Sunday, December 23, 2007
Policy Debate - African Aid (that's aid, not AIDS) TED Talk - Andrew Mwenda
An interesting talk from TED from Sept. that I came across again and wanted to pass along. Andrew Mwenda, who recently started a newspaper in Uganda, talks about financial aid to Africa and how it should be re-evaluated. Good ideas for policy debate this year. http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/159
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Christmas Truce
I have some friends who are teachers. I have some freinds who are historians. I'm not sure who among them knows this story, but I think more people should. As Christmas nears in a year of war, it should be something on everyone's mind.
Peace is not won or lost. It is earned with the blood of the few who die for the many. It is kept in the souls of those who live on, because those who lie dead do not complain.
For those teachers I do know, your students should understand the legacy of war and peace of their history.
Peace is not won or lost. It is earned with the blood of the few who die for the many. It is kept in the souls of those who live on, because those who lie dead do not complain.
For those teachers I do know, your students should understand the legacy of war and peace of their history.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
On Male Circumcision and the spread of HIV/AIDS - Clean version
To be fair, I was a little snarky in the previous post. I'm going to leave it there just because but this is the cleaner, nicer version. Where instead of "child soldier" I find other terms much less objectionable than "war orphaned, amputee, land mine victim, forced to gang bang half a Hutu in exchange for her life" see Maka, I can be less snarky.
---- Edited, relatively safe for public consumption version----
So I was asked to help read/edit a pape for some policy debaters. In the case is an argument for male circumcision as a form of preventative medicine for reducing the HIV/AIDS infection rates.
On first glance this would seem pretty stupid right? I mean seriously, getting a circumcision doesn't prevent the exchange of bodily fluids. Hell I'm circumcised and I've got a kid so I can prove do you that bodily fluids are quite easily exchanged. But yes, contrary to logical thinking, there is some medical validity to this claim. While there is some sucess at reducing new infections rates, I want to stress that trying to claim that male circumcision stops AIDS or can even play a major role in stopping the spread of AIDS is lame. So if you're reading this and you know who you are, take it out of the paper. Seriously guys, it's like trying to claim you can solve global warming by cranking up an air conditioner and leaving the door open. It's a stuipd idea, it's not a public health plan and you should be ashamed for writing while stoned, drunk, and/or tripping on LSD.
First off the positive: circumcised men are less likely to contract HIV (according to the studies), up to 60% less likely in fact. The negative side of that? They're not at all less likely to prevent infecting someone else. So if you happen to be getting raped by a Tutsi death squad all of whom are circumcised, great!
You're less likely to infect them but they're no less likely to infect you with AIDS.
The Lancet study showed a link bewteen circumcision and AIDS infection, it does not show that AIDS is prevented by circumcision, only that it can reduce my chances of contracting HIV/AIDS. So yes, good news, I can have 40% more risky without statistically getting infected. You know what else I can do that works even better? Wear a fucking condom. You know what works even better than that? Not have risky sex with skeezy looking African hookers in the alley behind the Botswanan hotel. Those are preventative measures. If wearing a condom is like buying insurance, getting circumcised is like living in New Orleans and just praying for it not to rain.
so the in short, stop acting like you're the one retard scientist trying to disprove global warming. While there may be some impact of male circumcision on reducing new AIDS infections, getting your dick cut is not the same as wearing a condom, stop trying to base an entire half page worth of material to crazy science that defies all logic and practical reasoning. If you want to put in one or two sentences about how a program for male circumcision could be an example of an easy to implement part of an overall public health program, fine go for it. Two sentences is about what the NY Times should have given to it and you're not the NY Times.
That said, here's a few links:
http://www.cirp.org/library/disease/HIV/vincenzi/
http://www.cirp.org/library/disease/HIV/
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/28/world/africa/28africa.html
http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_2230833,00.html
---- Edited, relatively safe for public consumption version----
So I was asked to help read/edit a pape for some policy debaters. In the case is an argument for male circumcision as a form of preventative medicine for reducing the HIV/AIDS infection rates.
