The Alpha Consumer reports that one in five adult Americans admits to drinking more, 17 percent say they are smoking more, and 19 percent report increased sexual activity since the economy's taken a turn for the worse. And, move over crack, booze and babies: Lemondrop is crowning sex this season's hottest celeb addiction. It is, presumably, cheaper than the other three, after all.
The New York Times reported this weekend that Muslim clerics are increasingly agitated about depictions of premarital sex and loosened-up gender roles on TV. During the holy month of Ramadan, which is taking place right now, there have been an usually high number of programming canceled at the behest of religious leaders. But these programs aren't anywhere near as racy as Sex & the City and Desperate Housewives. No, these shows cover content that we often take for granted in the West.
Yesterday's New York Times Modern Love column was by Alix Kates Shulman, author of To Love What Is: A Marriage Transformed. Shulman, an elderly woman, is the primary caretaker of her husband, who lost his short-term memory and his ability to function alone, when he was injured in a fall four years ago. Shulman wrote about her husband's belief that he was having an affair with his companion, Jenn. Shulman hired Jenn to care of her husband during the day—to take him on walks, to the museum, to be by his side always so he can function in the world.
Ever wonder what it's like to be a free-thinking woman in Kuwait? Visit Jewaira's Boudoir and wonder no more. Jewaira's tagline is "Bits of pleasure & fantasy. My own room with a view," which nicely sums up her blog: she posts about everything, but a few of her favorite topics are sex, relationships and women's issues.
Making babies met two very different forms of Kryptonite this week: the state of Louisiana and the antidepressant, Paxil. New Orleans' Times-Picayune reported this week that state representative John LaBruzzo, a Republican, is studying a plan that would pay women $1,000 to have their tubes tied in an effort to curb welfare costs.
Rankings and ratings aren't just for Netflix or GoodReads anymore. Now you can waste some time at Men.Style.com (the site for two of our favorite mags, GQ and Details) ranking the "reverse cowgirl," "stand and carry," "the wheelbarrow" and other heterosexual nookie positions. Whoever's crafting the sexual positions out of those wooden art school models and photographing 'em has the best job in the world, hands down.
Ever wonder what men fantasize about? Over at Glamour's Smitten one guy revealed his frottage fodder. It includes a rotating cast of women, images instead of narrative and a few surprises…
Slate.com's advice columnist, Dear Prudence, tackles a pesky relationship problem we've had: dating an incorrigible flirt. You know, the guy (or girl) who drives you batty as much as he sets alight butterflies in your tummy. Only problem is, I think Prudie goes too easy on her subject.
Because Oprah is really just Jesus in disguise, when asked a question, she will certainly have the right answer. Her website recently featured an article on different relationship dilemmas and the answers to solving them.
Debauchette, you might remember, is the courtesan (she prefers the term "whoretesan," heehee) and blogger, who came to national attention when Diane Sawyer interviewed her earlier this year in the wake of the Eliot Spitzer scandal. Yesterday she wrote that three of her clients have called this week to make sure she's financially solvent. In case you're wondering too, she is. "I’m fine. I saved. I saw it coming. I live modestly," she's been telling the concerned men.
