Mid-Week Round Up: Chickens, The Brillance of Mariah Carey, and a Sudoku Challenge
July, 10th, 2024
We’ve had a big week here on the farm. We finally got our chickens. I want to be clear that the delay had nothing to do with the wonderful family that has been holding onto our feathered friends.
It has everything to do with my husband and his buddies drinking beer in my garage and over-engineering the shit out of a chicken coop. They swear it was the plans I picked out, but I think it had a lot more to do with using the table saw under the influence.
I shouldn’t complain, the coop is truly beautiful and the chickens are very happy. We’ve gotten 8-10 eggs a day since they landed. I am up to my eyeballs in egg salad but I am not complaining. My son is selling a few dozen to fund his sheep dreams and in return, I need to supply the fence. The fence will cost a lot more than the sheep, so I better start selling eggs and kidneys too.
To celebrate our party fowl, here’s a fun little poultry true or false game to take to your next trivia night.
Chickens are descendants of the Tyrannosaurus Rex.
A chicken can live up to 10 years.
Chickens are capable of flying long distances.
Chickens have a very poor memory and can only remember things for a few minutes.
The color of a chicken's earlobes can predict the color of the eggs they will lay.
Chickens can see more colors than humans.
Chickens are omnivores.
All chicken breeds are capable of laying eggs.
Chickens communicate with over 30 different vocalizations to distinguish between threats.
The chicken is the most common bird species in the world.
Chickens have three eyelids.
Chickens can swim.
Roosters crow only in the morning.
Anyone else find a surprise in their NYT app this week? STRANDS!
Do we love it?
Do we hate it?
I think I love it, but I definitely have been using a lot of hints. For newbies, Strands is the latest game in the NYT suite. It is a word search puzzle with a few twists. Players must find themed words within the grid along with a “Spangram” or word that touches two sides of the grid and pulls together the puzzle’s theme. Players can earn hints by finding un-themed words.
The Midweek Challenge: Alphabet Sudoku (still rated very easy!)
I have been playing around with different Sudoku concepts. I used to have Colorku. (Not a sponsored post, I just really liked the game. Sorry folks, I am not that important.) It was a satisfying experience both because it was tactile and made me reach into different corners of my brain. I hope this puzzle does the same thing for you.
I will attach a file below that you can download and print the grid if that would make for a more enjoyable solve.
Good luck!
Alright, let’s get down to important business. This isn’t Crossword related- it is actually a Connections grouping from the NYT Sunday puzzle. But oh, the rabbit hole I fell down Come in with me, the water is fine, and the mushrooms are still very psychedelic!
First of all, the group title was, “Mariah Carey Number One Hits” and the words included were: Fantasy, Hero, Honey, and Someday.
It was the last grouping I found. I could not see how these words were connected but now I know- they all have amazing music videos that showcase AN ERA of childhood that I almost forgot about.
Let’s roll right into my favorite song: “Fantasy.” Released in 1995, “Fantasy” was the lead single on Mariah’s fifth studio album, “Daydream.” It is a bop. I still cannot stop dancing whenever it shuffles through my playlist. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 for eight consecutive weeks.
As great as the song is… why does this music video feature a creepy clown, wrist guards, and a very unhygienic tattoo parlor? I guess those were different times and I am kind of surprised that we all survived.
Next, we have “Hero” which was released in 1993 and was the second single from Ms. Carey’s third studio album titled, “Music Box.” It is a power ballad in the most traditional sense and is still one of Carey’s timeless songs. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a Grammy nomination. This official video is just her belting it out. I don’t think clowns would have been appropriate this time.
Back to the super weird music videos, here we are with “Honey,” and truly… honey what is going on here? I actually thought there was a serial killer in my house the first time I played this music video. It was terrifying. I am not sure why they went with a spy theme here… I cannot find a connection to the lyrics. But Mariah looks hot as ever so… pop off, I guess? “Honey” was released in 1997 as the lead single from her sixth studio album, “Butterfly.” It debuted number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
I just love her curls in this next video. It has to be said. Again, this video is a product of its age, and I am here for it. Buckle in for drummers hitting on plastic buckets, a band room with instruments, and choregraphed dances.
Is she a student or the hot teacher?
I think she leaves it up to your discretion.
“Someday” is the earliest release on this list. It was her third single on her self-titled debut album. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1990 and helped establish Carey as a force to be reckoned with in the music industry.
I love a good romp through the fields of nostalgia. Keep this information tucked away- it could always come in handy.
Stay sharp,
Kasey
BEWARE: Answers for the puzzles will be posted below.
Foul Play
True: Chickens are distant relatives of the T-Rex based on genetic similarities.
True: With proper care, chickens can live up to 10 years, although their average lifespan is typically around 5 to 7 years. Honestly, I think even less because they are dumb, and everyone like to eat chicken.
False: Chickens can only fly short distances, typically just enough to get over a fence or into a tree- which is just enough distance to annoy their owners.
False: Chickens have a good memory and can recognize and remember over 100 different faces of animals or people.
True: Generally, chickens with white earlobes lay white eggs, and chickens with red earlobes lay brown eggs. This was news to me.
True: Chickens can see a broader spectrum of colors, including ultraviolet light, which humans cannot see.
True: Chickens eat a variety of foods, including seeds, insects, and even small animals like mice and lizards. They even eat scrambled eggs which is gruesome.
True: All chicken breeds can lay eggs, although the size, color, and frequency can vary significantly between breeds.
True: Chickens have a complex system of vocalizations and can use different calls to communicate different types of threats or information. I do not speak chicken, but I can tell when mine are upset.
True: Chickens are the most widespread and numerous domesticated bird species globally.
True: Chickens have three eyelids; an upper, a lower, and a third, translucent eyelid called the nictitating membrane. Terrifying… I am not looking it up on YouTube. That is your job.
False: Chickens are not natural swimmers and can drown if they are in water for too long. Chickens can kill themselves in a variety of ways. Honestly, this one seems the most humane.
False: Roosters can crow at any time of day, not just in the morning. Because they are total dicks.
