From today’s b, the paper

Promiscuous Brits, wherever you are
Americans have gotten a lot from Britain, notably independence, mincemeat and now David Beckham’s foot. But there’s one thing Brits have on us: promiscuous sex.

The Times in London reports that in an international index measuring one-night stands, total numbers of partners and attitudes to casual sex (yes, there is such a thing), Britain comes out ahead of any big western industrial nation, above, in order, Germany, the Netherlands, Czech Republic and Australia.

The United States ranks below all of those countries, at No. 6.

Researchers behind the study said high scores such as Britain’s may be linked to society increasingly accepting sexual promiscuity.

“Historically we have repressed women’s short-term mating and there are all sorts of double standards out there where men’s short-term mating was sort of acceptable …,” said David Schmitt, a professor at Bradley University in Illinois, who oversaw the research.

Hmm … “short-term mating” is now my favorite euphemism for “hoing it up.”

strange fruit
Next time you and your SO have a romantic jump-start dinner of oysters, try washing it down with some pomegranate juice.

U.K. paper The Daily Express reports that, according to a new study, pomegranate juice boosts men’s sex drive. It also helps fight heart disease, but let’s learn more bout the sex!

Scientists at Sussex University asked 14 couples to perform tasks, including kissing and looking at scantily-clad models, as well as non-sexual images, after drinking pomegranate, orange or cranberry juice.

Researchers monitored volunteers’ heart and pulse rates and brain waves. After drinking the pomegranate juice, the couples were found to kiss more passionately, but the effect was more prominent in men, who also looked at sexy models for 16 percent longer after drinking pomegranate juice. Better stock up!

never been kissed
I know couples still abstain from sex until marriage, but abstaining from kissing? Really?

That’s what oddly named couple Melody LaLuz, 28, and Claudaniel Fabien, 30, did, nbcchicago.com reports. When the pair did finally kiss during their wedding ceremony, it lasted nearly two minutes and was in front of 500 family and friends.

“It feels like such a gift, LaLuz told the Chicago Sun-Times. “When you value a kiss, it becomes something of worth.”

You can pick your jaw off the ground, because the couple practices what they preach. They’re abstinence educators in the Chicago Public Schools.

dalai lama: new sex advice columnist?
When I think of sex, I invariably think about the Dalai Lama, so this bit of news makes me sad.

Agence France-Presse reports the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader said last week that sex always means fleeting satisfaction and trouble later, while his chastity offers a better life and “more freedom.”

“Naturally as a human being … some kind of desire for sex comes, but then you use human intelligence to make comprehension that those couples [are] always full of trouble,” he said. On second thought, he may be onto something.

Jordan Bartel is assistant editor at b. E-mail him at jordan@bthesite.com

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