When it comes to cooking rice, the options are many. You can choose the tried-and-true stovetop method, or a more hands-off approach with the help of a rice cooker or an electric pressure cooker. But the simplest and easiest approach involves your oven.
Here are eight 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.
Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport can’t get away from failing international standards and the associated negative press.
The most recent development is an announcement by IATA CEO Tyler calling the airport a ‘safety risk’ where aircraft ‘sink in’ on the tarmac due to substandard-materials.
Overcrowding was also named among the issues the airport faces as the terminal is already exceeding the amount of 45 Mio passengers annually with constant growth rates on the way.
You can follow the full news report on Reuters (access here).
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has warned that Bangkok’s main Suvarnabhumi Airport is a safety risk, with “serious” overcrowding soon to become a critical issue, and urgent expansion needed, the Nation daily reported on Friday.
Thailand is under pressure to improve its aviation standards after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration downgraded the country’s safety ratings in December last year.
“There are also safety concerns on the airport’s tarmac, taxiways and apron area because of soft spots,” IATA director-general and chief executive officer Tony Tyler said.
“Aircraft get stuck in the soft surface due to substandard materials,” he told the newspaper in an interview in Bangkok, after returning from the Singapore Airshow.
This comes along the recent downgrades of Thailand as a whole by the ICAO for failing to comply with international safety standards (LoyaltyLobby reported about it here).
This week, the Thai civil aviation authority said a review by ICAO was likely to be delayed until early 2017 because it needed more time to improve the qualification of Thai auditors.
Tyler said the airport, which handles 52 million passengers each year, had a significant regional and global role but needed urgent expansion of its terminal capacity, the Nation reported. “It was designed to handle 45 million passengers annually, but it exceeds that today and traffic is still growing at an annual 10 percent rate,” he said. “Overcrowding is a serious issue that will become critical quickly.”
Thai airport operator Airports of Thailand said it was aware of the problems flagged by IATA and has readied several measures to improve runways using concrete and expand capacity, which are awaiting government approval.
“We have prepared short- to medium- and long-term plans to solve the problems,” Sirote Duangratana, general manager of Suvarnabhumi Airport, told Reuters.
Thailand is really dropping the ball here. What’s surprising is that the airport really appears to be somewhat fine to the passengers apart from the super long distances (Bangkok is a HUGE airport) that you have to walk within the terminal. It shows that sometimes things aren’t as they seem especially as far as safety is concerned.
Conclusion
In typical Thai fashion I’m sure some patchwork will be done and lip service given but that won’t be enough to convince international investigators for IATA and the ICAO.
Nevertheless let’s not forget that there are airports in far worse conditions around the world and things like the ICAO and FAA downgrades so far only effect the ability of Thai carriers to file for new international routes. This is more of a problem for Thai Airways though should they be interested into flying to new destinations (which is rather unlikely given the financial situation of Thai Airways and the fact that they just dropped their Los Angeles route).
by Shep McAllister, Commerce Team on Deals, shared by Shep McAllister, Commerce Team to Lifehacker
If you aren’t thrilled with your mattress, but don’t want to pay hundreds of dollars to replace it, a 3" Simmons Curv memory foam topper can make it feel brand new.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian passport is the 12th best in the world for travellers, with access to 164 out of 218 countries.
Malaysia shares its position with Liechtenstein and Slovenia, according to the Henley & Partners Visa Restrictions Index 2016, released on Wednesday. The index is produced in collaboration with the International Air Transport Association.
The Malay Mail Online reported however that this year’s position was a downgrade from last year’s ninth position.
We are also behind Singapore at fifth place, which tied with Japan and Austria this year.
Nevertheless, Malaysia remains one of the top five Asian passports to be accepted worldwide this year.
Top place went to Germany, having visa-free access to 177 places, followed by Sweden with 176.
Finland, France, Italy, Spain and Britain tied for third place with 175 while Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and the United States ranked fourth.
