Viral England fan danced to Sweet Caroline after Lionesses' win says England can win
A young England fan who captured the hearts of the nation with her joyful celebration is hoping to roar the Lionesses on to Euros success in the final on Wembley.
Tess Dolan, eight, warmed the hearts of millions of TV viewers when cameras caught her singing and dancing to victory anthem Sweet Caroline after England smashed Sweden 4-0 at Bramhall Lane.
Now the footy-mad youngster hopes to be at Wembley on Sunday when Sarina Wiegman's side take on the winners of France vs Germany.
And while she insists she 'can't predict the future', Tess said: "I have a lot of faith in them to win. I feel like they have a big chance of beating either of them.
"We haven't got tickets but I would love to go."
Tess, of Knaresborough, North Yorks., was among the 28,000 frenzied fans inside Bramhall Lane to cheer England to victory on Tuesday night.
But despite a dominant performance on the pitch - including a cheeky 68th-minute back-heel by her favourite player Alessio Russo - Tess was the real star of the show.
As England gaffer Wiegman conducted her post-match interview with a tv reporter, cameras panned to the crowd and showed Tess's now-iconic dance moves.
Within minutes, her mum Sam Dolan's phone was 'going mental' from pals who had seen the clip on tv and across social media, where it quickly went viral.
Such was the popularity of the clip, she appeared on breakfast tv this morning (Wed) where she was interviewed by England and Arsenal legend Ian Wright.
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RMT Union forms picket outside Birmingham New Street station
Industrial action by more than 40,000 railway workers, who are part of the RMT union, will see nearly all rail services cancelled on Wednesday.
This footage was recorded on the 27th of July 2022.
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These are the top security red flags when creating an online account
The average American thinks they can hack their significant other’s devices in just five attempts – according to new research.
A new study asked 2,000 Americans about their password habits and found respondents think they could guess their significant other’s password after five attempts.
Respondents shared they have four “go-to” passwords themselves – with 31% saying these passwords are just different variations of the same password, with these respondents just adding on additional punctuation or numbers.
Even so, 79% have six or less go-to passwords.
Although respondents think they could guess their significant other’s password in five attempts – they don’t have as much patience for their own. It only takes three failed password attempts before respondents abandon trying to log in to an account at all.
Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Prove, the survey found this password abandonment might be due to sheer frustration that comes along with signing up to use a service – as 18% of respondents said they “always” get frustrated when they have to create a new account (for retail, banking and healthcare among others).
On top of that, another 65% either “often” or “sometimes” feel frustrated by the process.
On average, respondents believe it should take about 33 seconds to create a new account online, but almost half (45%) will cap it at 30 seconds or less.
A further 76% said they’ll only make an account if it’s something they’re going to use more than once.
The average respondent has six online accounts they’ve never even used because they didn’t need to use it again (46%), they lost interest in the service (43%) or they forgot their password (39%).
“The internet wasn't built with security in mind and so as consumers, we all experience how tedious passwords and two-factor security can be. Screw up your password entry a few times, and now you are locked out and spending 20 minutes with a call center agent to fix things. It's just a broken model held together with duct tape,” said Rodger Desai, CEO & Founder of Prove. “Businesses that modernize their digital channels by removing the friction caused by antiquated security, will take all the market share. Consumers flock to businesses that respect their time and keep them secure without hassle. In our view, the winners in the digital economy will be those that kill the password.”
More than one in five (22%) have been the victim of identity fraud and another 36% know someone who has.
Respondents identified the top security red flags that come to mind when they’re making a new account online – with asking too many personal questions topping the list (48%).
Other security red flags include the lack of a follow-up email confirming the creation of the account (43%), a weak data privacy policy (39%) and lack of security questions (39%).
Three-quarters of respondents avoid saving their banking or credit card information on online accounts and profiles.
Just over seven in 10 respondents (72%) agreed that having a simpler sign-in process with facial recognition is more convenient and user-friendly than creating new profiles and passwords.
Three-quarters also agree biometric authentication is more secure overall than a traditional password and 64% agreed authentication through their phone is more convenient.
“As we have all seen, the security that online businesses use is overly tedious and yet, not very secure,” said Desai. “The bottom line for consumers? Complicated doesn’t mean secure. The solution is actually sitting in the pocket of most adults – their cell phone. Your phone is by far the most secure, accurate and frictionless way to prove identity – and our survey demonstrates that consumers would prefer the convenience of the phone in their pocket.”
TOP SECURITY RED FLAGS WHEN MAKING AN ONLINE ACCOUNT
Too many personal questions (bank info, address, etc.) – 48%
No follow-up email after creating the account – 43%
A weak/lack of data privacy policy – 39%
No security questions – 36%
A weak password is accepted – 36%
No two-step authentication process – 36%
IMPORTANT FACTORS WHEN MAKING A NEW ONLINE ACCOUNT
Positive customer experience - 48%
Ability to open and use account from mobile device - 44%
Safety of my data - 41%
Biometric authentication (finger print, facial scan, etc.) - 41%
Two factor authentication - 39%
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Fifty-one percent of respondents said they’re actively taking action to help create social change
Two-thirds of Americans don’t believe they’ll see positive social change during their lifetime, according to new research.
The survey of 2,000 general population Americans revealed that 67% are not optimistic about seeing changes occur, but they still want to leave a better world for the next generation.
When asked which social issues they currently find to be the most important, health care (43%) topped the list, followed closely by gun violence (41%).
