1 week agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Mechanic exposes two oil change upgrades that are a ‘useless’ waste of money and tells drivers ‘it makes no sense’
AN expert mechanic has warned drivers to refuse two oil change upgrades that are reguarly offered by auto repair stores.
The motoring guru has opened up on the shady tactics used by some garages to rip off customers – especially those with minimal car knowledge.
GettyA mechanic has warned drivers to refuse two oil change upgrades that are reguarly offered by auto repair stores[/caption]
TikTok/@acura_mechanicThe motoring guru has exposed the tactics used by some garages[/caption]
In a video posted to TikTok, a user has urged customers to stay away from fuel cleaning and fuel additive offers during a regular oil change, and to simply just get their oil changed and tires rotated.
In the clip, which has more than 103,000 views, the mechanic said: “These car fuel packages are useless and rip off customers for no reason.”
Fuel cleaners are used to remove dirt and debris from the vehicle’s fuel system, while fuel additives aim to improve fuel performance, efficiency, and engine longevity.
However, the mechanic claims these two services are completely unnecessary if you have been regularly maintaining your car and changing its oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles.
He added: “Adding fuel cleaner and fuel additives is useless.
“Gas is very clean in most states. You don’t need to put any cleaner into your gas tank. It makes no sense.”
TikTok users were full of praise for the honest mechanic, with one person commenting: “Honest Mechanic with great advice.”
Another wrote: “I used to be a Service Advisor and my dealership really pushed the fuel system cleaner.
“They claimed the injectors would get clogged up after 30,000 miles, I hated recommending this to my customers.”
And a third simply said: “Gotta protect this man at all cost.”
Generally, staying on top of oil changes and following routine car maintenance will keep your vehicle in great shape.
According to AAA, car owners should change their oil every 5,000 miles or so.
Of course, this can vary depending on your vehicle’s age, the type of oil, and regular driving conditions.
YouTuber Scotty Kilmer said it’s not necessary to change your coolant or battery very often, but that it might be difficult to remember when to switch them out.
Elsewhere, a lucky driver has snapped up a bargain Volkswagen for just $1,000.
The used car was sold to them with a suspected fault – but they soon discovered that it needed a part that costs just $4 to work again.
GettyStaying on top of oil changes and following routine car maintenance will keep your vehicle in great shape[/caption]
GettyCar owners should change their oil every 5,000 miles or so[/caption]
1 week agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Everyone can see the black bird but only those with the sharpest eyes can spot 5 Halloween pumpkins in under 15 seconds
ONLY those with perfect vision and a key eye for detail can solve this puzzle in a matter of seconds.
In this Halloween-themed brainteaser, it is easy to spot the bird and the wheelbarrow.
HayppCan you spot the five Halloween pumpkins in just 15 seconds?[/caption]
However, your task is to spot the five pumpkins hidden in the cartoon of a farmer’s market.
With lots of different details to distract you, the creators of this image have not made the puzzle easy to solve.
While you may be quick to find one or two of the pumpkins, some are much trickier as they are hidden behind other objects.
It might be worth knowing that the pumpkins do not all look the same.
Puzzles such as these are not fun as they also carry numerous healthbenefits such as relieving stress and improving cognitive function.
Now that you have had some time to closely examine the image, how many pumpkins have you found?
If you have spotted all five in less than 15 seconds you can give yourself a pat on the back and brag about your perfect eyesight.
However, if you are struggling two tips might help you out.
Both have to do with how you approach the image and start searching for the vegetables.
It is all to do with giving yourself less to focus on within the image so you notice more and find those pumpkins.
Try dividing the image into more manageable chunks such as quarters and then search each piece carefully before moving on to the next.
Don’t forget to look very closely as some of the pumpkins are very difficult to spot.
If that doesn’t work you can approach the image differently and slowly examine the picture as if your eyes are the hands of a clock.
How can optical illusions and brainteasers help me?
Engaging in activities like solving optical illusions and brainteasers can have many cognitive benefits as it can stimulate various brain regions.
Some benefits include:
Cognitive stimulation: Engaging in these activities challenges the brain, promoting mental agility and flexibility.
