Fleshbot: Sex Culture

Hedonism II Brings The Orgy Back To Nakations

Lux Alptraum — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:30:01 EST

These days, nude beaches are anything but sexy—but it wasn't always like that. And if Hedonism II has any say in the matter, it won't be that way for long. (blackbookmag.com, thumbnail)

The Smutionary Explains It All, From Amateur To Zoobs

Lux Alptraum — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 13:30:01 EST

Do you often find yourself quietly embarrassed at parties, because you just don't know what muck-dooze is? Ashamed that you're baffled by terms like glubbellings and skingoria? Well, help is on the way!

The kind souls over at TLARaw have put together a "smutionary," a glossary of all those dirty words you've never heard of and didn't really want to have defined. For the newbies, muck-dooze is defined as "an internal cumshot which is then scooped out of the orifice (usually vagina) by a third party and then forcefully thrown into someone else’s (usually the ejaculator’s) mouth," while glubbellings refers to semen and skingoria is... well, that one you can find out for yourself.

· The Smutionary (tlaraw.com, via popporn.com)
· Thumbnail star Veronika Zemanova (nsgals.net, via Ask Jolene)

The New Yorker Discusses The Joy Of Sex (The Book, Not The... Nevermind)

Lux Alptraum — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 15:30:01 EST

We probably shouldn't be that surprised to learn that The New Yorker has just reviewed the latest version of "The Joy Of Sex"—after all, this is a publication that lets its writers say "fuck."

But in these terrifying times, when most publications shy away from the slightest hint of sexuality (well, except for celebrity sex scandals), lest they be tarred and feathered with the NSFW label—let's just say it was something of a relief to see a thoughtful, serious review of a book that contains pictures of naked people doing it. Thanks, New Yorker, for giving us a little faith in the mainstream media.

· Sexual Evolution (newyorker.com)

And What A Year It Was

Lux Alptraum — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 12:30:00 EST

Between Daniel Radcliffe's cock, Miley Cyrus's (covered!) boobs, and... well, Eliot Spitzer, it sure was a crazy year. The Daily Beast takes a look at the sexy highlights of the year that was. (thedailybeast.com, thumbnail)

Sex Advice From... Evangelicals

Lux Alptraum — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 16:30:01 EST

Before writing the Left Behind series, Tim LaHaye was busy advising other Christians how to get busy. Want to do it the evangelical way? The Village Voice takes a peek inside. (blogs.villagevoice.com)

This Year In Underreported Sex News

Lux Alptraum — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 15:30:01 EST

While we've been busy rounding up some of the year's hottest moments, our friend Violet Blue has been doing more... meaningful work, using the season of listicles to draw attention to some underreported sex news.

Did you know Playgirl ~~folded~~ went online only? Or that sex toys are really, truly legal in Texas now? Or that Google has trouble locating the clitoris? What a wild and crazy year, eh? Let's hope next year's just as exciting (though if Google could learn to find the clitoris in the next 365 days, that'd be stellar.).

· The Child Porn Lie (And Other Hits) (sfgate.com)
· Thumbnail star Bree Olson, for no reason (penthouse.com)

Italian College Students Demand More Sex

Lux Alptraum — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST

Normally, we couldn't care less about college students protesting for things—but that's because they're usually protesting about boring things, like tuition increases, not exciting things, like being able to have sex whenever they want.

If only more student groups were like Italy's Unione Universitari, whose campaign argued for more student housing (and, by extension, more student sex). Now why can't American college students fight for things like that? Or at least have more posters with gratuitous nudity?

· Sex sells as far right wins Uni election (austriantimes.at, via buzzfeed.com)

The Bush Is Back: Revenge Of The Pubic Hair

Lux Alptraum — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST

It had to happen eventually. After years of being banished to the back corner, pubic hair is making a comeback (we know it's true—Salon says so!). And not just the racing stripe, either.

