Where's the male birth control pill?By Elizabeth Landau

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/05/07/future.contraceptives.male.pill/index.html

The article discusses how birth control has been focused on the women's anatomy more so than the male's. Women have a variety of ways to prevent pregnancy, such as the pill, patch, IUD and so on. But what about male birth control? Could they have further protection other than abstinence and condoms? Dr. John Amory of University of Washington is quoted as saying, "The joke in the field is: The male pill's been five to 10 years away for the last 30 years". It is medically harder to produce effective contraceptives for men. The article also discusses effectiveness in men (for some reason it was more effective for Chinese men) and how it may be percieved in the public. Would women be able to trust men that they are on birth control? Would there be a rise in STDs?

This article is interesting and catches the interest of sexually active people. It is also interesting because of the sociological effect the male birth control pill might have on society. The article is well sited and refers a lot to its medical studies. As far as the sociological side, the article references to how people reacted to the female birth control pill. The argument is persuasive to people wanting to engage in protected sex. Its also persuasive to femenists not wanting to be the only ones taking precautions.

This article made me feel frustrated, because I've been hearing about male birth control for years. More positively, the article intruiges me because it is scientific and dealing with genetic and hormonal breakthroughs. Personally I would like there to be birth control available to everyone. I feel healthwise, it would be in everyone's best interest to have all medical possibilities available.

Hook Suspension-visual image

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Suspension_Moscow_4.jpg

Image might make you squeamish!

This is a wikipedia URL showing an image of hook suspension. In the photo a person is being hung by flesh hooks embedded by the back skin of his back, shoulders and legs. The setting looks like one of entertainment because there is an audience watching intently and taking pictures of the suspendee. Hook suspension and body modification are not commonly understood by the general public. Most people viewing the image would probably have feelings of disgust, confusion, fear, and maybe curiosity.

A lot of people would probably feel disgusted by the image because it involves flesh, blood and strain on tissue. People would also feel confused by the image because the activity involves self-physical harm. Its hard to understand why someone would intentionally hurt themselves. Those who are afraid of the image might be worried that the suspension wasn't consensual. They might be worried that the person is being tortured for the amusement of others. If that were the case, it would be very scary indeed.

Despite initial reactions people might have towards hook suspension, their is a culture surrounding it. One would not normally know about hook suspension or have positive feelings towards it unless they were personally involved. The social circles that participate (watching or recieving) are there because they enjoy the experience from pushing their physical limits. The desire for that is off-center, and uncommon. Therefore hook suspension is part of subculture, and will probably always have a stigma towards it. It currently works out that those who desire it will find it, and those who don't will stay out of it. No harm done. Erm, except to the suspendee, but he wanted it so its okay.

Negotiation by The Wet Spots

This is a performance by "The Wet Spots", a sex positive band that sings about relationships, kink, and humor. They've been known for traveling across colleges and conventions giving a humorous take on sex and relationships. I was fortunate enough to see them once, and really enjoyed their live performance.

I've always been interested in a culture's take on sex education and acceptance. I feel that our schools are really lacking in sex education, and that their teachings are based more on whats socially acceptable as opposed to what's factual. I attended Catholic high school, the sex education was primarily based on abstinence and what is morally "right" sexually. There was a lot of stigma around homosexual relationships and alternative partner dynamics. I learned what the Catholic Church felt was right or wrong when it came to sex, but I wasn't taught about methods of birth control or protection against STDs.

Fortunately, I had a cultured background and parents to educate me on how to protect myself from pregnancy and STDs. As far as the emotional side of sexual relationships, I've learned through reading, advice from friends, and personal experience. However, a lot of young people aren't as lucky as me. A lot of teenagers have parents that are too embarrassed or conservative to give sexual advice. Schools have primarily taught abstinence as opposed to protection and health. This has resulted in an high number of teenage pregnancies and STDs.

