Happy birthday Gertrude Baines! The Georgia native turned 115 on Monday in Los Angeles, amid a slew of well-wishers, including President Obama, who sent a letter of congrats. Born in 1894 to former slaves, Baines took the Guinness Book of World Records title on January 2, after the previous record holder passed away.
Baines still enjoys life's little pleasures, like extra-crispy bacon, sweets and daily viewings of "The Price is Right." (And hell, why not, at 115?) And she even helped to make history this November by casting a vote for President Obama. The only other time she voted was in 1960, when she voted for JFK.
Incredibly, besides arthritis, Baines says she has never once suffered a serious injury or illness. Her secret to longevity? Baines brushed the question off, but we suspect her purity might have something to do with it: She told doctors she has never drunk, smoked or fooled around. God knows what that means for the rest of us.
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Bizarre Spa Treatments
10. Arctic Ice Room
The Qua Spa at Caesar's Palace Las Vegas offers an "Arctic Ice" treatment room, where "snow" falls from a domed ceiling through mint-infused air chilled to 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
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9. Golf Ball Massage
After hitting the links at Scottsdale's Four Seasons Resort at Troon North, you can have a "therapist" warm up some golf balls, and roll them along the large muscles of your spine and neck.
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8. Doctor Fish Pedicure
A type of carp called garra rufa, or "doctor fish," are used during pedicures at Yvonne Hair and Nails salon in Alexandria, Va. The fish eat dead areas of the skin, leaving just healthy new flesh behind.
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7. Flaming Anti-Flu Treatment
A man in the Jiaxing Zhejiang province of China undergoes a medicated fire treatment. The procedure is supposed to help prevent colds and flu.
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6. Gold Facial Treatment
Japan's Umo Inc. claims that covering the face with sheets of 24-carat gold is an effective (if not cost effective) method of fighting off wrinkles.
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5. Snake Massage
In the Israeli village of Talmey El'Azar, where reptile farmer/aesthetician Ada Barak uses tangles of king, corn and milk snakes in her massage treatments. Barak claims that find the creatures to be soothing.
Yonathan Weitzman, Reuters
4. Nightingale Droppings
If snakes aren't cuttin' it, you can always rely on ol' fashioned bird poo. Spas such as Shizuku in NYC offer facials with nightingale droppings, which contain an enzyme that supposedly brightens the skin.
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3. Leeches
Demi Moore may be using these bloodsuckers for detox treatments, but in the Himalayan region of Jammu And Kashmir, leeches are used to treat a variety of ailments including blood disorders and immunity problems.
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2. Bull Semen Hair Conditioning
Bull semen conditioner is one of the new offerings of Hari's Salon in London. Hari's claims that the substance, when combined with a protein rich plant root, Katera, strengthens and adds shine to hair.
Morry Gash, AP
1. Knife Therapy
A man cringes as he receives a "knife therapy" massage during a free procedure in Taipei. Local practitioners in this ancient form of massage claim it can cure sinus infections and headaches.
Steven Wang, AP













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Tuesday 07 April
By Jake
Too bad there is a person that is 125 years old.
Reply
Tuesday 07 April
By k
no there isnt
Tuesday 07 April
By jackie
Too bad that she has no proof, and the "125" year old looks young than this lady. The 125 year old said that all she has to prove her age is a passport which you can fake because those chinese girls in the olympics did that.
Tuesday 07 April
By ladytitle
God Bless her !!!!!!!!! If I lived my life that pure I do not think I would want to live that long. Happy Birthday GERTRUDE
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Tuesday 07 April
By karen
regarding the 125 year old person, they can't be in the book because there is no paperwork to verify their age. Birth Certificates weren't around them. But happy birthday to Gertrude. What a life she must have lived.
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Tuesday 07 April
By emilymccombs08
Damn, she looks good, too!
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Tuesday 07 April
By gertrudes
i can not believe she had the same name like i do.but, the thing is her name is without s at the end,and mine has s at the end.its almost pretty much the same.i use to hate my real name.but i guess not anymore...i'm very proud of her.she looks pretty good in the picture.keep it up!i salute you..
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Tuesday 07 April
By val
So much for Los Angeles smoggy air quality! Just think of how long she'd live if she could breathe air.
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Tuesday 07 April
By gertrudes
happy birthday gertrude!my name is gertrudes too..but yours is without s and mine is with s.but they always call me gertrude or sometimes they misspelled my name so..i'm really proud of you.may god bless you always...i salute you..you really looks pretty good in the picture.
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Wednesday 08 April
By Rich CT
Just goes to shows doctors/nutritionists KNOW NOTHING!! The three oldest people In the world right now said they eat lots of FATTY BACON!!!!!!!
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Tuesday 07 April
By Robert E
Hey I hope I will be as fortunate, I am 53 and have never drunk alcohol, never smoked, but I always thought that the fooling around has been the 2nd reason I am told I look 30-33 no wrinkles or ailments, have not been to the doctors since 1976 do not take ANY medications strong as a bull look very good for my age I barely have grey hair. loven life in va
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Tuesday 07 April
By ROBOJERK
LAST YEAR ,SHE MARRIED A 97 YEAR OLD MAN. THEY SPENT THEIR 3 WEEK HONEYMOON,TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE CAR.
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Tuesday 07 April
By Frank
Some people are born as lovers and some are born as haters.
Tuesday 07 April
By Tammy
FUNNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday 07 April
By Lissa
Thats is to fuckin funny! im laughing my fuckin ass off.
Tuesday 07 April
By Rich
God bless you and mya you always enjoy your life!
Reply
Tuesday 07 April
By Dennis Hennegan
Congratulations on living well to such an advanced age. Note: Her parents must have pretty old when she was born if they had been slaves. It was 31 years just since the slaves were freed when she was born.
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Tuesday 07 April
By mscanasta1
God truly blesses her precious soul. She's even beautiful, too. Happy birthday, Ms. Baines.
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Tuesday 07 April
By CeCe
People keep saying 125 years old, but the article says 115. Even that is way old. I want to live a to an old age, but 115 you would be totally worn out, blind, etc. totally dependent on someone or institution to take care of you. Think about that before you congratualte her. She said she lived well, etc. didn't fool around, most of it is genetic no matter what you give credit to.
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Tuesday 07 April
By Handel Tucker
I would like to congratulate his lady to a life long lived. However, we have ere in a Jamaica, a woman who is 122 years old.
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