State Lawmakers to Receive Condoms

News Excerpt from: FOX 40 News
February 10, 2009

SACRAMENTO - Today, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California will give condoms to lawmakers to honor National Condom Day. The presents are also the organization's way of calling attention to the importance of funding preventative health care statewide.

"With these Valentine's 'Condom Grams' we are saying to state lawmakers 'Don't break our hearts. Join together to maintain funding for vital preventive services'," said Kathy Kneer, PPAC President and CEO, "A healthy budget equals a healthy California."

The 'Condom Grams' include an assortment of condoms, information about the savings associated with family planning services, and a message asking the State Legislature to maintain funding for preventative services.

♥♥♥♥♥

With the recent pass on funding for condoms in the stimulus, it looks like Planned Parenthood has taken the situation further into their own hands and moved onto the lawmakers! Legislatures might not receive the exact "Condy gram" in the picture, but in any case, hopefully these actions will show how important contraception is beneficial to the state's, as well as nation's, health.

In addition, hopefully it will show how public family planning and preventative services are important to the economy -- as they have helped significantly reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and abortions that occur.

Hopefully the package of "goodies" will make an impact on the legislatures!

Helpful Resources & Links:
- Provision To Increase Access To Medicaid Family Planning Services Cut From Stimulus Package (MAXPRO Blog)
- National Condom Awareness Month? Week? Day? (MAXPRO Blog)
- Condom Week (The Cauldron)
- Alternative uses in honor of national condom month (The Examiner)
- Hey Valentine, how about a condom? (The Examiner)
- Roses are red, condoms are clear (Daily Princetonian)
- Feature: Being Prepared (MAXPRO Blog)
- Ten Reasons Why Condoms Are The Best Contraceptive (MAXPRO Blog)

MAXPRO Valentine's Day Specials

Make Valentine's Day night a special and safe night!

National Condom Awareness Month? Week? Day?

As I've mentioned before, I've found different variations on this month's awareness on condoms: National Condom Awareness Month (February), National Condom Awareness Week (February 14-21), and National Condom Awareness Day; appropriately celebrated on Valentine's Day (February 14). Again, whenever it is, it's probably best to celebrate safe sex all year!

While it's not hard to associate Valentine's Day with sex, not everyone practices safe, protected sex on the night of. It's said that many unplanned pregnancies can be pinpointed to Valentine's Day; which shouldn't really be a surprise because it's a day to celebrate and make love! Yet if you and your partner aren't ready to make the commitment of children, then condoms are a good alternative!

Another important concept to grasp on is that condoms help prevent the spread or transmission of Sexually Transmitted Diseases/Infections (STDs/STIs). It's important to get tested for such cases and protect yourself during sex. While some STIs show no major signs, avoiding to use protection can cause serious health risks later on.

In any case, safe sex is probably the best sex! ..so celebrate it!

Articles & Resources
- Condom Week (The Cauldron)
- Alternative uses in honor of national condom month (The Examiner)
- Hey Valentine, how about a condom? (The Examiner)
- Roses are red, condoms are clear (Daily Princetonian)
- Feature: Being Prepared (MAXPRO Blog)
- Ten Reasons Why Condoms Are The Best Contraceptive (MAXPRO Blog)

For fine condom products for all your National Condom Month needs, please visit our website & store:
MAXPRO Condoms
MAXPRO Store

Valentine's Day still rich in romance, sex

News Excerpt from: USA Today
By Nanci Hellmich
February 10, 2009

The sluggish economy might make sweethearts a little stingier when buying Valentine's Day gifts, but it hasn't slowed down their sex lives.

About 50% of people with partners say they'll spend less money on Valentine's Day, but 78% say the economy hasn't affected the amount of time they have for sex or the frequency this past year, a national Consumer Reports poll shows.

Q&A: What kills sex in a marriage?

"People are certainly cutting back on expenditures, and that may mean less lavish dinners out and more stay-at-home dates that lead to a romantic evening," says Orly Avitzur, a neurologist and medical adviser for the magazine. "Sex can provide pleasure and boost mood while serving needs for intimacy and providing a calming effect."

In January, the magazine's National Research Center surveyed about 600 adults who reported being sexually active in 2008. The findings, reported on www.consumerreportshealth.org:

• 81% avoided or delayed having sex this past year. The most common reasons they gave: too tired, weren't feeling well, weren't in the mood.