The least accepted passports worldwide are Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq, with their holders granted visa-free access to only 25, 29 and 30 countries respectively.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian oil giant Petronas is expected to announce further spending cuts next week as it braces for earnings battered by the slump in crude prices that is also pressuring its global peers.
The grim outlook for state-owned Petroliam Nasional Bhd puts more pressure on Southeast Asia’s third largest economy, as the company accounts for nearly a third of the government’s oil and gas-related revenue and provides a large number of jobs to Malaysians.
Malaysia’s only Fortune 500 company is due to report fourth-quarter earnings on Monday, and analysts expect it to reverse last year’s loss – its first in five years – and notch a net profit of less than RM1 billion ($237.2 million), supported by its downstream business.
But Petronas is also expected to announce details of a sweeping overhaul, already disclosed internally, that could see spending cut by as much as RM50 billion over four years.
The company has already said it would cut its 2016 dividend to the government by almost 40 percent to RM16 billion($3.8 billion), a figure analysts said could shrink further.
“Can Petronas still pay up such a high price? I don’t know,” Vikas Halan, Singapore-based vice president for Moody’s told Reuters, referring to the dividend.
Earlier this week, the credit ratings agency said Petronas was at risk of a downgrade as oil prices languish, drying up operating cash and inflating debt.
On Tuesday, Chief Executive Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin is due to speak to staff about the belt-tighening measures, which local media have said could also see a reduction in working hours, and pay, for staff.
A Petronas spokesman told Reuters there were no current plans for implementing a four-day working week, and that there would be no salary cuts. The spokesman, however, said the company was reviewing contract positions that were not critical to its core business.
In February, Petronas shelved a joint venture risk-sharing contract with compatriot oil and gas service provider Dialog Group Bhd, blaming depressed oil prices.
Analysts say it is likely to stick with large-scale projects, namely the RAPID refining and petrochemical complex in Malaysia’s southern state of Johor and the construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal in Canada.
The Canadian project, however, could be delayed due to worries about marine life, analysts said.
“Given the amount of environmental concerns the project has, plus local opposition to it and the well supplied nature of the global LNG market, I’m bearish on the project’s prospects,” said analyst Peter Lee from BMI Research Singapore.
by Claire Lower on Skillet, shared by Andy Orin to Lifehacker
In it’s simplest form, a cheese plate can be a few chunks of cheddar on a cutting board. There’s nothing wrong with that, but if you want a warm and inviting cheese experience for your guest, make a hot cheesy dip.
KUALA LUMPUR: Seramai 25 Naib Ketua Bahagian UMNO membuat laporan polis terhadap individu yang menghina Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi dengan cara mengedit gambar yang menyerupai anjing.
Pengerusi Kelab Naib Ketua UMNO Bahagian 1Malaysia, Datuk Anuar Mohd Yunus yang juga jurucakap kumpulan berkenaan berkata, mereka membuat laporan polis kerana perbuatan individu tersebut kurang ajar dan menimbulkan kemarahan rakyat.
“Pada pendapat kami ia perbuatan kurang ajar yang menyebabkan kemarahan orang Melayu, rakyat Malaysia, orang Islam sebab anjing ini perkara sensitif.
“Kita desak agar pihak berkuasa, kerajaan menyemak status kerakyatan pengguna tersebut sama ada masih berada dalam negara atau luar negara. kami pohon pihak berkuasa mengambil tindakan tegas seperti melucutkan kerakyatan dan sebagainya. Ini satu penghinaan,” katanya kepada pemberita selepas membuat laporan polis di Ibu Pejabat Polis Dang Wangi di sini, hari ini.
Beliau pada masa sama menyeru, seluruh 191 UMNO bahagian tampil membuat laporan polis di kawasan masing-masing sebagai bantahan tindakan terkutuk individu itu.
