Returning to the fold?

After eagerly anticipating each episode of Big Love's premiere season, we found our interest wandering somewhere mid-way through the next. And we didn't pop into the compound once during the entirety of season three. (Juniper Creek? Um, no thanks...)

With a brand new season set to roll out tonight on HBO, we figure we'll stroll through--check on the sister-wives and see how things are playing out these days.

Here's a handy refresher recap if you'd like to meet up!

Buy the book!

Rachel Kramer Bussel, whose previous literary offerings, He's On Top/She's On Top graced the swag bags for the CineKink kick-off party back in February, has a brand, er, spanking new opus available...Spanked: Red-Cheeked Erotica. And, with her finger ever on the pulse of the latest publishing trends, she's just put out a trailer for the book:




And if you're looking for some other hot reading to toss into the beach bag, be sure to check out Tantra for Erotic Empowerment from Mark Michaels and Patricia Johnson (CineKink NYC/08) and the very latest on consensual non-monogamy, Tristan Taormino's Opening Up: A Guide to Creating and Sustaining Open Relationships.

Update 7/21: Vimeo removed Rachel's original trailer, so we've replaced our links for the version available on YouTube.

In case you missed it...

Here's the pilot episode of Swingtown, which premiered Thursday night on CBS.

The recap from the network: As American celebrates the bicentennial, Susan and Bruce Miller move their family to an affluent Chicago suburb. They are not only welcomed to the chick (sic) neighborhood, but also the social and sexual revolution prevailing throughout the decade. They find out that their neighbors share more than a view of Lake Michigan. Initially bewildered by their new surroundings, Susan and Bruce come to realize that their promiscuous neighbors present a tantalizing offer that may provide the excitement their marriage craves.

Indeed. There's nothing that spices things up like a few promiscuous neighbors, so take a gander - and then discuss!

Poly on the red carpet

Putting in plenty of face time at all of the past year's award shows, Tilda Swinton has also put a new spotlight on non-monogamy, as a regular companion on the red carpet has been her boyfriend Sandro Kopp - both seen here in a picture snagged from the British Independent Film Awards - and not her long-time partner, John Byrne.

Rather refreshingly in these past weeks of scandal upon scandal, the fact that she's part of an open relationship has been directly acknowledged, along with the tidbit that Byrne stayed behind in Scotland to mind their twins while Swinton was scooping up her Oscar.

In Wedded to Variety, a Chicago Sun Times article triggered by the high-profile arrangement, polyamory activist Anita Wagner observes that "Tilda's relationship situation is exactly like the relationships of many people I know. Except for the fame and money."

Yes, except that!

Um. Boobies?

We're still in Portland and still in the midst of a manageable-but-taxing family medical situation, so the blogging's been definitely few and far between.

But, mayhaps we can distract you with a video tribute to breasts from self-proclaimed "boobiesexual" and sultry-voiced creator of the podcast Polyamory Weekly?



We certainly enjoyed the distraction!

O-O-Oprah...

The talk show maven who regularly bashed the viewing of pornography and seemed perplexed by the purpose of various sex toys seems to be turning over a new, er, leaf. Last year she welcomed swingers into her midst. Lately she's been sporting a whole new cheerful moniker for referrring to her genitalia. And this week's show, Let's Talk About Sex, did just that, opening the gates to the consideration of sex for older women, the possible enjoyment of pornography erotica by women in general and, truly mixing it up, a look at committed, open relationships.

A computer programmer and a stay-at-home mother, the couple profiled for the show, Greg and Hollie, appear to be - bless the producers! - aggressively "normal:"

Hollie enjoys reading, playing violin and knitting. Gregg's hobbies include reading, hiking, camping and fencing. They love their two children, and their marriage, they say, has never been better. But there's one thing about Hollie and Gregg's life together that's a little more unconventional.

Like 7 percent of women and 14 percent of men who answered a poll on Oprah.com, Hollie and Gregg say they have an open marriage.

Starting with lots of talking and a bit of outside dating, the discussion of how their particular arrangement transpired is continued on the show's website. Along with pages and pages of viewer comments - many of them, presumably, from the percentile of Oprah's audience not in an open relationship. Not yet, anyway.