Old achievers

71 years - Oldest person to climb Mt Everest (male)

The oldest person - and the oldest male - to climb Mt Everest is Katsusuke Yanagisawa (Japan, b. 20 March 1936), a former school teacher, who summited from the north side of the world's tallest mountain with team Himex on 22 May 2007, aged 71 years 63 days.

100 years - Oldest Tandem Parachute Jump (Female)

Estrid Geertsen (Denmark, b. August 1, 1904) made a tandem parachute jump on September 30, 2004 from an altitude of 4,000 m (13,100 ft) over Roskilde, Demark, at the age of 100 years 60 days.

98 years - Oldest person to complete a marathon (male)

The oldest man to complete a 26-mile marathon was Greek runner Dimitrion Yordanidis, in Athens, Greece on 10 October 1976. At age 98, he finished in 7 hr 33 min.

71 years - Oldest Performing Ballerina

Charin Yuthasastrkosol (USA) (b. Thailand, December 30, 1930) began ballet lessons at the age of 47. She now performs regularly at galas, her most recent being a performance for Sakthip Krairikish, Thailand's Ambassador to the USA at Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA on July 21, 2002 at the age of 71 years 203 days.

66 years - Oldest person to ski to both Poles

The oldest person to ski to both Poles is Norbert H. Kern (Germany, b. 26 July 1940) who skied to the South Pole on 18 January 2007 and the North Pole on 27 April 2007 when he was 66 years 275 days old.

66 years - Oldest person to give birth

The oldest mother is Maria del Carmen Bousada Lara (Spain, b. 5 January 1940), who gave birth by caesarean section to twin boys, Christian and Pau, aged 66 years 358 days at the Sant Pau hospital, Barcelona, Spain on 29 December 2006.

60 years - Oldest Male Stripper

Bernie Barker (USA) ( b. July 31, 1940), a regular performer at Club LeBare, Miami Beach, Florida, USA, began his career in 2000 at the age of 60 as a way to get in shape after recovering from prostate cancer, and worked as a stripper until he sadly passed away in March 2007. During his career, he won over 30 contests.

746 years - Oldest Professional Chorus Line

The combined age of the 10 dancers from the touring chorus line of The Tivoli Lovelies (Australia), based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, is 746 years 147 days as of October 12, 2004.

Popular Myths Busted

Elephants are the only mammal that can't jump

First of all, just so you know, it is true that adult elephants can't jump - if by jumping we mean the state of having no feet on the ground at the same time after propelling oneself from a stationary position. But contrary to the popular myth that it is is the only mammal that can't, it is joined by a few others. Firstly, the sloth is unable to jump which suits its lazy lifestyle rather well. Also, rhinoceroses and hippopotamuses also cannot jump, though unlike elephants, when they run it is possible for them to have all four feet off the ground.

The Fruit eaten by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden was an apple

Nowhere in the Bible is the fruit eaten by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden referred to as an apple. The fruit is called the "fruit of the tree" (that is, the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil), and neither the fruitnor the tree is identified by species. In Middle English, as late as the 17th century "apple" was a generic term for all fruit other than berries but including nuts
However, in continental European art from that period representing the Fall of Man the fruit is often depicted as an apple. The apple myth comes from a Latin word likeness: Latin mălus = "bad", mălum = "an evil", mālus = "apple tree" and "mast of a ship", mālum = "apple (fruit)".

You can extend your penis or widen its girth with special devices or medications

This is patently untrue and the source of millions of spam emails sent around the world every day. Vacuum pumps, pills, stretching techniques: none of them make one iota of difference to the size of your manhood (and consequently the engine size of your car). The only way to enlarge your penis is to have enhancement surgery. This is, obviously, extremely expensive, extremely painful, and extremely gruesome

Jihad is an "Islamic war on the western world"

Jihad is not an "Islamic war on the western world" but rather a verb meaning to struggle or to strive. One can have an internal jihad, family jihad, or religious jihad, which may or may not include violence towards non-Muslims
A comparison may be made with the term "crusade", which is sometimes considered by Muslims to mean Western violence against Islam, when it is more often used as a metaphorical struggle; for example, "a crusade against drugs".

Goldfish have a memory of only three seconds

The notion that goldfish have a memory of only three seconds is completely false. They have been trained to navigate mazes and can recognize their owners after an exposure of a few months

Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation freed the slaves

In fact, it freed little or no slaves. Why? Because the emancipation proclamation - 1862 - declared the freedom of all slaves in the confederate states - that is, the states over which Lincoln and the Union government had no control. Furthermore, it did not free slaves from any of the states that were already under union control. This would be like Australia trying to declare a law binding on New Zealanders, when they are two separate nations. The emancipation proclamation was, effectively, worthless. It was not until the Thirteenth Amendment, December 6, 1865, that slavery was officially abolished in full.