My motto in life? Give me toast, or give me death. That's a bit of stretch, but not too far given I'm very fond of the stuff and eat a slice of it every morning. Mostly I'm a swipe of Kerrygold kind of girl. Definitely an add a sprinkle of salt before taking a bite kind of girl, but now, I'm a don't forget the ginger kind of girl. Because ginger has made my butter better.
I have a soft spot for warm, toasty sandwiches. Just the simple act of heating something up suddenly makes lunch that much more exciting and satisfying, which is why one of my favorite hearty lunches is a classic chicken Parmesan sandwich. In this meat-free twist on the Italian-American favorite, a seasoned tempeh patty stands in for the usual breaded piece of chicken.
by Shep McAllister, Commerce Team on Deals, shared by Shep McAllister, Commerce Team to Lifehacker
It’s not often that Amazon features a laptop as one of its deals of the day, so anyone who uses a desktop at home or work should definitely check out this $270 Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga for their portable computing needs.
NEW YORK: Johnson & Johnson was ordered by a Missouri state jury to pay $72 million of damages to the family of a woman whose death from ovarian cancer was linked to her use of the company’s talc-based Baby Powder and Shower to Shower for several decades.
In a verdict announced late Monday night, jurors in the circuit court of St. Louis awarded the family of Jacqueline Fox $10 million of actual damages and $62 million of punitive damages, according to the family’s lawyers and court records.
The verdict is the first by a US jury to award damages over the claims, the lawyers said.
Johnson & Johnson faces claims that it, in an effort to boost sales, failed for decades to warn consumers that its talc-based products could cause cancer. About 1,000 cases have been filed in Missouri state court, and another 200 in New Jersey.
Fox, who lived in Birmingham, Alabama, claimed she used Baby Powder and Shower to Shower for feminine hygiene for more than 35 years before being diagnosed three years ago with ovarian cancer. She died in October at age 62.
Jurors found Johnson & Johnson liable for fraud, negligence and conspiracy, the family’s lawyers said. Deliberations lasted four hours, following a three-week trial.
Jere Beasley, a lawyer for Fox’s family, said Johnson & Johnson “knew as far back as the 1980s of the risk,” and yet resorted to “lying to the public, lying to the regulatory agencies.” He spoke on a conference call with journalists.
Carol Goodrich, a Johnson & Johnson spokeswoman, said: “We have no higher responsibility than the health and safety of consumers, and we are disappointed with the outcome of the trial. We sympathize with the plaintiff’s family but firmly believe the safety of cosmetic talc is supported by decades of scientific evidence.”
Trials in several other talc lawsuits have been set for later this year, according to Danielle Mason, who also represented Fox’s family at trial.
In October 2013, a federal jury in Sioux Falls, South Dakota found that plaintiff Deane Berg’s use of Johnson & Johnson’s body powder products was a factor in her developing ovarian cancer. Nevertheless, it awarded no damages, court records show.
Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc now owns the Shower to Shower brand but was not a defendant in the Fox case.
KUALA LUMPUR: UMW Oil & Gas Bhd swung into the red in the financial year ended Dec 31, 2015 due to whopping losses in the fourth quarter after an asset value write-down and goodwill written off amounting to RM337.5mil.
PARIS: Some creams, shampoos, after-shaves and toothpastes made by groups such as L’Oreal and Procter & Gamble, may contain potentially harmful substances, according to a study by French consumer protection group UFC-Que Choisir.
UFC-Que Choisir on Monday published a list of 185 products it said contained substances that were legal, but could cause allergies, irritations or endocrinal disorders.
“In light of the absence of suitable European regulation, we want to put pressure on manufacturers through consumers’ purchasing behavior,” said Olivier Andrault, who ran the study for UFC-Que Choisir.
The study pointed, for example, to eight brands of baby wipes including L’Oreal’s Bebe Cadum and Mixa, Beiersdorf’s Nivea and Procter & Gamble’s (P&G) Pampers that contain phenoxyethanol, which it said could be toxic for the blood and liver.
