Seems to be used in conjunction with the "real dolls"

Swedish authorities have agreed to give transsexual men free prosthetic penises.

Female to male transsexuals will be allowed prosthetic penises fitted by a plastic surgeon at no cost, but some have complained because the organs on offer aren't capable of erections.

Sexologist Cecilia Dhejne said: "It's pretty strange to approve prosthetics that can't get erect because that is, after all, what penises do—get erections. It would be appropriate to pay for those as well."

The move has been made to correct a transsexual gender bias in Sweden, as male to female transsexuals have long been able to get free breast implants, wigs and hair removal operations.

Health authorities say their decision on the flaccid penises is justified as there is a law preventing using taxpayer's money for products or procedures considered to be sexual aids.

Copyright (C) bangshowbiz.com 2008.

Editor:

I am the cartoonist that supposedly "needs a lesson in theology." However, I don't believe that my cartoon (Aug. 29, Times) misses the mark at all.

I don't really know about the "theology" of the fictitious man in the sky--which is really an invention of man as much as any other religious abstraction and all the doctrines therein.

As far as I am concerned, it is all man-made. So I do attribute to religion our poor and unhealthy approach to sex and sensuality. We are indeed the culprits. You do find in many religions a condemnation of the body as a "prison" in which the big goal of the "soul" is to escape into a supernatural realm.

Kevin Slingerland speaks despairingly of "sin" and "lust"--in that "to lust" is "to sin." Really? What is "sexual lust" but a biological drive, the sex drive--that very thing that enables us to continue the species? It is not the misuse of our sexual capacity that religious folks condemn--it is the capacity as such. That is classic religion. (There are exceptions of course).

Sex is also a means to pleasure and happiness--for both married and unmarried people. No, there is nothing wrong with erotica. Sexual pleasure and sensuality--what a glorious gift from nature. And is it not the case that God, (for those who believe in such a being) the manufacturer of the human body, who has endowed us with this very capacity?

My point still stands: if the human body is sinful, then the fault lies with the manufacturer.

Victor Pross

Chiliwack cartoonist

 The cartoon in question (along with the context in which it was published) can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/victorprosscaricatures/2807427410/

  Stop Porn Culture is an organized effort on the part of a number of antiporn-feminist scholars and activists to convince people that pornography is harmful to society (and especially to girls and women) and to get them to swear off porn and to challenge other people's use of it.  SPC is also a traveling porn exhibition. In fact, not only is it a traveling porn exhibition, it is a distributor of free pornographic images. Lots of them. Lots of the most hard core of them.

What's funny about the "Marriage has always been between a man and a woman" statement is that during Medieval Europe, clergy regularly performed same-sex union ceremonies, which were almost identical to heterosexual weddings. The only difference was that the same-sex unions were considered for love, and most of the heterosexual unions were for the joining of two high-powered families.

The Roman soldiers Serge and Bacchus were joined in such a ceremony, and were later pronounced Christian military saints, as were the "paired" saints Perpetua and Felicitas. There's a whole book that concerns the acceptance and sanctification of homosexual relations written by John Boswell called Same-Sex Unions in Premodern Europe.

The thing I've heard many times from prejudiced people is that gay people shouldn't have the same rights as straight people because "The gays choose THAT lifestyle," to which I simply reply: "The only choice I have about being a lesbian is whether I lie about it or not. People who are bisexual may have a choice and prefer to be with one sex over the other. People who are born lesbian or gay do not have a choice concerning their sexual orientations."

"I am proud to join with our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered brothers and sisters in celebrating the accomplishments, the lives and the families of all LGBT people during this Pride season. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core this issue is about who we are as Americans."

"It's time to live up to our founding promise of equality by treating all our citizens with dignity and respect. Let's enact federal civil rights legislation to outlaw hate crimes and protect workers against discrimination based upon sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. Let's repeal 'don't ask, don't tell' and demonstrate that the most effective and professional military in the world is open to all Americans who are ready and willing to serve our country. Let's treat the relationships and the families of LGBT Americans with full equality under the law.

 Wow, I haven't even watched the show and I already can't stand this girl. Moron.

