Penny Palfrey a Swimmer challenge: Cross 103 miles of shark-infested water

The 49-year-old mother of three and grandmother of two jumped into the sea shortly after sunrise at 7.03 am local time from the Hemingway International Yacht Club in western Havana, headed for Florida's Key West. The swim is expected to take between 40 and 50 hour. Diving into the clear blue water off Havana Friday, Penny Palfrey began her quest to swim from Cuba to the United States. The Australian-British dual citizen is swimming without a shark cage, snorkel, flippers or wet suit. Palfrey estimated the journey would cover 103 miles (166 kilometers), much of it through shark infested waters."I am excited, a little nervous," she told reporters Friday while slathering one last coat of thick sunblock on herself. "I got about six hours of sleep last night, which is pretty good for the night before. The swimmer arrived at the dock under a clear sky wearing a blue bathing suit, gray cap and goggles, her face, legs and arms lathered with sunscreen. She waved an Australian flag.

Swimming strong. Great conditions. Some jellies, but not bad," Palfrey's support team tweeted after she covered 2.06 nautical miles (3.81 kilometres) in her first hour."Cuba fading on horizon. Looking good," her team said in another tweet.Palfrey is seeking to accomplish the feat in a "call for friendly relations between the peoples of the United States and Cuba," according to the Cuban foreign ministry.

Penny Palfrey

Even though she has completed long-distance swims of the English channel and a round-trip crossing of the Strait of Gibraltar, the waters between Cuba and the United States present unique hazards, she said."Each swim comes with its own challenges, this is a really big challenge; 103 miles is further than I have ever swum before," Palfrey said. "I expect it to be very challenging but I am very excited."

Her resume contains a long list of marathon swims, including twice across the English Channel, a round trip in the Strait of Gibraltar and three swims around Manhattan Island.She decided to take on the Florida Straits after flying over on her way back from the record-breaking Cayman swim.Palfrey had planned to make her attempt a few days ago, but had to wait for Tropical Storm Debby to stop churning in the Gulf of Mexico off northwestern Florida.

Palfrey, who was born in Britain and moved to Australia at age 19, is among the most accomplished open-water swimmers in the world and has successfully completed swims in the Caribbean and Pacific without a shark cage. 

Two years ago, she crossed the Strait of Gibraltar between Spain and Morocco in three hours and three minutes, setting a new record for women.Her latest attempt was in September, when she quit her swim two thirds of the way into the crossing after suffering dangerous jellyfish stings. She plans to try again this summer. 

If successful, Palfrey, 49, would surpass the record that she set in 2011 for the longest unassisted swim. Palfrey swam over 67 miles from Little Grand Cayman island to Big Grand Cayman island.

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6 amazing Aussie caves in Australia: AWESOME underground

Some of the world's best subterranean wonders are here in Australia, right beneath our feet

From show caves for tour groups to a taste of white-knuckle, hard-hat adventure, we plunge underground to visit half a dozen of Australia’s most amazing cave locations.

Margaret Cave.

In 1899, Western Australia’s Margaret River area wasn’t like the landscape of wineries and chocolate factories we see today. Not by a stretch.It was rough country and, while looking for wild horses, Edward Dawson discovered a hole leading into a massive cave.

Our guide explains the physical features of Ngilgi Cave and also how opera diva Dame Nellie Melba’s grand piano was lowered into it so she could perform in the Amphitheatre.A huge calcite column known as the Suspended Table is reflected in the beautiful underground lake, making this seem like wonderland at 62 meters down.Nearby Jewel Cave has 700 meters of stairs and walkways through several caverns. A large chamber of stalactites, stalagmites, helictites and shawls has features with crazy names like turkey, broccoli and frozen waterfall.

kelly hill caves

This is one of the few dry limestone caves in Australia, created differently from normal solution caves, with direct rainfall being responsible for speleothem formation -- the technical term for stalactites and so on. Just off the South Australian coast, sports wildlife, lighthouses, seascapes, food and wine. 

