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” data-medium-file=”” data-large-file=”” class=”alignright size-medium wp-image-60374″ src=”http://ift.tt/2t9MgVO” alt=”Elyse Watches The Bachelorette with Kraken Rum and Coke with a big rose at the bottom” width=”300″ height=”251″/>After a week long hiatus (and a long Monday at work) I’m lounging in my AC and looking forward to some reality TV. I have a rum and coke. I have pizza. I’m wearing Wonder Woman shorts. Life is good.
Last week Rachel dismissed a whole bunch of dudes meaning only six contenders are left. I only remember two names: Peter and Eric. The rest is a rum-fueled blur. Rachel needs to narrow the dudes down to four contestants for the hometown dates (and because Chris Harrison requires two more sacrifices to walk in daylight).
It’s worth pointing out that by this point in filming, everyone is exhausted and sharing the same viral infection from all the kissing. I predict tears at some point.
I do remember that Lee, and the parakeet who lives in his hair (Mr. Tweeters), were sent home. Kenny also left, but after coming to an agreement with Rachel that he needed to be with his daughter.
And now, on with the show!
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<p>Since time immemorial, religious scholars, doctors, and laypeople alike have debated the subject of masturbation. As children, we are taught not to masturbate, and as it is a dirty and evil thing to do.</p>
<p>Both men and women feel ashamed and only starting in the 1960s did we begin examining our stance on our sexuality and the role of masturbation plays in it. However, there is one question that is being asked, even today. “Is masturbation good for you or not.”</p>
<p>Today, we are going to answer this question for you, and you will learn a few things about masturbation and the biological imperatives and drives that are behind our need for sex in some other manner than just for procreation. We will look at not only masturbation but what is the difference and benefits between what is considered normal intercourse as well.</p>
<h3><strong>How often can you masturbate daily safely?</strong></h3>
<p>Boils down to your libido, testosterone levels, and most importantly, how do you feel afterward. Because the only criteria that can be found by all the experts are whether or not the amount of masturbation you are doing feels good or whether you feel miserable afterward. In this instance, masturbation is not a good thing.</p>
<p><strong>The experts also say masturbation is a natural function and there is nothing evil about doing it.</strong></p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-7852" src="http://ift.tt/2tDPBA0; alt="To Masturbate or not to Masturbate, that is the question." width="1500" height="752" srcset="http://ift.tt/2t9zV4e 1500w, http://ift.tt/2tEfQpY 300w, http://ift.tt/2t9Mhck 768w, http://ift.tt/2tEec82 1024w, http://ift.tt/2t9OFQu 600w, http://ift.tt/2tEdPKJ 696w, http://ift.tt/2ta4C9m 1068w, http://ift.tt/2tE1YMw 838w, http://ift.tt/2u4dWx5 560w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px"/></p>
<p>In the wild, monkeys and the great apes often masturbate 3 to 10 times a day. This is even when females are in heat and readily available. It is only social custom, society’s norms, and religious beliefs that want to control your Sexual activities.</p>
<p>This controlling of sex as a means to get you to fit into their niche that they want to conform to, remember two of the founders of major religions only had strictures put on sex by the people who came after them and organized their religion’s structure. This allowed them to make people feel guilty about a normal biological function.</p>
<h3><strong>Is there a difference between masturbation and regular intercourse?</strong></h3>
<p>Surprisingly there is. In normal intercourse, certain endorphins and other brain chemicals are released into the bloodstream.</p>
<p>During masturbation, however, many of these chemicals are not released, and even the semen takes on a different structure. So, some mechanism within the brain and body knows the difference between masturbation and regular intercourse.</p>
<p>The amount of semen released during masturbation is less than the amount of semen released if you have not had sex with your partner for two or more months before intercourse.</p>
<p>Again, the semen changes its structure, and particular sperm cells change into what we would call “Blockers” that seem to be like soldiers looking for other sperm cells and home in on them like drones to attack them. This is all been well documented in the book entitled, “Sperm Wars” by Robin Baker. Somehow there is a biochemical message being sent that not only knows how long it’s been since intercourse was last held, and based on this timing assumes that the female may have had intercourse between sessions.</p>
<p>The male produces much more sperm than if intercourse occurs with more frequency. This is sort of like topping off the gas in your automobile. The longer between sessions means that the female may have had other partners.</p>
