I’ve finished reading Good Porn, from Seal Press. It was ok. Not great but not bad either. I think the problem is I’m not the target audience for this book. A lot of it felt like preaching to the choir but that’s because I already approve of porn.
From the back cover:
“Porn. Do you think of it as a dirty word, a taboo topic, something you associate with cheesy films with bad plots? Filmmaker and author Erika Lust is here to change all that. With the goal of making porn more accessible to women, Good Porn examines the films, the industry, and the phenomenon. It breaks away from any assumptions you may have about porn, opening the door for a wholly new conversation about a medium that has too long been considered the domain. of men. So come on in, ladies, the water’s just fine.
The author Erika Lust does make porn more accessible to women. She starts off by admitting several “ugly” truths about porn-some porn sucks, some porn is sexist and some porn is better at turning women off rather than turning them on. With that out of the way she then shows other truths about porn-there’s more and more female porn directors and female centered porn festivals now. It’s a great time for women to start watching porn.
Good Porn would be a great book for someone that wants to watch porn but doesn’t know where to begin. It would also be a wonderful book to give your girlfriend if she’s shy about porn. Lust makes the reader feel comfortable and empowered about watching porn. She makes a call to arms to the “wise wankers” of today.
“There’s a new girl in town-the wise wanker. She doesn’t need anyone to cater to her sexual whims. She pursues pleasure without guilt, and she knows and respects her own body. She knows how to enjoy sex with herself, she has sexual smarts and emotional intelligence, and she knows where to look for sex toys. She knows what she wants, and she knows how to get it.”
Her chapter on the History Of Porn was especially interesting. By chronicling sexually arousing images and words through history Lust shows that the desire for porn is nothing new. The technology may have changed but humans interest in it has been around for ages.
One unexpected delight was the amount of illustrations and photos in this book. Throughout there are cute cartoons of female stick figures and an X in a shopping cart makes an appearance. Lust shows lots of images from porn but they’re all softcore. This fits the mood of the book-titillating but in a fun, non-threatening way. Her tone is one of a going out shopping with a girlfriend. Again, this would be an excellent book to give to woman that’s interested in porn but is shy about it.
Another highlight is the A Smorgasbord Of Adult Films chapter. Lust details a ton of great porn films, many I’d never heard of before. For the beginner porn connoisseur this chapter is a great place to start your education.
However, if you already love porn and watch it regularly I’d say to skip this book. It’s not like it’s a bad read. But to someone already on the porn can be fun bandwagon it can get dull at times
Lust says, “Information is what matters here, just the way it does in other areas of your life. The more you know about sex, the more opportunities you have to make choices, and the more you can explore and enjoy your sexuality.” I wholeheartedly agree!
Posted by Vixen as Reviews at 11:56 PM CDT
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This summer Mr. Radical found me the Phonesex book in an art bookstore. I originally blogged about it here. You can buy it on Amazon here.
From the foreword: “Phone sex is theatre. An artificial passion-play in real-time, directed by a skilled verbal fantasist, with only one possible conclusion.” I like that take on it. Often on calls I think of myself as acting. And I love the term “verbal fantasist”. If I’m ever interviewed for being a PSO I hope I’m referred to as a verbal fantasist.
The book has photos of phone sex workers, both women and men, taken in their homes. Next to the pictures are little blurbs the PSOs wrote about their work. A few bits stood out for me:
“I think it’s easier to release repressed desires to a non-judgmental, fictional person, because there are no consequences in the outside world.”
“I am the manufacturer who creates her from the blueprint that the caller provides me.”
“I see a reflection of myself in all of my callers. I help bring out their inner light. I try to heal the wounds that our closed-minded society inflicts.”
There’s also a nice selection of photos. Some of the PSOs are smiling, some look serious, a few look sad. I picked the two PSOs for this post because they’re laughing.
This makes for a great coffee table book. I recommend it. I want to be in a book like this someday! I totally would have posed for the author.
Posted by Vixen as Reviews, Sex Workers at 11:48 PM CDT
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Washed Up by bubs84
Welcome to Pleasurists, a round-up of the adult product and sex toy reviews that came out in the last seven days. For updates and information follow our RSS Feed and Twitter.
Did you miss Pleasurists #87? Read it all here. Do you have a review for Pleasurists #89? Be sure to read our submission guidelines and then use our submission form and submit it before Sunday July 18th at 11:59pm PDT.
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Posted by Vixen as Reviews at 2:01 PM CDT
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Babeland sent me their BonBon vibe to review.
