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The Maccabeats, an a cappella group at New York’s Yeshiva University, are out with “Candlelight,” a parody of the current Taio Cruz hit “Dynamite” that explains (sort of) the Hanukkah story, complete with a ludicrous battle scene out of “Revenge of the Nerds.”

The war went on and on and on
Until the mighty Greeks were gone

Having grown up half-Jewish, half-Christian and totally confused, I was always struck in December by how much better the Christmas songs were than that lame one about the dreidel. First, Adam Sandler, now this…at least it’s getting a little closer.

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OK, people. I think we’re taking comfort a bit too far here.

First it was the Snuggie, essentially a blanket with sleeves. Lazy? You bet. But not quite as bad as adult-sized onesie pajamas.

Enter Forever Lazy, a company that makes exactly that. The “full-body lazy wear” is quickly becoming one of the most-talked-about items of the holiday season, partly because singer Fergie is apparently getting one for everyone on her shopping list.

Forever Lazy has a TV commercial (just like the Snuggie) that features oh-so-comfortable customers wearing the product at a sporting event (before-game tailgating included), sleeping in front of the TV and reading in easy chairs. “Hands and feet free,” the on-screen text says. The commercial points out that the garment has zippers that allow easy access during trips to the bathroom.

This is a slippery slope, comfort lovers. And if it doesn’t stop here, these could be the top-sellers for Christmas 2011.

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NASA researchers announced today they’ve discovered a totally different type of life form that some go so far as to call  “alien.” No, not on Mars, but in California’s Mono Lake.

According to NASA, the discovery of a bacteria made of arsenic, totally throws a wrench into how we think about life on earth and perhaps the universe. I’ll take their word for it.

NASA:

“The definition of life has just expanded,” said Ed Weiler, NASA’s associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at the agency’s Headquarters in Washington. “As we pursue our efforts to seek signs of life in the solar system, we have to think more broadly, more diversely and consider life as we do not know it.”

“The idea of alternative biochemistries for life is common in science fiction,” said Carl Pilcher, director of the NASA Astrobiology Institute at the agency’s Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif. “Until now a life form using arsenic as a building block was only theoretical, but now we know such life exists in Mono Lake.” (Read more)

VIDEO:
Watch live video from solarcast on Justin.tv

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I’ve said it before, but I have no tolerance for those silly Facebook games. I don’t care about the color of your bra or where you like to place your handbag, even if it’s raising attention for a good cause. The practice just comes across as people looking to draw attention to themselves, because of the subtlety. Now there’s another one of these goofy games going on.

It looks like it’s another attempt to raise peoples’ awareness of breast cancer where women on Facebook are tipping to their love relationships. In other words, tag the status of your relationship with a drink.

Example: Writing “tequila” means you are a single woman, while whiskey means you are a single woman with friends that won’t stop partying.

Here is the rest of the list:

Rum:I’m a touch and go woman
Champagne: I’m an engaged woman
Red Bull: I’m a woman in a relationship
Beer: I’m a married woman
Vodka: I’m the “other one”
Sprite: I’m a woman that can’t find the right man
Liquor: I’m a woman that wishes she was single.
Gin: I’m a woman that wants to get married

Oy.

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Just a few weeks ago, California Academy of Sciences shark attack expert John McCosker was talking to the San Francisco Chronicle’s Peter Fimrite about ferocious sea predators.

Q: Why are great whites so misunderstood? Do you think they will ever be loved and valued as much as, say, the sea otter?

A: White sharks are becoming better understood, and with that knowledge and awareness, many states and countries are protecting the species. They certainly aren’t lovable as are sea otters, but the services that they provide to near shore ecosystems makes their protection imperative.

Well, Mr. McCosker, apparently the otters are sick and tired of being characterized as aquatic teddy bears.

Just look what they’re doing to a Florida town.