Danous Estenor is generally known for his feats of strength on the football field, but recently the University of South Florida offensive guard, who stands 6'3” and weighs 295 pounds, showed a feat of both strength and mercy, lifting a Cadillac Seville off a tow truck driver long enough to get him out. Let’s just hope the owner of that Cadillac had good car insurance.

We've all heard about the power of adrenaline, and we've heard the stories about a woman lifting a car off her son or throwing a riding lawnmower out of the way to protect someone trapped under it. But are these mostly urban legends? Or, if put in a situation where it was necessary, could you too lift a car?

The answer, as a rule, is “yes,” but you might be surprised as to just why.

First of all, it's true about adrenaline: it does give you more strength, at least in a way. Adrenaline lets muscles contract more than they normally would. It allows more oxygen to flow to the muscles by increasing the blood flow to them, and also arranges a sudden burst of energy by turning more of your body's fuel source into actual fuel. There are still limits, of course: strength only goes so far. But adrenaline pushes your limits much higher.

But some credit also has to go to the human body. Your body, although you may not realize it, is designed to withstand incredible amounts of stress. Even the most out-of-shape among us can, when push comes to shove, take a real beating before collapsing.

Of course, you'll cross the red line in terms of pain well before you hit your absolute threshold for punishment. That’s the one thing that all the stories of people tossing Cadillacs around and fighting off polar bears (no, really, that happened) generally leave out; the people doing them were likely in very serious pain afterwards. What adrenaline does is make us act. It allows us to do things we wouldn't normally attempt without thinking; because if we did think, we wouldn't be able to do it. We don't normally deadlift cars, because well before we’d finish, our bodies would let us know that tendons are straining, muscles are tearing, and that it’s just generally a bad idea.

That’s where adrenaline comes in. When we’re on an adrenaline rush, we simply act so fast and without thinking we don't have time to realize that while we chucked that half-ton of weight a few yards away, every muscle in our body is screaming in pain.

You'll notice in any story of “hysterical strength” that the situation is something that requires you to act extremely quickly, usually because somebody's life is at stake. This is why so many of these stories involve parents: they see their child threatened and react without thinking. Once the adrenaline wears off, though, your body will assert itself, and you'll probably need a whole lot of Tylenol.

In short, it's more than possible that anybody reading this could easily lift a car, whether they're a constant visitor to the gym or only get exercise by picking up the mail. It's less a question of possibility than of your personal limits. Still, a few trips to the gym can't hurt: better to have more hysterical strength than less.

If you need car insurance, check out SafeAuto.com.

Image Credit:

http://www.videoplugger.info/uploaded_images/hulk2-786086.JPG

“Not again!”

One of the most important factors of purchasing a new car, especially in these times, is its overall cost at the pump. Courtesy of industry researcher TrueCar.com, here are the Top Ten Most Fuel-Efficient Cars, along with what you’d spend each year on gas for each.

10. 2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid

MSRP: $27,435

Combined EPA rating: 32.7 mpg

Cost per 15,000-mile year at $3.52/gal.: $1,616

Cost per $15,000-mile year at $5/gal.: $2,295

Surprisingly, this car gets lower mileage than a pure gasoline engine, as well as its Lexus counterparts, but it does come with a much nicer price!

9. 2011 Hyundai Elantra

MSRP: $15,550

Combined EPA rating: 33.1 mpg

Cost per 15,000-mile year at $3.52/gal.: $1,595

Cost per $15,000-mile year at $5/gal.: $2,266

The Elantra has nice styling, and has received positive consumer reviews. It doesn’t have a hybrid system, it’s just darn efficient!

8. 2011 Honda CR-Z

MSRP: $19,731

Combined EPA rating: 33.4 mpg

Cost per 15,000-mile year at $3.52/gal.: $1,579

Cost per $15,000-mile year at $5/gal.: $2,243

The CR-Z is a new model from Honda, designed for maximum fuel economy. One drawback: this car only has two seats. No wonder it’s so efficient!

7. 2011 Lexus HS 250h

MSRP: $36,475

Combined EPA rating: 34.5 mpg

Cost per 15,000-mile year at $3.52/gal.: $1,529

Cost per $15,000-mile year at $5/gal.: $2,171

Lexus (actually Toyota) does it again, adding a hybrid system into a luxury model. Who says you have to trade efficiency for comfort?

