We've been in full support of the renewed interest in Brussels sprouts for the past several years. They are one of our favorite vegetables, and we've been happy to find them on restaurant menus and at dinner parties consistently. And while they might be riding the tail of their resurgence, we're still loyal to our favorite mini cabbages. And we have 16 mouthwateringly delicious reasons why. Allow us to elaborate.
Norwegian Air has been expanding its route network across the US, and TPG Associate Editor Emily McNutt recently had the opportunity to test out the carrier on her trip to Norway. Read on for her full review of the Norwegian Air economy experience in a bulkhead seat vs. a regular economy seat.
One day last month, I was scanning Google Flights and thinking about taking a trip to Norway. It’s always been a travel bucket list item of mine to visit the Scandinavian country during the winter and to — hopefully — see the Northern Lights. I spotted an amazing deal — $142 for a one-way ticket from New York (JFK) to Oslo (OSL). Needless to say, I decided to go for it.
When you book a flight with Norwegian Air, you can opt to pay a little extra and choose your own seat. In the interest of writing a comparison review of a bulkhead seat vs. a seat in regular economy, I chose to pay and pick my seat in each direction to ensure I got what was needed — a bulkhead seat on the way there and a window seat in the rear of the aircraft for the return leg. The following flight review is a comparison of both seating options to help you determine if you should spend the extra money and choose a bulkhead seat or if you should let fate play its course and let the airline select a seat for you.
The outbound flight was going for $142 one-way from New York to Oslo, whereas when booking through the Norwegian version of the site, it came out to 1,014 NOK (~$118).
My seat for the return leg — all the way back in 29A.
As I mentioned before, I paid to select my seat on both flights. For my JFK-OSL flight, I chose seat 7J (bulkhead window) and, as shown above, seat 29A for the OSL-JFK flight. Because I booked a LowFare ticket, I had to pay to select my seat, however for all other tickets, you can choose your seat for free.
It’s worth noting that the cost to reserve a seat is also less expensive on the Norwegian version of the site. I paid 250 NOK (~$29) for each seat reservation, whereas when booked on the English version of the site, each seat reservation is $45. In total, I saved about $32 when selecting seats just by booking on the Norwegian version of the site — a pretty good deal.
A very Norwegian confirmation email.
In all, I paid 3,329 NOK (~$388) for a round-trip flight from New York to Oslo, including my seating choices. I booked my trip using my Chase Sapphire Preferred Card so I would earn 2x points on travel expenses. Norwegian Air does have a frequent-flyer program, Norwegian Reward, but it isn’t all that great. You earn 2% “CashPoints” on LowFare tickets and 20% on Flex tickets based on the fare amount (excluding taxes and fees).
Check-In
When I arrived at JFK’s Terminal 1, there was hardly anyone there, probably no more than 15 people in line to check-in and no one in the Premium line. However, there were plenty of check-in agents at the counter, which made going through the line extremely seamless — I was through it in about four minutes.
Because I was going for such a short time, I didn’t bring enough stuff with me to warrant checking a bag. LowFare tickets don’t include any checked bags and LowFare+ tickets are allowed one checked bag on all flights — Flex, Premium and PremiumFlex tickets are allowed two checked bags on international long-haul flights and one checked bag on all other flights.
Security was where I ran into a bit of a crowd — even the Premium security line appeared to be about as long as the regular one. I waited about 25 minutes in line before going through security, so it wasn’t too bad, but it still wasn’t nearly as seamless as the return.
Oslo’s Gardermoen Airport (OSL) is very clean and spacious.
My return flight from OSL-JFK could not have gone more smoothly. I arrived at the airport nearly five hours early because I had an incoming flight from Tromsø (also on Norwegian Air), where I went for a night in a (failed) attempt to see the Northern Lights. Because OSL is about 40 minutes from city center, it wasn’t worth it for me to try to spend time in downtown Oslo before turning around and heading back to the airport.
When trying to check in at OSL, there were many self check-in machines so I didn’t have to spend time waiting in line to talk to a representative. In fact, when I tried to check-in at the counter, a polite man sitting at a booth at the front of the line directed me back toward the self check-in monitors instead.
When I made my way to security, I was in awe of OSL’s cleanliness and lack of overcrowding. After checking in, I headed for security, where I waited in line for less than a minute — a totally different experience than I had at JFK.
Terminal and Boarding
On both legs of my trip, I did not have lounge access since I wasn’t booked on a Premium ticket. However, Premium passengers do have free access to the Korean Air Lounge at JFK’s Terminal 1, and although it is a step above sitting in the main terminal, TPG Editor-in-Chief Zach Honig said he didn’t find the lounge to be all that special. Premium passengers have access to a Lounge at OSL as well.
The gate area at OSL was very orderly and well kept.
Because I didn’t have lounge access, I headed straight for the gate at JFK. At OSL, I chose to walk around a bit as it was a beautiful, orderly airport and I didn’t mind exploring. I was impressed with how well kept the gate areas were, especially for international flights.
The boarding area, which was soon filled with a line of people down the middle of the terminal.
