Condi photo manipulation controversy: [link]

A manipulated photo of Condi appeared in USA Today - she looked like she was possessed, or about to shoot death-rays out of her eyes. Eventually, USA Today replaced the picture.

USA Today had this to say:

Editor's note: The photo of Condoleezza Rice that originally accompanied this story was altered in a manner that did not meet USA TODAY's editorial standards. The photo has been replaced by a properly adjusted copy. Photos published online are routinely cropped for size and adjusted for brightness and sharpness to optimize their appearance. In this case, after sharpening the photo for clarity, the editor brightened a portion of Rice's face, giving her eyes an unnatural appearance. This resulted in a distortion of the original not in keeping with our editorial standards.

[link]

I have to say, intentional or unintentional, that's a pertty hysterical photo.

Of course, I am blue-eyed and come from a long line of people who look like demons when photographed with flash, so I have no sympathy for Condi at all. My mother has a 4-generations family photo of about 30 people (I am a toddler in the foreground), with 60 points of demon-pink light brightening the family fun.

The death-ray shot is quite something, but the corrected one is hardly reassuring, which is what was supposed to be going on according to the caption.

Anyway, throwing banana peels was definitely below my dignity. I was a very dignified child.

I am reminded of the picture of the young, disconsolate, jealous flea at the arrival of the baby nuttykin.

I just called to cancel my physical therapy appointment (the pharmacist informed that I'd already committed a drug interaction no-no and couldn't take any more of my migraine meds, so it's narcotics or muscle relaxants from here on in, and I still can't drive) and sounded so pathetic to myself I almost started to cry on the phone.

I'm so fucking beat, man. And I have a work call in fifteen minutes.

About that Condi picture. Sure, she looks like Gollum in dominatrix gear on a good day, but who the hell thought the "cleaned up" picture was an improvement? It was an editorial choice in and of itself.

Aw, ita, poor thing. Migraines that won't quit (and keep coming back) are horrendous.

dear, is C working right now?

I was wondering what Msbelle just asked.

If I weren't at work and/or 500+ miles away, I would take you.

I wouldn't take her, I'd go take care of her. she needs to stay not moving for a while.

is C working right now?

Nah, but there's nothing anyone can do.

I'm going to pretend to be conscious on this call, and then just go to sleep. Hopefully I've taken the muscle relaxant early enough that I won't have a hangover tomorrow.

But I haveHAVEhave to be on this call. It's part of the whole come to Jesus talk I had with my manager last week. I don't have to be useful, but I do have to show up. And hopefully stay awake.

I did get a decent amount of work done from home today. Especially considering. So I'm printing the required docs to PDF, loading them onto the Powerbook, and attending this meeting from bed.