Posts by Joan Price
Adventures with Passionate U/ Kink Academy
“I own the sex-education websites PassionateU.com and KinkAcademy.com,” began the email from Kali, “and I would love to feature you as an educator with a focus on sex & aging.” Kali went on to explain that she and her crew were coming to San Francisco to film several sex educators, and she hoped I would agree to a two- to three-hour video shoot.
I was nervous about the photo shoot. I’m very comfortable talking for a few hours about the different sexual challenges that face us as we age and offering the solutions I’ve learned from the experts in Naked at Our Age–but would my respectful style be right for this edgy, explicit site?
It turns out we were a perfect match. Kali and her videographer, Gray, made me feel comfortable right away and were so enthusiastic about my work that I felt like Queen of the World. Three hours flew by as I discussed topics such as lack of desire, unreliable erections, safer sex, the importance of self-pleasuring, sex toys, and more. My video clips will be available at PassionateU soon. For now, watch this one.
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| This screen shot doesn’t really play. To view the video, click here. |
What is Passionate U about? As the “About Us” section explains,
This is not the “sex education” you received in junior high!
You’ve grown up and so should your sex ed!
PassionateU provides authentic and straight-forward sexuality instruction for consenting (and adventurous) individuals looking to take their sexual knowledge further. Curious adults seeking to explore their fantasies come to PU to learn from experts who are passionate about helping you to improve your sex life!
Firstly, all the basics will be covered; How to put a condom on, positive sexual vocabulary, communication for partners, and so forth. After you’ve got all of that down, we get to REALLY spice up the curriculum by showing you lessons on erotic spanking, dirty talk and much, much more!
How are the two sites different? Both offer grown-up sex ed through graphic video clips. Passionate U is the tamer of the two, offering topics such as how to put on a condom properly, foot fetish, breast worship, comfortable positions for cunnilingus, and cleaning a silicone dildo. But it pushes the edges of “tame” with instructional videos on vaginal fisting, cock slapping, and more. Sometimes the educators are clothed talking heads; other times they’re nude, demonstrating (often with an assistant) the techniques they’re teaching.
Kink Academy is, as the name implies, the kinky site — bondage “how-to”s, whips, caning, collars, you get the picture. If you’re into or interested in kinky sex play, here’s where you can learn all about it through graphic, instructional videos. As the site explains,
Kink Academy is the Web’s leading resource for adult sexuality education in BDSM, polyamory, fetish, kink, swinging, and other sexual expressions that are commonly overlooked even in sex-positive educational materials. Our belief is that sexuality is a creative outlet that goes far beyond a few humdrum maneuvers in the bedroom, and that all safe and consensual interests are and worthy of validation.
Best Valentine’s Gift – Cost: $0; Value: Immeasurable
If you’re lucky enough to have a loved one with you today, here’s the best Valentine’s Gift you can give: Write him or her a love letter. Describe the reasons you love this person, recall some special memories. Your loved one will treasure your letter always.
In May 2008, Robert and I were approaching our second wedding anniversary. (We were together 7 years, but married only 2.). We knew it would be the last we would spend together because of the progression of his cancer.
He asked, “What can I give you for our anniversary?”
“A love letter,” I told him.
He did, and it’s one of my most treasured gifts. I’ve read it over and over, and I’m reading it again today on Valentine’s Day.
We-Wibe Touch, Tango, and Salsa: Small and Sweet!
We-Wibe doesn’t just make vibrators for couples, I’ve discovered. I’m really enjoying the three new We-Wibe vibrators for solo play that Kama Sutra Closet sent me:
- The We-Vibe Tango is a tiny (3″x 5/8″) lipstick-shaped vibrator, fine for clitoral or vaginal pleasure.
- The We-Vibe Salsa is a tiny (3″x 5/8″) rocket-shaped vibrator, fine for clitoral or vaginal pleasure.
- The We-Vibe Touch is a palm-sized (4″ x 1.8″ x 1.2″) clitoral vibrator, shaped to cup the vulva.
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| We-Vibe Tango |
The difference between the Tango and the Salsa is the shape — would you rather have a flat area against your clitoris, or a narrow tip?
Though I liked the lipstick shape better, I found that it was hard to keep it from rolling around (thus moving the flat part away), especially when it and my fingers were coated with lube.
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| We-Wibe Salsa |
Internally, they act similar to a bullet vibrator, though slim and longer than the usual bullet. There’s no pull-string, but as long as the vibrations are still going, it will shoot right out if you stop clenching and push a little. (In fact, it will shoot right out if you’re not careful to clench or push with a finger!)
Do not, however, insert these little toys anally, because they don’t have a flange base and can indeed get stuck inside. You don’t want to be the emergency room doctor’s next story about what he had to remove from someone’s rectum.
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| We-Vibe Touch |
The Touch is for external use only, and it’s my favorite of the three — although I wish (oh, there she goes again…) the vibrations were stronger. I like that it’s a little rubbery and flexible rather than really hard. The shape is lovely — just tuck it where it fits over clitoris and parts of the vulva, and let it work its magic.
