PowerBlogs: Jasmine Doobay

January 1st is one of the few times of the year that truly feels like the first day of the rest of your life. It is also a great excuse to do a little relationship maintenance, under the guide of New Year’s resolutions:

1. Take inventory.
This is a good time to sit down and ask each other, “What do you want the next year to look like? How do we get there together?”

2. Lay it all out there.
Making a clean start involves releasing the grievances that have been eating away at your relationship throughout the year and moving forward unencumbered.

3. Mind your tone.
When opening up to your partner about things that bother you, make sure not to say, “You’re doing this wrong,” and instead say, “This is how I feel.” If you start by asking how you can improve, you set the tone for open dialogue and constructive criticism on both ends.

4. Create a road map.
The most effective way to realize your goals is to make a plan. Instead of expecting your partner to do all the work, take the lead in initiating change.

5. Have a regular “state of the union.”|
Try to set a regular meeting, be it weekly or monthly, to discuss the state of the relationship. Life moves so fast that it’s rare to have a moment to talk while the other one listens with full attention. And it’s amazing what actually comes out when you do that. You get closer. You find out about each other.

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It’s time to ring in the New Year with a whole lot of drinks. So how do you do your fair share of partying without suffering the inevitable morning-after misery? Well, Delish.com offers 5 hangover cures that will help you party like there’s no tomorrow and not be miserable the next day. Good luck with that!

1. Coffee
Coffee can be especially helpful when you’re battling a hangover. The jolt of caffeine can alleviate your headache and help you get moving.

2. Fruit juice
Hangover = dehydrated. Restore the balance in your body by drinking plenty of fluids. Fruit juices often go down easier than plain water or other beverages. Some people go for sports drinks (like Gatorade) — they help restore electrolytes and kick those horrible hangover symptoms. If your stomach is upset, try seltzer, soda or ginger ale — the fizz helps soothe your stomach.

3. Smoothies
Coat your upset stomach with something that tastes better than Pepto Bismol and has natural sugars to give you a boost. You can even add protein, for more energy. Try recipes with bananas, which are high in potassium and help soothe the aching muscles you get after a night of alcohol over-indulgence.

4. Greasy spoon
Sometimes a greasy burger and fries are just what you need to survive a hangover. And remember, eating a big meal can be a great preventive measure before going out drinking — it can slow the effects of the alcohol and help you drink less.

5. Hair of the dog
Although drinking more alcohol is probably the last thing on your mind, some people swear there’s no substitute for a cocktail or draft beer to kick a nasty hangover. And, hey, after a few of them the party starts all over again!

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We’re in the middle of bowl season, with college football teams squaring off against each other seemingly just for kicks. Even though nothing is at stake, the stands are filled with fans and television ratings are sky high.

Clearly, college football is big business. But, just how big?

Forbes magazine issued their annual list of most valuable college football teams in the country. They looked at such things as alumni donations, student scholarships, corporate sponsorship agreements, profits generated by ticket sales and proceeds from licensing and merchandise.

Here’s a rundown of the top five — along with their estimated market value:

5. Alabama Crimson Tide — $92 million
4. Nebraska Cornhuskers — $93 million
3. Pennsylvania State Nittany Lions — $99 million
2. Notre Dame Fighting Irish — $108 million
1. Texas Longhorns — $119 million

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The television infomercial has never been more powerful. The people behind these things are brilliant, able to get you to hand over your credit card number in exchange for … let’s face it … junk.

According to the blog Best Week Ever, here are some of the most stupidly convincing infomercials of 2009. Which ones caught you?

Jump Snap - It’s a jump rope without the rope! Why didn’t I think of that!

Dog Snuggie — It’s officially time to weep for the future of man’s best friend.

Shake Weight — You, too, can get pumped 21-inch guns by just holding onto this vibrating stick. Right…

Mr. T FlavorWave Oven — Just in case you need to cook a rock solid frozen ribeye steak… in 16 minutes.

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We’re winding down the decade, which means we’re facing a tidal wave of “end of the decade” lists. It’s almost impossible to keep all these lists straight, but the blog BroBible.com gave it a try.

They compiled their own list of dozens, if not hundreds, of “end of the decade” list links. You could probably spend the next decade just discussing the one we’re wrapping up.

The BroBible.com list includes such entries as:

The 50 Best Catch Phrases of the Decade
The 30 Best Cover Songs of the Decade
The Decade’s Best Villains
The Top 10 Worthless Sports Teams of the Decade
The 11 Worst TV Ideas of the Decade
Wackiest Guinness World Records Broken this Decade

If you’re foolishly planning to drink and drive this New Year’s Eve, a funeral home in Rome, Georgia, has a deal for you.

Between now and noon on Thursday (12-31), you can visit McGuire, Jennings and Miller Funeral Home in Rome to sign a contract stating you plan to drive under the influence on New Year’s Eve. If you die in a wreck that day, the funeral home will give you a free burial

The funeral home says the program is intended making partygoers think twice about drinking and driving.

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RESOLUTIONS YOU SHOULDN’T MAKE

Cosmopolitan magazine wants to help you make some New Year’s Resolutions … by telling you which ones to skip!

Here are the Top 10 Resolutions Not To Make This Year

1. Quit your job so that your dream career can begin! If you’re one of the lucky ones employed and able to pay your bills in this recession … then suck it up. Go to work. Pursue your dream career by taking a class, starting a blog, or picking up a hobby.

2. Lose five pounds. Try embracing your fitness and shape.

3. Finally win back your ex. Um, move on. Try some fun rebound relationships.

4. Buy into all the latest trends. It’s OK to be a slave to all the new toys … just be a frugal.

5. Change your partner. A new hair-cut is one thing, but if you use the words “fixer-upper” and “project” to describe your wife/hubby you need to get real.

6. Triple the number of friends you have on Facebook. Why not make this year the year of socializing in-person with people you really care about?

7. Don’t eat any junk food. Unless you’re also resolving to binge mid-January, try something more like “add healthy foods to diet.”

8. Watch less trashy TV. Well, a little less might be OK — but unplugging your brain on occasion can be much needed stress-relief.

9. Save more money. A nice idea, but in this economy we’re just happy to be able to pay our bills.

10. Keep your number down. You might have to kiss a few frogs, so there’s nothin’ wrong with notches on your bedpost, as long as you’re being safe.

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It’s the week after Christmas and it’s already clear there are gifts you received that are never, ever, going to be used. According to the blog RegretfulMorning.com, here are some of the classics:

Breadmaker — Because store-bought bread is so difficult to find? Or disgusting? Or expensive? Life is easier without this useless contraption.

Fondue Set — Fondue isn’t a meal. It’s an event. Seven hours of chopping steak and veggies, followed by an hour to eat — and another three hours of clean-up. If you’re really in the mood for greasy niblet vegetables, get some stir fry from your local Chinese restaurant and get on with your life.

Foot Spa — To actually use the foot spa, you need to lug water into the living room. Not so bad, right. But, after you’re done, you need to lug the thing full of feetwater back to the bathroom to dump it. Nice way to end a session of relaxation, no?

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According to a new study published in the Journal of Communication, female online gamers are actually a little more hardcore than their male counterparts.

The study of more than 7,000 Everquest II players revealed the following:

Female gamers on average log more hours per week than male players - 29 hours vs. 25 hours.
Female gamers underestimate their time spent playing more than male players. Male respondents underreported their estimated time spent playing by about 1 hour per week, while the women underreported their time by about 3 hours.
Female gamers report generally better health than the guys.

