Hawk is Deemed Too Fat to Fly

The Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center said on social media that the adult red-shouldered hawk was found apparently grounded in a resident’s driveway about a mile away from the center in Roanoke. Rescuers checked the hawk for broken bones, lead toxicity, eye issues, head trauma, emaciation, and bruising, but determined she showed no signs of injury. Veterinarians at the center’s wildlife hospital examined the bird to get to the bottom of the mystery and determined that being overweight was the problem. The resident who found the hawk questioned her neighbors and discovered that another resident’s free-roaming chickens were disappearing at an alarming rate over the last few weeks. Veterinarians said the hawk tipped the scales at 2 pounds — nearly an entire pound heavier than the average weight for a normal female of the species. That would be like a 160-pound man weighing in at 320 pounds!  “This queen was picking off the buffet of easy prey set out before her, eating her fill, and then snoozing in the trees nearby until she was ready to eat again,” said rescue officials. The hawk is now on a weight-loss diet, and the center urged residents to avoid indirectly feeding wildlife by keeping chicken coops covered.

 

 

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Spelling and Grammar Errors With Humor Amplified By Their Failures

Not everyone is a good speller. In fact, for some, spelling can be a real struggle. If it’s a struggle for you, at least a collection of spelling fails like these can assure you that you’re not alone. While the above picture should have read “Roast Beef & Caramelized Onion Relish,” it really is one of those photos that's been “criminalized.” 

 

 

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Why We Have Last Names

It’s easy to take surnames for granted, as they’re just part of who we are. The thing is, surnames haven’t always existed, and they were invented more recently than you might think. Once upon a time, people were known by a single name because that was more than enough for those living in small communities. Everyone knew who John or Alice was, but as populations grew and towns and cities formed, the need for surnames arose. Surnames helped to differentiate people sharing the same first name, and, just like that, John the blacksmith became John Smith, Alice who lived near the hill became Alice Hill, and so on. These names stuck, and they were then passed down from generation to generation. The earliest documented surname is widely believed to be “O Cleirigh” (modern: O’Clery), which can be found in Irish annals dating back to 916 AD. The O’Clery family were hereditary historians and poets, which represented high-status roles in medieval Irish society. So, what else can we derive from someone’s surname? Well, it can hint at what your ancestors did for a living, where they came from, or even the kind of personality they had. For example, a name like Chapman suggests they were a trader, whereas Greenwood might point to them living near a forest. Surnames are more than just labels. If your name is on the unusual side, the chances are better that you’ve got kin around the world. The rarer the surname, the more likely it is that there's only one biological family accounting for it — only one founding ancestor.

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Craving Cake? Make This 5-Minute Peanut Butter Mug Cake

When you want cake, you usually want it like five minutes ago. This peanut butter mug cake is made for just those times. It requires no oven, mixer, no cake pan — just a mug, a fork, and a microwave. Best of all, the recipe makes exactly one serving. There's leftover cake staring you down from the kitchen counter for the next three days.

Servings: 1

Ingredients:

FOR THE CAKE

• • 5 tbsp half-and-half
• • 3 tbsp creamy peanut butter, preferably unsalted and unsweetened
• • 2 tbsp granulated sugar or 1 tbsp + 1 tsp honey
• • ¼ tsp vanilla extract
• • ⅛ tsp kosher salt
• • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• • ⅛ tsp baking powder
• • 1 tablespoon chocolate chips or mini chocolate chips (optional)

FOR THE DRIZZLE (optional)

• • 1 tbsp powdered sugar
• • ¼ tsp half-and-half
• • ¼ tsp creamy peanut butter

Directions:

• • Place 5 tablespoons half-and-half and 3 tablespoons of creamy peanut butter in a 12- to 16-ounce microwave-safe mug or deep ramekin. 
• • Microwave on high for 30 seconds to soften the peanut butter.
• • Using a fork, stir in 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract, and ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt until smooth. 
• • Stir in ¼ cup all-purpose flour and ⅛ teaspoon baking powder until no clumps of flour remain. 
• • Sprinkle 1 tablespoon chocolate chips on top if using.
• • Microwave on high for 1 minute. 
• • Check for doneness: The cake should be risen and no longer look wet on top, and a tester inserted into the center should come out clean. If the cake is not ready, continue to microwave in 15-second intervals as needed.
• • Let cool for a few minutes. 
• • Meanwhile, stir 1 tablespoon powdered sugar, ¼ teaspoon half-and-half, and ¼ teaspoon creamy peanut butter together in a small bowl with a spoon until smooth. 
• • Drizzle over the mug cake and serve warm.

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