Lifestyle

Instagram influencer who posed nude with endangered elephant responds to critics: ‘I love and respect animals’

An Instagram influencer with over 500,000 followers has responded to criticism of her recent photo shoot, which pictures her lying naked atop an endangered Sumatran elephant in Bali.

Alesya Kafelnikova, 22, originally shared a video from the shoot to Instagram on Feb. 13, according to The Sun. A few days later, she uploaded another photo of herself with the elephant, along with a caption reading, “to love nature is human nature.”

Alesya Kafelnikova apologized to anyone who viewed her actions “as vulgarity”
(Newsflash)

But among the many fans who liked Kafelnikova’s photo, a number of critics took issue with the influencer staging her shoot with a critically endangered animal that was likely transported to Bali for tourism purposes — including an advocacy group campaigning to save Asian elephants.

SEE IT: INSTAGRAM COUPLE DEFENDS ‘STUPID’ PHOTO ON MOVING TRAIN

“Yet another tragic trivialization of the majestic Asian elephant when the species is fighting for its very existence against brutal abuse in tourism and human ‘entertainment,’” wrote Save the Asian Elephants (STAE) in a statement shared with The Sun. On Twitter, the group further decried Kagelnikova’s shoot as a “crude stunt to exploit and humiliate Asian elephants for commercial gain.”

Bali’s Tourism Agency also chimed in, telling The Sun that Kafelnikova’s video “surely does not meet the norms that we are promoting as part of tourism in Bali.”

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A representative for the Bali Tourism Board was not immediately available to comment on the controversy for Fox News.

Kafelnikova, however, has since defended her photo in a later Instagram post, claiming that she performs charity work and donates money to support both the elephant and the people of the village where it lives. The influencer, also the daughter of Grand Slam-winning tennis champ Yevgeny Kafelnikov, added that she never meant to offend, and offered her apologies.

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“It is a pity that people see this as vulgarity, and not as a beauty and love for nature,” she wrote. “I love animals, I love elephants! And I love Bali so so much! I hope each of you will awaken an aesthetic love for my post and the beauty.

“It was a private photo shoot, I didn’t have a purpose to hurt the feelings of local people at all. We love Balinese culture and respect Indonesian rules. Please sorry if you see something else in this. My intention with these pictures was to show you that I love and respect animals and especially elephants more than anything.”

NASA astronauts ‘very busy’ ahead of International Space Station spacewalk Sunday

Sometimes the people looking after a building get a little behind on maintenance. Sometimes the same thing happens to the people looking after the International Space Station.

Two astronauts are preparing for a spacewalk this weekend to prepare for the upcoming replacement of the solar arrays designed to last 15 years and were installed on the ISS more than 20 years ago, according to NASA.

Flight engineers Kate Rubins and Victor Glover will step out of the ISS for the spacewalk. They’ll be assembling and installing equipment for the upcoming upgrades that will both replace the current degrading solar arrays and increase the station’s available power from 160 kW to 215 kW, according to NASA. A SpaceX rocket is scheduled to deliver new arrays later this year.

Flight engineers Kate Rubins and Victor Glover will step out of the ISS for the spacewalk on Sunday.

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This will be the third spacewalk for both astronauts.

“The on-orbit crew this week has been very busy,” Flight Director Marcos Flores said during a news conference Wednesday. “They’ve been working a lot to make sure that they have all their procedures reviewed and all their training completed.”

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The astronauts are scheduled to step out at about 6 a.m. EST on Sunday. The spacewalk is expected to last about six and a half hours.

The spacewalk on Sunday is the first of two upcoming maintenance spacewalks scheduled for the ISS. On March 5, Rubins will venture out again with Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi to vent ammonia, among other tasks. They’ll also install a “stiffener” on the airlock thermal cover.

The spacewalk on Sunday is the first of two upcoming maintenance spacewalks scheduled for the ISS. (REUTERS/NASA/Handout)

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These will be the 235th and 236th spacewalks from the ISS.

While some of the astronauts aboard the ISS were preparing for their upcoming spacewalks, others were busy unpacking four tons of cargo that arrived on a Northrup Grumman Cygnus resupply ship, according to NASA. Equipment delivered to the station includes supplies, new science hardware like freezers for biological samples and other equipment.

Cattle ranch beside Area 51 listed for $4.5M

Whatever happened to Area 51?