On both flights, I was able to board early to take some pictures of the empty cabin, and after taking my round-trip flight on Norwegian Air from Oslo to Tromsø (TOS), I was entirely glad I was able to. Norwegian’s boarding process is hectic to say the least, and is essentially a free-for-all on a first-come-first-serve basis. When boarding time draws near, people just start lining up — this ends up creating a huge line that weaved through the gate area and, in more than one instance, blocked foot traffic in the main hallway of the terminal. At some point, I hope Norwegian Air can come up with a better boarding process. But, like I said, I was happy to avoid the congestion altogether on both flights by boarding early.
Cabin and Seat
I have to admit that this was my first Dreamliner flight so I was incredibly exited to see what the aircraft and trip as a whole had in store — and I wasn’t disappointed.
Norwegian’s economy cabin.
The economy cabin is comprised of 259 seats, which are split into two sections.
Norwegian’s 3-3-3 configuration in economy.
In both sections, seats are arranged in a 3-3-3 configuration.
A side view of the economy cabin seats.
All economy seats come with 31-32 inches of pitch. It’s a pretty tight squeeze in standard economy, as you can see in the photo above.
My bulkhead window seat — 7J.
While my bulkhead seat had much more legroom than its regular economy counterparts, unfortunately some of the side-to-side legroom was impeded by the in-flight entertainment screen, which came out from underneath the armrest. However, the seat itself was much roomier and more comfortable than my seat in the back of the plane.
Look at all that legroom — in economy!
I was incredibly grateful for the legroom in my bulkhead seat. For a flight that left at 10:30pm, this seat (and its recline) was perfect for getting some much-needed sleep. I ended up putting my laptop and a book in the compartment with the safety instructions, as I couldn’t keep my usual bag under the seat in front of me. There’s a lot of leeway inside the compartment and there’s plenty of room to store some small things so you’re not getting up all the time during the flight to access to overhead bin.
All of the legroom for seats A, B and C in row 6.
If you want even more legroom, choose seat A, B or C in row 6. Although there’s much more legroom, note that when the cabin door closes, there’s a large box on the bottom of the door that can impede the legroom for seat 6A (window).
Bulkhead seating is not as wide as regular economy because the armrests don’t move.
Each of the seats is also 17.2 inches wide. However, in my bulkhead seat, there was slightly less space because the tray table came out of the armrest, making it unmovable.
The overhead bin space on the Dreamliner is very large.
The overhead bins on the Dreamliner are massive. On my return flight from OSL-JFK, I was prepared to put an extra bag of airport purchases by my feet with my personal item carry-on bag, but there was plenty of room to put it in the overhead bin space along with my jacket and full-sized carry-on bag and the bags of the other people in my row.
From bulkhead to regular economy.
Whereas in my bulkhead seat, I had plenty of legroom, my regular economy seat was a bit different — albeit still not a bad experience. I’m usually an economy flyer, so sitting in economy for the nearly eight-hour flight wasn’t all that of an issue for me. However, after sitting in bulkhead on the way over, I was a bit spoiled by all the extra legroom.
When I sat down in my regular economy seat, it took a few minutes to adjust to not being able to maneuver the same way I did on the flight over. That being said, I’m 5’7″ and I can’t really imagine someone who is taller than 6′ sitting comfortably in one of these regular economy seats for an entire eight-hour flight.
There are eight lavs on board — all of them look the same.
I was especially fond of the bulkhead’s proximity to the bathroom. On Norwegian’s Dreamliner, there are eight lavatories — two in the Premium cabin, four in between the two economy sections and two at the rear of the aircraft. My bulkhead seat was facing the crew’s cafe area, so there was no congestion of people waiting around the lavs, which were located behind me.
However, with my regular economy seat, I was looking straight at the mid-aircraft lavs — all four of them. For most of the flight, there was a congregation of people waiting their turn. While this wasn’t an issue whatsoever (really just an observation), I prefer the former seat’s vantage point over the latter.
The lav sinks were motion activated.
I was a big fan of the sinks, which were motion activated and made a world of difference compared to germ-ridden traditional-style faucets.
The window-dimming feature.
Perhaps my favorite part of being in the economy cabin was the window-dimming feature. Each window has its own dimming button, which controls the amount of light you get through the window. This was a really neat feature that I enjoyed playing around with, especially during our ascent and arrival. The crew can control the brightness of the entire cabin from its own panel, which they did during both flights so the sun didn’t awaken passengers.
Overall, as far as the seats are concerned, I would recommend splurging for the comfort and space of a bulkhead seat if they’re available — not only my seat (7J), but seats A, B and C in rows 6 and 24, as well as seats G, H and J in row 24 will have even more bulkhead legroom. However, row 24 may not be the ideal location because of their close proximity to the set of four lavatories in the middle of the aircraft. In any case, a little extra legroom can go a long way on a long-haul economy flight.
Food
On my JFK-OSL flight (bulkhead), meals were served not long after takeoff. This was great timing because not long thereafter, most of the passengers fell asleep (it was around midnight by this point). A piece of advice if you plan on taking this flight: Grab something small to eat in the terminal or before you leave home to hold yourself over before meal service.
The crew made their way through the cabin, asking passengers who ordered a meal if they wanted a chicken or fish dish for dinner. I wanted a vegetarian dish and politely asked. The flight attendant said she wasn’t sure if they had any extras, but she would check — fortunately, they did. When you book your meal before the flight (which you have to do if you want one), specify if you have dietary restrictions including a vegan or vegetarian diet.