Problem-solving skills: Regular practice enhances analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
Memory improvement: These challenges often require memory recall and can contribute to better memory function.
Creativity: They encourage thinking outside the box, fostering creativity and innovative thought processes.
Focus and attention: Working on optical illusions and brainteasers requires concentration, contributing to improved focus.
Stress relief: The enjoyable nature of these puzzles can act as a form of relaxation and stress relief.
By slowly going around the picture and breaking it up into more manageable pieces, you can stay focused rather than get distracted by the woman’s eye-popping yellow trousers or the striped awning.
If those pumpkins are just too hard to find, scroll down to the solution image below.
Meanwhile, here are some more mind-boggling puzzles for you to try.
There are numerous other puzzles to have a go at on The Sun website as well as more pictures below.
HayppHow long did it take you to find all five pumpkins?[/caption]
www.jagranjosh.comCan you find the hidden spider?[/caption]
Can you spot the missing puppy in this scene?www.jagranjosh.comThere it is! Were you quick enough to find it?[/caption]
The savvy pup was under the bridge
ShutterstockUK health chiefs are investigating 20 deaths that have been reported as being potentially linked to fat jabs[/caption]
GettyWe asked the experts key questions on these ‘miracle’ jabs[/caption]
And now, unemployed Brits could be given free weight-loss jabs under plans being drawn up by Wes Streeting.
The health secretary wants to use drugs – including Wegovy and Mounjaro to kickstart a major back-to-work drive.
But there is a dark side to these “miracle jabs”.
UK health chiefs are investigating 20 deaths that have been reported as being potentially linked to the injections, it was revealed this month.
Several celebs, including model Lottie Moss and Stephen Fry, have opened up about all the horrible side effects they experienced while taking the jabs- from contorting on the floor to violent sickness.
To help separate fact from fiction, and arm you with vital information, Vanessa Chalmers asked the experts key questions on injectables.
What are the different fat jabs?
There is one thing all fat jabs have in common — they mimic the hormone (glucagon-like peptide 1) that makes you feel full.
Wegovy is the brand name for the drug semaglutide, also found in Ozempic, approved to treat diabetes.
Dr Aishah Iqbal, a doctor and weight-loss coach who runs mindoverdiets.co.uk, tells Sun Health: “It works by increasing insulin secretion and delays gastric emptying, creating a suppression in appetite.”
Meanwhile, Mounjaro is the brand name for another medication, tirzepatide, and Saxenda contains the active drug liraglutide.
Dr Mitra Dutt, a GP from Lloyds Pharmacy Online Doctor, says: “Mounjaro works by activating two hormonal receptors (GIP and GLP-1), which enhance insulin production, improve insulin sensitivity and work to decrease food intake.”
Saxenda, which contains the active ingredient liraglutide, is another weight loss jab that’s been available on the NHS since 2020.
Containing the active ingredient retatrutide, slimmers trying the drug lost up to 29 per cent of their weight in less than a year.
By comparison, trial results showed semaglutide, known as Ozempic, could lead to 15 per cent weight loss and tirzepatide, aka Mounjaro, to 23 per cent.
Weight loss jabs might benefit your health in other ways
'Monumental' fat jabs could level the playing field
By Lizzie Parry, Head of Health
FIRST things first, let’s just clear up which so-called ‘fat jabs’ are available on the NHS at the moment.
Chances are you’ve heard of Ozempic – the brand name has become synonymous with weight loss jabs, largely thanks to celebrities in the US rumoured to have used it.
But, Ozempic is not available on the NHS for weight loss and is only approved as a treatment for type 2 diabetes in the UK.
That said, Wegovy, a similar treatment that contains semaglutide, the same active ingredient as Ozempic, is approved for weight-loss on the NHS.
Meanwhile, Mounjaro, dubbed the ‘King Kong’ of skinny jabs – a slightly newer drug with the active ingredient tirzepatide – is also licensed for weight loss in the UK.
Both semaglutide and tirzepatide work to help people lose weight by suppressing appetite.
The causes of obesity are complex, and in many cases genetics are a major factor.
Our genes influence all sorts of things, from how much food we need to eat to feel full to how our brain reacts to food cues.
