Reading Time: < 1 minute

The headline is “Nepal president endorses child goddess.”

Somehow, the president intends to be taken seriously.

But I can’t get through the article without being amazed that anyone is taking this absurdity seriously:

Three-year-old Matine Shakya was chosen to replace the current Royal Kumari, 12-year-old Kumari Preeti Shakya, because the older girl is close to puberty, after which she will be considered ritually unclean.

The Kumari, which means virgin, must meet 32 strict criteria — including having a “chest like a lion” and “thighs like a deer” — as well as pass tests that include being in a room with sacrificed buffalo and not crying.

Well, she is three… I suppose she’s at least as qualified as Sarah Palin.