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Friday, July 31
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ZUZANA!!
Everyone be sure to wish her a very happy birthday!
A World of Fruits
If you've ever bitten into an apple and thought you were eating an indisputable American snack (after all, nothing is more American than apple pie!), you might want to think again. We see all sorts of fruits in our neighborhood grocery store, but that was not always the case. A lot of what we find on our local shelves don't originate from where we live. Some of it isn't even from the same continent.
This short video goes over the origins of some of our most popular fruits and where they are grown most today! The answers to a lot of these are truly surprising.
If you liked this video then check out the second part with even more unique fruits here!
Did You Know?: A banana is actually a type of berry!
Next Art Club Project
Next Tuesday for Art Club we will be making paper chain snakes!
Participants will need colored construction paper, scissors, a pen or marker, and either glue, tape, or a stapler.
Friday Movie Recommendation!
Today's movie recommendation comes from Lauren with the 2018 animated superhero action movie Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. It's the story of young Miles Morales, a teenager who picks up the mantle to become the next Spider-Man. He must help save the world while reuniting those from other worlds that have stumbled their ways into his. It's trippy, fun, multi-dimensional spider mayhem!
"The animation and art direction is truly awe-inspiring, and you can see the passion the creators put into their work. The story and comedy are also right on point. It's incredibly creative. Look at any scene in this film and you'll know exactly what I mean!" - Lauren
Thursday, July 30
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KAIA!!
BARK BARK! It's that special dog's special day!
Art Club: Gallery Showcase 2.0
Mary had to leave Art Club early and wasn't able to display her piece during the group shot at the end. Here she is showing off her gorgeous work in progress!
Kirsti and Meg's Piano Duet
Kirsti and Meg like to virtually meet together once a week to practice playing their pianos, and one of the things they like to do is play a duet together! Here is just a sampling of their combined talents for us all to enjoy.
Musical Instrument Word Search
If you'd like some more musical fun then check out this Musical Instruments word search that you can print out or play online!
https://thewordsearch.com/puzzle/57/musical-instruments-1/
Wednesday, July 29
Art Club: Gallery Showcase
Yesterday Art Club participants chilled out and did some fun coloring. Each selected their own pictures and chit-chatted as they all relaxed and colored them in using any method they liked.
Windows and Wanderlust -
View a new world with
Window Swap
Tired peering at the same view out your window day in and day out? Yearning for a bit of travel or to see new sights? Husband and wife team Sonali Ranjit and Vaishnav Balasubramaniam had the very same thoughts and translated them into what they call their "quarantine project." That project is Window Swap.
With just the push of a button your computer screen is transformed into a window overlooking an entirely new landscape. You could be peering out somebody's apartment window in Spain, a view of the mountaintops in Switzerland, or gazing at the pyramids of Egypt. Each "window" is actually a 10 minute long video that users submit to the website. It feels like you've transported yourself to another world.
Next time you need a breath of fresh air why not try looking out somebody else's window? You never know what you might find!
https://window-swap.com/
A rainy day out Sitara's window in Gurgon, India
Arashi says: "Some people say windows are gateways to new lands. I like to think of them as TVs to my favorite show!"
Tuesday, July 28
Weekly A-SIGN-ment!
Tomorrow during our Wednesday 1 PM Zoom meeting we will be sharing another word we've learned in sign language. This week's word theme is Favorite Weather! Share with us the sign for your favorite weather!
As usual, feel free to refer to HandSpeak for reference and guidance in finding your word!
Remembering Legends:
John Lewis and C.T. Vivian
On Friday, July 17 the world lost two great icons and leaders in the civil rights movement, Georgia Congressman John Lewis, 80, and Reverend C.T. Vivian, 95.
John Lewis
You can read more and listen to NPR's obituary here.
"The son of Alabama sharecroppers, Lewis was a central figure in the key civil rights battles of the 1960s, including the Freedom Rides and the Selma to Montgomery voting rights march."
"Lewis was arrested more than 40 times protesting segregation. He was involved in lunch counter sit-ins; freedom rides on interstate buses; and he was the youngest speaker at the 1963 March on Washington.
