TresSugar

Fun for the Whole Family!

GiggleSugar — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:02:00 -0700

The gal wearing the boots? Oh that's not a stripper, that's the babysitter.

Berlusconi Insults Women Again - And They're Fighting Back

TresSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:00:00 -0700

Feminism is back in vogue in Italy. Some say it lay dormant in spite of a vibrant '70s feminist movement, but thanks to raging misogynist Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, largely silent Italian women have had enough and are speaking up.

"[T]he scandals surrounding the prime minister have been like a violent slap in the face for millions of women who are just now waking up from a state of passivity," said political scientist Francesca Izzo.

A favorite tactic of the 73-year-old Berlusconi is to disparage the looks of his female political opponents. In a heated debate with 58-year-old opposition party member Rosy Bindi, he said, "You're more beautiful than you are intelligent," to which the annoyed politician shot back, "I am not a woman at your disposal." (Perhaps she was referring to his multiple girlfriends, which finally led his wife to file for a divorce.)

Many American women claim they aren't feminists, but I wonder if they'd change their tune if the president were speaking this way every day! To find out how Italian women are fighting back and to see a clip of a documentary about how women are represented on Italian television, read more

After Berlusconi's nasty comment to Rosy Bindi, pissed off women drafted a petition saying that his sexism was an insult both to women and to democracy. 11 days later, more than 100,000 women had signed it, claiming that Berlusconi participated in the "cretinization of women."

It took long enough for more women to speak up, but it's great they finally did it. Alas, Italian feminists have more than Berlusconi and his rhetoric to fight. In the following clip from filmmaker Lorella Zanardo's documentary Women's Bodies, you'll see that almost all the representations of women on Italian television depict them as sex objects.

Do You Worry About How You Look During Sex?

TresSugar — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:00:00 -0700

We all may have our body image issues from time to time. We might fret when a pair of jeans feels tighter than before or lament the beginning of bathing suit season. But what about while you're naked having sex - do you worry about what you look like?

Megan Fox, who seems very comfortable talking about sex, said recently that she's too self-conscious to make a sex tape because of such concerns. "One shot of me not looking good," she said, "and I would not be able to have sex ever again, because I would always just see myself looking like a hippo having sex." And I remember that classic Friends episode where Rachel and Ross cringe through a viewing of their accidental sex tape only to be relieved that they actually look pretty good during the act.

Do you ever think about your appearance while you're getting down, or are your looks the last thing on your mind?

Would You Sell Your Sperm or Eggs?

DearSugar — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 07:30:00 -0800

Times are tough, and people are having to pinch pennies because of our shattering economy; some are even choosing to sell their personal possessions to help pay the bills. In extreme situations, though, people are resorting to selling products from their bodies, including blood plasma, hair, eggs, and sperm - apparently it's a way to make quick cash. A shot of sperm can earn a guy $60 to $100, and for fertile eggs, a woman can make up to $7,000 per egg! I guess this idea is sounding pretty good to some, because sperm banks have reported that donations have tripled from 50 to 150 a month, and egg donations have increased by 30 percent.

Of course you have to meet strict criteria and pass rigorous testing in order to sell your precious goods, but if you could, would you give up your sperm or eggs to make some dough?

Source

Battlefield Surgery Guide Out, Afghanistan Tours Extended

CitizenSugar — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:45:35 -0700

It's not an easy read, to make the understatement of the century; the US Army has just released a book called War Surgery in Afghanistan and Iraq: A Series of Cases, 2003-2007. The book is the first guide for new techniques for battlefield surgeons to be released while the war included in its pages is still being fought.

The book includes 83 case descriptions from dozens of battlefield doctors, and though the descriptions are dry and clinically detached, the pictures are the 1,000 words that illustrate the grim horror of war. Most of the injured pictured are US soldiers but some Iraqis and Afghans are included as well.

