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DIY Spider Wreath

We get the creepy crawlies just looking at this spider web wreath. Isn't that the feeling you want all of your Halloween decorations to drum up?



Make the Wreath: Tie six pieces of white string across a 14-inch foam wreath form, making sure to loop each one at the midway point of the first piece attached to create a central point. (This is the base of the web and should have 12 “spokes.”) Tie a long piece of string to the center point; weave and loop from the center out to create the web. If you run out of string, tie another piece to the end and continue weaving. When you reach the wreath form, tie off at your ending point. Move the twine up and down to create uneven gaps in the web. Wrap the wreath form with white burlap ribbon and attach faux spiders with hot-glue. Loop a piece of white burlap ribbon around the form to hang.
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Morgue Drawer Door

Enter if you dare! This door decoration is perfect for anyone who's looking to send chills down their guests' spines.



Make the Door: 
Attach three precut 20- by 30-inch pieces of foam core together with spray adhesive. Attach a piece of black paper, cut to size, to the top piece of foam core using spray adhesive. Insert the rectangular piece of two 6-inch stainless steel T-hinges between the first and second pieces of foam core on one of the short sides; “screw” in place. Place a 6 1/2-inch handle on the opposite side; “screw” in place. Cover exposed edges of the foam core with silver duct tape, folding any excess to the back. Make two more doors. Adhere to house door with heavy- duty self-adhesive Velcro. Cut five coffin shapes from black and gray kraft paper. Paint letters on gray coffins with red acrylic paint to spell “morgue” and attach to black coffins with double-sided tape. Hang a plastic chain above the door and attach coffin cutouts with hot-glue. Add plastic pedestal planter painted Titanium Silver by Rust-Oleum and “Swiss Cross” doormat.
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Handmade Christmas Ornaments - Popsicle Stick Sleds

I always like to make at least one handmade Christmas ornament each year. They add that personalized touch and I really enjoy looking back at older ornaments as I pull out the Christmas decorations. This year I’m doing a wintery Christmas cabin theme in our family room so I decided to make some cute popsicle stick sleds. I’ve seen a few different versions of these popsicle stick sleds on Pinterest but initially saw them over on Fireflies and Mudpies.



Popsicle Stick Sleds Christmas Tree Ornaments Tutorial

These cute little popsicle stick sleds are an easy Christmas craft that’s fun for both kids and adults.  Make them as simple as you would like or dress them up with some creative embellishments!

MATERIALS

*popsicle {craft} sticks {2 regular sized and 5 small per sled}
*wood glue
*wood stain
*paint
*twine
*glue dots
*embellishments if desired {I used a couple of jingle bells, some faux flocked greenery, and baker’s twine}

INSTRUCTIONS

Glue 4 of the small craft sticks together staggering the end stick on each side slightly lower.  I found the easiest way to apply the glue for this project was to squirt some glue out onto a paper plate and then use a large toothpick or skewer to apply the glue along the edges.  Allow to dry.  Paint the small craft sticks whatever color you would like.  Allow to dry. Stain the regular sized craft sticks using a rag. Glue on the stained sled runners to the smaller popsicle sticks. Again this is much easier to do if you use a skewer or large toothpick to apply the glue. Glue on the cross stick to the front of the sled. Add whatever embellishments you would like. I took a few little sprigs of faux greenery, wrapped them in baker’s twine, and then threaded on a couple of small jingle bells. I then just tied the baker’s twine around the cross bar. If you’re doing this project with kids, they could decorate the sled or write their name and year on it. I’ve even seen some that add a photo to the sled. Cut some regular twine to your desired length and attach to the underside of the cross bar using glue dots.  If you don’t have glue dots, you can use regular craft glue but, honestly, those glue dots are so much easier and way less messy.

These little sleds look cute hung on the tree, but if you use a little creativity they can be used in many other ways as well.  Use them in rustic Christmas vignettes, add them to Christmas presents, or use them as name cards on your Christmas table.  The possibilities are endless!
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Sugar Cookie Ornaments Recipe

These classic Christmas cookies are a 2-for-1 deal — a delicious treat and a homemade tree decoration. Punch a hole before baking to create edible hangers. Once baked and decorated, add a ribbon and hang on your tree.
 


