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Is this 'haunted' road the coolest in the world?

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 31 Januari 2014 | 03.29

Welcome to Bregagh Road. Known as the Dark Hedges, this road has featured in Game of Thrones. Courtesy: YouTube

The Dark Hedges in Ireland. Picture: Thinkstock Source: Supplied

TUCKED away in Northern Ireland, near the village of Armoy lies a stunning site: A row of Beech trees that curve in crazy cool ways. Welcome to Bregagh Road.

The trees, planted by the Stuart family in the 18th century to dress up the road towards their manor, sit intertwined, creating a truly bizarre site in any season.

Rumour has it a ghost haunts the Dark Hedges. Picture: Thinkstock Source: Supplied

Now called The Dark Hedges by locals and tourists alike (Northern Ireland started using images from the road in their tourism campaigns in the late 1990s), the site has been used for scenes from Game of Thrones.

The road features in Game of Thrones. Source: Supplied

Rumour has it that the supernatural "Grey Lady" now haunts the road, especially the last beech tree at dusk. Some say she is the ghost of a maid from a nearby house who died in mysterious circumstances centuries ago. Another theory is that she's a lost spirit from an abandoned graveyard that's believed to lie hidden nearby.

The road has featured in tourism campaigns for Ireland. Picture: John5199, Flickr Source: Supplied

To get here, drive northwest about 80 kilometres from Belfast off Antrim Coastal Road.

Happy trails!

It's a striking site. Picture: IrishFireside, Flickr Source: Supplied

You won't forget this road trip. Picture: David Jones, Flickr Source: Supplied

'This story originally appeared on the Huffington Post.


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Bieber to face fresh assault charges

Cell phone footage shows Justin Bieber enjoying the beach in Panama, days after his arrest in Florida.

JUSTIN Bieber has turned himself into police in Toronto to face an assault charge dating back to December. Oh, and Americans want him permanently deported from the USA as well...

According to CBC news, the 19-year-old will be charged in connection to the alleged assault of a limousine driver who drove Bieber and his entourage around on December 29, 2013.

He'll be given a notice to appear in court at a later date.

As if he doesn't have enough problems, …Bieber now also faces the threat of deportation from his adopted home of America, after thousands of people signed a petition to get him kicked out of the country.

Justin Bieber hands himself over to police in Toronto

The White House will review a petition calling for Justin Bieber to be deported from the US after 100,000 people signed it.

In just a few days, the petition, which is titled "Deport Justin Bieber and revoke his green card", reached 100,000 signatures, meaning it will automatically be reviewed by White House staff, who must officially respond to it.

The petition was posted online on January 23, the day after the Canadian pop star was arrested for DUI and resisting arrest in Miami, and it's still going strong.

The petition reads: "We the people of the United States feel that we are being wrongly represented in the world of pop culture.

Singer Justin Bieber performs onstage in Los Angeles in December. Source: AFP

"We would like to see the dangerous, reckless, destructive, and drug abusing, Justin Bieber deported and his green card revoked.

"He is not only threatening the safety of our people but he is also a terrible influence on our nation's youth. We the people would like to remove Justin Bieber from our society."

Biebs, who's been licking his wounds on the beaches of Panama, will appear in front of a judge on February 14.

In a new interview with GQ, Bieber's manager Scooter Braun has said that he needs to let Bieber make his own "mistakes".

justin bieber Source: DailyTelegraph


"It's the same as being with a kid growing up, as a parent. There is a point where you guide them and there's a point where you feel like you've planted enough seeds and you watch them make mistakes.

"My responsibility is to always be there when they fall, always be there to help them get back up. But at some point I need to let them fail, because if they don't they're going to have no humanity."


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Bieber to face fresh assault charges

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 30 Januari 2014 | 03.30

Cell phone footage shows Justin Bieber enjoying the beach in Panama, days after his arrest in Florida.

JUSTIN Bieber has turned himself into police in Toronto to face an assault charge dating back to December. Oh, and Americans want him permanently deported from the USA as well...

According to CBC news, the 19-year-old will be charged in connection to the alleged assault of a limousine driver who drove Bieber and his entourage around on December 29, 2013.

He'll be given a notice to appear in court at a later date.

As if he doesn't have enough problems, …Bieber now also faces the threat of deportation from his adopted home of America, after thousands of people signed a petition to get him kicked out of the country.

Justin Bieber hands himself over to police in Toronto

The White House will review a petition calling for Justin Bieber to be deported from the US after 100,000 people signed it.

In just a few days, the petition, which is titled "Deport Justin Bieber and revoke his green card", reached 100,000 signatures, meaning it will automatically be reviewed by White House staff, who must officially respond to it.

The petition was posted online on January 23, the day after the Canadian pop star was arrested for DUI and resisting arrest in Miami, and it's still going strong.

The petition reads: "We the people of the United States feel that we are being wrongly represented in the world of pop culture.

Singer Justin Bieber performs onstage in Los Angeles in December. Source: AFP

"We would like to see the dangerous, reckless, destructive, and drug abusing, Justin Bieber deported and his green card revoked.

"He is not only threatening the safety of our people but he is also a terrible influence on our nation's youth. We the people would like to remove Justin Bieber from our society."

Biebs, who's been licking his wounds on the beaches of Panama, will appear in front of a judge on February 14.

In a new interview with GQ, Bieber's manager Scooter Braun has said that he needs to let Bieber make his own "mistakes".

justin bieber Source: DailyTelegraph


"It's the same as being with a kid growing up, as a parent. There is a point where you guide them and there's a point where you feel like you've planted enough seeds and you watch them make mistakes.

"My responsibility is to always be there when they fall, always be there to help them get back up. But at some point I need to let them fail, because if they don't they're going to have no humanity."


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Is this 'haunted' road the coolest in the world?

Welcome to Bregagh Road. Known as the Dark Hedges, this road has featured in Game of Thrones. Courtesy: YouTube

The Dark Hedges in Ireland. Picture: Thinkstock Source: Supplied

TUCKED away in Northern Ireland, near the village of Armoy lies a stunning site: A row of Beech trees that curve in crazy cool ways. Welcome to Bregagh Road.

The trees, planted by the Stuart family in the 18th century to dress up the road towards their manor, sit intertwined, creating a truly bizarre site in any season.

Rumour has it a ghost haunts the Dark Hedges. Picture: Thinkstock Source: Supplied

Now called The Dark Hedges by locals and tourists alike (Northern Ireland started using images from the road in their tourism campaigns in the late 1990s), the site has been used for scenes from Game of Thrones.

The road features in Game of Thrones. Source: Supplied

Rumour has it that the supernatural "Grey Lady" now haunts the road, especially the last beech tree at dusk. Some say she is the ghost of a maid from a nearby house who died in mysterious circumstances centuries ago. Another theory is that she's a lost spirit from an abandoned graveyard that's believed to lie hidden nearby.

The road has featured in tourism campaigns for Ireland. Picture: John5199, Flickr Source: Supplied

To get here, drive northwest about 80 kilometres from Belfast off Antrim Coastal Road.

Happy trails!

It's a striking site. Picture: IrishFireside, Flickr Source: Supplied

You won't forget this road trip. Picture: David Jones, Flickr Source: Supplied

'This story originally appeared on the Huffington Post.


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Big Kev returns to Biggest Loser

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 28 Januari 2014 | 03.29

Watch the latest sneak peek of The Biggest Loser, featuring Big Kev. Courtesy: Channel 10

Kevin Moore, who shot to fame as the heaviest contestant in the history of The Biggest Loser, is set to return to the Channel 10 weight loss show.

Moore started last year's The Biggest Loser: The Next Generation at a whopping 254 kilos but had dropped 55.4 kilos to 198.6 kilos by series end.

The 28-year old, from New South Wales, has decided he has unfinished business and is set to join the fray on The Biggest Loser: Challenge Australia from next Monday, as this sneak peek of the episode shows.

On a mission ... Big Kev returns to The Biggest Loser. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

Moore has lost more weight in recent months but that is not enough to stop him still being the heaviest contestant on this year's show.

"I still have a lot to achieve," Moore says. "My goal last season was to weigh under 200 kilos and now I'm aiming to lose a total of 100 kilos across the two series.

"That is a big task but this is a great opportunity to come back into an environment that is totally shaped around achieving my goals."

Moore says dropping more than 55 kilos last year was a life-changer for him and girlfriend Julie.

"She was absolutely stoked (after last year) because I could start living life with her," Moore says.

"We were no longer sitting at home doing nothing. We could go out and do things together."

Keen to change ... Kevin Moore at his heaviest in last year's series of The Biggest Loser. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

Moore appeared on last year's The Biggest Loser: The Next Generation with his mother Rosemary Reynolds.

Moore's time was filled with drama including a visit to hospital after a training session. Rosemary served up an f-bomb spray to trainers Shannan Ponton, Michelle Bridges and Steve 'Commando' Willis when her son's eating habits were criticised.

This time Moore is doing competing solo.

Somewhat slimmed down ... Big Kev re-enters The Biggest Loser house. Source: Supplied

The Biggest Loser: Challenge Australia is filled with contestants from the Victorian regional town of Ararat.

"I really didn't know what to expect," Moore says. "Everyone came from the same area except for me.

"Last year's show built my confidence up. I was able to achieve things I never thought possible. I held my head high.

