It's a sad announcement, and one that sucks on many levels (which, of course, I'll get into down below). And I guess it's especially sad for me because of my personal connection to the company. You see, years ago, when I was in college, and Fleshbot was but a twinkle in a pervert's eye, I worked as an intern for Nerve.

I applied to be a Nerve intern in the summer of 2002. I was on the verge of entering into my senior year of college, and though there were many things I was still unsure of, there was one thing I knew for sure: I wanted to get an internship some place cool. Specifically, some place doing interesting work around the field of sex and sexuality. Nerve was a perfect fit for me.

What I loved about Nerve—a website devoted to "alternative stimulation" and "literate smut"—was the intelligence that it brought to the topic of sex. Through a range of essays, Nerve touched on topics deemed too shocking for most media outlets, discussing them in a thoughtful, highbrow way. I loved it.

And then, of course, there were the pictures, which solidified Nerve's commitment to destigmatizing sexuality. It's (relatively) easy to write about sex and still distance yourself from the arena of "smut" or (gasp!) porn; bringing naked pictures into the mix makes it harder to defend yourself against charges that your project is about more than simple titillation. But Nerve braved that barrier, unafraid to showcase the work of erotic artists like Clayton Cubitt, Autumn Sonnichsen, and Chase Lisbon—and, what's more, to showcase sometimes unabashedly sexual photography alongside thought provoking essays, treating them with the same level of respect.

But those days are now over, it seems: apparently, showing is more shocking than telling, and Nerve must now do away with its naughtier bits and fall in step with the rest of the media. And it's truly sad to see Nerve attempt to conform to a model "that's a lot better for more conservative companies," to shift the nudity to something "occasional and relatively incidental." Dare we say it? It feels like we're witnessing the tragic fall of one of our allies in whatever war this is that we're waging on the American attitude toward sex.

It's a sad day for smart sex on the web. We can only hope that somewhere out there, there's another brave soul willing to pick up the baton that Nerve has dropped.

· Nerve.com Hires New CEO, And New Plans To Downplay Nudity (businessweek.com, via Gawker)
· Photos from "Nerve: The First Ten Years"

Babeland wants you all to do your civic duty, and is giving away the vibrators as part of their own Economic Stimulus Package. Additionally, the first 100 online orders will get the same fabulous free vibe. For all you late risers, there will be savings in-store and online all day long. Check here for stores and hours.

· Via Babeland Offers Tax Relief in the Form of Free Vibrators (nerve.com)

· Getting On Board With Stephanie (nerve.com, login: freemonth/password: nervedate)

Have we mentioned how much we love Halloween?

· Trick Or Treat With Annette (nerve.com, login: freemonth/password: thenervedate)

"Nerve: The First Ten Years" is available in stores November 15. Join us after the jump for a sneak peek inside.

. . .

· Nerve (nerve.com)
· Buy "Nerve: The First Ten Years" (amazon.com)

We recently sat down with Joe Swanberg to ask him a few questions about the series: you'll find his answers, a preview clip from YAB's third season, and an exclusive preview gallery after the jump.

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Fleshbot: What was the inspiration for "Young American Bodies"?
Joe Swanberg: I made a film called KISSING ON THE MOUTH that detailed the relationships of some young people in Chicago. I felt like I had more to learn and more that I was interested in exploring within that framework, so I pitched the show idea to Nerve. I had wanted to make a web series for a few years at that point, and it seemed like a really good fit with what Nerve was already doing.

FB: How did you recruit the cast? Was it difficult finding actors who were comfortable with the nature of the show?
JS: I make the show with my wife, Kris, and we spent a few weeks meeting with people and putting the cast together. Some of them were already friends of ours and most of the other people we met through MySpace. We posted bulletins explaining what we were trying to do and there were a few people who were interested. Once we found the right people, we worked with them to develop the show around their own lives and stories. Now that we have a few seasons online, it's easier to find people to be in the show, because they know what to expect. We are always looking for new cast members, so people should email me if they are interested.

FB: What's been your favorite episode?
JS: At this point we have made 32 episodes and I can no longer pick a favorite. My favorite relationship in the show is between Maggie and Ted. They are such a weird couple, but they somehow make sense. They break up in Season 2, but we brought Ted back for the new season because we all liked his character so much. A New York actor named Karl Jacob plays that part and he cracks all of us up. We bring him to Chicago just to do the show.

FB: Has switching from Nerve to IFC.com changed the direction or content in any way?
JS: Both websites have been really amazing about giving us total creative freedom with the show. It's a risky series to get behind, so it feels very nice to have both of these respected sites helping us find an audience.

FB: After "Young American Bodies," think you'll have any interest in shooting porn? If you did go in that direction, what kind of porn would you make?
JS: I would definitely be interested in shooting a porn, just to see what it's like. I would have to find the right actors to work with. That is the only thing that would make it interesting to me. If I made a porn, it would inevitably be just like my other films, full of conversations, awkward moments, long takes, minimal lighting, etc. Once again, if the right people are out there, please email me.

· Young American Bodies on IFC (ifc.com)
· Young American Bodies (youngamericanbodies.com)

Helpfully arranged in sections with titles like "Bodily Fluids" and "Infidelity" and labeled with funny graphics reminiscent of road signs, "Bad Sex" nevertheless doesn't offer much shock value and, what's worse, provides few tasty examples of good sex before that, too, went bad. Instead, readers are left with a series of literate, astute, and blunted stories of lust gone wrong.

