How to travel with sex toys

For some, holiday travel is a nightmare of logistical snarls and social minefields that leaves them stressed out and desperate for a little release. For others, it's an escape from the grind of the rest of the year, which may give their libido a little boost(Opens in a new tab). In either case, sex toys can offer some assistance. Natasha Marie of the sex tech company MysteryVibe refers to them as "a lifeline to sanity" over the sometimes tense festive season, or "extra holiday spice" for either solo or partnered sex. 

But the prospect of taking a toy on a flight can feel daunting at the best of times, thanks to popular horror stories(Opens in a new tab) about airport security agents pulling them out in front of a crowd during a search, or freaking out when a vibrator accidentally goes off inside a bag. Staying with family or friends over the holidays can add an extra layer of concern about discretion: What if someone you don't want privy to your intimate life finds your favorite toy in a shared space — or hears you using it? 

These concerns are all valid. But a dozen sex toy makers and retailers and sex educators, told Mashable they're all easy to mitigate or avoid — if you keep a few basic tips and tricks in mind. We've compiled all of their advice into a quick and dirty guide to holiday travel with toys in tow. 

Of Toys and TSA Agents

Here's the good news: In theory, U.S. airport security(Opens in a new tab) and airlines allow all kinds of sex toys in both carry-on and checked bags. (Most nations are similarly permissive. But it's worth noting that sex toys are illegal in a few countries(Opens in a new tab). So, always check local laws before you fly abroad.) 

However, in practice there's one big caveat on this general allowance: If a security official thinks you could use a toy as a weapon, then they won't let you take it onboard in a carry-on bag.

Unfortunately, it's hard to say what kinds of toys will trigger this kind of scrutiny with certainty. A big dildo made of metal, for example, might make it through one security screening without issue, but get flagged as a potentially dangerous cudgel on another. Much of this comes down to the perception and discretion of individual TSA agents(Opens in a new tab), who Carol Queen(Opens in a new tab), staff sexologist of the toy retail chain Good Vibrations, notes are often overworked and may be unfamiliar with the full spectrum of toys. But she and others have found that BDSM gear tends to trip security's danger senses more often than other items. "Ropes, cuffs, impact toys — especially solid ones like wooden bats or high density plastic paddles could ring bells for a screener," explains Queen.

Given these inconsistencies, Queen and others advise erring on the side of caution and checking any toys that you worry an uninitiated eye could view as a weapon — or shipping them ahead. 

However, you might still get stopped and screened in airport security even if you haven't packed anything that looks remotely dangerous in your carry-on, either because you seem anxious(Opens in a new tab), you end up on the wrong end of a random(Opens in a new tab)(Opens in a new tab) bag check(Opens in a new tab), or the agent reviewing your bag is confused by something they see or hear. "If screeners see something they don't recognize in your luggage, they may want to inspect it," Queen notes. "If your toy has batteries in it or, heaven forfend, has switched itself on and is vibrating, they'll probably want to figure out what it is, as well." 

"If it’s in your carry-on, they might hold it up in front of a very crowded room full of people going through security," Queen adds. 

Amy Boyajian of the sex toy retailer Wild Flower recalls that a close friend had to deal with a bomb squad after their Magic Wand went off in their luggage."

If the thought of such a public airing of your private items mortifies you for any reason, then sex therapist Dulcinea Pitagora(Opens in a new tab) recommends checking all of your sex toys, even if they are in theory carry-on friendly, just to play it safe. "Checked bags can still sometimes get searched, but at least in that case there wouldn't be a public aspect to the search," she pointed out.  

However, checked bags sometimes get lost. And travelers occasionally report toys going(Opens in a new tab) missing(Opens in a new tab) from checked bags in transit. "Losing a sex toy in a checked piece of luggage would be quite sad!" noted Jenni Skyler, a sexologist who works with the major toy retail chain Adam & Eve. 

If for whatever reason you can't check a bag, or don't want to risk a loss, then experts suggest packing a small, discreet toy that could pass for something else to avoid possible embarrassment during a potential public search. "There are small vibrators that look like lipstick cases that can be tucked into your makeup bag, as well as vibrators created to be worn as beautiful necklace pendants, that can be packed with your jewelry," says sex therapist Sari Cooper(Opens in a new tab). Small items have the added bonus of freeing up luggage space and keeping your carry-on lightweight. 

