Fleshbot: Straight, Sex Culture

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 ...

Fleshbot — 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"

Fleshbot — 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

sturtle — 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 ...

Fleshbot — 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 Nightmare — 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)

The Greatest Self-Love Of All: How, Where, And When We Masturbate

Lux Nightmare — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:30:56 EDT

In celebration of National Masturbation Month (remember that?), Gay.com conducted a survey of their readers—and their straight and lesbian friends—to learn all the dirty details about their masturbation habits. Over 29,000 people responded, and the results have been tabulated. So who's going below the belt most often? How are they doing it? And sex toys? What about the sex toys? Click through to see what the survey revealed ...

. . .

How we get off.
The most popular position for self love, across the board? Lying face up, totally naked.

Masturbation vs. sex.
Do you know yourself best? Or does your partner know how to touch you just right? Apparently, being in a same-sex relationship increases your chances of getting off with a partner: while 17 percent of straight men and 15 percent of straight women prefer the company of Rosie Palm and her five sisters, only 8 percent of gay men and lesbians prefer a solo stroll.

Ladies are the loud ones ...
If you're a woman, you should probably play some music while you're playing with yourself: 33 percent of straight women and 34 percent of lesbians moan during masturbation. Only 19 percent of straight and 16 percent of gay men make noise.

... But men are more likely to get busy at the office.
A whopping 67 percent of straight men and 63 percent of gay men reported that they have masturbated at work. Only 52 percent of straight women were double clicking their mouses — but that's still high compared to the mere 39 percent of lesbians who've felt themselves up at work. Are lesbians better behaved? Or do they just have a harder time finding good porn on the comfort of their iPhones?

Gay men like porn best ...
33 percent of gay men said they always use porn to masturbate, followed closely by 30 percent of straight men. 18 percent of straight women and 10 percent of lesbians. (Maybe those numbers would change if they took a look at our selection of porn for women?)

... And they also masturbate the most.
74 percent of gay men reported that they masturbate at least once a day. Straight men were a close second, with 73 percent needing release at least daily. It seems women are able to hold out longer: only 51 percent of straight women and 40 percent of lesbians are engaging in daily onanism.

But straight women are the most into toys.
81 percent of straight women use sex toys when they masturbate, as do 73 percent of lesbians. 50 percent of gay men and 36 percent of straight men like a little help from some inanimate friends.

· "Self-pleasure surveys" (planeout.com)
· Thumbnails via Randy Blue (l) and Ask Jolene (r)

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)

Time Out's Naked Ambition Winners

Lux Nightmare — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:55:21 EDT

Remember when Time Out New York had that naked New Yorker contest to see which of their readers would get the exciting opportunity to get naked in their pages? (Gosh, how could you forget?) Well, the votes are in—and the magazine's readers have crowned the winners of this very prestigious honor. All hail our new naked overlords! (timeout.com)

Joanna Angel Does "Attack Of The Show"

Lux Nightmare — 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)

What makes someone an "alt" model? Real boobs? ...

Lux Nightmare — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:50:49 EDT

What makes someone an "alt" model? Real boobs? Tattoos? Piercings? The right combination of real boobs and tattoos and piercings? The folks at Coilhouse examine the idea of alt ... and leave us even more confused than we already were. At least we think we know it when we see it. (coilhouse.net)

Five Naked Models: More Than Just Skin Deep

Lux Nightmare — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:40:53 EDT

If you've found yourself getting tired of looking at naked boobs and instead have started wondering what goes on in the head of a woman who takes her clothes off for a living (hey, it could happen), you might want to head over to this YouTube channel where five lovely models (including Fleshbot Crush Object Isobel Wren) share their thoughts and insights about what it's like to bare it all in front of a wide audience. (Alas, since the videos are hosted on YouTube they're not actually demonstrating the talents they're discussing ... but that's what you have us for!) After the jump, taste a sample episode starring Babelog alumna Carlotta Champagne.

. . .

