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oxymoron

Published Letters: 355
Editor's Choice: 32

Monday, November 27, 2006 10:47 AM

John Waters once described porn

As looking like heart surgery (or some type of surgery--I can't remember exactly). At any rate, what I thought he was getting at--and what bothers me (as a woman) about most porn--is the use of extreme closeups of disembodied genitalia. It's yucky clinical, and not at all arousing for me.

OTOH, I find myself absurdly aroused watching, say, Joe Sarno soft-core from the '70's. The men are attractive. The women are attractive, but have normal-sized and not-obviously-augmented breasts. The acting is better. There is an attempt at an interesting storyline.

Wednesday, November 29, 2006 07:39 AM

I was at an Outback

In Merrillville, Indiana this past weekend. I went to the bathroom, where there was a woman with an older boy (i'd say 8-10 years old). As I entered my stall, I heard her say to her son "I know you'd rather use the men's room, but I don't know what kind of people could be in there."

At the Outback.

PACKED Outback.

In Merrillville, Indiana.

And of course, I am thinking lady, you could stand outside the bathroom door and wait for your kid. Your kid could SCREAM on the off chance that there is some kind of sexual predator waiting for him at the Outback in Merrillville, Indiana. And then I thought, geez, how do we foster ANY kind of independence or coping skills in children at ALL if we don't let them do some things (like, you know, GO TO THE BATHROOM) by themselves?

I mean, come ON. I would really like to know how this generation is going to turn out when they are only able to do what they are TOLD to do and under supervision?

Wednesday, November 29, 2006 10:19 AM
Original article: The words they said

Ann, puhleeze

I don't know anything about Miami, but I am pretty sure that practitioners of religions that occasionally sacrifice animals (Voodoo and Santeria for instance) generally cook and eat the animals they sacrifice. Are you sure you're not just seeing roadkill?

Sheesh.

Friday, December 1, 2006 06:39 AM
Original article: Men and the pill

Weird

I think I would have a hard time with no ejaculate myself. OTOH, it's a lot like using a condom if you think about it.

My boyfriend is the first guy I've ever run in to who's had a vasectomy. He and his ex-wife decided they didn't want kids, and he is suspicious of hormonal birth control, so they decided it was cheaper and safer for him to have a vasectomy. It's certainly been a nice, freeing experience for me! More of you guys out there who are definite about no kids should try it.

Friday, December 1, 2006 12:39 PM

The problem is

Nobody will test drugs on pregnant women. Rightly so, don't you all think? So nobody can really KNOW what the side effects of a particular drug could be on the fetus.

There would be a HUGE outcry if some drug company wanted to test drugs on pregnant women, then abort and dissect the fetus to determine if there were any problems caused by the drug. (I'm not recommending this, BTW--I'm just saying that's what it would take, right?)

Friday, December 8, 2006 04:02 PM

It's just a wee bit bizarre

That we're simultaneously supposed to be extremely thin, and yet getting fatter and fatter. The model ideal is less and less attainable for ANYONE--so normal and healthy on the runway (if thin) could be a really good thing just so girls can see what normal could look like.

It's certainly not just a girl thing--my current boyfriend has told me of battles he's had with bulimia and cutting himself, and even now has a weird relationship to food (he calls me a hedonist for my happy eating, and yes, I am slim enough but would like to be a little thinner and more toned).

Then again, the boyfriend I had who looked best IN CLOTHES was the skinny, every rib showing guy. The current one (who lifts weights) looks better out of them!

Thursday, December 14, 2006 06:16 AM

Lush

If you want to buy cruelty-free, incredible-smelling products (albeit somewhat expensive, but totally worth it), go to Lush.com. Here is their animal-testing policy:

http://usa.lush.com/cgi-bin/lushdb/animaltest

I tend to have a lot of trouble with inhalant allergies and contact dermatitis, and generally can't stand heavily perfumed soaps , detergents, etc. of any type (I can smell a "White Diamonds" wearer coming, and generally have to leave the room). However, Lush products don't cause me any problems at all.

And while their products are expensive, the soaps, bath gels, deodorants and shampoos LAST. It's an option if you have a little money (or want a great Christmas present!)

Thursday, December 14, 2006 07:16 AM
Original article: The Fix

Oy!

Dudes, it's Peter BOYLE!!!!

p.s. Do you have to be super-famous to get Vicodin for your menstrual cramps? Cuz mine suck pretty bad...

Friday, December 15, 2006 12:41 PM
Original article: Diana's last days

Everyone knows that if the dog's chasing you

You shouldn't run FASTER... or they ought to know that, at any rate.

Diana and Dodi were NOT "mercilessly chased to their death". Puhleeze. Their chauffeur was reckless (drunk or not, egged on by them or not). Chicklet made excellent points below, to which I can only add that if you're going to act like eurotrash, you're going to be treated like eurotrash.

Bah, humbug. I really never could figure out what the big deal was.

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