Did you know that: May 2013

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Girl named Zara Hartshorn who suffers from a rare disease called lipodystrophy.

There is a girl named Zara Hartshorn who suffers from a rare disease called lipodystrophy. She is only 15 but looks like she is in her 40s or 50s

“Her teeth are falling out and she’s had collagen injections for her wrinkles – but Zara Hartshorn is no middle-aged woman trying to recapture her youth.

In fact, she’s only 15 with a rare and incurable disease that makes her look decades older than her school pals.

The genetic defect affects fewer than 30 people in Britain – but heartbreakingly her mum Tracey and sister Jolene, 23, have it too.

Yet despite getting plenty of support at home, Zara has faced years of bullies branding her “granny” and even beating her up.

She’s been humiliatingly turfed off a bus because she couldn’t prove she was eligible for a child’s ticket.

And when she started at one school she was mistaken for a teacher.

Now Zara has chosen to speak out in a bid to defy the bullies and raise awareness of her condition.

”

Girl named Zara Hartshorn who suffers from a rare disease called lipodystrophy.

In his late 70's and until he died, Gandhi slept with two naked 18

In his late 70′s and until he died, Gandhi slept with two naked 18 year old girls. One was his grandniece

“It was no secret that Mohandas Gandhi had an unusual sex life. He spoke constantly of sex and gave detailed, often provocative, instructions to his followers as to how to they might best observe chastity. And his views were not always popular; “”abnormal and unnatural”" was how the first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, described Gandhi’s advice to newlyweds to stay celibate for the sake of their souls.

But was there something more complex than a pious plea for chastity at play in Gandhi’s beliefs, preachings and even his unusual personal practices (which included, alongside his famed chastity, sleeping naked next to nubile, naked women to test his restraint)? In the course of researching my new book on Gandhi, going through a hundred volumes of his complete works and many tomes of eye-witness material, details became apparent which add up to a more bizarre sexual history.

Much of this material was known during his lifetime, but was distorted or suppressed after his death during the process of elevating Gandhi into the “”Father of the Nation”" Was the Mahatma, in fact, as the pre-independence prime minister of the Indian state of Travancore called him, “”a most dangerous, semi-repressed sex maniac”"?

Gandhi was born in the Indian state of Gujarat and married at 13 in 1883; his wife Kasturba was 14, not early by the standards of Gujarat at that time. The young couple had a normal sex life, sharing a bed in a separate room in his family home, and Kasturba was soon pregnant.

Two years later, as his father lay dying, Gandhi left his bedside to have sex with Kasturba. Meanwhile, his father drew his last breath. The young man compounded his grief with guilt that he had not been present, and represented his subsequent revulsion towards “”lustful love”" as being related to his father’s death.

However, Gandhi and Kasturba’s last child wasn’t born until fifteen years later, in 1900.

In fact, Gandhi did not develop his censorious attitude to sex (and certainly not to marital sex) until he was in his 30s, while a volunteer in the ambulance corps, assisting the British Empire in its wars in Southern Africa. On long marches in sparsely populated land in the Boer War and the Zulu uprisings, Gandhi considered how he could best “”give service”" to humanity and decided it must be by embracing poverty and chastity.”

In his late 70's and until he died, Gandhi slept with two naked 18

Wild Bill Hickok always had a personal rule to never play poker with

Wild Bill Hickok always had a personal rule to never play poker with his back facing the door. The one time he did, he was shot in the back of the head and killed

“The fateful shot was fired 134 years ago today – August 2, 1876. The shot that rang throughout Deadwood and left its mark forever in Old West history. It was the gunshot that killed James Butler ‘Wild Bill’ Hickok.

Some folks say that Wild Bill knew his days were numbered and that he had told his friend,’Colorado Charlie’ Utter, that he knew Deadwood would be his final camp. Wild Bill, although only 39 years old, had lived a colorful life.

Of the stories told about Wild Bill Hickok, just as many tend to be fiction compared to those that are fact. What can be verified as true is that he made his fame and living as a lawman, military teamster, showman, gunfighter and gambler. Wild Bill’s pursuits took him from his birth state of Illinois to the plains of Kansas and Missouri and eventually to the western frontier regions of Wyoming and South Dakota.

After living an adventurous and often questioned lifestyle as a no-holds-barred lawman, Hickock finally made his way to Deadwood Gulch in July of 1876, possibly hoping to quietly live out his days at the poker tables of the booming gold town. And that was the case – for just a couple of weeks.

On August 2, 1876, Wild Bill Hickok was playing poker at Nuttal & Mann’s Saloon No. 10 in Deadwood. Hickok always played by a personal rule that he had to have a chair with his back to the wall.

This day was different.

Because all of the other chairs at the card table were filled and players weren’t willing to give up their seats, Hickok was forced to sit in a chair with his back to the door of the saloon.

Eventually, while Hickok was still playing poker, Jack McCall quietly roamed into the bar and made his way to Wild Bill’s back side. McCall raised a pistol, cursed Hickok and shot him directly in the back of the head – killing him instantly. Hickok’s body slumped forward, revealing his poker hand containing two pair – black aces and black eights.”

Wild Bill Hickok always had a personal rule to never play poker with

In 1985, 39 Juventus fans died in the Heysel stadium just before the

In 1985, 39 Juventus fans died in the Heysel stadium just before the start of the European Cup Final. After some debate, organizers decided to celebrate the game anyway. The players, unaware of the disaster, playd the final while the corpses were still visible in the stands

“The Heysel Stadium disaster (French: Drame du Heysel, Dutch: Heizeldrama) occurred on 29 May 1985 when escaping fans were pressed against a wall in the Heysel Stadium in Brussels, Belgium, before the start of the 1985 European Cup Final between Juventus of Italy and Liverpool of England. Thirty-nine Juventus fans died[1] and 600 were injured.[citation needed]

Approximately one hour before the Juventus-Liverpool final was due to kick off, a large group of Liverpool fans breached a fence separating them from a “”neutral area”" which contained Juventus fans. The Juventus fans ran back on the terraces and away from the threat into a concrete retaining wall. Fans already seated near the wall were crushed; eventually the wall collapsed. Many people climbed over to safety, but many others died or were badly injured. The game was played despite the disaster in order to prevent further violence.[2]

The tragedy resulted in all English football clubs being placed under an indefinite ban by UEFA from all European competitions (lifted in 1990–91), with Liverpool being excluded for an additional year and fourteen Liverpool fans found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and each sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. The disaster was later described as “”the darkest hour in the history of the UEFA competitions”" ”

In 1985, 39 Juventus fans died in the Heysel stadium just before the

Apple is not the worlds most valuable company. Saudi Aramco, a private

Apple is not the worlds most valuable company. Saudi Aramco, a private company is worth at least double Apple’s amount, at least $1.2 Trillion

““Apple is most valuable firm of all time” says the Guardian. As does the Daily Telegraph, the BBC, The Register and more than 1,200 other news sites around the world.

The logic: “Shares in the tech giant hit a high of $664.75 (£422.50) in Monday morning trading, valuing the company at more than $619bn. The price topped the $618.9bn Microsoft achieved in December 1999.

“In January, Apple surpassed oil firm Exxon Mobil for the first time to become the most valuable company on the planet. It now dwarfs Exxon’s $405.6bn market value by more than $213bn.”

The problem?

It’s wrong.

The world’s most valuable firm is Saudi Aramco, the national oil company of Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Aramco has proven reserves of 260 billion barrels of oil. That is a fifth of all the oil in the world. And let’s not forget the 283 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves (the fourth largest in the world).”

