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NEW YORK (AP) — Thanksgiving? Meh. Who needs turkey when one can advance directly to Oprah’s Favorite Things for the gift-giving holidays.

Yes, it’s that time of year, when “O, The Oprah Magazine” unveils the queen’s curated gift suggestions, to be included with discounts in the December issue. For 2016, there are exactly 101, a majority available on Amazon for the second year.

Oprah elves Gayle King, the magazine’s editor-at-large, and Adam Glassman, the creative director, presented highlights of the haul earlier this week after schlepping to food and trade shows in search of products for the boss lady to consider in June, when their Christmas begins.

“It was summer and the air conditioner broke so she was sitting there sweating like a brahma bull, but you know she’s always very pleasant,” King told The Associated Press in an interview with Glassman, of Oprah’s hands-on process this year.

“And she was wearing this cute little one-piece onesie,” Glassman said, “and I kept saying, ‘Don’t you want a T-shirt?’ and she kept saying, ‘No, I want my onesie!'”

“With the tennis shoes and the vest,” King chimed in.

The outfit they spoke of has Oprah looking Christmas fly in red stripes, Santa cap and bright red high-tops on the December cover, to hit newsstands soon.

The list includes a range of price points for a range of gift recipients.

Some highlights with suggested retail pricing:

EDIBLES

Oprah’s Poinsettia Flower Pot Cake: On the outside, it looks like the actual holiday plant. On the inside is chocolate cake goodness with vanilla mousse. Very sweet. From MadeinHeavenCakes.com. $165.

“Food, Health and Happiness,” by Oprah herself: Part memoir, part cookbook, a little bit of self-help. Weight Watchers points are included. It’s for fans willing to wait until the book comes out in January. Meantime, it can be pre-ordered. $35.

Yonanas Elite: Speaking of points, fruit equals zero. This sorbet maker turns frozen fruit into soft-serve with no added sugar. Yonanas.com. $130.

TECH & TECH TOOLS

Travel Cord Rolls: Who hasn’t wasted way too much time untangling cords? Oprah has, and she’s had it. This is a compact, roll-up case with slots to keep your ear buds and charging cords in order. In colored leather, including blue, pink, green and aqua. $20.

Beats by Dr. Dre, Powerbeats3: They’re wireless, light weight and offer a quick five-minute charge for one hour of playback. Apple.com. $200.

Tiny Tunes: They’re little-creature speakers that pack a powerful sound via Bluetooth, and they’re one of Gayle’s favorites this year. Oddly enough, you can enable a selfie feature and snap a pic. MyAudioPet.com. $25.

BATH & BEAUTY

Supersonic Dyson Hair Dryer: Oprah promises that it’s super-fast, and it has the signature Dyson hole in the middle. It promises a quiet motor, three magnetic attachments and, did we mention, speed. $400.

Organic sachets: They’re filled with dried rose petals and lavender florets to scent lingerie. In a gifty little green box topped by a big splashy flower. Bloembox.com. $20.

Peoni cleansers and toners: New line of products from Oprah’s facialist, Jennifer Brodeur. Free of toxins, artificial fragrances and gluten. Jbskinguru.com. $60 for toners, $195 for creams.

FOR THE KIDS

Jellycats: Unusual, inviting critters with fluffy feather appeal. The hug potential is great. In medium and large sizes, including an ostrich, swan and chicken. Jellycat.com. $23 to $50.

Children’s slippers: Washable terry cloth with non-slip bottoms. Choose cushy white bunnies, brown pups, yellow ducks and more. Yikestwins.com. $24.

Family onesies: Just like Oprah’s. Let baby and bigger kid in on family pajama bonding in horizontal holiday red-and-white stripes. In cozy organic cotton. Burtsbeesbaby.com. $13 to $40.

PRICIER GIFTS

Glyph: It looks like headphones but in true “Star Trek” manner it plugs into any HDMI-supported device, goes across the eyes and can be used for everything from checking email to watching movies in digital HD. Avegant.com. $549.

Serif TV: Owe somebody a big-box gift that’s functional and looks like a piece of modern art? This elegant smart TV can be placed on a counter or on its own minimalist stand. It has apps, a full web browser, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Samsung.com. $1,500.

The Cocoon: Yes, gifting someone a mattress may feel strange, but this memory-foam baby’s got buzz. It ships in a remarkably hassle-free box, Oprah promises. From Sealy. Cocoonbysealy.com. $399 to $849.

