German tourist accused of damaging 16th-century statue in Florence
A 22-year-old German man has been detained in Florence accused of damaging a statue in the 16th-century Fountain of Neptune in the Piazza della Signoria, city authorities said in a statement.
2023-09-05 22:19
Millennial Money: How to budget with a fluctuating income
Freelancers, service workers, people who work seasonal jobs and those who earn money based on tips, royalties or commissions often experience fluctuating income during a month, season or year
2023-09-05 21:56
The airline lost his bike. He tracked it across the Atlantic
Gray Barnett used an Apple AirTag to track his bag to Brussels Airport after his airlines, Brussels Airlines and United, lost it. The bag contained his bike -- 16-year-old Barnett is a cyclist, who'd flown to France to compete in races.
2023-09-05 21:29
One way to boost students' scores? Help teachers conquer their math anxiety
Helping teachers of young kids gain confidence in math could be one key to unlocking America’s post-pandemic math recovery
2023-09-05 21:20
Three ways to pimp up university student classics
As teenagers start or head back to university this month, we’ve found three ways to level up student classics: instant ramen, ravioli and baked beans. Pre-made food has never tasted this good. As part of our Budget Bites column – where we’ve teamed up with Sorted Food to bring you easy, affordable, quick and (most importantly) tasty recipes once a month – this month’s instalment is all about dishes that make the most of staple ingredients while keeping your fresh shopping list minimal. We’ve also provided a handy shopping list for the ingredients (though hopefully most of it will be knocking about already), which are used across all recipes to ensure minimal food waste. You just need to decide where to shop, whether it’s locally or online. Shopping list 2 baking potatoes (large) 6 cloves garlic 20g fresh ginger 20g fresh chives 60g rocket 200g fresh spinach 200g chestnut mushrooms 125g cheddar 30g unsalted butter 250g spinach and ricotta ravioli 2 instant ramen packets 400g tinned baked beans 1.5 tbsp gochujang 3 tbsp sesame oil 3 tbsp vegetable oil 1 tbsp cider vinegar 1 tsp mild chilli powder 1 tbsp tahini 2 tbsp light soy sauce 1 tsp honey Instant green ramen with sticky soy minced mushrooms If you aren't a fan of mushrooms, try replacing them with crumbled firm tofu. Serves: 2 Ingredients: 200g chestnut mushrooms 3 tbsp vegetable oil 2 instant ramen packets 2 cloves garlic 200g fresh spinach 20g rocket 1 tbsp tahini 2 tbsp light soy sauce 1 tsp honey Method: 1. Fill the kettle with water and put it on to boil, this will be for the broth and noodles later. 2. Mince 200g of mushrooms on a chopping board like you might chop herbs, until rice-like in size. You can use a food processor here if you are low on time. 3. Add 3 tbsp of oil to a large frying pan and place it over a high heat. 4. Once the oil starts to shimmer and loosen, add the mushrooms. Fry, tossing occasionally for 8-10 minutes, until golden in places. Get on with the rest of the dish in the next steps while you wait. 5. Tip the flavour sachets from 2 packets of instant noodles into a medium saucepan. Peel, then finely grate in 2 cloves of garlic and add 700ml of boiling water from the kettle. 6. Place the pan over a high heat, then add 200g of spinach and 20g of rocket. Boil for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally until the spinach wilts, darkens, and softens fully. Get on with the rest of the dish in the next steps while you wait. 7. Add the noodles from the packets to another medium saucepan and cover with boiling water from the kettle. 8. Place the pan over a high heat and boil for 2-3 minutes, until soft but still with a slight bite. Get on with the rest of the dish in the next steps while you wait. 9. Once the spinach has darkened and wilted, take the pan off the heat, add 1 tbsp of tahini and blitz until smooth and bright green with a hand blender. You have made your green broth! 10. Once the noodles are ready, use tongs to transfer them straight into bowls. Pour over the green broth and turn your attention back to the mushrooms. 