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According to the staff at Moviefone.com, these were the 10 Best Movies of ‘09 …

10. The Hangover
9.Precious
8. Star Trek
7. An Education
6. The Fantastic Mr. Fox
5. Avatar
4. The Hurt Locker
3. Inglorious Basterds
2. Up
1. Up In The Air

And these were the 10 Worst Flicks of 2009 …

10. I Love You, Beth Cooper
9. Couples Retreat
8. White Out
7. Land Of The Lost
6. The Ugly Truth
5. Transformers 2
4. Old Dogs
3. Year One
2. All About Steve
1. Miss March

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The end of the year causes many men to pause and ask, “Why am I ending the year alone and pathetic? Isn’t there anyone out there for me?”

There’s somebody out there for everyone — and there’s a decent chance you can find that special someone over the long New Year’s weekend, especially since the booze will be flowing and the loneliest women will also be surfacing.

But, not every woman is fair game. In fact, there are plenty of women who are absolutely, positively off limits. According to MadeMan.com, you need to steer clear of these women in particular:

1. Your Friend’s Ex — It doesn’t matter if she looks like Alessandra Ambrosio and is throwing herself at your feet.

2. Your Friend’s or Ex’s Mom — You’ve got to keep it in your generation. If it’s even the least bit creepy, it’s more work than it’s worth.

3. Your Ex’s Sister — Mess around with your ex’s sister and you’re messing around with the entire family dynamic. You don’t need that on your conscience.

4. Your Boss’S Daughter — The job market is tight. Don’t even think about it.

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With a huge holiday drinking weekend coming up, it’s time to debunk some dangerous rumors about drinking that are floating around.

According to Cracked.com, here are some drinking myths that can actually kill you:

1. “Let Him Sleep it Off” — Tossing a friend in bed after he’s passed out drunk is a bad idea because of the very real risk of him choking in his own vomit. (See: Hendrix, Jimi)

2. Drinking Keeps You Warm — Alcohol only makes you FEEL warm because it causes your blood vessels to dilate, which brings the blood closer to the surface of your skin. Unfortunately, it’s actually making your core temperature drop, so just ignore that urge to strip off your clothes and run through the streets naked.

3. You Can Beat a Breathalyzer Test — No matter what your drunk friend says, nothing beats a breathalyzer test. Eating mustard doesn’t work. Hyperventilating doesn’t work. Eating a case of Mentos doesn’t work. Don’t be a dangerous idiot. Just sober up before driving.

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Everyone has a meltdown now and again, but these people do it in the public eye! Here’s Crave.com’s list of the top ten celebrity meltdowns of 2009.

10. KANYE WEST
Snatching the mic from Taylor Swift at the VMAs … just plain rude.

9. LINDSAY LOHAN
This is the year that Lindsay became officially irrelevant. Dropped from her label, horrible reviews of her fashion line … she’s this side of her non-existent reality show being canceled.

8. MORGAN FREEMAN
71-year-old Freeman made headlines after getting into a car crash with his alleged mistress … and then came the rumors about an affair with his 27-year-old step-granddaughter.

7. MACKENZIE PHILLIPS
Detailing a long-time affair with her father, John Phillips, Mackenzie’s book made us cringe.

6. CARRIE PREJEAN
In the 2009 Miss America pageant, Prejean denounced gay marriage and put her upstanding values on display. Also on display … nude photos, an alleged sex tape, and her stripped … of her crown.

5. ROMAN POLANKSI
After decades on the lam, the controversial director was arrested in Switzerland.

4. CHRIS BROWN
Beating a woman is NOT acceptable … enough said.

3. JOHN AND KATE GOSSELIN
Who would have thought that 8 children and cameras in your home 24-7 would put a strain on a marriage. Crazy!

2. DAVID LETTERMAN
After an extortion attempt by the boyfriend of one of Dave’s former personal assistants/lovers, Letterman had to go public with the whole mess.

1. TIGER WOODS
2009 is the year we learned that the world’s greatest golfer is also quite the player … and as the list of Tiger’s mistresses grows, his bank account shrinks.

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According to New York City’s The Village Voice, the lamest song of the decade is the Counting Crows’ cover of Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi.” They ask the question: “Why cover a tune that sucked to begin with?”

The Village Voice picked 50 songs from the past 10 years that sucked. Their Top 10 included:

10. Fieldy’s Dreams, “Baby Hugh Hef”

9. Ashlee Simpson, “La La”

8. Limp Bizkit and Johnny Rzeznik, “Wish You Were Here”

7. Nicole Scherzinger, “Puakenikeni”

6. Hot Action Cop, “Fever For The Flava”

5. Alvin & The Chipmunks, “Get Munk’d”

4. Blue October, “Jump Rope”

3. Tila Tequila, “I Love U”

2. Artists Against AIDS Worldwide, “What’s Goin’ On (Fred Durst’s Reality Check Mix)”

1. Counting Crows featuring Vanessa Carlton, “Big Yellow Taxi”

If you’ve ever planned a party at your place, you know it can be a lot of pressure. Cosmo asked celebrity party planner Jes Gordon, author of Party Like a Rock Star, to share the mistakes that can turn a bash into a bomb:

Sending invites too late — or too early. Tell people 2 months in advance and they’ll forget. But wait till 2 days before and you’ll be partying by yourself! Jes recommends sending details a month before for a formal gathering; 2 weeks before a casual party.

Providing too much seating. If it’s not a sit-down dinner, offering fewer seats than guests means more mingling. (Jes thinks the magic number is one chair to every two people.)

Not booting a loser guest. If someone gets wasted and acts like an idiot, Jes recommends pulling them aside and telling them to chill out. If that doesn’t work, ask them to leave. You may feel bad about it, but if you let the loser stay, other guests will go!

Forgetting about the bathroom. Don’t forget the bathroom when decorating for a party! Make sure all your toiletries are stashed away and light some candles so guests won’t turn on the light and won’t be able to tell your bathroom isn’t totally spotless.

Handling all the food and drinks yourself. Why not ask guests to bring something, like hors d’oeuvres or beverages? Jes recommends making a list of all of the goodies you want at your party, taking on the ones you can and asking guests to fill in the blanks.

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It’s no surprise that people over-indulge during the holidays, but a new study finds that most people eat more calories on weekends than weekdays. On average, people ate 37 calories more on weekends than weekdays, mostly at breakfast. But people who ate more at all 3 meals on weekends than weekdays devoured as many as 400 MORE calories!

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College bowl season is under way! It’s just like the NFL playoffs, except the games are with smaller, slower players. And, they don’t mean anything because they don’t crown an actual champion. But, that doesn’t mean they’re not fun … especially if you’re drinking while watching them.

They can be a little silly — especially if you consider some of the ridiculous names.

According to Asylum.com, here are some of the worst college bowl game names in history:

5. Tobacco Bowl — This used to be a bowl game where Virginia-based colleges battled. Unfortunately, they stopped playing it in 1984. The only thing better than the Tobacco Bowl might have been the “Asbestos Bowl.”

4. Culligan Holiday Bowl — Does a Culligan holiday mean a break from the office water dispenser, or a vacation that takes place the middle of a giant plastic bottle of H20?

3. Humanitarian Bowl — Let’s celebrate humanitarianism by lining up 11 young men on each side of the field and coaching them to tear the heads off each other.

