TresSugar

Kill That Earworm!

GiggleSugar — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 16:05:55 -0800

You know how there might be a song stuck in your head that you can't get out? (And usually, it's something inane that you would be embarrassed to admit to, say Rico Suavé.) Well, just click here and the nice folks who put this together will replace your earworm with something equally annoying. Hey, you can't have everything!

Website du Jour: Stop Making That Duckface

TresSugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:00:00 -0800

You know you've seen it. You might even be guilty of perpetrating it. I'm talking about what the site Anti-duckface.com calls the "duck face," which they describe as something between a kissy face and a pout.

Anti-duckface seems to blame MySpace for hosting duckfaces, admonishing its pouters to, "Stop doing it. It isn't sexy."

All this prompted me to ask: why duckface? My theory is that it's a mock sexy face. People want to look sexy, but they also want to appear modest, so duckface is some weird (failed) compromise. In any case, here's to hoping this is the first nail in the coffin of duckface. It's time to end this blight to humanity.

Weird Dating Sites

GiggleSugar — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 12:30:00 -0700

Match.com not working for you? Apparently there's a site for everyone! The two weirdest, if you asked me? DailyDiapers.com, for the diaper enthusiast who finds wearing a diaper "just a fun way to relax" and TrekPassions.com, which requires no explanation. Radar online will give you more information, if you dare.

View 5 Photos ›

Hump Day: Is My Cold Sore Contagious?

TresSugar — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 06:00:00 -0700

Welcome to Hump Day, TrèsSugar's sex advice column! Are you confused about sex? Do you have trouble having an orgasm? Is there something you'd like to try but you're worried it's too weird? Send your questions to TrèsSugar, and our friend Dr. Charlie Glickman from Good Vibrations will offer his sound advice!

Today's Question:

“I know that cold sores are the same virus as herpes. Is it a bad idea to go down on my boy when I have one? Is it transmissible that way?” To hear what Dr. Glickman has to say, read more.

Dr. Glickman's Answer:

YES!!!

There are two types of herpes virus: HSV-1 and HSV-2. Oral herpes is usually HSV-1 and it’s estimated that 80 percent of the population has been exposed to it. Genital herpes is usually HSV-2 and it’s estimated that 25 percent of women and 12 percent of men have it. However, genital herpes can be caused by either version of the virus, so going down on someone when you have a cold sore (another name for a herpes outbreak) can spread it. To make things a bit more complicated, only about 1/3 of the people who have genital herpes are aware of it - either they’ve never had an outbreak or the outbreak was very mild. (See herpes.com for more info.)

Part of what makes herpes tricky is that it can be transmitted even when you don’t have a visible outbreak. The virus lives in your nervous system and every so often, it’ll come to the surface. It’s especially likely to happen when you’re sick or have been stressed for a while. There’s evidence that the virus starts shedding from the skin (and is therefore potentially contagious) before any visible symptoms. It’s a low risk, but it’s a possibility. To make matters worse, if the site of the shedding isn’t covered by a condom, it can be spread even when you’re practicing safer sex.

While herpes can be uncomfortable, it doesn’t represent nearly as much risk as other sexually transmissible infections (STIs) such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, human papilloma virus (HPV), or HIV. Having said that, there’s evidence that HSV-2 makes HIV transmission more likely. See this article for more information about how that works.

It’s also worth mentioning that I’ve seen a lot of people get really upset about STIs when they don’t get nearly as upset about any other health issue. I’ve also seen a lot of people who have all sorts of judgment about STIs but think nothing of going to work and sharing their flu germs (or worse)! STIs can be unpleasant, annoying, or life-threatening, but they don’t mean anything about the person who has them any more than chicken pox or measles do. Negative attitudes about STIs are a holdover from before we invented antibiotics and when diseases such as syphilis were seen as the wages of sin. But now we know that they’re just germs and we don’t need to shame people for having them. (Not that I’m saying that you’re doing that, but I wanted to mention it.)

