A research firm believes by the end of the new year social unrest will mark American politics; Pope Francis is reportedly “shocked’ by gay adoption; meanwhile, 33 percent of Americans refuse the idea of evolution. These discoveries and more below.

On a regular basis, Truthdig brings you the news items and odds and ends that have found their way to Larry Gross, director of the USC Annenberg School for Communication. A specialist in media and culture, art and communication, visual communication and media portrayals of minorities, Gross helped found the field of gay and lesbian studies.

Technology Research Firm Predicts Occupy On A Larger Scale A larger-scale version of Occupy Wall Street-type movement will begin by the end of 2014, indicating that social unrest will start to foster political discussion.

Gay Rumors Swirl Around Star Packers Quarterback The blogosphere is abuzz today with rumors that NFL star Aaron Rodgers, the wildly popular and insanely talented (not to mention gorgeous) Green Bay Packers quarterback, is a closeted gay man who recently had a falling-out with a former boyfriend.

One-Third of Americans Reject Evolution, Poll Shows One-third of Americans reject the idea of evolution and Republicans have grown more skeptical about it, according to a poll released on Monday.

New Forensics Technique? Researchers Cull Images Reflected In People’s Eyes Two researchers conducted an experiment in which a person was photographed, with another person standing near the photographer. Those not directly photographed show up as reflections in the subject’s eyes.

How Y’all, Youse and You Guys Talk What does the way you speak say about where you’re from?

12 Maps That Changed the World Is there such a thing as a perfect map?

How Sleep Deprivation Decays the Mind and Body Getting too little sleep can have serious health consequences, including depression, weight gain, and heart disease. It is torture.

Pope Francis ‘Shocked’ By Gay Adoption Says Bishop of Malta The Pope apparently gave his blessing to the Bishop of Malta’s anti-gay adoption Christmas sermon

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