11. Add 2 tbsp of soy sauce and 1 tsp of honey to the mushrooms. Cook over a high heat for 1-2 minutes, tossing regularly, until dark and sticky. 12. Spoon the mushrooms over the noodles and tuck in! Pre-made ravioli cheddar cacio e pepe We use spinach and ricotta ravioli in this recipe, but feel free to get creative and use different pre-made filled pastas. Serves: 2 Ingredients: 75g cheddar 10g fresh chives 30g unsalted butter 2 cloves garlic 1 tsp mild chilli powder 250g spinach and ricotta ravioli Method: 1. Fill the kettle with water and put it on to boil. This will be for the pasta later. 2. Coarsely grate 75g of cheddar, then finely chop 10g of chives crossways on the same board - we will need these later. 3. Melt 15g of the butter in a small pan over a low heat. 4. Once the butter starts to foam, peel and finely grate in 2 cloves of garlic and add 1 tsp of mild chilli powder. Take the pan off the heat and allow everything to cook and infuse in the residual heat while you get on with the rest of the dish in the next steps. 5. Add 250g of ravioli to a medium saucepan and cover with boiling water from the kettle. Place the pan over a high heat. 6. Cook for 3-4 minutes, until the pasta is soft and the filling is piping hot. Get on with the rest of the dish in the next steps while you wait. 7. Grind 1 tbsp of pepper into a large frying pan, toast it over a medium heat for 2-3 minutes, tossing occasionally, until fragrant. 8. Add the remaining 15g of butter to the pepper and allow it to melt in the pan. 9. Once the ravioli is ready, use a slotted spoon to transfer it to the pan with the pepper and butter. Toss and swirl everything to create a loose emulsion of the butter and pasta water around the ravioli. 10. Take the pan off the heat and toss through the cheese - add a splash of pasta water if it starts to look a little sticky or thick. We are looking for a loose emulsion of the cheese, butter, and pasta water at this stage. 11. Divide the pasta between plates. Drizzle over the garlic chilli butter and scatter over the chives. Gochujang baked bean jacket potatoes These levelled-up baked beans also taste great on toast or wrapped in crispy puff pastry! Serves: 2 Ingredients: 2 baking potatoes (large) 400g tinned baked beans 1.5 tbsp gochujang 2 cloves garlic 20g fresh ginger 3 tbsp sesame oil 50g cheddar 10g fresh chives 40g rocket 1 tbsp cider vinegar Method: 1. Preheat the oven to 230C. 2. Stab 2 baking potatoes all over with a fork. Cook in the microwave on full power for 10-12 minutes, until soft throughout. Flip them over halfway through to ensure an even cooking. Get on with the rest of the dish in the next steps while you wait. 3. Add 1 400g tin of baked beans to a medium saucepan. Add 1 ½ tbsp of gochujang, then peel and finely grate in 2 cloves of garlic and 20g of ginger. 4. Place the pan over a low heat, slowly bring the beans up to a simmer, and cook for 4-5 minutes, until piping hot. 5. Once the potatoes are ready, transfer them to a small baking tray. Rub with 2 tbsp of the sesame oil and a generous pinch of salt. 6. Bake in the oven for 8-10 minutes, until the skin is crisp and golden. Get on with the rest of the dish in the next steps while you wait. 7. Coarsely grate 50g of cheddar, then finely chop 10g of chives crossways on the same board. 8. Add 40g of rocket to a large mixing bowl, toss with 1 tbsp of sesame oil, 1 tbsp of vinegar, and a pinch of salt. If you are still waiting for the potatoes, now would be a great time to crack on with a bit of washing up. 9. Once the potatoes are ready, split them lengthwise in half and fill with the baked beans. Scatter over the cheese, chives, and serve with the salad. In response to the rising cost of living, we have teamed up with Sorted Food to bring you easy, affordable, quick and (most importantly) tasty recipes once a month. Find out more about Sorted and their nifty meal-planning app Sidekick at sortedfood.com/sidekick. Read More Epicurus: American fast food meets the Middle East in Camden Market The dish that defines me: Evelin Eros’s rum cake ‘It started with a radish’: Chef Simon Rogan reflects on restaurant L’Enclume at 20 The true story – and murky history – of Portuguese piri piri oil ‘My depression stopped me doing what I loved most in life – cooking’ What Bake Off’s Jurgen Krauss really thinks of his shock elimination