So, it really is the case that some people feel the urge to eat more often than others.
In the face of giant portion sizes, ultra-processed foods at every turn and on every menu, it can be incredibly difficult for some people – due to their genetics – to maintain a healthy weight.
That’s why these drugs could prove a game-changer. They could help level the playing field.
For those people who are genetically predisposed to being more hungry, these drugs can help realign their urge to eat to that of a person who finds it easier to stay slim.
That said, no medication comes without risk.
So, doctors need to assess each individual on a case-by-case basis to balance any risk versus the benefit for their patients.
In people who live with severe obesity, the likelihood is that the benefits will outweigh the risks, especially if they have other health issues like diabetes or heart disease.
For those of a healthy weight, it’s more likely the risks will outweigh the benefits, experts warn.
Common side effects include vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea, gallstones, and less common but more severe risks include acute pancreatitis.
While these drugs really could prove monumental in helping to shrink the nation’s waistline, it is vital that they come with support and education to help improve people’s diet and lifestyle, putting movement and exercise at the heart of any prescription.
Retatrutide acts on three different receptors in the brain, “turbocharging” calorie burning while dulling hunger pangs.
Existing weight-loss jabs only suppress appetite, whereas the new treatment also speeds up metabolism.
The new drug is still undergoing clinical trials so it’s not yet known if it will be made available on the NHS.
Is it safe to use fat jabs to slim down before a holiday or wedding?
Ian Budd, pharmacist for Chemist4U and MyBMI, says: “Using injectable weight-loss medications for cosmetic reasons or without a medical need is not recommended and can be potentially harmful.
“They are not a quick fix or a way to lose a few pounds before a holiday.
“Misuse of these medications can lead to serious health consequences and should be avoided.”
Dr Iqbal adds: “They are for the management of chronic obesity, so they may not be the first step to take if your weight gain has been more recent or over a shorter period of time.”
How much weight can you expect to lose with fat jabs?
With Wegovy, you can expect to see 15 per cent weight loss on average. That is a 31lb weight loss for a person weighing 15st, taking them to 12st 11lb.
Mounjaro is more effective, reducing weight by 20 per cent. And Saxenda is the least effective, with five per cent weight loss, on average.
They are not a quick fix or a way to lose a few pounds before a holiday
Ian Budd, pharmacist for Chemist4U and MyBMI
Dr Dutt says: “Based on clinical trials, 96 per cent of people were able to lose more than five per cent of their body fat using Mounjaro.
“In similar trials, 84 per cent of people lost more than five per cent of their body weight on Wegovy, and 60 per cent on Saxenda.”
Can you get the jabs on the NHS?
Eligiblity hinges on having a body mass index of 30-35 (obese category), coupled with weight-related health issues such as hypertension or type 2 diabetes.
Dr Iqbal explains: “You need to be referred to the NHS specialist weight management service, usually by your GP.”
Mr Budd says: “Access to these medications on the NHS may be considered only in exceptional cases where other weight-loss interventions have been unsuccessful.”
Criteria for a private prescription depends on the healthcare provider. He says: “In some cases, the criteria may be similar to NHS guidelines, while in others, it may be more relaxed.”
Privately, the jabs cost anywhere from £150 to £260 a month.
Canyou buy fat jabs over the counter?
Fat jabs aren’t available over the counter, you need to have a prescription to take them.
Aside from getting a prescription via the NHS, you also have the option for paying for a private prescription.
Your eligibility will still need to be assessed by a pharmacist or GP, according to Click2Pharmacy.
How long do you have to take the jabs for?
Mr Budd says: “In general, these medications are used for a limited period, usually up to 12 weeks.”
Websites touting “15/20 per cent weight loss” refer to clinical trials in which patients were given fat jabs for more than a year.
The NHS website says patients’ prescriptions are continued past three to six months only if a minimum of five per cent body weight reduction has been achieved.
Mr Budd says: “After discontinuing injectable weight-loss medications, appetite may gradually return to normal, the extent of which can vary.”
Although fat jabs appear to be a “magic fix”, Dr Iqbal adds: “These medications should be used alongside lifestyle changes such as dietary changes and exercise.”
What are the potential side effects and risks?
