ok-cleek

Hey, how much you want for that hymen?

Plastic has a strange story about a student in the UK who wants to auction off her virginity:

Ms. Reid’s inability to get a handle on her student debt directly led her to take the extreme measure of selling her virginity. Although she “qualifies for a Government loan of £3,000 a year,” this, according to her, “is less than half what she needs to cover fees and other outgoings.” Indeed, “to pay her tuition fees and living expenses,” she “works three shifts a week as a waitress. She often does 12-hour shifts, which means sacrificing lectures to make £4.50 an hour.” As she explains, “The way things are going, I’ll leave university £15,000 in debt. That’s why I am taking this drastic action.”

And, by the way, she’s a lesbian, and her girlfriend says “I won’t be there in the room with her when it eventually happens but I will be very nearby.”

Clever girl. I wonder if she could get a spot on the next “The Apprentice”…

Train train train

Sitting in a training class all week. Luckily, it’s a C# / web programming class, so they had to leave IE on the machines. Sweet. So I can surf and learn, at the same time.

The war on carbs

defective yeti outlines the latest political battlefield: The War On Carbs:

“When I was Governor of Vermont, no one ate their pizza crust!” Dean boasted in a fiery speech given at a recent rally. “And when I become President, we’re going to go after Big Bread! We’re going to go after Big Potato! We’re going to go after Big Sugar and Big Cracker and Big Muffin, yeeeeargh!’”

Buena vista, anti-social club

via Electrolite

US blocks Cuban Grammy nominees:

US authorities have refused to let five Cuban Grammy Awards nominees travel to Sunday’s ceremony in Los Angeles.

Musicians up for best tropical Latin album award – including veteran star Ibrahim Ferrer – have not got visas.

Ferrer, 77, told press in the capital Havana: “I am not a terrorist. I couldn’t be one. I am a musician.”

The Buena Vista Social Club album, the only Latin music I own, is one of my all-time favorite records. It’s a collection of songs from legendary (pre-Castro) Cuban musicians that American musician Ry Cooder recorded in 1997. Footage of the recording sessions and Cooder’s trip in making the record were used in the wonderful film documentary of the same name.

The album is terrific stuff. Even in their 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, these guys recorded songs with tremendous energy and soul. I don’t understand any of the lyrics, but the energy behind the words is unmistakable. And, even though listening to it sometimes makes me feel like I’m in a Mexican restaurant (such is the extent of my exposure to Latin music), I find myself wanting more – but not knowing where to begin.

Anyway, these old musicians can’t come here because there’s a ridicuolous embargo against their country, Cuba, a country that’s no more communist than one of our largest trading partners, China, and no more repressive than China, Saudi Arabia or any other countries that we’re more than happy to trade with.

How petty.

Do not operate heavy machinery

A 19-year-old former National Honor Society member has been accused of robbing a gas station and leading police on a high-speed chase.

Karl Leonard’s attorney says his client’s recreational use an over-the-counter cold medicine made him temporarily insane.

Full story, here.

Usage guidelines

As you’ll learn in Adobe’s handy Grammar and Trademark Law (combined) 101, Photoshop is not a verb:

Trademarks are not verbs.
CORRECT: The image was enhanced using Adobe® Photoshop® software.
INCORRECT: The image was photoshopped.

Trademarks are not nouns.
CORRECT: The image pokes fun at the Senator.
INCORRECT: The photoshop pokes fun at the Senator.

Always capitalize and use trademarks in their correct form.
CORRECT: The image was enhanced with Adobe® Photoshop® Elements software.
INCORRECT: The image was photoshopped.
INCORRECT: The image was Photoshopped.
INCORRECT: The image was Adobe® Photoshopped.

Trademarks must never be used as slang terms.
CORRECT: Those who use Adobe® Photoshop® software to manipulate images as a hobby see their work as an art form.
INCORRECT: A photoshopper sees his hobby as an art form.
INCORRECT: My hobby is photoshopping.