Rounding out the top five were racial injustice and domestic violence (tied for third, at 39%) and poverty and homelessness (38%). It’s worth noting that the top five issues respondents identified are all within 5% of each other, showing that many of these challenging issues are viewed with an almost equal level of importance.
These issues can fluctuate, too: 64% said current events, and those shown on the news, can change which issues they find to be the most important.
Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Avocado Green Mattress, the survey coincided with the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade — and 66% said reproductive rights are currently a higher priority for them.
That’s not the only current event affecting which issues people find the most important: 59% said gun violence is a higher priority for them because of recent shootings, while 43% said they’re paying more attention to LGBTQ+ rights because June was Pride Month — this may also be due to legislative changes at the state level.
The survey not only asked which social issues respondents find most important, but it also looked at the actions they’re taking to help affect change.
Over half (57%) do believe their actions can truly affect social change, and 73% said that when it comes to creating change, small actions are just as important as big actions.
“These issues are big and daunting, with no easy solutions,” said Mark Abrials, Avocado Green Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer. “But we also know that our collective individual, small actions can add up to a really big positive impact.”
Fifty-one percent of respondents said they’re actively taking action to help create social change — while another 25% would like to.
When asked what actions they’re taking, 45% are boycotting brands or companies who donate to groups and/or support legislation they disagree with.
The same number (45%) are ensuring when they vote, the candidates they support are people who align with their ideals, while others (43%) are standing up for social issues they believe in by calling out loved ones when they say things respondents disagree with.
Respondents are also taking action by voting and by educating themselves on these issues (tied at 42%).
Even then, 72% believe that to create real social change, we need more than just individuals involved in the process — those respondents believe we also need involvement from the federal government (58%), local governments (57%) and local action groups (55%).
“We know what’s on the line, and that we all must do our part,” said Abrials. “That’s why we believe our business should be a force for good. We want people to care and get involved by becoming educated on issues, challenging misconceptions, supporting brands that champion their values, and, above all, by voting and calling their elected officials.”
WHICH SOCIAL ISSUES DO RESPONDENTS FIND TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT?
Health care — 43%
Gun violence — 41%
Racial injustice — 39% (tied)
Domestic violence — 39% (tied)
Poverty and homelessness — 38%
Voting rights — 38%
Civil rights — 38%
Reproductive rights (abortion, birth control, etc.) — 37%
Climate change — 37%
Immigration — 36%
Gender inequality — 35%
Wealth inequality — 35%
LGBTQ+ rights — 33%
TOP 10 ACTIONS RESPONDENTS ARE TAKING TO HELP AFFECT SOCIAL CHANGE
Boycotting brands/companies who donate to groups and/or support legislation they disagree with — 45%
Ensuring the candidates they vote for are aligned with their ideals — 45%
Calling out loved ones when they say things respondents disagree with (ex. homophobic friends) — 43%
Voting — 42% (tied)
Educating themselves on these issues — 42% (tied)
Using social media to discuss issues — 39%
Donating money — 38%
Signing petitions — 38%
Attending rallies and/or protests — 36%
Volunteering with affected groups — 35%
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UK doctor left baffled after filming two bizarre UFOs floating above his home
A doctor believes he has captured a UFO on camera after spotting two mysterious balls of light floating in the skies above his home.
Dr Mohamed Salama, 34, couldn't believe his eyes when he noticed the pair of strange bright circles over Harborne, Birmingham on Sunday night (24/7).
Amazing mobile phone footage shows the orbs moving apart before one of them quickly rotates and appears to shoot off at high speed.
Dr Salama, who says he did not believe in UFOs until the sighting, now reckons he may have captured an extraterrestrial visitor from outer space.
The married dad-of-two says the lights could not have been a plane, star, drone or laser because of the pace they moved at and the way they changed direction.
Dr Salama filmed the 38-second footage on his Samsung at around 10.30pm from outside his city suburb home while he took out his bins ready for collection.
He said: "I had just been taking the bins out as I normally do ready for the following morning when something just caught my eye flashing in the night sky.
"I do photography so I often look up to see if there's anything interesting there but I'm usually just looking for the moon or stars.
"So I was shocked to see these two balls of light flying very quickly in different directions. I have never seen anything like it before.
"I don't think it was a plane, drone, laser or star because of how fast it moved and the way it manoeuvred in different directions.
"It was high above the clouds and seemed to shoot to the horizon in a matter of seconds. It was rather incredible really.
"At first it was just rotating and wasn't going in a straight line so I thought that was unusual and got my Samsung mobile phone out to begin recording.
"The brightness of them was quite remarkable too and that was something else which made me think this could be a UFO.
"I have never believed in them until now. It was such a strange experience and I really think this could be a UFO.
"It was truly bizarre and left me pretty baffled being a man from a science background."
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New York mum's hilarious reaction as she fawns over Love Island's Davide
A mother has gone viral after she was filmed reacting to Love Island as she fawned over Italian hunk Davide.
Office assistant Sandy Santana rattles off a chorus of 'oh my gods' while shaking her head in awe at the selection of specimens in the Love Island Villa.
Sandy, reacting to Davide Sanclimenti doing a challenge on the show, is heard calling him her "loveboy", adding she would couple up with him if she were in the Villa.
The video, filmed by her daughter Ariana Santana, then shws Sandy drooling over rugby player contestant Jacques O'Neill.
Sandy, from the Bronx, New York, is impressed, but not as much compared to Davide.
