With tupence for paper and string...

Would you like to participate in a Sexplanations Writing Contest?

I’ve been asked many sex questions in my time as a clinical sexologist and host of Sexplanations. A few of them really have me scratching my head. My hope is that some of you will be able to write the responses they deserve. It’s a contest! 

If you’d like to participate please follow the prompts and guidelines below. 

Writing Contest Prompts:

What is the difference between seduction and coercion?

Is it sexist to only want a female gynecologist and if so is that bad sexism?

If gender is not influenced by one’s genitals then why do people seek gender confirmation surgery?

Write about any sexuality topic of your choosing.

Writing Contest Guidelines:

Choose one or more prompts and write amazing responses.

100-1000 words in length per response

Submit as text in an email or as a shared googledoc, no attachments to Word docs etc.

Due before May 1st

Send them to [email protected]

Email heading: Writing Contest

Cite your resources (in-line or as a list at the end)

Any format (letter, essay, script etc.)

I’ll take care of tone/Sexplanations-styling

What I want from you is a great response to the questions and for you to have fun!

Writing Contest Prizes:

If there is an obvious winner for each of the prompts, they will each receive a Sexplanations Gift Basket and have their response featured in a Sexplanations episode. They will also be contacted by Skype or telephone to discuss how their writing will work best in video format. If I choose to pull ideas from multiple authors for a single episode they’ll all receive a token of my appreciation and personal communication to plan the episode.

If your piece isn’t chosen as a winner or contributor you will probably not hear from me at all. It’s not because you’re a poor writer or because I’m ungrateful. It’s because there’s already been an overwhelming interest in this contest and I cannot commit to responding to all of you. Knowing myself I’ll want to hand write each one of you a message. We’ll see. 

Can you just know right now how special it is to me that you’re willing to help and participate? Can you know right now that I’ll read what you write (if you send it correctly) and that is my way of showing I care?

Comment in discussion of about “Bisexual Privilege” and the differences between exploitation and acceptance on the BiNet USA Chat Group by MAC (a work in progress)

It wasn’t easy to land on a card that felt worthy of David Bowie. Here are some alternate versions we considered early on:

David Bowie riding in on a cloud of fire flies.

David Bowie materializing in a poof of glitter.

David Bowie isn’t a mortal like the rest of us. This doesn’t make sense. This isn’t possible.

I woke up earlier than usual this morning, probably because I went to be earlier than usual last night. It’s all part of Operation: Reboot, and while it’s been a challenging adjustment, it’s worth it. I sat up in bed, next to both of my dogs who looked confused. Dad doesn’t get out of bed for at least another three hours. What’s going on? Marlowe made a curious sound. Seamus grunted and buried…

 Lindsay Ellis (via somebodysittingthereallthetime)

How you spell “The Berenstain Bears” could be proof of parallel universes

“You need to look up the Berenst#in Bears problem.”

It was this innocent comment left on a post about parallel universes that first pulled by Rob Schwarz of Stranger Dimensions into one of the internet’s strangest theories. It involves The Berenstein Bears, a loving family of anthropomorphized bears who taught children life lessons via hundreds of picture books and two TV shows. But the problem is they aren’t The Berenstein Bears, they’re The Berenstain Bears.

Though a startling number of people remember the name as BerenstEin, it’s in fact spelled BerenstAin, just like the authors Stan and Jan Berenstain. But is it possible that so many people are just wrong about the title? Back in 2012, blogger Reeceoffered up another explanation: Some of us have recently crossed over from a parallel universe.

He argues:

… at some time in the last 10 years or so, reality has been tampered with and history has been retroactively changed. The bears really were called the “BerenstEin Bears” when we were growing up, but now reality has been altered such that the name of the bears has been changed post hoc.

Somehow, we have all undergone a π/2 phase change in all 4 dimensions so that we moved to the stAin hexadectant, while our counterparts moved to our hexadectant (stEin). They are standing around expressing their confusion about the “Berenstein Bears” and how they all remember “Berenstain Bears” on the covers growing up.

Those who remember the name as “Berenstain” are native to this “A” Universe, while those who are sure it’s “Berenstein” traveled over from the “E” Universe.

The new baby is so perfectly small. He squeaks and makes little snuffling noises. He smells like a baby.  The name on his birth registration is Anthony, but I mostly call him squeaker.

The night he was born I read Amanda a story by P.L. Travers’ called “The New One”, from Mary Poppins Comes Back…

Ray Bradbury, The October Country (via bookmania)

It's October and I'm reading Bradbury. Next in the cue are Poe, Lovecraft, and Gaiman.