"I'm very focused and determined to make sure I reach my goal. In this environment there are no excuses."

The Biggest Loser: Challenge Australia, Channel 10, Sunday to Tuesday, 7.30pm


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MKR lovers' tiff erupts as heat rises

Andrew and Emelia feel the heat as they cook for their guests on My Kitchen Rules. Courtesy Channel Seven.

MY Kitchen Rules contestants Andrew and Emelia failed to impress the judges, and the stress made viewers question if they were a perfect match.

The newly dating couple from the ACT set out to cook Shrimp in a Barrel, followed by Gourmet Gumbo with seafood and chorizo sausage for main course and then a Chocolate Cherry Tart with Kirsch cream for dessert.

Like many MKR contestants before them - nothing went according to plan.

When they were preparing each dish, and serving it, it became obvious to the judges and viewers that the "stress" was starting to take its toll.

The couple claim on the MKR website they have found "The One" with each other, but viewers begged to differ on Twitter.

Many criticised the way Andrew spoke to Emelia after he saw the way she had prepared the mussels for main course.

At one point Emelia tells Andrew: "You can't second guess everything I do", before she says "just do what ever you want".

Viewers thought they were not suited to each other at all.

The term Canberra started to trend on Twitter during the show, as many viewers claimed they were also a poor representation for the ACT.

The couple copped criticism from judges Manu Feildel and Pete Evans from the start.

Their Shrimp in a Barrel was described as "confusing" by Feildel before he found out they had used pineapple juice, Jack Daniels and curry powder for the sauce.

He then said: "I don't know where you got that recipe it should stay in America".

Evans added that the sauce was "killing the prawns".

There was a bit of a wait between courses, and it left some of them eating their lollipop decorations.

Even Feildel tweeted during the show that he was getting "hungry", when reflecting upon the dinner.

But when their Gourmet Gumbo finally came out, Evans did not hold back.

He poignantly pointed out that there was "no love" on the plate, while Feildel said he could only see "stress".

While the couple redeemed themselves with dessert, they only got a total score of 47, compared to Annie and Jason from NSW who scored 82 on Monday night.

Viewers continued to express their hatred of WA contestants Chloe and Kelly, who are this season's new baddies.

Many fans also chuckled about what the other contestants would be thinking after eating at Andrew and Emelia's place.


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Wife wants kidney back from ex

Written By Unknown on Senin, 27 Januari 2014 | 03.30

In happier times ... Samantha and Andy Lamb, whose marriage fell apart after Samantha gave him a kidney to save his life. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

SAMANTHA Lamb gave one of her kidneys to her ex-husband Andy to save his life - now she wants it back after he dumped her.

Mr Lamb was suffering from renal failure and was surviving on dialysis, until his wife Samantha convinced him to accept one of her kidneys.

At the time, she said: "He needed a new kidney or he would die. He was on dialysis three times a week. I told Andy he should go through with it [the transplant]."

Mrs Lamb, 41, underwent the kidney transplant operation in October, 2009, after she lost enough weight to be able to have the procedure.

The couple were also filmed for a BBC show which documented their story - but it did not end happily ever after as they first thought.

After Mr Lamb, 45, was given her kidney, he walked out on her nearly three years later in August, 2012.

One night, while she was working at Tesco, Mrs Lamb claims he moved out of their home, and took the TV and stereo before he posted the keys through the letterbox without a note or letter.

Mrs Lamb claims their marriage fell apart because her ex-husband was having an affair with her friend.

But Mr Lamb denies any cheating occurred.

She told Sunday People that if she could turn back the clock, she would give her kidney to another person who was more deserving," she said.

"I would definitely go through the operation again but I wouldn't give the kidney to him.

"I hate him. If I could, then I would take it back and give it to someone else.

"Obviously I don't want people to be put off putting their names on the organ donor list.

"But all I want from him is his name on the divorce papers."

The couple, from Devon, met when they were both drivers for a private ambulance firm in 2004. They later married in 2007.

Mr Lamb said he never wanted her to go through with the kidney transplant as the procedure carried too many medical risks.

"I never wanted her to donate her kidney because it was a big risk. But she insisted and I'll always owe her my life," he said.

"I loved her but our relationship wasn't working. We had big rows and her family never liked me.

"Despite what Samantha believes, I have never been with her friend. I just helped her to train her dog."


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Kara and Kyal rock The Block

Winners are grinners ... Kyal and Kara, from New South Wales, are the first team through to The Block: Fans v Faves. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

YOUR fave reality TV shows are back with a bang - we have our first Block losers, MKR got cheesy and Michelle Bridges returned to The Biggest Loser.

Which TV show were you glued to? Tell us what you watched and your favourite moments below:

THE BLOCK

KARA and Kyal are the first contestants through to The Block: Fans v Faves.

The New South Wales couple got their gold ticket to compete on the Channel 9 reality show after winning Monday night's elimination round against Queensland's Jesse and Kenny.

The two teams had to build and decorate a Manhattan-style loft room at The Block's warehouse headquarters with a $10,000 budget.

After a slow start, physiotherapist Kara and carpenter husband Kyal impressed judges Shaynna Blaze, Neale Whitaker, and Darren Palmer with their bedroom/dining/lounge combo.

Jesse and Kenny hit a bump when their plasterer turned up four hours late. They took a risk with tangerine walls.

"I think they've nailed the brief," Whitaker said.

"It feels really welcoming," Blaze opined.

Kara and Kyal's masterstroke was making use of existing street art to create a feature wall. The judges described the result as the best elimination room ever.

"We are in elimination week and already I want to live in this apartment," Whitaker said after seeing the couple's room.

Kara and Kyal are set to be one of four teams that will renovate the old Dux theatre in the Melbourne bayside suburb of Albert Park.

"I think we've got what it takes to give it a red hot go," Kyal said.

Fans on social media, including celebrities were thrilled they got in, tweeting their messages as the hashtag #theblock was trending during the show.

On Tuesday's show Victoria's Chantelle and Steve take on Queensland's Chris and Pascale in the second elimination challenge.

The winning teams will take on former Block contestants Alisa and Lysandra as well as Brad and Dale.

MY KITCHEN RULES

Meanwhile, My Kitchen Rules got off to a cheesy start with married Annie and Jason, from the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, the first couple to plate up their instant restaurant.

The married cheesemakers served up a farm-themed all-cheese menu of Goat's Cheese Croquettes entree, Fillet Steak with sweet potato puree and blue cheese sauce main, and raspberry and white chocolate cheesecake dessert.

Too cheesy? ... Annie and Jason on My Kitchen Rules. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

The pair scored a solid 82 out of 110 for their three course meal - 34 out of 50 from the other teams and 48 out of 60 from judges Pete Evans and Manu Feildel.

Evans described the croquettes as "honest and humble" saying the couple had "started with a bang". Evans and Feildel scored with steak main a pair of nines. Feildel said the cheesecake "did miss a bit of the wow effect".

MKR fans seemed to warm to the NSW couple, given the positive response on social media as #mkr trended.

Western Australia's Chloe and Kelly have made an early running as the potential baddies of this series with their constant references to visiting Michelin-star restaurants.

Viewers will be itching to see if the friends, in their twenties, can walk the walk as well as talk the talk.

On social media, fans made their voices heard as soon as they started criticising Annie and Jason's food.

Tomorrow night it is Canberra's turn as newly dating Andrew and Emelia create their instant restaurant.

THE BIGGEST LOSER

On Ten, The Biggest Loser: Challenge Australia, focused on the first day in the house. Contestants were split into Blue and Black teams and faced their first training session in the house.

The Blue team, trained by Shannan Ponton, was derailed when contestant Cameron Brown got angry with himself and stormed out of the gym.

Back with more ... The Biggest Loser trainers Shannon Ponton, Michelle Bridges and Steve 'Commando' Willis. Source: Supplied

Later in the episode Cameron got a wake-up call when the show's doctor revealed the 34-year-old had a predicted age of death of 52 if he kept up his current eating habits.

The Black team, trained by Steve 'Commando' Willis, endured sandpit training.

Fans praised him for his work.

Michelle Bridges returned to the show to train up the residents of Ararat in country Victoria.

The town was also split into Blue and Black teams as they 'Shift the Weight' toward the town goal of losing 26,000 kilos.

Shaping up Australians ... Michelle Bridges from The Biggest Loser. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

The Block: Fans v Faves, My Kitchen Rules and The Biggest Loser: Challenge Australia continue Tuesday night at 7.30pm.

###


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Live: Aussies set up thrilling finish

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 26 Januari 2014 | 03.29

England are eyeing a second ODI win in as many outings, as they look to spoil Australia Day for the locals. Earlier, George Bailey was the only shining light as Australia struggled in setting 218 for victory.

Eoin Morgan trudges off after being dismissed by James Faulkner. Source: Getty Images

ENGLAND has let another victory slip through its fingers, losing a glut of late wickets to allow Michael Clarke's men to win an Australia Day thriller at the Adelaide Oval.

The tourists were bowled out for 212 with just two balls remaining in the fifth and final one-day international, falling six runs short of the required target.

GET A FULL SCOREBOARD, BALL-BY-BALL COMMENTARY, LIVE STATS AND PITCH MAPS IN OUR MATCH CENTRE.