2. Eagle Bank Bowl — This Washington, D.C., game used to be called the “Congressional Bowl.” Then big business stepped in and bought it off. Just like your congressman.

1. BCS Championship Game — This game was a joke when it was conceived — and continues to be a joke now. Could you imagine the NFL just picking the “best two teams” and putting those teams in the Super Bowl? Forget about it …

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New Year’s is the time to assess what we’re doing right — and what we’re doing wrong.

Before making a list of your New Year’s resolutions, consider these bad habits that women don’t appreciate:

Scratching yourself in public.

Whistling at women.

Wearing any the following: cut-off jean shorts, socks with sandals, sandals with nasty toenails or Crocs.

Describing your bowel movements and/or showing them off.

Believing you look good in relaxed fit jeans.

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Two economics professors from the University of California, Davis, have figured out that Tiger Woods’ infidelity has cost shareholders $12 billion in losses.

The study focused on nine sponsors: Accenture, American Express, AT&T, Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf (Electronic Arts), Gillette, Nike, Gatorade, TLC Laser Eye Centers and Golf Digest. Shareholder value for these companies fell 2.3 percent — or about $12 billion — after Tiger crashed his car a few weeks ago and went into hiding.

Professor Victor Stango says this whole mess shows that celebrity endorsements are a double-edged sword.

“Our analysis makes clear that while having a celebrity of Tiger Woods’ stature as an endorser has undeniable upside, the downside risk is substantial, too,” said Stango.

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Have you made your New Year’s resolution for 2010? Let me guess — you’re going to quit smoking and go on a diet and exercise more, right? Boring. You’ve already tried those and failed miserably. Try these instead …

AskMen.com has 10 resolutions that all men should make and follow through on in 2010:

10. Build a shelf. Do something productive around the house without hiring someone to do it.
9. Read a big book.
8. Make an appointment for a checkup.
7. Go to a career conference.
6. Devote more time to your hobbies.
5. Workout using the P90X (Power 90 Extreme) home exercise system.
4. Open a savings account.
3. Conquer a fear.
2. Help someone else.
1. Visit a new destination.

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David Wondrich of Esquire has been drinking professionally for at least ten years — he says he owes his marriage, career, and housing to the set of rules he’s developed, and he shares his insights with you.

1. When There Will Be Drinking, Be the First to Drink
Better to be a leader than a follower, and this way you get to set the terms — Scotches rather than Jagerbombs.

2. Do Not Be Competitive
There are no rules that say you have to match everyone drink for drink or be the last drunk standing … except, of course, when there are — like when you’re throwing back mizuwari with Japanese salarymen, or doing anything at all with Russians.

3. Better A Wasted Drink Than A Wasted Drinker
Just because it’s sitting there in front of you is no reason to drink something, even if it’s really, really good or really, really expensive. There will always be more booze.

4. Count Your Drinks
Not that you need some strict, inflexible quota. But if you lose count, you know what that means.

5. One Drink After 10 p.m. Equals Two Before 10 p.m.
One drink after 4 a.m. equals — well, it scarcely matters. If you’re up drinking at 4 a.m., you’re screwed anyway.

6. Beware The Bottomless Glass of Cab
It’s not just cabernet — any big red wine is packed with alcohol and histamines, and when it flows freely at the dinner table, it’s hard to keep track of how much of it you’re sinking. This will make for a most unpleasant morning, particularly if you round it off with a glass or two of port and a couple of inches of Highland Park.

7. When You Need to Leave, Leave
Just leave.

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According to YepYep.com, here are some of the most irritating people of 2009:

10. Jessica Simpson
9. John Mayer
8. The Kardashians
7. Carrie Prejean
6. Chris Brown
5. Perez Hilton
4. Heidi Montag & Spencer Pratt
3. Kanye West
2. Miley Cyrus
1. Jon & Kate

Dishonorable Mentions:

Levi Johnston
Octomom
Lindsay Lohan

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In the future, we may look back on this first decade of the 21st century and remember nothing else but the abundance of reality TV shows that hit the air.

From American Idol to Temptation Island, the airwaves were flooded with reality shows. So which will go down in history as the most influential?

Entertainment blog BuzzSugar.com has the Top 10.

10. American Idol

9. The Apprentice

8. The Bachelor

7. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

6. Laguna Beach

5. Project Runway

4. Queer Eye for the Straight Guy

3. Survivor

2. The Osbournes

1. The Amazing Race

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It was a great decade for sports. Lots of action. Lots of storylines. Lots of heroes. And … Lots of villains, even without bringing Tiger Woods into the equation.

As we wind down the decade, it’s a good time to consider the great villains from the world of sports.

Here are the biggest sports villains of the past decade, according to RumorsAndRants.com:

5. Bill Belichick — Because of “Spygate,” Belichick’s legacy and the legitimacy of the Patriots’ dynasty will forever be (at least slightly) questioned. Keep in mind … The Patriots were videotaping signals from the opposing teams’ sidelines from at least 2001 until they were caught in 2007.

4. Michael Vick — The first pick in the 2001 NFL Draft had a busy decade. He and his posse were involved in a marijuana scandal, a theft, a herpes outbreak (viva Ron Mexico!) and tried to board an airplane with a bong. That was all before he was busted for dog fighting.

3. Roger Clemens — Clemens was named 82 times in the Mitchell Report on steroid use in baseball. Unlike most of the other guys mentioned, he has repeatedly denied ever using steroids, but did throw his wife under the bus, claiming SHE was the user.

2. The Bowl Championship Series — It sucks. Fans of no other sport would put up with it. But college football fans are content to let fat cats ruin their sport and never crown a true champion.

1. Barry Bonds — It should have been a great decade for Barry Bonds. He broke the most hallowed record in sports. Unfortunately, he was outed as one of the most juiced individuals on the planet.

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Here in North America, our New Year’s Eve rituals are pretty ordinary. We get together with friends, drink a lot, wait for midnight and then go home. But in other parts of the world, there are New Year’s rituals that are downright bizarre.

Take Spain, for instance, where it is customary to quickly eat 12 grapes — one at each stroke of the clock. Each one signifies good luck for one month of the coming year.

In Finland, people predict their fortunes for the coming year by pouring molten tin into a container of water and interpreting the shape the metal takes after it hardens. A heart or ring shape means a wedding, a ship signifies travel. A pig means lots of good food.

Fun times in Belarus, where a pile of corn is put in front of each unmarried woman. A rooster is then let loose. Whatever pile he approaches first shows which woman will be the first to marry.

In Central and South America, people wear special underwear. Red underwear for love and yellow underwear for money.

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Since we’re getting close to the end of the decade, everybody’s making decade best-of lists. There’s plenty of room for debate on subjects such as sports and music and TV.

The Belleville News Democrat published a list of the top 20 TV shows of the decade. That list includes:

The Sopranos
Lost
The Wire
Mad Men
American Idol
Deadwood
Sex and the City
Arrested Development
Friday Night Lights
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
Freaks and Geeks
The West Wing
The Office
30 Rock
Survivor
Battlestar Galactica
The Shield
Dexter
CSI
Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Merry Xmas Everyone!

Are you done yet…are you?  Are you punk?

I think I am, I think I am, I think I am…thankfully!

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Most of Canada will see a white Christmas.

But Environment Canada’s senior climatologist David Phillips adds about one-quarter of Canadians will see a green Christmas.