No ladies (and gentlemens), the new pubic stylings we're all about to become accustomed to is like nothing we've ever seen before. Not a big, untamed bush; not an itty bitty racing stripe; but something inbetween—a, uh, "dorito" of pubic hair, if you will:

"Absolutely," agrees April Barton, stylist extraordinaire and owner of Suite 303, the salon in New York's notorious Chelsea Hotel. "The new rule of thumb is: When you lift your leg, there shouldn't be any hair below the crease. Keep it clean in the back. And in the front, trim the hair right before its natural curl." She likens the look to a more trimmed, 21st-century version of '70s pubes: the tailored bush.

It sounds so familiar... we're sure we've seen that look somewhere recently. In fact—hey, wasn't that what Sasha Grey was rocking in "Stoya Sexy Hot"?

We always knew she was a groundbreaker.

· Bush is back! (salon.com)

Porn Or Art? The Debate Rages On

Lux Alptraum — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:30:10 EST

Mikey and Mandy are wrestling with that age old question: what's the difference between porn and art? We may not come to an answer today—or ever—but at least they've supplied enough material to help us properly ponder the question. (mikeyandmandy.com)

KinkyGamer: For When Topless Wii Isn't Enough

Lux Alptraum — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:30:10 EST

We've long been aware of the erotic potential of gaming (uh, "'joystick," anyone?), but it's always nice to see someone else recognize the sexy side of videogames—especially when that "someone else" is a group of actual, factual gamers, and not just Big Porn looking to cache in on the next new niche. So how could we not get excited by KinkyGamer, a self-described hub for all the sexy pictures, videos, games, and references related to the world of videogames? Even better, it looks like they're attempting to reach across the aisle and highlight sexiness of both the male and female varieties (though what's with the "girls" and "men" subheads? Sexist much?). The site's still in beta, but we're looking forward to seeing where it goes—lord knows we can't get enough of that sexy gameplay.

· KinkyGamer (kinkygamer.com)

Which President once said “Are you prepared ...

Lux Alptraum — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:30:01 EDT

Which President once said “Are you prepared for the storm of lovemaking with which you will be assailed?” What did LBJ nickname his dick? Which president was photographed in a bathtub receiving oral sex from a partner who was not his wife? Playboy has the answers in their presidential sex quiz... which, as far as we're concerned, contains the most important info you'll ever need to know about the leaders of our country. (playboy.com, via nerve.com)

"Nerve: The First Ten Years" Celebrates A Decade Of Alternative Stimulation

Lux Alptraum — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:00:59 EDT

Six years ago, a certain Fleshbot editrix was cutting her sex-on-the-web teeth as an intern at Nerve.com, learning all about the budding world of online media (and more than a little about sex, too). So it's with more than a bit of nostalgia that we leaf through the pages of "Nerve: The First Ten Years," a beautiful tome that pays tribute to a website that's been one of the online world's pre-eminent sources of smart writing about sex, lush photography, and thought provoking insights about one of the most basic parts of life for the past ten years. Though its difficult to render a website into book form—so much of the charm of online media disappears when committed to paper—"The First Ten Years" successfully recreates the Nerve vibe, with a selection of the past decade's best essays, photos, and features. It's a beautiful addition to anyone's library, whether you've been reading Nerve for the past ten years or just discovered them today.

"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)

Time Out Chicago Gets Hungry For Sex

Lux Alptraum — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:30:00 EDT

Time Out New York's not the only city guide that can put together a sex issue: their sibling publication Time Out Chicago has followed suit, with a special issue focusing on the intersection of food and sex. The issue's jampacked with useful information: reviews of aphrodisiacs, advice on putting together the perfect whipped cream bikini, tips for getting it on with your fruit and veggie friends, and some steamy stories of sex in the kitchen. Dinner (and lunch, and breakfast, and snack time) will never be the same again.