Apple is not the worlds most valuable company. Saudi Aramco, a private

If you plant an apple seed, the resulting tree will not produce

If you plant an apple seed, the resulting tree will not produce the same kinds of apples. In fact, they will taste significantly different and may be unsuitable for human consumption

“In the wild, apples grow readily from seeds. However, like most perennial fruits, apples are ordinarily propagated asexually by grafting. This is because seedling apples are an example of “”extreme heterozygotes”", in that rather than inheriting DNA from their parents to create a new apple with those characteristics, they are instead significantly different from their parents.[38] Triploid varieties have an additional reproductive barrier in that 3 sets of chromosomes cannot be divided evenly during meiosis, yielding unequal segregation of the chromosomes (aneuploids). Even in the case when a triploid plant can produce a seed (apples are an example), it occurs infrequently, and seedlings rarely survive.[39] Most new apple cultivars originate as seedlings, which either arise by chance or are bred by deliberately crossing cultivars with promising characteristics.[40] The words ‘seedling’, ‘pippin’, and ‘kernel’ in the name of an apple cultivar suggest that it originated as a seedling. Apples can also form bud sports (mutations on a single branch). Some bud sports turn out to be improved strains of the parent cultivar. Some differ sufficiently from the parent tree to be considered new cultivars.[41]

Since the 1930s, the Excelsior Experiment Station at the University of Minnesota has introduced a steady progression of important apples that are widely grown, both commercially and by local orchardists, throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin. Its most important contributions have included ‘Haralson’ (which is the most widely cultivated apple in Minnesota), ‘Wealthy’, ‘Honeygold’, and ‘Honeycrisp’.

Apples have been acclimatized in Ecuador at very high altitudes, where they provide crops twice per year because of constant temperate conditions year-round.”

If you plant an apple seed, the resulting tree will not produce

In South Korea, you can get your dog cloned for a $100.000

“Three years after losing her beloved dog, Trouble, the love of Danielle Tarantola’s life returned from the dead.

A new puppy she named Double Trouble is an exact genetic replica of the original, developed in a petri dish by South Korean scientists in what has become a growing, high-tech and highly-controversial, industry of dog cloning.

Cloning first entered public debate in 1996, when researchers at the Roslin Institute in Scotland successfully produced Dolly the sheep, the world’s first cloned mammal. Dolly opened the door for researchers across the globe to attempt to clone other animals, and there have since been successful horse, deer, cattle, dog and cat clones.”

In South Korea, you can get your dog cloned for a $100.000

Orthorexia nervosa exists, and is an unhealthy obsession with eating healthy food.

Orthorexia nervosa, as I originally defined it, indicates an unhealthy obsession with eating healthy food. The term is derived from the Greek “ortho,” which means “right,” or “correct,” and is intended as a parallel with anorexia nervosa.

I realize this sounds like an oxymoron. How can focusing on healthy food be bad for you? The apparent contradiction has led to a great deal of challenge of the concept.

But the emphasis is intended to be on “unhealthy obsession.” One can have an unhealthy obsession with something that is otherwise healthy. Think of exercise addiction, or workaholism. I never intended the expression to apply to anything other than extreme cases of over-focus, particularly where the person themselves would rather lighten up and stop thinking about it so much.

Orthorexia nervosa exists, and is an unhealthy obsession with eating healthy food.

African tribal children's reaction after seeing a white person for the first time.

African tribal children’s reaction after seeing a white person for the first time.

Hairy & Scary in Congo! 1st time kids see white dude & even see arm hair! First time they see a beard… And they get to see themself doing it on the screen of the iPhone 4s front screen while they are doing it. I love this little kiddo’s! They are such a joy. We are working to help these people in need… But that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun while doing it!

Wouldn’t it be SURREAL to be the first of your particular ethnicity to be seen by someone? I got three weeks of it in the remote parts of Eastern Congo… Especially in the deeper parts of the jungle they would even hide behind the tree’s.

The vanilla gorilla… great white sasquatch… Or Viking in the video is professional MMA fighter and UFC veteran Justin “The Viking” Wren who went to the Congo to bring aid and love to the unloved Mbuti Pygmy tribe of Eastern Congo.

www.JustinTheVikingWren.com

African tribal children's reaction after seeing a white person for the first time.

Men are over 4 times more likely to be struck by lightning than women

The numbers tell the story: Of the 648 people killed by lightning in the U.S. from 1995 to 2008, 82 percent were male. And as much as we were hoping to uncover a biological cause-extra iron in the male cranium, perhaps, or the conductive properties of testosterone-it turns out men are… just kind of stupid. “Men take more risks in lightning storms,” says John Jensenius, a lightning safety expert with the National Weather Service.

Men are less willing to give up what they’re doing just because of a little inclement weather, Jensenius says, and will continue to engage in pastimes that make them vulnerable, such as fishing, camping and golfing. Recreational or sports-related activities are involved in almost half of all lightning-related deaths.

Men are over 4 times more likely to be struck by lightning than women

In 2002, 20 managers of Australian KFC restaurants were taken to

In 2002, 20 managers of Australian KFC restaurants were taken to the hospital for foot burns because of a restaurant leadership conference that included firewalking as a “management bonding exercise”

“It was meant to develop leadership skills, but the fire-walking exercise for 30 managers of the KFC fast food chicken restaurant chain was too hot to bear.

Among 20 taken to Hunter Valley hospitals yesterday for treatment to a range of burns to their feet was Roger Eaton, the chief executive officer for Tricon Restaurants Australia, which owns the Australian franchise rights to KFC.

The mass burning took place on the last day of a management development conference for 180 KFC executives and managers at the Horizons golf resort at Salamander Bay, Port Stephens, north of Newcastle.

In all, 11 ambulances responded to the emergency at 1.40pm when the resort reported about 30 people suffering burns to their feet as a result of a fire-walking exercise over the ashes of burnt timber.

But an ambulance spokesman said of those injured, most of whom were aged 20 to 30, seven received serious burns which required treatment at Newcastle’s John Hunter Hospital.”

In 2002, 20 managers of Australian KFC restaurants were taken to

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Martha Stewart ended a relationship with Anthony Hopkins after seeing

Martha Stewart ended a relationship with Anthony Hopkins after seeing him in Silence of the Lambs, as she was unable to dissociate him from his character, Hannibal

“Stewart’s first husband was Andrew Stewart.[citation needed] Their only child, a daughter named Alexis, was born in 1965. Martha and Andrew Stewart divorced in 1987. Subsequently, Stewart dated Sir Anthony Hopkins, but ended the relationship after she saw The Silence of the Lambs. She stated she was unable to avoid associating Hopkins with the character of Hannibal Lecte

Stewart is an avid animal lover. Her pets include champion show Chow Chow dogs, French Bulldogs, Himalayan cats, and Friesian horses, including her dark horse Rutger.[58] Stewart also created a video[59] on behalf of fur-bearing animals after being approached by PETA while in jail. Stewart stated, “”I used to wear real fur, but, like many others, I had a change of heart when I learned what actually happens to the animals”".[60] Stewart filmed a public service announcement on behalf of the farm animal welfare organization Farm Sanctuary.

”

Martha Stewart ended a relationship with Anthony Hopkins after seeing

Winston Churchill's epitaph states, I am ready to meet my Maker

Winston Churchill’s epitaph states, “I am ready to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter.”

The Gaelic epitaph for this Irish comedian translates to, “I told you I was ill.” Milligan, who died of liver failure in 2002 at age 83, was famous for his irreverent humor showcased on TV and in films such as “Monty Python’s Life of Brian.” His gravestone, which lies at St Thomas Church in Winchelsea, East Sussex, stood bare for some time while his family argued over which phrase best would encapsulate the comedian’s career. When they finally came to an agreement, the church insisted that the phrase be written in Gaelic. Though Milligan may have had the last laugh, non-Gaelic-speaking visitors won’t get the joke.

Winston Churchill's epitaph states, I am ready to meet my Maker

When the Nike Swoosh logo was created in 1971, the designer billed

When the Nike Swoosh logo was created in 1971, the designer billed $35 for it. In 1983, Paul Knight sent her a golden Swoosh diamond ring, with an undisclosed amount of Nike stock as thanks

“The Nike “”Swoosh’”" is a corporate trademark created in 1971 by Carolyn Davidson, while she was a graphic design student at Portland State University. She met Phil Knight while he was teaching accounting classes and she started doing some freelance work for his company, Blue Ribbon Sports (BRS).

For seven years after its founding in 1964, BRS imported Onitsuka Tiger brand running shoes. In 1971, BRS decided to launch its own brand, which would first appear on a football boot called the Nike, manufactured in Mexico. Knight approached Davidson for design ideas for this new brand, and she agreed to provide them. Over the ensuing weeks, she created at least a half-dozen marks and gathered them together to present to Knight, Bob Woodell and Jeff Johnson (two BRS executives) at the company’s home office, at the time located in Tigard, Oregon.