Shaving cause hair to grow back thicker or coarser or darker

Shaving does not cause hair to grow back thicker or coarser or darker. This belief is due to the fact that hair that has never been cut has a tapered end, whereas, after cutting, there is no taper. Thus, it appears thicker, and feels coarser due to the sharper, unworn edges. Hair can also appear darker after it grows back because hair that has never been cut is often lighter due to sun exposure.

Sugar cause hyperactivity in children

Sugar does not cause hyperactivity in children Double blind trials have shown no difference in behaviour between children given sugar full or sugar-free diets, even in studies specifically looking at children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or those considered "sensitive" to sugar. In fact, it was found that the difference in the children's behaviour was all in the parents' minds

There is a dark side of the Moon

There is no dark side of the Moon; every part of the Moon's surface (except perhaps deep craters near the poles) is illuminated by the Sun roughly half of the time. The phrase uses the word "dark" in the less-frequent sense of "unknown" or "obscure" to refer to the far side of the Moon, which because of tidal locking is never visible from Earth.

The Great Wall of China is the only manmade structure visible from space.

It is commonly claimed that the Great Wall of China is the only man-made object visible from the Moon. This is false. None of the Apollo astronauts reported seeing any man-made object from the Moon. The misconception is believed to have been popularized by Richard Halliburton decades before the first moon landing

Special forces from across the globe

SWAT - Special Weapons And Tactics

A SWAT (special weapons and tactics)team is an elite tactical unit in American and some international law enforcement departments. They are trained to perform high-risk operations that fall outside of the abilities of regular officers. Their duties include performing hostage rescues and counter-terrorism operations, serving high risk arrest warrants and search warrants, subduing barricaded suspects, and engaging heavily-armed criminals. A SWAT team is often equipped with specialized firearms including assault rifles, submachine guns, shotguns, carbines, riot control agents, stun grenades, and high-powered rifles for snipers. They have specialized equipment including heavy body armor, entry tools, armored vehicles, advanced night vision optics, and motion detectors for covertly determining the positions of hostages or hostage takers inside of an enclosed structure.
SWAT Duties are: Hostage rescue, rescuing officers and citizens captured or endangered by gunfire,
countering terrorist operations in U.S. cities and stabilizing dangerous situations dealing with violent criminals (such as rapists, serial killers or gangs)

SWAT units may also employ ARVs, (Armored Rescue Vehicle) for insertion, maneuvering, or during tactical operations such as the rescue of civilians/officers pinned down by gunfire. Helicopters may be used to provide aerial reconnaissance or even insertion via rappelling or fast-roping. To avoid detection by suspects during insertion in urban environments, SWAT units may also use modified buses, vans, trucks, or other seemingly normal vehicles.
While a wide variety of weapons are used by SWAT teams, the most common weapons include submachine guns, assault rifles, shotguns, and sniper rifles.
Semi-automatic pistols are the most popular sidearms.
Common submachine guns used by SWAT teams include the 9 mm and 10 mm Heckler & Koch MP5
To breach doors quickly, battering rams, shotguns, or explosive charges can be used to break the lock or hinges, or even demolish the door frame itself. SWAT teams also use many less-lethal munitions and weapons. These include Tasers, pepper spray canisters, shotguns loaded with bean bag rounds, and PepperBall guns.

AFEUR - Agrupación de Fuerzas Especiales Antiterroristas Urbanas

The Agrupación de Fuerzas Especiales Antiterroristas Urbanas ("Urban Counter-Terrorism Special Forces Group", AFEUR) is an elite unit of the Colombian Army, whose primary mission is to perform counter-terrorist operations and hostage rescues based on stealth, surprise and team work.
VIP protection is another task of the unit. For example, they protect the Colombian President when he travels, and provided protection for President Bill Clinton's (Army group) and President George W. Bush visits to Cartagena, in 2000, 2004 respectively. They also provided the second security ring to President Bush's visit to Bogotá in 2007.

Yamam - Special Police Unit

The Yamam, is the acronym for Special Police Unit, Yeḥidat Mishtara Meyuḥedet, Israel's elite civilian counter-terrorism unit. The Yamam is capable of both hostage-rescue operations and offensive take-over raids against targets in civilian areas. Besides military duties, it also performs SWAT duties and undercover police work.
The Yamam's primary duties are:Offensive or preemptive operations.Direct action, Undercover police operations.VIP security.
Most of the Yamam's activity is classified, and published Yamam operations are often credited to other units. Nevertheless, the Yamam enjoys a high reputation among SF professionals and the Israeli public.