My neighbor’s vegan dinner (JFK-OSL).
While I was waiting for the flight attendant to look for and prepare an extra vegetarian meal, my very friendly seatmate had just received her vegan dinner. She got a piece of tofu, white rice, steamed vegetables, a cup of mixed fruit, orange juice and a sandwich with cucumber, tomato and lettuce and was not very pleased. In fact, she said it was pretty tasteless — the sandwich had no dressing whatsoever on it and the tofu had no taste. She said that even with a lemon wedge, it would have been far better.
My vegetarian dinner (JFK-OSL).
When my food was delivered, I thought it looked pretty good, especially for an economy meal. It was a pasta dish with vegetables, a fresh fruit cup and a salad. I was pretty surprised — the pasta was tasty and the fruit and salad were both very fresh. With meal service, you’re allowed one complimentary drink and I opted for white wine, which was pleasant.
On my OSL-JFK flight, meal service seemed to be a bit later into the flight, which was fine with me. The plane left OSL at 5:30pm, so I was ready for dinner around 7 or 7:30pm when the flight attendants came around.
My chicken dinner with mashed potatoes and vegetables.
On this flight, there was a chicken or fish option as well. I decided to go with the chicken dish this time, which was fine. The chicken was in a BBQ-esque sauce, which was pretty good, but the chicken itself tasted a bit rubbery. The mashed potatoes and vegetables were both good, though. I also enjoyed the pasta side and the truffle for dessert.
If you order a meal in economy with Norwegian Air, you’ll get two meals: A hot meal with cold salad or pasta and dessert and then a cold snack as the flight draws nearer to landing.
The second (cold) meal on my JFK-OSL flight.
On my JFK-OSL (bulkhead) flight, I got a grilled vegetable wrap, a fruit dish and a cup of coffee. I was very pleased with this meal — the veggie wrap had a lot of flavor to it and the fruit dish was fresh and delicious. This was the perfect way to end a great flight.
The second (cold) meal on my OSL-JFK flight.
On the OSL-JFK flight, I got a ham and cheese sandwich, a chocolate chip cookie and apple juice. The sandwich didn’t really compare to that of the wrap on the first flight so I just gave it a taste, but the cookie and apple juice were both great. What was really nice, though, was the way it was delivered, in a little red bag with a cute quote on the side.
As far as the meals are concerned, I enjoyed the food on my JFK-OSL (bulkhead) flight more than the food on my OSL-JFK (regular economy) flight. Not that the food had anything to do with the bulkhead or regular economy seat, as they’re both in economy and are served the same thing, but I did find I enjoyed my meal more on the JFK-OSL route.
In-Flight Entertainment
There are in-flight entertainment screens on every seatback in economy — except for the bulkhead seats.
The entertainment options on both flights were great. Overall, I was impressed with what was available and everything appeared to be the same on both flights. On the JFK-OSL (bulkhead) flight, I chose to sleep for a majority of the time after meal service, so I didn’t use the in-flight entertainment service much. As I mentioned, the screen came from below the armrest by my feet, so I used that quickly before we began our descent because it had to be stored for taxi, takeoff and landing.
The duty-free selections on board the plane.
I only used the in-flight entertainment system at this time to scan through the duty-free options to see what was available. It looked like the standard duty-free fare with options like alcohol and tobacco products and plenty of perfume.
The movie selection on my OSL-JFK flight.
On the OSL-JFK flight, I watched AMY, the Amy Winehouse documentary, which I highly recommend. The in-flight entertainment system also has a selection of games, including Sudoku, solitaire and backgammon, among a few others. There’s a headphone jack and USB port on the screen, which is motion activated so the headphone jack and USB port illuminate when you wave your hand in front of the screen.
I would say the regular economy seat is preferable to the bulkhead seat as far as the in-flight entertainment screens are concerned. The ability to use it for the duration of the flight — from boarding to deplaning — is really nice when compared with having to stow it during taxi, takeoff and landing. I really enjoyed playing around with the 3D map to track where were were on our descent into New York, which would have been a nice feature on the descent into Oslo if I could have had my screen out.
Service
On both flights, the crew were more than helpful and friendly. I was very much impressed with all those I encountered on both trips (and even my two flights with the carrier when I went to Tromsø), which was a nice change from flying economy on many domestic carriers.
The cabin chief on my JFK-OSL flight, Ilse, who was very nice.
The head flight attendant on my JFK-OSL (bulkhead) flight, Ilse, was very friendly and accommodating. When I ran into the vegetarian meal mixup, she was very helpful and ensured I got one, which she definitely didn’t have to do. Also, when I fell asleep on my OSL-JFK flight, the flight attendant woke me up for meal service, which was a nice touch to ensure I was served a warm meal during the flight.
Overall, the service in both seats was fantastic. When flying in economy on a long-haul flight, a friendly crew can make all the difference between an average or poor flight and an enjoyable one.
Bottom Line
The Dreamliner after we landed in OSL.
Overall, I was incredibly impressed with Norwegian Air and its Dreamliner for both of my Transatlantic flights. I came into this trip knowing a lot about the carrier — mostly about its cheap fares and good flight experience — and I’m here to say that my positive opinion of the carrier stands after having traveled in economy in both directions.