He says areas that won’t have at least two centimetres of snow on the ground Christmas morning are Vancouver Island, southern B.C., southern Ontario areas including Windsor, Niagara, London, Kitchener, Hamilton, Toronto and along the north shore of Lake Erie, as well as St. John’s, N.L.

Phillips says Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island may be getting some snow today and Thursday but also some rain, so it’s a question of whether they get that 2 cm or not - although he thinks they won’t have a white Christmas.

He says northern and central B.C., all of the Prairies, northern and central and eastern Ontario, all of Quebec, New Brunswick, most of Newfoundland and Labrador, and all of Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon will have a white Christmas.

Phillips says among Canada’s major cities, Ottawa, which currently has 32 cm on the ground, will have the whitest Christmas while Whistler, B.C., will be the resort with the most snow, with the current measurement at the Roundhouse at 247 cm.

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If you didn’t mail out Christmas cards this year, you’re part of a growing trend.

Canada Post says the amount of holiday mail it’s handling this year is down about three per cent compared with the same time in 2008. The US Postal Service says its volumes are down 12 per cent.

Clancy Delbarre, executive director of the Gift Packaging and Greeting Card Association of Canada, says the industry is being hit by ecards and other forms of “Internet greetings.”

Delbarre says “that has probably captured between five and seven per cent of the total paper and ink market.”

He says the industry’s growth has been flat for the last four or five years.

Elyse Heckman of Stylesight, a trend forecasting firm based in New York, says sending Christmas greetings online is “kind of the norm now,” adding “it’s becoming more acceptable.”

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Before gearing up for his busiest night of the year, Santa Claus paid a visit to thousands of First Nations children from remote northern Manitoba communities Wednesday.

Stocked with three-thousand bags of goodies, Santa boarded Santa’s Express — a six-seater Merlin aircraft.

He was accompanied by his helpers, Grand Chief David Harper and event co-ordinator Dave Spence from the northern Manitoba chiefs organization.

Harper says unlike kids who live in the city, or in drive-in communities, these kids are isolated and don’t have access to just go to a mall and see Santa.

Santa was to make stops in 15 communities, including St. Theresa Point, Red Sucker Lake, Gods Lake Narrows and Norway House.

Red Sucker Lake, about 700 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, was the first stop.

For a little more than 30 minutes, a steady stream of kids came into the airport and waited patiently in line for their turn to meet Santa.

At Gods Lake Narrows, a swarm of about 300 children and their parents gathered outside of the airport waiting for Santa’s Express to arrive.

The wise editors at Men’s Health magazine asked 300 women how a guy could survive though all the holiday pitfalls. Here’s what they found:

Ritual — go ahead and do what you did last year. People associate ritual with commitment; starting a tradition suggests you’re interested in years of repeats.

Do the office as a duo — Take her to the office party. Not only does it reflect well on you when she gets along with co-workers, but you’ll probably score some points with her too.

Think ahead and ask in advance — Don’t worry about spending Christmas with each other’s families unless you’ve been together for about a year. As for New Year’s Eve ask a few weeks ahead and suggest a party.

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Most people think casual hook-ups or friends with benefits situations are damaging, but a recent study shows casual sex may not cause emotional or psychological damage!

Researchers at the University of Minnesota asked 1,300 18- to 24-year-olds about their most recent sexual encounters, their self-esteem and their sense of well-being afterward. About 20% of the subjects described their most recent sexual experience as casual — and overall, their emotional status was pretty much the same as those who said their last sexual experience was with a committed partner.

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Christmas is a special time of year, so why not roll out some special booze.

Made from malted barley, water and yeast, single malt whiskies have long been drunk in the festive season. So … continue the tradition!

It’s not just an after-dinner drink. Whiskey actually complements appetizers, main courses and desserts.

And … it gets you drunk in a hurry, which makes all the noise and bustle of the holiday season much easier to tolerate.

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There will be plenty of opportunities to score over the next couple weeks, as everyone will be in a festive mood.

The odds of scoring, though, will be much greater if you have a solid wingman.

According to TheBachelorGuy.com, here are some rules for a good wingman:

Introduce Your Friends — A good wingman always invites his friend into the conversation and offers something positive that gets the conversation rolling.

Never Talk Bad About Them — Guys are competitive, so they’ll rip on one another. This can’t happen when out in the field. Talking bad about your friend not only makes your friend look bad, it makes you look bad.

Occupy Potential Obstacles — Once you notice that your friend has hit it off with a woman, you have one main objective: clear the way for him. Occupy the girl’s “bitter” friend. She wants to keep them apart. It’s your job to keep her away from them.

Never Fight Over a Girl — A good rule to follow … the guy who starts the conversation with the girl has first chance at her. Let things run their course without interfering.

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It’s pretty safe to say that nine out of every ten mall Santas are actually drunks.

We’ve all seen Bad Santa, but in case you have trouble recognizing whether or not your mall Santa is currently drunk, here are some tell-tale signs:

He reeks of booze.

The young kid sitting on Santa’s lap just peed his pants … Wait, it was Santa.

Santa appears to be drooling on your kid.

Santa’s beard appears to have a whiskey stain.

Santa’s bottle of “water” smells funny.

Santa is currently fist fighting an elf.

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While nobody wants to be lonely, being single during the holidays can actually be a very good thing.

Here are a few singles-only holiday perks:

No arguments in the car about who said something stupid to whom at the family party.

No having to wake up at some ungodly hour to open gifts and pretend you’re surprised or elated.

Not having to coordinate every holiday detail with a girlfriend or wife.

Spending less money and anxiety on trying to find that “perfect gift.”

Being able to hit on women you meet at holiday parties.

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A nutritionist in England claims he has created a cocktail that actually prevents hangovers. That’s right … an alcoholic drink that cleanses the system and allows you to wake up with no headache or nausea.

Nutritional therapist and Indian “superfood” guru Gurpareet Bains’ drink comes in at a hefty 80 proof and will get you wasted, but included ingredients that fight the symptoms of a hangover.

It’s made with:

one ounce of Christmas spice-infused vodka
a half-ounce of Cointreau
one ounce of acai juice
12 ounces of pomegranate juice
Shake it up and pour it over ice. (Garnish it with fresh mint leaves and a stick of cinnamon if you’re really feeling festive.)

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The Yule Log is back — and better than ever.

A company called Screen Dreams has improved upon the “TV fireplace” and released a new high-def DVD called Living Fireplace Vol. 2.

The Blue Ray DVD offers 21 total high-def “scenescapes,” with different fireplace settings to match your mood or your decor. You can also choose between crackling fire sound-effects or music to accompany the yule log scenes.

Holiday drinks are everywhere this time of year, from egg nog to hot cider. Even coffee shops have their own holiday drink menus. But if you’re trying to lose or maintain your weight, those festive holiday coffee drinks can be worse for you than some foods!

The worst, according to Menshealth.com? Starbucks 2% Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha — a venti (20-ounce) serving has 660 calories, 22 grams of fat and 95 grams of sugar. That’s more sugar than NINE donuts! Go for a skim cinnamon or peppermint latte instead and save yourself more than 400 calories and 75 grams of sugar!

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Smitten, the daily sex and relationships blog at Glamour.com, posted a really interesting question this week. The writer (a guy) blogged about how he got his girlfriend a computer for Christmas a few years ago and she made it very clear that “practical” is not the way to go when it comes to gifts for women!

Then again, he tells of another woman whose boyfriend got her a ton of nice lingerie when all she really wanted was an iPhone! Poor men — how will they ever know what to get their girlfriends or wives when every woman is so different?

