If you want to entertain your cat, or get some juicy phone footage of your cat going nuts and peeking behind your computer screen, then play these YouTube videos of English songbirds and squirrels. Cornwall resident Paul Dinning shot hundreds of wildlife videos, in which birds (and the occasional squirrel or mouse)…

Read more...

Coconut oil has developed a reputation as a superfood and all-around wonder product. You can cook with it, use it as a face moisturizer or hair conditioner, or even clean with it, among other uses. So, even though most of its claimed health benefits have little scientific research to back them up, coconut oil may be worth giving a try!^[1]

EditSteps

EditEating Coconut Oil

1. Use coconut oil for sautéing, pan frying, or roasting. Since it has a high smoke point and mild flavor, coconut oil is a great choice for a variety of cooking methods. If you’re sautéing or pan frying, use an equal amount of coconut oil as whatever other fat the recipe calls for (butter, olive oil, vegetable oil, etc.).^[2]
   
   • To roast vegetables with coconut oil, melt 1-2 tablespoons (15-30 ml) of the oil—or whatever amount your recipe calls for—over low heat in a small saucepan, then drizzle it over your veggies on the roasting pan. Season and roast the vegetables according to your chosen recipe.
2. Stir coconut oil into coffee, hot tea, or hot chocolate. Simply make your hot beverage of choice as usual, then stir in 1 tsp (5 ml) of coconut oil before adding any cream or sweetener. The hot liquid will quickly melt the congealed oil.^[3]
   
   • The coconut oil will create a bit of an oily texture (especially on the surface) and impart a mild flavor to the beverage. If you don’t care for the results, try replacing half of the coconut oil with unsalted butter (or just cut back on the coconut oil and don’t substitute anything else).
   • Is it worth making your morning coffee a bit oily by adding coconut oil? It might be. It's possible, but not certain, that coconut oil may help reduce cholesterol, burn fat, kill harmful bacteria, and improve brain function, among other benefits.^[4]
3. Blend coconut oil into your favorite smoothie recipe. Just spoon in 1-2 tbsp (15-30 ml) of coconut oil with the other ingredients and blend them together. Congealed coconut oil may leave small chunks in your smoothie—if this bothers you, melt the coconut oil on the stovetop using low heat, then drizzle it into the smoothie ingredients before blending.^[5]
   
   • Coconut oil tastes great with smoothies that use bananas and other tropical fruits.
4. Substitute coconut oil for other oils when baking. If your baking recipe calls for another liquid oil, like canola or vegetable oil, use an equal amount of melted coconut oil. You probably won’t notice any difference in flavor or texture.^[6]
   
   • If you want to substitute coconut oil for a solid fat like shortening, butter, or margarine, use a 1:1 ratio of congealed coconut oil and the other solid fat, but add only 75% of the amount called for in the recipe. For instance, instead of 4 tbsp (60 ml) of butter, add 3 tbsp (45 ml) total of coconut oil and butter—1.5 tbsp (~23 ml) of each.
5. Spread coconut oil on toast or pancakes instead of butter. Coconut oil will soften to a spreadable consistency as it approaches , at which point you can easily spread it onto a muffin or corn-on-the-cob. It provides a nice change of pace to the taste of butter!^[7]
   
   • Or, try melting 1-2 tbsp (15-30 ml) of coconut oil and drizzling it over your popcorn!

EditMoisturizing Your Face

1. Buy coconut oil that is organic, extra virgin, and unprocessed. Use a coconut oil that is as natural and unadulterated as possible. Avoid jars with terms like “bleached,” “hydrogenated,” “refined,” or “deodorized.” The term “cold-pressed” is a good thing to see on the label, though, as this is a natural process for extracting the oil.^[8]
   
   • Look for this coconut oil at stores that sell natural food and health products. It typically comes in a glass jar and looks like a whitish gel or paste.
2. Massage in 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of coconut oil after washing your face. Wash your face with a gentle soap, rinse it with warm water, and pat it dry with a towel. Scoop about 1 tsp (5 ml) of the gelatinous coconut oil on your first two fingers, then massage it into your skin using circular motions. Repeat this process daily.^[9]
   