From the vibe’s page:
“Hold it easily against your clit or tuck it in your underwear — either way, the contoured BonBon is sure to cause quite the stir. Candida Royalle, a Babeland favorite porn director, brings us the latest in her Natural Contours toy line: a compact, adorable, and powerful clit vibe that has all the makings of a customer favorite. A simple push-button control takes you through three speeds, while the splash-proof exterior makes the BonBon ideal for shower fun. Enjoy a 90-day warranty with Babeland; beyond that, Natural Contours offers a lifetime warranty on this well-made little vibe!”
It comes with a cute carry bag:
This is a nice vibe. It’s light weight and small which would make it great for travel. The curve fits nicely in the hand. The vibes are ok but they’re not as strong as my Pocket Rocket vibe. There’s actually four speeds-the last one is a on and off pulse.
My one complaint is you have to click all the speeds to turn it off. Well not if you’re at the last speed but if you’re at the first one you would have to. Not a deal killer but personally I like an on/off switch better. Still though, like I said it’s a nice vibe. If you’re in the mood for a more sensual masturbation session I’d say go with the BonBon vibe.
What’s this about a contest? The NYC Sex Blogger Calendar is selling calendars and calendar dates. To drum up sales I’ve decided to give away the BonBon vibe. How to enter?
Buy a calendar and use the code VIXEN when you pay with Paypal. Or buy a day on the calendar (or promote your business and buy 5 days for $100) and put the code VIXEN. Tess and Diva will pass on the entrants’ emails to me and I’ll randomly pick a winner. This contest will end July 31st. Good luck!
Posted by Vixen as Sex Toys, Reviews at 1:35 PM CDT
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Seal Press sent me two books to review.
Good Porn, A Woman’s Guide by Erika Lust
“Porn: For so many women it is a dirty word, a taboo topic. Even with the prevalence of porn in the world today, so many women are still afraid of it—unsure of what exactly porn is, what constitutes “good” porn, and why it should matter to them.
Good Porn is a women’s comprehensive guide to porn—what it is, what types are available, and why men and women enjoy different styles. With her poised expertise, author Erika Lust examines the films, the industry, and the phenomenon, making porn more accessible to women. Lust breaks away from the assumption that porn is for men only—examining the role of women within the porn industry, from female directors to the stars themselves. She addresses the myth that one can’t be a feminist and still like porn, offers insight on the educational and erotic value of porn, and covers the benefits of porn in heightening women’s sexual appetites. Sharp and honest, Good Porn breaks away from women’s previous assumptions of porn, opening a new discourse on sexuality and relationships.”
Hellions: Pop Culture’s Rebel Women by Maria Raha
“Who is the iconic rebel? Is it a character from the legacy of James Dean or Clint Eastwood, or maybe a Beat Generation writer? Better yet, is it a woman?
Modern pop culture and the media have distorted the notion of rebellion. Classic male rebels appear sexy, nomadic—naturally rebellious—while unorthodox women are reprimanded, made to fit unrealistic roles and body images, or mocked for their decadence and self-indulgence. In order to appreciate our legacy of female rebels—and create space for future cultural icons—the notion of rebellion needs to be reevaluated.
From Madonna and Marilyn Monroe to the reality TV stars and hotel chain heiresses of the twenty-first century, Hellions analyzes the celebration of pop culture icons and its impact on notions of gender. Looking at these past examples, Hellions expands upon the definition of rebellion and offers a new understanding of what would be considered rebellious in the celebrity-obsessed media culture of the twenty-first century.”
I’ve started Hellions first because I love reading about rebellious women.
Posted by Vixen as Reviews at 11:02 PM CDT
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I finally watched the What Would Jesus Buy? movie. Wow! That was an amazing movie. Just amazing. I loved it.
From the film’s site:
“What Would Jesus Buy? follows Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping Gospel Choir as they go on a cross-country mission to save Christmas from the Shopocalypse: the end of mankind from consumerism, over-consumption and the fires of eternal debt!
From producer Morgan Spurlock (SUPER SIZE ME) and director Rob VanAlkemade comes a serious docu-comedy about the commercialization of Christmas. Bill Talen (aka Reverend Billy) was a lost idealist who hitchhiked to New York City only to find that Times Square was becoming a mall. Spurred on by the loss of his neighborhood and inspired by the sidewalk preachers around him, Bill bought a collar to match his white caterer’s jacket, bleached his hair and became the Reverend Billy of the Church of Stop Shopping. Since 1999, Reverend Billy has gone from being a lone preacher with a portable pulpit preaching on subways, to the leader of a congregation and a movement whose numbers are well into the thousands.