I've always enjoyed "The Wet Spots" because they are funny and have creative videos. I like that they've taken sex education to a new level by singing satirically about it. My hope is that our schools will take an unbaised stance towards sex education, and try to look at sex more positively like "The Wet Spots" have.

Euthanasia sources

http://www.procon.org/

I think pro-con is a good source to research euthanasia and various other topics. Pro con is non profit and unbaised. They provide arguments from both sides of an issue, and have verifiable facts on the subject.

I plan on reading both sides of the argument even though I know I'm pro-euthanasia. Having perpective of both sides will give me a better understanding.

Pro-con has passed the CRAAP test, and is a good source for additional artices and medical records.

Thesis Statement on Euthanasia

The right to live or die should be our own choice to make. Euthanasia should be made legal and regimented in the United States. Hospitals should institute an assisted suicide program in order to make euthanasia a safe process. With proper guidance and protocol, the choice to die can be dignified.

Tyra Banks off the island

I'm not anti-model or against the fashion industry, but it displeases me that Tyra Banks has a show featuring her opinions on people's lifestyles. I've only taken note of her shows when I've found out she's been disparaging people's lifestyle choices (ex: polyamory, elective surgery, being in the porn industry, etc). In the shows I've looked up, Tyra Banks will invite an interviewee, ask a few questions about their choices, make a rough and dubious assessment about the person, and then accuse the interviewee of lying when they deny her assessment. An example of this is when Tyra interviewed an Asian women who chose elective surgery for an eye lift. The interviewee said she chose the the surgery to reduce bags under her eyes. Tyra accused the interviewee of lying, on the basis that the woman was too young for an eye lift (according to Tyra). Tyra then leaped to the conclusion that the interviewee was a self-hating Asian, and that she elected for eye surgery to "look less Asian". Tyra compared this to herself in the modeling industry, when she wore hair weaves instead of styling her natural Afro-American hair. This to me, seems like a large leap of logic to assume that the interviewee was a self-hating Asian, or comparing elective surgery to hair styling. More importantly, who is anyone to judge a person's choice for cosmetic surgery? Elective surgery does not inherently make someone a bad or unhappy person. Tyra Banks has also had similar interviews with couples in open relationships, porn stars, and other alternative lifestyles.
Its not that I think Tyra Banks is the worst person in the world or anything, but I do think she is a bad influence on the media. She sets an example to people that they should be ignorant, judgemental, and biased. Instead of trying to understand other people's choices or lifestyles, its much easier to disparage something you're not familiar with. Tyra Banks is also making a bad rep for lesser understood groups of people.
It harmful to society to create prejudices instead of promoting understanding and education, and that is exactly what Tyra is doing on her show.

Four topics...

1) Religion Based Schools-Yes or no? There are a lot of schools in the USA that are religion based. Their rules are often enforced by that religion's moral system, and said schools usually teach classes about their chosen beliefs. Richard Dawkins (an Atheist mascot) says that schools shouldn't decide on a child's religious beliefs. However, many parents want to raise their children with a strong religious background. Should it come down to the choice of the child, or the choice of schools and parents?

2) Polygamy/Plural Marriage-Should it be accepted legally? Plural relationships are not recognized legally by the US. For some this is a thought out lifestyle choice. Others are brought up into it without any other options. This can lead into cult-like groups with child brides. Would it be safer to make plural marriages legally sanctioned? Or would it be morally wrong to bring up family members in a plural marriage lifestyle?

3) Making your genetics public-Would this make health insurance better? Scientific research has made it possible to analyze your DNA, your family health history, and what diseases/health problems you'll have. Should health insurance organizations know about your genetic predispositions toward health problems? Would it be helpful, or an invasion of privacy?

4) Euthanasia-Should there be legally assisted suicide? I think its still against the law to commit suicide in the US, but some countries such as Belgium have assisted suicide programs. Would it be morally wrong to sanction this? Would programs such as this get abused (ex: putting down premature babies instead of helping them), or would it help patients in need (ex: patients suffering from chronic pain).