Jim Paull

Keto-friendly and completely divine, this recipe will knock your socks off, says Jocelyn Delk Adams from Grandbaby Cakes. READ MORE...

Its a complete winner every time. READ MORE...

Unfortunately there has been a fire at the beautiful Andaman Luxury Collection Resort by Marriott in Langkawi, Malaysia and the property has been totally destroyed.

A crew of 40 firefighters has tried over a long period of time to get the fire under control which has pretty much gutted the resort.

The Andaman was a beautiful resort in Langkawi, one of my favorite destinations here in the Southeast Asia region.

The Star reported today that it will likely be out of business for a long period of time (if not forever) following the fire.

The fire that gutted part of the five-star Andaman Resort in Langkawi has been brought under control.

Kedah Fire and Rescue Department assistant director (operations) Mohamadul Ehsan Mohd Zain said firemen were presently putting out remnants of the blaze which started on Tuesday (Jan 12) night.

“About 40 firemen were rushed to the scene and they managed to put out the fire but it flared up again on Wednesday (Jan 13) morning.

“We have brought it under control and the men involved are presently clearing the debris and assessing the damage and cause of the fire.”

It is believed that the fire started in the kitchen of the luxury resort and spread to the main part of the building.

The damage is believed to be extensive and major repair work needs to be done before it can re-open.

The last time I’ve stayed at Andaman was in 2019. I’m sad to see this hotel being out of business for an extended period of time.

It makes me wonder how much business (if any) they were doing these days as Malaysia’s borders are closed and even intra-Malaysia travel was restricted for a very long time.

Conclusion

The fire that destroyed the resort is a very sad situation for the wonderful employees of this nice hotel who were already facing hardship due to lack of business during Covid-19.

Hopefully the owner decides to repair this property and reopen either as the same brand or something else. Keeping in mind this was an older building and it might not even be economically feasible to do repairs and instead do a completely new construction which will take years.

We're just a few weeks into 2021, but I might even go as far as to say it will be the best thing I make this year, too. READ MORE...

 

From the over-the-top maze design to the added sound and special effects, this is just great on every level.

Video by Mister Hamster

 

 

We're talking up to 70% off knives you'll use *forever*! READ MORE...

Muslim unmarried couples in the southern Thai province of Yala could be arrested, and even forced to wed immediately by Islamic authorities, if they are seen being ‘affectionate’ in public. The new rule was set by the Yaha Central Mosque last month, according to Khaosod English. It’s unclear what types of public displays of affection are considered inappropriate, but apparently even talking together can get a Muslim man and woman arrested. The imam of the Yaha Central Mosque told Khaosod English reporters that if a muslim man and woman are talking, then a third person should be present. Holding hands, […]

The post Muslim couples in Yala who show affection could be arrested and forced to marry appeared first on The Thaiger News.

Rights groups on Tuesday demanded that Palestinian authorities free a woman disc jockey arrested after a dance event at a Muslim religious site near the West Bank city of Jericho. Palestinian Authority police arrested Sama Abdulhadi, 30, on Sunday, the day after she performed at Nebi Mussa, the...

 

Check out this mesmerizing infinity table by Logan Wilson. The work in progress was recently shared on reddit where many people were entranced by following the lines and trying to find a beginning/end point.

Many people also wondered about the table’s integrity, remarking the design would likely be springy and flex under too much weight. It would be interesting to know how solid/thick the metal is and how stable the finished product is.

As the top voted comment says: “This sleek design is part of our spring collection”

 

 

 

The Thai PM, Prayut Chan-o-cha, has put the Deputy Defence Minister in charge of hunting down crooked border officials whose corruption is thought to be behind the latest Covid-19 outbreak. With most of the new infections detected in Burmese migrant workers in the central province of Samut Sakhon, it’s believed many have been smuggled into Thailand illegally, bypassing mandatory quarantine. Now, Deputy Defence Minister Chaichan Changmongkol is hunting down corrupt officials who may have turned a blind eye to such people trafficking operations. National Police Chief Suwat Jangyodsuk says officials have received information about a people smuggling gang, which is […]

The post Officials on the hunt for corrupt border guards blamed for Covid spread appeared first on The Thaiger News.

The melted Swiss cheese on top is what sets these enchiladas apart. READ MORE...

tous sont dévastés… mais il est maintenant libre.

RIP to YouTube star Henri.

2020 is a bitch.

(Hat tip: Scissorhead Moeman)

Open thread below...

Everyone will want these recipes. READ MORE...

It always feels like a special treat. READ MORE...

Do you agree? READ MORE...