England had looked on track for victory when it was 3-154 with almost 15 overs remaining, but as has so often been the case this summer Alastair Cook's men lost quick wickets, and eventually, the match.

Earlier, Australia struggled to 9-217 from its 50 overs, with George Bailey the only batsman to pass 50 on a flat drop in pitch.

More to come...

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE MATCH CENTRE.


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Aussies win Australia Day thriller

England are eyeing a second ODI win in as many outings, as they look to spoil Australia Day for the locals. Earlier, George Bailey was the only shining light as Australia struggled in setting 218 for victory.

Eoin Morgan trudges off after being dismissed by James Faulkner. Source: Getty Images

ENGLAND has let another victory slip through its fingers, losing a glut of late wickets to allow Michael Clarke's men to win an Australia Day thriller at the Adelaide Oval.

The tourists were bowled out for 212 with just two balls remaining in the fifth and final one-day international, falling six runs short of the required target.

GET A FULL SCOREBOARD, BALL-BY-BALL COMMENTARY, LIVE STATS AND PITCH MAPS IN OUR MATCH CENTRE.

England had looked on track for victory when it was 3-154 with almost 15 overs remaining, but as has so often been the case this summer Alastair Cook's men lost quick wickets, and eventually, the match.

Earlier, Australia struggled to 9-217 from its 50 overs, with George Bailey the only batsman to pass 50 on a flat drop in pitch.

More to come...

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE MATCH CENTRE.


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Third time lucky for champion Li Na

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 25 Januari 2014 | 03.30

Australian Open champion Li Na shows off her silverware. Photo: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Limited

THIRD time lucky! While China's Li Na doesn't believe that number brings good fortune, it delivered her first Australian Open crown.

Li erased memories of those final losses in 2011 and last year to sweep aside gallant little Slovak Dominika Cibulkova 7-6 (7-3) 6-0 in 97 entertaining minutes.

SCUD: WHY RAFA WILL BEAT STAN

LI NA A HIT WITH THE MASSES

THE NUMBERS: WHY RAFA CAN'T LOSE

HOT SHOTS: LI NA'S BREAKTHROUGH WIN IN PICTURES

Li Na of China (R) hugs Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia after winning their women's singles final. Source: AFP

At 31, she's the oldest Australian women's singles champion since Margaret Court won at 30 in 1973.

It wasn't achieved without a fight either, the popular Li needed to work for 70 anxious minutes to grab the decisive opening set in a tiebreak.

Heck, many women's finals haven't even lasted that long, let alone the first set of what was a pulsating baseline battle.

But, with that set in the bag, it was as if a giant weight had been lifted from the fourth seed's shoulders. It freed her up to wield those rapier ground strokes to ground Cibulkova into the blue hardcourt.

"Finally I got her,'' Li said before

Li Na of China holds the championship trophy after defeating Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia. Source: AP

paying tribute to the 24th ranked Slovak's brave run at a debut grand slam title for her nation.

"This is my favourite grand slam (championship) and I'm so happy I've won the title here.''

Li applied the subtle pressure from the moment she won the toss and asked Cibulkova to serve first to start the match.

A nervous Cibulkova threw in not one, but two double faults to drop serve in that opening game and Li was quickly out to a 2-0 lead.

But the little Slovak didn't take long to reveal her trademark fighting spirit.

She fought off two break points in the third game to finally get on the board. A shout and fist pump in the direction of her entourage announced she was in the battle.

The contest was littered with heavy-hitting baseline duels that tested the patience and will of both players.

Just when it seemed Li was in control, she also twice double faulted to give up a service break in the sixth game.

Dominika Cibulkova put up a strong fight in the first set. Source: News Limited

Cibulkova continued to live dangerously on her serve, staving off another break point in the ninth game and Li answered with the first ace of the match to level at 5-5.

Another double fault put the Slovak under pressure and a Li crosscourt winner set up another break opportunity.

When a deep Li return forced Cibulkova to dump a backhand into the net, the favourite stepped up to serve for the set.

Li blew a set point when a backhand down the line just missed wide. And Cibulkova pounced with a forehand winner and another deep return to force an error for another break back to level at 6-6.

The Chinese player's big match experience shone through at she grabbed the early lead, changed ends with a commanding 5-1 lead and wrapped up the crucial tiebreak 7-3.

She had snared a significant scoreboard and psychological advantage after 70 entertaining minutes.

Serving first in the second set, Li poured on the pressure, smashing aside the Cibulkova serve again and surge to a 3-0 lead.

Li Na of China celebrates winning the first set against Dominika Cibulkova. She took it in a tiebreak. Source: AFP

The fourth seed's heavy and deep ground strokes and returns began to overwhelm her gallant little foe.

Another power-laden backhand crosscourt into the corner broke Cibulkova's serve and heart to hand Li a 4-0 lead and closing in for the kill.

While Cibulkova continued to scurry around the court and attempt to run down every ball, the controlling Chinese player had found her range with the topspin ground strokes to seize the initiative.

Nothing could deny Li the title now and she bullied the failing Cibulkova serve again as the Slovak flew a forehand over the baseline to give up the fight.

That second set disappeared in just 27 minutes and with it any hope of Slovak grand slam glory.


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Li Na gives the most hilarious victory speech

All class ... Australian Open champion Li Na. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

SHE won the Australian Open, then she won the crowd.

Chinese tennis superstar Li Na had Melbourne Park fans in stitches after her straight sets victory over Slovak Dominika Cibulkova.

She thanked her agent... for making her lots of money. "Max, agent, make me rich," she said.

Then she paid a unique tribute to her husband of eight years.

"Now husband. Famous in China, (fixes) racquet, (fixes) drink ... Thanks a lot, you're a nice guy ..."

"Also, you're so lucky."

Classic. The hashtag #funniestspeechever proved quite popular on Twitter. People from sports stars to media personalities labelled it the "best speech ever":

It was the third time lucky for Na at the Australian Open. She famously choked against Kim Clijsters in 2011 and was runner-up to Victoria Azarenka last year.

It's pretty clear she's welcome back on centre court anytime.


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If Roger and Rafa hadn't been born?

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 24 Januari 2014 | 03.29

Ahead of their semi-final showdown at the Australian Open, we take a look back at some of the classic matches to have taken place between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on the biggest stages in tennis.

It's a beautiful romance ... errr, wait. Rivalry. We mean rivalry. Source: AP

ROGER Federer and Rafael Nadal have won 30 grand slam titles between them, and played one another eight times in the final of a major tournament.

Federer has won more slams than any other man in history. Nadal is third on the list, just one win behind Pete Sampras.

From 2005 to 2010, Roger and Rafa monopolised the majors, taking 21 of the 24 titles on offer.

That's all very stats-heavy. We're really just trying to say that these two have been absurdly dominant, and the tennis world would look completely different without them.

Maybe they should play doubles together? Source: AAP

About that. We've decided to have a bit of fun by rewriting history, pretending Roger and Rafa never existed. Every major title these two have claimed over the years has been re-awarded to the bloke who probably would have grabbed it if they weren't in the way.

Before you read the lovely tables we've compiled, have a squiz at our infallible methodology, which has delivered impossibly hypothetical results with flawless accuracy:

1. Pick a grand slam;

2. Did Roger or Rafa win it? If "no", you're done. If "yes", move on to step three;

3. Was Roger or Rafa the losing finalist? If "no", the runner up is your new champion. If "yes", move on to step four;

4. Look at the two losing semi-finalists. The higher-seeded player is your new champion. If neither player is seeded, the bloke with the higher world ranking at that time is your new champion;

5. Attempt to compile your data into some nice, crisp tables;

6. Smash your keyboard against the desk four times;

7. Ask someone more technologically literate for help;

8. Compile your data into some nice, crisp tables;

Speaking of the tables, here they are. We've picked out the main points of interest underneath.

THE ACTUAL RESULTS

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
aus open agassi federer safin federer federer djokovic
french ferrero gaudio nadal nadal nadal nadal
wimbledon federer federer federer federer federer nadal
us open roddick federer federer federer federer federer
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
aus open nadal federer djokovic djokovic djokovic
french federer nadal nadal nadal nadal
wimbledon federer nadal djokovic federer murray
us open del potro nadal djokovic murray nadal

IF ROGER AND RAFA DIDN'T EXIST

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
aus open agassi safin safin baghdatis gonzalez djokovic
french ferrero gaudio puerta nalbandian davydenko djokovic
wimbledon philippoussis roddick roddick baghdatis djokovic safin
us open roddick hewitt agassi roddick djokovic murray
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
aus open roddick murray djokovic djokovic djokovic
french soderling soderling djokovic djokovic ferrer
wimbledon roddick berdych djokovic murray murray
us open del potro djokovic djokovic murray djokovic

So, what happens in this alternative universe?

• Australia picks up two more grand slam titles, with Mark Philippoussis grabbing his only major and Lleyton Hewitt taking his tally to three;

• Novak Djokovic wins 13 majors instead of six, taking him to second on the all-time list. He wins all four grand slams in 2011, in the middle of a seven-slam winning streak. That gives him the extremely rare calendar grand slam - something never achieved by Federer or Nadal. The last man to do it was Australian legend Rod Laver, in 1969;

• Andy Murray wins five majors instead of two;

• Swede Robin Soderling wins back-to-back titles at Roland Garros;

• Big-serving American Andy Roddick wins five majors instead of one;

• Not-quite-so-big-serving American Andre Agassi picks up a ninth grand slam title;

• Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis wins both the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2006. Really, that guy? Yeah. That guy;

• Russian Marat Safin doubles his grand slam tally, taking it to four.

