POMFRET, Vt. (AP) — Social media users take note: You won't be able to snap that fall foliage selfie at a popular Vermont spot. The town has temporarily closed the road to nonresidents due to overcrowding and “poorly behaved tourists.”The normally quiet dirt road from Pomfret to Woodstock, home to the frequently photographed Sleepy Hollow Farm, will be open only to residents through mid-October. And local law enforcement plans to enforce it.In recent years, social media users and photographers have clogged the narrow road for selfies and fall foliage shots of the scenic private property, drawn by its colorful hillside trees, the barn and classic New England home.Locals say they understand the lure of the beautiful leaves and landscape, but say some visitors have gone too far: blocking traffic with their parked vehicles, obstructing access for residents and emergency vehicles, as well as picnicking and even relieving themselves on private land surrounding the home. One Instagram poster even tipped followers about how easy it is to go around the entrance gate to the private property, which also has surveillance cameras.<blockquote>“Poorly behaved tourists have damaged roads, had accidents, required towing out of ditches, trampled gardens, defecated on private property, parked in fields and driveways, and verbally assaulted residents,” said the organizers of a GoFundMe site called Save Cloudland Road."It’s just a shame,” said local resident Nancy Bassett. “It spoils it for a lot of people.”</blockquote>Overcrowding driven by social media posts have plagued other destinations around the globe, from a street in Paris to a small city in California that was overrun with visitors when heavy winter rains produced a “super bloom” of wild poppies. Disneyland-sized crowds hit Lake Elsinore, California, in 2019 “who trampled the very habitat that they placed so high in regard."People illegally parked their cars along the freeway, created gridlock affecting emergency responders and infringed on residents' ability to shop or even get to work, Lake Elsinore Mayor Natasha Johnson said. This year, the canyons where wild poppies grow and nearby parking areas were completely off-limits, with the sheriff warning violators could be ticketed, towed or even arrested.Zion National Park in Utah took another approach to ease overcrowding and improve safety on its popular Angels Landing hike: Hikers are now required to get a permit.On that back road in Vermont, the increase in foliage season traffic during the last several years has been spurred “by extraordinary tourism interest in private properties” and caused “significant safety, environmental, aesthetic, and quality of life issues,” the Select Board of Pomfret, a town of just over 900, wrote in a message to the community.Social media users have reacted in various ways.“Honestly it has been photographed so many times I don’t see the point anyway," one wrote on Facebook. "I definitely can’t blame them as social media has given away so many great spots.”A local milk truck driver advised: “Please, come to VT and enjoy our foliage. It’s amazing. For the love of God, PLEASE pull off the road before stopping to take pics, and please pull off the road instead of driving 25 in a 50.”Other posters wrote: “Vermont is really beautiful. So are lots of other places," and, “Why in the world would you want to visit somewhere with a crowd of people? There are beautiful spots that can be enjoyed and you’ll have them all to yourself.”The scenic, winding Vermont passage named Cloudland Road is now temporarily closed to nonresidents and lined with no-parking signs and no-photo signs along the farm property. There's also a no trespassing sign at the gate.Locals encourage tourists to visit nearby attractions that can accommodate them with parking and other amenities.“People love the leaves and we understand foliage and it brings people here and we don’t want that to stop," said Linda Arbuckle, a clerk at the local general store. “Unfortunately some people, not all, have taken it to the next step, where people have come home and people have been on their porches having lunch.”<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn.corpemf.com/news/67307.jpg" alt="A no-trespassing sign hangs on a gate outside a private property in Pomfret, Vt."><figcaption>[Photo Credit: AP//Lisa Rathke] A no-trespassing sign hangs on a gate outside a private property in Pomfret, Vt.</figcaption></figure>

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People and cars line a narrow road outside a private property in Pomfret, Vt., that has become a destination for fall foliage viewers, clogging the rural road. 

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Local residents "have come home and people have been on their porches having lunch!”

