text:
Federal officials formally charge infant kidnapping suspect
Authorities to transfer Kristen Smith to Wis. before Friday
MADISON, Wis. — The woman who allegedly took her half-sister's 5-day-old baby from a Beloit home on Feb. 6 has officially been charged with kidnapping, according to a state Department of Justice release.
Kristen Smith, 31, of Aurora, Colo., was originally charged with kidnapping in a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Madison on Feb. 7, according to the release. She was arrested in West Branch, Iowa, on Feb. 6 and has been in custody there since her arrest.
Smith allegedly took 5-day-old Kayden Powell and left him behind an Iowa gas station, in freezing temperatures. He was found alive 29 hours later.
If convicted, Smith faces life in federal prison, according to the release.
Smith will be brought to Wisconsin by federal law enforcement officials this week, officials said. Her initial appearance is scheduled for Friday.


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Wednesday, August 15, 2012
The Short Life of the Unpopular Bonnie Posy
The year was 1965. Yes, that's me, with my new Christmas present, Bonnie Posy. Despite the obviously pleased look on my little face, I have no recollection of ever owning that doll. Don't remember playing with it. Don't remember picking it up off the floor. Don't remember what ever happened to it.
I've had a lot of luck learning about old toys through Google and eBay, most impressively through the Ugly Baby posts. I never thought I'd know so much about that doll. But for some reason, Bonnie Posy is proving to be a more difficult subject.
The only information I was able to find on this doll was through a couple of newspaper ads, circa 1964-65, one of which appears below:
The above advertisement was from the Milwaukee Journal, December 4, 1964, courtesy of Google News. While it vaguely resembles my doll, it's obviously not the same; but the doll in the ad is the 1964 version, and mine made her appearance the following year – perhaps a newer model. At any rate, with Cootie games (remember those?) selling for ~$1.50, the $4.99 price tag on this doll would suggest that it was a much-coveted item on the wish list of little girls of that era.
So why don't I remember this doll? The only other ad I found was for these dolls on "clearance" in 1967, so perhaps Bonnie Posy was a "flash in the pan." Apparently mine was!
4 comments:
I played many a game of Cootie, but don't remember Bonnie Posie. I do remember Chatty Cathy and being a little miffed that people would use that term for me. (kathy at abbieandeveline.com)ReplyDelete
I've never heard of Bonnie, either. My favorite doll as a kid was Tiny Thumbelina - I still have her packed away in a hope chest!ReplyDelete
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text: Here are some scenes from the Chama River Canyon Wilderness, located in the Santa Fe and Carson National Forests in New Mexico. This 50,300-acre wilderness created in 1978 includes a 6-mile segment of the Chama River with the many-hued sandstone bluffs rising to high rims on both sides. This river segment is included within the Wild and Scenic Rivers System.


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text:
Kevin Tancharoen already expressed his big interest in Mortal Kombat universe, first by making that short film Mortal Kombat: Rebirth and then by directing a web-series with popular characters. Well, it seems all that work paid off, because Warner Bros. and New Line are moving forward with the reboot and they hired Tancharoen to direct.
From The Hollywood Reporter:
"Mortal Kombat is heading back to the big-screen.
New Line is hiring the filmmakers of the popular Mortal Kombat digital series, made earlier this year by corporate sibling Warner Bros. Digital Distribution, to take on a new adaptation of the classic 1990s fighting game. There is no actor attached and the new story will not serve as an extension of the game of digital series."
Below is the short film he directed:


text:
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text:
Perfume is one of the greatest public threats, especially when lavished with careless excess. Smelling good is an admirable desire, one to be encouraged for sure, but the chemical cocktails that some hapless souls feel compelled to bathe in are far more offensive than a little B.O. Sensitivity to scents is on the rise, perhaps from overexposure, but the average cologne has simply never appealed to me, always too pungent and completely unfamiliar. If I ever wanted to smell like something other than myself, it wouldn't be an indescribable aroma defined only by a brand name, but something edible. Anyone who knows me probably saw this one coming, but food scents are a completely different story, literally adding a welcome spice to the day.
For years, vanilla extract was my perfume of choice; a dab on the wrist and behind the ears set me in the right mood for a day at school. Floor cleaner is best in lemon, that bright citrus simply screaming out "I'm clean!" far clearer than any product touting itself as ocean wave, or the equally mysterious "fresh rain." Likewise, my hand soap smells like tomato vines and body lotion has notes of cucumber.
Call me scent-sensitive, but these omnipresent aromas affect not only my mood, but also my cravings in a big way. That fact became abundantly clear as soon as a new grapefruit facial scrub was incorporated into the daily beauty routine. Within just a few washes, I found myself yearning for a taste of that bold, sour, sprightly flavor. Never mind that it had been years since I last sampled this blushing citrus fruit- I suddenly couldn't get enough, eating them straight and incorporating the segments into just about everything.
That's where this highly aromatic risotto came in. Perfumed with grapefruit, juicy chunks of the flesh are sprinkled throughout, bursting with bitterness that perfectly cuts the rich, creamy base. Accented by the spice of wasabi and a topping of peppery watercress, it's a lively savory side that may very well steal the show at dinner time. Don't fight those strong flavors, but pair it with a more mild protein, such as tamari-baked tofu or a simple chicken-style seitan cutlet. Otherwise, feel free to turn it into a one-pot meal by adding in a can of rinsed chickpeas, or 2 cups of shelled fava beans for a real seasonal treat.
No matter how many offensive scents you may encounter in your daily trials and tribulations, the aroma of this risotto bubbling away on the stove will surely set you right.
Grapefruit and Wasabi Risotto
2 Tablespoons Avocado Oil or Olive Oil
1 Leek, Thoroughly Washed and Thinly Sliced (White and Light Green Parts Only)
2 Cloves Garlic, Finely Minced
1/4 – 3/4 Teaspoon Salt
1 Cup Sushi Rice
3 – 4 Cups Low-Sodium Vegetable Stock, Warmed
1/4 Cup Mirin
2 Tablespoons Nutritional Yeast
1 Large Pink Grapefruit
1/2 Cup Plain, Unsweetened Vegan Creamer or Coconut Milk
1 1/2 – 3 Teaspoons Wasabi Paste*
To Finish:
1 Medium Ripe Avocado
1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
2 – 4 Ounces Watercress
Avocado or Olive Oil (Optional)
*The amount of heat that wasabi paste packs varies greatly depending both on brand and age. Most are still mixtures of horseradish and vinegar, but what's more concerning is the occasional inclusion of milk-based additives, so read labels carefully. The longer you keep a tube in the cupboard, the less spicy it will taste, so keep that in mind as you begin to incorporate it into your cooking and adjust the quantities accordingly.
Set a large saucepan over medium heat and warm the oil before adding in the leek and garlic. Saute for 5 – 8 minutes, until softened and aromatic, before stirring in 1/4 teaspoon salt to draw out more of the vegetables' moisture. Incorporate the rice, stirring to coat, and cook until translucent; about 3 – 4 minutes.
Pour in the first cup of warm vegetable stock, mirin, and nutritional yeast, reducing the heat to medium-low, keeping the liquid at a gentle simmer. Stir periodically, scraping the bottom and sides of the pot with your spatula to prevent the mixture from sticking and burning. Once the liquid has mostly absorbed into the grains, add in another cup of vegetable stock.
Meanwhile, zest the grapefruit and hold the zest off to the side. Supreme the fruit, lightly chopping the segments into bite-sized pieces.
After about 25 minutes of cooking, the liquid should have absorbed into the rice, and the rice will be creamy but tender. Turn off the heat and add the creamer, grapefruit zest, and 1 1/2 teaspoons wasabi paste, stirring thoroughly. Gently fold in the chopped grapefruit pieces, being careful not to smash them or break them up further. Add more salt or wasabi paste to taste.
To serve, thinly slice the avocado and toss it in the lemon juice. Spoon out the portions of risotto into bowls and top each one with a few slices of avocado and a generous handful of watercress. Drizzle with an additional drizzle of oil if desired. Enjoy immediately while piping hot!
Serves 3 – 5 as a Side Dish


text:
Today August Blackburn's birthday. Bertille went up town this morning to get the mail. Papa is settling posts & Steve Rheinecker came over by him a little while. We found 23 eggs today. Ed L. Parker was visited by a little stork the other day, a girl.
March 8, 2011


text:
Over the last two weeks the hacker group Anonymous has waged a vigorous campaign against Chinese government, company, and general websites, according to a series of posts by Emil Protalinski over at ZDNet.
They've reportedly hacked or defaced hundreds of sites, and the Chinese government has even acknowledged the hacks.