The pictures may be all the more horrifying given the mixed blessing of advancing body armor combined with the fact that in modern wars, more are injured by explosions than bullets - meaning many are left alive, but badly maimed. Because of the graphic nature of the shots, it's a difficult (but not impossible) tome for civilians - even doctors - to get a hold of. To see what one of the book's authors has to say about the secrecy of the book, read more.

One of the book's three authors says:

“I’m ashamed to say that there were folks even in the medical department who said, Over my dead body will American civilians see this. The average Joe Surgeon, civilian or military, has never seen this stuff. Yeah, they’ve seen guys shot in the chest. But the kind of ferocious blast, burn and penetrating trauma that’s part of the modern IED wound is like nothing they’ve seen, even in a Manhattan emergency room. It’s a shocking, heart-stopping, eye-opening kind of thing. And they need to see this on the plane before they get there, because there’s a learning curve to this.”

If there's to be a mildly happy ending, some of the cases feature follow up pictures of recovered patients, like one soldier who lost half his skull smiling later at a ceremonial dinner with his wife. The release of the book is all the more poignant as the news that tours in Afghanistan have just been extended for 1,200 Marines amid concerns of rising violence.

Should this military field guide be readily available to civilians - or should some stories of war stay on the battlefield?

Source

Grandma Does a Keg Stand!

GiggleSugar — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:00:00 -0700

C'mon, you guys! I know it's important to make grandma feel welcome, but can't you just fix her up a burger or pull out some family photos? What's next, tequila body shots? Sheesh.

What's the Right Birth Control For You? Part Three

DearSugar — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 08:00:00 -0700

Birth control can be really annoying, but if you're sexually active, it's necessary if you want to prevent yourself from becoming pregnant or contracting an STI. I've talked about some common forms of birth control and some less common forms, but there are still more options.

Want to see them? Then read more.

Method	Pros	Cons
The Shot	Once you get the shot, it'll prevent you from getting pregnant for three months, and it's 99.7 percent effective.	It's a shot so if you hate needles, this method isn't for you. Plus you have to go to your doctor's office to get it, and some women complain of irregular bleeding and weight gain. Also, if you're thinking about becoming pregnant, after your last injection, it can take six to 12 months to become fertile again. It also doesn't protect you against STIs.
Implanon	Once inserted, it'll prevent pregnancy for up to three years, and is 99 percent effective. Some women love it and experience no side effects.	It has to be surgically implanted by a doctor, and some women complain of irritation, burning, pain, or oozing where the implant was inserted or removed. Since it is a type of hormonal birth control, for all three years you could experience irregular bleeding, mood swings, depression, weight gain, acne, sore breasts, stomach pain, swelling in your ankles and feet, headaches, or nausea. It may be difficult to remove because thick scar tissue can form around the implant. To top it all off, this method doesn't protect you against STIs.
FAM (Fertility Awareness Method)	This is a great method if you are very aware of your cycle, and have the time to chart your daily morning temperature, the position of your cervix, and the feel of your cervical fluid, so you can figure out the exact day that you ovulate. This method helps a woman feel more in control, and if she knows what days she's most fertile, she can avoid unprotected sex.	This method can be really challenging, especially if you have irregular cycles. It takes a lot of effort, responsibility, and awareness of your body, and if you have a very short cycle (less than 26 days) there aren't many days where you're not fertile, so you'll end up needing another form of birth control like condoms.
Pull and Pray (not very effective but since people do use this method, I had to include it)	It's free, and if you're in a monogamous relationship and would be happy to be a mom then this method is great for you since many women have gotten pregnant this way.	Since pre-ejaculate can contain sperm, even if the man pulls out before he orgasms, some sperm can still be inside you, therefore you can easily become pregnant. This method won't protect you against STIs. Also, if your man has a hard time controlling his orgasms, he may end up ejaculating inside you before he gets a chance to pull out.

I hope you all found this information to be helpful. I know it may seem a bit monotonous but you can never be too informed!

