To see if danger makes people experience time in slow motion, scientists at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston tried scaring volunteers. However, roller coasters and other frightening amusement park rides did not cause enough fear to make time warp. Instead, the researchers dropped volunteers from great heights. Scientists had volunteers dive backward with no ropes attached, into a special net that helped break their fall. They reached 70 mph during the roughly three-second, 150-foot drop. Volunteers estimated their own fall lasted about a third longer than dives they saw other volunteers take. To see if this meant people in danger could actually see and perceive more—like a video camera in slow motion can—Eagleman and his colleagues developed a device called a “perceptual chronometer” that was strapped onto volunteers’ wrists. This watch-like device flickered numbers on its screen. The scientists could adjust the speed at which numbers appeared until they were too fast to see. If the brain sped up when in danger, the researchers theorized numbers on the perceptual chronometers would appear slow enough to read while volunteers fell. Instead, the scientists found that volunteers could not read the numbers at faster-than-normal speeds. “We discovered that people are not like Neo in The Matrix, dodging bullets in slow-mo,” Eagleman said. -

New York’s first liquor auction since the U.S. Prohibition era ended will take place on Saturday, with one bottle of Scotch whisky expected to fetch as much as $30,000 (6,410 pounds).

Christie’s plans to sell rare cognac, Armagnac, whiskies, Calvados and Chartreuse with a total value of up to $250,000. The top item, estimated at $20,000 to $30,000, is a bottle of Macallan scotch distilled in 1926.

A bottle of straight rye whiskey made from a recipe by the first U.S. President George Washington has an estimated value of $10,000 to $20,000.

And a bottle of Cognac Grande Fine Champagne named for Napoleon’s wife, the Empress Josephine, and distilled in 1811, is expected to bring in $4,000 to $6,000.

Christie’s also will auction off a batch of more than 700 whiskies with an estimated value of $70,000 to $100,000.

The United States outlawed the manufacture, transportation or sale of alcoholic beverages during Prohibition, which ran from 1920 to 1933.

But New York state did not pass laws authorizing wine auctions until 1994, and spirit auctions until August this year, said Frank Coleman, vice president of the Distilled Spirits Council.

Some of the bottles being auctioned have an estimated value of $300, making them relatively affordable and often long-lasting investments for keeping and tasting, said Richard Brierley, head of wine sales at Christie’s Americas.

“I find just a little bit on your lips and you’re done,” he said.

One of the most expensive spirits ever sold at auction was a bottle of Bowmore whiskey distilled in 1850. It was sold by McTear’s auction house in Scotland in September for $59,000, a Christie’s spokeswoman said.

Women with a sweet tooth should look away now. A designer to the stars has created the ultimate Christmas party dress for chocoholics…made from 1,000 luxury chocolate balls.

Lindka Cierach, who designed the Duchess of York’s wedding dress, said her new design took several weeks of planning, and is made from 79,000 calories worth of Lindt chocolate balls and crystals.

“The Lindor Dress is the ultimate party dress that you can unwrap and indulge in,” she said.

But the dress would be an expensive sweet treat. The bespoke gown would set you back £3,500.

The award-winning designer chose electric rock violinist Linzi Stoppard (daughter-in-law of playwright Sir Tom Stoppard) to launch the dress. Lindka said: “Linzi is an ideal choice - she is talented, beautiful and a fellow chocoholic.”

A spokesman for Swiss chocolatier said: “We have never had a dress made from our chocolate anywhere in the world before, and as Lindor is very popular with females in particular, we feel it’s very appropriate.”

KEY WEST, Fla. – A landscaping crew about to grind a tree stump stumbled across 30 World War II mortar shells buried in the ground on property once owned by the U.S. Navy. A worker hit and broke one of the live shells Friday, but it did not detonate. The mortars could have done serious damage had they exploded, Sgt. Bobby Randolph of the Monroe County Sheriff’s office said.

Full Story 

SALINAS, Calif. - Sober drivers passing through a DUI checkpoint in Salinas will be getting the bird. Up to 300 turkeys will be given to drivers who successfully pass through the sobriety checkpoint Tuesday.

The location for the DUI checkpoint isn’t being disclosed.
The Salinas Police Department and the Safe Teens Empowerment Project in Salinas are joining forces in the turkey giveaway.