In what would seem to be related news, it was widely reported yesterday that the Chinese government blocked access to all foreign websites for over an hour. Speculation for the causes ranged from damaged cables as a result of the earthquake off Indonesia Wednesday, to the testing of a "kill switch" designed to sever the Chinese internet from the rest of the world.
The "Anonymous China" group launched its twitter account on March 30th and now has nearly 7,000 followers, from which it has been detailing its activities. It was endorsed by the official Anonymous twitter account, @YourAnonNews, which has built up a following of over 560,000 twitter users over the last several years.
The group has acknowledged that they are not Chinese nor are they based in China, made evident by their poor Chinese language skills, but they claim to have recruited some Chinese hackers, and are aiming for more.
This is the "mission statement" of sorts that was posted (in both Chinese and English) on the website pastebin:
Hello, we are Anonymous.
All these years the Chinese Government has subjected their people to unfair laws and unhealthy processes.
People, each of you suffers from tyranny of that regime.
Fight for justice, fight for freedom, fight for democracy!
In the defaces and leaks in this day, we demonstrate our revolt to the Chinese system. It has to stop! We aren't asking you for nothing, just saying to protest, to revolt yourself, to be the free person you always want to be! So, we are writing this message to tell you that you should protest, you should revolt yourself protesting and who has the skills for hacking and programming and design and other "computer things" come to our IRC: http://2.webchat.anonops.com/ channel: #GlobalRevolution .
We are Anonymous.
We are Legion.
We do not forgive.
We do not forget.
Expect us.
Can they actually take down the "Great Firewall of China?"
Probably not. As Emil points out, the firewall is a "massive and complicated system," and he is certainly far more qualified to make that sort of judgement than I.
But it will sure be fun to watch them try.


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text:
UPDATE: Here's a YOUTube video by young karezza practitioners discussing how they deal with birth control: https://youtu.be/aqRQRarppRs
I'm creating this forum in response to gustavo andradne's comment: "Vasectomy could also be something unnecessary if one is in a relationship where it is OK to be inside her only during non-fertile days.. Maybe rhythm/'standard days' in combination with non-orgasmic copulation should lower the probabilities of pregnancy enough to be considered 'safe sex.'"
In this context I assume he's meaning safe sex in the sense of protection from pregnancy, not STD's.
I started a little 'zine a while back on sexual alchemy and i never finished it, but I did outline the partner-based birth control method that I have used successfully for over two years. This is what I wrote; hopefully it will be of interest:
I'm totally excited about the possibilities of closer intimacy and greater sexual enjoyment through the use of what I call a "partner-based" birth control method - combining sexual alchemy, fertility awareness, changing of vaginal PH, and - most importantly - intentionality. This method of birth control is for a couple in a committed relationship who are both on a conscious spiritual path, are practicing non-ejaculatory sex, and who have the patience and interest to know their own bodies well. When we are tuned in, we can care for ourselves and others in a more effective way.
In Taoist Sexual Alchemy, the male doesn't ejaculate and the woman doesn't ovulate, unless they want to conceive. I think it's clear that the simple act of the male choosing not to ejaculate is not sufficient as a method of birth control, and could be equivalent to withdrawal in effectiveness, particularly with a "drippy" guy. Read Mantak Chia's books "Healing Love Through the Tao" and "Taoist Secrets of Love" for further instruction, and use a backup method of birth control during the "learning curve," until the man has mastered control over his impulse to ejaculate.
The focus is not exactly taken away from the groin area, but the groin is seen only as the central starting point from which you can energize your whole system. The basic Taoist observation is that there are different forms of chi, or life force, and one of the most potent forms of chi is the sexual chi, or jing chi, because it can create life. And if we don't want to create life every time we have sex (which most people don't), then it's therefore a waste of chi to expend it externally through orgasm. So you recirculate the orgasmic jing chi back into your system to energize all of your organs, and in that sense it's a form of health care. There are various positions that are healing to certain maladies.
Since it takes many years for a woman to stop menstruating through Taoist Alchemy and meditation, that's clearly not an immediate possibility for birth control, especially for new practitioners of the art.
According to the Taoists, women lose their chi through menstruation, not orgasm. Ovulation and menstruation are the female equivalent of the male losing his seed. By doing the orbit meditation, women can actually eventually stop having their period altogether, since the life-creating energy is being internalized, rather than sent outwards. I haven't ever had the goal of stopping my period, but my roommate, who introduced me to this and who has successfully used this as a form of birth control for three years, has succeeded in stopping her menstruation. Nuns in China called this "Slaying the Red Dragon." Many people are horrified at this idea, even though many hormonal methods of birth control suppress ovulation as well, though not the bleeding. My periods have gotten much lighter and easier when I have been doing the meditation more diligently. Menstruation can be resumed when and if you want to conceive, by stopping the meditation.
Even if you're not in a long-term, sexual relationship, you can develop your awareness of the energies in your body by doing the solo cultivation; it doesn't necessarily need to have anything to do with sexual relationship. This is just about being empowered and distributing the chi evenly throughout your body. You can learn that technique and use it for being energized, and then when you do get into a sexual relationship, you've developed that ability.
There are other, more accurate and less-tedious ways to gauge how fertile you are in your cycle besides taking your basal temperature. This method is only effective for detecting ovulation if the temperature is taken at the same time each day, something which was inconvenient for me.
I've started to gauge where I am in my cycle by the position of my cervix in the vaginal canal, and the wideness of the opening to the cervix (the os) along with the hardness of the cervix. As ovulation nears, the os opens up, there is a slippery liquid at the opening, and the whole cervix itself rises higher and higher in the vaginal canal as ovulation approaches. After ovulation, the cervix begins to descend again, grows firmer (like pressing the end of your nose) and the os, or opening to the cervix, becomes smaller again. Go to www.sisterzeus.com/cervob.htm for more info and photos of the cervix at different times of the month.
To find out more about fertility awareness though mucus observation, visit: www.sisterzeus.com/mucob.htm .
I've read of whores in Mexico who insert a coke bottle in their vagina to change the ph and make it less hospitable to sperm. I myself have used a small amount (about 1 teaspoon) of high quality apple cider vinegar to a cup of water. After engaging in sex in which my partner does not ejaculate in me, I wash out my vagina with this solution using my fingers. The acidity should kill any lingering sperm. This is the part of the birth control method that could use the most improvement. The vagina is a delicate environment, and you don't want to throw it off balance. The vagina is normally acidic, becoming less so as ovulation nears. Vinegar is also a good antidote to candida infections, so I feel this douche is not harmful. However, it would be nice to discover other natural spermicides.
Even fairly radical hippies I've spoken with, who've tried a lot of things, have been wary of this method as I have described it to them, especially the intentionality aspect. So many of them have experienced negative results from the rhythm method. Also, though they may believe that one's intentions directly influence one's life, they would be hard-pressed to use intentionality as a form of birth control. I am not advocating the use of any one of these systems alone as a form of birth control - but, used together, they have been effective for me and others using this method for years.
In this method, both partners state their intentions not to conceive out lout to each other at the end of every menstrual cycle, and before having sex. This aspect of the birth control is very powerful, because both people communicate their desire to each other not to conceive, and in so doing, communicate to any souls waiting at the door who may be waiting for any slightest opening.
The couple gives reasons for not wanting to start a family. While they may already know as individuals that they don't want to conceive, the stating and sharing of the intention out loud as a couple is significant, and part of the spiritual practice.
Part of this practice is also to acknowledge any feelings either person has had to conceive. This feeling is not repressed, and if the couple sees this desire but still feels it is not the right time, they state more firmly their reasons for not wanting to conceive (obviously if they decide they DO want to conceive, this is an option too!). The couple also states their intentions for the whole relationship, and reflects on their interactions and intimacy over the past month, becoming more aware and deliberate in how they want to relate as partners.
Since the majority of contraceptive methods are designed for women's use, sex can be infected with the fear of pregnancy and the resulting resentment that the man doesn't have to shoulder much responsibility in preventing conception. This resentment and fear naturally affects the woman's overall desire. To be freed from anxiety, fear, and resentment is so huge. Underneath those feelings lie the woman's natural desire and love of sex, which easily equals that of man's.
This partner-based birth control method is a spiritual practice. It is radically different than other forms available, in that this is not an external method, where you rely on the condom or rely on the pill to prevent getting pregnant - you rely on each other, and that requires being in tune continually — with your own body and with your partner. It takes sensitivity, time, and communication to accomplish this method, and can be very rich, enjoyable, and valuable as a result. It's a joy to be in tune because that's why two people come together - because they like each other. It's not like it's a hassle to tune in; that's part of the spiritual practice. It requires self-discipline, self-awareness. It's the opposite of the consumerist approach to sex and birth control.
