Apparently after 43 years together, Barbie has finally kicked Ken's punk ass to the curb. Bitter Bridal Barbie available in a store near you!

It's Splitsville for Barbie and Ken [CNN.com]

In era of budgetary restraints on higher education, overworked/underpaid faculty, multi-million dollar misappropriations of funds, and the overwhelming shift from univeristies as a space of learning to universities as a degree mill, its wonderful to find a place where the student body is examining the notion of fiscal responsibiliy by funding a school porn magazine.

I saw the movie version of this and it wasn't that funny. Its also unfortuante that the students involved will never have the experience of actually trying to make a living in the adult entertainment world with very little capital and maintain integrity in regard to content. All without a university funding them.

Threadless.com is currently having a t-shirt sale, some excellent clothing by designers from all over the world. The ‘Outbreak Girl' tee is finally in print again. It’s always at the top of my favorites list and always out of stock.

Roule has cut prices on a few of their current designs since the new line is due out in May. Currently, there are only a few shirts for women available, but the autumn/winter line features so much more;it's worth a browse.

These buttons by Eden in Chicago are simply too fun; buy a handful and give them out to friends. I purchased every single one this past winter and suggest you do as well.

Through Gawker, I came across this interesting little article about "Whimpsters", that is, men who " looks a little bit emo, a little bit hipster", is typically white, male, and "preys upon a woman's need to nurture to sate his own massive ego".

In addition: "Fuck Lloyd Dobler"

Interesting, considering the article itself is surrounded by cultural artifacts. But I agree...fuck Lloyd Dobler indeed.

Associated press issued a report today that a 16-year old boy in Jersey City, NJ convinced a BMW dealer that he was a wealthy banker and got them to deliver a brand new BMW 760Li to his high school. He apparently assured "Midwestern Auto Group that his bank would confirm the wire transfer" of funds to pay for the car. Detectives on the case found his Achilles heel, however, when they realized that he had used his real name while attempting to defraud the dealership.

It's hard to figure out who is the dumber of the two parties involved....

Is someone going to finally put that whiney baby in a corner where she belongs? Check out this plot summary and trailer clip for Dirty Dancing 2: Havana Nights which is slated to hit theaters February 27th.

Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights [Comingsoon.net]

According to a recent study conducted by Family Health International in Research Triangle Park and the University of Leiden, and contrary to what most women think, the birth control pill does not cause substantial weight gain.

Maria Gallo of Family Health International and colleagues reviewed 42 separate trials of women on birth control pills or patches.

There were three trials that compared the real pill to a placebo in women, and none showed the women taking the actual hormones gained any more weight than women taking dummy pills.

Now how about a study to find out if the pill makes you crazy.

Study: Birth Control Pill Doesn't Cause Weight Gain [Reuters]

Forget waiting tables or taking out loans to pay your way through school, how about selling your virginity. That's what 18 year-old Rosie Reid of Dunwich, England did when she auctioned off her virginity for $15,863.89 USD on the internet to pay for her tuition.

Reid, who is in a lesbian relationship, placed her ad on the auction site eBay. It read: “18-year-old university student looking to sell virginity. Never lost it due to lesbianism. Will bung on free massage if you are any good. Picture on request”.

Officials near England's Bristol University are currently investigating "student sex bids" and determining whether or not they are, indeed, illegal.

But a spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said the force was looking at the case.

"It's a strange one because it's a grey area," he said.

"We are taking advice. I think it's probably illegal because it's like soliciting, but we are taking legal advice over the matter."

I guess it is one way to put yourself through school.

Police examine 'student sex' bids [BBC News]

With the whole Disney/Pixar/Comcast debacle coming to a head, a lot of people get dismissed who are affected by the struggles of multi-national corporations, media congomerates, and cultural industries. People like janitors, technicians, "imagineers", animators, and the lonely few whom base their life soley around one fetishized brand.
Let us pause for a moment and reflect on diversifying our cultural capital.

Lucasfilm recently announced they are releasing the 1997 "special edition" versions of the first three Star Wars movies on DVD. I never really enjoyed any of the Star Wars movies, but could never put my finger on why I didn't like them. I think Les Jones analysis might be right on the money. Is there really anything to respect about the Jedi?

