Inside the crowded lobby of Alice Tully Hall, a conspiratorial mood filled the room before and after the CFDA Awards ceremony. Celebrities like Sir Matthew Crawley (who cares what his real name is) and Jessica Chastain, mingled casually with editors like Jay Fielding and Cindi Leive. Megamodels like Karlie Kloss rubbed shoulders with fashion-world fixtures like Bergdorf's Linda Fargo and bloggers like the Man Repeller. Fellow designers enthusiastically greeted one another. Bigwigs such as Mickey Drexler, Harvey Weinstein, and Anna Wintour held court as the Champagne put everybody at ease. Cut photographer Clint Spaulding was there to capture the annual fashion-industry event. Click on to see Linda Evangelista kissing Tim Blanks and Tim Blanks kissing his award, Greta Gerwig getting down, and more.
Saturday, July 20, 2013
When Women Pursue Sex, Even Men Don’t Get It
I’ve never been one of those people who sees the humanity in all animals. I don’t share whimsical sloth pictures on Tumblr or insist that a dog is “really connecting” with me or try to psychoanalyze my friend’s cat’s behavior. But when I read Daniel Bergner’s description of rat clitorises — one of the more fascinating sections of his totally engrossing new book, What Do Women Want?: Adventures in the Science of Female Desire, out this week — for once I felt a serious connection with the animal kingdom.
Here are some facts about female lab rats: During sex, a female rat will evade her partner, darting away in the midst of his pumping, so it doesn’t end too quickly — she wants it to last, because it’s more pleasurable for her that way. It’s not clear whether they orgasm, but “female rats do what feels good,” a researcher explains. When graduate students stroke female rats’ clitorises (which apparently look like little eraser heads) and then stop, the rats will tug on the students’ sleeves and beg for more. “This,” writes Bergner, “went on and on.” No research yet on how the situation is exacerbated if the female rat has had a really tough week at work.
Female animals don’t just enjoy sex, they are not shy about pursuing it. Bergner’s new book is a reexamination of everything we think we know about sex and female biology. An excerpt in The New York Times Magazine two weeks ago explained how, contrary to long-standing cultural beliefs that women are turned on by stability and emotional intimacy, long-term monogamy actually saps women’s sex drives. A German researcher “shows women and men in new relationships reporting, on average, more or less equal lust for each other. But for women who’ve been with their partners between one and four years, a dive begins — and continues, leaving male desire far higher.” We fundamentally misunderstand women’s lust, says Bergner. And not just when it comes to married women.
Bergner explains that, in the past, “scientists fixated on what the rat female did in the act of sex, not what she did to get there.” And if you’re friends with any single women or are one yourself, you know that “what she did to get there” is often the most taxing part of the sexual act. It’s also where cultural factors really start to work against women’s newly documented desire. Bergner makes a pretty strong case that women are socially, not biologically, discouraged from initiating and enjoying sex. (You think those female rats are compelling? I had to take a walk around the block after reading about female rhesus monkeys. Game recognize game.) Men and women have been barraged with the message that women are not naughty by nature. They are thought of as hardwired to hunt for a partner and a mate, while men pursue sex as a pleasurable act in and of itself. It follows from there that women — at least good women — must be pursued and coaxed into sex, and men enjoy the thrill of the chase.
In one small study of college students, 93 percent of women said they preferred to be asked out, while 83 percent of men preferred to do the asking. An oft-cited 1989 study of university students found that men were far more receptive than women to direct offers of casual sex. During the early aughts panic about the prevalence of campus hookups, many socially conservative experts alleged that women didn’t really want all that casual sex they were having. But a University of Michigan researcher found in 2011 that “gender differences are minimized when women feel that they can avoid being stigmatized for their behavior.” Women like having sex. They don’t like being socially punished for it.
There are other factors propping up the idea that women prefer to be sexually passive. Bergner reports that preliminary research indicates women are most turned on by their partners' desire for them. It's easy to see how this could be misconstrued as passivity — especially because more than a century of conventional wisdom says women don’t like sex as much as men do. But if we accept Bergner’s radical thesis that women do, in fact, like to get off, and get off on being desired, the question of who pursues whom poses a real conundrum for single women.