See the full list here.

LEANNE ITALIE, Associated Press

So Sen. Mark Kirk was super racist in his debate with Rep. Tammy Duckworth Thursday night, attacking half-Thai Democrat’s family background. It was a stunning and appalling moment—but let’s not pretend it came out of thin air, as many reports seem to suggest. Kirk has a reputation as a moderate Republican, and even has the endorsement of the Human Rights Campaign. He also got a lot of press as an early unendorser of Donald Trump. What, then, is Mr. Moderate Republican doing being super racist?

Kirk is trailing in the polls. He’s desperate, and he clearly decided that being insulting and aggressive on a number of topics was his best debate strategy. That’s the immediate context for his remark. But there’s a bigger context, too.

Let’s review how it went: Duckworth said “my family has served this nation in uniform going back to the Revolution. I’m a Daughter of the American Revolution. I’ve bled for this nation.” Kirk’s response was “I forgot that your parents came all the way from Thailand to serve George Washington.” While Duckworth’s mother is Thai, her father was, yes, a white person whose family had been in the U.S. since the Revolution.

A shocking moment, no doubt. But not one without precedent. We’ve lived through years of birthers insisting that a president with one African parent is not a real American, with the birther in chief becoming the Republican nominee for commander in chief. Why, then, would we be surprised to hear a House member and Senate candidate with one Thai parent attacked in the same vein by another Republican? The substance of the attack was within the Republican mainstream—Kirk just wasn’t supposed to say it quite so bluntly. And how many times have we said exactly that about things Donald Trump said?

Tammy Duckworth has a solid lead over Kirk. But she needs company in the Senate. Can you chip in $1 to each of the candidates on our Senate slate?

More than four years ago, Scott Aukerman promised that the upcoming first season of his IFC late-night sketch show Comedy Bang! Bang! would, like Louie, be a pure articulation of a specific comedic point of view. Sure enough, over the course of five seasons and over 100 episodes, he and ... More »

As Nate Parker's The Birth of a Nation opens this weekend, the debate over how he could've better handled the fallout from his resurfaced 1999 college rape accusations is only heating up. Now, it has come to light that one of the most influential people on the planet tried to ... More »

In his tenure at the house, Alessandro Michele has become known for creating intricate sets, much like the director of a film.

“[Cappella Romana], the Portland-based vocal ensemble, which performs annual concert series in its hometown and Seattle, has released more than 20 recordings. Its tours have brought the group’s sometimes ethereal, sometimes austere, always powerfully moving music to venues such as New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, Los Angeles’ Getty Center, the Smithsonian Institution, Stanford and Yale universities and festivals throughout Europe.”

I’m a Cubs fan. Born and bred. Hardwired into my DNA at conception. But I will not spend another penny of my money on anything remotely associated with the Cubs if the Ricketts family is going to spend that money supporting Donald Trump. How arrogant of the Ricketts family to disrespect the fans and assume that they will flock to the altar like docile sheep regardless of their political views. How blind of the family to not see the ramifications of their action, the repercussions that are sure to follow, the anti Trump rallies outside Wrigley Field during the playoffs when the whole country is watching. Sell the team, Ricketts. Cubs fans deserve better.

Tony Galati, Lemont

It makes me sick knowing that every time I go to a Cub game I am helping the Ricketts family fund a dangerous con man and bigot like Donald Trump. I guess billionaires stick together in their view of the world.

Tom Minnerick, Elgin

SEND LETTERS TO: letters@suntimes.com. Please include your neighborhood or hometown and a phone number for verification purposes.

Wealthy handful control elections

Scarier than the thought of either a Hillary or a Donald presidency is this sobering truth: We have sold our elections to the highest bidder.  A USA Today story reports that a mere 62 individuals, companies and unions have donated half a billion dollars to super PACs. That’s right, folks, the more money you are worth, the more your vote counts.

Take unions, for example. Here in Chicago and Illinois, it’s no secret that funding the pensions of union employees has left us broker than broke. When unions waste millions of dollars trying to influence elections rather than re-invest in the lives of the very people that made them who they are, we lose as a democracy. Our elections are games of spending and popularity contests, we are not electing those who are best fit to govern, but those with the deepest pockets and slickest tag lines.

