The Stir By CafeMom: Blogger Jenny Erikson

9 Kid-Friendly Road Trip Songs That Won’t Drive Parents Bonkers

Fri, 03 May 2013 09:34:00 EDT

Post by Jenny Erikson

Raise your hand if you’d rather skip this year’s road trip than listen to whichever kiddie soundtrack your own little passengers are currently fixated on? Is anyone else raising his or her hand and waving it wildly? I am!

On the other hand (presumably not the one waving around like a spaz above your head), it’s not like you can just play whatever you want. Those goobers in the backseat have ears after all, and if they’re anything like my daughter, who at age 3 asked why the man singing on the radio was taking the lady’s panties off, you’ll need some tamer tunes.

So how to reconcile the parents’ need for decent music with the kids’ needs for catchy musical distraction? We find fun pop songs from present and past that don’t talk about getting it on gangsta style -- or any style for that matter. Here are nine songs that are safe for the kiddos to sing along to.

"Home," Phillip Phillips -- This sweet song from American Idol season 11 winner Phillip Phillips is folksy and fun, and seems to be about finding your own unique place in the world. Fave lyric: The trouble it might drag you down, if you get lost, you can always be found, just know you're not alone, cause I'm gonna make this place your home. "Stand By Me," Ben E. King -- I remember singing this on the bus to junior high summer camp. It’s a classic that hopefully evokes fond memories for grown-ups and new ones for the littles. Fave lyric: No, I won't be afraid, oh, I won't be afraid, just as long as you stand, stand by me. "Firework," Katy Perry -- Ok, this one might have been overplayed enough that everyone’s sick of it, but it’s a great song about finding your own sparkle. How can you not secretly love it? Fave lyric: You don't have to feel like a waste of space, you're original, cannot be replaced, if you only knew what the future holds, after a hurricane comes a rainbow. "Dancing Queen," ABBA -- I loved this song when I looked forward to being 17, I especially loved this song when I was 17, and now I love this song remembering being 17. Also, I’m kinda glad I’m not 17 anymore. Still love the song though. Fave lyric: See that girl, watch that scene, diggin' the dancing queen. "Chicken Fried," Zac Brown Band -- Ok. It’s country. Put aside your prejudices haters, and learn to love the twang. Fave lyric: Salute the ones who died, the ones that give their lives, so we don’t have to sacrifice, all the things we love ... Like our chicken fried, and cold beer on a Friday night, a pair of jeans that fit just right, and the radio up. "Lean On Me," Bill Withers -- I admit. This is another one that I happily sang slightly out-of-tune on the camp bus. I still love it. I think I need to start playing it for my kids! Hmmm ... maybe even on our next road trip. Fave lyric: Sometimes in our lives, we all have pain, we all have sorrow, but if we are wise, we know that there's always tomorrow. "King of Wishful Thinking," Newfound Glory -- This song was originally done by Go West and was featured in the movie Pretty Woman. No need to mention that to the kiddos as everyone enjoys this updated ska version. Fave lyric: I'll get over you I know I will, I'll pretend my heart's still beating, cause I've got no more tears for you, I am the king of wishful thinking. "Every Breath You Take," The Police -- We all know this song is about stalkers. Tell your kids it’s about Santa. He sees you when you’re sleeping ... even on summer road trips. Fave lyric: Every move you make, every vow you break, every smile you fake, every claim you stake, I'll be watching you "Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It," Will Smith -- Come on. The guy doesn’t even light his ciga-cigar right from Cuba-Cuba. It’s for the look, he don't light it -- he just bite it. Such a fun song for the whole fam to dance along to under their seatbelts. Fave lyric: You gotta Prada, bag with a lotta stuff in it ... (keep listening, you’ll hear it -- and you’ll love it every time).

What are your favorite grown-up songs that are appropriate for tiny ears?

Image via 55Laney69/Flickr

Breastfeeding Lowers Your Risk of Cancer But I Still Wouldn't Do It

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 09:58:00 EDT

Post by Jenny Erikson

Breastfeeding. It’s a personal decision. It’s the way God made mothers; it’s best for baby; blah blah blah. Look, in a perfect world, breastfeeding would be a beautiful, wonderful bonding experience for every mama out there, and we would all do it for just the perfect amount of time before creating a national scandal by nursing your preschooler on the cover of a magazine.

But it’s not a perfect world, and that’s why God gave us scientists and nutritionists to make formula. Or something. But if any of you moms-to-be out there are still wavering on the whole issue, a new discovery might influence your decision: Breastfeeding exclusively for six months significantly reduces your chances of getting cancer later in life.

That’s right -- we knew it was healthfully beneficial for baby, but who knew it was for mom too? Researchers have studied the effects of breastfeeding on nearly 380,000 people over 13 years and have found that exclusively nursing your baby for six months can cut your chances of dying from cancer and other diseases by 17 percent!

Part of the same study found that lowering your intake of red meat and alcohol can also contribute to better health. Yeah ... I don’t think I’m going to do that either.

It’s cool and all that yet another benefit of breastfeeding has been found, and it’s a testament to how awesome the human body is -- but breastfeeding isn’t for everyone. I nursed my first daughter for a full year, and my second for a scant two months, and I feel like I had a much better experience with little sister.

It wasn’t even a supply issue, or painful mastitis, or anything other than the fact that I simply didn’t want to. And that’s ok. It should be ok for moms to make parenting decisions that make them the best moms they can be. It’s freaking hard enough as it is; we don’t need other people making us feel like bad mothers because we didn’t do the best of everything.

So yeah, it’s a cool stat and may make the difference to some moms in deciding how to feed their babies, but it’s still fine to shake up that bottle of formula. And if you’re really worried about not getting that added cancer-fighting-whatever-it-is, there are other things you can do like eating well and exercising.

It’s all about balance.

Would this information have influenced you when you were deciding how to feed your infant?

Image via Life Mental Health/Flickr

Homeless Man Wins Lotto and Vows to Help Others

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 09:13:00 EDT

Post by Jenny Erikson

A homeless man in Illinois may have just been given the perfect opportunity to get back on his feet by winning the lottery -- literally. Pastor Greg Davis of United Pentecostal Church in Dekalb witnessed an obviously homeless man grinning over his winning ticket.