Folks who don't give two figs about people seeing their sex toys in public and pack explicitly erotic items do occasionally report getting hassled by sex-negative airport staff, Pitagora notes.  Having a showdown about sexual biases and/or bigotry at a security checkpoint may not go over well. So, Queen suggests that, "if you get slut-shamed, you should take people's names and badge numbers, get on your flight, and report them later."

If you pack your sexual paraphernalia in a carry-on bag, then remember that any lube you bring is subject to TSA liquid rules. You can find travel-sized lube bottles. Or, MysteryVibe’s Marie notes, if you're worried about people seeing that you've packed lube during a public check, "use an unmarked travel container" to store your lube — multiple containers if you want to bring lots.  

Kim Airs(Opens in a new tab), a sex educator and toy seller, adds that when she's traveled with masturbation sleeves made of TPR(Opens in a new tab) or TPE(Opens in a new tab) materials, she's found that they sometimes "show up on TSA X-rays as large bags of water, which is of course a no-no." To avoid trouble you may need to check those toys, or leave those behind. 

Regardless of whether or not you check your toys, the experts Mashable spoke to all noted that if your toy uses batteries, you ought to take them out to avoid accidental activation that could lead to a security scare, or just overheating in your bag. (Some airlines have specific rules(Opens in a new tab) about if and how you should pack batteries, so you'll need to check your carrier's regulations.) If your electric toy uses a charger rather than batteries, consider running down its charge before you travel. (Just don't forget your charger!) Some modern, high-tech toys also include travel lock features that allow you to skip this onerous process and travel without fear of a buzzing disaster. 

Put all of your toys in a clear plastic bag as well, suggests Boyajian, so that if security personnel take them out of a checked or carry-on bag for a quick exam they'll be visible but remain clean and sanitary. Label your toys as well, they added, so that security officials know what they're looking at. "This can be especially helpful for sex toys and tools that look more abstract or artsy than your classic dildo or bullet," they noted. 

"If you still have the original packaging," it may be useful to pack some or all of that as well, says Julia Lopez of the sex toy brand Dame. "I find that the TSA rarely opens a box that has print reading 'vibrator.'" A product description and image next to a loose item in a Ziplock bag will also likely allay any concerns or confusion that an agent might have about a given item.  

And of course, if your toy is delicate — like a porcelain or glass toy — make sure that you pack it in a secure travel container. Or at least wrap it in clothes. You don't want it to shatter in transit. 

Home for the Holidays 

"Some people might not have any issues with others knowing they use sex toys or seeing their sex toys," says Pitagora. "But others might prefer to keep that part of their life private." Yet privacy may be hard to come by when you share a house with friends or family for the holidays. 

If you're mainly worried about people hearing you using a toy while in a packed house, you can always use a toy that doesn’t make any noise, like an analog dildo, says Skyler, then muffle your own vocalizations. However, many people prefer — or need — toys with a motor. 

Companies do make toys with quiet settings and whisper motors, Skyler noted. But if you don’t already own and enjoy one of these, sex therapist Rosara Torrisi(Opens in a new tab) cautions against buying a new one just for travel. "It would be deeply disappointing to get to your destination, whip out your new toy, and find that you're not as in love with it as you'd hoped," she says. "Cue sad music."

She suggests just checking the volume of your tried-and-true toys by turning them on, then stepping into another room and closing the door. If you can hear it whirring or buzzing, experiment with putting it under the covers, putting a rolled towel by the bottom of the door, or putting it in the bathroom while the shower's on to see if that sufficiently muffles the sound(Opens in a new tab). (Bathrooms are a good choice for privacy in a shared space, and showers give you cover for extended usage. But don't use a toy in the shower unless it specifically notes that it’s fully waterproof.)  You may also consider hanging back while other people head out of the house for optimal toy usage privacy. But Cooper notes that this makes many people feel awkward and self-conscious.

