I never thought that in addition to the rape crisis in the Congo, there would be a mass panic over penis theft. Seriously, this is fucking bizarre. Police arrested 13 sorcerers accused of using black magic to steal or shrink men's penises. Apparently, "penis-snatching" is not uncommon in West Africa. Men have claimed that sorcerers will merely touch them to cause their penises to disappear or shrink.

These beliefs are shockingly prominent in the Congo... and they can be quite harmful. When I was watching "The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo," rapists were interviewed and asked why they committed rapes. Some of them responded that they had a magic potion to cure their nation, and that the potion only works if they rape women. Yeah, seriously.

Apparently the 83-year-old woman who used a gas nozzle to fight off a purse-snatcher isn't the only bad ass woman to be resourceful in a dangerous situation. This story from the New York Times is about a woman who stopped a burglar by hitting him with an ice scraper. She saw him climbing out of her window, chased him down, hit him with the ice scraper, made him pick up all the objects he stole off the ground, and held him until the police arrived.

Maybe thieves will soon learn to stop targeting "helpless" women as their victims.

There are so many stories I come across in the news that deserve attention that I can't possibly make individual posts about them all. So, here is a list of small samplings (a buffet, if you will) of recent events and news stories. Follow the links to read more, should something spark your interest. Enjoy and look for more "buffets" in the future.

• Following up with my last post, the Transportation Security Administration responded to Mandi Hamlin's complaint about being forced to remove her nipple rings to board a plane.
• Larry King was a gay eight-grader who was shot in the head because others did not like him wearing makeup and jewelry to school. His murder is prompting gay activists to call for better education about exercising respect and tolerance towards GLBT people.
• Efforts have begun in Zimbabwe to increase female political involvement.
• A frightening statistic: in Nigeria, 61% of new HIV/AIDS infections are found in women.
• Muslim leaders are speaking out against the practice of forced marriage.
• Rikki Rockett, drummer in the band Poison, has been accused of rape.
• In India, a woman was accused of being a "witch" and was consequently tied to a tree and beaten by an angry mob.
• A string of purse snatchings have been underway in California. The offenders are clearly targeting Asian women.
• A new natural form of birth control has emerged that is receiving praise from both women and men.
• Top ten craziest things John McCain has said while you weren't watching.
• Chelsea Clinton states that she believes her mother would make a better president than her father.
• Castro's daughter is promoting the acceptance of gay rights in Cuba.

Feel free to comment with your stories :)

"Great-Grandmother Uses Gasoline to Fight Off Purse Snatcher"

Two words: Bad. Ass.