· Five Naked Models (youtube.com, via Naked City)

Even though this "blog" post is about the ...

Dashiell Bennett — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:35:42 EDT

Even though this "blog" post is about the length of a novella, it does have some interesting stories from the glorious history of porn in San Diego. Is this why everyone is always reminding them to stay classy? (sandiegoreader.com, via adultfyi.com)

Peripatetic porn auteur Andrew Blake tells ...

Fleshbot — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 13:10:42 EDT

Peripatetic porn auteur Andrew Blake tells Black Book that he thinks most pornography is anti-erotic. Good things the movies he makes are erotic enough to make up for all those other ones, so it all balances out in the end. (blackbookmag.com; thumbnail via Andrew Blake's "X")

Providers, Hobbyists, And Hardwood Floors: Walking The Virtual Streets

Dashiell Bennett — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:05:49 EDT

Free and open discussion of things that were formerly considered taboo is one of the best things about the interweb: websites like Craigslist and The Erotic Review have made it easier than ever for ~~johns~~ hobbyists to hire ~~hookers~~ providers for ~~sex~~ sensual fun, and have also made it more convenient for ~~sex workers~~ auto racing enthusiasts to offer their services and network with one another. But that doesn't mean it's still not a mysterious enterprise with a language all its own (who knew that "We took a trip to the Mediterranean" was shorthand for "anal sex"?) and its own private message boards where users do their best to avoid the wrong kind of attention.

Take the website "Seattle Art Suppliers," for example, which used to be "St. Louis Auto Specialists"—and which is actually a forum where escorts and their customers can "discuss everything from gardening to philosophy to how they prefer one another's pubic hair to be groomed". (Or at least it was until an article about it appeared in the local alt weekly.) It seems that some discussions on the interweb still need to be kept under wraps after all. The more things change ...

· "OldestProfession2.0: A new generation of local 'providers' and 'hobbyists' create a virtual red-light district" (riverfronttimes.com, via Valleywag)
· Seattle Art Suppliers (stlasp.com; memberships closed)

Lost In Lust: Cherise Isis' "American Stripper"

Fleshbot — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 11:40:17 EDT

We'd like to say that the photos that comprise photographer Cherise Isis' recent "American Stripper" exhibition at Peer Gallery in New York City were more than just shots of hot topless dancers wrapping themselves around poles—you know, that they made some sort of Grand Statement about the way women were commodified by the voyeuristic gaze of an audience and that they offered a glimpse into the often sordid underbelly of certain kinds of sex work. But the truth is that most of these action portraits are a lot more gentle in their grainy soft-focus dreaminess (even when they show strippers lighting their boobs on fire); the occasional smile peeks out from the sea of arched backs and heavy-lidded eyes and several of the dancers don't appear to have slid to the bottom of the poles in question so much as to have floated there, lost in their own private reveries of desire and exhaustion like spent muses at the end of a long shift. Guess they really are more than just shots of hot topless dancers after all.

· Cherise Isis' "American Stripper" (on view 'til 6/14 @ Peer Gallery, NYC; see online photo exhibition here)

Russian Male Strippers Speak The Universal Language

Fleshbot — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:15:09 EDT

Given the number of boys with names like Pyotr and Slava we've spotted in the gay porn circuit over the years, it's hard to believe that male strippers are a new phenomenon in the former Soviet Union. But that's the case made by this eye-opening short documentary, which explores the current confluence of gender, economics, and tearaway Tarzan outfits in Russia today. The clip might look at the allure of a group of male strippers from the perspective of their female manager, but the message conveyed is still a universal one: as Nastya says, isn't it always nice to be next to such lovely bodies no matter who you are?

. . .

· "Russian Strippers" (current.com)

Oral Sex: Special Occasion Or Occasionally Special?