Mr Budd says: “Common side effects may include nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, headache and dizziness. The frequency and severity of side effects can vary, and some people may experience none at all.
“Long-term effects of injectable weight-loss medications are still being studied, and the safety profile of these medications over extended periods is not yet fully understood.”
Other side effects reported include vomiting, abdominal pain, fatigue, flatulence and acid reflux.
Positive research studies show evidence that semaglutide can reduce the risk of heart failure, heart attack, stroke, addiction, Parkinson’s and even Alzheimer’s.
There were concerns that the jabs were linked to both thyroid cancer and suicide but more recent studies have challenged these claims.
How can you be sure that you are buying your jabs from a reputable place?
Mr Budd says: “There’s no way to know what you’re putting into your body.
There’s no way to know what you’re putting into your body
Ian Budd, pharmacist for Chemist4U and MyBMI
“If someone is offering you weight-loss medications with no questions asked, that’s a huge red flag and you should avoid them at all costs.”
He says a legitimate prescriber will have their credentials listed in registers provided by the General Medical Council or General Pharmaceutical Council and pharmacies should be registered with the GPhC.
Arethere any products that give the same effect?
Supplement products may be touted as having the same effect as Ozempic..
Rachell Hipkiss, a nutritional biochemist, says: “Two particular products keep popping up. Berberine, hailed as ‘nature’s Ozempic’ on TikTok, is a bioactive compound. Glucomannan (Konjac) is a root vegetable native to China.”
But neither have the same clinical research backing their effects.
Foods that help manage appetite, helping you feel fuller for longer, include oats, avocados, eggs and nuts.
What you could try…
GettyEggs could mimic fat jabs[/caption]
GettyAvocados are another food to try out for natural results[/caption]
Like fat jabs, there are some foods that Canadian scientists claim could mimic the GLP-1 hormone.
It’s worth giving all of these a go – oats, avocados, eggs, nuts and plenty of vegetables.
GettyYou could also give oats a try[/caption]
and what to avoid
Time HealthBe cautious of over-the-counter supplements like Berberine[/caption]
AlamyAnother one to be careful about is Glucomannan[/caption]
You should always be cautious of extravagant claims you will see on social media, such as that over-the-counter supplements including Glucomannan and Berbering, are “as good as Ozempic”.
The other surprising ways weight loss jabs can boost your health
Whether it’s wild before-and-after pictures flooding social media or the feral gossip each time a celebrity posts a snap of themselves appearing to look far slimmer than before.
And now, we’re being faced with a barrage of studies claiming the jabs might be good for more than just shedding the pounds.
Other experts have said the fat-blasting jabs can silence snoring by treating an underlying health condition called sleep apnoea.
This happens when your breathing stops and starts while you are asleep, causing people to gasp, snore and wake up spluttering during the night.
Medications like Wegovy could affect cognitive disorders and even ward off Alzheimer’s.
The thought stems from a Danish study that followed people with type 2 diabetes for five years.
The scientists found those on weight loss jabs were less likely to develop dementia compared to those not on the drug.
Meanwhile, some women have reportedly become pregnant unexpectedly after taking semaglutide jabs.
This has led to some doctors in the US prescribing the medicine to treat polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), one of the leading causes of infertility in women.
Many people with the condition are overweight and found to have higher levels of testosterone, which is usually thought of as a ‘male hormone’.
Researchers reckon weight loss drugs could help regulate hormones in people with PCOS and so reduce symptoms and complications.
As people get older, they tend to shed muscle and gain body fat, which feeds into conditions often seen in older adults, such as frailty and loss of muscle mass and strength.
There are some trials happening now which are looking into whether drugs such as semaglutide can slow this process down.
As it turns out, weight loss jabs can crush drug cravings in the same way they stop the urge to eat.
The jabs are known to promote feelings of fullness and, it seems, dampen the reward associated not only with food but also drugs.
A Penn University study found liraglutide was as good as a fortnight in rehab for people addicted to painkillers.
The skinny jab could also cut your risk of a heart attack, according to researchers.
Being a healthy weight can slash your risk of developing heart and circulatory diseases like strokes and vascular dementia.