Spirituality acknowledges the human capacity to direct energy in a highly evolved way. So the relation of this method to spirituality lies not only in the acknowledgement of the power in choosing how to expend sexual energy; it also provides a map and understanding of the pathways that energy flows in the body, through the organs. And because each organ in Chinese medicine is associated with certain emotions, an organ with depleted chi is going to result in negative emotions. The reverse also happens, where negative emotions deplete that organ, and this in turn effects the glands associated with each organ, and their capacity to produce the drugs and hormones necessary for balanced functioning and therefore for happiness. A sexual practice that incorporates focused, directed chi in an intentional effort to energize and heal the loved one is very beneficial, because it is through generosity and selflessness that we tap into our true spiritual power.
I think that the spiritual impulse is basically the impulse to examine how one seeks to live one's life, and to try to find a way to live that is harmonious, energized, and peaceful. Being fertile is a very powerful capacity, so applying our awareness and intention to how we interact as fertile beings is not only important, but crucial to our own feeling of completion as sexual human beings.
Popular birth control threads
No one will guarantee that any birth control method is "completely effective." Even condoms have a failure rate. Sperm are crafty little devils, and women evolved to get pregnant, so their body chemistry conspires to aid their sperm pals. You can read some of these pages for the birth-control thoughts of people who visit Reuniting:
This is a very important subject
and it takes a lot of courage to propose a creative solution. Thanks.
For the record, ancient Taoists most definitely DID teach that women lose energy through orgasm, and not just menstruation and childbirth. For more on this see The Art of the Bedchamber, by Douglas Wile, State University of New York Press (1992) Here's a brief article about it: http://www.reuniting.info/wisdom/taoism_chinese_sexology_wile
Nonhormonal Male Birth Control
Here's an excerpt from a paper I wrote for class for those of you interested in this topic:
A Discussion: How to Reduce Overpopulation without Mentioning Birth Control
About a year and a half ago, I was invited to an exclusive dinner party hosted by an older friend of mine who had recently transplanted from the Bay Area to this small town in New Mexico. A good friend of his, a professor at Stanford who had written a lot on the subject of overpopulation, was visiting him – so they had decided to host a salon party and discussion evening to contemplate the problem of overpopulation. I was the only person in my age group invited, and after the bright older women listened to the ideas of the men, cleaned up the kitchen and went home to put their children to bed, I found myself the only woman left in the discussion.
It was hard to get a word in edgewise. When I finally did, I said, "I'm surprised that in this whole discussion of overpopulation and the need for each couple to have only one child, not once has birth control been mentioned."
The professor had a ready answer for me. He said that he knew the man whose work had led to widespread use of the pill (Carl Djerassi) and that if I were to visit him in California I could meet the patriarch of women's liberation in person. I admitted that the pill had given many women freedom, but that the only women friends I had who actually liked it did so because it caused their breasts to get larger and their skin to clear up. The rest of my friends hated the pill, and I myself had refused to continue using it after six months on it, because I felt like some weird parody of womanhood on it.
The professor replied, "There are projects underway to create a male pill. Wouldn't that be great?" I dissented: having experienced the horrible affects of hormonal birth control firsthand, I would not wish it on anyone. Besides, pundits have been saying that hormonal male contraception would be on the market in "five to ten years" for more than 15 years now.
Well, what then to do? I described to them the partner-based birth control method I had used for years – a combination of fertility awareness; spiritual communion; consistent, verbalized intentionality and communication around fertility; vaginal PH change; condom use during fertile times; and abstinence from ejaculation on the part of the male. This last aspect of the program was not a popular idea among this group of men.
This extensive list of tasks I go through to prevent conception is not a hassle – as Memmler's list of birth control options implies when it states that one disadvantage of the fertility awareness method is that it "requires careful record keeping." As though being intimately interested in our bodies – their cycles and changes – were somehow distasteful, a cumbersome distraction or even a pathology. Who has the time when you just wanna get it on? Who wants to actually be conscious around sex? Sex should be spontaneous, carefree – right? Yes – so long as the woman is carrying all the burden of birth control, and so long as that birth control allows her to be conveniently unconscious of the full power of her choice, the rhythms of her body - and an experiential familiarity with the deeper source of her most essential, luxuriant desire.
Disadvantages of Hormonal Birth Control
The Male Contraception Information Project (MCIP), under the direction of Elaine Lissner and Kirsten Thompson, is dedicated to "raising public awareness of promising non-hormonal male contraceptives, advocating increased and expedited government research, and serving as a resource for journalists who wish to write about the subject." In their call for more research and funding for non-hormonal male contraception, they give a detailed account of the shortcomings of barrier methods as well as hormonal methods (pointing out that besides low efficacy rates, barrier methods pose difficult challenges to poor women living in areas without access to clean water for cleaning out diaphragms, for example).
Memmler's lists some of the disadvantages of hormonal birth control as follows: risk of cardiovascular disease in older or smoking women; menstrual irregularity; infections; irritation; alters physiology (An aside: yes, we know that Memmler's must by necessity provide a truncated version of some truths. For example, it describes the clitoris as a "small organ of great sensitivity" and depicts it as such – about 1/8 of its full length, without the roots which extend far back along the vaginal canal).
The MCIP points out further physical, financial, and cultural factors in the use of hormonal birth control, from a more global perspective:
Physical: "Side effects can include nausea, vomiting, headaches, moodiness, breakthrough bleeding, and breast tenderness" (MCIP website). MCIP also mentions bone thinning and prolonged bleeding (Depo Provera), weight gain, and limited use for breastfeeding women.
MCIP also mentions that "the Pill appears particularly problematic for South American women, who tend to experience more side effects because they tend to be significantly smaller, . . . than the North American women for whom the Pills are designed" (MCIP website).
In addition, there is the issue of interference with thyroid health, and a loss of interest in sex - a considerable disadvantage surprisingly not mentioned in standard texts. Apparently estrogen increases the sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) which also happens to bind with thyroid hormone. 10-15% of women already have thyroid disturbances. Even for those who don't, the increase in estrogen from hormonal birth control can interfere with the vital functions of the thyroid, which is responsible for such important processes as regulating "mood, energy, and the function of nearly every organ in the body" (MCIP website). SHBG also binds to testosterone, which results in what MCIP kindly calls a "second contraceptive effect" – that of disinterest in sex.
Financial: When thinking of birth control, Westerners rarely think beyond their privileged pocketbooks. If we are really to decrease world population, birth control must be affordable to the poorest of women, which it is not: "Even at discounted rates, the monthly purchase of hormones from pharmaceutical companies is out of reach of the world's poorest women" (MCIP website).
Ecological Implications of Hormonal Birth Control
With synthetic estrogens passing through urine into water systems, there is much cause for concern, since these estrogens affect fish and wildlife, and therefore the reproductive capacities of wildlife – where they then can get reintroduced into human systems through the food chain. The Male Contraception Information Project points out that "hormone mimics in the food chain are starting to have a negative effect on human reproduction as well."
If we were to view the body as a microcosm of the earth, we would perhaps be more able to extend the metaphor of environmental degradation to the bodies of women, a guinea pig for many different versions of the technological fix. In her book Women as Wombs, Janice G. Raymond, asks, "Are women being exempted from the natural world as more and more bodily processes become subject to the medicalization of technical progress? Surely, a genuine ecological consciousness should spot this glaring pollution of women. If environmentalists are quick to recognize the mechanizing of nature, why are they so slow to recognize the pathologizing of women's natural bodily processes?"
Where's that Much-anticipated Male Pill?
This paper may seem a bit extreme. After all, the world is overpopulated and certainly we must curb our populations somehow. It's time men shouldered some of the responsibility in this regard. It would seem a male pill would not be that hard to come by. We can fly to the moon and clone cows, but we still don't have an effective male contraceptive aside from the condom and sterilization. Why haven't we created a male pill yet? It would be nice if the reason were simply that we know from experience that hormonal methods in men would likely be as deleterious to physical and ecological health as they are to women.
But there are other reasons. In order for a hormonal product to be worth investment and research, it must be taken regularly (short acting), and must provide a profit. Pharmaceutical companies have not been able to create a pill for men that would replace the female pill market in profitability – yet. And until they do, it's not likely to go on the market for the sake of others.
Just as simple, affordable technologies such as the neem plant and fertility awareness are not promoted because they do not make anyone money, so too there is no funding for research into a long-acting, low-cost male method, which ". . . . holds little appeal for a pharmaceutical company — especially if the man is in a committed relationship and his partner stops buying her Pills from the company every month. Thus, it is illogical to expect pharmaceutical companies to develop such a contraceptive. Its development falls squarely on the shoulders of government agencies and the nonprofit sector" (MCIP website).
