This aesthetically pleasing, well-designed take on the popular “rabbit”-style vibrator was my own masturbation toy of choice for several years. Its shaft and clitoral stimulator are in the shape of a mermaid and her upturned tail, making it a unique and stylish non-realistic, dual-action vibrator|Rabbit vibrators: Mary mermaid by Fun Factory. Everyone who has had the privilege of seeing mine has been impressed by its good looks.

The 4 1/2 inch shaft has asymmetrical ridges and bumps that feel great upon insertion. There are “pearls” concealed under the mid-section of the shaft that rotate when the twisting head is turned on, stimulating the walls of the vagina and G-spot when it’s inserted. The 2 1/2 inch clitoral stimulator can vibrate at different intensities, but I find that leaving the vibrations off or at a very low level while the shaft rotates is a great warm-up to a powerful G-spot orgasm|G-Spot Stimulation. Because the silicone transmits the vibrations effectively, the shaft tends to vibrate softly when the clit vibe is at full-power. Each of the two functions--vibration and rotation--has a separate sliding control, and a power button turns the whole thing off, which is a nice feature if you choose to store it with the batteries still in. A small green light indicates that it’s on, and silicone is easy to clean.

The vibrations are rich and moderately strong (about a 3.5 on the scale), but not as pulsating and intense as those of the Magic Wand|Hitachi magic wand vibrator (about a 5 on the scale). The intensity of the vibrations and rotations do diminish as the four AA batteries run out of juice—something that happens with nearly all battery-operated vibes. One definite engineering flaw is that either the vibrating or rotating function will decrease in intensity as you turn up the other function. This is barely noticeable with fresh batteries, but becomes more pronounced as the batteries run out of juice. The battery base is a bit bulky, but is effectively used as a handle for solo or partner play; if the battery cover becomes loose over the years, a bit of electrical tape will keep it in place.

I bought the Mary Mermaid|Rabbit vibrators: Mary mermaid by Fun Factory for myself on my birthday back in March 2004, happily spending about $100 on a toy from a German company, Fun Factory, that I knew was well-respected for its high-style, high-quality toys. Unlike the majority of sex toys|Sex toys for couples that break within the first year, this one is still running in April 2008, although the rotating “twist” function did break after about 2.5 years. Also, the battery contacts tend to weaken over time, but I found that by stretching the springs that hold the battery in place, I was able to fix the problem. Manufacturers typically suggest storing toys without the batteries installed, and although I did not do this, I suspect it may have further extended the life of the toy. Still, the fact that it runs after nearly fours years of regular use (1-3 times per week) is very impressive in the world of sex toys.

My girlfriend recently gave me a new model, which is fully functional, and I have to say, it's really refreshing to have the twisting action back! Now I just have to dispose of my old one. Does anybody have any tips about how/where to recycle used toys?