Through retail interventions, corporate exorcisms, and some good old-fashioned preaching, Reverend Billy reminds us that we have lost the true meaning of Christmas. What Would Jesus Buy? is a journey into the heart of America – from exorcising the demons at the Wal-Mart headquarters to taking over the center stage at the Mall of America and then ultimately heading to the Promised Land … Disneyland.
Will we be led like Sheeple to the Christmas slaughter, or will we find a new way to give a gift this Christmas? What Would Jesus Buy? may just be the divine intervention we’ve all been searching for.
The Shopocalypse is upon us … Who will be $aved?”
There were parts in this movie that made me laugh so hard my stomach hurt. But there were other parts that had me tear up. There will be spoilers in this review but it came out in 2007 so I figure that’s ok. The film basically follows his group around while they head across country to spread their gospel. Interspersed is footage of average shoppers and authors weighing in on Christmas and debt.
I knew about Reverend Billy’s activism beforehand. His mission has really grown-now he has a full choir and band that accompany him. It was a treat to see the behind the scenes practice of the gospel choir. The shopping sins confession booth was brilliant.
Maybe it’s because I was raised in a very religious town in the Midwest that I have a particular love of Rev. Billy’s character. I am so entertained by the parody. The way he dances on stage, the way the gospel “amens” when he preaches, the way he bugs out his eyes when talking about the Anti-Christ (in his case Mickey Mouse). Their gospel songs felt so good to listen to-uplifting music and energy with an uplifting message. Though he’s parodying televangelists he’s not insulting Christianity. In fact, the group performs at many churches on their tour. Their message of making Christmas about love and family instead of trying to buy love through gifts speaks to the heart of many religions.
There were bittersweet moments in the film. Billy’s wife laments about the exhausting schedule and wonders if they’re changing anyone’s mind. I have felt that. In the beginning of the Iraq War Mr. Radical and I packed our bags and hit the road for protests. I know that feeling of exhaustion, of wondering if you’re really making a difference.
But the group’s mood bounced back the closer they got to Christmas. There’s a scene where Rev. Billy baptizes a child outside of a Staples store. He prayed for the baby to grow up free from the trappings of over-consumption and to live his mantra of “stop shopping and start living”. That scene really sums up their activism. What starts off as a funny scene quickly turns into something deeply meaningful. It made me cry and I don’t even like babies.
Another touching moment was a scene with a homeless man. Many of the people interviewed talked about the need to buy buy buy for Christmas. One woman declared she was doing it for her children and didn’t care if she went broke. But the homeless man was just thankful to have a room at the homeless shelter for Christmas. It was another teary moment. I think we can all get caught up in materialism. The other day I was pouting that I couldn’t buy all the art supplies and yarn I wanted in one purchase. But I have a roof over my head and people in my life that love me. The scene with the homeless man really touched me and was a good reminder of the things that really matter.
Now don’t get the impression that this is a sappy movie. Far from it. There’s a lot of humor. There’s a scene where the group go caroling in a fancy neighborhood. They sing anti-consumer songs that have a Christmas jingle. The homeowners reactions were hilarious. Some like it, some were befuddled. There’s one house where the mom starts to get into it but the kids eyes are wide. It’s like you’re seeing their minds getting opened right there.
Billy and gang go to Wal-mart headquarters to exercise the evil there. First they have a funeral for small town America and then perform the exorcism on the Wal-mart home headquarters sign. It was a funny moment. But at the same time there’s a compelling, real world point. That’s what I love about Rev. Billy. He makes you laugh but he also makes you think. In many ways he reminds me of Abbey Hoffman, one of my heroes.
The Mall of America segment was hilarious. Billy and the choir ride escalators while singing and then take over a stage and start performing. Security arrives to usher them out but not before onlookers start to laugh and clap. I have to see them in person someday!
The climax of the film comes as they descend on Disneyland. Oh it’s wonderful to watch. How powerful to see them going into the “belly of the beast” to preach that materialism doesn’t buy happiness. There were several scenes where Disney’s connection to slave/sweatshop labor was revealed-always a good reminder.
A good thing about renting this film is the bonus features. There’s a scene where the group goes to sing for postal workers because they have to bear the weight of the consumer holiday. One of the women says they took away the stress of the Christmas holiday for the day and that she hadn’t laughed that hard in a long time.
That’s the perfect kind of activism-entertaining people while spreading the message.