· Time Out Chicago: Hungry For Sex? (timeout.com)

A Look Inside The New (And Improved!) Joy Of Sex

Lux Alptraum — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:30:33 EDT

A few months ago, we tipped you off to the fact "The Joy of Sex," that legendary hairy hippie sex guide, was getting an upgrade this year, with many new sections and brand new photos and illustrations. After months of eager (and impatient) waiting, we finally got our hands on a copy of the newly revised tome, and spent a good deal of time poring over ever last detail. Our thoughts—and a gallery of photos—inside.

. . .

"The New Joy of Sex" owes a great deal to the old "Joy of Sex"—and not just because they're in the same series. Alex Comfort's name still graces the cover of the book, and much of what he wrote remains intact (only a handful of entries have been ditched entirely). The newness largely comes from the 43 additional passages, which focus on newfangled inventions like phone sex, the internet, sex shops, and sex during pregnancy (yeah, don't ask us why that was left out of the original). Though there's potential for a disjointed, pieced together book; Susan Quilliam manages to maintain Comfort's tone in her new passages, keeping all the wonderful aspects of the original sex guide, while making it a little more relevant for the sexually active of today.

We were, however, a bit taken aback by the updates to the illustrations. While the original "Joy of Sex" depicted those infamous hairy hippies, the new version features a thin, young white couple, with minimal body hair. We're not sure what was behind the change (embracing modern beauty standards? A desire to go mainstream and increase marketability?), but it left us feeling a bit nostalgic for the old illustrations. We can see hot young naked people anywhere—the "Joy of Sex" was always a repository for a different kind of nudity, one we wish they'd retained.

Nevertheless, the book is a solid guide to sex, and one we'd be proud to display on our shelves. If we're going to freak out our (future) children with an indepth, illustrated sex manual, this is exactly the kind we want to do it with.

· Buy The New Joy of Sex (amazon.com)

Why Porn Matters

Dashiell Bennett — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:30:00 EDT

There's a new book out now called "The Porning of America," which argues that "porn culture" has become so pervasive in everyday life that it is inescapable. Even five-year olds can't walk into a toy store without being confronted by it and in the words of the author, this means "a death match for my daughter's soul."

Of course, by "porn culture" what he really means is "sex"—which is not the same thing although they are obviously linked—and he is correct that our world is more open about than it has ever been. Yet, it many ways our culture is more prudish and alarmist than it has ever been. There is a battle going on, but it's not the one he thinks it is. It's a battle between the natural desires that people feel and express everyday and those who want to suppress those desires and keep them out of the public sphere at all cost. Sooner or later, those people will lose.

Humans are sexual beings and nothing will ever change that. Their interest in porn is not a perversion or addiction, it's simply an outlet for what they already desire. In fact, "porn addicts" are not addicted to pictures and videos—they are addicted to the ideas those things represent. (Or they're "addicted" to masturbation, which is the same as being addicted to eating or sleeping.) A couple that has sex twice a day would never be accused of being addicted to each other.

Is sex becoming too pervasive? Perhaps. There's a place for sex within our public lives, in the same way that there's a place for it within our private ones and where that place belongs is a debate worth having. You see it in the arguments over Max Hardcore, as even staunch freedom of speech warriors find it difficult to stand up for something that personally disgusts them. Should a father have to explain to his children what that Viagra ad means while watching TV? No, probably not. But should he also ignore it, try to push it under the rug, and pretend that sexuality doesn't exist? That seems even less helpful.

What I object to most are media outlets that use porn for attention and ratings, while simultaneously wagging their finger at it. They employ salacious headlines and blurry images, and a knowing wink to tell half the viewers that they're on their side (sex is wrong and dangerous) while letting the other half in on the joke—they're loving it too. We're all into it, but we aren't allowed to admit it out loud. We can all hunt across the internet for a Britney Spears sex tape, but can't talk about that tape in polite company ... even though all of your neighbors have already downloaded it. It can only be discussed as an ironic joke or with a snide remark and never with the respect deserving of something so meaningful to so many lives.

