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The simplest approach to peel a melon

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The simplest approach to peel a melon

Illustration for the article titled The Easiest Way to Peel a MelonPhoto: Claire Lower

Cantaloupe isn’t my favorite melon, but it’s the melon I’ve eaten the most of. My grandmother served it at the end of every summer meal (with salt and pepper), and when I realized it was socially acceptable to wrap slices of meat around the sweet, orange pieces, I developed the habit of prosciutto con melon in my 20s. (Actually, I lied earlier. It’s my favorite melon.)

Breaking down one of these things is almost a matter of course for me, which is why I never thought of doing a tutorial until a colleague who was supposed to go nameless explained his melon slicing method via Slack. “I cut [it] cut into wedges, then cut out the seeds, then cut off the skin and then chop the fruit. “

This is low-key chaos and high-key a lot more complicated than it should be. But it’s not the edited fault. Cantaloupe preparation is not intuitive. In contrast to most fruits, the peel is removed last, which – similar to leaving the root end of the onion– helps keep things neat and tidy while you are slicing and dicing. If that doesn’t make sense to you, don’t worry. I will show you how to do it. Let’s break down a melon together, step by step.

Step 1: cut your cantaloupe in half

Illustration for the article titled The Easiest Way to Peel a MelonPhoto: Claire Lower

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Start by cutting the melon in half, starting at the end of the stem and cutting the litter to the opposite side.

Step 2: core the seeds

Illustration for the article titled The Easiest Way to Peel a MelonPhoto: Claire Lower

Remove the seeds, thread-like parts, and goop that surround them with an ordinary spoon. Plant the seeds or throw them in the compost.

Step 3: cut your cantaloupe into columns

Illustration for the article titled The Easiest Way to Peel a MelonPhoto: Claire Lower

Divide the halves into quarters by cutting them vertically into two wedges of equal size. Do it again and you have eighths. Do it again and you have sixteenths. I never went any further, but you could if you wanted – live life by your own rules!

Step 4: start creating these segments

Illustration for the article titled The Easiest Way to Peel a MelonPhoto: Claire Lower

Grab a paring knife (or a large knife if you’re familiar with it) and cut straight to the rind, but not through. The size of these cuts is up to you. Play around with it! Have fun!

Step 5: finish it!

Illustration for the article titled The Easiest Way to Peel a MelonPhoto: Claire Lower

Take your paring knife and run it under the flesh of the melon, along the skin (and away from your body). There you go. You now have pretty little (almost) diced melon, perfect for snacking (with a little salt) or for wrapping in prosciutto. You could make a fruit salad too, I suppose, but I’ve never met a fruit salad that comes close to the deliciousness of prosciutto con melon.

Israeli Overseas Coverage Ambassador as a pacesetter seems to be altering

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Israeli Overseas Coverage Ambassador as a pacesetter seems to be altering

A new coalition could soon take power in Israel, but this does not signal a change in the country’s foreign policy, according to Israel’s ambassador in Singapore.

“As far as foreign policy is concerned, we see a continuation of the previous government policy,” Sagi Karni told CNBC “Capital Connection” on Wednesday.

That means Israel will continue to uphold and expand the Abrahamic Accords, engage with the rest of the world, and see “a change” in Gaza, he said.

The Israeli parliament, the Knesset, will vote on a new government on Sunday. If successful, the coalition, led by opposition party leader Yair Lapid and tech millionaire Naftali Bennett, will be sworn in and Israel’s longest-serving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be deposed. The coalition also includes an Islamist party.

Bennett, who leads a far-right minority party, will initially be prime minister before the centrist Lapid takes office after around two years.

Foreign relations

A Lapid Bennett government is unlikely to change Israel’s relations with other countries, Karni said.

“Our policy was very clear that we are open and have normal and good relations with all countries, including the Muslim countries here in Southeast Asia that you were referring to,” he said.

Muslim majority countries like Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei have no diplomatic relations with Israel and issued a joint statement in May condemning Tel Aviv’s “violations and aggression” against the Palestinians.

Karni said Israel needs to protect its citizens but has “no quarrel” with any countries in Southeast Asia.

We would like to extend the peace circle to the Muslim countries here in the region.

