Lazy Man’s Pie – Peach Cobbler

By

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August 27, 2023

Here’s an easy Lazy Man’s Pie, also known as a Peach Cobbler, that’s quick to throw together with minimal effort, using pantry staples for a warm, comforting dessert with juicy peaches and a golden, cake-like topping.

Ingredients:

- 1 stick butter or margarine
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup flour
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- Dash of salt
- 1 qt. fruit, sweetened (peaches, cherries, blackberries, etc)

Directions:

- Melt butter in baking pan.
- Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and milk.
- Pour batter into the pan on top of the butter; cover with fruit.
- Do not stir; batter will rise to top as it bakes and absorbs the flavor of the fruit.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
- Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.

Tips:

- Peaches: Canned peaches in heavy syrup add sweetness and moisture, but you can use peaches in juice (drain slightly) or 4-5 fresh peaches (peeled, sliced, and tossed with 1/4 cup sugar). Frozen peaches work too (thaw and drain lightly).
- Texture: For a crispier top, sprinkle 1-2 tbsp sugar over the batter before baking. For a softer cobbler, reduce baking time slightly.
- Variations: Add 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts to the batter for crunch. Swap peaches for canned pears, apples, or mixed berries.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave before serving.
- Gluten-Free: Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend in place of all-purpose flour.
- Why It’s Lazy: No need to mix layers or pre-cook peaches—just dump and bake for a fuss-free dessert.

Enjoy your Lazy Man’s Peach Cobbler!

If you want a smaller batch, a different fruit variation, or tips for a crispier topping, let me know in the comments below.

Intel takes another hit – Microsoft discontinues processor support

By

Aimee

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August 24, 2023

The list of supported Intel processors the company provides is not exhaustive, and the most recent changes should have little to no impact on the average Windows 11 user. The 44 processors that are no longer officially supported are all Intel Xeon CPUs from the company’s server range.

But the removal of CPUs from the list of supported hardware is significant, and the change was spotted by Deskmodder.de (and shared by Ghacks).

Back in June, the company updated the list of processors from AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm. Now another update to Windows 11 system requirements means that large numbers of Intel CPUs are no longer supported — 44 models in total.

Though these processors are mostly having to do with the Intel Xeon server range, one can’t escape the fact that a great deal of other Intel processors have been nix’ed in the past. The Intel i7 7700 processor series is a great recent example of this. Microsoft’s lists of non-supported processors might come across as somewhat nonsensical when you stop to consider that the Intel multi-core i7 7700 processor @3.60 GHz (tpm 2.0) isn’t supported while yet the multi-core Intel i5-4300 @2.60 GHz (tpm 1.2) is supported.

Seems to be no rhyme or reason for this. One might think that latest generation Intel processors would make the cut, but according to Microsoft, the latest generation processors don’t necessarily mean that you’ll be running Windows 11 any time soon.

Again, it seems that five year old processors are too insecure for use with Windows 11, but Microsoft still clings to SMBv1, SMBv2, and SMBv3 in Windows 10/11 which was incorporated into DOS for networking 32 years ago. Originally created in the early ’80s for file sharing in DOS. Despite multiple announcements over the past 10+ years that Microsoft would end SMBv1, SMBv2, and SMBv3, these still remain, even in Windows 11.

End of life for Windows 10 is 2025 so you still have time to shop a bit before making the leap to Windows 11. If you’re in the market for (the often times cheaper) Intel, you might want to pay close attention to the processors that Microsoft currently supports. You might also want to note that these lists change like the weather lately so checking for support should come closer to your actual purchase of a new unit.

Here’s the list for the AMD processors that Microsoft currently supports.

When it comes to Microsoft Windows 10 and 11, I’ve had the better luck with AMD. Though Microsoft has it’s own AMD hit list, it isn’t as large as the Intel hit list is.

If you’re tired of the Microsoft Whack-A-Mole game with regard to supported processors, or if you’re tired of the generally clunky operating systems that Microsoft provides, you might do well looking into certain other alternative operating systems like MacOS or Linux.

Uncover Your True Self: The Power of Personal Growth

By

brad

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August 21, 2023

Personal growth is an ongoing journey marked by self-discovery, learning, and development, a continuous process that involves understanding who you are as an individual, identifying your core values, and striving to live a life that aligns with these principles. This article shared here aims to guide you through various strategies and techniques that can significantly contribute to your personal growth journey, helping you to evolve, enhance your skills, and ultimately achieve a sense of fulfillment.

Find a New Hobby That Makes You Happy

The first step towards personal growth is finding joy in new activities. Engaging in a hobby that brings you happiness not only enhances your skills but also boosts your mental health. It provides an escape from everyday stress, encourages creativity, and can even lead to social connections.

Learn How to Meditate

Meditation is a powerful tool for personal growth, fostering mindfulness and inner peace. Regular practice can enhance focus, reduce stress, and promote a greater understanding of oneself. Whether it’s just five minutes a day or an hour, incorporating meditation into your routine can significantly impact your journey to self-improvement.