JTF2 - Joint Task Force 2

Joint Task Force 2 (JTF2) is a Canadian Forces unit responsible for counter-terrorist operations.
JTF2 describes its mission as "rendering armed assistance in the resolution of an incident that is affecting, or has the potential to affect, Canada's national interest."
JTF2 personnel are divided into two categories: Category A – special operations assaulters (SOA) who are directly employed in the tactical aspects of special operations and other high value tasks; and Category B – support and specialist personnel (SP) fill positions in staff officer, support, and specialist positions. This category also includes the special operations coxswain position.
JTF2's secrecy has kept the unit out of the Canadian public eye for quite some time, though it did appear in the Tom Clancy Rainbow Six video game series. A character named Roger McAllen, who was part of the former Royal Canadian Mounted Police SERT, ported over to JTF2 when they were handed over responsibility for counter-terrorism duties in 1993.

History’s Greatest Female Warriors

Traditionally the ugly business of war has been left up to men, however, in extraordinary circumstances women have been known to take up arms and fight. Sometimes for freedom, sometimes to gain territory, women have occasionally dominated the battle field putting their male counterparts to shame. Here are five of history's greatest female warriors.

1. Boudicca (d. AD 60 or 61)

Boudicca was the queen of the Iceni tribe of East England in the 1st century AD and led a major revolt against the dreaded Roman army. Although many hated the occupying Roman force in Britain, some collaborated with them and the Iceni tribe under Boudicca's husband, Prasutagus, was one such 'client kingdom'.

However when he died the Romans saw no need to honour any agreements made with him and took full control of the area, When Boudicca protested, she was flogged and made to watch as her daughters were raped.

Boudicca gathered an army and was joined by other tribes who wanted rid of the Romans. She successfully defeated them in major battles at Colchester, London and St Albans before finally succumbing to the superior forces of the enemy. Boudicca, the Queen of the Iceni, is said to have poisoned herself to escape capture and the humiliation of being paraded through the streets of Rome before certain execution.

2. Agustina de Aragon (1786 – 1857)

Agustina de Aragon was a Spanish heroine known as the 'Spanish Joan of Arc' who fought in the Spanish War of Independence. While Napoleon's men attacked the city of Zaragoza on 15th June, 1808, Agustina was bringing apples to feed the troops. When she arrived on the scene, she saw a heavily outnumbered volunteer unit brake ranks and retreat from the French.

She immediately ran forward, loaded a cannon and lit the fuse, cutting down a wave of attackers.

Her actions inspired the fleeing men to return to their posts and, in the short term at least, the city was saved, only for the French to returned a few weeks later and take the city anyway. Despite this, Agustina became an inspiration to resistance against the French and in later years she has been seen as an iconic symbol of feminism.

3. Tomoe Gozen (c1157-1247)

Tomoe Gozen is one of the few examples of a female Samurai warrior and fought in the Genpei War (1180—1185). She was described as extremely beautiful, a strong archer "and as a swordswoman she was a warrior worth a thousand".

After her master was defeated at the Battle of Awazu, she was told to flee rather than commit hara kiri (suicide) to avoid capture as he would be ashamed to die with a woman. Much mystery surrounds what happened to Tomoe after that, some say she gave up fighting, others say that she fought a famous Samurai, Wada Yoshimori, and was defeated by him, then became his wife.

4. Ahhotep I (c1560-1530 BC)

Ahhotep I was an Egyptian queen who was probably a pivotal figure in founding the eighteenth dynasty. Considered a warrior queen, she led troops against the Hyksos and was buried with ceremonial weapons and three 'flies of honour', awarded for exceptional military service. An inscription on a stele devoted to her reads;

"She is the one who has accomplished the rites and taken care of Egypt… She has looked after her soldiers, she has guarded her, she has brought back her fugitives and collected together her deserters, she has pacified Upper Egypt and expelled her rebels".

5. Joan of Arc (1412-1431)

Joan of Arc is a patron saint of France and led an army against the English during the Hundred Years War (which was actually several separate wars that lasted 116 years).

When she was 12, Joan began to hear voices and believed them to be St. Michael, St. Catherine, and St. Margaret sent to her by God. The voices told her that it was her destiny to free her country from the English and help put the dauphin back on the throne. So as instructed, she cut her hair, put on a man's uniform and armed herself ready for battle.

After convincing a board of theologians of her calling, she was given the rank of captain and troops to command. Joan began to win battles straight away and her reputation as a general quickly grew. When she approached an English army at Patay, the commander, Sir John Fastolfe, and most of his men fled the battlefield when they realised it was her.

In 1430, she was captured and found guilty of witchcraft and the following year, at the age of 19, she was burned at the stake.