'Some Visitors Have Gone Too Far' - Northeast Town Efforts To Block Autumn Leaf-Loving Tourists

HANGZHOU, China (AP) — If you're looking for another kind of esport to follow from the Asian Games, try the centuries-old card game of bridge.Here the “e” would stand for “elderly” to represent the game's aging demographic — not for “electronic” as in the youth-driven online gaming that's proving to be one of the most popular events of the Asian Games, generating billions in annual revenue worldwide, and producing a new breed of <a href="https://apnews.com/article/asian-games-esports-faker-00dd2440001d4c6796e9643969a6de5a">global icons like South Korean League of Legends star “Faker.”</a>Esports, chess, and bridge are among the so-called mind sports with full medal status at <a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-asian-games-xi-taiwan-5afc8de9f2287ea3a06e7a3bf3d5dddb">the two-week long Asian Games.</a>Kelvin Ong heads the Singapore Bridge Association and laments it's difficult to attract the nation's youth to bridge. But as he talks he, himself, is playing a video game on a tablet.“I'll shut it down,” the 37-year-old says sheepishly, knowing he's inadvertently highlighted the problem. “I think bridge is losing its following with the young because now there are computer games, mobile games."“Kids nowadays want action to come flashy and quick — 30 seconds,” Ong adds, noting a bridge hand takes seven or eight minutes to play. “We’ll get to that level when someone finds a way to made a bridge hand last one minute. But it won't be good bridge."Bridge at the Asian Games is the antithesis of flashy and quick. It's more staid and deliberate, and of course there's no premium on physical fitness. It's also one of <a href="https://apnews.com/article/asian-games-different-sports-china-e9aaf9f97f22ea9d5c301e3162d1b923">many sports or games you won't find in the Olympics.</a>At least nine players in the field of about 200 are over 70. The oldest is 78-year-old Masood Mazhar of Pakistan, a full 65 years older than 13-year-old Chinese skateboarder Cui Chenxi who won gold on Wednesday.There was an 89-year-old player five years ago at the games in Indonesia, but no octogenarians this time.“You can play until you’re 100,” said 64-year-old Anal Shah, the coach and non-playing captain of the Indian women’s team.“There’s no retirement age,” added Dr. Raheel Ahmed, a radiologist who manages the Pakistan team.The average age of participants this time is about 50, and the youngest are 22-year-old Vidhya Patel of India and 23-year-old Chen Kuan-hsuan of Taiwan.Chen said she started playing at eight, coerced by her mother, an elementary school teacher.“She held summer vacation classes to teach students to play bridge,” Chen said. “So I was forced by her to learn bridge. I was very unhappy because I wanted to play over summer vacation. I tried to refuse her, but she was very strong.”The bridge venue is set up on the 12th and 13th floors of a Hangzhou office building. A nearly silent atmosphere pervades the space. Four players each fill dozens of small tables — card-table size, of course. Many hold a fan-like spread of cards in one hand, and a few fiddle with reading glasses in the other.Each table has a screen running diagonally — top and bottom — to keep players from passing signals to teammates. The game presents no language barriers, using universal terms from English like “no trump, slam, pass" and so forth.Observers can watch the hands that are dealt — and how they are played — on large television screens filled with red and black symbols for spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs.Ong said teams playing contract bridge have been known to — not in competitions — "kick, cough and stomp” to pass signals to teammates. Hence, the screens.In addition to the aging players, Bridge also has an image problem, at least in parts of Asia.“The general concept is India is that cards is gambling,” Shah said. “Bridge is cards, and cards is gambling. You have to convince parents that it’s an intellectual game. It improves your logical powers. It sharpens so many skills for the brain.”Of course, bridge has nothing to do with poker or black jack and would be as out of place in a casino as Spain's national festival of bullfighting might be in Bhutan.The misconception also exists in Pakistan, a predominantly Muslim country where Dr. Ahmed said he uses a different pitch.“We don’t have any muscles in the brain, but by playing bridge you can see you can build the mind muscle," he said."I think 99.9% of our people don’t know what bridge is,” he added. “In Islam we don’t like betting so most of the people connect card games with betting. They laugh at me wearing a beard. They say he’s participating in such an event; a religious person playing a card game. Yes, I have to explain."