I love my husband and I neither want to leave him or cheat on him, but I do regret my lack of experience and I know there’s much more to sex than what I currently know. I find myself wondering if he’d go for a threesome, or a voyeur situation where I’m with another woman. I haven’t done anything about it yet, but it still makes me feel almost ashamed just thinking about it and I don’t know why. I know the idea of me with another woman turns him on as an idea; I don’t know if it would translate well for him in reality. We've discussed the subject but not seriously.

I have so many questions: How much judgment is there for being bisexual? Is there more judgment for being bi in the gay community than there is in the straight community? Why does that judgment even exist? I’m not pissing about here, I know who I’m attracted to and it encompasses men and women – so sue me. It's like art - I know almost nothing about it, but I see someone and I know whether they're beautiful to me or not. Should I eventually try to tell my husband that I’m bisexual? He knows that I find women attractive as well as men, but I’m not sure whether he realizes the distinction between finding women attractive and being attracted to them. I realize that distinction and it’s part of me. I feel like my sexuality shouldn’t make such a huge difference to our relationship, because he’s the person I chose to spend my life with and I don’t regret that decision. But how would he feel if he knew that I might also have chosen to spend my life with a woman?

 From the After Ellen forums

Someone brought up the work of Shine Louise Houston's Pink and White Productions (pinkwhite.biz), a San Francisco-based company that describes its mission as creating "adult entertainment that exposes the complexities of queer sexual desire . . . dedicated to producing sexy and exciting images that reflect today's blurred gender lines and fluid sexualities." She thought it was amazing; I chimed in and said, "Yes, it's diverse, radical, and I totally applaud Houston's vision."

Another person chimed in: "Do you like fag porn? All my queer female friends do." Hers wasn't a surprising question. I know lesbians who dig it more than any other kind of hardcore fare. I briefly dated a genderqueer dyke who just loved gay male porn: She ran out and got the newest title from her favorite company the day it came out.

Vibrators. Couples. It doesn't really tend to go now does it? Sometimes you get a mixture of the two when you're adding some spice to your love life, but more often than not you'll be enjoying both separately. Well not anymore! The We-Vibe can only be used with two people present as it's a vibrator that you place internally before sex. Yes, you read that right. Hmmm.

The We-Vibe is a wireless G-spot simulator that is created from silicone and can deliver 2 hours of action from one charge. It's also waterproof is you're in the mind for some shower fun. But how does it work exactly, and where *blush* do you put it?

Well the vibe is equipped with dual motors for sensory fun and as for usage, well here's what they say about it.

"The We-Vibe fits women anatomically and is so slender and conforming that a penis or dildo can easily fit into the vagina along with the We-Vibe".

OK.

So you fit it inside and it will conform to your contours and his while you do the deed. Sounds like a lot of effort to go to just to make him feel inadequate, but whatever floats your boat.

£74.99 from Love Honey

See here for more naughty toys

 I don't care much for vibrators used internally, but some people do, and this might be a lot of fun for couples.

Being a friend of the earth may not be your first thought when choosing a new toy for the bedroom. But just as we've seen a rise in eco-conscious clothes, food and beauty manufacturing, so the sex industry looks set to follow.

Many old-style sex toys contain phthalates, harsh chemicals used to create a softer feel to hard plastics -- they're what make that jelly-like feel often associated with vibrators. Strange really, when you consider that the prelude to sex involves getting something hard. Anyway, we digress.

The EU banned phthalates from children's toys in 2004 because of concerns about the toxicity and related health risks. If they were risky in kids' toys, then we're sure they're risky in products used to, er, tickle your fancy in such an intimate way. So when buying a sex toy, check the labelling -- if it states "for novelty use only", step away.

There are plenty of gorgeous alternatives made from glass, silicone, hard plastics and elastomers that you can experiment with. The new glass dildos on the market, made of a hardened, blown glass similar to Pyrex, won't smash if you're indulging in some rough and tumble. These glass toys, as seen in sexy boutiques like Coco de Mer, are beautiful in design and, frankly, too beautiful to be hidden away in your bottom drawer.

Eco-friendly sex toys may ease your conscience in regards to the earth, but what about your purse? On the whole, they do set you back a few more pounds than regular old vibrators, but most are actually better made. They usually offer improved performance and longer life and have the bonus of being kind to your delicate skin.