Dashiell Bennett — Fri, 30 May 2008 14:30:20 EDT

Earlier this week, Slate columnist William Saletan wrote an article to your parents explaining to them that oral sex is no longer a dirty and illicit act: these days, everybody (but especially teenagers and college students!) loves to go downtown, whether with the love of their life or whoever they met at last call. Many readers then wrote in to gently explain that he was crazy and that oral sex has always been standard operating procedure for quite some time—in other words, this "stigma" that has supposedly evaporated never really existed at all.

Today, Saletan fires back with the pesky little thing known as "evidence." Just to be clear, he isn't arguing that oral sex has replaced regular intercourse among today's younger generation (as several afterschool specials might lead you to believe): it's just that blowjobs and pussy eating are no longer considered taboo, or shameful, or the kind of thing that you only do with that very special person who you better be married to.

So what we want to know is: Is this true? Did the stigma ever exist for you? Were you raised to believe that oral sex is more intimate than intercourse? We don't care what you think about it now; the issue is whether there was ever a time when getting or giving head was considered something especially special. (Of course, if you're gay or lesbian you probably think we're stupid for even asking, but everyone gets confused sometimes.)

Oh, and here's some food for thought, if you need it ...

· "Lisa Sparxxx giving head" (RedTube)

· Eating her Pussy (RedTube)

· The normalization of oral sex + Was oral sex always normal? (slate.com)
· Thumbnail via My First Sex Teacher (strokersgals.com, via askjolene.com)

Japanese Ecto Porn Makes Us All Sticky

Fleshbot — Thu, 29 May 2008 12:40:08 EDT

Since we've seen Japanese porn babes getting busy over the years with everything from cephalopods to tiny little men to ... er, more invertebrates, we're not surprised to learn that there are still things out there that we haven't seen them fetishizing (hey, it's a big world). It's hard to determine, however, exactly what it is being fetishized in this line of DVDs by Japanese production company Opera, which are sort of like your standard wet and messy fetish videos except the stuff is clear and stickier; our friends at Thighs Wide Shut decided to call it "ecto porn", and that's good enough for us.

There seems to be relatively little by way of actual sex or penetration in some of the titles, and the models aren't even always as naked as you'd expect they would be in a porn movie. All of them, however, are full of hapless maidens covered head to toe in plenty of sticky, gloopy goodness ... and we're sure all you ecto porn fans out there wouldn't want it any other way. Whoever you are.

· OPERA (Ecto Porn DVDs) (av-opera.jp, via thighswideshut.org)

· See also: Ectoplasm (Wikipedia)
· Animal Collective, "Peacebone" (YouTube)

Sex And Videogames: An (Even Briefer!) History

Fleshbot — Tue, 27 May 2008 12:50:36 EDT

Anyone who's spent any amount of time reading Fleshbot over the years knows that the relationship between sex and videogames has always occupied a special place in our, uh, hearts (and we totally have the callouses on our thumbs to prove it!) If you want to school yourself on the illustrious (and not-so-illustrious) history of pixelated T&A and don't feel like browsing our entire archives, however, you could do a lot worse than watch this amusing and informative semi-animated documentary which packs a surprising amount of material into its nine minutes, and makes a strong case for exploring and celebrating sexuality in the development of gaming as an art form. (OK, so there's not much by way of actual pixelated T&A; afraid you'll have to dip into our archives for that after all.)

· Video Games and Sex (YouTube, via rockpapershotgun.com)

Doctors and academics are beginning work ...

Dashiell Bennett — Fri, 23 May 2008 08:10:42 EDT

Doctors and academics are beginning work on the next version of the DSM—the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders—which will answer all sorts of important questions like "Exactly how big of a freak show sexual deviant are you?" And if you're freaky enough, they might even mention your name! (msnbc.msn.com + wikipedia.org; more @ Jezebel)

Twittergasms: The Real San Francisco Treat

Violet Blue — Tue, 13 May 2008 11:00:54 EDT

Cable cars, dot com gazillionaires and Golden Gates aside, San Francisco is known for many things: its values, homegrown institutions like Kink.com, and generally being the object of Sodom-by-the-Bay nightmares for the entire Bible Belt. And let's not forget that everyone's favorite city also midwifed National Masturbation Month, which is getting more tech-savvy every year. This time around the San Francisco Masturbate-A-Thon—a fundraiser for SF's Center for Sex and Culture hosted by Nina Hartley on Sunday, May 25—will not only be doing its customary livecast of the wank-off, but has also launched a snazzy new blog and Facebook page and is promising plenty of Twittergasms to all comers. Read what a Twittergasm is, how to have one, and why masturbatrix extraordinaire Carol Queen says you should never, ever fake one after the jump.

