Great white shark pictured feet from oblivious surfers...

Riding their luck: 12ft Great White shark pictured in San Diego wave just feet away from oblivious surfers

By PAUL BENTLEY

Last updated at 6:49 PM on 2nd September 2011

As Labor Day weekend begins, many will be planning family trips to the beach.

Although, for those in San Diego, this picture might make them think twice.

A terrifying photograph shows the moment a Great White shark was spotted in a wave in Encinitas, California - just a few feet away from completely oblivious surfers.

Lurking: The shark, furthest right, swims through the wave the surfers try to ride

Gary Elliott, a passer-by who took the picture on Wednesday was convinced he had seen a shark - and the claim has now been backed up by marine experts.

'It looks pretty clear to me,' Mr Elliott told CBS8. 'It doesn't look like a surfer. It's not the silhouette of a board.'

The claim was initially disregarded by lifeguards at the beach.

Robert Veria said the photograph had, in fact, captured the moment a surfer duck dived into the wave with his or her knees bent.

Lucky escape: The surfer did not even realise the huge shark was beneath him

Brave or reckless? Surfers continue to ride the waves in San Diego despite the sighting

But marine experts have since confirmed that the picture is most likely to be of a shark.

Ralph Collier, from the Shark Research Committee, told CBS8: 'In my opinion, we are looking at  the tail end of an animal that is... 10 to 12 feet, maybe a little more. 

Officials said despite the sighting the beach would remain open for the weekend.

The stunning image was taken as two-mile stretch of coastline in La Jolla was reopened yesterday despite three confirmed sightings in a week along the San Diego coast.

Huge: A surfer, top, catches a big wave in Newport Beach, California, yesterday

Dangerous: Fans came out to watch the daredevils ride the massive Californian waves

Beaches had been closed after several people spotted a 12 inch shark fin on Wednesday near the Children's Pool.

Fishermen also found a dead baby seal off the Ocean Beach pier with shark bite marks. 

Another two mile stretch of beach in the area was closes last week after a lifeguard saw an 18 inch dorsal fin.

Fierce: The waves crashed down with huge force as surfers battled the conditions

The picture also comes as other astonishing images were taken of surfers hitting the waves in their droves in California yesterday despite being told to keep out of the water because of dangerous conditions.

Authorities issued warnings about waves pounding the central California coast that left a swimmer missing and caused a marijuana smuggling boat to crash onto a beach.

Lifeguards conducted dozens of rescues and the massive surf also caused some damage to the Ocean Beach and San Clemente piers.

Pink Panther car to be sold for £100,000...

Fancy a ride on the bright side? Unique Pink Panther car set to be sold for £100,000

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Last updated at 6:16 PM on 2nd September 2011

The original Pink Panther car is set to fetch up to £100,000 at auction next month.

The unique vehicle featured in the title credits of the hit children's TV series from 1969 to 1976.

The car was the brainchild of prolific Hollywood vehicle designer Jay Ohrberg, who also made the DeLorean from Back to the Future and KITT from Knight Rider, as well as several Batmobiles.

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Iconic: The Panthermobile shared top billing in The Pink Panther Show with Inspector Clouseau, left, and the eponymous panther himself

This bright pink model - the 'Panthermobile' - appeared in the opening and closing sequences of The Pink Panther Show, which was inspired by the films starring Peter Sellers as bungling Inspector Clouseau.

Mr Ohrberg himself owned the car until he sold it for £88,000 at auction in 2007.

Auctioneer Jonathan Kay said: 'The vehicle is in totally original condition, and would benefit from some sympathetic restoration as the car is now 42 years old.

Stylish: The car is thought to be in full working order - but its new owner is unlikely to risk it on the road

Centre stage: The car featured heavily in the opening credits of The Pink Panther Show until 1976

'The engine is not currently running, but it was believed to be working when the vehicle was sold in 2007.'

The Panthermobile is being sold in an online auction run by Manchester-based firm Robson Kay.

It is expected to fetch between £50,000 and £100,000.

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Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2033035/Fancy-ride-bright-Unique-Pink-Panther-car-set-sold-100-000.html#ixzz1WpXFvlqc

US streakers dance behind TV news crew...

Hurricane Irene streakers prank news reporter in Virginia Beach 

As one news reporter attempted to relay the impact of Hurricane Irene in the US state of Virginia, his flow was interrupted by a group of shirtless men - one of whom pulled down his shorts to reveal a whole other type of cold front. 

Streaker fail: Hurricane, what hurricane (Picture: YouTube)

Eric Fisher was explaining to viewers of The Weather Channel how 'speechless' he was at the swarms of people out and about in the treacherous conditions when the disruption happened.

