The idea of this Condomi condom ad is that these fruit-flavored condoms are so tasty, you may be tempted to take a bite. I do not feel this campaign would make men rush out to buy them. Not men who want to keep their johnsons, anyway. [The Awl]

How many times have I complained that my boyfriend’s enthusiasm for my BJ talent has been cutting into my drinking schedule? I lost count. Luckily, my problem could be solved with these new whiskey-flavored condoms from the genius company McCondom. But, you see, I’m picky: Which kind of scotch do these flavored condoms taste like? Because the deep smoky quality of Laphroaig would be a bad match with the antiseptic flavor of latex, don’t ya think? The spicy opening note of Bewenie might make a nice pairing, but imagine the cost of that condom. Anyway, order these babies here—they’re about $5 a pair. They would go great in the gift bags at your bestie’s bachelorette party. The perfect nightcap, if you ask me. [BuzzFeed]

I suppose that since these condoms are called “novelty” condoms, they’re not suitable for human use, yet they still frighten me. The mere thought of utilizing any of the rubber numbers from the Willy Attire collection causes me to shudder in horror. From the beer stein to the banana, the cow to the devil, the elephant to the zebra, these johnson raincoats are not something most women want anywhere near their hoo-has. One supposes it would be amusing to see a guy tromping around in nothing but the gas mask jimmy, but, for God’s sake, don’t try to do anything with a willy if it’s wearing one of these, ladies. [Willy Attire via Gorilla Mask]

• David Beckham‘s face will be printed on condoms (which will be available for sale) at a Madrid art museum’s new exhibit called Tears for Eros. [Guardian]—Because that’s sexy and not creepy at all?
• In his first radio interview since the Rihanna incident, Chris Brown claims he wants another chance and that “at the end of the day, it just isn’t right to judge somebody.” [PopEater]—Er, except when you’re facing, you know, judgment.

A new study has found that British women under the age of 50 choose condoms for birth control as often as they choose the Pill. This is the first time the two contraceptives have been used equally (each is used by 25 percent of women under 50) since statistics have been collected. Campaigns to get women to carry condoms and protect themselves against STDs have been credited for the increased condom use, though over half of sexually active single people said publicity about STDs had not made them use condoms. Hmm ... I wonder if maybe all those crazy side effects of the Pill — not to mention expense — has something to do with the growing number of condom users? Maybe women are just sick of feeling sick. [via Daily Mail]

Planned Parenthood pairs with a fashion designer each season to create a stylish wrapper for its Proper Attire line of condoms. In the past, Yigal Azrouël and Alexander Wang created beautified wrappers, and this time around it’s Brian Reyes who is lending a print from his pre-spring 2010 collection. Rachel Bilson, America Ferrera, Leighton Meester, and Cate Blanchett all appreciate Reyes’ style, and we’re pretty sure their your boyfriends will, too. [Proper Attire]

This is another one of those ads that I just can’t figure out. It’s for condoms, apparently. Or a condom shop? I’m confused. And there’s something in there about rubbing one out, from what I gather. I Believe in Advertising‘s explanation doesn’t exactly help either: “Metaphor of the condoms like rubber gum and his utilization ‘to erase’ evidences.” HUH? WHAT? Totally confused. Maybe, if you use condoms, there will be no traces of ... something ... bad? I don’t know! Practice safe sex. That’s all I can figure out. Maybe one of you can explain it to me? [I Believe in Advertising]

These government-sponsored condom ads have been causing a bang in Paris (heh, heh). Translation of the dog-themed slogans: “Man’s best friend.” And because France is so egalitarian: “Woman’s best friend” too. OK, boy, now lie down!

Some people are still embarrassed to buy condoms. Gasp! How dare anyone know they have safe sex? To make purchasing and carrying condoms more discreet, Trojan brand condoms has created the Trojan 2GO, a pocket-sized package that contains two condoms. The hard plastic package makes it safe to stow condoms anywhere, even that abyss of a pocketbook you carry around, and the package can be snapped in two secure pieces so you can use the condoms individually or share with a friend. The Trojan 2GO is also the first condom you can find at the cash counter instead of at the back of the store. It comes in a choice of “Her Pleasure” or “Ultra Thin.” Check out the Trojan 2GO in action in Cobra Starship‘s “Good Girls Go Bad” video, starring Leighton Meester.

If you read our Condom Commandments, you know why you should use condoms. But let’s not discount the miraculous reasons to use rubbers. You may receive a religious message! One unsuspecting dude pulled off his jimmy to discover the Virgin Mary’s likeness crafted from the fruit of his loins. Check it out here. I wonder if this will encourage the Catholic Church to change their stance on birth control? More importantly, I wonder what he did with the condom? If he saved it, that’s gross. But if he threw it away, that’s blasphemous.

• A new “molecular” liquid condom has been developed that would prevent the transmission of AIDS during intercourse. The condom consists of a vaginal gel that turns semisolid in the presence of sperm, trapping the AIDS virus. [Medical News Today] – Sounds promising!

• “Twilight” has inspired clothing lines and greeting cards. Now, Mattel is launching two new Barbie dolls: Edward Cullen and Bella Swan. [People]—Sadly, Edward’s doll doesn’t do his steamy sex appeal justice.

