Random Facts Friday July 29, 2011

Hello all,
Here are some facts I thought you may find interesting.
See if you already know them!

1. The Ohio Supreme Court has 7 judges. The Chief Judge sits in the middle. The longest serving sits on the left (as seen by the audience), the 2nd longest sits to the right of the Chief Judge, and they go back and forth until the shortest serving, the 7th, always will sit on the farthest right seat.

2. It takes 8000 pieces to construct a wind turbine.

3. Ohio Attorney General Mike Dewine has posted a blog about a scam directed towards grandparents. In a typical grandparent scam, con artists call grandparents and say, “Hi Grandma” or “Hi Grandpa,” tricking grandparents into believing that their grandchild really is calling. Posing as grandchildren, the scammers claim that they are stuck in another country and need money. They may say, “Please, Grandma, don’t tell my mom or dad. Let’s keep this between us.” Please see: http://ohioattorneygeneral.gov/SpeakOutOhio/Blog/July-2011-%281%29/Don%E2%80%99t-let-your-family-fall-prey-to--grandparent-sc. I know this to be true and the scammer used the grandchild's first name when introducing themselves. The grandparent was unsure at first, but then determined something just didn't seem right. When the scammer figured out the grandparent was ready to call their bluff, they abruptly hung up. PLEASE be sure your senior loved ones are informed.

4. Ocracoke Island has been in the news lately because of the shark attack on the little girl. Did you know that at the beginning of World War II, Britain sent boats over to protect us against the Germans? We did not have enough boats ourselves, so England patrolled our Eastern shores until we could to it ourselves.  Off the Ocracoke shore “Torpedo Junction” claimed more than 60 ships during the first 6 months of 1942. There is a British Cemetery on the island which holds four soldiers' graves. They lost their lives when the HMC Bedfordshire was torpedoed by a German submarine.

5. Recipe: Zucchini Chocolate Cake.
1/4 c. margarine                       2 1/2 c. flour                                   
1/4 c. shortening                      4 tbsp. cocoa                                                      
1/2 c. vegetable oil                  2 tsp. baking soda                            
1 1/2 c. sugar                                                                                                                                                       
1 egg                                       2 c. shredded zucchini
1 tsp. vanilla                           12 oz. chocolate chips
1/2 c. sour milk

Cream first four ingredients with your mixer. Add egg, vanilla, sour milk until well blended. Sift dry ingredients and add. Stir in zucchini. Spoon into greased and floured 9 x 13 pan and sprinkle the top with the chocolate chips. Bake at 325 degrees for 45 - 50 minutes.