. . .

Fleshbot: So what's a Twittergasm?
Carol Queen: A Twittergasm is a post to your Twitter profile indicating that you just had a real orgasm. You can use the codes ICSW (I came, so what?) and JOSW (jacking off, so what? related term to indicate you are jacking off), and we'll track, count and include your Twitgasms — though you can also add and create your own LOLTwitgasms if it gets you hot. By typing the character string: ICSW to your Twitter profile, you say with pride: I Came! Prudes of the world will be forced to realize once and for all, that no one really cares what adults do with themselves, and everyone does it. It's a way of coming out of the closet as someone who masturbates by posting to your twitter profile whenever you come. A secret handshake of sorts, only others who follow the Twittergasm profile, or who have read about the campaign will know, so your prudish friends will be left alone until they, too are enlightened.

We will be using the popular service Tweetscan to track Twittergasms in May and we will publish the results on the Masturbate-a-thon.com site and related blogs and social network sites. Twitterers can participate in national masturbation month in several ways.

(1) Become a follower of one of these profiles:
http://www.twitter.com/jackingoff (the profile off the masturbate-a-thon.com)
http://www.twitter.com/thebiggesto (a profile that tracks the orgasms of twitterers)

(2) Use this code on your twitter profile to indicate whenever you have an orgasm:
ICSW or JOSW when you jack off. (Hint: multiple orgasms can be indicated by using a colon and a number to indicate how many: ICSW:3) No faking!

(3) Ask your friends and Twitter followers to pledge to donate a certain amount to the Center for Sex and Culture for every orgasm you have in May. Visit www.masturbate-a-thon.com/twitter.php to register your twitter profile for participation in National Masturbation Month (May 2008) and send emails to your friends to ask them to make a pledge on your behalf. Send a link to that same page where they can sign up to donate as much as they chose for each time you come. Donors do not have to be on Twitter to participate.

Fleshbot: Can't we just fake it ten times in a row so we can hang out with all the cool kids?
Carol Queen: No, never! There are three very good reasons why you should never, ever fake a Twittergasm:

(1) Because faking orgasm — and Twitgasm — robs you of pleasure. It's a sign that pleasure-seeking (masturbation or other kinds of sex) is winding down, and orgasm isn't happening, you're not going for it, and you're not really telling anybody else you're not going for it. Not only that, you're not even admitting any of this; you're sending a false signal of "I'm done"-ness, when you could just as easily be authentic and say, "You know what? I'm done, let's go do something else."

(But some of you might protest that it's not romantic or sexy to just say you're quitting before the true Tweet of satisfaction. Maybe, but see Reason #2, and actually, authentic sexuality IS sexy. Plus, faking teaches other people to pleasure you the wrong way. If you're doing it while masturbating, you're teaching *yourself* to do it the wrong way: to give up before you're discovered real satisfaction. That's just not a good message to send. Instead, decide to use the energy you expend with a bit hot fake come to get a little more into your body, learn a little more about sex and arousal, fantasize about the things you *really* want to, and resolve to respect pleasure more.)

(2) It's not nice to fool people, but it adds to everyone's misinformation and fucked-upped-ness about sex and pleasure when we fool people re: orgasm. Because that affects other people's sexuality as well as out own — it means that partners are misled as to our sources of optimum pleasure (how self-defeating can you get?), it robs others of the intimacy-building experience of going REAL orgasm-hunting with us, and it misleads other people about what's real about sex.