There's no way any of this will get solved with a book or a few blog posts, but here's hoping that we can at least be a little more honest and open with each other—and with ourselves. I never set out to become a porn writer, but in the time I've been doing this I've learned a lot about sex and media and how important both are to people's lives. I hope they can learn to get along.

In any case, this will be my last post at Fleshbot. After two-and-half years in the porn mines, it's time for me to move on to something new, but this experience has certainly been a memorable one. This site and this company gave me a chance at a time when I really needed one and I'm grateful for all that opportunity has led to. Thank you to all the readers who came here every day and gave us a reason to keep writing. I know that Lux will continue the tradition that's been established over the last five years—respect for the performers and the audience combined with a spirit of adventure and fun. There is not another site like this one anywhere on the web and I'm thankful that I got to be a part of that.

Kat Slater's True Porn Director Confessions

Lux Alptraum — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:30:35 EDT

Several years ago, Kat Slater broke through Hustler's glass ceiling, becoming their first female director. After directing over thirty films (including titles in the "Young Sluts," "Campus Confessions," and "Cum Swappers" lines), she moved up the ladder into management, serving as VP/Creative Director of Hustler Video. Now she's out of the business and looking to share what she's learned with the world at large. And what better way to do that than with a blog? Over at Kat In Heat, Ms. Slater offers up sex advice, true porn confessions, and, of course, some naughty pix to keep things interesting. After that many years under Larry Flynt, a girl's bound to have something interesting to say.

· Kat In Heat (katinheat.blogspot.com)

Online Porn: Then Vs. Now

Lux Alptraum — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 12:35:10 EDT

Shocking as it may seem, that spry online upstart Google is already ten years old. In addition to making us all feel old with that announcement, they've decided to celebrate their tenth birthday in the geekiest way possible: by giving us all a trip back in time with Google 2001, a modded version of the search index that only offers up pages that existed in the Google index back in January 2001.

In celebration of Google's milestone, we're taking a look at what porn was like way back in the day—after all, we can barely remember that long ago ourselves. After the jump, find out what the top five search results for "porn" were back then, and what they look like now. (And as an added bonus, we've enlisted the help of The Wayback Machine to show you how those sites looked like all those years ago. Can it be that it was all so simple then?)

. . .

Top Five Search Results For "Porn" In January 2001
PornCity.Net — The First Free Adult Host (web.archive.org)
PornDirectory.Com - The Complete Free Porn Directory (web.archive.org)
mega porn links. complete listing of adult porn sites (web.archive.org)
Persian Kitty 's Adult Links - www.persiankitty.com (web.archive.org)
Free Porn List - porn XXX sex Link list and Porno Directory (web.archive.org)

Top Five Search Results For "Porn" In October 2008
Full Free Porn Videos & DVDs - Sex, Porno, Porn Tube, Free XXX Porn (pornhub.com)
Porn & Sex, Porn, Free Porn Videos & Movies, Teen Pussy Porn & Big ... (yobt.com)
Free Porn, Sex, Tube Videos, XXX Pics, Porno Movies - XNXX.COM (xnxx.com)
Free Porn Movies, Porn Tube Videos & XXX Porno Stars Having Sex (keezmovies.com)
BabesDosage.com - Your daily dosage of porn, 100% free porn (babesdosage.com)

(The more things change, the more they stay the same, right? Though frankly, if we can't be there ourselves we think PornHub is a vast improvement over PornCity for top hit.)

· Google 2001 (google.com)

Details looks at the burgeoning field of ...

