Even after the reforms of teachers' pensions take effect in September, this will still be the case for retirements on health grounds, though teachers will no longer be able to accept an ill-health pension one day and be back teaching on a short-term contract the next.

ECONOMIST: Public-sector pensions

They accept that seriously ill animals should be slaughtered on humane grounds, but believe that vaccination could have spared many more.

BBC: Q&A: Why not vaccinate?

America's souring on peacekeeping happened overnight when American marines were killed during the ill-fated mission to Somalia in 1993: the United States does not accept, at least on its own behalf, that casualties are a peacekeeping hazard.

ECONOMIST: The United Nations

In 1938, an unidentified man jumped onstage to accept an award on behalf of Best Supporting Actress winner Alice Brady, who was too ill to attend.

NPR: The Curious Case Of A Missing Academy Award