Lisa Diamond, an associate professor of psychology and gender studies at the University of Utah, in January of 2008 published the results of a multi-year study of 79 women who did not self-identify as heterosexual. Professor Diamond's research began in 1995 when she conducted in-person interviews with the women, who identified themselves as lesbian, bisexual, or unlabeled but not heterosexual. The women were all between 18 and 25 years old at the time. Diamond then followed up with each woman every two years, in a phone interview. Dr. Diamond was researching the idea of bisexuality as a temporary stage of denial or transition, a stable "3rd type" of sexual orientation, or a heightened capacity for sexual fluidity.

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Attention all artists, knitters, crafters, tinkerers, and people who generally like to make stuff: how would you like to engage in your hobby while earning money for your favorite charity—as well as some prize money (in the form of a JoAnn gift card) for yourself?

JoAnn Fabric and Craft Stores are hosting a “Craft for a Cause Contest 2010” just with this idea in mind. With a very simple premise and an easy way to participate, the contest allows entrants to do what it is they do already—make stuff!—and enter in the contest at the same time.

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Hook Ups Can Lead to Relationships- If You're LuckyA recent study from the University of Iowa regarding hook ups and the longevity of relationships led me to the conclusion that perhaps the researchers at the University of Iowa have too much time on their hands. The researchers surveyed 642 heterosexual adults from the greater Chicago area about their sexual histories and the quality of their relationships.

The results of the study were pretty ambivalent- the researchers concluded that relationships that started off more slowly in the sexual department had a slightly higher likelihood of success than others. However, the researchers also concluded that hook ups can also lead to satisfying relationships. The determining factor is often whether or not those who participated in hook ups had the expectations of a relationship or not. If the person was open to a relationship, but not expecting one, the likelihood of a successful relationship was increased, but probably not exponentially.

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Recently, I had to make a very important purchase - a new dining set for my small, urban, one bedroom apartment. There was a lot of thought to go into it but price was (as it always is) one of the biggest factors I had to consider. I wanted to stay as close as possible to $100 for the purchase of a sturdy table and four chairs - while at the same time also getting what I purchased delivered directly to my apartment. Impossible you say? Not so when you have Walmart.com on your side (for better or worse). I found exactly what I needed - a table and four chairs - delivered free to my apartment for $129.00 (plus tax).

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Rachel Lauden's essay which recently appeared in the Utne Reader is causing quite a lot of controversy and consternation.  Her essay bears the unfortunate title "In Praise of Fast Food," which is eye-catching enough, but patently untrue; Lauden isn't praising fast food (Big Macs) but industrialized food (canned tomatoes).

Despite attacking a truly surprising number of straw men, Lauden's essay makes some excellent points.  For one thing, there is no mystical "time in the past" when people ate right. 

This is similar to the wistful idea that there is a magical time in the past when people were decent to each other, Norman Rockwell ruled the earth, and everyone left their doors unlocked.  


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Recently, Sarah Palin used her common tactic of simple metaphors mixed with animals and third grade vocabulary words to highlight her presence and that of her soccer mom followers, whom she now refers to as “mama grizzlies.” She says that when their cubs are threatened, mama grizzlies attack—which, I think, is a valid point. Unlike many of the other strange things she’s tried to claim as fact, this is true; if you mess with the cub, you mess with the mama.

However, if translating said metaphor toward a more developed species—in this case, humans—it doesn’t work the same way. If a mama bear’s cubs become human boys and girls, bringing out the claws and teeth get trickier.

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Apparently when I recently decried Sarah Palin's use of the word "feminist," I gave some people the mistaken impression that I kill and eat babies for dinner, from the remote sleek black confines of my underground lair where I use men as coffee tables and laugh maniacally - HA! HA! HA! - while shaking a bottle of barbecue sauce over said babies.

Honestly, people.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  I love babies!  They go great with fries!  OH CRAP OKAY YOU GOT ME.  


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Sperm-donor Offspring Seek Rights and Respect

Item from the Associated Press -- "Offspring of sperm donors seek changes so they can find their fathers more easily, but others worry about the effects of banning anonymous sperm donations. "

Donor dads run for the hills! Your babies are after you!

Why would someone donate to a sperm bank? Do they get paid? Do they want to have anonymous children? Are the donors out to improve the human species by reproducing themselves, anonymously?

And babies why do you want to find these anonymous dads? Health reasons? Do you now need dear old anonymous dad to donate part of his liver too? So many questions and not good enough answers.

Dads if your anonymous kids get rights to know who you are, do they get inheritance rights? What about all those years of child support you missed out on?

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Oh, the things we can do to celebrate the week of the King! My college writing professor had a “love to hate” thing going on with Elvis, as did I. When I was younger, I had quite a crush on the long-dead King, and played his music all of the time. When I read more about him and experienced many of his horrendous films—not to mention that weird relationship with his 14-year-old girlfriend/later bride (and what sounds like an equally unhealthy marriage; according to her, he raped her at least once)—I wasn’t such a gung-ho fan anymore.

Love him or hate him, Elvis will always be around (though perhaps not as physically as some people claim), and his influence on music and pop culture is here to stay.

Here are a few ways you can celebrate Elvis week.

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As a mom, I can tell you that I have mastered the art of holding it. In fact, I used to hold it even before I became a mother. I remember standing in lines at amusement parks, getting that nervous/excited pre-rollercoaster feel while in line that made me feel like I’d have to pee, and I’d tell my then-boyfriend, “I have to pee!” and he’d roll his eyes, knowing that A. I wouldn’t stop to pee and B. I would say the same thing in the next rollercoaster line. Maybe I’m just weird like that.

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