Discreetly storing your toys may be tricky(Opens in a new tab), as you will likely have less control over the space you're staying in, and fewer storage options, than you would at home. In theory, just keeping your toys in your luggage, perhaps wrapped in clothes or stashed in a toiletry bag, should be sufficient for keeping your private items away from prying eyes. "Most folks travel with a toiletry bag, and your hosts won't think twice about seeing it" in the open, argues Boyajian. 

However, presumptive relatives could snoop through your bags and belongings. Young kids especially may get curious and grabby, Cooper notes, and may bring "your dildo into the living room where your family is hanging out." 

If you're particularly concerned about discretion and security, Queen notes that you can find a few slim and lightweight storage boxes with locks on them. Boyajian cautions that these lock boxes can eat up space, and may actually "catch the eyes of intrusive folks" themselves, though, inviting scrutiny and questions. Likewise, packing a toy that doesn't look like a toy may solve discretion issues in some cases, but may invite so what’s that thing type questions from nosy folks that you don't want to deal with. So, you'll need to weigh some pros and cons against your particular concerns and circumstances when deciding on an ideal low-key storage approach.  

Also, consider that trying to keep your toy out of view from others may limit your ability to plug it in for a recharge. Skyler suggests bringing a battery-powered toy, and bringing spare batteries, to avoid any potential charging issues. Johanna Rief of the toy brands Womanizer and We-Vibe notes that you could also just invest in a portable charging block, which you can use in optimally private spaces. If you recharge that in public, you can just say it's for your laptop. 

Similarly, if you don't want to tote your toy around a shared space — and you don't want to or can't use it in the bathroom — then you may need to find "some way to clean your toys that doesn't include bringing them to a sink," Airs says. She recommends investing in "a small packet of baby wipes… that do a very effective cleaning job and are easy to toss into the trash." 

Mix and Match 

Rief points out that a number of companies make specifically travel-friendly products, which work well with most or all of this advice. But it's worth keeping in mind that a travel-perfect toy may not actually be perfect for your body, or your sexual wants and needs at any given moment. If that's the case, buy or bring the toy that's right for you. Then mix and match bits and pieces of advice from this guide, as well as your own commonsense, to work with your own toy, travel concerns, and wider circumstances. 

And even if you buy a perfectly discreet toy and follow all of the advice in this guide to a tee, there's always still a chance that a nosy security official or family member is going to get their hands on your toy and ask you some questions about it, possibly in front of other people. That's why Queen believes that, "if someone travels with toys, they should be prepared to speak up about them. At the very least, practice saying, 'it’s a personal care item' while looking a person in the eyes, as though there's nothing to be ashamed about. Because there isn't!" 

Matt Damon has more to say about sexual harassment and, oh boy …

Matt Damon needs to stop talking about sexual harassment until he actually gets it.

After a whole week of being lambasted by folks like Alyssa Milano following his unfathomably misinformed ABC News interview, the Hollywood star has more to add. More!

In fact, Damon thinks we should be talking more about the men in Hollywood who aren't sexually assaulting people. In an interview with Business Insider(opens in a new tab), promoting his new film, Downsizing, Damon said he thinks men "who don't do this kind of thing" should be given a pat on the back.

“We’re in this watershed moment, and it’s great, but I think one thing that’s not being talked about is there are a whole s—load of guys — the preponderance of men I’ve worked with — who don’t do this kind of thing and whose lives aren’t going to be affected.”

Look, Damon appears to be coming from a good place, but dude, this moment in history is not about men who "don't do this."

Damon goes on to congratulate himself on being one such non-harasser, and refers to an ambiguous "sexual harassment thing" that he would totally sign, guys.

"If I have to sign a sexual-harassment thing, I don’t care, I’ll sign it. I would have signed it before. I don’t do that, and most of the people I know don’t do that.”

It may surprise you, but the reaction to Damon's comments has been less than positive.

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Look, we get it Damon, you're trying to be supportive of your workmates who haven't assaulted anyone, that you know of.

But perhaps, given the circumstances surrounding your ol' pal Harvey Weinstein, who is facing sexual assault and harassment accusations from over 100 women, it'd be the perfect moment to lend support to victims, acknowledge Hollywood's systemic sexual harassment problem, and shut the hell up.

