Top 10 Useless Body Parts

Top 10 Useless Body Parts

 

When you're sick you may feel that certain body parts are more trouble than they're worth. And in some cases, you'd be right. While the human body has evolved and adapted significantly since caveman days, a few biological traces of our prehistoric ancestors still remain with us in the form of freeloading body parts we lug around with us, but have no use for. Take a peek at the top offenders!

10. Plica semilunaris
You may not know it, but you have a third eyelid. Pull open the two more noticeable eyelids and take a look—it's located right in the corner by the tear duct. This small third eyelid is left over from what's known as a "nictitating membrane," which is still present in full form in some animals including chickens, lizards and sharks.

9. Body hair

No doubt we were once hairier. Up until about three million years ago, we were covered with body hair. But by the time Homo erectus arrived, the ability to sweat meant we could shed our woolly ways.

8. Sinuses

Doctors don't really know much about sinuses—only that we have a lot of them. Possibilities for their function range from insulating our eyes to changing the pitch and tone of our voice.

7. Adenoids
Adenoids trap bacteria, but they're also prone to swelling and infection. Just ask any seven-year-old. Luckily, our adenoids shrink with age and are often removed, along with...

6. Tonsils

Also prone to swelling and infection. If you still have them when you reach your 30s, it's almost an accomplishment.

5. Coccyx

More useful as a game-winning Scrabble word than as part of the anatomy, the coccyx or tailbone, is made up of several fused vertebrae left over from the days when we had tails.

4. Arrector pili

When we were hairier (see No. 9), the arrector pili made the hairs stand on end when we needed to appear bigger and scarier. Now, it just gives us goose bumps.

3. Wisdom teeth

Back in the day, when we ate mammoth meat off the bone and didn't floss afterward, our teeth tended to fall out. Therefore, when those reserve molars, aka "wisdom teeth," came in, they were welcomed. Nowadays, fluoride and dental plans have just made them a huge pain.

2. Appendix

Darwin claimed the appendix was useful for digestion during our early plant-eating years; it's dwindled down to little since we started eating more digestible foods.

1. Male nipples
Because, why?

 

World's Most Dangerous Countries

Here are the World’s 15 Most Dangerous countries. I highly doubt anyone has plans to celebrate their honeymoon somewhere in these countries. And if you do….. may God rest your soul in peace!!!! OK…here I go..

 

15. Georgia/North Caucasus, Russia

The country Georgia and bordering Russian provinces in the North Caucasus region continue to be unstable in the wake of Moscow's advances last summer. Islamic militants and criminal gangs are now fighting for a land wracked by poverty and governmental heavy-handedness. To make matters worse, Russian authorities are preparing for the release of thousands of inmates who are completing lengthy sentences for violent crimes committed during the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s.

14. Nigeria

Nigeria is home to 140 million people, making the former British colony Africa's most populous nation. Though considered an emerging market brimming with potential, Nigeria is still marred by violence, especially in the Niger Delta. Militant groups and opportunistic criminal gangs in the oil-rich region target anyone for kidnapping, including affluent Nigerians and foreign nationals. Rebels have continued their attacks on oil projects in an effort to wrest control of the resources from the government.

13. Algeria

Like many countries in North Africa, Algeria's security continues to be threatened by fundamentalist groups linked to al-Qaeda. Though a major terrorist attack has not occurred in the country since the Aug. 20 double car bombing in Bouira, al-Qaeda's North African organization has a history of carrying out high-profile attacks in the country, particularly against the Algerian government and security forces. Oil-related infrastructure, airports and hotels remain vulnerable targets.

12. Haiti

The former French colony is among the least developed and least stable countries in the Western Hemisphere. Problems include chronic shortages of basic goods and services in all parts of the country outside the capital, Port-au-Prince. Most consumer products are imported and expensive. Tourism facilities are sometimes acceptable in large cities and resort areas, but the majority are rudimentary at best. The U.S. State Department warns that kidnapping, armed robbery and carjackings are all common occurrences.

11. Cote d'Ivoire

Cote d'Ivoire has experienced periodic bouts of political unrest and violence since 2002, when a failed coup attempt snowballed into an armed rebellion. In March 2007, President Laurent Gbagbo and opposition leader Guillaume Soro signed a compromise agreement and a new government was formed with Soro as prime minister. But the U.S State Department warns that the political situation still isn't completely stable: December 2007 saw heavy rioting by rebel soldiers and paramilitary forces amid rumors of another coup.

10. Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has been running the country since 1980. In recent years his administration has come under fire for rampant corruption and suppression of civil liberties. Mugabe's disastrous policies have contributed to hyperinflation and food shortages. Although opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was sworn in as prime minister in a power-sharing agreement last month, control of the country's security forces remains in Mugabe's hands--or, as some suspect, perhaps Mugabe remains firmly in the hands of military leaders.