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At least nine players in the field of about 200 are over 70. The oldest is 78-year-old Masood Mazhar of Pakistan

The Centuries-Old Card Game Of Bridge Offers A Sharp Contrast At The Asian Games

PARIS (AP) — Echos of the ’70s are resonating on the Parisian catwalks this season, intertwined with modern fashion cues. While elongated silhouettes and intentional mismatched styles at Dries Van Noten highlighted a retro influence, the futuristic, space-age designs of Courreges offered a counterbalance, making the past meet the future.Here are some highlights of spring-summer 2024 collections in Paris that have captivated with diverse inspirations, as observers looked to Wednesday night's Balmain show — days after designer Olivier Rousteing was left reeling when thieves made off with his collection pieces.VAN NOTEN HITS ‘70s NOSTALGIA WITH MODERN TWISTIn a season where the ‘70s reigns supreme, Belgian maestro Dries Van Noten took a dive into the era with elongated silhouettes and a deliberate art of mismatch. Banking on his forte in men’s designs, the runway boasted models flaunting androgynous cuts and gelled dos, blurring the lines between yesteryears and today’s sartorial zeitgeist.Entitled the “unfamiliar familiar,” it drew from retro sporting vibes, with rugby stripes adorning asymmetric dresses, and tennis scarves cleverly reimagined as tops. The essence was unmistakably Van Noten — honoring tradition with a spontaneous, fresh pulse.Standouts included a historic flared trench, cheekily paired with a bikini top — Van Noten’s playful take on fusing the then and now. Layering made a statement too. Picture an open striped shirt, layered with a bikini, all under a muted beige jacket.Paris has been parading cargo and khaki, and Van Noten didn’t miss the memo. His rendition? A commanding oversized beige trench, jazzed up with utilitarian flair and a surprise peek of red stripes from a hidden zippered jacket.Dipping into his scholarly fashion roots, a cetacean blue gown waltzed down, with 18th-century ripples and bows, jazzed up by a split in the leg that led all the way down to classic menswear brogues.But amid the curated chaos of old meets new, whispers arose: Is Van Noten playing it too safe this time around? While his design genius showed through, the collection’s cautious undertone was palpable.BOHO MEETS SPACE AGE: COURRÈGES STEALS THE SHOWOn a pristine white runway Wednesday morning, Paris Fashion Week witnessed a harmonious blend of past and future as Nicolas di Felice transported fashion aficionados back to the '70s — with a nod to the space age. It was minimalism with a retro twist for the iconic house of Courrèges.Known for its structural and futuristic designs since André Courrèges’ time, the fashion house has been synonymous with innovative wear. The founder’s engineering background had once crafted trapezoidal lines and audacious whites that defined a new era in design. Cut to today, and di Felice, while keeping the brand’s essence alive, is introducing his own narrative.The runway showcased tunic-like garments that effortlessly floated, hinting at the signature sportswear vibe Courrèges is famed for. Retro features like center-parted hair and ‘60s heels took onlookers on a nostalgic journey. But it was the space age touches that truly captured the essence of Courrèges’ legacy: tubular geometric arms, intriguing geometric cutouts on pants, and large silver bauble pendants that could easily fit into an intergalactic tableau.The pie`ce de re´sistance? A split-leg black floor-length dress that channeled a bohemian Morticia Addams, subtly balancing the contradiction of a minimalist ethos with ’70s flair. And for those seeking a bold space-age statement, a sheeny transparent bikini top did just that, fearlessly revealing the model’s nipples.Drawing from the visionary spirit of André Courrèges, di Felice proved that the brand’s heart still beats in tune with its history, while daringly exploring new frontiers.MARNI’S PARISIAN DEBUT: CHECKS, STRIPES AND FLORAL FANTASIESMarni, under the guidance of Francesco Risso, made quite an entrance into Paris. The collection was a treat, walking us through a tapestry of craftsmanship and innovation. Marni’s signature checks took a bold stand through cutting-edge, waste-free knitwear. These patterns weren’t just confined to apparel. Shoes and knee socks dazzled with the same checkered design, hinting at the work’s meticulousness. The designer has said that the technology required to achieve this is so advanced that only a handful of firms in Italy can replicate it.But Marni’s story didn’t stop at checks. Intricate leatherwork showcased patterns interwoven with the brand’s well-known stripes. There was great attention to detail: Some pieces featured multiple types of checks, showcasing craftsmanship that borders on couture.The true show-stealer, however, was the floral array in a riot of colors and designs. It was as if Risso had hand-picked classical floral images from our collective consciousness and breathed life into them. The dresses, layered inside and out with hand-cut fabric florals mirrored the abundance of nature. Some even sported three-dimensional metal flowers, invoking avant-garde art, a delightful juxtaposition of beauty and danger.With Paris as its stage, Risso’s Marni celebrated a defining moment. This wasn’t just another show; it was a grand spectacle, marking the brand’s triumphant ascent in the world of fashion.