Genius ushers in 2018 with iconic moment from Beyoncé and Nicki Minajs Feeling Myself

There's only one person in this entire damn universe with the power to command the world to stop—Beyoncé.

In the final milliseconds of 2017, the dulcet sound of Beyoncé ordered the world—and year— to stop. And, as 2018 began, she gave the world permission to "carry on."

This was no coincidence, friends. Ingenious Twitter user @xavierliciouss(opens in a new tab) spent New Year's Eve conducting an extremely important experiment involving "Feeling Myself" by Nicki Minaj and Beyoncé.

"So I tested out the theory that if you play "Feeling Myself" by Nicki Minaj and Beyoncé at exactly 11:58:50 pm on New Year's Eve, Beyoncé will say "world stop" in 2017 and "Carry on" in 2018, AND BITCH IT WORKEDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!" she wrote.

And, here's the proof...

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This is the only worthwhile way to bring in the New Year. Thank you and good night.

Carry on, world.

Facebook freezes Venezuela presidents page for promoting a false COVID-19 cure

Venezuelan president, Nicolas Maduro, had his Facebook page temporarily frozen for violating the tech giant's policies against spreading misinformation about COVID-19, Reuters reports(Opens in a new tab).

Back in January, Maduro publicly advocated that Carvativir — a traditional remedy derived from thyme — was a "miracle" treatment that cured coronavirus. But without scientific evidence to support it, the claim was never approved by doctors.

Maduro also took to Facebook to post a video promoting the medication. In the video, he refers to Carvativir as "miracle drops" which can be used to both cure coronavirus and prevent a person from contracting it. Given that the video spreads false claims, Facebook removed it from Maduro's page.

But the social media company didn't stop there. A spokesperson confirmed to Reuters that, “due to repeated violations of our rules, we are also freezing the page for 30 days, during which it will be read-only.”

Additionally, the social media company made it clear that Carvativir is not a cure or preventative for coronavirus. “We follow guidance from the WHO (World Health Organization) that says there is currently no medication to cure the virus,” the spokesperson told Reuters.

Maduro isn't the first politician to promote a "cure" for COVID-19 on Facebook. Former President Donald Trump also used the platform to falsely claim that REGN-COV2, the antibody cocktail given to him in the hospital after contracting COVID, was what he called a cure.

But regardless of whether you're a political figure or just a regular person posting on Facebook, the same rules apply. As stated under its Community Standards(Opens in a new tab), Facebook says it will "remove misinformation when public health authorities conclude that the information is false and likely to contribute to imminent violence or physical harm.

Man accidentally buys 1000 hens from online auction

Steve Morrow had no idea what he was getting into when he put in a peculiar bid on the New Zealand auction site Trade Me.

The sale was for "one 1000" hens, according to Stuff(Opens in a new tab). The ad also read, "As a matter of urgency we need to move approximately 1000 hens." A small free-range egg farm was closing down and needed to re-home its birds. Morrow thought the auction winner would be allowed to take as many hens as he or she pleased, but uh, that's not how it worked.

"When the auction closed, I thought 'this is great', I could take as many birds as I wanted," Morrow told Stuff. "But when I spoke to the man and he said it was for 1000 hens ... holy moly, I was stunned, I can tell you that."

Morrow said the wording of the ad was "confusing," but the seller, Matthew Blomfield, didn't agree. He told Stuff he thought the ad, which mentioned 1000 hens three times, was clear.

"It's pretty bloody hard to get that wrong," he said.

Now Morrow, the maybe-not-so-proud owner of a 1000 hens, is trying to find homes for the birds.

"He didn't just make a mistake and not follow through," Blomfield told Stuff(Opens in a new tab). "He contacted Animal Sanctuary and they're helping us interview those that have put their hands up – we want to make sure these birds are going to safe homes." Morrow appears to be making significant progress.

After he posted about the incident on social media, at least 700 of the hens reportedly have new homes lined up. Morrow is keeping 20 himself.

So that leaves only about 280 hens still in need of new owners. Any takers?