That’s because carrying excess weight can lead to fatty substances building up in your arteries, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) warns.
Meanwhile, French researchers reported the jabs could modestly slow down the advancement of Parkinson’s.
The paper, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, involved 156 people with early Parkinson’s disease who were randomly assigned to take the drug — lixisenatide -or a placebo and followed for a year.
During that time, Parkinson’s symptoms like tremor, stiffness, slowness and balance worsened in those taking the placebo but not in those taking the drug.
1 week agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Jay Slater’s mum SLAMS investigator for ‘kicking off the trolls’ & hiding info on teen’s death…as she begs ‘just say it’
JAY Slater’s heartbroken mum has slammed investigator Mark Williams-Thomas for reigniting “the trolls” and claims he is hiding key information.
Debbie Duncan begged the ex-Madeline McCann cop to either reveal everything he knows about Jay’s death directly to the family and police or “just stay out of it” for good.
Jay Slater’s mum Debbie Duncan has hit back at one of the lead investigators on her son’s caseLouis WoodMark Williams-Thomas recently made a video saying he has solved two mysteries around why Jay left the Airbnb in Tenerife but hasn’t revealedIan WhittakerFacebookJay with his mum Debbie[/caption]
Williams-Thomas has been continuing to investigate the tragic death following Jay’s funeral in August.
On Monday he posted a video on social media saying he has solved two mysteries surrounding Jay: why he left the Airbnb and why he didn’t return.
Despite the claims, the former cop is yet to provide any evidence or explanation but says he is working “closely with the family”.
But a grief-stricken Debbie, 55, has hit out at the former TV sleuth since saying the video has only brought back vile online trolls.
She also said Williams-Thomas’ latest move feels like a “PR stunt”.
The school finance officer told MailOnline: “If he knows something I wish he would say it, otherwise people will think it’s just publicity and it’s not doing me any good.
“Now it’s all over the news again and it’s really knocked me.
“I thought for a second he might have something but now I’m thinking it might just be a PR stunt.
“All it’s done is that it’s got all the bloody TikTokers back and they have never really stopped which is even sadder.”
Debbie has constantly blasted online trolls for the abuse they have given everyone involved in Jay’s case.
The search for the Lancashire teen was hampered by amateur sleuths and conspiracy theorists who kept on spreading wild claims.
For months they have hounded the Slater family and friends while constantly making up lies about Jay and why he may have gone missing.
The 55-year-old mum has said since the video was released by the investigator the abuse has only worsened.
Debbie continued: “I couldn’t sleep at all last night because after he posted what he did it on his social media just kicked off all the trolls again.
“Losing Jay was hard enough but then having to read what some people are writing is torture.
“I’m not good really and I would be lying if I said I was alright, the last few hours have just been awful.
“What he said has knocked me back a million steps, I just wish he would say what he knows or just stay out of it.”
Louis WoodDebbie with Jay’s older brother Zak reading out a vile letter sent to the family by a troll[/caption]
Louis WoodDebbie at Jay’s grave[/caption]
The pair last spoke a few weeks ago about Jay, Debbie revealed.
She said she asked Williams-Thomas to run through the case with her one more time as the first few weeks in Tenerife had been incredibly tough on her mentally.
Jay left an Airbnb in the village of Masca on June 17 hours after travelling there with two men he’d met at a music festival.
The search made headlines worldwide after sleuths tried to piece the Lancashire teen’s last moments together.
Police spent almost two weeks combing the vast area he may have walked through with drones, helicopters and sniffer dogs before turning to a private search.
Jay’s desperate dad Warren, 58, and brother Zak, 24, also kept up the hunt – retracing Jay’s steps almost every day in the blistering heat.
In an exclusive interview with The Sun, Debbie said: “Jay was just a lovely boy with a massive personality.
“Everybody just loved Jay being in his company – family, friends and work.
“He was loving and popular, always full of fun and smiling – and the main guy in the group.”
Timeline of the tragic case
JAY'S body was finally found after weeks of agony for the teen's friends and family with many questions still left unanswered - here is how the events unfolded...
Sunday, June 16: Jay and his friends party at the last day of NRG music festival being held at Papagayo night club in Playa de la Americas, Tenerife.