(3) Twitter is a social networking endeavor, and like society itself, these only really function well when citizens are above-board, real, and express their real needs and experiences. Otherwise the whole entity will be flooded with fakeness, and people's initial desire — to be connected — is sullied. Besides, it wastes airspace that can better be used to send around genuine sentiments... and Twittergasms.

· Masturbate-A-Thon: Wankblog (masturbate-a-thon.com/wankblog)
· Twitter: jackingoff (Masturbate-A-Thon profile, Twitter.com)
· Twitter: thebiggesto (Twittergasm tracker, Twitter.com)
· Masturbate-A-Thon: Facebook (facebook.com)

See also:
· Masturbate-A-Thon (official site, masturbate-a-thon.com)
· Center for Sex and Culture (sexandculture.org)
· Carol Queen (carolqueen.com)

The Way He Was: Nascent Sexuality Polaroid Study

Fleshbot — Thu, 08 May 2008 10:40:11 EDT

We all have our own private map of those places that played a part in the development of our sexuality when we were growing up. But not all of us have made those maps as public as our pal Igor at Driven By Boredom has with a new project where he plots "the spots that gave me the most tingles" on a Google Map along with a Polaroid and a description of what made them so ... er, tingle-worthy: the construction house where he and his girlfriend would sneak into to mess around, the bushes at the Masonic Temple where he had the worst sex of his life.

As a much more personal version of other Google Maps projects we've come across it's the kind of intimate look into someone else's private history that we don't often get the chance to experience, and we even found ourselves getting a little misty driving around those DC suburbs with Igor ourselves. (Not to mention a little jealous—why didn't we have a Topless Polaroid Forest in our neighborhood when we were growing up?)

· Nascent Sexuality Polaroid Study (drivenbyboredom.com)

* * * * *

Previously: In Plain Sight: Mapping Sex In Public, Mapping Sex In America

Time Out's Naked New Yorkers: This Could Have Been You

Dashiell Bennett — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:45:35 EDT

This week's issue of urban go-getter guide Time Out New York is the "Horny Issue", and to commemorate the rebirth of spring or whatever they put out an open call for people to pose au naturel in the magazine. Apparently everyone took them on it, so they selected seven hopeful naked superstars-to-be (both guys and gals), let them pick the location and theme for their shoot, and then had wonderboy photographer Ryan Pfluger capture their parts for posterity.

But wait, there's more! The Time Out folks have also posted pictures of several dozen other New Yorkers who also want to take their clothes off for a magazine but somehow haven't figured out how to submit their pictures to Hustler. This time, though, they're giving you a chance to vote for your favorite and maybe get to see your favorite yoga instructor or record store clerk completely starkers in a future issue. Come on, when was the last time you voted in an election that really mattered?

· "We're still horny" (timeout.com)
· Photos by Ryan Pfluger (ryanpfluger.com)

Durex' Sexual Wellbeing Survey came out over ...

Lux Nightmare — Thu, 01 May 2008 11:00:43 EDT

Durex' Sexual Wellbeing Survey came out over two months ago, but apparently folks in Malaysia are just now figuring out that they're not having enough orgasms. Maybe their internet tubes were clogged or something? We hear that can happen if you're not getting laid enough. (durex.com + thestar.com.my)

The Not-So-Simple "Truth" About Porn

Fleshbot — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:35:43 EDT

Did you know that "Pornography is not about love, or caring or making good relationships" and that "Pornography often shows a person (usually a woman, a child or teenager) who is being treated in a sexual manner without respect or love"? (And that's just the first paragraph!) Looks like this whole "Simple English Wikipedia" thing is a little too simple if you ask us; good thing it's also "the free encyclopedia that anyone can change" too. (simple.wikipedia.org - thanks Jon)

The Wide, Wide World Of Balloon Fetishism

Fleshbot — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:30:27 EDT

Grizzled observers of the wide range of human sexuality that we are here at Fleshbot, It's always cute to see someone discovering something like baloon fetishism for the first time ... and even cuter when their investigative report includes dozens of photos of a sexy Japanese model enjoying it.

