Childbirth pays off, Cruel and unusual punishment

New mothers now expect an expensive “push present” from their husbands as compensation for the agony of childbirth. Inspired by lavish postpartum gifts of jewelry from such A-list new fathers as Pierce Brosnan and Ben Affleck, 55 percent of new mothers in the U.S. say they deserve similar rewards from their husbands, and the nation’s high-end retailers are scrambling to cash in on the trend. “I get calls from hospitals from men who say, ‘I’ve got to get one tonight,’” says jeweler Craig Warburton. “I go on mercy dashes with pendants and earrings. Sales are up 30 percent.’’

Prisoners have filed a class-action lawsuit against Vermont, charging that a food called Nutraloaf is so disgusting it should be considered “cruel and unusual punishment.” Nutraloaf is made of cubed bread, vegetables, and powdered milk, and is served without utensils to prisoners who’ve used forks as weapons or hurled food at guards. The prisoners, however, say that Nutraloaf is clearly a punishment, and should therefore only be served after a formal disciplinary hearing. “Even in prison,” said attorney Seth Lipschutz, “you get a little bit of due process.”

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