‘Storm Area 51’ became a viral phenomenon after a joke Facebook post urging people to crash the military base ‘to see aliens’; Bret Baier has the latest updates on several events.

If you’ve ever wanted to live beside Area 51, now’s your chance.

A cattle ranch beside the top-secret military base in Alamo, Nevada, has recently hit the market for $4.5 million.

The 80-acre ranch — which comes with cattle and equipment — even has a grazing permit for 250 cows to go onto Area 51.

CALIFORNIA MANSION BECOMES MOST EXPENSIVE HOME EVER AUCTIONED; PRICE REMAINS UNDISCLOSED

The property can support up to 750 cows and has a 5,600-square-foot hay barn, a 1,248-square-foot barn and a 576-square foot shop.

A replica of the U.S. Air Force Installation signs that surround Area 51 is pictured.
(iStock)

The ranch also includes two “newer manufactured homes”: a four-bedroom, three-bathroom home with a wraparound deck as well as a three-bedroom, two-bathroom guest house, the listing says.

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According to Vice, the current owners, Steve and Glenda Medlin, worked out a deal with the U.S. Air Force to get the grazing permit for Area 51 several years ago.

However, the permit comes with a catch — before the cows can go onto Area 51, the ranch owner has to contact the base in advance using a radio the government gave to the Medlins.

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Tourists have flocked to the Medlins’ property because of the lore surrounding Area 51. In fact, their mailbox has been called “the most photographed mailbox in the world,” according to the New York Post.

The Medlins’ “alien drop box” mailbox is pictured. The mailbox has attracted alien and UFO seekers for decades.
(iStock)

Vice reported that many visitors to the area believed the mailbox had something to do with supposed alien sightings, so for decades people have vandalized the mailbox, stolen the Medlins’ mail, left letters for the aliens or even just shot the mailbox.

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To get tourists to leave their actual mailbox alone, the Medlins replaced the black one with a white, bulletproof mailbox with a padlock, Vice reported. The couple also put up another, smaller mailbox labeled “ALIENS” and “DROP BOX.”

However, they no longer use either mailbox for their mail, according to the website.

New Jersey woman beats COVID-19 at 105, attributes health to prayer and gin-soaked raisins

A 105-year-old New Jersey woman who beat COVID-19 shared her secrets for a long life, and at least one of them may be unexpected.

Lucia DeClerck, who is the oldest patient at the Mystic Meadows Rehab and Nursing Center in Little Egg Harbor Township, said she prays and avoids junk food, FOX 10 Phoenix reported. And one other thing: she loves raisins soaked in gin.

“You put them in a [mason] jar and keep them for nine days,” she said. “After nine days, eat nine a day. It tastes like candy.”

Lucie DeClerk, a 105-year-old New Jersey woman who beat COVID-19, shared her secrets for a long life, and at least one of them may be unexpected.
(Fox TV Stations)

CHICAGO TEEN SECURES COVID-19 VACCINE APPOINTMENTS FOR HUNDREDS OF SENIORS

With her habits, did DeClerk expect to live to be 105?

“Hell no,” she told a reporter.

DeClerck tested positive for the coronavirus on Jan. 25, the same day she turned 105, according to the report. Michael Neiman, the administrator at the nursing center, told FOX 10 that DeClerk had just received her second COVID-19 vaccine dose the day earlier.

She experienced only mild symptoms and had a low-grade fever for one day, according to the report.

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“I think people are fascinated by her story because they see that you can be 105 years old and still recover from this dreaded virus,” Nieman told FOX 10. “And you can get your vaccine, even at an old age, and still be fine.”

DeClerck’s diet and prayer might not be the only things that have kept her living so long. Neiman told FOX 10 that she’s also “a very positive person.”

“Anytime we have visitors in the building, they all stop by her room,” he said, according to the report.

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DeClerck may be the oldest person to beat a case of COVID-19 in the U.S., but she doesn’t hold the world record, the report noted. A 117-year-old French nun also recovered after testing positive for the virus in January.

26,000 people applied to move to Arkansas and get $10G

If you’ve ever thought about a move to the Ozarks, you’re not alone.

More than 26,000 people have applied for a program that will pay them to move to northwest Arkansas.

The Northwest Arkansas Council’s “Life Works Here” program is offering the money to remote workers willing to move to the region, Fox News previously reported. The program will also provide the new residents with a bicycle to enjoy the region’s miles of trails or a membership to a local art or cultural institution.