Davis, who had stopped at a gas station in Bloomington on Thursday night, said, “I was standing behind a man who was obviously homeless for a couple of different reasons you could tell he was certainly down on his luck.”

The man handed the clerk his ticket and asked what he had won. $50,000. “I thought he was having a heart attack,” Davis said. “First of all he wouldn’t say anything for a little bit he was just stunned and then he just started saying ‘Wow. Wow. Wow. Are you sure? $50,000.’” He was smiling from ear to ear.

His name is Dennis Mahurin, and he’s been homeless since 1978. He’s called the same tent home since the 90s, and friends describe him as a “very, very nice guy.” Emmarie Cross, who works at the Circle K where he bought his ticket says, “He’s one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met … I’ve been telling everybody, this couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.”

Proving that his “nice guy” image isn’t just a façade, Mahurin says that he doesn’t plan to change much about his lifestyle with his winnings. He’d rather help out his friends. “With all the other homeless people around here, I’ve made up my mind,” he said. “I’m gonna give them each $100.”

Whether or not that is a wise financial move is debatable, but it’s obvious that he’s truly following his heart and doing what he can to help others. Faith in humanity restored.

What would you do if you won $50,000?

Image via J. Money/Flickr

Latest Drive-Thru Prank Has Bloody, Headless Guy Ordering Fast Food and Terrifying Workers (VIDEO)

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 18:37:00 EDT

Post by Jenny Erikson

The drive-thru prankster is back! Rahat the Magician Prankster became Internet-famous with his notorious “invisible driver” video on YouTube. He made a costume that looked just like the seat of his car, and filmed the reactions of drive-thru workers when a car pulled up to the window with “nobody” driving it. Hilarity.

In his latest video, Rahat pulls up to the window … decapitated. The reactions of the employees to the headless driver are priceless! I promise you will laugh.

See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.

I think my favorite part is when one girl asks, “Where yo head at?” and someone replies, “He ain’t got none!” Or the woman that runs away screaming at the end. So. Flipping. Funny.

Would you laugh or scream if someone pulled this prank on you?

Image via MagicofRahat/YouTube

McDonald’s Cashier Job Requires Bachelor’s Degree … Seriously?!!

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 21:03:21 EDT

Post by Jenny Erikson

Didn’t our parents used to tell us that we’d be asking people if they wanted fries with that if we didn’t study hard in school and go to college? Well the job market is apparently so bad with the millennial generation that it may require a degree to get a job at McDonald’s.

A Massachusetts McDonald’s recently posted a job listing for a full-time cashier that listed a bachelor’s degree and 1-2 years experience as requirements. No mention of how much the job pays, but it’s doubtful that it’s enough to make a very serious dent in those student loans.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with working entry-level jobs in the fast food industry. But that’s what it is -- entry level. College is supposed to give you a leg up in life; open doors to jobs with better environments than a greasy kitchen and better pay than minimum wage. That’s why we invest in it.

What good is thousands of dollars in student debt if you’re going to land in a job that a 15-year-old could do?

Youth advocate Evan Feinberg of Generation Opportunity says, "Sadly we've taxed-and-spent our way to an economy in which there's intense competition for just about any job. Combine that with government meddling in the student loan market that has artificially inflated the cost of higher education and young people are getting screwed over even worse than the country overall."

Young people definitely seem to be getting the short end of the stick in this economy. A whooping 16.2 percent of 18-29 year olds are unemployed, if you factor in the people that have given up looking for work altogether.

America is better educated than it ever has been. Well, at least more people hold college degrees -- the “educated” bit is debatable. Nearly one in three Americans has a bachelor’s degree. Does that mean that two out of three Americans are unqualified to work at McDonald’s? Hmmm…

It’s hard to believe we’re in a recovery when the job market for those just starting out their careers with their crisp new degrees includes “McDonald’s cashier.”

Do you think this is a sign of the times?

Image via ell brown/Flickr

ADHD Diagnoses Are On the Rise: Is It Real Or Are Kids Just Lazy?

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 17:34:00 EDT

Post by Jenny Erikson

Is it just me, or does it seem like every other kid these days is diagnosed with ADHD? I’ll admit it … I used to be one of those people that thought it was a made-up “disorder” for bratty kids. Then I married someone with ADHD -- and believe me -- ADHD is real. But how real is it?

In the United States, nearly one in every five high school boys is diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Over 10 percent of school-aged children overall have it. ADHD is up 16 percent over the past five years and 41 percent over the past decade.

What gives? Some doctors believe it’s being over diagnosed. One of them is Dr. William Graf, who is a pediatric neurologist and professor at the Yale School of Medicine. “Those are astronomical numbers. I’m floored,” he said. “Mild symptoms are being diagnosed so readily, which goes well beyond the disorder and beyond the zone of ambiguity to pure enhancement of children who are otherwise healthy.”

More from The Stir: Latest Info on ADHD Could Disappoint a Lot of Moms

Enhancement of children? Yikes. What is this, Gattica?

Anyway. I think it’s simpler than that. Perhaps there’s an explosion of ADHD diagnoses these days because kids are more inactive than ever. Around 75 percent of kids don’t get enough physical activity. Basically, more kids have diagnosed ADHD because they aren’t unofficially treating it with exercise.

Exercise is a behavioral therapy for people with ADHD -- for some it may even be used as a replacement for stimulants. Physical activity releases endorphins and ups the dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin levels in the brain. These help regulate focus and attention and, as one can imagine, are in short supply in an ADHD brain. When the chemicals are present, it increases alertness and reduces the desire for new stimuli.

Kids, and boys especially, used to get a lot more physical activity than they do now. They did more chores, they played outside more, and they worked more physical jobs during off-school hours. Maybe there were a number of them that were managing their undiagnosed ADHD without even knowing it!

ADHD is real, and I think it’s also really over-diagnosed. Medication can be a huge benefit in managing severe ADHD symptoms, but it can also “vastly improve focus and drive among those with perhaps only traces of the disorder.” Some experts worry that an ADHD diagnosis and stimulant prescriptions have become shortcuts to better grades.

Sure. Some people need medication, and there shouldn’t be a stigma for that. But I’m sure a number of kids currently taking meds could’ve managed their symptoms just fine with a few laps around the track.

Do you think ADHD is being over diagnosed?

