Normal people work very hard at their jobs to barely make ends meet. Normal people take out high interest loans they can’t afford to get degrees they probably won’t use. Normal people buy cookie cutter cars and live in cookie cutter houses so they can enslave themselves to the perceptions of people they don’t like.

In a world fascinated with conformity, mediocrity is sanity. People are unfortunately content living up to the status quo – go to school, get a good job, get married, buy a house and have kids.

When you consider this quote by Steve Jobs, you realize that being crazy is not just about thinking outside the box, it is creating the box that normal people will think inside of.

“Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.”

Here are ten reasons why crazy people are more likely to be successful

1. They create new boxes for normal people to think inside of

Crazy people like Steve Jobs don’t just challenge the norm: they create new norms for others to either challenge or think inside of. Innovation doesn’t always mean coming up with something new. Most times, it is as “crazy” and mind blowing as making something that already exist better. By thinking differently, crazy people like kids use the power of their imagination to power their way to success.

2. They are too foolish to be scared.

When crazy people set goals for themselves, they aren’t concerned with the “what if” possibility of failure. For them, there is no plan “B” because plan “A” will absolutely work. While normal people are paralyzed by the fear of failure, the crazy ones saddle up and ride anyways. To them, failure is a word with no meaning. This ability to seemingly disregard the fear of failure is why the crazy ones are more likely to succeed.

“Fear is not real. The only place that fear can exist is in our thoughts of the future. It is a product of our imagination, causing us to fear things that do not at present and may not ever exist. That is near insanity. Do not misunderstand me danger is very real but fear is a choice.”

3. They strive for authenticity

The need to be authentic is the need to be different from everybody else. Crazy people develop their own sense of style and paint the portrait of life exactly the way they see it. This ability to be original has seen many crazies achieve success by developing life skills that normal people would call a bad habit or simply absurd. For example, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg are known to wear the same type of outfit every day. Billionaire Warren Buffett collects an annual salary of $100,000 dollars and has pledged 99% of his wealth to charity.

“Develop your own style and wear it long enough to become a trendsetter” – Anonymous

4. They have high energy

Normal people can’t wait to do nothing. They can’t wait to get off work, go home, sit in front of the TV and do nothing. They always complain about how much energy they don’t have and how much more time they wish they had. Crazies however have all the time, passion and energy in the world. They dedicate themselves to a craft and work tirelessly to develop their skills. This intent focus and energy definitely gives them an advantage for success.

5. They dare to break the rules.

Deviating from the norm isn’t always easy, especially if you have spent your whole life following rules. However, crazies understand that while rules are important, they can be limiting. What rules in your industry do you accept as fact? Why do you follow them? If the answer is “that’s the way it has always been” then you are normal and probably will never succeed. It is this ability to question authority without disrespect that makes the crazies more likely to be successful.

6. They invent out of necessity

To other people, crazies may seem like highly resourceful people, which is true. But a deeper truth is that they are just people who take action to solve a problem they can no longer ignore. Their unusual minds help them view the world from a different perspective than normal people. So problems that normal people would just accept as “the way things are,” crazy people cannot accept. Crazies embody the old adage, “necessity is the mother of all inventions.”

7. They recognize other crazies.

No matter what type of person you are, it is easy to recognize others of like mind. Crazies all over the world have begun a revolution to find other crazies. They almost seem to be drawn to inventions, ideas and other individuals born a little crazy. They see genius in what normal people have written off as abnormal and are often the early adopters of all the great new trends and technologies. The idea of being able to brainstorm with others who think as differently as you do gives you a greater chance of success. Crazy’s challenge one another’s beliefs.

8. They are always curious

Crazies have the minds of kids, constantly asking why. Their minds are insatiable and they are not afraid to follow the rabbit hole no matter how deep down it goes. This allows them to see life as not full of problems, but full of wonder and potential. This ability to always see the glass half full makes the crazies more likely to succeed.

9. They are like a dog with a bone

Once crazies sink their teeth into something, they never let go. Crazy people become obsessed with certain problems and how to solve them. They become so engrossed that no matter how impossible a task supposedly is, they will always find a way. This is the X factor that will drive a crazy person to succeed at a task that a normal person would have long ago given up in frustration.

10. They don’t label.

Crazies don’t label people or problems; they are only intrigued by what’s inside a person. While normal people see defined lines and segregate people into labels of race, religion, gender, career specialization or sexual orientation, crazies only see heart and passion. To the crazies, there is no black or white, just shades of grey. By not labelling others, crazies are able to surround themselves with an extremely diverse group of talent and unlock the human potential and ability for action.

Article Source: Life Hack

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It is impossible to say who the first people were with stretched ears, or why they did it. Today, many cultures (including our own!) practice the art of ear stretching for many different reasons. Religion, coming of age ceremonies, warding off evil, sexual enhancement and physical beauty are common motivations. However, that just barely scratches the surface as there are many other reasons, as well. People all over the world still practice ear stretching. From the Masai tribes in Kenya to the Huaorani tribe in the Amazon Basin, stretched ears are still a common sight. It is a fascinating testament of human culture that a Western youth can walk into a piercing shop to select stretched ear jewelry while a Hmong youth in Thailand selects from an array of silver tubes. (Source | Photo)

The Apatani tribe lives in the Ziro valley in the state of Arunachal Pradesh in India’s northeast. Apanti women were considered the most beautiful among the Arunachal tribes; so beautiful, in fact, that they had to make themselves look unattractive as protection from invaders from other tribes. Hence, Apanti women wore large wooden plugs in their noses, a tradition not carried forward by the younger members of the 26,000 people-strong tribe today. (Source)

Most Dinka boys and girls don’t cry when the local sorcerer takes a red-hot knife to their dark faces. If they wince or cry or react to the pain they will lose face in the community, so it’s best to sit through the process in peace. Facial scarification is practiced throughout Sudan, and various marks across the faces of tribesmen give identity to the tribe and beauty to its women.

Men of the Dinka tribe in South Sudan scar their faces with three parallel lines across the forehead in a rugged display of courage to the tribe. Dinka boys receive their scars around adolescence to mark the transition to manhood, when they take the responsibilities of the other men in the nomadic tribe. (Source)

For some people, this would be totally extreme, but for local Thais, this is completely normal. They ignore the pain because this ritual is a rite of passage to adulthood. This is an annual ritual performed in public to announce to the whole world that they have become adults.

The vegetarian festival in Phuket sees a great deal of devotional activities in the Chinese communities. Trance and heavy piercing are part of the tradition. This festival is held on the Southern Thai island of Phuket every year in October. Most impressive are the processions that are held almost every morning during the ten days of the festival. The processions feature devotees of the different city shrines which act as “mediums” for the Chinese Gods. Some of the mediums put sharp objects (mostly metal objects) through their cheeks as an act of devotion for themselves and for the whole community. Other rituals that are performed include walking barefoot over hot coals and ascending ladders with bladed rungs.