More than 26,000 people have applied for a program that will pay them to move to northwest Arkansas. (iStock)

THESE 6 CITIES AND THIS STATE WILL PAY YOU TO MOVE TO THEM

The program has already selected its first 25 recipients, it announced this week. They include an executive chef and James Beard Foundation Impact Fellow from Atlanta, a digital marketing manager from Denver, a music producer and “creative community curator” from Los Angeles, a gaming producer from Los Angeles and a cloud technology manager from San Francisco, according to the announcement.

“This first wave of new talent to the northwest Arkansas region generated by the ‘Life Works Here’ campaign is just a sampling of the exceptional individuals we’ve been able to attract to our region with the incentive program,” Northwest Arkansas Council CEO Nelson Peacock said in a press release.

Peacock said the group had been “overwhelmed by the unbelievable response.” The applicants included people from all 50 states and more than 115 countries.

The Ozark Mountains and known for their beauty and outdoor recreational opportunities. The region is also home to three Fortune 500 companies.
(iStock)

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“This program is not only a benefit to the recipients and new talent for our region, but it also contributes to the vibrancy of our existing, growing market and our local economy,” he said.

The program launched last November, thanks to support from the Walton Family Foundation. It had $1 million to offer to new residents, and the program is still accepting applicants.

“Professionals all over the country are starting to see the benefits of life in the Heartland, and Bentonville and Northwest Arkansas are at the top of the list,” Steuart Walton said in a press release. “This region welcomes innovators and thought leaders to a community defined by world-class biking, cultural experiences and a true entrepreneurial spirit.”

The Northwest Arkansas Council’s “Life Works Here” program is offering the money to remote workers willing to move to the region. (iStock)

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The area isn’t just known for its recreation opportunities. It’s also home to the headquarters of major businesses like Walmart, Tyson Foods and J.B. Hunt Transport Services.

To qualify for the program, one needs to be able to move within six months, sign a lease for local housing or buy a home, be 24 or older, have at least two years of work experience and be employed full time. Candidates must also be U.S. citizens or be able to work legally in the U.S. and currently live outside Arkansas.

Ideal candidates will also be STEAM professionals or entrepreneurs, according to the program’s website. And they’re looking for people “who will add to the vibrancy of our community.”

The announcement comes the same week that a similar program in Tulsa, Oklahoma announced that it was renewing itself and offering $10,000 up front for new residents who buy a home in the city. Previously, the Tulsa Remote program had only paid out the money in installments over the course of a year.

Woman reveals unfortunate tattoo she got right before coronavirus pandemic: ‘Refuse to wear a mask’

Talk about a double meaning!

A woman recently revealed an unfortunate tattoo she got right before the coronavirus pandemic hit the U.S. last year.

User @wakaflockafloccar posted a video on TikTok explaining her tattoo, in response to another TikTok user’s question: “What is the dumbest tattoo that you’ve ever gotten.”

“OK, I’m just going to go ahead and let you guys know that I won,” the woman says at the beginning of the clip.

CALIFORNIA WOMAN’S NEW ID HAS PHOTO OF HER WEARING A MASK

She then explained that she had wanted to get the tattoo “for a couple of years.”

“It basically means like, you know, being true to yourself and real and like not pretending to be something you’re not,” she explained, adding that she finally got the tattoo on March 4, 2020 – just days before the coronavirus hit the U.S.

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The woman then pulls up her sleeve to show the tattoo, which says: “Courageously and radically refuse to wear a mask.”

A woman revealed an unfortunate tattoo she got right before the pandemic in a now-viral TikTok video. (iStock)

The clip ends with her giving two thumbs up, with a slightly sad smile.

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She captioned the video by saying: “I could NOT have had worse timing.”

“P.S. I’m not ani-mask I promise,” she added.

Since it was posted earlier this week, the video has already been liked more than 455,600 times and, according to the New York Post, it has been viewed more than 1.5 million times.”

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Many of the commenters agreed that she did “win” the contest for “dumbest tattoo.”

Another commenter asked @wakaflockafloccar: “Are you going to get it removed? Do people think you’re an anti-masker? Are you embarrassed of it? I need to know!”

“I wore long sleeves all last year so no one would see it!” @wakaflockafloccar responded. “But I don’t think I’ll get it removed/covered up. It makes for a good story!”