Image via Life Mental Health/Flickr

James Holmes Faces Death Penalty Because It’s the Only Just Punishment for His Crimes

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 17:42:00 EDT

Post by Jenny Erikson

Prosecutors announced Monday that they will seek the death penalty for James Holmes, the man charged with killing 12 and wounding dozens of others in last summer’s Colorado movie theater shooting spree. Arapahoe County DA George Brauchler said, “It’s my determination and my intention that in this case for James Eagan Holmes justice is death.”

The move was not unexpected, as the prosecution rejected a plea offer from Holmes’ lawyers last week. The offer would have exchanged life in prison without the possibility for parole for a guilty plea.

The New York Times reports:

The decision by the district attorney came after consultations with dozens of victims and their families. In the courtroom, some of the victims’ family members began crying at the prosecutors’ announcement.

One of those present in an overflow courtroom at the time of the announcement was Bryan Beard, whose best friend Alex Sullivan was killed in the attack. "I had a huge adrenaline rush," he said. "I love the choice, I love it, I love it ... I hope I'm in the room when he dies."

While the taking of a life is never something to be cheered, sometimes crimes are so horrific that the death penalty is the right way to go. It isn’t about bloodlust, it’s about justice and closure for the survivors, as well as for the friends and family members of the deceased.

Not to mention, it could be a deterrent to others with similar crimes in mind.

While Holmes has not yet been convicted as the perpetrator of the bloody massacre last July, little doubt remains that he was the gunman -- especially after trying for a plea bargain. He was arrested within minutes of the shooting, in the parking lot of the Century 16 multiplex in Aurora where victims lay dying. He was wearing black body armor and had a Glock handgun on the roof of his car.

Given the amount of evidence, not to mention the number of eyewitnesses, the trial and its outcome will likely hinge on the sanity issue. Holmes has not entered an insanity plea, but his attorneys have called him mentally ill and have dropped hints that their case will center around the former neuroscience student’s mental state at the time of the shooting.

Do you think the death penalty is appropriate in this case?

Image via Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office

Could Obamacare Be Wiped Out Completely on a Technicality?

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 15:35:00 EDT

Post by Jenny Erikson

It’s been three years since Congress rammed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act down our throats, and the legislation remains wildly unpopular. According to a Kaiser Health Tracking Poll last month, nearly two-thirds of Americans still have an unfavorable opinion of Obamacare.

The law made its way through the court system, with the Supreme Court eventually upholding it as constitutional last June, on the grounds that it was a tax, and not a mandate. In other words, it was decided that the government isn’t forcing Americans to buy a product they may or may not want -- it is just taxing them if they don’t.

There have been several challenges to Obamacare since, mostly around the birth control issue, as religious employers want exemption from having to provide birth control to their employees when it goes against their convictions.

Now there’s a lawsuit that might overturn Obamacare in its entirety. The Pacific Legal Foundation is challenging the law under the Origination Clause of the Constitution.

Here’s where it gets complicated and potentially shady.

The Origination Clause says that any bill that raises revenue (taxes) must originate in the House. If Obamacare originated in the Senate, as the Pacific Legal Foundation claims, the whole enchilada could be deemed unconstitutional and thrown out.

The Justice Department is arguing that the bill began as House Resolution 3590, which was originally called the Service Members Home Ownership Act. It was then sent to the Senate, where it was completely gutted and replaced with the contents of what became the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare.

So the question is: Where did the bill originate? If HR 3590 was a “shell bill” that had its contents completely replaced and even its title changed, did it really originate in the House, as the Justice Department says? Does the Senate have the power to turn something about home ownership for service members into an expansive health care entitlement program? If not, then could we reasonable argue that the legislation itself began in the Senate, even if the resolution number was the same?

Only one thing seems certain: We haven’t seen the last of the legal challenges over Obamacare.

Do you think the Pacific Legal Foundation has a case here?

Image via Fibonacci Blue/Flickr

7 Wacky Condoms in Many Strange Flavors -- Yum! (PHOTOS)

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EDT

Post by Jenny Erikson

Remember that scene in Juno when she goes to the abortion clinic, and the reception offers her boysenberry-flavored condoms, and says they make her boyfriend’s junk taste like pie? That always made me giggle.

Although I’ve never used them, I can understand the appeal of flavored condoms. Hey, safety first, and if you’re going to do that, some flavor other than K-Y might make the experience more, shall we say, appetizing.

As it turns out, you can get condoms in almost every flavor imaginable -- including bacon. That’s right, the company J&D’s Foods recently launched bacon condoms. With that inspiration, I set out to find the wackiest flavored condoms on the market.

Image via store.baconsalt.com

Planned Parenthood Argues in Favor of Infanticide in Cases of Failed Abortions (VIDEO)

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 17:31:00 EDT

Post by Jenny Erikson

Politicians in Florida are currently debating whether or not to pass the Infants Born Alive Act, which would require that physicians give medical attention to children born alive after a botched abortion.

Since Planned Parenthood has a dog in the abortion fight, they sent along Alisa Laport Snow, a lobbyist representing the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, to testify on behalf of the organization. Ms. Snow stated several times that they believe that the decision to end the life of a child born alive should be left to the woman, her family, and her physician.

Legislators in the committee hearing couldn’t seem to believe their ears, because they kept asking her to restate it.

"So, um, it is just really hard for me to even ask you this question because I’m almost in disbelief," said Rep. Jim Boyd. "If a baby is born on a table as a result of a botched abortion, what would Planned Parenthood want to have happen to that child that is struggling for life?”

"We believe that any decision that's made should be left up to the woman, her family, and the physician," said Planned Parenthood lobbyist Snow.

Rep. Daniel Davis then asked Snow, "What happens in a situation where a baby is alive, breathing on a table, moving. What do your physicians do at that point?”

"I do not have that information," Snow replied. "I am not a physician, I am not an abortion provider. So I do not have that information.”

Rep. Jose Oliva followed up, asking the Planned Parenthood official, "You stated that a baby born alive on a table as a result of a botched abortion that that decision should be left to the doctor and the family. Is that what you’re saying?"

Again, Snow replied, “That decision should be between the patient and the health care provider.”

See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.

There are not a lot of numbers available for how often this happens, likely because providers that are unscrupulous enough to kill a newborn baby aren’t the kind of people that would report it. It does happen though, as evidenced by Kermit Gosnell, the Pennsylvania abortionist currently on trial for killing newborns at his “house of horrors” abortion clinic. Does Planned Parenthood support that monster?