After flying in a bulkhead seat and a regular economy seat, there are positives and negatives to both options. And although you are sitting in economy on a nearly eight-hour flight, sitting in a bulkhead seat really makes it feel like you’re sitting in a premium class because of all the legroom. For that reason alone, I’d argue that paying the extra money upfront is worth being able to choose your seat.
The food options — while both good — depend entirely on the flight, not where you’re sitting in economy. The one negative thing about sitting in a bulkhead seat is that you have to store the in-flight entertainment screen during taxi, takeoff and landing, which really isn’t that bad of a tradeoff for having so much space.
The rainbow lights are a really neat feature of Norwegian’s Dreamliners.
Next time I return to Norway — which I highly recommend, even in the winter! — I know I’ll be looking forward to flying on Norwegian Air again. And with the carrier’s expanding network, including three new nonstop routes between New York, Los Angeles and Fort Lauderdale and Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), there are even more reasons to fly Norwegian.
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Just because weekday mornings are rushed doesn't mean you don't have time for an omelet for breakfast. It's the kind of meal that shouldn't be reserved for weekends only. This version of a western omelet is served in a mug and cooks up in less than two minutes.
How many times have you have cut open an avocado, scooped out the green fleshy part, and then chucked the peel and pit? The next time you're preparing your avocado toast for breakfast, you might want to think twice about that last step. Apparently not only are avocado pits actually edible, but they could also be good for you.
Shepherd’s pie—or cottage pie, depending on the filling—is classic winter comfort food. For a new take on shepherd’s pie, consider baking it in the potato skin.
Congratulations, flapjack lovers, today is your day: it’s National Pancake Day, which means restaurants are offering up discounted or free food. But even if flat breakfast fare isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other spots handing out deals and freebies today.
No matter what you like to eat, there are a few deals out there for scoring freebies or discounted menu items today, in celebration of breakfast fare that of course, can be eaten all day long. GoBankingRate.com gathered together a list of locations to hit up today — here are some of the best deals:
IHOP: What, you thought the International House of Pancakes would sleep through this holiest of holy days? Nope. The chain is giving out a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes to everyone and anyone from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. today. Guests are encouraged to donate the money they would’ve spent on the meal to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. Make a donation of $5 or more and you’ll get a coupon for $5 off your next meal.
Waffle House: Wait, waffles? Yes, waffles. Waffle House may be the sworn enemy of pancakes, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t getting in on the action. Customers who use this coupon can get a free order of hash browns through March 8.
Peet’s Coffee & Tea: You’ll have to print out a coupon again here, but with it, you can get half off of any beverage between noon and 5:00 p.m. through March 9.
Noah’s New York Bagels/Einstein Bros. Bagels: They’re circular, so bagels are sort of related to pancakes, right? These two chains are owned by the same parent company, and both have coupons for 20% off your purchase. The Noah’s deal expires March 8, but Einstein Bros. is offering the discount until March 16.
If you thought you didn't have time to make eggs for breakfast tomorrow morning, think again. These three egg dishes will prove otherwise. With the help of the microwave, you'll go from prep to eating in under 10 minutes.
If you've ever snooped around the kitchens of your foreign-born friends, you've likely noticed that their kitchen essentials aren't exactly the same (or even nearly the same) as our kitchen must-haves. Of course, some of these once-exotic kitchen tools and appliances have worked their way into our homes, but quite a few have retained their air of mystery. Here are some familiar (and a few less-familiar) items you're likely to find in kitchens around the world.
Klang Valley: A comprehensive commuter driving habits study said the average KL commuter spends two hours in total each year waiting for a car stuck in the Smart Tag lane, it was revealed today. “It’s an all too common experience for motorists,” said head motoring researcher Sum Ting Wong, “after sitting through a massive tollbooth […]
Here are six of the best photos that readers added to the Consumerist Flickr Pool in the last week, picked for usability in a Consumerist post or for just plain neatness.
Want to see your pictures on our site? Our Flickr pool is the place where Consumerist readers upload photos for possible use in future Consumerist posts. Just be a registered Flickr user, go here, and click “Join Group?” up on the top right. Choose your best photos, then click “send to group” on the individual images you want to add to the pool.
Wesley T. Monkey isn’t just any cat. He is THE cat – and you can depend on him to be there for his friends when they need him most. The 2-year-old feline is ‘mayor’ and cool kid of the Indraloka Animal Sanctuary in Pennsylvania, USA.
Founded by Indra Lahiri, the sanctuary acts as a ‘forever home’ for former farm animals that have nowhere else to go. Indraloka also houses nearly 100 cats – but Wesley, by far, is the one with the biggest personality. He’s best known for sleeping, riding, cuddling or otherwise simply sitting on top of his bigger friends.
Unlike other cats, who jump off quickly and scurry away when an animal they are resting on moves, Wesley loves to stick around for the entire ride.
“All the other animals love him,” said Lahiri. “He’s really just very popular. I don’t know how to put it any other way.”
A pregnant stray came to the sanctuary two years ago in the spring, during kitten season. “That happens quite frequently,” Lahiri explained. “Stray mothers find the barn and, you know, there’s food, shelter, everything else. So they decide they’re going to come here to have their babies. But we track them, we get them fixed.” That stray was Wesley’s mother. The rest is history.