On first glance this would seem pretty stupid right? I mean seriously, getting a circumcision doesn't prevent the exchange of bodily fluids. Hell I'm circumcised and I've got a kid so I can prove do you that bodily fluids are quite easily exchanged. But yes, contrary to logical thinking, there is some medical validity to this claim. While there is some sucess at reducing new infections rates, I want to stress that trying to claim that male circumcision stops AIDS or can even play a major role in stopping the spread of AIDS is lame. So if you're reading this and you know who you are, take it out of the paper. Seriously guys, it's like trying to claim you can solve global warming by cranking up an air conditioner and leaving the door open. It's a stuipd idea, it's not a public health plan and you should be ashamed for writing while stoned, drunk, and/or tripping on LSD.
First off the positive: circumcised men are less likely to contract HIV (according to the studies), up to 60% less likely in fact. The negative side of that? They're not at all less likely to prevent infecting someone else. So if you happen to be getting raped by a Tutsi death squad all of whom are circumcised, great!
You're less likely to infect them but they're no less likely to infect you with AIDS.
The Lancet study showed a link bewteen circumcision and AIDS infection, it does not show that AIDS is prevented by circumcision, only that it can reduce my chances of contracting HIV/AIDS. So yes, good news, I can have 40% more risky without statistically getting infected. You know what else I can do that works even better? Wear a fucking condom. You know what works even better than that? Not have risky sex with skeezy looking African hookers in the alley behind the Botswanan hotel. Those are preventative measures. If wearing a condom is like buying insurance, getting circumcised is like living in New Orleans and just praying for it not to rain.
so the in short, stop acting like you're the one retard scientist trying to disprove global warming. While there may be some impact of male circumcision on reducing new AIDS infections, getting your dick cut is not the same as wearing a condom, stop trying to base an entire half page worth of material to crazy science that defies all logic and practical reasoning. If you want to put in one or two sentences about how a program for male circumcision could be an example of an easy to implement part of an overall public health program, fine go for it. Two sentences is about what the NY Times should have given to it and you're not the NY Times.
That said, here's a few links:
http://www.cirp.org/library/disease/HIV/vincenzi/
http://www.cirp.org/library/disease/HIV/
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/28/world/africa/28africa.html
http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_2230833,00.html
Monday, December 3, 2007
Extemp Questions - short list of questions from Nov. 2007 reading the sunday paper
• Do genetically modified foods need more regulation from the federal and state governments?
• Is the US military becoming too assertive in US politics?
• Should the military be less involved in public politicking?
• Is an all-volunteer military good for the US?
• Does free trade do more harm than good for developing nations?
• Will the Kurds in Iraq push for an independent nation?
• What goals does Iran have for the future of Iraq as a nation?
• What goals does Iran have for the Middle East region?
• Would a US troop withdrawal from Iraq help or hinder Iran’s regional goals?
• What role should Bill Clinton play in Hillary’s Presidential campaign?
• Is Bill Clinton an asset or liability for Hillary’s Presidential bid?
• How long will the dollar last as the world’s primary currency?
• How can America’s economy safely end its dependence on Asian creditors?
• Does China’s lack of environmental regulations pose a long term risk for the global economy?
• Does China’s lack of environmental regulations create a disadvantage for continued economic growth?
• Is the US military becoming too assertive in US politics?
• Should the military be less involved in public politicking?
• Is an all-volunteer military good for the US?
• Does free trade do more harm than good for developing nations?
• Will the Kurds in Iraq push for an independent nation?
• What goals does Iran have for the future of Iraq as a nation?
• What goals does Iran have for the Middle East region?
• Would a US troop withdrawal from Iraq help or hinder Iran’s regional goals?
• What role should Bill Clinton play in Hillary’s Presidential campaign?
• Is Bill Clinton an asset or liability for Hillary’s Presidential bid?
• How long will the dollar last as the world’s primary currency?
