“It’s not love but it’s pretty close.”
-regular client, describing his love of his diaper
Posted by Vixen as Quote Book at 11:14 PM CDT
June 13th, 2007
Diaper Affection
June 12th, 2007
Buenos Aires Loft Beauty
Another loft gallery this time though I’m not intentionally starting a theme.
Posted by Vixen as Sexy Sensations at 9:26 PM CDT
June 11th, 2007
Sugasm #83
The best of this weeks blogs by the bloggers who blog them. Highlighting the top 3 posts as chosen by Sugasm participants. Want in Sugasm #84? Submit a link to your best post of the week using this form. Participants, repost the link list within a week and you’re all set.
This Week’s Picks
Saying No (lafillemariee.blogspot.com…)
“Would saying no really make it all okay?”
Beyond slutdom (junohenry.wordpress.com…)
“My eclectic slutfest continues, and I continue to love it.”
A guide to my erogenous zones (orangeuglad.blogspot.com…)
“Not that you need it, but i thought i’d share it with you.”
Mr. Sugasm Himself
Pic(k) of the Day (sugarbank.com…)
Editor’s Choice
Small Town (secretlifeofaman.blogspot.com…)
See also: Fleshbot’s Sex Blog Roundup each Tuesday and Friday (Fleshbot.com)
Corset pic courtesy of Imelda Imelda.
Posted by Vixen as Sugasm at 12:35 PM CDT
June 10th, 2007
Those Kinky Gov’t Pervs
Check out this bench used by the US military at Guantánamo Bay. Looks an awful lot like my spanking bench doesn’t it? Sure it doesn’t have padded leather on it but the design is the same.
This quote sums up this story nicely:
“How did something used as an example of what an unethical government would do become something we do?” he asked.
How indeed.
From the New York Times:
Soviet-Style ‘Torture’ Becomes ‘Interrogation’
“HOW did the United States, in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, come to adopt interrogation techniques copied from the Soviet Union and other cold war adversaries?
Investigators for the Senate Armed Services Committee are examining howthe methods, long used to train Americans for what they may face as prisoners of war, became the basis for American interrogations.
In 2002, the C.I.A. and the Pentagon became concerned that standard questioning was inadequate for suspected terrorists and turned to a military training program called Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape, or SERE. For decades, SERE trainers had exposed aviators and others at high risk for capture to Soviet-style tactics, including disrupted sleep, exposure to extreme heat and cold, and hours in uncomfortable stress positions. Sometimes the ordeal included waterboarding, in which a prisoner’s face is covered with cloth and water is poured from above to create a feeling of suffocation.
Some of those techniques have been used on prisoners at Guantánamo Bay and in Afghanistan and Iraq, and at the C.I.A.’s secret overseas jails for high-level operatives of Al Qaeda.
Many SERE veterans were appalled at the “reverse engineering” of their methods, said Charles A. Morgan III, a Yale psychiatrist who has worked closely with SERE trainers for a decade.”
Posted by Vixen as News at 3:33 PM CDT
June 8th, 2007
Review: A Woman Alone At Night
Before I review A Woman Alone at Night by Tamara Faith Berger I’d like to thank Soft Skull Press. As much as I hated this book I’m still appreciative that I got the chance to review books from them.
But honestly I hated this book. It was horrible, possibly the worst book I’ve read in years. The only thing that kept me reading was my commitment to review the thing. Mr. Radical is happy that I’ve finally finished because I bitched about it to him althrough my reading. I can only recommend that you not read this book. It was horrible to read and pissed me off at times.
The story of Mira reads more like journal ramblings than like fiction. Instead of chapters the book is split into three sections-Mire, Hallucination and Vigor. Mira, the main character, mostly describes what is happening to her; she rarely reflects on the meanings of these happenings and when she does it sounds more like nonsense than deep thought. Mira never grows as a person though the back cover describes her being a willing “participant in her own degradation.”
Mira is a young teenager (I’m guessing 15 because she doesn’t drive and the book never says) when an older man John seduces her. There is no chemistry between them. He says to follow and then fuck him. She does even though she’s not attracted to the man. John and his uncle Michael start filming her for amateur porn videos. There is no explanation on how the relationship ends but suddenly Mira is in a strip club visiting a friend. A “bad girl” stripper named Adi pulls Mira to another club. The strip club is also a whorehouse and Mira becomes a prostitute. After some non-sexy sex scenes Mira runs off with another loser of a man Gio. Instead of filming her in pornos Gio fills Mira with non-sensical religious garble that has some semblance to the St. Mary mythology. The end of the book finds Mira with Gio and her cousin Ezra. I suspect the scene is meant to be erotic but I found it distasteful and forced. The back cover says the story is based on Saint Mary of Egypt. (Wikipedia has a entry on Saint Mary of Egypt here.) I’ve read some about the Saint and don’t really see a connection between the two. Yes, both were prostitutes but there’s not much similarity beyond that. Besides Gio’s rambling about Saint Mary I don’t see much of a connection.