• 45% said they had to plan a time for sex with their partner, and 7% said they used a printed or electronic calendar, PDA or smart phone to keep track.

• 20% said they had missed work to keep a planned time for sex; 21% said they had missed an outing with friends, and 15% said they had skipped an important event or appointment.

• 60% of men said they thought about sex at least once a day, compared with 19% of women.

• 66% of men and 58% of women said they were satisfied with their sex lives.

♥♥♥♥♥
While jobs are down and money continually becomes an issue, staying home is becoming more of an option.. yet this necessarily isn't a bad thing!

Staying home and having private evenings with your partner, rather than going out, will not only save you some extra cash in the bank, but can most likely lead to a MAXPRO night.. and if you can somehow ease in creativity and romance, you can probably score extra points too!

While going out occasionally can be fun, it could also be tiring. Those "lavish dinners" can tire a person out if you have too much to eat. Even the crowds of people can get frustrating.. and who knows? With the flu going around, do you really want to be around that?

At least at home you can control the situation. Instead of having to go through the hassle of getting ready, you and your partner can dress casually or comfortably.. or not at all? Hmm? You can even control how much you eat! Making dinner and preparing just enough portions for the two of you will allow you to "make room for dessert later." Finally, there's no reason to say "I'm tired" or "I'm not feeling well" because you haven't really done anything! ..except stay home, live comfortably, and avoid everything on the outside world.

So with all that said, have fun at home! Forget the economy! Forget that you've been rejected by hundreds of employers! You can't get rejected now! ♥

With the slumping economy, it's good to know that other things are recession proof.


If you're planning on having a MAXPRO night, check out our store for all your MAXPRO needs:
MAXPRO Condoms
MAXPRO Store


Helpful Resources:
- Feature: Sex Around the House (MAXPRO Blog)
- Feature: Foods to Get in the Mood (MAXPRO Blog)

Erotica at the Zoorotica Tour

News Excerpt from: Battle Creek Enquirer
by Lori Holcomb
February 2, 2008

You know about the birds and the bees, but how about the giraffes and the gibbons?

This Valentine's Day, Binder Park Zoo is hosting an exotic afternoon for lovers of all species. Over champagne and hors d'oeuvres, Zoorotica attendees will receive an unabashed look into the mating habits of wild animals and receive a behind-the-scenes tour of some of the zoo's typically off-limit areas.

This 21-and-older-only event is the only one of its kind in the state, yet marketing manager Kari Parker said the zoo actually is treading on a well-beaten path.

"Zoos in larger cities across the country have been doing this for years," she said. "It's worked for them so we decided to try it. It's a fun idea and something different to do for Valentine's Day."

The idea originated with the San Francisco Zoo's Sex Tours in the mid-1980s and evolved to become a Valentine's tradition. That zoo will celebrate its 20th annual Sex Tour/Woo at the Zoo this year, which offers multiple sessions over two weekends and typically sells out, said groups sales manager Laney Odom.

Zoos from Honolulu to New York's Central Park have since caught on to the trend, proving that one truth of marketing holds firm regardless of species: sex sells.

In Houston, it's "Wild for Love." In Tampa, it's "Wild at Heart." In New York, it's "Jungle Love" and in Philadelphia, the annual event is called "Lovin' on the Wild Side."

The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo's Animal Attractions draws about 400 people annually. Now in its seventh year, attendees come to dine on food from local restaurants, taste wine and, of course, hear about a little monkey business.

"It's a nice, adults-only event that allows couples and individuals to come out to the zoo in the middle of the winter and do something a little bit different," said Cleveland Metroparks spokeswoman Lisa Foster. "It's educational and kind of fun, and that seems to be a winning combination."

Zoorotica at Binder Park will feature a guided tour that stops at the exhibits and barns housing snow leopards, giraffes, zebras, primates, Mexican wolves and reptiles, to name a few. A DVD presentation about wild animals' mating habits will be given along with refreshments and a gift bag.

Although the event's concept might beget blushing cheeks and puckish jokes, Foster added that the Cleveland zoo has received only positive feedback.

After all, it is just the facts of life, Parker said.

"It's a lot of information about our animals and how they reproduce is really pretty fascinating," Parker said. "It's a lot of interesting things you would never know unless you asked."[...]

♥♥♥♥♥

When I first came across this article, I thought, "Okay, that's cool... if you're into that kind of thing." I can understand the educational value in it, but on Valentine's Day? Personally, I don't see how that could help strike the mood.

