Author: Sobat RIL

143. A Healthy Heart Smaller than your fist, your muscular heart just goes on and on. It will beat more than 60 times a minute for 70 years or more. That’s something that most of us take for granted. But it’s an amazing fact. Sixty times a minute for 60 minutes is 3,600 times. What…

142. Here It Comes It was early morning, January 17, 1994. John Evans and his wife were asleep in their house in Northridge, California. Suddenly, the loudest thunder they’d ever heard seemed to explode right out of the ceiling, the floor, and the walls. They were thrown onto the floor. The dresser, on the other…

141. English Only Blair needed a break from the indoor life. Sometimes it seemed like he was in his apartment 24/7. He had recently found a perfect outdoor cure. It was a new coffeehouse which served 45 kinds of coffee and tea. He liked it because the coffee was good and the place was never…

140. Perfect Weather It was a perfect day in Los Angeles. Even Shakespeare might not have words for a day like this. You had to “be there” to appreciate it. The sun was shining, and soft white clouds were parked in the deep blue sky. The temperature was perfect for shorts. Not chilly, not hot.…

139. Giving Blood Gabriel was running late. He had a 2 o’clock appointment to give blood at the gymnasium at George Washington High School. At least he thought he had; no one had ever called him back to confirm his reservation. Probably a confirmation call wasn’t even necessary, he thought. He didn’t feel comfortable giving…

138. Moving Back Home Brett was moving into his departed parents’ home. His mom had recently died of cancer, five years after his dad had died in his sleep. Brett figured he would also die in that now-empty house. He had hired two movers at $40 an hour. They worked hard and fast. Brett was…

137. His Stomach Is Growling Derek was listening to the radio and using his computer. The TV was on, but the volume was muted. The fan was on medium speed, because low speed would be too slow for a hot day like today. He dared not use high speed, because loose papers on the table…

136. Vacation at Home The two-week vacation at the end of summer school ended yesterday. Kevin had gone nowhere during his vacation. He had the money, but he hated to travel alone. He used to take vacations with Gary, his youngest brother, but they had a big argument at the end of their last vacation.…

135. Feeling Blue The blue-ring octopus is only about eight inches wide with its tentacles extended. It prefers shallow water near Australia and often lives under piers. It avoids humans. But if it must defend itself, this creature can deliver a bite that is fatal. The toxin from the bite can paralyze most of the…

134. Take a Bite Have you ever been bitten? Of course you have. You are surrounded by creatures that might, or do, bite. Even as you rest your head on your pillow, bedbugs are probably nibbling away at you. They live happily inside most pillows. Take a walk outside and you are a target for…