Jonnobot — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 11:15:46 EDT

Details looks at the burgeoning field of revenge porn, and what you can do if your ex-lover decides to make your intimate moments a matter of public record once the romance is over. (Short answer: not a whole lot. We'd say that means you should think twice before participating in any amateur porn shoots in your bedroom, but then what would we have to watch on Xtube?) (men.style.com/details)

Time Out New York Is Feeling Sexy (Again)

Lux Alptraum — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:25:19 EDT

It's that time of year again: Time Out New York's annual sex issue is hot off the presses a mere five months after their Horny Issue. (And people say we have a one track mind?) Unlike last year's issue, which sent reporters out in to the wild to pursue their craziest fantasies, this year's issue tackles more mundane concerns and takes a look at the kind of sex that average New Yorkers are having in their day-to-day lives. In the mood for something a little more risqué? They've also been kind enough to compile a collection of porn videos in a special online only section. Now that's our kind of hard-hitting reporting.

· Sex In The City: Print Issue and Online Only Content (timeout.com)

The next time you think you're spending too ...

Jonnobot — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:15:30 EDT

The next time you think you're spending too much time on porn, take a look at these monthly sex-related budgets for Nerve's nine ~~stereotypes~~ test subjects and be thankful you're not spending too much money on it too. After all—you do read Fleshbot, which means spending ten bucks on an on-demand broadcast of "Doctor's Adventures" need never be part of your budget. (nerve.com)

Vice Makes Sex More Interesting Than It Really Is

Jonnobot — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:55:19 EDT

If you were an alien being who landed on Earth and somehow ended up learning everything about human sexual behavior from the clips currently on view as part of VBS.tv's Sex Week programming, you might beam back to your home planet with the impression that earthlings only got their kicks from boinking other species like eels and donkeys, plastic dolls, and occasionally each other—but only in hot tubs or during giant rave orgies in resorts on the Black Sea. Then again, those same aliens might have gotten the same impressions from tuning into Fleshbot over the years. And either way, it's a lot better than learning about the way sex works from "Gossip Girl" broadcasts. Those aliens would really think we were hopeless.

• Sex Week on VBS.tv: Genki & The Art of Eel Porn, Bangkok Lady Boys, Ghetto Doll Brothel, Asses Of The Caribbean et al. (videos @ vbs.tv)

"America Swings"; We Get To Watch

Lux Alptraum — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 12:45:20 EDT

Across America—from Mahwah, New Jersey, to Pleasonton, California—there's one thing that unites us all: a love of having sex with people who aren't our legally married spouses. Or at least that's the premise of "America Swings," a brand new book by photographer Naomi Harris that's full of dirty pictures of swingers doing the very thing they do best. You may remember Ms. Harris from her behind the scenes look at the porn industry (or from our previous mention of her current project); with our long history of, uh, appreciating her work, we're definitely looking forward to getting our hands on a copy of her latest endeavor. Want to see why we're all hot and bothered? Blackbook has a preview gallery of photos from the book accompanying their review. Who knows—you might have more in common with some of those Red State people than you thought.

· "America Swings" (book info @ taschen.com)
· ‘America Swings’ Gets Down & Dirty (blackbookmag.com)

Tattoos And Sex Go Together Like ... Well, Tattoos And Sex

Jonnobot — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:55:38 EDT

In case you had any lingering confusion over why we here at Fleshbot find tattooed models so incredibly hot ... well, you won't be so confused after reading through the first two installments of a new column about the ineffable relationship between hot ink and hot sex at SuicideGirls by Needled.com's tattoo couture expert Marisa DiMattia (who happens to be quite the tattooed hottie herself). Marisa talks to several body art aficionados and concludes that tattoos are sexy largely because they foster a sense of positive body awareness and self-confidence. We don't have any reason to doubt the opinion of someone who's such an eminent authority on the subject—but if you feel the need to do a little extra visual research to back up her findings, we guess that's OK too.

• Marisa DiMattia's Erotic Ink: Part 1 and Part 2 (suicidegirls.com)
• See also: Live Girl Review: Marisa DiMattia on Sex & Tattoos (livegirlreview.com)
• Needled (needled.com)
• Thumbnail via The Lovely Brenda (brendastaudenmaier.com)

If you've ever wanted to read about what ...

