You know something is culturally significant when someone (in this case, two dudes) dedicates an entire book to the subject.
And we think it’s about darn time that Beer Pong – the collegiate house-party staple – gets its moment in the spotlight outside of grimy student kitchens or beer-stained living rooms. Adapted from The Book of Beer Pong, this article demystifies the perfect Beer Pong shot with tips (and handy illustrations!) about the grip, aim, and toss.
The most unforgivable form of social suicide for undergraduates is a Beer Pong toss that constantly misses its bulls-eye, so stop being a chump and embarrassing yourself in front of your buddies and female partiers with your shameful shot. (Please note: Beer Pong might not be an Olympic sport – yet – but the girls will still size up your skills, and then they will automatically assume that this is a reflection of your athletic agility in all other sports, as well.)
Like learning how to knot your own tie without looking like a dufus, or experiencing your first encounter with the fairer sex (“she touched me!”), mastering the Beer-Pong shot is a male rite-of-passage. Don’t screw this up.
The queen of the dance floor pumps out more party anthems with her much-anticipated compilation album, Celebration, available today. Celebration is Madonna’s third greatest hits collection since the punky Material Girl hit the scene in 1982 in all her untamed-eyebrows-and-overly-teased-hair glory.
The new double-disc album features 34 beloved hits from the past three decades (digitally re-mastered, of course), along with the title track, “Celebration,” and two new collaborations featuring Paul Oakenfold and Lil’ Wayne. With tracks like “Vogue,” “Papa Don’t Preach,” “Like a Prayer,” and “Express Yourself,” you’ll be lip-synching and busting a move in your neon legwarmers from the album’s opening note to its final crescendo.
It’s hard to believe that Madonna is in her 50s (that body is enviable to most 20-year-olds) and, whether you love her, or you love to hate her, there’s no denying that she has handled superstardom like a pro. Madonna has fashioned herself as a superficial “virgin,” a mellow Zen goddess, a flashy lady-pimp, a retro-bodysuit worshipper, and a humanitarian, but throughout her countless incarnations, she has always remained – fiercely, unapologetically – herself. And that, my friends, is something to celebrate.
Check out the hilarious “Celebration” music video featuring hardcore Madonna fans doing their best impressions of her Madge-esty’s various personas from the past 27 years. Amazing!
HOT or NOT? Floppy bows (the brighter, the better) and tousled, shellacked locks were a vogue flashback to the ‘80s at the Marc Jacobs Spring 2010 show earlier this month. Will you be channeling Madonna in her Desperately Seeking Susan days this spring? We say go ahead and tie one on!
Purchasing a Star Membership makes it easier to connect with people (hot single ladies, sexy unattached guys) on HOT or NOT, but it doesn’t guarantee that you’ll instantly amass Double-Matches and find your dream date. A Star Membership is like a toolbox: it offers you useful gadgets that will help you accomplish your goal (meeting a hottie), but it can’t do all the work for you. You need to exert a little effort and creative elbow grease in order to make the most of the perks included in your subscription. You’ve already purchased it, so you might as well use it!
Just Say “Yes”:You’ll increase your chances of getting more Double-Matches if you click “Yes” to lots of profiles in the Meet People section. Obviously, not everyone can be your soul mate, but you can still use HOT or NOT to make new friendships and connections. And remember, just because you said “Yes” to someone, it doesn’t necessarily mean that s/he will accept your request; so, clicking “Yes” to lots of people increases your odds, since you may only have success with a couple of them.
HoN Tip: Our new search feature makes it easier for people to meet local singles and find love. Just enter your city or zip code in the location field and select a distance (50 miles, 500 miles, etc.) from the drop-down menu. You can also mix things up and browse profiles from all around the world by entering “Everywhere” instead of a location. This way, you might see a profile from Sydney, one from Johannesburg, and one from San Francisco, all in the same search results.
Send messages to your Half-Matches: So, you’ve clicked “Yes” to a stellar hottie and your profile will now end up in his/her Half-Matches page (where it will anxiously await reciprocity). Why not stand out and send the person a Half-Match message? These are short (250 characters, max) messages that give you an opportunity to let a girl know that she’s caught your attention. But don’t cop out and send the same message to everyone: send personalized messages that let the recipient know who you are and why you are interested in his/her profile. Sure, you’ve got the looks, but people want to get a sense of someone’s personality as well, and this is your chance to let your individuality shine. Make note of her style, or his stunning eyes, or the keywords you both have in common – let that user know that you’ve noticed something unique about him/her and avoid simply pointing out the fact that she’s super-hot, or he’s got tight abs. Be genuine, not generic.
