LIFE

Life is weird.

You can go from being strangers,
to being friends,
to being more than friends, 
to being practically strangers again.

TOP 10 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

1. Ben Franklin came from a large family.

In fact, his father, Josiah Franklin, had 17 children with 2 wives. He was the 8th to the second wife but the 15th in total. He started to work with his brothers in a print shop at the age of 12.

2. Ben Franklin was a writer.

Franklin started out with a passion in writing and wrote many writings immediately after starting work. However, his older brother refused to publish his writings. After more work and effort, he was able to take his writings elsewhere to get published, many of which are famous today.

3. He was a volunteer fireman.

He had a passion for “paying it forward” and giving back to the community. The department he volunteered for is called the Union Fire Company, but is now known as “Benjamin  Franklin’s Bucket Brigade”. After volunteering multiple times, he wrote articles on fire safety.

4. Ben Franklin is known for inventing the glass harmonica.

He designed the glass harmonica, or armonica, in 1761. It creates musical tones by using different sized glass bowls. It’s kind of like the old-fashioned version of rubbing your finger on a crystal glass.

5. Franklin could speak 5 languages.

He taught himself to read French, Latin, Italian, and Spanish, after already knowing English. He was always looking for ways to self-improve and figured being fluent in other languages would help him in his future.

6. During experiments, Franklin was almost killed twice.

The only reason he survived was because he didn’t receive a strong enough charge. One time he was trying to help cure a paralyzed man with electric shock. The other time was a result from his attempt to kill a turkey with electrical shock.

7. He created the first insurance company in the colonies.

The number one adversary? Fire. The full name was Philadelphia Contributorship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss By Fire. The idea was so every man could help each other.

8. Franklin invented the rocking chair.

Next time you’re sitting in a rocking chair and thinking, “This is the life!”, remember our good pal Benjamin Franklin. He fitted the legs of his armchair with curved pieces of wood and made an invention that is still widely used today.

9. Ben Franklin owned his first company at the age of 22.

He was the owner of the Pennsylvania Gazette newspaper. His printing company also printed paper money for Pennsylvania and Delaware.

10. 20,000 people attended his funeral.

This is a large number today, but especially back then it was huge. Franklin died on April 17, 1790. His funeral was well attended by people who had been touched by his life and looked up to his legacy.

Mia Khalifa: 5 Things To Know About Everyone’s New Favorite Porn Star

1.) She Was Working At A Fast Food Restaurant Before Porn

Yes, it’s true. Mia was once working a fast food burger restaurant in Miami, Fla., and that’s where she was approached by someone asking if she would ever try doing porn. 

2.) Mia Has A Bachelor’s Degree In History

All beauty and no brain? Not for Mia. This porn star graduated from the University of Texas in El Paso with a Bachelor’s Degree in History. Sounds like a good fall back plan!

3.) Mia Was Born In Beirut, Lebanon Before Moving To America

When Mia was just 7 years old, her family packed their bags and left Lebanon behind for the United States. As a teenager, Mia and her family lived in Maryland.

4.) Mia Is Married — Sorry Guys

Bad news for those of you hoping to get your chance with Mia: she’s totally off the market. In 2011, just after turning 18, Mia married an American man. They are currently living together in Florida.

5.) Timeflies Wrote Mia Her Own Theme Song

You know you’re cool when you have your own theme song. The song, called “Mia Khalifa,” was written and recorded by one of MTV’s well-known “Artists to Watch,” Timeflies.  

10 Action Movies To Look Out For In 2015

2014 was a fairly decent year for action films, and 2015 looks to be no different. Expect sequels to popular franchises and some refreshing new IPs from new comers and Hollywood veterans alike.

1. Taken 3

The Taken trilogy comes to a thrilling conclusion as Liam Neeson talks in a vaguely threatening voice for the third and final time. Framed for a murder he had no idea about, Neeson must put all his skills to the test to capture those responsible before he is hunted down by the very government he once fought to defend.

2. American Sniper

Based on the true story of American Sniper Chris Kyle as he battles dangers at home and during his four tours of Iraq, this film features the highlights of his life, both in and out of uniform. Bradley Cooper does a respectable job with the role and brings across the physical and emotional issues that come as part of being a long range assassin.