Then there are the more playful accessories out there, like the spanking paddle we tried out. The one we tried is made from a sustainable wood and manufactured by a fair trade group in India, demonstrating that any product made from certain materials can be made in a green and ethical way. And don't forget to look for green creds in the lube department, either -- we checked out an organic product that's so mild on your skin that it can be used as a moisturiser, too.

So, if you're fastidious about only putting organic produce in your mouth, then you really should care about what you're putting… well, you see where we're going with this. Check out our favourite green pleasure products below.

 

8.5

'Yes' Water-based Organic Lubricant and Moisturiser

Typical Price: £5.50

It's a great lube that enhances sex without relying on fake colours, tastes or smells -- and without compromising on quality Continue reading...

 

8.1

Coco de Mer Rubberwood Spanking Paddle

Typical Price: £20

It's a bottom-tingling, though pricey, addition to the bedroom -- but investments in fair trade projects and human rights charities make it worthy of your support Continue reading...

 

8.0

Diva Blush Dildo

Typical Price: £45

A very pleasurable graduated dildo that has great green credentials and is sold by the UK's first eco-friendly sex boutique Continue reading...

 

8.4

Lelo Elise Vibrator

Typical Price: £89

It's a vibrator so it should be your new best friend just because, but we're not sure it's the best eco-friendly find in the sex-toy department Continue reading...

 

8.0

Lelo Luna Pleasure Bead System

Typical Price: £28

These non-toxic beads are great for use over a longer period of time, increasing muscle tone and Continue reading...

But, don’t let those toxins kill your libido. There are healthier, greener ways to rev your engine. When it comes to toys, the safest materials are annealed glass, medical-grade silicon, metal and elastomers – all phthalate-free.

 Surprise: phthalates, PVC, and parabens aren't just *in* our sex toys, they're laced through our lubes and oils, too.

But, don’t let those toxins kill your libido. There are healthier, greener ways to rev your engine. When it comes to toys, the safest materials are annealed glass, medical-grade silicon, metal and elastomers – all phthalate-free. H

Recently, Health Canada announced it would be banning the use of certain phthalates in products intended for kids, like teethers and rattles.

Meanwhile, adults can play with toys that, in certain animals, may cause anything from hormonal and reproductive problems to liver and kidney damage.

Most poorly made sex toys are often made of materials like jelly, plastic or latex, which are porous and can't be properly sterilized. They can also have sharp seams, which may cause tears in the vaginal or rectal walls, and can cause allergic reactions and bacterial infections.

Phthalates, a type of chemical often added to plastics to increase their flexibility, are at the centre of an unfolding controversy about what can safely be put in one's mouth, or anywhere else in one's body. Over time, the phthalates may potentially leach out, releasing compounds that can be absorbed through the body's mucus membranes.

The reason? In about five years, instead of having online sex at your computer, you'll be having real sex with your computer.

According to Dr. David Levy, a London England-based expert in Artificial Intelligence, it's not science fiction. It's science fact and it's inevitable.

Levy's new book, Love and Sex with Robots: The Evolution of Human-Robot Relationships, outlines a future "sexbots" will be as commonplace as checking your e-mail. Moreover, Levy's book suggests that one day, marriage to robots will be a hotly discussed social issue. "Love with robots will be as normal as love with other humans," he controversially writes.

Click by Lavalife caught up with Levy via email (natch) to discuss.

Society's Attitudes Have Little Impact On Choice Of Sexual Partner

 Interesting. I'd've thought just the opposite.

Women Have Not Adapted To Casual Sex, Research Shows

 The idea seems so foreign to me. Casual sex is awesome. I wonder how much of this has to do with centuries of the sexual repression of women?

“For heterosexual women,” a researcher, Meredith Chivers, says in a new documentary about bisexuality called “Bi the Way,” which was shown at the NewFest film festival in New York last Friday, “looking at a naked man walking on the beach is about as exciting as looking at landscapes.”

Dr. Chivers, a research fellow at the Center for Addiction and Mental Health at the University of Toronto, says she has data to support this assertion. She recently published results of a study in which she showed people video clips of naked men and women in various sexual and nonsexual situations and measured their genital arousal.

Heterosexual women, Dr. Chivers and her colleagues found, were no more excited by athletic naked men doing yoga or tossing stones into the ocean than they were by the control footage: long pans of the snowcapped Himalayas. When straight women viewed a video of a naked woman doing calisthenics, on the other hand, their blood flow increased significantly.