Ingredients:

Cookies

2 3/4 c. all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. Kosher salt

1 c. unsalted butter

3/4 c. granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Sanding sugar, for decorating

Royal Icing

3 large egg whites

1/2 tsp. cream of tartar

16 oz. confectioners' sugar

Directions

In large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until combined. Beat in egg and then vanilla. Reduce mixer speed to low and gradually add flour mixture, mixing just until incorporated. Shape dough into 4 disks and roll each between 2 sheets parchment paper to 1⁄4 inch thick. Chill until firm, 30 minutes in refrigerator or 15 minutes in freezer. Heat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Using floured cookie cutters, cut out cookies. If desired, use straw to make holes in tops of cookies for hanging. Place on pre- pared sheets. Reroll, chill and cut scraps. Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until cookies are light golden brown around edges, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool on sheets 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely. Make Royal Icing: Using electric mixer with whisk attachment, beat egg whites and cream of tartar on medium-high speed until foamy, about 1 minute. Reduce speed to low and gradually add confectioners’ sugar, beating until just incorporated. Increase speed to high and beat until medium-stiff glossy peaks form, 5 to 7 minutes. Tint as desired with gel food coloring. Decorate as desired with icing and sanding sugar.
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DIY Clay Rainbow Ornaments

One of our favorite things to do during the month of December is making ornaments! It’s become a traditions in our homes and it’s always a great thing to make with our girls. Poppy asked to make rainbow ornaments this year, so we got out our favorite air dry clay and got crafting! These sweet little DIY Clay Rainbow Ornaments are easy to make. The hardest part is waiting for them to dry.



Supplies: air dry clay, rolling pin, small knife, acrylic craft paint, small paintbrushes, bamboo skewer, twine

Instructions:

Step 1 – Roll out air dry clay on hard surface covered in muslin or parchment paper. Roll out to 1/4 inch or 1/2 inch thickness. Use a round cookie cutter (or glass from your kitchen) to cut out circles. Then cut circles in half to create two rainbows!

Step 2 – Using a bamboo skewer, or the end of your paintbrush, poke a hole through the top of your rainbow. Smooth out edges with your finger. Now it’s time to dry ornaments. We like to dry ours overnight. Here’s a tip: place ornaments under a book so they dry flat.

Step 3 – Time to paint! We used craft acrylic paint to add the rainbow stripes. Let dry and then string thin twine and your ornaments are ready for gifting or to hang on your tree!

 
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Pokemon GO Banning Players Using Xiaomi

Pokemon GO, one of the hottest game since its release, is now under fire following the reports that they are banning legitimate users using Xiaomi phones.
While banning abusive and cheating players is a common situation in Pokemon GO, it seems that Niantic is doing something wrong this time. Why is that? It’s because of the recent reports suggesting that most of the affected users are legitimate players and they have one thing in common – they are using Xiaomi devices especially the Series 5.

I have personally seen this report on a Taiwanese and Singaporean Facebook group, stating that their accounts have been suspended due to unexplained violations. Most of these users are also using Xiaomi devices, but I ignored it thinking that it’s just a coincidence.
Ban on Xiaomi from r/TheSilphRoad
Now, the issue has also been posted on Reddit which also received a lot of feedback with the same situation from around the world. Some of these affected users received a permanent ban while others received a 30-day suspension.
As of writing, Niantic has not released any statement about this matter but the Reddit community have been continuously investigation this issue. Are you one of the legitimate player who received a suspension while using a Xiaomi device?
Update 1: Niantic is now investigating this matter.
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Huawei Mate 30 Pro review