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Models wear creations for the Dries Van Noten Spring/Summer 2024 womenswear fashion collection presented Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023 in Paris. 

Echos of the ’70s are resonating on the Parisian catwalks this season, intertwined with modern fashion cues. While elongated silhouettes and intentional mismatched styles at Dries Van Noten highlighted a retro influence, the futuristic, space-age designs of Courreges offered a counterbalance, making the past meet the future.

The '70s Reign Supreme At Paris Fashion Week

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The Wienermobile name is back, just four months after Oscar Mayer announced the vehicle would be known as the "Frankmobile."

The Wienermobile name is back, just four months after Oscar Mayer announced that its fleet of vehicles would be known as "Frankmobiles" to promote hot dogs.

Oscar Mayer Brings Back The 'Wienermobile' Name: 'Beloved American Icon'

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Baby otter at the Alaska SeaLife Center after losing mother in orca whale attack.

An otter pup was rescued by Alaska SeaLife Center workers who witnessed her and her mother being attacked by orcas in Homer, Alaska

Otter Pup Rescued By Alaska SeaLife Center Workers After "Unusually Dramatic" Orca Attack

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Taylor Swift in the box seat at Arrowhead stadium

The pop superstar is currently taking a break during her sold-out stadium tour

Taylor Swift's Attendance At Chiefs Game Brings A Spike In Football Jersey Sales

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The stuffed quahog is part of Rhode Island's latest campaign to draw in new visitors. But what exactly is a stuffie?

Explaining The 'Stuffie,' A Uniquely Rhode Island Food

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Erlend Bore, who dreamed of being an archaeologist as a child, found gold medallions, pearls and rings.

Erlend Bore, who was out walking on doctor’s orders, finds cache including rare medallions from about AD500

Metal Detectorist Makes ‘Gold Find Of Century’