Scot Sinclair, Third Lake

Fall is all about pretty leaves, crisp air and hot cider, but it's also the season for shopping—between refreshing your winter wardrobe, cozying up your home, preparing for the holidays and buying gifts, it can feel like your shopping list is never-ending. These tips and tools can help you get all your seasonal shopping done without breaking the bank:

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Here's how you make a tiny fridge bigger: You don't need magic or borderline-psychic Craigslist sense, you just need some clever hack-y solutions. Here are eleven tricks collected from Pinterest and across the web—each one hand-picked to make the most of your limited refrigerator and freezer space.

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From Kitchn → Why Everyone Needs a Lemon Squeezer

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There have been rumors of a solo album ever since he left Rage in 2000. El-P produced de la Rocha's first single, the propulsive, noisy "Digging For Windows."

It’s almost boot weather. If you’re still holding onto those beat up ones from last year, Clark’s Labor Day sale is here to help. Use the code LABOR and get an additional 25% off all sale styles. This includes the ever-popular men’s Desert Boots and Wallabees and some really nice women’s heeled booties and even some fantastic sandals.

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Lady GaGa is doing all she can to support the Democratic National Convention!

On Thursday night, the singer performed at a free and invitation-only concert for the delegates of the DNC. The media barred event, which also boasted appearances from Lenny Kravitz and DJ Jazzy Jeff, was held in Camden, New Jersey.

Video: Hillary Officially Accepts The Democratic Nomination For Prez!

Unsurprisingly, the show was full of energy since it was fresh off the heels of Hillary Clinton's HISTORIC acceptance of the democratic nomination. We can't even begin to imagine how it felt to be present at such a momentous evening!

To further amp up the excited crowd, the entertainer performed a bunch of her hits (Born This Way, Bad Romance), in addition to covers of Woody Guthrie (This Land Is Your Land), Neil Young (Old Man), and the Beatles (Come Together).

While there isn't a full-length video of the concert available (we told you it was media barred), we've gathered up some fan clips for your viewing pleasure (below)!

Lady Gaga cantando "Come Together", dos Beatles, no #CamdenRising. pic.twitter.com/TwWWWssR5p
— RDT Lady Gaga (@RDTLadyGaga) July 28, 2016

Sounds great! We're glad the delegates were treated to a such a special night -- they SO deserved it!

As for why the DNC chose the 30-year-old to perform, host New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker summed it up best:

"She's fighting for all of us. from victims of sexual assault to people suffering with mental health. She speaks to the gospel of love that she's put to a pretty powerful soundtrack."

Well, we can't argue with Booker on that one. The New York native has been extremely vocal over these important issues for YEARS.

So, what did YOU think of GaGa's performances?

tastefullyoffensive:

Be careful with your kindness. [x]

Are you more or less attracted to Idris Elba knowing that he is a DJ?

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If you enjoyed the weird Craigslist adds from Portland, you’ll love the list of the weirdest Craigslist ads from Dallas! Maybe you own a tavern, or have always dreamed of having a creepy bar setup in your home. If so, the “Coffin Bar /with weird skeleton” is available. The skeleton is removable and the wooden stand is sturdy enough so that you can crawl inside yourself. But that’s just one of the 10 Craziest Craigslist Dallas Ads at Housely.

The Netflix documentary series will revisit the cases of Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey.

My wife sleeps later than I do — beauty’s privilege. At home, I use the time to write stuff. On vacation, I go to the hotel gym.

But the oil light went on during our drive East, so I figured an early-morning trip to the Jiffy Lube was in order.
In the waiting room with coffee and the Post, when a Jiffy Lube employee, Louis, called my name and began a canned pitch: we  should also rotate your tires and change your transmission fluid and . . . .

No, no, no. Just the oil.

That bit of robotic business out of the way, Louis blinked, and seemed to notice me for the first time.

“Did anyone ever tell you you look like Steven Spielberg?” he said.

People tell me that all the time, so much that I have a canned reply.

“I don’t look like Steven Spielberg,” I said. “I’m just a Jewish guy in a baseball cap and a beard.”

He laughed. They always do.

OPINION

Later that morning, my wife and I visited the Smithsonian’s National History Museum. On the way in, we stopped at the information desk for a map.

“Did anyone ever tell you . . .” the woman there said, “that you look like Steven Spielberg?”

“I don’t look like Steven Spielberg,” I sighed. “I’m just a Jewish guy in a baseball cap and beard.”

