Power Nap #90
March Madness Bracket Challenge Final Winners Announced! Plus cute baby lambs Jess needs help naming
In Case You Missed It
It’s our 12 year anniversary. And we got into the same argument. Read about it here.
I shared my formula for Easter baskets you won’t hate. You can find them all here or here in my Amazon shop.
If you’re in charge of bringing dessert for Easter, make this cake. You won’t regret it. Recipe here.
I’m recording the audiobook for I Just Wish I Had A Bigger Kitchen! Ahhhh! Here’s a day in the life of my first recording session, including a cat nap in the back seat of my car wearing this steam eye mask for my weary dry eyes.
“If you build a good name, eventually, that name will be its own currency.”
— William Burroughs
Things Nate Found Interesting
If you are new, this segment is where we put articles we found interesting. It doesn't mean we necessarily agree with everything in every article (sometimes we even disagree!). Also, we do our best to link to free articles, but occasionally articles may require a subscription or require you to create a free account.
I have really bad news. Apparently, the Five Second Rule does not pass scientific muster. “‘longer contact times resulted in more transfer but some transfer took place “instantaneously,’ after less than 1 second, thus debunking the five-second rule once and for all.” You better believe I’m still eating that Cheeto that was only on the ground for a moment. h/t to Marginal Revolution
France Fact of the Day: Consumption of red wine in France has fallen by about 90 per cent since the 1970s, according to Conseil Interprofessionnel du vin de Bordeaux (CIVB), an industry association. Total wine consumption, spanning reds, whites and rosés, is down more than 80 per cent in France since 1945, according to survey data from Nielsen, and the decline is accelerating, with Generation Z purchasing half the volume bought by older millennials.
South Korea Fact of the Day: South Korea in 2024 saw 242,334 babies born, marking the first increase in the annual figure since 2015, as the country struggles to improve its plummeting birth rate that is among the worst in the world. The country also saw 360,757 deaths in the year, resulting in the overall population shrinking for a fifth straight year since 2020…
Italy Stupidity of the Day: Launched in Italy during COVID, the "Superbonus" scheme subsidized 110% of housing renovation costs. In other words, if you did a $100k renovation on your home, the Italian government paid you $110k (they used a form of tax credit). Guys, think about how stupid the incentives this creates are for one second. Why do a $100k renovation if you could get a $200k renovation for free, plus receive $20k in credits instead of $10k? Why not do a million dollar renovation and get $100k for that matter? Predictably, “the ‘free renovation’ scheme quickly spiraled out of control. Initially projected to cost €35 billion, the program ballooned to around €220 billion—about 12% of Italy’s GDP! Massive fraud ensued as builders and homeowners inflated renovation costs to siphon off government funds. Beyond that, surging demand ran headlong into resource constraints.”
March Madness Winners!
It was a heck of a finish Monday night in the NCAA Championship, with the Florida Gators prevailing late over the Houston Cougars. A BIG CONGRATULATIONS to our NTK Bracket Challenge winners, who outlasted over 15,000 other entries to take home our prizes this year. Once again, we want to thank The Chinet® brand, for helping us put on what many are saying is the best free March Madness pool IN THE WORLD!
WINNERS
First Place: $5,000 — Mariah Owen (of Charleston, SC — Let’s go!!!!)
Second Place: $2,000 — Santiago Fernandez (won the ESPN tiebreaker by picking the closest final score in the championship game)
Third Place through Fifth Place: $1,000 each — Joe Shymanski, Lisa Bragg, and Justin Unterberg.
If you are one of these people, please email me at NATE@NAPTIMEKITCHEN.COM so I can get you your prize money!
THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE CHINET® BRAND! SEE YOU ALL AGAIN NEXT MARCH!!!
Molly’s Must-Haves
“Molly's Must-Haves” is brought to you by Kate's best friend Molly who is a meticulous researcher. Each week she is going to share an item, the problem it solves, and why she chose it. This week, she is sharing a grape cutter.
Grape Cutter
This may seem like a small thing but man do I appreciate this grape cutter! 10 times out of 10 if a friend is over and they see me pull this out, they immediately ask where I got it. Grapes are a favorite fruit in our house but cutting individual grapes is not my favorite activity! This grape cutter has been a huge win for quickly getting dinner on the table or for prepping lunches for my family. My kids are also able to use it themselves so I love that it gives them some independence and it helps me out! Believe it or not I have actually tested two other types of grape cutters (why am i this way!?) and this one wins for effectiveness, ease of use AND ease of cleaning!!- Molly
Name the lambs!
Jess here - My husband and I own sheep and we welcomed our first baby lambs this week! #2 and #3 are pictured above. They are twin ram lambs (boys) and even cuter in person. PLEASE help me name them! Bonus points if it’s Biblical or has Hebrew roots. Our other sheep are named: Abraham, Rebekah, Ahava, Hope and Zeb. Leave a comment below with your name suggestions! And if you live in Johnson City, TN come on over for free snuggles ❤️
Twin boys? Jacob and Esau for sure!
Uriah and David
And then if you have another girl sheep, she can be Baasheepa