Having a bad day? Could be worse

NOT GOOD: A police car's rear bumper shares a tow truck with a taxi. Source: The Courier-Mail

SOMETIMES, things happen that can really spoil your day... this photo shows one of them.

The photo, taken on St Paul's Terrace in Fortitude Valley, shows a taxi on the back of a tow truck.

The front of the taxi looks very much like it came from a police car, which was being towed behind the flat-bed truck.

OUCH: The rear of the police car - where the bumper once was.

The police car was missing its rear bumper.

View the original article here

This house could be yours ... for a price

13 Albatross Avenue, Mermaid Beach. Source: Supplied

A FOUR-LEVEL mansion right on the beach in one of the Gold Coast's most exclusive suburbs has been placed on the market, with an astronomical price tag.

Property records reveal the home, on a double block of absolute beachfront land in Albatross Ave at Mermaid Beach is owned by Peter Drake, the head of financial services company LM Investment Management.

Last month LM Investment Management voluntarily placed itself under administration.

The mansion, known as Oceanview, once featured on television show Great Australian Sandcastles and in the book Beach Houses Down Under.

It is being marketed through John Henderson Professionals at Mermaid Beach.

Luke Henderson said if the asking price was achieved it would be among the highest price paid for a home on the Gold Coast.

"It really is an amazing home in an amazing location," Mr Henderson said.

The four-level home covers two beachfront lots and has six bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a theatre room, a roof-top bar and entertainment area, gymnasium and a private skateboard park.

The basement has parking for up to five cars.

Despite the high price tag, Mr Henderson expects strong interest in the property.

13 Albatross Avenue, Mermaid Beach. PIC: Supplied

He said there were buyers who could handle a property of that nature and his search will take in potential local buyers and those also based overseas.

13 Albatross Avenue, Mermaid Beach.

View the original article here

Sex in space: It could kill you

A message from the International Space Station. Source: Supplied

• Zero gravity could damage human cells
• USA and Russia deny rumours of space sex between astronauts
• Virgin Galactic planning to fly tourists into space

YOU may want to rethink that fantasy about having sex in space. New research suggests that space fornication could ruin your health.

Experiments conducted on plants have led scientists to conclude that changes in gravity can damage cells, clogging cell 'highway traffic' and potentially causing life-threatening diseases in humans.

Of course, we're particularly sensitive about anything which involves sex.

The research found that when gravity becomes extremely weak or strong, it affects the development and functionality of the pollen tube, which is the male reproductive organ in plants.

"Our findings have implications for human health as similar effects are likely to occur in human cells such as neurons where long distance intracellular transport is crucial," said Dr Youssef Chebli, a co-researcher in the study.

The clogging effect could have negative ramifications for human processes relating to reproduction, cancer and brain disease, reported The Daily Mail.

It's uncertain whether any humans have done the dirty in space before. Russia and the United States have both denied all of the inevitable rumours about sexual hijinks among the mixed-gender crews.

But with Virgin Galactic planning to fly tourists beyond the atmosphere as early as next year, humanity's supposedly clean interstellar record may be sullied soon enough.

View the original article here

Could this 'shower' cure jet lag?

The Delta light shower claims to help cure the effects of jetlag. Picture: Delta Air Lines

• Delta Air Lines unveils light shower design
• Claims it will help cure the effects of jet lag
• How to beat jetlag

IT'S one of the most common side effects of flying long-haul. The plane has finally touched down at your dream destination but you want nothing more than to find your hotel and crawl into bed.

It can take days to combat the effects of jet lag.

But one airline is attempting to find a solution to this problem - with a "light shower".

Delta Air Lines unveiled its "Sanctuary Space" at a recent TED conference in the US, and it was the Phonton Shower that had everyone talking.

The "shower", designed by Wieden + Kennedy New York with the help of a sleep expert, is the first of its kind and claims to "wash away" the effects of jet lag on the body.

"Research by Oxford neuroscience professor Russell Foster shows that bathing in light can alter natural circadian rhythms to help people recover from jet lag," a sign next to the Phonton Shower declared.

