PRINTDirty no more
April 3, 2008 | 12:00 a.m. CST
Touring Wal-Mart’s aisles in search of replacement razor blades, I was shocked — impressed, even — to see a wide selection of condoms, lubricants and other sex supplies flanking modern life’s other necessities. They weren’t even enclosed in locked cases, as they are in many drug stores, which often renders a purchase daunting and embarrassing to those of us shyer about our sexual endeavors.
However, seeing these accoutrements in that bastion of conservativeness is a welcome sign that Americans are amending their perceptions of sex so that it’s no longer seen as a nasty, child bearing-only activity and rather a normal part of life. Our Short Talk story this week explores this very idea, along with potential effects on specialty stores. Given Wal-Mart’s lack of vibrators, it shouldn’t be surprising that everyone’s favorite downtown sex shop — Olde Un Theatre — isn’t expecting it to affect sales anytime soon. Women hoping to save some cash by purchasing a, um, downtime tool at America’s discount retailer will just have to hold out a little longer.
Still, there are some things that are hard to see as anything but just plain dirty. This week’s photo essay, “Gettin’ Nasty” says it all. It documents The 15 Hour Nightmare, an overnight trip over the rocks and through the woods of Flatnasty Off-Road Park near Salem, Mo. If the images of big wheels colliding and trucks falling bed-deep in mud get your juices flowing, there’s plenty of other filthy pictures in a slideshow on VoxMagazine.com.
Of course, my cousin, who has modified his own truck with giant wheels suitable for muddin’ — and who proudly shows pictures of his four-wheeled beast undercarriage-deep in muck — would argue that taking a truck through the deep and dirty is nothin’ but good, clean fun.