Marat likes this alternative reality. Source: News Limited

So, who would win tonight's semi-final if Roger and Rafa didn't exist? There's a headscratcher for you.

Tell us about your own absurdly awesome hypothetical scenarios on Twitter: @SamClench | @newscomauHQ

###


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How Bieber became a showbiz brat

Teen pop star Justin Bieber is released from a Miami jail, escorted by officers, and waves to fans.

THE only surprising thing about Justin Bieber posing for a mug shot is that it took this long to happen.

The pop brat has been on a collision course with reality for two years now.

The one photo session he can't airbrush may be the precisely the wake-up call he needed, although his smug smile suggests reality hasn't bitten just yet.

Bieber is lucky the only thing seriously harmed in this brand-soiling incident of drag-racing, drink and drug driving and resisting arrest, was his criminal record.

Smiling ... Justin Bieber poses for a booking photo at the Miami-Dade Police Department. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

The nineteen year old spent the last year touring the world as a man-boy in a bubble, protected by fame, money and yes people.

No one in Team Bieber dared tell him that maybe spraying graffiti on walls wasn't a great idea.

Popstar's graffiti lands him in hot water

No one pointed out that when most of your fans are under age it's disrespectful to go on stage 70 minutes late on a school night.

Like every famous musician, keeping the tour on the road means keeping the money coming in and everyone gets paid.

An upset teenage pop star could disrupt the cash flow, so everyone let Bieber do what he liked, lest they were fired for uttering the word he never hears `No'.

Justin Bieber, who drove a yellow Lamborghini when he was arrested in Miami. Picture: Instagram Source: Supplied

He wants to urinate in the mop bucket of a restaurant? You just watch on and join in the laughs with the rest of the hangers-on he bankrolls.

Imagine what happened that wasn't secretly filmed.

By the time his tour ended in Australia in December, Bieber was virtually off the rails, even with his mother as part of the entourage.

This incident in Florida is not rock bottom, but it's close. If the whispers about some of his behaviour on tour are even partially true, then he got off lightly.

Waving to fans ... singer Justin Bieber leaves the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Centre. Picture: AP Source: AP

Soon after returning to LA after his Australian tour an underage girl was taken to hospital after collapsing at his mansion during one of his private parties.

If you see a teenager involved in drag racing, drink driving and drugs you'd think `Where are the parents?'

If you're talking about Justin Bieber, they're right there with him.

Chantel Jeffries ... the model who was in Justin Bieber's car at the time of his arrest. Picture: Instagram Source: Supplied

Bieber finances his family.

This is his gap year.

He's earned a break, and has earned enough to never work again if he's smart.

But he's not smart. He's proved over and over he's a 24 carat idiot with a bad case of what's called 'affluenza'.

Too much free time and big money, not enough brains.

Last November a girl posted a clip online of her next to a sleeping Bieber in bed.

Soon after his security team made sure whenever Bieber partied, which was pretty much every night on tour, that no more videos leaked.

SHARING A NIGHTCLUB SOFA WITH JUSTIN BIEBER

In Australia girls who made it to after-parties at Bieber's various hotels had to sign confidentiality forms that stated that if they took photos or videos they'd be hit with a seven-figure lawsuit. Money talks when it comes to buying silence.

In Perth, where his world tour ended, Bieber was particularly loose.

WHO WAS JUSTIN BIEBER'S BABE IN MIAMI?

News Corp Australia spoke to one hotel guest who overheard Bieber telling a young girl she looked like "a beached whale" and should "go on The Biggest Loser."

JUSTIN BIEBER CALLED FAN A 'BEACHED WHALE'

He was with his posse of hangers-on and shouted the insult in front of hotel guests. Again, his posse enabled the behaviour.

Bieber also jumped off a balcony into a pool, telling two young boys "Hey kids, don't do this" just before he launched himself off the railing.

He's in that indulged celebrity zone. Hotels won't complain because Bieber's entourage on tour, which took up an entire floor, is big business.

Nightclubs want him to visit for publicity, and there's always girls willing to party with him - on his terms.

He rules the pop world ... Justin Bieber has performed in front of millions of fans. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

And say what you like about Bieber's fans, but they're loyal.

They've already taken to Twitter to defend Bieber, even though it's now official he uses drugs and risked other people's lives by drink driving.

Mind you, girls on Twitter defended woman-basher Chris Brown by saying he's so hot they'd let him punch them in the face.

Still, it's undeniable Bieber's loyal fanbase is dwindling.

His last album, Journals, sold a paltry 4607 copies in Australia when released at what should have been the height of sales potential - the week before Christmas.

His new documentary, Believe, was a flop in the US. In Australia it will have a limited three day run in cinemas from yesterday before finding its spiritual home - DVD.

Behind the headlines, beyond the spotlight there's more to his story.

It contains footage of Bieber moaning about being misunderstood that seems redundant now.

Bieber's in a tricky spot. He wants credibility. But no amount of tattoos and bad behaviour can make you look cool when you act like a turbo douchebag.

JUSTIN BIEBER SHOWS OFF TATTOO HE GOT IN AUSTRALIA

There's no denying he has talent, but for most of the world he's forever freeze-framed as the fringed kid singing `baby baby baby'.

As a rising star ... Justin Bieber performs at the Rockefeller Center in New York City. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

It's very hard to break out of that image. Ask`70s Bieber Leif Garrett, whose career stalled before he spiralled into drug addiction.

It is a rare achievement to turn being a kid star into a credible adult act.

Michael Jackson did it, but sadly that didn't end well.

Although Bieber does share MJ's love of monkeys - he tried to take Mally the monkey from Germany last August and had his first taste of authorities pointing out that, despite what he thinks, he can't just do what he likes because he's rich and famous.

Justin Timberlake has managed it, but as one-fifth of boy band N'Sync he never bore the brunt of attention like Bieber has.

Needing a wake up call ... Justin Bieber performing during a concert. Picture: AP Source: AP

But Bieber has done himself few favours.

He has a reputation in the music industry as being a fairly unpleasant character; the classic definition of a spoiled showbiz brat.

BELIEBERS RUSH TO DEFEND JUSTIN

So what now?

Bieber's 'retired' but if he thinks that means he can switch off the media attention, he's even more stupid than he looks in his mug shot.

Buying canary yellow and leopard print cars doesn't exactly help you slip off the radar.

There are enough tragic tales in the music industry.

Bieber needs some perspective. If he escapes jail, he should try real life.

It's time to stop partying, stop whinging about being treated badly when he behaves badly and earn respect not just money.


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Woman says almost blinded by vicious 'stiletto stab'

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 23 Januari 2014 | 03.30

Jess had multiple injuries on her face after the vicious attack. Source: Supplied

FOR most women high heels are synonymous with fun times: getting dressed up and having a great night out with your friends.

But not for Jess Taylor*. When the 20-year-old retail assistant looks at a pair of stilettos she doesn't see a sexy fashion statement. She sees a weapon.

Last year a fun night out on the Gold Coast went terribly wrong after a young woman wearing 16cm stiletto heels allegedly punched and kicked Jess in the face.

Jess was left nearly blind in one eye and with shocking facial injuries.

Since the attack she has fought a private battle with her physical and mental recovery. Now she's bravely come forward in the hope of stopping the growing trend of young women acting like savages.

"It was meant to be a fun night out on the Gold Coast," Jess says. "I was inside a club and on my way out of the bathroom when a girl walked up from behind and spat on me.

"I don't know the real reason for her doing it ... I used to see her ex over three years ago and he had recently added me on Instagram."

The girl then allegedly followed Jess outside the club where she punched her and kicked her in the face while wearing the stilettos.

"During that moment I thought I lost my eye and so did a lot of people due to the blood pouring from my face," Jess claims. "I was scared and shocked as I have never been in a situation like that before in my life."

Jess had a 1.5m cut on her left eyelid. Source: Supplied

Jess was taken to hospital in an ambulance and treated for a concussion and multiple injuries to her face.

"I had all my eyelashes kicked out on the left eye, my jaw was out of place, my teeth had gone through the inside of my upper lip and I had a 1.5cm cut on my left eyelid," Jess says.

"The doctors were surprised I didn't lose my eye."

Jess' case is not an isolated one.

In 2012 an 18-year-old woman allegedly left a 23-year-old woman in hospital with stiletto-heel stab wounds after attacking her in a Brisbane nightclub.

Another incident in Sydney's Sutherland saw a 21-year-old female charged with reckless wounding after striking a woman in the face with her stiletto shoe.

An assistant manager, at a popular Gold Coast nightspot, who didn't wish to be identified, says she has noticed a large increase in violence among young women over the last year.

"There are at least three fights a night in our venue," she says.

"A lot of the fights [involve] punching and hair pulling but we have also had incidents where women have taken their heels off and used them as weapons.

"The [women] mostly fight over guys or just start random fights for no reason. What's also worse is that the girl's encourage each other more than the guys do."

Jess is still dealing with the long-term effects of that night.

"I've been told to see a plastic surgeon due to the scar tissue in my left eyelid being so big and still causing me pain," she says.