9. Sudan

Though the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region has finally become something of a cause celebre, the country is far from safe. Violence in Darfur is largely a product of an ongoing war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and regional rebels. To further complicate matters, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant on March 4 for Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir. IJet warns that an anti-Western backlash may erupt at any point.

8. Yemen

An ancient country and former British colony, Yemen today faces threats from local al-Qaeda-linked groups and continued instability across the Gulf of Aden in Somalia. Islamic militants have managed to carry out several significant attacks in the country in 2008, most notably on Sept. 17, when the Yemeni Islamic Jihad group attacked the U.S. Embassy and killed 16 people. Expect further troubles as the country's oil reserves, which make up 90% of the country's exports, start to dry up.

7. Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's development has been stalled by a civil war that has flared up sporadically since 1983. The separatist Tamil Tigers continue to agitate for an independent state in the island nation's north. With the rebels' northern headquarters overrun by government troops and their leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran, in hiding, some think the conflict is finally coming to an end. But iJet warns that the Tigers have resorted to guerrilla tactics and suicide attacks in the past and may do so again.

6. Gaza, Palestinian Territories

The tiny coastal strip between Egypt and Israel has seen more than its share of conflict, most recently in the form of an Israeli offensive in retaliation for Hamas' rocket attacks. Gaza City, home to half a million people, has been under Hamas control since the militant group won a surprise victory in the 2006 Palestinian elections. Israeli air strikes typically follow Hamas rocket attacks, and this tit-for-tat cycle seems to have no end in sight.

5. Pakistan

Even before the dramatic assassination of Benazir Bhutto in December 2007, Pakistan was teetering on the brink of chaos. The Marriott Hotel bombing in Islamabad in September 2008, carried out by militant group Fidayeen-e-Islam, underscored the former British colony's precarious position. Experts at iJet expect tensions to continue for the foreseeable future while fighting rages between government forces and tribal militants in northwestern Pakistan.

4. Democratic Republic of Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has been mired in conflict since 1998, the start of "Africa's World War." Though hostilities officially ended in 2003, sporadic attacks continue and 5.4 million people have died in the conflict. Despite recent improvements in the DRC's overall security situation, militia-related violence continues to plague the country. Disputes between the government and opposition forces often leads to unrest in cities such as Kinshasa, Matadi and Mbandaka.

3. Iraq

Violence throughout Iraq has declined since the U.S.-led troop surge of 2007, but the country still faces major security issues. While joint U.S.-Iraqi operations have weakened al-Qaeda in Iraq, the terrorist group maintains the ability to carry out significant attacks, even in Baghdad. Ethnic and sectarian tensions remain: Sunni-Shia' hostilities are still high, and friction between rival Shia' groups in the south could also result in clashes.

2. Afghanistan

The Taliban insurgency has gained considerable strength over the past year. Even as new American troops arrive, the violence shows no signs of slowing. Kabul has seen a rise in attacks; the rest of the country is essentially beyond the reach of law enforcement. In the volatile Ghazni province, U.S. forces have passed the baton to Polish troops, where experts at iJet warn that Taliban militants will test cash-strapped Poland's will to fight.

1. Somalia

Somalia is the consensus pick for the world's most dangerous destination. A textbook example of a failed state, the former Italian and British colony is dominated by squabbling warlords and local militias. Somalia has gained additional notoriety as a modern-day Tortuga thanks to the hordes of fishermen-turned-pirates living along its coast. Conditions inland remain chaotic, where the recent departure of Ethiopian troops has left just 3,500 soldiers from Uganda and Burundi to monitor a country nearly the size of Texas.

Top Ten Outrageous Cars 2009

Top Ten Outrageous Cars

Ahhh, motor shows. They do bring out the occasional nut-job of a vehicle. I say occasional, but I could’ve easily filled this space twice over. Read on if you’re interested in the best of the bizarre, brilliant or simply outrageous debuts at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show.

Ferrari 599XX

If the 100th-anniversary Bugatti Veyron Bleu Centenaire had been blessed with the 1,350 horsepower rumored before the show, it would almost certainly have made our supercar pick here in place of this Ferrari. But as it is, the Bug is just a particularly tasty one-off special edition. And the 599XX is utterly mental. Even the extreme looks don't quite do this car justice. A track-only special that will be offered exclusively to hand-picked Ferrari faithful, the 599XX is packed with advanced, Formula 1-derived technology, and can lap the Fiorano test track in 1 minute 17 seconds. That's seven seconds faster than an Enzo. Whoa.

Maybach Zeppelin

Compared to this car, the Rolls-Royce 200EX concept looks like a positive paragon of virtue and prudence. Say hello, plutocrat, this here is the limited edition, $564,699-plus Maybach Zeppelin. It has a 640-horsepower twin turbo V12 and a back-seat perfume dispenser. What more could you possibly ask for? Based on the existing Maybach 57S and 62S, the company reckons it can sell 100 of each of them. Special features include the unique two-tone exterior finish, Zeppelin badges everywhere – including on the standard champagne flutes – and more streamlined mirrors. The name comes from the airships, Maybach having supplied the originals' engines.

