In an attempt to raise awareness for HIV, homelessness, and in support for the medical use of marijuana, a man has been traveling across the United States on his bike, all the while pedaling backwards. Starting last August in California, 36-year old cyclist Curan Wright has been cycling backwards through different states, with his navigation based solely on his peripheral vision.

The adage "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" is not true, according to a new book on insults. In the real world, words do have significant effects, says University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) professor of humanities Jerome Neu in his new book, "Sticks and Stones: The Philosophy of Insults" (Oxford University Press, 2008).

Police in Santa Fe, Texas, have taken a man into custody for burglarizing his neighbor's home and stealing some of her undergarments. Thirty year-old Charles Michael Clark is reported to have broken into the woman house while she was out of town. On returning home when the lady found a barefoot man in the living room, she was stunned to find the man who fled instantly. She immediately reported to Police, and complained of her missing undergarments, Sergeant Eric Bruss

A television advertisement for a chain of electrical stores denying the existence of Father Frost, Russia's version of Santa Claus, has been banned by the Russian government. According to the BBC, the Federal anti-Monopoly Service found the advertisement for Eto electrical stores had broken rules for advertisers not to discredit parents and teachers when it declared that Father Frost was non-existent.

A couple was united on Christmas day by a minister dressed in a Santa outfit. The nuptials were that of Dave Hauck Jr. and Cathy Spencer, who met during a company Christmas party, and got engaged while visiting Santa at the local mall. The couple was dressed in red, and the ceremonies were held at the second-floor art studio/chapel located at the home of the minister Gary Michael, who that day was dressed as Santa while uniting the couple.