Although grocery price increases were just 0.2% in August and up only 3% overall for the year, shoppers are still feeling the pinch and looking for ways to save money on their food bills.According to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/13/economy/grocery-prices-august-cpi/index.html">CNN</a>, pork, shelf-stable seafood, and frozen juices and drinks have all increased in price this year, leaving shoppers to use calculators so they don’t exceed their grocery budgets.Some recipes are more inflation-resistant than others, and with fall in the air, home cooks are turning to casseroles and comfort foods to stretch their dollars and feed their families.The Casserole: An American ClassicCasseroles have an honored place in American culinary history. Nearly every cook knows how to make at least one, and they’re homegrown examples of “making do.” While casseroles became the darlings of women’s magazines and convenience food ads in the 1950s, they’d been around longer.Lean economic times like the Great Depression tend to inspire cooks to create their own family recipes. With World War II and rationing following the Depression, those on the homefront cooked with what they had. Meat was rationed, so home cooks used pasta, rice, or beans to create a dish that needed only a little meat but filled up the family’s plates.Convenience foods and glass baking dishes made casseroles even more popular. Recipes appeared in every magazine, newspaper column, and church newsletter. Since women were the cooks of the house, these recipes were targeted to their needs. They also played on the fears of those who felt their cooking skills weren’t up to scratch by showing readers that anyone could put together a delicious casserole.As Americans became more health-conscious, the venerable casserole faded in popularity. People wanted fresh, healthy food, and that didn’t usually include convenience foods high in fat and sodium.Times change, however, and the pandemic sparked a <a href="https://www.allrecipes.com/article/casseroles-make-a-comeback/">casserole revival</a>. People were stuck at home and, out of either boredom or necessity, started pulling out <a href="https://wealthofgeeks.com/university-cookbook-collection/">old cookbooks</a> and searching recipes online for casseroles.There is no official count of the number of <a href="https://cheerfulcook.com/pizza-casserole/">casserole recipes</a> on the Internet, but a simple search of the term turns up 254 million search results on Google. Casseroles are entrenched in the American consciousness.However, for their pandemic casseroles, cooks created healthier versions of these easy-bake dishes using homemade sauces and fresh ingredients. Even convenience foods are now available in low-fat and low-sodium versions. The casserole comeback is a healthier, modern version.The Science and Pleasure of Comfort Food<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comfort%20food">Merriam-Webster</a> defines comfort food as “food prepared in a traditional style having a usually nostalgic or sentimental appeal.” That’s a broad definition, but there’s science behind it.According to <a href="https://blog.goldbelly.com/what-is-comfort-food/">Goldbelly</a>, an online food marketplace, the carbohydrates, sugar, and fat frequently found in comfort food trigger the brain’s reward and pleasure centers. This releases dopamine, the mood-boosting hormone. So there’s a biological reason why comfort food makes us feel better.Comfort food can include general dishes like burgers and fries, macaroni and cheese, or ice cream, as well as regional favorites like Southern soul food or a <a href="https://wealthofgeeks.com/cheapskate-guide-new-york-city/">New York City</a> deli pastrami sandwich. Italian dishes like <a href="https://cheerfulcook.com/easy-cheesy-chicken-parmesan-recipe/">chicken parmigiana</a> are also popular. It covers the carbs and cheese elements of comfort food.Breakfast for dinner is another popular way to enjoy favorite <a href="https://wealthofgeeks.com/5-ways-make-food-last-longer-freezer/">comfort foods</a>. Cooks who may not have time to make a large breakfast in the mornings can do the prep for supper when time isn’t at such a premium. Bacon, sausage, eggs, pancakes, waffles, and omelets are all popular, comforting breakfast items. <a href="https://cheerfulcook.com/breakfast-lasagna/">Breakfast casseroles</a> are popular as well.Cara Campbell, creator of the food blog <a href="http://www.thegourmetbonvivant.com/">The Gourmet Bon Vivant</a>, offers her take on comfort foods: “Having to pick a favorite comfort food is one of the most difficult questions of all time. For me though, it’s definitely something that’s going to bring back some nostalgic memories, like a Sunday roast dinner with my family, or chicken and dumplings at my grandma’s farm. There’s nothing I love more than being cozied up in my kitchen on a chilly day, stirring away at a soup or a stew that reminds me of home. It’s just the best. Even better if I can do some updating and make the recipes even better!”Comfort food’s nostalgic, sentimental appeal continues to prompt cooks to make their favorite dishes. Karen Kelly from <a href="https://www.seasonalcravings.com/">Seasonal Cravings</a> says, “My favorite comfort food is macaroni and cheese — and not just any recipe. There is one recipe from my childhood that is made in the slow cooker with lots of cheese and evaporated milk. It’s rich and creamy and we always had it at family events. For me, comfort food is not just about the food, but about the events that come to mind when I eat them. They remind me of happy, carefree childhood days.”Caroline Bologna, reporting for The Huffington Post, rounded up the <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/google-top-trending-recipes-2022_l_639a6014e4b0169d76de078a">top trending recipes</a> on Google for 2022. Eight out of the 10 dishes on the list could be classified as “comfort food.” They included homemade Italian tomato sauce, Cincinnati chili, mango pie, two homemade sandwiches, “Marry Me” chicken, pancakes, and “ The Bea r Spaghetti.”While casseroles and comfort food change with popular tastes and trends, they remain a mainstay of American cooking.