   • Your body warmth will melt the oil and it will absorb into your skin.
   • Coconut oil works best if you have dry or normal skin. If you have oily skin, choose a different natural product, like argan oil or sunflower oil.^[10]
3. Use melted coconut oil in a moisturizing face mask. Melt 1 tbsp (15 ml) of coconut oil over low heat on the stove, then stir it together with half of a mashed banana and a pinch of turmeric. Use your fingers to apply the mask to your face, leave it for 15 minutes, rinse it away with cool water, and pat your face dry. Repeat daily if desired.^[11]
   
   • This mask may help both moisturize your skin and reduce acne breakouts. Bananas may help add moisture, while turmeric may offer anti-inflammatory properties.

EditConditioning Your Hair

1. Scoop about 1 tbsp (15 ml) of congealed coconut oil onto your fingers. If you have short hair, you may only need half of this amount. Buy organic, extra virgin, unprocessed coconut oil from a health food retailer for this application.^[12]
   
   • Store the coconut oil in its glass jar at a temperature below ; this will keep it in its congealed form.
2. Melt the coconut oil over low heat, or in your hands. Put the scoop of oil in a small saucepan and place it over low heat on the stove. Let it cool enough that you can comfortably handle the oil.^[13]
   
   • Alternatively, you can melt small amounts of the coconut oil in your hands while you massage it into your hair.
3. Massage the oil into your hair, section by section. If you have long hair, divide it into sections with a comb and hair clips. Then, dip your fingers into the melted oil and use your fingertips to massage it in from the roots to the tips of the hair in each section.^[14]
   
   • If you’re using unmelted coconut oil, scoop up just enough to work into the section of hair you’re working on, rub it between your fingers for 15-30 seconds until it melts, and massage it in with your fingertips.
4. Wait at least 30 minutes before shampooing out the coconut oil. If possible, wait at least 2 hours before washing out the coconut oil—this will give it more time to absorb into your hair. When you’re ready, just use your typical shampoo to wash your hair, then rinse and dry as normal.^[15]
   
   • You can even keep the coconut oil in overnight. Just make sure you put a towel down on your pillow so it doesn’t end up stained. You might also want to put on a shower cap overnight.

EditCleaning with Coconut Oil

1. Remove stains with coconut oil and baking soda. Thoroughly mix equal parts of coconut oil and baking soda—for instance, 1 US cup (240 ml) of each. Apply the mixture to stains on carpeting, walls, and other surfaces with a cloth, leave it for 5-10 minutes, then wipe it away with a damp cloth.^[16]
   
   • Like any stain remover, this may cause damage or discoloration to some surfaces. Test it on an inconspicuous area—like the corner of the carpet under the end table—before applying it to the stain.
2. Make a coconut oil furniture polish. Melt 4 tbsp (60 g) of coconut oil in a small saucepan over low heat. Mix in 4 tbsp (60 ml) of white vinegar and 2 tsp (10 ml) of lemon juice, then add it to a spray bottle. Shake the bottle, spray a light coating of the mixture on your wood furniture, and buff it off with a clean, soft cloth.^[17]
   
   • Test the cleaner on a hidden area of the furniture first, just in case it reacts with the finish and causes staining or discoloration.
   • Use the mixture right away, since the coconut oil will congeal if it cools below .
3. Clean and condition leather with straight coconut oil. Scoop a fingertip-sized amount of coconut oil onto a clean cloth. Work it into the leather item using a circular rubbing motion, leaving behind only a thin, shiny film of oil. Add more coconut oil to a clean section of the cloth as needed.^[18]
   
   • Test the coconut oil on a small spot of the leather first. There’s a small chance it may discolor your favorite leather jacket or sofa!
4. Lift away sticky residue by rubbing on coconut oil. Scoop a small amount of coconut oil onto a cloth and rub it into the sticky spot. The oil should cause the sticky residue to release and lift away. Wipe the area with a damp cloth if needed.^[19]
   
   • Try this on a sticky spot on your carpet, or to remove tacky residue left behind by a price tag or other sticker.
   • Like always, test the coconut oil on an inconspicuous area first.

