“Pugnacious” takes on quite literal meaning when applied to Russia’s prime minister. With his new video, “Let’s Learn Judo with Vladimir Putin,” the ex-KGB operative shows off his wicked awesome martial arts skills.

In isolation this seems exhibitionistic enough, but The Economist says that this is

just the latest in a string of macho Putin stunts. Only a few weeks ago Russians learned from state-run media that Mr Putin had saved a news crew from a tiger that was stalking the group (he reportedly tranquilised the animal) during a trip he made with scientists to the Russian Far East. Funny, no film footage was available on that one. Earlier episodes included a well-photographed bare-chested fly-fishing expedition and a ride in a fighter jet.

Which is not to say that Putin doesn’t take care to publicize his softer side–when feeling kind and cuddly he can always snuggle up to his pet tiger cub.

It turns out that medieval church windows made for the glory of God were also good for your health:

The glaziers who created gold-painted stained glass windows for medieval churches in Europe inadvertently developed a solar-powered nanotech air-purification system.

According to Zhu Huai Yong, an associate professor at Queensland University of Technology in Australia, the gold paint used in medieval-era stained glass windows purified the air when heated by sunlight.

“For centuries people appreciated only the beautiful works of art, and long life of the colors, but little did they realize that these works of art are also, in modern language, photocatalytic air purifier with nanostructured gold catalyst,” said Zhu in a statement.

Touching on a subject all too neglected in this campaign, Laura Ingraham discusses abortion with Gov. Sarah Palin.