Sex, down
Now computer nerds can learn to flirt thanks to a new "flirting course" being offered to IT engineers at Potsdam University. The students enrolled in the master's degree course will learn how to write flirtatious text messages, impress people at parties and cope with rejection.

Gran Turino, up
The 78-year-old Clint Eastwood not only made a good film (for a change), but a popular one as well. It’s managed to gross over 40 million to date, including about 29 million its first weekend.

Theft, down
A Chilean man tried to steal $80,000 from his 82-year-old grandmother by disguising his 21-year-old girlfriend as the elderly woman and having her withdraw money from the bank. The plot was foiled, however.

Theft, up
An Australian man broke into three adult shops, had sex with blow up dolls named "Jungle Jane" and then dumped his plastic conquests in a nearby alley.

Biking, down
Police in Nigeria have arrested scores of motorcycle taxi riders with dried fruit shells, paint pots or pieces of rubber tire tied to their heads with string to avoid a new law requiring them to wear helmets.

Violence, up
An Australian outback policeman was pelted with rocks and beer bottles and his stolen patrol car was used to try and run him down. I normally abhor violence, but that’s just awesome.

Biotechnology, up/down
GTC Biotherapeutics Inc's experimental anti-clotting therapy, called Atryn, is made using a human protein gathered from female goats bred to produce it in their milk. While effective, it’s still creepy.

America, down
The number of obese American adults outweighs the number of those who are merely overweight, according to the latest statistics from the federal government.

Toyota, up
Toyota recently announced it intended to launch a commercial model of the FT-EV, an all-electric car, by 2012. The company is trying to expedite is production of greener cars in an attempt to fight slumping sales figures.

Titans, down
After losing 13-10 to the Baltimore Ravens, the Titans are now out of the running, to the dismay of their fans.

Science, up
U.S. scientists have found a way to levitate very small objects using the strange forces of quantum mechanics, and said on Wednesday they might use it to help make tiny nanotechnology machines.

Weather, down
Cyprus runs the risk of desertification by the end of this century as it feels the brunt of climate change and drought. In the coming years, this might not be so uncommon. Of course global warming might be a myth …