She said: "He's kinda cute, he can be second place!"
As she continues watching, Sandy asks questions about the show, then ponders why there isn't a version of the programme for people her age.
She said: "Why don't they have any for my age? That's not fair. It's only for you young people.
"How come I'm stuck with all the old bums hanging around?"
Daughter Ariana said: "I showed my mom an episode of this season's Love Island to get her opinion.
"Upon seeing Davide for the first time, my mom's jaw was on the ground.
"She could not believe how attractive he, and some of the contestants, were.
"She continues to express her interest in the show, asked questions about the format and the villa, and shared how envious she is that she didn't have anything like this growing up.
"She's single, so she joked about a desire for a 60+ Villa - that she would gladly enter!"
Ariana once lived in the UK, where she discovered Love Island, and has now introduced it to her mother.
She said: "It immediately became my favorite show. I've seen every season.
"I even got a VPN one year to watch live - addicted much?
"Upon moving back to New York, I introduced my close friends and family to it and they too are now fans.
"My mom thinks the show is hysterical and wants very much to live in the Villa."
Ariana confirmed that mother Sandy is rooting for Davide, and Ekin-Su, to win this year's competition.
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Ukrainian man performs at Coldplay gig after being approached by Chris Martin while busking
A Ukrainian man performed at a sold-out Coldplay gig in Poland after being approached by frontman Chris Martin while busking on the streets of Warsaw.
Romario Punch, 26, was busking near the Vistula River in central Warsaw, when he was approached by the Coldplay singer.
Romario sported a Ukrainian flag when Chris Martin approached him and invited him to perform at their show at the PGE Narodowy stadium the following day.
He revealed that the star introduced himself, complimented Romario's voice and asked if he'd like to join them at their sold-out show.
Romario travelled to the stadium with his wife, 26-year-old fashion designer Olexandra Amelchenko, the following day.
The pair were met outside the arena by the group's tour manager, who gave them VIP passes, and took them to their very own dressing room.
Romario ended up performing four songs before Coldplay and was called on stage at the end of the show to sing one last song with the Grammy-winning band.
The pair performed Ukrainian song called 'Obijmy' (translating to 'hug me') as a Ukrainian flag hung from Romario's microphone.
Romario described the once-in-a-lifetime experience as ‘awesome’ and thanked the Coldplay team for making him feel so welcome.
He said: “I didn’t have to pay a thing for the travel or even for the tickets.
“I sang four songs by myself on the main stage before Coldplay played, which was incredible.
“Then Chris Martin brought me onstage at the end to sing one last song with him and the rest of Coldplay. In total, I was on stage for about 20-25 mins.
“I’m a professional but that was unlike anything I’d ever done before.
“It was also incredible to see the huge organisation that goes into making one show. It was just amazing.”
Romario fled his hometown of Chernihiv, Ukraine, at the start of this year and has settled in the Polish capital with his wife Olexandra.
The professional performer has been singing since the age of four and is hoping to begin a music course at a university in Warsaw.
Romario hopes that he can inspire people to keep aiming high and expecting the unexpected.
He said: “I want people to look at me and understand that everything is possible.
“I don't even think that you need to want it - I had no idea Coldplay were even in my city!
“You have to just be yourself and do what you like.”
Chris Martin approached Romario on July 7 and he played the gig the following day.
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Rugby player taking part in beer slide challenge crashes into table and sends pints flying
A rugby playertaking part in beer slide challenge had an epic fail and crashed - sending all the pints flying.
The video shows the player from Blaina RFC in Wales smashing into a table full of lager after arriving on his belly.
The challenge has been popular among amateur clubs in Wales and sees players downing booze after using a water slide mat.
But one player smashed into the table - spilling all his team mates' beer.
Luke Rees, 25, captain of Blaina said: “Everyone just went nuts, they didn’t know whether to be angry or to burst out laughing, he took a bit of roasting for it.
''t brought everyone together a bit more, it was a special moment that meant we left Saturday in arms together.
“A big part of being a rugby club in South Wales is having fun and making real connections, that was our aim for Saturday, just to bring the old and new players together. This definitely brought us closer.
“To be completely honest, it came from the back of another rugby club doing it and us seeing the video online, thinking it would be fun to try.''
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Man gets Tesco Clubcard tattooed on his arm to stop him forgetting it
A scaffolder had his Tesco Clubcard permanently tattooed onto his arm - because he kept forgetting to take it with him when he visited the supermarket.
Dad-of-seven Dean Mayhew, 30, said he thought about the tattoo for several months before deciding to go under the needle.
He said despite shopping in Tesco up to three times a day, he regularly found himself having to pay more because he forgot his loyalty card.
So he got the QR code for his card tattooed on his right forearm - and it works perfectly under the scanner at the till.
Now, he collects Clubcard points and gets discounts on groceries every time he shops – as he literally can’t forget to bring it with him.
Dean said: “People just say that it’s typical me – sometimes I’m not the cleverest of guys but they’ve said that for me, it’s pretty genius.
“I’ve got seven kids and I’m in there all the time - probably three times a day I’d say.
“I’ve been thinking of getting [the tattoo] for the last three to four months. Every time I go in there they ask if I’ve got my Clubcard but it’s always at home or I’ve lost it."
Dean, from Horsham, Sussex, spent half an hour getting the tattoo earlier this month (16/07) at A Star Tattoo in Chessington, Surrey.
He and his tattoo artist - Dan Rossetter, 39 - then visited the local Tesco Express to find out if it worked.
