Author: Emily Gautreaux

Louisiana’s Largest Coastal Restoration Project

According to an article written by mississippiriverdelta.org, the Caillou Lake Headlands Restoration Project is currently Louisiana’s largest complemented coastal restoration project. At a cost of approximately $118 million, funded through the Deepwater Horizon oil spill settlement, contractors pumped about 11.8 million cubic yards of sediment (enough sand to fill the Superdome three times) from Ship Shoal, a remnant barrier island on the floor of the Gulf of Mexico, onto Caillou Lake Headlands to create 1,000 acres. This project now stands as the largest restoration project ever completed in Louisiana, surpassing the Caminada Headland project completed in 2017. This restoration project builds upon a string of barrier island projects in the region, protecting vast coastal wetlands in the Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes.

For more information on the Cailou Lake Headlands Restoration Project and why nearby communities need this project, click here.

For articles similar to this one, click here.

The Easiest Travel Hack

This biggest complaint regarding air travel is the delicate and time-consuming trek through security which is why we want to share this simple travel hack.  It’s stressful and annoying and frankly, seems unfair that something outside of your control could affect your travel so much.  During just one week in March, nearly 6,800 American Airline passengers missed their flights due to these checkpoints alone. We have found the best way to SIGNIFICANTLY cut down the time it takes you to get through.  Anyone can take advantage of this hack but if you are an avid traveler for business or pleasure, you especially need to read on.

We found that the rate of people who are signing up for TSA Precheck by IdentoGO is quickly rising as the word spreads.  With TSA Precheck, trusted travelers can leave their shoes, belts, and jackets on, and keep their liquids and laptops in their bag as it gets scanned. It eliminates the stress, and the hassle and makes the process much faster, too. This past April, 92% of travelers with TSA Precheck waited less than 5 minutes. FIVE MINUTES!  That’s a lot less than the regular line and surely prevented several missed flights.

The best part is that TSA Precheck lasts 5 full years, but it only takes about 15 minutes to get signed up. All you have to do is fill out a form online to start your application, and visit an office near you to give your fingerprints. No need to go all the way to the airport—unless you live near one and it’s more convenient for you. It only costs $85 for 5 full years. That’s only $17 a year! And if you have kids under 12, they’re free.  Fast, convenient, and affordable, it’s the easiest travel hack out there yet many don’t take advantage of it. Do yourself a favor and sign up today!

For more articles similar to this one, click here.

Electronics In The Classroom: Helpful or hurtful?

While the last decade brought pushes to improve the choice and frequency of technology and electronics use in America’s classrooms, recent research makes the argument against this push. A study published in the journal Educational Psychology found that students who had technology for use in conjunction with the lesson, such as cell phones or laptops, scored five percent, or half a letter grade, lower on exams than students who didn’t use electronics.  According to a press release from Rutgers University, the study is the first-ever to show a causal relationship between distractions from electronics and exam performance.

 

Researchers separated 118 college students enrolled in the same course into two groups. Each group was taught the same material by the same professor, but one group was allowed to have cellphones and laptops open for non-academic purposes, while the other group was not. While the students allowed electronics didn’t score lower on comprehension tests during lectures, they scored lower on exams at the end of the term.

 

“The intrusion of internet-enabled electronic devices (laptop, tablet and cell phone) has transformed the modern college lecture into a divided attention task,” the study stated.  “Many dedicated students think they can divide their attention in the classroom without harming their academic success – but we found an insidious effect on exam performance and final grades. To help manage the use of devices in the classroom, teachers should explain to students the damaging effect of distractions on retention – not only on themselves, but for the whole class.”

Focus Word: electronics

 

While the last decade brought pushes to improve the choice and frequency of technology use in America’s classrooms, recent research makes the argument against this push. A study published in the journal Educational Psychology found that students who had technology for use in conjunction with the lesson, such as cell phones or laptops, scored five percent, or half a letter grade, lower on exams than students who didn’t use electronics.  According to a press release from Rutgers University, the study is the first-ever to show a causal relationship between distractions from electronics and exam performance.

Researchers separated 118 college students enrolled in the same course into two groups. Each group was taught the same material by the same professor, but one group was allowed to have cellphones and laptops open for non-academic purposes, while the other group was not. While the students allowed electronics didn’t score lower on comprehension tests during lectures, they scored lower on exams at the end of the term.