Sagi Karni

Israel’s ambassador to Singapore

“We would like to extend the peace circle to the Muslim countries here in the region,” he said.

“But we can’t force it on them,” he added. “It’s up to them to join and they know we’re interested, but they also have their own domestic concerns.”

Still, he noted that Israel had trade relations with Indonesia that began decades ago.

“Things can get a lot better, of course, but it’s up to them. We’ll be ready to move as soon as they’re done,” he said.

US-Israel Relations

The leader of the Israeli party Yemina, Naftali Bennett, will make a political statement on May 30, 2021 in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem.

YONATAN SINDEL | AFP | Getty Images

But after a ceasefire, Foreign Minister Antony Blinken traveled to the Middle East on a visit that included meetings with Israeli leaders about “our iron commitment to Israel’s security,” Biden said in a statement.

“I think there is very strong US support for Israel,” said Karni. “Support for Israel’s right to self-defense.”

He added that developments in the Middle East, such as the Abraham Accords – a series of agreements between Israel and some Arab League countries – were “a very positive development” that would bring stability to the region and promote US interests

“I don’t see any big changes when the new Israeli cabinet comes to power next week,” he said.

Meet the companions who’re all the time there for the Mates forged

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Meet the companions who’re all the time there for the Mates forged

Because one of the more surprising – and more delightful! – Revelations from the HBO Max meetup was that Schwimmer and Aniston were almost a real Ross-and-Rachel.

“Honestly, I remember saying to David once, ‘It’ll be such a shame when the first time you and I kiss is on national television,'” said Aniston their mutual infatuation with. “Sure enough, the first time we kissed was in this cafe. So we turned all our adoration and love for one another into Ross and Rachel.”

Now tell us: “Oh. My. Gawwwwwwd.”

While this two and a half decade old crush might very well have faded, we can still dream that they’re not quite over it just yet. (Because that, my friend, is what they call closure. Sorry. Had to.) As for the rest of the Friends cast’s love life, here’s what we know, they know, we know.

How do you clear a fuel grill?

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How do you clear a fuel grill?

Illustration for article titled Please clean your gas grillPhoto: Sam Bithoney

A few weeks ago I was at a family BBQ / birthday party for my two year old nephew. Since my brother-in-law worked later than he had hoped, I took up barbecue duty. A 5 + 1 burner gas grill is no big deal for a seasoned veteran like me: gas open, burner turned on, switch pressed. Lit.

Instead of normal preheating, I got a grease fire.

It turned out that this grill hasn’t been cleaned in a while. Possibly ever. I had to make loads of decisions in a very short space of time to avert a disaster, and luckily the only damage was to the grill itself – and a bit of siding that is now reminiscent of lasagna pasta.

The fire was on the left, on the pilot burners. That could have been a lot worse. Photo: Sam Bithoney

Baked on. Photo: Sam Bithoney

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Grease the gas valve and inside of the door. The doors. Pictured: Sam Bithoney

If you have a grill, you must have a fire extinguisher. “

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All of this could have been prevented by regular cleaning and, in the worst case, a fire extinguisher. If you own a barbecue, you must own a fire extinguisher. Do you have two grills? Good news, they come in packs of two! The safety of you and your loved ones is worth more than the $ 50 you will spend.

How to clean a gas grill

Whether you’re a new grill owner in need of a tutorial or an old professional who put it off, today is a great day to start cleaning. Let’s take a tour of my gas grill, which hasn’t been cleaned since the end of April. (I like to clean mine as soon as my tank is low, about once a month in the summer.)

I mean, I clean the grates. I mean, I clean the grates. Photo: Sam Bithoney

Burn off the excess

Start with a burn off to loosen things up. Those crispy pieces on the wire rack may be the only thing touching your food, but there’s a lot more of them below and they get better when things are warm.

ATTENTION: If your grill is awful, awful, splattered with fat and overflowing the drip pan, don’t turn it on. Skip to the drip pan and tub cleaning stages below and come back here afterwards.

Turn all burners on, close the lid, and leave alone for an hour. During this time, put together your mise en place: gloves, spatula, garbage bag and newspaper or a flat cardboard box. Scrape your grids off as best you can with the brush of your choice and kill the heat. Part one is done.