3. Kingsman: The Secret Service

Based on the Mark Millar (of Kick-Ass and The Ultimates fame) comic The Secret Service, this action-espionage film centres on the interactions of a spy veteran and his young apprentice as the latter is introduced in to the high-risk, high-reward world of espionage. The film's cast includes Colin Firth, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Strong and Michael Caine.

4. Furious 7

The latest instalment in the long running car-based action series brings back familiar faces such as Vin Diesel and the late Paul Walker as well as Jason Statham after a foreshadowing cameo in F&F 6. The plot, set after Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift, deals with revenge, as the pack have lost one of their own in a race and want payback at any cost.

5. Hitman: Agent 47

A reboot of the video-game based movie franchise puts Rupert Friend in the well-tailored suit formerly worn by Timothy Olyphant, as the titular Agent 47. The plot deals with Agent 47 and another genetically engineered assassin as they try to take down a ruthless organisation can the the Syndicate in an attempt to find the assassin’s father.

6. Mad Max: Fury Road

Tom Hardy takes over from Mel Gibson in the iconic post-apocalyptic role of Mad Max. Almost a reboot of the series, the plot is described as a “western on wheels” with most of the car stunts done with practical effects instead of CGI, meaning that everything in the film was done to endanger the actors in the film.

7. In the Heart of the Sea

A whaling crew are set adrift on a tiny boat for several months in the harsh sea while being preyed upon by a massive Sperm whale in 1820. Starring Chris Hemsworth (Thor) and Cillian Murphy (Scarecrow), the film draws inspiration from Moby Dick and looks to have a bleak, desolate vibe about it and gives the feeling of powerlessness and one of Earths biggest creatures is out for your head.

8. Blackhat

Chasing a dangerous cyber-criminal leads a team of American and Chinese government investigators on a worldwide chase across continents from Chicago to Hong Kong. Helping them is recently released criminal Chris Hemsworth.

9. Chappie

Hugh Jackman (Wolverine) and SIgourne Weaver (Ellen Ripely) unite in this action comedy involving the raising of a very special gifted child, who just happened to be a robot. Expect hilarity and special effects to fill the screen as the very talented actors take to very unfamiliar roles.

10. Spectre

The 24th Bond Film sees Daniel Craig return to the suit of the debonair spy to wrap up those lingering plot points from Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace. The introduction of Spectre and probably Blofeld looks to shake up the canon since the reboot in 2005.

What is ALS?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (a-mi-o-TROE-fik LAT-ur-ul skluh-ROE-sis), or ALS, is a nervous system (neurological) disease that causes muscle weakness and impacts physical function.

ALS is often called Lou Gehrig's disease, after the famous baseball player who was diagnosed with it. ALS is a type of motor neuron disease that causes nerve cells to gradually break down and die. In the United States, ALS is sometimes called motor neuron disease.

In most cases, doctors don't know why ALS occurs. A small number of cases are inherited.

ALS often begins with muscle twitching and weakness in an arm or leg, or sometimes with slurring of speech. Eventually, ALS can affect your ability to control the muscles needed to move, speak, eat and breathe. ALS can't be cured and eventually leads to death.

Symptoms

Early signs and symptoms of ALS include:

• Difficulty walking, tripping or difficulty doing your normal daily activities
• Weakness in your leg, feet or ankles
• Hand weakness or clumsiness
• Slurring of speech or trouble swallowing
• Muscle cramps and twitching in your arms, shoulders and tongue
• Difficulty holding your head up or keeping a good posture

The disease frequently begins in your hands, feet or limbs, and then spreads to other parts of your body. As the disease advances, your muscles become progressively weaker. This weakness eventually affects chewing, swallowing, speaking and breathing.

However, ALS doesn't usually affect your bowel or bladder control, your senses, or your thinking ability. It's possible to remain actively involved with your family and friends.

Causes

In ALS, the nerve cells that control the movement of your muscles gradually die, so your muscles progressively weaken and begin to waste away.

ALS is inherited in 5 to 10 percent of cases. The other cases appear to occur randomly.

Researchers are studying several possible causes of ALS, including:

• Gene mutation. Various genetic mutations can lead to inherited ALS, which appears nearly identical to the noninherited form.
• Chemical imbalance. People with ALS generally have higher than normal levels of glutamate, a chemical messenger in the brain, around the nerve cells in their spinal fluid. Too much glutamate is known to be toxic to some nerve cells.
• Disorganized immune response. Sometimes a person's immune system begins attacking some of his or her body's own normal cells, which may lead to the death of nerve cells.

