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Curious Times No. 199
July 3, 2003LIVE LONG, POP PILLS, AND PROSPER
U.S. pharmaceutical giant CereMedix is set to begin clinical trials at the University of Edinburgh on a life extension pill which scientists believe might be able to increase human life span to about 120 years. The main medicinal ingredient in the pill is ependymin - a protein found in fruits and vegetables which helps the body create disease-fighting anti-oxidents. Researchers claim that taking the pill daily will create the equivalent effect of eating 30 lbs of fruits and vegetable each day, potentially boosting average life expectancy from 75 to 120 years. (Daily Record UK)EVER FEEL LIKE SINKING YOUR TEETH INTO A FAT BLOODY STEAK?
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Hira Ratan Manek - a 64-year-old Breatharian from India - has been invited to be studied by NASA, who wish to understand how he has survived since 1995 without eating solid food. Manek believes that human beings should get their energy directly from the sun, much like plants do, and that food should be only a secondary source of energy. After a pilgrimage to the Himalayas in 1995, he stopped eating food and began looking directly at the sun for a few seconds every morning, which he gradually increased to a few minutes. He claims that after eight months of this ritual his hunger began to decline and has since completely disappeared. He now looks directly at the sun for one hour each evening for his food and he drinks liquids sparingly. After verifying that Manek survived for 130 days last year without food, NASA scientists are now planning a more thorough examination of his unique gift, which they've dubbed The HRM Phenomenon after the initials in Manek's name. (Sydney Morning Herald)IN THE FUTURE...
Futurist thinktank The DaVinci Institute is compiling a book of about 500 "Immortilizer Technologies," which they describe as "big things that haven't been invented yet." As part of their research they accepted submissions from the public at their website, www.ImmortalizerTechnologies.com , and were instantly swamped with hundreds of wild ideas. Among the inventions we have to look forward to include an instant sleep chamber, freeze-dried gasoline, a self-cleaning house, an animal thought deciphering device, the dream recorder, metric time, plaid spray paint, and caffeinated eye drops. NewsObserver.comJEWISH NAZIS IN ISRAEL?
I couldn't find any verification that this story is true, but according to the New York Daily News, there is now a group of Jewish Nazis in Israel. According to the story, the group is called Israeli White Unity, and consists mostly of Russian immigrants who claimed to be Jewish in order to get out of Russia and be allowed into Israel. "It's not a big group, but unfortunately it's there," said Mark Weitzman of the Simon Wiesenthal Center's Task Force Against Hate. The group's website has been shut down, but apparently it included photos of White Unity members wearing Israeli Army uniforms and giving Nazi salutes. (New York Daily News)FOR THOSE ABOUT TO NURSE
A German couple is under investigation for child neglect after taking their nine-day-old newborn to an AC/DC concert. Police were alerted after fans at the concert spotted the 41-year-old mother holding the baby as she rocked out to the band. Despite voicing concerns, people were unable to convince the parents to take the child home, until a doctor explained to the thickheads that stadium arena rock noise could easily blow out the babies ear drums. (AFP)THAT WOULD EXPLAIN WHY I'M ALWAYS TIRED IN THE MORNING
This month's Canadian Journal of Psychiatry reports that psychiatrists are researching a new form of clinical disorder after finding that many people are engaging in sexual behavior while they sleep. They've dubbed the phenomenon "sexsomnia," which ranges from loud moaning during sleep all the way up to rape-like assaults. Author Dr. Colin Shapiro reports on several cases where men have been charged with sexually assaulting their partners or their own children, but who were later found to be suffering from the sleep disorder and the charges were dropped, as the law states that sleeping people can not be held responsible for their actions. Psychiatrists are now debating whether to include sexsomnia as an official psychiatric illness, and therefore provide sexual offenders with another way to avoid prison. (Ottawa Citizen)ART IS TRASH
The latest art installation at the Boulder Public Library in Colorado had to be rescued from the trash after a janitor through it in the dumpster, saying that it stinks. No surprise, as the "art" was a collection of trash found at the University of Colorado . The exhibit, titled "My Favorite Place to Walk in Boulder: Or Found Trash Objects," included a green Frisbee, a plastic cookie cutter, a cigarette package and a drink coaster. (azcentral.com)VAMPIRE NAME FINDER
From here on out you may officially refer to me by my vampire name: Emperor of Gomorrah, known in some parts of the world as Parasite of the Flesh. Get your own at http://www.emmadavies.me.uk/vampire/default.asp.
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