NAUGHT - NAUGHT ZAC

ZAC EFRON HAS A HICKEY:

We don't know when this happened, but ZAC EFRON showed up in public the other day with a HICKEY. Obviously, we assume he got it from that nasty VANESSA HUDGENS. Check it out . .

DON'T MAKE THIS GUY MAD

A GUY FOUND OUT HIS GIRLFRIEND WAS CHEATING ON HIM . . . SO HE CRUSHED THE OTHER GUY'S CAR WITH A 13-TON EXCAVATOR:

Recently, 30-year-old Martyn Wright of Hartington, U.K. learned that his girlfriend . . . 24-year-old Linda Kirkham . . . was cheating on him with his childhood friend . . . a 22-year-old guy named Anthony Simpson. So Martyn . . . who works as a construction equipment contractor . . . climbed into a 13-ton excavator, and used it to absolutely DESTROY Anthony's Toyota Land Cruiser.

On Wednesday, Martyn was released on a 12-month conditional discharge, and ordered to pay Anthony $4,000 for the damages. But according to Martyn, "I've no regrets about what I did. [Anthony] deserved it." (--Yeah he did. Good work, Martyn!) (Daily Mail)

THE ELECTION HAS GONE TO THE DOGS

BARACK OBAMA LOOKS LIKE A BOXER AND JOHN MCCAIN LOOKS LIKE A MALTESE:

My friends, it's the moment you've all been waiting for. So, without further ado, I'm happy to announce the winners of the "My Dog Looks Like OBAMA or MCCAIN" photo contest. Yes, you heard that correctly. The "My Dog Looks Like Obama or McCain" photo contest.

(--The dog that most closely resembles Obama is a boxer named Amore Francine from Mt. Clemens, Michigan.) (--And the dog that most closely resembles McCain is a Maltese named Ginny Doll from Rochester Hills, Michigan.)(Rover411)

- I just don't see it for Obama or McCain.. No matter - GET OUT & VOTE!!

THE PERSON OF YOUR DREAMS COULD BE NEXT DOOR

THERE'S A NEW ONLINE MAP THAT WILL HELP YOU FIND A DATE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD:

Would you like to find a date . . . or maybe just a random hookup . . . but you don't want to travel all the way across town for it? If so, you should check out a new website . . . called HookUpMaps.com . . . which plots the locations of every Craigslist personal ad on a map of your city. (--I know what you're thinking . . . but, no, ads for "Erotic Services" are NOT included on the map. It's strictly for dating. Sorry.) (Fleshbot) -- http://hookupmaps.com/

JULIANNE HOUGH

JULIANNE HOUGH WILL BE OFF "DANCING WITH THE STARS" FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS:

JULIANNE HOUGH had "minor surgery" yesterday . . . after being diagnosed with endometriosis, which is a painful condition caused when tissue growth happens outside particular organs . . . where it isn't supposed to grow. (Endometriosis is usually centered around the reproductive organs . . . and it's something only women get. Also, it can be passed down GENETICALLY.)

Before the surgery, Julianne blogged about the procedure . . . to further clear the air about what exactly she'll be going through. --She wrote, quote, "Actually what happened is last week was more than just a tummy ache. Obviously. It turned out I ruptured a cyst that was on my ovary. I didn't know, but I have endometriosis. --"I've apparently had it for a long time, because I've had this pain for about the last five years. It hasn't been as bad. Up till last week, I let it go and I was always too busy to get it checked out."

Julianne believes she'll be fully recovered in a week. However, she doesn't think she'll be able to dance for TWO weeks. Her partner, CODY LINLEY, will be matched up with dancer Edyta Sliwinska until Julianne returns. --Julianne said her appendectomy is being done as a precautionary measure. She wrote, "They want to clean out the cysts and take out my appendix, too, because later on it can be affected by the cysts."