Since Wesley grew up at the sanctuary and around various animals, he’s never noticed a difference between species. “He just interacts the same way with another cat the way he would a human, a cow or a pig,” Lahiri said.
As the only cat who is fearless and friendly enough to get along with all of the animals at the sanctuary, he’s managed to crack the barrier of one particularly difficult clique. “Even the geese that nobody else gets along with, because they’re a little intense, allow Wesley T. Monkey to hang out with them,” Lahiri said.
Another prime example of his “I don’t give a damn” attitude: Lahiri said that it isn’t odd to check on four 1,000-pound pigs eating a stack of hay with Wesley resting right on top of the hay, not at all concerned that he might be accidentally eaten. That said, the animals respect one another and are careful with each other.
Wesley is a cat who isn’t just a mischievous, fun friend to have around. He’s also a friend who remains loyal to the very end. Such was the case with Penny, a cow at the sanctuary who passed away recently. Wesley climbed on top of her and remained with her, purring and comforting until her very last breath.
A feline with many quirks, no two days are the same for Wesley. He has an entire sanctuary filled with besties to attend to and is always in motion.
“He has to have adventures,” Lahiri said. “He’s just not a sit-around kind of cat.”
You might think that the difference between “perfume” and “cologne” is who the bottle is intended for, or which counter it’s sold at—the reality is a little more subtle than that. Simply, all fragrances are largely the same, but they’re given a name based on the concentration of oil in alcohol and water.
The Let’s Read The Quran campaign was initiated in 2009 by a group of friends. We received good traction and participation during the campaign where more than 50 bloggers carried our logo and articles.
This campaign is to encourage people to read the Quran in a language they understand. It is not confined to Muslims. We encourage everyone to join this campaign.
In 2016, we want to bring the campaign to a larger audience and take it a notch higher. We are outlining many interesting activities to attract and excite people to read the Quran. While centered in Malaysia, we plan to make the campaign known internationally.
Our vision is to make this campaign an annual effort and after that, it will be a recognized campaign that will spur Muslims and others to read and understand the Quran.
While today Malaysia leads in the Tilawah Al-Quran competition, we hope Malaysia becomes a leader in encouraging the world to read, understand and appreciate the Quran at the grassroots, too.
VISION
To make the Quran read and understood.
MISSION / WHY?
1. To democratize the Quran
2. To make every Muslim a student of the Quran
3. To encourage non-Muslims to look at the Quran as a universal document
4. To bring the Quranic values closer to the day-to-day living of Muslims
5. To encourage people to read the Quran daily, even if it is one verse per day
6. To invite non-Muslims to join Muslims to discuss the Quran.
WHEN WILL THE CAMPAIGN START AND END?
1st March 2016 – 31st March 2016.
WHO LAUNCHED THE CAMPAIGN?
YABhg Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad
HOW?
Here are the main activities during the campaign:
1. Through social media such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.
2. The sharing of articles through blogs
3. 31 posters of 31 well-known people such as politicians, social activists, celebrities, athletes, religious and business leaders including non-Muslims
4. “Sedekah” a translated Quranic verse through Whatsapp and social media
5. Encourage everybody to share their favourite Quranic verses
Here are the supporting activities during the campaign:
1. Post posters with Quranic verses in social media
2. Share Quran Indexes with friends and family
3. Post the meaning of Quranic verses on Facebook
4. Create discussion groups on Facebook
5. Create online forums to discuss the Quran
6. Print out colourful cards with Quranic verses
7. Make bookmarks with Quranic verses
8. Post a Quranic verse per day on social media
9. Post pictures on Instagram with Quranic verses and explanations
10. Write, post, share Quranic verses or short articles; both original and articles you have read
11. Ask questions about the Quranic message, ponder, reflect and suggest your thoughts and feelings
12. Create discussion groups to discuss the Quran with friends and acquaintances
13. Create websites to discuss the Quran
14. Create stickers with Quranic verses
SCOPE OF THE CAMPAIGN
1. A Malaysian initiated campaign.
2. Based on social media with people encouraging, sharing their opinions of the Quran and how can the Quran be applied in their daily lives.
3. Targeted at all levels right down to the lay people.
4. A hashtag #LRTQ2016 to be used on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram during the campaign period.
Youth portal The Level’s newest video is a sublime flight of hypothetical fancy based on the lunacy of ‘Mamak Inc’ – a multinational conglomerate which develops and markets its products much like the way Apple does. The hilarious aftermath of this – as illustrated in this ‘on fleek’ parody of every Apple product and corporate video you’ve ever seen – includes the trademarking of the commonplace ingredients and forms of ‘röti’ canai, which, apparently, begins life as Dö™. Lampooning Apple productions’ signature minimalist look and feel (complete with 50 shades of white), and a pretentiously-lofty narrator who spreads it on thick with familiar, self-important phrases like “precision-molded by the hands of our experts” and “providing a greater degree of personalization”, you’ll start to believe that Mamak Inc really exists. It’s an absolute riot™!!
PETALING JAYA: The final federal audit report on 1MDB has been classified under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) 1972, reported the Malay Mail Online today.
