1. They had already been banned from schools as teachers said they were “too distracting” for other pupils - so they have never learnt to read or write, one of their biggest regrets in life.

Holy shit.

Thank god nothing like that happens now. Thank you, ADA/IDEA.

2. I'm not the most sedentary person in the nation!

3. This study involves some categorization/conception of religious belief that I found pretty interesting. Including this definition and analysis:

Fundamentalism (the belief that there is one set of religious teachings that clearly contain the essential, inerrant truth) was linked both to greater homophobia and racism. So fundamentalist religion generates group cohesion that's sufficiently powerful to overcome the non-racist message of conventional Christianity.

4. Sweet.

This especially kind of blows my mind:

So many Americans claim no religion at all (15%, up from 8% in 1990), that this category now outranks every other major U.S. religious group except Catholics and Baptists.

Not that I think non-believers should take over and/or start converting. But I can't help but think this will mean increased visibility and therefore increased societal acceptance.

5. So yeah. Old news:

The controversy erupted when media reported that a nine-year-old girl from the northeastern Brazilian state of Pernambuco had had an abortion to remove twin fetuses. The girl and her family learned she was 15 weeks pregnant when she went to hospital complaining of pains.

The girl, who has not been identified, told authorities her step-father had sexually abused her since age six. The 23-year-old step-father is currently in police custody.

Here's the kicker:

Upon learning of the abortion, the regional archbishop excommunicated the doctors, as well as the girl's mother. He did not excommunicate the step-father, saying the crime he is alleged to have committed, although deplorable, was not as bad as ending a fetus's life.

Holy.

Fucking.

Shit.

Sometimes I truly hate this world.

1. Why do I find animals scratching themselves so amusing?

2. Interesting.

3. Ding dong the witch is dead. An era has truly come to an end.

4. So I talk about wanting to get armor for my horse, but this is even more ridiculous.

5. Yay Missouri!

1. Score! Now I just need to find a way to get a photo taken with/near one.

2. This has got to be the most professional journalism I've witnessed in a long time....

3. Horse milk is still drunk in Kazakhstan, usually fermented into an alcoholic drink known as koumiss.

Ewwww.

4. So. Much. Processed. Meat.

5. Like their aquatic counterparts, pet chickens don't have very long life expectancies, usually hanging on for just a few days or weeks.

Hmm. I'd imagine a dead baby chicken would be a bit more difficult/complicated/traumatic to dispose of than a goldfish. I don't think it'd flush easily.

1. I'm so excited to move back!

2. Oy.

3. Somewhat related to the above.

4. Vote for Xenu! Make (more) fun of Scientologists!

5. So you're saying I'll be less anxious if I convince myself to believe in God? Hmm....

Nope. Still not worth it.

1. Anecdotally, it is often said that brass players - often overwhelmingly male orchestral sections - drink the most.

Yes. Let's blame it on the gender ratio....

2. Ha.

3. Sad.

Obviously there's something wrong with that second X chromosome.

4. Did I mention that I received one of these as a gift?

5. Maybe if you put on some pants, you could accept God into your lives.

1. Gift ideas, anyone?

2. First, ow. Second:

The scientists then pumped up the sexual organ with a tiny artificial inflator powered by a water-jet vacuum pump.

...Wow.

3. Another one! But this one didn't spontaneously regenerate a smaller version of itself while in captivity.

4. They have the opportunity to train a penguin, and they train it to go shopping....

5. I'm amazed Brown doesn't make an appearance on this list.