Team Crikey filter through the news and web for the day:
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Sex and the GFC. Always focused the cutting edge issues, this morning, the rabbits in the Crikey newsroom were speculating on how the global financial crisis may have hit brothels. Are people cutting back on a service they can get free — or at least do themselves — as the crunch hits? Or are more people looking for an easy thrill to distract them from financial woe?
A quick Google yields some answers. Late last year, brothel madams told The Daily Tele that they feel safe from the downturn, and the Brisbane Times reports an expected hike in the number of women turning to prostitution to make ends meet. But the ABC says the mining down-turn has now hit the industry hard and the IHT reports that it’s not only a problem in Australia. So there you go: more hookers, less demand.
Dating a banker? In other GFC-related news, Dating a Banker Anonymous is “a safe place where women can come together — free from the scrutiny of feminists — and share their tearful tales of how the mortgage meltdown has affected their relationships.” Hot topics include how the crisis has affected expensive meals out and bankers’ mistresses. Cue the tiny violins…
Free design tools. A neat list of 15 free and open source art and design programs, to help you earn your Open Source nerd merit badge.
Catablogging. Urlesque finds some bizarre things on OrientalTrading.com. Heh, Welcome to the Porch, indeed.
