[Part four of a recurring series...part one, part two, part three.]
According to the Indian National Crime Bureau, there were 6,787 dowry deaths in India in 2005. A dowry death occurs when a woman is killed or commits suicide due to coercion by her husband or her husband's family in order to secure a larger dowry. [Indian National Crime Bureau]
As of August 2005, the poverty rate in Mississippi was 21.1%, the highest in the nation. The state also ranks first in senior poverty and second in child poverty. Despite being surrounded by states with relatively low poverty rates, Washington DC ranks first in child poverty and is second in overall and senior poverty. [USCCB]
Buddhist teachers Michael Roach and Christie McNally haven't been more than 15 feet from each other in the ten years since they took an oath to that effect. They also read the same books at the same time. [NY Times]
NYC's alternate-side parking rules will be suspended in Park Slope for a few months so that workers can replace parking signs. Residents are overjoyed because they don't have to move their cars every few days. [NY Times]
There are at least 3 escalators in Wyoming. [Metafilter]
Velcro is 50 years old. (At least the trademark is.) [mental_floss]
The Golden Gate Bridge is younger than John McCain. [Things Younger Than John McCain]