A new study, which required sober-minded (and sober-bodied) researchers to attend and scrutinize scores of college parties, revealed some shocking findings recently: For one, they discovered that folks tend to drink at these parties – and they drink a lot.

OK, so that’s not exactly revolutionary. But researchers say they were surprised by some of what they discovered, such as the fact that women tend to drink more – and wear less – at themed parties.

“Most shocking to me was that women at themed parties kept dressing less and less,” said UCLA researcher Megan Holmes, who said she sometimes went to three or four parties a night. “When I was in college there were themed parties, but I never saw girls just wearing lingerie or just a bra and panties, and that was pretty common at the themed parties I saw.”

It’s also rare for women to ever drink more than men, so the fact they tend to drink more heavily than males at these themed events is also a head scratcher – though New York Times blogger John Tierney has a theory:

“Could it be a coping mechanism for dealing with the sight of guys like John Belushi dressed in togas?” (ABC News, New York Times)

Maternity Leave … For School?

Pregnant teens attending Denver’s East High School are asking the school for at least four weeks maternity leave so they can bond with their future babies. The school currently requires teens to return to school the day after they get out of the hospital.

“My initial reaction is if we are punishing girls like that, that is unacceptable,” said Nicole Head, a counselor at the school. “We’ve got to do something.” (Denver Post)

Amazing Bleeping Grace

Rapper DMX announced recently he plans to release a gospel album, completely free of four-letter words.

“How ‘bout that one? No songs about b—ches, no songs about robbing, just straight ‘Give God the glory.’”

DMX says it will be part of a double album project, with the other disk being a more traditional rap effort.

“I the first n---a to put out two albums in one year, now I’m gonna hit ‘em again – drop two albums in the same f---ing day, yo,” he said. “A double album will make motha---- as mad, because they gotta spend more money.” (MTV)

Check This Out

Do young people read anymore? You bet they do. In fact, a new study finds that young adults use libraries with far more regularity than most Americans do. The study found that 62 percent of folks between the ages of 18-30 use libraries, compared to 32 percent who are 72 and older. Some of these younger library users utilize the library’s Internet services, but they also pore over books, periodicals, and newspapers. And libraries are catering to this youthful surge by making more inviting spaces for folks to interact.

“We’re seeing a lot of conversion of what may have been stack areas, warehouse areas,” Lorien Roy, president of the American Library Association, said. “Libraries are creating social spaces.”  (Time)