social science palooza

social science experiment summaries

fascinating...

new york's new sex symbol

New Yorkers have a new sex symbol. The international sign for the power button (the circle with the line thrusting out the top) will grace the wrappers of millions of New York City condoms.

The city's health department distributes 40 million free condoms every year. But the official design was less than stimulating. Enter the Web. An online contest for a special limited edition wrapper brought out the city's more dirty-minded designers and 15,000 people voted on the finalists.

The winning "power-on" logo was thought up by Luis Acosta, a designer from Queens.

"I wanted to associate it with something we see in our daily lives so it wasn't taboo for people," Acosta said. Not that he found the power symbol arousing, or anything. "I like electronics but I don't like them that much."

New York City's health commissioner, Dr. Thomas Farley, unveiled the design in a ceremony featuring the five finalists.

"When I saw [the design], I said this is pure genius," Farley told the crowd. "Everyone recognizes that symbol on their PC. People should use their own power to control their sexual health." And once you see the power-on logo in a sexual context, it does have a dirty vibe to it. That's the beautiful thing about designing a condom wrapper: It makes the most simple image seem erotic.

Runner-up Russell Greenberg put a 19th century top-hat on his wrapper design.

"It seemed like a simpler, more chivalrous time, so I wanted to remind people of the fact that there's good manners involved in sex," he said. And if you picture your favorite little gentleman wearing a jaunty chapeau, then so much the better.

Other entries in the condom contest were more suggestive. There was the image of a manhole. Another wrapper featured a subway train plunging into a dark tunnel.

"I didn't want it to be in you face, you know," explained designer Gene Lambert. After all, there's nothing dirtier than the New York City subway system.

Acosta's power-on design will not be on all of the city's official condoms. But with a limited release of 6 million, it will likely become one of the most recognized logos in New York.

"I get to be part of 4 million people's sex lives," Acosta calculates, noting that many people will grab more than one. But not Acosta. He's married and says he doesn't use condoms anymore.

by Robert Smith/NPR

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124503824

very important!!!

LADIES AND GENTS, PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THE GLOBAL AIDS CRISIS IS STILL IN EFFECT AND IF YOU THINK THE WORD "GLOBAL" DOESN'T INCLUDE YOU, YOU CAN CALL IT THE LOCAL AIDS CRISIS.

i'll admit, AIDS is not something i think about on a regular basis... however, thanks to mac's viva glam campaign, i've become re-aware.

the newest statistics show that AIDS is not a "gay" disease. in fact, the ppl most at risk are straight women ages 17-24 and 39-60. (just fyi, that's you.)

so, i suggest you listen to the mac viva glam spokespeople, who happen to be the amazing cyndi lauper and lady gaga, take a hint, support the cause, but the lipstick, spread the word.

check it out on the mac viva glam site

unbelievable and unjust

New Oklahoma law will publicy post details of women’s abortions online.

On Nov. 1, a law in Oklahoma will go into effect that will collect personal details about every single abortion performed in the state and post them on a public website. Implementing the measure will “cost $281,285 the first year and $256,285 each subsequent year.” Here are the first eight questions that women will have to reveal:

1. Date of abortion
2. County in which abortion performed
3. Age of mother
4. Marital status of mother
(married, divorced, separated, widowed, or never married)
5. Race of mother
6. Years of education of mother
(specify highest year completed)
7. State or foreign country of residence of mother
8. Total number of previous pregnancies of the mother
Live Births
Miscarriages
Induced Abortions

Although the questionnaire does not ask for name, address, or “any information specifically identifying the patient,” as Feminists for Choice points out, these eight questions could easily be used to identify a woman in a small community. “They’re really just trying to frighten women out of having abortions,” Keri Parks, director of external affairs at Planned Parenthood of Central Oklahoma, said. The Center for Reproductive Rights is challenging the law, arguing that “it violates the Oklahoma Constitution because it ‘covers more than one subject’ — a challenge that previously worked to strike down an abortion ultrasound law.”


