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As a research biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, it’s been Brian Halstead’s job for years to observe the San Francisco garter snake. And he’s constantly startled by its beauty. It has an orange-red head, turquoise chin and both colors running in stripes, along with white, across the length of its lean black body. The reptile has the shine of a tire recently sprayed with Armor All, and the bold color choices of a contestant on “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” “It's a snake,” Halstead says, “that even somebody who doesn’t like snakes can love.” Cast your vote: Vote for the (unofficial) Official Animal of San Francisco: Final Four! The San Francisco garter snake is both a stunner and a survivor, its habitat shrunk to alarming extremes by encroaching urban sprawl. The snake lives only in the Bay Area, its highest profile home flanked by a freeway overpass, PG&E transformers and the San Francisco International Airport. It has been name-checked by Ronald Reagan. It’s been on … [Read more...] about A snake named San Francisco: Endangered Bay Area serpent is a survivor

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 2 On a recent trip to Vietnam, I’m pretty sure I found one key to a happy and harmonious urban life. During the drippy, languid hours of mid-day heat in Ho Chi Minh City, which many also call Saigon, I frequently ducked into every hẻm, or alleyway, that I saw for a little bit of shade. They quickly became my favorite places in the city. Lined with homes and storefronts that opened up directly into the street, these alleyways were filled with scooter parking, lush potted trees, craft workshops, shrines wafting with incense smoke, and baskets of various things for sale. Cars, still a rarity in this city, occasionally snagged parking at alley entrances when they could. In these alleyways, where the vast majority of residents live, the division between one’s own property and the street is more of a suggestion rather than a rule. Life spills out of the home and onto the streets, where … [Read more...] about What Vietnam’s alleyways can teach the Bay Area about bureaucracy and community

He is known for his warm presenting style and hilarious dance moves on the dance floor. But it’s fair to say Dan Walker will be taking a break from his usual hosting duties for a while after the beloved TV presenter was knocked off his bicycle on a horrific car crash. Recalling the terrifying moment, the former BBC Breakfast presenter admitted he’s “lucky to be alive” after the accident which has left his with some gruelling facial injuries. READ MORE: Dan Walker reignites feud with 'bitter' Piers Morgan after brutal car smash dig As the broadcaster continues to recover with the help and support of his loving family around him, Daily Star has taken a deep dive inside his lavish Sheffield home. When Dan isn’t hard at work in the Channel 5 studios, the famous presenter can often be found relaxing in his gorgeous home which she shares with his wife Sarah and their three children, Joe, Jessica and Susie, as well as their pet dog Winnie. Home office Unsurprisingly, … [Read more...] about Inside Dan Walker’s home – huge summer house, lavish kitchen and football-themed office

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 4 Downtown Berkeley, more than any spot in the Bay Area, shows how statewide housing policies could soon alter the scale of our local cities — for better or worse. Six buildings of 16 to 28 stories are proposed in the central core, a setting where only one structure above 13 stories has been built since 1971. An eclectic two-block-wide corridor of buildings of various dimensions and architectural styles would be joined by chunky structures of a much different scale, three at heights that rival UC-Berkeley’s Campanile. One reason for the shift is that more Berkeley residents – and those in other Bay Area cities – now accept that the region needs to provide homes for all types of people. But there’s another factor at work: Legislators in Sacramento have passed a raft of bills to make it easier for developers to build residential buildings, meaning that cities like Berkeley have … [Read more...] about Housing towers are coming to downtown Berkeley — whether the city wants them or not

Kitchen islands have taken over the interior design scene for years now — perhaps too long. Some homeowners are starting their own trends by taking out their massive kitchen centerpieces and replacing them with new ideas. Here are some of the best ways you can design a kitchen without installing an island. Freestanding table Islands are great at providing additional kitchen counter space, but can make it for tight space in a busy kitchen. Rather than install an island in your kitchen, consider adding a free-standing table to the center of the cooking space. “Islands can be cabinetry built right down to the floor to contain storage and appliances but this can create a somewhat bulky and over-fitted look so an alternative could be to use instead a table or a worktable,” Merlin Wright, design director at Plain English, told Homes and Gardens . “A dining table is seating height whereas a worktable is full-height. The advantage of the worktable is that it has the visual … [Read more...] about Get rid of that kitchen island with these clever alternatives