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Ever wonder how the “other half” lives?

Instead of giving each other DVDs and gift cards to the Olive Garden, they gather around the fireplace — or the “hearth,” as the rich people call it — and open really, really cool stuff like …

The Sharp LB-1085 LCD HDTV — It’s a $149,000 108-inch LCD HDTV, the largest consumer TV in the world.

A Suunto Elementum Wristop Computer — This is a $900 digital watch that also includes an altimeter, barometer and compass.

Intelligent Design Mouse — Made in the Netherlands, this $1,200 wireless mouse is made from grade 1, commercially pure titanium. (Two AA batteries are included.)

Wavac SH-833 Monoblock Amplifiers — How good have you been this year? Good enough to get a pair of $350,000 solid-state, vacuum-tube amplifiers for your stereo system?

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According to a new study from Brown University, dark alcohol leads to more painful hangovers than clear ones with the same proof.

The researchers believe “congeners,” byproducts of fermentation that are 37 times as prevalent in a drink like whiskey as in a drink like vodka, enhance the feelings of headache, nausea and dehydration associated with hangovers.

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What is all the fuss about Christmas for anyway?

According to a recent survey, only 44 percent of children in England between the ages of seven and 11 are aware that Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus.

Christmas is not the only holiday to have lost its meaning…

Actually, most holidays eventually lose their meaning. Labor Day has something to do about the working man and Memorial Day has something to do with veterans — but they really have just become reasons to have cookouts.

As for Christmas, it’s all about getting as much food and as many presents as possible.

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Everyone’s in their final push to finish Christmas shopping, which means the malls are going to be filled with even more clueless idiots than normal.

With the upcoming frenzy that happens during this week of last minute Christmas shopping, here are some issues that deserve special attention:

1. In this country, we walk on the right. Do it.

2. If you don’t know which store you’re going to next, get the hell out of the way of those of us who do. Park it at the food court if you need to regroup, okay?

3. Just because you can’t find your size in the “75% Off” bin does not give you the right to toss everything else all over the place. You’re a person at a mall, not a pig rooting for turnips.

4. When you get off the escalator — move, Sparky, move!

5. If you have screaming kids, we gave you a pass … until now. It’s crunch time. You know what to do to keep ‘em civil and quiet, so do it. Food, Ritalin, mini-bottles of Bacardi — whatever, just do it. We are not in the mood for your brood.

6. If you are not able to get that special deal in your size — LIFE WILL GO ON! Relax people!

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The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is using the “12 Days of Christmas” song to inspire people to deliver escaped convicts.

The department has been profiling a new escaped convict every day, many of whom have been on the run for more than 20 years.

According to an FDLE spokesperson, the campaign is “designed to reach the public during the holiday season, when investigators believe the wanted men are most likely to contact friends, family and loved ones.”

And, there’s money to be made … The potential reward for information leading to the capture of one of these guys is $2,500.

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According to a recent survey of retailers, the sales of lingerie and naughty novelties have increased in stores this Christmas — and have really increased over the Internet.

Analena Graham, owner of Dascha, a luxury sex toy store in Washington, D.C., says even during recessions, sex will always sell.

“You might tell yourself, ‘I can do without that $400 sweater, but I would still like to have that rechargeable vibrator,’” she says.

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Brace yourself because the gift cards are coming.

Some cards that you get will be great, but what happens if you receive a gift card this Christmas to a store that you never shop at? Good luck trying to get a refund. It’ll never happen.

Don’t worry. You will still be able to get some value from the card…

A number of websites have been created that allow consumers to swap unwanted gift cards — or to sell them.

SwapAGift.com and PlasticJungle.com are two such sites. (but might only work in the States)

The massive snow storm that hit the East Coast over the weekend not only snarled transportation, it drove an off-duty Washington, D-C police detective to the edge. Detective Baylor is shown in numerous videos on YouTube pulling his gun out and waving it around when his Hummer was pelted during a snowball fight. The crowd at the fight started chanting, “You don’t bring a gun to a snowball fight.”

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The N-F-L wants its players to donate their brains to science. The league plans to encourage current and former players to agree to donate their brains to the Boston University Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy, which claims it has found links between repeated head trauma and brain damage in boxers and many players.

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We live in wondrous times … With Internet shopping, you can get your hands on just about anything you want — any time you want it.

This is especially good news for geeks who enjoy weird stuff. They don’t have to get stuck with boring, “normal” gifts this Christmas. They can reach for the moon and get those prized geek gifts.

According to Asylum.com, here are some of the best geek gifts out there …

Star Wars Lightsaber Chopsticks ($22.99) — Sci-Fi sushi fans rejoice.

Star Trek Cuff Links ($65) — If you’re going to be a geek, you might as well be a sharp- dressed geek.

Comic Book Wallets ($15) — Is that a superhero in your pants?

Super Mario Bros. Wall Decals ($69.99) — Impress the ladies with your interior decorating prowess.

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Santa Claus knows what he’s doing. While beards may not always be the best look during the rest of the year, it’s far more acceptable in the winter because it’s practical.

For one, it’s an extra layer of defense against the harsh, biting wind. Also, it’s a great way to change up your look a little bit.

So go ahead and ditch the clean-shaven look and take advantage of your laziness. Stop shaving and enjoy a warm winter.

According to AskMen.com, here are a few facial hair styles — and what they say about you.

1. Trimmed Goatee — You are both trendy and classy.

2. Heavy Stubble — You are easygoing and unassuming — and don’t have the patience to maintain a pretty-boy appearance.

3. Scruffy Beard — You’re calm, cool and collected, but most of all, you’re secure in terms of both your style and yourself.

4. Full Beard — You are mature and sophisticated. (Or, you’re a lumberjack.)

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Yes, you’ve probably seen the classic 1984 holiday movie A Christmas Story 50 times (this year alone). But if you think you know everything about it, you’re wrong.

Here are 10 things you probably didn’t know:

1. Jack Nicholson was very interested in playing Ralphie’s dad. But casting (and paying) Jack would have meant doubling the budget, so he was removed from consideration. Director Bob Clark — who didn’t know Nicholson was interested at the time — says Darrin McGavin was the perfect choice. After all, Jack would have been too much of a scene-stealer.

2. What does Porky’s, the raunchy ’80s teen sex movie, have to do with a wholesome film like A Christmas Story? Bob Clark directed both — Porky’s in 1982 and A Christmas Story in 1983. If Porky’s hadn’t given him the professional and financial success he needed, he wouldn’t have been able to bring A Christmas Story to the big screen.

3. For those keeping count, Ralphie says he wants the Red Ryder BB Gun 28 times throughout the course of the movie. That’s approximately once every three minutes and 20 seconds.

4. Peter Billingsley, who played Ralphie, has been good friends with Vince Vaughn since they both appeared in the CBS Schoolbreak Special (their version of the after-school special) in the early ’90s. Peter doesn’t do much acting these days, but he did make a surprise appearance on the “Vince Vaughn Wild West Comedy Show” in Memphis, Tennessee, in 2005. Peter’s doing quite well for himself, though. He was the executive producer of Iron Man and had a brief bit as William Ginter Riva. Peter also executive produced Vince’s movie, Four Christmases (which he also had a cameo in), as well as 2006’s The Break-Up.

5. Mythbusters tested whether it was possible to get your tongue truly stuck on a piece of cold metal. Guess what? It is. So don’t triple dog dare your best friend to try it.