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Casseroles and Comfort Food: Home Cooking at Its Best

While casseroles and comfort food change with popular tastes and trends, they remain a mainstay of American cooking.

The Casserole: An American Classic

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Cats come with a lot of unusual and quirky personality traits. 

Your Cat’s Oddest Behaviors, Explained (Maybe)

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Clouded leopards are native to South and Southeast Asia, but have disappeared entirely from several nations like Vietnam and Taiwan

Oklahoma Zoo Forecasts 'Cloudy With A Chance Of Cute' After Rare Clouded Leopard Kitten Born

PORT WASHINGTON, Wis. (AP) — Five flamingos that showed up in Wisconsin to wade along a Lake Michigan beach attracted a big crowd of onlookers eager to see the unusual visitors venturing far from their usual tropical setting.The American flamingos spotted Friday in Port Washington, about 25 miles north of Milwaukee, marked the first sighting of the species in Wisconsin state history, said Mark Korducki, a member of the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.The birds stood quietly 25 feet off Lake Michigan’s western shoreline as waves lapped against their thin legs. Three were adults, identifiable by their pink plumage, and two were juveniles clad in gray.Jim Edelhuber of Waukesha was among a crowd of about 75 bird enthusiasts drawn to the city's South Beach after word spread on social media about the flamingos' appearance there.“This is huge. This is unbelievable," said Edelhuber, an avid bird watcher and photographer.<figure class="image text-center"><img src="https://cdn.corpemf.com/news/66963.jpg" alt="Media and beach goers watch flamingos along a Lake Michigan beach "><figcaption>[Photo Credit: Paul A. Smith /Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel via AP] Media and beach goers watch flamingos along a Lake Michigan beach</figcaption></figure>The sighting was unexpected but not a total shock because of recent reports of flamingos in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania, said Ryan Brady, conservation biologist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.Wildlife biologists hypothesized that the flamingos were pushed north in late August by the strong winds of Hurricane Idalia, the Journal Sentinel reported.The typical range of the American flamingo is Florida and other Gulf Coast states as well as the Caribbean and northern South America.Debbie Gasper of Port Washington made the short trip to the lakefront with her husband, Mark. She said that before Friday the only flamingos she has seen have been on the couple’s trips to Aruba.Gasper said she was going to send photos of the birds to relatives in Georgia who “aren’t going to believe it.”<figure class="image text-center"><img src="https://cdn.corpemf.com/news/66964.jpg" alt="Flamingos stand by the water along a Lake Michigan beach"><figcaption>[Photo Credit: Paul A. Smith /Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel via AP] Flamingos stand by the water along a Lake Michigan beach</figcaption></figure>

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Flamingos stand by the water along a Lake Michigan beach in Port Washington, Wis.

One for the record books: “This is huge. This is unbelievable."

Flamingos... In Wisconsin? Yep. Tropical Birds Visit Lake Michigan Beach In A First!