It is also home to Kelly Hill Caves.There are all the usual formations, including good examples of shawls, but I’m most impressed by the small, intricately beautiful helictites with stony hooks on the end.Kangaroo Island, just off the South Australian coast, sports wildlife, lighthouses, seascapes, food and wine. It is also home to Kelly Hill Caves

capricorn cave

Just a glance at Naracoorte’s World Heritage listing is enough to grasp that the South-Australian cave system is one of unusual quality.

“The Pleistocene fossil vertebrate deposits of Victoria Fossil Cave at Naracoorte,” it says, “are considered to be ... Australia's largest and best preserved and one of the richest deposits in the world.”Here, a guide explains the accumulation of bones in the caves, excavation techniques and research.

There’s a chance to see complete skeletons of megafauna specieslike the marsupial lion and sthenurine kangaroo.

The Wonambi Fossil Centre contains fossil displays and a walk-through diorama with life-sized models of extinct animals that broaden our understanding of what life was like here 200,000 years ago.

Yarrangobilly caves

“It makes bubbles,” the child replies eagerly.“Yes. Because the gas comes out,” the guide explains.

Our short geology lesson about solutional caves explains how rainwater mixes with carbon dioxide, seeps down from above and dissolves the rocks because of gas in the carbonated water.

Dripping from the roof of the cave, it forms stalactites, while droplets landing on the floor grow into stalagmites.Yarrangobilly Caves are off the Snowy Mountains Highway south of Tumut in New South Wales. Created from 440-million-year-old limestone, they were discovered in 1834 by a stockman.Only six of the 300 caves are open to the public and, of those, two host regular tours.

Jenolan caves

In 1872 this became illegal thanks to local politician John Lucas, after whom one of the caves was named.

Today there’s greater awareness. As Jenolan Caves’ former general manager, Andrew Fletcher, explained when reopening the Temple of Baal cave in 2006 (it first opened to the public in 1907).

“The combination of LED track lighting and HID spotlighting ... produces only one-third of the heat of the old system,” he said. “Which is great news for the cave’s fragile environment.”

Synchronized music and sound effects have been added, creating an evocative display of that cave’s formations like the beautiful nine-meter-long Angel’s Wing shawl, one of the largest cave shawls in the world.

The Lucas, Orient, River and Ribbon Caves have all been similarly revamped, creating a stunning show cave experience for Jenolan’s 250,000 annual visitors.  

Situated north of Rockhampton in Queensland, Capricorn Caves have been a tourist attraction since their discovery by Norwegian John Olsen in 1882.

This system of aboveground caves inside a limestone ridge can be experienced in different ways.

There’s a tour of the Cathedral Cave, with an optional ending through the narrow Zig Zag Passage, where visitors emerge into daylight on a swinging bridge in the rain forest.

For an educational perspective, the Geotour examines significant marine fossils encrusted on the walls and the threatened ferntectaria devexa, for which the caves are one of only two known habitats in Australia. But for something to get the adrenalin pumping, Wild Caving Adventures see participants squeezing their way through the wonderfully named Fat Man’s Misery, a 30-centimeter-diameter hole, or crawling like commandos before finally emerging on top of the ridge.

To orient yourself as we cave-hop around the country, click here to open an interactive map of the sites featured in a new window

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Best America fireworks celebration on the 4th of July

America best firework

Few celebrations are as tradition-heavy as Boston’s Fourth, which began in 1974 in anticipation of the Bicentennial. Some 20 city, state, and federal agencies collaborate on the planning, and six—including the U.S. Coast Guard and the Cambridge police and fire departments—have boats in the Charles River, to oversee the four barges as they launch the 21-minute extravaganza.

Take a seat on Independence Day and crane your neck for America’s most spectacular fireworks displays.

Most big cities will mark the traditional date, July 4th, with landmark fireworks shows and parades, but many smaller towns are holding events before or after the actual date, with the weekend of July 6-7th lining up as a favorite.The bottom line: Independence Day 2012 offers a prime excuse to party all week long.  Where should you go to see the biggest, boldest, most spectacular celebrations of our nation’s 236th birthda

New York Celebration

We asked a couple of people who know how to set the sky on fire – fireworks experts – for advice. “New York City tops the list,” says Julie Heckman, executive director of the American Pyrotechnics Association, the trade association of the U.S. fireworks industry.