2023-09-05 20:25
Marathon runners on why autumn is the best time to start running
Whether you have fallen out of love with running, or have always been curious about giving it a go, finding the right time to start can feel like the biggest obstacle to getting going. With the heat of summer behind us, and winter not fully on our doorstep yet, autumn could be ideal. Here, seasoned marathon runners share why right now is the best time to get into jogging… The weather is ideal Instinctively, you may feel it’s not the best time to start training as the weather begins to get colder and wetter, and the days get shorter. “However, the cooler temperatures can offer a range of benefits,” says Tahir Shams, founder of Tooting Run Club, who ran the 2023 TCS London Marathon. These include a “reduced risk of overheating and dehydration, and it supports increased endurance which is vital for longer runs”, Shams adds. Autumn training brings opportunities for different kit and environments, too. Marathoner and Human Disco Ball fundraiser Freya Morgan enjoys the change of weather. “I get to leave behind the sticky summer weather and busy parks and go back to fresh morning runs right as the sun rises,” explains Morgan, who recently completed a 200km run for Bail for Immigration Detainees. “In the autumn, I might still head out in a T-shirt and then as the weather gets colder, a long-sleeved layer, and then will take another long-sleeved top or jacket with me, and tie it around my waist or cram it into my hydration pack,” she adds. Kit could be cheaper Exercise kit is at its most expensive generally in January, when everyone and their mum is trying to tackle a new fitness goal! Getting in there a bit earlier and snapping up some end-of-season summer gear that’s on sale, before the new season’s clothing and shoes come in, may help you build a running wardrobe you love. If you look good, you feel good, after all. The race calendar If singing up for a race will help keep you motivated to keep running, starting in autumn could put you in a good position to take on a challenge in spring. Plenty of races happen as the seasons change from the cool of winter, with the London, Tokyo and Paris marathons all taking place in spring. Half marathons take place in cities across the UK in spring too, in locations from London to Inverness. Plus you’ll find plenty of 5k and 10k options. Creating a mood-boosting routine “In September, kids go back to school and the summer is over, so it is a kickstart for your health and fitness goals,” explains Ania Gabb, an ASICS Frontrunner who has completed more than 30 marathons. “Many people may want to get into a consistent fitness routine after the excess of summer and before the winter starts,” she notes. This can be especially important ahead of the dark days of winter, which as Shams notes, “can often feel like a gloomy time of the year… Endorphins released during running is a good way to banish the winter blues.” There’s less pressure than January Finally, it can particularly helpful for beginners to start in autumn – skipping the pressure of the new year. “If you are a beginner, autumn is a really nice time of year to pick up running. You are away from the pressure of January resolutions, and the crowds of the summer, and still have some fair weather days and sunlight to get you motivated,” says Morgan. “By the time the darker bits of winter roll around, you will hopefully be in enough of a running routine to use those runs to power through the dark and soggy days. I have been running for 11 years and when my mental health dips, running has always helped.”
2023-09-05 15:49
Time Lapse Video Reveals How Long it Takes a Watermelon to Decompose
If you've ever wondered how long it takes a whole watermelon to decay, this timelapse video has the answer.
2023-09-05 05:25
The Surprising Inspiration Behind In-N-Out's Crossed Palm Trees
The trees make an 'X' at almost every In-N-Out location. And yes, it's by design.
