Man Tries To Sell The Word "The" On Ebay

You gotta love Ebay. Anything you want you can find there. Including the word "the". Yep, an Australian man was selling the word 'the' written on a piece of paper on eBay. The bidding reached over $10,000 before eBay pulled the listing. The enterprising seller, who goes by the username 'sweatyman' has listed the item's condition as "very good" adding that the word is "ideal for any situation". No, there's nothing special about it. It's not an ancient piece of text, or written by someone famous. Just a piece of paper with the word "the" written on it. In the item's description, 'sweatyman' writes that the item is: "Handwritten with blue ballpoint pen, on a torn piece of Reflex A4 paper, this versatile word can be used in literally thousands of sentences. For example: 'The dogs have escaped again'; 'I will buy some meat from the local deli.'; What's the time?" I imagine he did it to see if anyone would actually bid on it, which many did. More power to him, I say!

Wanted: Panda Nannies!

As the old saying goes, choose a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life. And this could be the greatest job in the world: Panda Nannie! China's Giant Panda Protection and Research Center is now recruiting caretakers whose main duties will be to hang out with panda cubs and love them and cuddle them. These so-called panda nannies will earn $32,000 a year and will receive free meals and accommodations. Find out more here.

Isn't This Going A Bit Too Far?

It's graduation time again, and one of the traditional events surrounding the end of the school year is the Honors ceremonies. These ceremonies celebrate the achievements of students throughout the school year, but check this out: A Connecticut middle school is receiving criticism for its decision to cancel "Honors Night" so as not to offend those who haven't achieved them. According to the East Greenwich Patch, officials at Archie R. Cole Middle School pulled the plug on the event because, "Members of the school community have long expressed concerns related to the exclusive nature" of highlighting the hard work of the school's best and brightest. Instead, the good students will be highlighted in "team-based ceremonies" that will, "celebrate the individual and collective success of all students and their effort, progress and excellence.” The nature of the change didn't sit well with many, judging by the reactions the story has gathered online. "And all sporting competitions should end in a tie," griped one. "Life ain't fair either. What're you going to do about that?" vented another. Isn't this going too far in the politically correct department? These kids deserve the accolades of doing well in their studies, don't they? Or should we more sensitive to kids who don't "win"?

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow?

So how would you interpret this? OWN (Oprah's network) said Friday that it has postponed its docu-series on Michael Sam, the first openly-gay football player to be selected in the NFL draft. In a statement obtained by ESPN, OWN president Erik Logan said that after discussion with the team that drafted Sam, the St. Louis Rams, the project was postponed in order to allow Sam the "best opportunity to achieve his dreams of making the team". Does that translate as, "We'll see if he makes the cut, cause if he doesn't nobody's gonna care about him anymore"? Hmmm.

So How Old Do You Think This Woman Is?

 

She's actually 34 years old! This Texas woman was arrested last week after it was revealed she successfully pretended to be a high school sophomore for an entire year. It's not clear why Charity Anne Johnson allegedly enrolled at the New Life Christian School in October as 15-year-old Charity Stevens. Tamica Lincoln, 30, told ABC News she had taken Johnson in after she claimed to have been an orphaned teen. "She acted like a kid. She did her homework. She got good report cards," said Lincoln, who met Johnson at their place of employ, McDonald's. "I allowed her to come into my house. I was just trying to be nice and kindhearted and get her out of the situation she was in." Principal Stuart Newlin was apparently fooled in part because Johnson claimed she'd been homeschooled and didn't have any school records. "Everyone we talked to assumed she was a teenager like she said she was, because she looked like one. She had friends," he said. "Everybody liked her." Johnson's story began to unravel when Lincoln got a phone call from a woman who ran a group for needy children that the suspect tried to join. Suspicious, Lincoln had their manager run a background check that revealed -- incorrectly -- that Johnson was 31. Johnson was charged with failure to show identification, and still is behind bars at Gregg County Jail on a $500 bond. What do you think, Would she have fooled you?

Here's A Friday "Idiots On Parade"!

A Catskill, NY man has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child after allegedly driving a lawn tractor under the influence with his two young children on board. The man, Stephen W. Baran, 41, of Catskill, was arrested by the New York State Police at Catskill on Monday and charged with endangering the welfare of a child, a class A misdemeanor, according to police. Troopers report that Baran had allegedly consumed a quantity of alcohol and then drove his lawn tractor to a bar with his 6-year-old and 7-year-old children sitting on his lap. Baran was processed at the State Police at Catskill, and issued an appearance ticket returnable before the Town of Catskill Court at a later date. Being stupid by yourself is one thing, but being an idiot with your kids???

The Government Wants Your Baby's DNA

Did you know that the state of Minnesota can take and retain DNA samples of all newborn babies for genetic research without parent consent?  It's true.  Governor Mark Dayton has signed a bill to eliminate genetic privacy after newborn screening.  Selling is prohibited, but no provisions are made for giving it away, so Minnesota may now be the go-to state for free baby DNA.

Unless you break the law, the state cannot take your vehicle from you, without your consent, but in Minnesota, they can take and use your baby's DNA without consent.  Parents can opt out, but most people don't even know the DNA is being taken.  Seven other states keep Baby DNA forever.  How would you feel about the government taking your baby's DNA and using it?  Drop us an email.