Send a virtual gift: All Star Memberships include a Star Gift Pack, rammed with a variety of e-flowers that you can send to your sweetie. The web version of a tulip might not smell as sweet as the real thing, but it’s still a nice gesture that lets someone know you think s/he’s pretty special.
Stay in touch with your Double-Matches:Once someone has accepted your meet request, you’ll become Double-Matches. Yay! From here, you can start getting to know each other by sending longer messages through our messaging feature. Unlimited messaging is included in all Star Memberships, but, again, be sure to make each message unique and point out some specifics that you liked about his or her profile or pictures. Remember that if you’re a Basic (FREE) member, you can still email your Double-Matches, as long as the other person is a Star Member.
HoN Tip:Don’t include your personal email address in the first message. This is typical spam behavior (you don’t want someone to think you’re a fake!) and people usually like to get to know their Double-Matches on our site before corresponding through their personal email accounts.
Ah, fall – the season of television. With series premieres, season openers, and award shows, it’s no wonder we become channel-surfing couch-potatoes once September hits. To celebrate the fresh crop of small screen entertainment, here’s a look at 10 of our favorite TV couples.
10. Elaine Benes and David Puddy – Seinfeld – These two bickerers are classic comedy fodder. Favorite moments include: their failed attempt to call it quits on a transatlantic flight; their break-up due to Puddy’s overuse of high-fives; and their hilarious meeting with a priest who insists they’ll both burn in Hell, despite Puddy’s affinity for Christian radio.
9. Pam Beesly and Jim Halpert – The Office – Intra-office hook-ups gone wrong can seriously damage your career, but lucky for these two (and for the show’s fans), Jim and Pam were victorious and proved that love can prevail, even in the face of toxic workplace gossip and a meandering, man-child boss.
8. Brian Griffin and Jillian – Family Guy – He’s a talking dog; she’s his dumb, semi-hot, human girlfriend. Need we say more?
7. Ross Gellar and Rachel Green – Friends – If we learned one thing from the reigning on-again/off-again couple of the ‘90s, it’s that persistence pays off: they end up raising a child and living together as if they were spouses, but they get to date other people!
6. Seth Cohen and Summer Roberts – The O.C. – Every teenage, half-Jewish, comic book nerd’s stock skyrocketed after the coupling of babelicious Summer and the garrulous Seth. What girl wouldn’t want her man to create a superhero version of her?
5. Lily Aldrin and Marshall Eriksen – How I Met Your Mother – This quirky duo strikes the perfect balance between mushy teenagers and an old married couple. From college sweethearts to “Mr. and Mrs.,” Lily and Marshall are BFFs who are still down for some spontaneous nookie (on a highway, a pool table, or a bathroom floor) and pounding back pints like freshmen.
4. Serena van der Woodsen and Dan Humphrey – Gossip Girl – She’s got the coolest preppy-chic wardrobe on the Upper East Side, and he’s got perfect hair and heartthrob eyes – clearly, this is a match made in TV heaven. Plus, these two lovebirds get extra points for getting it on off-set, too.
3. Carrie Bradshaw and Mr. Big– Sex and the City – Sure, Mr. Big is as hot as the latest pair of Manolo mules, but it took some of us a while to consider him gush-worthy, what with his commitment issues and his playboy ways. But charm has a potent effect and he eventually won over viewers and – most importantly – the heart of our girl Carrie.
2. Liz Lemon and Jack Donaghy–30 Rock – Ok, so they’re not technically a couple, but they nag each other as if they were, and the sexual tension bubbling beneath the surface of their verbal warring is obvious to everyone, except maybe Kenneth, the wide-eyed NBC page.
1. Bill Compton and Sookie Stackhouse – True Blood – He might be tall and handsome, but the only thing “dark” about Vampire Bill is the inside of his coffin. The pallid bloodsucker and his gal add some heat to the already-scorching town of Bon Temps with their fang-tastic romance. Couple-in-real-life bonus: they don’t have to wait until sundown for a steamy tryst.
Yes, it’s true – women love to be wined and dined , but these are tough times we live in and just because you have an active dating life doesn’t mean you should be emptying your bank account to keep up with it. So, don’t knock freebie dates. Here are a few ideas for dates sure to impress that girl (or guy!) at absolutely zero cost and make recession dating a breeze.
