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Energy is closely related to the condition of the environment for several reasons. One is that most of the energy we use comes from fossil fuels, including coal, petroleum, and natural gas, which are found in the earth. These natural resources are not renewable—that is, once they are used up, they are gone forever. The process of gathering fossil fuels and other natural resources can be devastating to the sensitive wildlands (such as the tropical rainforests, the Arctic tundra, and coastal marshes) from which they come....

Thankfully, there are innumerable knitting stitches just for beginners, which means you have the opportunity to practice in a wide range of styles. Here are some essential knitting stitches that beginners can tackle and build off of to become that much better. You may just find a new favorite pattern or project. This smooth fabric is what most people think of when they think of knitting, and there are probably more patterns written using stockinette stitch than any other pattern out there....

In 1901, on the 125th anniversary of Washington’s victory, the Mayor of Boston proclaimed Evacuation Day an official state holiday. Schools and government offices close each year on March 17, or the following Monday if the holidays falls on a weekend. More from State Holidays

Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Ave., SW (20250) Established: May 15, 1862. Administered by Commissioner of Agriculture until 1889, when it was made executive department. Function: Supervises agricultural production to make sure prices are fair; helps farmers financially with subsidies and development programs; helps food producers sell their goods overseas; runs food assistance and nutrition programs. The USDA’s inspection and grading programs make sure food is safe to eat. Secretary: Tom Vilsack...

More from America’s Favorite Structures

Often times, we need to know exactly how many times the URL address of a web page been liked on Facebook. Thankfully, Facebook keeps a database of all the URLs that have ever been liked or shared on it. You can use the above TechWelkin utility to find Facebook statistics of any URL. You get the information in the JSON format. It includes number of shares, number of likes, number of comments and a total of these figures among other pieces of information....

Looking back to 1887 through 1909, as seen on an old advertising paperweight, Fostoria touted manufacturing “tableware, colognes, stationers’ glassware and candelabra.” They also made inkwells, sponge cups, numerous vases, finger bowls and even fruit jars with marked tops along with other varied items back in the early days. Many of the first tableware pieces were needle etched or wheel cut, both popular forms of decoration for early 20th-century glass....

Nine-Patch quilt blocks can be created in any size, but we usually take a look at the gridwork and assign a size for each grid that works best for rotary cutting tasks. Many of the quilt block patterns linked below include instructions for multiple sizes. Straight Grain Patches All of the quilt blocks in this group have either rectangular or square patchwork that’s cut along the fabric’s sturdy straight grains....

This collection of patterns and projects is sure to bring sewing joy, so grab your favorite holiday fabrics and get started! Fleece Christmas Stocking from The Spruce The free pattern comes with basic shapes for the houses, doors, and windows. Then you get to customize the designs with cut-out iron-on appliques from your favorite Christmas fabrics! DIY Holiday Village from Fabric.com But there’s also plenty of room to embellish the skirt to create a decoration you’ll want under your Christmas tree for years to come....

This free Christmas stationery can be used for Christmas newsletters, letters from Santa, Dear Santa letters, or any other correspondence or notes around the holiday. You can print your Christmas stationery on regular computer paper or on cardstock. Change the color of your paper and you’ll have a whole new look. After you’ve printed the Christmas stationery, you can hand write on it or print text on it. You can do this by putting the stationery back in your printer and printing on it again....

This sort of headband makes a nice alternative to a winter hat. Unlike some hats, the headband fits comfortably under a bicycle helmet or a hood. Crochet a headband for a guy or a girl, choosing a yarn color that suits the recipient. And because they work up so quickly, they make excellent last-minute gifts! Skill Level: Easy Materials Yarn: 60 yards / 28 grams of a worsted weight wool yarn....

These crafting tables are generally easy building projects. Some of the plans are so easy they don’t even require any tools! These are quick projects too, taking anywhere from 1-5 hours depending on the plan that you choose. Saw Horse Craft Table from Francois et Moi Counter Height Craft Table from Make It & Love It IKEA Hack Craft Table from The Navage Patch Wall Mounted Craft Desk from The Crafted Life Foldable Craft Table Made from Scrap Wood from Remodelaholic Inexpensive Craft Table from Organize & Decorate Everything Portable Craft Table from Create & Babble Sewing Room Cutting Table from A Bright Corner Coffee Table Meets Craft Table from Homemade By Carmona DIY Craft Table and Pegboard from Karlie Belle DIY Craft Desk from The Story of Five

There’s a wide variety of poems here including ones that are funny, sentimental, and religious. There are poems for grandma, grandpa, and people in your life who have played a grandparent role. There are hundreds of poems here and you are sure to find just the perfect one to show how much you care. Whichever one you choose, it’s sure to pull at the heartstrings. You can use the Grandparents Day poems in a Grandparents Day craft project, as part of a gift, or even recite one for your grandparent....

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—Sarah, 13

On the numismatic front, coin collecting was gaining momentum as a hobby and investment strategy. The coin collecting craze launched by the public seeking rolls of rare 1950-D Jefferson Nickels continued through the mid-1950s. Numismatic News was established as a monthly coin collecting newspaper. Collecting annual United States Proof Sets gained popularity, and sales began to soar. Coin collecting became a full-fledged American hobby in 1952. History of the Lincoln Wheat Cent The United States Mint had minted the Lincoln Wheat Penny since 1909 when it replaced the Indian Head penny....