2 people have been identified in Bangkok as locally infected with Covid-19. The announcement follows a week of revelations coming out of the north from the Chiang Rai border crossing into Myanmar where Thai prostitutes and workers have been crossing back into Thailand, infected, without going through any quarantine procedures. Thailand recorded 14 new cases of the coronavirus today, including 2 local transmissions in the capital, Bangkok, for a total of 4,086 cases in Thailand since the start of the outbreak in February. No new deaths were reported. Although the details of the Bangkok cases are not currently available at […]

The post 2 local cases in Bangkok contribute to Sunday total of 14 new Covid-19 cases appeared first on The Thaiger News.

IT’S the government’s job to grease the wheels for businesses to stay afloat, especially the smaller ones, as Malaysians struggle with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic Read full story

"For 38 years Rough Guides has delivered trustworthy advice, information and inspirational insights to travellers seeking authentic off-the-beaten path adventures. While travel isn’t possible at present, we remain committed to helping readers make the most of their time on earth, which is why we’re offering everyone in lockdown a complimentary Rough Guides eBook of their choice – the perfect way to plan future adventures while staying safe at home"

 

Mathieu Stern found some glass plate negatives inside a 120-year- old time capsule and developed the images using the Cyanotype Process.

For those interested, Stern also colorized the developed images in a follow-up video here.

 

 

 

On November 12th, 1970, Paul Linnman delivered a legendary news report on a whale carcass that had washed up on the shores of Florence, Oregon.

Authorities somehow thought using dynamite was the best way to dispose of the deceased sperm whale. Things quickly went awry and the infamous news report is often cited as one of the Internet’s earliest viral news clips.

On it’s 50th anniversary, the Oregon Historical Society had the original 16mm footage that Doug Brazil filmed that day with Paul Linnman converted to 4K resolution.

“Linnman and Brazil captured the original unedited footage on 16mm color reversal motion picture film. They recorded the audio track live, on location, on a magnetic stripe directly on the film using an attached microphone,” Matthew Cowan, the OHS archivist for photography and moving images said. “As opposed to the degradation that happens with video tape from making a copy of a copy of a copy, the original 16mm film — what was shot that day on the beach — still projects a crisp image with bright vibrant colors.” [source]

 

 

Today AirAsia Japan has officially filed for bankruptcy after a half-surprise announcement early October that it would cancel all flights and cease operations immediately.

The airline as of today has 21.7 billion yen ($208 million) in liabilities including 500 million yen in refunds for unused tickets, majority staff has been let go as of November 4, 2020.

Air Asia Japan is now part of the unfortunately club of Covid-19 victims as far as airlines are concerned which have either collapsed under the financial burdens and lack of revenue or (in case of the survivors) received substantial rescue packages from their national governments.

For budget carriers this is a difficult situation since their business model is different from the legacy carriers who often represent the country and support a large local workforce. Not many budget airlines have managed to secure government support to plug their financial holes and carriers all over the globe are now faltering.

As Nikkei Asia reported this morning, Air Asia Japan has filed for bankruptcy as of today.

AirAsia Japan filed for bankruptcy proceedings in the Tokyo District Court on Tuesday with about 21.7 billion yen ($208 million) in liabilities, becoming the first airline to fail in the country during the COVID-19 era.

The move comes after the budget carrier’s Malaysian parent, AirAsia, cut off aid to the Japanese joint venture amid a global downturn in air travel.

More than 23,000 customers have not received refunds for canceled flights, according to Tamotsu Ueno, the lawyer serving as AirAsia Japan’s administrator. AirAsia says it will provide credits that can be used for international flights on group airlines.

The company plans to seek aid from shareholders, Ueno told a news conference. …

Ueno told reporters at the airport that unpaid customer refunds amount to slightly more than 500 million yen.

AirAsia Japan Chief Operating Officer Jun Aida told Nikkei that the company “will cooperate with necessary procedures.”

Spokespeople for [shareholders] Alpen and Noevir declined to comment on the matter.

The coronavirus pandemic struck before AirAsia Japan had a chance to boost profitability by expanding its service. The airline has only three aircraft under lease.

After canceling flights beginning in April, it announced in October the discontinuation of all routes. Most of its nearly 300 employees were let go Nov. 4, leaving only about 50 to handle the liquidation process. Ueno said some wages remain unpaid.

AirAsia Japan reported a net loss of about 4.7 billion yen on revenue of roughly 4 billion yen for 2019.

