13 Jan 2009
Cops: Dad sold teen into marriage for cash, beer

How could a story like this get categorized as 'Humor'? It could be the dude calling the cops on himself, or it could be the bride price:

$16,000 [and provide him with] 160 cases of beer, 100 cases of soda, 50 cases of Gatorade, two cases of wine, and six cases of meat.

There's the cultural dissonance: the fellow apparently wasn't aware he was doing anything wrong. It may be called "custom" in Oaxaca, but in California it's called "felony".

But in reality, the absurdity is visual: Think sci-fi movies. Think Star Wars. Think Carrie Fischer with a chain on being jerked around. And then you have to go and see the mug shot.

Amazing.

A California man sold his 14-year-old daughter to an 18-year-old man for cash, beer and meat -- then called police when the prospective bridegroom didn't live up to his end of the deal, authorities said Tuesday.

(link) [CNN.com]

23:16 /Humor | 0 comments | permanent link

Shocking cold wave drops temps to 40 below zero

Burrr! Air temp right now is 6°F - and it's headed down. I have no real idea what the wind chill is but it's really down there. Really upped the critters rations - even with a woolly coat it's gonna be downright chilly. Very unusual for Indiana.

AP - Temperatures crashed to Arctic levels Tuesday as a severe cold wave rolled across the upper Midwest on the heels of yet another snowstorm, closing schools and making most people think twice before going outside. Thermometers read single digits early in the day as far south as Kansas and Missouri, where some areas warmed only into the teens by midday.


(link) [Yahoo! News: Top Stories]

22:57 /Home | 0 comments | permanent link

Test for Dwindling Retail Jobs Spawns a Culture of Cheating

I've never encountered this, but it doesn't surprise me in the least.

When Anton Smith applied for hourly work at a Finish Line sneaker store in Charlotte, N.C., his first hurdle was showing he had the temperament for the job.

(link) [Wall Street Journal]

via Slashdot

07:28 /Politics | 0 comments | permanent link