Dear Friedrich --

* I assume that almost everyone has enjoyed reading this excerpt from the new Jonathan Margolis book about orgasm. If not, don't miss it, here. Fun passage:

The nature of the female orgasm can now be seen in a new light: as a selective mechanism for women to choose mates not as an animal would - by body size, ferocity and aggressiveness - but by qualities such as intellect, sensitivity, kindness and popularity, plus not a little dexterity. No wonder Darwin said: "The power to charm the female has sometimes been more important than the power to conquer other males in battle."

So we sensitive males can rely on our charm, rather than our nonexistent alpha-impressiveness, to score a little nookie, eh? Good to hear! I guess it's inevitable that Margolis treats the male orgasm as no big mystery while he treats the female orgasm as something that requires a lot of ... well, thought. And attention. And scrutiny. (Link thanks to ALD, here.)

* This piece here in the Contra Costa Times reports that a recent Harris poll found that only 36% of unscheduled absences last year were actually illness-related. In other words, a lotta people who are calling in sick aren't really sick. Quel shockeroo.

Best,

Michael

Are you suggesting a link between these two phenomena?

Posted by: Friedrich von Blowhard on April 30, 2004 1:32 PM

FvB, happy employee equals productive employee.

Posted by: Tatyana on April 30, 2004 1:46 PM

There's a world of difference between what a woman is looking for in a lover and in a mate. Charm and sensitivity may go a long way in the first instance; but in the second, most women, whether they know it or not or admit it or not are looking for steadiness, reliability, a good provider.

Posted by: ricpic on April 30, 2004 2:48 PM

So I'll have to content myself with numerous fleeting, bittersweet affairs, then? Oh, well.

But yikes: don't tell The Wife, please.

Posted by: Michael Blowhard on April 30, 2004 2:53 PM

Geoffrey Miller's 2000 book updating Darwin's theory of sexual selection, "The Mating Mind," has much on the topic.

Steve

Posted by: Steve Sailer on April 30, 2004 5:12 PM






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