This is bound to trip a few people up. The town of Fort Lee, New Jersey has banned texting while walking! Offenders will now be slapped with an $85 jaywalking ticket if they're caught. Local officials say the law is an effort to make the streets of Fort Lee safer; there have already been several fatal accidents this year involving distracted pedestrians. Some residents have complained that the law is unfair and that the fine is excessive. Clearly they've never been slammed into by someone too busy looking at their phone to watch where they're going.
UPDATE: The Fort Lee Chief of Police has clarified that the new law will only apply to people who are texting while jaywalking.
What do you think of this law? Do you think the fine is too high? Have you ever walked into someone/something because you were texting?
BATTLE OF THE SEXES
An Arizona high school baseball team opted to forfeit a championship because there was a female player on the opposing team. Our Lady of Sorrows Academy in Phoenix was slated to go up against Mesa Prep for the ACAA state title. But the Catholic school decided that the game would be in violation of their policy to teach boys and girls separately. It wasn't the first time Mesa Prep second base player Paige Sultzbach was discriminated against- she spent the last two games against Our Lady of Sorrows on the bench because of the school's policy.
What do you think of Our Lady of Sorrows' policy about teaching boys and girls separately? What do you think of their decision to forfeit the game? Have you ever been the only male/female on a sports team?
RIGHT ON THE MONEY
In these uncertain times, some of your best assets could be hanging in your closet! More and more well-heeled women are taking their expensive handbags and other accessories to local pawn shops in order to pay their bills. Despite its seedy reputation, pawning is on the rise- and with good reason. They present a good option for people who need cash fast but don't want to part with their beloved possessions forever. Instead of selling their Birkin bags and Cartier watches on eBay, they can hand them over to a pawnbroker, who in exchange gives them a loan and keeps their items as collateral. Customers are given a few months to pay back the money, at which time they get their stuff back. Of course, if they don't come up with the dough in time, the store gets to keep their goods.
Would you ever pawn your pricey items for cash? What would you pawn? What's the most desperate thing you've ever done for money?
THANKS FOR NOTHING
You could say this group of diners got their just desserts! A family in Houston, Texas says they were locked inside a restaurant after refusing to pay a mandatory 17% tip on their bill. The customers requested that the automatic gratuity be removed from their check because they received poor service, but they claim the restaurant staff refused- then locked the doors and demanded they pay up. They even called the cops! Eventually, the diners agreed to pay the tip, although we doubt they'll be returning to that particular restaurant any time soon. So much for service with a smile…
Do you think a mandatory gratuity for large groups is fair? Why or why not? What's your personal tipping policy?
JUST SO YOU KNOW
Thanks to the new crop of celebrity wines, you can sip like a star! Drew Barrymore is the latest celeb to lend her name to a brand of vino, joining Francis Ford Coppola, Dave Matthews, Madonna and others. Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie is set to release her own wine soon as well. But these famous monikers come with a price- and some experts say it's not worth it to pay extra for star power when it comes to wine.
What do you think of celebrity wine? Have you tried any? Do famous names and celebrity endorsements make you more or less likely to purchase things?
Here's a friendly reminder to put in a rush order on some flowers…this Sunday, May 13th is Mother's Day! Mother's Day in America was founded in 1908 by Anna Jarvis and became an official holiday in 1914, under President Woodrow Wilson. In other countries, Mother's Day dates back to various traditional celebrations and festivals. In the U.S., Mother's Day is the biggest holiday for long-distance telephone calls and the third most popular holiday for church attendance after Christmas Eve and Easter. It is also extremely commercially successful, and is one of the biggest days for sales of flowers, greeting cards and other gifts.
OFFICE POLITICS
President Obama's gay marriage endorsement is all anyone's talking about this week (well, that and John Travolta's extracurricular activities…). But even in an election year, experts say talking about politics at work is generally a no-go. While office cultures and atmospheres vary, you're almost always better off keeping your opinions to yourself. After all, political conversations often deal with sensitive issues, and it's possible your coworkers could feel uncomfortable or that relationships could become strained. Do you really want to be that guy who's always getting up on a soapbox about something? No, you don't. For everyone else's sake.
What do you think about discussing politics at work? Do you do this? Do any of your coworkers? What other topics of conversation are off-limits at the office?