The fact that Planned Parenthood would even theoretically consider ending the life of a breathing, wriggling newborn is disgusting. No matter where you stand on abortion, I’d like to think that we could all agree that killing babies is wrong.

Do you think Planned Parenthood is hurting or helping the pro-choice crowd by opposing the Infants Born Alive Act?

Image via mccormackjohntws/YouTube

Michelle Obama Turns White House Easter Egg Roll Into 'Fat Camp'

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 19:18:00 EDT

Post by Jenny Erikson

The White House will host its annual Easter Egg Roll on Monday April 1 this year. More than 35,000 people will join the First Family on the South Lawn for “games, stories, and, of course, the traditional egg roll.”

Also, because we apparently can’t just let kids have fun anymore, the day’s activities will include sports courts and cooking demonstrations in accordance with Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign. Nothing says “Happy Easter” like educating families on “smart ways to incorporate healthy eating and exercise choices into their daily routines.”

I can just imagine the disappointment on some kid’s face when the Easter Bunny hands him a carrot instead of chocolate. Not everything has to be turned into an educational seminar. You know how to get kids not to care about healthy eating habits and exercising regularly? Jam it down their throats on a candy-holiday.

It’s not like parents are really going to listen to any of the cooking lessons anyway -- they’re at the White House, and they’re trying to keep track of their kids while vying for a chance to shake the president’s hand all the while hoping that no one has a melt down and embarrasses them in such a public, important setting.

The best way to teach is by example. You don’t have to explain everything as you do it -- you just do it. As I write this, I’m at Chick-fil-A, because it’s spring break over here and I didn’t have a sitter today and my kids were bouncing off the walls. They ate their chicken nuggets, some waffle fries, and small milkshakes. Yes, fries and shakes! They are currently wearing themselves out in the play structure while I tap away on my keyboard, glancing up occasionally to make sure they’re not crying or bleeding.

I didn’t have to sit down and explain calories or making healthy decisions or anything to them. I just provided them with the opportunity to have fun. I gave them their chicken first so they wouldn’t fill up on fries. I sent them off to play. Done.

The best way for Michelle Obama to teach families to be healthy is not to turn the Egg Roll into “fat camp.” It’s to have a great event, with lots of healthy eating options like sandwiches on whole wheat bread or salads or fruit or whatever kind of thing they serve at functions like this. And don’t forget lots of candy -- it’s Easter after all!

Then turn the kids loose and them have a ball running around like crazy sugar-rushed maniacs. Not only will they burn off all the sugar calories, they’ll develop muscle strength and social skills as they make new friends and learn to get along in a group setting. That is healthy living, not “sports courts” and “cooking demonstrations.”

Do you think the White House should make the Easter Egg Roll more about fun than nutrition?

Image via creativedc/Flickr

Classmates Bring 'Prom' to Dying Teen's Bedside

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:45:00 EDT

Post by Jenny Erikson

A lot of teenage girls stress about prom -- who they’ll go with, what they’ll wear, etc. Katelyn Norman’s only concern was getting to experience it at all. The 14-year-old Tennessee girl has been battling bone cancer for two years, and recently found out that treatments are no longer working. So she made a bucket list and added prom to it.

Thanks to some awesome people, Katelyn got her prom. Her family contacted the school district and they planned a dance the very same week. Unfortunately, she was rushed to the hospital for breathing difficulties. This sweet girl told her teachers “the prom must go on.”

The dance did go on ... right to her hospital bedside. The hospital staff decorated her room, and more than 100 attended the “dance” at Knoxville’s East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. Her date brought her a corsage and sash, and people formed a human heart outside her window next to a limo that had come in her honor.

Katelyn still wanted the prom to go on in its original location, and it did. The prom organizer said, “That’s her; and you can’t help but feed off that energy, that life.”

Stories like this wrench your heart and give you faith in humanity all at once. This girl is dying, and she still wants to make sure her friends have a good time at the dance she can’t even go to. No one would blame her if she shut herself up and off, but instead she made a bucket list.

Friend Brandon Huckaby said that Katelyn’s insistence the dance go on even though she couldn’t attend is “another sign that she’s not giving up.” With a community pulling together to make her dreams come true, it’s obvious they’re not giving up on her either.

Next up on the bucket list? A trip to Italy. Her website GoFundMe shows that the girl is inspiring a lot of people ... nearly 80 thousand dollars has already been raised to help her accomplish her bucket list.

What an amazing girl. I hope she gets to do all the things she’s set out to do, but regardless, her life is already a miracle. It takes someone very special to inspire such faith and hope and love.

Does this story make you want to go out and do something nice for another person, or is it just me?

Image via ewan traveler/Flickr

Cult TV Show ‘Veronica Mars’ Heads to the Movies Thanks to Fans (VIDEO)

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 19:48:35 EDT

Post by Jenny Erikson

A long time ago, we used to be friends, but I haven’t thought of you lately at all … Veronica Mars, oh how I’ve missed you! In case you missed it, Veronica Mars was a show in the mid-2000s that ran for three seasons. It chronicled a teenage girl following in her dad’s gumshoe footsteps as she solved her classmates’ major and petty crimes.

The show was canceled in 2007, but has gained a cult following since then, and of course whenever you have a cult following, you have fans asking when is there going to be a movie? The wait is over and the movie is coming! The best part? The fans made it happen.

Rumors of a possible movie based on the series have been swirling for years, but they never went anywhere. Warner Brothers studio execs just didn’t think there was enough interest to warrant making the film, but Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas and star Kristen Bell pinned their hopes on their fans to fund the project.

Thomas and Bell created a Kickstarter account, and asked the fans to please please pretty please help them raise two million dollars or more so that they could make the movie. Kickstarter is a funding platform for creative projects, where anyone can share an idea for a product and ask for donations to fund its creation.

Of course, they had to get permission from Warner Brothers to do it, since they own the show. On the Kickstarter page, Thomas wrote, “They were extremely cool about it, as a matter of fact. Their reaction was, if you can show there’s enough fan interest to warrant a movie, we’re on board."