Jonnobot — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:55:32 EDT

If you've ever wanted to read about what it's like to get people to talk about their sex lives and then masturbate on camera, let "Barcelona Sex Project" director Erika Lust explain it all for you. (And if you'd rather just look at some on-set pictures of people talking about their sex lives and masturbating on camera ... well, we're pretty sure she can help you with that too.) (interview @ msnaughty.com, via thesexcarnival.com)

Maybe if we can tear ourselves away from ...

Dashiell Bennett — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:45:18 EDT

Maybe if we can tear ourselves away from the AVN Expo the next time we're in Vegas we'll check out the new Erotic Heritage Museum for ourselves—but for now we'll just have to trust the word of people who have actually been there. Although it's not hard to believe that a sex museum is somehow the classiest place in Las Vegas. (latimes.com + nerve.com)

Las Vegas Erotic Heritage Museum Loves A Good Opening

Richard X. — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:35:38 EDT

We're frantically shopping last-minute airfares to Las Vegas so we can take in the grand opening of Harry Mohney's Erotic Heritage Museum this weekend: it will open this Saturday for artists, city officials, and critics with the official opening for the general public on Sunday. According to the org's website, "The Museum seeks to bridge the gap between that which is commercial and often misidentified as pornographic, with that which is aesthetic, often identified as folk, pop, and fine art through a common visual language." To which we say, "You had us at gap." (eroticheritagemuseum.com; more @ AVN)

We've been meaning to slog through this groundbreaking ...

Dashiell Bennett — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:45:35 EDT

We've been meaning to slog through this groundbreaking investigative TV news report on sex and our culture—but frankly, we just can't. We don't need John Stossel's mustache to tells us how we're ruining America—we're well aware of that already. But if you want to be reminded about society's impending doom go right ahead and tune in. Just don't tell him about the cake farts. (abcnews.go.com)

They Would Like To Fuck; Your Mileage May Vary

Jonnobot — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:05:04 EDT

We're so used to certain publications and websites which feature photos of naked people going out of their way to say that they're not porn that the editorial statement for the newishly-launched WLTF magazine is a breath of fresh air:

"WLTF is primarily about desire, sexual desire, so does that make it porn? I don't know ...The images are about what the contributors would like to fuck, but that could be anything, it could be human, animal, vegetable, object or anything else. It’s about desire, that’s it, desire and all of its subjectivity. Contributors just have to use their imagination and be honest about what their fetishes and fantasies are."

All of which dovetails nicely with our own editorial mission here at Fleshbot, and explains why we're so looking forward to seeing more issues (both digital and print versions) coming down the pipe from editor Rodrigo Novaes and his band of merry contributors. After all, just because you're not turned on by photos of a naked woman wrapped in cellophane or a guy in underwear and a Darth Vader mask doesn't mean there isn't someone out there who is. As we're so fond of saying around here, it's a big world.

• WLTF Mag (via sex-and-blogs.com et al.)
• See also: WLTF Blog (wltf-mag.com) and WLTF Flickr Pool (flickr.com)
• Thumbnail via (l-r) Cynthia Pimenta, Kevin Hartmann, Nate "Igor" Smith, Aya Rosen (from WLTF #1)

Happy Endings: Not Just For Married Men Anymore!

Dashiell Bennett — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:45:24 EDT

The reach around. The full release. The big squeezer. What ever you want to call it, the post-massage tugjob is a time-honored tradition from luxury vacation spas to seedy Chinatown pleasure shops. When lonely, bored, or frustrated men just want a little something extra from their "relaxation therapy," they always known that a nice tip—and the right answer to "Are you a cop?"—can always get them a nice bonus. But what about female customers? Don't their needs and desires matter? Surprisingly enough, they do! It seems that today's stressed-out women are learning that a well-timed handjob can be on the menu for them as well. There's even this website trend piece to prove it! Both male and female rubdown artists are relaxing tense women everywhere ... and the girls can't stop raving about it.