“I tried the self-checkout but it was quite awkward to use because I wasn’t doing it right so I said 'let me go to the guy on the till' – I went up there and it worked,” said Dean.
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Tunnelling machine is digging underneath ancient woodland as the HS2 rail project goes ahead
Fascinating footage shows a huge tunnelling machine called Dorothy digging underneath ancient woodland as the HS2 rail project goes full-speed ahead.
Dorothy, the 125-metre-long boring machine weighing 2,000 tons, is drilling under the countryside in Europe's biggest ever infrastructure project.
Ten borers - named after Britain's most celebrated scientists and engineers - will dig 64 miles of tunnel for the project, linking London to the Midlands.
Dorothy is named after Dorothy Hodgkin, who in 1964 became the first British woman to win the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
The huge Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) completed its one-mile dig under Long Itchington Wood in Warwickshire.
It started its journey at the tunnel’s North Portal last December and footage shows the moment it broke through the wall of the reception box at the South Portal last Friday (22/7).
The tunnelling team have been working around the clock in shifts for seven months to operate the TBM, which has put 790 concrete rings in place to support the structure.
This video was filmed on the 26th of July 2022.
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Younger Americans most likely to feel concerned about their safety on a daily basis
Over half of Americans feel like they’re in imminent danger at least once a day, according to new research.
A new poll of 2,000 nationally representative Americans analyzed how they feel about their personal safety and found 52% are feeling on edge every day.
Younger Americans were the most likely to feel concerned about their safety on a daily basis – with 75% of those aged 25-34 agreeing with this statement compared to just 50% of those aged 45-54.
Where do Americans feel the most on edge? Dark streets and sidewalks trigger their anxiety the most, followed by neighborhoods they aren’t too familiar with.
Next in line were parking garages and riding alone in a rideshare or Taxi. Speaking of rideshare services, they are completely avoided by 39% of respondents because they don’t feel safe during them. This jumps to 50% for those aged 25-34.
Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Arlo, the survey asked respondents what tips and tricks they use to make themselves feel safer and found 56% share their location with someone “just in case.”
Gen Z and millennial respondents were the most likely to use this tactic, with 62% of those aged 18-24 and 65% of those aged 25-34.
Respondents shared the top things they’ll have on their person for safety and peace of mind were pepper spray (40%) and utilizing a personal safety app on their phone (40%). A third of respondents also shared they have an alert button or device as well as a self-defense keychain.
The top safety measure Americans take when they meet someone new is linking up in a public place (58%), followed by sharing their location with someone (43%). In fact, the average respondent shares their location when meeting someone new three times a month.
Those aged 25-34 are the most cautious when it comes to this – sharing they do this an average of five times a month.
“Communicating your whereabouts with a trusted contact is a simple tactic to enable a greater sense of security,” said Lily Knowles, SVP of Marketing and Customer Care for Arlo. “The survey results illuminate an uneasy population, further underscoring the need to prioritize personal safety – both on-the-go and at home.”
The survey also asked respondents about their safety in the comfort of their own homes and found 42% don’t feel safe when they’re home alone. Forty-five percent said they avoid living on the ground or first floors of apartment buildings out of fear of home invasions.
To combat this, 46% of respondents have a home security system – and younger respondents were the most likely to have a system. Sixty percent of those aged 25-34 have a home security system, followed by 57% of those aged 35-44 and 55% of those aged 18-24.
That being said, a home security system was the top safety measure Americans take in their homes, followed by getting a dog and installing cameras and motion lights.
“Feeling safe is a fundamental need we all share, and the good news is that there’s many precautionary measures people have nowadays to take charge of their personal safety and security of their home and loved ones,” said Knowles. “From installing smart security systems and cameras at home, to using a personal safety app for direct access to emergency help on-the-go, there’s a range of advanced technologies that leverage AI or live support to not only bring peace of mind, but provide essential assistance when its needed most.”
TOP PLACES AMERICANS FEEL UNSAFE
Dark streets/sidewalks (walking or driving) (57%)
Neighborhoods I am unfamiliar with (53%)
Parking garages (37%)
Riding alone in a rideshare /taxi (33%)
On public transportation (28%)
In big cities (28%)
TOP THINGS AMERICANS CARRY TO FEEL SAFE
Personal safety app on smartphone (40%)
Mace/pepper spray (40%)
Stun gun (30%)
Pocket knife (37%)
Keys between their fingers (33%)
Alert button or device (32%)
Self-defense keychain (31%)
TOP SAFETY MEASURES
Security system (63%) (only shown to those with a security system)
Security cameras (37%)
Video doorbells (35%)
Motion lights (37%)
A dog (44%)
Multiple locks (35%)
A fence or gate (20%)
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Chicken wings are a crowd-pleasing appetizer for even the pickiest of eaters
A survey of 2,000 people found that three in four Americans won’t judge you for licking your fingers after eating chicken wings – because they’ll do the same (73%), according to new research.
The study found that chicken wings are considered an ol’ reliable classic food (63%), and are the favorite among casual-dining appetizers (54%) followed by chips and salsa (46%) and french fries (44%).
Results showed that chicken wings are a crowd-pleasing appetizer for even the pickiest of eaters and 75% agree it’s hard to beat the taste of a chicken wing, which may be why three in five said they’re likely to order them most or every time they go to a restaurant.
People also enjoy a good chicken wing whenever the cravings hit (44%), when ordering takeout or delivery at home (42%) and at parties (40%).