They ultimately selected the mark now known globally as the Swoosh. “”I don’t love it,”" Knight told her, “”but I think it will grow on me.”" Davidson submitted a bill for US$35 for her work.[3] In September 1983, Knight gave Davidson a golden Swoosh ring with an embedded diamond, and an envelope filled with an undisclosed amount of Nike stock to express his gratitude.[4]

In June 1972, the first running shoes bearing the Swoosh were introduced at the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon. Until 1995, the official corporate logo for Nike featured the name Nike in Futura Bold, all-cap font, cradled within the Swoosh. In 1995, Nike began using the stand-alone Swoosh as its corporate logo, and continues to use it that way today.”

When the Nike Swoosh logo was created in 1971, the designer billed

When questioned about his terminal cancer and impending death musician

When questioned about his terminal cancer and impending death musician, Warren Zevon stated “I just want to live long enough to see the next James Bond movie.” he achieved this goal and lived long enough to see the ironically named “Die Another Day”.

“Zevon stated previously that his illness was expected to be terminal within months after the diagnosis in the fall of 2002; however, he lived to see the birth of twin grandsons in June 2003 and the release of The Wind on August 26, 2003. Owing in part to the first VH1 broadcasts of Nick Read’s documentary Warren Zevon: Keep Me In Your Heart, the album reached number 12 on the US charts, Zevon’s highest placement since Excitable Boy. When his diagnosis became public, Zevon told the media that he just hoped to live long enough to see the next James Bond movie, a goal he accomplished. Coincidentally, the film was titled Die Another Day (Even more coincidentally in the movie, the main villan, Gustav Graves, is asked how he deals with his insomnia to which he replies “”I’ll sleep when I’m dead”").

Warren Zevon died on September 7, 2003, aged 56, at his home in Los Angeles, California. The Wind was certified gold by the RIAA in December 2003 and Zevon received five posthumous Grammy nominations, including Song of the Year for the ballad “”Keep Me In Your Heart”". The Wind won two Grammys, with the album itself receiving the award for Best Contemporary Folk Album, while “”Disorder in the House”", Zevon’s duet with Bruce Springsteen, was awarded Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal. These posthumous awards were the first Grammys of Zevon’s thirty-plus year career. His body was cremated and his ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean near Los Angeles.”

When questioned about his terminal cancer and impending death musician

A fuel economy expert couple traveled 1626.1mi on a single tank of

A fuel economy expert couple traveled 1626.1mi on a single tank of diesel in a Passat TDI, averaging 84.1mpg, a world record for a passenger car.

“John and Helen Taylor, the Australian hypermilers who made news in the United States in 2009 by averaging 67.9 miles per gallon in a tour of the 48 contiguous states, recently added another record to their considerable tally. The couple drove 1,626.1 miles in a 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE from Houston to Sterling, Va., breaking the Guinness record for the longest drive in a passenger car on a single tank of diesel fuel.

They departed May 3 and passed through nine states, averaging 84.1 miles per gallon during the excursion, and finished on May 5. By Wednesday the Taylors were on a plane, en route to their home in Australia.

“We drove the Passat only two days prior to the record drive, and test results showed figures of 93, so we were very encouraged,” Mr. Taylor wrote in an e-mail, referencing the miles per gallon he and his wife observed in pre-drive testing. “We believed we could reach Sterling Shell Station, Va., which we managed to achieve without running out of diesel.””

A fuel economy expert couple traveled 1626.1mi on a single tank of

Scientists May Have Evidence We Are In A Matrix-Like Simulation

“Physicists say they may have evidence that the universe is a computer simulation.

How? They made a computer simulation of the universe. And it looks sort of like us.

A long-proposed thought experiment, put forward by both philosophers and popular culture, points out that any civilisation of sufficient size and intelligence would eventually create a simulation universe if such a thing were possible.

And since there would therefore be many more simulations (within simulations, within simulations) than real universes, it is therefore more likely than not that our world is artificial.”

Scientists May Have Evidence We Are In A Matrix-Like Simulation

Iranian and US special forces worked together to overthrow the Taliban in Herat

The 2001 uprising in Herat was a coordinated insurrection and uprising in the Afghan city of Herat as part of the United States war in Afghanistan. The city was captured on November 12 by Northern Alliance forces as well as Special Forces of the United States, the United Kingdom [1] and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Iranian and US special forces worked together to overthrow the Taliban in Herat

In 1893 an amendment was proposed to rename the US to the US of Earth

In 1893 an amendment was proposed to rename the US to the United States of Earth

One of the enduring features of our Constitution is its flexibility. At the time of its ratification, the population of the United States was around 4 million and today that population exceeds 309 million. Since its adoption the Constitution has only changed 27 times! Actually, since 1791 (with the inclusion of the Bill of Rights) it has only changed 16 times. That is an amazing fact considering the changes in technology, infrastructure, population, etc. in this country in more than 200 years.

In 1893 an amendment was proposed to rename the US to the US of Earth

Most "locksmiths" advertising through google are scams operated

Most “locksmiths” advertising through google are scams operated by organized crime. They have effectively dominated the market through this strategy and run the legitimate guys out of business

“Just look at the phone book or online and you’ll see hundreds of fly-by-night locksmith outfits using phony names and bogus addresses to fleece millions of dollars each year out of locals and tourists.

The scam emanates from New York and Florida and appears to be a highly organized criminal enterprise that flaunts local laws and has been known to use threats and intimidation against customers who are invariably in vulnerable situations.

An undercover police officer posing as a shopper locked out of car calls a company named Right On Time Locksmith. She is routed to another company, S and S Locksmith. When help arrives 15 minutes later in an unmarked van, the man says he works for a 3rd company, Mega-Locksmith.

The $30 fee mentioned on the phone gets bumped. “”$50 bucks,”" says “”locksmith”" Eli Levy on hidden camera. I just say $50. Other companies are charging over $100 to open doors.”"”

Most "locksmiths" advertising through google are scams operated

10,000 shipping containers are lost at sea each year and 10%

10,000 shipping containers are lost at sea each year and 10% of those hold toxic chemicals which may leak into the ocean

Right now, as you read this, there are five or six million shipping containers on enormous cargo ships sailing across the world’s oceans. And about every hour, on average, one is falling overboard never to be seen again. It’s estimated that 10,000 of these large containers are lost at sea each year, and our understanding of what happens to them afterwards is scant at best. But that’s changing. This month the Monterray Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) sent a robotic sub to investigate a shipping container that was lost in the Monterrey Bay National Marine Sanctuary in 2004. What’s happened to the sunken shipment in the past seven years? It’s become a warren for a variety of aquatic life on the ocean floor, providing a new habitat for species that might otherwise not be attracted to the area. As the MBARI investigation continues to discover the destiny of drowned containers we will undoubtedly learn more about this (possibly) ecologically dangerous byproduct of our modern transportation system. Could a system such as the Internet of Things help prevent the growth of the waste we’re strewing across the seabed? Perhaps. Yet the importance of this situation may be less about the solutions to this one problem, and more about the unexpected consequences that follow the adoption of any technology.

