Letters to the Editor	Letters Archive

Memories of a Rose Stemmer

As an old ranch boy from Tucson, I can tell you that stemming the rose [the subject of Loose Lips, May 2006] is indeed slang for masturbating. It is derived from stroking or pulling down on the stem shaft of a thorned rose to remove or break off the thorns to created a thornless stem.

Expert stemmers can do it with one stroke of their heavily gloved hand. It requires a precise amount of pressure to break off the thorns without damaging the stem or the rose itself.

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I personally recall the expression as far back as the late 50s-- it was a joke among cow punchers and cattlemen.

T.S.
via email

Preying on Predators?

I just devoured Cop, Prosecutor, Hangman [from February 2006]. I'm not at all condoning the men who were online looking to take advantage of a teenager for sex. However, few have pointed out the other side of this, either.

In the mainstream media, Justin Berry was continually referred to as a "victim." I find that notion ridiculous. He took advantage of the situation and was a predator of "the predators." It is possible that these people may have found someone to prey on, but let's not forget that Justin took entreprenurial spirit to a new level and gave them an outlet that didn't before exist.

W.J
via email

Wants Mag in Boondocks

I just found a Guide magazine from 2002! Are your subscription rates the same? What about Male Box personal ads, the same price?

I don't go to the big cities, so can't pick-up issues in the bars. Look forward to subscribing and placing an ad.

R.B.
Eagle Lake, Florida

Our subscription rates and Male Box prices have not changed; see page 4 for subscription info, and page 110 for placing a Male Box personals ad.