6. 2011 Chevrolet Volt

MSRP: $41,000

Combined EPA rating: 37.1 mpg

Cost per 15,000-mile year at $3.52/gal.: $1,424

Cost per $15,000-mile year at $5/gal.: $2,022

The widely anticipated Chevy Volt finally started rolling off the assembly line this year, but its battery/generator combination is best used for short trips.

5. 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid (and sibling Ford Fusion)

MSRP: $35,455 ($29,100)

Combined EPA rating: 38.6 mpg

Cost per 15,000-mile year at $3.52/gal.: $1,368

Cost per $15,000-mile year at $5/gal.: $1,944

The MKZ and its Ford Fusion counterpart have received high marks for reliability. You’ll also be getting a combined 38.6 mpg, which is a nice plus.

4. 2011 Honda Civic Hybrid

MSRP: $24,700

Combined EPA rating: 41.3

Cost per 15,000-mile year at $3.52/gal.: $1,2792

Cost per $15,000-mile year at $5/gal.: $1,816

If you like the fact that new fuel-efficient technology has made it into the historically reliable Civic, this could be a great car for you.

3. 2011 Honda Insight

MSRP: $18,950

Combined EPA rating: 41.3 mpg

Cost per 15,000-mile year at $3.52/gal.: $1,279

Cost per $15,000-mile year at $5/gal.: $1,816

The Insight recently got a design refresh from its previous Robocop-looking model, adding two rear doors in the process, a big visual improvement.

2. 2011 Lexus CT 200h

MSRP: $29,995

Combined EPA rating: 41.6 mpg

Cost per 15,000-mile year at $3.52/gal.: $1,269

Cost per $15,000-mile year at $5/gal.: $1,803

Needing some luxury? With this Lexus, you’ll be driving in style and you might have to actually tell people it’s a hybrid since it doesn’t look like one.

1. 2011 Toyota Prius

MSRP: $23,810

Combined EPA rating: 49.6 mpg

Cost per 15,000-mile year at $3.52/gal.: $1,064

Cost per $15,000-mile year at $5/gal.: $1,512

Everyone knows about the Prius, and despite what some may think about the design, it will certainly not take hold of your wallet at the pump!

Pictures (Chronological)

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Over one million Americans are pulled over for suspected DUIs every year. When you’re dealing with that many drunken people, you run into some strange situations! Here are some of the most wacked out scenarios that have taken place on America’s streets. Remember folks, stay safe, and get yourself a designated driver. Think before you drink!

Cop on Segway Arrests Drunk Driver

“I’m going to catch up with you—as soon as I recharge!”

A police officer in Michigan spotted a possible drunk driver while on a Segway! While the suspected woman was driving 40mph, the officer was very persistent – trudging along at a top speed of 12.5 mph until he caught up with her at an intersection. When a field sobriety test was performed, the woman failed. Hopefully this guy called for backup – with a patrol car – as soon as he could.

Double Drunken Smoky Burnouts

This. While intoxicated. Twice.

No, that’s not the name of a straight-to-DVD movie (although it’s a great title). Sean M. Jones, of Dalton, GA, was arrested twice in a 24-hour period for laying down rubber while under the influence. Jones, 19, was arrested for DUI on a Tuesday night, and when released from jail was back in the slammer for the same thing again by Wednesday night! It’s probably going to be hard for this guy to get auto insurance.

Alternative to a Car?

“It’s riding time!”

Two men were arrested for DUI, using a mule and a horse as a form of transportation, while drinking. Perhaps they thought this was a safer method of travel for heading to the bar, but police officers in Austin, TX don’t seem to agree with that. While the charges were later reduced to public intoxication, riding animals is clearly not advisable while drunk in the state of Texas.

Wite-Out Doesn’t Hide Your Drunkenness

Multi-Purpose Correction Fluid…

A man who was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence and taken to the police department for a breath test had an idea. Why not try to drink some Wite-Out at a desk adjacent to him in order to mask his breath? Unfortunately, that did not work, and resulted in “white-out” lips and ultimately a .28 blood alcohol level, as well as a trip to the hospital for a stomach pump.

Dude, It’s Cool – I’m an FBI Agent/Dog!

“Can’t you see I’m working here? Woof!”

When cops pulled over Kyle Hagans for suspicion of DUI, he told officers that he was an FBI agent on the hunt for a criminal, giving them a false name. After he was arrested, he told officers he was going to behave like a dog, and lifted his leg to urinate. This guy was eventually charges with DUI, impersonating a law enforcement agent and using a false identity, although it’s not clear if that was for being a canine.

Pictures (Chronological)

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