Sex, Angst, Repression and God

That's what the few people who know anything about him usually associate with the North African writer Augustine (354-430). A native of Algeria, he was a thinker who had an incredible impact on the Western world, but i suspect many today won't know much about him.

I've started reading Garry Wills' biography, Saint Augustine which I picked up in Wellington's Arty Bees secondhand bookstore.

One thing is certain, Augustine was an incredibly prolific writer. Wills writes that Augustine was an ever-developing thinker, unsatisfied with even his own formulations to the end of his life, so that those (like Calvin) who attempt to make a system from his writing at a particular period in his life do him an injustice.

Wills argues well that "The testimony" is a much better rendering of his well-known confessiones.

[In the fourth century] the penitential system of the church "confessional" did not exist... Augustine was not confessing like an Al Capone, or like a pious trafficker of later confessionals.

On Augustine's supposed sexual obssessions Wills writes

We must be on guard for such misreadings... [People] are convinced that Augustine was a libertine before his conversion, and was so obsessed with sex after his conversion that they place many unnamed sins to his account - though his actual sexual activity was not shocking by any standards but those of a saint. He lived with one woman for fifteen years "and with her alone, since I kept faith with her bed" (T 4.2). This kind of legal concubine was recognised in Roman law... Even the Church recognised the legitimacy of such a relationship (Council of Toledo 400, Canon 17).

Yet the expectation of sexual excess in Augustine's life leads people to add sexual scenes and themes to his story.

Nothing like a little truth to ruin our salaciousness, huh?

Peter Brown's bio seems to be the more critically acclaimed.

Nevertheless, the reviews of this short book acknowledge that it has good points, notably in Augustine's early life and his relationship with his concubine. I've just started it. We shall see what other interesting things come up.

cor inquietum "the unstable heart", drawing us ever onward. One of Augustine's themes. i like that.


listening to Argyle Park | Doomsayer

Herpes, STDs and Ignorance

I was on a dance music site i frequent, and was surprised at how ignorant people were, even those who consider themselves well educated on things sexual. I realise by posting this some people may think I have an STD. I don't as far as I know, 'tho will be getting tested again soon. And frankly, i don't care what people think. There is too much stigma associated with these diseases, which doesn't help the control of their spread imo.

Anyway, as far as Herpes goes, most people know there are two types, oral (HSV1) and genital (HSV2). What many people don't know is they don't spread purely by oral-oral or genital-genital contact. It can be spread through oral sex which is where many people don't protect themselves.

Both viral types [Oral and Genital] are easily transmitted to their site of preference, and can also be spread to other sites. Both are most contagious during active outbreaks, but are often spread through viral shedding when there are no recognizable symptoms. According to Spruance, people with recurrent oral HSV-1 [Oral herpes] shed virus in their saliva about 5% of the time even when they show no symptoms. In the first year of infection, people with genital HSV-2 shed virus from the genital area about 6-10% of days when they show no symptoms, and less often over time.

...

While HSV- 1 (Oral Herpes) can be spread from genitals to genitals, "we think it is spread more easily through oral sex because HSV-1 reactivates more frequently in the oral area," says Wald. However, she warns, "transmission of genital HSV-1 during asymptomatic shedding has been documented." In other words, genital HSV-1 can be spread through genital sex, even when there are no symptoms.

...

If HSV infection is as easily transmitted from the mouth as from the genitals, then why do people take steps to prevent genital but not oral infection? Why don't we kiss through dental dams ?

"It's ironic, isn't it?" says Wald. "It's not about health, it's about social acceptability."

from

http://www.herpes.com/hsv1-2.html

There is plenty more out there including a number of herpes forums where you can get accurate information, and support, from people who have it.

Many herpes sufferers aren't aware there are now drugs that can control the severity of outbreaks, lessen their frequency and reduce the amount of viral shedding when you're not actively symptomatic. Shame prevents many people from taking care of themselves and their partners.

Knowledge is power. Power doesn't lead to happiness, but it's useful stuff.





listning to normal sounds of life, still letting my brain recover from too much noise.

Blog Journalism | Cartoon Lust

Internet bloggers will be allowed to cover the criminal trial of former White House staffer Lewis "Scooter" Libby alongside reporters from traditional media outlets, a court spokesman has confirmed.

The arrangement is believed to be a first for a high-profile court case, although trade shows and political conventions have issued media passes to bloggers in the past several years.

more here

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10419169

===

I confess to lusting over 'nique from Sinfest. Was talking about this with Felyne.

One thing about art characters. They are always perfect. They never sweat, fart, leave their socks on the floor or get moody. (Except as far as their character normally does.) The perfect partner... a fantasy one. There's a lot to be said for that, given my sad love life over the last few years.



listening to Minuit | Claire

I Want To Draw You Like An Animal

So, Felyne alerted me to this


[Click to see it larger; Note the byline in the 'toon title]

This led to a little creative editing of one of my fave NIN songs (which the wonderful Tatsuda Ishiya is obviously referencing):

You let me illustrate you
You let me innovate you
You let me-create you
You let me generate you

Help me
I broke apart my pastels
Help me
I’ve got no ink at all
Help me
The only thing that works for me
Help me get away from myself

I want to draw you like an animal
I want to paint you from the in-side out
I wanna touch you in your ink well
…My whole canvas is flawed

You get me closer to God

(apologies to Trent Reznor)



listening to LTJ Bukem Our World

Sex and Hell

(click to enlarge)

from the wonderful Sinfest http://www.sinfest.net Can't remember where i first saw Sinfest - possibly in LA at Hazey's?

