— Remember Lybrel, the birth control pill that eliminates your period? According to the Houston Chronicle, it’s hitting pharmacy shelves this week. Tampax beware.

— If you need a quick break and/or laugh, check out this essay from Jewcy about what the dating world is like for an aspiring female rabbi. (I especially like its subtitle: “I promise God won’t smite you for taking me out to dinner.”)

— According to the BBC, the United States and Iran share a bizarre (and unfortunate) bond: They’re two of eight countries that haven’t joined the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. The Iranian argument is that it “contradicts Islamic principles.” The American opposition says it would “usurp the Constitution.” Great.

— From the Associated Press: In Raleigh, N.C., panty thieves are on the prowl. Police say they doubt the thieves, who have snatched over $35,000 in underwear, perfume and other merchandise from Victoria’s Secret since March, are stealing for personal use.

— Good news for Mexico’s gay prisoners: Conjugal visits from their partners will now be allowed, reports the BBC. (A 2003 law in Mexico bans discrimination based on sexual preference.)

— Speaking of prisoners, anyone with four minutes on their hands needs to watch this, a clip of a huge group of Filipino prisoners reenacting Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” video (and if you like that, don’t miss their version of “I Will Follow Him” from Sister Act). Apparently this is part of a new exercise program at the prison. The inmates started with Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall” using a chorus of child prisoners, but had to give it up when a new law took the kids away. Unfazed, they moved on to hits by the Village People.