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USA Today
a day ago
- General
- USA Today
What luck! Today is only Friday 13th this year. What to know about this 'unlucky' day
What luck! Today is only Friday 13th this year. What to know about this 'unlucky' day Did you know it's the unluckiest day of year? But luckily for us, it's the only Friday the 13th in 2025. So, Good morning Friday the 13th! Some people consider the day an extremely unlucky day, which can land as often as three times a year on the calendar. Why is it so unlucky? Some point references in the Bible. A couple of the bad omens: ◾ Judas, the 13th person at the Last Supper in the Bible, is believed to have betrayed Jesus. ◾ Friday: Several unsettling events occurred on the day, including Jesus' crucifixion. There are other reasons to worry about 13 beyond the Bible. According to Norse mythology, Loki, the 13th guest, interrupted the gods' dinner party by plunging the world into darkness. When is the next Friday 13th? Typically, there are just two per year. Luckily, there will only be one in 2025. However, there will be three in 2026, which might be an especially unsettling year for some. Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them. More: Friday the 13th is here. Here's why people think it's unlucky. Does the number 13 frighten some people? If Friday the 13th worries you, others share your fear. It's possible that you have triskaidekaphobia, or a phobia of the number 13. But if the number 13 only terrifies you on Fridays, you may have paraskevidekatriaphobia, or the fear of Friday the 13th. According to an online survey by Americans think walking under a ladder brings more bad luck than Friday the 13th. For most people, fearing Friday the 13th is a harmless superstition – something we may playfully pretend to fear. At the same time, it wouldn't hurt to toss some salt over your shoulder on Friday or keep your eyes open for a penny on the sidewalk. This story previously ran on Dec. 12 and has been updated to add new information. CONTRIBUTING Jim Sergent/USA TODAY
USA Today
24-05-2025
- General
- USA Today
For the perfect burger, skip the grill
For the perfect burger, skip the grill No grill? No problem. Burger scholar George Motz says the grill is actually one of the hardest ways to get it right, and he recommends a flattop or skillet for a perfect patty. If you need the cheeseburger right this minute (we understand), you can watch this well-done instructional video. Heat your skillet, then take a scoop of meat − an ice cream scoop works great − and drop it in the pan. Sprinkle some salt on top, let it sit there for a minute, maybe add some thinly sliced onions, then smash it. Yes, literally smash it down with a heavy metal spatula. Let it cook for a minute or two on each side, top it with cheese, and put it on a toasted bun. That's it. Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them. What makes the perfect cheeseburger? "Simplicity, in hamburgers, is paramount," says Motz, a well-traveled, Emmy Award-winning freelance filmmaker and cheeseburger expert. "No. 1, you want to be able to taste the beef; we all know that. Whatever else is on that burger, whether it's the vehicle that's delivering the burger − the bread − or if it's a cheese, or some other kind of condiment, you want to make sure it's simple. And that it actually does enhance the beefy flavor." He says onions unquestionably enhance the beefy flavor. And salt works well to help the proteins in the beef pop with flavor. The right bun is crucial. And it needs to fit in your mouth. Motz says the bread has to be very simple. "It shouldn't be sweet. Brioche buns are the worst thing for burgers because they have too much sugar in them." More: Memorial Day weekend forecast: 'Severe weather threat' for parts of US The ideal cheeseburger, according to George Motz Don't complicate the condiments Motz keeps it simple: "Just onion, maybe mustard and mayo, but beef grease is a condiment too." He says that while mustard sounds as if it's strong, "the French had it all figured out a long time ago when they put mustard on steak and realized that it enhanced the taste." He says the vinegar in the mustard breaks down the fat, helps you understand the flavors a little better and makes it more palatable. More: Yelp unveils its top 25 burger chains in the US: See the list What are America's favorite burger toppings? According to a survey by Americans who say they like burgers believe the quality of the meat between the buns determines how good the burger is. Only 2% of the respondents said they would rather not garnish their burgers. OK, then forget foie gras. Are there burger faux pas? Motz says ketchup is the worst thing you can put on a burger. "Ketchup really does nothing more than just sweeten the burger, which doesn't really work well," he says. "I think it goes really well on fries, not on a burger." Mayo, however, passes the test, he says: "It is really good on a burger. It has some complexity, and has its own animal fats that work well with beef fat." But it depends where he is. "Wisconsin burger joints put butter on their burgers," he says. "Regional specialties abound. To me, if people are eating it, especially if I am in a restaurant that's been there for 100 years, I am eating it that way as well. But when I am at home, I am keeping it simple. Just onions and mustard and some mayo." What about the bun? Again, Motz recommends keeping it simple, with "a good old white, yeasty bun." "Sometimes, you have this really big homemade bun with a hard top on it and a soft inside, and when you go to bite the burger and it shoots out the back of the of the bun because it's just too hard. You can't actually take a bite. Your teeth have to be able to go through the thing." And the meat? "The best burgers are the ones that anybody can make," Motz says. "Keep it simple: chuck only." He recommends this cut of beef because chuck is a part of the animal that cooks well, and fast: "Chuck has the perfect marbling throughout. You could take an entire chuck, cut it up, throw it in a grinder, you have a perfect hamburger. So you can't go wrong." In fact, he says, there is a risk in trying too hard and getting a bad result: "Honestly, it really shouldn't