Rinspeed ichange

If there's one thing you can rely on at the Geneva Auto Show, it's that Swiss coach builder Rinspeed will always have something completely ridiculous on display. Last year it was the sQuba – a bizarre, amphibian, modified Lotus Elise. This year it's the iChange, a concept car that adapts its body shape depending on the number of passengers onboard. This is really quite a bright idea, reflecting the reality that most cars are single-occupant vehicles for most of the time. So when there's just the driver, the iChange adopts a streamlined teardrop shape. Need more space, and the back pops up to accommodate two additional passengers. An electric motor provides the power.

Ford iosis Max

Is this the most aggressive people carrier you've ever seen? Kia reveals its new No 3 concept by suggesting that it's “the first beautiful MPV” — and Ford turns up with the iosis Max, a concept so angry-looking it probably eats pretty little Kias for breakfast (especially given that the Koreans appear to have adopted Ford's design language, but that's another story). With downforce-generating c-pillars, an enormous rear wing and grab handles influenced by aircraft vortices, we've never seen a people carrier quite like this. But despite the visual stroppiness, the iosis Max is really a big softy at heart. Powered by a 1.6-liter “Ecoboost,” it debuts Ford's new family of environmentally friendly turbo engines.

Mansory Chopster

You could argue – and many people do — that the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S is outrageous enough upon leaving the factory. A 550-horsepower 2.5-ton SUV that can do zero to 62 mph in 4.8 seconds doesn't really need any help in this regard. Still, you can't fault specialist tuner Mansory's effort when trying. This is the Mansory Chopster. It has 710 horses under the hood. The revised bodywork is crafted entirely from carbon fiber. The roofline has been lowered 2.4 inches — hence the name — and the suspension dropped by 1.8 inches. The alloy wheels are a ridiculous 23 inches in diameter, and you could literally fit your head in the exhaust. It's awful. But we really, really want one.

Citroen DS INSIDE

You want outrageous? We'll tell you what's outrageous — Citroen turning up with a new, near-production concept surprise in the form of the new DS Inside, and then not bothering to display it prominently on the front of the stand. Even privileged members of the press had to be “invited” to view it. No strolling up and pressing your greasy fingers all over this one — the DS Inside is hidden away in a glorified cupboard. We can only assume that this is some kind of misguided ploy to build up mystique around the forthcoming “Different Spirit” (DS, geddit?) Citroen premium brand. Oh boy.

Bentley Continental Supersports

What we like particularly about the Bentley Continental Supersports is that Bentley is pitching it as the first stage in the company's new environmental commitment. OK, it uses biofuel. Fine, but the Continental Supersports is also the fastest, most powerful Bentley ever made. Somehow the two aspects don't quite compute. Then there's the genius of having a car as big as a Bentley Continental, and fitting only two seats in it. The Supersports develops 630 horsepower, for crying out loud. It does zero to 62 mph in just 3.9 seconds, and has a top speed of 204 mph. Would the extra weight really have made that much difference?

Nissan Qazana

There's a word for this car. And we're pretty sure it's wacky. Meet the next Nissan supermini – it's called the Qazana, and it apparently comes on stilts. That is some kind of crazy ground clearance going on there. Speed bumps and curbstones aren't exactly going to trouble this baby. The Qazana is officially just a concept. But Nissan is dropping big hints that it represents a big clue to its next-generation small car – one that's clearly going to be a crossover like its hugely successful Qashqai big brother. Distinctive looks on the outside, and an awesome, motorbike-influenced interior. We love it.

Koenigsegg NLV Quant concept

What the ...? Seriously, sitting just next to this on the same stand was yet another Special Edition version of the fabulous Koenigsegg CCXR – a car that's as dramatic as it is unaffordable. The Koenigsegg Quant, on the other hand, looks like an extra-large, super-ugly, upside-down bathtub. Still, the attempt to create a solar-electric supercar with space for four is virtuous enough, we suppose. And the projected statistics make intriguing reading: twin electric motors, rear-wheel drive, 512 horsepower, zero to 62 mph in 5.2 seconds, and a theoretical 310 mile range. The bodywork is covered in solar cells, and the aerodynamics reputedly excellent.

Frazer-Nash Namir by Giugiaro

Proving that eco-friendly supercars don't have to be hideous is this concept, the Frazer-Nash Namir by Giugiaro. Yes, the Frazer-Nash in question is related to that famous British motor-racing marque. The company is now involved in the design, development and manufacture of hybrid systems, and that's what is showcased here. Cloaked in a car designed and built by Giugiaro, the Namir's hybrid drivetrain uses a tiny 814cc rotary combustion engine to provide power to four electric motors. The result is claimed CO2 emissions of less than 60g/km. It also runs from zero to 62 mph in 3.5 seconds and has a 187 mph top speed, potentially making this the fastest hybrid ever.