THROWING SHADES
From now on, library-card-carrying moms in Brevard County, Florida will have to get their S&M porn elsewhere. Smash hit erotica novel 50 Shades of Greyhas been banned from all 17 of the local library branches! Officials say the book has been taken off the shelves because it "doesn't meet selection criteria," a.k.a. it's simply too hot for the library. The book, which is the first installment in a three-part series, is still as popular as ever, with millions of copies sold across all formats. While the racy novel may be nowhere in sight, Brevard County libraries still stock such sex-filled classics as The Complete Kama Sutra, Fear of Flying and Tropic of Cancer. We just hope people check these books out and enjoy them in the privacy of their own homes.
Have you read 50 Shades of Grey? What did you think? Do you think the book deserves to be banned? What's the most erotic book you've ever read?
PHYS. DREAD
It turns out that embarrassing uniform you had to wear in high school P.E. really might have scarred you for life! Several recent studies suggest many women find gym class so traumatic, it puts them off exercising as adults. In a survey, more than 75% of girls said they feel self-conscious about their bodies- and another 25% said gym class forces them to put their bodies on display in front of their peers. Plus, nearly 50% said sweating made them feel unfeminine. A separate survey found that 90% of women older than 30 felt uncomfortable about working out in front of other people because of low self-esteem and lack of body confidence. Just what we need…another excuse not to work out.
How did you feel about gym class in high school? Did you ever come up with elaborate excuses to get out of gym? Do you ever feel embarrassed or self-conscious about exercising in front of other people? Why or why not?
IT'S IN THE BAG
You could be toting some nasty bacteria in your earth-friendly grocery bag. When a group of soccer players in Oregon got sick with norovirus, a gastrointestinal bug, health officials traced the infection back to a reusable shopping bag which had been in the room of the first person to fall ill. The norovirus pathogens spread to the bag, which contained snacks that the other team members ate the next day. Further research has discovered a large amount of bacteria on such reusable bags- and it only gets worse the longer the bags sit in the trunks of cars, which they often do. The simple solution? Washing your shopping bags! Even a quick spritz of Lysol kills 99% of germs.
Do you use reusable shopping bags? Do you wash them? How often? Do you use paper or plastic bags at the grocery store?
JUST SO YOU KNOW
What a pain in the butt! Forty percent of 911 calls in New York City are the result of accidental pocket dials! In 2010, there were four million butt dials to 911 in NYC, resulting in 3.5 million police cars being dispatched to homes when there was no emergency. While it may seem like a huge waste of time and resources, some say the NYPD hasn't addressed the problem because the shorter-than-average calls improve their overall response time.
Have you ever had an awkward pocket-dialing experience? Have you ever accidentally called 911?
Try as they might, fast-food restaurants just can't seem to get this healthy-eating thing quite right. This week, Domino's introduced a new pizza with a gluten-free crust, which seems like it would be great news for people with celiac disease (an autoimmune condition that can cause damage to the digestive system). Unfortunately, the chain warns that people with celiac disease probably shouldn't eat it, since they can't guarantee the pizzas won't come into contact with any gluten at all. The new pies are a safe bet for people with gluten sensitivity. In related news, McDonald's is touting Fruitizz, the new fruit-flavored soft drink they're adding to their kid's menu, as healthy…despite the fact it contains a whopping 50 grams of sugar and 200 calories! The company insists the sugars in Fruitizz are naturally-occurring and the beverage counts as one daily serving of fruit. But health experts say the drink could cause tooth decay in kids. All this seems to prove that if you're trying to eat healthily, you shouldn't be eating at fast-food restaurants.
What do you think of these restaurants' latest efforts at offering healthy food? Should fast-food chains be expected to offer more nutritious foods? Is there even such a thing as "healthy fast food?"
SHARING IS CARING
This explains a lot about the many stupid and pointless Facebook status updates we've seen (and we've seen A LOT). A study found that oversharing- which social networking definitely encourages- actually makes us feel good. In fact, talking about ourselves triggers the same sort of brain reaction as pleasure-producing things like money, food and sex! Many people say they share mundane details about their lives online because they crave the reward- attention, a reaction from others, even simply knowing someone is listening. We don't know about you, but we'd choose money, food or sex over talking about what we had for lunch on Twitter any day.
Does oversharing online make you feel good? Why or why not? What do you think of other people who overshare on Facebook or Twitter? What's the most pointless or stupid status update/tweet you've ever seen?
NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT
Apparently young adults these days have never heard the saying, "beggars can't be choosers." Despite the state of the economy and the job market, more than 20% of recent college grads say they wouldn't take a job where they weren't allowed to check their personal email or take personal phone calls. What's more, 33% say they don't plan to stay at any one job for more than three years, and 91% said they'd leave a job after one year if they didn't like it. That's not all- these 20-somethings have quite a wish list when it comes to employment. Their must-haves include health benefits, job security, growth opportunity, flexibility and high salary. Good luck out there, kiddos!
Would you take a job where you weren't allowed to take personal calls or check personal email? Are you allowed to do these things at your job? Should companies allow people to do these things? How long would you stay at a job you didn't like before quitting? What are your job must-haves?
JUST SO YOU KNOW
Turns out it's not just chicks who are clicking! Men are now shopping online 20 to 30% more than their female counterparts. Cyber-shopping is especially popular among wealthy guys, who are filling their digital shopping carts with luxury items like clothes and accessories. Ladies, don't get too excited- 84% of them are shopping for themselves.
Men, do you shop online? What do you buy? How often do you shop online? Women, what about you?
Is it any surprise we're all addicted to our cell phones? A survey found that 66% of Americans say they're afraid of being without their phones- an affliction experts are calling "nomophobia," as in "no mobile phone phobia." Just a few years ago, only 54% of people said they were afraid of losing their phones, which means the cell phone obsession is on the rise. Women and younger people are the most likely to suffer from nomophobia. The study also revealed that people check their phones 34 times per day on average. Three quarters of people admitted to bringing their cell phones with them into the bathroom. Talk about TMI!
Do you think you're addicted to your phone? Are you afraid of being without it? How many times per day do you check your phone? Do you use your cell phone while in the bathroom?
PRACTICE SAFE TEXT
It's too late for Anthony Weiner…but this new app makes sending scandalous texts a lot safer. Snapchat allows you to set an expiration date on your photo messages, so they self-destruct seconds after the recipient views them. You can set your messages to automatically delete anywhere from one to 10 seconds after they're opened. Or you could, you know, not send naked photos of yourself in the first place.
Do you ever send racy photos via text message? Would Snapchat come in handy for you? Has sexting or sending sexy photos ever gotten you in trouble?
THE WAR ON SWEETS
First it was the New York parents trying to get rid of ice cream carts in local parks, and now this?! Schools across the country are banning the sale of unhealthy treats- that means no bake sales or Girl Scout cookies. In fact, some schools are even prohibiting kids from bringing cupcakes into class on their birthdays. The new rules, which are part of an effort to address childhood obesity, vary from state to state; the federal government plans to set their own standardized nutritional regulations for schools this year. Look on the bright side, kids- it's almost summer vacation.
Do you think banning the sale of sweets in schools is a good idea? Why or why not? Did you bring in sweet treats on your birthday when you were in school?
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS
It may seem that make-up sex is the one redeeming quality of having a big, blow-out fight with your partner. Not according to some psychologists, who claim it's actually more like rewarding bad behavior and encouraging future arguments. They say make-up sex, no matter how passionate it may be, is all about drama rather than true intimacy and love. Sounds like somebody's not getting any.
What's your take on make-up sex? Do you think it's a good way to resolve a fight with your partner? Do you think it could be unhealthy for your relationship?
JUST SO YOU KNOW
Everybody wants to jump on the social networking bandwagon…even our pets! MatchPuppy.com is a new website that's sort of like Facebook for dogs- it helps pet owners connect and organize puppy play dates with each other. Bonus for singles- you never know who you might meet!
Would you ever use MatchPuppy.com? Do you ever take your dog on doggie playdates?
Victoria's Secret has come out with a list of its picks for sexiest stars. Topping the list as "Sexiest Actress" is Charlize Theron. They also picked the sexiest celebrity bodyparts. Stacy Keibler has the "Sexiest Legs;" Jennifer Lawrence has the "Sexiest Eyes;" while Jessica Chastain has the "Sexiest Smile." The "Sexiest Lips" are found on Amanda Seyfried. And while Amber Heard has the "Sexiest Curves," Annalynne McCord is credited with the "Best Bikini Body." Finally, Beyonce is the "Sexiest Mom," with Britney Spears being the "Sexiest Songstress."
Millions of Facebook users either don't know about the site's privacy controls or simply choose not to use them. In fact, nearly 30% of Facebook users share all their wall posts with people other than their friends. It may be that the site's privacy policies are just too hard to understand- another study found they're more complex than some credit card agreements! In other social networking news, Facebook just introduced a new policy that has users up in arms (what else is new?). From now on, comments that the site deems "irrelevant" will be blocked. Users are encouraged to "make sure [their comments] contribute to the post in a positive way." The new rule is an attempt to reduce abuse and spam, but it's come under fire since several users have had their inoffensive comments blocked, while others have complained of censorship.