They were not let down -- within a day they had the full two million they’d asked for, and two weeks later they are up over four million. In the video posted, they asked fans to keep contributing so they can have better effects. Anyone that donates 10 dollars or more will get some sort of swag, from a pdf of the script to tickets to the premiere to a walk-on roll on the movie.

How cool is that? Of course the naysayers think this could all end in disaster, as expectations for a great movie may be doused with a low-budget film, but I think die-hard fans will just be happy to see some of their favorite characters back on screen.

Thomas hints that the plot will be centered on Veronica’s 10-year high school reunion bringing her back to the southern California town of Neptune and back into the world of crime solving. They are trying to work out the actors’ schedules so that as many of our favorite characters as possible can come back and be part of the action.

My favorite part of all of this so far is the reaction video to the first donations that they put together. Rob Thomas has an awesome reaction to the very first donation of 100 dollars, and a sleepy Kristen Bell is adorably elated as the funds keep rolling in.

See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.

Is anyone else as excited as me about this?

Image via David Shankbone/Flickr

Chris Brown and Rihanna May Act 'Like Kids' But She Needs to Use Grown Up Caution

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 17:28:00 EDT

Post by Jenny Erikson

Chris Brown opened up to Ryan Seacrest Tuesday about the time he used his girlfriend Rihanna’s face as a punching bag, and how “eternally grateful” he is that she has forgiven him. In February 2009, the R&B star punk beat the crap out of the singer and threatened to kill her. Just in case you needed a refresher.

Four years later, Brown and Rihanna are back together, and seem to want to put the past behind them. "I just tried my best to be the best man I could be over the years and just show her how remorseful and sorry I was for the incident," he told Ryan Seacrest.

A source close to Rihanna says she knows he is growing and “she loves that about her man.” She also understands his pain and that “he hurts every time he talks about what happened.” I’m just going to throw out there that it probably doesn’t hurt as bad as getting punched to a bloody pulp, but whatever.

Brown blamed his youth for the incident, saying, “Being at that young age I can tell you I was arrogant and definitely hotheaded ... everybody has a temper, but for me it was not knowing how to control it when I thought I had the world in my hands.” He continued, “I can’t go around blaming. It’s all about my responsibility and me growing up as a man.”

Later in the same interview, he said he and Rihanna “try not to be too grown” together, and try to make sure everything is fun. “It’s like we’re still kids,” he said. I just hope that Rihanna isn’t being too childlike in her trust of him, because he lost the freedom of a fun, “kiddish” relationship the moment he laid a finger on her.

Rihanna is a grown woman and free to make her own relationship decisions. If she wants to forgive Brown and give him another chance -- fine. But she needs to keep her feet on the ground and her head out of clouds when it comes to her boyfriend. He may not be beating on her at the moment, but the kid definitely still has a violent streak.

Would you give an abuser a second chance?

Image via MiKeARB/Flickr

5 Traditional Marriage Protectors Who Have Chilled Out in the Fight Against Gay Marriage

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 16:05:00 EDT

Post by Jenny Erikson

In 2008, California passed Proposition 8, which defined marriage as an institution between one man and one woman in the state’s constitution. Close to 53 percent of Californians supported the measure, which is the same percentage of Americans that voted for Obama for his historic win.

Since California is a solidly blue state, it’s pretty safe to assume that if they voted overwhelmingly to keep marriage between a man and a woman, the majority of Americans as a whole probably didn’t support gay marriage.

Over four years later, Prop 8 has reached the Supreme Court, where nine justices will decide if California has a right to define marriage in its constitution, opening up the question of whether or not any state has the right to define marriage as its residents see fit.

Surprisingly, there seems to have been a huge shift in the public perception of gay marriage, and support for the homosexual community in general has come from some very unlikely sources.

These are some of the people we never expected to see backing away from the gay marriage debate:

Senator Rob Portman is a Republican with national ambition, and was on the short list to be Mitt Romney’s VP pick last summer. The conservative politician came out in favor of gay marriage earlier this month, partly (mostly?) because his own son is gay.

Former Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman filed a friend-of-the-court brief with the Supreme Court in February supporting gay marriage. The brief included signatures of dozens of GOP supporters, including top advisors to George W. Bush, members of Congress, and former governors.

The Mormons, who took a lot of credit for Prop 8’s initial passing because of the large amount of money they poured into the campaign, seem to have changed their tune as well. While they still don’t advocate for gay marriage, they have been making strides in reaching out to the gay community. Church spokesman Michael Purdy said, “Being committed to marriage between a man and a woman does not mean that we do not love and care for all of God's children.” Even BYU, where 99 percent of the student body is LDS, is friendly to gay students.

Pope Francis, the new head of the Roman Catholic Church, argued in 2010 for the church in Argentina to support civil unions of same-sex couples.

The American public supports same-sex marriage by over 50 percent. The tides have changed over the past few years, with the estimated flip of popular opinion happening around 2011. What’s caused the shift? I’d say it’s because we’re human, and we get invested in other people’s stories. As our friends and family members have come out of the closet, it has put names and faces on something that used to be ambiguous.

Whether or not you’re in favor of changing the legal definition of marriage, it’s hard not to be compassionate to your loved ones and let them lead their own lives as they see fit. After all, we’re all just people.

Are you in favor of gay marriage?

Image via Fibonacci Blue/Flickr

School Bans Students From Having Best Friends to Avoid Hurt Feelings

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 23:02:00 EDT

Post by Jenny Erikson

In today’s edition of what-the-eff news, some British schools have banned childhood best friends. The students have been discouraged from pairing off in primary schools in Kingston, South West London, and Surrey, to spare the children the emotional pain of breaking up.

Gaynor Sbuttoni, an educational therapist, says, “They are doing it because they want to save the child the pain of splitting up from their best friend. But it is natural for some children to want a best friend. If they break up, they have to feel the pain because they’re learning to deal with it.”

Thank you, Ms. Sbuttoni! That’s some common sense right there. And let’s be honest, with a name like that, she was probably the object of some torment as a child -- and I bet having a close friend helped her deal with it. Kids are mean, man. Best friends help.

Throughout life, there will be some people you just click with, and others that you put up with. Some friends will come into your life for a season, and others will form thicker-than-blood bonds with you. My best friend and I were the only girls in large families of boys, and we often joke that God didn’t make us sisters because He knew our parents couldn’t handle us.