The best thing that we can all do is to get tested for STIs regularly, even if you’ve never had a symptom. Lots of people have STIs and don’t know it. Check your local Planned Parenthood or other agency for information, although I recommend going with anonymous testing in order to ensure your privacy.

And safer sex is always a good choice. It’s easy to do, with a little practice. Using a lubricant can make safer sex more enjoyable since latex tends to have a bit more friction than skin. Try a silicone-based brand if you’re prone to yeast infections. Water-based brands are a bit easier to clean up since they rinse away.

If you or your partner don’t like the way condoms feel, try a different brand. The Japanese-process condoms such as Maxx and Skinless Skin are more sheer than other types. Or you could give Skyn a whirl. It’s made from polyisoprene, rather than latex, so it’s very sheer and both people will get more sensation.

Given that you have oral herpes, you might want to talk with your boyfriend about using condoms for oral sex. If you go that route, change the condom before having intercourse. That will make sure that you don’t spread the herpes virus to your vulva or vagina. It’ll also reduce the risk of your condom breaking; teeth can cause small abrasions that weaken the condom.

For an excellent, sex-positive read on safer sex, check out The Hot Guide to Safer Sex . It’s full of helpful advice and great tips.

City Workers Ordered to Wear Underwear in Florida Town

TresSugar — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:00:00 -0700

"They said you had to wear undergarments but who's going to be the judge of that? Sometimes when it comes to certain people going braless, it's obvious. But who's staring to see if that person doesn't have underwear on?"

- Mayor Joe Bernardini of Brooksville, FL, about a new dress code voted in by the city council. Behold the following list, which makes one wonder what government workers were wearing (or not wearing) before the dress code: Underwear is now required; employees must use deodorant; no halter tops or Spandex at work; no skirts worn "below the waistline;" no "distracting, offensive, or revealing" clothing; only ears may be visibly pierced; and last but not least, all cuts or wounds must now be covered. Now I know why the weird news site Fark has a special category for Florida.

Source

Craigslist Casual Encounters: A New(ish) Sexual Frontier

TresSugar — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 10:00:00 -0700

I wonder how many people Craigslist founder Craig Newmark has helped to find an apartment, sell a guitar . . . or hook up.

Besides its helpful housing, for sale, and job sections, Craigslist has a personals section that caters to every predilection, ranging from the strictly platonic to relationship seekers to Casual Encounters - its anonymous sex hookup section.

Sometimes dangerous and often disappointing, Casual Encounters is nevertheless part of what gives the Craigslist personals section higher traffic than other online personals sites - including Match.com, eHarmony, and Yahoo personals.

"Our users like the ability to be both candid and, initially, anonymous," says Newmark matter of factly about Casual Encounters, which accounts for 2 percent of all Craigslist postings.

In a recent New York Times trend piece, 100 or so users were interviewed about their experiences and provided a peek into who posts and answers those ads: Craigslist Casual Encounters attracts a gamut, from "desperados" to prostitutes and spammers and thrill-seeking hotties. Click here to read more.

Nola, a 42-year-old saleswoman in Manhattan, seeks men who will meet her in a public place, so she can go to the bathroom, take her underwear off, and hand it to them in an envelope - for a fee. Melvin, a 35-year-old divorcé, recently made the mistake of going to a woman's apartment before meeting her in public, finding that she was insecure about her weight and trying to hide it by turning out the lights.

And then there's someone like Michael, a handsome artist who claims, "I've met some extraordinarily beautiful women, had a few extraordinary sexual encounters that made my teeth itch and my brain sweat, put me in states of weird contemplation like, 'My God, I’ve never experienced that before.'"

Casual Encounters has been around since 2000 and has probably changed the way a lot of sexually frustrated people deal with dry spells. The question is - does it work? And is it healthy for the parties involved?

Source

Love It or Leave It: People I've Slept With Pillowcase

DearSugar — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 07:00:00 -0700

I don't need to tell you that the Internet is a bizarre place. It doesn't take much time to stumble upon weird sites or products, and it seems that anything having to do with sex is especially popular. Just recently I came upon this gem - it's an Everyone I've Slept With Pillowcase ($50). It serves two purposes. It can help you keep a record of everyone who's spent the night at your place (you know, in case you can't remember). But it also acts as a bold declaration to the world of what happens between your sheets (for those who like to share).