Adorable puppy interrupts DC TV reporter’s live shot: ‘I’ll keep an eye on her’

When you’re working as a reporter, sometimes you have to find the stories, and sometimes they come to you.

FOX 5 DC reporter Bob Barnard was reporting live on icy weather and road conditions in northern Virginia last Friday morning when a heart-warming puppy ran out into the street to greet him.

“I don’t see an owner,” Barnard says as he leans down to scoop up the runaway pup.

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Barnard had already scraped the ice off one viewer’s vehicle during the active live shot. After picking up the dog, he held onto the puppy as he continued chatting with the anchors back at the station.

“I’ll keep an eye on her,” he said, waving to someone off camera as the friendly pup licked the side of his face.

Someone came out of a nearby home and explained that the puppy – whose name is Pierogi – had “jumped right through the gate.”

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“Life is good,” Barnard says in the video as he reunites the woman and her dog.

FOX 5 DC reporter Bob Barnard was reporting live on icy weather and road conditions in northern Virginia last Friday morning when a puppy ran out into the street to greet him.

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The video of the cute encounter has drawn nearly 1 million views on FOX 5’s YouTube page.

This isn’t Barnard’s first unusual encounter with a creature while working on a story. In 2015, Fox News reported that a moth laid two eggs in Barnard’s ear while he was reporting live from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

Jeep is cranking up Bruce Springsteen again after DUI charge dropped

Jeep is putting The Boss back into rotation.

The automaker says it will “unpause” the streaming versions of its Super Bowl LV commercial starring Bruce Springsteen after DUI and reckless driving charges against the singer were dropped on Wednesday.

Just days after the two-minute ad ran during the game, it came to light that Springsteen had been arrested in November in a national park in New Jersey when he was spotted getting on to his motorcycle after drinking tequila.

Jeep pulled the spot from social media, saying it would “pause our Big Game commercial until the actual facts can be established”

Springsteen pleaded guilty to one count of drinking in a closed area during the online hearing, but prosecutors proposed the dismissal of the DUI and reckless driving charges based on the fact that Springsteen’s blood-alcohol level was just .02, well below the local limit of .08, and the judge agreed.

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“As we stated previously, we paused the commercial until the facts were established. Now, that the matter has been resolved, we are unpausing the film,” a Jeep spokesperson told Fox News after the verdict.

The judge ordered Springsteen to pay a $500 fine and $40 in court fees.

“I think I can pay that immediately, your Honor,” Springsteen responded.

Springsteen had never removed the commercial from his own Twitter account.

Fox News’ Melissa Roberto and Marta Dhanis contributed to this report

Wife ditches husband on wedding anniversary over alleged ‘fat shaming,’ says Reddit user

A difference in lifestyle has reportedly come between a husband and wife, according to a recent Reddit post.

Seeking out the opinion of fellow Reddit users who are a part of a popular life advice thread for the “frustrated moral philosopher,” the anonymous husband asked whether he was at fault for making his wife feel fat-shamed on their wedding anniversary.

The 25-year-old husband, who is going by the username ThrowawayExerciser, explained that he likes to “work out regularly” and “stick to a good diet.” He described his 23-year-old wife as “very overweight,” but he noted that he doesn’t mind and has made it a point to respect that his wife doesn’t want to a part of his fitness journey.

MAN ASKS REDDIT IF HE’S WRONG FOR NOT MOVING HIS LATE WIFE’S URN TO MAKE HIS NEW FIANCÉE HAPPY

The 25-year-old husband, who is going by the Reddit username ThrowawayExerciser, explained that he likes to “work out regularly” and “stick to a good diet.” (iStock)

When their anniversary came this year, the couple made plans to go to one of their “favorite restaurants.” They decided they would travel by train to save gas money. While they waited at the train station, they bumped into one of the husband’s gym friends, who just so happens to be a 24-year-old woman.

The husband claimed that he and his friend discussed their current diets and workout plans.

“My wife, who was unusually silent, excused herself to go to the toilet. Soon after, my friend finished talking and went on her way,” ThrowawayExerciser wrote. “However, I noticed my wife was taking an unusually long time on the toilet. By the time the train arrived, she was still gone.”

REDDIT USER SLAMMED FOR GIVING GIRLFRIEND ‘PANIC ATTACK’ OVER FATE OF PLANET

“I texted her, telling her that the train had arrived and asked her how much longer she would be. I didn’t get any reply,” he added. “I was about to call the police, when she finally texted back, saying she was at home.”

