Readers of my occasional postings may be familiar with my particular bent against silly and useless research. I may have found what could be the finalist for the world’s most ridiculous research. Please read on.

It seems that a group of Danish and American researchers (let’s name names here so the ignominy can be placed at the feet of the proper individuals and institutions – Aalborg University Copenhagen and Ohio State University) have determined through dedicated and thorough research that when singers sing high notes, their eyebrows go higher than when they sing low notes.

Let’s let those findings sink in for a moment. A research team actually spent time and university funds (funds that came straight out of your pocket books most probably) to look into what happens to the eyebrows of singers when they warble their tunes? You have got to be kidding, right? Unfortunately, I’m not. The study was even published in a journal, Empirical Musicology Review – of course that’s no great accomplishment since there seems to be a journal somewhere that is willing to publish just about anything written by anyone in a college or university. Their article was “Facial Expression and Vocal Pitch Height: Evidence of an Intermodal Association” – proving yet again that academics can always make something totally idiotic sound like it’s in line for a Nobel Prize.

Low Pitch, High Pitch – Who Cares?

The erstwhile researchers recruited 44 participants who were asked to sing moderate, high, and low pitches while their faces were photographed. So-called independent judges then selected the high-pitch faces as more friendly than the low-pitch faces. When photographs were cropped to show only the eye region, judges still rated the high-pitch faces friendlier than the low-pitch faces. These results are consistent with prior research showing that vocal pitch height is used to signal aggression (low pitch) or appeasement (high pitch). An analysis of the facial features, say the researchers, shows a strong correlation between eyebrow position and sung pitch—consistent with the role of eyebrows in signaling aggression and appeasement. Yadda-Yadda-Yadda!

If you are not sure that this research really exists or not, click here to read it in full.

So, how are we to view this research? Perhaps we should write to the respective academic institutions and request an explanation? No, universities are tone deaf (pardon the pun) to criticism, which is probably why this research effort wasn’t nipped in the bud. Should we try another tactic? Let’s bring the low-brow, high-brow team of researchers together again and put them in a room, lock it and force them to listen to 48 hours straight of Rudy Vallee tunes. They can all be released early if they promise to never perform such foolish research again.

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Face reading is an art. By reading face, certain characteristics of a person can be read.  Many say that by applying this intelligence, reliability and honesty of a person can be found out.

Forehead.  The forehead is described as of four types: classified as wide, narrow, round and shallow. A wide forehead depicts Practicality, sense of responsibility and cleverness A deep or round forehead person is an idealistic person and they respect relationship. Constraints and obstacles in family life are believed to be with a narrow forehead. While, a shallow forehead guy faces obstacles in career and family troubles.

Eyebrows. The eyebrows reveals temperament and the reputation. A  highly arched brow is considered as ideal.. This pattern of eyebrow is seen on the faces of actors and actresses. A developed brow line person is observant, careful about self and is dexterous. A straight brow person is considered as sensitive and artistic. A person whose brow grows thickly over his nose bridge is possessive and jealous of others. A thin set of eyebrows person makes decisions very carefully.

Nose.  The size of one’s nose expresses attitude and the wealth of a person. As per Face reading concept nose indicates wealth and attitude. A high and straight nose bridge with fleshy nose tip is an ideal nose. Face readers believe that a person with oversize nose has a violent personality and a fleshy nose tip depicts warmth and cordial behavior. An anguish nose person possesses strong will power, determination and tendency to be independent.

Philtrum. This is the groove on the upper lip. An unpronounced philtrum reveals low energy level and a deep and clearly marked groove expresses a strong and healthy energy levels.

Lips.  The lips are associated with communication, nurturing relationship and sensual appetites. Full and round lips are believed to have a caring nature. A thin lower lip person is of giving nature and a thin upper reveals the limitation to respond feelings in a relationship.

There are some more facial features which are also assessed by face readers. These are the eyes, chin, cheek and ears. In 18th and 19th century this wart was widely used. Though this is an old art, but in modern body language, this is still used.

Take a look at this persons face:

Image via Wikipedia

Well, why does your face look like that? The answer seems simple: It’s just like that. No reason.

Wrong!

According to common sense, there is a good reason for all this. If you think about it, there are logical explanations. 

1. Hair – Hair is most likely to be on the top of the head to absorb moisture such as rain. if we had no hair, rain might fall right onto our heads, which would hurt! Also, hair helps keep our heads warm, to protect the brain, and stop us from looking creepy (only waxy and shiny bald heads are creepy. natural bald heads are fine).
2. Eyebrows – Well, this is obvious! These stop water from dripping into our eyes. If they were below the eyes, it would be useless to have them, although this position is already taken by the mustache. Eyebrows cause the water to go around the eyes, or drip down in front. If you stand in the rain, you will barely ever get water in your eyes (provided you don’t look up).
   