EditTips

• If you are concerned about the coconut flavor being too overwhelming, you can reduce the flavor by blending the coconut oil with equal parts of sesame oil and olive oil (that is, a 1:1:1 ratio). In these proportions, you can still receive most of the benefits provided by coconut oil.
• There isn't a lot of clear medical proof regarding the health benefits of consuming coconut oil. It is possible, though, that it may help improve brain function, reduce cholesterol, kill harmful bacteria, and burn fat, among other possible benefits.^[20]

EditThings You’ll Need

• Organic, extra virgin, unrefined coconut oil
• Small saucepan for melting (optional)

EditReferences

EditQuick Summary

Cite error: <ref> tags exist, but no <references/> tag was found

NEW DELHI: Three teenagers were killed while taking selfies on a railway track in India, the country which researchers say has the worst record for selfie-related deaths.

A fourth youth managed to jump to safety before the accident in Panipat city in the northern state of Haryana, a police officer told AFP Wednesday.

“The victims were busy taking selfies and when they saw a train approaching they jumped to a second track without realising another train was coming on that,” M.S. Dabas told AFP.

“One of them saved his life as he jumped on the other side of the track.”

The group had come to Panipat to attend a wedding. Two of those killed were 19 years old and the third was 18.

Experts warn that youngsters obsessed with social media are going to extreme lengths in order to post selfies seen as daring and risky.

A study last year by researchers from the All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences said 259 people across the world had died while taking selfies between 2011 and 2017.

The highest number of incidents and selfie deaths were reported in India followed by Russia, United States, and Pakistan, the study said.

In 2017 three students were killed on a railway track in southern Karnataka state, while a man died in Odisha after an elephant wrapped its trunk around the man and crushed him to death as he tried to take a selfie with the animal.

Last year Railways Minister Piyush Goyal took to Twitter to warn people against risking their life for the sake of photographs.

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan security officials have warned that the Islamist militants behind Easter Sunday’s deadly suicide bombings were planning more attacks imminently, using a van and bombers disguised in military uniforms.

“There could be another wave of attacks,” the head of ministerial security division (MSD), a unit of the police, said in a letter to lawmakers and other security sections, seen by Reuters on Monday.

“The relevant information further notes that persons dressed in military uniforms and using a van could be involved in the attacks,” the letter said.

It said the militants were targeting five locations for attacks on Sunday or Monday.

There were no attacks on Sunday, and security across Sri Lanka has been ramped up, with scores of suspected Islamists arrested since the April 21 attacks on hotels and churches that killed over 250 people, including 40 foreign nationals.

Authorities suspect members of two little known groups – National Thawheedh Jamaath (NTJ) and Jammiyathul Millathu Ibrahim – of carrying out those attacks, though Islamic State has claimed responsibility.

Sri Lanka’s government lifted the curfew on Sunday night for the first time since the bombings, but in the capital Colombo, police conducted random body checks and searches.

The letter said one of the fresh targets was in Batticaloa, a city on the East coast where 27 people were killed in a suicide bomb attack on a church. The location of the other targets was not mentioned.

Two cabinet ministers and two opposition lawmakers confirmed to Reuters that they were aware of the latest security alert.

“We have been informed about this by the MSD,” Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said.

Footage released by International Animal Rescue shows harrowing footage of an orangutan trying to fight off a bulldozer destroying its habitat.

As loggers smash the base of a tree in the Ketapang District of West Borneo, video shows one of the great apes perched in the tree’s canopy as it falls to the floor. Two members of IAR’s Orangutan Protection Unit try to dart and carry the animal to safety.

SHAH ALAM: 5-month-old Nayla Binti Amar had tiny fists shaking in condemnation this week after.

The post Local Baby Defends Decision To Remove Hijab appeared first on The Tapir Times.

Monica Duffy Toft, Tufts University

What happens to a country when its core national identity – its preferred image of itself in terms of race or religion – doesn’t match its demographic reality?