<p>During masturbation, however, the activities mentioned above do not take place. Instead, the amount of sperm released is reduced to only a tablespoon or two. It’s as if the body was saving itself for actual intercourse.</p>
<h2><strong>What about female masturbation?</strong></h2>
<p>Women require much more stimulation than the male. A man can ejaculate merely by imagining a female while touching oneself. Women are stimulated more and aroused with certain physical attributes during certain times of their monthly cycle, and during the period just before ovulation, masturbation takes on an entirely different character. The desire for masturbation seems to be put on hold, and the subconscious mind seems to take over and cause the female to seek actual intercourse in place of masturbation. In this instance, certain masculine attributes are sought out to create the best genetic offspring. Some experts believe up to 30% of children born in America are the result of this. It often happens without the female’s conscious control, and perhaps that is why humankind has such a fixation on keeping one’s mate or partner close by. This flies in the face of conventional wisdom is that humanity is immune to subconscious urges, as we have become more civilized.</p>
<p><strong>The female can have just as high a libido as the male but in American society.</strong></p>
<p>The man is considered to be the sexual aggressor, and when a woman takes on the role, she is viewed differently.</p>
<p>In Asian societies, masturbation within the female community is an accepted way of dealing with these urges while in America…</p>
<p>American women are taught to be ashamed of their bodies and their needs.</p>
<p>This is foisted on the female by not only religious organizations but also male dominated society in general. In addition, masturbation is from the as it allows them to take control of their own needs and desires without the permission of a male.</p>
<p>This, of course, is one of the major hot buttons between male and female interactions within societies throughout the world.</p>
<p><strong>The Bottom Line</strong></p>
<p>While masturbation doesn’t give the same benefits of regular intercourse, health wise. It is still an important way to alleviate stress, promote positive well-being, and provides a healthy way of filling one’s needs. The only negatives are, if masturbation is taken to excess to the point where physical damage to the person who is masturbating occurs, leads to violence and antisocial behaviors, and in some way violates the rights of others.</p>
<p>However, in certain countries, masturbation is considered illegal and is a punishable offense. In extreme totalitarian regimes, it can even result in death. In most all other circumstances, masturbation is harmless and is an acceptable alternative to straight intercourse.</p>
<p>This is also far safer as with the number of STDs, and the spread of AIDS can make ordinary intercourse dangerous.</p>
<p>Therefore, with the negatives aside, Masturbation is not as good as straight sex. However, you won’t go blind, and the amount of masturbation, you do in a given time, should only be governed by your lifestyle and whether or not you’re feeling good about yourself afterward.</p>
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This week everyone goes to Geneva, Switzerland. Rachel shows up in the guys’ hotel room wearing the most amazing all-white slacks and sweater combo. I would have immediately spilled something down the front of me. She tells the dudes that there will be no Dreaded Rose Ceremony this week, instead there will be three one-on-ones followed by a group (three-on-one) date.
The first date goes to Bryan. They leave the hotel and walk up to a car that looks very, very expensive. It’s a Bentley. That’s the entire extent of my knowledge of cars. I don’t even know if my car is all wheel drive or…what’s the alternative? I just know when it makes that annoying rattling sound, you slam your fist on the center console.
After Bryan gets to drive the super fancy car (his penis grew three sizes that day!) they go shopping for luxury watches. They buy a his and hers set of watches that I’m pretty sure costs between $4000-$16,000. THANKS ABC!
While Rachel and Bryan sip champagne and make out in a garden, the next date card is delivered to the dudes back at the hotel. The next one-on-one goes to Dean. Dean wants to move forward with Rachel, but worries about the hometown dates because he doesn’t have a good relationship with his family.
Cut back to Bryan and Rachel’s date. They are sitting at a table with food they aren’t allowed to eat. Bryan tells Rachel that his last serious girlfriend wasn’t willing to compromise and broke up with him because of his mom–but doesn’t specify.
IT’S A NORMAN BATES SITUATION ISNT IT?!
Regardless, Rachel gives Bryan/Norman the date rose, guaranteeing that she will meet his family in Miami on the next episode.
