- Airbnb unveiled its new logo, which you can see above, and the consensus on Twitter is that it looks like a vagina. I wonder if they’ll run into problems on Google AdWords, Facebook or Instagram. There’s already a Tumblr dedicated to illustrating the new Airbnb logo in compromising positions.
Everyone Thinks Airbnb’s New Logo Looks Like A Vagina (Except Airbnb) [Updated] (SFist)
- In a dramatic reversal from hardline policy created three years ago, Google — the most powerful controller of information and identity in human history — will now allow users to use any name they want across Google services. It only came after years of putting at-risk citizens of the world through hell. A better version of history’s conclusion would go like this.
Google reverses ‘real names’ policy, apologizes (ZDNet)
- A San Francisco finance manager was arrested — but is not facing serious charges — Tuesday after pretending to be a TSA officer and leading at least two female travelers to a private security screening room at SFO.
Private-Equity Exec Busted At SFO After Allegedly Impersonating TSA Agent, Luring Women To Screening Room [Updated] (SFist)
- In a new National Bureau of Economic Research paper, economists examine the six years when residents knew prostitution in Rhode Island wasn’t a crime. The decriminalization caused a steep decline in both forcible rape offenses and the incidence of gonorrhea.
Study: Rhode Island accidentally decriminalized prostitution, and good things happened (Vox)
- Edward Snowden said he witnessed “numerous instances” of NSA employees passing around nude photos that were intercepted “in the course of their daily work.”
Snowden: NSA employees routinely pass around intercepted nude photos (Ars Technica)
- In an interesting op-ed Danny Wylde writes, “…I’m starting to realize that condoms aren’t even the real issue. The porn industry has become an example of unsustainable business.”
Why One Porn Star Thinks the Industry Is Destroying Itself (Nerve)
- In a development a Michigan Department of Corrections spokesman said was “unprecedented,” four prison workers at Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility were fired for having inappropriate sexual contact with inmates inside a walk-in cooler.
4 Aramark prison workers caught in sexual romp with inmates, fired (FREEP)
- A Reddit thread asked married people how often they have sex. HuffPo separated the answers into three categories, based on how long the couples have been married. Some of the answers may surprise you.
This Is How Often Married People Are Having Sex (Huffington Post)
- The Warwick rowing team who made a ‘nude’ charity calendar had their pictures removed from Facebook and labelled as “explicitly sexual content” for breaching FB’s “strict policy against the sharing of pornographic content.” A Facebook spokesperson said the photos were removed “in error” and have since been reinstated. What a load of BS to go through; what about so many others less media-fortunate?
Naked female rowers in Facebook porn dispute after site removes their charity calendar pictures (Mirror UK)
- A Japanese artist who made figures of a kayak modeled on her vulva vowed a court fight against her obscenity charges. Speaking from jail on Wednesday, Megumi Igarashi said she was challenging a culture of “discrimination” against discussion of the vagina in Japanese society.
Japanese vagina selfie artist vows legal battle against obscenity charges (Guardian UK)
- A new study from Oregon State University researchers finds that young women who post sexy photos of themselves on social media are seen by their peers as less competent. The lead researcher of the study pointed out that women are essentially in a “no-win” situation when it comes to their social media accounts.
Science Confirms It’s Pretty Much Impossible For Women To Avoid Being Judged On Their Sexuality (Think Progress)
- Russia’s new obscenity law has created a problem in the movie industry. The law forbidding four swear words stipulates that films using these words will not receive a distribution certificate. This means every single public screening in Russia can only show films with a distribution certificate certifying they do not contain the four banned words.
Russia’s Obscenity Law Will Crush Independent Film (Moscow Times)
- Anyone concerned with freedom of information and expression should consider this: “(…) The company recently made waves for prohibiting adult material on its advertising network, AdWords. Now, it seems, Google has expanded its censorial policies and many are wondering just where the company will stop.”
Censored by google: what’s next? (lawofsex.wordpress.com)
- Tina Horn‘s great new sex podcast Why Are People Into That!? talks about all manner of sexual fetishes and practices, honestly interviewing actual practitioners.
Why Are People Into That? (whyarepeopleintothat.com)
- A federal bankruptcy judge on Thursday found former Girls Gone Wild mogul Joe Francis in civil contempt, imposing reimbursement of more than $40,000 in attorneys fees to a trustee and ordering $5,000-per-day sanctions for not returning two company vehicles.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Finds Joe Francis in Contempt (XBIZ)
- The new book Trans Bodies, Trans Selves is a collection of essays describing the varied experiences of transgender people — and the social, political and medical issues they face. It’s written by and for transgender and gender-nonconforming people.
‘Trans Bodies, Trans Selves’: A Modern Manual By And For Trans People (NPR)
RT @MaxineHolloway's favourite lesson #MrMark
"@Leatherbelle: I always loved tutorials with my favourite lecturer pic.twitter.com/PmoMoHtBeN"
— Maxine's Boss (@MaxinesBoss) July 19, 2014
