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This & That:
Our readers strike back, sexy reads, and more...
Happygrrls Loves Your Hate Mail
ROLL CALL
Who knew that a little article could stir so much animosity? I certainly never did, as I sat at my computer one lazy September afternoon, innocently typing away. The article in question is our Unhappy Grrl of the Month piece (Bizarro Issue, July 2003), in which we bestowed the aforementioned title upon R&B wunderkid Shawn Desman. If there was ever any doubt that Mr. Desman has any fans out there - and was there ever any? - it went out the window when they swarmed our inboxes with kind words of constructive criticism, like the following:
"wut the hell is up ur BUT?!?!?!?! shawns an AMAZING artist. Heez accomplished an unbelievable amount, and reps canada the best way possible...even if u dont like shawn, Y u gott be HATIN?? y dont u jus shut ur mouth and dont say a word, cuz hes a bettr person then u could EVER be…he aint the 1 whining, ur just pissed off and jealous that hes done so much with his life, and all u can do is grumble about an extremely talented, and hot artist. So u better watch ur mouth otherwise beware of a whole lotta other hating letters to whoever wrote that shit."
[Note: This person can spell "jealous" and "extremely" but not "he's" or "better".]
Of course Shawn Desman is talented. But talent is relative, and in such a fickle industry, it takes more than some gold chains and fancy footwork to last. And of course Shawn Desman can sing and dance better than me (does that make him a better person? That's up for debate), but then again, no one is paying me thousands of dollars to throw diva-like fits.
And as for the "hating letters," you can direct them to christine@happygrrls.com. There is a reason why our names are at the end of each article, you know.
Happygrrls would like to thank all the readers that spoke up regarding our scathing article. We do have a reputation for being opinionated, and as the name suggests, this means that once in a while we will impart our opinions onto you. We always encourage our readers to speak up and let us know what's on their minds, just like our reader did above.
Sexy Reads
Tired of reading the usual Harlequin novel? Then put that book down and check out Nancy Chan: Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl. Based on a fictional character created by writer Tracy Quan, Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl has it all: sex, mystery, romance, and sales at Prada. Nancy is a modern call girl that leads a dual life - a selfless friend and nurturing girlfriend by day, a seasoned hooker working from her books by night.A bi-weekly online series, Diary follows Nancy as she tries to keep her two best friends from killing each other, her boyfriend from finding out what she really does, and her best client from leaving his cufflinks behind at her place. And, of course, we also get a glimpse of Nancy's hectic call girl life, which includes a lot of leather and blush-inducing threesomes. If you want to read something smart, funny, and real, visit Salon for your booty call.
Love vs. Lust
Romantic attraction and feelings of love elevates our dopamineand serotonin levels - which are responsible for the giddy feelings and loss of appetite. In the attachment and long-term phase of falling in love, our bodies generate more oxytocin, which is dubbed the "hormone of love." Adultery is common in both sexes - 25% of men and 15% of women are doing it, although the numbers are declining. This phenomenon can be attributed to the freedom of divorce and marrying at a later stage in life. Most people spend less time being married and more time being single. Men are more inclined to have one-night stands (you don't say!), while women connect sex with love, romance, and intimacy. But surprisingly, men consider sex a more intimate act than women do - most likely as a result of evolution, and the notion that a woman allowing a man to sleep with her is like a gift. It is easier for a woman to find sexual partners. Men have ten times more testosterone in their early 20s, while women peak in their late 20s and early 30s. As they age, the testosterone level in men levels off, while women actually increase their level. Love is thought to have three stages: the infatuation stage, the bonding stage, and the familiar stage. In the infatuation stage, the person becomes enamored by the other person. It is considered the romantic stage and does not last long. In the bonding stage, the couple gets to know one another, and starts planning things around each other. In the familiar stage, the couple falls into a pattern and becomes involved in each other's lives. Surprisingly, it should also be a point of self-reflection. Experts think that this is the stage where true love emerges. ¤ C.Ho.