The next day Rachel and Dean go on their one-on-one date. Rachel has previously said that her faith is very important to her, and she and Dean go to Mass in a beautiful cathedral. Then they dance in a cobblestone square while an organist plays. But that’s not the interesting part–the organ grinder has a super chill, long haired cat just napping next to him. Most. Relaxed. Cat. Ever.
I would have stopped the date to pet the cat, obviously.
Dean “I think I’m falling in love–”
Me “SHUT UP DEAN. I’M PETTING THE CAT.”
Meanwhile, Dean worries that his dysfunctional family dynamic will alienate Rachel. In a previous episode, Dean talked about how his family fractured after his mother’s death.
At brunch Rachel tries to pin Dean down on what he’s thinking.
“Talk to me about it, Dean. Tell me your feelings,” she says.
“Tell me your favorite dinosaur,” Dean replies.
I DID NOT MAKE THAT UP.
When faced with uncomfortable conversation, Dean immediately becomes ten-years-old.
“Do you believe in the tooth fairy?” he asks.
WTF DEAN?
For the record, my favorite dinosaur is Nick Viall
At dinner Rachel forces Dean to have a real conversation with her. He admits that he’s afraid for her to meet his family, especially his father who he describes as “eccentric” and “patriarchal.”
Rachel tells Dean that she doesn’t need his family to be perfect, and she gives him the date rose.
The next one-on-one date goes to Peter. If you’re counting (like Chris Harrison) we have two roses and four dudes left.
Peter and Rachel take a helicopter ride to the Alps. They land on Glacier 3000, where a dog sled is waiting for them.
The common wisdom for the last few years is that teens use YouTube as their primary conduit for music discovery and consumption. But Mark Mulligan and the MIDIA research team took a deep dive into new data and found a seismic shift underway.
It is still common to hear people talk about Millennials as if it is one amorphous group. In actual fact, Millennials are now 2 entirely distinct generations, not 1. In addition to the core Millennials we now have a new generation of younger consumers born on or around 2000. This is Generation Z, the ‘true Millennials’ if you like. MIDiA recently deep dived into the behaviours and characteristics of this group in a piece of research for the BPI and ERA. In it we explored technology and media trends for 0-11 year olds, 12-15 year olds and 16-19 year olds. You can download the full report here. I’m going to deep dive into 1 key idea here: YouTube vs Spotify.
YouTube emerges as the dominant theme throughout all of the age groups of Gen Z, as both a social and an entertainment platform. And of course, as a music platform. Indeed, a staggering 94% of UK 16-19 year olds use YouTube monthly, even among 12-15 year olds the rate is 87%. But it is not just music that people are using YouTube for, indeed it is only by the time Gen Z gets to late teens that music becomes the most widely penetrated content watched on YouTube (to be clear, that is not the same as saying the most frequently watched or most time spent). YouTube is the world’s most widely used music app and its reach among younger audiences is clear to all.
All of which makes the next finding all the more remarkable: Spotify has overtaken YouTube as the primary music app for 16-19 year olds in the UK. In December 2016, 53% of UK 16-19 year olds used Spotify weekly compared to 47% for YouTube. As the chart shows, no other streaming service, paid or free, comes anywhere close to Spotify and YouTube. Of the countries we surveyed in this piece of research (US, Canada, Australia and UK) it is only in the UK that Spotify is ahead of YouTube and, crucially, only in this age group.
An Aspirational Youth Brand
So, what’s going on here? Spotify has become an aspirational brand for Gen Z. It has, for teens, become a byword for streaming in the same way the iPod became synonymous with the MP3s and Netflix has with streaming video. Spotify is not exactly an old brand but neither has it been a youth brand, instead prospering within its core demographic of 25-34 year olds. Now a new generation of youth, many of which were only just starting school when Spotify first launched, have seized the brand as their own.
I recall a meeting with the strategy team of one of the world’s biggest consumer electronic companies in the mid 2000s when the iPod was reaching its apogee. The team explained that they knew there was nothing they could do to compete with the iPod because it had become an aspirational brand, with an appeal so strong that it didn’t matter whether other products were better or cheaper, the iPod was the brand people wanted to be associated with. This company had done its homework and knew exactly how the trend was playing out because it had benefited from the exact same effect for the previous 2 decades.
