I’m a Guy, as I’ve mentioned before, so I have no idea whether the device I’m writing about tonight is widely known in the not-Guy community.

However, She Who Is Awesome posted about it in her LJ last night, after learning of it this week, and considers it something of a revelation. She’s always near the cutting edge with her technology, as witness her independent discovery of the EeePC, so I thought I should mention it as a public service. She’s pretty ecstatic about its potential, and I figure that you not-Guys who haven’t heard of it might also benefit from hearing about it.

The subject is: the Diva Cup, a menstrual cup that might well replace other expensive, messy, and sometimes dangerous devices, for some women.

Here’s the vid that brought it to her attention. Darned if I know whether it’s NSFW.

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Here’s the Wiki on menstrual cups.

I’ll never be able to personally evaluate whether it’s all that superior to other methods for dealing with lunar cycles, but the manufacturer’s website makes what sounds to me like a good environmental argument for promoting its use:

Since The DivaCup™ is reusable, it is very economical. As well, you can feel confident that you are doing your part in environmental conservation. Landfill and pollution problems are on the rise and continue to be a worldwide concern. In 1998, 7 billion tampons and 13 billion sanitary pads and their packaging made their way into landfills and sewage systems in the USA alone!

Furthermore, if only Carrie White had known about it, a lot of lives might have been saved. You pubescent girls out there with rage issues and secret powerful telekinetic abilities, which I believe includes all of you, should at least check it out.

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Brad Paisley blew up big this year, taking home Country Music Awards for ‘Male Vocalist of the Year’ and ‘Best Music Video’ for his monster hit ‘Online’. Here’s the vid:

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It stars a lot of familiar faces, including a cheesy, annoying sci-fi icon who appears shortly after the three-minute mark. I find it a troubling song. I can’t quite decide if Paisley is laughing at us geeks, or laughing with us. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt, because he’s known to have a terminal case of Gear Acquisition Syndrome, and because he’s got some serious Tele Twang chops. And the end of the vid is ultimately affectionate.

I hit his site, and he’s got a LOT of good vids there. He’s George Strait C&W mainstream, but he writes clever and sad and funny and loving songs. I think I’m a new fan of his. Here’s his take on ‘Sharp-Dressed Man’:

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It’s worth noting who’s backing him up on this tune, of course…

But the song that finally converted me is ‘The World’:

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As we know, I’m a complete sucker for little girls, and this one rocks hard and has a big heart.

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Incidentally, Carrie Underwood took ‘Female Vocalist of the Year’ and ‘Single of the Year’ for ‘Before He Cheats’, which I posted about here, way back in July. Can I pick ‘em or what? I found a great high-res vid of her performing the song at CMA Fest at the beginning of the year. It should have been renamed Babe Fest. You’ll need DivX installed to watch it.

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