In the latest issue of Bizarre, reporter Maki interviews both the head of a Japanese DVD company specializing in erotic balloon videos and the Philadelphia-based webmaster behind a network of balloon fetish websites—and while he's ultimately "content to let (his) undeveloped balloon fetish slide" (at least until the next birthday party he finds himself at), he does happen upon one insight that makes the fetish a little easier for outsiders to understand: "Essentially, the sexual appeal of balloons is much too varied to be pigeonholed." (OK, so maybe that doesn't make it easier for outsiders to understand at all. But if you have to ask ... well, maybe you should just find another fetish?)

· "Balloon Fetish: Bizarre's Maki meets the people who get their kicks from balloons. Pop!" (bizarremag.com)
· Photos via Yvonne DVD: Looner, Popper, Balloon fetish (k5.dion.ne.jp/~yvonne7)
· See also: Balloon Buddies (balloonbuddies.com)

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Previously: Balloon Bra Buster Video, Overly Specific Fetish Sites Are No Laughing Matter, How To: Properly Direct Your Balloon Fetish Tips, Video Playpen: More Chicks With Balloons, Flesh Flicks: Revenge Of The Balloon Busters, Balloon Directory, Flesh Flicks: Balloon Bursting, Mellyloon, Looney Nudes, Norbert Briar's Balloon Party, Goth Balloons, Balloon Girls

You know that sex expos have finally gone ...

Lux Nightmare — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 11:40:30 EDT

You know that sex expos have finally gone mainstream when they start happening in heavily Catholic, conservative countries like Mexico (and for that matter get written about in places like Portfolio). Up next: Sexpo Vatican, coming soon to a Holy See near you! (portfolio.com)

Sex 2.0 Wrapup(s)

Fleshbot — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:12:03 EDT

We'd totally gloat about all the stimulating talk and cupcake-strewn shenanigans you missed at the Sex 2.0 conference in Atlanta this weekend, except ... uh, we weren't there either. Fortunately, plenty of our funky pals and assorted crush objects are posting about it today, so at least we have an idea of what went on. Is it too early to start making our plans for Sex 3.0 next year? (thesexcarnival.com + funkybrownchick.com + lustylady.blogspot.com + wakingvixen.com; see also video @ Naked City)

Jennifer Lyon Bell is an Amsterdam-based ...

Fleshbot — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:50:40 EDT

Jennifer Lyon Bell is an Amsterdam-based erotic film director and curator, which totally sounds like a dream job if you ask us. And to think it all started when she first saw her first dirty movie in high school! We always suspected "Debbie Does Dallas 2" was a gateway drug ... (interview @ amsterdamweekly.nl)

CherryTV Vs. The Frisky: Who Talks The Better Sex?

Lux Nightmare — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:27:18 EDT

Because good things always happen in pairs (insert your metaphor of choice here), this past month saw the launch of not one but two ladies-talking-about-the-sexy-sex sites: CherryTV and The Frisky. As you might have guessed from the name, CherryTV (above) is one of those "internet television" websites we've been hearing so much about. Videos are broken down into two categories: "Cherry Dish," where the ladies of CherryTV give their opinions on a wide range of topics (from faking orgasms to how to reach the best orgasm to whether vibrators numb your ability to orgasm), and "Fresh Advice," where sexy sexperts (including the frequently Fleshbotted Jamye Waxman) teach CherryTV viewers the ins and outs of better banging.

The Frisky (below) is a little different. Though it claims to be a "daily romp on the sexy side," its broader focus (which covers exciting and heretofore untouched territory like celebrities and fashion!) makes it feel a bit like "Cosmo" for the blog generation. (It had to happen sometime, right?) Still, we do have to give them at least some credit for running that bacon bra photo we featured last week. Anyone who likes boobs and cured pork products as much as we do can't be all bad.