Well.. I can actually see it as a fun day at the zoo with friends.. aaand maybe it might make for an interesting and fun day for a couple, but personally, I couldn't see myself taking a day to go watch documentaries about animals and their mating habits. It might be fun on another day, but I don't think I'd want to go on Valentine's Day.

That's just me.

It must be a big enough hit for it to have lasted 20 years in San Francisco though! At the San Francisco Zoo, they offer 2 weekends of the "20th Annual Woo at the San Francisco Zoo." On special event days (February 8th & the 14th), the tour hosts a romantic brunch including; mimosas, French toast station, scrambled eggs, pastries, chocolate covered strawberries, fresh fruit and a delicious surprise. I'm kind of wondering what that delicious surprise could be! Apparently, these events sell out, so reservations are recommended (21 and over only!).

I think as long as people keep it on an educational level and not on a more physical adventure with the animals, COOL! :)

Helpful Resources & Links:
- 20th Annual Woo at the San Francisco Zoo

No Glove, No Love. No Test, No Sex

News Excerpt from: LA Singles Examiner
February 5, 12:03 AM
by Niki Payne

With Valentine's Day approaching, you can bet that plenty of couples (or non-couples, for that matter) will probably be knocking boots a lot this month.

Maybe it's love, maybe it's lust. Or maybe it's loneliness and self-esteem issues that get your legs to open wider than the Grand Canyon. Whatever the case, it's important to note that February happens to be National Condom Month. Kind of ironic, don't ya think?

What's even more ironic is that I recently overheard a friend tell another friend that a girl he was dating (for about a week or so) asked him to get checked out before she would agree to sleep with him.

Now, my mom always preached to me to do the same, but I'd always laugh at her thinking, "What person my age would actually do that?" So when I heard the topic come up, of course my ears perked up naturally.

How does someone typically respond to a request like that? After all, it's not an unreasonable request considering how promiscuous people can be these days. But what it you're in the heat of the moment and you really, really, really want to put it inside her or really, really, really want him to put it inside you already?

Most people "know" the risks and yet do it anyway figuring it's just a "one-time exception." Only it's not, and once is one time too many if you're not in a committed relationship.

Among some of the most common sexually transmitted infections ("disease" seems to imply a slow death) are chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphillis. Of course, when someone does contract one of these sexually transmitted bacterial infections, no one really talks about it. That's because STD's are a totally taboo topic. Don't believe me? Play a game of "Ten Fingers" with a group of friends and see how much slower fingers go down when you say, "Never have I ever has an STD."

People keep that ish on the DL as well as their sexual history, probably because they've never been checked out or are afraid to get checked out.

I was in complete awe when I discovered that some of the people I know have never taken an STD test before. Are you kidding me? Maybe it's because I'm a woman and have grown accustomed to getting tested every year along with my annual pap smear, but I think it's so incredibly important to get yourself tested frequently if you are sexually active.

I recommend getting checked out every 3-6 months because that's about how long it takes sometimes for the infection or disease to manifest. And if you do find yourself in the unsettling scenario of having contracted an STD from one of your partners (and you care enough to inform them), know that you have the option of letting him or her know via an e-card through an Internet Notification Service created specifically to notify past partners of possible infections.

We grow up learning that abstinence is the key to practicing safe sex. F that ish! We all know that none of us are going to start abstaining from sex any time soon. So if you really want to practice safe sex, ask your partner to get checked out and always use a condom.

The way I see it, if a girl doesn't hear back from a guy after making such a request, you know he was only interested in an easy lay and wasn't planning on sticking around long. On the other hand, if he does agree, he might actually have plans to keep you around a little. Either that, or he hasn't been laid in a really long time.

♥♥♥♥♥

There really shouldn't be a fear in getting tested. If it's about embarrassment, why be embarrassed? Lots of people get tested! ..that's why the wait at the Planned Parenthood clinic is always so long! ..or at least I heard.

Maybe it's the fear of getting bad news? Even if "bad news" were the case, it's better to find out sooner than allowing it worsen. Ignoring it won't only make it worse, but you have the chance of "spreading the bad news" to other people! Boooo.. don't be that person!

In addition, not all birth control methods will protect you from the risk of STDs. If used properly, condoms will help in the preventing of contracting STDs. If you read the fine print, the pill can't do any of that. :(

I also looked into the whole National Condom Month. After Googling it, I found that there are different variations on the celebration. There's the aforementioned (February), along with National Condom Week (February 14-21), and National Condom Day (celebrated on February 14/Valentine's Day). Whatever it is, celebrate it throughout the year!