Bollywood Stars Marriage Pictures

Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bhaduri: After his first hit ZANJEER, Amitabh tied the knot with the film's leading lady and the then star Jaya Bhaduri in 1973. The low key affair performed by the Bengali rites was no match to the glamour and magnificence of the Abhi-Ash wedding two years ago. While their marriage has seen its share of ups and downs, Big B is still kurbaan over his jaan Jaya after thirty six years of togetherness. Ajay Devgan and Kajol Mukherjee: The couple met on the sets of their first movie together HULCHUL, and love just happened as Ajay puts it, between the introvert and the vivacious actress. With ten years of marital bliss, for Ajay it is still about U, ME AND HUM with Kajol and daughter Nysa. Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh: Hailing from a legendry family in Bollywood, Chintu Kapoor married his lady love and the veteran actress Neetu Singh in 1980 after being one of the most sought after on-screen couples of the 1970's, with numerous hits to their kitty. Today, twenty nine years later, with a Star son Ranbir, and beautiful daughter Riddhima, the couple is still very much in LOVE AAJ KAL Arjun Rampal and Mehr Jesia: Bollywood hunk Rampal married former Miss India and Supermodel Mehr Jesia in 1998. With two lovely daughters, Arjun has always been the doting husband, surprising Mehr with a BMW for their tenth wedding anniversary. Waah Rampal, ROCK ON! Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna: After a series of link-ups with bombshells from the industry, Akki married Twinkle in 2001, with many of the opinion that Singh became King after this lady luck stepped into his life. Though through the course of their marriage, rumours did sprout in the industry, Akki is quite in high spirits with his better half, in the limelight for their unbutton and unzip jig! Shahrukh Khan and Gauri: Nineteen year old Shahrukh met fourteen year old Gauri at a party for the first time. Do dil mil gaye and Dilwala Dhulaniyan le gaya in 1991. He went on to be the Baadshah of Bollywood, wooing the hottest babes on-screen, ruling the hearts of a million women but for King Khan, it has always been Yes Boss to wifey Gauri! Arbaaz Khan and Maliaka Arora: It was love at first sight for the couple who met at the MR coffee ad shoot, and marriage in 1998. Apart from rumors of their break-up as part of a promotion for a popular beauty brand, their marriage has remained rock solid. Arbaaz, the lucky man, has remained wafadaar to his sizzling hot wife touted as the Sexiest Mom in Bollywood too! Hrithik Roshan and Suzanne Khan: Love blossomed for Duggu when he saw Suzanne at a traffic light, and then followed six years of courtship before the couple tied the knot. And for all those who thought Duggu's love for her was flying away with a KITE, the still-in-love couple silenced people by sporting identical tattoos recently. Must say, Suzanne ne toh Hrithik ko Crazy Kiya Hai Re!

Bizarre Occupations

There are many jobs to be had out in this vast world of ours, but there are some bizarre, odd, and weird jobs out there that some people would never consider doing or have even heard of. Maybe these jobs are for you and maybe they aren't, but you can be the judge.

Ant Picker

An ant picker has the privilege of digging up ants, in order, to place then into the plastic ant farms that kids love.

Brain Picker

A brain picker is the person in a slaughterhouse that will place an animal's head on either a table or a hook. They will split the skull and pick out every part of the brain.

Odor Judger

This job consists of smelling the armpits of volunteers all day long to determine whether or not a deodorant works.

Chicken Sexer

The person with this job gets to sort out the baby chicks. Once they have determined of the chicks are male or female they will separate them and place them on the proper nutritional track, so that they can fulfill their lives for commercial purposes.

Wrinkle Chaser

A wrinkle chaser is the person that will iron out the wrinkles in shoes that are being made. They do this so that the shoes are smooth when you purchase them.

Boner

A boner inserts either bones or a steel piece; also know as a stay, into the prepared openings of a woman's under garments. The garments that include the stays are a brassiere or a corset.

Celluloid Trimmer

The person with this job has to shave down a golf club and then ass the celluloid bands to the golf club. This process will help the leather hand grips to stay in place.

Egg Smeller

This person will break open an egg and smell it on order to determine if it has been spoiled.

Pillowcase Turner

A pillowcase turner will take a fresh made pillowcase and turn it right side out. Then, they will stretch the material to remove all the wrinkles.

Cowpuncher

A cowpuncher will herd, castrate, and brand cattle. When these things are finished, then you will move onto repairing fences, watering troughs, and doing other maintenance jobs on the ranch become your work.

What a fake

Let me introduce you Tica. She is an absolutely normal girl, BUT. There is one difference which is not that obvious at first. To see it, you should look closely… Now the full version of her portrait: The thing is that she's not real. She was drawn by Dru Blair Moreover, she even appeared on the cover of a magazine But the funniest thing, her photograph was photoshopped before being published )