This may also be why seven in 10 of those who enjoy the savory food crave them often (71%), and why they make sure to eat every last bite before leaving the bones behind (79%).
When presented with a plate of chicken wings, a third of Americans will reach for a drummette first (33%).
But a quarter of respondents would prefer a flat wing instead, while 42% would gladly eat both.
Conducted by OnePoll for Hidden Valley Ranch, the survey found that when it comes to the boneless versus bone-in debate, more people have a preference for the former (33% vs. 29%), but 38% enjoy both equally.
And although 44% consider boneless wings as actual wings, 38% would tease someone they know for ordering them instead of bone-in wings and one in four would not go on a second date with someone who thinks they’re considered traditional wings (24%).
According to respondents, the best chicken wings are deep-fried (55%) or grilled (51%) and tossed in barbecue sauce (39%), ranch seasoning (34%) or hot buffalo sauce (33%).
For those hot wings, 79% said they need a dipping sauce to cool down.
"There are so many different flavors of wings for your every craving - sweet, savory, spicy, combinations of these and so many more,” said Alvaro Andres, associate director at Hidden Valley Ranch. There’s no better way to cool down the heat from a hot wing than dipping it in a cool and creamy condiment like ranch.”
Respondents also shared that the best way to dip their wings is once, without grabbing too much sauce (46%).
However, those who dip their wings more than once dip an average of five times per wing.
Snacky respondents are also likely to eat the vegetables that come on the side of chicken wings (58%), citing celery sticks as the better side veggie (26%).
Other popular sides that hit the spot when munching on chicken wings are french fries (34%), onion rings (31%) or a side salad (30%).
“Dipping foods provides an extra burst of flavor and, let’s face it, makes eating more fun,” said Andres. “The best condiments to keep on hand for dipping are ones that work with the most food, so you’re never craving more flavor.”
TOP CASUAL-DINING APPETIZERS
Chicken wings - 54%
Chips and salsa - 46%
French fries - 44%
Mozzarella sticks - 44%
Onion rings - 44%
Chips and queso - 43% [TIED]
Potato skins - 43% [TIED]
Chips and guacamole - 42%
Biscuits/bread - 42%
Fried shrimp - 41%
BEST CHICKEN WING FLAVORS
BBQ - 39%
Ranch seasoned - 34%
Hot buffalo - 33%
Garlic Parmesan - 32%
Honey mustard - 31%
Lemon pepper - 30% [TIED]
Medium buffalo - 30% [TIED]
Teriyaki - 30% [TIED]
Mild buffalo - 29%
Jerk seasoning - 29%
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Average Americans are more cautious when making a deal online
Buying and selling used items can be a tricky business – with one in four Americans feeling “intimidated” by the thought of making a deal they’re unsure about.
According to new research of 2,000 U.S. adults, 69% of people who have ever personally sold or bought a used item said they wish they could go back to before the deal was made, so they could do things differently — especially when it came to cars.
Over the past year, used cars were the most commonly-bought items both online (34%) and in person (31%).
Commissioned by CarLotz and conducted by OnePoll, the study found 65% of Americans have purchased a vehicle from another individual — but only 27% bought their car from a stranger in person. According to respondents, 66% of their used car purchases were made online.
Meanwhile, 15% of respondents said they had sold a car directly to another person, with most of those sales being done in person (69%) and only 19% were online.
Half (49%) of those who have sold a car said the process has taught them a lot about cars and the car market in general.
And even in the rise of online marketplaces, vehicles are still the one item where nearly half (49%) still prefer to meet in person.
Meanwhile, while 41% of potential buyers of any used items — from phones, to books, to clothing — are fine with having things shipped to them, 34% would rather meet in person. Over a third (38%) would insist on bringing someone along with them to meet sellers, while 37% would strictly only interact with sellers through texting or messaging.
Interestingly, sellers are more cautious about meeting potential buyers than the other way around. Only three in 10 are willing to meet buyers in person — 50% would rather ship items directly, and 29% would prefer interacting with buyers only online.
Just like their potential buyers, if they plan to make the deal in person, 41% prefer to have someone they know alongside them.
“Whether online or in-person, CarLotz offers guests the ability to buy and sell through its unique consignment-based platform,” said Liz Messick, vice president of operations for CarLotz. “By utilizing consignment in the used-car category, consumers can be confident they are getting more car for their money and more money for their car.”
The trend of buyers and sellers wanting to make a deal in person revealed a lot about people’s overall comfort levels.
Although 70% said they consider themselves “pros” because of their experiences, over half (55%) of respondents said they have hesitations about buying or selling items to others.
Hesitations include the fear of being lied to (42%), sharing their personal information (41%) and making the deal alone (37%).
Two in three (64%) said keeping their personal information private is important when they’re making deals with others. If violated, 45% said they’ll back out of the deal. Similarly, 41% will refuse to give their real phone number and 40% won’t reveal their real address.
Even so, private information (19%) tops the list of items found in used cars, followed by old CDs and cassettes (17%) and spare parts for the car (17%).
“Simply put, the modern vehicle is like a cell phone on wheels,” continued Messick. “Four out of five vehicles sold last year contained personal data such as phone numbers, addresses and even our garage door codes. Oftentimes, people will sell or turn-over their car to a third party for sale without wiping it clean.”
Ironically, many believe it’s okay to do a background check on whoever they’re making a deal with if they have access to their personal info.