All the mediums act involuntarily while in a trance, which allows them to endure the long piercing sessions. Although the wounds are said to be healed completely after the service, scars accumulate on their faces year after year. (Source)

Human tooth sharpening is the practice of manually sharpening the teeth, usually the front incisors. Historically, many cultures have practiced this form of body modification. In Bali, teeth were filed down because it was thought that the teeth represented anger, jealousy, and other similarly negative emotions. The teeth were also sharpened as a rite of passage for adolescents. Teeth filing was also used by Aborigines for spiritual reasons, similar to assorted Vietnamese and Sudanese tribes. In Mayan culture, the teeth were sharpened, and sometimes had designs carved into them, to distinguish those in the upper-classes. Many cultures would sharpen their teeth to imitate animals, such as the Wapare of inter-tropical Africa, who sharpened their teeth to imitate sharks, as well as kicking out some mandibular teeth during puberty. (Source)

Though scarification is done by people all over the world, it is practiced heavily by Sepik River tribes in Papua, New Guinea as part of an initiation ceremony for men. This is only a small part of a ceremony that lasts for weeks and includes public humiliation, but it’s ridiculously painful. The elders of the tribe use razor blades to cut the young men all over their bodies in a pattern that closely imitates the rough skin of an alligator. They believe that the alligator will then consume any semblance of a boy left in their bodies, and they will become men. (Via)

The lip plate, also known as a lip plug or lip disc, is a form of body modification. Increasingly larger discs (usually circular, made from clay or wood) are inserted into a pierced hole in either the upper or lower lip, or both, thereby stretching it. Archaeological evidence indicates that labrets have been independently invented no fewer than six times, in Sudan and Ethiopia (8700 BC), Mesoamerica (1500 BC), and Coastal Ecuador (500 BC). Today, the custom is maintained by a few groups in Africa and Amazonia.

In Africa, a lower lip plate is usually combined with the excision of the two lower front teeth, and sometimes all four. Among the Sara people and Lobi a plate is also inserted into the upper lip. Other tribes, such as the Makonde, used to wear a plate in the upper lip only. In many older sources it is reported that the plate’s size is a sign of social or economical importance in some tribes. However, because of natural mechanical attributes of human skin, it seems that the plate’s size often just depends on the stage of stretching the lip and the wishes of the wearer. (Source)

The Kayan women of Northern Thailand are known for the exquisite and incredible brass coils they wear around their necks. They are often called the “long necks” or the “giraffe women” by outsiders and can wear up to 25 coils, which many never take off.

Myth has it that the women will break their necks or be unable to support them if the coils are removed but this is simply not true. Maeneng, above, is the matriarch of her village, and while she is the only one to wear 25 coils, she often helps adjust and repair the coils of other women.

Children are often given their first set of coils at age 5. This consists of a set weighing about 4 1/2 pounds, then new rings are slowly added. In actuality, the Kayan women do not have their necks elongated; instead, it works in the other direction. As the weight of the coils press down, the clavicle is lowered, and with each addition to the neck rings it falls further, compressing the rib cage as well. The shoulders finally fall away to give the appearance of an elongated neck. (Source| Photo)

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Meet Rick. He’s turning himself into a zombie. So far, more than 24 hours of tattoos –costing over $4,075 Canadian dollars– have got him halfway there and made him a minor celebrity on the internet, where people can’t decide if he’s a body modification visionary or mentally ill sicko.

2. Dennis Avner: Catman

Dennis Avner, also known by “Catman” or his native American name of “Stalking Cat”, undergone incredible extensive surgery in order to look like his totem animal, the tiger. Modifications include extensive tattooing, transdermal implants to allow whiskers to be worn, subdermal implants to change the shape of the face and the filing and shaping of the teeth to make them look more like a tiger’s.

3. Julia Gnuse: The Illustrated Lady

Julia Gnuse, also known as the illustrated lady, was born with a condition called porphyria which causes her skin to blister regularly and ultimately scar. In order to cover this up she started getting tattoos applied over the affected areas. After 10 years she was covered in the bastards and holds the Guinness Record for being the most tattooed woman in the world.

4. Tom Leppard: The Leopard Man

Formerly considered by the Guinness Book of World Records to be the world’s most tattooed man, Tom Leppard, now 73 years old, fled society years ago after spending £5,500 to have his body covered in leopard-like spots. He lived in a small cabin on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. Once every week, the ex-soldier travelled by canoe to buy supplies and pick up his pension. However, in 2008 he moved into a small house on Skye after a friend offered to move him by boat. “I’m getting too old for that kind of life,” he said.

5. Eric Sprague: The Lizardman

Born Eric Sprague in 1972, the Lizardman was one of the first people to have a split tongue and in some circles is seen to be wholly responsible for the recent popularity of this particular modification. This 37 year old man has transformed himself into a reptile via 700 hours of tattooing, five Teflon horns implanted beneath the skin of his eyebrows, filing down of his teeth into sharp fangs, bifurcation of his tongue, and stretching of his septum and earlobes.

6. Horace Ridler: The Zebra Man

A professional freak and sideshow performer, Horace Ridler exhibited himself as The Great Omi or The Zebra Man. Horace was an English aristocrat who returned from the First World War to Twenties’ London where he began his transformation into one of the world’s greatest oddities. Tattooed from head to foot in black and white stripes, he became Omni – the Zebra Man. As the years wore on the Omi’s appearance became more and more outrageous as did his personality. He took to wearing lipstick and nail polish and signed his pitch cards, ‘the Barbaric Beauty’. Despite his appearance, “underneath it all, I’m just an ordinary man,” he insisted shortly before his death in 1969.

7. Lucky Diamond Rich: World’s Most Tattooed Person

The ultimate in multi-layered tattooing is represented by the chainsaw juggling, unicycling, sword-swallowing Lucky Diamond Rich from Australia, who has spent over 1,000 hours having his body modified by hundreds of tattoo artists. He began by having a full collection of colorful designs from around the world tattooed over his entire body. But not content with stopping there, Lucky next opted for a 100% covering of black ink, including eyelids, the delicate skin between the toes, down into the ears, and even his gums. He is now being tattooed with white designs on top of the black, and colored designs on top of the white! He is now, officially, the world’s most tattooed person, having a full body coverage.

8. Elaine Davidson: World’s Most Pierced Woman

Elaine Davidson is the World’s Most Pierced Woman, according to the Guinness World Records. When examined by a Guinness official in May 2000, Davidson had 462 piercings, with 192 in her face alone. Performing at the Edinburgh Festival in 2005, the Guardian reported that she now had 3,950 body piercings. She has more piercings in her genitalia than in any other part of the body – 500 in all, externally and internally. The total weight of her jewelry is estimated to be about 3 kilograms. As of May 2008, Davidson’s piercings total 5,920. As of Feb. 2009 her piercings total 6,005.

