Taller Men May be Happier … But Shorter Men Live Longer

According to a number of research studies, including one conducted at Stanford University, men often exaggerate their height and strength. We ran across this after reading a couple of Lee Child’s novels, whose hero is six-foot-five Jack Reacher, that have been made into movies starring five-foot-seven (or five-foot-eight) Tom Cruise. Personally, we have a lot more issues with what Hollywood has done to the plots than the differences in sizes of the fictious hero and the movie one, because Tom Cruise has a lot of derring-do and his own attitude (plus a lot of acting skill) that comes through loud and clear.

Shorter men may not be as happy as their taller male friends or idols, but research studies in Hawaii among Japanese-American men and in San Diego among American veterans has shown that they live longer.

“All Men Must Dance” at Stanford’s Annual Big Dance

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Friday, May 9 at 9 pm the fun begins, and lasts until 6 am on Saturday. We’re not sure whether this year’s theme is a promise or a threat to male dancers. After all, they will have to do a LOT of leading (i.e., thinking), as well as moving, during the couples dances, which all experienced male dancers can attest is very tiring. In any case, this will be the 21st year that Stanford’s amazing Richard Powers has led this event, and doubtless at 6 am there will be a lot of dancers who are 10+ year veterans.