In response to the study, the Federation of Cosmetics Makers (FEBEA) said beauty and hygiene products sold in France were safe and met European regulation, which it described as the most demanding in the world.
Nobody was immediately available for comment at Beiersdorf and P&G, while L’Oreal said it was rigorously committed to the safety of all of its products.
“Our safety evaluation system is very robust and all our products and our ingredients are rigorously evaluated before they are put on the market, always in full conformity to the regulation in place,” L’Oreal said in a statement.
PETALING JAYA: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has postponed the Auditor-General’s (A-G) final report on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scheduled for February 24 and February 25 until further notice, The Malaysian Insider reported today.
According to the report, PAC members received a message from its secretary Johan Afandi last night, notifying them of the postponement.
“Greetings Dato’/Datuk/YB, it is informed that considering many PAC members are abroad, some fulfilling their umrah (minor pilgrimage) and other important commitments, the tabling of the Auditor-General’s Final Report on 1MDB scheduled for February 24 and 25 has been postponed to a date that will be informed later, thank you – Johan Afandi, PAC secretary,” said the message.
On February 11, the PAC said it would first review the A-G’s final report on 1MDB, scheduled to be presented to the committee on February 24 and 25.
The PAC probe into 1MDB began in May 2015 when it ordered the A-G to look into the state-owned firm’s accounts since its formation in 2009.
The debt-ridden 1MDB has been mired in controversies over the past year, making local and global headlines.
Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has also relentlessly criticised 1MDB and the chairman of its Board of Advisors, Prime Minister Najib Razak over the firm’s debt.
Unlike its flat, from-the-tap counterpart, sparkling water has character and pizzazz: The initial fizz announces itself; the bubbles tickle your nose as you drink, and can settle any upset stomach, or bring a buzzy satisfaction with each sip. But not all seltzers are created equal. Certain brands carry a cult status; their legions of fans buying in bulk to satisfy their insatiable cravings. Here, we take a look at the Mexican mineral water with an international following — how it came to be and why people love it on its own, and in cocktails.
You know the feeling well: It's the middle of the afternoon on a work day, or that time just before you start to make dinner, and you need a little boost. If you're like me, you're reaching straight for some cheese. With the right balance of protein and fat, a few slices are just what I need to tide me over. And of course, the only thing better than cheese on its own is when it's paired with something else.
BARCELONA: Chinese electronics giant Huawei on Sunday unveiled its first personal computer, a convertible tablet aimed at the premium business market that will compete with Apple’s iPad Pro and the Microsoft Surface.
The thin MateBook has a 12-inch pixel display, weighs just 640 grammes (1.4 pounds) without the keyboard although it looks heavier, and has a battery life of ten hours under standard use.
“Business people need a long lasting battery,” said Richard Yu, Huawei’s consumer devices chief, as he unveiled the new device in Barcelona on the eve of the start of the Mobile World Congress, the top annual trade show for wireless devices.
The tablet fastens to its keyboard case using magnets and it features a fingerprint reader.
The entry-level model with 128 GB storage starts at 799 euros ($890) in Europe with the top model coming in at 1,799 euros.
Yu said last month that Huawei hoped to overtake US rival Apple and Korea’s Samsung to become the world’s leading maker of smartphones in “three or four years.”
It is seeking to shed its budget supplier image to target higher-margin premium models.
The firm became the first Chinese handset vendor to sell more than 100 million smartphones in a year in 2015, as it defied a market slowdown thanks to strong sales domestically and in Western Europe.
Huawei, founded by former Chinese army engineer Ren Zhengfei, boosted its global smartphone market share to 7.7 percent in the third quarter behind Samsung and Apple, according to research firm Gartner.
It launched its first Android device in 2009 to complement its main business of making networking equipment.
Of all the ingredients in all the world, potatoes happen to be my favorite. Fried, mashed, and nestled under a roasting chicken, I love them no matter the preparation. I even love them frozen. And that’s because, when it comes to making a quick, filling snack, there’s no better item to have on hand than shredded hash browns.
