A recently surfaced 1864 letter provides a glimpse into a little-discussed affliction among Civil War soldiers – chronic masturbation.
The handwritten note by Confederate Lt. William Dandridge Pitts inquires about the condition of his brother Charles, who was discharged from the army in 1862 due to an unspecified “illness.” Charles was residing at the Western Lunatic Asylum in Virginia.
According to Charles’ doctor and accounts from fellow soldiers, his illness was a relentless addiction to masturbation. “I have had some conversation with the physician who attended my brother previous to his going to the asylum,” Lt. Pitts wrote, “and he advises me…that [Charles] was addicted to masturbation, while in camp.”
The letter highlights the mental health toll of the war, even before combat began. Soldiers forced to endure their comrades’ “self-pollution” no doubt developed deep psychological scars.
While masturbation remained taboo in the Victorian era, it was pervasive enough in the military to earn the nickname “Johnny Reb.” The irony of this affliction among troops from Virginia, the “state for lovers,” was surely not lost on the Pitts family.
The letter survives in excellent condition despite its delicate subject matter. This “director’s cut” offers intimate insight into secret struggles in Civil War ranks.
In a bizarre and costly crime, thieves have made off with two tanks of high-value bull semen from a farm in Clogher, County Tyrone. The theft of the cryogenic storage units represents a major financial blow, with the contents estimated to be worth a substantial sum into the tens of thousands of pounds.
The thieves targeted the farm sometime between Monday evening and Tuesday morning. The stolen semen was valuable genetic material used for artificial insemination in cattle breeding programs.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has launched an investigation and is appealing for witnesses. Given the highly specialized nature of the stolen property, they believe the tanks would be difficult for the thieves to sell on. Anyone noticing suspicious activity related to agricultural genetic materials is encouraged to contact the police immediately.
Do Men Buy Flashy Cars to Overcompensate? Study Finds Truth in Old Stereotype
A new study suggests there may be some truth to the old stereotype that men buy flashy sports cars to compensate for lacking in other areas. Researchers at a London university set out to explore if feelings of inadequacy about penis size motivate men to seek out symbols of virility like sports cars.
The team manipulated participants’ perceptions of their manhoods by presenting misleading information intended to make some men feel below average in endowment. These men were then more likely to express interest in buying a sports car, suggesting they may use conspicuous consumption to boost self-esteem.
The effect was strongest among men over 29, who showed statistically significant increased desire for sports cars after receiving small penis misinformation. The study indicates that age impacts mating strategies, with older men more motivated to showcase status to overcome perceived inadequacies.
This builds on earlier research finding sports cars help men attract dates but don’t necessarily signal long-term partner potential. The authors suggest further study into whether other luxury items similarly compensate for male insecurities.
Of course, flashy cars likely provide an ego boost regardless of the driver’s anatomy. But this study sheds light on the deep-seated psychology potentially at play for midlife men gripped by sports car fever. While pop culture has long joked about compensation, this research suggests a real link between feelings of inadequacy and conspicuous consumption.
Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the wife of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, sobbed as she described Harvey Weinstein’s distorted and fish-like genitals during her bombshell testimony at the disgraced movie producer’s sexual assault trial on Monday. She was describing Weinstein’s penis, which she described as “fish-like.”
Siebel Newsom broke down in tears as she described how Weinstein allegedly raped her in 2005 at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills. She was identified in court as Jane Doe 4.
Standing, I am. She stated, “I’m resisting.” Horror. I’m shaking. My worst nightmare is this. I’m nothing more than a blow-up doll that he’s using to masturbate.
Siebel Newsom responded, “When asked by Deputy District Attorney Marlene Martinez to describe Weinstein’s physique: He had a lot of yellow and green marks, bruises, and stretch marks on his belly, and he was very unfit physically. The penis looked strange and uncircumcised, almost fish-like, and the testicles had something distorted. There was a lot of skin there.
Siebel Newsom, a former actress, is the fourth woman to testify against Weinstein in his Los Angeles Superior Court trial for alleged sexual assault.
Weinstein is facing charges for allegedly sexually assaulting four women in Los Angeles between 2004 and 2013. He is currently serving a 23-year sentence in New York for rape and sexual assault.
Siebel Newsom, 48, stated that she agreed to meet Weinstein in his hotel suite to talk about a movie project and because he could help or hurt your career.
Siebel Newsom, on the other hand, stated that once they were alone in the room, Weinstein changed into a robe and began to manipulate and threaten her, mentioning the names of several actresses.
She claimed that Weinstein used his fingers and then his deformed penis to get into her private parts.
Siebel Newsom sorrowfully said: He is aware that this is abnormal. He added that Weinstein initially was unable to conceive. He is aware that this is not consent.
She added that because he presses me back against the bed, he then inserts a portion of his penis inside of me. Because his penis is so bizarre and messed up, it won’t stay in. He is aware of this. I was simply concerned about contracting a disease. It was so filthy.
Siebel Newsom claimed that she was frozen in fear when she tried to stop Weinstein by placing her hand on his penis.
During testimony at a sex abuse trial, model Claudia Salinas said, “Oh, I just made some noises to get him to ejaculate faster,” and she insisted that she was never Harvey Weinstein’s “pimp.” just like sounds of pleasure.
Siebel Newsom claimed to have lost all words when Weinstein ejaculated. She cried and said, “I just wanted to get the f— out of there.” Please pardon my usage.
