http://shine.yahoo.com/blog/shine_erinflahertyErin Flaherty is a freelance writer, blogger and former Jane magazine Senior Editor who is obsessed with talking about your love life. She’s waxed philosophic about sex, beauty, fashion, pop culture, travel and art to publications such as New York Magazine, Allure, Elle, Marie Claire, Details, ID, Shape, Page Six Magazine, Men’s Fitness and Ladies’ Home Journal. She’s also been a talking head on VH1, The Today Show, Entertainment Tonight, Full Frontal Fashion, a bunch of random news and radio shows, and quoted as an expert in WWD and The New York Times among others. If all of this sounds really serious, please keep in mind that her hobbies include freestyle Frito pie making, traveling the far reaches of the globe to learn about foreign beauty products, holding “beer tastings” at her house and playing with her puppy, Violet. She spends her time between New York City and Providence, Rhode Island, where her true love is finishing grad school at Brown. Email her at: Shine_erinflaherty@yahoo.com [Portrait Photography: Emily Nathan]Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:55:34 -0700http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/sex/can-an-abortion-blog-be-a-good-thing-246462/
When you hear the not so usual phrase "abortion blog," well, no one has a terribly enthusiastic reaction. After all, when it comes to unplanned pregnancy, the mandate is, tell no one, keep your head down, get it over with and march on like a brave soldier. Fact is, young women lacking familial support often find themselves guarding a terrible secret when it comes to making certain decisions regarding their right to chose. Enter the abortion blogger, whose slogan reads, "I'm 23. I'm knocked up. And I don't want to keep it. You can fu*k yourself, Judd Apatow." If that doesn't tell you enough, the name of her site does: "What to expect when you're aborting."]]>Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:55:34 -0700nospam@example.com (Erin Flaherty, Shine staff)http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/sex/can-an-abortion-blog-be-a-good-thing-246462/#commentshttp://shine.yahoo.com/channel/sex/can-an-abortion-blog-be-a-good-thing-246462/http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/sex/you-ve-come-a-long-way-baby-joy-of-sex-redux-245216/
Dr. Alex Comfort's '70s-era bestselling sex guide was last relaunched to much fanfare back in 2002, but the Fully Revised & Completely Updated for the 21st Century edition was well, not. In fact, it has been updated four times and sold more than eight million copies in 14 countries since it was originally published in 1972, yet even its most recent incarnation left critics poking fun of how dated and kitchy it was within the context of the 21st century, down to the borderline hirsute hippie models and the antiquated attention to the male penis when the female clitoris was largely ignored. Fast forward to 2009, when the truly revisited Joy of Sex written by British sexpert Susan Quilliam launches in the states (it'll be out in London September 1st). Here's how things have changed a bit:]]>Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:05:51 -0700nospam@example.com (Erin Flaherty, Shine staff)http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/sex/you-ve-come-a-long-way-baby-joy-of-sex-redux-245216/#commentshttp://shine.yahoo.com/channel/sex/you-ve-come-a-long-way-baby-joy-of-sex-redux-245216/http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/sex/how-do-you-keep-yourself-from-drunk-dialing-244655/
So I had a bunch of lovely friends over this weekend, and somehow the conversation turned toward drunk dialing. You know how it can be: You just broke up with someone you're convinced you may or may not be still in love with, you've had a couple cocktails, it seems like a great idea for you to contact said person and express your undying love for them and possibly convince them that you never should've parted in the first place. Yet it never fails that the next day you live to regret the drunk dial, right?]]>Mon, 25 Aug 2008 21:05:30 -0700nospam@example.com (Erin Flaherty, Shine staff)http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/sex/how-do-you-keep-yourself-from-drunk-dialing-244655/#commentshttp://shine.yahoo.com/channel/sex/how-do-you-keep-yourself-from-drunk-dialing-244655/http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/sex/hallmark-supports-gay-marriage-right-wing-politicians-do-not-242744/
Hallmark, probably one of the most conservative champions of middle American mores out there, is prepared to support gay marriage in the form of new greeting cards specifically aimed at commemorating gay landmarks such as weddings, anniversaries and more. Of course, lest you think their motives are wholly altruistic, keep in mind that in these uncertain economic times, a large company simply can't afford to ignore a burgeoning market.