"We're tired of being beaten by policeman. We're tired of seeing our people locked up in jail over and over again," the 23-year-old Lewis said in a speech at the Lincoln Memorial. "We want our freedom and we want it now!""
"Lewis served on the Atlanta city council before being elected to Congress in 1986. He rose in Democratic Party ranks to senior chief deputy whip, and became known as "the conscience of the Congress." Lewis was also a critically acclaimed author. His graphic novel trilogy March won a national book award."
"[...] even as the nation was confronting the coronavirus pandemic, Lewis made a surprise appearance at a reenactment of the bridge crossing in Selma in March 2020.
"I'm not going to give up," he said. "I'm not going to give in."
Surrounded by a crowd of marchers, Lewis urged younger generations to take up the mantle to "help redeem the soul of America."
"Keep the faith," he said. "Keep our eyes on the prize. We must go out and vote like we've never ever voted before.""
C.T. Vivian
You can read more here.
"Vivian, who died Friday in Atlanta at the age of 95, was a proselytizer of nonviolent resistance. From Peoria, Ill., where he organized some of the civil rights movement's first sit-ins in the late 1940s, to Selma, Ala., where a sheriff sucker-punched him on camera in 1965, Vivian bore the same message: Change must come, and nonviolent direct action is necessary to bring it about.
"He was one of the tallest trees in the civil rights forest," Rev. Jesse Jackson tweeted Friday, calling Vivian a mentor. "He never stopped dreaming. He never stopped fighting. We are better because he came this way.""
"Beginning in 1963, he served as the national director of affiliates for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. In that role, he became a key ally of Martin Luther King Jr. and a major organizer of civil rights actions across the South."
"Vivian received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work in 2013. But in an interview recorded for the honor, Vivian reiterated his call to action, saying that the work for racial and social justice was far from finished.
"Do what you can do and do it well," he said. "But always ask your question: Is it serving people?""
Monday, July 27
Virtual Field Day Recap!
Thank you to everyone who joined us to make our very first LES Virtual Field Day happen! If you weren't able to attend or just want to reminisce about the day here is a brief recap.
Who Am I was simple and fun! Everybody had a blast taking turns thinking up characters or people and asking some great questions to figure them out. We covered everyone from Helen Keller to Hello Kitty!
Hollywood Squares pit Meg VS. Cindy in an all out Tic-Tac-Toe brawl fest! Phyllis hosted, and all of the celebrity Life Experiencers did a great job answering the questions and trying to trip our contestants up. It all culminated in a tie breaker question where Meg came out victorious.
It was an easy bingo for everyone during Trivia Bingo. So much so they were just one square away from achieving a second! Everyone really shined by showing their knowledge in a range of different subjects.
Lastly but certainly not least Field Day concluded with some Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? The group almost made it to the million a couple times, but couldn't quite make it past the last few questions. They still racked up an impressive winning pot and learned the answers to some fascinating questions!
Share Your Feedback
We'll likely be doing another Virtual Field Day again! Help us organize it by telling us which of the games we played that you liked the very best. It may make a second appearance!
Friday, July 24
Today is Virtual Field Day!
We hope you all have a great time! Feel free to join in on as many of the Zoom invitations to the different games as you'd like.
The schedule of events can be found HERE.
This Saturday is
Tomorrow July 25th at 6-7 PM EST is FestAbility, an annual event for the celebration of those with disabilities that takes place in St. Louis Missouri. This year due to do Covid-19 it has gone virtual! Registration to attend the event is required, but it's also 100% free. If you are interested at all then you can register here!
There will be music and entertainment sponsored by a variety of organizations. Check out this video of last year's event to see what it's all about.
Next Art Club Project
Next Tuesday for Art Club we will be coloring in illustrated print-outs!
Participants will only require their coloring page print-outs of choice (1 to 2) and whatever materials to color it in with they would like!
Friday Movie Recommendation!