Do you have any idea how hard it is to fold a trash bag?Any idea how hard it is to fold a trash bag? Photo: Sam Bithoney

Once the grids are cool enough to handle with heat-resistant gloves or mittens, remove them as well as any internal parts (like these triangular bars) and place them on top of your handy, flattened piece of cardboard.

Everyone out! Photo: Sam Bithoney

Somebody is bathing today! Photo: Sam Bithoney

Clean the drip pan and the pan

Pull out your drip pan and use the spatula to scrape whatever you can straight into the trash. If the pan is covered in fat, clean it too! I don’t use any chemicals here other than dish soap but if you use one Solvent or grease remover, be sure to wash and dry the pan thoroughly before putting it back in your grill.

Illustration for article titled Please clean your gas grillPhoto: Sam Bithoney

Next up: the tub (where the burners are). Now that you’ve cleaned your drip pan to a splendid shine, we’re going to get it dirty again. The drain hole from the tub to the drip pan can clog, so it is best to clean the tub’s contents first before attempting to stuff more dirt through such a small opening.

Grab your trusty knife and lure all of the loosened dirt into the drip pan, tip it out, and replace the pan, grids, and interior components if necessary, and that’s it. It’s a very short and incredibly satisfying process that too better heat distribution through your cooking surface.

Sharp eyes will spot a bit of hot dog fat on the left grate.  It cannot be helped.Sharp eyes will spot a bit of hot dog fat on the left grate. It can’t be changed. Photo: Sam Bithoney

Oh yeah, and if you’re thinking of buying a Father’s Day BBQ, Independence Day BBQ, or throwing a BBQ to celebrate reunion with your friends, please grab a fire extinguisher first (and hope your family never has to think about it thank you for keeping them from burning).

Aspirin doesn’t enhance the survival of Covid sufferers: British examine

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Aspirin doesn’t enhance the survival of Covid sufferers: British examine

A patient suffering from COVID-19 will be treated on May 20th, 2021 in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Darmstadt Clinic in Darmstadt.

Kai Pfaffenbach | Reuters

LONDON – The cheap and widely available drug aspirin does not improve the survival of patients hospitalized with Covid-19, a UK study found.

Oxford University researchers had hoped the blood-thinning drug could help hospitalized Covid-19 patients who are at increased risk of blood clots forming in their blood vessels, particularly in the lungs, but found that aspirin was not helped prevent deaths.

On the study – part of a larger “RECOVERY” study that looked at various possible treatments for people hospitalized with coronavirus, nearly 15,000 patients were hospitalized with the virus. About half of the patients received 150 mg of aspirin daily compared to the other half who received only the usual treatment.

The study found that “there was no evidence that aspirin treatment reduced mortality” and “no significant difference” in the number of people who died, with 17% of people in both groups dying after 28 days in the hospital.

“The data shows that aspirin was not associated with a reduction in 28-day mortality or the risk of progression to invasive mechanical ventilation or death in patients hospitalized with Covid-19,” said Peter Horby , Professor of Emerging Infectious Diseases in the Nuffield Department of Medicine at the University of Oxford and lead investigator of the RECOVERY study, said the study.

“While aspirin was associated with a slightly increased chance of a live discharge, that does not appear to be enough to justify its widespread use in patients hospitalized with Covid-19.”

Martin Landray, professor of medicine and epidemiology in the Nuffield Department of Population Health at the University of Oxford and a lead researcher on the study, described the results as “disappointing”.

“There was strong evidence that blood clotting could be responsible for deterioration in lung function and death in patients with severe Covid-19. Aspirin is inexpensive and is often used in other illnesses to reduce the risk of blood clots, so it is disappointing that it did. ”Did not have much of an impact on these patients. That’s why large randomized trials are so important – to find out which treatments work and which don’t. “

The RECOVERY study has already made several life-saving discoveries, including that dexamethasone, a cheap and widely used steroid, was able to save lives in seriously ill Covid-19 patients.

The results of the latest aspirin study will be published shortly on the pre-print site medRxiv and have been submitted to a leading peer-reviewed medical journal.

Sony WF-1000XM4 vs WF-1000XM3: Purchase the Newest Mannequin or Save Cash?