Forty-six percent said they’d look up their social media accounts, 44% would see if they live in a good neighborhood and 36% will even try to figure out where they work.
To add a level of comfort, many insist on meeting in public places like shopping centers (29%) or police precincts (17%).
Two in three (67%) said research is key before purchasing something used — they’ll take up to 36 hours to research before agreeing to a deal. But this is stemmed from an underlying fear about not knowing as much as possible before a purchase.
Using the right platform was also seen to make a difference in how people feel about making deals. Facebook Marketplace has the highest level of excitement (44%) and Craigslist had the highest level of frustration (15%).
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Pool player performs complicated shots and pots the ball every time
An eight-ball trick shotter has gained a following online after posting many clips of his entertaining and complicated trick shots.
Trickshot artist Zahidul Islam, from Dallas, Texas, who goes under the moniker 'RJ Trickshot', regularly posts his skills online that show unorthodox shots set up to pot balls in mind-boggling ways.
Footage includes a vertical shot with the cue that forces the cueball to perform a u-turn onto a ramp fashioned by two other cues - which then pots a ball in the middle pocket.
Another shows Islam chipping the ball from one corner of the table to the other and potting a ball at an oblique angle.
RJ Trickshot has over 110,000 followers on Instagram and regularly posts trick shots and boasts online of his achievement in winning the National Championships of 9x 9 ball.
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Two people treated for burns after several boats catch fire in marina
Desperate neighbours threw buckets of water to try and put out the flames after the blaze began in Hampstead Marina at Yalding near Maidstone in Kent.
Multiple boats in the River Medway were on fire and smoke could be seen pouring from one vessel close to the lock. The river was closed to traffic.
Three fire engines and a bulk water carrier were called to the scene to help extinguish the blaze on Sunday (july 24) afternoon.
Two people were treated by paramedics and taken to hospital - one suffered burns while the other was treated for smoke inhalation, the fire brigade said.
Video footage showed the shocking scene as one boat was on fire as it drifted towards other vessels, setting them ablaze too in the marina.
The clip captured a boat drifting in the marina, while onlookers shouted for help as banging noises - thought to be explosions - could be heard.
It then led to several other boats catching light, and thick black smoke could be seen pouring from the top of the vessels.
Several neighbours, including an off-duty firefighter, rushed out with buckets of water to help dampen down the inferno before the fire crews arrived.
It took around two-and-half-hours to extinguish the flames and some of the stricken boats were so badly damaged they sank.
A nearby resident, who witnessed the events unfold, said there was lots of billowing black, heavy, thick smoke and panicked people.
She said: "We heard an explosion, went into our bedroom and saw the boat on fire in the lock just floating.
"I called 999 immediately and at this point the boat had started to drift away from the lock downstream.
"I told the fire brigade it was about to set fire to another boat, but it missed and ended up coming towards our house, which was horrifically scary.
Filmed on 24th July 2022
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Angry locals fear Japanese knotweed will knock thousands of pounds of properties' value
Residents fear the fast-growing plant will knock thousands of pounds of the value of their properties unless the problem is tackled.
They have blasted council bosses for repeatedly ignoring their pleas for help to stop the
“eyesore” weed invading their homes.
Residents say the weed is growing out of control in Brickfields Park, which is part of King George V Playing Fields, in Worcester.
Retired gardener Dennis Hodson, 73, lives in a £200,000 bungalow in Tunnel Hill which backs onto the fields.
He said: “The knotweed has gone rampant in the park and it’s coming up in our gardens now, including mine which is just 20 metres away. It's a bit of a nightmare.
“It’s happening in Elder Close as well as Tunnel Hill.
“It’s getting to about six foot tall in the park and I’ve tried calling the council, but they haven’t done anything.
"The plant is just about to seed which will spread it even further. The time to act is now.
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Funny moment mischievous gibbon provokes porcupine before being chased away by the annoyed animal
A mischievous gibbon ended up in a prickly situation after finding its way into a porcupine enclosure at a zoo - before deliberately provoking the spined animal to attack.
Businessman Riska Rijayanti, 26, who captured the moment, said the animals had been messing with one another for around 15 minutes prior to recording.
The long-limbed monkey is seen moving towards a pair of porcupines at the zoo, in Indonesia's Bandungand, then targets one and hits it.
The gibbon then sits back waiting for a reaction - but gets nothing and then attacks again.
The porcupine then goes on the offensive and chases the gibbon across the enclosure before it scampers up a tree to evade the spiky threat.
The video was filmed on Sunday 24th July.
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Watch as this student jumps into the splits during iconic graduation walk
This student’s graduation entrance sent the audience wild as she danced across the stage - before dropping down into the splits.
Rosalba Mensah, 28, graduated with a 2:1 in MA Costume Design for Performance at the London College of Fashion (LCF) and wanted to “celebrate in style”.
The video, taken at the Royal Festival Hall by the University of the Arts London and posted on TikTok, has since been seen by nearly 500,000 people online.
“When I graduated from my BA, I danced for about a second, but I thought I could have done something more,” said Rosalba.
“So this time for my Master’s, I just went for it and did the splits!”
Rosalba didn’t practise the move beforehand and was “relieved” to have pulled it off.
She added: “Afterwards I realised I could have broken my dress! Fortunately that didn’t happen!"
Although Rosalba thought she might hear a few cheers from her family in the audience, she didn't expect such a huge reaction from the crowd - or the internet.