Where to View: The Boston Pops kicks the night off with a rousing concert at 8:30 p.m., but oddly enough, you can’t see the fireworks at all from the best concert seats. Thanks to 30 sound towers, though, every one of the 400,000 to 600,000 spectators—watching from both the Cambridge and Boston sides of the river on blankets, from the Longfellow Bridge, and from some 500 to 1,000 boats on the river—can have their concert and watch the fireworks too.

The Fourth of July is one celebration we can depend on each and every summer.

Some of the country’s major cities put on the most incredible fireworks displays possible on the 4^th of July; most of them far better than what you’ll find on New Years Eve! Grab a blanket or chair, load the family into the car, and make yourself comfortable at your perfect viewing point. These fireworks displays are destined to leave you calling for more.

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13cm live worm from man's eye Doctor pulled in India

A 13-centimetre long worm that was surgically removed from a patient's eye in Mumba

An image of a human eye. A doctor in India has pulled a live 13 centimetre-long worm from the eye of an elderly patient who was complaining of persistent pain in an operation reminiscent of a far-fetched alien movie plot

Indian doctor V. Seetharaman (left) is seen with his patient P.K. Krishnamurthy after 

A doctor in India has pulled a live 13 centimetre-long worm from the eye of an elderly patient who was complaining of persistent pain in an operation reminiscent of a far-fetched alien movie plot.An image of a human eye. When Dr V. Seetharaman examined 75-year-old patient P.K. Krishnamurthy at Mumbai's Fortis Hospital this week, the eye expert was shocked by the highly unusual sight of the writhing parasite and had to operate speedily to remove it before serious damage was caused "It was wriggling there under the conjunctiva," 

Krishnamurthy had been suffering for more than two weeks with redness and irritation before the doctor pin-pointed the threadlike creature under a microscope on Wednesday. "He was also confused and very much disturbed," said Seetharaman. The specialist removed the 13-centimetre (five-inch) worm by making a small opening in the conjunctiva -- a 15-minute operation that was observed by the patient's horrified wife, Saraswati.

"It just kept moving and jumping; it was scary for a bit," she told the Mumbai Mirror.

He suggested the creature could have entered the patient from a cut in his foot or from eating raw or improperly cooked food, before entering the bloodstream and travelling to the eye.

"If the worm was not removed it could have gone into the layers of the eye and caused visual loss," he said. "It could have entered the brain and caused major neurological problems."

Dr S. Narayani, the hospital's medical director, agreed it was an extremely rare case. "We have a very active ophthalmology department and we have not come across a case like this in the last 10 years

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CHINA first female astronauts and two crews return to the earth safe

Chinese astronaut Jing Haipeng, commander of the Shenzhou 9 mission, salutes after exiting the space capsule following the spacecraft's touchdown in Inner Mongolia.

CHINA first female astronaut and two other crew members emerged smiling from a capsule that returned safely to Earth on Friday from a 13-day mission to an orbiting module that is a prototype for a future space station.

The three, all experienced air force pilots, were lifted on to folding chairs and appeared in good health. They smiled, waved, chatted and saluted as state television ran live footage from the landing site.The Shenzhou 9 parachuted to a landing on the grasslands of the country's sprawling Inner Mongolia region at about 10 a.m. (0200 GMT). China declared the first manned mission to the Tiangong 1 module — the space program's longest and most challenging yet — a major stride ahead for the country's ambitious space program.

The mission had included both remote control and piloted dockings with the module and extensive medical monitoring of the astronauts as part of preparations for manning a permanent space station.China's next goals include another manned mission to the module originally scheduled for later this year but which may be delayed depending on an evaluation of the Shenzhou 9 mission and the condition of the Tiangong 1. China has been extremely cautious and methodical in its manned missions, with more than three years passing since the previous one, and all four have been relatively problem-free.

