See the 'Star of India,' decades after it was nabbed in a heist [NYC]

https://www.livescience.com ^ | JUNE 11, 2021 | By Mindy Weisberger - Senior Writer

[Red Badger]

At 563 carats, the Star of India is the world’s largest gem-quality blue star sapphire, and is approximately 2 billion years old. (Image credit: D. Finnin/Copyright AMNH)

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What does the legendary Star of India — a 563-carat star sapphire the size of a golf ball — have in common with a 35-million-year-old petrified redwood slab; a massive cluster of sword-like crystals that looks like it came from "Game of Thrones;" and a 5-ton (4.5-metric ton) stone pillar that can "sing?"

You can see all of them, along with 5,000 other amazing stones, in the newly renovated Mignone Hall of Gems and Minerals at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York City, which is reopening after a four-year closure on Saturday (June 12). There, one-of-a-kind precious gems appear alongside odd-looking rocks — some of which date to billions of years ago — that have been uniquely warped and twisted by extreme temperatures and pressures.

Individually and together, these objects tell a story of the diverse geologic processes that shape minerals on Earth's surface and deep inside our planet, beginning when the world was young and continuing to this day, museum representatives told Live Science.

Related: 13 mysterious and cursed gemstones

The Star of India, which formed about a billion years ago, was discovered in Sri Lanka in the 18th century. It is one of the best-known gems in the world, in part because it was famously and brazenly stolen from AMNH in 1964, along with several more of the museum's prized stones, by a pair of thieves named Jack "Murf the Surf" Murphy and Allan Kuhn, Smithsonian reported in 2014, on the heist's 50th anniversary. (The one-of-a-kind sapphire was recovered and went back on display in 1965).

[Monkey Face]

Kitteh says it’s morning and time to get up and do something productive!

Did you sleep well?

How is Elen’s visit coming along?

I knew I was exhausted, but I broke a record last night. I slept 10 hours and 37 minutes according to the Fitbit beeber debice. I’m still tired, but I knew that was coming. In a bit, I’ll get up from here (my rocker) take a pain pill, get dressed and get to work.

I realized a couple more things didn’t make it here, so I have to order from Walmart once again. This one doesn’t seem to have the things in stock that I normally use, so lots of things are delivered. The shelf pegs that I ordered yesterday came last night.

I’m sure I did a walk-through in Hurricane, but it would appear that stuff disappeared my magic.

[Monkey Face]

Good Friday Eve to you!

Yepper! I woke up to find out its freezing outside. Thirty-two cold degrees on my weather beeber.

This place seems to be pretty well insulated so that’s a good deal. The space heater is all I’m using at the moment because of the cigarette odor.

[Tax-chick]

Good morning. I slept pretty well. Jake wanted to leave the room at 2:00 a.m. and wouldn’t push the door with his paw, because that’s too much work, but it was an opportunity to go to the bathroom.

A Student Driver and I will go by the library when it opens and then to my hair appointment.

Elen is doing fine, looking forward to the excitement of the Outer Banks trip, I’m sure.

The forecast says it won’t rain on the Cub Scouts’ campout.

[ArGee]

Those things that somehow always manage to miss the move are annoying. I hope you don’t have too much trouble finding suitable replacements, or learning you really didn’t need them.

[Monkey Face]

I’ve hit the ground running today, so all is well, cold though I am.

Remember that you are Staff and must be available to open doors at all times.

Here’s hoping Elen enjoys the Outer Banks trip.

I’m waiting for my mailbox key to be delivered so I can get the letter from NC that will be waiting for me.

[Monkey Face]

Yeah, these are needed. Toilet bowl brush and plunger set and free-standing toilet paper holder.

Maybe I packed them. Stay tuned!

[null and void]

Nothing goes better with a cold winter day than...

Linda Blair’s Crockpot Split Pea Soup
(from an old family recipe nully created a few years ago...)

Ingredients

2 cups dried split peas, (≈1 pound), sorted and rinsed
6½ cups liquid (water or chicken broth)
¾ cup chopped large onion, about 1 large onion
¾ cup finely chopped celery, about 2 medium stalks
1 tsp salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
1¼ cups carrots, cut into 1/4-inch slices, or julienned, about 3 medium carrots
1 ham bone or 2 lbs shanks or 2 lbs smoked pork hocks

Steps

1. Clean and soak peas overnight in plain water, drain and rinse.
2. Add 6½ cups liquid (water or chicken broth).
3. Cover and cook on Low heat setting 3 hours.
4. Use an immersion blender to coarsely break up the peas.
5. Add all ingredients except ham in slow cooker. Add meat on top.
6. Cover and cook on Low heat setting 5 to 7 hours.
7. Remove meat from cooker; place on cutting board. Pull meat from bones, using 2 forks; discard bones and skin. Stir shredded meat into soup. Stir well before serving.

Expert Tips

• Preparing split peas for cooking is easy! Just pick over the dried split peas and discard any grit or discolored peas. Place the split peas in a bowl, and cover them with water. After a minute or two, remove any skins or split peas that float to the top. Finally, rinse the split peas in a colander. For peas that have been stored for years, soak overnight, drain and rinse before use.
• If desired, spice with 2 cloves minced garlic, ⅓ tsp dried thyme, ⅓ tsp crushed dried rosemary before cooking.
• Serve a grainy cornbread (don’t forget the honey butter or drizzle of maple syrup) and a spinach salad with fresh grapefruit or mandarin segments with the soup. The tart freshness of the citrus contrasts nicely with the rich, thick soup.
• We like ours with a lot of black pepper on the top and a splash or two of Tabasco!

Made it yesterday, wasn't quite ready for dinner, let it mellow overnight, and I'm having it for breakfast this morning...

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header should be :

Linda Blair’s Crockpot Split Pea Soup

[Tax-chick]

It’s not truly a letter: just a small note and an enclosure.

[ArGee]

Split Pea soup sounds great. So do various variations of chili.

Linda Blair? Does it make your head spin around?

[null and void]

Two bowls this morning, so far no.

[Monkey Face]

The soup looks good! Now if I can just find my cookware...

[null and void]

Now you have incentive to find it...

[Monkey Face]

Absolutely! So thanks for the incentive! I’m schlepping lots of boxes today, so maybe I’ll be in luck. ;o]

[Monkey Face]

Yes, I packed them! Or at least, FS did! He’s good about stuff like that so I should have had him in charge all along.

[Tax-chick]

You’ll get there!

[Monkey Face]

I just took a break but I have to get up and at it again. I don’t really feel like it but I want my desk! I have to fight trough boxes to get to the file cabinet so I can hook up the printer, and it’s back behind several stacks of books.

Yay, me. I’ll have FS schlep some book boxes aside so I can get somewhere tomorrow with all this. I’m supposed to pick up the table and chairs but I need room to put them.

[Tax-chick]

Yay, you! Books do make moving more difficult.

[Sgt_Schultze]

Bookmarking

[Monkey Face]

!