1. Preschoolers and Oral Sex? In an article that begs the question of where America’s sexual revolution is going, The Daily Beast reports that a California lawsuit claims that two 5-year-old girls were performing fellatio on classmates with the knowledge of teachers. The lawsuit has been filed against the First Lutheran Church of Carson School on behalf of one of six children involved in this very disturbing allegations.

The lawyer explained that ‘“sexual encounters” between the 4- and 5-year-old tots were initiated by a 5-year-old girl in June and again in September. It wasn’t until October, when another girl of the same age was caught by a teacher with her mouth on a 4-year-old boy’s genitals that the Carson School “dealt with the incident internally,” according to a school spokesperson.” The preschool will close its doors on Friday.

2. Woman at Interior. President Obama has appointed Sally Jewell, CEO of outdoor retailer REI to the position of Secretary of the Interior. The appointment has been met with applause on both sides of the aisle.

In a brilliant twist of a nomination, Sally Jewell is described as being much closer to a community organizer than a traditional CEO. REI’s sales were more than $1.8 billion at the beginning of 2012, with 122 stores in 29 states and 11,000 employees.

An oil industry veteran, Jewel now runs a company that is — for all practical purposes — a cooperative that is owned by its members. REI has ridden the explosion of American snowboarding and mountain-climbing. It ranked eighth on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for 15 consecutive years.

3. Genetically Engineered Foof 101. The Atlantic attempts to clarify key facts about genetically engineered food exploring six key myths:

Myth: ‘Frankenfoods’ made with GE ingredients are harmful to eat.

Myth: FDA approves GE foods before we eat them.

Myth: Monsanto and other seed developers are the main beneficiaries of GE crops.

Myth: GE crops are environmentally sustainable.

Myth: Mandatory GE labeling would increase consumer choice.

Myth: GE is the best way to increase farm productivity and reduce world hunger.

The article should be read accompanied by the comments, which clarify and dispute the author’s statements. This is a passionate topic to many, and 700 words can’t do it justice.

4. Female and Male Online Networks. A fascinating study of a multiplayer online game Pardus shows how females and males manage their social networks very differently. Researchers say that behavior differences studied online reflect behavior very similar to real life social systems.

Studying the patterns of 300,000 players — with an estimated 15 percent probability of gender swapping — the paper concludes:

“Females have more communication partners, engage in economic activities to a greater degree, attract positive behavior, organize in clusters, reciprocate friendships, take fewer risks than men, and show a preference for stability in local networks.

Males try to talk most often with those who talk with many, reciprocate friendships with other males much less frequently, and respond quite quickly to female friendship initiatives.” via Science Daily

5. Teen pregnancy down in NYC. The New York Daily News reports that teen pregnancy has plunged in New York by 27% over the last decade, as the numbers of young women using birth control has gone up. In addition to expanded use of contraception, teen are also delaying sexual activity, said Health Commissioner Tom Farley.

Although the decision to dispense condoms, birth control and also the morning-after pill available in the school system was controversial, the benefits are significant.

The Bronx remains the highest teen pregnancy location in the country. And in a staggering differential the pregnancy rate among black girls is 110.7 for every 1000 girls, compared to just 16 for white girls in the city.