Comcast Corporation, a cable television company, has made an unsolicited bid for The Walt Disney Company. This would likely force out Michael Eisner, whom pisses off most Apple enthusiasts, kids with Toy Story 2 dolls, and people who are actually named Disney.
The initial bid was for $54 billion. $54 billion dollars would buy a SuicideGirls account for every resident of California for 33 years.
Disney said it would carefully consider the offer.
I owe Sean a dollar.

The late low-carb guru Dr. Robert Atkins is getting a lot of beef lately for allegedly being overweight and riddled with heart-disease at the time of his death. Not only has the mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, publicly denounced the doc as fat, but an official medical examiner's report filed clocked Atkins as, “bloated and obese” at the time of his autopsy.

Sources in Fatkins' Camp (couldn’t resist) are up in arms claiming he was bloated due to heart disease that was completely unrelated to his famous "Atkins' Diet" which sings the praises of a high fat low carb diet. Atkins former colleagues and his wife are appalled the doc is under attack when he is no longer alive to defend himself. Mmmmm…bacon tastes good...pork chops taste good.

Dr. Atkins' Records Ignite Another Fight [AP News]

It looks like you don't have to go all the way to the movies to see the new trailer for Shrek 2 . Variety reports that NBC execs will debut the trailer following their premiere of Shrek during the February sweeps. The promo will feature the full 2½-minute theatrical trailer in addition to behind-the-scenes footage on the making of the sequel.

Shrek 2 Trailer to Debut on TV First [Coming Soon.Net]

It may be over 2 years away, but that doesn't make the idea of a Simpsons feature film any less exciting. Creator Mike Weiss talks to DVD Fanatic all about the film and their upcoming DVD.

PART 1 INTERVIEW: Producer Mike Reiss talks "Simpsons" DVD and Movie! [DVD Fanatic]

Reuters has an interesting article about a baron whom attempted to assassinate Adolf Hitler in July of 1944. The article outlines some of the lametations of Philipp von Boeselager and the conditions in which the German National Workers Party came to power.

The article outlines the plan that a group of over 100 Germans planned to kill the leader of the Third Reich.

...they may certainly have what seems to be a quorum on sex abuse claims. Associated Press reports that the Catholic Church is holding an accounting of all of the sexual abuse claims in the United States. The total, with only half the dioceses reporting, comes to 1,341 separate abuse claims. Independent groups claims abuse allegations to be around 1,800. This averages between six and nine priests per diocese since the 1950s.
Bishops who have already done accounting state that there can be as much 2,870 abuse allegations, or 15 priests per dioceses.

The Catholic church has also paid $186.1 million dollars to settle abuse allegations, This averages between $64,000 and $138,000 dollars per incident, not adjusted for inflation, over the last 50 years.

Hektor, a project of Jurg Lehni and Uli Fanke utilizes Adobe Illustrator and complex pathing algorithms to produce large pieces of artwork via a spraycan. It’s an excellent combination of applied mathematics and design, something you must view with your own eyes. I suggest checking out the pictures first, movie second, and scroll through the PDF file last.

Requires Quicktime and proper ventilation.

Nothing is hotter than a good Burlesque show--well almost nothing. Nerve photographer Lauren Klain gives us a peek behind the curtain and shows us that everything old is nude again.

Backstage Passes: Photography By Lauren Klain [Nerve.com]

Nerve Online

A gorgeous new trailer for the upcoming animated Appleseed movie based upon the manga by Masamune Shirow (Ghost in the Shell), due to hit Japanese theaters in March. It’s an awe inspiring blend of cell and computer generated animation matched with a soundtrack featuring Basement Jaxx, Boom Boom Satellites, and Paul Oakenfold.

Requires Quicktime and a seatbelt.

Warner Brothers Animation has officially announced they will bring the comic legend Batman to "The Cartoon Network" with their newest animation series, The Batman .

According to Superhero Hype, the series picks up Batman's story in year three: in his mid-twenties, just finding his way as protector, defender and Caped Crusader, while balancing his public persona as billionaire bachelor Bruce Wayne.

The Edge from U2 will perform the series' theme song.

Warner Bros. Officially Announces The Batman [Superhero Hype]