smart & curious
A list of intriguing sex/love things
- This pewter syringe was recovered from a 1711 pirate shipwreck. Also: “The urethral syringe contained mercury, which most likely treated pirates aboard ailing from syphilis.” Just sayin’!
- This 1920s ‘kissing screen was used to achieve the ‘pure and germless kiss’. Recommended usage as per Popular Science magazine: “use this small racket after washing it in an antiseptic.” Umm, no.
- The Rodin sculpture titled ‘The Kiss’ is intended as a companion piece to the more famous ‘The Thinker’—and has been called “the frankest—and most popular—images of carnal love in the history of art”. But Rodin himself dismissed it as “a large sculpted knick-knack following the usual formula.” For a boundary-breaking Rodin sculpture of female sexuality, scroll down here to see the ‘Iris, Messenger of the Gods.’
A short list of good reads
- William Dalrymple’s essay on why we travel and how India changed him is a must-read.
- This Mumbai Mirror column makes a passionate and provocative argument against putting products on sale!
- The Conversation explains how ‘white’ became a metaphor for all things good.
- The News Minute has an excellent write-up on Chennai-based comedian Abhishek Kumar who created the priceless Miss Janaki.