Three years since it partnered with Leica and Porsche Design, Huawei is one of only three mainstream smartphone makers that can command premium pricing, on the same tier as Samsung and Apple. Huawei's current torchbearer, the Mate 30 Pro, carries the weight of expectations from the Shenzhen-based tech giant: fantastic cameras, sexy design, blistering fast performance and freedom from battery anxiety. It is also the first Huawei device to launch without Google's app suite out of the box, the company being a casualty of US President Donald Trump's trade war with China. It does, however, run an open source version of Android 10, which offers software possibilities. Does it measure up? For this review, I tested the Mate 30 Pro from its launch in Munich, Germany on Sept. 19, using it as a work machine, as my only camera, as a video streaming companion and a portable hotspot for my laptop and personal phone. Let's go straight to what makes the Mate 30 Pro standout: its seven cameras. Mobile photography DxOMark currently ranks the Mate 30 Pro as the best camera on a smartphone, dislodging the Galaxy Note 10+. The website has yet to rate the Apple iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max. That DxOMark review and Huawei's branding aside, (It's still Leica-engineered, this-time "super sensing"), the Mate 30 Pro takes gorgeous photos.



Reds and blues are rich, images are sharp and the AI-backed auto-adjustment is a tad less aggressive, making the photos look more natural. The camera focused instantly and the night mode is the brightest I've seen so far, compared to the Huawei's own P30 Pro, the Google Pixel 3XL and the Galaxy Note 10+. The zoom on the Mate 30 Pro maxes out at 30X compared to 50X on the P30 Pro from last summer. Unlike the P30 Pro, the Mate 30 Pro does not have a "periscope" lens for that crazy zoom. What the Mate 30 Pro does have are two 40MP cameras, an 8MP shooter and a depth-sensing sensor in a halo-shaped module. The three cameras on the front allow for improved facial scanning compared to previous generations. I did take a lot of videos with the Mate 30 Pro. The shots were steady despite my shaky hands. The DxOMark review scored video capture on the Mate 30 Pro highest on auto focus (96) and stabilization (94). Huawei is clearly targeting content creators with the Mate 30 Pro, even offering a gimbal accessory. The Mate 30 Pro can shoot slow motion up to 7680 frames per second at 720p resolution. It's easy to use as long as the subject does not blend too much into the background. Birds taking flight and fast-moving toys were easier to capture compared to water splashes from a theme park ride. A pinwheel toy at Universal Studios Japan is shot in slow motion using the Huawei Mate 30 Pro. The Spiderman ride is shown in this video taken using the Huawei Mate 30 Pro. During his keynote in Munich, Huawei consumer business CEO Richard Yu poked fun at how the square camera module on the Apple iPhone 11 Pro copied the Mate 20 Pro from 2018. If the current crop of smartphones tells something about Huawei, is that it's become a design trendsetter. The green and purple "Twilight" P20 Pro started the gradient paint job trend while the Mate 20 Pro differentiated itself with a textured glass back in "Emerald Green." The new iPhone color for 2019 is "Forest Green." For the Mate 30 Pro, Huawei placed the rear cameras in a circular "halo ring," underscoring its marquee feature. On the front, it still sports the iPhone-esque notch that houses the 3 front-facing cameras. The Mate 30 Pro is a head-turner and my review unit, officially called silver, shifts from light lavender to pale blue. It's slippery, which should be addressed by the matte finish or vegan leather on the back of other color options. The display, which curves 88 degrees to the side edges makes the screen appear floating ion the hand, though for a work phone, we preferred using the Galaxy Note 10+, which has a flatter and higher resolution panel. Flipping the phone in the hand when not looking, I often forgot if the front or back of the phone is facing me, resulting in accidental touches. When using the phone, however, I hardly had any screen misreads, especially from the fleshy part of the palm below the thumb joint. Needless to say curved "horizon" and "waterfall" displays are more aesthetic (to some) than useful. The Mate 30 Pro feels slimmer and much lighter in the hand compared to the iPhone XS Max. The Mate 30 kept up with whatever kind of day I threw at it: taking dozens of photos and videos, roaming on both SIM cards, data tethering, watching movies during long train and plane rides. I never ran out of juice before I reached my Airbnb after a late night "konbini" or convenience store run. The bundled 45W charger can take it to full charge from 50 percent while I showered and got ready in the morning, which is about half an hour. Remember the days of the iPhone 5? It had the best camera on a mobile phone but at that time but never lasted before lunch hour. As expected from Huawei's Kirin 990, the phone was fast, though not remarkably faster than the P30 Pro, at least when browsing the web and streaming video. Save for the iconography, EMUI 10 is the zippiest of Huawei's Android skins so far. The semi-transparent notification shade gets a Pixel-style circle shape makeover. The buttons move to the bottom chin of the screen, Samsung-style, when the entire shade is pulled down. EMUI, along with OnePlus, have the easiest gesture navigations among Android phones that I've used. Face unlock and the in-display fingerprint sensor were both as fast as smartphones could get at the end of 2019. Four generations on, it's hard to think that the Mate 30 Pro is the successor to the Mate 9, an awkward rectangular slab with an aluminium back a pair of small cameras on the rear. With a huge screen, a curved glass body and that "halo" module for the quad cameras, Huawei blurred the lines between the P series that launches in spring (or summer in the Philippines) and the Mate line that comes out at the end of the year. The Mate 30 Pro delivers on Huawei's promise: a solid camera that ranks among the best, fast performance, eye-catching design and a fast-charging battery that lasts an entire day with heavy use.
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Philippines Senators want to stop exporting sugar to Amerika