"The photon shower by Delta puts this research into practice."

It's based on research determining that jet lag occurs when the body moves quickly through multiple time zones.

"Our brains contain a master clock that coordinates the circadian rhythms of our body's many systems," a Delta spokesperson said. "The symptoms of jet lag occur because the body gets off schedule, not only because of the day/night pattern of its new location, but with itself. This is where light comes into play."

So how does the light shower work?

It's a stall-like chamber that creates a light sequence for passengers to "bathe" in. Those wanting to try it out input their travel data on a touch screen inside the chamber for a personalised light sequence.

A photoreceptor in the eye that senses light and regulates our body clock responds strongly to blue light and a particular wavelength of 480 nanometres.

Delta says it rapidly resets the body clock.

A Wieden + Kennedy spokesman Jamie Carreiro said a lot of work went into the design.

"Not only was there the build of the physical structure, there was the app to run the device, there was animation that had to be created to project the blue light in an elegant way, there was an algorithm that had to be developed to create custom jet lag therapy calendars that users could take home, all the way down to a very specific sound design," he said.

"Flowing blue animations appear before you on the LED wall. They're particularly impactful because these LED panels are typically used for large on-stage displays, so being right up close to a screen like this is really rare. It has a strong effect.

"At times, it really feels like it's raining light."

Delta have hinted they'll find a use for the light showers in the future but have yet to confirm which - if any - airports will receive them.

We can't wait.
 

View the original article here

'All I could see was broken glass'

Albury truckie Albert Coleman in the cab of his vehicle, which was struck by a projectile about 3.30am. Picture: Walmsley Stuart Source: Herald Sun

A RETIRED truck driver who was doing a favour for a mate was lucky to escape death when a piece of concrete weighing up to 15kg was thrown at his vehicle.

Albert Coleman, 68, was asked to do a trip after his friend couldn't find a replacement driver.

He was driving along the Western Ring Rd in Fawkner when the concrete piece smashed into his windscreen just before 3.30am today.

He was in one of four vehicles - along with another truck, an Australia Post van and a car - that were damaged as two people hurled rocks from an overpass, police said.

Mr Coleman said he was retiring for good after the terrifying incident.

"It shook me up," Mr Coleman told 3AW.

Albert Coleman was driving as a favour for his friend, but now wants to permanently retire. Picture: Walmsley Stuart

"It could have been a big disaster, mate."

Mr Coleman's windscreen so badly damaged it had to be replaced before he could drive away from the scene.

"I thought I'd run into something," he said.

"All I could see was broken glass in front of me. My whole heart was going 19 to the dozen when I stopped.

"I could have been passing a car, I could have killed them."

One of the vehicles hit by a piece concrete thrown from an overpass overnight.

Police estimated the chunks of debris thrown from the footbridge between Widford St and Sydney Rd weighed between 10kg and 15kg.

Senior Constable Tim Fletcher said witnesses saw two people hurling the concrete.

"I can't fathom how anyone could do this. Whether they're getting their cheap thrills, I'm not sure," he told 3AW.

"At the end of the day, their actions were so reckless that it could have ended up in someone losing their life this morning."

The identity of those responsible is yet to be established and investigators from Craigieburn police are urging them to come forward.

Police estimated each concrete chunk weighed 10-15kg.

Debris was removed by traffic management crews working in the area.

It comes just days after a man was left with shards of glass in his eye in a similar attack.

The 22-year-old taken to hospital on Saturday after teenagers threw a rock from a Princes Highway overpass onto the road below.

Premier Ted Baillieu condemned that incident.

"I just want to say to anybody who thinks that’s a clever idea, we will, with Victoria Police track you down," Mr Baillieu said on Saturday.

This truck was damaged so badly its windscreen had to be replaced.

"It's incredibly dangerous, unacceptable and anybody who throws rocks at cars from bridge or roadsides is risking lives and they are risking themselves as well because they will end up having the book thrown at them."

Anyone who witnessed the latest incident or has information regarding those involved is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au.

Andy.burns@news.com.au

View the original article here