This Friday we have a book to share! Kirsti recommends people check out the autobiographical book Buddy: How a Rooster Made Me a Family Man. It is the true retelling of a man, his pet rooster, and their fight for dominance within the house they share.
"The book is about a Rooster named Buddy. I enjoyed the book, and it was funny." - Kirsti
Thursday, July 23
Art Club: Gallery Showcase
Last Tuesday the members of Art Club made collages of all shapes and sizes! Everyone took a different approach, and they came out looking fantastic.
The Rafal Sisters Review:
A new restaurant in Millis
Nirvana Tea House & Cafe
Allison tried the Lemon Head iced tea and Lauren tried Moroccan Mint! (The cat had none. Tea is bad for cats.)
These are tough times to be opening your doors for the first time to new customers, especially as a food establishment, but Millis just welcomed a newcomer with Nirvana Tea House & Cafe. Located not far from The Life Experience School in the very same lot as Kravings, Nirvana is a quaint little spot with a very cool atsmosphere. Walking in you can immediately feel the calm, cafe vibes they were going for. It even sports a small private booth where patrons must remove shoes before entering. There are outdoor tables and plenty of hand sanitizer for staying safe and health conscious.
There is a large assortment of teas to select from and, much to Allison and my own delight, some iced varieties as well! That day we both decided on unsweetened herbal iced teas, but they have an offering of various lattes and sweetened teas as well. They also sport a little menu of bowls, salads, wraps, snacks, and even weekend breakfasts. And did I mention that the entire place is vegan?
Come check a new place out and support a local business! It might be just the thing you need on a hot Summer day.
https://nirvanateahousecafe.com/
Wednesday, July 22
Garden Update:
There are zucchinis aplenty at the LES garden! Come by any time you'd like to pick a fresh one right off the plant. Yellow squashes and green hot chile peppers are also in supply alongside our fresh herbs and kale.
Soon sweet green bell peppers, hot habanero peppers, cucumbers, and tomatoes will also be ripe for the picking. If you are feeling adventurous then try unearthing one of our big, bushy potato plants as well.
Come and get it!
LES' first VIRTUAL FIELD DAY!
This Friday, July 24th will be one for the record books! LES' first ever VIRTUAL FIELD DAY. It will be a day full of online interactive games played with your LES friends on Zoom! Normal Zoom meetings will not take place on this day. Instead we will have different games played during different parts of the day. Everyone will receive invitations to the games and you are free to join them as you like.
Below is the Field Day schedule:
You can also open the image to view larger or print HERE.
We hope you can join us for a day full of fun!
Tuesday, July 21
Weekly A-SIGN-ment!
Tomorrow during our Wednesday 1 PM Zoom meeting we will be practicing our fingerspell alphabet, so there will be no special themed ASL assignment this week!
If you would like to brush up on your fingerspelling skills before tomorrow then check out this easy ASL ABC's video for slow and simple reference.
Talent Show & Tell!
This is just a reminder that during today's 1 PM Zoom meeting we are not doing yoga because Nancy is gone all week. Instead we will be hosting a Talent Show & Tell! Maybe you have a personal memento from a loved one or a trip you took? A favorite mug? Can you whistle Old Dixie or maybe say the alphabet in German backwards? It's time to show off!
The Myth and the Legend - Who Was George Washington Carver?
When you were at school you likely heard his name. George Washington Carver is commonly associated as being the inventor of peanut butter along with 300 other uses for the peanut, but this is not actually true. It's a much more complicated and fascinating story. This video explores who this man truly was, his contributions to African American society, and how he was about much more than just peanuts!
Watch far enough in and you even get to hear his actual voice!
Monday, July 20
Newsletter Submissions!
For those who have articles or segments to submit, please have everything submitted by no later than Friday, July 24th! You can submit it to Lauren at LrRafal@gmail.com.
Olive and Mabel - Behind the Scenes
Olive and Mabel are back at it once again, but this time with an introspective look behind the scenes and how they came to be the two top players in their field! It's tough being such top dogs.
Shanti says: "Some dogs are just not suited for the limelight... that's why all the light should always be on ME!"