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri slammed the Sugar Regulatory Authority (SRA) for continuing the exportation of sugar to the United States, amid a local shortage and pressures to liberalize the industry. In a Senate hearing on Monday, September 30, Zubiri said the sugar to be shipped out can instead be given to local companies, rather than end users importing the commodity from other countries. "Can we not export anymore to the US? Because it is not a treaty that is binding," Zubiri said during the budget deliberations of the Department of Agriculture. "Why come up with an order like that which is contrary to what we need to do, which is to keep our local production here and give it cheaply to the end users?" he added.



The Philippines exports around 10% of its total sugar output to the US. In a report by the Philippine News Agency, the SRA said it has reduced its allocation to the US by 12% to 120,000 metric tons, as local production hit a snag. (READ: Sugar rush prompts government to import) Meanwhile, Senate agriculture committee chairperson Cynthia Villar questioned why the SRA had given import permits to traders and not processors. Villar echoed Zubiri's assertions that companies should be given authority to directly import, creating a tighter and efficient link in the overall production line. Zubiri also opposed calls to deregulate the sugar industry and warned that it would negatively affect farmers, similar to what has happened to rice farmers under rice tariffication. (READ: Farmers seek floor price as palay sells for just P7 per kilo) Zubiri, whose family has business interests in the sugar industry, said that some 5 million families would lose jobs. Finance Undersecretary and Chief Economist Gil Beltran previously said that reforms are needed to introduce competition in the sugar industry. "Quantitative restrictions need to be replaced by tariffs and safeguard measures [for subsidized products] to allow for more transparent, competitive pricing and allow downstream industries to become more viable and grow as fast as their ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) counterparts," Beltran said.
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Prominent Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong to run for office

Prominent Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong announced plans Saturday to contest local elections and warned that any attempt to disqualify him will only spur more support for monthslong pro-democracy protests. His announcement came ahead of a major rally later Saturday to mark the fifth anniversary of the Umbrella protests, where he first shot to fame as a youth leader. During the Umbrella Movement, protesters occupied key thoroughfares in the semiautonomous Chinese territory for 79 days to demand for free elections for the city’s leaders but failed to win any concessions. Wong, 22, said that he will run in district council elections in November and that the vote is crucial to send a message to Beijing that the people are more determined than ever to win the battle for more rights. “Five years ago, we claimed that we will be back and now we are back with even stronger determination,” he told a news conference. “The battle ahead is the battle for our home and our homeland.” Wong, who has been arrested and jailed repeatedly, said he is aware that he could be disqualified. Members of the Demosisto party that he co-founded in 2016 have in the past been disqualified from serving and running for office because they advocated self-determination. He said the political censorship by Beijing showed an erosion of Hong Kong’s autonomy under the “one country, two systems” framework when the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1996. “If they disqualify me, it will just generate more and more momentum ... they will pay the price,” he said. Wong is out on bail after he was rearrested with several other people last month and charged with organizing an illegal rally. It didn’t stop him from going to the U.S., Germany and Taiwan to drum up support for the current protest movement, which started in June over an extradition bill but has since snowballed into an anti-China campaign.