Say a Sunni-dominated Arab country is actually a majority Shi'a Arab country; or a Russian-Slavic majority becomes a minority; or a white Protestant U.S. becomes predominantly mixed race and mixed faith.

The answer, unfortunately, is “nothing good.” Internal strife, perhaps civil war or collapse often precedes a decisive demographic shift. Let me explain.

read more

Are you one of those people who eats at McDonald’s around the world when traveling (or at least stops in for an ice-filled drink, free Wi-Fi and a bathroom)?

We won’t judge. The truth is, some of the menu items at overseas Golden Arches are simply better than what you can get in in the US. But the downside has always been that if you got a sudden craving for that McDonald’s Stoopwafel McFlurry you had in the Netherlands on your vacation, you had to either book a transatlantic flight or suffer hongergevoel in silence.

But now there’s hope. According to leaked documents obtained by Business Insider, the fast-food chain is introducing some of its most beloved international items to the United States.

So put away your passport and get out your stretchy pants. Your favorite international McDonald’s food may be coming to America.

The leaked list of international McDonald’s goodies headed this way includes the Grand McExtreme Bacon Burger from Spain — which includes McBacon sauce and even more bacon, making it McExtreme McIndeed. Our Canadian neighbors will be coming through with their tomato mozzarella chicken sandwich. Australia, which has already blessed us with both Steve Irwin the Crocodile Hunter and Hugh Jackman, is topping off its generosity with cheesy bacon fries.

And, last not but not least, that amazing Stroopwafel McFlurry from the Netherlands? Yes, it’s coming here too.

We love a good stroopwafel here in the TPG office, and the Mickey D’s concoction comes with bits of the delightful Dutch cookie set in a McFlurry with vanilla soft serve and caramel sauce. (It’s safe to say many of us in New York will be getting our hands on that one too.)

You can expect all four worldwide favorites to be added to American menus in early June.

The new menu items are the finalists of a test run in 50 restaurants in South Florida last fall. Items that didn’t make the cut include Hong Kong McSpicy Chicken and Malaysian BBQ McShaker fries. Come on, Florida, you had one job.

Though there’s now no need to hop on that daylong flight across the world for those cheesy bacon fries, be sure to buy your McItems with a credit card that gets you bonus points for dining purchases so you’re that much closer to your next real international adventure. Our top picks include the American Express® Gold Card (4x points at US restaurants) and the Chase Sapphire Reserve (3x points on dining around the globe), both of which charge no foreign-transaction fees (Amex Gold rates & fees).

Featured image courtesy of McDonald’s.

For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, click here.

It all started in April of 2015 when firefighter Bill Lindler was coming home from a shift when he saw flames rising from a neighbour’s garage.

“I saw Mama dog and several puppies running out,” Lindler told The Dodo. “I saw one puppy trying to make his way out, when a piece of the ceiling fell on top of him. He started yelping, but he wiggled himself free and backed into a corner and cowered down.”

“I brought him outside, and he was pretty bad,” said Lindler. “He wasn’t moving. He wasn’t breathing. I did mouth-to-snout on him, until we could administer oxygen.”

At only 3 weeks old, the pit bull barely survived and suffered burns on over much of his body. The puppy spent the next few weeks recovering at an emergency vet clinic and when Lindler went to check in on the dog he was distraught to learn that the puppy’s family had failed to come claim him. That’s when Lindler decided to adopt him.

After a rough start, Jake’s health improved and he quickly settled into his new home. He was a regular at the Hanahan Fire Department station (located in South Carolina) and all the firefighters loved him.

Lindler’s wife even made a uniform for Jake from an old firefighter’s jacket. Though unofficial, Jake’s position at the force was starting to become more important, especially as the station pet. The firefighters even made him a little bed at the station just for him!

As Jake continued to grow, so too did his contribution to the department. They started taking him to local schools for education classes about fire prevention and he was a hit with the kids.

Back at the station his presence provided a big morale boost for the firefighters as he would excitedly greet them when they returned from calls.