Race horse loses rider but wins our hearts by racing without him

They're calling him a dark horse, but we see nothing but a bright beacon of what perseverance in the face of adversity looks like.

At the Preakness Stakes show Saturday on Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course, the take-no-sh*t horse named Bodexpress bucked off his rider before even leaving the gate. But he wasn't gonna let the split on the account of their creative differences keep him from doing what he does best: racing his goddamn heart out.

Embodying the #resistance movement, Bodexpress persisted, completing the entire race without his jockey.

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His joyride of freedom might not have been within the rulebook of the Pimlico Race Course, but it was a victory for the spirit. Bodexpress became an internet sensation, even getting his own Twitter moment(Opens in a new tab).

Despite stealing the show, though, he was ultimately disqualified for not finishing the race (which is BS, if you ask us). Ironically, the much less strong-willed horse named War of Will took the prize home instead.

Bodexpress' jockey, John Velazquez, was thankfully uninjured -- aside from the hurt to his pride.

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"When the doors opened, I was off right from the start. He kind of jumped sideways," he told ESPN about their disastrous start. "I had my feet out of the irons, so I lost my balance then, I went off."

But honestly we get it. Maybe Bodexpress just got tired of only getting half the credit while doing most of the work. Maybe he's a symbol of the proletariat revolt that late stage capitalism needs. After all, it's the horse who's out there busting his ass winning races yet this guy gets all the fame and glory? Not in our America, buddy.

"He was just not behaving good in the gate. He was not sitting really well," said Velazquez, in a completely incorrect assessment of this very good boy horse's behavior.

We don't care if you didn't officially win, Bodexpress. You're a hero. And you don't let The Man tell you what races you can and can't participate in.

The sun is shining, your skin is glowing, and your thighs are...on fire. Yep, the season of "chub rub" is upon us.

Behold, a pair of jeans guaranteed to be the arch-nemesis of anyone whose thighs rub together during those sticky summer months.

ASOS is selling a pair of jeans with something called a "suspender detail," which essentially means there's two giant holes on each thigh. Somewhat crucially, these holes expose the area of skin prone to chafing, which could make these jeans very uncomfortable.

For those unacquainted, the term "chub rub" refers to thigh chafing which occurs to people of all shapes and sizes due to increased heat and sweating.

For those of us who spend our summers trying to avoid this particularly unpleasant aspect of warm weather, these jeans are basically our worst nightmare.

The jeans will set you back(opens in a new tab) £17.50 ($23) from ASOS.

No thank you!

Feisty young racehorse escapes stables, rampages through betting bar

After the week that was, there's nothing more satisfying than watching a young racehorse rampaging through a French betting bar.

Customers merrily spending their morning at a local establishment in Chantilly, north of Paris, were rudely interrupted by a young bucking horse around 10 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 24.

In CCTV footage taken from the PMU bar (that's Pari Mutuel Urbain, France's national betting system), the lively and seemingly panicked filly prances through the tables and chairs, while customers flee.

According to French newspaper Ouest France(opens in a new tab), the hoofed anarchist had fled approximately one kilometre (0.6 miles) from its stable within a training facility near Chantilly's racecourse.

According to witnesses who talked to the publisher, the bar door was slightly open, and customers saw the horse coming, but didn't think it would actually come into the bar. Luckily, no one was injured.

"She came in, pushing the door. She raced all the way to the PMU corner. Then, the filly turned around, breaking a table and chairs," bar owner Stéphane Jasmin told the newspaper, as per Google Translate.

So, how did this young rebel escape? The horse's trainer, Jean-Marie Béguigné, told OF: "Between the track and the stables, his rider fell. The filly escaped by going on the road, crossing a roundabout before entering this bar."

Although the renegade was reportedly apprehended in a car park, and returned to the stable, Béguigné said the horse has "a penchant for escape."

Needless to say, folks were rather taken with this cheeky cheval.

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The irony was not lost on those with local knowledge that the young budding racehorse had rampaged its way through a bar where people can bet on horse races — in Chantilly, of all places, which is renowned for its horse racing industry.

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Of course, this young'un wouldn't be the first horse to walk into a bar.