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.
Jupiter Images
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.
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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












Comments:
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Tuesday 07 April
By CeCE
She is 115, not 125 as others have posted. Why would anyone congratulate her on 115, blind, totally dependent on an institution, home health care or nursing home? I don't buy it about the purity etc., it is mostly good genetics and luck. If she is proud of the fact she is 115 and totally dependent, then good for her. I want to live a long life but totally helpless at 115 ??????? That doesn't sound like living to me. Sure she may eat a little sweets and bacon, but what does that account for? What does she do the rest of the time? Sleep I suppose like most people that are up in years.
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Tuesday 07 April
By Sarah Stevens
Wow...i cant believe meredith is so ignorant..her comment was pretty disrespectful
Reply
Tuesday 07 April
By BFlem
What I find really unbelievable is that she admitted that the last time she voted , before casting this last vote for Obama, was for JFK. No this wasn't a black and white race huh?
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Tuesday 07 April
By somacrew
She voted twice? What the h&*# is that all about? What happened all the other years? GET OUT THE VOTE didnt knock on her door! Well thats got to be somebodys fault.
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Tuesday 07 April
By Handel Tucker
I would like to offer warmest congratulations to this lady. We do however, have someone here in Jamaica who is 122 years old.
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Tuesday 07 April
By ObamaChimp
Larry King use to date her.
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Tuesday 07 April
By John
Since she voted for Barry Soetoro (aka Obama), that proves that not everyone gets smarter and wiser as they age.
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Tuesday 07 April
By Everett
Tuesday 07 April
By FrankNeutralReportPositiveNegative
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Some people are born as lovers and some are born as haters.
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Thank you Frank!
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Tuesday 07 April
By victor gibson
WHAT YOU EAT DOESNT MAKE YOU STAY HERE LONGER. ITS NOT LIVING A PURE LIFE JUST CAUSE YOU DIDNT SMOKE OR DRINK OR FOOL AROUND. THE WORLD HAS NO FLIPPIN IDEA IT NEVER SEEKS TO FIND OUT CRAP IT JUST MENTALLY MASTURBATES AND IS FULL OF EGOCENTRIC IDIOCY If the world saw what many eye witnesses have seen me do they wouldn't be able to speak. but your minds dont work and your full of the usual crap vhowkloosh aol
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Tuesday 07 April
By Everett
Tuesday 07 April
By JohnNeutralReportPositiveNegative
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Since she voted for Barry Soetoro (aka Obama), that proves that not everyone gets smarter and wiser as they age.
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Thank you John. Case in point.........yourself. I by the way voted for McCain, and I'm a Democrat.
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Tuesday 07 April
By Mahmoud
Happy birthday to her. It goes to show that genetics does play an important part.
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Tuesday 07 April
By A. HAMILTON
FROM GROVER CLEVELAND TO BARAK OBAMA. NOT TOO BAD. GOD BLESS MRS. BAINES!!
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Tuesday 07 April
By eric
want to live long? ....pick the right parents!
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