The now-shelved bill, which would have sent some criminal suspects for trial in mainland China, is seen as a jarring example of China’s intrusion into the city’s autonomy. Wong’s activities have made him a target of the Chinese government, which has used him to accuse foreign powers of colluding with anti-China separatists to foment unrest. Wong accused the government of trying to frame prominent activists such as himself as a warning to other protesters but said it would fail because the current movement has no centralized figureheads. Apart from Saturday’s rally in the city center, protesters are also planning global “anti-totalitarianism” rallies on Sunday in Hong Kong and over 60 other cities worldwide to denounce what they called “Chinese tyranny.” But the biggest worry for the government is on Tuesday. Protesters plan a major march downtown, sparking fears of a bloody showdown that could embarrass China’s ruling Communist Party as it marks its 70th year in power with grand festivities in Beijing. Pro-Beijing groups have also vowed to come out, adding to the tension. Police have banned the march, but protesters have in the past turned up anyway. Hong Kong’s government has toned down National Day celebrations, canceling an annual firework display and moving a reception indoors. Separately, American academic Dan Garrett, who testified at a U.S. congressional hearing with Wong on Sept. 18, said Saturday that he was denied entry into Hong Kong on Thursday due to “unspecified immigration reasons.” He tweeted that it was the first time he was barred after having visited and lived in Hong Kong for two decades. Garrett and other speakers spoke about the weakening of Hong Kong’s autonomy as some U.S. congressmen sought to push through a bill to support the democracy movement. U.S. Rep. James McGovern and Sen. Marco Rubio, who are spearheading efforts on the bill, pledged in a joint statement to stand with the people of Hong Kong by “swiftly passing the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act in the U.S. Congress.” They said there was an “accelerated erosion” of Hong Kong’s human rights and freedoms since the 2014 Umbrella Movement. They urged Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam’s government to make universal suffrage a priority and acquiesce to demands for an independent inquiry on alleged police brutality against protesters. China has slammed the bill, which proposes economic sanctions and penalties on Chinese and Hong Kong officials found to have suppressed democracy in the city, as interference in its affairs.
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Security tight as Zimbabwe's Mugabe gets a private burial

Security was tight as the family of longtime Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe prepared on Saturday to bury him at his rural home. A highly private farewell was planned for one of Africa’s most divisive figures after a weeks-long family dispute with the administration that forced him from power. Only approved guests and funeral parlor vans were allowed, a decision out of sync with the local tradition that funerals are free for all to attend. One elderly neighbor threw a tantrum after being blocked at the gate. Mugabe’s family earlier had agreed to a government request to bury him at a shrine in the capital but only after a hilltop mausoleum was built to set him apart from former comrades. But the government on Thursday abruptly announced the family had changed its mind, leaving it with scaffolding around the partially completed memorial.



A spokesman for the ruling ZANU-PF party, Simon Khaya Moyo, called the private burial “most unfortunate.” In a statement, Moyo added that “we indeed respect the wishes of families of deceased heroes, hence we are saddened when maneuvers that border on political gimmicks begin to unfold on an issue concerning an illustrious liberation icon.” Mugabe, who led the bitter guerrilla war to end white-minority rule in the country then known as Rhodesia, was Zimbabwe’s first leader and ruled from 1980 for 37 years, from years of prosperity to economic ruin and repression. He was forced by the military and ruling party to retire in late 2017 as thousands cheered in the streets. Mugabe died this month in Singapore at age 95. President Emmerson Mnangagwa, a once-trusted deputy who helped oust Mugabe from power, was not expected to attend the burial. State-run media reported that the government would be represented by the home affairs minister.
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Meghan visits memorial to murdered South African woman