Finally, Jake was officially recognized and honoured as the official Fire Dog and Mascot for the City of Hanahan Fire Department!

Lindler says he hopes one day Jake can be a therapy dog for children who have suffered burns. He also says Jake is working to become an arson detection dog.

To keep up with Jake’s latest adventures you can follow him on Facebook!

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court today upheld the previous government’s ban on three books published by the Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF), saying it is satisfied with the former home minister’s excuse in imposing the ban.

“It was based on his own opinion after taking into account the opinions of experts.

The contents of the book are likely to be prejudicial to public order and interest and likely to alarm public opinion,” said judge Nordin Hassan.

He said the authorities were also convinced that the books were not in line with Sunni Islam and could also cause confusion among Muslims in Malaysia.

IRF in its submission had called for the ban to be quashed on grounds that then home minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi acted beyond his powers.

It also said matters of Islam should not come under the federal government, adding that Putrajaya had no power to regulate issues related to religion.

The three books are “Islam Tanpa Keekstreman: Berhujah Untuk Kebebasan”, a Malay translation of a book by Turkish academic Mustafa Akyol, as well as two volumes from a series edited by IRF director Dr Farouk Musa.

The three books were published in 2012, 2014 and 2016.

IRF had sought a declaration that the ban was a violation of the Federal Constitution, and that Section 7 of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 was unconstitutional.

‘No moral courage’

In an immediate reaction, IRF’s Farouk said he feared the court decision today would only encourage the authorities to control books on Islamic topics.

“It seems to me the minister of home affairs has the absolute discretion in banning books that do not conform to the version of Islamic authorities like Jakim,” he told FMT after the court dismissed the challenge.

IRF had earlier argued in court that the books had not sparked civil unrest or showed signs that they were a threat to public order, reasons given by the home minister in banning them.

Farouk said the Pakatan Harapan government lacked moral courage in undoing the previous government’s wrongs especially in matters of Islam.

“It should have embraced the diverse opinions among the Muslims and just depart from the previous regime’s understanding that every opinion on Islam must be endorsed by Jakim,” he said, referring to the Malaysian Islamic Development Department.

“Unfortunately they do not have the moral courage to do so. To me the whole thing is basically about freedom of expression as guaranteed by Article 10 of our Constitution.”

Cats chew on grass to help get healthy vitamins, minerals, and enzymes, but an indoor cat doesn’t have access to your lawn. Luckily, cat grass is very easy to grow indoors so you can provide your cat the nourishment it needs. Cat grass is usually a mix of wheat, oat, barley, or rye, and can be grown in soil or with a water substrate. Once you have the grass pot set up, your cat can enjoy eating it whenever it wants!

EditSteps

EditGerminating Seeds in Soil

1. Fill a pot with planting soil until it’s from the rim. Use an organic potting soil, so it’s safe for your cat to dig into. Choose a pot with a wide opening on top so the grass can spread out as it grows.^[1]
   
   • Avoid using any fertilizers in your pot since cat grass grows and dies within a few months.
2. Scatter seeds in the pot and cover them with a thin layer of topsoil. Spread the seeds evenly across the soil until it’s completely covered. It’s okay for the seeds to overlap since the grasses’ root systems don’t take up much room. Once your seeds are in the pot, cover them with about of soil.^[2]
   
   • Cat grass seed packs can be purchased from your local pet store, garden center or online.
   • You may soak the seeds in a bowl with water one day before you plant them to help speed up germination. The seeds will absorb the water and are more likely to sprout within a few days.^[3]
3. Mist the soil until it’s moist. Put water in a spray bottle and gently mist the topsoil. Keep spraying water onto the soil until it feels damp to the touch. Don’t leave any standing water on the surface or else your seeds may not grow.^[4]
   
   • Don’t pour water directly into the pot since it might drown the seeds and prevent growth.
4. Cover the pot for 2-3 days with plastic wrap and keep it in a cool, dark place. Plastic wrap helps maintain a humid environment and encourages your grass to sprout quickly. After you cover the pot, use a toothpick to poke a few holes into the plastic wrap so air can circulate. Store the pot in a cool and dark place, such as a kitchen cabinet or closet. After three days or when you see sprouts, remove the plastic wrap.^[5]
   
