Double-click on any word and see its definition from Cambridge Dictionaries Online.
The Bible contains many accounts of long-lived humans, the oldest being Methuselah living to be 969 years old (Genesis 5:27). Today some maintain that the unusually high longevity of Biblical patriarchs are the result of an error in translation: lunar cycles were mistaken for the solar ones, and that the actual ages being described would have been 13.5 times less. This makes Methuselah's described 72, still an impressive number bearing in mind the average life expectancy at the time. This rationalization, however, seems doubtful too since patriarchs such as Mahalalel (ibid 5:15) and Enoch (ibid 5:21) were said to have become fathers after 65 "years". If the lunar cycle claim were accepted this would translate to an age of about 4 years and 10 months. One Christian apologist claim is that the life span of humans has changed; that originally man was to have everlasting life, but due to man's sin, God progressively shortened man's life in the "four falls of mankind" -- first to less than 1000 years, then to under 500, 200, and eventually 120 years.
Source: Wikipedia
Kin Narita and Gin Kanie (born August 1, 1892), whose names mean Gold and Silver, were the oldest authenticated female twins. Kin died of heart failure on January 23, 2000, at the age of 107. The twins' lives spanned three centuries and they witnessed the Japanese eras of Meiji, Taisho, Showa, and Heisei. Although Gin died of a heart attack on January 23, 2000, they are still household names in Japan and in the past appeared regularly on TV and commercials. Both enjoyed good health although Kin was briefly hospitalized in 1999 due to a stomach ulcer. Kin gave birth to 11 children and had as many grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. Gin has five children, four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Source: Guinness World Records
Grumpy Old Men (1993): directed by Donald Petrie and starring Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau and Ann-Margret. Tagline: A fifty-year fight. lifelong feud between two neighbors since childhood, only gets worse when a new female neighbor moves across the street.
Source: IMDb
Methuselah is a 4700-year-old bristlecone pine tree in the White Mountains of California, the oldest known living organism.
Harriet is a 175-year-old Galápagos tortoise, the oldest known living animal.
Cheeta is a 74-year old chimpanzee, the longest lived known chimpanzee.
Adwaitya, an Aldabra Giant Tortoise, died at 255 years old, the oldest known animal.
A Bowhead Whale killed in a hunt was found to be approximately 211 years old, the longest lived mammal known.
Source: Wikipedia
Telegram from the queen: the tradition of receiving a telegram from the monarch on the 100th birthday of a British (or Commonwealth) citizen dates back to 1917 and the reign of George V.
These bicycle-delivered telegrams were written by a secretary of the Queen. Originally, there were very few sent out, as life expectancy was much lower at the beginning of the 20th century. There are now a few thousand a year. In 1982 telegrams were stopped within Britain, and restricted abroad to special occasions. A secondary message system using the Post Office remained, and the Queen switched to using this for her congratulatory messages. To keep it special, she changed the style of the letter, as if it were written by her instead. Compare a 1958 telegram
"The Queen is much interested to hear that you are celebrating your 100th birthday and sends you warm congratulations and good wishes."
and a 1999 message
"I am pleased to know that you are celebrating your 100th birthday. I send my congratulations and best wishes to you on such a special occasion."
Messages are sent out for a 105th birthday and then one a year. The message itself is now a glossy printed affair in a blue envelope, with a coat of arms and scanned signature of the Queen, along with a photo.
Source: http://www.everything2.com
Old age by Nirvana
See lyrics
Very old fudge
See recipe
Old artists never die, they just put things in perspective.
Old math professors never die, they just reduce their functions.
Old photographers never die, they just have flash backs.
Old footballers never die, they just pass away.
Old milkmaids never die, they just kick the bucket.
Old electricians never die, they just keep plugging away.
Old lumberjacks never die, they just pine away.
Old tightrope walkers never die, they just get high strung.
Old musicians never die, they are just disconcerted.
Old grocers never die, they just get shelved.
Source: http://punoftheday.com/
Trouble With Lichen (published 1960) is a science fiction novel by John Wyndham. It is intended as a social satire, opinion varies as to its quality. It is not generally regarded as quite one of Wyndham's best novels, but some consider it an interesting and entertaining piece nevertheless. The plot concerns a young woman biochemist who discovers that a chemical extracted from an unusual strain of lichen (hence the title) can be used to retard the ageing process, enabling people to live to around 200-300 years. Wyndham speculates how society would deal with this prospect.
Source: Wikipedia
Old age isn't so bad when you consider the alternative. (Maurice Chevalier)
The gardener's rule applies to youth and age: When young "sow wild oats," but when old, grow sage. (H. J. Byron)
As we grow older we grow both more foolish and wiser at the same time. (François de la Rochefoucauld)
A man must have grown old and lived long in order to see how short life is. (Arthur Schopenhauer)
Source: heartquotes.net
Oldest Woman Ever: the oldest fully authenticated age to which any human has ever lived is 122 years and 164 days, by Jeanne-Louise Calment. She was born in France on February 21, 1875, and died at a nursing home in Arles, southern France on August 4, 1997. President Jacques Chirac once said Jean Calment was a little bit like a grandmother to everyone in France. She was 14 when the Eiffel Tower was completed in 1889. She led an extremely active life, taking up fencing at 85 years old, and was still riding a bicycle at 100. She portrayed herself at the age of 114 in the film Vincent And Me, to become the oldest actress in film.
Oldest man ever: the greatest age to which any man has ever lived is 120 years 237 days in the case of Shigechiyo Izumi (Japan) of Isen on Tokunoshima, an island 1,320 km (820 miles) south-west of Tokyo, Japan. He was born at Isen on 29 June 1865 and was recorded as a 6-year-old in Japan's first census of 1871. He died at 12:15 GMT on 21 February 1986 after developing pneumonia.
Source: Guinness World Records
An old lion will be mocked by the dogs. (Arabian)
The gravity of the earth is so strong that the old grey man walks crooked. (Armenian)
When you get older you keep warm with the wood you gathered as a youth. (Bambara)
Old bachelors and old maids are either too good or too bad. (Basque)
The young cannot teach tradition to the old. (Beninese)
An old man with a torn sleeve never dishonoured anyone. (Brazilian)
A man is old when he takes the whole night to do what he used to do all night long. (Chinese)
If you wish to succeed, consult three old people. (Chinese)
It is only good when the old and the young respect each other. (Chinese)
Source: Creative Proverbs
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