9. Paul Lawrence: The Enigma

You’ve probably heard about The Enigma. Paul Lawrence is the guy with blue puzzle pieces tattooed all over his body who has made a name for himself performing stunts such as sword swallowing, pushing a moving power drill up his nose and swallowing various liquids, pumping them out of his stomach and swallowing them again. The Enigma is also an accomplished musician.

10. Tiger Lady: Enigma’s Ex-Wife

The Tiger Lady is the stage name of the heavily modified female performance artist and tattoo artist Katzen, whose full body tattoo theme is that of a tiger. She received extensive tattooing on all parts of her body and wears tiger whiskers attached via piercings on her face. She was once married to “The Enigma”. They got divorced and now she works at a tattoo shop in Austin, Texas.

11. Etienne Dumont: Living Art

Etienne Dumont is an art & culture critic for a newspaper in Geneva who just happens to be covered head to toe in some of the most vibrant tattoos ever mande. He also has silicon implants under the skin which give the horned appearance, 2.7 inch rings in each earlobe and plexiglass piercings through the nose and under his bottom lip. And he claims to wear his tattoos like art.

12. The Tentacle Man

This unknown Brazilian man shows some heavy tentacle suction-cup implants, done by Dark Freak at Luck All in Sao Paulo, Brasil.

Credit to Oddee.

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Ever find yourself dealing with a mystery body symptom that comes out of nowhere? Before you Google yourself crazy wondering what’s going on, consider this: it just might be your system’s way of hinting that you’re not getting enough of a specific vitamin or mineral—and that it’s time to crank up your intake, says New York City nutritionist Brittany Kohn, R.D. Here’s a rundown of five little-known signs that you’re shortchanging yourself on key nutrients, plus the best sources to score them from.

Your muscles cramp up often.

If you’re increasingly hit with painful muscle tightness and spasms, and it happens even when you’re moving around a lot, it may be a sign that your level of magnesium—a mineral that helps regulate body functions—is circling the drain. Shore up your reserves by eating more bananas, almonds and dark leafy greens, says Kohn.

Your limbs feel tingly or numb.

That freaky pins-and-needles feeling can be the result of low levels of B vitamins, specifically B6, folate, and B12—the latter a B vitamin typically found in animal products that vegetarians and vegans tend to be deficient in. Boost your Bs by consuming more whole grains, spinach, beans, and eggs.

You crave ice.

Strange as it sounds, the urge to chomp ice is a sign of an iron deficiency. Experts aren’t exactly sure why, but a recent study theorizes that ice leads to a much-needed mental energy boost to fight the fatigue that sets in when you’re low on iron. Instead of face-planting into the freezer, bring your iron levels up via red meat, pinto beans, or lentils. Then read up on some other signs of low iron, plus how to score more.

Your nails flake and break.

If your fingernails or toenails appear brittle and flaky, low iron may again be to blame. “It’s another great reason to order a steak or burger,” says Kohn. If you don’t eat meat, go for foods with a pinto-bean burrito or lentil soup. (Listen to your nails, they know a lot about you!

Your lips are cracked in the corners.

Chapped lips are one thing, but cracking at the corners of your mouth that doesn’t get better with a lip balm can be triggered by riboflavin (vitamin B2) deficiency. “It may also have to do with not getting enough vitamin C,” says Kohn. Dairy products are great sources of riboflavin, and you can find C in citrus fruits and leafy greens.

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10. Puli Kali Kerala

Photo credit: Felix Francis

At the festival of Puli Kali in Kerala, thousands of tigers come to life, dancing and prancing around in the streets. But if you get too close, they won’t bite (hopefully) because they are simply devotees impersonating tigers.Dressing as a tiger is a long, drawn-out process wherein the upper body of male devotees is covered in layers of paint, intricately designed as the animal down to the last whisker. The festival’s name translates into “play of the tiger,” and with men dressed as hunters, the devotee tigers play a game of hide-and-seek in which they try to avoid the hunters’ clutches.This tradition is part of the Onam festival, which marks the harvest season. The practice of Puli Kali goes back a couple of hundred years to when a local king introduced this folk art. It was continued by soldiers who danced to music and performed steps which somewhat resembled the stance of tigers.Well, Indians have surely lived up to their names by finding a homemade remedy for the endangerment of tigers by becoming the creatures themselves.

9. Garudan Thookkam Kerala

Photo credit: Sandeep pranavam

We love hanging out with our buddies. But in southern India, people love hanging down . . . from hooks. The Garudan Thookkam festival literally translates into “Eagle Hanging.”The Garuda was a humanoid creature which was believed to be the vehicle of Lord Vishnu in Hindu mythology. Legend says that to quench the insatiable thirst of goddess Kali, Vishnu sent Garuda to her. Drinking the blood of the bleeding and dancing life-size bird pacified her.To mark this festival today, some people in Kerala dress up as Garuda with elaborate headdresses and costumes and sing and dance. After the performance continues through the night, the Garudas hang themselves upside down from sharp hooks that pierce several parts of their bodies.The bloody Garudas are then taken around the city temple in a procession to seek the goddess’ blessings. However, in some places today, hooks are attached not to the flesh but to a cloth tied around the waist. Looks like the people took Mariah Carey’s lyrics “fly like a bird, take to the sky” way too seriously. 8 Pushkar Fair

8. Pushkar Fair Rajasthan

Photo credit: mantra_man

Ever dream of owning an exotic animal as a pet? Well, the natives of this desert land are living this dream and are very fond of their pet camels. The famed, annual Pushkar Fair of Rajasthan is a five-day cattle fair, the largest in Asia. It coincides with the Hindu festival of Kartik Poornima, which makes it more attractive for tourists.The fair has found a mention here due to the quirky activities listed on the program for this festival. Camel races are something we don’t see daily, but the natives are more than familiar with this activity. These humped models also sit patiently, getting dressed and decked out with jewelry and ornaments, as they wait to be entered into beauty contests.I challenge you to visualize the next sentence without falling off your seats with laughter: The camels are also subjected to a game of musical chairs! On the itinerary of the men, “Hey, let’s measure whose mustache is the longest” and turban-tying competitions are planned.

