Honor the Dalai Lama: Replace Him With a Girl

Becomes fourth developed country to place no restrictions on women in military

(NEWSER) - Another step for women's equality : Australia's military has become the fourth in the world to allow women to take on front-line combat roles. Announced today, the move opens some of the country's most dangerous combat jobs to women, including Special Forces positions in Afghanistan and some army artillery slots. Australian women are currently prevented from doing 7% of military jobs, and those restrictions will be dropped over a five-year implementation period, reports the New York Times . More»

...over fears gatherings would turn anti-Chinese

(AP) - Nepalese authorities prevented exiled Tibetans from celebrating the Dalai Lama's 76th birthday today over concerns that gatherings would turn anti-Chinese. Hundreds of riot police blocked Tibetans from entering a school on the northern edge of Katmandu where the celebrations were planned. Only students wearing school uniforms were allowed inside the compound, while other Tibetans, including many monks and nuns, were stopped. Police detained three Tibetans who tried to hold a prayer meeting on the street. A brief scuffle broke out, but no one was hurt. More»

Tibetan to lead 10-day Buddhist ritual

(NEWSER) - The Dalai Lama has arrived in Washington, DC, for his highest-profile engagement since giving up his political role . Serving as a spiritual leader instead of a political one, the Tibetan will lead a complex 10-day Buddhist ritual called the Kalachakra, reports the Washington Post . He plans to hold low-profile meetings with John Boehner and Nancy Pelosi, but it's not clear whether President Obama plans to meet with him this time. More»

So much for girl power, writes Ruth Marcus

(NEWSER) - Just when Ruth Marcus was feeling good about the women in the 2010 race, Carly Fiorina had to make that catty comment about Barbara Boxer’s hair. Fiorina tried to laugh it off—“It sort of goes with the territory,” she told Greta Van Susteren. “No no no no no!” writes Marcus in the Washington Post . Attacking your opponent’s appearance never “goes with the territory,” no matter your gender. More»

Believe it or not, baby boys used to wear pink, too

(NEWSER) - If ever there was a color that stereotypically symbolized the feminine, it’s pink. But the history of the girly shade hasn’t always been so ladylike. Slate takes a look back:

• Financial Times: Its salmon-pink pages have turned “salmon press” into British shorthand for any newspaper business section.
• Boys' rowing: Teams at Eton and Westminster competed for the right to claim pink as their school color in the 19th century.
• Nantucket Red: The shade, which looks a lot like pink, became popular for preppy men and women in 1945.