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Sony WF-1000XM4 vs WF-1000XM3: Purchase the Newest Mannequin or Save Cash?

Not sure whether to buy the new Sony WF-1000XM4 or save money with the older Sony WF-1000XM3? Well we can help. We looked at both of Sony’s true wireless earbuds and we can safely say which of the two is worth your money.

What makes it difficult is that if you had asked us six months ago before we knew about the Sony WF-1000XM4, we would have told you that the WF-1000XM3 are honestly the best true wireless earbuds out there . Now things are less clear.

What the Sony WF-1000M4 offers is superior noise-canceling technology thanks to the new built-in V1 processor, which replaces the QN1 noise-canceling processor in the WF-1000XM3, and Sony’s DSEE Extreme software, which upscales low-resolution audio files better.

In addition to these top-line features, the WF-1000M4 has slightly longer battery life (eight hours versus six hours per charge) and a waterproof IPX4 rating that makes it better to take to the gym. Last but not least, they are smaller and use new earplugs that adapt to the shape of your ear canal and feel more comfortable during longer listening sessions.

So is the Sony WF-1000XM4 a better choice? Not always. They cost over $ 100 more, and that has left a lot of people wondering if it is worth upgrading to the WF-1000XM4 or if they should just stick with the cheaper WF-1000XM3 from 2019 that Prime Day It’s coming up soon in 2021, and that means the older WF-1000XM3 could be scaled down quite a bit in the near future.

The choice will be different for everyone. However, so that you can better understand which model is right for you, we have listed the most important differences below.

Sony WF-1000XM4

(Image credit: Sony)

Difference # 1: The noise suppression is better on the Sony WF-1000XM4

Of all the reasons to upgrade to the Sony WF-1000XM4, one of the biggest is its better noise cancellation. Thanks to the new integrated processor V1, the WF-1000XM4 is able to drastically reduce incoming noise in almost every audible frequency range. This means you’ll hear less engine noise when flying and less noise when sitting at your desk in a busy office. There’s also a new windshield that makes the buds better at blocking out ambient noise on a windy day – which is actually super handy.

In addition to the new processor, Sony also includes new noise isolation earbud tips, which contribute to a more stable fit and offer better noise isolation than the previous model. They essentially feel like foam earbuds, and it is likely that you can purchase some third-party brands for the WF-1000XM3 in the future. So you’re not the only reason to upgrade, but your addition to this year’s model is welcome.

Sony WF-1000XM4

(Image credit: Sony)

Difference # 2: The sound quality is better better with the Sony WF-1000XM4

The other main reason to upgrade is of course to improve sound quality, largely thanks to DSEE Extreme software, which better processes lower quality audio sources and upscales them for playback. This is the same technology we saw on Sony’s WH-1000XM4 over-ear headphones last year, and it’s pretty effective at its job.

As for the actual drivers, Sony still uses 6mm drivers on the WF-1000MX4, but these have been fundamentally improved for better bass response. It definitely feels that way after the test – but don’t expect overwhelming bass, as the overall sound profile is still relatively neutral.

Sony WF-1000XM4

(Image credit: Sony)

Difference # 3: The Sony WF-1000XM4 supports LDAC for Hi-Res Audio Wireless

Speaking of sound quality, a technical advantage of the WF-1000XM4 over the WF-1000XM3 is the addition of Sony’s LDAC codec, which supports streaming up to 990 kbps – roughly three times as fast as the standard SBC codec.

This extra bandwidth can help the WF-1000XM4 get a little closer to true Hi-Res audio status (although they aren’t quite there yet) and make your music sound more detailed than if you were listening to it through the WF-1000XM3 . But first you need to make sure you have an Android device that supports LDAC. (Sorry, iPhone owners, not you.)

Sony WF-1000XM4

(Image credit: Sony)

Difference # 4: The Sony WF-1000XM4 has a slightly longer battery life

It’s not a huge difference, but the Sony WF-1000XM4 has a slightly longer battery life than the WF-1000XM3 by around two hours per charge. According to Sony, the WF-1000XM4 should last around eight hours on a charge, compared to the six hours of the WF-1000XM3 – but the case itself still only lasts 24 hours of battery life.