Nonhormonal Male Birth Control Options
Do you love your woman enough to wear polyester underwear? The "electrostatic potential" in jock straps could kill sperm – but it also seems to be associated with reduced potency, perhaps "due to the electrostatic fields' affect on intrapenile structures" (MCIP website). Polyester suspensory research may just be another dead end.
But there are numerous other potential non-hormonal forms of birth control, many of which hold some promise but which have either been stalled by lack of funding, have questionable side-effects, or have had mixed laboratory results. They include: immunological approaches (the body is tricked into attacking its own sperm); electrical shocks (disabling sperm for about ten days); the use of binding/penetrating enzymes (enzymes in sperm eat through the sugary coating of the egg – ingesting these enzymes early on could bind the sperm while they are still in the epididymis); silicone and polyurethane injectable plugs; a number of chemical substances that cause permanent sterilization by injection; and plant-derived substances, such as those from Carica papaya seeds, cloves, neem, and the Chinese herbal medicine Tripterygiumwilfordii (which incapacitates sperm partly by blocking the calcium channel).
While the MCIP does not extensively discuss Neem, I did come across some literature a while back on the effects of the neem plant on male (and female) fertility. The plant seems to be effective against pregnancy taken orally and injected into the vas deferens. These studies were done in the early nineties and I'm not sure why they haven't become more widely known or pursued, especially since injection of neem also increased immune response. Sister Zeus, reporting on studies by Sharma, Upadhyay, and Vietmeyer, notes that "In a test of neem's birth control effects with members of the Indian Army, daily oral doses of several drops of neem seed oil in gelatin capsules were given to twenty married soldiers. The effect took six weeks to become 100 percent effective, it remained effective during the entire year of the trial and was reversed six weeks after the subjects stopped taking the capsules. During this time the men experienced no adverse side effects and retained their normal capabilities and desires. There were no pregnancies of any of the wives during the period of the study."
Women at the Forefront of Nonhormonal Male Birth Control Research
Dr. Susan Benoff demonstrated in the mid-nineties that Nifedipine - a widely used high blood pressure medication – has a contraceptive effect in some men via the blockage of calcium channels in sperm membranes. There is some question as to how many nifedipine users become sterile, and to the reliability of the drug as a contraceptive. (I had a boyfriend who had used Nifedipine intermittently over the years in other partnerships. I appreciated his willingness to take it again, though his intense and sudden crankiness after about three days of use made him unappealing as a bedmate.) Potential also exists in the similarly-acting compound N-butyldeoxynojirimycin (Zavesca).
From the 30's to the 50's, pacifist; animal welfare advocate, and Swiss physician Martha Voegeli did extensive research conclusively indicating that heating the scrotum for 45 minutes in water at 116˚ Fahrenheit daily for three weeks effectively produced temporary sterility in men for a period of six months. Her program found no side effects on the men or in their future children. For longer sterility, the treatment is repeated. The adult pain threshold is generally considered to be 118˚, and many men find the experience pleasant.
Dr. Christina Wang's work (with Ronald Swerdloff of the University of California, Los Angeles) is similar to Dr. Martha Voegeli's work, in that it is fast and inexpensive, therefore receiving little in the way of research support because of its lack of potential for profit. Dr. Wang has shown that ten minutes of ultrasound results in six months of sterility. MCIP notes that this is one of the most promising non-hormonal options available, and describes the process this way: ". . . ultrasound waves (very short, inaudible sound waves) are used to heat the testes. The ultrasound waves are of the same type and intensity as those used by physical therapists to treat injuries. To use the method, a man first sits in a special chair with his scrotum in a cup of water. In the bottom of the cup is an ultrasound element, which heats the water about as hot as a hot tub. It has also been hypothesized that the ultrasound creates an ion exchange between the fluid in the seminiferous tubules and the rete testis, making the environment in the testes inhospitable for sperm formation. The method is painless."
Reversible Inhibition of Sperm Under Guidance (RISUG)
RISUG is a reversible procedure in which a polymer gel is injected into the vas deferens. The gel solidifies instantly and microscopically. The inside walls of the vas deferens coated with this gel killed sperm as they go by, bursting as they come into contact with the positive and negative charges on the polymer. Reversal is easy, and can be done after days, weeks, or years, when it is dissolved with an injection of DMSO. "Thus, fertility can be limited by one injection or restored by another. . . Standard dose lasts at least seven, and the men from the Phase II studies have been using their RISUG for more than a decade" (MCIP website).
Many nonhormonal birth control options are either already available or promising given more time and research. I still advocate for the partner-based birth control method mentioned at the beginning of this paper. The spiritual implications of being fully involved and responsible for one's own fertility, and seeing this as a gift and an opportunity for communication and awareness, is a value that future generations might possibly enjoy in a culture that we create now by turning away from profit-driven pharmaceutical companies and consumerist sexual habits.
Memmler's Anatomy & Physiology of the Human Body.
Women as Wombs: Reproductive Technologies and the Battle over Women's Freedom, Janice G. Raymond, 1995.
The Male Contraception Information Project: http://www.newmalecontraception.org
Sister Zeus: http://www.sisterzeus.com/neem.html
Controlled intercourse and sperm motility
I've said this elsewhere, but it belongs here. The practice of making love without ejaculation does a lot to give men control over the procreative process. The longer the time between ejaculations, the more the sperm in the works break up. They "lose motility" and aren't as likely to fertilize anything. This means that the few sperm in precum are, after a time, REALLY unlikely to make someone pregnant.
Here a fertility doctor (2003 Michael D. Birnbaum, MD, PC) encourages couples who wish to get pregnant to do the very opposite:
Pregnancy and Frequency of Intercourse
As I have discussed in my "MYTHS" pamphlet, there is a very common belief that a man can "save it up." This myth says that if a man abstains from intercourse for several days or more, his semen will be better and he will have a better chance of impregnating a woman.
THIS IS COMPLETELY UNTRUE. In fact, the opposite is true. The most important thing about semen quality is the motility of the sperm - how fast and how well they are moving. The single most important determinant of good motility is frequency of ejaculation. The more frequently a man ejaculates, the better motility. The better the motility, the better the chance of a pregnancy.
Over the years, I have seen numerous couples, particularly those on various ovulation promoting drugs who will deliberately abstain from intercourse until the time of the HCG shot, mistakenly believing that this will improve their chances of conception.
If you are trying to have a baby, it is important to have intercourse on a regular and frequent basis. All the statistics indicate that intercourse on the average of 3 or 4 times a week will maximize a couple's chances of conception. Having intercourse more often will not decrease your chances but a lower frequency definitely will.
To be sure, it is important to have intercourse at the time of ovulation which will occur within 36 hours after the initial HCG injection. However, you must maintain optimum semen quality by having intercourse on a regular basis throughout the entire menstrual cycle. This is the best way to maximize you chances of having a baby. Certainly, deliberately abstaining from intercourse on the mistaken belief that it would improve the chances of getting pregnant is literally counter productive.
Good to know! Thanks for
Good to know! Thanks for pointing this out, Marnia.
7 Up
I've read of whores in Mexico who insert a coke bottle in their vagina to change the ph and make it less hospitable to sperm. [/quote]
I read a long time ago of lemon juice and '7 Up' being used for the same purpose , too:
[quote]The sexual mores of the ancient primitives are illuminating. The most ancient primitives extant in the world are the natives of the Isle of Melville, off the northern coast of Australia, and secondly the natives of the Isle of Iffia. Both of these peoples have a natural instinct to celebrate sacred sex rituals...
I also find it interesting to observe the instinct for hygiene in the primitives as, for example, the use of a small sponge soaked with the juice of some fruit or plant which is acidic, such as lemon juice. It really is a mystery to me how so-called teenagers come by their information, such as using a warm bottle of acidic drink such as Seven-Up or Coke as a contraceptive.
medical doctor and practising psychiatrist (name withheld by request), 1971
Controlled intercourse and sperm motility
The idea that is not a myth is that by "saving it up" the quantity of semen is greater. A large amount of semen supposedly helps neutralize the pH of the vagina. While the vagina does tend to become less acidic around ovulation, perhaps it is still not enough to make it cozy for several days for sperm cells that don't bring along their own large supply of alkalinity.
Do you have a reference for the actual research showing decreased motility? Without even seeing it, however, I can tell you in advance what you already know. Since the subjects in the research were not non-orgasmics, the results don't necessarily apply to the pre-cum of nonorgasmics. Also, just because samples from a large, infrequent ejaculations showed sperm cells with decreased motility, compared to sperm cells from small, frequent ejaculations, it doesn't necessarily follow that the pre-cum of even the same subjects would have less motility. If you want to make conclusions about pre-cum, you have to study pre-cum.
