The famous topless duel between two aristocratic princesses

 

"The Scandalous Duel of the Aristocratic Divas!"

Vienna, 1892 – High society was left reeling this week as news spread of an extraordinary duel between two of the most glamorous women of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Princess Pauline von Metternich, a fiery aristocrat known for her sharp wit and sharper temper, clashed in a sword fight with Countess Anastasia Kielmannsegg, a rival noblewoman with an equally fearsome reputation. The reason? A petty feud over floral arrangements at a charity gala spiralled into a matter of honour that only blood could resolve!

The scandalous event took place in a secluded grove near Vaduz. Attendees—yes, there were witnesses to this shocking spectacle—included other society ladies who dared not intervene. Most shocking of all, the duel was conducted topless, a detail that has tongues wagging from Vienna to Paris. Sources claim this bizarre arrangement was at the insistence of their seconds, women themselves, who feared clothing might infect any wounds.

Under the watchful eye of Baroness Lubinska, a renowned advocate of women’s rights and, it seems sword duels, the combatants squared off. The Princess, her hair swept back into a severe bun, wielded her blade with the precision of an artist, while the Countess, younger and reportedly more athletic, displayed raw aggression. Spectators described the clash as “more savage than genteel,” with both women sustaining cuts and drawing blood.

Though the Countess lunged with dramatic flair, Princess Pauline ultimately triumphed, slashing her opponent across the forearm and forcing her to yield. Both women, bloodied but unbroken, reportedly embraced after the duel, declaring the matter resolved. Society insiders speculate the real tension between the two stemmed not from flowers but whispers of jealousy and competition in Vienna’s glittering ballrooms.

Predictably, the duel has sent shockwaves through the Empire. Critics have decried it as a disgrace to nobility, while feminists hail it as a bold statement of women’s independence. The scandal has only boosted Princess Pauline’s infamy, with some already calling her “the Swordswoman of Vienna.”

What’s next for the fierce princess and her vanquished rival? Will Countess Anastasia seek revenge, or has the sword settled the score? One thing is certain: high society will never forget this daring display of aristocratic vengeance.

NASA to grow plants on the moon

NASA has announced that during the Artemis III mission, humans will take their first steps back on the Moon after 50 years and will cultivate lunar-grown plants to return to Earth for the first time..

Known as Lunar Effects on Agricultural Flora (LEAF), the project will collect plant growth and development data to help scientists understand the use of plants grown for human nutrition and life support on the Moon and beyond.

Children and death in classic nursery rhymes

Everydayness is an inherently subjective experience. In considering the concept of everdayness in children’s literature, the reflexivity involved must be acknowledged. Literature often written for or about children is done so by adult authors with assumptions and biases stemming from personal experiences and cultural ideals. 

What are these men doing? Is it the end of the world?

 

Just what exactly is going on here?

A scene from the latest Zombie apocalypse movie? No, it's actually a sculpture from Isaac Cordal, a famous Belgian-based, Spanish Galician sculptor and photographer whose work revolves around the urban environment. 

This scene forms part of one of his better-known installations entitled Follow The Leaders from ten years ago. The work has travelled around the world and has been seen in Colombia, France, Germany and his home town in Belgium. It also takes other forms and representations.

He describes it as "a critical reflection on our inertia as a social mass. Representing a social stereotype associated with power compound businessmen who run the global social spectrum."

Fancy talk, but the message is clear: While the elite talk and plot, the world crumbles.

For more, visit his fascinating website: Cement Eclipses

Do kangaroos roam the streets in Australia?

Wes, yes. Actually, they do. This seen in Canberra, the nation's capital.

Quite likely this event a result of harsh drought conditions currently being experienced across much of New South Wales.

Much debate has ensued about whether kangaroos should be culled in this area. What do you think?