Can you imagine showing up at someone's house, being handed a Sharpie, and seeing this huge list of names?! Personally, I like to keep this kind of information to myself, but what's your take? Do you love the idea of this pillowcase, or do you think it's completely absurd?

Top Search Words on Obama/McCain Sites, Used in Congress

CitizenSugar — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:00:00 -0700

I can't decide which of these tote 'em ups is cooler. The New York Times has a graphic analysis of the top 200 search terms used on both of the candidates' websites - and with abortion topping Barack Obama's and health care heading McCain's it makes me think perhaps web-searchers are using the sites to get info on the opponent? The lists seem a weirdly counter to what one might expect from ardent supporters, but maybe I'm nuts?

Speaking of Congress (I kid, I kid) this is remarkably addictive and enlightening too - it's called CapitolWords, and it uses the Congressional record to figure out the most-used word on any given day. It's a little slice of the American consciousness that's eerie. From June 16 to June 20 it reads, "tax, health, oil, housing, oil." Well, it looks like they're talking about the right things at least? Try it out, but I'm warning you it's tough to stop.

To see the full New York Times graph of the percentage of search terms used on each of the candidate's sites read more.

Source

Thousands Roll Dice for World-Record Game of Monopoly

CitizenSugar — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 08:00:11 -0700

At least 2,500 people from around the world have passed "go" and set a new world record for the largest simultaneous game of Monopoly. The big event took place in London, but organizers say once online players (who rolled virtual dice on Monopoly's online site, cell phones and game consoles) are counted, the total number of players could rise to 5,000.

The hour-long game took place on Wednesday and was the first of its kind. Guinness required a minimum of 1,000 players in 23 locations to set the world record. (It only took an hour? Monopoly games take forever. . .)

The Monopoly board game was born 1934 at the height of the Great Depression, when Charles B. Darrow of Pennsylvania, showed the game to executives at Parker Brothers. They rejected the idea due to "52 design errors," so Charles handmade sets with a friend and was quickly able to prove demand for the game to the game company. According to Hasbro, in its 65-year history, an estimated 500 million people have played the game. Check out SavvySugar's Monopoly quiz for more trivia.

View 5 Photos ›

I always play with the car because it's the only piece that makes logical sense. I'm weird. Do you have a go-to piece? The iron, perhaps?

Source

GiggleSugar Reader Spotlight: Pink Elephant

GiggleSugar — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 15:00:00 -0800

In her downtime from being a college student, Pink Elephant visits the Sugar sites and stops by often to comment on GiggleSugar. She tells it like it is and that's what we like about her! To learn about her, read more

GS: What’s your motto?
PE: Don't sweat the petty things . . . or pet the sweaty things.

GS: Where are you from?
PE: Jackson, Mississippi.

GS: What do you do?
PE: I'm just a student in college right now, but I sometimes moonlight as a cashier for money.

GS: How would you describe your sense of humor?
PE: A weird mixture between goofy and sarcastic, sometimes I'm even embarrassed over the things that make me laugh!

GS: What’s your favorite GiggleSugar post?
PE: The clip of the little boy singing along to "Hey Jude" in his diaper is one of my favorites.

GS: Who’s the cutest funny man and funny woman?
PE: Dane Cook is OK looking - but I can't really think of any female comedians that come to mind

GS: Who are your favorite male and female comedians?
PE: I love Kathy Griffin - she's amazing - and I like Eddie Izzard's crazy outfits!!

GS: What’s your favorite comedy of all time?
PE: Meet the Fockers is one of my favorites! It cracks me up every time!

GS: If your life were a comedy, what would it be?
PE: Situational comedy - my family and life is weird enough.

Thanks, Pink Elephant!

View 5 Photos ›

(Lucy the feline, pupperson, Eddie Izzard, Kathy Griffin, Dane Cook)

Source