In this undated handout photo taken from the Sussex Royal instagram account, Britain's Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex visits the memorial to a murdered South African student as a "personal gesture" after "closely following the tragic story". In a quiet visit, Meghan tied a ribbon to the memorial at the post office where university student Uyinene Mrwetyana was attacked. A post on the royals' Instagram account calls the death "a critical point in the future of women's rights in South Africa," where more than 100 rapes are reported every day. (Sussex Royal via AP). Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has visited a memorial to a young South African woman whose rape and murder inspired thousands of people to protest the country’s high rate of sexual violence. In a quiet stop during a royal tour, Meghan tied a ribbon to the memorial at the post office where 19-year-old university student Uyinene Mrwetyana was attacked last month. The assault has led outraged women to march in the streets in major cities and rally behind an online campaign called #AmINext.



A post on the royals’ Instagram account called the death “a critical point in the future of women’s rights in South Africa” and said the visit was “personally important” to Meghan. The duchess also has spoken with Mrwetyana’s mother, the post said, adding that “the Duke and Duchess had been following what had happened from afar and were both eager to learn more when they arrived in South Africa.” More than 100 rapes are reported every day in South Africa, and President Cyril Ramaphosa calls the country “one of the most unsafe places in the world to be a woman.” He announced new emergency measures and vowed to be tougher on perpetrators, but some women weary of years of such pronouncements have suggested that South Africa bring back the death penalty for rapists. The scope of the problem is well-known. More than 2,700 women were murdered in South Africa last year, and more than 1,000 children, the government says. One in five women over age 18 have faced physical violence from a partner. Women’s empowerment is one of the many issues that Meghan and Prince Harry are highlighting on their first official tour as a family with their baby, Archie. The 10-day, multi-country visit continued on Saturday for Harry with a meeting in Angola with the president of the southern African nation. The prince on Friday followed in the footsteps of his late mother, Princess Diana, whose walk through an active mine field in Angola years ago helped to lead to a global ban on the deadly weapons.
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Democrats move ahead with subpoenas, Trump impeachment

ouse Democrats took their first concrete steps in the impeachment investigation of President Donald Trump, issuing subpoenas demanding documents from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and scheduling legal depositions for other State Department officials. At the end of a stormy week of revelation and recrimination, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi framed the impeachment inquiry as a somber moment for a divided nation. “This is no cause for any joy,” she said on MSNBC. At the White House, a senior administration official confirmed Friday a key detail from the unidentified CIA whistleblower who has accused Trump of abusing the power of his office. Trump, for his part, insisted anew that his actions and words have been “perfect” and the whistleblower’s complaint might well be the work of “a partisan operative.” The White House acknowledged that a record of the Trump phone call that is now at the center of the impeachment inquiry had been sealed away in a highly classified system at the direction of Trump’s National Security Council lawyers. Separately, Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway told reporters that the whistleblower “has protection under the law,” something Trump himself had appeared to question earlier in the day. He suggested then that his accuser “isn’t a whistleblower at all.” Still at issue is why the rough transcript of Trump’s July 25 phone call with Ukraine’s president was put on “lock down,” in the words of the whistleblower. The CIA officer said that diverting the record in an unusual way was evidence that “White House officials understood the gravity of what had transpired” in the conversation. The whistleblower complaint alleges that Trump used his office to “solicit interference from a foreign country” to help himself in next year’s U.S. election. In the phone call, days after ordering a freeze to some military assistance for Ukraine, Trump prodded new Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to dig for potentially damaging material on Democratic rival Joe Biden and volunteered the assistance of both his personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, and U.S. Attorney General William Barr. Pelosi refused to set a deadline for the probe but promised to act “expeditiously.”