10,000 shipping containers are lost at sea each year and 10%

Coke once tried hidden "MagiCans" that had spring-loaded prizes

Coke once tried hidden “MagiCans” that had spring-loaded prizes instead of soda. They failed when technical glitches led consumers to accidentally drink the chlorinated water used to make them feel real

“MagiCans were special, mechanical cans used by Coca-Cola as a part of their $100-million “”Magic Summer ’90″” promotion.[1] The MagiCan promotion began on May 7, 1990 and ended on May 31.[2]

In this promotion, some Coca-Cola cans had cash prizes or gift certificates inside instead of Coca-Cola. The prizes were spring-loaded to pop out once the can was opened, lifting the prize into the opening. The prize would either be rolled piece of currency, from $1 to $500, or coupons redeemable for trips or merchandise. The total give away of cash and prize coupons totaled $4 million. The original plan was to randomly distribute about 750,000 MagiCans among the 200 million cans of Coca-Cola Classic in circulation at any one time.[3] To make the cans feel and weigh normally, and prevent people from easily finding the prize cans, a sealed area within the cans is filled with a mixture of chlorinated water and foul-smelling ammonium sulfate to discourage drinking.[1][3] Though initially a great success, leading to a rise in sales, technical difficulties led to the promotion’s early termination.[1]

Coca-Cola first announced the “”Magic Summer ’90″” campaign in March 1990 by sending MagiCans containing currency to journalists. Some journalists wrote that it was questionable for a big corporation to mail cash to reporters.[3]

The campaign continued without the MagiCans, giving away tickets to the sponsored New Kids on The Block’s Magic Summer Tour and distributing “”MagiCups”", which were paper cups with peel-off prizes on the exterior used for fountain drinks at fast-food chains and other fountain outlets”

Coke once tried hidden "MagiCans" that had spring-loaded prizes

Friday, May 17, 2013

Wilson the Volleyball from the movie Castaway was inspired when

Wilson the Volleyball from the movie Castaway was inspired when screenwriter William Broyles, Jr deliberately stranded himself for one week on an isolated beach in the Sea of Cortez in which a volleyball washed up on shore

“In the film, Wilson the volleyball serves as Chuck Noland’s personified friend and only companion during the four years that Noland spends alone on a deserted island.[5][6][7] The character was created by screenwriter William Broyles, Jr. While researching for the film, he consulted with professional survival experts, and then chose to deliberately strand himself for one week on an isolated beach in the Sea of Cortez, to force himself to search for water and food, and obtain his own shelter. During this time, a volleyball washed up on shore. This was the inspiration for the film’s inanimate companion. From a theatrical point of view, Wilson also serves to realistically imply dialogue in a one-person-only situation.[8][9]

One of the original volleyball props was sold at auction after release of the film for $18,500 to the ex-CEO of FedEx Office, Ken May. At the time of the film’s release, Wilson Sporting Goods launched its own joint promotion centered around the fact that one of its products was “”co-starring”" with Tom Hanks. Wilson manufactured a volleyball with a reproduction of the bloodied handprint face on one side. It was sold for a limited time during the film’s initial release and continues to be offered on the company’s website.[10] Additionally, many near-identical replicas of Wilson are available for sale.[11]”

Wilson the Volleyball from the movie Castaway was inspired when

a bomb was set off in Ireland during a parade in 1987

A bomb was set off in Ireland during a parade in 1987. 10 years later those responsible apologized bc of the peace campaign by the father of one of the victims

“Gordon Wilson (25 September 1927 — 27 June 1995) was an Irish draper in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, who became known as a peace campaigner during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. On 8 November 1987 a bomb planted by the Provisional IRA exploded during Enniskillen’s Remembrance Day parade injuring Wilson and fatally injuring his daughter, Marie, a nurse. An emotional television interview he gave to the BBC only hours after the bombing brought him to national and international prominence as he described his last conversation with his dying daughter as they both lay buried in rubble.

Wilson’s response to the bombing, “”I bear no ill will. I bear no grudge”", was reported worldwide becoming among the most-remembered quotes from The Troubles.[1] Whereas many IRA attacks in Northern Ireland usually resulted in reprisals by loyalists, Wilson’s calls for forgiveness and reconciliation came to be called the Spirit of Enniskillen.

As a peace campaigner, Wilson held many meetings with members of Sinn Féin. He also met once with representatives of the Provisional IRA. Wilson sought to understand the reasons for the Remembrance Day bombing in Enniskillen. He also held talks with loyalist paramilitaries in an attempt to persuade them to abandon violence.”

a bomb was set off in Ireland during a parade in 1987

Living at high altitude can protect you from certain diseases

Living at high altitude can protect you from certain diseases, but increases your risk of suicide… and we’re not entirely sure why

Brenner, Barry, David Cheng, Sunday Clark, and Carlos A. Camargo, Jr. Positive association between altitude and suicide in 2584 U.S.counties. High Alt. Med. Biol. 12: 31–35 2011.—Suicide is an important public health problem worldwide. Recent preliminary studies have reported a positive correlation between mean altitude and the suicide rate of the 48 contiguous U.S.states. Because intrastate altitude may have large variation, we examined all 2584 U.S. counties to evaluate whether an independent relationship between altitude and suicide exists. We hypothesized that counties at higher elevation would have higher suicide rates. This retrospective study examines 20yr of county-specific mortality data from 1979 to 1998. County altitude was obtained from the U.S. Geologic Survey. Statistical analysis included Pearson correlation, t tests, and multivariable linear and logistic regression. Although there was a negative correlation between county altitude and all-cause mortality (r=−0.31, p<0.001), there was a strong positive correlation between altitude and suicide rate (r=0.50, p<0.001). Mean altitude differed in the 50 counties, with the highest suicide rates compared to those with the lowest rates (4684 vs. 582ft, p<0.001). Controlling for percent of age >50yr, percent male, percent white, median household income, and population density of each county, the higher-altitude counties had significantly higher suicide rates than the lower-altitude counties. Similar findings were observed for both firearm-related suicides (59% of suicides) and nonfirearm-related suicides. We conclude that altitude may be a novel risk factor for suicide in the contiguous United States.

Living at high altitude can protect you from certain diseases

One of the oldest companies in America sold soap to George Washington

One of the oldest companies in America sold soap to George Washington and many other presidents. They still sell the scents in the exact formulas today

“Almond Cold Cream soap was launched in 1940. Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower ordered it for the White House after he became president in 1953. Mamie Eisenhower was also a fan of “White Rose” perfume, writing a thank you letter to the company. During the second half of the century, customers also included Jacqueline Onassis (who bought avocado oil) and the Rolling Stones.[3]

Caswell-Massey currently has one retail store in the United States, sells products through its website and mail-order catalog, as well as through department stores and specialty shops. ”

One of the oldest companies in America sold soap to George Washington

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Over $8.5 billion worldwide film earnings, Tom Hanks is the

With over $8.5 billion worldwide film earnings, Tom Hanks is the highest all-time box office star

“Thomas Jeffrey “”Tom”" Hanks (born July 9, 1956) is an American actor, producer, writer, and director. Hanks is known for his roles in Apollo 13, Big, That Thing You Do!, The Green Mile, You’ve Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle, Charlie Wilson’s War, Catch Me If You Can, Forrest Gump, Cast Away, A League of Their Own, The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons, as well as animated films like the Toy Story film series, The Polar Express, and The Simpsons Movie.

He has earned and been nominated for numerous awards during his career, including winning a Golden Globe for Best Actor and an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Philadelphia and a Golden Globe, an Academy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a People’s Choice Award for Best Actor for his role in Forrest Gump, and earning the Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence in Film from the BAFTAs in 2004.

Hanks is also known for his collaboration with film director Steven Spielberg on Saving Private Ryan and the mini-series Band of Brothers, which launched Hanks also as a successful director, producer and writer.

As of 2012, Hanks’ films have grossed over $4.2 billion at the United States box office alone, and over $8.5 billion worldwide[2] making him the highest all-time box office star.”

Over $8.5 billion worldwide film earnings, Tom Hanks is the

Iceland is so small that virtually everyone is related but big enough

Iceland is so small that virtually everyone is related but big enough so that you don’t know how you’re related

“REYKJAVIK, Iceland — The television commercial for a local mobile phone company here wouldn’t work in many places outside Iceland.

It portrays a curly-haired couple who just woke up next to each other after what appears to be a one-night stand. (That isn’t the scandalous part in this famously liberal society.)

The two are pictured lingering in bed, on their smart phones, checking out a genealogical website called Íslendingabók. Their smiles freeze when they find out they are related. Closely.”