7. Theyyam Kerala

Photo credit: prasadnp

Move over salsa, ballet, jazz, and hip-hop. The “Dance of Gods” is here. The dance performed at the Theyyam festival is not simply a dance honoring the gods. Instead, the dancers are said to be possessed by the spirits of gods and mystical figures during the performance.The gods descend to Earth through the medium of the devotees who perform and come into contact with common folk. During the dance, the dancers seem to go into a trance as they take on the life of the Theyyam, a general term for any immortal or mythological being.Another striking feature of this celebration is the intricate makeup and headdresses donned by the dancers. The bodies of the dancers are offered as clean slates to artists who take hours splashing multiple colors on them.Headwear is the heaviest, with some performers wearing bamboo crowns shooting up to 15–18 meters (50–60 ft). We would be concerned about the headaches which would follow, but then again, gods probably don’t suffer from the trivial ailments of mere mortals like us. 6 Lath Mar Holi

6. Lath Mar Holi Barsana

Photo credit: Abhijit Kar Gupta

This one is all in a playful sense and has no harsh rituals. Promise! It is a local celebration of Holi, the Hindu festival of colors. Take truckloads of colors and mix them with heaps of laughter, songs, and a bucketful of traditionality. What do we get? The celebrations of Lath Mar Holi in Barsana, a small town near Mathura in the state of Uttar Pradesh.Tradition here involves beating women and chasing men with lathis (sticks), though not with any violent intentions. According to legend, Lord Krishna, being the woman-charmer that he was, visited Barsana and playfully applied color on his beloved Radha’s face. This led to the present-day celebrations of Holi, enjoyed by the people of the town.Unfortunate men who are unable to escape the clutches of the women are dressed in skirts and made to dance, all in a festive mood. The festival of Holi in India remains incomplete without a drink known as thandai, which is sometimes intoxicating because it is laced with cannabis. This takes the joyful spirit to new heights, literally.5 Dhinga Gavar

5. Dhinga Gavar Jodhpur

Photo credit: Vipingoyal

Rajasthan is a land of the unusual and might rank number one for celebrating the most extraordinary festivals. In Suncity, the festival of Dhinga Gavar witnesses the participation of large numbers of women around whom this celebration revolves.As the legend goes, Lord Shiva (who apparently had a funny bone) once dressed up as a cobbler to tease his consort, Parvati. She reciprocated by appearing before him as a tribal woman. This led to the present tradition dedicated to Dhinga Gavar, the humorous side of Shiva’s consort.Women of the region dress up variously as dacoits, queens, kings, police, sages, etc. It is quite a big deal because these women hire makeup artists and rent fancy costumes days in advance. They patrol the streets after sunset, and men of the city try to get in their way to get beaten up.Ever heard of someone so eager to be beaten with sticks? The men of Jodhpur are because they believe that an unmarried man who is hit by these female impersonators will soon be hitched to the girl of his dreams. Boys, care to try this out?

4. Agni Keli Mangalore

The bright flames of fire may be something beautiful to look at but only from a considerable distance. The people of Mangalore view the flames up close and personal during the eight-day festival at the Kateel Durga Parameshwari Temple.On the second night, male devotees assemble at the temple and throw palm stalks at each other. As if throwing palm fronds wasn’t already risky, these fronds are lit. This practice may be the definition of fun for the people, but it is carried out to appease the goddess Durga and is a centuries-old ritual.The devotees, wearing garments only on their lower bodies, are divided into two groups, and members of each group try to set their opponents on fire. It might be a relief (to a certain extent) to know that each person is given only five throws and this ritual lasts only 15 minutes. Phew.

3. Kaya Klesh

For almost all of us, our most prized body part, which we spend the maximum time beautifying, is our hair. Have you ever experienced that sinking feeling when one brush of your comb brings out handfuls of hair? Then this ritual carried out by Jain monks is sure to make you wince.The Jains came up with a solution to avoid the saddening experience of hair loss. No hair equals no hair falling out. Of the 36 rules that Jain monks have to follow, one is the practice of kaya klesh or kesh lochan. From their scalps, they pluck out each strand of hair—one by one—by hand.The ritual is carried out at least once or twice a year when the hair grows back. According to Jain tradition, the hair symbolizes illusion and attachment from which man needs to distance himself to attain liberation. This practice also teaches the monks to endure pain.To avoid any wounds, the scalp is first dusted with dried cow dung ash before the plucking begins.

2. Banni Festival Andhra Pradesh

Kill or be killed. That is what this festival will look like to a nonlocal onlooker. But this age-old tradition holds with it a meaning for the native peoples.The ritual takes place with the perfect setting at midnight against the backdrop of the Devaragattu temple in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. Every year on the night of Dussehra (the 10-day Hindu festival marking the homecoming of Lord Rama), masses of devotees gather with sturdy sticks in hand.These devotees, all men, hit each other with their sticks. The procession carries the idols of Parvati and Shiva, Hindu deities. When the ritual ends at daybreak, the sight is nothing short of a scene straight out of Kill Bill.Though medical teams and doctors are present, they don’t do much except watch the festival. In fact, the people of Andhra are let off easy today because axes and spears were used in place of sticks as the tradition was once practiced.

1. Karni Mata Festival Rajasthan

Photo credit: Schwiki

The average individual does not like rats for the simple reasons that they spread diseases, might bite, and just aren’t very attractive. But the people of Deshnoke in Rajasthan seem to turn a blind eye to it all.The Karni Mata Temple here is also known as the Temple of Rats. This 600-year-old temple is home to approximately 20,000 rats which scurry about unafraid and deeply revered.Numerous versions of the legend circulate. Karni Mata was a woman believed to be an incarnation of the goddess Durga. According to one version, when the son of one of her storytellers died, she requested that the god of death bring him back. When this appeal was refused, she herself reincarnated the boy (and all other storytellers, too) as rats to live in the temple and serve her forever.Bet 100 bucks that the boy thought he was better off dead than alive as a rat. The highest honor that devotees can receive is to eat the food from which the rats have taken a bite. Also, extra blessings for the people who spot the especially holy white rats which make guest appearances from time to time.

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A BIKE is not the first item you’d think of piercing your body with.

Not the first thing I’d do with a bike. A follower of the Chinese Bang Neow Shrine, with a child’s tricycle through his cheek takes part in a street procession during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Picture: Piti A Sahakorn/LightRocket via Getty Images

As these bizarre images show, these religious devotees have all manner of items pierced through their cheeks, from daggers and swords to a bicycle.

In sacred rituals, devotees known as “Mah Song” or “Spirit Horses” work themselves into trances in order to enable them to work the items through their cheeks.

Thailand’s Vegetarian Festival is more than sprouts and tofu — it’s an assault on the senses, and for the most devout, on the body itself.

Then they dance as massive strings of fireworks explode all around them.

Bang, bang. Ouch. A follower of the Chinese Bang Neow Shrine, with guns in his cheeks during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Picture: Piti A Sahakorn/LightRocket via Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

The annual festival in Phuket has become a tourist attraction, with several large, noisy processions complete with fireworks, gongs and drums passing through the streets. Many Phuket residents have Chinese ancestors, and devotees to the many Chinese temples on the island parade their shrines’ emperor gods on hand-carried carriages.

Photo/David Longthreat

The Vegetarian Festival begins on the eve of the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar and is observed primarily in Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Myanmar. It traces its origins to the early 1800s, when a troupe of Chinese actors on tour in Phuket fell ill. It was decided that they should abstain from eating meat and soon all were well again.

The festival and its sacred rituals are believed to bestow good fortune. Devotees observe a strict vegetarian or vegan diet that is believed to cleanse the body and grant merit. It is believed that those who endure piercings experience no pain while in the trance.

Article Source: News Au

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A woman has been described as “strong” and “amazing” after completing a university exam while giving birth. Tommitrise Collins completed the online test after going into labor at Coliseum Medical Centers in Macon, Georgia. The 21-year-old explained she was only able to take the test on that day.

