There seems to be an increase in specifically female-targeted porn at the moment. As a result, I've been offered several porn films to review recently from companies including Sweetmeat and Digital Playground. It'll be interesting to see how they differ from the usual porn vids. Will there be plot? Attractive men? Lesbians with short fingernails? Real breasts rather than silicone ones?
Years back, Candida Royale tried to make porn videos aimed at women. I've never seen one - or met anyone who has - so have no idea if they're any cop (though loads of people I know rave about her sex toy range) but after she made her vids, there didn't seem to be anyone aiming videos at women for ages, so it's good to see that people are trying to provide something again.
Then again, is what women want really that different? I was interested by Carly Milne's views on women and porn - that women *do* consume the usual porn - they just don't buy it so they don't show up in the stats. Surveys have shown that a third of people who view porn online are female, so it would make sense that the same is true offline. And from chatting to girlie mates, loads of us watch stuff like Ben Dover and enjoy it.
There's certainly a problem with the distribution. Hanging round sex shops isn't something that most women, myself included, would feel safe doing. OK, now it's possible to buy videos online but in a huge amount of cases, the sites/video covers are less than appealing; standard large breasted woman who 'takes it any way' rather than any kind of real sex (no, not so real that people end up not getting down to it because they don't have condoms or where condoms split or where blokes lose their hard on but equally, not with really bad faked orgasms and unlubed anal sex)
Be interesting to see what the female-targeted stuff is like.
Just done an interview with Elle magazine about the rise of women 'turning' lesbian. It always intrigues me when women's magazines run these kind of stories; as if lesbians don't exist until suddenly some film (or celebrity) comes out and it's suddenly all cool and groovy for women to cop off with women.
I've been told by many women's magazines over the years that running lesbian stories on a regular basis isn't practical because the advertisers don't like it. Seems like a cop out to me.
So anyway, trotted out the usual lines - sexuality being a sliding scale, it being easier for women to admit to lesbian thoughts because it's less stigmatised nowadays (unlike blokes being gay - be cool if that lost the stigma) and all that kind of stuff.
After that, got a cool phone call. I've been asked to trial for a slot on LBC radio - ten minutes a week on what's going on in the sex world; quirky stories, the latest sex toys and all that kind of stuff. My first slot is next Tuesday at 8.30pm and if it goes well, I'll be doing every other Tuesday.
Other than that, doing the usual sex stuff. First meeting of the sexual coalition thing went well. Lots of ideas and everyone seems keen to work together. We're planning our first campaign but have all the boring admin stuff to get sorted first. Joy.
Been busy organising a gathering of people in the sex world to work together on a joint sexual health initiative. It's been really cool, seeing how many people are into it. So far, The Lovers' Guide, Cake, Pout, In the Buff, Fuck the Shop, Rude Girls and a new QVC-style TV sex shop are coming along to the first meeting, along with a woman who's doing a documentary on women in the sex industry and, of course, Cliterati.
Have no idea what we're actually going to do - we're working that out in the meeting - but will probably involve us all running free ads or something. Should be a fun gathering anyway, cos it'll be the first time a lot of people have met.
Have also been asked to screen test for the QVC-style sex shop thing as a 'sexpert' - holding up sex toys and going 'this one's fantastic because it gives you great orgasms' or something similarly inane. Not sure if I'm going to have to get a bouffant hairstyle and start wearing orange foundation.
Even though it's cheesy as hell, I'm quite excited about it - I've never done TV before. Just doing the screen test will be a learning curve (though, having chatted to mates who've done TV apparently it's hot and boring.) Still, looking forward to the experience, even if I'm rubbish or decide I hate it.
A new TV show is offering people a chance to win plastic surgery. In How do I look? people can win a nose job. According to Ananova:
The operation will be carried out by one of the country's leading plastic surgeons.
Together with the psychologist, he will have consultations with each of the candidates to discuss why they want cosmetic surgery so badly.
Scary.