5. Move the pot, so it gets natural light and waits ten days for the sprouts to grow. Set the pot in an area of your home that gets direct and indirect sunlight throughout the day, such as a windowsill. After about ten days, the grass will be fully grown and ready for your cat to chew on.^[6]
   

EditStarting a Grass Pot without Soil

1. Fill a glass bowl or jar two-thirds full with grow stones. Grow stones are used in many hydroponic systems and work well to provide nutrients to the water. Use a shallow glass bowl or jar and put the stones inside. Leave a third of the container’s space empty on top.^[7]
   
   • You can buy grow stones online or from your local gardening store.
2. Set a paper towel or coffee filter on top of the rocks and spread your seeds. The paper towel or coffee filter acts as a barrier between the grow stones and the seeds. After putting the filter in, evenly spread a thin layer of seeds on top of it. It’s okay for the seeds to overlap or be on top of each other.^[8]
   
   • Make sure the paper towel or filter you used is unbleached or else it could damage your seeds.
3. Pour water in the bowl or jar up to the layer of paper towel. Slowly add the water to the container, so your seeds aren’t disturbed. Keep filling the container until the water touches the filter. The filter will absorb the water and keep your seeds moist so they can germinate.^[9]
   
   • If you notice the water level ever drop below halfway, refill the container back up to the filter.
4. Wait 10-12 days before letting your cat eat the grass. After 2-3 days, your seeds will form sprouts, but the grass won’t fully form until about 10-12 days. Once the grass is about tall, your cat can chew on it.^[10]
   

EditMaintaining the Cat Grass

1. Keep the pot in an area of your home with natural light. Keep the pot on a windowsill or the floor near a glass door. Make sure the spot is in an area where your cat frequently goes. The light will help your grass multiply after your cat eats it.^[11]
   
2. Water the grass regularly so it stays moist. If you have a soil substrate, feel the topsoil to see if it’s moist to the touch. If not, use your spray bottle until it’s damp but not so much that it forms pools of standing water. If you’re using grow stones, check the water level inside your container. If it’s below half full, fill it with water so until it’s just below the filter.^[12]
   
   • Be careful not to overwater your grass since it could die if there’s too much.
3. Trim the grass between when it gets too long. If your grass gets too long, your cat may be able to pick up the plants and destroy the grass pot. Use a pair of gardening snips to trim the grass until it’s tall.^[13]
   
4. Plant new seeds when the grass starts to yellow or wilt. Cat grass doesn’t reproduce or stay alive for much more than 2-3 months. When you see your grass turning yellow or drooping, remove it from the pot and replace it with new seeds. Within a few days, you’ll have a new pot that’s growing healthy cat grass!^[14]
   
   • You don’t need to replace the grass after your cat chews it all since it will grow back quickly until they start to die.

EditWarnings

• Overwatering your grass can cause it to die. Only water when it’s necessary.

EditThings You’ll Need

EditGerminating Seeds in Soil

• Pot
• Potting soil
• Spray bottle
• Plastic wrap

EditStarting a Grass Pot without Soil

• Glass bowl or jar
• Grow stones
• Paper towel or coffee filter

EditMaintaining the Cat Grass

• Gardening snips

EditRelated wikiHows

• Make a Balcony Safe for Cats
• Keep Cats from Chewing on Electric Cords and Chargers
• Cat Proof Your Apartment
• Cook for Cats
• Make Raw Cat Food

EditReferences

Cite error: <ref> tags exist, but no <references/> tag was found

Carl’s Jr will become the first fast-food chain to sell a CBD-infused hamburger when its “Rocky Mountain High Cheeseburger Delight” goes on sale in Denver on Saturday, the company said.

The Tennessee-based chain is selling the burger for just one day at one location in northeast Denver as part of its strategy to test out “bold and unexpected” flavours, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.

