Friday, January 21, 2011

Blogland needs more pictures of Hugh Jackman




Quote du jour: When I became an adult I put away childish things, including the fear of seeming childish and the desire to be very grown-up.
- C.S. Lewis

Site du jour: Finger length indicates athletic ability. An odd study lifted from Dr Mirkin.

Having a ring finger that is longer than your index finger is associated with greater athletic ability in men (American Journal of Human Biology, Mar-April 2009) and in women (British Journal of Sports Medicine, December 2006). The longer your ring finger is compared to your index finger, the better athlete you usually are (Strength Conditioning Research, published online August 20, 2010).

The ratio of the ring finger to the index finger is determined by how high your testosterone levels were in the uterus before you were born. Testosterone stimulates bone growth. Men exposed to higher levels of testosterone in the uterus also tend to have higher levels of testosterone later on.

On the average, men tend to have longer ring fingers, and women tend to have longer index fingers. The higher the testosterone in utero, the greater the length of the ring finger and the more "masculine" the resulting child - whether male or female. The difference between men and women in digit lengths usually is greater on the right hand.

In men, a longer ring finger is also associated with increased risk for prostate cancer; see the 12/5/10 eZine.

Exericse du jour: Jogging 3.5 miles at lunchtime.

Photo courtesy of Nehmans2020.

16 comments:

C said...

I don't like that study. My ring finger is a bit longer than my index. Bah!

Hey, did you know you were given the Stylish Blogger award? Check it out:
http://onecrazypenguin.blogspot.com/2011/01/my-only-time-to-say-this.html

LMI said...

Absolutely concur with the title sentiment.

Great Lewis quote!

About the study: Huh. Mine appear to be approximately the same size. Wonder what that means?

Lee said...

That's one of my favorite quotes.

What are we to make of ET's fingers?

Nitmos said...

I have long feet. What does the study say about that?

The Merry said...

You're a poet and your feet show it: they're Longfellows.

Lee, space aliens are severely underrepresented in most funded studies. It's unfair.

Laura -- it means that you're well balanced? :)

Xenia -- clearly, you're an athlete!

Judith said...

Totally agree with the title of this post! My ring fingers are longer than my index fingers and I am no athlete. In fact I am the poster girl for couch potatoes.

McB said...

Well, my ring fingers are considerably longer than my index fingers and I have no athletic ability at all.

I'm confused, though. How would the testosterone know which finger to go to?

The Merry said...

Well, at least you won't have to worry about prostate cancer. Which I keep wanting to spell 'prostrate' instead.

messymimi said...

The study explains why i hated PE and only exercise now because i have to.

Agree about the pics.

azusmom said...

My ring finger is longer than my index finger and I'm a klutz.
Just sayin'.

solarity said...

Another klutz checking in, here. I think we need a new study population.

Mary Anne in Kentucky

Anonymous said...

My ring finger is longer than my index finger, and my movement level equals that of a sloth. A dead sloth. Bad studies, very bad.
Julie

Anna May said...

Yep, confirmed. I am not athletic.I even put down my HUGE glass of wind a weighty choclate bar to double check.

Anna May

Retta said...

Okay, that's it. I don't know why I keep forgetting to come and check for an updated post... cuz every time I come, you totally crack me up. You have the most quirky, odd sense of humor... kind of like Anne H! I love it! (uh... that's meant to be a compliment, by the way).

So... gotta add you to my blogroll thingie, that gives automatic updates, and bangs me over the head to let me know there is a new post!

Anna May said...

Hahaha - please amend the word wind to wine in my earlier (and debut - blush) comment!

Anna May x

WapakGram said...

My ring fingers are different lengths on different hands. Well, on the 2 hands that I have. I've only ever had 2, never more. That I know of. I don't remember the early years very well. If I did, they hid the scars well.

Never enough HUGH in the blogworld. And Atta Girl for the jog. Says the sloth on the sofa.



Plasporo- something a child's toy is made out of and shouldn't be.