There was nothing in the book that made me care for any of the characters. I disliked all of them, especially Mira. She has no personality, no charisma. It’s as if she has no free will. Throughout the book she goes through life not making any life choices. People do things to her and she doesn’t resist. I was disgusted that she couldn’t take action by herself.
All of the characters seem underdeveloped. The reader is given no history for any of the characters. Why do they act the way they do? What are they motivations, their desires, their dreams? Mira is attracted to John, then Adi, then Gio. None of them were charismatic in any way however. They were all dull and one dimensional. Gio was able to convince the working girls to run away with him and fuck for religious reasons. He should have been a fascinating character. I found him to just be a creepy old guy who justified his taste for hookers by confusing religious babble. John’s comment that all men think a woman walking along at night is a hooker is where the book’s title comes from. While there are probably men out there who believe this, the comment feels more thrown in for shock effect rather than character development.
The plot was frustrating. There is no time line, scenes jump back and forth and it is left to the reader to piece everything together. No description is made to the city where Mira lives or to the time the novel takes place. Perhaps this is meant to give the novel a sense of timelessness but I feel it made the story even weaker.
My biggest complaint about A Woman Alone at Night is Berger doesn’t understand sex work. There is a scene where Mira is on stage stripping. She mentions that her clothes don’t match but it doesn’t matter. This makes no sense. Strippers care a great deal about their clothes. Good clothes make good money. A well chosen outfit can mean the difference between making the utility bill and making rent in one shift. I called my friend Amber who is a stripper and read her this passage from the book. She was aghast by the thought that strippers wouldn’t care about their work clothes. Work clothes are vital to strippers.
Also, as much as men fantasize about strippers fucking clients in the back room this doesn’t happen as much as they think. Sure there are clubs where this occurs. Amber burst out laughing though when I told her the book featured a whorehouse above the strip club. “Cops come into my work all the time. No strip club would have hookers doing tricks upstairs, they’d get busted in a week.” I agree.
There is another scene where Mira is walking through a park. A man propositions her for sex. Though she doesn’t want to work she agrees to the sex. (Again, where is her free will?!) While starting to suck his cock she says she wants him to use a condom. He refuses saying he doesn’t have one. Mira doesn’t have any condoms and sucks him without one. Again, another sex worker scene that makes no sense. An experienced prostitute that doesn’t negotiate the condom issue until seconds before sex with her client? And why would a prostitute that wants to use condoms with her tricks not carry any condoms on her? There is no other mention of condom use with any of her other clients so why is it mentioned in this one scene? To show how Mira is even more a “participant in her own degradation”?
The other strippers treated Mira horribly. They were catty to her and called her “cocksucker” though the book implied most of the strippers were prostitutes themselves. While it is true that some sex workers fight and stab each other in the back this part of the book was not realistic. I’ve worked in the sex industry for over five years now. I have found the adult biz to be quite welcoming and friendly. Yes, I’ve had a fellow pso talk trash about me. It does happen. But on the whole we sex workers bond together and help each other out. There is a bonding between people in the adult biz that is deeper than I have found in other industries. To portray sex workers the way Berger does shows that she has no understanding of strippers, prostitutes, the porn industry and sex work as a whole. “Write what you know” is a statement I’ve read many times. It is apparent to me that Berger is using the sex industry as titillation in her book and has no deep understanding of it.
In a nutshell? Avoid this book.
Posted by Vixen as Reviews at 11:09 PM CDT
June 7th, 2007
Cute Quote
“I feel organic.”
-a new client said this after putting on his girlfriend’s panties
Posted by Vixen as Quote Book at 11:47 AM CDT
June 5th, 2007
Speaking Of The Sugasm…
I thought I’d mention the post request here. Are you a sex blogger? Would you like to show off your blog to new readers? Want to join a wonderful sex blogger community? Then consider submitting to the Sugasm, co-edited by yours truly.
If you’re new to the Sugasm you may wish to check out our FAQ as well.