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Seaside shooting game has been removed after a mum complained it was racist
A seaside 'cowboys and Indians' shooting game has been removed from an arcade after a mum complained it was racist.
Emily Crossing, 30, wrote to bosses at the Grand Pier at Weston-super-Mare in Somerset following a family visit.
She spotted the game which featured a saloon with a cowboy on the backdrop, and a gun for shooting moving Native American figures while the player sat on a horse.
The adult social care worker from Oxford wrote to pier bosses and told them she thought it was "extremely racist" and "outdated".
Emails appear to show bosses replying to say it was a "legacy piece" - and then later saying that nobody else had complained, and it was up to parents to police use.
However, when approached for comment earlier this week, a spokesperson said the game had been removed.
Emily, from Oxford, said: "It's clearly racist. It's absolutely shocking.
"Mum and I both just had our mouths open when we first saw it - we were in absolute shock.
"The figures of indigenous Americans were in full-on headdresses and there are little 'cowboys' everywhere.
"I can't believe the managers have no idea about cultural appropriation."
Emily says she first emailed the company on May 29 after a visit earlier that month.
She claims then then contacted the Grand Pier again over a month later, as she hadn't heard back.
She says she then received a reply, which she says claimed the game was a legacy piece the company inherited when they bought the pier.
Emily then posted on Instagram where she says she received messages of support.
And she said: "This is 2022 - that game is racist whether you chose to play it or not. It's outdated and extremely shocking."
As of July 12, the game was still available on the pier.
But, when contacted on July 21, a Grand Pier spokesperson said: "That machine is no longer in our estate."
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Paddleboarder makes epic nine hour trip out to sea to visit offshore windfarm
A paddleboarder has made an epic nine hour trip out to sea - to visit an offshore windfarm.
Jude Somers set out on his board with only a small bag of essentials – sun cream, cookies and a waterproof phone case.
The journey to the 72 sq km Ripon windfarm off the Sussex coast was about 20 miles overall - taking Jude nine hours there and back.
Jude, from Worthing, has quit his office job to embark on a series of TikTok adventures - sharing the trip with his 12 million followers on Monday July 11.
Jude, who swims in the sea all year round, said: “The wind farm is on the horizon every time I go in the sea.
''I see it every single day so I always think that it would be so cool to paddle out there. But because of weather conditions I have never been able to.
“But last week it was just perfect. The wind was perfect. The water was completely still, like a mirror, so it thought it would be the perfect day.
“Because I had already done the four hours getting there and had paddled about the wind farm for an hour, the way back it was really hard.
''It was the time of day when it was the hottest with the sun beaming down on me, so I did find the journey back the hardest.
“But I was so pleased when I got back!”
So far, he has posted numerous videos of him swimming and completing challenges such as walking barefoot for ten days.
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This many parents have purchased their kids a basic feature phone
Nearly six in 10 (59%) parents revealed they’ll often text their kids to come down for dinner instead of yelling for them.
A survey of 2,000 parents of school-age children found the average kid will receive their first smartphone at 10-years-old. While tech continues to evolve, some things stay the same, as the average parent says they were 11-years-old when they got their first piece of personal tech, such as a desktop computer or laptop.
Seven in 10 (70%) parents trust their kids with tech, while two-thirds (66%) have put parental controls on all their children's devices for security concerns. Six in 10 (62%) also believe tech is beneficial for kids’ social skills.
Parents said they decided to give their youngsters a smartphone to use for emergency purposes (55%), to help them gain tech skills for their future work (47%) and because they showed maturity (46%).
Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Cricket Wireless, the survey also revealed more than two-thirds (67%) think their kids will have access to tech no matter how strict they are.
Half (50%) of parents have purchased or considered getting their kid a non-smartphone, or basic feature phone, with the goal in mind to help them avoid “distraction apps” (65%) and to keep basic features like call and text without internet access (65%).
Interestingly, 54% of parents purchased their kids a basic feature phone to share their nostalgia of the ‘90s and early 2000s. Nostalgia trends and technology have been re-emerging as well as connecting with the next generation on legacy devices to demonstrate how far we’ve come in technology advancement.
“Whether parents want to share their nostalgia for the ‘90s or limit internet access until their kids reach a certain age, it’s important for families to have choices in what level of technology their child uses,” said Tony Mokry, Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer for Cricket Wireless. “It’s about relying on connectivity for flexibility and security to keep parents and children safe and engaged whenever and wherever.”
The poll also quizzed kids, ages 6 to 18, on their knowledge of older tech devices. When presented with images of old gadgets, almost half (49%) were unable to identify a landline, only 28% knew what a floppy disk was and just 26% said they’d be able to name and explain how to use an answering machine.
Half of parents (51%) said their kids have been on their family phone plan, for an average of 3.6 years. Of those parents, nine in 10 (90%) feel their kid is using their device as they anticipated, such as for school, e-learning and social purposes.
Seventy percent of parents said they’d be more open about getting their kids a tablet, smartphone or smartwatch if they understood how their young ones can use these devices safely and effectively.
“With back to school approaching, having your kids on your family phone plan provides an affordable option to help your family stay connected so they can do more of what makes them happy,” said Mokry.
OLD TECH KIDS WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY IN PICTURES
Landline 51%
Fax machine - 38%
Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) - 29%
Floppy disk - 28%
Answering machine - 26%
Pager - 24%
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Woman with chest hair embraces her appearance and has never felt more confident
A woman who decided to allow body hair to grow on her chest because she hated to shave - has never been more confident.