2023-09-05 03:23
Tabi Swiper: How a woman’s Tinder date committed the most ‘sinister’ of fashion crimes
If dating in New York City wasn’t hard enough, one woman has shared how an unassuming Tinder date stole her beloved Maison Margiela Tabi shoes, which retail for almost $1,000, to give to his girlfriend. It all began on TikTok this week, when user Lex (@nextlevellexuss) posted a public service announcement for New York City singles to “beware” a man named Joshua - who she claimed stole her prize Tabi Mary Janes from the French fashion label. “Ladies of NYC, be-f***ing-ware. This man is out here on Tinder and Hinge and he will steal from you,” she began her viral TikTok video, which has since been viewed more than 862k times. “This is a story about how that f***er stole my Mary Jane Tabis that my father bought for me as a birthday gift,” Lex said. She then shared a screenshot of her Tinder match, a man named Joshua, who she claimed was the culprit behind her missing shoes. The New York City-based fashion designer explained how she was walking around Manhattan’s Soho neighbourhood when she “locked eyes” with a “really cute guy” on the street. She later received a message on Tinder from the same man, who messaged her: “Hey, did I see you downtown?” “I didn’t know we matched on Tinder before, but I guess we did. We start chatting and we ended up going out for drinks,” Lex said. At first, she said that Joshua seemed like “a nice guy” and they decided to go on a second date. “Fast forward, we hang out again, he comes over and we sleep together.” During their rendezvous, they sparked up a conversation about fashion and Joshua revealed that he really wants to own a pair of “Tabi” boots from Maison Margiela - the high fashion brand’s infamous split-toe shoe, which comes in many different styles, including ballet flats, loafers, Mary Janes, and boots. The next morning, he asked to show Lex a Spotify playlist on her phone. “I open my phone and everything for him, I give him the app to Spotify, he looks it up,” she said in the video. He gave the phone back to Lex and said that he couldn’t find the playlist, before promptly leaving. “Hours pass, I’m on my computer, I look over to my shoe rack over here,” Lex continued, pointing to the black pair of Tabi boots sitting at the top of her shelf. “I have Tabi boots up there. We were talking about the Tabi boots and he was referencing those. He barely glanced at the Mary Janes, OK? I look over there, and they’re gone.” Lex searched high and low for her Tabi shoes but couldn’t find them anywhere, so she decided to text Joshua and ask if he knew where she placed her Mary Janes. “I’m not going to be accusatory, I’m just gonna see if he knows where I put them,” she explained. But when she opened the dating app to message him, she discovered that Joshua had “unmatched” her on Tinder. “I’m like, ‘Oh no. This b**** stole my f***ing shoes,’” she proclaimed. @nextlevellexuss Girls and gays of TikTok please get to work 😭 #nycdating #tinderhorrorstories #hingedating #margielatabis #nyc#greenscreen ♬ bad idea right? - Olivia Rodrigo The two previously chatted over the phone, so she decided to search her call log for Joshua’s number. As it turned out, he had erased his number from Lex’s phone when he asked to show her a Spotify playlist. “I go to the call log and he literally deleted the history of the call, so I can’t find his number,” she said. It seemed like all hope was lost, so Lex asked her local TikTok followers to send her any information they have about Joshua, adding: “I want my f***ing shoes back!” It didn’t take long for the fashion designer’s video to go viral on the platform, and as a result, fellow New York City TikTok users told Lex where she could find the alleged shoe stealer on Instagram. “You guys boosted this s*** so well and got it to the right audiences, I love you guys,” she said in a follow-up video. “Someone reached out to me, knew who he was, gave me his Instagram… I’m just trying to be as tactful as possible when it comes to this, so hopefully we get the shoes back, guys.” @nextlevellexuss Replying to @KingAshleyBee he also isnt my size he probably will try to sell them! ♬ original sound - Lex However, the “Tabi Swiper” saga continued when Lex revealed that not only did Joshua allegedly steal her shoes, but he gave them to his girlfriend. “Update, I got my Tabis back,” she shared in a third video, before revealing to her followers exactly how she retrieved her favourite shoes. Lex explained that