Merman VIII

See also the previous posts:
• Merman I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII
• A Merman Named Eric

Related Off-site Link:
From Mermaids to Mermen – AnyNewsBD.com (2014).

Hare Décor

Artwork: Artist unknown.

See also the previous posts:
• Hare Décor, 9/12/19
• Hare Décor, 3/17/19
• Hare Décor, 7/22/16
• Ornamental Hare

Dutch Official Advice to Single People: Find a Sex Buddy for Lockdown

By Daniel Boffey

This article was first published May 15, 2020 by The Guardian.


Single men and women in the Netherlands are being advised to organise a seksbuddy (sex buddy) after criticism of rules dictating that home visitors maintain a 1.5-metre distance from their hosts during the coronavirus lockdown.

In a typically open-minded intervention, official guidance from the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) has been amended to suggest those without a permanent sexual partner come to mutually satisfactory agreements with like-minded individuals.

On the advice of scientists at the RIVM, the Netherlands has been on what the government describes as an “intelligent lockdown” since March 23, allowing up to three visitors into homes on the strict condition that they keep their distance.

But the RIVM now concedes that “it makes sense that as a single [person] you also want to have physical contact” while warning that the risks of such intimacy should be managed.

“Discuss how best to do this together,” the RIVM suggests. “For example, meet with the same person to have physical or sexual contact (for example, a cuddle buddy or ‘sex buddy’), provided you are free of illness. Make good arrangements with this person about how many other people you both see. The more people you see, the greater the chance of (spreading) the coronavirus.”

The RIVM also has advice for those in a relationship with someone infected by coronavirus or in quarantine with suspected symptoms of the disease. “Don’t have sex with your partner if they have been isolated because of (suspected) coronavirus infection,” the RIVM says. “Sex with yourself or with others at a distance is possible (think of telling erotic stories, masturbating together).”

In the UK, the government warned at the start of its lockdown that couples who do not cohabit must either not meet at all, or else rapidly move in together. Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer, told reporters that dating couples “should test the strength of their relationship and decide whether one wishes to be permanently resident in another household.”

The Dutch institute’s change of mind on the fate of singletons follows the expression of immense frustration in some quarters at the rules for single people. In an opinion piece written in the Het Parool newspaper, Linda Duits, a journalist specialising in gender issues, squarely criticised the RIVM, arguing that sex was a human right.

“Proximity and physical contact are not a luxury, they are basic needs,” Duits wrote. “If we have learned anything from the AIDS epidemic, it is that not having sex is not an option.”

The Dutch government has been easing its lockdown in recent weeks. Hairdressers, nail salons and beauty parlours started work again on Monday and restaurants, bars and cinemas are due to reopen on 1 June.

– Daniel Boffey
The Guardian
May 15, 2020

See also the previous posts:
• Coronavirus and Sex
• How to Keep Your Love Life Intact During Quarantine
• Buddies | II | III

And at The Leveret's brother site, The Wild Reed, see:
• Hope and Beauty in the Midst of the Global Coronavirus Pandemic
• A Prayer in Times of a Pandemic
• Examining the Link Between Destruction of Biodiversity and Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Marianne Williamson: In the Midst of This “Heartbreaking” Pandemic, It's Okay to Be Heartbroken
• In the Midst of Crisis, Learning Resistance and Vision-Seeking from the Indigenous and African-American Experience

Image: Subjects and photographer unknown.

Yesteryear

Images: Subjects and photographers unknown.

See also the previous post:
• The Art of Wilhelm von Gloeden
• The Art of Guglielmo Plüschow
• The Art of Felix d'Eon

And at The Leveret's brother site, The Wild Reed, see:
• Manly Love
• Reclaiming the Power of Male Touch
• A Fresh Take on Masculinity

Running Hare

Image: R. Howarth.

Andre

Andre Donovan is an adult film actor born in Columbus, Georgia on November 22, 1974.

Says Andre: “I've always thought porn was really sexy and hot. Being a part of someone's fantasy is intriguing to me. But also being naked in front of a camera for everyone to see is very empowering. There's strength in vulnerability.”

See also the previous posts: Lakieth | Joe | Mark | Jason | Jamie | Lyriq | Philip | Don | LeBron | Jayjay | Donald | Geremy | Jerome | Solomon | Colin | Luis | Nyle | Philip | Charlie | Sukdeep | Rafael | Mon Bel Ami

Images: Photographers unknown.

April Hare Moon

Art: “April Hare Moon” by Christopher Fry.

“5 Minute Abs” with the Body Coach

See also the previous posts:
• The Body Coach’s “7 Days of Sweat Challenge” – Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Related Off-site Link:
The Body Coach – Official Website

A Still Moment

See also the previous posts:
• Hare in Field of Gold
• Hare in Summer Field
• In Winter Field
• Afoot
• Field Runners
• Among the Wheat
• Three in One Field

Image: Photographer unknown.

How to Keep Your Love Life Intact During Quarantine

By Melinda Fakuade

This article was first published March 26, 2020 by Architectural Digest.