6. Scott Schwartz, who played Flick (the kid who stuck his tongue to the frozen flagpole), was submerged in the adult film industry for a number of years. He got out in 2000 to try to become a mainstream actor again, but he really hasn’t done much of note: Community College (”A love story between four dudes and their ability to get free drinks”) and Skinwalker, which starred ex-MTV veejay Jesse Camp, if that tells you anything. Joey Buttafuoco is in it, too, and gets billing over our poor Flick. Sad.

7. Next time you’re in Cleveland, you can visit the original house from the movie for only $7.50. It was sold on eBay in 2004 for $150,000. Collector Brian Jones bought the house and restored it to its movie glory and stocked it up with some of the original props from the film, including Randy’s snowsuit.

8. Director Bob Clark got the idea for the movie when he was driving in the car with a date. He heard Jean Shepherd on the radio doing a reading of his short story collection, “In God We Trust … All Others Pay Cash,” which included some bits that eventually ended up in A Christmas Story. Clark said he drove around the block for an hour until the program ended, which his date was not too happy about.

9. The TV show The Wonder Years was inspired by A Christmas Story. In fact, in one of the last few episodes, Peter Billingsley appeared as one of Kevin Arnold’s roommates.

10. The real Red Ryder BB Gun was first made in 1938 and was named after a comic strip cowboy. You can still buy it today for the low, low price of $44.99. But the original wasn’t quite the same as the one in the movie — it lacked the compass and sundial that both the Jean Shepard story and the movie call for. Special versions had to be made just for A Christmas Story.

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It’s that time of year again, when drunken “Bad Santas” storm their respective cities for SantaCon, a “not-for-profit, non-political, non-religious and non-logical Santa Claus convention, attended for absolutely no reason.”

The loosely organized event seems to grow every year and participants claim it’s not anti-Christmas or anti-religious. It’s just an evening of fun that includes mocking Santa Claus.

Top Ten Santa Pick-Up Lines

Hey babe, when was the last time you did it in a sleigh?

Wanna see my 12-inch elf?

I’ve got something special in the sack for you!

Ever make it with a fat guy with a whip?

I know when you’ve been bad or good — so let’s skip the small talk, sister!

Some of my best toys run on batteries…

Interested in seeing the “North Pole”?

I see you when you’re sleeping — and you don’t wear any underwear, do you?

Screw the “nice” list — I’ve got you on my “naughty” list!

Wanna join the “Mile High” club?

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This may be the most wonderful time of the year, but probably not for any guy with a girlfriend. Buying your gal a holiday gift can cause a ton of stress because you don’t want to mess it up. You learned your lesson with the “practical” vacuum you got her a few years back.

Let this be the year you get it right.

AskMen.com has the Top 10 Romantic Holiday Gift ideas.

10. Membership to an “of the month” club. Maybe a chocolate of the month club. Basically, it’s a monthly reminder of how much you love her.

9. A cashmere sweater. Women love cashmere because it’s nice and expensive.

8. Lingerie, but make sure it’s sensuous and not slutty.

7. An inscription. Get her a book and inscribe something personal inside the cover.

6. Something engraved. It really doesn’t matter what it is. Have it engraved and she’ll love it forever.

5. Show tickets. This is not a rock show. This is a musical, or a play, or godssakes– a ballet.

4. Something vintage. Women actually love antiques, like an old picture frame or mirror.

3. scrapbook. She’ll definitely love a book of photos and other memoirs. But seriously, that kind of sounds like a whole lot of work.

2. A weekend getaway.

1. Jewelry. Duh.

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There are so many names on your Christmas shopping list this year, but is your boss’s name one of them? What about your co-workers? What’s the office gift protocol?

The folks at AskMen.com say “yes,” you should definitely get your boss a gift. But knowing what to get is very difficult. You want your gift to be thoughtful, but you don’t want to come across as too eager and look like a suck-up.

A bottle of wine is a good idea, unless of course he’s a raging alcoholic or a recovering one. Or if he has a particular hobby like fishing or boating, try a magazine subscription.

Now, onto your co-workers. If you work in a small office, you should buy gifts for all of them. Make it something small and inexpensive. After all, it’s just a gesture. Try a gift card.

If you work in a large office, just buy for those in your department.

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Here comes Christmas, and in tow come the good, the bad and the ugly of the holiday season.

AskMen.com takes an in-depth look at what we can all expect this Christmas …

The “good” things about the season include:

drunken office parties
mistletoe
getting to pee your name in the snow
great sports action like marquee NBA games and college bowl games
big-budget movies

The “bad” include:

retail madness
having to return bad gifts
having to buy gifts for people you don’t like
television repeats
Christmas charities

The “ugly” include:

having to spend time with family
cheesy Christmas albums
having to assemble complicated gifts
home-knitted Christmas sweaters
New Year’s Eve

Can you believe a week today is Xmas.  I’ve got my of the prezzie shopping done…but haven’t wrapped my head around the food at all…except to order a turkey that I’ll pick up Xmas Eve.  Are you done yet?

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The Associated Press has released its list of the 10 biggest goofs, foul-ups and blunders of the past decade. Topping the list is former chairman of NASDAQ, Bernie Madoff, operator of the largest fraud on Wall Street.

Here’s the Top 10:

1) Bernie Madoff
2) President Bush and the “Mission Accomplished” banner
3) Air Force One buzzing Manhattan for a photo op in 2009
4) Balloon Boy
5) Someone publishing O-J Simpson’s If I Did It
6) Dick Cheney shooting his hunting partner
7) South Carolina governor Mark Sanford’s Buenos Aires escapade
The Super Bowl “wardrobe malfunction”
9) Enron causing rolling blackouts in California
10) Eddie Murphy’s 2002 bomb Pluto Nash

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It’s not uncommon for little boys to want to be like their dads, but when Dad is doing time in jail, that’s when you run into problems. Take this four-year-old boy in Tennessee. Earlier this week, he snuck out of his house late at night, drank a beer, entered a neighbor’s house, stole their wrapped gifts from under the Christmas tree, and was eventually found drunk and wearing a dress. Dad would be so proud.

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Trying to save some cash and still have your place look fabulous for your holiday party? Here are some tips on how to save on the dough, without sacrificing the festivity!

Drop a tealight candle in glass jars — Take the tomato sauce jar out of the recycle bin, wash it out, and drop in a tealight. Add a ribbon around its neck and it’s instant holiday! Group them together, or pepper about the house! (They also make great luminaries and pathway lighting.)

Do a Toyland theme — Find used teddy bears and dolls at the thrift store (or from your kids’ “time to get rid of” bin), dress them with ribbons and viola! — a toy-themed decoration.

Holiday bowls — Get a glass bowl, fill it with a few of those colorful glass balls from the tree, toss in a few sprigs of greenery or some leftover ribbon. Done.

Sponge stars or other seasonal shapes on your window with paint! Just add a teaspoon or so of liquid dish soap to acrylic craft paint and after the holidays you should be able to wash it off with window cleaner.

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What excuse do you give when someone gets you a gift, but you have nothing for them in return? According to one poll, these are the top excuses:

“I left your present at home.”
“I left your present at work.”
“I left your present in my car.”
“I’m waiting for the store I bought your present from to call and tell me when I can pick it up.”

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In general, guys are easy to shop for — but there are just a few rules that need to be followed.

Here are some of those rules from the book A Woman’s Guide to Men’s Gifts. How many do you agree with?