Teens Have Made Spotify Their Own
It is hard to exaggerate the potential of this development. Teenagers have taken the Spotify brand and made it their own. Unless Spotify totally screws up somehow, which is unlikely, it has a platform for future growth that could make its current success simply look like the warm up act. Although the UK is the only one of the 4 markets in this study where Spotify has taken the lead, it is on track to do the same in the 3 other English speaking markets surveyed. And it has also taken the lead in other markets we track: Sweden (where national sentiment plays a major role) and Germany (where YouTube offers a much more restricted music range due to rights issues).
And Spotify’s Lead Is Growing Further Still
But there’s more… In a more recent survey in the UK that we fielded in March, the lead extended even further. Now 71% (yes, 71%!) of 16-19 year olds are using Spotify weekly, though YouTube is also up slightly to 52%. Our June survey is in the field now, so watch this space for an update on Spotify’s progress. It could potentially break the 80% mark.
Now to be clear, 71% of 16-19 year olds using Spotify weekly does not mean that anything like that share is actually paying for it. Most are streaming for free while some are on family plans and others are on the half-priced student plan. But even with that caveat, the scale of adoption is inarguable. While the music industry has been locked in an existential angst over the perceived YouTube ‘value gap’, Spotify has created the best possible riposte for rights holders and creators.
As Spotify edges towards its overdue public listing, it now has the evidence of foundations for truly sizeable future growth. The future is bright, bright green.
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Fun fact, sled dogs poop while pulling the sled so you’ve got frozen little turdlets hitting you while you mush. Sorry to ruin the mood. Don’t breathe through your mouth, guys.
While the dogs take a break, Rachel and Peter sit on the glacier and have a Very Serious Conversation, which is hilarious because both are clearly miserable and freezing. Rachel bounces up and down, squeezing her eyes closed. Peter’s hair is legit freezing white.
During dinner, Peter admits that he’s never dated a black woman, let alone brought one home. He also says that his last relationship ended in part because of his family, although, again, he doesn’t elaborate.
He says he “loved” his last girlfriend but “couldn’t give all of [his] love” to her. WTF does that even mean? Did you have a love obstruction? A blockage of some kind? It isn’t a finite thing.
Rachel tells Peter that she wants them to go deeper–THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID–and gives Peter the rose.
That means Adam, Eric, and The Guy Whose Name I Forgot have to compete for the final rose.
Eric, Adam, and The Guy Whose Name I Forgot go with Rachel on a boat ride to France. Adam talks about the differences between the words “challenging” and “difficult” and everyone falls asleep for a minute.
Rachel talks privately with Eric and confesses that part of the process…sorry JOURNEY of being The Bachelorette is being selfish, something she isn’t comfortable with. Eric tells her she has the right to be selfish with such an important choice.
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Rachel tells The Guy Whose Name I Forgot that he reminds her the most of herself. She starts crying as she tells him that their relationship hasn’t progressed as far as the other dudes.
“I hate to say goodbye to you like this,” she sobs.
That means we’re down to Eric, Adam, and one final rose. Somewhere Chris Harrison is cackling and tapping his fingertips together.
Rachel sobs while…that one guy leaves
Next up Adam and Eric sit down to the world’s awkwardest dinner with Rachel. Adam reminds Rachel of all their wonderful times together “like the mud wrestling date.” Ah, sweet memories.
When Rachel talks to Eric privately, he tells her that she’d be the first woman he’s ever brought home. He also talks about how he grew up in Baltimore and how it tough it was. He grew up around drugs and abuse and poverty.
“Seeing healthy relationships is not something that’s common to me,” Eric tells her. “I use positivity to cover up my pain.”
“Who helps Eric?” she asks him.
“That’s why I’m here,” he says.
While sitting at a tiny table looking at cheesecake they can’t eat, Rachel tells Adam and Eric that this decision is really hard for her. She ultimately dismisses Adam, giving Eric the rose.
“This fucking sucks,” Adam says as he’s chauffeured away.
And that’s where the episode ends. Are you still watching? What do you think of the final four?
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Here at The FADER, we strongly believe that if you love someone, you should be honest with them. So, ahead of the Fourth of July — that gloriously rambunctious celebration of all that is good about the U.S.A. — we asked some real Americans how they really feel about their national identity. That included folks born here and now living abroad, folks naturalized under both Obama and Trump, and folks now applying for official citizenship. The answers are manifold, heartfelt and critical both. Ultimately, they display a faith, or at the very least a desire for faith.
