It's not as expensive as hockey.

Part of the problem as well (as my parents found out first hand) is that with football and other sports you can generally figure out if the kid has the slightest talent or affinity for the game before investing in all the equipment. Hockey, not so much.

Okay, looking at the Kwanzaa cake was another mistake. I'm nauseated again. Though that may not have anything to do with my being sick.

At least the Chanukah cake is just cake+frosting!

Except for the part where marshmallows aren't kosher and the Star of David decoration is completely whacked.

ETA: But I will concede that at least she didn't try to get into the "spirit" of things and deep fry the bastard.

There are vegan marshmallows which are kosher.

Which doesn't make the cake any less horrifying, but at least it's not traif?

Or decorated with the foil off chocolage gelt, or covered in lox, or any number of things!

There are vegan marshmallows which are kosher.

This is true, but that would require effort on her part.

Hmm. Neither one of those is on the list to begin with.

I kinda figured, but my way was more fun. What is the list?

Also, I'm still kind of terrified by the eight-sided Star of David.

Moving away from the skeery cakes for a moment, these origami wonton cranes are really cool.

Duke University students: you should not ‘just sit around and masturbate’

A Duke University study on sex toys has raised the ire of the University’s Catholic Center director. But not because he’s worried about the 18-year-old participants who might be breaking vows of celibacy, and doing it with handcuffs and vibrators. Instead, Father Joe Vetter says he’s concerned that the study will encourage young women to “just sit around and masturbate” instead of hitting up singles night to track down their future husband.

The study, being conducted by a behavioral economist and student health workers, was advertised around the Duke campus for much of October. Researchers were interested in female attitudes towards sex and sexually-themed “toys” and paraphernalia. Women filled out a survey and took part in a one-hour meeting, where they were asked to view sex toys and discuss them with other participants. As incentive to donate their time, the women were all offered a gift bag, and discounts on the items – a sex-themed Tupperware party, if you will.

You’d think Father Vetter would be pleased: student health workers say they hope the study will shed light on whether sex toys can be a useful tool in curbing campus promiscuity. But no:

“I’m concerned about promiscuity also,” Vetter said. “And to be honest, I don’t have the solution. … My concern is these students are in this developmental phase, and I don’t think it’s a good developmental practice to just tell somebody to just sit around and masturbate. I don’t think that promotes relationships.”