Fantastic 4

4 Surprising Signs You'll Live A Long Time

We all know the obvious ways to add years to your life: Don't smoke, eat your veggies, wear a seat belt (even in the backseat). But there are other, lesser-known habits and attributes that can help you live to a ripe old age.

YOU SKIP SODA (EVEN DIET)

I finally kicked my diet cola habit in my 20s, a good thing too, because scientists in Boston recently found that drinking one or more regular or diet sodas every day doubles your risk of metabolic syndrome-- combination of conditions that increase your chances of heart disease and diabetes. The exact culprit isn't completely understood, but it could be the caramel color added to colas and other dark sodas, which increased the risk for metabolic syndrome in animals. Experts also speculate that exposing your taste buds to the sweet fizzy flavor of soda conditions you to crave sugary foods, which can lead to weight gain. Whatever the reason, it's an easy enough habit to quit. Club soda (sodium free, of course) with a splash of juice satisfies the fizz craving with just enough sweetness.

YOUR LEGS ARE STRONG

Lower-body strength means you also have good balance, flexibility, and endurance. While you probably care more about how your legs look in a mini and a pair of knee-high boots right now, as you get older those attributes reduce your risk of falls, injuries, and hip fractures, all of which are associated with declining health in older folks. So do some squats, lunges, and stair climbing to look good now-- and be strong and healthy later. It's win-win!

YOUR MOM HAD YOU YOUNG

If she was under age 25, you're twice as likely to live to age 100 as someone born to an older mom, according to University of Chicago scientists. The reason, they suspect, is that younger moms' best eggs go first to fertilization, which may mean healthier offspring.

YOU EAT AND DRINK PURPLE THINGS

Red wine, concord grapes, blueberries (okay, not quite purple, but close enough) all get that deep rich color from polyphenols- compounds that reduce heart disease risk and may even protect against Alzheimer's disease, according to new research. So crack open a bottle of Pinot (don't overdo it), snack on some grapes, or make a blueberry pie and ponder all the years that lie ahead. Talk about happy and healthy!

by Liz Vaccariello, Editor-in-Chief, PREVENTION
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Wax On, Wax Off

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"Never put passion before principle.
Even if you win,
you lose."

Miyagi
Karate Kid
Part 2

For
Noriyuki
"Pat"
Morita
(1932-2005)

Nardong Tae

NARDONG TAE, subtitled "Umotot Ka Hanggang Gusto Mo", is an independent comic book produced in 2003 by Abang Guard Productions. This indie komiks is created by Louie Cordero, a multi-awarded painter, illustrator, and musician. Nardong Tae was named "Best Indie Comic Book" at the 2nd Philippine Comic Book, Anime, and Gaming Convention held on December 13-14, 2003 at SM Megamall's Megatrade Hall 2.

Nardong Tae tells the hilarious, wacky adventures of Bornek, the kindly boy who was hit by an alien poo from outer space. Bornek was transformed into a living poo, his ghastly look and stench became the butt of jokes. Despite this, Bornek tried to live a normal life, even going to a university in Manila to study criminology. In the end, however, when he can no longer tolerate the humiliation of his classmates and teachers, Bornek destroyed the university by the explosive power of his fart. He was declared "Public Enemy No.1″. The komiks ended with a note that a Part Two is being prepared by the Author.
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Thanks to: Danny Gagelonia
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Hell: Exothermic or Endothermic?

The following is an actual question given on a University of Washington chemistry mid term paper.

The answer by one student was so 'profound' that the professor shared it with colleagues, via the Internet, which is, of course, why we now have the pleasure of enjoying it as well:

Bonus Question: Is Hell exothermic (gives off heat) or endothermic (absorbs heat)?

Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle's Law (gas cools when it expands and heats when it is compressed) or some variant.

One student, however, wrote the following:

First, we need to know how the mass of Hell is changing in time. So we need to know the rate at which souls are moving into Hell and the rate at which they are leaving. I think that we can safely assume that once a soul gets to Hell, it will not leave. Therefore, no souls are leaving. As for how many souls are entering Hell, let's look at the different religions that exist in the world today.

Most of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, you will go to Hell. Since there is more than one of these religions and since people do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that all souls go to Hell. With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in Hell to increase exponentially. Now, we look at the rate of change of the volume in Hell because Boyle's Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in Hell to stay the same, the volume of Hell has to expand proportionately as souls are added.

This gives two possibilities:

1. If Hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter Hell, then the temperature and pressure in Hell will increase until all Hell breaks loose.

2. If Hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in Hell, then the temperature and pressure will drop until Hell freezes over.

So which is it?

If we accept the postulate given to me by a certain girl during my Freshman year that, 'It will be a cold day in Hell before I sleep with you,' and take into account the fact that I slept with the very same girl last night, then number two must be true, and thus I am sure that Hell is exothermic and has already frozen over. The corollary of this theory is that since Hell has frozen over, it follows that it is not accepting any more souls and is therefore, extinct... leaving only Heaven, thereby proving the existence of a divine being which explains why, last night, she kept shouting 'Oh my God.'