Get in Touch with a Mentor or Life Coach

Guidance is crucial in the path to personal growth. A mentor or life coach can provide valuable insights, advice, and encouragement. They can help identify your strengths and weaknesses, set realistic goals, and devise strategies to achieve them. Their experience can illuminate the path ahead, making your journey smoother and more rewarding.

Stick to Your Self-Care Routine

Personal growth isn’t just about mental and emotional development; it’s equally important to take care of your physical well-being. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, adequate sleep, and self-care practices like yoga or spa sessions can replenish your energy and keep you motivated towards your goals.

Start Your Very Own Business

Starting a business is a challenging yet rewarding opportunity for personal and professional growth. This venture will test your limits, push you to learn new things, and ultimately contribute to your development in many ways. Part of this process includes mastering efficient strategies that lead to huge time savings. For instance, planning, leadership, decision-making, and problem-solving skills are all crucial.

Develop (and Maintain) a Positive Mindset

A positive mindset is the cornerstone of personal growth. It empowers you to view challenges as opportunities and failures as lessons. Cultivating positivity can enhance resilience, motivation, and perseverance, driving you towards your goals and aspirations.

Going Back to School

Education is indeed a lifelong process. Opting to go back to school to enhance skills and career prospects can be a monumental step towards personal growth. For instance, pursuing an MBA can significantly increase your earning potential. Choosing an online degree program not only offers flexibility and convenience but also results in huge time savings. This allows you to balance your education with other responsibilities effectively.

Personal growth is a continuous and rewarding journey. Whether it’s starting a new hobby, meditating, working with a mentor, maintaining a self-care routine, starting a business, developing a positive mindset, or going back to school, every step contributes to your development. Remember, the quest for personal growth is not a race but a marathon. Celebrate each achievement, learn from every setback, and keep moving forward towards becoming the best version of yourself.

The Berkeley Pit – Butte, America

By

Alan

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August 19, 2023

Class is in session every day of the week for your entire life.

Today we learned about the environmental mishaps of man in Butte.

The mine was opened in 1955 and operated by the Anaconda Copper Mining Company, and later by the Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO), until its closure on Earth Day in 1982. When the pit was closed, the water pumps in the nearby Kelley Mine, 3,800 feet below the surface, were turned off, and groundwater from the surrounding aquifers began to slowly fill the Berkeley Pit, rising at about the rate of one foot a month.

Learn more about the Berkeley Pit: Why 35,000 people visit a toxic pit in Montana every year

Beyond the Big Sky – Montana Learning Center

By

Alan

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August 14, 2023

Recently the family and I had the opportunity to attend one of a series of astronomy lectures at the Montana Learning Center.

In 3 hours we learned some stuff we might have already known, and even more stuff we didn’t know.

Our speaker for the evening event was Derek Demeter, Director of the Emil Buehler Planetarium at Seminole State College of Florida. He writes and produces live interactive shows for the Planetarium and oversees its operation. He is also an astrophotographer, and much of his work has been featured by NASA, Astronomy Magazine, and other publications.

When we first arrived at the center it was cloudy. I began to wonder if we were going to be able to use the telescopes that night because of the clouds.
Our Son was somewhat disappointed to see the clouds too when we first arrived, because he had brought his own telescope to use during the evening while we were there.

During the lecture, which was held outdoors under the Big Sky, the clouds began to disperse revealing a sky full of billions of stars.

By the time the lecture was over we had our pick of which part of the sky we wanted to look at. The Montana Learning Center has a grand total of 7 telescopes, each specialized and/or tooled for different sky gazing tasks.

Montana Learning Center 25 inch telescope

Ryan Hannahoe, Montana Learning Center’s executive director, was extremely pleasant and informative. He takes great pride in the newest telescope at the center — It’s Montana’s largest public-use telescope. With the new 25 inch telescope, you’ll see nebulae and galaxies like you have never seen them before. It’s great for cruising the Milky Way and large deep sky objects.

Programs of interest at The Montana Learning Center include but may not be entirely limited to:

Camp Discovery is a four-day, day-only, science camp for students entering grades 1-3.
Camp Young Naturalist Adventures is a five-day, overnight camp for students entering grades 4-6.
Camp Innovations is a five-day, overnight camp for students entering grades 7-9.
Extreme Yellowstone Expedition is a six-day, overnight adventure for students entering grades 9-12.
Camp Dinosaur – Space is limited to 12 students who are entering 9th – 12th grade.

Visit the Student Programs to learn more about these camps and to discover even more camps.

Camp Tuition Financial Aid is also available.

The Montana Learning Center at Canyon Ferry Lake provides and promotes quality immersion experiences for all in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in a unique lakeside environment.

Ryan Hannahoe mentioned to me that some of the programs (not all) were going to re-worked for the 2024 season in order to possibly include more attention being directed to those attending high school.

If you want to learn more about the Montana Learning Center, or if you have any other questions, simply visit https://montanalearning.org/

You can call: (406) 475-3638 or write: MontanaLearningCenter@gmail.com

The Montana Learning Center is located at:

7653 Canyon Ferry Road
Helena, MT 59602