Many people in my life have come and gone … we’ll be close for a while, but then something happens, or we just drift apart, or whatever, and all of a sudden we’re strangers that may or may not exchange Christmas cards. Or we're frenemies. It happens.

Guess where I started learning how to deal with the emotional fallout from friend break ups? That’s right -- in elementary school. In fourth grade I was devastated (devastated!) when my best gal pal became the ‘girlfriend’ of my crush. It may have been the first time I used the B-word. Which was totally inappropriate, by the way, and yes I got in trouble, which brings me back to my point that it’s easier to learn these things as you grow up, rather than being spit out into the real world with no clue how to act like an adult.

I get some rules on exclusionary friendships in classrooms. For example, my daughters’ school has a birthday party policy that if you’re going to pass out invitations in class, you must invite everyone, or everyone of the same gender as your child. That’s fine by me. That’s just good manners. But to say you can’t have a best friend?? Ridiculous.

Kids need to learn how to form relationships with others as they grow up. Banning best friends is a recipe for disaster down the line, when we have a generation of young people with no clue how to develop relationships in a positive way, and no skills for how to handle the range of emotions that happen when one of those relationships falls apart.

There’s enough pain in this world -- let’s equip our kids with the emotional maturity to handle it.

Do you think best friends should be banned?

Image via thejbird/Flickr

Refusing to Stomp on Jesus’s Name Gets Student Banned From Class

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 17:31:00 EDT

Post by Jenny Erikson

Florida Atlantic University has recently come under fire due to a class activity in which students were asked to write “Jesus” on a piece of paper, put it on the floor in front of them, and stomp on it. It was supposed to teach something about culture and symbolism, and came from an official instructor’s manual.

Apparently this made several students uncomfortable, but one actually spoke out about the insulting and offensive nature of the assignment. Ryan Rotela, a devout Mormon, says he picked up the paper and put it back on his desk. “I’m not going to be sitting in a class having my religious rights desecrated,” he told a local news station.

Rotela complained to the instructor’s supervisor -- and was subsequently suspended from class!

The University issued an apology last Friday night, and stated that no students were forced to participate in the stomping. They also denied that anyone was punished. The prepared statement read:

“We can confirm that no student has been expelled, suspended, or disciplined by the University as a result of any activity that took place during this class.”

Except that according to a letter written by Associate Dean Rozalia Williams, Rotela has been charged with several violations of the student code of conduct, and has been barred from attending the class or even communicating with other involved with the situation. According to the letter, Rotela engaged in “acts of verbal, written or physical abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment, coercion, or other conduct which threatens the health, safety, or welfare of any person.”

“In the interim, you may not attend class or contact any of the students involved in this matter -- verbally or electronically -- or by any other means,” Williams wrote to Rotela. “Please be advised that a Student Affairs hold may be placed on your records until final disposition of the complaint.”

That seems in direct conflict with the official statement from the school saying that no one had been disciplined as a result of this incident. I’m pretty sure that being told you’ve engaged in acts of violence for refusing to stomp on Jesus is some sort of reprimand or punishment.

Rotela claims the “threatening language” referred to in the letter occurred when he told the professor, “Don’t do that again,” and said, “You’ll be hearing from me.”

The school could not be reached for further comment or clarification.

Do you think this is an appropriate assignment for college students?

Couple Goes on a Date Even Though They're 1,000 Miles Apart

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 19:09:43 EDT

Post by Jenny Erikson

Two of my really good friends are in the very early stages of a relationship. They work in the same industry and have been friends for years, but finally felt the romantic connection when they found themselves single at the same time. The catch is that they live over a thousand miles apart.

Long distance relationships are more common than ever, as travel has become cheaper and ways to communicate plentiful. Dating sites like eHarmony and Match.com make it possible to even begin a new relationship without having met in person.

Heck, it’s even possible to kinda sorta go on a date together. That’s what my friends did last week, and while they both say it wasn’t the same as being in person, it gave them an opportunity to experience something “together” and bond over it.

Here’s how it worked: He asked her if she’d like to see Verdi’s Rigoletto, which was in theatres for one night only. He found a movie theater near her playing it and bought her ticket online. Afterward they got to discuss on the phone with wine.

I asked them how it went, and they both seemed pretty smitten. She said that she felt like he had gone out of his way to do something nice for her in an effort to get closer, and he said that she was worth the extra effort of a long distance romance.

My girlfriend and I talked about how going on a movie date when you’re getting to know someone isn’t usually something we’d do, because you can’t talk. But when you can’t be together physically, all you do is talk. A movie is the perfect thing “do” with your long distance honey. She said:

In a long distance relationship, you're still going through life, talking about various goings on and saying, "I wish you were here." This was something that offered a little bit of that shared experience.

Relationships require connection, and while nothing beats being face-to-face, today’s digital world makes long distance dating possible. There are challenges (duh), but there are still ways to make each other feel special and to connect.

Of course there is one positive to going on a not-in-person date -- you don’t have to stress over the Bridget Jones dilemma of shapewear versus sexy knickers.

Have you ever been in a long distance relationship? What did you do to try to make it work?

Image via sco/Flickr

Alicia Keys' Son Has His First Crush ... On Beyonce's Blue Ivy!

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 17:35:00 EDT

Post by Jenny Erikson

Everybody say, “Awww!” In a recent interview with Access Hollywood, Shaun Robinson caught up with powerhouse singer Alicia Keys about her Set the World on Fire tour and, maybe more importantly, her son’s love life.

Keys’ 2-year-old son with husband Swizz Beatz seems to have a little crush on Blue Ivy, the toddler daughter of fellow music sensations Beyonce and Jay-Z. When asked if “little Egypt” had a crush on her, Keys laughed and said, “Someone has a crush on someone. That’s for sure.”

“Did he steal a kiss, like a quick kiss from Blue Ivy?” Shaun asked. Keys said she wasn’t sure because she wasn’t there, but she did know there was a phone call from Jay-Z later that night. She added, “He probably was just being so gentle to her and she's a little younger. So he was like giving her lots of love, which I think is so important."

How adorable is that? I love when little kids show affection to one another. I remember one time when my eldest daughter was 2, she was at the little kid snack table at church, and this little toddler boy came up to her with a cookie and said, “I got dis for you ...”

