> [Imagine the instincto-supercop, who, after receiving 2 bullets in each leg, > runs 2 miles and catches the criminal :-)] I've often thought about this when I've watched ER trauma shows on television. I think someone's vitality and energy level would make a great difference in how their body would handle a bullet (I don't want to be a guinea pig!) Speaking of injuries I have been able to consciously make my brain trigger endorphin release to ease the pain when I've hurt myself. Last year I damaged the tendon(s) in my finger (I'm not too good with physiology) by trying to swing out over a creek on a rope, which my children did with ease of course. Well, I didn't take into consideration that your hands get weaker as you get older and that one finger caught the brunt of my body weight. It hurt for a long time, but has almost gotten completely better with the things I have been doing dietarily, etc. I'm kind of using it as a gauge as to how well I'm doing. My joints don't snap loudly as I go down the stairs anymore. Jean-Louis--thanks for the comments about the telomere stuff. I was wondering how the discovery would impact us in the long run. Mary J.