Friday, July 17
Have you ever seen a Chicken in a Tutu?
Sounds absurd, right? Well these haughty hens are here to show you that anyone can dress up and strut their stuff!
#ChickenTutu is an Instagram tag to follow if you want to peruse a gallery of birds ready for a great night out on the town! Here is a link to a collection of some of the best submissions yet.
By the way...
What do you get when you cross Vogue with a chicken? A chic-hen!
You're never too old (or young) to have fun!
Next Art Club Project
Next Tuesday for Art Club we will be making paper collages!
Participants will need paper of various colors, scissors, and a glue stick. If you do not have a glue stick then regular craft glue will work too!
Friday Movie Recommendation!
This week it isn't a movie recommendation at all; It's a TV show! Richie recommends that we watch the CBS drama series Blue Bloods. It is currently in its 10th season and has been renewed for its 11th. The show is about a family who each are involved with law enforcement, such as a cop, a detective, and a lawyer.
Richie recommends the show because it stars his favorite actor Tom Selleck!
Thursday, July 16
Sunny Days, Keeping Harmful UV Rays Away!
We all know that sunscreen is important protection for our skin. It's helps block the sun's harmful UV (ultraviolet) rays that can damage skin cells that might lead way to harmful diseases like skin cancer. But have you ever wondered how it protects your skin?
With the use of a special camera that can see in UV, Diana, or "Physics Girl", tests different types and strength levels of sunscreen to see how they work to battle the sun and how truly effective they are against it! She dives down head first into the science behind all things sunscreen!
"I help plants grow and provide you with essential vitamin D, but everything is only good for you in moderation!"
This is also why it is important to wear sunglasses. If they are proper sunglasses then they too will protect your sensitive eyes from the harmful damage that UV light can do. You can't put lotion on your eyes!
If you are interested in learning more about UV light then check out the partner video to the one above by Veritasium!
Wednesday, July 15
Art Club: Gallery Showcase
Members of Art Club participated in an abstract, creative doodling exercise the other day. Everyone took a different approach and came out with incredible results!
Mary created a design with her object tracings, Phyllis added interesting patterns to hers, Bobby drew his from scratch, Cal worked on another art project, and Lauren embraced the chaos.
Rare Once in a Lifetime Comet Neowise Streaks Across the Sky
What's 3 miles long and won't pass Earth again for another 6,800 years? It's the comet named Neowise, the brightest comet in decades! This incredible once-in-a-lifetime spectacle is a rare sight indeed and was first spotted in our nighttime sky late March. It will remain until the end of the month, but the best days to view the comet will be the evenings of July 14-19 with the comet being closest to Earth on the 22nd! Look into the Northwest sky under the Big Dipper about an hour after sunset to catch a glimpse of this miraculous sight.
For more information check out EarthSky:
https://earthsky.org/space/how-to-see-comet-c2020-f3-neowise
Depending on where you are in the world it was possible to spot the comet at dawn as well as dusk! Here is an incredible time lapse video of Comet Neowise rising over the Adriatic Sea at dawn.
And here is an incredible time lapse recorded from space by the International Space Station. The comet begins rising around the 3 minute mark.
Tuesday, July 14
Weekly A-SIGN-ment!
Tomorrow during our Wednesday 1 PM Zoom meeting we will be sharing another word we've learned in sign language. This week's word theme is Favorite Musical Instrument! Share with us the sign for your favorite instrument!
As usual, feel free to refer to HandSpeak for reference and guidance in finding your word!
San Diego Comic Con goes Virtual!
Along with the spread of the coronavirus came cancellations of a lot of big name events like concert tours and conventions, but at least one convention has found a loophole and are taking their lineup of panels and events to the world wide web! San Diego Comic Con is one of the largest and most notable annual comic book and popular media conventions in the world teaming with celebrities, fans, and incredible costumes as far as the eyes can see. This time around you don't need to visit California to attend, and even best of all it's FREE!
Panels Streamed Live
Typically a four day event, this Comic Con will last for 5 days beginning on Wednesday July 22nd and ending Sunday July 26th. It will host over 350 different panels, most of which will still be available to watch after the event has gone live.