Esther Calixte-Bea, 25, has had a hairy chest from a very young age, which made her feel insecure and hate her appearance.
Visual artist Esther's insecurities were such intense she stopped swimming because she didn't want to go through the process of shaving or waxing, and having bad ingrown hair.
It was not until 2019 that Esther decided enough was enough, and she stopped shaving after travelling to Haiti.
During her travels, Esther, who goes by the moniker Queen Esie online, realised that beauty standards for women were everchanging and dependent on where you were in the world.
Esther, from Montreal, Canada, said: "I became way less self-conscious when I learned this information and I realised I could choose for myself and couldn't wait for society to validate my body and my appearance."
When she returned home, decided to stop shaving altogether and go public, revealing to her family and friends that she had a hairy chest.
She added: "I created the Lavender Project. I tend to create paintings, but also create what I'm going through. I knew art was the perfect medium to tell people that I have chest hair."
The project was a 'self-photography project', where Esther photographed herself wearing a dress she made, showing her chest hair for the first time, and posted it on Instagram.
Esther has since taken to TikTok to challenge traditional relationships when it comes to beauty standards.
She has been vlogging her way through the video app flaunting her hairy chest where she questions what it means for women to have - and be proud of - their natural body hair.
Esther now runs successful TikTok, YouTube and Instagram accounts, where she regularly posts her thoughts and musings on how to redefine beauty standards for women in the modern era.
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Transgender man desperate to get rid of his 42GG breasts completes wild online challenges for cash
A transgender man desperate to get rid of his 42GG breasts before his wedding was forced to raise the cash for private surgery with online food challenges - including eating worms, chillies and dog biscuits.
River-Jay Waterson, 29 - formerly Jodie - had proposed to his girlfriend, Kelly Waterson, 37, on April Fool's Day 2016 but the couple were forced to put the wedding on hold as River didn't want to tie the knot while living as a woman.
Desperate to help out her partner, devoted Kelly, began a series of online challenges to raise funds for the breast removal surgery in May 2019.
After three months of fundraising - including River shaving off hair and eyebrows as well as downing raw eggs on camera - the couple had raised over 2k for the procedure.
In June 2021, River finally had the procedure in Wroclaw, Poland, after forking out £2,820.
He was finally able to marry 'love of his life' partner, Kelly in an intimate family ceremony near their home on 11th December 2021.
River is now desperately trying to secure a gender dysphoria diagnosis from the NHS - so he can carry on transitioning - as without it, he is unable to get bottom surgery even if he goes private.
Kelly and River began their online food challenges in May 2020 on TikTok live (@riverjay92) - during which they took dares from strangers who then donated to their fundraising.
After raising over £1k, Kelly's dad, Ken Loyd, 70, matched their efforts and coupled with their savings, River was finally able to book his surgery.
He travelled to Poland in June 2021 for a five-hour surgery which cost £2,820.
River is now hoping to get the rest of the surgery he needs to complete his transition privately as the NHS waiting list could be up to a 10-year wait.
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Brothers prank hotel staff by making their room towels and pillows look like DEAD BODIES
Two brothers played a mean prank on hotel staff - by making their room pillows and duvets look like DEAD BODIES.
Gregers Federspiel, 17, and his brother William, 19, were staying at the Stracta Hotel during their holiday in Iceland when they decided to leave a present for the cleaners.
The jokers used their room's pillows and duvets to fashion what appears to be a corpse wrapped in bedding at first glance.
They topped off their evil creation by wrapping wire around the supposed head of the body - to make it even more the realistic.
Gregers, from Copenhagen, Denmark, said: "We always like to joke around and prank each other- but this time worked together.
"One commenter said the room could have taken hours to clean as staff may have to call the authorities - we hope that wasn't the case!
"Hopefully we didn't scare anybody to much."
The video was filmed on July 16.
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Trawler rescues man stranded for hours in Florida's Intracoastal Waterway after his kayak sank
A trawler crew rescued a man stranded for hours in Florida's Intracoastal Waterway after his kayak sank.
Tom Korinek, was driving his boat in the pitch black water at 4:00am when he spotted a kayaker lost for close to four hours.
Tom, 44, a mobile marine mechanic, was driving his 40-foot-trawler from Cocoa Beach to Fort Pierce when he found the victim floating with no visible boat near him.
He rescued the David Wright, 39, with a life sling and brought him up onto the back swimming deck, as he wasn’t sure whether the man was a danger to him and was totally incoherent.
Tom said: “He was a couple of hundred yards from the land, but it was four o’clock in the morning with a four knot current, he had no idea where he was.
“He had given up by the time I yelled back at him, he stopped yelling completely when I turned around."
Tom happened upon the man by pure coincidence, but he is also fairly certain that the man would have died without him.
"He had about 10-30 minutes if I hadn’t found him."
Initially Tom thought David, was drunk because of how exhausted he was, and had fallen into the water in a stupor.
“I thought he was wasted, I was irritated, that’s why I was rude to him at the beginning.”
Once he understood that David was just a fisherman in a bad situation, he pulled him up onto the main deck.
"I dragged him onto the deck like a dead fish," Tom said.
"When I grabbed him by the hand it was the most wrinkly hand I've ever seen, it almost felt fake."
Earlier in the day, David lost his paddle after letting some children play with his kayak and had spent until nightfall searching for it.
He eventually gave up and tried to fashion a makeshift paddle from a stick.
He also believes that they may have also loosened the drain plug, causing the kayak to sink.
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