1. AN American tourist who disappeared five years ago has been found in Australia.
The AFP reports that Kenneth Rodman, 55, hadn’t been seen alive since 2010, when his kayak found submerged near a beach off the coast of Port Douglas.
“Friends, family and police were unable to make contact with him since 2010,” Queensland state police said in a statement late Monday, “On Saturday night, officers investigating a matter stumbled across the now 60-year-old man where he allegedly confessed to police that he had been listed as a missing person.”
The Cairns Post said Kenneth was arrested after being chased down by a police dog while officers were investigating a routine burglary in Cairns.
He is believed to have been hiding out mostly in tropical far north Queensland but nobody seems to know why.
2. READERS have ripped into mega-selling Fifty Shades author E. L James on Twitter for promoting unhealthy relationships and violence against women in her blockbuster books.
James, who has just published the latest book in her bondage series, Grey, which tells the story from Christian Grey’s perspective, had agreed to take part in what was supposed to be a pleasant, live Q&A on Twitter to promote the new title.
Users were instructed to tweet questions to James using #AskELJames and many took the opportunity to tear James to pieces for writing books about a young girl who submits to a dangerously controlling billionaire.
Stand-out questions included:
Do you know how heartbreaking it is to see all the girls my age dreaming of such an unhealthy relationship?
Do you know what consent means? What about abuse?
Do realize that if Grey wasn’t a billionaire, the 50 Shades trilogy would be one hell of a Law & Order episode?
One victim of violence said: ‘Why did you ignore then block me when I told you I was a survivor and suggested you donate to an abuse charity?’
Critics also hammered James’ writing style. One critic wanted to know ‘what went through your mind’ when James wrote this sentence: ‘His eyebrows widened in surprise.’
Another said: ‘Have you considered telling the story from the perspective of someone who can write?’
The Fifty Shades franchise, Fifty Shades of Grey, Fifty Shades Darker, Fifty Shades Freed, and now Grey, is one of the bestselling series of all time.
Grey has been panned by critics because large parts are recycled from the earlier books, with Christian’s thoughts added in.
James, who is reportedly worth $60 million, seemed to take the criticism in her stride, signing off with: ‘Thanks so much for an interesting hour.’
3. ACTOR Michael Douglas has apologised for embarrassing his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones for saying that performing oral sex on women might cause, and then cure, mouth and throat cancer.
Event magazine reports that Catherine was mortified by his comments.
“I so regretted any embarrassment that it caused Catherine,” Michael said, “What I was trying to say was that there is a sexually transmitted virus called HPC, but there is a vaccination that they recommend to all kids before they become sexually active so they don’t catch HPC, which is a cause of certain types of cancer – cervical cancer, tongue and throat.”
“I was trying to make a public service announcement,” he said.
The actor was diagnosed with cancer in 2010 and underwent chemotherapy and radiation. His illness took its toll on Douglas’ marriage to Zeta Jones and the couple split briefly in 2013.
The Daily Mail says: ‘Today, Douglas says the couple, who are about to celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary, are happier than ever.
“We had a little bump in the road,” he says of their split. “The problem in this business is that everything is so public.”
4. TERRORIST group ISIS has decapitated two women, apparently for the crime of sorcery.
Reuters reports that the two women were beheaded with their husbands in Syria.
It is believed to be the first time the group has beheaded women, who are normally sentenced to die by stoning for crimes such as adultery.
The news agency says Islamic State also “crucified” five men in al-Mayadeen for eating during daylight hours of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. They were hung up by their limbs on the city wall and children were encouraged to mock them as they suffered and died.
5. HOW cool would it be to have Magda Szubanski as your godmum?
That’s the gift that Channel Nine star David Campbell has given to his daughter, Betty.
Campbell posted pictures of Magda with Betty – whose twin brother is Billy – on Instagram last night, saying: “Betty met her Godmother today.”
Magda was also a bridesmaid at David’s wedding to Lisa Hewitt.
6. And finally: are these the ugliest shoes ever, asks the New York Post?
Answer? Yes.
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