Iceland is so small that virtually everyone is related but big enough

The man who holds the world record for the largest Yo-Yo collection

The man who holds the world record for the largest Yo-Yo collection also swam half a mile with his foot in his mouth…

An avid open water swimmer and an All American and World Record Holder in Masters swimming he has won several open water competitions over the years including the swimming hall of Fame Gault Ocean Mile swim, the 12.5 mile Around Key West Swim where he held the fin swimming record, and multiple Triathlon Relay National Championships. He is best known for hosting a daily 1 kilometer open water swim at his home (named Aquatica) since 1989. Dubbed Lucky’s Lake Swim,swimmers receive a patch and sign the back wall of his home on completion of the swim.[8][9][10][11] He has served on the board of directors of the YMCA Aquatic Center since 1992 and as chairman of the board since 2008. He is a founding member of the YCF Underwater Hockey Team

The man who holds the world record for the largest Yo-Yo collection

It costs $12,500 to deport a single illegal immigrant in the US

It costs $12,500 to deport a single illegal immigrant in the United States

“A high-level immigration official says it costs $12,500 to arrest, detain and deport each person removed from the U.S.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement deputy director Kumar Kibble has announced that cost at a House subcommittee hearing. Wednesday’s hearing focused on whether the Obama administration is doing enough to round up people working illegally in the U.S. ICE deported almost 393,000 people from the U.S. in 2010. At $12,500 per person the cost to remove them was almost $5 billion. (emphasis mine)”

Using the estimate of $12,500 per person, it would cost $137.5 billion dollars to deport each and every illegal presently in the country. But of course, even if you deport a large majority of the illegal immigrants, unless we really make a serious effort to secure our border, many of them will come back.

It costs $12,500 to deport a single illegal immigrant in the US

The average duration of stalking is 1.8 years.

Stalking According to the Stalking Resource Center: 1,006,970 women and 370,990 men are stalked annually in the United States.

“Stalking According to the Stalking Resource Center:

1,006,970 women and 370,990 men are stalked annually in the United States.

1 in 12 women and 1 in 45 men will be stalked in their lifetime.

77% of female and 64% of male victims know their stalker.

87% of stalkers are men.

59% of female victims and 30% of male victims are stalked by an intimate partner.

81% of women stalked by a current or former intimate partner are also physically assaulted by that partner.

31% of women stalked by a current or former intimate partner are also sexually assaulted by that partner.

The average duration of stalking is 1.8 years.

If stalking involves intimate partners, the average duration of stalking increases to 2.2 years.

61% of stalkers made unwanted phone calls; 33% sent or left unwanted letters or items; 29% vandalized property; and 9% killed or threatened to kill a family pet.

28% of female victims and 10% of male victims obtained a protective order. 69% of female victims and 81% of male victims had the protection order violated.”

The average duration of stalking is 1.8 years.

Eminem's mother at the age of 15 almost died giving birth to him

Eminem’s mother at the age of 15 almost died giving birth to him. It took 73 hours

“Eminem was born Marshall Bruce Mathers III on October 17, 1972, in St. Joseph, Missouri, the only child of Deborah R. (Nelson) Mathers-Briggs (born 1955) and Marshall Bruce Mathers, Jr (born 1947).[9] He is of Scottish,[10] English, German, Swiss, Polish, and Luxembourgian ancestry.[11] His mother was 15 when she had him and nearly died during his 73-hour birth.[12] His father abandoned the family when he was 18 months old, and he was raised solely by his mother. By the age of 12, Mathers and his mother had moved between various cities and towns in Missouri (including Saint Joseph, Savannah, and Kansas City)[13] before they settled in Warren, Michigan, and in Mathers’ teenage years, Detroit.[14]

As a child, Mathers developed an interest in storytelling and aspired to become a comic book artist before discovering hip hop.[15] In 1982 his mother sued his school over the bullying Eminem received from D’Angelo Bailey, the bully Em rapped about on the song “”Brain Damage”".[16] When Mathers was nine years old, his maternal uncle Ronald “”Ronnie”" Polkinghorn (1971-1991) introduced him to the genre after giving him a copy of Ice-T’s single “”Reckless”".[15][17] After obtaining a copy of the Beastie Boys album Licensed to Ill as a teenager, Mathers became interested in music, performing amateur raps at age 14 under the pseudonym “”M&M”" and joined a local hip hop group called “”Bassmint Productions”". Around this time they released their second EP, Steppin’ onto the Scene. They later changed their name to “”Soul Intent”" and around 1995 they released their first single called “”Fuckin’ Backstabber”" under the record label Mashin’ Duck Records.[2] Although he was enrolled at Lincoln High School in Warren, he frequently participated in freestyle battles at Osborn High School on Detroit’s east side.[18] Despite a well-documented struggle succeeding in a predominantly black industry, he gained the approval of underground hip hop audiences.[2][9][19] After repeating the ninth grade three times due to truancy and near-failing grades,[20] he dropped out of high school at age 17.

In 1991, Mathers’ uncle Ronald committed suicide. Mathers has a tattoo reading “”Ronnie R.I.P.”" on his upper left arm.[21] He also mentions his uncle in the songs “”Stan,”" “”Cleanin’ Out My Closet,”" and “”My Dad’s Gone Crazy”".”

Eminem's mother at the age of 15 almost died giving birth to him

Rowan Atkinson has a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering

Rowan Atkinson (Mr.Bean) has a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering

“Rowan Atkinson studied electrical engineering at the universities of Newcastle upon Tyne and Oxford,

first appeared in Oxford University revues at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and in 1981 became the youngest performer to have had a one-man show in the West End.

Date of Birth-6 January 1955, Consett, County Durham, England, UK

Birth Name-Rowan Sebastian Atkinson

Nickname-Row

Height-5′ 11″” (1.80 m)

Mini Biography-

Rowan Sebastian Atkinson was born on the 6th January, 1955, in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK, to Ella May and Eric Atkinson. His father owned a farm where he grew up with his two older brothers, Rupert and Rodney. He attended Newcastle University and Oxford University where he earned degrees in electrical engineering. During that time, he met screenwriter Richard Curtis, with whom he wrote and performed comedy revues.

Later, he co-wrote and appeared in “”Not the Nine O’Clock News”" (1979), which was a huge success and spawned several best-selling books. It won an International Emmy Award and the British Academy Award for “”Best Light Entertainment Programme of 1980.”" He won the “”British Academy Award”" and was named “”BBC Personality of the Year”" for his performing on “”Not the Nine O’Clock News”" (1979).

Atkinson also appeared in several movies, including Dead on Time (1983), Pleasure at Her Majesty’s (1976) (TV) (aka “”Monty Python Meets Beyond the Fringe”"), Never Say Never Again (1983), and The Tall Guy (1989). He played “”Mr. Bean”" in the TV series, “”Mr. Bean”" (1990) but, apart from that and “”Not the Nine O’Clock News”" (1979), he also appeared in several other series like “”The Black Adder”" (1982) and “”Funny Business”" (1992), etc.

Atkinson enjoys nothing better than fast cars. He has been married to Sunetra Sastry since 1990, and they have two children, named Benjamin and Lily.

His characters: Mr. Bean and Blackadder

Education: Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK (electrical engineering); Oxford University, Oxford, UK (electrical engineering)

Races (and also crashes) his Aston Martins in the Aston Martins Owners club series.”

Rowan Atkinson has a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering

In1969 North Korea hijacked a plane and kidnapped the passengers

In 1969 North Korea hijacked a plane and kidnapped the passengers and crew. 39 passengers were eventually released. The fate of the crew plus 7 passengers is still unknown.

