Obscanity: You'll know it when you see it

The Forward: “Israel Is Slightly Smaller Than China,” and Other Misconceptions

I once gave my university journalism students a multiple-choice exam with this question: What is the size of Israel? Quite a few chose “slightly smaller than China.” One of my best students interviewed a former Auschwitz inmate, and in her article she identified him as a “survivor of a concentration campus.” “Is ‘campus’ a typo?” I asked. She responded no. Today she’s a reporter on an NPR affiliate.

Gay Unions Shed Light on Gender in Marriage

For insights into healthy marriages, social scientists are looking in an unexpected place.

A growing body of evidence shows that same-sex couples have a great deal to teach everyone else about marriage and relationships. Most studies show surprisingly few differences between committed gay couples and committed straight couples, but the differences that do emerge have shed light on the kinds of conflicts that can endanger heterosexual relationships.

Dan Savage – Wombs To Let:

A state constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage in California – and forcibly divorce thousands of gay and lesbian couples that will have married between June 17 and November – isn’t the only problematic constitutional amendment being placed before voters this fall. Colorado voters are being asked to approve a constitutional amendment that will make a fertilized egg – not an implanted egg, just a fertilized egg -a “person” under the law.

I don’t know about you, but I’m just dying to read Scott McClellan’s tentative “expose” of the Bush White House, entitled What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington’s Culture of Deception. I’m sure Mr. McClellan has lots to say – just be wary of how he says it; the man is still a conservative and he still lied to Americans on a daily basis for nearly three years. Whatever he says about his own lack of information, you KNOW there were countless times when he looked the White House press corps in its zoom-lens eye and flat-out lied.

More once I read the book!

Obscanity is back! Stay tuned for more information and new developments!

So your kitty can travel in style…

NancyKay Shapiro – Let’s all eat trafe for Chanukah!

When will markets LEARN?

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Not to sound naive, but when we first heard this on NPR the other day, I thought they were talking about something that happened 40 years ago. Then I realized this was recent, and my stomach turned over. What the hell? Has this country evolved at ALL?

I am a huge Cranium fan, and although I tend to be a purist when it comes to “new editions,” I have to admit that Cranium Turbo Edition really is fabulous. Not only do the usual activity categories return in the Turbo edition, but this version also includes some fun new categories, including Team Gnilleps, Zooma (identify objects from close-up photos), and Sideshow (one team member uses another as a puppet to act out the clue). This version of Cranium includes an electric timer and selector (rather than a multi-sided die), and includes “turbo” cards in which there are three tasks which must be completed rather than one.

I still like the original edition, but this Turbo Edition is certainly refreshing after so many years of playing the first Cranium game.

I found this site called BeautyRiot.com a couple of weeks ago, and had an absolute ball playing around with the Virtual Makeover feature. You upload your own photograph and you can add makeup and hairstyles. You’d think it would look fake, but it’s actually pretty accurate, because before you do anything, you align the indicators up exactly with the parts of your face, so that when you put on “lipstick,” it’s filled in exactly within the lines of your lips. It’s fun if you have some time to kill. 🙂

I’ve decided that I want to bring my readers more than just deals and coupons, so in addition to product reviews, I’m going to start posting real blog entries with links, news and views from around the web. I hope you’ll enjoy the new obscanity.com content! Don’t forget to check back for updates and new deals and coupons!

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