Believe it or not, the Vatican has its own astronomical observatory. Here's the link. Basically, a bunch of Jesuit priests are busily collecting data on a variety of phenomena including quasars, globular clusters, and high redshift supernovae. They also have a large meteorite collection. Interestingly, one of their FAQ pages hints at an agenda to falsify the Big Bang theory, a theory that Pius XII officially endorsed.

Take a look at this dating service advertisement I found in the U.A.E. based Khaleej Times today. Notice the first drop down menu where you would normally indicate male or female.

Shaadi.com describes itself as 'the most preferred online matrimonial site for Indians'. I'd be interested in knowing to what extent it is actually a matrimonial site and to what extent it is a Western style dating agency presenting itself in accordance with Indian standards of decency. Does anybody know?

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UPDATE: My friend Praveen believes Shaadi.com is a genuine matrimonial site and is simply a modern day extension of the still alive-and-well Indian tradition of arranged marriages. Participants do go on dates first but the understanding is that they are headed in the direction of marriage. Praveen further notes that shaadi means marriage in Hindi and that if any Indians want casual dating they can go to any number of Western-style dating websites instead.

In the wake of the Farris Hassan incident, there is a fascinating short article in the New York Times today about famous adolescent misadventures. It seems that the kids who pull off these stunts continue to lead wacky lives well after their time in the media spotlight, as evidenced by the case of Mathias Rust, the boy who flew a Cessna into Red Square in hopes of ending the Cold War.