The Middle Georgia State University student finished the exam in under two hours and passed with a B. Her sister, Shanell Brinkley Chapman, posted a picture of the feat on Facebook saying: “This is what you call ‘Strong Priorities.’ Contractions three minutes apart and (she) still takes her psychology test! You are going to be a great mom baby sis.”

Collins gave birth to a girl named Tyler Elise, weighing seven pounds and ten ounces, after 20 hours of labor. (Source)

2. The woman who danced to Whip Nae Nae between contractions

The woman who danced to Whip Nae Nae between contractions
Dancing to contractions is not unusual. But this woman gave her midwife a surprise when she went to check on her during labor and didn’t find her in bed, but dancing in the hallway. The young mom and her two friends can be seen energetically moving to “Watch Me (Whip Nae Nae)” by Silentó between contractions. Midwife Marsha Ford uploaded the footage of the dancing mother-to-be to Facebook.

Commenters speculated on whether or not the expecting mother was actually in labor, but Ford was quick to set the record straight, confirming she was 6cm dilated during the video. (Source)

3. The bridesmaid who walked her sister down the aisle while in labor

The bridesmaid who walked her sister down the aisle while in labor
Sashaying down the aisle trying to look elegant is a daunting moment for any bridesmaid, but for one loving sister, it proved far harder than for most. That’s because dedicated bridesmaid Lucy Morris walked her sister down the aisle while in labor.

Lucy, 29, woke on the morning of the big day with contractions, but put on a brave face and didn’t tell bride Emma, 26. She managed to hold on until after the ceremony and even posed for pictures outside the church. Her mother drove her to Doncaster Royal Infirmary, and Izzy was born 13 hours later after a long and drawn-out labor. (Source)

4. The woman who ran a full marathon with contractions and gave birth on the same day

The woman who ran a full marathon with contractions and gave birth on the same day
At 39 weeks pregnant, most women would only be thinking of racing to the hospital. But not Amber Miller, who—while expecting her second child—set off to run the 2011 Chicago Marathon. As she neared the final stages of the race, her contractions kicked in. But the extraordinary mother-of-one continued the race regardless, half running, half walking. The determined athlete managed to cross the finish line in 6 hours and 25 minutes. And just a few hours after completing the 26.2-mile race, she gave birth to her daughter, June Audra. (Source)

5. The photographer mom who documented her own delivery with photos

When Lisa Robinson and her husband, Alec Ward, learned they were expecting, the California couple was surprised and overjoyed. As a wedding and portrait photographer, Robinson jokingly suggested to her husband that she photograph her baby’s birth. The joke turned serious, however, and Robinson began to map out her plan.

Until their daughter, Anora Wren, was born in December of 2015, Robinson had never photographed a birth. She says she was careful not to put too much pressure on herself to take the photos, as she knew labor and delivery do not always go as planned.

Anora’s delivery, however, went smoothly. Robinson captured stunning images of her labor, her husband’s first look at their daughter, and their daughter in her doctor’s hands immediately after delivery. (Source)

6. The woman who applied makeup while in labor

A professional makeup artist used her talent to take her mind off her labor pains by giving herself a glamorous bedside makeover complete with skin contouring and fake eyelashes.

Alaha Majid of New York City took to Instagram to post numerous photos of herself applying a full face of makeup before she welcomed daughter Sofia Alaya Karimi into the world, on February 15, 2016.

Understandably, the comment section exploded, with women in awe of her amazing skills, with many saying they wish they could do eyeliner like that on any day—let alone during labor! (Source)

7. The woman who stole a pickup truck while in labor

One pregnant woman in Detroit had it in her to steal a pick-up truck, crash it, and then have energy left over to give birth—more or less while strapped in handcuffs.

The woman was one of four suspects—two women and two men—who decided it would be fun to steal the truck and take it for a joyride. All seemed to be going well until the driver went the wrong way, knocked down a utility pole, and crashed into two vehicles before stopping. While cuffing the mama-to-be, police discovered she was going into labor at that moment. She was taken to the hospital, while her partners in crime were transported to the police station. (Source)

8. The guy who caught a pidgey while his wife was having birth

This last entry is not about a mother in labor, but a father to be. Jessica Theriot was about to have a C-section. Her husband, Jonathan, was on his A-game, ready for action, but that game was—specifically—Pokémon Go. Yes, childbirth can be stressful, but Jonathan saw a Pidgey sitting on Jessica’s bed.

“As soon as it popped up, I was like, oh my gosh, a Pidgey is sitting on your bed!” he said. “So, I screenshot it, then caught it and showed it to her.” The photo quickly went viral on Imgur, where it’s been viewed more than 3,000,000 times since it was posted.

While some commenters criticized Jonathan for playing the game while she was in labor, he said she wasn’t mad at all. (Source 1 | Source 2)

Article Source: Oddee.

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Thomas Trace Beatie, a trans man, had gender reassignment surgery in 2002 and became known as “The Pregnant Man” after he became pregnant through artificial insemination in 2007.

Thomas Trace Beatie was born on January 20, 1974 in Honolulu, Hawaii. At the age of 10, he started to identify with the male gender. However, as a teenager Beatie was a female model and Miss Teen Hawaii USA pageant finalist. At 23 years of age, he began testosterone hormone treatment to make the transition to living life as a man.

In March 2002, Beatie underwent a gender reassignment procedure. However, he kept his internal reproductive organs intact because he wanted to have biological children, and sterilization was not a requirement to undergo a valid sex change.

Beattie married Nancy Gillespie in a legally valid opposite-sex marriage in Hawaii on February 5, 2003. Beatie chose to become pregnant because his wife Nancy was infertile, doing so with cryogenic donated sperm.

Beatie’s first pregnancy resulted in an ectopic pregnancy with triplets, requiring emergency surgery and resulting in the loss of all three fetuses. Since then, Beatie has given birth to three children.

In 2010, Guinness World Records recognized Beatie as the world’s “First Married Man to Give Birth.”

Unfortunately, the couple filed for divorce in 2012. (Source 1 | Source 2)

First Man to be Mummified in the Style of the Ancient Egyptians (2010)

In 2010, a team led by forensic archaeologist Stephen Buckley mummified Alan Billis using techniques based on 19 years of research of 18th dynasty Egyptian mummification.

Mr. Billis, a former British taxi driver who passed away from lung cancer at the age of 61, had volunteered for the experiment before his death.

Billis, who loved watching documentaries, agreed to have his body preserved after seeing an advertisement from a television company looking to film the process. They wanted to use the techniques that preserved Tutankhamun’s body after his death in 1323 BC.

