This is unbelievable! A new vaccine was developed against cervical cancer appears to be almost 100% effictive. It also protects against a sexually transmitted virus, so social conservatives are trying to prevent teenage girls from getting the vaccine because “immunizing teen-agers could encourage sexual activity.” The argument is that if teens feel safer after being vaccinated, it “may lead to more sexual behavior because they feel safe.”
What we have here is a an actual cure for cancer, which should be given to as many people as possible, but is being hampered by conservatives trying to control our behavior.
Alan Kaye, executive director of the National Cervical Cancer Coalition, makes a good point: “Just because you wear a seat belt doesn’t mean you’re seeking out an accident.”

Link to Article

In South Africa, with the world’s highest per-capita rate of reported rapes (119 per 100,000 people, though unre), a female condom was invented that has barbs built into it that will hook onto the rapist during the initial penetration. It will cause incredible pain, and can only be removed by surgery. It is meant for women who frequently have to travel dangerous areas late at night, and would be used as a safeguard against rape.
Already, there is a lot of controversy over this device.

Controversy in South Africa over device to snare rapists – World – smh.com.au

A bunch of crazies calling themselves Peaceoholics (original, doncha think?) have camped in protest outside of Rockstar Studios, the publisher of the games Grand Theft Auto and the upcoming Bully. They are currently protesting the Bully game, in which you play a school bully. Don’t you love it when people protest something they know nothing about?
Here are their demands:
# Not to release Bully under any circumstances
# Volunteer to sell its violent and sexually explicit games in adult video stores only.
# Let parents return Grand Theft Auto for a full refund until they do a national awareness campaign to educate parents of content and possible effects.
# Create a fund for victims of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and car-jackings, etc.
# Make a national apology for misleading and lying to children, parents, and legislators about their intentions and causing insurance premiums to sky rocket.
# Give a written response within five business days of receipt of these demands.

Pure craziness.
Link

Formerly of Monty Python’s Flying Circus, Michael Palin has traveled around the world filming travel documentaries for the BBC. I’ve seen a few, and they’re all quite excellent.
Now, you can read many of his travel books for free!

Link

Steven Johnson wrote the book “Everything Bad is Good For You: How Today’s Popular Culture is Actually Making Us Smarter.” In an open letter in the LA Times, he addresses Sen. Hilary Clinton on her convenient and timely stand against the “explicit” sex in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. A good read.

read more | digg story

In response to the GTA:SA controversy:
An MIT professor tries to separate fact from fiction by doing an unbiased study on the affects of video games. Definitely worth the read, and he seems very credible.

read more | digg story

An Australian study shows that using a hands-free cellphone kit while driving is no safer than holding phone up to your ear.

Ha! I knew it!

Link

A Picture Share!
Originally uploaded by elbaso.

The janitors where i work are protesting, which means i have to bring my own toilet paper. Stupid unions!

While I think it’s premature (and hilarious) for such a specific market share amount, especially this early in the game when prices haven’t been set for any of the next-generation consoles, it’s interesting that they’re predicting a much lower market share for the PS3 than the PS2 has over current consoles.
Still, I gotta say that I’ll probably be getting both the XBox 360 and the PS3! Better start saving…

http://www.joystiq.com/entry/1234000777050094/

forksplit is one of my favorite personal blogs. It’s from a lady living in Brooklyn, with an interesting (and psychotic) family and worldview. I frequently laugh out loud at these posts, and look forward to new ones.
The post about her experience taking a broken iPod in to the Genius Bar at an Apple store is priceless!