Do you use the privacy controls on Facebook? How much of your Facebook activity do you share and how much do you keep private? Do you find the privacy policy confusing? What do you think of the site's new comment-blocking policy?
THE NOT-SO-DIRTY 30S
Let's talk about sex! A survey found that 30-somethings are the least satisfied with their sex lives compared to any other age group. Apparently money worries and childcare stress are killing the mood. Many people in that age group also blamed tiredness, depression and low body confidence for their lack of sex drive. At least they have something to look forward to- people in their 50s and 60s report having the best sex!
How old are you? Are you satisfied with your sex life? Why or why not? What kills the mood for you? Who do you think has the best sex? Why?
TALK TO THE ANIMALS
Dog lovers know there's nothing crazy about talking to your pets. And the same goes for video chatting with them! Pet parents who feel bad about abandoning their furry friends all day while they're at work are now using Skype to check in with them. By enabling the service's automatic call pick-up feature, people can ring up their pets to see what they're doing, no matter where they are. Still feel guilty about leaving Fido at home alone all day? You could always spring for Dog TV.
Would you ever Skype with your dog? Do you talk to your pet? Do you feel bad about leaving your pets alone during the day? Do you ever leave the TV on to entertain them when you're not there?
SAY YIKES TO THE DRESS
What recession? The average American family with teenagers will spend a whopping $1,000 on prom this year, with people in the South and Northeast spending even more! That's more than a 30% increase over last year's figure. From dresses, shoes and accessories to beauty salon appointments (hair, nails and spray tans) to photo packages, limos and after-parties, it's easy to see how quickly the expenses add up. These parents are really in for it when their daughters get married.
How much did you spend on the prom? How much do you think is reasonable to spend? Did you go to multiple proms? What are your favorite prom memories?
JUST SO YOU KNOW
OK, so maybe you wouldn't eat out of the garbage can (…or would you?), but most of us can admit we've abided by the three-second rule, telling ourselves a piece of food dropped on the floor is safe to eat as long as it wasn't down there for longer than three seconds. Well, now science has the answer! In a study, foods high in sugar and salt- especially processed foods- were found to pick up the least bacteria when dropped on the floor. Stickier items, like cooked pasta and dried fruit, were found to have bacteria growth after just three seconds. You've been warned.
Do you believe in the three-second rule? Have you ever eaten something out of the garbage can?
That burns! Patricia Krentcil, the New Jersey mom accused of taking her five-year-old daughter into a tanning bed, is lashing out at her critics, accusing them of being "jealous, fat and ugly." The super-bronzed Krentcil has been getting roasted in the media lately, as much for her own leathery face as for her questionable judgment when it comes to parenting. Still, she maintains that she never put her child in a tanning bed and that she and her family are being treated unfairly. As for her claims that we're all just jealous of her…we think she and Samantha Brick would be the best of friends.
Do you think Krentcil is being treated unfairly in the media? Do you think people are just jealous of her? What do you think of women (or men) who claim that people don't like them because they're jealous of their looks? Do you believe Krentcil took her daughter tanning, or do you think this is all a big misunderstanding?
CASH AND CARRY
Another day, another story of an airline nickel-and-diming their customers. Spirit Airlines announced that they're going to start charging passengers a whopping $100 for carry-on luggage. Travelers who pay in advance- at the check-in counter or airport kiosk- will only have to pay the original $45 fee, but those who pay at the gate will be subject to the new higher price. The airline will charge for bags that need to be stowed in the overhead bins; bags that fit under the seat will be free. The airline is also imposing several other new fees in an effort to increase revenue. Spirit is one of two airlines that charge for carry-on bags (Allegiant Air is the other).
Do you think this is fair? What do you think about the many airline fees in place these days? Do you fly less because of it?
BODY OF WORK
While we don't yet have a cure for cancer, here's some great news- the FDA has approved a "cure" for cellulite! Despite the fact that cellulite is a naturally-occurring condition that affects 90% of women regardless of their weight (and is not in any way a disease), now you can shell out thousands of dollars to fix your "cottage cheese thighs." Cellulaze is a laser treatment that zaps fat cells using a local anesthetic and can be completed in a single doctor's visit. Funny, they've also yet to find a cure for excessive vanity.
Do you have cellulite? Have you ever tried to get rid of it using lotions, supplements etc. (which, by the way, have been proven not to work)? Would you try Cellulaze?