“The Korean Air Lines YS-11 hijacking occurred on 11 December 1969. The aircraft, a Korean Air Lines NAMC YS-11 flying a domestic route from Gangneung Airbase in Gangneung, Gangwon-do to Gimpo International Airport in Seoul, washijacked at 12:25 PM by North Korean agent Cho Ch’ang-hǔi (조창희).[1][2] It was carrying four crewmembers and 46 passengers (excluding Cho); 39 of the passengers were returned two months later, but the crew and seven passengers remained in North Korea, seen in the South as an example of North Korean abductions of South Koreans.[3]

According to passenger testimony, one of the passengers rose from his seat 10 minutes after takeoff and entered the cockpit, following which the aircraft changed direction and was joined by three North Korean fighter jets.[4] The aircraft landed at Sǒndǒk Airfield near Wonsan at 1:18 PM.[5] North Korean soldiers boarded the aircraft afterwards, blindfolded the passengers, and instructed them to disembark.[4] The aircraft was damaged beyond repair on landing.[1] A member of the United States Air Force In South Korea was scheduled to be a passenger on the ill-fated flight, but instead caught a military transport flight at the last minute.[6]

North Korea claimed that the pilots had flown the aircraft there to protest the policies of then-President of South Korea Park Chung-hee. The passengers were subjected to attempts at indoctrination for up to four hours a day.[4] The South Korean police initially suspected that the co-pilot conspired with two North Korean agents in the hijacking.[7] The night after the hijacking, 100,000 South Koreans held a mass rally in freezing weather to protest the hijacking, and burned an effigy of Kim Il-sung.[8]

On 25 December, North Korea proposed to hold talks on the matter.[9] Talks were finally held in late January 1970.[10] Sixty-six days after the incident, North Korea released 39 of the passengers on 14 February through the Joint Security Area at Panmunjom, but kept the aircraft, crew, and remaining passengers.[11] The statements provided by the released passengers refuted North Korea’s claims that the hijacking was led by the pilots; instead, they pinned the blame on one of the passengers. One man claimed to have looked out the window of the aircraft despite instructions from the North Korean guards, and saw the hijacker being driven away in a black sedan. Another passenger was reported to have become mentally deranged as a result of his captivity, and lost the ability to speak.[4]

”

In1969 North Korea hijacked a plane and kidnapped the passengers

There were two brothers that were such compulsive holders they had

There were two brothers that were such compulsive holders they had managed to amass over 140 tons of items before one was killed by falling debris

“Homer Lusk Collyer (November 6, 1881 – March 1947) and Langley Wakeman Collyer (October 3, 1885 – March 1947), known as the Collyer brothers, were two American brothers who became famous because of their bizarre natures and compulsive hoarding. For decades, neighborhood rumors swirled around the rarely seen men and their home at 2078 Fifth Avenue (at the corner of 128th Street), in Manhattan, where they obsessively collected books, furniture, musical instruments, and many other items, with booby traps set up in corridors and doorways to ensnare intruders.

Both were eventually found dead in the Harlem brownstone where they had lived, surrounded by over 140 tons of collected items that they had amassed over several decades”

There were two brothers that were such compulsive holders they had

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Mr. Rogers heard that a limo driver was going to be stuck outside

Mr. Rogers heard that a limo driver was going to be stuck outside in the limo for 2 hours, so he invited him into the house. Then he sat up front with the limo driver and talked to him on the way back.

“If any famous person in the Twentieth Century lived a more virtuous life than Fred Rogers, no one springs immediately to mind. His six-minute appearance in 1969 before the Senate subcommittee in charge of PBS funding is legendary, not only for its effectiveness (Senator Pastore restored funding on the spot), but for plain spoken sincerity so guileless and focused that it is almost child-like.

Three of my favorite Mr. Rogers stories are included in this CNN article:

(1) Most people have heard of Koko, the Stanford-educated gorilla who could speak about 1000 words in American Sign Language, and understand about 2000 in English. What most people don’t know, however, is that Koko was an avid Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood fan. As Esquire reported, when Fred Rogers took a trip out to meet Koko for his show, not only did she immediately wrap her arms around him and embrace him, she did what she’d always seen him do onscreen: she proceeded to take his shoes off.

(2) . . . Fred Rogers drove a plain old Impala for years. One day, however, the car was stolen from the street near the TV station. When Rogers filed a police report, the story was picked up by every newspaper, radio and media outlet around town. Amazingly, within 48 hours the car was left in the exact spot where it was taken from, with an apology on the dashboard. It read, “If we’d known it was yours, we never would have taken it.”

(3) Once, on a fancy trip up to a PBS exec’s house, he heard the limo driver was going to wait outside for 2 hours, so he insisted the driver come in and join them (which flustered the host). On the way back, Rogers sat up front, and when he learned that they were passing the driver’s home on the way, he asked if they could stop in to meet his family. According to the driver, it was one of the best nights of his life. [T]he house supposedly lit up when Rogers arrived, and he played jazz piano and bantered with them late into the night. Further, like with the reporters, Rogers sent him notes and kept in touch with the driver for the rest of his life.”

Mr. Rogers heard that a limo driver was going to be stuck outside

Mr. Rogers made a point of mentioning out loud when he was feeding

Mr. Rogers made a point of mentioning out loud when he was feeding his fish after he got a letter from a family whose blind daughter asked him to do so, because she couldn’t tell if the fish were being fed.

Every question a child or parent asks is important, and no one understands this better than the television Neighbor who has visited our homes for more than two decades. In this collection of letters and replies, Mister Rogers encourages parents, grandparents, and teachers to cherish the questions and comments that come from their children. With sincerity and sensitivity, real-life issues are addressed in chapters arranged by theme–the world, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, feelings and fears, television, family relationships, and death. Based on his lifelong studies in child development, Fred Rogers offers a thoughtful perspective on childhood and parenting

Mr. Rogers made a point of mentioning out loud when he was feeding

A UK farmer hid his newly built castle behind a massive wall of hay

Rather than apply for a building permit before starting construction, a UK farmer hid his newly built castle behind a massive wall of hay bales for four years, at which point he applied for a certificate of lawfulness

“A farmer learned the hard way today that while an Englishman’s home may be his castle, even if it is hidden behind giant bales of straw, it will still need planning permission.

Robert Fidler, who built his mock Tudor castle, hiding it during construction and for some time afterwards behind straw bales and a tarpaulin, yesterday lost a high court battle to prevent its demolition.

newly built castle.jpg

Fidler, 61, built the luxury four-bedroom property, complete with ramparts, turrets and cannon, over two years, and then lived in it with his wife and son.

He hoped to sidestep the planning system by applying for a certificate of lawfulness, sometimes applicable if no one objects to a newly-built property for four years after construction. He kept the property secret from 2002, when it was finished, until 2006.

Asked why he had built a castle, Fidler said he had wanted to convert a cowshed into a home, but was told the building could only be used for industrial purposes. “”They say an Englishman is entitled to have his castle. I thought that maybe I could claim this to be my castle, and see if there was any mileage in that,”" he said. “”It was part of the dream of being able to build and own your own house.”"

But Reigate and Banstead council failed to share Fidler’s romantic ideal and issued an enforcement notice in March 2007 requiring the castle’s demolition on grounds he had erected it without planning permission.

Today, deputy high court judge Sir Thayne Forbes, sitting in London, ruled that Fidler could not benefit from his deception of the local planning authority.”

A UK farmer hid his newly built castle behind a massive wall of hay

There have only been five formal declarations of war by the United States

“A declaration of war is a formal declaration issued by a national government indicating that a state of war exists between that nation and another. For the United States, Article One, Section Eight of the Constitution says “”Congress shall have power to … declare War”". However, that passage provides no specific format for what form legislation must have in order to be considered a “”Declaration of War”" nor does the Constitution itself use this term. Many[who?] have postulated “”Declaration(s) of War”" must contain that phrase as or within the title. Others oppose that reasoning. In the courts, the United States First Circuit Court of Appeals in Doe vs. Bush said: “”[T]he text of the October Resolution itself spells out justifications for a war and frames itself as an ‘authorization’ of such a war.”"[1] in effect saying an authorization suffices for declaration and what some may view as a formal Congressional “”Declaration of War”" was not required by the Constitution.

This article will use the term “”formal Declaration of War”" to mean Congressional legislation that uses the phrase “”Declaration of War”" in the title. Elsewhere, this article will use the terms “”authorized by Congress”", “”funded by Congress”" or “”undeclared war”" to describe other such conflicts.

The United States has formally declared war against foreign nations five separate times, each upon prior request by the President of the United States. Four of those five declarations came after hostilities had begun.[2] James Madison reported that in the Federal Convention of 1787, the phrase “”make war”" was changed to “”declare war”" in order to leave to the Executive the power to repel sudden attacks but not to commence war without the explicit approval of Congress.[3] Debate continues as to the legal extent of the President’s authority in this regard.

After Congress repealed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution in January 1971 and President Richard Nixon continued to wage war in Vietnam, Congress passed the War Powers Resolution (Pub.L. 93–148) over the veto of Nixon in an attempt to rein in some of the president’s claimed powers. The War Powers Resolution proscribes the only power of the president to wage war which is recognized by Congress.”

