They Come in Threes, Except When They Come in Fours

Farewell to brilliant writer Octavia Butler (58), and beloved actors Don Knotts (81), Darren McGavin (83), and Dennis Weaver (81).

[Edit: I'm blaming the tears in my eyes. Good grief.]

Attention: Tough Guys

Think you're tough? Not until you've wrestled a croc.

Crocodile-wrestling gran honoured (BBC)

A 61-year-old Australian grandmother has received a bravery award for wrestling a giant saltwater crocodile as it dragged her friend from a tent. Alicia Sorohan was awoken by screams while camping in Queensland and jumped on the 4.2 metre (14ft) reptile's back in an attempt to distract it. The animal then turned on her, breaking her nose and almost ripping her arm off before her son shot it. Mrs Sorohan's arm was left 'hanging by a thread' following the incident in October 2004. She now has two metal plates and 12 screws in her arm but she still does not have full movement back."

Irony, and those who can't see it

In a bizarre twist worthy of a Dan Brown novel, the authors of Holy Blood, Holy Grail are suing Dan Brown, author of The Da Vinci Code, for, well, stealing their idea:

'Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh say Mr Brown stole "the whole architecture" of research that went into their 1982 book The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail.' (BBC)

All this despite the fact that Brown's book is the only reason that anyone other than a cranks and crackpots and Umberto Eco fans had even heard of their book. There's gratitude for you.