What Is The Best Birth Control For Me?

DearSugar — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 10:33:02 -0800

Dear Sugar
About six months ago I went on the birth control patch but am having a hard time keeping it attached to my body. I change it once a week but the ends keep peeling and eventually the whole patch falls off. I have tried taking the pill before but I am so bad about remembering to take it everyday.

I am seriously considering the Depo Shot but I've heard that approximately 70% of its users gain weight. I am comfortable at my current weight and I really don't want any unwanted weight. Can you help me figure out my options?

To see DEARSUGAR's answer read more

Dear Protect Me Priscilla
Choosing the right contraception method for you may take a little bit of trial and error. If you like the effect the patch has on your body then maybe you can try to attach it to another part of your body and see if it sticks better. If that still doesn't work, make an appointment with your Gynecologist about trying out some other options.

All women are different when it comes to the side effects of birth control; including gaining weight. To lower your chances of weight gain, chose a birth control that has a low amount of estrogen in it, such as Yasmin. Keeping your pill right next to your toothbrush in the morning seems to help a lot of women. You certainly won't forget to brush your teeth, right? Soon this just becomes second nature.

However, if you just don't even want to deal with remembering to take a pill, there is always option of the Depo Shot or the Birth Control Ring. The Depo shot (Depo Provera) is an injection given to you by your health care provider every three weeks. You should be informed that this method of birth control is not recommended for long term use and has been associated with bone loss. Please remember to take in lots of calcium if you choose "the shot."

The birth control ring (NUVA RING) is similar to the patch. It gets changed every three weeks and is as reliable as the Pill at preventing pregnancy (98%-99 effective). It is easier to apply than a diaphragm and can be done in the comfort of your own home. The Ring has very similar side effects to The Pill, most of which are not serious but include breast tenderness, nausea, cramping, and bloating.

There are many options out there for you to try. Please remember, not all contraceptive methods protect against sexually transmitted diseases, so please keep in mind the importance of condoms as well. Good luck.

Do You See What I See?

GiggleSugar — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:00:00 -0700

That's right: a giant fortune cookie! And maybe a big, curvaceous bum, but that's only if I drag my mind down the gutter. Which is exactly what the following "nature shots" require: a filthy mind and a juvenile amusement with the nether regions of the human body. Hee-hee. (If super-sexy lawnscapes are more your thing, click here.)

View 5 Photos ›

Source

Front Page: KY Workplace Shooting, Divers Pull Bodies From Typhoon, Mortgage Aid Could Pass

CitizenSugar — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:56:10 -0700

KY Workplace Shooting: An employee at a plastics plant in Kentucky opened fire after an argument, leaving six dead including the shooter. The CEO says the killings are just a "total shock." The incident began when an employee began arguing with a supervisor around midnight - he then shot the supervisor before opening fire in a break room. The plant employs around 150 people and makes plastic siding for homes.
Divers Pull Bodies From Typhoon: 100 divers search the wreckage of the capsized Philippine ferry, finding no additional survivors yet. When the seven-story ferry sunk in less than a half-hour during a powerful typhoon, the 800 passengers had little time to prepare, but the transportation undersecretary says she's hoping for "a miraculous air pocket somewhere in the ship." Only 62 of the 800 passengers have been found alive. The shipwreck could raise the typhoon's death toll to more than 1,300, with 329 people confirmed dead from flooding and landslides and more than 200 still missing.
Mortgage Aid Could Pass: The US Senate could pass a mortgage aid plan as soon as today. The massive foreclosure rescue bill cleared a key Senate test yesterday by an 83-9 margin, with both parties eager to help homeowners. The plan would let the Federal Housing Administration back $300 billion in new, low-cost home loans for about 400,000 distressed borrowers who would be considered too financially risky to qualify for government-insured, fixed-rate loans. Though it could pass vote today, President Bush is threatening a veto and Democrats are still fighting each other over key details, possibly delaying any final deal until mid-July.