Three Chinese astronauts returned to Earth Thursday (June 28) after 13 days in space on a historic mission that made their country only the third nation ever to successfully dock a manned spacecraft to another in orbit.Their landing was broadcast live on China's state-run CCTV television network, showing the capsule streaking through the atmosphere like a meteor, deploying its main parachute, then making the final landing and rolling over on its side in a rough touchdown.

The three astronauts aboard China's Shenzhou 9 spacecraft grasp hands to celebrate their successful manned docking with the Tiangong 1 orbiting module on June 24, 2012, in this still from a state CCTV broadcast. At center is astronaut Liu Wang,

Wang Zhaoyao, director of China's manned space program office, said the program mirrors the rising global status of China.

        "For any country, for any people, a space program is indispensable," 

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Most expensive homes in America

                                                          LOS ANGELES

This romantic French style mansion in a Bel Air gated community has classic looks but was built just 10 years ago for then-wedded couple David and Suzanne Saperstein. It was inspired in part by Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicompte in France. The two have since divorced, and in the process Suzanne Saperstein picked up this estate, which she’s been trying to sell since last year. The interiors of the Fleur De Lys mansion feature soaring, coffered ceilings and a spacious, castle-like dining room with barrel vault ceilings. The 4-acre estate features a guest house, manicured gardens and a huge swimming pool flanked by hedge walls for privacy. 

LA BELVEDERE

A French inspired chateau, LA BELVEDERE reveals an inspired touch from its carefully-plannes site,  high above the millions jewelbox lights of los angeles

to its graciuos proportion and sumptouosly realized details. It combine visionary imagination wiht unrivaled quality. 

A Divine Atmosphere For Entertainments Grands and Intimate. The massive Bel Air mansion Le Belvedere, which went on the market in early 2009, was quickly reduced from $85 million to $72 million. The discount worked: It is currently in the escrow stage of a sale for an undisclosed price.”

The Most Famous Golf Hole in the World the 17th Hole at TPC Sawgrass

The 17th Hole at TPC Sawgrass The Most Famous Golf Hole in the World the most recognizable golf hole in the world. The 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass has created a buzz about "island holes"

The 17th had a path that gave you access to the green from the left side of the hole, but as you can see, the path is submerged. The same can almost be said for the green, which looks like it's about to go under as well. With more rain expected in the coming days, you have to wonder if the entire hole is going to disappear ... at least for a short period of time. If you had aspirations of playing TPC Sawgrass' iconic par-3 17th "Island Green" anytime soon, you may want to bring your canoe, because the only way you're getting to the green is by water vessel or swimming. 

Fame within the golf community is important but a golf hole being recognized by non-golfers is something you don't see often. This is not to say a non-golfer would be able to name the course, big tournament that is played there or even the hole number but I believe they would say something along the lines of,It's a hole that people will watch just to see the end result. It's golf (and sports) in its simplest form. One ball, one swing, one landing area. Some people watch just to see the best golfers in the world make a splash. Others, like myself, are watching to see how these guys do with when they face the pressure of one of the biggest stages in golf. It's about 130 yards (give or take) from tee to green, a shot golfers hit millions of times in their career and suddenly, panic sets in.

The 17th At TPC Sawgrass Has Done For Other Golf Courses

The 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass has created a buzz about "island holes". It should be noted that the 17th hole is actually a peninsula but overlooking that fact, it has created one of the best marketing opportunities a golf course can have. The Island Hole.I've been fortunate enough to play several courses with island holes and they are more than happy to let you know they have them. So we can imagine we are standing on the 17th tee at TPC Sawgrass experiencing what the TOUR players do. The ultimate test of your golf skills: hit the green or receive a penalty.

When I look back at the golf courses I have played with island holes, I can't remember what my score was. In most cases, I can't remember any of the other holes. What I do remember is arriving at the tee box and my heart racing. I know at that moment there is nowhere to hide. It's green or water. I stand there knowing it's not the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass but when the time comes (and it will come) for me to face the most famous hole in golf, I'll be ready.

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