"Because of the pain I couldn't eat, couldn't sleep, I didn't want to leave the house.

"When I finally did it was to go see the doctor and even then it was hard because everyone would stare at me, I had to wear giant glasses to cover it up."

Health professionals say cases like Jess's are frightening and should be taken more seriously.

"What we're dealing with is a really dangerous potential weapon," says Gordion Fulde, St Vincent's Hospital Emergency Department Associate Professor. "Because with a whole lot of pressure coming from the leg, hand or arm - if all of that is transmitted into one area it can break bones or tear skin.

Dr Fulde makes the point that stilettos leave penetrative marks on many hardwood floors. "From this you can see the damage a stiletto would do to someone's face if used with force," he says.

They may look sexy, but these stilettos can be transformed into a vicious weapon. Source: Supplied

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the number of women behind bars has increased 48 per cent since 2002 and 8.4 per cent over the last 12 months - compared to a mere 0.4 per cent increase in male prisoners over the last 12 months.

Professor Jake Najman is the director of the University of Queensland's Alcohol and Drug Research and Education Centre. He says women are increasingly engaging in violent behaviour and are turning to violence to resolve disputes.

"To some extent, we are starting to think women are becoming more like men in terms of their social behaviours that expose them to adverse outcomes," he says.

"Thinking about male equivalent behaviours, males do kick with heavy footwear, however for females the difference is that the stiletto is a fashion item converted for use as a weapon."

It's a slow recovery for Jess, who is still too afraid to go out on weekends. "I have definitely lost a lot of motivation to go out in case I run into her," she admits.

Jess hopes her story makes other young women think twice about laying their hands on someone else.

"This sort of thing can ruin someone's life."

* Name has been changed.


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Underbelly lives on with Fat Tony

Tony Mokbel is said to be Australia's richest gangster and then became Australia's most wanted man.

UNDERBELLY sequel Fat Tony and Co picks up precisely where you'd expect: with a topless stripper gyrating wildly as Vince Colosimo channels Al Pacino in a monologue.

Constant nudity is of course one of the franchise's contractual obligations, along with violence, Melbourne streetscapes and slow-mo shots set to a rocking soundtrack.

But while the form is the same - and with most of the original actors and creative team back on board - does Fat Tony and Co live up to the high standards of the 2008 smash hit series?

The cast of the new true crime drama Fat Tony and Co. Picture: Channel Nine. Source: Supplied

The answer is yes and no. The acting, writing and direction of the two part premiere is top notch, it's a stylishly made true crime drama that many will feel puts recent instalments like Underbelly Razor and Squizzy in the shade.

But it doesn't quite have the same blend of magic as the original - the same visceral fascination, visual flair or humour. (It also has a different title and is based on different source material, though that's reportedly as much to do with accessing tax concessions as creative considerations.) The nine part series traces Mokbel's (Robert Mammone) rise from small time dealer and pizza maker to kingpin of a $140 million drug empire and his eventual wigged-out arrest in Greece.

Robert Mammone in character as Tony Mokbel in Fat Tony and Co. Picture: Channel Nine Source: Supplied

(It's only fitting the sequel focuses on Mokbel, whose trial and subsequent court injunction was a major reason Underbelly wasn't able to screen in full in Victoria until 2011.)

One of the driving forces of the story is the conflict between Mokbel's close associate and gangland serial killer Carl Williams (Gyton Grantley returning to his AFI and Logie winning role) and the volatile, aggressive Carlton Crew - the Morans (Kevin Harrington, Les Hill and Jake Ryan), Graham "the Munster" Kinniburgh (Gerard Kennedy) and Alphonse Gangitano (Vince Colosimo).

Back as Carl Williams ... Gyton Grantley in Fat Tony and Co. Picture: Channel Nine Source: Supplied

While the gangland war would claim more than thirty lives, aided and abbetted by police corruption, Mokbel himself is painted as a breed apart, an astute businessman, more interested in making money and developing buildings than cracking heads.

Returning to the screen ... Vince Colosimo plays Alphonse Gangitano. Picture: Channel Nine Source: Supplied

"You're no gangster" Gangitano goads him at one point. Although Mokbel does take up the odd baseball bat in anger, there's the sense it's to keep up appearances, rather than any genuine desire for violence. If the makers can continue to draw out Mokbel's contradictory motivations, between a business/family man and drug lord, he could become a fascinating character.

Madeline West gives a standout performance as his sophisticated, intelligent and feisty girlfriend Danielle "Pill Press Queen" McGuire, with the two sharing genuine on screen chemistry.

Fat Tony and Co star Madeleine West who plays Danielle McGuire. Picture: Channel Nine Source: Supplied

But fans will be dismayed to learn Colosimo's celebrated portrayal of the charismatic, but violent and menacing Gangitano gets even less screen time than in the original - with his demise coming earlier in the piece and for significantly different reasons, suggesting Fat Tony isn't a straight sequel after all.

While Grantley doesn't feature heavily in the premiere, his baby faced serial killer is more threatening and less of a doofus this time around, particularly when he draws a gun on heavily pregnant wife Roberta, played by Hollie Andrew (who's convincing and looks the part, but lacks Kat Stewart's star quality).

Hollie Andrew stars as Roberta Williams in Fat Tony and Co. Picture: Channel Nine Source: Supplied

Where the premiere does fall down slightly is in the police investigation, which is more plod than plot and gives three fine actors - Shane Jacobson, Steven Curry and Richard Cawthorne - little to do except look sober and taciturn. And the writers really miss a trick with police informant Billy, who risks his life wearing a wire in an attempt to entrap Mokbel without any real pay-off in terms of excitement or danger.

But the few flaws are outweighed by the positives. The plot moves quickly as hatreds harden and the bodies pile up, and anyone with a passing interest in the real life tale - which is pretty much most of Melbourne - should find it absorbing viewing.

*Fat Tony and Co is screening soon on Channel 9.


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Kochie fires up over 'demeaning' post

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 22 Januari 2014 | 03.30

On Sunrise, Samantha Armytage along with the team talk poles, stripping and what type of shoes to wear.

The segment in question. Source: Supplied

IT STARTED with a cranky blog post and ended with Sunrise host David Koch blowing up about a website's "twisted agenda".

The popular breakfast TV host was fuming on Twitter Wednesday afternoon after Jamila Rizvi, editor-in-chief of women's website Mamamia, published an article that claimed Kochie was "sexist and degrading" for rolling out a stripper pole for co-host Samantha Armytage.

Armytage had joked with her colleagues that her heels were "the choice for pole dancers all over the country".

Then, in a segment for the Sunrise website, Koch wheeled out a pole for Armytage.

Koch was furious when he saw the Mamamia article, which alleged that "he did this on television, in front of rolling cameras. For a show that has four hundred thousand odd viewers a day".

The segment was in fact part of a fashion piece filmed specifically for online, and did not appear on television.

The article - entitled "Dear Kochie. It's not okay to humiliate your colleague on television" - also went on to say that "Samantha Armytage is a journalist. Not eye candy there for the titillation of Kochie, the crew or the viewers."

Koch then exploded on Twitter, saying the article was "just plain offensive" to him and his family and was "demeaning" to Samantha Armytage:

Kochie's message was retweeted by Sunrise colleagues, including his boss Michael Pell. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

A war of words erupted over whether Mamamia's story was inaccurate, whether the story had been changed without declaration, and if Koch's comment (above) had been deleted from the website.

News.com.au spoke to Editor Jamila Rizvi, who refuted claims that Koch's comment had been removed from the site.

Publisher Mia Freedman told news.com.au she was aware of the situation. "Debate is healthy," she said.

Koch tweeted that he was "happy to take criticism when it's fair".

Samantha Armytage made it clear she could speak for herself:


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Aussie animals nobody knows about

The Perentie has a distinct forklike tongue. Picture: Supplied Source: NewsComAu

THESE rarely-recognised Aussie animals are mostly unheard of. Unlike kangaroos, koalas and wombats, these interesting animals remain fairly unknown in their home country.

New research from WILDLIFE Sydney Zoo conducted by Merlin Entertainments Group asked 400 participants to identify a list of lesser known animal species in Australia. The top three creatures least known by participants were the perentie (79% of respondents had not heard of this lizard) and two species of mouse-like marsupials - the rufous bettong and the fat-tailed dunnart (72% did not know of these).

Kylie Hackshall, zoo keeper at WILDLIFE Sydney Zoo, explains that people who live in heavily populated areas rarely have the opportunity to see these animals. "Kangaroos and koalas, as iconic Australian animals, receive all the media attention and it's important that we turn our attention to other rarely seen but extraordinary animals in Australia to help safeguard their existence too," she says.

Here are six Australian animals you can find at WILDLIFE Sydney Zoo that most people don't know about:

1) The perentie

One of Australia's largest lizards found in arid semidesert and desert regions of central and western Australia, it has a forked tongue like a snake which can pick up scents from the air. "It's a pretty fascinating creature," Kylie exaplins. "It is an endurance hunter and can run very fast for long periods of time, unlike any other lizard species. It can be dangerous when threatened and easily bite off a finger ... or three." (pictured above)

2) Rufous bettong

Common on the north east coast of Australia, the rufous bettong carries nesting material on its prehensile tail to make a conical grass nest. "It's known as the rat-kangaroo and they hop like kangaroos too. The Rufous Bettong weighs in at about 3kg, feeds on roots and tubers in the ground, and makes a nest out of leaf litter that it surrounds itself in. Such a secretive nocturnal animal is rarely seen and often overlooked," says Kylie.