Think about it: Women want sex, and in particular, they want sex with people who really want them. But socially, many straight men still find it a turnoff when women are sexual aggressors. Which means that, for women, aggressively pursuing the thing they want actually leads to them not getting it. I suspect this is the source of much sexual dissatisfaction of the modern single lady, who's so horny she's running across the street to Walgreens to buy more batteries twice a week, but is unable to pick up men despite social conventions that men are "easy" to bed and women have to be coaxed into casual sex. The thing women are told they can access any time is, maddeningly, often just out of reach.
Even in research about appropriate dating behavior among adults today, “men and women both agree that men should actively pursue female partners and that women should be passive recipients to their advances,” says Jessica Carbino, a Ph.D. candidate in sociology at UCLA who studies online dating and relationships. “For example, women and men overwhelmingly state that men are supposed to plan dates, ask out the woman, and pick her up. Moreover, when women do not adhere to these scripts they are viewed negatively. For example, women who initiate dates are viewed by men as more promiscuous and not interested in forming a serious relationship.” If the rats are any indication, maybe they aren’t! We’ve already established that females of all species are interested in sex for pleasure. But in the human realm, that simple, fundamental motivation is all too easily labeled as “sluttiness,” or some sort of deep desperation wrought by singledom.
This catch-22 presents women with a few options, none of which are appealing. You can directly pursue a man, but only if you want to convey that you’re only in it for sex. You can choose not to pursue him, but then you’re relegated to this historic, passive role that doesn’t jibe with your active, considered approach to any other area of life, be it work or real estate or even friendship. Carbino sees this tension in her own research. “According to these women, their professional background is already intimidating to many men and they feel as though asking them out would make them less attractive and even more intimidating,” she says. “The men I interview also state that they prefer to be the individual who initiates the date and at times find women who ask them out to be more aggressive.”
Women aren’t the only ones experiencing some cognitive dissonance between their animalistic urges and the social conventions of dating. “More and more men are finding it difficult to be as direct, when it comes to dating and sex, as previous generations of men maybe once were,” says Chiara Atik, author of Modern Dating: A Field Guide. We all get that the rules of traditional courtship — in which men make every single advance and women demur or acquiesce — are dead, but we haven’t replaced them with a new standard operating procedure. “Everyone's being kind of wishy-washy,” Atik says. “Women want sex, but they don't want to be seen as forward (or worse, desperate). Men want sex but are intimidated, unconfident, or don't want to be seen as domineering. We're not sure who should be the sexual instigators, and then no one really steps up to the plate.”
Here, again, perhaps the animal kingdom can be a source of inspiration. Sex for pleasure: Lady birds do it, lady bees do it, and, I’m sure by dint of their socioeconomic status and feminism 101 classes, even educated lady fleas do it. The sooner we can agree that pleasure is one major motivation to pursue sex — for both men and women — the sooner we can all start instigating it.
Wikipad slated for June 11th US launch at $250, worldwide 'to follow this summer'
WIKIPAD GAMING TABLET TO REDEFINE THE PORTABLE GAMING EXPERIENCE – AVAILABLE JUNE 11th, 2013 IN US
(LOS ANGELES, CA – June 4, 2013) -- Wikipad, Inc. today announced its 7" Wikipad tablet will be available on June 11, 2013 at a retail price of $249 in the US, with an UK and global launch planned for this summer. Thanks to its award wining and patented interchangeable game controller, Wikipad redefines the mobile tablet experience bringing together the console quality experience with the functionality and portability of a premium tablet.
"The launch of the Wikipad 7 tablet signals a transformative turning point in the direction of the mobile gaming industry. Wikipad's tablet combines the latest range of features found in a premium Android tablet together with the unrivaled console video game experience only available with a gamepad," said Matthew Joynes, Chairman of Wikipad Inc.
"There is no other mobile device on the market that possesses Wikipad's unique functionality and versatility and all available with full warranty and customer support at an entry level price point," said Fraser Townley, President of Sales at Wikipad Inc.