   Image via Wikipedia

3. Eyes – These allow us to see, and if they were any lower than where they are, people would bump their heads into things a lot more. The reason eyes are far apart from each other is so our brains can produce a 3-D image for us. If we had just 1 eye, we could not tell distance. Try covering one eye, then touch here with the index finger on your other hand. You will find that you hit the surface of the screen earlier or later than when you expected. Another method is to try to go as close to the word as you can without touching it. Chances are, you either touch it, or are very far away from it.
   

   Image via Wikipedia

4. Nose and Mouth – I have put these two together because my explanation involves both at once. If you had your nose below your mouth, you would probably drool on it and it would get very dirty (touching your tongue to your nose would be a lot easier though). When your nose is above your mouth, the scent of the food being eaten can float up through the nostrils, then your nose would help you enjoy the flavor of your food. If you try to eat something with your nose pegged or blocked, you will taste less. If you smell a food without eating it, you can tell what it is, because it smells almost the same as it tastes.
5. Mustache and chin – The mustache helps keep your head warm, and is also a great pain to have to shave and clean. The chin is just the downside of having a jaw. If the mouth opens, the chin goes down. When it closes, the chin goes up.

1. Bushy Joined Eyebrows
   

   Unibrows are normal. Especially when your hormones tell that you are hairy. But if the brows are really thick, grows in every direction, and looks odd or scary, there might be another reason.

2. Small Pointed Ears
   

   Check the ears. Do they seem normal but look something like “hobbit ears” as seen from The Lord of the Rings trilogy?

3. Ring Finger As Long As Middle Finger

   Normally, each of our fingers differs in length. But another sign to suspect is when the ring finger and the middle finger are as long as the other. Try to check yours now.

4. Hairy Palms

   As we can observe, the skin on the soles of our feet and the palms of our hands differ from the rest of our body. That’s why we cannot see any hair growing. I think this is the best way to detect, among the others presented, because of the rarity of the case.

This is just based from what they call superstitious features of suspected werewolves in the old times. We don’t know if the clues are true or are they still applicable in this day and age. Everything depends on the person’s belief and it is up to you if you believe or not.

According to Guinness, a Wisconsin teenager named Robert Starrett holds the record for long arm hair. The single hair from his upper right arm, measured 5.3 inches (about 14 cms). The previous record was 4.09 inches ( about 13 cms.).

Apparently Robert had another hair that was just as long but his sister pulled it out. Well, that’s the kind of thing sisters do to their brothers, I guess.

Bearded Man.

Norwegian Hans Langseth holds the record for the longest beard (male). When he died in 1927 his whiskers measured 17.5 feet (just under 6 metres). It is now on show at the Smithsonian Institution.

Bearded Lady.

Vivian Wheeler of Illinois has the record for the longest beard in the world (female). Her chestnut brown whiskers measures 27.9 cms and she started to grow it after the death of her mother, but since 1997 she hasn’t let her beard grow.

Ear Hair.

Radhakant Bajpai, (50 years old) from Uttar Pradesh in India holds the record for the longest ear hair. His ear hair which sprouts from the center of the outer ear, when unravelled, measures 5.19 inches (13.2cms). The recorded was verified by Guinness in May 2003.

Eye Brows.

Frank Ames (43 years old) of Saranac, New York had his eyebrows measured by a workmate in 1994. They bushed out at 3.78 inches (8cms.) He finally got himself into the records book in August 2005.

Leg Hair.

Tim Stinton from Australia was recognized in February 2005 as having the world’s longest leg hair. It measured 4.8 inches (12.4 cms) and sprouted from his left thigh.

But the more I observe what is taking place around me, it seems to be coming more and more evident that we are moving to being somewhat of a hairless society. Take a look at all the hair removal lotions, razors, and services that are out there today. Ever heard of the Nair experience? Not to mention the many men who are fond of sporting what they call the “Michael Jordan” look?

It’s almost ridiculous to the point where some persons end up insulting others if they spot some visible pieces of hair, say above a girl or young woman’s top lip. Then what does the girl or young woman do the moment she finds herself alone. She might become a little obsessed with trying one of the many ways to remove that bit of hair from above her lip.

Now don’t get me wrong here, it’s probably better for one’s body to be as hairless as possible and might make those intimate moments with one’s lover/spouse/significant other more intimate, but don’t we need some of that hair to remain on us for our own protection from the elements?