Some scientist spent five years studying which scent sperms like. Apparently Lily of the Valley is a favourite.
Took a mate out to the Oxo Tower for their birthday yesterday. He's as much of a foodie (God, I hate that word) as I am so we had a great time salivating over the menu and swapping food.
I started with Venison hache (like a burger) with quails egg (fried - it looked so cute - like a dolls house sized egg) and red cabbage (which I left cos I don't like red cabbage). My mate had salmon confit with seaweed and oyster which was gorgeous.
Then, I went for the traditional roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. I've never had beef that's so tender - no pressure at all required to slice it. The Yorkshire pudding was seriously impressive - perfectly puffed up (although I'm a pleb really - much prefer stodgy Yorkshire pud with sugar.) I left my vegetables because they were too salty and I like being a grown up cos it means you can leave your veg.
He had quail with foie gras risotto. I've never had foie gras before - the old liberal thing of thinking of force-fed geese putting me off - but had a taste and it was really good in an obscenely rich kind of way.
But the pudding was where things got really impressive. We went for a cheese plate and a caramelised banana with Baileys parfait. The parfait was so good that we were both in awe; eyes closed in semi-orgasmic pleasure. Usually, when I eat out, I can figure out how to make whatever I eat there at home. I'd have no idea how to make the parfait - although I do want to get a blow torch for caramelising things. Though I'm somewhat nervous after my last experience. The cheese was incredible too - one subtley smoked cheese, a sheeps milk cheese that was kind of like brie and a blue cheese that I didn't try, as I loathe the stuff, but was apparently really good.
It may cost a fortune but it was definitely worth it.
Had a fun evening with a top bird who's planning a new sex magazine for women. There seem to be loads of women getting involved in the sex industry at the moment. When Cliterati launched, there were a fair few other companies starting at the same time. Then, nothing for a while. But now, it seems like the time's come around again; in the last month, I've met people who are launching websites, TV stations, books and events targeting the female sex market (sounds like a warped version of Portobello)
The cool thing is that everyone wants to work together. We all refer journalists on to each other and generally help each other out. It's a nice way to work.
Sex News Daily reports on how to have sex with a car.
Almost enough to make me want to send a letter to someone. The only letters I currently need to send are to the Inland Revenue. Not sure it'll look very professional, sending them a letter with a stamp that's got a smiley face on it. But I might do it anyway.
Pitched the Daily Star with a feature idea yesterday. They liked it. I wrote it. I sent it last night. It's going in tomorrow. Dead fast turn-around and I like it. Even better, they want me to pitch them with more ideas so hopefully, assuming I can come up with some, should have work to distract me.
Had a meeting with the Lovers' Guide and got more work stuff to do for them. Reading through a load of classic erotica to see if there's any we can adapt, which is a good way to spend time.
Am generally reading a lot at the moment; mostly frivolous trashy novels (the literary equivalent to a big tub of ice cream) Just got sent the new Jane Wenham Jones book, Perfect Alibis, which is a top read. I met Jane a couple of years ago when I was working at ABCtales 'cos years back she won a short story competition we got involved with. She's really sweet and has a great job; novelist and wine-bar owner.
I still get dead excited when I meet 'proper writers' - people who've achieved that ultimate ambition of finishing a novel and getting it published (I soooo should finish a novel, even if just to say I have. Cos let's face it, getting a novel actually published is bloody hard work.) Guess that's why I get all kind of star-struck when I meet them. And then ask who their agent is. Thing that's really cool is that so far, whenever I've met a 'proper' (published) writer, they're really up for helping aspiring writers.
Also bought The Primal Urge by Brian Aldiss (about a scientist who creates an 'Emotional Register' that prevents people from hiding any sexual attraction they feel) and De Profundis, The Ballad of Reading Gaol and other stories cos I love Oscar Wilde and it's the only thing he wrote that I haven't yet read. Cups of tea, chocolate biscuits and a stack of books; always a good way to spend a night.