The burger has a “Santa Fe Sauce” infused with hemp-based CBD-oil, the non-psychoactive component of cannabis that can promote calmness and relaxation, but will not get you high.

“CBD is one of the hottest culinary trends right now, and what better place to test this new burger than in Denver, a city that has been a trailblazer in the CBD movement,” said Carl’s Jr spokeswoman Candice Jacobson.

Recreational use of cannabis was legalised in Colorado in 2014. The CBD oil in the burgers is sourced from local company Bluebird Botanicals.

The Carl’s Jr chain, owned by privately-held CKE Restaurants Holding Inc, may expand sales of the burger, as regulations allow, Jacobson added.

With pickled jalapeños and pepper jack cheese, the burger will cost US$4.20 – a number that is slang for smoking cannabis and the date US cannabis celebrations take place each year.

Two Qatar Airways crew members (the First Officer and a flight attendant) must have had a night out in Helsinki yesterday, as they both turned up to operate the Helsinki–Doha flight, QR304, this morning “under the influence”.

Finnish police had received a tip that some of the crew had appeared drunk and went to carry out a breathalyzer test. Now, The Finnish police suspect these two men to have violated the Finnish law by trying to work under the influence.

Here’s the flight status:

Here is the press release from the Finnish police, which unfortunately Google Translate is unable to correctly translate:

Itä- Uudenmaan poliisi sai aamulla noin klo 8.28 tehtävän Helsinki-Vantaan lentoasemalle, jossa ilmoituksen mukaan Qatar Airwaysin lennolle lähdössä olevan koneen perämies ja stuertti olivat vaikuttaneet päihtyneiltä. Molempien miesten epäillään syyllistyneen ilmaliikennejuopumukseen.

Tapahtuman selvittäminen on vielä kesken ja tällä hetkellä poliisi ei voi kommentoida asiaa enempää.

Conclusion

Passengers on this flight should file for the EC 261/2004 compensation (600 Euros each) and Qatar Airways is also required provide duty of care for all affected passengers (accommodation, food & calls) or rebook them to their final destinations on the earliest possible flights.

Cockpit and cabin crew really should know better and not to drink (or medicate themselves) before operating or working on a flight. There have been an increasing number of these incidents as of late, or perhaps there are more tests being done with other employees no longer afraid of reporting crew members.

It is almost certain that these two crew members will soon be unemployed and unemployable by any airline due to their personal behaviour.

Note:  I have updated this piece after reading the press release by correcting that First Officer and male cabin crew member, rather than the Captain and First Officer as originally reported, are the suspects.

Dutch street artists Jan Is De Man and Deef Feed recently completed this amazing mural on the side of an apartment building in Utrecht, Netherlands.

According to Jan, the artists asked people in the neighbourhood to share their favourite books so they could incorporate local favs into the 3D mural (also known as trompe-l’œil). The mural took about a week to paint and you can see the fantastic end result below.

[via Laughing Squid]

In an ongoing series of sculptural works entitled Villagers, Finnish artist Liisa Hietanen crochets 1-1, life-size versions of people in her hometown of Hämeenkyrö. On her website, Liisa adds:

I meet my models in natural everyday situations. The process of choosing a model is intuitive. The person depicted might be someone I meet in the library, in the locker room of the gym or walking their dog on the way home. I don’t know most of my models beforehand but as the process goes on I get to know them.
 
The slow handcraft techniques work as a counterforce to the accelerating pace in different areas of life. To me important values in my works are encountering someone very concretely, seeing the other for real and getting to know them slowly. I see these as relevant values and balancing actions especially in contrast to quick stirs and thin encounters in social media.
 
After settling in Hämeenkyrö I wanted my work in the village to be meaningful both for myself and the others living there. When each Villager sculpture is finished I bring them to public sites in Hämeenkyrö for the locals to see… Working in a community is an essential part of my work and I want to have a dialogue with the people directly in my surroundings.

Below you will find some highlights from Hietanen’s Villagers series. You can also find more of her artwork on her website and Instagram.
 
© Liisa Hietanen, Photos by Marjaana Malkamäki
 
[via Colossal]