The House intelligence committee could draw members back to Washington next week. Pelosi said she was praying for the president, adding, “I would say to Democrats and Republicans: We have to put country before party.” At the White House, it was a senior administration official who acknowledged that the rough transcript of Trump’s conversation with Ukraine’s Zelenskiy had been moved to a highly classified system maintained by the National Security Council. The official was granted anonymity Friday to discuss sensitive matters. White House attorneys had been made aware of concerns about Trump’s comments on the call even before the whistleblower sent his allegations to the intelligence community’s inspector general. Those allegations, made in mid-August, were released Thursday under heavy pressure from House Democrats. One former official said memos of Trump calls with foreign leaders had to be severely restricted after leaks in 2017. Calls with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Russia’s Vladimir Putin were among those whose distribution were kept to a minimum. The official cautioned that administrations discuss sensitive matters with both nations, and that the treatment shouldn’t imply anything untoward on the call. Even some calls with US allies are also restricted due to discussions of classified topics. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the process. On the Ukraine matter, Trump was keeping up his full-bore attack on the whistleblower and the unnamed “White House officials” cited in the complaint, drawing a warning from Pelosi against retaliation. Late Thursday, Trump denounced people who might have talked to the whistleblower as “close to a spy” and suggested they engaged in treason, an act punishable by death. Then on Friday, he said the person was “sounding more and more like the so-called Whistleblower isn’t a Whistleblower at all.” He also alleged without evidence that information in the complaint has been “proved to be so inaccurate.” Pelosi told MSNBC, “I’m concerned about some of the president’s comments about the whistleblower.” She said the House panels conducting the impeachment probe will make sure there’s no retaliation against people who provided information in the case. On Thursday, House Democratic chairmen called Trump’s comments “witness intimidation” and suggested efforts by him to interfere with the potential witness could be unlawful. Trump’s Friday comment questioning the whistleblower’s status seemed to foreshadow a possible effort to argue that legal protection laws don’t apply to the person, opening a new front in the president’s defense, but Conway’s statement seemed to make that less likely. The intelligence community’s inspector general found the whistleblower’s complaint “credible” despite finding indications of the person’s support for a different political candidate. Legal experts said that by following proper procedures and filing a complaint with the government rather than disclosing the information to the media, the person is without question regarded as a whistleblower entitled to protections against being fired or criminally prosecuted.
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Snickers Cheesecake Recipe

Ever wished you could have a Snickers Bar... in cheesecake form? Well, today's your day! This outrageous cheesecake has a creamy milk chocolate center and is topped with plenty of caramel and roasted salted peanuts. Oh, and Snickers, obviously. Hungry? Grab a slice.



Ingredients:

For the crust:

2 c. finely crushed Nilla Wafers (from about 60 wafers)

6 tbsp. melted butter

Pinch kosher salt

For the filling:

4 (8 oz) blocks of cream cheese, softened to room temperature

1 c. granulated sugar

3 large eggs

2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1/4 c. sour cream

2 tbsp. all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp. kosher salt

3/4 c. milk chocolate chips, melted and cooled slightly

For garnish:

1/4 c. caramel

10 mini Snickers, roughly chopped

1/4 roasted salted peanuts, roughly chopped

Directions: 

*Preheat oven to 325° and grease an 8" or 9" springform pan with cooking spray. Make crust: In a large bowl, mix together crushed wafers, butter, and salt. Press mixture into bottom of prepared pan and up the sides. 

*In a large bowl using a hand mixer (or in the bowl of a stand mixer), beat cream cheese and sugar until no lumps remain. Add eggs, one at a time, then stir in vanilla and sour cream. Add flour and salt and beat until just combined. Remove 1 cup of mixture into a medium bowl, then pour half of the rest of the mixture over crust.

*Add melted chocolate to reserved cup of cheesecake mixture and stir to combine. Dollop chocolate mixture over surface of cheesecake and use a butter knife to swirl, then top with remaining plain batter.

*Wrap bottom of pan in aluminum foil and place in a large roasting pan. Pour in enough boiling water to come up halfway in the baking pan. 

*Bake until center of cheesecake only slightly jiggles, about 1 hour 30 minutes. Turn off heat, prop open oven door, and let cheesecake cool in oven, 1 hour. 

*When ready to serve, remove cheesecake from springform pan and top with a layer of caramel, peanuts, and chopped Snickers. 
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Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Bread Recipe

Our love of buffalo chicken runs deep and this stuffed bread is everything we dream of. Cheesy, spicy chicken is stuffed inside bread for a fun party appetizer that's a major crowd pleaser! Good luck waiting for your guests to arrive before diving in!



