concludes this lesson on preserving garlic. I hope this post gave you plenty of new and tasty things to try. Which method do you want to try first? Did I miss any other ideas? Please let us know in the comments below. Thank you so much for tuning in today. You may also like: Fire Cider Recipe: How to Make Fire Cider for Immune Health 13 Ways to Preserve Tomatoes: Recipes to Freeze, Can, and More How to Make Elderberry Syrup with Fresh or Dried Berries 13 Must-Try Zucchini Recipes: Clever Ways to Use Zucchini When to Harvest Butternut Squash or Pumpkins (How to Cure and Store) Did you enjoy this article? Want to hear more? Stay in touch! Sign up below to receive weekly updates on new posts from Homestead and Chill. The post 5 Easy Ways to Preserve Garlic: Freeze, Dry, Pickle & More appeared first on Homestead and Chill.

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