The portal, quoting two sources, said that even members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will not be allowed to take home the 300-page report, which is scheduled to be tabled in Parliament tomorrow.
According to one source, the previous preliminary report on the embattled state funds by Auditor-General (A-G) Ambrin Buang was not classified under the secrecy law.
PAC members were also previously allowed to bring home the earlier report, although it was not made public.
According to another source, this appeared to be the first time that a PAC report has been classified under the OSA.
Finance Minister II Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah reportedly said last July that the preliminary report found no evidence of wrongdoing (in 1MDB).
Whenever you’re traveling somewhere new, local customs can be daunting (and sometimes go completely over your head without your knowledge). India, with its awesome breadth of color, noise, and exuberance, can be especially overwhelming at times. This list offers a general rundown of some things to know before you go. By all means, I see this as a starting-off point — feel free to add more in the comments below. Happy trails!
One of the first things I learned when I began using a slow cooker was to avoid dairy, or at the very least, wait to add it at the end of cooking since it would curdle or separate if cooked for a longer period of time. Which is why I was surprised to find a recipe in Neela Paniz's cookbook, The Indian Slow Cooker, for yogurt soup.
Not only did I find the concept of a hot yogurt soup intriguing, but I was also interested in the fact that it could be done in the slow cooker at all. What prevents it from breaking? How does the tang of yogurt hold up over time? I went straight to the source for the answers.
KUALA LUMPUR: State oil company Petronas said it may have to borrow or tap into reserves to meet this year’s dividend commitment and fund reduced spending, after it posted a quarterly loss on weak oil prices.
Petronas, or Petroliam Nasional Bhd, reported on Monday a net loss of RM2.96 billion ($704.3 million) for the October-December period, which it attributed to impairment of assets caused by low oil prices. That compared with a loss of RM7.3 billion a year ago, which was also driven by a writedown.
The 70 percent slump in crude oil prices since mid-2014 has been squeezing the finances of unlisted Petronas, which accounts for about a third of the Malaysian government’s oil and gas revenue.
Petronas confirmed on Monday plans to cut spending by RM50 billion over the next four years, as earlier announced in an internal memo to its staff. Of that, RM15-20 billion would come in 2016, it said.
It said it would stick to its commitment of paying a dividend of RM16 billion to the government for 2016. But finding resources for that and for its spending is proving problematic.
“Our cash flow from our operations this year will not be able to cover the remaining capex and RM16 billion dividend. Not only will we need to utilize our cash reserves, but we may need to raise some borrowings,” Petronas President and Group CEO Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin said at a press conference to announce the results.
The CEO said how much Petronas borrows will depend on how oil prices move.
“We are planning our projections based on Brent price at $30 for this year, and must brace ourselves for the corresponding impact to our financial performance. 2016 and 2017 will continue to be challenging for Petronas,” he said.
Revenue for October-December was RM60.1 billion, down nearly a quarter from RM79.4 billion for the corresponding period a year ago.
LOS ANGELES: George Kennedy, the Oscar-winning star of “Cool Hand Luke” and the “Naked Gun” comedy movies, has died at the age of 91, his family announced.
The burly American actor — famed for his tough guy roles before playing against type later in his career — died on Sunday morning in Boise, Idaho, grandson Cory Schenkel said on his Facebook page.
“I have traveled on many business trips and movie shoots with my grandpa… I have created so many great memories and I will enjoy them for life,” he said.
“While I am extremely sad that they are both gone — my grandma (on) September 14 and my grandpa this morning — I am grateful for the life, memories and knowledge they shared with me.”
Kennedy’s local newspaper the Idaho Statesman reported that the six-foot, four-inch (1.93-meter) actor had died of natural causes, citing Canyon County Coroner Vicki DeGeus-Morris.
“He had a history of heart problems,” it quoted her as saying.
Kennedy often played second billing to the likes of Frank Sinatra, Cary Grant, Gregory Peck, James Stewart, Robert Mitchum and, on several occasions, Clint Eastwood.
He won a best supporting actor Oscar as a sadistic chain gang prisoner in 1968 for “Cool Hand Luke” and starred in more than 200 films and TV series, including disaster movies “Airport 1975″ and “Earthquake,” and long-running soap opera “Dallas.”
He was best known in his later career for playing bumbling police captain Ed Hocken in “The Naked Gun” spoof cop series, from 1988 to 1994.
Fellow actor and comedian Albert Brooks, who was Oscar-nominated for “The Shipping News,” led the online tributes, tweeting: “R.I.P. George Kennedy. Lucky enough to work with him in Modern Romance. Great guy.”
“Rest in peace – friend. I miss you,” “Tarzan” actress Bo Derek tweeted.
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce said flowers would be placed on his star on the Walk of Fame.
by Claire Lower on Skillet, shared by Andy Orin to Lifehacker
Frozen hash browns aren’t exactly a meal unto themselves, but the good folks at The Kitchn have figured out five different ways to make them fancy and filling.
Last week, I stayed for a night at the InterContinental Bangkok that is one of the hotels in the city that I tend to go quite frequently. This time the internet was a complete disaster, however.
Remember that you can always email me, send me a Facebook message or Tweet me about the issues you have with hotels, airlines and other travel providers. we’ll feature one new Compensation Clinic case each week.