• How can America’s economy safely end its dependence on Asian creditors?
• Does China’s lack of environmental regulations pose a long term risk for the global economy?
• Does China’s lack of environmental regulations create a disadvantage for continued economic growth?
On Male Circumcision and the spread of HIV/AIDS - a.k.a. - Why getting your dick cut is not the same as wearing a condom
So I was asked to help read/edit a paper, I suppose something of a policy case, for some debaters. In the case is an argument for male circumcision as a form of preventative medicine for reducing the HIV/AIDS infection rates. On first glance this would seem pretty stupid right? I mean seriously, getting a circumcision doesn't prevent the exchange of bodily fluids. Hell I'm circumcised and I've got a kid. But yes, contrary to logical thinking there is some medical validity to this claim. Not much mind you and I want to stress and trying to claim that male circumcision does not stop AIDS so if you're reading this nimrods, take it out of the paper. Seriously guys, it's like trying to claim you can solve global warming with a fucking air conditioner. It's a stuipd idea, it's not a public health plan and you should be ashamed for writing while stoned.
First off the positive: circumcised men are less likely to contract HIV (according to the studies), up to 60% less likely in fact. The negative side of that? They're not at all less likely to prevent infecting someone else. So if you happen to be raping an African war child/orphan/child soldier you may not get AIDS. If you happen to already be infected, she'll still get AIDS from you. Or he will; whatever floats your boat. I don't judge.
The Lancet study showed a link, it does not show that AIDS is prevented by circumcision, only that it can reduce my chances. So yes, good news, I can anally rape 40% more child soldiers without getting infected. You know what else I can do that works even better? Wear a fucking condom. You know what works even better than that? Not anally raping child soldiers at all. Those are preventative measures. If wearing a condom is like buying insurance, getting circumcised is like living in New Orleans and just praying for it not to rain.
so the in short, stop acting like you're the one retard scientist trying to disprove global warming. While there may be some impact of male circumcision on reducing new AIDS infections, getting your dick cut is not the same as wearing a condom, stop trying to base an entire half page worth of material to crazy ass science that defies all logic and practical reasoning. If you want to put in one or two sentences about how a program for male circumcision could be an example of an easy to implement part of an overall public health program, fine go for it. Two sentences is about what the NY Times should have given to it and you're not the NY Times.
That said, here's a few links:
http://www.cirp.org/library/disease/HIV/vincenzi/
http://www.cirp.org/library/disease/HIV/
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/28/world/africa/28africa.html
http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_2230833,00.html
First off the positive: circumcised men are less likely to contract HIV (according to the studies), up to 60% less likely in fact. The negative side of that? They're not at all less likely to prevent infecting someone else. So if you happen to be raping an African war child/orphan/child soldier you may not get AIDS. If you happen to already be infected, she'll still get AIDS from you. Or he will; whatever floats your boat. I don't judge.
The Lancet study showed a link, it does not show that AIDS is prevented by circumcision, only that it can reduce my chances. So yes, good news, I can anally rape 40% more child soldiers without getting infected. You know what else I can do that works even better? Wear a fucking condom. You know what works even better than that? Not anally raping child soldiers at all. Those are preventative measures. If wearing a condom is like buying insurance, getting circumcised is like living in New Orleans and just praying for it not to rain.
so the in short, stop acting like you're the one retard scientist trying to disprove global warming. While there may be some impact of male circumcision on reducing new AIDS infections, getting your dick cut is not the same as wearing a condom, stop trying to base an entire half page worth of material to crazy ass science that defies all logic and practical reasoning. If you want to put in one or two sentences about how a program for male circumcision could be an example of an easy to implement part of an overall public health program, fine go for it. Two sentences is about what the NY Times should have given to it and you're not the NY Times.
That said, here's a few links:
http://www.cirp.org/library/disease/HIV/vincenzi/
http://www.cirp.org/library/disease/HIV/
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/28/world/africa/28africa.html
http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_2230833,00.html
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