hedgehog.

[squeequeg]

The painters have started work. What began as just a constant scraping noise, not unlike a giant hedgehog attempting to scratch itself against the house, has grown into multiple scrapings and bangings. Like an army of hedgehogs.

I think I may try to spend the day away from the apartment.

In other news, I saw an article about how federal guidelines on sex and AIDS education are now federally required to stress the limitations of condoms. Does this strike anyone else as weird? I mean, teaching sex ed by emphasizing condom failure rates seems a little like teaching drivers' ed by emphasizing seat belt failure rates. Yeah, neither of them is perfect, sometimes you'll die even if you used them, and if you're being an idiot about the correct way to use them then you're definitely more at risk, but if you're going to drive then it's safer to use a seat belt.

Abstinence teaching only works for a while -- maybe enough that those taught are now psychologically ready for sex, which is good in some ways -- but they don't know how to protect themselves once they're ready. This isn't so much about teaching values any more as about teaching survival skills.

Anyway. Rant over.

Comments

[ltlbird.livejournal.com]

Hooray for giant hedgehogs! Since I own a hedgehog, I can affirm that the critters make some pretty weird noises from time to time. Percy occasionally squeaks in a way that I still can't comprehend.

As for sex ed, I agree that the emphasis on failure rates is a little weird. I suspect it's one of those compromises that had to be made to get a law through. Argh. I heard some interesting stats about abstinence pledges this weekend. Apparently, as you say, they work for a while, but once the kids who have pledged start having sex, they are much less likely to use condoms (I believe 40% of pledgers reported using them as compared to 60% of non-pledgers). One expert suggested that kids who have focused on abstinence previously view sex more emotionally than other kids, so they are less likely to think of or want to bring up the practical aspects, like protection. If you talk to them, they know they should use protection, but they may feel that the person they finally decide to have sex with is The One, so they don't worry about it. A related stat is that in communities where abstinence pledge groups have high enrollments STD rates are also higher than normal. Leads me to believe that some sort of combination of the two approaches needs to be developed such that teens (who are unquestionably hedonistic) learn that the decision to have sex should not be made lightly, but that once they take that step, no matter how much they love and trust their partner, they need to protect themselves.

from collectibles to fishbowls

[minyan.livejournal.com]

When I was writing for the paper, I covered a Berkshire Coalition to Prevent Teen Pregnancy meeting that was fascinating. They had a documentary about European teenager and American teenagers, and their response to condoms. (In Europe, according to the film, teen pregnancy is substantially lower.) In europe, condoms appear in ad all the time - and ads that sugest the wearers are having a great time. In America, they appear with images of green filds and a voiceover like a Woolite promoter, and they'e advertised for married couples.
In europe, they're as normal as balloons: in one ad, children collected them as brightly colored objects and tossed them around on a school bus. in another, a woman broke her goldfish bown in a crosswalk, picked up the fish, dashed into the nearest pharmacy, asked for a condom and filled it with water for temporary transport. Parents and teachers helped reinforce the message, and the teens thought it was common knowledge: one said, it's not hard - you wait, or you use a condom. In America, it's harder to get condoms, and the kids interviewed thought it would mak them look too forward - nice people don't want to have sex, therefore they don't come prepared. if a girl finds out you have a condom, she won't think you're taking a practical precaution out o respect for both of you: she'll think you want too much too fast. It struck me that the American kids were trying to do the 'good guy' thing, as it had been presented to them.
I figure a teenager who's in a position to have sex for the first time isn't going to be at his or her rational best; they'll be half flying blind on emotion and half relying on what they think this situation is suposed to be lke. It'll all be unamiliar. If condoms are a familiar part of the pattern, they'll think to use one. If condoms are something still more unfamiliar, they won't.

[shari-b.livejournal.com]

Ok, this is *completely* off thread, but, as I just got internet at home I was going through the last couple of month's worth of my friend's entries, and I just came across the one that said that you're getting your book published! Wow, congrats! Someday when I come back to Boston, can I get a book signed? :)

Hope all's well! *HUG*

- S

[stealthmuffin.livejournal.com]

Whoops! Sorry, it's just a story, not a book -- but I'll certainly sign a copy of the magazine.

And yes...when the book is published, and it will be, it will be...I'll sign a copy of that too.