A driven athlete

Sports editors with the Associated Press named NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson the AP's Male Athlete of the Year. Johnson garnered 42 votes from newspaper editors.

Also receiving votes for Male Athlete of the Year was your 8-year-old neighbor kid whose only physical exertion is playing “Tiger Woods PGA Tour '09” on his Wii.

Mom, I can explain: Facebook, the social networking site, is encouraging users to review new privacy controls that will allow them to determine who sees their latest post about the coffee they're drinking or the cute thing their kid just said.

As much control as the new settings allow, college students should be aware that settings that filter out photos of them staggering drunk at frat parties are less effective when they post while they're still intoxicated.

You shouldn't have: U.S. Customs officials warned shoppers looking for Christmas gifts to stay away from toys and other items that might be dangerous, such as plastic ducks with lead paint or a toy gun that looks too much like the real thing.

Authorities also were warning male shoppers against buying Slankets or Snuggies. Not because they are inherently dangerous, but because of potential harm if given to a wife or girlfriend who is expecting a gift with some thought behind it.