'I'm pretty much speechless about how many people we've been seeing driving around, people like what you see behind me, which I apologise for,' he said as the pranksters splashed around behind him.

'It's just setting a bad example and, honestly, it's depressing to watch at the moment.'

VIDEO: Watch the streakers interrupt Eric Fisher's report

Meanwhile, as video footage of the blooper began making its way around the web, one Twitter user posted: 'Eric in Virginia Beach is reporting high winds, driving rain and a ten per cent chance of streakers.'

In another hurricane-related news-reporting fail, a journo in Maryland ended up covered in what appeared to be raw sewage as he provided live updates for stations around the US.

As Irene hit the coast and Tucker Barnes was sprayed by what he described as 'sea foam', he said: 'It doesn't taste great... I can tell you first-hand, it doesn't smell great.'

VIDEO: See Tucker Barnes hit by sandy-textured 'sea foam'

Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/873918-watch-hurricane-irene-streakers-prank-news-reporter#ixzz1WmXcogdJ

Remains of horses and chariots from 770BC unearthed...

Trip to the Zhou: Remains of horses and chariots unearthed from tomb dating back to 3,000-year-old Chinese dynasty

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Last updated at 7:52 AM on 2nd September 2011

It could have been as early as 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ that these horses were moved on to greener pastures - and no-one has laid eyes on them until now.

Archaeologists have painstakingly uncovered the almost-3,000-year-old remains of horses and wooden chariot in a Zhou Dynasty tomb in Luoyang, Henan Province, China.

The completed excavation unearthed four horse-and-chariot pits, dating back to as far as 770BC. 

Watering the horses: A staff member sprays water to maintain the humidity of an ancient horse and chariot pit unearthed in Luoyang, China. The main pit has a five chariots and 12 horses buring almost 3,000 years ago

Exciting find: Archaeologists say this is the most complete find of any tomb of its era. The wooden chariots have completely rotted away, with only the ash residue remaining

Funeral procession: The main pit contains five chariots and 12 horses. Archaeologists say that the animals were not entombed alive

The pits have well-preserved evidence of bronzeware and ceramics from the Early Western Zhou dynasty.

Though a far smaller tomb than the famous 'terracotta army' found in 1974 in the Lintong District, this find has been undisturbed while buried - not suffering the ravages of grave robbers. 

Archaeologists believe that the tomb belongs to an official of some renown during the dynasty - pottery, metal weaponwry and inscriptions are consisted with a man of mid-level importance.

Apart from the artifacts themselves, the tomb is an exciting discovery for historians, as it provides unquestionable insights into the funeral customs in the early Western Zhou dynasty. 

The unearthed tomb is a vertical earthen pit tomb, which is very common in that period. 

Because of the ancient nature of the site, the traditionally wooden coffin and body within have long-since carbonised.

But the most valuable discovery by far is the complete set of chariots and horses of all different shapes and sizes.

Animal lovers can at least breathe a small sigh of relief - archaeologists say the side-lying nature of the horse remains show that the animals were slaughtered before burial, and not entombed alive.

At the time of this official''s death, large-scale irrigation projects were being instituted across China, and the nation's writing system was being further developed.

It was also the time of the great Chinese philosophers of antiquity, including Confucius, Mencius, and Zhuangzi.

Many nearby tombs have fragments of the Luoyang find, but most have been emptied of their funeral relics by thieves.

Protected from theft: While other tombs in the region have been stripped of their contents, the Luoyang tomb includes pottery, copper weaponry, jade and other objects

Historical riches: Apart from the physical objects uncovered in the tomb, historians now have a richer understanding of funeral rites and customs of the Zhou dynasty

Summertime snow from 32C temps to freezing in minutes-Switzerland

• 30 August 2011, 9:59

Freak summertime snow storm

Holidaymakers told to prepare for a heatwave in Switzerland were caught cold when a freak ice storm left them with more than an inch of snow.

Within minutes tourists using the San Bernardino-Pass saw temperatures drop from 32 degrees Celsius to freezing within a few minutes.

Weathermen had warned of a thunderstorm heading towards the region but made no mention of snow.

"But instead of rain we got a thick covering of snow on the roads. We Swiss are used to snow, but not in the middle of a heatwave," said one local.

Mother gets fake breasts for 4-year-old pageant queen...