There have only been five formal declarations of war by the United States

Nearly one-third of U.S. children aged 4 to 19 eat fast food on

Nearly one-third of U.S. children aged 4 to 19 eat fast food on a daily basis, which will likely result in them gaining about 6 extra pounds each year.

“On average, nearly one-third of U.S. children aged 4 to 19 eat fast food on a daily basis. Over the course of a year this is likely to result in a child gaining six extra pounds every year.[10] In a research experiment done by Pediatrics, 6,212 children and adolescents ages 4 to 19 years old were examined to find out some information about fast food. After interviewing the participants in the experiment, it was discovered that on a given day 30.3% of the total sample have reported to have eaten fast food. Fast-food consumption was prevalent in both males and females, in all racial/ethnic groups, and in all regions of the country.[11]

Children who ate fast food, compared to those who did not, tended to consume more total fat, carbohydrates, and sugar-sweetened beverages. Children who ate fast food also tended to eat less fiber, milk, fruits, and non-starchy vegetables. After reviewing these test results, the researchers concluded that consumption of fast food by children seems to have a negative effect on an individual’s diet, in ways that could significantly increase the risk for obesity.[11] One of the top sellers in the fast food industry are beef hamburgers. The cows slaughtered for the meat are sick steroidal animals that are fed grain rather than grass. During this process, the cows are abused and put through factory farming. Factory farming is the practice of raising overcrowded livestock in a confined space (otherwise known as “confinement at high stocking density” or “CAFOs”). CAFOs are designed to produce the highest output for the lowest cost by relying on “economies of scale” (the cost advantages that a business obtains due to expansion), modern machinery, biotechnology, and global trade (6, 9). A typical day for one of these livestock is sitting in their own manure on top of one another with no space to roam, while occasionally getting beat and forced to eat antibiotics. These antibiotics keep the livestock alive by killing intestinal bacteria long enough for them to be sent to the slaughterhouse (6). Cows are fed grain because it speeds up their developmental process, generally ready to be slaughtered and sold by twelve to fourteen months (9). This is a big convenience for the fast food companies purchasing these animals because it lowers their value. Growth hormones, antimicrobial agents, and breeding programs produce animals more suited to the confined conditions, but less suited for the dinner table (6). To save money on feed, some factory farmed livestock are trained early on to eat only genetically engineered (GMO) corn by locking them into pens and feeding them nothing else. Either they eat the GMO corn or they starve. Cattle do not have the genetic ability to digest corn which ferments in at least one of the four stomach compartments. GMO corn feed is one of the root causes of the bacteria, E. coli. Many scientists argue that mad cow disease also derives from the feeding of GMO corn to cattle (6). These inhumane conditions are used with many other animals such as pigs and chickens. Chickens are cooped up in cages for most of their lives, while also being fed growth hormones, some chickens grow so large that their legs don’t keep up with their fast paced development so they break (2, 7). Pigs are also victims of abuse; newborns are neutered with no medication or proper tools. Premature babies who have no chance in being big enough for slaughter are killed brutally by workers taking them by their hind legs and slamming their heads on the ground ”

Nearly one-third of U.S. children aged 4 to 19 eat fast food on

Adult meerkats teach their young to hunt scorpions safely by first

Adult meerkats teach their young to hunt scorpions safely by first presenting them with dead scorpions and then soon after with live scorpions that the adult had already removed their deadly stingers from

“Teachers look away now: animal behavioural studies are blurring the boundaries between humans and animals, and challenging the idea that teaching is built on intelligence.

“”People used to think of teaching as a clever behaviour,”" says Alex Thornton of the University of Cambridge. “”In other words, you couldn’t teach unless you were aware of the ignorance of your pupil.”"

Nevertheless, it now seems that meerkats – which although cute are not thought to have any great levels of intelligence – routinely teach pups how to hunt.

Although meerkats live in large colonies, they tend to be solitary hunters. That means meerkat pups can’t learn how to hunt by simply joining the adult foraging expeditions, says Thornton. Neither is it likely that they will serendipitously learn how to deal with scorpions and other tasty morsels.”

Adult meerkats teach their young to hunt scorpions safely by first

men actually feel more emotional pain than women after break-ups

Men actually feel more emotional pain than women after break-ups

“Traditionally it was women who are thought to have suffered the worst from a broken heart, while thick-skinned men hid their feelings behind a stiff upper lip.

But now it seems men are more sensitive to the end of a relationship than previously thought.

Contrary to popular belief it is men who suffer more when a partnership ends, a new report has claimed.

It found that men in their early twenties find breaking up and the highs and lows of romantic relationships more traumatic than women.

This is because by that age women may already have a network of close relationships made up of friends and family in addition to a partner.

Young men, however, often lack that support. If their romantic partner is the only person that they confide in they are more emotionally vulnerable when that is taken away – even if they don’t put their feelings on display.

When a relationship goes wrong it has a greater impact on younger men’s identity and self-worth, sociology experts said.

Prof Melanie Bartley, a sociology professor from University College London, said: “”Young women do tend to have wider relationships with friends and family by this time to rely on. Young men don’t tend to confide in each other and that can make them feel isolated. Their friendship groups are more competitive than nurturing. They are just as sensitive as women but it’s a matter of whether they feel valued.”"

According to the survey, while men found rocky relationships more stressful than women they were also more likely to reap greater emotional benefits from an ongoing happy romance.

”

men actually feel more emotional pain than women after break-ups

A former math professor with a PhD from Stanford University

A former math professor with a PhD from Stanford University specializing in statistics has won the lottery FOUR times

“She was called the luckiest woman in the world.

But now that luck is being called into question by some who think that winning the lottery four times is more than just a coincidental spell of good fortune.

Joan R. Ginther, 63, from Texas, won multiple million dollar payouts each time.

”

A former math professor with a PhD from Stanford University

Every Autumn, the Spartans had a period wherein their young men

Every Autumn, the Spartans had a period wherein their young men would go into the countryside with daggers and kill slaves without punishment as part of a “manhood test”

”

Encyclopedia > Crypteia

Krypteia or Crypteia (Gr. κρυπτεία / krupteía, from κρυπτός / kruptós, “hidden, secret things”) was a tradition involving young Spartans, part of the agoge (Spartan education). Its goal and nature are still a matter of discussion among historians.

Young Spartan men who had completed their training at the agoge with such success that they were marked out as potential future leaders, would be given the opportunity to test their skills and prove themselves worthy of the Spartan military tradition through participation in the kryptia.

Every autumn, according to Plutarch (Life of Lycurgus, 28, 3–7), the Spartan Ephors would pro forma declare war on the Helot population so that any Spartan citizen could kill a Helot without fear of blood guilt. Armed only with dagger, the Krypteria were sent out into the countryside with the instructions to kill any Helot they encountered at night and to take any food they needed. This could be used to remove any Helots considered troublesome and provide the young men with a manhood test and experience of their first kill. Such brutal oppression of the Helots permitted the Spartans to control the agrarian population and devote themselves to military practice. It may also have contributed to the Spartans’ reputation for stealth.

”

Every Autumn, the Spartans had a period wherein their young men

Germany prints paper currency for 60 different countries, and Canada

Germany prints paper currency for 60 different countries, and Canada makes coins for 62

“The British government crippled Muammar Qaddafi’s attempt to fund his faltering regime this week by impounding nearly $1.5 billion worth of Libyan dina rs, which had been printed under contract by a British firm. Wait, how many countries outsource their currency?

Half the world. Between 10 and 20 percent of all bank notes around the globe are printed by private companies, such as the U.K.’s De La Rue, the Canadian Banknote Company, Giesecke & Devrient in Germany, and Crane, a printer working in Sweden and Massachusetts. Of the world’s 171 currency-issuing authorities—there are more countries than currencies, because of the EU and an economic union of West African countries—around 50 percent outsource some portion of their printing needs. Giesecke & Devrient, for example, prints currency for five dozen countries, and Canadian Banknote fills orders for 20. (There may be overlap in those numbers. Central banks sometimes split production of different denominations between companies.) It’s impossible to compile a complete list of outsourcers, though, because many governments don’t like to talk about the practice, and the printing houses refuse to release their client lists. Singapore, Finland, Sweden, Bahrain, and Qatar are known to outsource all of their printing. Controversy erupted in India last year when its outsourcing became public. The Philippines has been ordering notes from abroad for years, with mixed results. In 2005, the French company Oberthur misspelled the president’s name on some of the bills.”