AMERICAN IDIOT
Well, this is embarrassing. A study found that one out of three Americans would fail the U.S. citizenship test! The questions people were most likely to get wrong were about the Constitution and the functions of the three branches of government. Participants performed best on questions relating to geography and U.S. history. It seems American citizens really need to hit the books- 97% of immigrants who apply for U.S. citizenship are able to pass the exam. Test your knowledge with a few sample questions here.
Do you think you could pass the U.S. citizenship test? Do you think it's bad that so many Americans don't know about their own government? Do you think the U.S. citizenship exam is too difficult? Do you think it's fair?
JUST SO YOU KNOW
Guess this is just how the cookie crumbles! Fig Newtons have undergone a name change- they're now known simply as Newtons. Nabisco, which makes the 100-plus-year-old cookie, says the new name reflects the fact that Newtons come in a variety of flavors other than fig.
On Wednesday, Ashton Kutcher debuted a new commercial for Popchips, in which he played a variety of characters, including a biker, a hippie and an Indian guy named Raj. Well, the ad was not well received by the Indian community, who complained that Ashton in brownface makeup was racist. One blogger, Anil Dash, called it, "a hackneyed, unfunny advertisement…. with the entire punchline being that he's doing it in a fake-Indian outfit and voice." He then added, "I think the people behind this Popchips ad are not racist. I think they just made a racist ad." Well, Popchips heard the complaints and immediately pulled the commercial. Said CEO Keith Belling, "we did not mean to offend anyone. I take full responsibility and apologize to anyone we offended."
BBC BANS COHEN'S THE DICTATOR!
Sacha Baron Cohen is going to have a tough time promoting his new movie The Dictator in the UK. The Sun reports the BBC has banned Cohen from appearing on several talk shows, including The Graham Norton Show, because he'll only appear in character as Admiral General Aladeen. "Our chat shows thrive on the spontaneous banter between guests and the presenter, something you don't get when people come on as a character," said a spokesperson. "We'd love to have Sacha on as himself." Earlier, Sacha, as Aladeen, told The Sun that while he is a "huge admirer of state-sponsored censorship, the BBC banning me from their meager channels is an outrage." While Cohen isn't currently scheduled to be on the BBC as Aladeen, a spokesperson for the network called Aladeen's "banned" comments, "tongue-in-cheek."
Q-In Sacha's hit film Borat, which former Baywatch star was he obsessed with? Pamela Anderson
LINDSAY & SAM BACK ON!?
Is Lindsay Lohan getting back together with her ex? Well, X17 reports that earlier this week, Lindsay was spotted looking quite cozy at a New York club with former girlfriend Samantha Ronson. According to a source, the exes were together at Le Baron in Chinatown on Tuesday, where they were seen "whispering and laughing," and eventually "left the club holding hands." The insider adds, "They didn't care who saw them, and they definitely seem to be back on. It was just like the old days – they couldn't get enough of each other."
q-In November, 2011, Ronson released an album. Do you know what it was called? Chasing the Reds
JAGGER TO HOST SNL!
Mick Jagger will host the season finale of Saturday Night Live, airing May 19th. The Rolling Stones frontman will also be the night's musical guest. This is the first time the 68-year-old Jagger has hosted the show, although he has been the musical guest on two other occasions.
Q- In 2008, the Rolling Stones released a documentary, Shine A Light, which was directed by which Oscar-winning director? Martin Scorsese
BACHELOR HOST NOW A BACHELOR!
ABC may soon be able to find a new Bachelor candidate right under their noses. Us Weekly reports that Bachelor host Chris Harrison has separated from his wife of 18 years, Gwen. The couple me as students at Oklahoma City University and have two children, a son Joshua, 9 and a daughter, Taylor, 7. "Though we have made this incredibly difficult decision to separate, our love and mutual respect remain, and we look forward to sharing in the lives of our wonderful children," they said in a joint statement. "They happily remain committed and caring friends with great love and mutual admiration for each other."
DEMI ANNOUNCES NEW TWITTER NAME!
Demi Moore has revealed her new twitter handle. After splitting from husband Ashton Kutcher she decided to stop using the handle @mrskutcher, and is now going as @JustDemi. "So hard finding a name that was fun somewhat playful and available. So for now it will be justdemi It could grow on me!," she tweeted yesterday. "Thanks everyone for your help in finding my new name!" and cited @JMJ4ny as the person who suggested the choice."