I would like to posit the idea that the sperm in pre-cum, having had the strength to breach the gate, is the most motile of all. Furthermore, that during ovulation the alkalinity of the healthiest vagina is quite sufficient without the need for a large amount of neutralizing fluids from semen. And in conclusion, that it may well be that natural selection favors not the supposed superfecundity of large ejaculations, but rather the frugal, yet potent, drip of the nonorgasmic's pre-cum.
Thanks for this thoughtful post
Makes good sense to me. No, frustratingly, the doctor whose site talked about frequent ejaculation being necessary for increased fertility because "old" sperm break up did not cite any studies. He was, however, a fertility expert.
One couple who wanted to conceive and also wanted to follow this system (lovemaking without orgasm) except at ovulation time, had a very hard time conceiving. On the other hand, another couple conceived just as you say...through pre-cum alone.
Here's what a forum member got from a relative who's a med student:
"Sperm is of course produced in the testicles; the tubes within the testicles produce the sperm on a "on call" basis. Unlike women's eggs that exist from birth the sperm are not made until needed. As the sperm are ejaculated new sperm are produced and sent to the prostate for the next ejaculation. The problem, or benefit depending upon your outlook, is that the sperm become less viable as length of time between ejaculations becomes longer and the sperm gets older. This is probably one of the reasons Karezza worked as birth control. Think of it like getting a hamburger at McDonalds. They precook the hamburgers and set them under a heat lamp. If you order a Big Mac after they just finished cooking the burgers great you get a nice fresh one, if you order just before the next batch comes out you get a nasty old one.
Now the rub is that there is really an intermediary step between your testicles and your prostate; there is always a "load in waiting" which is getting older. Sperm become less viable every day but as I remember after less than a week they are pretty much goners. Therefore while there is no long term deterioration of the sperm production, for optimal fertilization you need to dump out the old stuff. Dumping the old stuff can of course be fun. Several ejaculations over a few days will bring the freshest and most viable sperm into the system. Also deteriorated sperm have a higher incidence of birth anomalies if fertilization does occur.
My girlfriend felt a little better knowing that there should be no long term fertility issues from restricting ejaculations; she wants to be a mom someday and it looks like she has decided to keep me around for stud services if nothing else."
Do try this at home
Sperm are visible at 1000x magnification, with inexpensive microscopes. I've looked, a long time ago.
As I recall, the sperm ran out of energy after about 20 minutes at room temperature.
So, guys, try masturbating without orgasm, until you produce some precum, and take a look. Or wear a condom while practicing karezza, and see what you find. And let us know.
I'd be happy to do the experiment, but I've had a vasectomy.
It would also be interesting and perhaps relevant to this discussion to hear under what conditions y'all produce precum. For me, it only appears after strong arousal, after the erection goes away.
Slaying the Red Dragon
Hi there,
Thank you so much for this post, it was very well written and extremely insightful!
You spoke about stopping ovulation and your period.
How do you do that??
I would be interested...
In Chinese medicine, we work to regulate the woman's cycle, because we believe it is healthy to have a cycle. It cleanses the insides by having your period, and also, it is one of the reasons that we say that women live longer than men (the other two reasons are that we give birth, thoroughly cleaning out, and also breast feeding builds our immunity and makes us live longer)
But hey, I'd still be up for stopping my period, or at least my ovulation!! How does one do this simply with meditation?
I hope others will share any wisdom and experience they have on this subject. The only book I read on this was "Healing Love Through the Tao" by Manewan and Mantak Chia. It has the exercises. It's very boring, BTW.
It's possible Doug Wile's "Art of the Bedchamber" also has some techniques of this type, because it includes translations of women's solo practices, but I haven't checked it.
I deleted your name, because we try to use nicknames here.
info from Hospital
Currently, I'm interning at a Western medical hospital in the gynecology dept, and we have a fantastic Fertility center that has the same standards as NYU...
Here is a few random bits of information:
Regarding slaying the dragon:
Gonadotropin stimulates sex hormones which are released in the pituitary and hypothalamus.
If the pituitary is weak from trauma or other reasons, ovulation is not regular or absent.
(however, I'd still love to hear how women have been able to choose to stop ovulating without damaging their pituitary first.)
Also, before artificial insemination (IUI or IVF) the man is told not to have sex with ejaculation for 3-5 days prior to coming in to ejaculate (which will get injected into the woman or petri dish).
Slaying Red Dragon
OK, nice thread, so one more comment. :)
The method is secret for good reasons and I know only parts of it. It takes hours of combined efforts a day and is designed for those so able to feel in themselves that they practically are able to redirect their chi where they need. And are strong enough not abuse it in any way...
It consists of a specific sort of long breast massage as in the east breasts are considered female sexual organ no. 1. (see tantra teacher Diana Richardson, also on this site in Wisdom). Minimum (I heard) 360 circles in each direction, pressing the palms against the ribs. Then massage of ovaries. Breathing techniques. Visualisation. Taoist women are said to be able to contol cervix opening as they wish so it also might be part of it. Or at least they can retent blood during peroid (if it happens) and just go to the toilet once evry few hours. (see taoist teacher and sexologist Maitreyi Piontek´s books). Breathing into and feeling into the womb as it is regarded the Palace of the woman. And - ability to reverse the Dragon back to life if a feeling of a darling baby knocks on the door. [blinzel]
So, I think because giving new life is the most demanding job for a woman´s body, the reverse process would take the same efforts in different form and everything stays in balance. I definitely prefer to look at Red Dragons in the picture gallery, slayed or alive.
So great to see posts on
So great to see posts on this topic from time to time! It would make sense to me that sperm would have more kick if they were saved up a few days. Still, it takes a lot of sperm to get the deed done. That is why so-called infertile men aren't men who have no sperm, they simply have a low sperm count. We have discussed this topic a lot in this thread as well: http://www.reuniting.info/node/2166.
Yes, Gaia, I agree - the ability to tune into the body allows greater ability to control it. That is why external forms of birth control do a disservice to women because they dissociate her from her own wisdom and instinct to tune in to her body. That is why I believe hormonal forms of birth control are another method for controlling women - not just their fertility, but their moods, drives, and instincts as well. Take into consideration that women on the pill are not able to properly detect the pheremone signals that indicate to them whether a mate is genetically desirable or not. Then they get off the pill only to realize the man they thought they were in love with smells bad to them genetically.
I don't doubt that women adepts have actually been able to slay the Red Dragon. But as you mention, it would take a lot of time and effort, and its not something that's desirable to most women.
JRene, I agree, it seems like stopping ovulation would certainly have effects on the pituitary, but then, a lot of things do. My guess is that if Slaying the Red Dragon were simply a mechanical act of suppression of biological processes, congestion and disease would be the result, just as mechanically stopping ejaculation will cause the prostate to get enflamed. What the Taoists are proposing is something alltogether different, tho, and I'd guess it is the same in the case of Slaying the Red Dragon as it is bringing the male orgasm up the central channel. This process is the process of bringing desirous energy into the core channel and transforming it into the wisdom of emptiness and bliss. At that point Science can't keep up - the wisdom of emptiness is not part of its methodology yet, as far as I'm aware, unless we look to Bohms implicate order or Laszlo's vaccuum plenum to understand how emptiness and form interact. Still, these approaches don't recognize a force such as wisdom as far as I'm aware, tho Bohm talks a lot about creativity.
It's interesting to see how scienctific findings shed light on spiritual practices, because spiritual practices certainly have measurable biochemical and physiological effects. And in many cases spiritual practices that lead towards certain ends are very scientific in the sense that they are a result of thousands of years of close observation. Buddhist thought is based on an understanding of causality - observing cause and effect to understand how the mechanism of suffering works. But my feeling is that science is limited in its ability to understand human consciousness, because human consciousness is always doing interesting and new things. So science is always in the process of trying to catch up to what the wisdom body already knows. Who knows? Maybe the positive effects on the pineal gland of a lifetime of meditation practiced by Buddhist nuns would counterbalance any negative effects of stopping menstruation. So many factors. But I tend to agree that whenever we try to manipulate natural biological processes, there's danger there.
A healthy partner-based birth control needs to be based firmly in an intentional spiritual practice that has physical expressions, and not be merely a mechanical way to avoid fertilization. I've been happy to meet a number of nurse practitioners recently who have been very confirming of my use of natural birth control, and who have verified that it works quite well in those who are willing to pay attention to their bodies and communicate with their partner. Seems like that's what sex should be about anyway: paying attention to your body and communicating with your partner. Strange that people would want to use external methods that dissociate them from their body and make communicating with the partner about fertility unnecessary. Our fertile energy is our creative energy, we just have to channel it in the desired place.
Natural Family Planning
My wife and I have practiced natural methods for child spacing reasons throughout our marriage. Its has been a combination of either abstaining during fertile periods, karazza, or coitus interruptus. In any event, we have been highly successful both at achieving and avoiding procreation. Of my four children, all have been planned and generally they were created within one or two months of attempting to procreate.
