Gawp your Way to Better Health
A German study has revealed that staring at women’s breasts is good for men’s health and could add 4 or 5 years to the average man’s life. According to Dr Karen Weatherby, a daily “workout’ of 10 minutes ogling is roughly equivalent to a 30-minute aerobics class as the sexual excitement gets the heart pumping, improving blood circulation, lowering blood pressure and slowing pulse rates. Men eager to improve their health in this way should be warned that a daily slap across the face may have a detrimental effect equivalent to any benefits accrued.

Naked Sinéad Sold for More than a Song
A naked portrait of Sinéad O’Connor was sold at auction in Dublin this February for E15,000. The picture entitled Strange Days by Irish artist Jim Fitzpatrick shows Sinéad’s face reflected in a mirror as she reclines on a purple sheet wearing nothing but a necklace and stockings.

UN Calls For Greater Reproductive Rights
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has stressed the importance of greater sexual and reproductive health rights for women in developing countries. Since the 1995 Beijing Woman’s Conference, it has been recognised that women’s economic and social equality is crucial to a nation’s growth and that reproductive choice is essential to women’s development. These remarks are likely to sit uneasily with the current US administration. Funding to organisations offering abortion services has been cut since George W. Bush took office.

Stimulation for Ears and Eyes

Books
Two genres for the price of one! Blood Surrender, edited by Cecilia Tan is a new collection of short stories exploring the attractions and erotic power of the vampire. The collection features well-known writers such as Allison Lonsdale and Thomas S. Roche. Pleasure, pain, decadence, dark magic, desire and danger all in one neat package. Blood Surrender can be ordered from Amazon UK and retails for approximately £7.

Web
Feast your eyes on the visual delight that is Retro Raunch. Retro Raunch is dedicated to vintage erotica and has over 40,000 images including famous pin-ups, S&M and bondage, threesomes, oral sex, lesbian erotica and antique sex toys. Since its inception, Retro Rauch has won accolades from a variety of sources including USA Today, Adult Video News and The History Channel. It’s easy to see why: the site is glam, sexy and silicone-free. See www.retroraunch.com.

Sexton’s Miscellany
Porn Facts
This February saw the launch of Ireland’s first Freedom From Pornography Campaign. The campaign aims to curb the proliferation of porn in Ireland with the aim of eventually eliminating it. Some people like fighting losing battles. Here are some interesting facts about pornography usage:
• According to a survey by Queen’s University, Belfast, 28% of employees have downloaded explicit material at work.
• As of July 2003, there were 260 million pages of porn on-line. This was an increase of 1,800% in the number of porn sites since 1998. As you’d imagine, the figure is still growing.
• In the USA, 1 in every 5 video or DVD rentals is a porn movie.
• Forbes Magazine estimates that the porn industry is worth between US$2.6 to US$3.9 billion annually.

This Issue’s Top Sex Tip: Anyone For A Drink?
We all know that sex and alcohol often go together. But instead of tanking up on Dutch courage before the fact, try bringing alcohol into the bedroom.
Blowjobs are always good, but blowjobs with bubbly are even better. Take a sip of champagne and hold it in your mouth. Use your tongue to swirl the bubbles around the head of the penis. The combination of bubbles, liquid and coldness makes for an extra-sensitive experience.
Extra strong mints give oral sex an extra zing. Minty alcohol can do the same. Pour a little along the shaft of the penis, lick it off and blow to increase evaporation. You’ll need to be careful using mint on the head of the penis. Some guys may be slightly allergic and it can sting.
Chill a bottle of vodka in the freezer to get it nice and cold. Take a small sip so your mouth is cold and kiss or lick the erogenous zone of your choice. Alternatively, pour a little into your partner’s navel until it runs down towards the genitals. The combination of cold liquid and warm tongue is a winner.
Remember alcohol and sex should both be enjoyed responsibly.