Julianne says that when she first got sick and had to be rushed to the hospital last week, her management and other people around her told her to LIE about what was wrong with her. And initially, she kind of did. She basically said she just had a bad stomach ache. --But she said she decided to come clean so she could be a ROLE MODEL to other girls. She says, "Maybe some girl out there won't wait too long like I did. I'm just glad I'm taking care of it now because I want to have babies some day. I don't want to jeopardize my health." (--It's not clear WHY people wanted her to lie. It's not like it's an STD or something. Anyway, if you're interested, you can read her ENTIRE blog, here . . .)

http://thebiz.fancast.com/2008/10/julianne_hough_i_have_endometr.html#more

INFO TO HELP YOU DECIDE

TEN TIPS FOR VOTERS WHO CAN'T DECIDE BETWEEN MCCAIN AND OBAMA:

The election is days away, and some people STILL haven't made up their minds. (--What, two years wasn't enough time?) So, to help you decide, here are five reasons why some people might want to vote for the Republican candidate, JOHN MCCAIN, and five reasons why some people might want to vote for the Democratic candidate, BARACK OBAMA.
(--This is a straight-ahead breakdown of what each candidate is offering, but we promise to pull out all the stops before the election, and give you a more biased view!)

FIVE REASONS TO VOTE FOR JOHN MCCAIN:

#1.) YOU WANT GOVERNMENT TO LOWER TAXES ON EVERYONE:Raising taxes increases the cost of doing business, which is passed on to consumers though higher prices and fewer jobs. That's a bad idea, especially during a recession.

#2.) YOU WANT TO FINISH WHAT WE STARTED IN IRAQ:Leaving Iraq too soon might make things worse, and could create a safe haven for Al-Qaeda. Since the recent troop surge reduced violence, we should stay the course, and not abandon the fight when things there are looking better.

#3.) YOU WANT A MORE AGGRESSIVE APPROACH TO FOREIGN POLICY:Foreign policy since September 11th requires an aggressive stance against America's enemies, and there is no turning back. Talking and negotiating can only get you so far, and it might encourage our enemies if we rely too much on soft diplomacy.

#4.) YOU WANT THE SUPREME COURT TO OVERTURN ROE V. WADE:Six of the nine Supreme Court Justices are over the age of 68. The next President will appoint at least one replacement. The court is currently in favor of upholding Roe. v. Wade, the ruling that make abortion legal. McCain will probably appoint justices who oppose it.

#5.) YOU WANT SOMEONE WITH MORE POLITICAL EXPERIENCE:McCain was a Navy aviator in Vietnam, a prisoner of war for six years, and has a 26-year-long career in Congress as a Representative and a Senator. He knows how the legislative branch works, and has spent his entire adult life serving the country.

FIVE REASONS TO VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA:
#1.) YOU WANT GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS INCOME INEQUALITY:Obama wants to raise taxes on people who make over $250,000, lower taxes on the rest, and increase government regulation of the economy. The intention is to keep the market steady, directly help the middle class, and shrink the disparity between the rich and the poor.

#2.) YOU WANT TO END THE WAR IN IRAQ AS SOON AS POSSIBLE:Osama bin Laden and the remnants of the Taliban are hiding on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The military would focus on destroying them by shifting resources as soon as possible from Iraq, which had no ties to Al-Qaeda and no weapons of mass destruction.

#3.) YOU WANT A MORE DIPLOMATIC APPROACH TO FOREIGN POLICY:Addressing terrorism, global warming, and fluctuations in the global economy requires a style of international diplomacy that is less confrontational, and more measured.

#4.) YOU WANT THE SUPREME COURT TO UPHOLD ROE V. WADE:Six of the nine Supreme Court Justices are over the age of 68. The next President will appoint at least one replacement. The court is currently in favor of upholding Roe. v. Wade, the ruling that keeps abortion legal. Obama will probably appoint justices who support it.

#5.) YOU WANT SOMEONE WITH LESS POLITICAL EXPERIENCE:Obama is a first-term Senator, so he hasn't been exposed as long to the gridlock of partisan party politics, and the influence of lobbyists.