Protein mishandling. Mishandled proteins within the nerve cells may lead to a gradual accumulation of abnormal forms of these proteins in the cells, eventually causing the nerve cells to die.

Is Banksy a Woman? Top Five Rumours, Myths and Truths About Graffiti Artist

A website has suggested Banksy could be a woman(Banksystreetart.tumblr.com)

Banksy could be a woman, a news website has suggested ahead of a documentary

 about the famous graffiti artist.

Ahead of the programme Banksy Does New York, which will air on 17 November on HBO, Atlantic City Lab has given several reasons why the street artist could be female.

"Compared to the highly visible work of Invader or Fairey or dozens of other high-profile 

 street artists, Banksy's work is different," the site argues.

"Girls and women figure into Banksy's stencilled figures, for starters, something that isn't 

true of 99% of street art."

The site points out that the majority of street artists, who are male, make reference to their names 

consistently – in the form of tags. But Banksy's work offers a different form of street art.

"Banksy's work has always done more than project "Banksy" ad nauseam," they write.

 "In fact, a "handling service" called Pest Control exists to authenticate Banksy's protean projects.

"Banksy's graffiti understands and predicates a relationship between the viewer and the

 street, something that graffiti that merely shouts the artist's name or icon over and over 

(and over and over) doesn't do."

This is far from the first rumour to emerge surrounding the elusive artist.

 IBTimes UK looks at some of the other Banksy myths – and some of the truths.

Rumours of Banksy being arrested frequently emerge(Sincura)

King Robbo

One rumour speculates that Banksy is actually Robbo, a graffiti artist who died earlier 

this year. Speculation arose when Banksy painted over one of Robbo's works on the 

Camden Canal, as the graffiti code of conduct states that only artists ever paint over

 their own work.

Banksy doctored one of Robbo's tags—a piece dating back to 1985. Instead of saying

"ROBBO", the image of a council worker appeared holding a brush and painting the wall black.

Banksy arrested

A hoax story alleging the British graffiti artist Banksy had been arrested and had his

 identity revealed once again duped thousands of people online.

According to the highly refutable website National Report, a 'news' website consisting 

entirely of fake stories, the artist was arrested by Metropolitan Police at his studio and

 his identity revealed as 35-year-old Paul Horner, originally from Liverpool.

A possible Banksy work in Cheltenham, a few miles away from Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ)(Getty)

Football star name

Bristol footballers claim Banksy earned his name by playing for the local team,

according to Banksy Myths & Legends by Marc Leverton. According to the myth, 

each footballer was named after a previous great player – and Banksy gained his after

the England goalkeeper Gordon Banks.

Whether this was how he got his name or not, what we do know is that Banksy was a

goalkeeper for the Bristol-based football club Easton Cowboys and Cowgirls. In 2001, 

the team went on tour in Mexico and Banksy played against the Zapatista freedom 

fighters, a group of young revolutionaries. He painted a mural while there.

Damien Hirst

Some has guessed that Banksy is artist Damien Hirst's alter ego, but it is more likely 

that Banksy is actually 39-year-old artist Robin Gunningham, who has been pictured 

more than once around Banksy's work. Banksy's team have neither confirmed nor 

denied these claims.

The street artist actually collaborated with Hirst for the piece Keeping It Spotless, which \features a French maid sweeping under a spot painting. It sold for $1,870,000 (£1.2m) at 

Sotheby's auction house in New York City in 2008.

Ozone

Banksy's iconic Pulp Fiction image was originally criticised by London transportation 

authorities for being too graphic. The artist then returned and painted over it, changing 

it to show two actors dressed in banana suits but pointing real guns.

Afterwards, a local 19-year-old graffiti artist called Ozone wrote over it: "If it's better 

next time, I'll leave it." He was later killed by a moving train.

Banksy then returned to the spot and created an image of an angel wearing a 

bulletproof vest and holding a skull, as a tribute to the late artist.

The elusive painter wrote: "The last time I hit this spot, I painted a crap picture of two 

men in banana costumes waving hand guns. A few weeks later, a writer called Ozone 

completely dogged it and then wrote 'If it's better next time, I'll leave it' in the bottom 

corner. When we lost Ozone, we lost a fearless graffiti writer and as it turns out, a 

pretty perceptive art critic. Ozone—rest in peace."