Tiny and easy to miss, the rufous bettong hops like a kangaroo. Picture: Supplied Source: NewsComAu

3) Fat-tailed dunnart

This mouse-sized marsupial is widespread across a large part of Australia in a variety of habitats, and can store fat in the base of its tail. "It has a small, shallow pouch similar to its cousin, the Tasmanian devil, and it eats insects. Because it's the size of a mouse it is hard to spot." Kylie laughs. "For such a small animal it has a huge attitude. Often if I get too close it will hiss and bare its teeth to me. I really admire its bravado!"

Small like a mouse, the fat-tailed dunnart. Picture: Suppied Source: NewsComAu

4) Pademelon

This small wallaby found in the coastal forests of Eastern Australia has a relatively short tail and legs to aid its movement through dense vegetation. The name Pademelon is of Aboriginal derivation. "It's the smallest type of macropod, usually found in forest areas of eastern Australia. We have witnessed their amazing ability to pause a pregnancy - an ability that they share with a lot of other macropods. When receiving two new pademelons from another zoo, we were excited to have discovered a newborn bonus joey in a pouch a few weeks after arrival," says Kylie.

The pademelon is a small type of wallaby. Picture: Supplied Source: NewsComAu

5) Spotted-tailed quoll

Nocturnal, sheltering in hollow logs or rock crevices, the quoll is a marsupial found in forests and rainforests on the east coast of Australia, including Tasmania, but habitat loss and competition with introduced predators have contributed to a substantial reduction in its species.

The number of spotted-tailed quoll has unfortunately decreased in Australia. Picture: Supplied Source: NewsComAu

6) Spinifex hopping mouse

Found in central desert areas of Australia, it is characterised by its hopping gait and long brush-tipped tail to maintain balance. It has no need for water as it obtains sufficient water from its diet of seeds, roots and insects.

If there was such a thing as a cute mouse it would be the spinifex hopping mouse. Picture: Supplied Source: NewsComAu


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LIVE: Australian Open quarter-finals

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 21 Januari 2014 | 03.29

The defending champion has struggled for consistency after taking the first set and now trails 6-2 4-6 2-6.

Earlier today, Li Na and Eugenie Bouchard booked a meeting in the semi-finals of the Australian Open.

The Canadian teen sensation upset Ana Ivanovic in three sets and will now play last year's finalist for a spot in this year's decider.

Stay with us for updates throughout the day and let us know what you think.


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Dying boy gets his final wish

Ten-year-old terminal cancer patient Keegan Keppner wants to do one thing before he dies; help the homeless.

KEEGAN Keppner is just 10-years-old and he is terminally ill with cancer, but that hasn't stopped him fulfilling his bucket list.

Keegan, with help from his stepfather, had a dream to feed the homeless in his neighbourhood - and that's what they did.

The young boy helped feed breakfast to homeless protesters who have to move from their current location, MyFoxPhilly.com reports.

Keegan has a terminal form of Glioma, a cancerous tumour that affects his brain and spine.

He said he felt bad for the homeless.

What an inspiration ... Keegan Keppner is dying, but feeds the homeless. Picture: KVAL-TV Source: Supplied

"Meeting the homeless and making them happy," he said.

"I just feel bad for the people becoming homeless and I don't want any more of them to become homeless."

The homeless people thanked him for his kindness.

"Very, very beautiful. Thank you young man," said one.

"Can I have a big hug? 'Thank you, buddy,'" said another.

"You're welcome," Keppner replied, as he gave the man a hug.

"You made some people's day. You made a lot of people's day," said another.


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Who'll surprise at the Grammys?

Written By Unknown on Senin, 20 Januari 2014 | 03.29

Madonna's no stranger to awards show controversy - here she is pashing Britney Spears at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards. What does she have up her sleeve for the Grammys? Picture: Splash Source: Splash News Australia

THE 56th annual Grammy Awards are set to be a star-studded affair this Sunday night.

Daft Punk, Taylor Swift, Imagine Dragons, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis and Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr all confirmed to perform.

Now, rumours are flying that two of the music industry's biggest female performers, Beyonce and Madonna, are set to join the line-up for a pair of top-secret performances.

The Los Angeles Times cites industry sources who say both stars are busy prepping surprise appearances at the Staples Centre ceremony. Longtime Grammys producer Ken Ehrlich refused to confirm or deny the rumours.

"Let's put it this way … we have a really great history that goes back to the early days of Destiny's Child," he said.

"I love working with [Beyonce]. She's incredible. She is so into what it is that she does and making sure that everybody who sees her walks away saying, 'wow.'

"Should she be on the show this year?" he continued. "I would think that the potential is there for that kind of moment."

While sources say Beyonce will take to the stage to perform one of her own hits, Madonna is expected to provide guest vocals for another of the night's performers. Our prediction? Perhaps Madge will join Daft Punk on stage - after all, she's already worked with both of the guests featured on their smash single Get Lucky (Nile Rodgers produced her Like a Virgin album, while Pharrell Williams was at the helm for 2008's Hard Candy).

Could Madonna join French dance duo Daft Punk on stage? Picture: Supplied. Source: News Limited

If Beyonce were to take to the stage, it would be her first televised performance since the surprise release of her self-titled fifth album more than five weeks ago. The album has already sold more than 1.5 million copies in the US, and currently sits atop Australia's ARIA Charts.

For Madonna, a Grammys performance would come after a less successful few weeks, following recent controversies regarding her use of Instagram.

The performance would come only a week after she was forced to apologise for using the N-word on Instagram when referring to her teenage son Rocco.

While Madonna isn't nominated for any awards this year, Beyonce could walk away with one trophy - she and husband Jay Z are nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for their song Part II (On The Run).


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Warmest 100 back to rattle triple j

In the Warmest 100 ... Flume is listed among those Australian artists who are predicted to make the Hottest 100 for triple j. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

MUSIC lovers are abuzz with the news that the Warmest 100 is back trying to predict what's on triple j's Hottest 100 again.

In its second year, the Warmest 100 is attempting to spoil triple j's annual announcement of its Hottest 100.

The Hottest 100 is usually announced on Australia Day and is a countdown of the most popular songs voted by their listeners.

When the Warmest 100 emerged last year, it predicted the countdown based on everyone's social sharing, by collecting 35,000 votes shared on Twitter and Facebook from 3600 entries to create a view of what they thought the list would look like, Gizmodo reports.

Triple j then changed the way voting could be done for the Hottest 100, making the Warmest 100 almost impossible.

Despite this, the Warmest 100's creators Nick Drewe, Tom Knox and David Quach have returned with a list of new predictions of the countdown.

Mr Drewe told News Corp Australia that they were not planning to do the Warmest 100 again, but then they changed their minds using a different method.

"We weren't planning to do the Warmest 100 again this year. It looked like it would be impossible to gather enough publicly shared votes to do another prediction," he said.

"However David Quach, an Australian economist living in Chicago, who helped us out with the Warmest 100 last year contacted me yesterday with an idea to pull off the prediction again this year.

"We used votes shared on pic.twitter.com and Instagram to compile the prediction. Most images were easily readable via OCR (optical character recognition) software, and we tried to manually code as many as we could in the short time we had before voting closed today.

"I managed to pull most of the old crew together, and the result, in just over 24 hours, is the Warmest 100 of 2013.

"We've got votes from around 1,780 users, totalling over 17,000 individual song votes, around a 1.3% sample by my count."

Mr Drewe also emphasised the Warmest 100 has never been about trying to spoil anything.

"In fact, it was our goal in creating the site to make it as hard as possible to see the top 10 songs, which is the reason for the explanation at the top, and all the warnings as you scroll," he said.

"We're all triple j fans and we all enjoy the Hottest 100, so this was important to us from the beginning."

He also described it as "an experiment in social data".

"What is particularly interesting about this years Warmest 100 was that despite triple j removing the social sharing features of the voting system, users who wanted to share their vote found new ways to do so, as we saw, posting screenshots of their vote confirmation email to Instagram," he added.

Social media fans have been discussing the predictions, which have Australian artists Vance Joy and Flume in the top 10.

SPOILER ALERT: SEE THE WARMEST 100 HERE

If you looked at the Warmest 100, tell us what you think of this year's predictions below:


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Aussies romp home to seal series

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 19 Januari 2014 | 03.30

After electing to bat England posted 243, with an outstanding fielding performance putting the Australians on top; with David Warner then putting Australia on track for victory with a quick-fire 71.

Australia's Shaun Marsh and Brad Haddin celebrate victory at the SCG. Picture: Phil Hillyard. Source: News Limited

AUSTRALIA continued its crushing dominance of England to claim the one-day series unhindered in Sydney on Sunday night as the uneasy relationship between the sides melted down.

A second clean sweep is within reach just a fortnight after winning the Test series 5-0, with Australia cruising to a seven wicket victory.

An explosive David Warner (71 in 70 balls), who was man of the match, and steady Shaun Marsh (71 not out from 89 balls) ensured the modest England total of 243 was run down with 10 overs to spare.