MATAMOROS, Mexico (AP) — During the weeks it took Yeison and Niko to migrate from Venezuela toward the U.S., they navigated dangerous jungles and over a dead body. The two are so inseparable that Yeison sold his phone so both had enough bus money to continue their journey.Now as Yeison prepares to finally enter the U.S., it's likely he will have to leave Niko behind.That's because Niko is a squirrel.The 23-year-old man and his pet squirrel are an unusual but blunt reflection of the emotional choices migrants make over what to take — and what to leave behind — as they embark on the dangerous trip north. Yeison, who declined to give his last name because he fears for his family’s safety in Venezuela, said going without Niko was out of the question. But Mexico is where they might be forced to part ways.Yeison, who is among millions of <a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-immigration-border-migrant-venezuela-b914be14aaeef14eb01bd10ee23067f4">Venezuelans</a> fleeing political and economic unrest back home, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/border-us-mexico-migrant-app-expansion-654a78fbe23dbb3fa5c10167c3c22af6">secured an appointment</a> for Saturday to present himself at the border to seek entry to the U.S. and request asylum. Animals are generally not allowed to cross the border.“It would practically be like starting with nothing, without Niko,” Yeison said.Many who set off on the roughly 3,000-mile (4,800-kilometer) journey to the U.S. do so with only what they can carry and their loved ones. For Yeison, that was a squirrel with a black stripe and flecks of white hair, who made the long trip nesting in a red knit cap stuffed inside a backpack.For six months, Yeison and Niko lived in a tent at an encampment with hundreds of other migrants in Matamoros. The site is across from the Texas border city of Brownsville, which is hundreds of miles east of Eagle Pass and not experiencing the same <a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-texas-california-border-asylum-seekers-314698bfb5644be8f8f6085ebe9b9b98">dramatic increase in migrants</a> that prompted the mayor to issue an emergency declaration this past week.On a recent day, Niko crawled over Yeison's shoulders and stayed close while darting around the tent. Chances are slim Yeison can take Niko across the border, but volunteers at the encampment aren't giving up.Gladys Cañas, the director of a nongovernmental organization, Ayudándoles A Triunfar, said she has encountered other migrants who wanted to cross with their pets — cats, dogs and even a rabbit once. But until now, never a squirrel.Cañas helped connect Yeison with a veterinarian to document Niko's vaccinations to provide to border agents. She is hopeful they’ll allow the squirrel to cross, whether with Yeison or with a volunteer.“There’s a connection between him and the squirrel, so much that he preferred to bring it with him than leave the squirrel behind with family in Venezuela and face the dangers that come with the migrant journey. They gave each other courage,” she said.Yeison said he found the squirrel after nearly stepping on him one day in Venezuela. The squirrel appeared to be newly born and Yeison took him home, where he named him Niko and family members fed him yogurt. The picky squirrel, Yeison said, prefers nibbling on pine trees and is fed tomatoes and mangoes, even in times when food is hard to come by.At first, Yeison said he sought work in Colombia. He returned to find a loose pine splinter lodged in Niko's eye and resolved after that to take the squirrel with him on the next journey to the U.S.Like thousands of migrants, Yeison made the trip through the perilous jungle known as the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-darien-gap-panama-colombia-c60005baeda603b84f8cc0ac595aaa1b">Darien Gap</a>, where he said he found the body of a man under some blankets. He said he concealed Niko in a backpack when they boarded buses and crossed through checkpoint inspections in Mexico. But one time, Yieson said, a bus driver discovered the squirrel and made him pay extra to keep the animal on board. Yeison said he sold his phone for $35 to cover the cost.Once they reached the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-mexico-matamoros-encampment-shelter-brownsville-cdaf99616e505d31899007952220726e">encampment in Matamoros</a>, the pair settled into a routine. Yeison makes money cutting hair by his tent and often falls asleep sharing the same pillow with Niko at night.He was bracing for a separation."I don’t want for him to be separated from me, because I know that we’d get heartsick. I’m sure of that,” Yeison said. “And if he doesn’t get sick, I hope he gets to be happy. And that he never forgets my face.”

a-venezuelan-man-and-his-pet-squirrel-niko-must-say-goodbye

“It would practically be like starting with nothing, without Niko,” Yeison said.