Over a period of several months following his death in January, Mr. Billis’ internal organs were removed and kept in jars, with the exception of his brain and heart. His skin was covered in a mixture of oils and resins and bathed in a solution of Natron, a salt found in dried-up river beds in Egypt. After a month in a glass tank at the Medico-Legal Centre in Sheffield, which houses the city’s mortuary, his body was removed, placed in a drying chamber, and wrapped in linen bandages in a style mimicking that of the Egyptian Pharaohs. His brains were not removed through his nose, a practice that was not carried out in ancient Egypt, contrary to popular belief.

The process has been hailed as a success by experts, making Billis the first person in over 3,000 years to be mummified in the style of the ancient Egyptians. (Source 1 | Source 2)

First Man to Travel to All 201 Countries Without Flying (2012)

In November 2012, Graham David Hughes, a British adventurer, became the first person to travel to all 201 “countries” in the world without flying.

After 1,426 days, four full passports, and countless buses, trains, and boats, Hughes, a filmmaker, television presenter, and Guinness World Record holder, had visited all United Nations member states and Taiwan, Vatican City, the Palestinian territory, Kosovo, the Western Sahara, and the four home nations of the United Kingdom.

The entire journey, which cost an average of $13 a day, utilized trains, busses, taxis, or ships, but at no point did he travel by air, meaning that he created a new Guinness World Record.

Graham’s personal video log of his trip has been converted into a television series called “Graham’s World” on the National Geographic Adventure channel. It is an eight part series covering Graham’s first year of traveling to every country in the Americas, Europe, and most of Africa from January 2009 – December 2009. Highlights of the trip included imprisonment in the Republic of the Congo, getting caught sneaking into Russia, and running the blockade into Cuba. He was arrested in Estonia and Cameroon and spent jail time in Congo and Cape Verde.

Graham completed his expedition on Monday November 26, 2012 after entering South Sudan. (Source)

First Man to Journey into Outer Space (1961)

On April 12, 1961, Soviet pilot and cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to journey into outer space when his spacecraft completed an orbit of the Earth.

Gagarin was born in the village of Klushino, near Gzhatsk (renamed Gagarin in 1968 after his death), on March 9, 1934.

In 1950, at the age of 16, Gagarin entered into an apprenticeship as a foundryman near Moscow and also enrolled at a local “young workers” school for seventh grade evening classes. After graduating in 1951 from both the seventh grade and the vocational school, he was selected for further training at the Saratov Industrial Technical School, where he studied tractors. Also, Gagarin volunteered for weekend training as a Soviet air cadet at a local flying club, where he learned to fly. He earned extra money as a part-time dock laborer on the Volga River, as well

After graduating from the technical school in 1955, Gagarin was sent to the First Chkalov Air Force Pilot’s School in Orenburg. In 1960, after much searching and a long selection process, Yuri Gagarin was chosen along with 19 other pilots for the Soviet space program. Out of the twenty selected, the eventual choices for the first launch were Gagarin and Gherman Titov due to their performance during training sessions as well as their physical characteristics; space was limited in the small Vostok cockpit, and both men were rather short. Gagarin was 1.57 meters tall. Finally, Gagarin boarded the Vostok I on April 12, 1961.

After the flight, Gagarin became a worldwide celebrity, touring widely abroad. He visited Italy, Germany, Canada, Brazil, Japan, Egypt, and Finland to promote the Soviet Union’s accomplishment of putting the first human in space.

On March 27, 1968, while on a routine training flight from Chkalovsky Air Base, he and the flight instructor died in a crash. Their bodies were cremated and the ashes were buried in the walls of the Kremlin on Red Square. (Source)

First Man to Cross Niagara Falls on a Tightrope (1859)

On June 30, 1859, Jean François “Blondin” Gravelet became the first person to cross Niagara Falls on a tightrope.

Blondin was born on February 28, 1824 in St. Omer, France. When he was 5-years-old, after just six months of training as an acrobat, Blondin made his first public appearance as “The Boy Wonder,” due to his superior skill and grace.

Blondin always had the idea of crossing the Niagara Gorge (located on the American-Canadian border) on a tightrope, near the location of the current Rainbow Bridge.

He accomplished this on June 30, 1859, and a number of times thereafter, always with different theatrical variations. He’s done it blindfolded, in a sack, on stilts, while trundling a wheelbarrow, while carrying a man (his manager, Harry Colcord) on his back, sitting down midway while he cooked and ate an omelet, and standing on a chair with only one chair leg on the rope.

On September 6, 1873, Blondin crossed Edgbaston Reservoir in Birmingham. A statue built in 1992 on the nearby Ladywood Middleway commemorates his feat.

Blondin kept performing into his seventies, and became a living legend on an international scale. Demonstrating that an old performer can indeed learn new tricks, he developed a cycling act on the tightrope. He made his final appearance in 1896, the year before he died, in Ireland.

Despite placing himself at great danger throughout his career, Blondin died serenely in his bed at his Ealing home on February 19, 1897. The cause of death was listed as diabetes. He was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery in London. (Source 1 | Source 2)

First Man to Reach Both Poles and Summit Everest (1958)

Sir Edmund Percival Hillary, a New Zealand mountaineer, explorer, and philanthropist, was the first person to reach both poles and summit Everest.

Hillary has born on July 20, 1919, in Auckland, Dominion of New Zealand.

During his youth, he became interested in mountaineering while in secondary school, making his first major climb in 1939, reaching the summit of Mount Ollivier. He served in the Royal New Zealand Air Force as a navigator during World War II. Prior to the 1953 Everest expedition, Hillary had been part of the British reconnaissance expedition to the mountain in 1951, as well as an unsuccessful attempt to climb Cho Oyu in 1952.

On May 29, 1953, Sir Hillary and Nepalese Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers confirmed to reach the summit of Mount Everest. They were part of the ninth British expedition to Everest, led by John Hunt. Hillary was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century. As part of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition, he reached the South Pole overland in 1958. He subsequently reached the North Pole.

As expected, Hillary climbed ten other peaks in the Himalayas on further visits in 1956, 1960–1961, and 1963–1965.

Following his ascent of Everest, he dedicated much of his life to helping the Sherpa people of Nepal through the Himalayan Trust, which he founded. Through his efforts, many hospitals and schools were built in this distant region of the Himalayas.

On April 22, 2007, while on a trip to Kathmandu, he was reported to have suffered a fall. He was hospitalized after returning to New Zealand.

Hillary died of heart failure at the Auckland City Hospital on January 11, 2008. (Source)

First Man to Score Points in the NBA (1946)

History was made on November 1, 1946 when the Knicks traveled to Canada to take on the Toronto Huskies, the first game in what was then the Basketball Association of America, which a few years later became the NBA.

On that occasion, the Knicks won the game 68–66, but by the time that first shot went through the hoop, Ossie Schectman had already made a name for himself on the court.

Schectman played guard for the New York Knicks during the 1946 season, and while his stats will never pop off the page, he scored one of the most significant baskets in the history of the game: the first one.

Oscar Benjamin “Ossie” Schectman was born on March 30, 1919, in Kew Gardens, New York.