His mom and I totally melted on the spot, and it was one of many opportunities for her to praise her son on being kind and caring, and for me to teach my daughter how to show her gratitude by saying, “Thank you.”

This is a great part of parenting, isn’t it? Teaching our kids to be nice to other people, and then watching that happen. Of course there will be setbacks along the way (especially if you have more than one -- hello sibling squabbles!), but it’s nice to see your kids trying to show love to another person. And it’s especially heartwarming when it’s toward another little person.

Has your little one ever had a crush on someone?

Image via Walmart/Flickr

This Family Lives on $14,000 a Year ... Could You?

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 01:45:00 EDT

Post by Jenny Erikson

Meet the Wagasky’s, the Las Vegas family of four that lives debt-free on (wait for it) $14,000 a year. That’s just over a thousand bucks a month, folks. A scratch under $270 a week. I hate to say it, but I don’t think that even covers our grocery bill. But dad Jason and mom Danielle have found a way to make it work, and they say it makes them “happier” and “a better family.”

The frugal lifestyle began out of necessity in 2008 when Jason, a former Army sergeant, was stationed in Iraq. Danielle was left managing the home, two kids (Keigan and Libby), and the budget.

"He was gone, and I was sad,’’ Danielle said. “Then I had two children to take care of, and all of a sudden, I had to pay these bills. We'd have overdrafts on our bank because I'd be like, ‘Oh man, I forgot that bill that was supposed to come out.’ But I had already spent money."

The book America’s Cheapest Family by Steve and Annette Economides, which offers tips and advice for saving money and living debt-free, inspired her to get in gear to become financially stable.

Side note: I own this book and have lent it to several friends. It’s awesome and offers great advice and inspiration for climbing out of a financial hole.

When Jason got back from overseas, he decided to go back to school on a G.I. bill, which provided the family with $14,000 a year in living expenses. They decided to dip into their savings to pay off debts and purchase a modest, foreclosed upon, three-bedroom home for $30,000.

With careful budgeting and lots of do-it-yourself projects, they’ve managed to make it work while living $9,000 below the poverty line. Danielle details their lifestyle on her blog Blissful and Domestic, including how they use a clothesline instead of a dryer and even make their own laundry soap.

They also take advantage of community resources like the library, where they frequently check out books for their homeschooled kiddos. They pay cash for everything and keep credit cards only for emergencies.

Jason is currently applying for a job in law enforcement, so it’s likely their financial situation will soon improve, but they say they don’t plan to change the way they live.

“The American mentality is to have and want more, like, bigger is never enough,’’ Jason said. “So I think that's where we're kind of different."

Do you have any tips or tricks for staying within a limited budget?

Image via Alan Cleaver/Flickr

Ohio Football Players Charged With Raping Drunk, Unconscious Girl Say She Didn’t Say ‘No’

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EDT

Post by Jenny Erikson

What. Is. Wrong. With. People? Seriously, sometimes I wonder what is wrong with people’s heads. I think the only thing worse than intentionally inflicting pain on another person is then trying to deny or excuse it, or worse -- blaming the victim. But that might be what’s happening in the Steubenville rape case that has the nation watching.

Two high school football players, Ma’Lik Richmond (16) and Trent Mays (17), will face a judge on Wednesday for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl who might have been so passed out drunk that she couldn't even walk. The defense lawyers claim that by not saying ‘no,’ the girl gave her consent for sex.

It’s almost too unfathomable to believe, but one of the boy’s attorney’s, Walter Madison, apparently said, “There’s an abundance of evidence here that she was making decisions, cognitive choices … she didn't affirmatively say no.”

But wait, there’s more. Of course there’s more. Feel free to roll your eyes in disgust at this next line from the lawyer, in response to the victim not testifying in court:

The person who is the accuser here is silent just as she was that night, and that's because there was consent.

Just … wow. Multiple people at the party in question have stated for the record that the girl was so drunk that she threw up at least twice and had trouble walking and talking. She was also photographed being carried by the two young men now being charged with sexual assault.

Is going to a party in high school and getting so drunk you pass out a bad idea? Sure! Of course. But it in no way, shape, or form excuses the deplorable actions that these boys are accused of committing. We shouldn't have to teach our boys that violating girls is acceptable if they’re too passed out to say no! Have some common sense, and for cripe’s sake, if you make a drunken mistake at a party, own up to it like a man and don’t try to cast the blame on your victim.

My heart breaks for this girl, who witnesses say was way too far gone to realize what was happening to her, let alone give consent. Now she has to hear that it’s somehow her fault? It is not her fault if she really was practically passed out. It is never your fault when someone does anything to you without your consent or when you somehow incapacitated -- especially if it’s a sexual or violent act.

Do you think this defense is feasible or deplorable?

Image via Victor/Flickr

Arm Shaving Is One More Way Women Torture Themselves in the Name of Beauty

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 16:00:00 EDT

Post by Jenny Erikson

So apparently arm shaving is a thing. Not armpit shaving, but full on arm shaving. Ladies, knock it off, mmmkay? I already spend a ridiculous amount of time shaving, waxing, plucking, coloring, or otherwise removing or changing every hair on my body. Arm hair is the one thing I’ve never even thought to worry about.

And I’m not about to start either. Seriously you guys, please don’t make this a trend. Daily shaving of the legs and pits if I don’t want to be all prickly is bad enough. Arms? Just say no.

Leg shaving didn’t used to be a thing either, and no one complained about that. Well, maybe they did, but societal norms made lady leg hair ok. While I do enjoy smooth legs as much as the next girl, the stubble kinda makes me want to go back in time to find the bitch that started the whole trend and slap some sense into her. What were you thinking, woman??

Arms don’t need to be hairless! Say it with me: Arm hair is normal. Arm hair is to be expected. It is not weird. Be one with the fuzz on your arms and appreciate it as the only hair on your body you don’t have to fuss with. Love your arm hair and refuse to part with it. Do it for our daughters who may not want to mess with it, but fear being called hairy-armed hippies.

So hear my cry, sisters. Let’s vow to leave the arm hair alone, and maybe concentrate that energy and attention into making sure that people do some pedi work before wearing sandals in public. Because gross toenails are a thousand times more important to address than a little arm hair.

Have you ever shaved your arms? WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?