Picnic. It’s classic, simple, and can work in a variety of settings, from a park, to the beach, to a rooftop. If you can get creative with the food that’s already in your fridge and pick your lady some wild flowers instead of splurging on a bouquet from the store, you’ll have a romantic date and your wallet will be untouched.
Check local listings for things like free movie screenings or festivals and events that may be taking place in the city. There’s nothing like walking the streets in good weather and people-watching to talk and enjoy each others’ company.
Weather-permitting, head to the beach or pool for a swim. Ok, let’s not beat around the bush. The real motive for this one is that you’ll get to see your date in her bikini. Enough said. Bring along a kite, if you’re feeling extra whimsical.
Many museums have designated times when admission is free. Check the websites of your local museums to see if there are admission-free days and surprise your date with a visit to the new Postmodernism exhibit (plus, you’ll totally score points by showing off how cultured you are).
Cook dinner together. Aside from being a great activity for getting to know each other, if you can cook dinner with staples that are already sure to be in your kitchen (pasta and vegetables that will inevitably go bad in a few days if you don’t use them). You get to whip up a free meal, impress your date with your improvisational cooking skills, and rescue those veggies from a fate of rotting away at the bottom of your fridge.
Go for a hike – nothing too hardcore that requires anything more than a good pair of sneakers (maybe we should call it a “stroll in the woods” instead). Enjoy nature, and get some fresh air and exercise.
If it’s already dark out and you’re looking for something to do, grab a blanket and head to the nearest field for some stargazing. Apart from being completely romantic, it’s also completely free, and some intimate conversations are bound to arise.
Have a quiet night in. There’s no shortage of activities you can do at home for absolutely zero dollars. Watch a DVD, play video games, play board games, or channel your inner kid and build a fort out of pillows (great for making out in). Just because you’re chilling out doesn’t mean you can’t make a great, free date of it.
Can you add any other favorite freebie date ideas?
Has your iPhone been feeling a little lackluster lately? Lonely, even, hanging out in your pocket all by itself? We’ve got just the thing (aka a slew of hotties) to cheer it up – our brand new iPhone app, HOTorNOT War.
Let’s face it. That card game you know and love may not be the most exciting, but the heat gets cranked up a notch (actually, several notches) when we mash it up with the endless fun of the HOT or NOT rating system. Yeah, you heard us. This is how the melding of two tried and true games works: you and your opponent (who can be your buddy, wingman-in-training, or your iPhone) are dealt five cards, each with a photo straight off of HOT or NOT. Then it’s up to you to use your eyes and fine-tuned judgment skills to pick out which of your cards has the highest rating (you haven’t spent hours scouring and rating babes on HOT or NOT for nothing, have you?) The player whose card has the highest rating scores the point, and you want to score as many points as possible within the 30 second round. Choose to play with either girl cards or guy cards, whichever tickles your fancy, and set the game to 1, 3, 5, or 7 rounds. Take a look:
HOTorNOT War is the best way to check out hotties and put your rating skills to use while you’re on the go or just looking to kill some time (what are iPhone games for, afterall?) and we’ve found it curiously addictive. You should definitely check it out, and let us know what you think of the game in the comments. Enjoy!
Happy 2009, and Welcome to the OFFICIAL HOT or NOT blog!
Over the years, many of HOT or NOT’s loyal users and fans have asked for a place to check in on what’s happening and gain insight on what’s to come for the HOT or NOT community. They’ve also requested a place to give us feedback on new (and old) features and to suggest new ideas, services and features that they’d love to see become part of the HOT or NOT experience.
So, to kick off 2009, we’ve launched this blog – the first forum sponsored by and focused exclusively on HOT or NOT.
Posts will be written by members of the HOT or NOT team, and updated regularly. As we continue to invest in HOT or NOT, by rebuilding and extending HOT or NOT’s systems and products to better serve you, our customers, we hope you find this to be a valuable place to share your feedback with us regularly – the good, the bad and the ugly.
So stay tuned, its going to be a very exciting 09!
Purchasing a Star Membership makes it easier to connect with people (hot single ladies, sexy unattached guys) on 
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It’s classic, simple, and can work in a variety of settings, from a park, to the beach, to a rooftop. If you can get creative with the food that’s already in your fridge and pick your lady some wild flowers instead of splurging on a bouquet from the store, you’ll have a romantic date and your wallet will be untouched.
