Jessica Wakeman
December 8, 2008 | 12:22 pm EST
As if we need more excuses to get it on, research shows a great cure for stress is a good sex life. The weird twist? Stress destroys your sex drive.
“Stress makes you tired, distracted and unmotivated to do anything, much less have sex,” says Laura Berman, Ph.D., director of the Berman Center for women’s sexual health in Chicago. “When a woman is stressed, the hormonal changes in her body trigger a chemical reaction causing sex hormone–binding globulin to bind with testosterone cells, so they’re unavailable for libido and sexual response.” -MSNBC.com
Studies show that being in an intimate relationship helps us heal faster, get sick less often and live longer. Sex helps release oxytocin and endorphins which are our feel-good hormones. So if you can’t get to yoga, just get to bed.
takepart and feel better (in more ways than one) with sex, check out this great list of all the ways sex is good for your health.
And speaking of feeling good from sex, if you live in NYC come see my sexy show “Stripped Stories” tonight at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, 9:30pm tonight. It’s comedians, writers, and musicians telling stories about sex. More info at strippedstories.com
Australia has ruled that a cartoon depicting characters from the show, The Simpsons, having sex is child porn. The cartoon depicted Bart, Lisa and Maggie engaging in sex acts and shows their genitalia.
The judge ruled that a cartoon could depict a real person — in this case, children — and therefore a man with possession of such a video on his computer is guilty of child porn. He was fined the equivalent of $2,000 American dollar.
Writes the BBC:
Justice Michael Adams said the purpose of anti-child pornography legislation was to stop sexual exploitation and child abuse where images of “real” children were depicted.
But in a landmark ruling he decided that the mere fact that they were not realistic representations of human beings did not mean that they could not be considered people.
He ruled that the animated cartoon could “fuel demand for material that does involve the abuse of children,” and therefore upheld the conviction for child pornography.
I feel conflicted about whether or not I agree with the decision, mostly because I don’t know what exactly is in the video. It could have been a spoof video or a fan fiction video, for all I know. I don’t have enough information about what exactly happens in the film, and who is sleeping with who, to know enough about the intent. But mostly, I think I’m with the judge on this one.
I do think that someone who is likely to possess animation depicting children having sex is also likely to sexually abuse a child and/or be interested in real-time child porn. However, being likely to do something is not upholding the principle of “innocent until proven guilty” in the American legal system. Therefore, it seems the best way to weed these potential sex offenders out is to criminalize their behavior — which is not actually, physically harming a child, but comes as close as possible to it.
It’s certainly a controversial decision, though: tell us in the comments sectin below what you think.
Big Mouth Films is working on a new documentary called “Asexuality: The Making of a Movement”. The film will profile four people who are trying to live their lives as asexuals which are people who do not experience sexual attraction. Facinating, right? I mean for someone like me who hosts a show all about sex called Stripped Stories (which you can see in NYC this Thursday 11/20, 9:30pm at the UCB Theatre!) and often writes about sex, tells jokes about sex, and yes, enjoys sex, I am in awe of the asexuality concept. Check out the trailer for this work in progress-
takepart and learn more about the film and help raise money for some additional shoots by coming to the Arts Engine/Big Mouth Films, Asexuality: The Making of a Movement fundraiser. Featuring M.C. Giulia Rozzi (that’s me!) Plus, cocktails,a raffle, bake sale, and a viewing of the new scenes trailer. December 4th, 6pm-9pm at Flatbush Farm 76 St. Marks Avenue (Corner of Flatbush and Sixth Avenue) in Brooklyn. Tickets are $25. Info at
http://www.artsengine.net/asexuality
Save the whales! Save the rain forests! Save the internet?
Yes, apparently the internet needs to be saved too. According to savetheinternet.com Network Neutrality aka “Net Neutrality” for short is in danger. Net Neutrality is the guiding principle that preserves the free and open Internet.
Check out this video from James Rucker, director of SavetheInternet.com partner ColorofChange.org, says his organization “wouldn’t have had a chance without a free and open Internet.” Net Neutrality is vital to bloggers, activists and organizers working for a more just and equitable society.
Put simply, Net Neutrality means no discrimination. Net Neutrality prevents Internet providers from speeding up or slowing down Web content based on its source, ownership or destination.
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Margaret Cho has had a huge influence on my career. Her candid discussions on self image, her fearless energy, and of course her immigrant mom impressions (I too have an adorable immigrant Mom that makes her way into many of my jokes) have always inspired me. After I read “I’m the One that I Want” I was officially a huge fan. That book bluntly and beautifully examined the racial and size prejudices in Hollywood.
Check out this clip from the “I’m the One that I Want” show:
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Not only an artist but also an activist, Cho recently received the First Amendment Award from the ACLU of Southern California, and the Intrepid Award from the
You don’t want to celebrate Earth Day and yourself with a sex toy that is bad for the earth or bad for your body. Nicole blogged about great green sex accessories that let you spice up your sex life organically. But what if you don’t have that special someone to go green with? Luckily there are 10 great ways you can go green solo.
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A wise woman named Cher Horowitz (from Clueless) once explained that she was still a virgin because “You see how picky I am about my shoes and they only go on my feet.” So be picky about your sex toys. Many sex toys contain phthalates, a plastic softener, which is so hazardous the European Union banned its use in children’s toys. Ironically, since phlatates have been linked to cancer and damaging sperm, we are putting things in our nether regions, that may be bad for our nether regions. Luckily, many sex toys stores, like Good Vibrations, are phasing phthalates-containing products. But until the war against phthalates is won, and until phthalates are stamped out around the world, you can use this top ten list of phthalate-free toys.
Rebecca Dickinson is a Navy officer and “Lt. Cmdr.” who also moonlighted as a call girl for Deborah Jeane Palfrey’s escort service. Dickinson was forced to testify as a witness in the case against “D.C. Madam” Deborah Jeane Palfrey. Dickinson quit because she She is now a lieutenant commander six months from retirement, but she has been put on leave and could lose her job and pension. Again, I’m wondering why someone like Dickinson should be punished for providing a service (yes, it’s sex) which will never go out of style or demand. Interestingly enough, another woman who worked for Palfrey is a retired occupational therapist with a doctorate in higher education! But what I think we should be scandalized by is another story involving sex and the military.For example, did you know that rape in the military has become so rampant, and so condoned, that women serving in the U.S. military are more likely to be raped by a fellow soldier than killed by enemy fire in Iraq? You probably didn’t. Because unlike “Rebecca Dickinson” “Jane Harmon” the congresswoman who wrote an oped about this frightening fact, never got to be on google trends top 10 hot trends.
You know the term “walk of shame?” That phrase referring to the embarrassing and dreaded travel a person (often a woman) must make home after a one-night stand. Luckily most of us can laugh at the sillyness in the apparent “shame” like comedian Shayna Ferm who pokes fun of this silly and sexy stride in this brilliant tune Read the rest of this entry »
By Giulia Rozzi
A number of Rite Aide stores in the west will start carrying paternity test kits.
Makers Sorenson Genomics explain the value in thier product “there is a curiosity and a need to know that can be provided discreetly, conveniently and affordably at retail,”
Hmmm, if home paternity tests become widely used, I wonder what Maury Povich will do on his show?
For more info on reproduction, safe sex and contraception visit safersex.org.