Karl Lagerfeld + Modelco Beauty Butlers Bring Paris to a Standstill

KARL LAGERFELD and MODELCO are pleased to announce the global launch of their limited-edition colour cosmetics collection today. To celebrate, KARL LAGERFELD and ModelCo will take over Paris.

100 KARL LAGERFELD + MODELCO "Beauty Butlers" will make their mark in Paris throughout the day. They will all be dressed in custom-designed helmets that are a 3D cartoon reinterpretation of Karl Lagerfeld. This design is also a key element in the collection and appears on the LIP LIGHTS Lip Gloss, the collection's hero product.

The "Beauty Butlers" will visit iconic locations in Paris including the Eiffel Tower, Les Tuileries, Champs-Elysées, Saint-Germain-des-Près, Montparnasse and Palais de Tokyo —inviting members of the public to join them for a special performance at each stop along the way. The Beauty Butlers' finale will be at 8pm at Place Vendôme, in front of the Hotel d'Evreux where the event space will be transformed into an uber-cool, hot pink neon extravaganza, with VIP guests treated to KARL LAGERFELD + MODELCO collection art style installations, cocktails and Perrier-Jouët champagne.

Featuring a range of innovative beauty products, the limited-edition collection will be available through KARL LAGERFELD stores and MODELCO.COM and key exclusive retailers: Nordstrom in the US, in Europe at Douglas, Nocibe, Cult Beauty and Galeries Lafayette, and in the Middle East at selected retailers.

"The Beauty Butlers storming the streets of Paris represent the bold, fashion oriented and unique attributes of the KARL LAGERFELD + MODELCO colour cosmetics and collectible range. We achieved our goal of elevating this partnership on a global stage and certainly raised the bar for creativity and style. I was honoured to fuse ModelCo's beauty knowledge with one of the world's most renowned and iconic names in fashion, Karl Lagerfeld and bring our collaboration to lovers of fashion and beauty around the world. It was an honour to launch our collection in Paris" said Shelley Sullivan, Founder and CEO of ModelCo.




"Our consumers are at the heart of our business, and we are excited to inspire them with the innovative KARL LAGERFELD + ModelCo beauty collection," said Pier Paolo Righi, CEO of KARL LAGERFELD. "It translates KARL's vision and brand spirit into iconic cosmetics, and we look forward to launching this limited-edition collection."

The KARL LAGERFELD + ModelCo collection campaign features British supermodel Stella Maxwell alongside an animated, 3D character of Karl Lagerfeld. The products are limited edition and will have one stock drop only.

The 'end game' bucket list

Extreme skiing in Wyoming.





Cliff camping.





Skywalking in the Alps.





Climbing Redwoods. 

Sitting on the Trolltunga rock in Norway.





Jumping on the Trolltunga rock in Norway.






Rock climbing in South Africa.




Ice climbing a frozen waterfall.




Extreme picnicking.




Skywalking on Mount Nimbus in Canada.





Tree camping in Germany.



Just having a look around.



Extreme kayaking at Victoria Falls.




Diving 30 meters through a rock monolith in Portugal.





Climbing Mt. Wellington.





Standing on the Edgewalk in Toronto.




Cycling in Norway.





Sitting around at Yosemite.




Walking over a crevice.




Glacier boarding anywhere.




Biking on the Cliffs of Moher.

Quirky German phrases and insults

Here's a special German treat from Lilian Noack. It takes the cake:

This man is 'nicht mein bier' (not my beer, ie, not my cup of tea). He is such an 'eigenbrotler' (one who makes his own bread, ie, an eccentric character) and always 'gibt seinen senf dazu' (brings his mustard along, ie, has a word to say), even if nobody is interested. And then he acts like a 'beleidigte leberwurst' (insulted liver sausage, ie, insulted child). I really think 'an ihm ist hopfen und malz verloren' (hop and malt are wasted on him, ie, nothing can be done with him). I guess 'gegen ihn ist kein kraut gewachsen' (there is no herb grown against him, ie, there is no cure for people like him), and life around him is certainly 'kein honigschlecken' (no honey lickin', ie, no fun).