be about fancy blends, trying to figure out which blends work with each other, and what the actual grind number should be. It doesn't really matter." So you say we shouldn't use a grill? "People think the easiest way to make a hamburger is in their backyard on a grill, which is actually the hardest way," he says. "The most difficult way to make a burger is to put it on an open flame." Motz says that's because too many variables are in play, including heat that can range from 300 to 600 degrees, the thickness of the patty, and how close the flame is to the grill. "You don't know what's going on there," he says. "It's really hard to actually make magic in the backyard." Motz says burger chefs should stick with a flattop or cast-iron skillet. It's easier to control temperature, and the flavor is unique. "You're cooking it in its own fat, almost like burger confit," he says. "When you grill a burger, a lot of the fat drips down to the fire and creates these carbonic compounds that give the burger a very different flavor. Also, "you're probably having a good time drinking with your friends, and you're not paying attention. One of the hardest things to do is cook burgers in your backyard on grill. If you can, you're already way ahead of the game." Firing up the coals anyway? Here are some tips Motz says you should avoid hand-forming patties, especially for larger cookouts, because you can never get the size right. "Measure. You want to make sure you actually portion the burger. You take some bulk meat and make little balls and weigh them." He also uses a biscuit cutter on parchment paper to control patty size: "You have this perfectly formed round burger, and you can't go wrong when cooking on the grill. Having very straight sides really helps the integrity of the burger." And don't be afraid to try new things. "Smoked burgers are fantastic," he says. "It's not a flavor that everybody is used to, but I did find a method where you cook for 50 minutes over indirect coals, with some wood chips for flavoring. It's hard to beat that flavor." Editor's note: While the author is a believer in the simple smashburger, he has a sweet spot for diced onions in ketchup because they bring him back to childhood memories with his grandmother. Sorry, George. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Donald Trump's approval rating after new trade policy rollout. Latest numbers
It's been over a week since President Donald Trump's 'Liberation Day' — the rollout of reciprocal tariffs was announced. Between the stock market fluctuations and the 90-day pause on tariffs, it's been a roller coaster of events. From the new trade policy to the campaign promises American voters have been vocal about their expectations from the Trump administration. In a recent poll conducted on tariffs, 39% of those asked approve of the tariff pause and 45% believe it will help the fellow Americans. More: What's Donald Trump's approval rating among New Jersey voters? Here are the numbers But it appears that Trump's approval rate is wavering. Results from a poll conducted between April 5-8 revealed 51% of Americans disapprove of Donald Trump's job performance while 43% approve. Days later, another poll showed 47% of U.S. adults strongly disapprove of Trump's job performance while 27% strongly approve. The poll was conducted among 1,151 U.S. adults between April 7- 10. Here are some of the findings: Poll takers were asked how much do you think Donald Trump has accomplished? 25% say a great deal 25% say a good amount 28% Little or nothing 14% Not very much 8% Not sure 53% say too quickly 30% at about the right speed 7% not quickly enough 11% are not sure Poll takers were asked which promised should Trump keep. 45% Protecting Social Security and Medicare 43% Ending inflation 26% Securing the U.S.-Mexico border 24% Deporting millions of undocumented immigrants 24% Cutting taxes 22% Bringing manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. 18% Ending the war in Ukraine 14% Increasing domestic energy production 11% Defunding schools teaching critical race theory or gender ideology 5% Imposing tariffs on foreign imports 46% say Trump has accomplished more than other presidents 31% say Trump has accomplished less than other presidents 14% are not sure 9% say Trump has accomplished about the same amount as other presidents This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: President Trump approval rating changes after tariffs, pause
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Will Donald Trump run for a third term? More than half surveyed believe he will
On Sunday, in an interview with NBC News, President Donald Trump conveyed his thoughts about running for a third term. President Trump told NBC News, 'I like working" and that he was "not joking" when asked he would seek a third presidential term and added that 'it is far too early to think about it.' However, the U.S. Constitution states, under the 22nd Amendment, no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice. According to a poll, 60% of poll takers don't think Trump should be allowed to serve a third term as president, while 12% definitely think he should be allowed to. The research organization conducted an online poll among 3,565 U.S. adults on March 31. Here are the findings: 25% says definitely 31% says probably 14% says probably not 14% says definitely not 15% says not sure 28% of respondents think a Democrat will win the 2028 presidential election 28% of respondents think a Republican will win the 2028 presidential election 8% of respondents say there won't be a presidential election in 2028 36% of respondents are not sure 12% says definitely 8% says probably 9% says probably not 60% says definitely not 12% says not sure Should Donald Trump should be allowed to serve a third presidential term? 28% of Republicans says definitely, 15% say probably while 28% says definitely not and 14% says probably not 3% of Democrats says definitely, 5% says probably while 82% says definitelynot and 5% says probably not 7% of Independents says definitely, 5% say probably while 65% says definitely not and 8% says probably not This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Can Trump serve a third term? Not according to the US Constitution
