Top 10 List | Top Ten Lists

As a sports fanatic, I’m always on the lookout for the most extreme sports when I traverse the globe.  I realize that I almost never sit down and think about the dangers of the things I do in life.   I act on my impulses before I think things through, which gets me into trouble as a result.

The following list identifies sports that are dangerous, inhumane and unnecessary – even for entertainment purposes. You should not attempt these stunts, unless you are willing to risk your life or a couple of limbs.

1. Bullfighting:

Bullfighting is a blood sport. A Spanish bullfight is set up to have men (matador) fight against a frightened and confused animal in an enclosed ring. Throughout the fight, the bull is tortured, enfeebled and brought to its knees by a variety of spears, spikes and daggers. These weapons impose incredible pain and the distraught bull is weakened by blood loss.

After approximately 15 minutes of extreme suffering, the matador finally slays the beaten bull. Many bulls die drowning in their own blood because of the matador’s imprecision, which often pierces the bull’s lungs instead of the heart. Following this, a short dagger (puntilla) is used to separate the bull’s spinal cord at the neck before the bull is hauled out of the arena. In the worst cases, the bull is still hanging onto life as it is hauled away.

This ‘sport’ is so violent that it is banned from television in Spain, especially on TVE-Spain’s state-run television channel.

2. Heli-Skiing:

Helli-skiing is off-train downhill skiing that is only accessible by helicopter. There is a reason why these areas have never been used before. If you ever dreamed of wide open terrains and zero lift lines, this is for you. However, people who seek to do such things are crazy and are risking their lives for the most extreme. Countries like France are on top for banning this sport.

3. High Altitude Mountain Climbing:

Mountain climbing can literally kill you. High Altitude Mountaineering, such as climbing Everest and these other 8000 meter peaks, is an extremely dangerous activity where people die every year. Frankly I cannot think of any more dangerous activity on earth!

In 2001, Babu Chiri Sherpa, probably the strongest Everest climber ever, died simply by stepping in the wrong place and falling into a crevasse. Sherpa climbed the summit 10 times.

4. Tennis:

Tennis injuries are only limited to joints and ligaments, so no one’s in real danger of dying. Tennis players sustain a number of injuries. There were over 90,000 tennis injuries reported in 2011, which comes to approximately 15% of estimated tennis players. But we’re just talking about injuries that were so bad that they required medical attention. Most ankle and wrist injuries surely were never reported.

5. Skiing with Yaks:

This sport is very popular in Manali, India, about two hours from Delhi. Yak skiing involves standing at the bottom of a large slope wearing skis and attached rope. Attached to the other end is a domesticated yak via a pulley attached to a tree at the summit.

At the go, the skier, who is holding a bucket of pony nuts as a treat for the yak, shakes the bucket to entice its attention and then drops it as they are hurled up the hill at a terrifying speed on their skis by the two-ton hairy yak on the other end of the rope.

Domesticated yaks are quite calm creatures and also love pony nuts. When tempted by their favorite treat, very little will stop them and God help you if you get in their way. One pieced of advise: Never shake the bucket before you’re tied to the Yak rope.

õîááèò îíëàéí â õîðîøåì êà÷åñòâå

Christmas is a time to spend with family and to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Many countries who are not predominately Christian refuse to celebrate it. Here is a list of just 10 of the countries.

1. United States:

When Puritans arrived in America in 1620 they were against Christmas. They called the holiday the “Foolstide” and banned their followers from celebrating it until 18th century. The only holiday they accepted was the Sabbath. When the governor of the Massachusetts colony, Sir Edmund Andros tried to sponsor Christian Day services, he was flanked by redcoats. The opposition continued even past 1800s.

Recently, news spread that a school in Texas banned Santa and a school in California banned Christmas Trees and poinsettias, stipulating they were too religious.

2. Albania:

In 1967, a ban on religious activity was official. The ban was not lifted until 1991 when the communist state fell. Christians were able to attend Christmas service for the first time In 23 years in December of 1990.

3. North Korea:

There are no holidays in North Korea, except for the ones which celebrate the birthdays of its leaders (e.g. the late Kim Jong-il). They even claimed that South Korea’s attempt in placing Christmas Lights on display was an act of psychological warfare.

4. Saudi Arabia:

If you are visiting Saudi Arabia or working as a teacher in the country, do not expect any holidays on Christmas. In fact Christmas cards and Christmas trees are banned from the country. The country follows strict Islamic mores, which means that the rulers consider themselves key guardians of faith.

5. Iran:

Religious freedom is curtailed in the country. This is not surprising as many women are being caught for indecent dressing and people are prosecuted for their beliefs.

These products were banned over the last decade because they were either considered to dangerous or unnecessary.

1. Trans Fats

Most food companies add Trans fat to their products because they stay fresh for a longer period of time. However, the body finds it difficult to break it down and starts suffering from heart disease or high cholesterol problems. Denmark and Switzerland banned certain products that were laced with over two percent of Trans fat.

2. Baby Walkers

Canada banned baby walkers in 2004 because according to statistics, over 1,900 babies were injured while using it. The Ministry determined that this happened because infants do not have the required abilities to use the product safely. Parents in Canada need not worry because studies reveal that baby walkers do not help babies walk faster.

3. Incandescent Light Bulbs

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs last much longer than Incandescent Bulbs and use only 25% of the available energy which is why the latter has been phased out by countries like Australia and Cuba. California plans to ban them within the next 8 years.

4. Chewing Gum

Singapore banned chewing hum in 1992 and the bill was revised about 6 years back. People are not allowed to stick their gum under chairs, on the floor or under tables. When somebody stuck it on the doors of the metro, it became necessary to ban it. Those who travel to Singapore are not allowed to carry gum and the Government constantly tells the public about how gum is hazardous to health.

5. Use of Cigarettes on Television and Movies

India banned smoking in movies and on television in 2005 as it was felt that children tend to take up the habit after seeing their favorite actors indulging in it. According to the ban, the actor’s hand is supposed to get blurred out if the scene demands that he should smoke.

Even though these books were banned, one cannot ignore the fact that there are and were classics with amazing literary value.

1. Ulysses by James Joyce

This book revolves around Leopold Bloom’s journey through Dublin. The book is similar to Homer’s Odyssey as there are a number of familiar elements between the two books. Some are explicit while others are quite implicit. Because it has been banned through the years, high school students rarely get a chance to read it. Quite a shame, since it is among the best books ever written.

2. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

This book is well known for its protagonist, a young and innocent boy. Mark Twain describes the surroundings beautifully and criticizes the racial discrimination that is apparent through the book. It is laced with elements of freedom and escapism which becomes apparent when Huck and Jim are drifting along the Mississippi River.

3. Candide by Voltaire

Candide’s plot is based on a naïve protagonist who is forced to live by the rules of Leibnizian optimism. Elements of satire are clearly seen as the story unfolds as the character has to face a number of hardships through her life. It pokes fun at a number of romantic clichés as well as those related to adventure.

4. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Brave New World unfolds against a backdrop of a utopian world wherein the human being are not only carefree but also technologically advanced and without health problems. Wars are not being fought and nobody lives below the poverty line. However, the society which exists in the book is hedonistic and one which is deprived of religion, literature, science, family, art and culture. In addition to that, the characters all take a particular kind of drug which keeps them happy all the time.

5. Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell

This book revolves around Winston Smith whose life degrades due to the workings of the totalitarian society within which he lives. 1984 made the author very famous and is considered to be among the best books which discuss the elements of a dystopian society.