Ingredients:

1 (1-lb.) thick loaf French bread

1 (8-oz.) block cream cheese, softened

1/2 c. hot sauce, such as Frank's

4 c. cooked shredded chicken

2 c. shredded cheddar

2 tbsp. freshly chopped chives

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

2 tbsp. melted butter

1 clove garlic, minced

Directions: 

*Preheat oven to 425°. Using a serrated knife, cut a slice of bread from one end of the loaf. Using your hands or a spoon, hollow out loaf. Reserve slice of bread, and save bread scraps for another use.

*In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese and hot sauce. Stir in chicken, cheddar, and chives. Season with salt and pepper.

*Spoon buffalo chicken mixture into hollowed out bread and close with reserved slice. Place bread on a large piece of foil. 

*In a small bowl, combine butter and garlic. Brush butter mixture all over bread and wrap with foil.

*Bake until cheese is melty, about 20 minutes. Unwrap foil and bake until bread is crusty and golden, about 10 minutes more.  
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Cabbage Chowder Recipe

During winter we prefer to only have soups, stews, and chowder for dinner. It's just the only thing we crave. This cabbage chowder is full of veggies and andouille sausage for a little spice and to make it extra comfy feeling. The best part? It comes together in under an hour for a fast and simple dinner!



Ingredients:

4 tbsp. butter, divided

1 lb. andouille sausage, sliced into thin rounds

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

2 carrots, thinly sliced

1 stalk celery, thinly sliced

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

3 tbsp. all-purpose flour

4 c. low-sodium chicken broth

4 c. chopped green cabbage

3 large Russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1" cubes

1/3 c. heavy cream

2 tbsp. chopped fresh dill sprigs, plus more for serving

Directions: 

*In a large pot, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high. Add sausage and cook, tossing a few times until golden, about 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon remove the sausage from the pot to a plate. Wipe pot, if too dark.

*Add remaining 3 tablespoons butter, onion, carrot, and celery to pot and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 7 minutes. Add flour and cook, stirring, 1 minute more.

*Pour in broth, stirring to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Add cabbage and potato and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring a few times, until potatoes are just tender but not falling apart, about 8 to 10 minutes. Stir cooked sausage into pot.

*Gently, stir in heavy cream and dill. Season with salt and pepper. Serve topped with more dill and pepper.
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Fried Onions Recipe

If green bean casserole is your favorite dish at Thanksgiving simply for the crunchy fried onions it's topped with, we feel you. We can't get enough of them and making your own is so easy! Watching the onions turn crispy golden brown is so satisfying. Place them on top of burgers, tacos, or eat them on their own. The possibilities are endless and we'll never be buying store bought again.



Ingredients:

2 large onions, thinly sliced into half moons and small rings

1 c. buttermilk

1 c. all-purpose flour

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Vegetable oil, for frying

Directions:
 
*In a medium bowl, soak onions in buttermilk for 10 minutes.

*Add flour to a separate medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper and whisk to combine.

*Working in batches, grab a handful of onions with tongs. Shake off excess buttermilk then toss onions in flour mixture until fully coated. Set aside and repeat with remaining onions.

*In a large skillet over medium heat, heat about 1” oil. When oil is shimmering, add onions, working in batches, and fry until golden, about 2 minutes.

*Drain on a paper towel-lined plate and season with more salt. 
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Hot Toddy Recipe

A Hot Toddy is as classic as they come. The perfect drink to sip on when you're feeling under the weather or on a chilly Sunday afternoon. It makes us want to grab a good book and forget about all of our worries. Change things up and make an apple cider version complete with caramel that is perfect for fall!



Ingredients:

1/2 c. water

1 oz. bourbon

1 tbsp. honey

2 tsp. lemon juice

Cinnamon stick, for garnish

Lemon slice, for garnish

Directions:

*In a teapot or a small saucepan, bring water to simmer.

*In a mug, combine bourbon, honey, and lemon juice to a mug. Pour over hot water and stir to combine.

*Garnish with cinnamon stick and lemon slice.

*Swap apple cider for the water and caramel for the honey.