All of the panels will be available on the Comic-Con YouTube Channel here!
https://www.youtube.com/user/ComicCon
Here is a schedule of all of their programming line-up!
https://www.comic-con.org/cciathome/2020/programming-schedule
Online Exhibition Hall
Another big part of conventions are their incredible Exhibition Halls where dealers, merchants, and companies set up booths to sell and promote all kinds of incredible things. That has gone virtual along with everything else, and on Wednesday July 22 the Online Exhibit Hall will go live! It will end on the last day of the convention, the 26th. Below is the list of current exhibitors.
https://www.comic-con.org/cci/2020/exhibitors
Virtual Masquerade
A Masquerade at a convention is a collection of stage performances put on by attendees looking to show off their incredible costume work and sometimes even do a little skit or musical number. Applications for the Virtual Masquerade have concluded, but it will be streamed live on their YouTube channel for all to watch on Friday, July 24th! The winners will be announced the following day.
Even more activities might be added, so keep an eye out if you are interested!
Monday, July 13
Newsletter Prompt!
We're nearing the middle of July which means that our June/July Newsletter is coming up! The theme of this newsletter is Laughter. Each individual will receive the prompt: "What makes you laugh?" which will be featured on a page in the newsletter. We will be reaching out to you to gather your answers, but if you would like to send in your response directly then feel free to e-mail it to Lauren (LrRafal@gmail.com)!
For those who have articles or segments to submit, we would like to have everything done and in by no later than Friday July 24th.
Incredible Vocal Performance on
America's Got Talent
If you are a fan impressive singing voices then you have to check out Marcelito Pomoy's performance on America's Got Talent! Winning the show once before on Pilipinas Got Talent (The Philippine's version of the same show), he takes to the stage again to show America his very unique singing skill that you will have to hear to believe!
There is nothing more unique than your own voice, but you might recall it sounding a little differently when you were younger. This is because as we age so do our voices. This short video explains the reasons why our voices sound the way that they do.
Friday, July 10
Celebrating Together
It might be more difficult to be with other people these days, but it's not impossible. Cindy, Cal, and Lauren can demonstrate that with how they got together to celebrate Cal's 38th birthday in the backyard. Everyone wore a mask, kept their distance, and enjoyed each other's company outside as they all reveled in the festivities!
Nancy even happened to swing by at the very same time, but unfortunately could not stay long enough to join us.
What a synchronicity to be able to see her in person for the very first time in a while though!
Memories of Unity
Bobby wanted to share this picture of him and Sadie. It is a beautiful memory that helps remind us that soon we will be with each other once again.
The Results are IN!
Next Art Club Project
Next Tuesday for Art Club we will be doing more abstract meditative doodling! This time we will have a brand new twist!
Participants will only need blank paper, a pen, pencil, or marker to make their outlines, and anything they would like to color it in with. You will also need something smaller than your paper that you can trace the outline of!
Friday Movie Recommendation!
This Friday's movie recommendation Maureen recommends that everyone see the Superman movie from 2013 Man of Steel! It is an action/sci-fi origin story of the titular hero himself. Sent to Earth as a baby in order to preserve his alien race, Clark Kent (aka Superman), must become the protector of his new home planet.
"When I was younger I grew up around DC comics and I watched Superman the TV series. My favorite thing about the movie is he came from Krypton." - Maureen
Thursday, July 9
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CAL!!
Today is Cal's birthday, so let's all wish him a great one!
Join the Poll!
Don't forget you still have time to vote in yesterday's poll! Tell us where your favorite place to vacation is, and the results will be shared on Friday's website posting!
You can click on this link to vote in the poll.
Inside the Minds of Animals
When you look at a dog and the dog looks back at you, what do you think that dog is thinking? Are they thinking? This is a question that many people have considered. With a very large language barrier in our way (unless you can speak lemur or toad!) it can be very difficult to say whether or not your cat might have knocked your glass off the table with a purpose, but scientists are striving to crack the animal code!