To determine ovulation, we use the method that looks at the consistency in a women's vaginal mucus. Thick and stretchy mucus indicates ovulation; watery and clear mucus indicates the absence of ovulation.
Anyway, I find using this method really works. The alternatives, birth control pills or condoms are less desirable for me.
Great to have firsthand
Great to have firsthand accounts of people who have done this successfully. Thanks Michael.
It is interesting to read about the breast massage part.
I find it curious, because when I am ovulating, or approaching my period, I experience a powerful urge to rub my breasts and stimulate my nipples. I always attributed this to the increased sensitivity of them at this time of the month. As far as menstrual control goes, in my own experience, it is mostly dietary, and largely has to do with what is eaten in the premenstrual and menstrual state. I haven't had a 7 day period in years. It usually consists of about 3 to 4 days of light spotting/bleeding, depending on how and what I eat. I am curious to know more about this "Slaying the red dragon." I find it very interesting. Thanks for creating this post Hotspring.
What are the dietary factors
What are the dietary factors that contribute to your changes in period?
Birth control for men
"Scientific Advances on Contraceptive for Men"
Another study
This one's a bit of a warning. I wonder if karezza practitioners would be more, or less likely to have motile sperm in precum. I would guess less, because they would be ejaculating infrequently, and sperm tend to break up when they sit around for awhile.
Human Fertility (Camb). 2011 Mar;14(1):48-52. Epub 2010 Dec 15.
Sperm content of pre-ejaculatory fluid.
Killick SR, Leary C, Trussell J, Guthrie KA.
Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hull, UK. firstname.lastname@example.com
This study was designed to establish whether motile spermatozoa are released with pre-ejaculatory fluid and whether this fluid therefore poses a risk for unintended pregnancy. Forty samples of pre-ejaculatory fluid were examined from 27 volunteer men. Samples were obtained by masturbation and by touching the end of the penis with a Petri dish prior to ejaculation. Eleven of the 27 subjects (41% ) produced pre-ejaculatory samples that contained spermatozoa and in 10 of these cases (37% ), a reasonable proportion of the sperm was motile. The volunteers produced on up to five separate occasions and sperms were found in either all or none of their pre-ejaculatory samples. Hence, condoms should continue to be used from the first moment of genital contact, although it may be that some men, less likely to leak spermatozoa in their pre-ejaculatory fluid, are able to practice coitus interruptus more successfully than others.
From another thread:
"Coitus Interruptus Erroneous: Would You Believe That Pulling Out Actually Works?"
Withdrawal Method Finds Ally
Critique by sexologist:
<blockquote>In the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), withdrawal appeared to be almost as effective as condoms during typical use. However, in the 1995 NSFG, withdrawal was considerably less effective than condom use.
One of the many scientific sticking points surrounding the effectiveness of withdrawal is whether male pre-cum contains sperm. To my knowledge, only one study has been done on this with an N of something like 10. But that one study found that pre-cum doesn't contain sperm. So if this is valid, the main danger--aside from not pulling out quickly enough before ejaculation--would be from sperm that still might be in the urethra from a prior ejaculation. (Best to pee between ejaculations if you are using withdrawal for birth control!)
Withdrawal was the only method during the fertility decline in Europe, and was probably the only effective method of birth control used in the 1800s, when the average size of the American family decreased from 7 children to 3.5. I think it makes sense to propose it as a back up method when a woman skips a pill or two or passion keeps the condom unused.</blockquote>
Also see this exchange on the forum:


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N° 5–2012: ATV-3 set to provide ESA's annual service to Space Station
29 February 2012
ESA's third Automated Transfer Vehicle cargo ferry, Edoardo Amaldi, is ready for launch on an Ariane 5 to the International Space Station on 9 March from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
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ATV Edoardo Amaldi follows the two highly successful supply missions carried out by ATV Jules Verne in March 2008 and ATV Johannes Kepler in February 2011.
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The next ATVs, Albert Einstein and Georges Lemaître, will follow in 2013 and 2014.
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In the aftermath of Clint Eastwood's perplexing and ridiculed "invisible Obama" monologue at the Republican National Convention, conservative blogger Moe Lane summed up what many on both sides of the political divide are thinking.
"The term `surfing on the edge of the catastrophe curve' comes to mind," Lane wrote at RedState, concluding the bit that had the 82-year-old Hollywood icon talking to an empty chair did work but, "I would not recommend that the GOP make it a habit."
Celebrities have courted politicians, and vice versa, since the dawn of Hollywood, but what happens when the alliance backfires, when the two worlds are suddenly speaking different languages?
The crowd Thursday night at the Tampa Bay Times Forum, just ahead of Romney's "speech of a lifetime," greeted the Eastwood Moment with hearty laughter and applause, a welcome break of levity on the last day of a tightly choreographed convention.
But behind the scenes, Romney's campaign staff didn't find it so humorous. Asked about it immediately after the convention concluded, a half-dozen staffers said little. The campaign quickly went into damage control.
Unlike every other convention speaker, the teleprompter in the hall wasn't used during Eastwood's speech, which had him lampooning President Barack Obama as if he were there. The routine from the Oscar-winning director of "Unforgiven" and "Million Dollar Baby" lasted twice as long as scheduled, cutting into the hour of prime time coverage for Republicans.
It also sucked up Friday morning coverage of Romney's speech that had him accepting the Republican nomination for president.
On "CBS This Morning," Ann Romney cast about for words. Asked whether his contribution was a distraction or a mistake, she responded: "He's a unique guy and he did a unique thing last night." But the wife of the new nominee was quick to add that "we're grateful for everyone's support and especially grateful for what a great night it was last night."
Grateful, too, like plenty of politicians, for any financial support that comes along with celebrity pals, though Eastwood's bucks may not be in the mix.
Eastwood endorsed Romney on Aug. 3, in Sun Valley, Idaho, where he attended a fundraiser, so any money he would have contributed personally or through his company hasn't turned up yet in financial records filed with the Federal Election Commission. After the fundraiser, Eastwood let the campaign know he was interested in participating in the convention, a Romney aide said.
In this world of oversharing, when the like-minded or contrary are only a tweet away, social media blew up over Eastwood's confusing convention appearance, along with political-pundit quarterbacking on both ends of the spectrum.
"It ... was odd. Not consistently terrible as some argued," observed National Review's Jim Geraghty. "I have no doubt some folks loved it. It may very well have actually moved some votes. But boy, did it get weird at times."
What of the visible president? Was he watching, and taking notes on how to manage his crowded stable of actors and artists among friends and supporters?
White House spokesman Jay Carney said Obama had no observations on Eastwood's appearance. Nor did he watch the Republican convention, the spokesman said, but his official feed on Twitter - (hashtag)BarackObama - most certainly did.
"This seat's taken," the account tweeted late Thursday as Twitter exploded with mockers - and some supporters.
Discomfort or mere awkwardness aside, it's rare for a celebrity endorsement to backfire in a big way, said Steve Ross, a professor of history at the University of Southern California who has studied the impact of star endorsements in political campaigns.
While some stars, such as Jane Fonda, have proven toxic (she went to North Vietnam during the war in 1972), Eastwood carries enough gravitas and respect that he will get more people to pay attention to Mitt Romney, Ross said.
Eastwood is no Jane Fonda.
In 1986, a Missouri Senate candidate was pilloried for the simple acceptance of $2,000 from the actress. The candidate, the now-dead Harriet Woods, was branded "Hanoi Harriet," linking her to Fonda's "Hanoi Jane" moniker, and she lost the election, Ross said.
Nor is Eastwood a regular contributor of political punditry or skewering standup routines.
"This isn't Jeff Foxworthy. This isn't some comedian," Ross said. Eastwood is "Mr. Law and Order. I can't think of a bigger national spokesperson they could get."
Yet freewheeling celebrities do bring their risks:
- Though far from a catastrophe, during a stop at an Obama fundraiser in March, Robert De Niro found himself at the center of a White House apology over a joke about candidates' wives.
"`Callista Gingrich. Karen Santorum. Ann Romney. Now do you really think our country is ready for a white first lady?' De Niro asked the crowd, according to a White House pool report.
Gingrich howled. The White House apologized, and so did the actor.
- George Clooney, the Hollywood darling of the Obama administration, got arrested outside the Sudanese Embassy in Washington that same month, managing to suck up plenty of limelight after traveling to the troubled region himself and testifying before the Senate.
- In 2008, Scarlett Johansson got a little too close for Obama's comfort. She claimed publicly that she had his ear in regular personal email exchanges after she endorsed him. Not so, the embarrassed candidate had to explain. There had been one email, forwarded by an aide.