CLICK HERE FOR A FULL SCOREBOARD AND ALL THE KEY STATS IN OUR MATCH CENTRE.

Australia has produced a fantastic fielding performance in the third one dayer against the English, with David Warners ridiculous run-out accompanied by an unbelievable catch by Michael Clarke.

Australia now leads the five-match series 3-0 with matches remaining in Perth and Adelaide before three Twenty20 matches.

On current indications Australia could win the summer 13-0.

England's limp finish was a stark contrast to the confrontation earlier, when both umpires were forced to come between remonstrating Australian fieldsmen and belligerent batsmen Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler.

The Australians were celebrating a low, diving caught and bowled by Dan Christian off Morgan, England's top scorer, when the Irishman refused to walk.

As umpires Simon Fry from Australia and Ranmore Martinesz from Sri Lanka waited for video umpire Kumar Dharmasena to check the catch, the batsmen and fieldsmen confronted each other on the edge of the pitch.

Captain Michael Clarke was particularly animated with Morgan and then Buttler, pointing to Christian and then Morgan.

When the umpires saw what was going on they stepped between the batsmen and fieldsmen, with a second replay confirming that a sliding Christian had indeed managed to get his figures under the ball.

Michael Clarke, Eoin Morgan and Jos Butler had a fiery exchange following Morgan's uncertainty that he had been cleanly caught by Dan Christian.

Morgan was booed off by the near capacity crowd of 37,823 while Buttler and Clarke continued their animated conversation, which appeared to have an amicable end.

It was the third ugly clash of the tour, with England batsmen and Australian fieldsmen confronting each other towards the end of the first and second Tests in Brisbane and Adelaide.

Clarke was fined 20 percent of his match fee, about $3000, after the Brisbane Test when an inadvertently open stump mike picked him telling England's serial sledger Jimmy Anderson to "get ready for a broken f**king arm."

One of the fresh faces in England's squad for the limited overs series after avoiding the indignity of theTest whitewash, Morgan went for 54 from 58 balls with four 4s and two 6s, his third score of at least 50 in the series.

Christian's catch from a leading edge was another example of brilliant Australian fielding which halted England's early momentum after a run a ball opening partnership.

Ian Bell fell for 29 to one of the most brilliant pieces of fielding all summer when he played a ball through point and came back for a second run.

Half way to the boundary and with one stump to aim at a bullet throw from David Warner scored a direct hit that left Bell a metre short of his ground.

The catch of the night was taken by Clarke, diving to his right at square leg to pluck a one-handed screamer from a full blooded sweep off the promoted Ben Stokes (15 in 39 balls).

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Australia's surprising Grammys hope

Hiatus Kaiyote (L - R) ... Paul Bender, Perrin Moss, Nai Palm and Simon Mavin. Source: News Limited

Hiatus Kaiyote are the little band that can, joining internationally acclaimed Australasian artists including Lorde and Tame Impala to contest the Grammy Awards next week.

The independent Melbourne act is a shock inclusion in the Best R'n'B Performance category which was dominated by Ray Charles, James Brown and Aretha Franklin before it was discontinued in 1969.

Great albums went unnoticed

No hiatus for Melbourne band

It was resurrected in 2012, won by British songstress Corinne Bailey Rae and then by Usher last year.

The band toured throughout America and Europe last year, winning fans and critics with their genre-defying future soul.

Frontwoman Nai Palm's liquid vocals and the band's virtuosity on their debut record Tawk Tomahawk also impressed artists including Questlove, Erykah Badu, Q-Tip (who guests on the American version of the track Nakamarra) and Prince.

Palm said her most prized email came from the legendary musician who has invited the band to perform at his iconic Paisley Park creative hub.

"How crazy is that, right? He's a very unpredictable character so maybe we will get picked up at 3am and taken in a purple van to his lair," she joked.

Now in Los Angeles to prepare for the Grammys, the band have come a long way for an independent act who formed only three years ago.

The frontwoman said it was bizarre for an Australian band to crack a nomination in a category which has dominated by African American artists.

"It is mind-blowing to be so welcomed by people over there who have pioneered this style of music," she said.

"I think as long as you are sincere with the music you make, people accept it for what it is.

"I may be Australian and white but from birth I was brought up on Stevie Wonder and Aretha and Otis Redding and they are ingrained in my creativity."

Hiatus Kaiyote join an eclectic field of Grammy nominees from Australia and New Zealand with Lorde, Tame Impala, Keith Urban, the Greencards, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, and The Great Gatsby composer Craig Armstrong.

The awards will be announced next Monday.

###


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Live: England close in on victory

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 17 Januari 2014 | 03.30

Eoin Morgan has smashed a super century to help England reach 8/296 in the second one-day clash against Australia, at the Gabba.

James Faulkner in action for Australia. Source: Getty Images

JAMES Faulkner smashed three boundaries in the final over to lead Australia to a thrilling win over England at the Gabba.

Australia required 25 runs off the final two overs, with just one wicket in hand, and Faulkner somehow delivered a miracle win.

He smashed two sixes in the penultimate over before taking a single off the final ball.

That ensured he was on strike for the first ball of the final over, bowled by Tim Bresnan, with 12 runs required.

Faulkner wasted no time in reeling in the total, smashing the first ball to the fence and doing the same to the next two to guide Australia to a miracle victory.

RELIVE ALL THE ACTION IN OUR MATCH CENTRE.

Earlier, Eoin Morgan showed a mental sharpness his England teammates have lacked and made Australian skipper Michael Clarke feel like a goose in the one-dayer at the Gabba.

Clarke had a rare blotch on his impressive captaincy resume when he mucked up his field to give batting dangerman Morgan an early life in bizarre scenes.

Irishman Morgan took full advantage and became just the second 'Pom' on tour, after Kiwi-born Ben Stokes in the Perth Test, to make a century as he belted 106 (99 balls) in England's terrific total of 8-300.

It was an imposing total, put in context by the fact England never managed to score more in any first innings of an Ashes Test this summer.

Another big England bonus came when they kept Ashes hero Mitchell Johnson (1-59) quiet and created some mayhem off the bowling of Australian up-and-comer James Faulkner (2-73).

Clarke's blunder came when Morgan had made just two and the batsman used some clever thinking.

A rare misjudgement in Michael Clarke's captaincy has handed Eoin Morgan a reprieve after the English batsman was caught while an extra Australian fielder was outside the circle.

Noticing that Clarke had one too many fielders positioned outside the fielding circle off his own bowling, Morgan went for a premeditated wild swipe and tried to clear the deep mid-wicket fence.

He was caught on the boundary but immediately motioned to the umpires that there were too many Australian fielders outside of the circle.

Video replays proved him right and the umpires called a no-ball.

Morgan went on to bash a cascade of big hits, including successive huge sixes off Faulkner which went many rows back.

He jumped for joy when he hit an innovative high ramp shot for four over the keeper's head off Nathan Coulter-Nile to bring up his century off 94 balls.

England batsman Eoin Morgan celebrates reaching his century against Australia at the Gabba. Source: AFP

Australia became ragged late in England's innings with Coulter-Nile dropping a regulation highball of Jos Buttler who made 45 off 36 balls.

There was controversy with the match referee forced to intervene after the innings to add four more runs to England's total.

It came because of an incident when a Buttler big hit looking to be clearing the boundary until Shaun Marsh stepped over the rope and jumped back and pushed the ball back in.

Ground umpires said it wasn't a six and initially only gave two runs, although Marsh launched himself from outside the field of play and was in the air when he touched the ball to force it back into play.

Marsh's final contact was out of play, so the match referee later ruled it was a six and added four runs to England's initial total.

Earlier, Clarke did his best to make amends for his captaincy blemish by flinging down the stumps to brilliantly run-out Ian Bell for 68, with the batsman's bat bouncing off the pitch before he grounded it.

At the start of the England innings, returning fast bowler Johnson went without a wicket in his opening spell.

Bedraggled England captain Alistair Cook made 22, his highest score since the Boxing Day Test, but was dismissed after he had done all the hard work seeing off Johnson.

Ian Bell leaves the field after being run out by Michael Clarke. Picture: Peter Wallis Source: News Limited

Showing that he can find almost any way to get out in his summer of discontent, Cook drove at an innocuous half-volley off the second ball from spinner Glenn Maxwell.

Cook only succeeded in hitting it straight back to the bowler and the head of the England captain drooped almost to hit bootlaces as he traipsed off the ground.

Johnson was reintroduced immediately when horribly out of form youngster Joe Root came to the crease. And Johnson struck almost straight away, thundering a late inswinger into Root's pads.

After what seemed like an eternity, umpire Kumar Dharmasena jabbed his finger in the air as Johnson punched the air in delight.

Root then launched a video review, only to have egg on his face when the third umpire review showed the ball struck in line and would have knocked down the stumps.

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LIVE: Stosur loses to Ivanovic

SAMANTHA Stosur is out of this year's Australian Open, losing in three sets to Serbia's Ana Ivanovic, 6-7 6-4 6-2.

Earlier, Casey Dellacqua won through to the fourth round for the second time.

She'll now face Canadian Eugenie Bouchard in the fourth round.

Stay with us throughout the day for live updates and have your say on what's happening.