You can access InterContinental Bangkok’s website here.
The internet is not as big of an issue that it used to be few years back especially at these full service hotels.
I had a nap from 8PM to midnight and tried to get some work done when I noticed that the connection was extremely slow. Run a Speedtest on two computes and other devices. The PING to a local server in Bangkok was at times more than 300 ms and both download and upload speeds were less than 1 MBPS.
Spoke with a manager and duty several times that promised to get the technician on hand to resolve the issue but nothing was happening.
Then they wanted to come to the suite to find out what was wrong. I pointed out that sending someone to the suite to troubleshoot something would be completely useless as I had tried the Ethernet connection as well.
They sent the technician anyway that surprisingly had the same issues as I. He said that he would reset the server.
The internet then went completely down at 3AM and they were not able to resolve the issue at the hotel level. I got some work done by tethering on the AIS network. When I went to sleep at 6AM the internet was still down.
Woke up at noon and the internet was up but couldn’t log in. The log in was on infinite loop on all the devices that had logged in the night before. Reported this to the Manager on Duty and the issue was solved when I tried to use the internet again at 2PM.
Manager offered to waive the charge for the night and we settled for the number of IHG Rewards Club points (35,000) that a free night at InterContinental Bangkok would have cost. The points posted to my account within 24 hours.
Conclusion
I should have cut my losses and simply left the hotel after I noticed the internet issues at midnight. Wasted more than two hours of my time with the non-working internet before tethering on the AIS network.
Sometimes these issues are unavoidable, but hotels should ensure that they have another option in place if one provider goes completely down.
Tethering on the cell phone network works for those with a local number (I have had one with AIS for close to five years), but the data plan that I activate when entering the country is usually from 1GB to 3GB depending of the length of my stay. Could burn it in a day.
When hotel offers to waive the charges for the night, I usually suggest that they deposit the number of points to my account what award night at that property would require.
I do like the InterContinental Bangkok and the benefits offered for Royal Ambassador members. I have no issues staying at this hotel yet again when I am in the city next time.
It is now more than a year and a half since the opening of the new airport in Doha (was originally supposed to open in 2009) and you would think that all the opening issues would have been ironed out by now. Unfortunately this is not the case.
I have transited at the airport numerous times over the past 18 months and three times over the past 10 days and here are the issues that I have encountered:
1. Transit security lines
Why passengers from safe destinations such as Oslo need to go to through the transit security madness? I could swear that this has not always been the case.
They do have priority screening for business & first class passengers in the middle of the screening area, but it is not well marked or enforced. More than half of the passengers in the line tend to be from economy.
2. Bus transfers
The old Doha airport didn’t have any jet bridges and all the transfers to/from aircraft were done using buses that sometimes took forever. You would think that they had resolved this issue? Well. At least they send own bus for business class passengers on tarmac arrivals.
3. Unusable internet during rush hours
The Doha airport has two or three flight banks with one to two hour transit times. The internet is completely usable during these time periods even in the lounges.
Why Qatar Airways doesn’t have dedicated internet capacity for its lounges at the airport? You must log in to the generic airport internet that is open for all.
The internet works ok during the off hours.
Conclusion
The internet usually works before 11PM and then again after 12:30AM. The internet again goes down starting at 5AM until the morning flights have left. I would pay to have a working access rather than having timed out web pages…. Cannot really be that difficult to have dedicated and working internet access (even during the rush hours) for the lounges.
On my most recent transit, we must have parked at the furthest gate possible. They did have an apparent intra-terminal people mover working on test basis but you couldn’t access it. All the seats were wrapped.
The transit security actually wanted me to remove the photo that I took from the lines at the airport. Took more than 15 minutes before they were ok that it was only showing people lining up and not the actual screening facilities.
The transit screening is mostly a joke and the lines would be far longer if they would have real process going on. You don’t have to remove anything from the bags.
If you’re having trouble keeping a consistent morning routine, it might be too long. The shorter and more refined you can make it, the more feasible it is to stick to it.
PUTRAJAYA: Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has quit Umno as a sign of protest against the administration of Prime Minister Najib Razak.
“I want to leave Umno because it is no longer Umno,” he said.
“It is a party dedicated to protecting Najib.
“I can’t be a member of such a party,” he said at a press conference in Putrajaya today.
Mahathir joined Umno in 1940s and became Umno Kedah chairman in 1959.
He won the Kota Setar Selatan seat in 1964.
He was sacked from Umno in 1969 by then Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, following which he wrote the book, The Malay Dilemma.
He rejoined Umno in 1972 and was appointed senator by Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein.
He was elected Kubang Pasu MP and was appointed Minister of Education in 1974.
In 1975, he became the vice-president of Umno and was the acting deputy president and promoted to Deputy Prime Minister after the death of Tun Razak in 1976.
Subsequently, he became prime minister five years later after Tun Hussein Onn stepped down on July 17, 1981 at the age of 56.
Mahathir stepped down in 2003 after 22 years as Prime Minister.
He was a vocal critic of his anointed successor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and resigned from the party for the first time in 2008. This is the second time he has resigned from the party.
At the press conference, Mahathir said he would be sending a letter to the party to formally announce his resignation.