On July 30, 2013, Schectman died at age 94 in Delray Beach, Florida.(Source 1 | Source 2)

First Man to Circumnavigate the Globe (1522)

On September 6, 1522, the Spanish Basque explorer Juan Sebastián Elcano completed the first circumnavigation of the world after a journey of three years and one month.

Elcano was born in 1476 in Spain. He fought in the Italian Wars, and in 1509 he joined a Spanish expedition. He later settled in Seville and became a merchant ship captain. After violating Spanish maritime law, he sought a pardon from King Charles I of Spain by participating as a subordinate officer for the Magellan expedition to the East Indies.

After five months of hard work, he was made captain of the galleon. Elcano served as a naval commander of Charles I and took part in the expedition to the Philippines. In 1519, they set sail from Spain with five ships and a crew of 241 men. After a series of unfortunate events, Magellan was killed in the Battle of Mactan on April 27, 1521.

Elcano, along with 17 other European survivors of the 240 man expedition, continued the westward voyage, arriving in Spain on September 6, 1522.

According to Pigafetta, an Italian scholar, the voyage covered 14,460 leagues (about 81,449 kilometers), so Charles I of Spain rewarded Elcano with a coat of arms and an annual pension.

Elcano went back to sea, where he died of malnutrition in the Pacific Ocean on August 4, 1526. (Source)

First Man to be Called an Olympic Sex Symbol (1972)

Mark Spitz was the most successful athlete at the 1972 Summer Olympics. He was named World Swimmer of the Year in 1969, 1971, and 1972 by Swimming World magazine. He was the third athlete to win nine Olympic gold medals. Since the year 1900, no other swimmer has ever gained as great a percentage of all the medals awarded for Olympic events, a record that stood unbeaten for 36 years until countryman Michael Phelps grabbed eight in Beijing.

His great fame as a successful athlete, and his “perfect body,” led him to appear in print advertisements and commercials. He earned $7 million (at least $50 million today) from ad campaigns and television shows. As a result, Spitz, at 22-years-old, was the first male Olympic star to become a global sex symbol following the picture of him showing off his seven medals from Munich in 1972.

Spitz was also a former dentistry student who wanted to be a Hollywood star. However, his film career never took off, and to make matters worse, his performance in the 1992 Games ended in failure. Even so, he still earns large checks from media appearances, obviously without the brown mustache and gray hair, in addition to his real estate company in Beverly Hills and hobbies such as sailing. (Source 1 | Source 2)

First Man To Pose Nude in a Magazine (1972)

In April 1972, Cosmopolitan magazine ran a nude centerfold photograph of legendary Hollywood star Burt Reynolds lying naked across a golden brown bearskin rug. The issue created great controversy, selling out the first day it hit the newsstands, propelling Cosmopolitan to the forefront of American pop culture at the time. (Source).

Article source: Oddee

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Here are 10 of the most bizarre things found in countries around the world:

1. In Japan, you can hire a handsome man to watch sappy movies with you and wipe away your tears.

A Tokyo-based company called “Ikemeso Danshi,” which means, “Handsome Weeping Boys,” according to Quartz, offers an unusual service.

The company provides handsome suitors, and for about $65, a man of your choice will watch a saccharine film with you and brush away your tears.

The concept was born out of the idea that crying can be therapeutic and that misery loves company, according to Hiroki Terai, the company’s founder.

2. In Bhutan, most of the buildings are adorned with erect penises.

The small country nestled in the Himalayans is not for the prudish — fly to Bhutan and you’ll be surrounded by murals of floating phalluses.

To the predominantly Buddhist population, the male organ is a symbol of fertility and wards off evil spirits, the Washington Post reported.

Phallic worship originated from a 15th century Buddhist teacher, who claimed he fought demons with his “member.”

Today, the penis portraits have become more of a cultural symbol than a spiritual one, and their prevalence attracts throngs of tourists.

3. In Russia, authorities proposed to ban all things “emo” because they were declared a threat to national stability.

Black eyeliner and bad hairdos, be gone!

In 2008, authorities proposed laws to ban “emo” culture.

The anti-emo legislation was based on the presumption that the trend promotes depression, social withdrawal and suicide, according to The Guardian.

The bill described “emos” as teens clad in black and pink clothing with studded belts, painted fingernails, piercings and black hair that “covers half the face,” The Guardian reported.

If Russian lawmakers have their way, teens will have to hang up their studded belts by 2020.

4. In China, any TV shows and films featuring time travel are censored.

Sorry, Chinese “Back to the Future” fans.

In 2011, the State Administration for Radio, Film and Television in China began phasing out any form of entertainment depicting time travel because they “lack positive thoughts and meaning,” according to the New York Times.

The decision was based on the assumption that time travel provides a false impression of history and that Chinese television needs to stop appropriating “Western products” and generate content that is “intrinsically Chinese,” the Telegraph reported.

5. In Niue, an island nation in the South Pacific, its coins feature Disney and “Star Wars” characters.

This tiny island may have a meager population of about 1,200 — but it’s renowned for having Mickey Mouse on its money.

The South Pacific nation began producing quirky coins — featuring “Pokémon” characters, Disney Princesses and “Star Wars” personalities — in a bid to boost its economy and put the petite peninsula on the map.

The coins are legal tender on the Polynesian atoll, but around the world, they are being traded as collector’s items.

In 2014, the most expensive coins were made from 7.1 grams of gold, featured Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Goofy and Pluto, and retailed for $625, although their denomination in Niue dollars was just $25.

6. Ethiopia follows a calendar that is seven years behind the rest of the world.

Ethiopia lives seven years behind the rest of the world based on its alternate calculations of when Jesus Christ was born, according to The Africa Report.

The Ethiopian calendar follows the beliefs of the country’s Christian Orthodox Church and is rooted in the Coptic or Egyptian calendar, which is about seven to eight years behind the mainstream Gregorian calendar, the BBC reported.

September 12 marks the start of the New Year for the African country — so their new millennium began on what we consider Sept. 12, 2007.

7. In Denmark, citizens have to select baby names from a list of 7,000 government-approved names.

Eccentric celebrity spawn names like Apple and Saint probably wouldn’t fly in this Scandinavian country.

Denmark’s Law on Personal Names was put in place to protect children from being laden with outlandish monikers that are likely to incite future ridicule, the New York Times reported.

And for parents who wish to diverge from the list, they must seek approval from the government.

About 1,100 novel names are assessed every year and 15% to 20% of them are rejected, according to the Times.

8. In Malaysia, authorities prohibited its people from wearing yellow clothing.

Yellow is typically associated with sunshine and friendship — but that didn’t stop one Southeast Asian country from banning the brilliant hue.

In August, amid demands that Prime Minister Najib Razak resign after corruption allegations surfaced, authorities decided to disallow people from sporting the sunny shade because it was the color worn by protest organizers, the Mirror reported.

The directive declared that the “printing, importation, production, reproduction, publishing, sale, issue, circulation, distribution, or possession” of yellow t-shirts are “likely prejudicial to public order,” according to The Malaysian Insider.

