If you’ve been looking for a good source for non-latex condoms with non-spermicidal lubricant, try Shop in Private. They have a variety of other products as well. Yes, they sell questionable items (including herbal supplements), but they mostly seem not to claim that anything that’s bullshit isn’t bullshit. I’d feel better if they warned against using benzocaine for anal sex.

The thing I learned from the BBC’s obituary for the Jennicam (aside from the fact of Jennicam’s demise) is that Paypal doesn’t deal with anything having anything to do with sexuality (or even simple nudity). Sounds like a huge market opportunity.

At the Central Asian and Southern Caucasian Freedom of Expression Network, we have what appears to be a plea for sanity in blocking of suspected-pornographic websites by an Uzbek ISP. It’s interesting to see the same concerns raised in a former-Soviet republic as should be raised more frequently here. Also, the English is, well, challenging.

For those who are tired of upstart religions co-opting a sacred event, some Solstice celebration tips.

I’ve been wanting to do research into luck for a long time now, so I’m pleased that some wise guy (er, Prof Wiseman, I mean) has done it. It sounds like lucky people are less superstitious than I would have expected, and simply keep their eyes and minds open to opportunities. His results also indicate luck can be learned, if you can stand having a positive attitude all the time. Now I know I’ll win the Lotto.

In yet another opportunity for our readers to compose their own cheap jokes, those rascally researchers have more news on the mental health effects on men and women of relationships and marriage (highlights: women do best to avoid entanglements altogether; but once entangled, are happier with a ring. Men do best when co-habiting. More failed relationships are worse for everybody. Women take longer than men to get over a break-up). As with all "women be different from men" results, I wonder about the assumptions (beyond the apparent assumption that everybody’s straight). I suspect the actual study is more illuminating than popular press summaries.

The American Family Assn, an organization supporting religious political extremism, has a poll on one of its sites, asking people how they feel about gay marriage and/or civil unions. The URL is http://www.afa.net/petitions/marriagepoll.asp (not linked because I’d just as soon not show up in their referrer logs). As amusing as I find the notion of their promised report to Congress showing widespread support for extending the benefits of a state-sanctioned committed relationship, equal rights is not an issue that should be subject to popular opinion. Still, I voted (in favor of gay marriage), and I even used my real name.

In unsavory regional news, people are dumping their shit (and urine) on the side of the road. My favorite quote: "I don’t know what the answer is. People are getting more out of control."

From a friend of the Collective: Square Eyes, mostly movie reviews from a guy who sees a lot of movies (his slogan appears to be "I’m gonna watch it anyway. I’m sick like that. Why not let me tell you if it sucked?"). Rumor has it the blog will be moving away from TypePad at some point. The reviewer is more forgiving than I am (we’ve gone a number of rounds on how I shouldn’t have expected Spider-Man to do anything other than sit on my chest and poke me in the eyes), but the reviews are entertaining even if his threshold for suckage is different from mine.

We here at FP are in scarce company in our dislike of the first Spider-Man movie. I was optimistic about the second one when I learned that Gough and Millar (of Smallville) were writing it. Then I saw Birds of Prey and subsequent seasons of Smallville, and I was no longer so optimistic. But now I’ve seen the trailer for SM2 (return of the restraints), and damn it if I’m not optimistic again..