“It was very romantic and totally mutual—it didn’t feel like I was just being serviced”

So wait ... you're saying that if your massage therapist is a man, he might even be into the idea of getting paid to have sex with an attractive woman while on the job? Imagine that!

· The Female “Happy Ending” Massage (tangomag.com)

* * * * *

Previously: Flesh Flicks: They Do Things Differently In Hungary, Flesh Flicks: Massage Training (You're Doing It Wrong)

Yet another reminder that New York City isn't ...

Jonnobot — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:20:27 EDT

Yet another reminder that New York City isn't as sexy as it used to be: Peep shows and massage parlors have finally returned to Times Square, but only as sets for an upcoming film. We wish the real things had stuck around for a while longer: whenever we're offered the choice between a hot nude Oriental rubdown and some take out curry, the hot nude rubdown will win every time. (NY Times)

A scientific survey of what we're assuming ...

Dashiell Bennett — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:41:00 EDT

A scientific survey of what we're assuming was a large group of standup comedians reveals the shocking truth that women prefer committed relationships to one night stands and want more like, hugs and junk, while men will simply do anything in their power to see a naked breast and then brag about it to their friends. So, six of one, half of dozen of the other, right?(sunderlandecho.com)

"America Swings": We Like To Share

Dashiell Bennett — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:55:30 EDT

Hey, America. Do you like to swing? Of course you do—because everyone knows that even though we like to pretend we're all prim and proper, our nation is really just one big wife-swapping freak fest! Well, one photographer got tired of hearing about it and decided to prove it: Naomi Harris, who took a behind the scenes look at the porn industry a couple of years ago, headed out into the vast unknown wilderness of that places called "Middle America" (you know, that big empty spot between the two oceans) and came back with a new book of photographs documenting average folks who lead somewhat non-average sex lives. She even went so far as to hang out in the nude with her subjects in order to get pictures of these wildcats in their natural habitat! The book will be released by Taschen in the fall, which means we may have to wait a few months before finding out the answer to this question: if this country is filled with an army of hidden swingers, then how come nobody is watching "Swingtown"? (Oh, right ... they're probably too busy with that other stuff.)

· "America Swings - The secret life of America's Bible Belt" (sugarcut.com)
· Naomi Harris Photo (naomiharris.com)

Deep Inside "Phone Sex" Operators: "It Is My Job To Indulge Their Fantasy"

Jonnobot — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 11:35:20 EDT

It would have been too easy for photographer Phillip Toledano simply to have taken pictures of phone sex operators, assembled them into book form, and called it a day: after all, even the most enthusiastic of phone sex fans must be aware on some level of the disconnect between the fantasy they're creating with whoever's on the other end of the line and the reality of what that person is really like, and a bunch of images that just illustrated that concept visually over and over again would've gotten boring pretty quickly. What makes Toledano's "Phone Sex" so interesting, though, is that that he gives each of his subjects an opportunity to discuss their careers in their own words—and while we could've done without the free verse formatting the tales they have to tell are pretty fascinating, from observations that phone sex is just another form of customer service to one woman's story about a particular fantasy one of her callers had involving some undigested asparagus. But we'll let you read that one for yourself.

· Phillip Toledano's "Phone Sex" (phonesexthebook.com)
· "Offbeat Artist: The Faces of Phone Sex Operators" (digitaljournal.com)
· Phillip Toledano Photography (mrtoledano.com)

Is Porn The Same As Cheating?

Dashiell Bennett — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 10:45:20 EDT

A group of bloggers and their commenters who normally write about things like capital gains taxes and the legal ramifications of wiretapping are in a bit of slap fight over a recent column by FoxNews.com "sexpert" Yvonne Fulbright. The column was about the warning signs of porn addiction (Sign #1: if you're reading this, you have it), and the debate revolves around an offhand remark stating that many partners just assume that using porn "is the equivalent of having an actual affair." (Except Playboy! That's totally cool.) At least one guy agrees, saying that paying for porn is sort of like paying to watch a prostitute have sex with someone else and that sort of makes you a cheating asshole! Others responded with more nuanced arguments, like "that's insane."