9. In Singapore, selling, importing or spitting out chewing gum is illegal.

In 1992, in an attempt to establish Singapore as an idyllic enclave, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew introduced a set of stringent laws — like banning chewing gum, according to the BBC.

The leader believed gum would sully the country’s pavement and subway carts.

As of 2004, pharmacists and dentists are allowed to sell “therapeutic” gum to patients with medical prescriptions for it.

Today, it is legal to transport a small amount of gum to the country for personal use, but the vending of it remains illicit, and leaving masticated gum as litter results in a hefty fine.

10. In France, you can marry a dead person.

Postmortem matrimony has been legal in France since the reign of Napoleon, but it was only enacted in 1959, when a dam burst, killing 420 people, and a bereaved woman who lost her beau in the incident pleaded to marry him, according to Atlas Obscura.

There are, however, some caveats.

The living person is required to prove that the couple intended to marry prior to his or her loved one’s death and must obtain permission from the family of the departed, according to Atlas Obscura.

What’s more, the living person does not acquire the deceased’s assets following the union, so as to inhibit opportunistic gold diggers from exploiting the law.

Please visit NY Daily News for the original article along with other news!

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Do feet really get bigger with age?

It’s certainly possible: After years of wear and tear, tendons and ligaments in your feet may weaken. This can cause arches to flatten, which means feet get wider and longer. It won’t happen to everyone, though—people who are overweight, who get swollen feet or ankles, or who have certain medical conditions, like diabetes, are more prone. If it does happen, the average gain is about one shoe size by age 70 or 80.—Cary M. Zinkin, DPM, podiatric sports physician and spokesperson for the American Podiatric Medical Association
What’s with that stomach-in-your-throat feeling on roller coasters?

Your insides are actually shifting! When a coaster comes over its crest, slows for a second for added torture, and then plummets downward, the seat belt keeps your rear in place, but some loosely connected internal organs—like your stomach and intestines—get a little “air time.” You’re not damaging your innards by riding even the craziest of coasters (everything returns to its proper place), but your nerves detect the movement, which registers as though your stomach has jumped into your throat.—Maged Rizk, MD, gastroenterologist at Cleveland Clinic’s Digestive Disease Institute

How come women always seem colder than men?

The fairer sex has a higher percentage of body fat and conserves more heat around the core. That helps keep vital organs nice and toasty but not the extremities—and when your hands and feet feel cold, so does the rest of your body. Plus, research suggests that women have a lower threshold for cold than men. When exposed to the same freezing temperature, the blood vessels in women’s fingers constrict more than men’s do, which is why they turn white more quickly.—Kathryn Sandberg, director of the Center for the Study of Sex Differences in Health, Aging and Disease at Georgetown University

Is “old-person smell” real?

Yes. But there’s also a distinctive middle-aged-person smell and a young-person smell, according to a recent study. The research found that older people have a less intense—and more pleasant—scent than the middle-aged folk and young whippersnappers. Not what you expected, right?—PLoS ONE

Why does room-temperature coffee taste so bad?

The temperature affects flavor. Researchers in Belgium found that certain taste bud receptors are most sensitive to food molecules that are at or just above room temperature. So hot coffee may seem less bitter (and, in turn, taste better) because our bitter-detecting taste buds aren’t as sensitive when coffee is hot. Odors influence flavor as well, so even the most bitter hot coffee may taste delicious because of its pleasant aroma; room-temperature coffee doesn’t smell the same.—Paul Breslin, PhD, professor at Rutgers University department of nutritional sciences

How come you wake up at night to urinate but not to do anything else?

Because the sophisticated, intelligent neurons in your gut that control colon contractions, which push out waste, are also influenced by your body’s circadian rhythm, the internal clock that wakes you when it’s light out and makes you feel sleepy at night. So most people don’t have the urge to empty their colon in the middle of the night. On the other hand, the bladder, which acts a reservoir for the continuous flow of urine produced in the kidneys, can stretch only up to a certain volume before you gotta go. Normally, you can sleep six to eight hours without having to urinate, but certain medical conditions or drinking too much water before bed can wake you to use the bathroom at night.—Pankaj J. Pasricha, MD, director of neurogastroenterology at Johns Hopkins Center for Neurogastroenterology

Why do we have fingerprints?

Many experts think it’s to improve grip, but a British study from a few years back suggests otherwise. Researchers found that a fingerprint’s ridges actually made it harder to hold flat, smooth surfaces, like Plexiglas, because they reduced the skin’s contact area. Instead, they think our prints might help wick water off our fingertips or allow our skin to stretch more easily, which can protect it from damage and help prevent blisters. Other scientists have suggested fingerprints could improve our sense of touch. What we do know for sure is that no two people’s fingerprints are the same, even among identical twins.—V. Patteson Lombardi, PhD, research assistant professor of biology at the University of Oregon

Can achy joints really forecast the weather?

Maybe. A change in barometric readings may be part of the reason: Atmospheric pressure often drops right before bad weather sets in; this shift could cause body tissue to expand, which can lead to swelling and pain. The effect is slight, but people who have arthritic or inflamed joints may detect the difference. Temperature may have an impact too: In 2007, researchers at Tufts University found that every ten-degree drop in temperature corresponded with a small increase in osteoarthritic knee pain.—Leon Benson, MD, orthopedic surgeon at the Illinois Bone and Joint Institute and spokesperson for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Why does holding your breath help with hiccups?

It’s thought that if you build up carbon dioxide in your body (by not exhaling), it will help stop your diaphragm from spasming, which is what causes the hiccups. When your diaphragm contracts involuntarily, it forces a quick intake of breath that’s suddenly stopped by the epiglottis—a flap of cartilage located in the throat behind the tongue. That closure is what causes the hiccup sound.—MD advisers from The Doctors

Why do your teeth shift, even if you had braces as a teen?

Every smile is different, but a lot of this has to do with loss of the bone behind the gums that occurs with aging. If you lose enough bone—which can be exacerbated by such factors as smoking or gum disease—your teeth can shift.—MD advisers from The Doctors

What makes my stomach growl?

It can be the sound of your digestive juices churning and stomach muscles contracting as they get prepped for food. To avoid those often poorly timed and embarrassing sounds, eat smaller meals more frequently.—MD advisers from The Doctors

Why do I sometimes get side stitches when I run?

Your diaphragm gets stretched, pulled, and pounded during a run, which can cause that sharp, stabbing pain at the lower edge of your rib cage, usually on the right side of your body. To help the pain pass, slow down and take more controlled, easy breaths.—MD advisers from The Doctors

Why does armpit sweat smell worse than sweat from other places?

Your body has two kinds of sweat glands. Most of those on your arms and legs secrete a mix of water and salt. But the glands in your armpits (as well as your groin) release an oily substance, which bacteria love. It’s actually the bacteria eating the oil that releases the telltale stench.—MD advisers from The Doctors

Credit to RD for these amazing tips! Visit their site for more info.

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