- It was an "Oprahpalooza" during primary season in 2007. The talk show queen endorsed Obama and stumped in Iowa before thousands, detracting hugely from Hillary Rodham Clinton's two surrogates, mom Dorothy Rodham and daughter, Chelsea, both appearing publicly for the first time. The reluctant Chelsea Clinton's emergence would otherwise have been big news.
Linking celebrities to candidates was a process that started in the late `20s, when movie stars were sent on the road to stump with politicians, Ross said. The idea was to draw in more people - many of whom would leave after seeing the star but others who would stay and listen to the candidate's message.
Capitalizing on celebrity culture to capture new votes, especially among the undecided, was the value, he said.
"This has been the key idea whether it was 1928 or 2012 with Clint Eastwood," Ross said.
Follow Leanne Italie on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/litalie
AP Entertainment Writer Anthony McCartney in Los Angeles, AP writer Kasie Hunt in Tampa, Fla., Ben Feller and Sam Hananel in Washington, and news researcher Monika Mathur in New York contributed to this report.


text:
Mpelochino brauchte ein neues Logo Design und hat einen Wettbewerb auf 99designs gestartet.
Aus 91 Designs von 19 Designern wurde eine Gewinner gewählt.
I teach.
We are two teachers who have come together with a mission to unite educators around the world. We work in a low income area and teach under-served students. We work very hard and we are extremely proud of what we do. We seek to unite teachers who feel as we do; we want to create a brand to voice our common pride and purpose. Our first phase will be to put our logo onto t-shirts to create brand recognition.
We are targeting educators who feel pride in their work and a desire to contribute to educational reform.
Primarly, we want a logo that says our company name:
I teach.
We want the "t" in "teach" to be lowercase and we want a period after "teach" because we are making a statement.
This we will use on our website, business cards, etc.
And we want to be able to take part of the logo "I teach." without "foundation" to print on shirts to sell (no graphic, no "foundation" on the front of the shirt. We want our design to be:
NOT stereotypical "teachery"
We also want the logo to have some sort of simple image/graphic/shape/visual which connects with teaching in some way. We intend to use this visual on the bottom left back of the t-shirt. One idea we had was to use three seeds, as seeds of knowledge (see attached). You can play with this idea as well as other creative ideas you come up with. (no apples, no chalkboards, no typical teacher/school images please!) We want this to be DIFFERENT. We want this shirt to be something you would buy in a boutique.
Be creative!!! Have fun!
Finden Sie heraus, wie ein Designwettbewerb funktioniert, oder lernen Sie mehr über unsere Logo-Design-Angebote.


text:
| 8.4°C Belfast
The Duchess of Cornwall showed off her skills as a camera operator when she was given the chance to film rising singing star Tom Odell.
Camilla was described by Radio 1 DJ Fearne Cotton as a "natural" for her efforts which came as the Duchess and the Prince of Wales toured the BBC to celebrate the UK's radio broadcasters.
Stood behind the standard definition camera, the royal couple focused the lens on talented artist Tom who was preparing to record a session for Fearne's show, with images featured on the BBC website.
Lee Edmenson, a visualisation producer, stepped aside to let Charles try filming first but it was his wife who got to grips quicker with the array of buttons and switches.
Tom sat behind an upright piano with his bass player, guitarist and drummer a few feet away and Charles encouraged him to play, saying "give it a blast, as loud as you can" when Camilla took over filming duties.
The musician was playing in the Radio 1 live lounge and is one of a number of Brit Award nominees recording sessions this week for the BBC.
Fearne told Camilla she had sneaked out of her show to meet the royals: "Actually I'm live on air but we've got two songs playing back to back to give me enough so I can come and say hello."
And when the Duchess was operating the camera she praised her efforts: "You've got a good zoom going there, you're a natural."
Before leaving the musicians, the prince praised Tom's success since he burst onto the music scene a few years ago saying: "I hear it's been a great transformation from writing in your bedroom."
Speaking about the images recorded by the prince and duchess, Mr Edmenson said: "It looked good, Camilla was a lot better than Charles, she was zooming in and out. If they've got five minutes spare they can come back and help."
He added: "They not as easy to operate as they look but Camilla had the knack, Charles was only interested in the singing."
The royal couple also toured the BBC's World Service department, meeting senior staff, producers and editors.
Camilla got the chance to indulge her love of the Radio 4 programme Woman's Hour when she visited the presenters during her tour of the BBC's radio departments.
But it was a cooker, used to prepare meals featured on the show, that caught her eye.
BBC staff had spent all morning cleaning the large object - and its gleaming chrome was the first thing Camilla noticed as she entered the studio.
The Duchess laughed when she saw the hob and told Woman's Hour Editor Alice Feinstein: "I can't believe you actually cook live on air. It's only got two rings - it's amazing you manage to cook on it."
Presenters Jenni Murray and Jane Garvey are often joined by top chefs for their Cook The Perfect.. slot which involves preparing the recipes live.
Camilla had pre-recorded an interview for the show, talking about the Shakespeare Schools Festival, but indicated she was keen to do more.
Chatting to Ms Garvey - who had earlier tweeted she needed to find a hairbrush - she was invited to come back as a guest any time.
The Duchess was also interested in the programme's features on female life expectancy and supporting sex workers at London's King's Cross station.
She said: "There are lots of things I do feel strongly about, but if I speak about them I will be on my best behaviour."
Ms Garvey replied: "Don't worry we won't let you speak too strongly - sometimes I have very strong opinions and then I get lots of abusive emails."
"Do you get abuse?" asked the Duchess. "Goodness. I do think there are a number of people listening, and watching, who do it just to make a complaint."
Ms Garvey replied: "I'm very proud of our audience - they're the backbone of the nation."
Later, Camilla put on a pair of headphones to listen to some editing, and was taught how to "catch up" on the BBC's programmes on their website.
She said: "Brilliant, I can just get this and catch up on my iPad."
Before leaving the Duchess, a lifelong Archers' fan, was given a picture of the original cast of the radio soap, while the Prince was also given a black and white photograph of his comedy heroes The Goons.
Helen Boaden, the BBC's director of radio, said after the visit: "It's wonderful to have people who really do listen to radio coming to see us - it's a great boost to staff.
"We took the Duchess to Woman's Hour, which she clearly knows very well."
Asked if the Prince knew who Tom Odell was she joked: "I have no idea if Prince Charles knew who Tom Odell was, but if he didn't he covered it up very well."
Not only was Camilla a natural at handling a television camera, but she proved herself to be a budding club DJ when the couple visited the central London studios of radio station Kiss.
Presenter AJ put the duchess and prince through their paces when he asked them to blend a vocal by Rihanna with a Beyonce instrumental track.
The DJ told the royal couple: "It sounds challenging but it's a cinch. It only took me a few years to learn how to do."
Charles didn't quite manage to create a seamless join between the two songs but when Camilla tried the presenter said "That's it," adding "You're a DJ now."
The prince appeared surprised by his wife's skills and said: "Wonders never cease."
AJ added: "Some people just have a natural knack for this kind of thing. Camilla's musical instincts were a little more honed than Charles'."
Kiss is part of the Bauer Radio stable of stations, which includes Absolute Radio and Heat, and is a long-standing supporter of the Prince's Trust.
The couple visited the presenters of the Kiss FM breakfast show - Ricky, Melvin and Charlie - as they recorded an interview with three youngsters who have received help from the trust.
As they prepared to record a link with the prince to be broadcast later, Charles said: "As long as you don't expect me to sing."
But the heir to the throne probably improved his street cred when he mentioned a popular rapper called Pitbull.
DJ Charlie Hedges said about the heir to the throne: "He said, 'Maybe I will sing a bit of Pitbull'."
Producer Adam K said: "Pitbull is massively viewed on YouTube. He is a massive hit with the kids. And His Royal Highness seemed to know who Pitbull is."
But he added that maybe one of Charles son's may have introduced their father to the rapper: "I think it is probably Harry that has influenced him," he said.
Later Charles revealed his real music taste saying: "I'm rather keen on Leonard Cohen. You probably have never heard of him. He is getting older now."
According to the duchess, it was a shame they did not persuade Charles to sing. "If you had given it a bit longer he would have been singing away. He has got a very good voice. He just needs a bit of a push."
She added: "I cannot sing at all. It's my one dread - that someone will ask me to sing."
In the studio Charles recorded a message congratulating the three youngsters - Connor Lancaster, 15, from Bradford, Victoria Hudson, 15, from Middlesbrough, and Ferlondo Fullwood, 17, from Lambeth, south London - for being finalists in the Novae Educational Achiever of the Year Award, to be presented next month.