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Bernie, here's how to fix your life

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 14 Januari 2014 | 18.51

That's Ewan on the left, and Bernard on the right. Source: AAP

THIS is what Bernard Tomic needs to hear. It's an open letter from former pro golfer Ewan Porter.

Ewan who?

Porter is a 31-year-old Aussie who won two tournaments as a golf pro, one in America and one in Australia. These days he is an author, as well as a TV commentator and presenter.

Porter has few regrets about his career. He's in a happier spot nowadays than when he chased glory on the fairways and greens.

Having said that, Porter knows he could have extracted more wins from his career if he'd done things differently. He sees a lot of his younger self in Bernard Tomic.

That's why these words should be printed on young Bernie's ceiling...

DEAR BERNARD,

We have never met, but watching you play tennis is like looking at my reflection.

Having played professional sport (golf) for over a decade and recorded victories in Australia and the United States, I was often branded with the tag "talented", but more often than not people would refer to me as a "loose cannon".

With the benefit of hindsight and wisdom, I now understand that I failed to fulfil my potential due to a lack of passion for my craft, and I'm hoping your journey can avoid the same roadblocks I encountered.

Like most Australians, I want to see you succeed and attain the lofty heights we all know you're capable of. But unlike most, who'd rather chastise you, I'd like to take a look at why you're digging yourself an unnecessary hole.

You are a precocious talent. Throughout your professional career, there have been moments which captured us and begged the public to embrace you. You became the youngest male to reach the Wimbledon Semi-Finals since Boris Becker in 1986. You have held aloft an official ATP trophy and been ranked as high as 27th in the world.

These are all tremendous achievements, especially since they came before your 21st birthday, and I hope you're extremely proud of them.

But for all the fleeting moments of brilliance when you dare to become a fan favourite, there seems to be a controversy waiting to rear its ugly head. The majority of people immediately jump on your back, and there are times when this is warranted.

I see in you increasing evidence of a difficult, somewhat restricted growing up process, and of outside pressures inflicting serious wounds. To put it in a nutshell, the demanding regime of your teenage years unquestionably prevented you from experiencing a normal childhood.

I now look at a 21-year-old Bernard Tomic struggling to see the big picture in his tennis career. The youthful exuberance and energy of a sport you have lived and breathed has been sapped, and this begs the obvious question - do you enjoy what you do for a living?

Remember this guy? He knows a thing or two about tennis-ing. Source: AFP

PLAN AHEAD

I recently watched a very inspiring documentary featuring Andre Agassi, no doubt an idol of yours Bernie, and he made the bold statement that he would never encourage his kids to pursue professional sports as a career because you spend one third of your life not preparing for two thirds of your life.

The majority of professional sportspeople, including yours truly, reach an age at which they either burn out or retire, and are left pondering what to do with the rest of their lives.

From an outsider's perspective, your life seems pretty awesome - fast cars, bases in a ritzy part of the Gold Coast as well as the in mesmerising beauty of Monaco, glamorous women by your side (or on your lap) and millions of dollars earned in prize money and endorsements.

But like it or not, you are going to reach a point in a few years (this could be sooner, rather than later) when you question what's in store for the rest of your life. Without proper guidance and a strong support system, the unfortunate reality is that you risk depression. Urgent steps need to be taken to ensure this doesn't happen.

Bernie takes part in a hard training session. Source: Supplied

DITCH YOUR DAD (FROM YOUR ENTOURAGE)

The first step to your resurrection, as we are all aware, is to remove the intimidating presence of your father, John, from the Tomic circle. This must be a difficult thing for a young man to deal with, as John's assistance, guidance and too often dominance are all you have ever known.

You probably feel that without him, you will struggle to achieve your goals. But this is only because you've never known anything different.

Hey John. Nice to see a friendly face. Source: Getty Images

PICK A ROLE MODEL

There are so many people out there who want to see Bernard Tomic succeed, but for that to occur, you must find what brings you inner peace and most importantly, happiness. Life on the road is often hard and very monotonous, which is why it's so important to use the resources of a mentor who can steer you in the right direction.

Look at your compatriot Lleyton Hewitt. By the age of 21, he captured a US Open and Wimbledon title. He had less natural talent than you, but he also had the tenacious heart of a lion.

I believe the most admirable thing about Mr Hewitt, throughout all of his struggles with injury and self-doubt, has been the support of his loving family and his appreciation for what he does for a living. The close-knit group of people around him has helped to breathe new life into an ageing body, and I'm sure we'll see him back in the top 20 where he belongs.

Try putting a cap on backwards Bernard. It might help. Source: AFP

ENJOY YOURSELF

Bernie, you belong in the top 10, but in professional sport natural talent only takes you so far. Of course, there's dedication and the mental side of sport, both of which play a major role, but I sincerely believe your destiny will be dictated by how much you enjoy not just the sport of tennis, but life itself.

Your regular withdrawals and alleged instances of "tanking" don't scream "un-Australian" to me, they scream that the happiness is missing. Whatever walk of life you're in, it's a pretty hollow feeling if this missing ingredient can't be found.

That's more like it. Source: AP

You can read more interesting insights from Ewan Porter in his excellent book Tour Confidential: A Golfer's Life on the Global Stage .

And you can follow Ewan on Twitter here

###


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Naked and afraid: TV's most 'insane' show

This cheeky promo for Naked and Afraid season finale.

Australian Ky Furneaux and fellow Naked and Afraid contestant Billy Berger both suitably blurred. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

Furneaux was forced to create clothes out of leaves and available materials. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

IT IS widely described as the most "insane" show on television.

Contestants on the Discovery Channel's Naked and Afraid are thrown nude into the jungle with a member of the opposite sex for 21 days.

They get nothing from producers. No food. No water. No help. Definitely no clothes. All competitors can bring is a personal item of their choice and the desperate need to survive.

And we mean desperate.

One contestant was left so hungry she used her, ahem, ladyparts, to catch fish between her legs in a swamp.

"We were very hungry and needed fish for our survival," the imaginative Kellie Nightlinger, 38, explained to the New York Daily News.

"We needed something with protein and because the water was so muddy, traditional fishing methods wouldn't work, so I had to improvise, adapt and overcome."

A stint on the show is the ultimate experience for a survivalist - someone who challenges themselves by testing their ability to live in the wild.

Most contestants, including Australian stuntwoman Ky Furneaux, do it without having to fish with their genitalia.

But as Furneaux told news.com.au, they experience incredible ordeals.

Into the wild

The contestants trawl through the swamps. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

During her time in the Louisiana wetlands, Furneaux developed infected holes in her feet.

Yes, holes. She still has big, knotted scars, seven months after filming. She got trench foot too. That didn't help.

"There were thorns under the water that stuck into our feet," she said. "The holes from that then got infected and didn't heal because they were submerged in wet dirty water for 21 days."

They were the least of her concerns at the time, given she was living, naked, in a place infested with alligators and brimming with poison ivy and venomous cottonmouth snakes.

"To be waist deep in that water and see this massive (alligator) head just surface ... It was like, all right, wow, time to move quietly."

Some of the nasty denizens of the Louisiana swampland. Picture: ThinkStock Source: ThinkStock

It was bitterly cold. She and fellow contestant Billy Berger had to drink boiled swamp water, usually from the patch they urinated in. They were starved for days on end, snacking on the occasional mouthful of snake meat. Just once were they lucky enough to eat a nutria, a large, stout-bodied rodent, and their shelter and fire was wiped out at least four times and had to be started from scratch.

And then we haven't even gotten to the awkwardness of hanging out with a member of the opposite sex with your genitalia exposed, or having your bottom broadcast to 3.6 million Americans.

Furneaux said she had to keep calm and pretend she wasn't naked - and it's not like there was sexual tension, she added. "It's the most unsexy experience you could ever put yourself in. You are slowly dying. Sometimes you're quite rapidly dying. All you're thinking about is where you're going to get your next mouthful of water from, and how not to freeze."

Too unreal to be real?

Bear Grylls was accused of misleading viewers of his Channel 4 show, Born Survivor, in 2008. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

Not everyone's sold on the show. Outback survival specialist Bob Cooper reckons it's too unreal to be real.

He points out that when you're stranded in the bush, you don't have a medical team on call if you do get seriously stuck.

In fact, he said, one of the biggest misconceptions of people stranded in the outback is that help is just around the corner.

"It's disgusting. It's ridiculous," said Cooper, who learned how to live off the land from traditional owners. "It's exploiting people as well. It's just entertainment. It's not realistic at all. It's awful."

But it all felt very real to Furneaux.

Some people are jaded about reality TV shows because they are often proven to be scripted, she said. In 2008, a program consultant famously revealed that scenes of an "abandoned" Bear Grylls in adventure show Man Vs Wild were staged.

Grylls slept at a motel that night.

Naked and Afraid was nothing like that, Furneaux said. "There was no one there doing my hair and make up," she said.

The crew filmed and monitored them, but otherwise they were on their own. It was an experience of a lifetime, according to Furneaux, where she pushed herself to her endpoint and then kept going.

"I lived through it. I know what it was," said Furneaux, who is next month releasing the book Girl's Own Survival Guide: How To Deal With The Unexpected. "I know what I achieved.

"There is nothing like this challenge," she said.

This reporter: Daniel.Piotrowski@news.com.au

Continue the conversation on Twitter: @drpiotrowski | @kyfurneaux | @newscomauHQ


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