Walking away, I was grumbling “Steven Spielberg is not an attractive man . . . .” My wife pointed out that it was just a way for strangers to say something. The lady at the information desk had almost been excited, as if I were some kind of quasi-Spielberg. We talked about “Lincoln.”

To me, there is a queasy racial blindness here. Both the guy at Jiffy Lube and the lady at the information desk were African-American.

Them saying I look like Steven Spielberg is like me going up to any random black guy and saying he looks like Michael Jordan.

People are notoriously bad at identifying individuals in groups not their own. Scientists have been studying this “cross-race effect” for 100 years. With your own kind, you notice details — the curve of a jaw, the bulge of an ear. But another race, it’s just some generic Asian or white guy or Jew. The details blur.

This tendency can trip up the keenest observers. P.J. O’Rourke famously got himself in trouble in 1988 when he published an article in Rolling Stone on South Korean politics that included this passage about a giant rally:

“I was looking at this multitude, and I was thinking, ‘Oh no, they really do all look alike’ — the same Blackglama hair, the same high-boned pie-plate face, the same tea-stain complexion, the same sharp-focused look in 1 million identical anthracite eyes.”

That sparked outrage, and Rolling Stone ended up apologizing.

Cross-racial unease is a driving force in the current presidential race, with one candidate saying he’s going to build a wall, keep Mexicans out, keep Muslims out, dog-whistling white supremacists who are just now standing up, blinking in the unfamiliar light of day. Not recognizing the individuality of other races and ethnicities is what they do.

The question boils down to: do we lump others together so it’s easier to reject them? Or do we squint hard and notice their individuality?

The former is popular because it’s easy. I can make the most rational argument: “Benghazi is actually a reason people should vote for Hillary Clinton, because if what happened there is her responsibility as secretary of state, it’s a reminder that she was responsible for the entire world for four years, and if this one tragedy is the worst people can pin on her, then she did pretty well.”

Now you can either muster mental energy to argue that. Or you can sneer that I’m the member of a group who does this facty-reasony thing, and so can be blithely dismissed. It’s not much of a reply. But it’s all they’ve got. Well, that and a presidential candidate of their own.

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Whether you wear TOMS for the ease of never having to tie your shoes, or you are into their philanthropic background, this is one deal you should take advantage of. Use the code SUMMER2016 and 15% off your entire purchase (with some exclusions). Plus, they’ve come a long way from just simple, canvas slip-ons. Now you have a real reason to throw out your old, gross ones.

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passion:

me on the first day of school

Shell spilled nearly 90,000 gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico last month, and you probably didn't even hear about it. The post Bet You Didn't Hear Shell Spilled a Bunch of Oil in the Gulf appeared first on WIRED.

“I am involved but not a micromanager. There is no chance that I could be. I am deeply involved but fully delegate to people who have the responsibility … I am not a coercer or a dictator but if I feel strongly about something I will advocate for it.”

Somewhere along the way, the trend of hanging, bare-bulb light fixtures went from being a new trend in the bedroom to a look that's here to stay. Read the reasons why this look has gotten so popular, see inspiration from gorgeous bedsides and find ways you can buy or DIY this look.

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Several years ago, a harebrained idea to make a wedding cake for friends led to me sharing a picture of the cake layers stacked up in my freezer, ready for their big debut. You’d think people would comment on the cake, right? Nope. More like: “You have an empty freezer. You have an empty freezer. How?” “I didn’t know it was possible to empty a freezer.” And I was all “People have full freezers? We just use it for vodka and ice cube trays.” Oh Deb of 2008. Come see your circa-2016 freezer and witness the havoc 8 years and 2 kids have wreaked on it.

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Horror Photo Book 126% Funded!

My new Kickstarter campaign with Dark Regions Press to publish a hardcover book of my Horror photography has already surpassed it’s goal of $20,000! Thank you for all of the support!

(Video Link)

It's a surreal horror movie that will leave you wondering what world you're living in. Alan Resnick's short film This House Has People in It begins with a couple arguing about their vacation plans. Then you notice that they're casually stepping over a body on the floor as they talk.

The events are captured by security cameras throughout the house. Appropriately, the film's companion website is a sales page for a home security system. Well, not really home security--just home surveillance. Nothing is safe inside this home.

Content warning: foul language.

-via Super Punch