Happy Birthday, America. We still want to believe in you.
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Juan, bike share project manager
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I was born in Bogotá, Colombia. My family came to the states in 1990 on a tourist visa and we just overstayed it. Different members of my family were undocumented for different periods. My brother married an American woman and became a resident in ’94. He petitioned for my mom, and my mom petitioned for me. So the answer to “when did you apply for citizenship” is “as soon as I could,” but for me that meant 22 years.
I had felt American for a long time before that. But it was nice to get the document, and to have my family come to the ceremony. It was this big massive thing in San Antonio with thousands of people getting naturalized. They call out countries alphabetically. There weren’t that many Colombians. But half the room was Mexican. So they skipped Mexico. They went from, like, Lithuania to Nigeria. It was obvious that they were saving it for the end. And then when it got to the end, they called “Mexico,” and it was just, like, a <i>roar</i> of applause. It was spine-chilling.
Obama was the first presidential candidate whose life story resonated with me. I’m proud his signature is on my naturalization certificate and that I became a citizen in time to vote for his re-election. This rosy glow is undercut slightly by the Obama administration’s inability to pass comprehensive immigration reform and their harsh stance on deportation. Becoming a citizen in 2012 also meant acknowledging that nativism and xenophobia were on the rise, if not in number then at least in political power, and that as a result other immigrants like myself would suffer.
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My feelings about the Fourth of July have changed over time, not so much as a result of me becoming a citizen, but more with me growing older and having more complicated thoughts about nationalism in general. Obviously the American idea as a brand is not at its finest moment worldwide right now. But, like — the woman my brother married, she was born and raised in Boston, she’s from one of those old Boston families. We would spend the Fourth of July up in Maine on a boat eating lobster watching fireworks. It turned out, that was not some weird myth! That was actually my life!
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Pat, caretaker
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I moved here from Jamaica in 1995 because job-wise, financial-wise, medical-wise it was more affordable than my country. I’m studying for the citizenship test now. Being a citizen, you have more access to things, and you’re entitled to more — like if you apply for programs. It’s a big asset. I do appreciate being here. I’ve been thinking about [getting my citizenship] for 5 years now. I wasn’t going to do it, but then I said, I think I should. It will be much better for me once I get it. Once I have U.S. citizenship I can work anywhere. It’s such a good thing.
I for sure already think of myself as an American, and other people think of me as American. As for Donald Trump, I overlook that part and just look at the good side. If it was he alone [in this country], I wouldn’t get my citizenship. But I’ll still be doing it, whoever’s in office. It doesn’t make a difference to me. And I know it will be different soon.
For July 4th, my friends have barbecues and stuff. I celebrate with them, just like if I was in my country. We can see the fireworks from where we live. I do the same things, respect each holiday. People fought for this country.
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Asi, video game designer
I moved to Pittsburgh in 2004 because I went to study at Carnegie Mellon. I got really excited about my studies, because video games and entertainment is much more developed here than in Israel. [My wife] Britta had just come to Carnegie Mellon from Germany for a semester. And we met and decided to make the U.S. our home.
At Carnegie Mellon, I did a project around the Middle East peace process and video games, and I started a company around it. Someone told me that I am doing something that is special enough that I should go for a special Green Card application. We made a case that what I’m doing is in the national interest of the United States. Once you’ve got a Green Card, you need to wait 5 years. So I waited 5 years.
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I was very proud to become an American on June 19, 2015. With what has happened [with Trump], it would be very, very different [to get U.S. citizenship now]. I would still do it, for sure. No question. And even with everything that’s happened to us in the last year or two, I feel more American than Israeli because I feel some reservations about the direction that Israel is going. In Israel we lost this idea that government can change. They don’t have really checks and balances, and it’s going more and more in a direction where they limit the right to protest.
Look, here, you need to speak English, you need to do certain things. There’s always people who seem more American because they grew up here, after three generations. But it’s not so nationalistic here. It’s very different than Israel, or Europe. You know? French are French. It’s very hard to be “French” when you didn’t grow up in that country — you’ll always be different. I go on the subway and see people of 10 different nationalities. I see how people can succeed here, people that came from my country, from other countries. That’s what I appreciate most about it. You could be ‘American’ and come from any place.
