Don’T Feel ‘Girthy’ About Your Fat Pants

Just when we thought “fat pants” were a gender-specific wardrobe option, we find that, no, men, too, have such things.

An article in GQ touts the “girthy pleasures” of having a pair or two of pants in the closet that will forgive a night, or a month, of overindulgence.

Fat pants are a cherished commodity in the wardrobe of all men, says GQ. As such, it’s not surprising one’s fat pants are often the oldest pants in the closet.

OK, men, take a tip from women who wear out a pair of fat pants while trying to lose weight so we don’t need ‘em any more: If they’re worn out, you still need them. Go buy something with elastic or some wiggle room. (From February GQ)

* Proving it’s still 1955 somewhere: For those keeping track, Des Moines, Iowa, has taken the lead in consumption of Jell-O, besting long-time Jell-O-eating Salt Lake City. Folks in Des Moines bought more than 4.4 million boxes of Jell-O last year. (From Jan. 17 High Country News)

* No graceful losers: Futurists such as Peter Schwartz say work life could continue to be tough for groups which are undereducated or uninformed. But Schwartz says the group that has enjoyed the most power could also be in for a surprise.

“The 40-year-old white male is really going to feel in trouble,” says the author of “The Art of the Long View.”

Schwartz says, “Power has come easily to white males, and now they’re going to get competition: they’re going to lose and they know it. They’re going to get weird and behave badly.” (From February P.O.V.)

* Parents, wise up: Those parents worried about their children being exposed to soft-core porn on TV or in movies should snap up a copy of the February GQ. In it, writer David Kamp discusses the popularity of pro wrestling among pre-teen boys and issues stern warnings.

“Pro wrestling is porn-ier than ever,” he says. “And if you haven’t noticed the crotch shots or the parade of hos, you can bet the 8-year-olds have.”

* Facts of virtual life: Nearly half of all Web users in the U.S. will have a personal home page by spring. (From February Wired)

* Reserve those videos now: Should a video fit into your sweetie’s Valentine’s Day plans, Esquire assembled a list of 10 movies that inspire women, in a romantic way, of course.

They are: “The Unbearable Lightness of Being,” “After Dark, My Sweet,” “American Gigolo,” “The Big Easy,” “Henry & June,” “A Man and a Woman,” “The Postman Always Rings Twice,” “Body Heat,” “The Hunger,” and “A Walk on the Moon.” (From February Esquire)

* Modesty is a good thing: Forty-nine percent of people say they don’t like flossing their teeth in front of their significant other, Health magazine reports. (From the Philadelphia Inquirer)