What does that mean for you? You can work with it for a full day, but be ready to recharge it every few days.

Sony WF-1000XM4

(Image credit: Sony)

Difference # 5: The Sony WF-1000XM4 are IPX4 waterproof

Another small difference is that the WF-1000XM4 are waterproof. An IPX4 rating means the WF-1000XM4 can withstand a splash of water and is usually safe to take to the gym. After testing them at the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, we haven’t had the chance to go to the gym with them ourselves, but protection is pretty standard and should withstand rain too.

That being said, neither earbud is completely waterproof – unlike the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro, which has an IPX7 rating – so keep them away from the pool so they don’t fall in and can’t be recovered.

Sony WF-1000XM4

(Image credit: Sony)

Difference # 6: The WF-1000XM4 buds and charging case are smaller

If size is important to you, the WF-1000XM4 are significantly smaller than the WF-1000XM3. According to Sony, the earbuds are about a 10% size difference and the charging case a whopping 40%. That means they’re easier to carry in your pocket without taking up a lot of space, and they may feel a little more comfortable in your ear.

Sony WF-1000XM4

(Image credit: Sony)

Difference # 7: The WF-1000XM4 supports wireless charging

If you want to be on the cutting edge of technology, the new WF-1000XM4 case supports wireless charging via a Qi charger. We had one on hand from our last test of the Amazon Echo Buds (2nd generation) and found that it also worked moderately well for the WF-1000XM4. It seems to take a little longer to charge it this way, but it came in handy to put it on the charging pad every night instead of trying to track down the included USB-C charging cable.

Sony WF-1000XM4

(Image credit: Sony)

Difference # 8: The WF-1000XM4 are significantly more expensive

OK, here’s the main reason not to jump on the new Sony WF-1000XM4: they’re going to start at $ 279 / £ 250 / AU $ 499.95. That’s $ 100 / £ 100 / AU $ 300 more than the current WF-1000XM3 is sold at places like Amazon. Considering that the WF-1000XM3 is going to keep dropping for the next several months, and well, it’s getting really hard to decide between two pretty great true wireless earbuds.

The other problem with the price of the WF-1000XM4 is that there are other really good earbuds out there that offer many of the same features for a lot less money. For example, there’s the new Amazon Echo Buds (2nd Gen), which offer noise cancellation for just $ 129, and even the relatively expensive AirPods Pro are cheaper in most places at $ 199 / £ 199 / AU $ 399 . We’ll be providing a full guide to Apple AirPods Pro vs. Sony WF-1000XM4 shortly for a full comparison, but you can see how you can save if you’re willing to leave out some features.

Sony WF-1000XM3

(Image credit: Sony)

Are there any similarities between the WF-1000XM4 and the WF-1000XM3?

At this point, it may seem like the WF-1000XM3 is nothing redeeming, while the WF-1000XM4 are some kind of true wireless noise-canceling marvels broadcast by the audio gods themselves – but nothing could be further from the truth be. The Sony WF-1000XM3 has been high on our list of the best true wireless earbuds for the past two years – and they’ll rank high on that list even now that the WF-1000XM4 is here.

That’s because these earbuds basically do the same things. Both offer some levels of audio upscaling and noise cancellation, as well as decent battery life and a comfortable design that allows you to wear them for long periods of time. They both do these things better than almost any other true wireless earbud on the market, and use the same app, so you really wouldn’t go wrong with buying one, especially if your money is tight.

Sony WF-1000XM4

(Image credit: Sony)

So which one should you buy?

Without knowing your particular situation, it is difficult for us to say. But if you are someone who needs extra strong active noise cancellation or is looking for better audio quality because the sound of your songs is very important to you, then you are probably better off paying the extra cash on the Sony WF-1000XM4.

However, if all you want is some level of noise cancellation and audio upscaling, and not all the fancy extras like wireless charging and LDAC, you can probably save a ton of money by buying the older WF-1000XM3. They’re still damn good earbuds – some of the best, honestly – so there’s no shame in picking them up to save some cash.

Of course, we encourage you to read both our Sony WF-1000XM4 review and our Sony WF-1000XM3 review to find out even more, but hopefully you know a little more now than you did five minutes ago.