Fake breasts aged FOUR? Beauty pageant mother sparks outrage by boosting her daughter's chest and bottom 

• Maddy Jackson gets chicken fillets to emulate Dolly Parton on stage
• New series of Toddlers and Tiaras shows excesses of pushy parents

By SADIE WHITELOCKS

Last updated at 4:55 PM on 1st September 2011

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Disturbing: Maddy Jackson, 4, sporting the new must-have accessory - the removable breasts for toddlers

Barely out of nappies, four-year-old Maddy Jackson is already on the road to womanhood.

Sporting fake C cup breasts and padding on her bottom, she is the latest shock contestant on Toddlers and Tiaras, the U.S. reality show revealing the surreal world of beauty pageants.

In an attempt to mimic her curvaceous icon, country singer Dolly Parton - who is known for her ample cleavage - the toddler is shown sporting detachable bust and butt enhancements, before performing live on stage.

With the extra padding concealed under her Barbie pink Lycra catsuit, Maddy's tiny frame is transformed into an hourglass silhouette.

Barely able to string a sentence together, many will be shocked by the images of the peroxide blonde trying to emulate the appearance of a woman in her late 20s.

When questioned on NBC's Today show, her mother Lindsay, who entered her first pageant contest when she was nine months old, defends the enhancements used by her daughter.

She tells presenter Savannah Guthrie: 'To some people, it's over the top, to us it's just what happens... It's just normal. When she wears the fake boobs and the fake butt, it's just like extra bonus.' 

But others seems less convinced and Maddy's stylist Michael Booth believes the attire is a step to far.

Interviewed backstage at the competition, where hundreds of young hopefuls battle it out to be crowned beauty queen, Michael said: 'I wasn’t a big fan of the outfit with the boobs in it. She’s very young, but hopefully the judges will perceive it in good taste.'

Only $99 for a DIY house....

All this can be yours for just $99! Company makes tiny, 65 sq ft build-it-yourself homes 

By RACHEL QUIGLEY

Last updated at 7:49 AM on 1st September 2011

For those who are too broke to get on the housing ladder, an American firm is here to help.

Jay Shafer's Tumbleweed Tiny House Company makes cute little homes that start from the bargain price of $99.

The cheapest home is a flat-pack to be built by the owner but, if you're not very handy, there are ready-made versions for $38,997.

Cute: For those who are too broke to get on the housing ladder an American firm Tumbleweed Tiny House Company is here to help with homes that start at the bargain price of $99

Bargain: The cheapest home is a flat-pack to be built by the owner but, if you're not very handy, there are ready-made versions for $38,997

All necessities: The homes all have fully functioning kitchens, bathrooms and sleeping areas

The teeny homes, which start at just 65 square feet are kitted out with fully functioning kitchens,  bathrooms complete with composting toilets and sleeping areas.

Some models even come on wheels.

As well as being environmentally friendly the homes are affordable for people on meagre incomes. 

As the debt problem in the U.S. reaches tipping point Mr Shafer, who lives in one of his houses in Sebastapol, California, says that less can be more. 

'People are starting to get a clue I think,' he said.

'People are starting to understand that excess is not necessarily a luxury. It can be a burden, a liability. People are living in 4,000 and 6,000 square foot debtors prisons.'

Convenient: A lot of the homes have wheels, so you can move any time your heart desires

Mobile: The teeny homes, which start at just 65 square feet, are kitted out with fully-functioning kitchens, bathrooms and sleeping areas - some models even come on wheels

He said that having less belongings is also a pleasure.

'People spend 30 years or more paying for all this space and stuff that they don't really need.'

But one of the main reasons he likes to live small - less cleaning.

'I grew up in a 4,000 square foot home,' he said.

'And my sister and I were in charge of cleaning the house. But my main reason for building such a little home was nothing so grandiose as saving the world, or so pragmatic as saving money.

'Truth be known, I simply do not have the time or patience for a large home. I’ve found that, like anything else that’s superfluous, extra space merely gets in the way of my contentment, for it requires maintenance and heating and ultimately demands that I exchange a portion of my life for the money to pay for these luxuries. 

'I wanted a place that would maintain my serene lifestyle, not a place that I would spend the rest of my life maintaining. I find nothing demanding about Tumbleweed. Everything’s within arm’s reach and nothing’s in the way–not even space itself.'

Deals on wheels: As well as being environmentally friendly the homes are affordable for people on meagre incomes and can be wheeled anywhere

Mobile: The teeny homes designed by Jay Shafer, right, which start at just 65 square feet, are kitted out with fully-functioning kitchens, bathrooms and sleeping areas - some models even come on wheels

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2032402/Tumbleweed-Tiny-House-Company-makes-tiny-65-sq-ft-build-homes.html#ixzz1WgiJtzJF