June 17 3-6am: Jay leaves with Ayub Qassim and another man for a £40-a-night Airbnb 23 miles away in the village of Masca.
7.30am: Jay shares a photo on Snapchat standing at doorway of the Airbnb.
8.50am: He calls pal Lucy Mae Law and says he is “lost in the middle of nowhere” with no water, a cut to his leg and one per cent on his phone.
Tuesday, June 18: Pals search area but no sign of Jay. Local cops and mountain rescue teams start official search. Jay’s mother Debbie Duncan flies to Tenerife.
June 19-20: Spanish police deploy drones, dogs and a helicopter, but find no trace. Search moves to Los Cristianos amid possible sighting, but it is ruled out and they return to Rural de Teno, near Masca.
June 21: Lancashire Police offer support but it is declined.
June 22: Mum Debbie issues emotional appeal to Jay saying “We just need you home.”
June 24: Claims of Jay sighting in Santiago del Teide — near to where he disappeared — and family believe a grainy CCTV image could be of him.
June 25: Debbie issues plea for her son to come home as more friends fly out and TV investigator Mark Williams- Thomas joins search.
June 29: Cops rule Mr Qassim, and other man at Airbnb, out of investigation.
June 30: Spanish cops officially suspend hunt but say probe “remains open”. His family continue to search.
July 15: A body is found by helicopter search team close to where his phone last pinged. His possessions are discovered next to human remains. Spanish cops say it points to an “accidental fall”.
August 5: Tenerife authorities confirm the body found in mountainous area of island is Jay’s.
August 10: Jay’s funeral is held at Accrington Crematorium, Lancs, with hundreds of mourners gathering to remember the “one of a kind” teen.
Ian WhittakerJay, 19, vanished while on holiday on June 17[/caption]
Ian WhittakerDad Warren and brother Zak spent weeks out into the mountains to search for Jay[/caption]
ZenpixDevastated brother Zak was a pallbearer for his little brother[/caption]
1 week agoUSA UpdateComments Off on BINI reveals new light stick, merchandise ahead of Grand BINIverse in November
PULP Spaces+ reveals BINI lightstick, concert merch ahead of three-day Grand BINIverse this November. BINI also announces other merchandise in collaboration with the group and the fans.
1 week agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Feline fire fiasco: More than 20 injured in Samut Prakan blaze
A late-night fire in a crowded apartment building in Samut Prakan’s Mueang district left more than 20 residents nursing minor injuries from smoke inhalation. The chaos erupted around midnight yesterday, October 15, as hundreds of tenants made a frantic escape from the five-storey building on Samrong Soi 20. The fire reportedly ignited in a second-floor …
1 week agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Climate activists rally in Bangkok: No more ‘carbon’ copies of injustice
More than 200 climate activists descended on the United Nations Headquarters in Bangkok yesterday passionately demanding an end to climate change laws and carbon credit systems that favour corporate giants. The rally, titled “System Change Not Climate Crisis,” aimed to pressure the Thai government ahead of the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), taking …
1 week agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Man robbed at knifepoint while selling iPhone 16 in Bangkok
A man was robbed at knifepoint after attempting to sell an iPhone 16 via Facebook. The incident took place early yesterday, October 15, near the entrance of Soi Phahonyothin 49 in Lat Yao, Chatuchak, Bangkok. Police are currently investigating the case to apprehend the suspect. Around 12.03am today, Bang Khen police officers were alerted to …
1 week agoUSA UpdateComments Off on How to spend less on high-quality cannabis in Thailand
Cannabis often comes with a hefty price tag. For many frequent consumers, especially those who need it for medical purposes, finding premium cannabis without breaking the bank can be a challenge. The good news is, it’s not impossible. To help you get the best without overspending, here are some easy tips from Four Twenty Thailand, …
1 week agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Search continues for 12 year old Thai girl missing for 12 days
A Thai mother and aunt in the southern province of Phang Nga are searching for her 12 year old girl, who has been missing for 12 days since October 5, when the family left the girl alone at home to attend a vegetarian festival. Wandee Hanhuan, the aunt of the 12 year old missing girl, …