· Cherry TV - Juicy Talk For Women (cherrytv.com)
· The Frisky - A Daily Romp On The Sexy Side (thefrisky.com)

Because the Mac vs. PC sex toy study wasn't ...

Lux Nightmare — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 10:57:39 EDT

Because the Mac vs. PC sex toy study wasn't enough, now some French folks are taking it to the next level with a survey (yes, in French) that aims to determine whether choice of OS has any relation to breast and penis size. Brings a whole new meaning to that "Hey baby, is that an iPhone in your pocket?" line, doesn't it? (vaginus.org, via sexoteric.com; thumbnail via iPhone Porn Grid)

In spite of all the attention pornographers ...

Lux Nightmare — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 15:08:46 EDT

In spite of all the attention pornographers pay to making their paysite concepts as authentic as possible, we'd never recommend using porn to learn about other cultures (well, except where the Japanese are concerned). For more evidence, check out Guanabee's overview of what Latina porn teaches white men about Latin culture. We already knew the whole concept of "piñata pussy" was totally wrong, but wait ... Colombia and the US don't share a border?! (guanabee.com)

Sex Work 101: School Yourself

Fleshbot — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 11:08:25 EDT

Confused over the meaning of terms like "call girl" (which is outdated) and "street worker" (which is much better)? Interested in knowing more about how that amorphous "sex industry" you keep hearing about really works? Let friend of Fleshbot Audacia Ray help teach you the, uh, ins and outs of sex work in the succinctly named Sex Work 101, a fledgling project intended to "add to public knowledge about sex work and to encourage discussion about the issues sex workers face". At the very least, it'll save you from any embarassing gaffes in your conversation when you're talking about these issues; and who knows, it might even inspire you to do some more personal research of your own. (sexwork101.com)

Sex 2.0: Sexuality, Feminism, And Waffles

Fleshbot — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:52:02 EDT

Because we can never have enough opportunities to get together with like-minded ~~geeks~~ online experts and talk about sex, several members of the Fleshbot Collective are considering a trip to Atlanta later this month for Sex 2.0, a one day conference focusing on the "intersection of social media, feminism, and sexuality" which is also quite possibly the only event of its kind in the world to be held in a 10,000 square foot, fully equipped dungeon. Plus, we hear there are lots of Waffle Houses in Atlanta. Mmm, Waffle House. (event info @ sex20con.com; see also interview with organizer Amber Rhea @ sexuality.about.com)

No Love Lost: Photographs By Michael Grieve

Fleshbot — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:59:45 EDT

It's hard to take a picture on a porn set or backstage at a strip club and not have it look like a lot of work we've seen before, particularly when so many artists and photographers have been mining this same territory for years now. That said, UK photographer Michael Grieves attempts to depict these "increasingly entwined and performative worlds of pornography, prostitution and stripping" via his own unique perspective: "'No Love Lost' does not attempt to be a statistical documentation but works as a lyrical documentary metaphor in a factual world about real fictional encounters and conveys a sense of the difficulties of meaningful human connection in spiritually vacant environments." OK, so maybe calling the adult entertainment world "spiritually vacant" isn't exactly a unique concept, but several of his photos do manage to convey a certain tenderness for their subject matter despite their ostensible detachment. (And at the very least we learned that there exists what seems to be a thriving porn industry in Peterborough, UK. Who knew?)

· NO LOVE LOST: Eking Out the Seamiest Boltholes (viceland.com, via Tiny Nibbles)
· Michael Grieve: No Love Lost (lensculture.com)

Previously: "SFV Porn" by Vera Hartmann, Jeff Burton, "The Other Place", Jean-Christian Bourcart's "Infertile Madonnas": Deep Inside The Brothels Of Frankfurt, Elyse Butler: Sexual Tension, Strippers Of London, "Pink Box: Inside Japan's Sex Clubs", "Pornoland", Larry Sultan