Eyeball Impaled by Garden Shears

A pensioner has told how he cheated death after being impaled through the eye by a pair of pruning shears. Leroy Luetscher, 86, had finished trimming plants outside his home in Phoenix, Arizona, when he dropped the shears. As he bent down to pick them up he lost his balance and fell face down directly on to the handle of the shears which penetrated his eye socket and went down into his neck.

Male Teacher Is A Porn Star

A TEACHER who led a double life as a porn star and stripper has been found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct - but has still been allowed to keep his job in the classroom. Benedict Garrett, 31, was head of sex education at Beal High School in east London, but outside work he was known by his stripper stage name Johnny Anglais. He was reprimanded by the General Teaching Council after a two-day disciplinary hearing, but told he could continue to work in the classroom. Derek Johns, chairman of the panel, told Garrett, "The committee is content that you have sufficient insight and would not repeat this behavior should you resume teaching. "Therefore, in relation to risk of repetition, the committee considers it is unlikely that you will seek to return to the teaching profession whilst working as a stripper or in pornographic films."

Weird-Looking Carrot

She's been dubbed The Baby Whisperer for helping hordes of women realise their dreams of starting a family against medical odds. Now it seems acupuncturist Yvonne Darnell, 46, has used her special skills to give life to one of her own carrots - which bears an uncanny resemblance to an angel-faced alien. The 'Sussex Stork' dug up the unusual legume from her Burgess Hill garden.

Hurricane Irene Comes, Time For PARTY ?

While many New Yorkers were worried stiff about the horrors Hurricane Irene might bring, others just took it as a good excuse to have a great time. Some people slid in the puddles, others held an impromptu hockey game and many decided it was just time for a good old party in their own homes. New York has been on lockdown since Saturday morning, forcing people to stay indoors after they stocked up on provisions and took in friends or family who had to evacuate low-lying areas.

 

Man With 24 Fingers

They call him 'Twenty-Four.' Yoandri Hernandez Garrido's nickname comes from the six perfectly formed fingers on each of his hands and the six impeccable toes on each foot. Hernandez is proud of his extra digits and calls them a blessing, saying they set him apart and enable him to make a living by scrambling up palm trees to cut coconuts and posing for photographs in this eastern Cuban city popular with tourists.

 

 

America's Oldest Mom

They say children keep you young - and it's definitely the case for Arceli Keh. America's oldest 'mom' is now 78 but still finds the energy to hang out at the mall with her teen daughter and sing Justin Bieber songs. She draws the line at theme parks though.

Arceli was 63 when she had her baby Cynthia 14 years on and has revealed she has no regrets. The infant weighed 6lbs 4oz and was conceived via IVF, 14 years after Arceli went through the menopause. Arceli said: 'Having my baby gave me a new lease on life.

'I’m more energetic than most women my age because I have to be. I feel it’s my responsibility to do everything I can to make sure my child has the best life possible. I prayed every day of my life for Cynthia, and I’m so grateful she’s in the world. I try to spend as much time with her as possible. We go to the mall, and sometimes my husband goes to the movies with her.'

Arceli, 78, joked she even sang along to Justin Bieber songs. She and her husband Isagani, 75, live off retirement benefits and are careful about what they spend. She said Cynthia wanted to get a part-time job so she had her own money and could help out at home when she is old enough. Cynthia said: “I don’t really notice my parents’ age. There are some things they can’t do, like going to theme parks, because there’s a lot of walking involved.

No regrets: America's oldest mother Arceli Keh of Highland, California, hit the headlines when she gave birth in 1997

Unique Architectural Designs

More spectacular than the Taj Mahal? Stretching one hundred meters into the sky, this glistening new design could outshine anything built in India before. The space station-style structure called Atmosphere could be constructed in Calcutta if architects have their way.

Dress Made From Crisp Packets

A fashion student has proved looking good does not have to cost a packet - by winning a fashion show in a dress modelled by a friend made entirely out of old Walkers Crisp bags. It might not to be everyone's taste but Rebekah Kirkland's design proved a hit at her end of year catwalk event.  And it did not cost her a penny since all the empty bags were donated by friends, family and fellow students.

Fox Sliding Down Conveyor Belt!

A disused gravel quarry became a playground for a young fun-loving fox and his family. This photograph, taken by British man Duncan Usher, shows how the clever four-month-old creature turned an old conveyor belt into a make-shift slide, before travelling down it twice. Mr Usher photographed the amusing sight close to Bursfelde, a hamlet in the German countryside.

The 56-year-old, who now lives in Bursfelde, said: 'One morning I arrived at the quarry and saw from a distance two young foxes playing on the conveyor belt. One ran back to the top of the conveyor belt and then started to walk back down it, stopped and sat down.After a few seconds it started to slide down the conveyor belt using its front paws to drag it forwards. They were attracted to the conveyer belt because it was a playground to them. I have not seen this type of behaviour amongst free living wild animals and I was really surprised and pleased to witness and capture this unusual event. I had to react quickly and knew that the chances of getting a decent image was slight. I thought the odds were really against me but that morning fortune was on my side.'

Mr Usher, orginally from Allendale, Northumberland, spent three weeks at the quarry before he managed to capture the elusive foxes at play. He said: 'Obviously my determination paid off in the end. It was really a combination of repeatedly going back to the same spot and patience. I knew from past photographic experience that if I remained persistent, something unusual or worthwhile can, or may happen. A large portion of luck also helped.'

Couple with 18 Children!