Imagine this: You’re a young, single woman out in the jungle that is the urban dating world. One fine summer night, you meet a good-looking guy at a rooftop party. “Hello,” he says, as you push your way through the crowd toward the makeshift bar. “Do I know you?” you ask. “No, but I’d like to get you another drink,” he offers. You are charmed. “Of course—but be careful. They’re pouring heavy tonight,” you warn. He laughs. Before long, you and the young man are conversing while throwing back stiff vodka tonics. Soon, you are making out. Why not, right? He invites you home with him. You agree. You are pleasantly surprised when you arrive at his swanky, apartment, and it’s clean! Before long, you’re both naked. Then, he utters some alarming words. “Do you have a condom?” he asks. “Um ... Not on me. Don’t you have one?” you ask. “Can we skip the condom? I prefer sex without a condom. I have great self-control,” he explains.

Authors of a new paper in Contraception magazine say that the withdrawal method is as effective as condoms when it comes to pregnancy prevention. They say “typical use” of the withdrawal method results in pregnancy 18 percent of the time, versus 17 percent for typical use of condoms. The lead author, Rachel K. Jones, told the New York Times that she and her colleagues wanted to publish the paper because the pullout method was being dismissed, and some people had the impression that it was akin to not using contraception at all. She added that it seemed logical to compare the withdrawal method with condoms because health care professionals advocate condom use, even though that method also has flaws. Now, however, some educators and physicians fear that putting out this new message will cause teenagers to abandon condoms altogether. They also point out that unlike condoms, the withdrawal method can’t prevent sexually transmitted diseases and infections. The pullout method is less problematic in marriages and other monogamous, long-term relationships, but what happens when a young man gets it wrong or doesn’t withdraw when he said he would? Can horny teen boys really be trusted to pull out?

It’s always been my understanding — from personal experience, friends’ experience and general popular culture — that most guys hate wearing condoms and if pregnancy and STDs weren’t a concern, they’d totally ditch the latex. But a recent letter to Time Out New York‘s sex columnist, Jamie Bufalino, has me scratching my head. Is it possible that some men actually LIKE wearing a condom? A reader writes…

Earlier this week, Lady Gaga took time out from pantslessness and boob explosions to volunteer at AIDS charity Body Positive North West in Manchester, England. “I want to make it fashionable to have safe sex,” she said. “You must be safe. You can have sex with hundreds of people with a condom on and get nothing. If you have sex without one, then you could get all sorts of problems.” Hey, if the singer can create a trend out of neglecting to put clothes on the lower half of her body, maybe she can get people to put on condoms.

While she was at the AIDS center, she helped paint the above mural that included her likeness. The hair-bow is accurate, but why is she wearing leggings? [The Advocate]

The Los Angeles County Sheriff is considering expanding a program that distributes condoms in a unit for gay men at Men’s Central Jail. Currently, an outreach worker from nonprofit Center for Health Justice stops by once a week to give one condom per inmate to the 300 men in that unit. Now they’re considering doubling the number of condoms being distributed. Sheriff Department officials say they spend about $2 million annually on HIV/AIDS medication and identify 65 new cases of HIV each month. “Sex in jails is against the law, but there is a public health issue that needs to be considered,” said spokesperson Steve Whitmore.

Three new studies have come out over the weekend that do anything but blow my mind. In fact, they annoy and perplex me. I’m all for research, but not when my tax dollars are funding what seems to be the accumulation of useless information. After the jump, three studies we could have done without.

Pharmacy checkout clerks, whether they know it or not, have a reputation for being the most judgmental people on Earth. Everyone is neurotic about what the cashier must be thinking when they slip a box of Durex condoms on the counter.

A bunch of Frisky commenters—not to mention Frisky staffers—attest that it is beyond awkward for them to purchase condoms, especially if they are locked in glass cases, which is the case in some CVS pharmacies across the country.

But I say poppycock. Salespeople get laid, too, you know! Besides, aren’t they more likely to be jealous that you are buying rubbers while they just going home tonight to masturbate alone and cry?

Seriously, buck up, friends, there are things that are way more awkward than buying condoms…

Is it possible to c**k block safe sex? Yes, say public health advocates who are going after CVS for sometimes locking its condoms behind glass cases!

Advocates For Youth and CureCVS are rallying people based on the findings of a Change To Win study, which investigated CVS branches in five major metropolitan areas. They found condom lockage is three times more likely to occur in areas where minorities live—which obviously is discriminatory and needs to stop immediately.

As someone who has at least a surface interest in interior design, I feel pretty strongly that a person’s possessions and home decor ought to say something about him or her. I, for example, have a ton of Asian crap around my apartment, like silkscreens, fans, woodwork and other knick-knacks, not because I’m Asian, but because I was born in Japan and lived the first 13 years of my life in Asia. My fiance, whom I live with, has framed concert posters of Johnny Cash and Loretta Lynn, a nod to his favorite music. And I guess people who are really into safe sex and, um, sleeping would love this silkscreened condom pillow. It comes with a little slot to keep your real condoms, and even a giant fabric condom that I guess you could use as a sort of laundry bag. Any other ideas? A condom ghost? Pillow set is $80 at Etsy. [via Tools of Attraction]