Single women - man drought in New Zealand

Is it a myth? I thought so, but for anecdotal evidence, check this out

Single women ask 'Where have the good fellas gone?'
Sunday December 3, 2006
By Jane Phare



Reannan Tyson is already lamenting the man drought - and she's only 22.

The MAC make-up artist, who turns heads when she poses for a photo in Auckland's Chancery courtyard, puts it in plain language.

"There are just no guys around. There's a definite drought."

The shortage of decent men to date is one of the most popular topics among the dozen women who work with Tyson. Eighty per cent of them are single, and they have all noticed the shortage of men.

"And they're all gorgeous, they're all smart," she says.

Tyson's ideal date would be in his late 20s or 30s, smack in the middle of the worst age group for the man drought. She admits she is picky. Many New Zealand men lacked style and confidence, she said. They weren't ambitious and didn't set goals.

And what else?

"They need to have good taste in music ... and shoes. They have to have the whole package, and they rarely do."

Forty-year-old Maree, a researcher, remembers being picky in her 20s. Now she looks at women in that age group and wants to advise them, "If you find someone, go for it. Don't muck about. Get in quick".

While Maree is now dating, she spent many years as a single woman hoping for Mr Right. The lack of eligible men was "a huge issue", she said.

"When I was young and in my 20s, I never thought I would end up like this. I always thought that finding the right person was only a couple of years away. Now I look back and wonder how I got to this point without meeting that person."

Maree and her many single girlfriends in their late 30s and early 40s have all noticed the shortage of eligible men.

"A lot of my single girlfriends are really beautiful, intelligent girls, nothing wrong with them. But they just can't find a man. [The men are] all taken or else total geeks."

Maree is currently dating a divorced man, something she had vowed she would not do when she was in her 20s.

"It's a terrible thing to say, but divorced men are a good thing. For us single older women, we'd be history if it wasn't for marriage breakups and divorced men, because there would be none there."

And foremost in many women's minds are their biological clocks. Says Maree: "Losing the chance of having children was a bigger deal for me than finding a man because I have a biological clock. I can still fall in love when I'm 50, but I can't have a child when I'm 50."

I was about to comment unkindly about the quality of single women out there, but will restrain my harsh tongue ;-)

===

Addendum:

Apparently her friends are "really beautiful, intelligent girls". I think the interviewees' (admittedly) picky stance betrays them. They'll be too busy checking the man's shoes to see if they match to notice if he's a nice guy. And don't they know "Blessed are the geek, for they shall inherit the earth"? Bill Gates - "Be nice to nerds. You never know, one day you may be employed by one."



listening to Buzzcocks : Orgasm Addict

Bad Sex Awards

Someting us aspiring writers can aspire to

Writers put brave face on bad sex awards
LONDON (Reuters) - There cannot be much good in bad sex, unless maybe it wins you a prize.

Two authors put on a brave face at being recognised for one of literatures most dubious accolades -- the Bad Sex in Fiction Award -- in a ceremony at In & Out Club in upmarket St. James's Square late on Wednesday.

The prize was presented by American singer Courtney Love.

What organisers call Britain's "most dreaded literary prize" went to first time novelist Iain Hollingshead and "Twentysomething" for the "passage considered to be the most redundant in an otherwise excellent novel"...

Past nominees and winners have included Irvine Welsh, Tom Wolfe and Sebastian Faulks.

more at http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=1778852006


giving my brain a rest from loud music, headache coming on from too much sugar and wearing headphones

Paris Hilton Sex Tape Number 3 But...

Sex tapes no match for geeks in viral video stakes
article Wednesday November 29, 2006

Sex may sell, but geeks embarrassing themselves is the order of the day when it comes to viral videos.

American company The Viral Company has compiled a list of the top ten viral videos with some surprising results.

Paris Hilton's sex tape and Kylie Minogue's revealing Agent Provocateur advertisement both made the top five, but it was a Star Wars wannabe and a lip-synching nerd who claimed the top two spots.

With an estimated 900 million views, Canadian high school student Ghyslain Raza, aka Star Wars kid, topped the list with a video of him attempting to master the art of the jedi - using a golfball retriever as a stand in light sabre.

Best known as the 'Numa Numa' dance, 19-year-old Gary Brolsma's enthusiastic lip-synch and dance to Dragostea Din Tea, by Romanian pop band O-Zone, came in at number two with 700 million views.

Paris Hilton's infamous sex tape rounded out the top three videos with 400 million views, closely followed by Kylie Minogue's lingerie-clad romp on a mechanical bull, at 360 million views.

Check out the top ten videos below. No, we haven't linked to Hilton's sex tape but if you're one of the three people out there who hasn't seen it, one word: Google.

Warning: *** indicates viewer discrection advised

Top Ten Viral Videos:

1) Star Wars Kid (900 million)
2) Numa Numa (700 million)
3) One Night In Paris (400 million)
4) Kylie Minogue for Agent Provocateur*** (360 million)
5) The Exploding Whale (350 million)
6) John West ad (300 million)
7) Trojan Games ad***(300 million)
8) Kolla2001 (200 million)
9) AfroNinja (80 million)
10) Shining Redux (50 million)

- NZHERALD STAFF

PS: I'm one of the three people who hasn't seen Paris doing the wild thing. Thank God.

listening to Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds | Stagger Lee