• The WSJ story about a woman who suffers “broken-heart syndrome” following her husband’s death is both sweet and incredibly sad. But apparently not unheard of: severe emotional trauma can cause a surge in adrenaline, stopping the heart. •
They term this type of heart attack a “concussion” of the heart, a name far less romantic than “broken-heart syndrome.” Post-menopausal women are more likely to suffer from a heart concussion, for reasons that are still unknown. • A 12-year-old Saudi girl has petitioned for divorce from her 80-year-old husband. The state-run Human Rights Commission has provided the child with a lawyer, and activists hope that this case will help tip the scales in favor of a law banning marriage for girls under 18. Sheikh Abdullah al-Manie, a senior Saudi cleric, spoke out in defense of the girl, arguing that the Prophet Muhammad’s marriage 14 centuries ago to a girl of nine does not justify the continued practice today. • Attorney Henry C. Smith testified yesterday in the trial against Drew Peterson. He says Peterson’s third wife, Kathleen Savio told him that if she dies, “you need to let people know Drew did it.” • It has also been revealed that Stacey Peterson, Drew’s fourth wife, spoke with a lawyer about extorting money from her husband. She reportedly asked whether she could “get more money out of Drew” is she threatened to tell police about the murder of Savio. • “Womb boxes” – sound systems designed to be placed on a pregnant woman’s belly – are the new big thing, but doctors warn that they could mess with fetal sleep cycles. “Why don’t we just let the baby develop normally in utero?… Why don’t we give them a cellphone, too?” snarked Dr. David Cabbad. • A Canadian military commander has been charged with the murder of two women, along with counts of forcible confinement, breaking and entering, and sexual assault. The arrest of Russel Williams shocked the eastern Ontario base, where Williams was generally admired. It is unclear whether Williams will be suspended from service during the trial. • A government research agency from the UK has released a study that indicates that almost 50% of teen girls are not getting enough nutrients. Teens are also getting far too much fat and sugar in their diets, particularly saturated fats. • Why are there so few female chefs, asks San Francisco writer Michael Bauer. Is it because of sexism, or the long hours? Who knows, but Bauer has this to say about women’s cooking: “I always refer back to Madeleine Kamman, who claimed that she could always tell when a woman was in the kitchen because they cook in a more humble, nurturing – but no less delicious – way.” We suppose this means men must cook aggressively, with a stoic emotional distance. Sounds delicious. • The Huffington Post breaks down Super Bowl sexism – by the numbers. It’s funny, and quite on point. A sample: “5 henpecked, long suffering husbands,” “2 older women sacked by big, bulky football players,” and “1 Creepy Beaver.” • A DC technology firm has launched a new program, called Text4Baby that sends health tips and advice to expectant mothers. Since opening Thursday, the service reported 6,500 takers in the first 24 hours. The service – which you can get by texting the word “baby” to 511411 – is free of charge. • Six Rutgers University students have pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated hazing. The sorority girls allegedly beat a pledge with a paddle for hours, until she required medical attention. A lawyer for the students say they deny that any paddling occurred at the Sigma Gamma Rho house. • A study of 65,000 American teenagers found that most overweight kids don’t view themselves as fat, but instead think they are underweight or “about right.” The study compared the high schoolers BMI to their own description of their weight. They also found that boys are twice as likely to describe themselves inaccurately than girls. •