The incest taboo?
A reconsideration of Westermarck
Gregory C. Leavitt

Recent contributions to the study of the evolution of early human society from its prehuman primatepredecessors make it possible to reassess Freud’s theory of the ‘‘primal crime’’ put forward in the fourthessay of 
Totem and Taboo 
. Shorn of its antiquated language, and of its unnecessary ‘‘Lamarckism,’’ Freud’spicture of the transition from prehuman to early hominid social structure turns out to have been remarkably plausi-ble and prescient

In the parish of Catahoula, Louisiana, during the 1840s Samuel Miller lived on his plantation with Patsy, his mulatto slave and sexual partner. In 1843, as Miller fell ill with dropsy, he sold the land and his slaves to Hugh Lucas, settling for nine promissory notes of $3,000 each, to be paid yearly. In April 1844, Miller, who was in declining health, left Louisiana with Patsy for St. Louis, Missouri. Before leaving, Miller gave the promissory notes to William Kirk, asking him to "keep them for Patsy's benefit" since "he intended to have her emancipated, and that he wanted the notes to enure to her benefit" (Cole v. Lucas, 2 La. Ann. 1946, 1948 (1847)).1 The previous year, Miller had granted Kirk power of attorney, authorizing him to emancipate Patsy

No one would mistake the Stone Age ivory carving for a Venus de Milo. The voluptuous woman depicted is, to say the least, earthier, with huge, projecting breasts and sexually explicit genitals.

Why are educated and affluent young women flocking to join a secret society that hosts anything-goes sex parties?
Killing Kittens

Germaine Greer does not think men are the funnier sex. But they are better at banter, innuendo and clowning. So what's holding women back?

It is now a truism that men never talk to each other about things that matter. Most of what takes place when men are together is phatic communication, intended to build fellowship rather than intimacy. This kind of communication is sometimes derided by women as meaningless, but it is actually functional, because it draws the group together. Men who drink, play and joke together are boon companions, who hang together for fun.

The world through the half-closed eyes of a guy who writes stuff. And maybe through Sophie’s eyes too…