Sometimes It Pays To Dress Like A Slut

This week we read the story of my namesake, the Biblical Tamar. I encourage you to read the story for yourself, it’s chapter 38 of Genesis, but the gist of it is that Tamar is cheated out of a marriage by her father-in-law, Judah, after she has been widowed by two of his sons. When [...]

has us all wearing the same damned underwear

The mass appeal and accessibility of America’s largest lingerie brand has us all wearing the same damned underwear. Sue us if we want a little bit of originality down under.
Victoria’s Secret has a monopoly on our private parts, and we get it. It’s accessible, relatively affordable (so we tell ourselves), full of options—and synonymous with [...]

I Am America (and So Can You!)

Books are for pantywaists. Or at least that’s how ”Stephen Colbert,” the excitable commentator played to rock-star perfection by Stephen Colbert, viewed them before he became a published author. Now comes the flip-flop, as Mr. Colbert brings the gale-force power of his promotional talents to the hawking of ”I Am America (And So Can You!),” [...]

Six Reasons to Have Sex Every Week

Studies show that regular sex (with all due precautions taken) provides a host of surprising health benefits.
Sex is good for adults. Indulging on a regular basis—at least once a week—is even better. Research links sex (with all safer-sex precautions taken) to an astonishing array of physiological benefits, from longevity to pain relief. Many studies don’t [...]

The Pros and Cons of Sushi

Japan is one of the healthiest countries in the developed world, with high life expectancy rates and lower incidences of of both cancer and cardiovascular disease. It must be all the sushi, right? Maybe. With its fish-rich flavors and low-fat appeal, traditional sushi is a health wonder. But much of the fish and seafood popular [...]

The last days of Zimbabwe

President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, at 83, has outlived Ian Smith, the final white leader of Rhodesia, who died last month. In 1980 Mugabe began with a working democracy, a sound infrastructure and a healthy economy. Inflation is now the highest in the world; there is no work and little food – and what is [...]

The original political vision: sex, art and transformation

‘Everything as it is, infinite’ … detail from The Good and Evil Angels
Dissent and emancipation were holy for William Blake. He could teach our prime minister so much about how to be radicalOne reason Gordon Brown gave for not holding an election was to have time to roll out his vision. It is not [...]