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Linsey, freelance designer
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I moved to Mexico City a few days after the inauguration. My friends would joke that I moved because of Trump, but I had plans to move before Trump. I’m not proud to be an American citizen right now at this time, but I felt kind of bad leaving, actually. I felt like all my friends are protesting, and I’m just running off to Mexico. But it’s not like I don’t get a opportunity to be involved in discussions here. When I first got here everyone wanted to know what was going on and how people felt and did I know anyone that voted for <i>Trump</i>? That’s still a question that I get all the time. Which I do, of course I do, we all do — we all have family.
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[When I moved,] I did it with a regular travel visa — you can have six months as a U.S. citizen, and evidently you can leave and come back. But I was in New York for about a month working in May and three weeks ago, I came back and got rejected at the airport. I had to spend the night in a holding cell. Because I had so many entrances and exits in the past two years, they were like, “You’re living here, you’re working here, you have to go back and get a visa.”
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[Being detained] was shitty: we didn’t have any water, they didn’t give anyone food until we had a flight because the airlines are the ones that supply your dinner, and some people didn’t get flights until 10 hours after they got in. [Eventually,] they sent me back to Texas for some reason. Standing in that customs line on the way back in and watching what goes down with the customs officer and how nervous people are stepping up to that desk, it’s something I’ve never had to go through. I’ve never, ever been nervous that I wasn’t going to get let in. The experience was valuable in that way because that is a privilege that we have as Americans and now I get it a little more. It’s totally anxiety-inducing. If I feel that, I can’t imagine what people coming to the U.S. [feel] when it’s so much more strict.
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When I talk with people about [Trump and America] here, they’re like, look at our government, it’s so corrupt and so disorganized, at least the U.S. does this, this, and this. I get it, nowhere is ideal, but I think it’s harder to accept it when it’s a place that you grew up in.
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I don’t think [I’ll live in America] for five, ten years. I don’t see it on the horizon. I know when I come back I’ll be in New York because New York, to me, feels so much more inclusive than the rest of America.
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My sister is coming from the U.S. to visit me [this weekend] so I’m going to be with her, but there will be no mention of 4th of July. [When I was younger] we always made red, white, and blue cupcakes, but it wasn’t really about American pride. It was always just another holiday, a day off work and an excuse to drink.
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Warren, concierge/
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I grew up in Stoke-on-Trent, about 20 miles south of Manchester, right in the heart of deindustrialized England. First moved here full time in 2010, but would do the 90 day visits before then. That’s the maximum you’re allowed to stay without a visa. On November 8th, 2016, I decided to apply for citizenship. I sent my application in the following morning.
After witnessing the pantomime that unfolded over the previous months result in President Trump I just remember feeling a little helpless and that in order for my opinion to count I needed to be able to vote next time around. I can’t imagine I’ll be framing my “Welcome to America” letter signed “President Trump” though. Not really the kind of thing I would hang above the mantel piece, personally.
I probably knew about Fourth of July first from a film, maybe the classic What About Bob? Then it just seemed like an excuse to blow off fireworks. I first celebrated a Fourth in 2009. A crew of us convoyed out to Fire Island. To be perfectly honest, the patriotic elements of the occasion were never once brought up in conversation. It was a great time though.
America’s relationship with its flag is really funny to me. A huge amount of importance is put on showing respect to the flag, something I became more aware of in particular throughout the whole naturalization process. Yet Star Spangled thong bikinis and beer helmets and the like are absolutely everywhere! Seems kind of hypocritical. You must pledge your allegiance to this, but also it’s totally fine to have a jockstrap made of it too.
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” data-medium-file=”” data-large-file=”” class=”size-full wp-image-62341″ src=”http://ift.tt/2tEfT58″ alt=”A close up of my cat sound asleep, The Bachelorette on in the background” width=”480″ height=”640″ srcset=”http://ift.tt/2tEfT58 480w, http://ift.tt/2t9vLt9 113w, http://ift.tt/2tDY0n3 225w, http://ift.tt/2t9OGnB 100w, http://ift.tt/2tDTXHB 150w, http://ift.tt/2t9Y7U0 250w” sizes=”(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px”/>Dewey is totally exhausted by The Bachelorette “journey.”