JAKARTA: One of Indonesia’s oldest red-light districts was demolished Monday in an operation overseen by hundreds of police and troops, as authorities press on with a plan to close all brothel areas in the Muslim-majority country.
Dozens of illegal bars and brothels along a polluted riverside strip in north Jakarta — known locally as Kalijodo — were reduced to rubble by excavators.
The bars — many marked by neon beer signs and illustrations of beautiful women luring men — were torn down by the machines in a matter of minutes, leaving behind nothing but splintered wood, brick and old mattresses.
Elsewhere police searched a three-storey hotel for any remaining residents before a digger ripped the entire structure to the ground with a spectacular crash.
North Jakarta Mayor Rustam Effendi, who oversaw the demolition, said the buildings were illegal and the demolition would make way for a public park.
“There was open prostitution there and all kinds of other things as a result, like liquor,” he told AFP.
During the eviction of residents over the past week, police seized and destroyed large quantities of alcohol.
The plan angered long-time residents and there had been fears that protesters would try to disrupt the demolition. But thousands living in the area agreed to leave in the days beforehand and the operation went smoothly.
Jakarta authorities decided to take action after a fatal car accident early this month blamed on a man who had been drinking in the riverside shanty area.
Hundreds of curious onlookers from neighbouring areas and trash collectors seeking scrap materials gathered to watch the spectacle, despite heavy rain.
One elderly food vendor welcomed the idea of a park in the area, but another was worried the destruction of Kalijodo would hit his business.
“For sure it will be less,” Agus Cendol told AFP.
Prostitution is illegal in Indonesia but is rampant in major cities.
The government last week instructed local authorities to shut down an estimated 100 red-light districts across the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country.
Local governments, which have substantial power, have already closed dozens of red-light districts in recent years.
#11 Empties you out!!! If I drink apple juice I shit like grass through a goose.
By FMT’s Lifestyle Desk
1. Promotes heart health
Apples are a great source of super antioxidants – polyphenol and flavonoids – that are beneficial for the heart’s health. They also provide your body with the important mineral, potassium, which is also crucial for the heart.
2. Prevents asthma
One of the unique advantages of apples is that they contain flavonoids. This nutrient is known to prevent asthma attacks. In addition, flavonoids play a significant role in making your lungs strong and effective. Latest research has shown that individuals who consume apple juice on a regular basis have better lung function than others.
3. Cleanses the liver
The alkalinity of apples assists in flushing out destructive toxins and waste by-products from the liver, in addition to maintaining the pH levels of the body. Pectin, present in apples’ skin, promotes the healthy functioning of your digestive system too.
4. Reduces cholesterol
Research has shown that phytonutrients – compounds which abound in apple juice – break down bad cholesterol (LDL), which slows down or prevents the accumulation of plaque along the walls of the coronary artery.
5. Makes bones strong
Apples offer a number of healthy nutrients, including vitamin C, iron and boron, which keep your bones healthy and wards off problems such as osteoporosis.
6. Boosts the immune system
Vitamin C, which exists in high amounts in apples, strengthens your body’s immune system, as well as assists the body to combat against germs and bacteria.
7. Prevents cancer
Apple juice’s flavonoids and phenolic acids have been proven to be effective in preventing the development of tumours and cancerous cells – particularly ones which form in the lungs.
8. A solution for constipation
Constipation is a severe health issue that occurs when the large intestine absorbs too much water. Sorbitol – a mineral contained in apples – draws water into the colon, preventing absorption by the large intestine. This way, your stools are softer and easier to pass.
9. Beauty benefits of apple juice
Apple juice has wonderful advantages for skin and hair. It is widely used in natural remedies for treating skin-related issues like inflammation, itching, cracked skin and wrinkles. The application of apple juice to the scalp for several minutes ensures the prevention of dandruff and other scalp disorders.
10. Improves eye health
Vitamin A, which is richly present in apple juice, helps in improving vision and preventing eye disorders.
First published in the world’s premier meat-free lifestyle platform, www.KindMeal.my
We’ve long loved the idea of pre-making things like breakfast sandwiches , delicious wraps , and burritos and keeping them in the freezer until the morning you need to nuke them and head to the office, but these ones from The Kitchn are easy to make and especially tasty.
One of my favorite lunches while living in Paris was the simple baguette sandwich that any corner bakery carried. Unlike overstuffed American sandwiches, these usually only had butter and thin layers of ham and cheese. The baguette holding it all together was the key here — it had to be fresh, with a crispy outside and fluffy interior. Here's my latest version; it that can be eaten for either breakfast or lunch!
Trying to lose weight? Don't be so quick to completely cut alcohol out of your diet. A recent study revealed that drinking a glass of red wine before bed could make it easier to shed pounds.
LOS ANGELES: George Kennedy, the Oscar-winning star of “Cool Hand Luke” and the “Naked Gun” comedy movies, has died at the age of 91, his family announced.
PUTRAJAYA: Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has quit Umno as a sign of protest against the administration of Prime Minister Najib Razak.
JAKARTA: One of Indonesia’s oldest red-light districts was demolished Monday in an operation overseen by hundreds of police and troops, as authorities press on with a plan to close all brothel areas in the Muslim-majority country.