Posted by Vixen as Sugasm at 11:54 PM CDT
June 4th, 2007
Sugasm #82
The best of this weeks blogs by the bloggers who blog them. Highlighting the top 3 posts as chosen by Sugasm participants. Want in Sugasm #83? Submit a link to your best post of the week using this form. Participants, repost the link list within a week and you’re all set.
This Week’s Picks
Back Surgery and Sex-How do you connect sexually when you can’t connect physically? (deliciously-naughty.typepad.com…)
“There was no sex. It wasn’t possible.”
A Hard Day’s Play - part 4 (curvaceousdee.blogspot.com…)
“But all the while, there was the awareness of the runes.”
Unrequited (junohenry.wordpress.com…)
“The man in question is a friend and sometime fuck-buddy.”
Mr. Sugasm Himself
Google Search: &imgtype=face (sugarbank.com…)
Editor’s Choice
Coffee (gentlygently.blogspot.com…)
See also: Fleshbot’s Sex Blog Roundup each Tuesday and Friday (Fleshbot.com)
Bondage babe courtesy of Quips and Chains.
Posted by Vixen as Sugasm at 10:02 PM CDT
June 3rd, 2007
Stop The Postal Rate Hike
Stop the Postal Rate Hike for Periodicals
“Have you been to the post office lately? Notice that the price of stamps went up, again? Well, if you thought two cents was bad, how about if the price had gone up a whole 41%? That’s the kind of increase that some small publications will face if the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) goes ahead with a proposed rate hike for periodicals. This will likely affect a publication you read, including NOW’s National NOW Times, Ms. Magazine, Mother Jones, Bust, Bitch, and others.”
This stinks. The big magazine companies won’t have a problem with higher postal rates. Does anybody really think Time or People Magazine will fold? Not a chance. But the awesome magazines listed above plus $pread, Utne, Adbusters or Funny Times could be really hurt by this.
Take action today! Click here for details.
Posted by Vixen as Activism at 11:03 PM CDT
June 2nd, 2007
Masha
Sometimes I wonder if people notice these photoshoots happening. At least one or two people I’m thinking.
Posted by Vixen as Sexy Sensations at 11:07 PM CDT
June 1st, 2007
Cindy Sheehan Resigns
Cindy Sheehan ‘resigns’ as protest leader, drained by biting criticism
“Cindy Sheehan, the soldier’s mother who galvanized an antiwar movement with her monthlong protest outside President George W. Bush’s ranch, said Tuesday she’s done being the public face of the movement.”
Cindy Sheehan Steps Down as the Face of the Antiwar Movement
Peace activist Cindy Sheehan has announced she is stepping back from her role as a leading campaigner against the Iraq war. Amy Goodman talks with her about her decision.
I feel for Cindy Sheehan. As a fellow activist I understand a lot of where she’s coming from. When I have been at protests and seen cops hurting protesters I’ve wondered why I was doing it. Why was I putting myself in danger of being arrested, beaten and possibly killed? Why was I willing to stand in protest when a car threatened to run us over? Was it even worth it?
Sheehan says she’s exhausted and I understand why. Activism is hard work-it’s hours and hours of volunteer work, rarely any compensation, lots of attacks from the opposition and often requires lots of personal risk.
Yet I keep coming back to activism work. I wouldn’t be surprised if Sheehan does as well. Why? For me it’s a moral decision. Edward Abbey said “Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul.” I believe that and try to live my life with that phrase in mind. To me it would be immoral to not speak out and to not fight for things I believe in. Being an activist is a hell of lot easier that just “zoning out” but I feel I must do it.
There have been times I’ve stepped back. I need to do this to stay sane. Often I’ll work on different causes or do different types of activism to stay motivated. Sometimes though taking a break from everything is needed.
In many ways it’s easier to discount an activist like me than Sheehan. I don’t have any kids in the military nor have I ever served. I’m one of those granola munching, fuzzy leg, Birkenstock wearing, peacenik hippy activists. The pro-war faction throws an insult my way and moves on. But Sheehan?
She was attacked so hard because she was such a good candidate for speaking out against the war. A normal mother who’s son dies fighting in the war. It’s hard to attack someone like that. But that’s exactly what happened. The pro-war faction went apeshit over her, accusing her of everything from hating America to being a media whore. She became an anti-war activist while already in the spotlight. Many of her thoughts and speeches weren’t as manicured as seasoned activists. Her words were picked apart for anything that could be used against her.
I think it’s a good thing Sheehan’s taking a break. She deserves it. She has done a lot for the peace movement, for the troops and for US politics. To me she is a modern day American hero.
Posted by Vixen as Political Rants, News at 11:40 AM CDT