The conflict also has something to do with a "moral continuum," which we thought was some kind of weapon on "Star Trek" but apparently is something that measures how much trouble you're currently in with your girlfriend. Which leads us all back to our original question: Is looking at porn the "equivalent" of cheating on your significant other? We were going to make this today's poll question ... but given our readership, we think we know how that one would turn out. Leave your thoughts in the comments anyway.

· "8 Signs Your Partner is Addicted to Porn" (foxnews.com)
· "Honey, I Think You Should Know, I’ve Been Seeing Joanna Angel" + "Porndultery" (juliansanchez.com)
· Porn and Adultery (Culture Wars) + Part (II) (theatlantic.com)
· The Douthat-Carter Continuum (willwilkinson.net)
· A Post Calculated to Boost TNR's Web Traffic (tnr.com)
· To the People: 9. He Blogs Less (tothepeople.com)

· Thumb via Cheating Strap-on Lesbians (lesbianstraponparty.com)

This Just In: Size Still Matters

Richard X. — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:55:17 EDT

So apparently there's been yet another study on women and the penises they prefer (we'd post links to other surveys, but, you know, we're lazy) and while there's a lot of (ahem) wiggle room on the enjoyability scale, the schlong of choice among those polled was kind of big. (Then again, they could have just asked a few pornstars we know and saved themselves all that trouble.) (buzzfeed.com, via ArtFagCity; also spotted @ Jezebel)

We're totally not smart enough to understand ...

Jonnobot — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:05:44 EDT

We're totally not smart enough to understand everything about this Boing Boing post about brain activity and porn watching, though we do need to point out that the link between fishing videos and dirty movies is not as much of a stretch as some scientists might think. (Also, anyone know where we can pick up a gently used penile plethysmograph at a good price? Sounds like just the thing to make our weekly intern orientation programs here at Fleshbot Central a little more interesting.) (boingboing.net - thanks Tits)

2008 Sexies Honor The, Er, Sexy

Lux Alptraum — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:35:19 EDT

We're all used to coming across a fair amount of sex negative journalism in mainstream media—which makes this list of winners from this year's Sexies all the more deserving. We're especially excited to see that New York Times Magazine article on Kink.com we liked so much honored with a prize—though everyone who entered is still a winner in our book. Keep fighting the good fight, people! (sexies.org; also seen at aetoday.com)

Does this bunk bed look familiar? It could ...

Dashiell Bennett — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:55:53 EDT

Does this bunk bed look familiar? It could be one of the eight places where you were most likely to lose your virginity. And no "in the butt" is not one of the options. (holytaco.com)

Slate shares a touching—and slightly ...

Dashiell Bennett — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:05:03 EDT

Slate shares a touching—and slightly disturbing—story about an 95-year-old man and an 82-year-old woman who met in a nursing home and fell in love, until their kids found out they were boning and had them separated. (Children are such a buzzkill!) No one wants to walk in on their 95-year-old dad getting a blowjob, but seriously: what do you do when two people suffering from dementia decide they want to start having sex? We just hope we're lucky enough to still get lucky if we're lucky enough to live that long. (slate.com)

Joanna Angel Does "Attack Of The Show"

Lux Alptraum — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:10:01 EDT

Fleshbot Supreme Commandress Joanna Angel continued her conquest of mainstream media last week with an appearance on G4TV's "Attack of the Show", where she educated geek boys (and girls) about the Erotica LA expo, her company Burning Angel, and how porn is affected by the sad state of the economy. We're pretty sure Joanna has nothing to worry about on the economic front—but if anything should happen to Burning Angel, she'd make an excellent porn correspondent. See some of her qualifications after the jump.

. . .

· Attack of the Show (g4tv.com)