Man Killed by 'Flaming Bull Horns in Eastern Spain

A 45-year-old man was killed early this morning after being gored and trampled by a bull during a festival in Navajas, Spain. After flaming balls of wax were placed on the bull's horns in a tradition known as "correbous," the man tripped and was quickly brought down by the charging animal.

A ban on bullfighting went into effect in Catalonia on January 1, but a handful of traditional events, including "correbous," were made exempt from the new law. As recently as September, animal rights activists in Spain protested the bizarre exemptions, labelling them as forms of torture equivalent to the banned bullfights.

Today's tragedy highlights the dangerous hypocrisy found in the bill and may prove instrumental in having those exceptions removed. If it does not, we should at least be reminded that animals really, really don't like it when you put flaming balls of wax on their heads.

[Washington Post/Telegraph/Image via AP]

Dutch Teen Becomes Youngest to Sail The World

After a yearlong journey, Laura Dekker, a 16-year-old from the Netherlands, completed a solo sailing trip around the world today. Upon her arrival at port, Dekker was greeted by family, friends and neighbours celebrating her safe return.

Jody Bell, one of Dekker's 10-year-old fans, calls her story "amazing," and says he "can't imagine someone her age going out on sea all by herself." Neither can I, Jody, but what I find most amazing about the story is that her parents seem to have spent this entire year without their daughter avoiding arrest on charges related to child protection.

After all, the attempt was not without precedent. The rescue of a 16-year-old girl on a similar journey made international news just two months before Dekker's departure in 2011. But, you know, that girl survived, and Dekker's parents probably made her watch Castaway at least twice.

Guinness World Records has refused to acknowledge Dekker's claim of being the youngest person to sail around the world, and their effort to avoid inspiring young sailors to do something equally stupid was an admirable one.

Meanwhile, Dekker's parents are still walking the streets.

[TIME/Image via AP]

Gabrielle Giffords To Resign From Congress

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, whose painful road to recovery after being critically wounded during last year’s Tucson shooting was recently documented on ABC’s 20/20, announced today that she will be resigning from Congress in order to focus on getting better.

“I have more work to do on my recovery, so to do what is best for Arizona, I will step down this week,” Giffords said in a statement. She will not seek reelection.

Prior to the shooting, Giffords had been a member of the House of Representatives for just under four years. A replacement for Giffords will be chosen by the people of Arizona through a special primary and general election, to be scheduled by Governor Jan Brewer.

Giffords, who said she intends to resume the “Congress On Your Corner” event interrupted by the shooting, promised a return to public service. “I will return,” she said, ”and we will work together for Arizona and this great country.”

Watch her resignation video above.

[Washington Post/Video via YouTube]

Family Confirms Joe Paterno Dead at 85

Legendary Penn State head coach Joe Paterno died Sunday at the age of 85 after a battle with lung cancer. His family released a statement Sunday morning: “He died as he lived ... He fought hard until the end, stayed positive, thought only of others and constantly reminded everyone of how blessed his life had been."

The longtime Nittany Lions football coach spoke to a reporter for the first time this month since news of the Jerry Sandusky child-sex-abuse scandal rocked Penn State. He was told he had lung cancer just days after he was let go by the university’s board of trustees in November.

[AP]

Seagull Rescued In Nova Scotia

A seagull got its head stuck between braided power lines in Canada this week. Luckily, Nova Scotia Power lineman Yvon Blin came to the rescue. Blin’s now a hometown hero, as he should be.



[Daily Picks and Flicks]

Video: Little Girl Reacts To Jack-In-The-Box

Reaction = priceless.



[Tube Crunch]

Video: Girl Removes Bug From Tennis Court

During the Australian Open match between Lleyton Hewitt and Cedrik-Marcel Stebe, Ball Kid Alison is called upon to remove a cockroach from the tennis court.

Weirdest fifteen minutes of fame ever ensue:

[Mefi]

Video: Italian Pizza Chef Singing

Twopacksagrave says: “We told the cook it was our friend Nicole’s birthday. He sang her a song.” And gosh was it authentic.



[YouTube]

Video: Filipino Traffic Cop Dancing To Michael Jackson

Working as a traffic cop can be tiring, boring work. This Filipino traffic officer deals with the long workdays by getting in a little exercise and fun. He seems to be dancing perfectly in sync with Michael Jackson’s timeless classic, Billie Jean.



[YouTube]