here are some comments posted in response to this too:
>>"This is an outrage! ALL medical records are to be kept private! What’s next? Publishing who is on Birth Control? I don’t see anyone demanding that MEN have to release information if they get Viagra."
>>"New Oklahoma law will publicy post details of women’s abortions online.
– - In which public square will they have the bonfire burning of these women?"
>>"I can’t get over this. Why are people so dumb to allow this to happen? I thought the Righties were so concerned about the ‘Government’ taking over everything, and yet, they allow this? Peeking into private medical records? Pulbishing personal information?"
>>"Before this law goes could someone post all of personal details of the “lawmakers” who voted for this? Phone numbers, addresses and e-mail addresses should be included so they can be contacted about the absurdity of this."
>>"Fundies are worried about abortions but could care less about healthcare and education. "
>>"Does Oklahoma really have $256,285 to $281,285 a year to spend on this? Wouldn’t that money be more useful… say… hiring teachers, paying for police equipment, or paying for flu shots for underprivileged kids? Aren’t we in the middle of an economic crisis? Oh right, we’re 'in recovery.'"
>>"What this country is desperately in need of is a constitutional amendment protecting the right to privacy. So-called conservatives make a big deal about government staying out of peoples lives. Conservative and hypocrite now have the same definition."
>>"Wouldn’t this violate HIPAA laws? Also, by forcing only women to reveal personal private information (and not men), doesn’t this also violate the 14th Amendment?"
>>"I say, fine as long as they produce information about the person who fathered the embryo. like how many other women he’s knocked up, his race, age, and county he did the deed in.
If they’re trying to prevent unplanned pregnancies, they should also threaten the father, and in small communities, it’ll be easier to figure out his identity as well."


http://thinkprogress.org/2009/10/08/oklahoma-abortion-online/

maternal mortality

maternal mortality is a global concern, but it is not just under-developed countries where it is most prevalent. in 2007, the world health organization (WHO) reported that 40 countries have lower maternal death rates than the united states. FORTY countries? this is the u.s. ppl! this shouldn't happen! the world mortality rate is higher now than in 2000. as many as one in six women in parts of africa dies from pregnancy- or birth-related complications. every minute of every day, somewhere in the world, a woman dies of pregnancy- or birth-related complications. this adds up to more than half a million women each year.

in the united states, the post-birth care has significantly decreased, making complications that could easily have been treated in a hospital immediately fatal instead. some common problems are infection, hypertension, septic shock, and amniotic-fluid embolism. the centers for disease control (CDC) has estimated that more than half of these deaths could have been prevented with diagnosis and treatment. Ina May Gaskin, a certified professional midwife explains, "they used to keep women in the hospital for 10 days after birth because they were so worried about complications. by the 60's, they shortened that to five days, and in the early 90's suddenly the hospitals switched and made everyone get out in two or three days." two days is not enough. "you're home, you're still hurting, you could be infected, you could still have something in your uterus. all these things can be dangerous, and they can be easily fixed if you spot the trouble in time."

so how do we lower our percentage of deaths? a simple combo of rest and at-home check-ins by a postpartum nurse or midwife for several days after delivery. this kind of program is de rigueur in the netherlands where the risk of dying by pregnancy and childbirth-related complications is one in 10,200. the united states' number is one in 4,800. <<

sarah brown, wife of the british prime minister and co-chair of the maternal mortality leadership group puts it best: "when you save a mother's life, you save the best person to raise her children, feed, clothe, vaccinate, and educate them, and also contribute to her community, her economy, her environment. ***save the mothers and you can save the world."

what can you do to help? support the white ribbon alliance for safe motherhood (WRA) which is a coalition of medical professionals and others from 140 countries who are working on behalf of women worldwide. visit whiteribbonalliance.org
also, you can write to your congressperson or local newspaper in support of maternal health legislation.

info from jenna gabrial gallagher, harper's bazaar.