Second Links — 8.18.10

A Russian tycoon is requiring his employees to repent or get fired . Those living with someone must marry them by October 14th, while anyone who has had an abortion will be fired outright. Russia’s recent bad weather “is punishment for the Russian people’s sins,” says Vasily Boiko-Veliky (Boiko the Great).

A polling expert says that polls may exaggerate the number of Americans who support gay “marriage” , because people are swayed by the fear the pollster will think them intolerant. While CNN polls claim 52% of Americans think it should be legal, his polls (automated, not live) show that 57% think it should be illegal.

Only one in five people would try to return a lost wallet , even when the wallet contains business cards with phone numbers the person can use to track down the owner.

The character of Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame may have been based on “a hump-backed sculptor” working at the cathedral.

The Egyptian government has released an imprisoned Coptic blogger ,who had been held for two years without charge after being arrested for allegedly insulting Islam.

In Hollywood, an actor fired for refusing to perform sex scenes , reportedly costing him a million dollars, is now getting good roles again.

And someone has illustrated the process and value of getting a doctorate .