Kelly Bates has had 18 children. She has had no twins, no C-sections and 14 drug-free births and has spent more of her adult life pregnant than not. But, even with the unimaginable logistics of raising a family that could field two sports teams, the 44-year-old mother from Lake City, Tennessee, is praying for two more baby boys. Kelly told ABC News' Nightline: 'It feels more normal to me to be pregnant than not be pregnant. I'm happy holding a baby.'

Family affair: All 20 of the Bates family live under one (large) roof in Lake city, Tennessee

The roll call so far stands at: Zach, 22, Michaella, 21, Erin, 20, Lawson, 19, Nathan, 18, Alyssa, 16, Tori, 15, Trace, 14, Carlin, 13, Josie, 12, Katie, 10, Jackson, nine, Warden, eight, Isaiah, six, Addallee, five, Ellie, four, Callie, two, and, last but not least, Judson, who is just 11-months-old.

Zombie-Themed Engagement Photos

Every bride-to-be wants their engagement pictures to be memorable.  But one California couple made sure the special moment as they announced their nuptials was completely unique- by arranging for a zombie to crash the photo shoot. And when Juliana Park and Ben Lee posted their quirky horror themed engagement shoot online it became an overnight internet sensation.

The couple enjoy a quiet picnic ... but what's that in the background? 

Gaddafi's Neverland

It was the day when the ordinary people finally got to peer beyond the fortified concrete walls. For the first time, Tripoli’s citizens discovered how Colonel Gaddafi had lived a life of opulence and surreal fantasy while they cowered under his bloodthirsty rule. After the rebel fighters had overrun the tyrant’s massive sprawling compound, yesterday it was the turn of normally law-abiding Libyans to ransack and loot his properties. And they could scarcely believe what they saw.

Astonishing: This teapot and teacups fairground ride was just one of sites that greeted insurgents inside Gaddafi's compound. They also found a zoo

Sofa so good: A rebel fighter poses for a photo as he sits on a two-seater couch 

Orangutan Mops His Face!

If any more proof were needed that the orangutan is one of mankind’s closest relatives, here it is. Just like us, the ape sometimes has trouble coping with the heat and this particular one has found an inventive way of cooling off. With an uncannily human gesture it plunges what appears to be a flannel into a pool of water, methodically wrings it out and then mops its brow.

Bald Chicken!

It was one of 2,000 chicks born on a remote farm... but this is the bird that caused a real flap. Mr Feather, as he's been cruelly dubbed, won't feel cock-a-hoop though. That's because the poor chicken was born completely bald - and has remained so ever since.

"Stop staring at my naked body!"

Human Library Where You Can 'Borrow' HUMANS

A man 'reading' ab out Buddhist from a monk in human library

Gone are the days of rummaging through card catalogues and dusty shelves. A new library in Surrey, B.C., will be home to a "human library," with people on loan as living books. The $36-million Surrey City Centre library, set to open at the end of the month, will allow users to "check out" people and pick their brains about their experiences with blindness, immigration, religion or a disability, among other things. The goal is to break down stereotypes and start discussions, said deputy chief librarian Melanie Houlden.

Celebrities' Bizarre Beauty Treatments

As unlikely as it may seem, Simon Cowell likes to start the day by climbing a tree. He recently revealed it has become a ritual of his. He believes that the childish pastime sets him up for the long day ahead. And when he’s not clambering over branches, TV’s Mr Nasty is being drip-fed a cocktail of energising vitamins in order to look and feel younger. The weekly infusion is made up of vitamins C, B12 and magnesium and is administered intravenously through a drip, by a nurse who comes to his home or office so that he can work while being super-charged. ‘It’s an incredibly warm feeling,’ says 51-year-old Cowell. ‘You feel all the vitamins going through you. It’s very calming.’

Tree-ments: Simon Cowell climbs a tree every day to stay young

It may sound bonkers, but the former X Factor judge is not alone in embracing wacky therapies to turn back time. From cow brains and human placenta creams to ice chambers and leeches, there’s nothing celebrities won’t try in their search for the elixir of youth. 

 

Model Painted as Canvas

Normally when a model poses for an artist, they are expected to remain motionless. But this model may struggle to stay still – as they are the actual artwork. Artist Alexa Meade’s technique involves painting directly onto the physical subjects that she is referencing, rather than using a canvas.

Still life: Artist Alexa Meade paints model Will Claybaugh, she will then photograph him to create her final artwork 

Family Living With An EMU

Like a lot of youngsters she likes to relax in front of the TV and will eat anything in sight. Beaky the pet emu also quite enjoys a soak in the bath. In fact, the two-year-old bird is almost as much a part of the Newby family as the six children. She arrived in an unhatched egg, an unusual Christmas present for Ian Newby, 44, from his wife Lisa, 36.

Pecking order: Ian Newby with Beaky and, from left, Harry, Jack, Joe, mum Lisa, Bryce, Peter and George

Chupacabra Found?

Prince George’s Hospital Center workers have adopted a mythical creature as their new mascot. The creature has been spotted in the woods where smokers take breaks since the hospital banned smoking June 1, but no one knows what the animal is, so they’ve named it Prince Chupa, after chupacabra — the legendary cryptid rumored to exist in parts of the Americas and suck the blood of livestock.

Chupacabra?

British Boat Hotel

China makes aircraft-carrier hotel and Russia is preparing its space hotel. Britain has a BOAT hotel! And it's expected to draw visitors for 2012 Olympics. 

Visitors to London's South Bank could soon be left feeling all at sea. A bizarre new hotel - shaped like a boat - is to be placed on top of the Queen Elizabeth Concert hall peering out over the River Thames. The nautical building, due to be hoisted into position in December, will be equipped with a mast and look-out station and guests will be expected to keep a detailed log and hoist a flag to indicate they are aboard.