I don't know about you, but if there was a competition for most-used appliance in my kitchen, my waffle iron would easily come in last place. In fact, it wouldn't even be a competition at all — one look at the dust collecting on it and all bets are off.
I'm the type of person who dips bacon in the maple syrup I've poured over pancakes or waffles in the morning — are you? There's just something so right about how the sweetness of the syrup mixes with the salty-smoky bacon. So it's about time bacon got a starring role in another breakfast staple: granola.
Here are seven 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.
Some people will tell you that you need to use day-old rice to make excellent fried rice, but that’s not exactly true. You can achieve the perfect level of chewy texture using a small table fan to dry off your freshly-made rice.
The secret to crispy hash browns, as we’ve shown you before , is getting as much water out of the potatoes as possible. But you can avoid the mess from squeezing them out by using a salad spinner.
KUALA LUMPUR: The UMW group has proposed to establish an Aerospace Hard Metal Manufacturing Park in Serendah, Selangor, where it will site its manufacturing plant to produce fan cases for Rolls-Royce plc’s aircraft engines.
Black clothes go with everything and take on stains like a champ, but they still require special care if you don’t want them to fade. Flipping your black garments inside out will keep your deep blacks from fading to charcoal gray.
You don't need tons of make up products to make your eyes stand out. Whether you are not allowed to wear makeup, have sensitive skin, or just prefer to go au naturale, this article will how to make your eyes look bright and beautiful without makeup.
Curl your lashes. Even if you are wearing makeup, most makeup artists agree curling your lashes is a must, because it makes your eyes look larger and more awake.[1] Use an eyelash curler to first curl along the very base of your lashes (squeezing for 10 seconds), then the middle of your lashes and the ends. This will give your lashes a natural curl instead of just bending them up at one harsh angle.[2] If an eyelash curler is out of the question, there are other ways to make your lashes stand out.
Blow on the ends of your fingertips to warm them up, then gently press your lashes up. Hold for ten seconds, and repeat if necessary.[3]
Heat a spoon in a mug of warm water, then hold the edge of the spoon along the root of your eyelashes. The curved side of the spoon (the side that holds soup or cereal) should be facing out, away from you. Use your fingers to gently push your lashes up and against the edge of the spoon.[4]
Use a clean toothbrush to brush your lashes upward. Run the bristles under hot water to warm up the brush, wiping off excess moisture on a towel. Then brush the bristles up through your lashes, a starting near the root, and holding at the tips for ten seconds.[5]
Wear colors that make your eyes pop. Figure out what shades really highlight your eye color and buy shirts and scarves in those colors. Think about what color you are wearing when people compliment your eyes, or try holding up a bunch of different colored fabrics to your eyes and have a friend tell you which ones look best.
