Zhu Zhu Pets Toxic: Safety Group

California consumer safety group Good Guide has done testing on some of this year's hottest holiday toys, and Zhu Zhu Pets, perhaps the hottest toy of the season, have been found to contain quantities of toxic materials. Shades of the Chinese toy scandals from just two years ago.

Good Guide independently tests products for the presence of toxic chemicals. It said Zhu Zhu Pet Hamsters tested positive for higher than acceptable levels of the metals antimony and tin. Zhu Zhu Pets, however, are so popular that they remain sold out at many retailers.

Antimony poisoning is very similar to arsenic poisoning. It can cause headache, dizziness, and depression in small doses. Larger doses can cause violent and frequent vomiting, and eventual death. Tin is also a heavy metal and can cause similar symptoms and poisoning.

Zhu Zhu Pets are manufactured in China (where else?) and distributed by Cepia in the U.S. Good Guide assigned the toy a rating of 5.2 on a 10-point scale. Cepia defended the safety of Zhu Zhu pets in a statement.

All Maxed Up: Baucus Nominated Girlfriend For US Attorney

It's not as though nepotism should prove to be surprising among politicians. What is surprising is when they are caught. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, a key player in the health care debate running through the Senate, was romantically involved with his current girlfriend, Melodee Hanes (photo above), when he recommended her for U.S. attorney in March of this year.

As Ty Matsdorf said in a statement (.PDF) late on Friday, the Montana Democrat and his former state office director Melodee Hanes began their relationship in the summer of 2008, following the separation of Max Baucus and his now ex-wife Wanda. However, she later withdrew, saying she had other opportunities.

However, Matsdorf elaborated, saying that Max Baucus and Melodee Hanes (Facebook photos) had decided together to withdraw her name from nomination. They couple did so because they wanted to live together in Washington, D.C., which they later did.

Hanes started working for Baucus in 2002 and was his state director before leaving his office earlier this year for a position in the U.S. Department of Justice.

According to Matsdorf's statement, "With an extensive background as a prosecutor and extensive legal experience, Ms. Hanes submitted her name for consideration for the U.S Attorney position from Montana. Her name was one of six that was submitted for review by Senator Baucus to an independent, highly respected Montana attorney who reviewed the applications. After an extensive evaluation of all the applicants’ qualifications, Ms. Hanes was one of three applicants the third-party reviewer recommended for consideration. Senator Baucus and Senator Tester then interviewed those candidates and Senator Baucus then submitted those three names to the White House, with no ranking or preference."

The statement also noted that although both Max Baucus and Melodee Hanes are divorced, their relationship had not bearing on those separations.

President Barack Obama eventually nominated Helena attorney Michael Cotter for the job, which includes supervising prosecutors of all federal crimes committed in Montana and the state's seven Indian reservations. Cotter is awaiting confirmation.

Sexting Superstar: Tiger Woods Text Messages

Sexting, or sending text messages that are sexual in nature and sometimes include naked photos, has become popular among teens. A few of Tiger Woods' text messages to Jaimee Grubbs (above) have been revealed, and they fall into that category.

As you probably know, Tiger Woods has admitted to his dalliances, although not specifying how many or with whom (although Rachel Uchitel, Jaimee Grubbs, and Kalika Moquin have emrged so far). However, a voicemail sent to Jaimee Grubbs (below) definitely shows he was panicky about the situation. Grubbs had said that she had Tiger Woods text messages as well, and those are starting to emerge.

As noted in US Magazine print edition, Tiger Woods' text message said the following to Jaimee Grubbs: "I will wear you out ... when was the last time you got (bleeped)! Send me something very naughty ... Go to the bathroom and take (a picture)."

Jaimee Grubbs also told US Magazine that she believes that Tiger and Elin Woods sleep in separate beds. If that's the case, you can expect Elin Woods to play the "dutiful wife" as required in their new prenuptial agreement, and then take off with a big payment (and much child support) after reaching that time goal.

Tiger Woods voicemail to Jaimee Grubbs:

Details on New Woods Prenuptial Agreement Emerge

While Tiger may feel he's out of the woods (pun intended) now that he's 'fessed up to his affairs, he's apparently not out of trouble as far as wife Elin Woods is concerned. Reports have detailed that the one-time nanny is getting a pretty good payment to stay married to the superstar golfer, and a much better prenuptial agreement.

The original prenuptial agreement was actually pretty lame, considering the amount of money Tiger Woods is worth. It guaranteed Elin Woods $20 million after a 10 year stint in the marriage (they were married in 2004). Now, she will be getting a $5 million payout immediately, put into a private bank account accessible only by her, and revising her prenup to give her as much as $55 million more to stay with him two more years.

This sounds less and less like a marriage and more like a business arrangement, the more we hear of it. And when you read the commentary, well ...

The lawyer familiar with the couple’s negotiations told The Daily Beast that Tiger also has agreed to shorten the original prenup to seven years from the date of marriage, meaning it will vest in another two. And the revised agreement provides for a staggered schedule of payments spread out over five years that could be worth upward of $75 million. So for Elin to collect $80 million, she’ll need to stay with Tiger another seven years, be a dutiful wife in showing up with him at social events and in public as if they were still the perfect couple, and sign a nondisclosure form that will prevent her from ever telling her story. Even if she lasts only two more years, she’ll still walk away with nearly twice what she was entitled to under the original prenup.

"Even if she lasts only two more years" makes it sound lieke she's being tortured. Is this a marriage or what?