“The intrusion of internet-enabled electronic devices (laptop, tablet and cell phone) has transformed the modern college lecture into a divided attention task,” the study stated.  “Many dedicated students think they can divide their attention in the classroom without harming their academic success – but we found an insidious effect on exam performance and final grades. To help manage the use of devices in the classroom, teachers should explain to students the damaging effect of distractions on retention – not only on themselves, but for the whole class.”

For more articles similar to this one, click here.

The Best No-Churn Ice Cream Recipe

Is there anything more nostalgic than the taste of home-made ice cream?  These days summer BBQ’s are having less and less of the old-style churning machines because the process is a bit laborious.  No-churn is the way to go and we came across the easiest and most delicious way to whip a batch up.

Ingredients for No-Churn Cinnamon Brown Sugar Ice Cream

(12 servings; makes about 6 cups)

4 large eggs (about 7 ounces, shelled)

3 1/2 ounces granulated sugar (about 1/2 cup)

1 1/2 ounces light brown sugar (shy 1/4 cup, loosely packed)

1/2 ounce vanilla extract (about 1 tablespoon)

1/2 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt; for other brands, use less

Pinch ground cinnamon

6 ounces chilled heavy cream (about 3/4 cup)

Preparation

Combine the eggs, granulated and brown sugars, vanilla extract, salt and cinnamon in a large glass or ceramic bowl. Stir with a flexible spatula until well combined, then place the bowl over a large pan of gently bubbling water. Stir and scrape continuously until the mixture registers 160 degrees on a digital/instant-read thermometer. This should take no more than 10 minutes, so adjust the heat as needed to keep things moving along. Transfer the bowl to a cool work surface.

Use a handheld electric mixer to beat the warmed egg-sugar mixture until pale and thick enough to hold soft peaks, about 15 minutes (the timing will vary with the power of the mixer). When properly mixed, the mixture will be thick enough to mound up on itself in the bowl when dropped from a spoon.

Whip the cream to stiff peaks in a separate large bowl, then add about one-third of the foamed egg mixture, whisking by hand to incorporate. Add the remaining egg mixture, and fold until well combined.

Scrape into a 2-quart glass or ceramic baking dish, cover with plastic wrap, and place in the freezer for about 1 hour, until thick and firm. Serve as you would traditional ice cream, in ice cream cones or chilled bowls.  For optional mix-ins, click here.

For more articles similar to this one, click here.

Why does Louisiana have Parishes?

Louisiana is the only state that is separated by Parishes and not counties. But why is that? The answer is actually quite simple. Louisiana was officially Roman Catholic under both France and Spain’s rule. The boundaries dividing the territories generally coincided with church parishes. In 1807, the territorial legislature officially adopted the ecclesiastical term. Through each change in history, Louisiana never deviated and the primary civil divisions have been officially known as parishes ever since. In this article, written by worldatlas.com, you can read more about the history of Louisiana including Colonal Louisiana, The Louisiana Purchase, and more detailed information about the 64 Louisiana Parishes.

For more articles similar to this one, click here.

Fletcher Tech Students Land Jobs

All 13 of Fletcher Tech Community College’s graduates in the cardiopulmonary program have landed jobs before they even officially finished the program.  They have finished their courses at this point but still have a pinning ceremony this week to commemorate the completion of the program and transition to the workforce.  The 2 year program has been located at Fletcher since 2010 and is very fast paced.  It prepares students to treat patients of every age that have been diagnosed with severe and chronic cardiopulmonary conditions.  These patients may have underdeveloped lungs and/or lung disease. Students learn to help patients on mechanical ventilation with oxygenation, ventilation and airway management to maintain life support.

Chancellor Kristine Strickland said, “A true testament to the achievements of these students and the quality of the program at Fletcher is indicated by the 100 percent placement rate of our students.  Fletcher recognizes that our work is aligned with the needs of our business and industry partners and we are pleased that so many organizations have recognized the quality of our graduates and offered them positions.  We wish our students the best of luck as they begin their new careers in healthcare.”  For more on this story, click here.

For articles similar to this one, click here.