What really matters to women, Dr. Chivers said, at least in the somewhat artificial setting of watching movies while intimately hooked up to a device called a photoplethysmograph, is not the gender of the actor, but the degree of sensuality. Even more than the naked exercisers, they were aroused by videos of masturbation, and more still by graphic videos of couples making love. Women with women, men with men, men with women: it did not seem to matter much to her female subjects, Dr. Chivers said.

Sex sells, goes the adage. But according to new research, as far as TV advertising goes, too much sex is a bit of a turn-off.

Psychologists have discovered that advertisements in programmes with adult scenes lose out. Both men and women were able to recall fewer advertisements in a programme that had a sexual content - such as Sex and the City - than in one with a non-sex content, Malcolm in the Middle. They also found that, overall, male viewers were able to recall more adverts with a sexual content than women.

"This study revealed that brand recall for advertisements was hindered by sexual content of programmes, suggesting that there is something particularly involving or disturbing about sexual programmes," say the researchers from University College London.

In the research, men and women were shown Sex and the City, featuring explicit insights into the lives of four female thirtysomething New Yorkers, or Malcolm in the Middle, a sitcom about an American family. The two programmes were chosen because they were very similar in style and length, and neither contained canned laughter, which could have been distracting.

During the ad breaks the test subjects were shown a range of up to 12 sexual or non-sexual advertisements for CDs, beer, fragrances, hair products, spirits and mobile phones. They were then asked to recall details of the advertisements.

Both men and women recalled far fewer details about both types of advert when they appeared in Sex and the City. The researchers said why this happens is not clear. Viewers may be so engrossed in the programme that they are annoyed at the interruption and pay less attention. Another theory is that the sex programme is more involving, making recall of interruptions less likely.

 Personally, I'd think viewers would be unable to recall commercials that were aired while watching Sex in the City because they were bored out of their minds. That'd be the case for me.

 Playing around with Google Sets, I found these four on the list generated for "sexuality" and "sexology". I really, really like that.

Kathy Lawrence has never experienced the big "O" -- and we're not talking about Oprah or a ride on the O-Train.

After two decades of marriage and feeling unsatisfied in the bedroom, the 40-year-old Ottawa mother of three finally broke down and told her husband, Greg, she had been faking her orgasms.

Rather than wallowing in rejection or firing off an angry retort, Greg, a writer and filmmaker, wanted to find out how he could become a more attentive husband. He sat down and wrote eight pages on how he could improve his skills as a lover. After looking over his notes, he realized he had the makings of a humorous reality-based television show.

"I have learned as both a pastor and as a member belonging to several minority groups- African-American, women and lesbian- that a popular opinion on an issue does not always reflect the right choice. Too often, the right choice and the moral high ground on an issue derive from a small struggling group trying both to be seen and heard among the cacophony of dissenting voices and opposing votes. Moreover, it is with this group we see democracy's tenacity working, where those relegated to the fringes of society can begin to sample what those in society take for granted as their inalienable right.

Last week we saw democracy work. In a 4-to-3 decision, California Supreme Court ruled that a "separate and unequal" system of domestic partnership for same-sex couples is not only blatantly discriminatory but it is also unconstitutional.

[...]

When society narrowly defines marriage as the union between a man and a woman, it is not only policing the sexual behaviors of lesbian and gay people, but society is also policing the sexual behaviors of heterosexuals. Handcuffing marriage to a heterosexual paradigm merely chokes its possibility of ever flourishing and lasting, especially as we are coming to understand the fluidity of not only gender and sexual identities but also of the constant changing configuration of family units.

[...]

The Court upheld the democratic process by offering same- sex couples marriage and not "marriage -lite" with civil unions. Alternatively, the Court overstepped its authority, imposing its will on an issue the country, let alone the state of California, is not ready for.

With purportedly more than 1.2 million signatures gathered to place on the November ballot, more than twice the requisite number needed to initiate the process of passing a constitutional amendment to put the question on the 2008 election ballot, is the democratic process thwarted?"

 What an excellent summary and commentary.

Long before the Greek and Roman artists depicted and described the most intimate aspects of human behaviour the ancient Egyptians had been practising their sensual expression for centuries. Erotica flowed through all levels of society like the waters of the Nile and although the evidence is scarcer it is no less potent. Ancient Egyptians believed that life, sexuality and rebirth were elements that went hand in hand. Marriage seems to have been a voluntary affair and for the most part monogamous - mainly because polygamy, whilst not illegal, was expensive.