- NO MATTER WHO YOU VOTE FOR - GET OUT & VOTE!! MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!!!

ROMANCE DIES TWO YEARS, SIX MONTHS AND 25 DAYS AFTER YOU GET MARRIED:

Are you still in the honeymoon phase of your marriage? If so, you'd better enjoy it while it lasts. Why? --Because according to a new survey, the romance officially dies in a marriage . . . after TWO YEARS, SIX MONTHS and 25 DAYS. --After that date, TWO in THREE women say they never make the effort to dress up and look nice for their partner.

THREE in FOUR men say they won't give their wife the TV remote . . . even if she asks nicely. --And by the third wedding anniversary, 83% of couples say they don't even celebrate the day together anymore. (Daily Mail)

TOO MUCH TIME ON HIS HANDS

IF YOU LOVE "STAR WARS" AND ORIGAMI . . . YOU'LL LOVE THIS:

There's a guy from Hawaii named Won Park who makes origami versions of "Star Wars" and "Star Trek" spaceships . . . out of dollar bills. (Digg) (--You probably think this is lame, but I assure you . . . it's NOT . . .)

BOOST YOUR METABOLISM

***FOUR WAYS TO BOOST YOUR METABOLISM***

The days are getting shorter, so there's less time for outdoor activities. But if you want to kick your metabolism into high gear in time for the holidays, here are four easy ways to boost your metabolism and help you burn more calories . . .

#1.) EAT MORE OFTEN. Your metabolism is like a furnace: If you go too long without feeding it, it dies out and can be hard to get going again. You should still eat the same amount of food . . . just break it up into six meals instead of three.

#2.) SNACK ON PROTEIN. Eating things like meat, cottage cheese, and eggs, either with each meal or in between meals, can maximize the amount of calories you burn. A study found that your metabolism can DOUBLE after eating a high-protein meal with fewer carbs.

#3.) STRENGTH-TRAIN. When there's more muscle on your body, you use up more calories . . . even when you're just sitting around. By working out a few times a week, you can increase your metabolism by almost TEN PERCENT in just a few months.

#4.) REV UP YOUR CARDIO. The harder you exercise, the higher your metabolism goes. So try adding in a few intense spots to your workout. For example, if you jog, try sprinting for one or two minutes a few times during your run --A study found that adding intense intervals to your workout can help you burn up to 36 PERCENT more body fat.

#5.) DRINK SOME COFFEE. Drinking a caffeinated beverage like coffee, tea, or even soda can temporarily increase your metabolism by 3 or 4 percent. But don't go overboard. One cup can burn 10 extra calories an hour, but too much will make you jittery. (Glamour.com)

BUBBLE WRAP CALENDAR

YOU CAN BUY A 2009 BUBBLE WRAP CALENDAR:

Call me crazy, but other than having sex with someone really attractive . . . popping bubble wrap is about the most satisfying thing in the world. --If you agree, you might want to pick up a 2009 Bubble Calendar . . . which has a bubble for you to pop for each day of the year. (PerpetualKid) (--You can pick up a 2009 Bubble Calendar for $29.99 here . . . http://www.perpetualkid.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=3261)

THAT'S ONE BIG BEACH BALL

THE LARGEST BEACH BALL IN THE WORLD WAS UNVEILED ON SUNDAY IN DALLAS:

On Sunday in Dallas, as part of a bizarre publicity stunt, Carnival Cruise Lines unveiled the largest beach ball in the world . . . at about 33 feet across. (NBC News - Dallas / Fort Worth)

CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM

***FIVE STEPS TO CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM***

Criticizing someone at work or at home is sometimes necessary, but a lot of people get offended easily, even when you have their best interests in mind. Here are five ways to be more constructive with your criticism . . .

#1.) GET THE FACTS STRAIGHT. You won't be constructive unless you're RIGHT. So before you do anything else, make sure you have a handle on what went wrong. The best way to avoid an argument is to make sure you don't end up playing defense.