I highly recommend this movie. It’s definitely one of my all time faves. I loved it!
Posted by Vixen as Activism, Reviews at 11:40 PM CDT
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Babeland sent me their Bondage Rope to review:
From the description:
“Tie me up, tie me down — you’ll have no problem getting knotty with this Bondage Rope. Soft, solid-braid multifilament polypropylene rope feels great against the skin, while holding knots perfectly without slipping. There’s no need to sacrifice quality for comfort, as sturdy Bondage Rope feels silky while resisting tearing or fraying. Pair it with an instructional book like Two Knotty Boys Showing you the Ropes, and you’ll be a rope bondage expert in no time at all. ”
There’s 25 ft here, enough to tie up someone down simply. I love the look of complex bondage but for play purposes I like a simple tie up. I wouldn’t say the rope is silky but it’s certainly smooth. It does feel nice and soft against the skin. It is slippery and at first I was worried the knots would come out. But I tied several knots and they didn’t come out.
The ends are closed with electrical tape. That’s a nice touch because I would have taped the ends anyway.
The label says “When you’re serious about play”. I like it. This rope would make a nice addition to your toy bag.
Posted by Vixen as Sex Toys, Reviews at 11:17 PM CDT
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I finally watched the movie Food, Inc. tonight. Wow, what a great film.
From the Food, Inc. site:
“In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation’s food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government’s regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation’s food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, herbicide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won’t go bad, but we also have new strains of E. coli—the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults.
Featuring interviews with such experts as Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation), Michael Pollan (The Omnivore’s Dilemma, In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto) along with forward thinking social entrepreneurs like Stonyfield’s Gary Hirshberg and Polyface Farms’ Joel Salatin, Food, Inc. reveals surprising—and often shocking truths—about what we eat, how it’s produced, who we have become as a nation and where we are going from here.”
Mr. Radical has extreme food allergies. Thankfully we’re able to maintain his health through diet. We eat about 90% organic. It’s not cheap or easy but his weird health problems have gone away. Because of his allergy I’ve gotten quite the education on where food comes from. I knew a lot of the information in the film but there were parts that completely shocked me. Here’s some highlights:
A chicken farmer named Carole Morison was interviewed for the film. She shares that she is allergic to antibiotics and can’t take them because they are fed to her chickens through their feed. The antibiotics in the feed passes to the chickens which then pass on to humans.
Barbara Kowalcyk’s two year old son died from eating a hamburger infected with E-coli. After his death she became a food safety advocate. She’s working to get a law passed named after her son. Kevin’s Law basically gives the USDA the power to shut down factories that have repeat offenses. They currently can’t do that?! Later in the film she’s asked what kind of diet her family eats now. She declined to answer the question because of so called veggie libel laws.
Now I know Monsanto is one of the really evil corporations. But there’s a scene in the movie where a farmer discovers he’s on a Monsanto “black list”. These are farmers who don’t “cooperate” with Monsanto and are seen as “problem farmers”. It was like something out of a Mafia movie.
It’s not cheap or easy to eat an organic diet. You’ll have a large grocery bill and make a lot of your food from scratch. Honestly, it’s often a pain in the ass. Sometimes I just want to go out and have a burger and fries and not have to think about it. But eating organic does feel much healthier.
One of my heroes Julia Butterfly Hill said, “The most revolutionary thing you can do is decide what to put at the end of your fork.” Her point basically sums up this entire film.
Eric Schlosser co-produced the film and is featured throughout. His book Fast Food Nation is a must read.
In a nutshell: Watch this film.
Posted by Vixen as Reviews at 11:35 PM CST
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The Adult Toy Shoppe sent me the Icicles Sapphire Spiral Dildo to review.
It’s pretty sweet! The package says it’s hand blown. There’s a little dent in the cock head-cute.
There’s a nice curve to the toy.
Check out that raised spiral:
Now I only partially reviewed this dildo. The oranges know this toy more intimately than I do. Why?
I’m saving this dildo for my blog anniversary contest next March. There was a twinge of regret doing this photo shoot-I kind of want to keep this dildo for myself. It’s a nice size, good weight and it’s pretty. The cute factor of a toy is important to me. Your comments and emails really mean a lot to me so I’ve been working on a kick ass contest for you and this toy will be in the give away.
This dildo is a good value at $28.99. It’s 7 1/8″ long, 6 5/8″ is insertable and it’s 1 1/2″ wide.
Posted by Vixen as Sex Toys, Reviews at 10:15 PM CST
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Babeland sent me a Candy Vibe to review.