Germany prints paper currency for 60 different countries, and Canada

Jews fought side-by-side with Muslim soldiers to defend Jerusalem

Jews fought side-by-side with Muslim soldiers to defend Jerusalem against the Crusaders.

Jews fought side-by-side with Muslim soldiers to defend Jerusalem against the Crusaders.[4] Saint Louis University Professor Thomas Madden, author of A Concise History of the Crusades, claims the “Jewish Defenders” of the city knew the rules of warfare and retreated to their synagogue to “prepare for death” since the Crusaders had breached the outer walls.[5] According to the Muslim chronicle of Ibn al-Qalanisi, “The Jews assembled in their synagogue, and the Franks burned it over their heads.”[6] One modern-day source even claims the Crusaders “[circled] the screaming, flame-tortured humanity singing ‘Christ We Adore Thee!’ with their Crusader crosses held high.”[7] However, a contemporary Jewish communication does not corroborate the report that Jews were actually inside of the Synagogue when it was set fire.[8] This letter was discovered among the Cairo Geniza collection in 1975 by historian Shelomo Dov Goitein.[9] Historians believe that it was written just two weeks after the siege, making it “the earliest account on the conquest in any language.”[9] However, all sources agree that a synagogue was indeed burned during the siege.

Jews fought side-by-side with Muslim soldiers to defend Jerusalem

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

A case of mistaken identity resulted in Omar Deghayes being held

A case of mistaken identity resulted in Omar Deghayes being held in Guantanamo for almost 6 years, where he was brutally tortured despite not being charged with a crime.

“Omar Deghayes (born November 28, 1969) is a Libyan citizen who had legal residency status with surviving members of his family in the United Kingdom since childhood. He was arrested in Pakistan in 2002. He was held by the United States as an enemy combatant at Guantanamo Bay detention camp from 2002 until December 18, 2007. He was released without charges and returned to Britain, where he lives.[1] His Guantanamo Internment Serial Number was 727.[2] Deghayes says he was blinded permanently in one eye, after a guard at Guantanamo gouged his eyes with his fingers.[3] Deghayes was never charged with any crime at Guantanamo.

When Omar was a child, his father, a prominent attorney and union organiser, was arrested and executed by Muammar Gaddafi’s government in Libya.[3] His mother took him and his siblings to the United Kingdom, where they had often visited for extended stays, and gained asylum as refugees. They lived in Brighton. According to the Birmingham Post, Deghayes was a “”laws graduate”"; he studied law at the University of Wolverhampton and later studied in Huddersfield.[4]

During Deghaye’s detention at Guantanamo, his family in Great Britain mounted a campaign to free him, which received the support of the Brighton Argus newspaper and all six Members of Parliament in Sussex, where Omar Deghayes had resided for many years. This is where his family still lives.

In 2006, the British High Court considered whether the United Kingdom government should petition the United States government on behalf of Guantánamo detainees who had legal British residency status. (It had already petitioned on behalf of British citizens.)[5] The High Court concluded that it did not have the authority to make recommendation in the area of foreign affairs, but said that the evidence that the British residents were being tortured was “”powerful”".

In August 2007, the British government under Gordon Brown requested Deghaye’s release.[6] He was released on 18 December 2007 and returned to Britain. Deghaye and another former detainee were arrested under a Spanish warrant on allegations of al-Qaeda involvement in 2003; he was released on bail while his case is considered.”

A case of mistaken identity resulted in Omar Deghayes being held

Robert Downey Jr. buried the clothes that he wore in 1987's Less Than

Robert Downey Jr. buried the clothes that he wore in 1987′s Less Than Zero in the backyard of his house in a symbolic attempt to bury his decadent 1980s Brat Pack image and begin a new phase of his life and career after filming Chaplin.

“Born in Manhattan, New York, on April 4, 1965, Robert Downey Jr. made his debut as an actor at the age of five in the film Pound (1970), written and directed by his father, Robert Downey Sr., and since that early role, Robert Downey Jr. has amassed an enviable list of credits and honors throughout a four-decades-plus career that shows no signs of slowing. Downey Jr.’s laurels include two Academy Award nominations, three Golden Globe wins, numerous other award nominations and wins, and tremendous popular and commercial success, particularly in his roles as Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock Holmes (2009) and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011) and as Tony Stark in Iron Man (2008), Iron Man 2 (2010), The Avengers (2012) and the in-production Iron Man 3 (2013). Downey Jr. is married to Susan Downey and has two sons (one from a previous marriage).

Born to writer, director and filmographer Robert Downey Sr. and actress Elsie Downey, Downey Jr. and his sister Allyson were immersed in film and the performing arts from a very young age, leading Downey Jr. to study at the Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Training Center in upstate New York before moving to California with his father following his parents’ 1978 divorce. In 1982, he dropped out of Santa Monica High School to pursue acting full time. Downey Sr., himself a drug addict, exposed his son to drugs at a very early age, and Downey Jr. would go on to struggle with abuse for decades.

Downey Jr. built his film repertoire throughout the 1980s and 1990s with roles in Tuff Turf (1985), Weird Science (1985), True Believer (1989), Chaplin (1992), Natural Born Killers (1994) and Wonder Boys (2000) among many others, but the actor’s drug-related problems escalated from 1996 to 2001, leading to numerous arrests, rehab visits and incarcerations, and he was eventually fired from the hit TV series “”Ally McBeal”" (1997).

Emerging clean and sober in 2003, Downey Jr. began to rebuild his career with roles in Gothika (2003), Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005) and A Scanner Darkly (2006), and then in 2008 he began a period of remarkable productivity, with starring roles in a string of very successful blockbusters including Tropic Thunder (2008) and the films of the Iron Man, Avengers and Sherlock Holmes franchises.

In 2005, Downey Jr. married Susan Downey (I), who gave birth to their son, Exton Elias Downey, on February 7, 2012. Downey also has another son, Indio Falconer Downey, born September 7, 1993, from his first marriage to Deborah Falconer, from whom he was officially divorced in 2004.

In addition to acting, Downey Jr. has also pursued a singing career, releasing a 2004 album called “”The Futurist”", and in 2010, he and his wife established their own production company, Team Downey.”

Robert Downey Jr. buried the clothes that he wore in 1987's Less Than

In the apocryphal Book of Enoch angels procreate with women and create

In the apocryphal Book of Enoch, angels procreate with women and create a giant warrior race. The fallen angels also teach men to make weapons, how to apply eye shadow,and how to make jewelry. The book ends with them being imprisoned, and the earth being destroyed by a flood.

“The Book of Enoch (also 1 Enoch[1]) is an ancient Jewish religious work, traditionally ascribed to Enoch, the great-grandfather of Noah. It is not part of the biblical canon as used by Jews, apart from Beta Israel. It is regarded as canonical by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church, but no other Christian group.

The older sections (mainly in the Book of the Watchers) are estimated to date from about 300 BC, and the latest part (Book of Parables) probably was composed at the end of the 1st century BC.[2]

It is wholly extant only in the Ge’ez language, with Aramaic fragments from the Dead Sea Scrolls and a few Greek and Latin fragments. For this and other reasons, the traditional Ethiopian view is that the original language of the work was Ge’ez, whereas non-Ethiopian scholars tend to assert that it was first written in either Aramaic or Hebrew; E. Isaac suggests that the Book of Enoch, like the Book of Daniel, was composed partially in Aramaic and partially in Hebrew.[3]:6

The authors of the New Testament were familiar with the content of the story and influenced by it:[4] a short section of 1 Enoch (1 En 1:9) is quoted in the New Testament (Letter of Jude 1:14–15), and is there attributed to “”Enoch the Seventh from Adam”" (1 En 60:8).”

In the apocryphal Book of Enoch angels procreate with women and create