#2.) KEEP YOUR EMOTIONS IN CHECK. You should expect the person you're criticizing to get a little upset, so make sure YOU don't. If you lose your cool, your emotions will discredit your argument.

#3.) AVOID INSULTS. Remember, the whole point of being critical is to get the person to do a better job . . . NOT make them feel bad. So don't insult anyone. When someone's offended, they're less open to criticism in general.

#4.) BE SYMPATHETIC. One of the most important parts of giving constructive criticism is being SYMPATHETIC. Remind yourself of what it's like to be on the receiving end, and try not to come on too strong.

#5.) WAIT FOR A RESPONSE. It's to your advantage to let the other person explain their side. Even if the explanation is BOGUS, it lets people keep their ego somewhat intact. Plus, you'll come across as open-minded and fair, which helps you in the long run. (AskMen.com)

BREAK SOMETHING. YOU'LL FEEL BETER

DOES SMASHING THINGS RELIEVE YOUR TENSION???

Have you ever gotten so frustrated that you just wanted to smash something? Well there's a place in San Diego called Sarah's Smash Shack where you can actually pay to destroy plates, glasses and other ceramic items. Seriously. According to the website, the Smash Shack, "introduces an imaginative and innovative opportunity for people to express themselves in a safe and exciting new way [by] throwing, smashing and destroying an array of breakable objects." (--Personally, I think this is a brilliant idea . . . but maybe a little pricey. $45 to smash 15 plates isn't cutting it for me in this down economy. Still, it's a pretty genius idea.) (Yahoo News)

(--Check out Sarah's Smash Shack's website here . . .) http://www.smashshack.com/

HELP THIS WOMAN FIND A DATE

A WOMAN IS RAISING MONEY SO SHE CAN PLACE A PERSONAL AD . . . DURING THE SUPER BOWL???

Ladies . . . I know it's hard to find a good man . . . but THIS seems a little extreme to me. Amy Borkowsky is a standup comedian from New York City . . . and she desperately wants to settle down and get married. So, in order to increase her chances of finding a guy, Amy's decided to post a personal ad . . . during the Super Bowl. Seriously. There's just one problem: The going rate for a 30-second Super Bowl commercial is $3 MILLION. So Amy's set up a website . . . called SuperBowlSingleGirl.com . . . where she's accepting donations.

As of last night, Amy had raised $1,790 for her personal ad . . . which means she only has $2,998,210 to go. (MSNBC)

(--You can check out Amy's website here . . .)http://superbowlsinglegirl.com/

WAAAASUP!!

CHECK OUT A NEW PRO-OBAMA VIDEO BY THE BUDWEISER "WAAAASUP!" GUYS:

Remember those Budweiser commercials with the "Waaaasup!" guys? Well, the "Waaaasup!" guys are back . . . EIGHT years after the ad campaign originally aired . . . with a new pro-OBAMA video. Seriously. (Huffington Post)

(--The premise of the video is to show what the "Waaaasup!" guys have been up to for the last eight years under GEORGE BUSH'S presidency.) (--One of them says he's, quote, "still in Iraq, watching my a**". Another just lost his job, while another can't afford health insurance.)

BOTTOM LINE: GET OUT AND VOTE!!

GUITAR HERO'S UNDERWEAR

A NEW "GUITAR HERO" AD FEATURES FOUR *HUGE* SPORTS STARS . . . IN THEIR UNDERWEAR:

"Guitar Hero" has created another ad inspired by TOM CRUISE'S underwear-dancing scene in "Risky Business". (--They did one of these ads earlier this year on "American Idol" . . . with DAVID COOK and DAVID ARCHULETA.) --This time, they've landed four HUGE athletes to star in it: KOBE BRYANT, ALEX RODRIGUEZ, MICHAEL PHELPS, and (skateboarder) TONY HAWK.