Out of all the DIY projects in the world, condoms seem like the least likely objects you’d be able to make something from. Except for maybe animal balloons. Or babies, in the case that it breaks. Anyhow, here, a video from Football Made in Africa (a project intended to show the grassroots sports culture) shows a dude making a fairly legit-looking soccer ball by first blowing up the condom, then covering it in layers and layers of twine and string. Pretty cool how far some creative thinking will take you. [YouTube]

“[The AIDS epidemic in Africa] is a tragedy that cannot be overcome by money alone, that cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which even aggravates the problems…. It is of great concern that the fabric of African life, its very source of hope and stability, is threatened by divorce, abortion, prostitution, human trafficking and a contraception mentality…. The traditional teaching of the church has proven to be the only failsafe way to prevent the spread of HIV/Aids.”—Pope Benedict XVI

While it’s to be expected that the Catholic Church continues to have a conservative outlook on abortion and premarital sex, the fact the Pope is still unwilling to get behind the use of contraception to stop the spread of AIDS surprises (and appalls) many—especially as he embarks on a tour of Sub-Saharan Africa, where 22 million (that’s 67%) of the global total of 32.9 million people with HIV live. Nearly three quarters of AIDS deaths in 2007 were in the region. I wasn’t raised Catholic, so this doesn’t have any impact on my faith in God or whatever, but I do wonder how Catholics feel when Church leaders still take such a conservative position on this vital issue. Readers please share in the comments! [Guardian U.K.]

While three sister wives may seem like one big, happy family on Big Love, try having 86! Mohammed Bello Abubakar, an 84-year-old Muslim preacher in Nigeria, has married more women than years he’s been alive and most of his wives are, surprisingly, in their twenties. Can you imagine trying to feed the 170 children he’s fathered?!  Neither he nor his wives work, but they somehow manage to pay for the $915 (26.5 lbs) worth of rice they consume each day.  Needless to say, the Islamic Authorities in his home state consider him a cult leader, but he fancies himself a shaman who doesn’t believe in modern medicine. Abubakar credits his healing powers with his ability to attract so many women. He told the BBC, “I don’t go looking for them, they come to me. I will consider the fact that God has asked me to do it and I will just marry them… That is why I have been able to control 86 of them.” Um, what a romantic? [BBC]

Thousands of German policewomen have received “bulletproof bras.” Basically, they’re just bras that say “Polizei” (police) and don’t have metal parts, which could impale the wearer if hit by a bullet. [Reuters]

Apparently Taser parties are the new Tupperware parties. [BBC]

“I love Africa in general — South Africa and West Africa, they are both great countries.”—Paris Hilton, currently on tour in Africa with boyfriend Benji Madden and his band Good Charlotte.