Adultery was considered a serious crime and carried severe punishments including the cutting off of the nose. There is no doubt that prostitution flourished in ancient Egypt and that it played it’s part in the scheme of things, whether it was being carried out at one of the well established pleasure houses, or under the guidance of the temple.

During the reign of the Pharaoh Akhenaten, known as the Amarna period, the king is regularly portrayed as a woman with small breasts, narrow waist and rounded hips. And, sometimes, it is difficult to tell him apart from his beautiful wife, Nefertiti. The reputation of Egyptians as an incestual race is not a strictly deserved one. Although there are clear cases of royal families marrying close relatives it must be understood that this was done to secure the royal blood line and preserve peace and legitimacy, rather than for debauched reasons.

Sex for men is a way of proving themselves, their virility. Meanwhile, women are given the burden of guarding not only their own innocence but are also responsible for keeping men at bay, Deshotels says.

"Women are still seen as the gatekeepers of sexuality," she says. "Women decide if sex will happen or not."

It's important to note that these roles -- that of the virgin and the conquering hero -- are changing as younger generations gain greater awareness and control over their sexuality, Deshotels says.

"Young women are now beginning to talk about men who have sex with 'too many' women in negative ways," she says. "However, the ideal of what 'too many' means is different and unequal with men having more leeway."

How can a 21-year-old straight college student meet girls who will indulge his desire to be forced to clean their houses?

After a rancorous break-up, she wants the sex tape that they made together returned to her. Who should own this precious memory?

A recently dumped gay man wants to know how to make one last “grand romantic gesture” to try to save the relationship.

A sadly sexless teen wants to lose her virginity to her dearly beloved boyfriend. But he wants to wait until marriage. He is also her “best friend.” Is he gay?

A married woman with two small children has discovered that her husband is having an affair. Should she allow it to go on or kick him to the curb?

That’s right, folks: no camp here. No gender non-conformity, either. And definitely no guys in gowns.

Why? Because the marriage equality movement is largely predicated on the notion that us queers are just like “everyone else,” meaning mostly white, mostly middle-class or up, gender conforming monogamists. You know, the non-threatening queers. The rest of us should apparently find a nice closet to go hide in for a while, lest we threaten the rights that are apparently meant for the more upstanding, respectable members of the LGsomeotherlessimportantletters community.

This butch/femme debate is connected quite closely to the fact that a lot of Vloggers declare themselves as a “top” (I have yet to see an AE -lesbian claiming to be a bottom). And again, yes, I understand that they are mostly joking, but very often they really seem to mean it. I always thought that the top/bottom-issue was for gay men and even then just a stereotype like the whole anal-fixation by the straight world. In my mind, sex is always unique between two people, the sex I have with one person is not the same as with another. Do you see what I mean? Like, in my mind sex between two people is created by those two people and doesn’t exist without those people or with other people. Therefore I can’t understand how you could have a static role (like gender for opposite-sex couples) that you carry from one relationship to another.

The question I would like to see discussion on, is do you think there needs to be a “top” in a relationship?

 Not a real monster penis.

 Peeping is a dangerous hobby.

The robots are coming ...

Review: More on Levy and Piers Bizony

 More on Levy

Plug 'n' play

'Teledildonics' are helping couples and complete strangers reach out and touch someone online

 http://slashdong.org

The reason? In about five years, instead of having online sex at your computer, you'll be having real sex with your computer.

According to Dr. David Levy, a London England-based expert in Artificial Intelligence, it's not science fiction. It's science fact and it's inevitable.

Levy's new book, Love and Sex with Robots: The Evolution of Human-Robot Relationships, outlines a future "sexbots" will be as commonplace as checking your e-mail. Moreover, Levy's book suggests that one day, marriage to robots will be a hotly discussed social issue. "Love with robots will be as normal as love with other humans," he controversially writes.

Click by Lavalife caught up with Levy via email (natch) to discuss.

 This is an interview with David Levy.

You'll be hearing a lot more about Levy and his book. The whole 'net's been a-buzz since he first introduced his thesis. And I've been keeping up on it all.