The novel coronavirus has interrupted our lives in every way imaginable. Workplaces have gone remote, businesses have been closed, and social events have been postponed. For the foreseeable future, life is going to be wildly different. And in these strange times, romance will inevitably suffer – nothing kills the mood like a global pandemic. In-person dates are no longer a viable option. Those searching for the one (or one night) might have to wait a little longer. And long-term couples are susceptible to the stir-crazy feeling that comes with interacting with only one person every day.

While quarantine definitely limits romantic routines, it can actually be an enjoyable change of pace. Have a tendency to get sucked into the vortex of dating apps? Take a break at this time to reconnect with yourself, and reevaluate what you’re looking for romantically. The virus has thrown a wrench in any plans to be physically intimate with new people – while COVID-19 cannot be sexually transmitted, kissing a new partner isn’t a good idea. You can be exposed to respiratory droplets that can infect you. According to the advice of New York state, which has 5% of the world’s coronavirus cases as of this writing: “You are your safest sex partner. The next safest partner is someone you live with.”

For those who were planning on hot dates: Just stay home. It’s irresponsible to meet up with a brand-new partner in person right now, but video chat is always available! A dinner date online can prove to be strangely intimate. For those who are newly dating someone, this period can be a great time to regroup. Without the rose-colored glasses from the honeymoon phase, it’s easier to consider your new relationship from an objective standpoint.

However, don’t feel guilty about feeling lonely or anxious without your partner, new or longtime. In an email, Dr. Carla Manly, a California-based clinical psychologist and relationship expert, said that it’s totally normal to feel negative emotions bubble up. “So much of this occurs on an unconscious level, and partners may be unaware of their own fears and doubts as well as a partner’s worries,” she says. “For those who tend to be insecure or have abandonment issues, the level of anxiety and stress can be extraordinarily elevated when stressful circumstances arise.”

The best way to manage this kind of relationship stress is to use “non-blaming vocabulary” when talking to your partner about your separation. “For example, a partner might say, ‘I can tell that you’re struggling with being away from me; I also miss being with you. Until we can connect in person, know that I am here for you.’” Plan to text and call your partner more often at regular intervals to check in. Be clear about your phone and video chat availability, and be honest about your concerns. “This type of genuine, fluid conversation can be deeply connective,” Manly says. Talking openly about your separation anxiety can actually bring you closer to your partner in the long run. It might be awkward at first, but remember that everyone is feeling nervous right now. Candid conversation can help ease any possible tension between you and your partner.

For those who are quarantined at home with a partner, it’s easy to become anxious about a lack of me time. Experts recommend forming a new routine that allows for couple time as well as independent space. “Be honest and open to alone time,” says Ben Hoogland, a Minnesota-based licensed marriage and family therapist. “Don't be passive or resentful toward one asking for time alone; be realistic about the current situation and that what we used to have – commutes, happy hour, lunch alone, et cetera – are simply not there right now. Instead, have an evening where you each do your own thing.”

Additionally, couples who have just started living together now find themselves in a perfect scenario. They can explore this new phase of their relationship and their new home dynamic without the annoyance of long hours away at work, or visitors who overstay their welcome. “Support your local restaurants and order takeout, have a picnic, trade massages, or rent a movie,” he says. Date night at your place every night can be fun with a partner who is open to finding the bright side of things with you.

Romance might be the last thing on your mind during this strange period of time, or it might be extra stressful right now. But it’s important for our collective mental health that we don’t let relationships burn out. To beat this pandemic, we need to keep our spirits up and stick together. Isolation does crazy things to people, but remember you’re not alone. Whether you’re single, newly dating, or in a long-term commitment, there are ways to make the most of this time.

– Melinda Fakuade
Architectural Digest
March 26, 2020

See also the previous post:
• Coronavirus and Sex

And at The Leveret's brother site, The Wild Reed, see:
• Hope and Beauty in the Midst of the Global Coronavirus Pandemic
• A Prayer in Times of a Pandemic

Image: Subjects and photographer unknown.

The Art of Alexis Vera

Writes artist Alexis Vera:

I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. My first studies and contact with the artistic expression were through photography, participating in workshops and collective exhibitions at several Cultural Centers in my city.

After a journey of self-knowledge through Latin America, life brought me an unexpected journey, the return to the land of my ancestors, Andalucia, Spain, were I currently reside. And this is were I continue to explore my concerns, the way of expressing my feelings and emotions, that impel me to carry out a variety of workshops: drawing, watercolor, live model and acrylic with different artists.

As I gain more knowledge and practice I realize how broad the range of human expression and its continuous evolution are, which place me in a position of constant learning and research.

To visit Alexis's official website, click here.

Related Off-site Link: Alexis Vera's Official Website

See also: The Art of Mauna Nada | Ego Rodriguez | Liam Campbell | Richard Vyse | David Jester | Aaron Moth | Travis Chantar | Douglas Simonson | Guglielmo Plüschow | Vilela Valentin | Dante Cirquero | Nebojsa Zdravkovic | Brenden Sanborn | Wilhelm von Gloeden | Richard Haines | John MacConnell | Leo Rydell Jost | Jim Ferringer | Juliusz Lewandowski | Felix d'Eon | Herbert List | Joe Ziolkowski