He said: "Over the last decade, I have met countless young finalists with the most inspiring tales of triumph over adversity. They repeatedly show us that, with the right level of support, young people can and will achieve; that young people battling all kinds of problems but, if given a chance, they will often achieve something quite wonderful."
The prince and duchess also toured Global Radio in London, which owns stations including Classic FM - Camilla's favourite, apparently - Heart, Capital and LBC.
In the studio with Classic FM presenter John Suchet, the prince admitted that he might have offered some "gentle persuasion" when advising the Duchess of Cambridge on her wedding music.
While on a tour of Heart FM, Charles asked DJ Toby Anstis what song he was playing - and looked blank when he was told the singer was Christina Aguilera.
The royal couple also met Capital FM Breakfast show hosts Dave Berry and Lisa Snowden.
Berry said the prince was "incredibly" polite and apologised for keeping him at the station when he and his partner had been up at 4.30am.
He said: "Admittedly he knew nothing about the kind of music we played and, as I am so polite, I wasn't going to ask him about the Big Top 40 number one Clean Bandit and whether he liked it.
"But I do have it on good authority, from a very good contact of mine, that William and Kate always have Capital on in the background when they are at home with little Prince George, so we do have a royal seal of approval."
Another familiar face was Heart DJ Emma Bunton, who has met the prince many times in her previous guise as a Spice Girl.
She said: "He is always such a lovely man and it was so nice to see him again. He was asking me about when the Spice Girls were going to reunite. That puts a bit of pressure on you! He always asked after the rest of the girls and how they are doing."
Her colleague Jamie Theakston added: 'I think they were both quite fascinated to see how it all worked behind the scenes. They are clearly great radio listeners."


text:
Live Presidential Forecast Washington
The Times has called Washington for .
Previous Washington margins
As of , we think about of all votes in Washington have been counted. Below, estimates for what votes have been counted and what votes remain.
|Estimated votes
|Votes counted
|Counted pct.
|Votes remaining
|Remaining pct
|Total votes
|Total pct
For places that have not yet reported all their votes, we make an educated guess based on results so far and what we know about how those places have voted in the past.
About votes have been counted already. leads in that count by about .
We think votes remain to be counted. We think leads in that vote by about , based on what we know about those counties and the votes counted so far.
Lead Win Flip Dem.
Lead Win Flip Rep.
Lead Win Flip Other
No election
No results
Here's how our estimates have changed:
Estimated vote margin
Once Washington has counted all its results, our estimated margin and the reported margin will match. As a rule, when our estimated margin is steady, our forecast is more trustworthy.


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text:
Inside the Party: Gwyneth Paltrow, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kate Hudson, and More Toast to Tiffany & Co. Inside a 31-Foot Tall Tiffany Blue Box
"It's one of my more privileged nights," Sarah Jessica Parker told InStyle.com as she entered the Tiffany & Co. Blue Book Ball, which took place inside a 31-foot-high Tiffany Blue Box covering The Rink at Rockefeller Center to celebrate the jewelry company's new custom collection inspired by the Jazz Age. And she wasn't the only one feeling privileged—while she had $497,500 worth of Tiffany jewels accessorizing her vintage Vicky Tiel design, other guests also dressed in Tiffany's finest, including Kate Hudson (in Reem Acra), Michelle Williams, Jessica Biel, Carey Mulligan (in Victoria Beckham), and Gwyneth Paltrow (in Ralph Lauren). The gorgeous gals were just a few of the 400 guests who, once inside the blue box, were treated to a '20s-style supper club—which brought the newly-unveiled Great Gatsby-inspired windows to life—complete with big-band jazz performances and a serenade by Smash star Megan Hilty, who fittingly performed the night's anthem, "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend." And anywhere you turned—Tiffany blue could be found. "I love the color, it's one of my favorites," Paltrow said of the celebrated hue of the evening. "It's so optimistic and it's perfect. I think it's so beautiful." Click the photo for more.
• Manicure We Love: Kate Hudson's Chevron Look
• The Great Gatsby's Tiffany Windows
• See More Celebrity Parties!


text:
Prep notebook: The crazy week that was Joey O'Connor's decommitment from Penn State
Ohio State recruit Joey O'Connor decommitted on a Thursday from Penn State last November. It wasn't entirely by design — he'd hope to wait until Sunday, after Windsor's conference championship game at Frederick.
But, with a TV crew waiting out front of his house, O'Connor's plans changed. So he decommitted that night.
It had already been a heck of a week.
News of the child sex abuse scandal at Penn State broke that Saturday, then mushroomed on Sunday.
"We were like, 'We'll just take this week to week and then we'll figure it out,' " O'Connor said. "Then it turned into a day-to-day thing, and then it turned into a minute-to-minute thing."
On Monday, O'Connor and his teammates started preparation for Frederick, a team that had beaten them a year earlier, 15-7, thanks in most part to Windsor's six turnovers. This season's game was the regular season finale, and a win would secure a good seed in the Class 3A playoffs.


text: Thanks Charlaine. I will be stocking the tank with Peacock and Hap cichlids. The hap species will get to 10-16" on some of them. I actually did consider putting trout in it, but after some research about keeping trout in an aquarium I found I would need a "chiller" to keep the water temp where it would need to be (over $1000 for that) plus the chiller would suck out about $100+ per month worth of electric bill all on it's own. So needless to say i ditched the trout idea pretty quickly lol


text:
Royal Dutch Shell selected its refining leader, Ben van Beurden, as its next CEO, signaling plans to leverage chemical and refining expertise to keep pace with the growing role of energy's downstream sector.
Van Beurden will take the top job in 2014, succeeding CEO Peter Voser in 2014, who announced in May his plans to retire in the next year.
"Ben brings great experience to the role," said Marvin Odum, US-based Shell Oil President, in an interview with the Chronicle. "He has worked across a number of businesses, he understands the businesses well and he brings deep, deep experience in the downstream side of our business."
Van Beurden, 54, has been downstream director since January. In 2005, van Beurden worked in Houston as the vice president of manufacturing excellence for Shell, overseeing high-performance initiatives in refining and chemicals manufacturing.
Odum said that Van Beurden's chemical and refining background could be good for Gulf Coast's petrochemical plants and refineries.
"We're having a deep look at chemical opportunities in North America, like the investigation we are doing in Pennsylvania, and Ben's a supporter of that program," Odum said, citing a potential plastic feedstock plant investment in western Pennsylvania as an example.
No. 1: Energy companies dominate Fortune Global 500
Van Beurden, a Dutch national, joined Shell in 1983 and has held a number of technical and commercial roles in both the Upstream and Downstream businesses. He graduated with a Master's Degree in Chemical Engineering from Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands.
Peter Voser will leave Shell at the end of March 2014, marking the end of 29 years with the Company.
Executive moves: Siemens energy-related business unit taps new CEO
The announcement defied rumors that US-based Odum or current chief financial officer Simon Henry were the top names in the running to succeed Voser.
"I don't even think this guy Ben was even in the running of the names that was even being speculated on a couple months ago," said Stephen Simko, an analyst for investment research firm Morningstar in Chicago. "For now it's definitely a wait and see."
Van Beurden will lead the company to meet ambitious production targets: 4 million barrels a day of output by 2017, up from 3.6 million in the first quarter of 2013.
And Shell investors are watching closely whether the company's capital spending will turn into the promised revenue streams. The company plans to spend more than $30 billion a year in capital projects.
One of van Beurden's challenges will be managing the future path of these big ticket investments, including some with tumultuous histories.
Struggling with regulatory demands and heated protest from environmentalists, Shell conducted preliminary drilling last summer in Alaska's Chukchi and Beaufort seas. It canceled plans to return in 2013, however, after setbacks including the grounding of one of its rigs while it was in transit late last year.
Henry, the chief financial officer, said during Shell's May earnings call that the company hopes to return to the Arctic in 2014, but analysts say it will be an uphill battle to retain investor confidence.
"Alaska is not a pretty picture," said Fadel Gheit, an analyst with Oppenheimer. "They spent $3 billion and have nothing to show for it."
Gheit likewise predicts that Shell's Port Arthur Motiva Enterprises refinery, which Shell co-owns with Saudi Aramco, will be another headache for van Beurden. The Motiva plant, the largest refinery in North America, has had a troubled recent history, shutting down for several months in June 2012 following a fire.
But van Beurden's larger challenge will be persuading investors that integrated companies like Shell still make for attractive investments.
"In my view, history has shown that investors prefer pure plays," Gheit said. "Shell, like Chevron, continues to defend the integrated model, but that is not what the market is saying. Basically, most investors want a pure play, because they can take advantage of the market pricing of the securities better than an owner of a bigger company conglomerate."
Also on Fuel Fix:
Shell says Gulf find may hold 100 million barrels