From the product page:
“You’ll be flooded with trick-or-treating memories when you reach for the Candy Vibes—until, that is, you see what’s inside. These small, surprisingly powerful one-speed slimline vibes come cleverly disguised in candy bar costumes; you’ll covet 100 Orgasms, Crotch, and Better than any Finger just like you used to covet their tasty counterparts, but with a whole different purpose in mind! We challenge you to come up with a better gift or party favor for the upcoming Halloween season. And don’t forget to share—these guys taste even better when you invite someone else along for the ride.”
It’s a cute vibe with a cute case. But it was a disappointment. I turned it on and wow-the thing is crazy loud. Not subtle at all. There’s only one speed which I didn’t like. I like several vibe varieties.
The vibration is a higher vibration that my other toys. I didn’t like it. My favorite toys have a deeper, lower vibration. I played with it and while it excited me it didn’t get me off. I ended up grabbing an old fave to finish the job.
The screw on cap end doesn’t quite close down completely. Not a big deal but I found it annoying.
I can see this being a cute holiday present. But if you want to really treat yourself go with another of their vibes. I like their waterproof pocket rocket vibe or the classic Slimline Vibrator.
Posted by Vixen as Sex Toys, Reviews at 2:58 AM CST
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When I started reading Two Is Enough: A Couple’s Guide to Living Childless by Choice
I wasn’t sure how I’d like it. I already knew I was childfree so what would I get out of the book?
I finished it last night and wow-I loved this book! Laura S. Scott does a good job mixing her research data and personal stories to make a compelling read. It was a pleasure to find out I had so much in common with other childfree people.
Scott categorizes the childless into different catagories. Apparently I’m an “early articulator”. As a young girl I knew I’d never have children. I never liked baby dolls. It felt like I was being forced to play mommy which felt wrong. (Barbie was different-she was an adult, dated Ken, fought the evil Osmond dolls and never had a baby.)
Scott had four categories for her study:
“Early articulators are those who make the decision early in their lives, generally without influence from a significant other.
Acquiescers are those who make the decision to remain childless primarily because their partner wanted to be childfree.
Postponers are those who delayed having a family and ultimately decided they didnt want kids.
Undecided are those who are still in the decision-making process.”
I was surprised by how many of the childfree heard the same myths as I did. “You’ll change your mind when you get older.” “It’s different when they’re your own kids.” “You’re selfish.” Her chapter Marginal and Misunderstood challenges the myths of the childfree life and was one of my favorite chapters.
Another outstanding chapter is Eighteen Reasons (and More) Why We Don’t Have Kids. I found myself agreeing with many of her “Motive Statements” such as “I love our life, our relationship, as it is, and having a child won’t enhance it” and “I value freedom and independence”.
Scott gives a realistic outline on the work that needs to be done for the childfree. Too many doctors are hesitant to provide sterilization to childless couples. I wrote about our frustrating journey towards Mr. Radical’s vascetomy here. There’s not nearly enough childfree role models in our culture. Family and friends still pressure couples to have children, ignoring the couples stated preference. Mr. Radical’s grandmother used to send me birthday cards featuring babies because we hadn’t popped out a grandchild yet. When his sister had kids the pressure finally eased up. Scott’s chapter A Place At The Table outlines ways the childfree can be more accepted into society.
One downside of the study was the lack of diversity. This isn’t Scott’s fault. She worked with the participants she had. But I’d like to hear perspectives from gay couples, those that choose to remain single, those in polyamorous relationships, people with non-traditional religions and atheists.
Hopefully her book and study will inspire more research.
Who’d like this book? Certainly the childfree. Amongst my friends and family Mr. Radical and I are definitely in the minority. It was a joy to read about other childfree people and know that there’s others taking this path. If you’re debating whether or not to have children this book would give you a good perspective on the childfree life.
I’m not sure this book will entertain parents. Certainly you won’t find me picking up books on parenting so why would a parent read this one? Maybe you’re like me and enjoy reading about sociological studies. Or maybe you’re curious about the motivations of the childfree. Scott goes out of her way to be respectful to those with children. She makes the point that many websites get nasty about parents. I’ll fess up that I throw the term “breeder” around when parents piss me off. But her book is very courteous to parents so you won’t be insulted if you read it and have kids of your own.
I definitely recommend this book! Want to know more about the childfree lifestyle? You can also check out Scott’s Childless by Choice Project.