A Venezuelan Man And His Pet Squirrel Niko Must Say Goodbye

First, it was pressure cookers. Now, air fryers are the new trending small kitchen appliance, with nearly $1 billion in U.S. sales in 2022.According to CNBC, food giants Nestle’, Tyson, and Gorton’s Seafood are cashing in on the air fryer trend by marketing many of their frozen foods as suitable for cooking in an air fryer.Adam Graves, president of Nestle U.S.’s pizza and snacking division, estimates nearly 60% of U.S. households own an air fryer.The NPD Group market research firm calculates sales of air fryers are up 51% since 2019. The love is strong for these appliances.What’s an Air Fryer?What are these gadgets that look like a bucket or a small toaster oven? Essentially, they’re portable convection ovens. A fan inside the fryer moves hot air around the food, cooking it faster than a conventional oven.France-based Groupe SEB introduced the first air fryer in 2005; in 2010, Philips introduced its version. The appliance has become more popular in U.S. home kitchens as the technology has improved.Philips estimates using an air fryer reduces up to 80% of the fat in foods since no oil is used to prepare the food. Americans have a renewed interest in healthier eating, helping the appliance gain popularity over the past few years.With restaurants closed during the pandemic, Americans were cooking at home, and air fryer sales surged. Jake Holbrook, Gorton’s vice president of marketing, told CNBC that air frying is the second most popular way to heat frozen, prepared food.Air Fryer TypesAir fryers come in two styles: the smaller basket or “bucket” style or oven air fryers. The basket styles come in several sizes, from small fryers holding 1 to 2 quarts to the extra-large, which hold 6 quarts or more. The basket style is often more popular in smaller kitchens with less counter space. The smaller footprint makes it easy to store.But not everyone is convinced.Cara Campbell, owner of the food blog The Gourmet Bon Vivant, says, “I’ve wanted to try an air fryer for a while now; the reviews I’ve seen online and from my friends and family are fantastic. I’ve been holding back though, because it’s yet another small appliance that I have to find room for in my kitchen. I just haven’t been able to pull the trigger yet for that reason. Just thinking about where it will go is making my brain tired.”Basket air fryers may have analog or digital controls. The analog controls have time and temperature dials, so users can set the fryer to the desired temperature and time it. These fryers are usually cheaper than their digital counterparts.Digital air fryers have electronic controls that set the time and temperature, and often feature preset functions for various tasks like bake, air fry, roast, etc., which sometimes increases the price.The basket air fryer takes its name from the basket holding the fried food. These usually pull out from the unit like a drawer and can be removed during cooking to shake or turn the food being prepared.A new feature for basket air fryers is the dual basket. As you might expect, these machines feature two baskets, and each can be controlled separately for function, temperature, and time. This allows you to cook two items simultaneously at different temperatures. The dual air fryers are larger than their “bucket” cousins but do offer versatility.The second air fryer is the oven type. Many of these are toaster or convection ovens, in fact. They have an air fryer function, accompanied by bake, broil, toast, and keep warm options. Many cooks choose an oven air fryer because they have limited counter space and have no room for a toaster oven and an air fryer.Oven air fryers do cost more than their basket brothers. They often start at $100 or so, while a basket air fryer may cost as little as $30.Oven air fryers also come with either analog or digital controls, which does affect the price.Cooking With an Air FryerMost air fryers come with recipe books to get people started using their new appliance. However, there are numerous websites, print cookbooks, and videos about using an air fryer for everything from French fries to baking a cake — even for hard-boiled eggs. The possibilities seem endless.As with using most appliances, there is a learning curve and some trial and error involved. For instance, using a recipe developed for one air fryer brand might not work as well in another brand. Differences in fan speed or temperature may affect the cooking process.Testers at the Serious Eats food website found that, for oven-style air fryers, whether the convection fan was on the top or the side made a difference in how the food cooked. Top-mounted fans tended to overcook the food if not monitored carefully.First-time air fryer users should be careful not to crowd the food. Since the fryer has to circulate the air over and around the food, overcrowding the fryer may cause uneven cooking. Another tip — remember to shake or turn the food halfway through the proscribed time to ensure even cooking.While people cook many different things in air fryers, fish and seafood are perennial favorites. These foods work well for shorter cooking times and don’t need to be deep fried to be crispy and appetizing.Most people who own air fryers are fans. Karen Kelly from food blog Seasonal Cravings says, “We love our air fryer and use it almost daily. We have the Instant Vortex Plus digital single basket air fryer, and it’s easy to use and clean. One of my favorite simple meals is cooking salmon filets from frozen. I just add some seasoning and cook for about 16 minutes. Dinner done!”CNBC reports the air fryer is now the second most popular kitchen appliance. Time will tell if it stays on top or if another ‘hot’ cooking trend will replace it in time.This article was produced by <a href="https://www.mediadecision.com/food/air-fryers-come-into-their-own/article_c6b1d7b8-57c3-11ee-a8a8-f7c6914b690f.html">Media Decision</a> and syndicated by <a href="https://wealthofgeeks.com/air-fryers-come-into-their-own/">Wealth of Geeks</a>.

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