THIS STUDENT RECEIVED AN A+.
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Happily Ever Before

8 Things No One Tells You About Marriage:

1) You will look at the person lying next to you and wonder, Is this it? Forever?

2) You'll work harder than you ever imagined.

3) You will sometimes go to bed mad (and maybe even wake up madder).

4) You will go without sex - sometimes for a long time.

5) Getting your way is usually not as important as finding a way to work together.

6) A great marriage doesn't mean no conflict; it simply means a couple keeps trying to get it right.

7) You'll realize that you can only change yourself.

8) As you face your fears and insecurities, you will find out what you're really made of.
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Why Men Cheat

Counselor M. Gary Neuman surveyed 200 cheating and non-cheating husbands to get at the real reasons behind men's infidelity.

48% rated emotional dissatisfaction as the primary reason they cheated.

8% said that physical dissatisfaction was the main factor in their infidelity.

66% report feeling guilt during the affair.

68% of cheaters never dreamed they'd be unfaithful.

77% of cheating men have a good friend who cheated.

40% met the other woman at work.

12% said their mistress was more physically attractive than their wife.

6% of cheating men had physical intimacy with a woman after meeting her that same day or night.

73% of men got to know the other woman for more than a month before they cheated.

Source: Nicole Yorio / Redbook
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Paul Newman (1925-2008)

Bad is Good

Top Ten Bad Things That Are Good For You

10. Beer - Antioxidant rich. New research has suggested that moderate beer intake can actually improve cardiovascular function.

9. Anger - Studies show that bursts of anger here and there are good for the health, and can be an even more effective coping mechanism than becoming afraid, irritated, or disgusted.

8. Coffee - A major source of antioxidants and can help lower risk of diabetes. Also thought to ease the onset of cirrhosis of the liver and pancreatitis.

7. LSD - Small doses have been thought to help bypass the rock-bottom stage of alcoholism and prevent lapses.

6. Sunlight - Asthmatics could benefit from measured doses of ultraviolet rays.

5. Maggots - Placed on serious wounds, maggots munch on bacteria and dead tissue, stimulating healing and helping to prevent infection.

4. Marijuana - Anti-inflammatories found in the drug prevent the clumping of brain proteins, one major cause of Alzheimer's.

3. Red Wine - Known to have potent anti-cancer and artery-protecting benefits. Latest studies link it to greater endurance, a reduction in gum disease and Alzheimer's.

2. Chocolate - Packed with flavonols that prevent certain cancers and keep your arteries from clogging. May even increase blood flow to the brain, warding off dementia. Just stick to the highest cocoa content possible, the bars packed with sugar don't help your health one bit.

1. Sex - Reduces stress, lowers cholesterol, and improves circulation throughout the body.
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Source: www.livescience.com
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Rogue Messiahs

What's it about: The stories and outrageous claims, acts, and abuses of 25 self-proclaimed messiahs who have arisen in the last 300 years. The probable factors that turn earnest religious leaders, mystics, or well-intentioned cult leaders into violent, abusive, murderous, and
paranoid rogue messiahs.

Chapters:

1- Sex as Salvation. (The final assault on Waco. The mass suicide of the Branch Davidians. Why do normal people join such cults?...)

2- The Millenium Cometh. (Sabbatai Zevi, the Messiah of 1666, mystic and kabbalist. The Jewish expectation of the Messiah. The Brethren of the Free Spirit...)

3- The Psychology of Discipleship. (Jim Jones and group marriage. Colonel Olcott and thaumaturgy. William James on "the will to believe." The career of Madame Blavatsky. The Tibetan Mahatmas...)

4- The Messiah as Killer. (Auguste Comte tries to overthrow religion. The case of Jeffrey Lundgren. Joseph Smith and the Mormons...)

5- A Taste of Power. (Arturo LeBaron becomes Prophet...)

6- How to Transform Reality. (Milton Rokeach and the Three Christs of Ypsilanti. Lindner's "participation therapy." Madame Yeti...)

7- The Psychiatrist as Messiah. (Freud versus Jung. "Man has a religious function." The craving for an authority figure...)

8- Strange Powers. (Rudolf Steiner and the incredible rise of Anthroposophy. The rise of Krishnamutri. Edward Irving and "speaking in tongues."... )

9- The Gospel of Free Love. (Lucina Umphreville and spiritual marriage. William Miller and the Day of Judgement that failed to arrive...)

10- The Sexual Watershed. (Henry James Prince and the Abode of Love...)

11- The Mask of Power. (Aleister Crowley and Shelley. Manson among the Flower Children. Yukio Mishima as messiah...)

12- The Second Stream. (Charlotte Bach's theory of sex: all men wish to become women and vice versa. Evolution as the result of sexual tension. David Berg and the Children of God...)