Posted by Vixen as Reviews at 10:48 PM CDT
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Last year author Anna Jane Grossman contacted me for an interview. She wanted to write about the decline of phone sex for her book Obsolete. She asked me several questions and now I’m quoted in Obsolete: An Encyclopedia of Once-Common Things Passing Us By. I’m on page 132. Neat!
Grossman gives definitions and anecdotes for her obsolete subject matter. Some of the items only have definitions. Here’s the definition for phone sex:
“Arousing conversations conducted via telephony, sometimes for a fee; born in 1875, with Alexander Graham Bell’s first words into a phone: “Mr. Watson, come here. I want you.”
It was a treat to see myself quoted in a book. One thing that irked me was that my quote sounds like I’m no longer a PSO. But she asked me the question “How would you describe your work to, say, someone living 100 years from now–someone who knows nothing about it?” So it made sense to describe myself in the past.
Is phone sex becoming obsolete because guys can get it for free online, as Grossman theorizes? The popularity may decline but I don’t see it going away completely. Especially with cell phones becoming smaller and cheaper with each passing year. Sure you can get free sexual services but will it satisfy? There’s a saying I learned from a Spanish teacher years ago that comes to mind-”What if free is often more expensive”. How many hours would someone have to spend to find someone willing to indulge their particular fantasy and do a good job of it?
She makes the point that college students are less likely to do paid phone sex. While it’s true that I don’t have many college aged clients I don’t think they’re my target audience. The bulk of my clients are middle aged or older. I guess the real question is will these college students turn to phone sex when they reach middle age? I theorize some will turn to sex workers to fulfill their needs. Perhaps new technology will change the way they communicate with said sex workers but I still think they’ll want to interact.
The book makes a good coffee table book. You can pick it up, read a few entries and then put it down again. You could read it straight through but I enjoyed randomly opening it and reading. While I don’t agree with all of her assessments-I can’t imagine email becoming obsolete. And as a knitter I know there’s a whole DIY community out there that darns socks. I know I do.
But there are some items where we’re in complete agreement-typewriters, hotel keys and lickable stamps are definitely in decline. There are cute illustrations throughout the book. They’re not needed but it makes the book fun.
Posted by Vixen as Musings, Reviews at 11:12 PM CDT
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Seal Press sent me the book Two Is Enough: A Couple’s Guide to Living Childless by Choice by Laura S. Scott to review. I’ve always known I didn’t want children but for some reason I’ve never read a childfree book. Maybe I figured I was already decided on the children issue so why read one? But this book got my attention.
Here’s some info from the book description and press release:
“Fall in love. Get married. Have children. For most couples, marriage and children go hand in hand. And yet, the number of people choosing childlessness is on the rise. These are the childless by choice—people who have actively decided not to have children—rather than the childless by circumstance. In Two Is Enough, Laura S. Scott explores the assumptions surrounding childrearing, and explores the reasons many people are choosing to forgo this experience. Scott, founder of the Childless by Choice Project, examines the personal stories of people who have faced this decision and explores the growing trend of childlessness. Scott’s expert knowledge and analysis offer a picture of the childless by choice—who they are, why they’ve chosen to remain childless, and how they’ve had these conversations with loved ones. Honest and unapologetic, Two Is Enough recognizes the challenges of being childless in today’s society and offers suggestions on how that same society can change to make room for the childless and the childfree.
—
“I love our life, our relationship as it is, and having a child won’t enhance it.”
This is just one of the many motives Laura S. Scott uncovered in her interviews with childless by choice couples. In Two Is Enough, Scott tells her own story, as well as others’ who are joining the growing number of couples opting out of parenthood. Honest and unapologetic, Two Is Enough challenges the notion that parenthood is inevitable, or essential for well-being and happiness. For those who are childless by choice or by circumstance, Scott offers ways to manage the pressure and questions from family and strangers alike in a culture that idealizes parenthood. For everyone else, she creates a space to consider and evaluate what a childfree life really looks like.”
Posted by Vixen as Reviews at 10:42 PM CDT
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I’m taking part in another Pleasurist review roundup.
Pleasurists is a round-up of the adult product and sex toy reviews that came out in the last seven days from bloggers all around the sex blogosphere. Did you miss Pleasurists #40? Read it all here. Do you have a review for Pleasurists #41? Submit it here before Sunday August 16th at 11:59pm PDT. Please re-post this list on your own blog if listed.
Want to win some free swag? All you’ve got to do is enter.
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On to the reviews…
Vibrators
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Lube, Massage Oil, Bath Stuff, & etc.
BDSM/Fetish
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Posted by Vixen as Reviews at 11:16 PM CDT
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