'Nun ist mir alles wurst' (now it is all sausage to me, ie, now I don't care any more) and 'ich werde mir nicht die zahne ausbeissen' (I won't break my teeth on this case). 'So ein kase!' (such a cheese! ie, what a shame). It could have been so nice. But when he started 'mich durch den kakao zu ziehen' (to pull me through the cocoa, ie, to make me look ridiculous), I knew 'es geht um die wurst' (it is about the sausage, ie, it is a question of now or never). I said to myself: 'da haben wir den salat' (there we have the salad, ie, that's a nice mess). After I left him, I went through a 'durststrecke' (thirsty stretch, ie, difficult period). But looking back, I know that I had 'schwein' (pig, ie, I was lucky). I could have 'die radieschen von unten angeschaut' (looked at the radishes from below, ie, ended up lying in the graveyard).

Can you imagine booking a holiday here?

When Count Gustav von Grabenstein went on holidays to Southeast Asia, he wanted privacy, security, the comforts of Europe and somewhere to go fishing.

Gus Grabenstein, 15th Century visionary

He built this quaint weekender in 1436 on the little spot he found in a real estate scroll enticingly labelled “get away from it all on this remote private island.”

He neglected to read the bit, written in a fine nib, “a challenging project for someone with flair”

Not to be outdone, Gus set about constructing his dream fishing cottage complete with waterfront access and somewhere to tie up his dingy. He called it “Friedenplatz”

Now this delightful location can be your dream escape too.

Book this wonderful cottage on Luftkoje today.

OMG - how did these people survive?!

Definitely time to go buy a lottery ticket!

Shoemaker to the giants: Worlds tallest men find their feet

At 251 centimetres (8 ft 2 3/4 in) the world's tallest man, Sultan Kosen and at 2.46 m (8 ft 1 in) second tallest man Brahim Takioullah pose for photographs with Wilhelm Moerchen, Rolf Mayer, shoemaker Georg Wessels and Abdramane Dembele in Vreden, western Germany, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015, after they got shoes in European size 60.

 Images: www.picture-alliance.com

World's smallest hotel? Too small to swing a cat

IN his continuing search for the more weird and wondrous in the world of travel, David Ellis says the world's smallest hotel has just one room – and that's a mere 8ft by 10ft (2.43m X 3.04m.)

But small as it is, this miniscule room has a double bed, ensuite with shower and toilet, a stocked mini-bar, flat-screen TV and a stereo unit with iPhone connectivity.

Located in the trendy Vesterbro district of Denmark's capital Copenhagen, the Hotel Central and Café began life in 1905 as a shoe repair shop, the shoemaker adding a 2nd floor and moving into that in 1920. The shoemaker's later became a goldsmith's and then a café, and in June 2013 the second floor flat became the world's smallest hotel.

Guests arrive to find fresh flowers, fruit and a welcoming bottle of wine in their room, and downstairs a tiny café that takes them back in time with vintage signs and various other bits of historic paraphernalia.

It costs 1,800 Danish krone a night (currently approximately AU$384) which includes breakfast for two at the Granola Café that is a half block away and owned by the same people who own the Hotel Central and Cafe.

If you're interested in booking a night, email  mail@centralhotelogcafe.dk


PHOTO CAPTIONS:

[] THE downstairs café at Copenhagen's Hotel Central and Café takes visitors back in time with vintage signs, knickknacks and historic paraphernalia…

[]  SMALL as it is the hotel room has an ensuite, stocked mini-bar, flat-screen TV and stereo with iPhone connectivity.

(Photos: Hotel Central & Café)

How far does your #foamroam ?

#FOAMROAM

How far does your Foam roam? We know everyone loves our takeaway cups – now is the time to show your creativity and you could win free coffee for a year! Show us your innovative pic on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, tag Foam Coffee Bar and include #FoamRoam. Competition ends 31 December. See in store for T&C.