Exceptions include Monica Drake's "The Splatter Artist," a bittersweet tale of an ejaculator both premature and prolific, Lisa Gabriele's "Dead Wood" (you do feel sorry for her) because not only does she lose her boyfriend but she also comes down with a "battered pussy," and the one cringeworthy story in a book tnat should be full of them, Neal Pollack's shamefaced "Man's Best Friend" (it involves a different kind of battered pussy).

Even though I was disappointed with this volume of anti-erotica, I look forward to a sequel with the kinks worked in.

· Nerve (nerve.com)
· "Bad Sex: We Did It, so You Won't Have To" (amazon.com)

· Dressing Down: Photography by Mike Dowson (nerve.com; registration required*)
· Mike Dowson - Fashion Photographer (mikedowson.com)

*Special for Fleshbot Readers: Use username/password fleshbot/premium to access Dowson's spread (and the rest of the Nerve Premium offerings) this week

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Previously: Photos by Mike Dowson, Photos By Nekosai: Porno Chic, Photos by Waldy Martens, Photos by Olaf Martens, Photos by Ralf Zenker, Photos by John Stoddart, Thomas Döring Fotodesign, Brad Wallis Photography, Photography by Martin Sotelano

· She might have barely cracked the top 60 in this hemisphere, but Keeley Hazell is at least still the sexiest woman in the world according to FHM's Austalian readers. Which proves that Australia is even more sensible than we may have given them credit for. (brisbanetimes.com.au, via hollywoodtuna.com)

· New (and very, very depressing) research suggests that oral sex may cause throat cancer. And we thought lockjaw was the only thing you had to worry about. (newscientist.com - thanks [?] Mike)

· Want to enter the exciting and lucrative world of Nerve Personals blogging? These handy templates make it easy—and you won't even have to go on any lousy dates to do it! (datehole.com)

· Nightclubs are installing more stripper poles so that the regular customers can get in on the action. Remember when it used to be called "Amateur Night"? (wcbstv.com)

· This letter to the editor writer is really proud of Playmate of the Year Sara Jean Underwood. Probably not proud enough to score a date with her, but it's a nice effort. (gazettetimes.com)

· Poor Donald Duck. He's always getting himself into crazy situations like stumbling upon a sexy babe in the jungle and forgetting to bring his condoms. (Boing Boing)

· This video about internet porn statistics is so informative, you'll want to watch it again and again. And again. So much learning! (YouTube, via goodmagazine.com)

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Previously: Morning Wood Archives/Wet Spots Archives

Photoblogger and erotic visionary Siege has a special place in our hearts here at Fleshbot—he was, after all, one of the very first artists we ever posted about back when we were taking our first little baby steps into the porn blogging omniverse. So it's not surprising that every time we're treated to one of his new photosets, incidents of drool-related keyboard malfunctions and extended intern rest room breaks increase dramatically around these parts—and given that his "Honeymoon Suite" set not only features four hot babes splashing around in one of those Poconos resort giant champagne glass whirlpool tubs but that one of said hot babes happens to be Fleshbot Crush Object™ Justine Joli, it's a wonder that we're getting any work done around here today at all. Check out the photos and tell us your productivity doesn't suffer this morning too.

· Siege: "Honeymoon Suite" (Nerve Premium; registration required*)

* Special to Fleshbot Readers: Check out Siege and friends' "Honeymoon Suite" spread (and the rest of Nerve Premium offerings) with the username/password fleshbot1/nervepremium; the login will be good until next Monday. You're welcome.

· British big boob baron Katie "Jordan" Price is getting rid of her implants, because she wants to have a baby and is afraid to breastfeed with her gigantic cans. If she's scared, how do you think the kid will feel? (mirror.co.uk)

· Fortunately, fellow countrywoman Sophie Howard still has her massive funbags intact. Crisis averted! (banklocater.com)

· Online dating services fill up the D-cups to grab your attention and win new customers. By the way, the models in those ads wouldn't be caught dead using an online dating site. (copyranter.blogspot.com)

· Does having sex for a living leave you tired and saggy? Join Mr. Nonomura's boot camp for hookers and you'll be back in the pink in no time. So to speak. (mainichi-msn.co.jp)

· Recent visitors to Sweden's Social Insurance Administration website ended up viewing hardcore porn instead. Well, that certainly eases the blow of not getting your benefit checks on time. (thelocal.se, via Fark)

· We mentioned the ALCU/COPA trial this morning, but now you call follow along as Nerve.com (one of the plaintiffs in the case) is live blogging from the courthouse. Isn't jurisprudence hot? (nerve.com)

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Previously: Morning Wood Archives/Wet Spots Archives

Things we know about Houston hotties Rose and Olive, who launched a brand spanking new photoblog on Nerve this week after attracting quite the fan base via their Flickr photostream: They live next door to each other. They don't close their windows when taking a shower. They both enjoy seedy motels, antique lingerie and old cameras. They take exquisitiely sexy photos of each another as well as self-portraits and pictures of friends and random strangers. They like to travel. They eat with their hands and don't mind getting them dirty. They both look really, really good partially dressed or with no clothes on at all.

Things we don't know about Rose and Olive: Their phone numbers. Guess you can't have everything.

· Rose & Olive (nerve.com; registration required*)

* Special to Fleshbot Readers: Check out Rose & Olive (and the rest of Nerve Premium offerings) with the username/password fleshbot/premium; the login will be good until later this week. You're welcome.

See also:
· Rose & Olive on Flickr (flickr.com/photos/tetheredtothesun)
· Rose & Olive on MySpace (myspace.com)