Japan’s 90-Year-Old Fitness Instructor Will Blow Your Mind

Most 90-year-olds can barely walk, let alone exercise, but 90-year-old Takishima Mika not exercises religiously, she actually works as a fitness instructor at a gym. Takishima has become a minor celebrity in Japan, both because of her excellent physical shape and because of her positive attitude and infectious smile. She wasn’t always like that. In fact, her transformation began late in life, when she was already in her 60s. Takishima says she found herself overweight and without interest in exercise of any kind. Then, when she was 65, a random comment by her husband regarding her weight changed everything. A full-time housewife, she had never even considered going to a gym, but her husband’s comment lit a fire under her. Although she achieved her initial goal of losing 30 pounds after about five years, Takishima continued training and discovered a love of fitness that encouraged her to set new challenges for herself. The next thing she knew, she was teaching aerobics classes, and then at 87 became a fitness instructor. Today, the 90-year-old says she goes to bed around 11 p.m. and wakes up at 3 a.m., requiring only four hours of sleep. She then goes for a 2-mile walk, followed by a 1-mile jog, and a half mile walking backwards. She then has a balanced breakfast, does some housework and light stretches, and even indulges in a little bit of TV before hitting the gym. Japan’s oldest fitness instructor has set two new goals for herself: to get everyone fit and healthy and to still be a fitness instructor when reaches 100.

Continue Reading...

Former Co-Owner of California Nightclub The Viper Room Has Been Missing for 20 Years

While Californians recognize The Viper Room as a nightclub on the Sunset Strip, most people know of its fame for being where actor River Phoenix died of an overdose on Halloween night in 1993. The club was co-owned by actor Johnny Depp and Anthony Fox, who has now been missing for almost 20 years. Fox was last seen in Ventura County, Calif., on Dec. 19, 2001. His pickup truck disappeared with him, and a .38 caliber revolver disappeared from his briefcase at the same time. On Jan. 6, 2002, Fox’s pickup truck was found abandoned on a street in Santa Clara, Calif. He left behind several thousand dollars in his bank account, and there’s been no activity on his financial accounts since his disappearance. He also left behind a teenage daughter. Fox was scheduled to testify in court shortly after his disappearance. He was in the process of suing five people, including Johnny Depp, over financial problems at The Viper Room. In 2004, Depp turned over his share of the nightclub to Fox's daughter, who promptly sold it. It's unclear what caused Fox to vanish, or whether The Viper Room or the pending litigation had anything to do with his disappearance. His case remains unsolved.

Continue Reading...

A Lesson From San Diego: Be Careful What You Ask For

In late 1915, San Diego was in the midst of a major drought. In a vote of four-to-one, the City Council voted to hire a “moisture accelerator” named Charles Hatfield for $10,000. Although Hatfield was considered a rainmaker, his original profession was a sewing machine salesman. He convinced people that he had a method of creating rain from a chemical cocktail he formulated. To inject his rainmaking concoction into clouds overhead, Hatfield built a 20-foot tower in the area and burned the chemical mixture from the top of the structure. Witnesses claimed he shot the chemicals into the air like bombs, spurting fumes and smoke to ascend into the sky and convince the cumulus clouds to send down rain. On Jan. 1, 1916, the rain started in San Diego and it didn’t stop for an entire month — resulting in 30 inches of rain. The floods destroyed the dam, washed out roads, lifted railroad tracks, caused property damage across the entire region, and killed 50 residents. Hatfield never got his money. The City Council claimed the floods were an act of God, not an act of Hatfield.

Continue Reading...

When the Three Strikes Law Went Too Far

The “Three Strikes Law” — in effect in 28 states — requires a mandatory life sentence for persons convicted of a felony who have been previously convicted of two felonies. Initially, it was designed to keep murderers, rapists, and child molesters behind bars, but there’s no denying that the law often goes too far. A good example is the case against William James Rummel, who was convicted in 1964 of credit card fraud to obtain $80 worth of goods. Then, in 1969, Rummel again pleaded guilty to passing a forged check in the amount of $28.36. Unfortunately for Rummel, he failed to learn his lesson, and in 1973 was convicted of refusing to return $120.75 received as payment for repair of an air conditioner when the unit still failed to work. By itself, the crime was designated a “felony theft,” punishable by 2-10 years in prison. However, the prosecution used the case to invoke the three strikes law. When Rummel was found guilty, the court had no option but to sentence him under the three strikes law to life in prison.

Continue Reading...