Blue eyes should start out with black and different shades of blue (darker blues will make your eyes look a deeper blue, lighter blues will lighten), purple, pinks, and light green.[6]
Brown eyes should start with oranges and red (or combinations like peach), shades of light brown, bold blues, lavender, gold, and moss green.[7]
Green eyes should try any shade of purple or green, black, navy, pale yellow, and deep browns.[8]
Hazel eyes should try black, navy, and other dark neutrals, orange, burgundy, and lavender.[9]
Keep your eyebrows on point. Your eyebrows frame your face and bring balance to your features. Stick with a strong, natural looking brow over over-plucked, pencil-thin lines. If you can have a professional salon shape your brows they will give you a template for how they should look and then you can do maintenance with a tweezer.[10]
Avoid waxing your brows, as the process damages the extremely sensitive skin around your eyes. Try plucking or threading instead.[11]
If you aren't allowed to tweeze your eyebrows, use a toothbrush to brush the hairs upwards slightly. This trick will make your eyes look bigger.[12]
Use eyedrops if your eyes are bloodshot or tired-looking. A few squirts from hydrating eyedrops or eyedrops made to relieve redness will make your eyes look clear and awake.[13]
You can also use eyedrops to de-puff the skin around your eyes--just dab the liquid on the skin around your eyes.[14]
Get a good night's sleep to minimize puffiness and dark circles. The skin around your eyes is extra thin, which means it is extremely sensitive and will show the effects of a sleepless night. Lack of sleep can affect your circulatory system, making the blood vessels more visible through the paper-thin skin under your eyes.[15]
Sleep with your head propped up on two pillows, allowing the skin under your eyes to drain while you sleep and prevent puffiness.[16]
Dark circles can also result from allergies, genetics, or bone structure.[17]
To lessen puffiness, try sleeping propped up on two pillows, which can help drain excess fluid from your face overnight.[18]
Massage the skin around your eyes to encourage drainage and reduce puffiness. Swollen-looking eyes are usually a result of excess fluid under the eyes. Gently massaging the skin around your eyes can help move the fluid out of your face and into larger lymph nodes where it can be processed efficiently.[19]
Gently tap and massage the skin around your eyes, using your ring finger (this is the weakest finger and will make sure you don't press or pull too hard). Work your way around your eye in a circle, starting at the outside corner, going down under your eye, and then over along the brow bone.[20]
Learn more extensive techniques for a full facial massage.
Invest in a good eye cream. You may need to experiment with a few different eye creams to find the right one, but you ultimately want something that is moisturizing and contains vitamin E. Beware of eye creams that are too rich, greasy, or waxy, as these can trap dead skin cells and lead to tiny white bumps, or milia, around your eyes.[21]
Look for creams that de-puff your skin (caffeine can help reduce puffiness) or contain gentle exfoliants.[22]
Older women should look for creams that reduce wrinkles and firm the skin around your eyes, which can begin to droop as you age. A cream that plumps the skin can help the area around your eyes look youthful.[23]
Take it easy on the salt. A diet high in salt, MSG, alcohol, or artificial sweeteners can damage the skin around your eyes or cause excessive puffiness.[24] Too much salt can cause your body to retain water and appear bloated. Because the skin around your eyes is so delicate, this puffiness will be even more apparent around your eyes.[25]
Cut back on your salt intake to reduce puffiness, especially the day before a special event.[26]
Pamper the skin around your eyes with household remedies. It's easy to de-puff and treat the delicate skin around your eyes with items you can find in your kitchen. That cucumbers on the eyes thing you've seen in the movies actually helps refresh the skin around your eyes. Either place two slices of chilled cucumber on your lids, or try plunging your face in a bowl of ice cubes and cucumber slices to brighten and de-puff your eyes.[27]
Try steeping two bags of black tea and, after allowing them to cool, place them over your eyes to reduce puffiness.[28]
The most recent development is an announcement by IATA CEO Tyler calling the airport a ‘safety risk’ where aircraft ‘sink in’ on the tarmac due to substandard-materials. 
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian oil giant Petronas is expected to announce further spending cuts next week as it braces for earnings battered by the slump in crude prices that is also pressuring its global peers.
KUALA LUMPUR: Seramai 25 Naib Ketua Bahagian UMNO membuat laporan polis terhadap individu yang menghina Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi dengan cara mengedit gambar yang menyerupai anjing.
NEW YORK: Johnson & Johnson was ordered by a Missouri state jury to pay $72 million of damages to the family of a woman whose death from ovarian cancer was linked to her use of the company’s talc-based Baby Powder and Shower to Shower for several decades.
PARIS: Some creams, shampoos, after-shaves and toothpastes made by groups such as L’Oreal and Procter & Gamble, may contain potentially harmful substances, according to a study by French consumer protection group UFC-Que Choisir.
BARCELONA: Chinese electronics giant Huawei on Sunday unveiled its first personal computer, a convertible tablet aimed at the premium business market that will compete with Apple’s iPad Pro and the Microsoft Surface.