All three together are small enough to fit in a hand, and lightweight enough to be your special travel buddies. They’re discreet and quiet for solo pleasure, even if someone is in the next room. They’re also small enough to fit between bodies during sex with a partner, if you need extra clitoral stimulation, as many of us do.
Despite their tiny size, they pack quite a strong vibrational punch. Each has four intensities for steady vibration plus four different pulsing patterns. You just push the soft button at the end, and vibrations change — no dials or complicated controls. (Personally, I just turn it up to the strongest, steady vibration and enjoy, but many people really like the pattern options.) Push and hold, and it turns off. Easy–except when the vibrator and your fingers are lubed, when it’s apt to skitter out of your hand and across the bed. Capture it with a washcloth, or — better — get the washcloth ready first!
These We-Vibe playmates are completely waterproof, so you can get your enjoyment in the shower or tub! They’re made of body-safe materials: the Tango and Salsa are PC-ABS thermoplastic, and the Touch is medical-grade platinum silicone. All are eco-friendly, carbon-neutral in their manufacturing and distribution. They even come with a storage pouch, which I always appreciate.
Rechargeable, they fasten magnetically to a cute charging bulb, and in less than 90 minutes, they’re recharged enough to go for two hours.
Thank you, Kama Sutra Closet, for sending me these dear little vibes to review! I’ll be tucking them in my suitcase next trip!
The Hitachi Magic Wand: guest review by David M. Pittle, Ph.D.
male readers, and I’m thrilled when men as well as women fill the room at my
talks and workshops. But how do I, a woman, review a sex toy for men?
sex-positive man of our age to review it – a man like David Pittle.
himself as a therapist in San Rafael, CA, saying that he has been buying copies
of Naked at Our Age for his clients. Since then, he has attended several of my
events, and we’ve had many lively and honest conversations about sex and aging.
When he told me that the Hitachi Magic Wand is his favorite sex toy, I invited
him to write a review from his male perspective. Lucky for us, he was happy to
oblige. Here it is:
which is bisexual is the magnificent and venerable Hitachi Magic Wand.
The Magic Wand has beenaround for over 30 years in several constantly improving versions. The current Hitachi
Magic Wand HV250R is a vibrator that can wake up your libido no matter how
jaded you might be.
some of us have more difficulty getting a good erection. For many men that’s
enough of a put-off that we quit trying. It can be embarrassing and
disappointing. It is easy to begin to forget the joy of sex. But on a health
level, getting off is important. A large, recent study, published in the
Journal of the American Medical Association (April 2004), showed that men who
have an active sex life–twenty or more times per month–were about one-third
less likely to develop prostate cancer. Of course sex for its own sake is
worthwhile.
vibrator? “If I don’t have a partner, I always have the natural vibrator, my
hand,” many men say. And while that is true, it’s like saying that just because
I like spaghetti, I can’t also enjoy a baked potato with my meal. Variety is
the spice of life and a good vibrator is very spicy indeed.
large, about 12.5 inches in length. It resembles nothing so much as an old World
War I potato masher hand grenade. Like a hand grenade, when it goes off, it
provides a very big bang. The business end is 2.25 inches across, with a
shallow v-slot that will hold your penis even in its flaccid state, and keeps
it captured as you get hard. With two different speeds—L(ow) provides a
relatively gentle ride and H(igh) gives a powerful, “let’s get going now” experience—the
Magic Wand handles all the needs for most men.
recommend the Magic Wand, ostensibly for massaging back and shoulder muscles.
But that size makes it perfect for massaging a man’s testicles and perineum,
the area between the anus and the testicles, an area which is very erotically
sensitive.
is that the head is easy to clean, as every sex toy should be, though not
immersible and not for use in the tub or shower. The Magic Wand is corded and
must be plugged into a wall socket. It is perfectly safe electrically when used
in bed or other dry environments, but obviously one would not use it in the
water any more than a hair dryer.
may be useful to some men, though I haven’t felt the need for it, is a variable
speed controller. It can slow down the
Magic Wand, if even the Low speed is too much, but I notice that reviews are generally
not positive. If it isn’t needed, save the money and get a vibrator that is
less intense.
the sex toys specifically designed for men, but I always come back to my MagicWand!
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| David Pittle |
his clients are age 50-80, when good sex is important, and dissatisfaction may
lead to loss of shared intimacy that can threaten the total relationship. David
specializes in helping women who are not experiencing sexual satisfaction and
men with non-medical and medically-related erectile dysfunction or other
issues. Visit his website here.
Note from Joan: Please see my other vibrator reviews by clicking here. Keep scrolling down — there are many! I love to hear from you and welcome your comments about any sex toys reviewed here, because our experiences are all different, and your experience will help other readers decide which toy is right for them. (However, if you’re a sex toy retailer, I don’t permit links that compete with the retailers I endorse — spammy, highjacking comments and links won’t see the light of day.)