TresSugar

Say What? Recession or No, Women Love Their Sex Toys!

TresSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:00:00 -0800

"[Y]eah, money's tight. If people are going to spend their dollars, they want to know it's a good product. People are staying home more, so we've directed more marketing efforts toward cheap date nights - for the price of a movie and dinner, buy a vibrator, stay home and have fun."

- Jackie Strano of Good Vibrations, a popular woman-friendly adult sex toy store in San Francisco, responding to a question about what the sex business is like during the recession.

Photo by Alejandro Martínez-Cabrera

Would You Enlist Your Child's Talent to Pay the Bills?

babysugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:00:00 -0800

No doubt about it, some families have been faced with some tough times during our recession. The jobless rate keeps rising causing many children to claim homeless status or opt out of extracurricular activities. So what if their beauty or talent could earn the family a roof over their heads or pay for their schooling? It seems many moms and pops are turning to their tots to help foot the bill. Mothers who might not normally enter their babe into a modeling competition are taking head shots and driving to auditions with dreams of childhood stardom. While some criticize the parents for putting their babies to task, others say the actions are harmless and even beneficial. What say you?

Source

Front Page: 20-Year-Old Whose Father Ran Her Over Is Dead

TresSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:00:36 -0800

Arizona woman Noor Faleh Almaleki is pronounced dead after being in a coma for weeks. Her Iraqi-born father ran her over in a parking lot to protest her becoming "too Western." - New York Daily News
Half of US kids, and 90 percent of black children, will be on food stamps at some point during childhood, according to a study that looked at 30 years of national data. - AP
Two women got in a fight on the NYC subway over fears of catching swine flu, after one of them refused to cover her mouth when she coughed. - NBC
NYU has confirmed that a student died in its Bobst Library this morning, a location that has a reputation for student suicides. -WSN
Senator Joe Lieberman apparently decided not to filibuster the public healthcare option after all. - The Hill
Hillary Clinton announced today that the US will offer aid to help boost America's ties with the Muslim world. - Reuters
Here are 10 races to watch in today's off-year election. - CNN

Front Page: Recession Spooks Halloween Shoppers

TresSugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:00:46 -0700

Halloween spending is down 15 percent this year compared to last according to the National Retail Federation. - KSFM
Drug companies might be coming closer to a miracle pill that helps patients safely lose weight. - USA Today
Dick Cheney is accusing President Obama of "dithering" by failing to make a decision yet about sending thousands more troops to Afghanistan. – LA Times
By welcoming married Anglican priests into the Catholic Church, the Pope might be setting up an end to celibacy among Catholic priests. - New York Times
A new wave of mortgages should be headed toward foreclosures soon. – Wall Street Journal
A new lawsuit alleges that Bernie Madoff financed a cocaine-fueled work environment and a culture of sexual deviance at his former company. - CNN

Front Page: CEOs at Bailed-Out Banks Increase Their Perks

TresSugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:00:59 -0700

The good times are still rolling for CEOs at bailed-out banks: they received huge perks last year while taxpayers footed the multibillion-dollar bill. - Washington Post
Afghanistan will hold a runoff presidential election on Nov. 7 following allegations of fraud that tainted the previous results. - AP
An Iranian-American academic has been sentenced to 12 years in Iranian prison for contributing to unrest after the last election. - AP
It appears less likely that international leaders will sign a comprehensive treaty against climate change when they meet in Copenhagen this December. - New York Times
States cannot afford the death penalty, according to a new study. - CNN
Check out the original balloon boy! - SFGate

7 Small Ways to Save Big When You Eat Out

SavvySugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:30:19 -0700

People are definitely eating differently thanks to the recession. But cutting food costs doesn't mean you still can't enjoy eating out. Tough times for consumers means empty tables at restaurants - and to fill them, restaurants are making menu changes and slashing prices, or offering discounts. Just take a look at how you can save on your next meal out.

View Slideshow ›

Front Page: Unemployment Might Create a Lost Generation

TresSugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 08:00:22 -0700

The job crisis is hitting young people just out of college especially hard, which could have a long-term negative impact on an entire generation. - Business Week
American Elinor Ostrom has become the first woman to win the Nobel prize for economics. - BBC News
Iraq's National Theater has opened again for the first time in six years, as nightlife begins to return to Baghdad. - Telegraph
Hillary Clinton says President Obama's attitude toward America's role in the world won him the Nobel Peace Prize. - AP
Couples Retreat starring Vince Vaughn had a big opening weekend to come in first place at the box office. - BuzzSugar

Are Hot Waitresses a Sign of Tough Economic Times?

SavvySugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 06:00:19 -0700

Economists love to find patterns among their data and analysis; some of them are easy to get behind, and others are kind of a reach. Hemlines are the most talked about economic indicator - typically, hemlines rise during tougher times. The Great Recession brought out a whole bunch of economists sharing alternate indicators like fraying elastic on men's underwear, the increase in long distance relationships, and even the Hot Waitress Index.

According to Time, the Hot Waitress Index follows the theory that an abundance of attractive waitresses in big cities are a sign of tougher economic times. It assumes that when things are looking up, these women have access to other opportunities like marketing, modeling, and hosting parties. Have you seen evidence of the index during the recession?

Source: Flickr User Loimere

More Details on Gourmet's Collapse

YumSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:30:32 -0700

Yesterday morning began with breaking news that, after 68 years of publication, Gourmet was going out of print, and now we have more details on the magazine's collapse. Although the glossy will cease to exist, the Gourmet brand will live on through book publishing and TV programs. Staffers at the magazine were first unaware, then teary-eyed and harried, as they were allegedly given 48 hours to leave.

According to publisher Condé Nast, which staunchly defended its position, star editor Ruth Reichl will likely part ways with the publishing house, although this has not been confirmed. She, too, admitted her surprise, tweeting, "Thank you all so much for this outpouring of support. We're all stunned, sad . . . Hard to believe it's over."

Hard to believe indeed. From food personalities to subscribers, everyone has shown an overwhelming amount of regret. I'll miss the pages of exquisite photography and timeless travel pieces, and Party doesn't know how she'll live without the recipes. What will you miss about Gourmet?

Gourmet Magazine to Fold

YumSugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:43:25 -0700

This morning, Condé Nast announced its oldest food title, Gourmet magazine, is folding. There were telltale signs of trouble: the glossy, which will print its last issue in November, just underwent budget cuts. As early as the onset of 2009, rumors were already flying that Gourmet would not see the end of the year.

The speculation didn't prepare me for the shellshock of Gourmet's demise. After all, the magazine, which has been published since December 1940, is an institution. I would have thought they could cut issues to six a year, or even quarterly, before shutting down such a venerable publication. It's wishful thinking, but a part of me hopes this is just some sort of sick publicity stunt. Are you as stunned as I am?