If you are really, really broke, buy him anything for his car. Men love gifts for their cars.

Do not buy men socks. Do not buy men ties. And never buy men bathrobes.

You can buy men new remote controls to replace the ones they have worn out.

Never buy a man anything that says “some assembly required” on the box. It will ruin his day when he can’t put it together.

Tickets to a sporting event are always a good bet.
Men enjoy danger. That’s why they never cook, but they will barbecue. Get him a monster barbecue with a 100-pound propane tank.

When in doubt, buy him a cordless drill.

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According to a British study, middle-age men dance awkwardly to signal that they’re sexually unavailable.

After comparing the dancing styles and confidence levels of 14,000 people of different ages, psychologist Peter Lovatt concluded that there may be an evolutionary reason for so-called “dad dancing.”

Men between the ages of 35 and 60 attempt complex dance moves — and fail — in order to signal to younger women that they should look elsewhere for a partner.

“It might be that middle-age men have passed their natural reproductive age, and probably have a family already, and don’t feel they have to attract younger women anymore,” said Lovatt.

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The recession has made many of us cut back on things — including end-of-year tipping. If you are tipping, make sure you …

Do: Plan ahead. If the person you normally tip hasn’t cut back on his/her services, then you should try at all costs not to cut back on your annual gift — especially if you are part of the lucky group of people who still has a job.

Don’t: Give nothing at all. Surveys have shown that fewer people gave holiday tips to their newspaper carriers, barbers, and garbage collectors during the beginning of the recession in 2008 than in years past. You don’t have to give as much as you used to, but you should still acknowledge their services somehow.

Do: Give a gift in lieu of cash. If you have developed a friendship or personal relationship with your hairdresser or trainer, it’s perfectly acceptable to deliver a gift instead of cash — especially during a recession. Postal workers are not allowed to accept any cash or gifts with a value of over 20 dollars, though, so keep that in mind.

Don’t: Avoid the situation. If you can’t afford to give out your normal holiday bonus this year because of a job loss or other financial trouble, that’s fine. Just explain yourself to those who may be getting a tip that’s lower than expected. Otherwise, they may think the smaller-than-usual (or nonexistent) gift is the result of something they did wrong.

Do: Show your appreciation in other ways. Just because you have cut back on the number of people you’ll be tipping this year doesn’t mean you can’t still say thank you to everyone. Send a holiday card, make a phone call, or reach out in person to let them know how much you appreciate the job they have been doing.

Don’t: Be inconsistent. If you’re telling your housekeeper or gardener that you won’t be giving out tips this year, then don’t plan on going all out for Christmas, either. Failing to dole out tips and then spending excessive amounts on gifts for your family and friends is simply just rude, recession or not.

Do: Be ready to make adjustments in the future. Just because these new standards of tipping are here right now, doesn’t mean they’ll last forever. When the economy eventually recovers, the amount you’ll be expected to tip will most likely increase again, so be prepared.

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How you open your Christmas presents reveals your personality, according to psychologist Elayne Kahn, author of 1001 More Ways You Reveal Your Personality. See if these fit …

If you shake your gifts to try to guess what they are: You are dramatic and love being the center of attention. People love the way you tell stories.
If you tear your gifts open: You are enthusiastic, aggressive and impatient. You are truly a kid at hear and love to party.

If you open your card first: You are thoughtful and considerate. You are not an impulsive shopper and you care deeply about what other people think about you.

If you parade your gifts around for everyone to see: You love to entertain, make people laugh and enjoy being the center of attention.

If you open your gifts in private: You sometimes hide your feeling and emotions from other and you hate being caught off-guard or letting your real emotions show.

If you wait to see what everyone else got: You are insecure and worry all the time. You are very well-liked among friends even though you do not think so.

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There are the boring, tired gifts out there like gift cards and electronic gadgets. And then, there are some freaky gifts out there that people may never, ever forget.

According to Gunaxin.com, here are some awesome gift ideas that are sure to shake up the holidays:

1. Do It Yourself Taxidermy Kit — Just add an animal carcass!

2. Neuticles — Did your poor pooch get snipped this year? Show how much you appreciate his newly neutered companionship by replacing his junk. That’s right. You can buy prosthetic dog balls. (Neuticles.com; (888) 638-8425)

3. Gatling Gun — Nothing says, “I love you” more than an automatic weapon that shoots rounds the size of small cigars. (Gatling guns are completely legal. Since they’re hand-cranked, they’re not classified as automatic weapons. Rock on!)

4. Push-Button Bra — We live in wondrous times. There is actually a bra out there that, at the simple push of a button, inflates those funbags. Instant rack!
(Check It Out … Click here for more about the bra — and a killer video demonstration.

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When you hit the mall this weekend for last-minute Christmas shopping, beware of the four types of mall parkers …

1. Search and Destroyers roam the aisles, cruising endlessly for the perfect spot.

2. Lay and Wait parkers position themselves at the end of an aisle and wait for a space to open up in what they start to believe is their territory.

3. Stalkers, the most predatory, slowly follow shoppers leaving the store back to their parking spot.

4. See It and Take It parkers don’t care how far they have to walk.

According to Response Insurance, who compiled the info, the See It and Take It method is the best, because it’s less stressful and helps drivers save the most time.

AAA agrees: on their list of tips for surviving holiday driving, they advise people to “play the outfield. Outlying areas have more spaces, lighter traffic and a lower risk of collision.”

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Researchers from the University of Georgia and the University of Kansas studied attractive people and found that yes, attractive people do tend to have more social relationships and are therefore happier than the rest of us.

This was a no-brainer, but the research team also found that it’s not equally important for all of us to be attractive. Instead, it is more important to people who live in certain places.

For example, attractiveness matters more in cities — and is far less important in the country.

In cities, there’s a lot of meeting and greeting — and being good looking helps people be more successful out there.

On the other hand, in rural areas, relationships are less about choice and more about who is already living in the community. Therefore, attractiveness is less likely to be associated with making friends and feeling good.

I can’t believe it’s almost Xmas.  We’re a week until Xmas Eve and I still don’t feel ready.  Really must do some grocery shopping to stock up on the stuff that actually goes around the turkey…otherwise we’ll just be eating turkey. 

We’re having our secret santa giveaway at lunch today.  I got Heather - from our sister station B-103…she doesn’t know yet.  Thankfully she gave me a great hint last week…so I think I got her present right this year.

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Tiger Woods may be able to scratch one name off his list of ladies. The golfer’s wife, Elin Nordegren, is planning to divorce him, People magazine reported Wednesday.

A source told the mag, “She’s made up her mind. There’s nothing to think about. He’s never going to change.”

And while Tiger won’t be spending Christmas with Elin, he may not be spending it alone, either. According to Us magazine, he’s still got his claws into mistress Rachel Uchitel. A friend of the fallen icon tells Us, “They’re not over. [Recently] Tiger was texting her, trying to find time to get together again. He wasn’t even fazed!”

Tiger did get one bit of bright news yesterday: He was voted Athlete of the Decade in a survey of the nation’s sports editors, receiving 56 of the 142 votes cast.

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Troubled Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry was said to have “life-threatening injuries” after falling from the bed of a pickup truck being driven by his fiancee yesterday. Henry and Loleini Tonga were allegedly having a heated argument when he either fell or jumped from the vehicle on a highway outside Charlotte, North Carolina. Investigators are said to be looking into the possibility that Tonga was driving erratically, but she was not immediately taken into custody. The seriousness of Henry’s condition was not revealed, but the incident was being looked at by homicide detectives. T-M-Z reports that, just hours earlier, Tonga had gone to her MySpace page, writing about how she just “put deposIt down 4 weDDing piCs… Paid 4 ouR riNgs.”