Yet, where corporate America is all too eager to embrace gay marriage (hey, money talks baby), a well-funded, right wing constituency is working to turn over gay marriage in California, and you can bet Ellen and Portia, among others, disagree. Find out what you can do about it, after the jump...]]>Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:25:17 -0700nospam@example.com (Erin Flaherty, Shine staff)http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/sex/hallmark-supports-gay-marriage-right-wing-politicians-do-not-242744/#commentshttp://shine.yahoo.com/channel/sex/hallmark-supports-gay-marriage-right-wing-politicians-do-not-242744/http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/sex/the-cupless-bra-hot-or-not-241532/
Recently, the trend of cupless bras has hit the lingerie world, and when I started looking at all the crazy new styles out there (I think someone aptly called them, the "emperor's new clothes" of bras), I had to laugh. See, confession time: I actually own one of these bad boys.

]]>Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:11:26 -0700nospam@example.com (Erin Flaherty, Shine staff)http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/sex/the-cupless-bra-hot-or-not-241532/#commentshttp://shine.yahoo.com/channel/sex/the-cupless-bra-hot-or-not-241532/http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/sex/do-you-have-better-sex-after-a-dry-spell-240886/
New research claims there's good and bad news when it comes to dry spells of the sexual variety. According to the journal Biological Psychology, lack of sex can be bad for your blood pressure. (Sad face.) But on a sexier note, a similar World Journal of Urology study found that after three weeks of no sexual activity whatsoever, men experienced more intense orgasms, and because they had elevated testosterone levels, their libido was higher as well.--LA Times

They didn't mention the ladies in the latter study, but have you ever noticed that especially in long-term relationships where the bedroom antics naturally seem to ebb and flow, that sex after a few days of abstinence is always kind of extra awesome? (Or is that just like, what's going on in my house?) Thoughts to share?]]>Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:59:40 -0700nospam@example.com (Erin Flaherty, Shine staff)http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/sex/do-you-have-better-sex-after-a-dry-spell-240886/#commentshttp://shine.yahoo.com/channel/sex/do-you-have-better-sex-after-a-dry-spell-240886/http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/sex/women-gone-wild-sex-tourism-in-africa-240000/Sex tourism is usually associated with creepy guys and pedophiles, but it seems skeevy women have recently been getting in on the act, too. Apparently, Kenya is all the rage for (mostly Euro) ladies in their autumn years to pick up hot young African studs who are more than willing to hang out in exchange for the riches these women bestow on them (in the form of new clothes and free booze and food). Um, is this okay?]]>Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:13:59 -0700nospam@example.com (Erin Flaherty, Shine staff)http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/sex/women-gone-wild-sex-tourism-in-africa-240000/#commentshttp://shine.yahoo.com/channel/sex/women-gone-wild-sex-tourism-in-africa-240000/http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/sex/this-is-why-we-regret-some-one-night-stands-239404/
Turns out, the theory known as "beer goggles" is true. File it under Captain Obvious studies, but a recent experiment performed in conjunction with the Universities of Glasgow and St. Andrews prove that we perceive relative hotness differently once we've knocked back a few. The study, after the jump, and you tell us: Have you ever gone home with someone after a night at the bar and woke up the next day to discover that they're kinda fugs?]]>Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:35:09 -0700nospam@example.com (Erin Flaherty, Shine staff)http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/sex/this-is-why-we-regret-some-one-night-stands-239404/#commentshttp://shine.yahoo.com/channel/sex/this-is-why-we-regret-some-one-night-stands-239404/http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/sex/so-how-many-is-too-many-237300/
Ever since French First Lady, former model and bed mate to rock stars Carla Bruni admitted that she slept with 15 people before marrying President Sarkozy, people are playing the numbers game. Is she a "slut?" Does 15 mean 30 in reality? Are we to assume she's great in bed? Have I slept with too many people? Too few? And just how many lovers should a woman ever have, period?]]>Fri, 15 Aug 2008 13:05:22 -0700nospam@example.com (Erin Flaherty, Shine staff)http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/sex/so-how-many-is-too-many-237300/#commentshttp://shine.yahoo.com/channel/sex/so-how-many-is-too-many-237300/http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/sex/are-we-better-off-single-236109/
There have been countless studies citing the never ending health benefits that um "smug marrieds" or whatever you want to call them enjoy: the idea that the social, psychological and financial resources a legal union provides makes two healthy, wealthy and wise, or something like that. While this is all fine and dandy for all those married couples out there, what about the single and divorced among us? Should we be quaking in our boots, waiting for the reaper to come and claim us? If we never marry will we be subject to inevitable social ostracization, multiple deadly diseases, made to live on the streets and end up sad, alone and stoned in public? A new study says, not so much. Shew.