Image via Katie Tegtmeyer/Flickr

‘DWTS’ Season 16 Newbie Turns to Kirstie Alley for Advice

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 20:30:00 EDT

Post by Jenny Erikson

One of the stars on this season’s Dancing with the Stars is turning to show veteran Kirstie Alley for advice. Alley appeared on the program twice (12th and 15th seasons -- both times with Maksim Chmerkovskiy) and was only narrowly beat out of the mirrorball trophy by NFL Super Bowl champion Hines Ward. She’s now happily taking the new contestant under her wing and offering some sage advice.

Don't you want to know which Season 16 is getting a helping hand from Ms. Alley?

Wynonna Judd has found a mentor in her friend Kirstie Alley, who has been able to keep her calm through the crazy process of preparing for the show, which premiers next week on ABC. It seems as though the country music star has been suffering from the jitters, but says, “Kirtie’s become my mentor in telling me, ‘Get two buckets, get some ice, have them ready in the car when you’re done.’”

Wynonna also recently said, "I've talked to Kirstie so many times … she said if you have fun and you do everything that you're going to be doing with your heart, the rest will follow. I really believe that. She really misses [the show]."

To prepare for the show, Wynonna transformed the garage of her Nashville home into a dance studio, where she’s been relentlessly rehearsing her ballroom moves. Of course one of the side effects of all that exercise is shedding weight, a fact that I’m sure Wynonna and Kirstie have bonded over, having both famously struggled with their own weight issues.

Wynonna says she’s feeling good, but is nervous for the competition. In addition to turning to her famous friend, she’s also been looking to her fans for support.

“My fans have been saying to me, ‘You’re an incredible talent and I know you’re going to do great. Just enjoy it and relax,’” she said. “Relax? Really? In front of millions of people … OK.”

I know, easier said than done. But take a deep breath and try to have some fun. And don’t forget the ice -- your sore muscles and sore feet will thank you later.

What advice would you give a friend to help them get over the jitters?

Image via Alan Light/Flickr

Elisabeth Hasselbeck Staying for Now But She Can Do Better Than ‘The View’

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 20:14:00 EDT

Post by Jenny Erikson

Rumors have been flying that Elisabeth Hasselbeck has not been asked to return to ABC’s The View next season due to her scary right-wing ideas like life beginning at conception. Us Weekly reported last week that the conservative commentator did not have her contract renewed for next year after polling showed that viewers thought her to be “too extreme.”

But then on Monday’s show, Barbara Walters walked in arm-in-arm with the 35-year-old mom of three and announced that she isn’t going anywhere. “The truth is, we love Elisabeth … beyond that we value and appreciate her point of view,” she said. “It’s important to us because Elisabeth helps give the show perspective and balance … we have no plans for Elisabeth to leave the show.”

So is she staying or is she going? Sources say that ABC is “saving face” for both Elisabeth and the show by allowing her to leave on her own terms. The insider says that producers are “just leaving the door open for Elisabeth to announce she is leaving on her own when she’s ready … they don’t want to make her look bad and don’t want to make the show look bad for canning her … they just want to make it seem like Elisabeth decided to leave on her own when the announcement comes.”

Whether or not they’ve asked her to leave, I think it’s a good move for her. She’s been with the battleaxes other ladies for nearly a decade, and somehow she’s managed to smile through it all. That cannot be easy. Take it from someone that knows, being the lone conservative voice in a liberal-leaning venue can be vexing and sometimes even downright frustrating.

There are positive aspects, of course. It forces you to stay sharp and focused. You have to do your homework, because you need to be able to back up what you say with facts and numbers. Your mind doesn’t go into tunnel vision, because you’re constantly exposed to other people’s viewpoints that are so different from your own.

Maybe it’s the middle child in me, but sometimes it’s even fun to be a little contrarian. Especially when you’re breaking stereotypes like the GOP being composed mainly of old white guys.

That being said, I think it’s time for Elisabeth to move on from her current gig. She’s had a good run, and certainly has added some balance to a show that would otherwise be a bunch of liberals patting each other on the back (we already have that -- it’s called MSNBC), but I bet her talents could be put to better use elsewhere.

Best of luck to her, whether she stays on The View or not. And best of luck to ABC trying to keep the show going should she decide to leave. Love her or hate her, I bet there are more people that tune in to see her than tune out because of her “extreme” beliefs.

Will Elisabeth Hasselbeck’s departure from The View affect your TV-watching schedule?

Image via goodrob13/Flickr

The Beer Goggle Effect Is Finally Explained: It's All About Sex

Sat, 09 Mar 2013 21:08:00 EST

Post by Jenny Erikson

Because some people have awesome jobs, a group of researchers recently set out to study the beer goggle effect. What is it about that third or fourth shot that makes everyone around you all of a sudden more attractive?

It turns out it doesn’t. It just makes you want to have sex more, which I guess lowers your standards. Dr. Amanda Ellison of Durham University in the U.K. says that, “We still see others basically as they are … there is no imagined physical transformation -- just more desire.”

Ellison’s new book, Getting Your Head Around the Brain, explains that the desire to mate never goes away, even at very high levels of intoxication. You know what does go away the more you drink? Inhibitions. Alcohol shuts down the portion of the brain that keeps us from acting on our impulses.

Essentially, when we’re sober, our brains are smarter about the mating selection process, and we are more discerning of potential sexual partners. Ellison says we are “constantly weighing up questions of looks versus personality in our search for the right soul [mate].” When we drink, we’re more interested in the sex than in finding a life partner.

Also when we drink, we’re more likely to be more assertive with a come-hither attitude -- regardless of our levels of inebriation. A study published in the British Journal of Psychology last year showed that people were more confident in their abilities even if they only believed they were tipsy.

The researchers gave a group of people non-alcoholic beverages, but told half of them that they had the real thing. They then asked individuals to give a speech and rate themselves on it. The ones that were made to believe they were intoxicated gave themselves better scores than those that knew they were sober.

The researchers behind the study noted, “the mere belief that one has consumed alcohol increases self-perceived attractiveness.”

So basically drinking doesn’t give us beer goggles per se, but it does take away some discernment when it comes to picking sexual partners. Combine that with a confidence boost from an increase in self-perception, and you’ve got a recipe for hook-ups.

Have you ever felt the effect of beer goggles?

Image via A of DooM/Flickr