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If you’re hoping for a nice Christmas present from your boyfriend or husband you may want to check on how well his favorite football team is doing …

According to a survey by Sears, 71% of men say the success of their favorite football team impacts the amount of time they spend on holiday shopping: the better their team is doing, the more they watch or attend the games and the less time they have to go shopping.

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Think about it … Christmas is not only warm, fuzzy and nurturing — but it involves lots of planning and organization … which means a woman has to be in charge of it!

Here are some other reasons why Santa can’t possibly be a man …

Men can’t pack a bag.
Men would rather be dead than caught wearing red velvet.
Men would feel their masculinity is threatened … having to be seen with all those elves.
Men don’t answer their mail.
Men would refuse to allow their belly to be described as a “bowlful of jelly.”
Men aren’t interested in stockings unless somebody’s wearing them.
Having to do the “Ho Ho Ho” thing would seriously inhibit their ability to pick up women.
Being responsible for Christmas would require a commitment.

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It’s the season to be festive … but here are a few things to think about before you go and kick up your heels at the office holiday party …

1. Before you make out with your co-worker …
Are you prepared to spend the rest of your time at work avoiding this person? Face it — this guy has probably been harboring a secret crush on you for the past year and has been waiting to catch you under the mistletoe. And when he finds out it was just the alcohol behind the kissing … awkward.

2. Before you overindulge at the open bar …
Don’t forget that your boss doesn’t want to embarrass him or herself in front of the employees and probably stopped after two drinks. Which means that what seems to you like a great bonding moment is actually, in their much more sober memory, something much more slurred and embarrassing.

3. Before your don your favorite micro-mini dress …
You still have to go back to the office the next day. Do you really want your boss or co-workers to forever associate you with a wardrobe malfunction? Because trust us, no matter how well you do your job, if you accidentally bared a bit too much flesh at the holiday office party, that’s all anyone will ever remember you for.

4. Oh yeah, and about that photocopier…
If you’re drunk enough to think this is a good idea, then you’re also drunk enough to accidentally leave the print-outs in the tray for someone to find the next morning. Also, that glass isn’t as sturdy as it looks. Besides, the photocopier is such a cliche. If you’re going to embarrass yourself at the party, at least be original about it so that it’s a funny story the next day. There’s nothing funny about a broken, smeared photocopier — just ask the poor dude who has to fix it.
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According to a new study from the University of Washington, women avoid working with geeks, which means they’re steering clear of many computer jobs.

Lead researcher Sapna Cheryan says, “When people think of computer science the image that immediately pops into many of their minds is of the computer geek surrounded by such things as computer games, science fiction memorabilia and junk food.”

“That stereotype doesn’t appeal to many women who don’t like the portrait of masculinity that it evokes.”

During the study, women reported being put off by environments filled with the following things:

Star Trek posters
video game boxes
soda cans
junk food wrappers

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Buying gifts can be a pain, but having to wrap them adds insult to injury.

According to TheBachelorGuy.com, here are some ways to weasel out of wrapping gifts — or at least minimize the pain and hassle:

1. Whenever possible, buy pre-wrapped gifts.

2. Go to the mall and have the Girl Scouts wrap your presents.

3. Buy fancy gift bags at the Dollar Store. Dropping presents in a bag is much easier than cutting and wrapping and taping. (Garbage bags work great, too.)

4. Aluminum foil makes good wrapping paper because it actually clings to the gift. No tape! Just smush it on there and tie the top together with a rubber band.

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Remember when the economy was good and you could look forward to a nice Christmas bonus at the end of the year? Ah, those were the days my friend … but they’ve come to an end.

This year, the fact that you still have a job is your only bonus.

According to Market Watch, Just 24 percent of companies will give their workers a holiday bonus this year — down from 42 percent a year ago.

But that’s not all. The number of companies throwing a holiday party for their employees is down about 10 percent from last year. And the ones having a party are spending much less on them.

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This close to Christmas, it seems every other channel is showing some kind of Christmas movie. Some are good — like A Christmas Story or It’s a Wonderful Life — and some are not — like Santa Claus Conquers the Martians or Jingle All the Way.

The editors at Entertainment Weekly have compiled a list of the 20 worst holiday movies. Here are half a dozen of them to avoid at all costs.

Fred Claus (2007) — In the movie that proves even Santa comes from a dysfunctional family, Fred Claus tries to make a kid-friendly hero out of fast-talking sleazebag Vince Vaughn, who plays St. Nick’s ne’er-do-well brother. Fred gets a shot at redemption when a corporate bureaucrat (Kevin Spacey) threatens the family business. Given its unappetizing mix of sweetness and slime, Fred Claus earns a spot in the Bad Holiday Movie Hall of Shame

Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984) — Having grown up fearing Santa Claus as the punisher of bad children — not to mention having endured the shooting of his father and rape and slaying of his mother by a robber in a Santa suit — a traumatized young man finally snaps, dons a familiar red outfit, and goes on a killing spree, sparing neither the nice nor the naughty. Give this horror cheapie a few points for creativity, but it’s still as rancid as leftover fruitcake.

Jack Frost (1998) — Not to be confused with the slasher pic of the same name about a killer snowman, though this trying-to-be-sweet family dramedy is nearly as chilling. Traveling musician Michael Keaton had little time to spend with his kid, but after he dies in a blizzard and returns as a talking snowman, he and the kid have all the quality time in the world. Well, ’til spring thaw, at least.

Santa Claus: The Movie (1985) –Whenever the major Hollywood studios spend eight or nine figures to criticize corporate greed and excess, someone is trying to sell you something. In this case, it was McDonald’s, who signed what was the biggest product-placement deal to date with the producers, and whose brand is promoted constantly throughout the movie. Apparently, no one behind this 50-million-dollar movie — an astronomical budget at the time — saw the irony of making the villain an evil toy tycoon (John Lithgow) who takes advantage of the thwarted efforts of a misguided elf (Dudley Moore) to industrialize toy production at the North Pole. Just as unwatchable as it sounds.

Black Christmas (1974) — Actually, this pioneering tale of a killer who stalks nubile coeds in a sorority house isn’t terrible, but it has a lot to answer for, having spawned pretty much the entire teen-slasher genre, as well as the subset of holiday horror films (Halloween, Silent Night, Deadly Night, et al). Directed by Bob Clark, who earned back a spot on the ”nice” list nine years later by directing the classic A Christmas Story.

Miracle on 34th Street(1994) — Richard Attenborough makes a pretty good twinkly-eyed Kris Kringle, but everything else about this unnecessary remake of the 1947 classic is off. There’s a sour taste to the whole enterprise, from charmless moppet Mara Wilson (Mrs. Doubtfire) in the Natalie Wood role, to the part where Kris whacks a rival Santa with his cane, to the botched ending that loses the clever twist from the original film.

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A church in New Jersey has reached out to football fans by encouraging them to wear football jerseys to a special Sunday service — and even do the wave between songs.

The festivities were followed by a tailgate party where hot dogs and chips were served.

Reverend Dwight Gill of the New Hope Baptist Church started the tradition as a way to draw men into his church, which is 75 percent female.

This year, the service drew almost 2,000 worshipers overall — and the church picked up 10 new male members.