Imagine walking into a party where you know almost no one (pathetic) — a party at which I, a stranger to you (probably), have arrived well before you (sorry). Should this occur in real life, it is inevitable that shortly after your entrance, as you are tentatively probing the scene in search of safe ingress into social traffic, I will yank you, abruptly, into the middle of a conversation. I will turn to you and start talking as if you’d been involved in the discussion for an hour. I will lob questions at you that are tailored so that any answer you give can be right. Soon, you will forget I dragged you into this interaction; your easy popularity will seem, in retrospect, inevitable. You will most likely feel at least vaguely friendly toward me, because I so clearly want to be your friend. And the whole time I am doing this — because, despite your rewritten recollections, I am the one doing all of this — I will be thinking: Oh, my God, I’m doing it again. I hate this. I hate this. Why … [Read more...] about 13 Women, 30 Activities and One Goal: Make Friends

Skeletons, coffins, and spiders, oh my! A "haunted" house that has been scaring people in Baird, TX, has officially creeped out social media, making it this week's most popular home on Realtor.com®. The home has been operating as a seasonal haunted house and boasts a staged interior decked out with spooky scenes. Skeletons adorn the living room, where the Grim Reaper lurks in the background. Tarantulas crawl the walls of the kitchen. There's even a secret door found behind a coffin. Bonus: Its affordable price won't scare away buyers! Other homes that made the popularity list include a historic mansion in Ohio featured on HGTV's "If Walls Could Talk," three buildable oceanfront properties in Florida, and an entertainer's dream home with a custom bar in Illinois. For a full look at this week's 10 most popular homes, keep on scrolling. 10. 21217 County Road 181, Bullard, TX Price: $674,900 This Texas farmhouse is big on design, value, and efficiency. Offering … [Read more...] about A Fright Delight: Bone-Chilling House of Horrors in Texas Is the Week’s Most Popular Listing

An abandoned factory 'undoubtedly' contains traces of mad cow disease that risks infecting people, a scientist has warned. Thruxted Mill, between Ashford and Cantebury, was one of five sites in the UK where cows with the fatal brain disease were destroyed. It has since remained derelict for more than a decade but housing developers have expressed interest in building 20 homes on the 'dreadful' horror movie-like setting. And so-called urban explorers — those who visit manmade structures, usually places that are abandoned or hidden — have posted online about going to the site. But Professor Alan Colchester, a neurologist from the University of Kent, warned the area is a 'biohazard' and likely contains large quantities of contaminated material. Thruxted Mill, between Ashford and Cantebury, was one of five sites in the UK where cows with the fatal brain disease were destroyed The site (pictured) has since remained derelict for more than a decade but housing … [Read more...] about Creepy abandoned factory wanted by housing developers ‘undoubtedly’ contains dormant mad cow disease that could infect humans

A travel expert has warned passengers to avoid plane water (Image: Getty) SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Travel expert and founder of AirAdvisor , Anton Radchenko, told Express.co.uk there’s one drink he’d always avoid on a flight. The frequent flyer said travellers could run a few risks if they drink it. Related articles Spain warning as Britons could face 'endless queues' this summer Simon Calder shares underrated 'good value' holiday destination Anton said: “There are so many dos and don'ts when flying. But if I had to pick just one, it would be to avoid drinking plane water whether it’s in hot or cold drinks.” Passengers might be served water on its own or drink it as part of a hot beverage such … [Read more...] about Travel expert explains which drink to always ‘avoid’ on a plane – systems ‘rarely cleaned’

LOVE Island's Will Young and Jessie Wynter have revealed two huge moments were cut from the show. The Love Island favourites were dumped from the villa just one day before the final and now they're spilling the tea. In a new interview Jessie , 26, and Will , 23, told how Olivia Hawkins and Casey O'Gorman separately apologised for talking about other Islanders behind their backs - but only before the scenes were shown during Movie Night. Will said: "Everyone knew Movie Night was happening and then [Olivia] told everyone, after the text. It was on that day." Speaking on On Demand Entertainment , Jessie added: "I feel like a lot of people did that, though. "Casey did that to me. Casey came up to me and apologised just randomly about encouraging the guys [during Casa Amor]. More on Love Island MAYA OH MY! Love Island's Maya Jama looks incredible in sexiest outfit yet LIKE TWINS Love Island star Mollie Salmon … [Read more...] about Will and Jessie reveal two huge moments on Love Island that were cut from broadcast