After the husband made his way back home, he found out his wife had left because his conversation with his friend “made her very uncomfortable about her weight.”

The husband admitted he felt angry that his wife had lied to him before she ditched their anniversary plans.

“I told her that what she did wasn’t okay, but she wasn’t having any of that. She got in the car and drove off to my parent’s house,” ThrowawayExerciser shared. “She then texted my entire family, telling them stuff like ‘I hated her because of her weight’ and stuff like that. They’ve been blowing up my phone, telling me what a jerk I am and that fat shaming isn’t cool.”

MAN ASKS REDDIT IF HE’S IN THE WRONG FOR OFFERING WOMAN A DRINK AT A BAR, THEN REFUSING TO PAY

A wife allegedly ditched her husband on their anniversary after he discussed fitness with a friend in front of her, according to a Reddit post. (iStock)

Since sharing his experience in the 2.5 million-member thread on Monday, the husband’s post has generated more than 3,500 upvotes and 980 comments.

Most Reddit users who replied to the husband determined he wasn’t in the wrong and shouldn’t be called a “fat-shamer” if his telling of events are accurate.

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“If she’s just said you’re fat shaming for [talking] with someone else about a common interest between you and [them], that she herself isn’t interested in, that’s her problem,” the top commenter wrote, who received more than 7,800 upvotes. “She’s the one bothered by her weight. In that case, she needs to do something about it and not get upset and storm off just because you do care about your fitness and talk to others about it who share the same interest.”

“Her insecurity is her problem and should not justify this outrageously childish behavior,” another highly-upvoted comment said. “If being fat actually mattered to OP, he wouldn’t still be married to her.”

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“Unless you two were openly shaming and talking about fat people in front of her, I don’t see how discussing diets and exercises is fat shaming,” a different Reddit user commented. “Her insecurity about her own weight should not stop you from talking about normal stuff with one of your friends.”

Man and wife renovate family-owned school bus, plan to recreate ’70s road trip

Josh Jackling is following in the footsteps of his grandparents — and their renovated school bus.

The vintage 1954 vehicle was purchased in the early 1970s by Jackling’s grandparents, Joseph and Inez. The bus was fixed up and taken on several family road trips that spanned more than 275,000 miles and criss-crossed two continents.

Now, Jackling is preparing to hit the road with his wife Carolyn McKenna, much like his adventurous grandparents.

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This time, though, the journey won’t just be documented in family photographs. Social media will play a large role in their travels for at least the next two years — and they already have an Instagram account, Crowned In Style, which has been documenting the renovations they’re making to the bus before they finally hit the road.

“We tore everything out. Even the sides of the bus came off. We got the roof off and even raised the roof up,” Jackling, 42, told Fox News. “There’s really not much left on the bus that was even original. I changed the, the front axle, the rear axle, the suspension.”

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The pistachio green bus has a battery and water storage tank that can last roughly two weeks, even with its fully functional bathroom and kitchen. Solar array panels have been added to help generate electricity when off-the-grid.

Modern amenities Jackling and McKenna included were an electric toilet, a tiled shower with a heated floor, a four-person bar, a wood-fired stove and grill, two mini-fridges and, of course, built-in A/C and heating.

For lounging and resting, there’s a queen-sized bed, a couch and a dining area. Entertainment-wise, the couple has included a TV and workspace, where they can both use their computers.

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McKenna, who is originally from New Jersey and lived in New York City for a time, never thought she’d find herself getting into the “van life.” But, after moving to California and marrying her husband, she became more open to the idea.

“I needed it to be nice. Like, sorry, I’m not just driving around with a shag rug and sparkly lights,” McKenna, 37, told Fox News. “[The bus] came out a lot nicer than both of us thought it would. And it’s definitely been a team effort in different ways, for sure.”

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She also went on to explain that money was an important factor before they made their decision. The pair agreed to go into their adventure “debt-free,” so they sold some of their belongings and rented out their home in order to get their arrangements together.

There are no solid plans for their road trip itinerary just yet, but Jackling and McKenna are planning to hit the road in March.

“This current trip, we want to go up and do Canada and then all the way to Alaska and then travel around to see all of that,” Jackling shared.

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While the couple decides on where exactly they want to go, their journey can be followed on Instagram or TikTok.

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