Valentine’s Day minefields: lingerie and sex toys

Here’s a couple of recent pieces from Salon. With Valentine’s Day coming up, timely.

1. Thong or bikini, sir? How to go lingerie shopping for your woman without feeling as though you’re 16 and sneaking a peek at Playboy with your Sunday-school teacher standing next to you

“Now comes perhaps the most important piece of advice you’ll ever hear about lingerie shopping, and it’s one that American men need to take to heart: Avoid Victoria’s Secret like the devil himself will swallow your soul if you so much as set foot in the place.”

2. Sex toys on review: From the Fukuoku 9000 to a Hello Kitty vibrator, gals test-drive the newest bedroom playthings and report the results

“So I asked some fearless females to be masturbatory guinea pigs and report back. Now that the holidays are over and women have lavished gifts and attention on everyone else, I figure it’s time to encourage a little sensual self-indulgence.”