The Wikipad is the only tablet to possess both the unique combination of a console quality gaming experience with the functionality and portability of a tablet thanks to its award-winning and patented detachable dual-analog controller. Wikipad offers a multi capacitive 7 inch touch screen, 16 GB memory with an additional micro SD slot to support a further 32 GB of storage, together with micro USB, GPS, accelerometer and gyroscope. The tablets ultra-light and thin chassis is powered by the NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 quad-core mobile processor that's optimized for cloud gaming with a 12 core Nvidia GPU. With an aspect ratio of 16:10, a 2-mega-pixel front facing camera the Wikipad tablet offers true widescreen HD display and HDMI out.
Consumers will have instant access to entertainment and videogame content of over 700,000 apps from Google Play from Google Mobile Services, PlayStation®Mobile games from Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., and TegraZone – NVIDIA's free app that showcases the best games optimized for the Tegra processor. When the gamepad controller is detached, Wikipad's sleek design and full Android 4.1 Jelly Bean functionality make it a powerfully versatile tablet for sur?ng the web, emailing, enjoying all the latest ?lms, books, magazines and music, conversing via Skype or experiencing the latest apps at home or on the go.
"PlayStation®Mobile is a global initiative to bring the PlayStation®-like game experiences to a wide-reaching community of tablet and smartphone gamers. We're excited to bring PlayStation Mobile to the Wikipad tablet which provides a portable gaming experience that is fun and compelling," said Ronald Schaffner, Director Business Development, and Sony Computer Entertainment America.
"Wikipad's dual-analog gamepad controller transforms our mobile games such as the multiplayer Shadowgun: DeadZone and the action FPS Dead Trigger into entertaining AAA console-like experiences," Tomas Slapota, Vice President, MADFINGER Games
We are excited to be a launch partner for the innovative Wikipad gaming tablet that provides a brand new platform for our cloud-based, interactive streaming product, Big Fish Instant Games," said Jina Heverley, vice president and general manager of PC, Mac and Cloud for Big Fish. "Using the cloud-optimized Wikipad platform, casual game players will be delighted when they turn on their tablet to find more than 250 casual games from Big Fish available on their new device. The Wikipad is the perfect platform to introduce Big Fish games to a new, vibrant gaming audience."
For a full list of retailers, product specs, a comprehensive support page, technical forums, retailers and video games that take full advantage of the Wikipad's dual-analog stick controller, please visit: HYPERLINK "http://www.wikipad.com/" http://www.wikipad.com/
PlayStation is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
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Lenovo investor statement fuels NEC smartphone partnership rumors
NEC and Lenovo are already joined at the hip in the PC business, and rumors that the two will soon be smartphone partners as well continue to gather steam. Lenovo confirmed that it's started "preliminary negotiations with a party in connection with a potential joint venture transaction," and while it didn't name names, Japanese media sources and Reuters are claiming that it's NEC. Lenovo's the number two three smartphone vendor in China but doesn't have much of a presence elsewhere, and NEC, while a leader in Japanese handset sales, is still in a "difficult state," according to the company. Lenovo has the cash it needs and hasn't been shy about plans to expand its mobile business, so a relationship with NEC would make sense, if true -- and could help Lenovo realize those ambitions more quickly.