It’s obvious that for many of these carriers that are now collapsing the financial troubles have started well before the Coronavirus was even a thing. Air Asia Japan is no different here as they lost US$50 Million – (a quarter of their current liabilities) in 2019.

It’s really difficult to enter the highly competitive Japanese market that is essentially owned by JAL and ANA, both with their own low cost carriers and good brand recognition. Japanese customers will always favor a local brand unless there are good reasons to select something different.

It would actually surprise me hadn’t Air Asia Malaysia which owns 49% of Air Asia Japan decided to cut their losses and end the operations. As mentioned in the Nikkei article AirAsia Japan was a tiny operation with only three aircraft.

Conclusion

Unfortunately another one bites the dust and Air Asia Japan is history after their bankruptcy filing. One of many we so far had to report on and my guess is that several others will follow.

Some carriers – similar to other businesses – might wrangle themselves through with the help of additional loans (more debt) and cost cutting, others will eventually have to give up and exit the market.

Customers at least might be able to get their ticket value returned in vouchers for Air Asia group flights once they resume as per the companies announcement. If customers want cash they *might* be able to file a chargeback claim with their credit card company as the airline has officially folded and there won’t be any refunds.

 

An unbelievable scene unfolded at Keck Hospital of USC where a pilot suffered minor wounds after a helicopter transporting a donor heart crashed on helipad. Firefighters then scrambled to recover the organ, handing it off to doctors on the roof who then proceed to trip and fall, dropping the heart.

Thankfully the donor heart was recovered and the transplant was a success!

 

 

 

Think big this Thanksgiving, even if your holiday table is small. Your future self will thank you. READ MORE...

The Thai petrol company PTT paid millions of baht in compensation to those affected by the Samut Prakan natural gas pipeline explosion last month which killed 3 people and injured more 60 people. The explosion at an industrial estate in the Bang Bo district killed 3 people, including 2 elderly women, and severely injured 10 people. Another 21 people were admitted to the hospital for less severe injuries and 43 others were slightly hurt from the explosion. Homes and cars were damaged from the fire. 5 million baht was paid to each of the families of the deceased, according to […]

The post PTT pays millions in compensation after Samut Prakan gas pipeline explosion appeared first on The Thaiger News.

Typhoon Goni blasted its way across the northern island of Luzon, tracking just south of the capital Manila. It made landfall around 5am in the morning and by the end of the day it had crossed, heading westwards, and reached the South China Sea, having killed at least 22 and displacing more than 800,000 people. The latest death toll was reported by Associate Press. Weakened after cutting across the middle of The Philippines’ northern-most island, the storm is expected to build again as it approaches the coastline of Vietnam in the middle of this week. The strength of the storm, […]

The post Typhoon Goni kills 22, many others missing, now heads towards Vietnam appeared first on The Thaiger News.

"After rinsing, it was a totally different pan!" READ MORE...

"My auntie's southern baked chicken recipe is something truly special, says Jocelyn Delk Adams from Grandbaby Cakes. READ MORE...

 

17-year-old Maci Currin (USA) is strutting into the brand new Guinness World Records 2021 book after being confirmed as having the world’s longest legs (female) and the longest legs on a teenager.

Her left leg measures 135.267 cm (53.255 in), while her right leg measures 134.3 cm (52.874 in). Maci’s family, from Cedar Park, Texas, are relatively tall but none of her other siblings or parents quite match her height. Standing at 6 ft 10 in tall, her legs actually make up 60% of her total height!

Having such long legs comes with both its benefits and challenges – including the reactions of those around her.

“I was never bullied for my legs… I was bullied because I was taller than everyone,” Maci shared.

“Around sophomore year I just stopped caring what people thought of me and once I just stopped caring I wasn’t affected by anything,” she continued.

 

 

Because the world cannot have enough silly cat photos, because we unexpectedly had one of our beloved feline overlords cross the Rainbow Bridge last week, and because maybe this will help me not go out and adopt 17 more cats to make up for the loss as my dreams are telling me I need to do ASAP...here are some entries into Twitter's hashtag Unflattering Cat Photo Challenge.

#unflatteringcatphotochallenge

I mean i could take any pic of willy and it’s gonna come out like this

Willy is too old to give a shit about how he looks in front of the camera

Willy could meet Michelle Obama and he’d still look like this pic.twitter.com/h6bIz8Ek2r

— Kevin Flood (@FLOOKLYN) October 10, 2020

Oh I have one of these cryptids. #unflatteringcatphotochallenge pic.twitter.com/EIKDvaiqhh

— Cel0x (@yunaStarkid) October 10, 2020

read more

Plus, a big storage mistake you may be making. READ MORE...