]]>Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:49:17 -0700nospam@example.com (Erin Flaherty, Shine staff)http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/sex/are-we-better-off-single-236109/#commentshttp://shine.yahoo.com/channel/sex/are-we-better-off-single-236109/99258wisteriaErin Flaherty is a freelance writer, blogger and former Jane magazine Senior Editor who is obsessed with talking about your love life. She’s waxed philosophic about sex, beauty, fashion, pop culture, travel and art to publications such as New York Magazine, Allure, Elle, Marie Claire, Details, ID, Shape, Page Six Magazine, Men’s Fitness and Ladies’ Home Journal. She’s also been a talking head on VH1, The Today Show, Entertainment Tonight, Full Frontal Fashion, a bunch of random news and radio shows, and quoted as an expert in WWD and The New York Times among others. If all of this sounds really serious, please keep in mind that her hobbies include freestyle Frito pie making, traveling the far reaches of the globe to learn about foreign beauty products, holding “beer tastings” at her house and playing with her puppy, Violet. She spends her time between New York City and Providence, Rhode Island, where her true love is finishing grad school at Brown. Email her at: Shine_erinflaherty@yahoo.com [Portrait Photography: Emily Nathan]11 Erin Flaherty is a freelance writer, blogger and former Jane magazine Senior Editor who is obsessed with talking about your love life. She’s waxed philosophic about sex, beauty, fashion, pop culture, travel and art to publications such as New York Magazine, Allure, Elle, Marie Claire, Details, ID, Shape, Page Six Magazine, Men’s Fitness and Ladies’ Home Journal. She’s also been a talking head on VH1, The Today Show, Entertainment Tonight, Full Frontal Fashion, a bunch of random news and radio shows, and quoted as an expert in WWD and The New York Times among others. If all of this sounds really serious, please keep in mind that her hobbies include freestyle Frito pie making, traveling the far reaches of the globe to learn about foreign beauty products, holding “beer tastings” at her house and playing with her puppy, Violet. She spends her time between New York City and Providence, Rhode Island, where her true love is finishing grad school at Brown. Email her at: Shine_erinflaherty@yahoo.com [Portrait Photography: Emily Nathan] 000.0000IDInfoshine_erinflaherty#ivshine_erinflahertyaIoYaq3.QQd2q9OsJuyIap2gVrQ4LzIL1FKr81GOx8hQ6usErin Flaherty, Shine stafffnhttp://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/identity/nopic_96.gif9696http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/identity/nopic_244.gif2424http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/identity/nopic_48.gif4848http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/identity/nopic_32.gif3232http://f3.yahoofs.com/coreid/47e1a0cdiea9zul3sp1/S3E6bSEic68R82sXdLX7TqQiU_MirZSilB8-/1/tn96.jpg?ciAg_6IBAMEXiIB99696http://f3.yahoofs.com/coreid/47e1a0cdiea9zul3sp1/S3E6bSEic68R82sXdLX7TqQiU_MirZSilB8-/1/tn24.jpg?ciAg_6IB1_FZYBda2424http://f3.yahoofs.com/coreid/47e1a0cdiea9zul3sp1/S3E6bSEic68R82sXdLX7TqQiU_MirZSilB8-/1/tn48.jpg?ciAg_6IBxdQz.38e4848http://f3.yahoofs.com/coreid/47e1a0cdiea9zul3sp1/S3E6bSEic68R82sXdLX7TqQiU_MirZSilB8-/1/tn32.jpg?ciAg_6IB2WXjWa_j3232IDContextualInfoglobalYahoo!0http://profiles.yahoo.com/shine_erinflahertyIDContextualInfombYahoo! Message BoardsIDContextualInfowisteriawisteria1Error Reading Key for user shine_erinflahertyiv#iv to UDB in UDBConnection