when.eng("eng.perm.init")Sony unveils the Xperia M: 4-inch FWVGA display, dual-core 1GHz CPU, 5MP camera
Introducing Xperia™ M for the Best of Sony Connectivity and Design
LONDON, June 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Latest model added to the Xperia range of premium smartphones, with Xperia M offering unique Sony experiences at new price pointCombines Sony's technology and design expertise with one-touch functions and a beautiful, striking formDual SIM version also available - Xperia MdualSony Mobile Communications ("Sony Mobile") today introduces Xperia M featuring Sony's innovative one-touch functions for effortless connectivity, and signature premium design.Xperia M is designed to bring Sony experiences to a new market and price point; NFC connectivity for one-touch functions, stunning design and a range of technologies including: a high quality screen for sharp viewing; smart camera functionality for impressive pictures and videos; Battery STAMINA Mode for outstanding battery life; and Sony's signature media apps for enjoying photos, music, movies and games on the go, integrating Sony Entertainment Network services directly in the apps."Consumers looking for their first steps into the world of Xperia smartphones would be well-advised to look at Xperia M or Xperia Mdual," said Calum MacDougall , Director of Xperia Marketing at Sony Mobile Communications. "Both models benefit from Sony's proven innovation and engineering expertise, and are perfect for those who want the premium technology and experiences often only associated with high-end models."Ease of sharing and enjoyment
Xperia M features Sony's one-touch functions, allowing you to easily and instantly enjoy photos and music across an array of devices, such as Sony's SBH20 wireless stereo headset and latest range of NFC-enabled BRAVIA TVs, with just a single touch.Premium, signature Sony design
Xperia M boasts Sony's now familiar OmniBalance design, first introduced in flagship Xperia Z. The aesthetic language takes the form of a precision-crafted skeleton frame, and gives the phone a seamless look that is both tactile and sleek. Designed to complement the slim style, Xperia M also features colour-changing illuminations that can be personalised to visually alert you to incoming calls, text messages and alarms.Xperia M and Xperia Mdual will be available in Black, White and Purple - a Yellow colour variation will also be available for the single SIM model.Key features for XperiaMOne-touch functions with NFC and screen mirroring, to display content on your TV or to share music and photos between devicesSony's OmniBalance design, with generous 4" FWVGA touchscreen display and LED illuminationsSony's signature audio enhancement technology ClearAudio+, xLOUD and 3D Surround Sound (VPT)5 megapixel fast capture camera with auto-focus and HDR for photos, and dedicated shutter keyFast performance with dual-core processorBattery STAMINA Mode for outstanding battery lifeAvailable in Black, Purple, White and Yellow colour variationsConsistent Sony entertainment experiences
Xperia M benefits from Sony's media applications, offering consistent entertainment experiences across mobile, tablet, desktop and console platforms. The "WALKMAN", Album and Movies apps provide online and offline content through a single access point with new ways to enjoy and share that content. The "WALKMAN" application provides access to all your downloaded music, plus Music Unlimited* with over 18 million songs to explore, and Facebook social integration. The "Movies" application gives consumers access to over 100,000 movies and TV series from Video Unlimited*. The "Album" application enables easy access to Facebook friends' photos, as well as the ability to organise images both by location and, through the new "Faces" function, by the people that feature in them.Sony's entertainment technology turns content into experiences, and withXperia M you can enjoy these experiences for longer thanks to Battery STAMINA Mode. The latest version of Sony's battery management technology improves the standby time of your smartphone by four times or more**, by automatically shutting down battery-draining apps whenever the screen is off and starting them up again when the screen is back on.Xperia MdualThe Dual SIM variant Xperia Mdual lets users select between two SIMs before making a call or sending a message with just a single click. Each SIM card can also be customised separately - for example, a formal ring for business or another tune for pleasure - perfect when users want to separate work from play, and handle calls more efficiently.Xperia M and Xperia Mdual from Sony Mobile will both be available worldwide from Q3 2013.
A History of Hillary Clinton Making Pantsuit Jokes
Clinton joking about pantsuits, probably. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. That's how Hillary Clinton has handled Barack Obama, and it's how she's dealt with jokes about her pantsuits. "I am going to be pitching Andy and others on a new show for Bravo, to fill that gap that is so apparent to some of us," Clinton quipped at last night's CFDA Awards. "All you really need is a small but passionate audience to be successful. We could call it Project Pantsuit."
Yeaaah, hilarious. The truth is that the "Clinton wears a lot of pantsuits!" joke was beaten to death a long time ago, and Clinton herself is partly responsible. Herewith, a reasonably thorough history of Hillary Clinton making pantsuit jokes.
November 7, 2000: "We started this great effort on a sunny July morning in Pinder’s Corner on Pat and Liz Moynihan’s beautiful farm. And 62 counties, sixteen months, three debates, two opponents, and six black pantsuits later, because of you, here we are." —Clinton's Senate victory speech.
