Daily Archives: March 6, 2009

Whew! Just did a major update to the interactive map

Posted on by
8

The interactive version of the Map of Human Sexuality has been largely re-written; I’ve fixed a number of PHP error messages, added two new options (“tried and didn’t like,” “like in fantasy only”), updated the map itself to the current version, made the pins smaller so they don’t obscure as much, and made a lot of behind-the-scenes database changes that’ll help things out going forward. And all this without breaking the display of existing maps.

The one thing I most need to do, make the ability to remove a pin you place by accident, still isn’t done. I’m working on it! If/when I get that one licked (I know surprisingly little PHP and JavaScript, when all is said and done), I’ll add an option where you can enter a username and a password when you save your map so you can go back and edit it later. Whee!

And now to see if I can go see Watchmen.


Find out where I’ve journeyed
on the Map of Human Sexuality!
Or get your own here!

Call to the Lazyweb

Posted on by
42

So I want to start selling posters of the Map of Human Sexuality wholesale to sex toy stores and places like that, and I’m trying to get a feel for places that might be interested in carrying it. dayo suggested approaching the The Museum of Sex in NYC (and how cool is it that there IS a museum of sex?). I was thinking of cool, indie placesike Blowfish.

So, any ideas out there in LJ-land? Thoughts? Suggestions?

Engrish: It’s what’s for breakfast

Posted on by
8

Over the past year or so, a goodly amount of the avalanche of spam that ends up in my inbox every day has been from companies in China that sell cheap, knock-off sex toys at wholesale prices.

Not too hard to figure out why. I’d be willing to bet that anyone who owns a Web site that talks about sex toys, or sells sex toys, gets ’em. They’re invariably from companies in China that want to sell me ripoffs of the Jack Rabbit vibrator and stuff like that, in bulk, at pennies on the dollar for the real thing. Their Web sites typically stay up for a few months and then disappear. (Got one of these spam emails in my mailbox today for a company whose Web site really inspires confidence: they have a hit counter on the front page, and as of right now the hit counter is at 4.)

That’s not the funny part, though.

The funny part is the Web sites themselves. They’re invariably written in Engrish, the particular variety of badly-translated English common amongst Far Eastern businesses who want to save money by not hiring professional translators.

The question I have, though, is does this approach work? How safe am I supposed to feel placing a $3,000 order for sex toys, when their Web site says things like “We are a professional and experience manufacture of condom products, lingerie, and sex toys for male uses and the female use. We have certificate for the condom. We have established the friendly relation with customers in USA. If you are interested in it, please don’t issue to contact us.”