she received a call from the Tinder date, who started to “gaslight” her over the phone and claimed that “he didn’t steal” her Tabi Mary Janes. But when he started offering her money for the shoes, anywhere from $500 to $1,000, Lex said she knew he was “lying” because an “innocent person wouldn’t give $1,000” if they didn’t steal the shoes. “The plot thickens,” she continued. “I found out he has a girlfriend and that he gave my Tabis to his girlfriend.” After Lex sent Joshua a screenshot of his girlfriend wearing her Tabi shoes, he finally texted her at three in the morning, saying: “Ight [sic] you got me, I’ll get them back to you give me a time and place and I’m just asking to remove the TikTok is all.” “All I ask is you remove the video once you get your stuff back,” he wrote in a separate text. “I thought I could get away with it but you caught me.” They eventually arranged a meeting and Lex included footage of the Tabi drop-off in her video, which showed Joshua pulling up on a bicycle with the Maison Margiela shoes in a cross-body bag. “He was literally smiling the whole f***ing time,” she revealed. While her shoes were now safe and sound, Lex still wondered how her Tinder date was able to swipe the Tabi shoes in the first place. She theorised in a separate video that he tucked the Mary Janes in his pants waistband, since he was wearing baggy cargo trousers. @nextlevellexuss Replying to @statue.net i only gave him like a half hug when he left lol. So i didnt feel it on him if he did it this way. ♬ original sound - Lex In just a matter of days, the case of the missing Tabis has received over a million views on TikTok. Unsurprisingly, the shocking saga led many fashion lovers to sound off on the incident in the comments section - as the culprit was quickly dubbed the “Tabi Swiper” on the app. “Fashion guys are sinister,” one top comment read. “That’s diabolical,” another person wrote. “Whew this was a journey! Glad you got your Tabis back,” said someone else. Meanwhile, others were more interested in what the swiper’s supposed girlfriend thought of the stolen Tabi shoes that he had given her. “I need the girlfriend to come forward with her side of the story. This is so crazy,” one person commented. “I want to hear from the girlfriend,” said another. A third wrote: “Wait, we need the update on the girlfriend… Does she know?!” @nextlevellexuss Also strongly considering filing a restraining order so I can feel safe from him just in case. lol #nycdating #tabigirl #tabigate #margielatabis #tinderpartner ♬ original sound - Lex After her Maison Margiela shoes were returned, Lex took the opportunity to thank both strangers and her followers for the “overwhelming amount of support” she’s received as a result of the so-called Tabi Swiper. In her video, she also revealed that Joshua and his girlfriend were no longer dating. “They are no longer together from my knowledge, she didn’t know - he’s a menace, y’all,” Lex said. “He cheated on her, so I would appreciate it if you guys try to give her a little bit of respect and space in this. This is not her fault.” The fashion designer also took the moment to address the “slut-shaming” she’s received since the Tabi Swiper saga. “To punish my behaviour and say, ‘Oh, what do you expect when you just open your legs?’ and things like that, instead of being like, ‘That’s crazy that there are not decent human beings out there who just won’t steal from you,’” Lex said. “To focus on that, and not what he did, shows how there are layers of misogyny to this whole entire situation.” She concluded her final video about the Tabi Swiper with: “I’m just simply a girl who wanted her shoes back.” Read More TikTok Tattoogate: How a tattoo artist sparked backlash for ‘absurd’ pricing and design changes Who is Ruby Franke? 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2023-09-05 03:17
West Indian American Day Parade steps off with steel bands, colorful costumes, stilt walkers
The annual West Indian American Day Parade stepped off in New York City with brightly colored costumes, steel bands, flag waving and street dancing
2023-09-05 03:17
Argentine Province Narrows Search for $1 Billion Potash Investor
Argentina’s Mendoza province has narrowed down its search for a company to resume development of the Rio Colorado
2023-09-05 01:47
Europe’s Airlines Offer Discounts as Travel Slowdown Hits Post-Summer
Airlines across Europe have begun discounting their tickets as the peak summer travel season gives way to the
2023-09-05 00:48