Taking "Speak!" to a new level!
The evidence is pretty convincing that animals do have very complicated minds, just like a human, but they just can't communicate their thoughts the same way a human can. If you have ever been a dog owner then you are probably already well aware of this!
Christina Hunger is a speech pathologist who took this just one step further by actually building a special communication board and teaching her dog how to speak with it! Stella the pooch can tell you what she wants, how she is feeling, and can even form sentences using just a few button-activated words.
Wednesday, July 8
Art Club: Gallery Showcase
Yesterday during Art Club the participants learned how to draw even more cartoon characters and then Lauren took suggestions about what people would like to learn how to draw next! Next week's project will be different, and it will be announced on the website this Friday. Phyllis should be back for then!
Pondering the Unkown -
Questions No One Knows the Answers To
If someone asked you for the time you could tell them the time, or if someone pointed to the grass and asked you what is its color you could definitively say, "green." What if someone asked you how many universes exist? Could you give them that answer?
People are constantly wondered and baffled by all sort of questions, so much so we've successfully been able to answer a lot of them! But not every question a person has asked has an answer to it yet. This TED video talks about two such questions and some possible answers to them along with reasoning as to why we still have not been able to figure them out quite yet!
Now it's your turn to answer a question! -
Here is a question I am sure you know the answer to, even if not everyone's answer is the same. But that's the fun part! Where is your favorite place to take a vacation?
Answer in this poll and the results will be posted on the website!
Tuesday, July 7
Weekly A-SIGN-ment!
Tomorrow during our Wednesday 1 PM Zoom meeting we will be sharing another word we've learned in sign language. This week's word theme is Favorite Sport or Activity! Share with us the sign for your favorite sport or game to play or watch!
As usual, feel free to refer to HandSpeak for reference and guidance in finding your word!
Nature's Canvas - PATTERNS
A pattern can be defined as, "A particular way in which something is done, is organized, or happens." - (Source) The lines on the road could form a pattern or even a row of houses along that same road. The plaid on your favorite shirt is a pattern too!
It might be hard to believe that all that you saw in this video is naturally occurring. Nature has a funny habit of creating intricate, amazing patterns. Everything from the veins on a leaf to the spots on a cheetah to even the hills of a sand dune are all thanks to Mother Earth's incredible sense of style!
If you enjoyed this video then check out Part 2 and Part 3!
Test Your Identifying Skills!
How good were you at identifying all of those objects and places by their patterns alone? If you want to test your abilities then try this Animal Close-Ups quiz and see how many creatures you can correctly name based upon extreme close-up pictures. Try to look for recognizable patterns!
https://www.buzzfeed.com/natashajokic1/animal-close-up-quiz
Arashi says: "Be proud of your stripes! - or your splotches!"
Monday, July 6
Welcome back, everyone! We hope you had a fantastic holiday weekend.
Whether you spent it inside watching TV, hanging out on the lawn, or getting together with a small group of people we hope it was a happy and safe holiday!
Indoors or Outdoors?
Understanding how the virus spreads and how to limit it!
When it comes to being safe there are still a lot of unknown factors about what truly is and is not considered "a safe activity." Truth be told, it's less about what you're doing and more about how, and even where, you are doing it. This video helps us visualize exactly how the virus can spread under different conditions, how we can best minimize that spread, and and debunk some popular myths about the dangers around certain activities.
Masks Help: Protect Others
It is proven that the simple act of covering your mouth and nose with a mask drastically reduces your ability to spread water droplets (and the virus) from yourself to other people. If both people are wearing masks then that risks drops down to the lowest it can be!
When you wear a mask you are wearing it to protect other people. They in turn wear one to protect you.
The very best way to reduce your exposure is to follow as many of these guildelines as you can! Even if you are wearing a mask it is still important to keep your distance of 6 feet apart!
Keep washing your hands with soap after being out before touching objects and surfaces in your house and especially before you touch your face!
Does everyone remember this video from last Winter when we were learning about the dangers of not covering up your coughs and sneezes? Picture the virus spreading the same way!
Ew!
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