Foam Coffee Bar is the new kid on Oxford Street in Leederville Western Australia; Five Senses Coffee, delicious seasonal food, home baked treats and free WiFi, all served within a contemporary cafe experience.

You can find us on social – www.facebook.com/foamcoffeebar

www.instagram.com/foamcoffeebar www.twitter.com/foamleederville

Body painted women 'athletes' promote female sport

In another celebrated case of 'what were they thinking', Women's Health magazine held a much welcomed 'I Support Women in Sport' function at The Establishment on October 13, 2014 in Sydney.

Critics were quick to point out the confusion between the sensationalist tactics of employing body-painted glamour models and recognising the achievements of Australia's elite female athletes.

They posed as a swimmer, netballer and gymnast, while a fourth wore a design resembling Cathy Freeman's running suit from the Sydney Olympics 400m final.

Danielle Warby, a board director of the Australian Womensport and Recreation Association, called the models' inclusion "bizarre" in a report in Fairfax's The Daily Life.

"The sexualisation of women in sport is a massive issue," Ms Warby said.

"These women are not athletes, they are naked and I don't know why they are there."

Want to REALLY support #WomenInSport? Follow: @TheWomensGame @sportette_au @SportingSheilas @SSW_au #ISWIS Athletes NOT nude models!
— Danielle Warby (@DanielleWarby) October 14, 2014

What if we performed animal tests on humans?

Animal tests performed on humans

In a dramatic demonstration of the cruelty humans inflict on animals in cosmetic testing, performance artist Jacqueline Traide, willingly submitted herself to a battery of painful experiments.

All of this was done in full public view in a shop window in Lush cosmetic store’s branch in Regent Street, London.

While Jacqueline's discomfort was temporary, it was genuine. She, however was free to go home afterward. The animals' fate is not so pleasant.

www.fightinganimaltesting.com

What a Croc! - famous headlines from the NT News

WHAT A CROC!

A COLLECTION OF THE FUNNIEST, CRAZIEST, WITTIEST, MOST MEMORABLE FRONT PAGES FROM THE NT NEWS.

It isn't called the TOP END for nothing! With witty editing, masterful puns, searing social insight and - when all that fails - the use of the word 'clacker', the NT News has changed the face of the Australian front page. They're tops!

I WAS MUGGED BY A CROC
DOG KILLED BY YOWIE
FROG STRUCK BY LIGHTNING
WHY I STUCK A CRACKER UP MY CLACKER

While a picture may tell a thousand words, they've proved that the combination of a photo and caption is really what delivers the message. And they don't need a thousand words - most of the time eight or less will do.

Now, for the first time ever, the news team who came up with these attention-grabbing gems have ventured into the archives to share some of their favourite front pages with the world. WHAT A CROC! is a collection of the funniest, craziest, wittiest, most memorable front pages from the NT NEWS. Do yourself a favour!

WHAT A CROC! will be released on 25 November.

Published by Hachette Australia in December 2014

Paperback $RRP19.99, ebook $11.99

Flaming horseman of Kazakhstan

KYRGYZSTAN, BISHKEK : Photo taken on September 10, 2014 shows a Kyrgyz stuntman performing during the first World Nomad Games in the Kyrchin (Semenovskoe) gorge, some 300 km from Bishkek. Teams of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Mongolia and Tajikistan take part in the games. AFP PHOTO / VYACHESLAV OSELEDKO

#KYRGYZSTAN #WorldNomadGames #Horse #Fire

This is the craziest thing you will see today. I guarantee.

Post by Rockemite.com.

Click the like button and add a dose of drama to your day (yes, I know it's been on the Internet for a while, but you can't afford to miss this - or see it again)

Internet UFO Video - Is it fake or real?

Post by Carlos Marquez.

Dive inside the Costa Concordia. New video footage.

This footage is released by the Italian police.