November 15, 2007: "This pantsuit: It's asbestos tonight." —Clinton at a Democratic presidential primary debate in Las Vegas.
August 30, 2007: "One more pantsuit joke and Letterman disappears.” —Clinton delivering a Top 10 List of campaign promises on the Late Show With David Letterman, whose host makes frequent pantsuit jokes.
February 4, 2008: "In my White House, we'll know who wears the pantsuits.'' —Clinton on the Late Show With David Letterman.
May 5, 2008: "Thanks to the Internet, I can order new pantsuits 24/7. There's your pantsuit joke, Dave. Are you happy now?" —Clinton doing the Top 10 reasons she loves America on the Late Show With David Letterman.
May 11, 2008: "It’s not over until the lady in the pantsuit says it is." —Clinton, recounting a message she got from a supporter.
August 26, 2008: "To my supporters, to my champions — to my sisterhood of the traveling pantsuits — from the bottom of my heart: Thank you." —Clinton speaking at the Democratic National Convention.
November 10, 2008: "I’m grateful to Glamour because they liked my pantsuits, and that was one of the highlights of my presidential campaign." —Clinton at Glamour's Women of the Year awards.
June 21, 2012: "Mike, I was in a real dilemma. I have pantsuits in nearly every color – except purple." —Clinton at the swearing-in of Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Michael Hammer (whose favorite color is purple).
December 1, 2012: "There I was, being gracious, the hostess of the evening, and Dave and his beautiful wife, Regina, came through. And I greeted her and said how happy we were to have her, and greeted Dave and then said, 'Look, Dave, I took my pants off for you.' And Dave without missing a beat said, 'I don’t think you meant to say that.'" —Clinton speaking at the 35th Annual Kennedy Center Honors.
April 5, 2013: "I'm just glad she didn't do a movie called The Devil Wears Pantsuits!" —Clinton on Meryl Streep at the Women in the World Summit.
SoftKinetic teases embedded 3D depth camera, coming to Intel devices next year (hands-on)
At Intel's Computex keynote earlier today, the chip maker teased that it expects embedded 3D depth cameras to arrive on devices in the second half of 2014. Luckily, we got an exclusive early taste of the technology shortly after the event, courtesy of SoftKinetic. This Belgian company not only licenses its close-range gesture tracking middleware to Intel, but it also manufactures time-of-flight 3D depth cameras -- including Creative's upcoming Senz3D -- in partnership with South Korea-based Namuga. Read on to see how we coped with this futuristic piece of kit, plus we have a video ready for your amusement. SoftKinetic embedded 3D depth camera prototype hands-on
See all photos 21 Photos
What we were shown at SoftKinetic's private show room was its tiny DS530 short-range depth module, which measures just 7cm by 1.2cm -- small enough to fit into the screen bezel of a laptop. Like its larger siblings, this kit uses eye-safe diffused laser illumination to detect object depth, albeit over a shorter range as it's designed for tablets and laptops. The usual RGB image sensor is missing here, but the circuit board does come with an expansion port for manufacturers to plug in a webcam module.
During our brief hands-on time, we got to try a DS530 that was already embedded into a laptop. While the company reps repeatedly stressed that the product was still in its early days, we didn't have too much trouble with its static gesture recognition -- it could identify up to two hands individually plus their fingertips, though it did stop working when we crossed our hands over.
Another demo we came across was a 3D spaceship flight simulator, which changes the perspective and size of the spaceship according to our head's position. This is akin to using a parallax 3D display, but without having to find the viewing sweet spot or sacrifice display quality. Again, since this was a prototype, there were times when the 3D spaceship got stuck momentarily, but this should be fixed well before us mere mortals get hold of the sensor.
Overall, we were left rather impressed with where SoftKinetic's upcoming module is at today, so we look forward to take another pulse check at some point next year (maybe at CES?). Until then, hopefully we'll see even more developers jump on board Intel's perceptual computing bandwagon.
Mat Smith contributed to this report.
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