Have fun & be safe ♥


For fine condom products for all your National Condom Month needs, please visit our website & store:
MAXPRO Condoms
MAXPRO Store


Helpful Resources:
- Feature: Being Prepared (MAXPRO Blog)
- Ten Reasons Why Condoms Are The Best Contraceptive (MAXPRO Blog)

Condom Display At Mall Raises Eyebrows

Update:
News Excerpt from: WWJ Newsradio 950
Posted: Thursday, 05 February 2009 8:54AM

AIDS Group Claims Mall Banned Condom Display

Troy (WWJ) -- The Michigan AIDS Coalition said Thursday that an HIV/AIDS Awareness display has been pulled from a Somerset Collection storefront in Troy.

The display, at Armani Exchange, featured hundreds of red condoms forming a giant heart as part of the National AIDS Fund's "Give Love, Get Love" effort ahead of Valentine's Day.

The group said more than 70 malls nationwide have allowed a similar display--and Somerset was the only one that banned it.

WWJ has a call in to Somerset spokesman Thursday morning for comment.




Original Post: February 4, 2009

News Excerpt from: KSBW-TV
January 31, 2009

With Valentine’s Day approaching, you wouldn’t think a heart-shaped window display would cause much controversy.

But this one is made out of red condoms.

It’s right on the front window of the Armani Exchange store at Arden Fair Mall in Sacramento, California.

The display reads, “give love, get love…and practice safe love.“

It’s part of a promotional campaign for the National AIDS Fund.

A mall spokesperson says they’ve received a few calls from concerned shoppers with questions. The mall has no comment about the display because it’s in a space leased by the store.

♥♥♥♥♥

Another Valentine's Day related post! ..expect a lot of them in the next few days! ♥

I just thought this article was interesting. There's nothing really harmful in promoting safe sex and I think A|X found a creative, innovating, and cute way to promote it!

What do you think?


Helpful Resources:
- Feature: Being Prepared (MAXPRO Blog)
- Ten Reasons Why Condoms Are The Best Contraceptive (MAXPRO Blog)

Chocolatier Creates Candy to Stimulate Male Sex Drive

News Excerpt from: FOXNews.com
Wednesday, February 04, 2009

Just in time for Valentine's Day a New Zealand chocolatier says she created a new candy that acts as a male aphrodisiac, the Australian Associated Press reported.

Former food scientist and owner of Mamor Chocolates, Hanna Frederick, has made headlines for her crazy candy concoctions including beer-flavored and deer antler chocolate.

Now, the Auckland, Australia businesswoman is hoping to capitalize on Valentine's Day with her Tongkat Ali-infused chocolates.

Tongkat Ali is an herb that comes from a tree found in Southeast Asia. It is believed to stimulate testosterone production in men, giving a boost to the sex drive. It has been nicknamed the "Asian Viagra," but, like most herbal remedies, there are very few scientific studies backing its benefits.

The chocolates, which can be ordered online, deliver a "small but noticeable" aphrodisiac effect, Frederick claims.

♥♥♥♥♥

Just another reminder of what's to come in the next week! Valentine's Day! ♥

A chocolatier who seems to know the way to a man's heart -- concocting morsels like whiskey and beer-flavored chocolates -- has made a chocolate to act as a male aphrodisiac. While chocolate has already been known to act as an aphrodisiac by itself, Hanna Frederick has created a candy using the finest Belgian chocolate with a high cocoa mass and pure flavors.. with an extra ingredient of course!

Eurycoma Longifolia Jack (also known as Tongkat Ali) is a South Asian herb that "has been used by men for centuries to increase sexual desire, libido, and enhance overall performance. It has been traditionally taken for energy, strenuous labor and athletics."¹

As if chocolate couldn't get any better! ..it does :)


Helpful Resources & References:
¹ Mamor ~ The Spirit of Passion
- Kiwi men get aphrodisiac chocolates for Valentine's Day (www.news.com.au)
- Feature: Foods to Get in the Mood (MAXPRO blog)

Pubs Offer Condoms Over Valentine's Day

News Excerpt from: Illawarra Mercury
BY ANGELA THOMPSON
2/02/2009 3:52:00 PM

Beer, wine, spirits, and condoms.

Wollongong watering holes will stock more in their bars this month as part of a campaign to promote safe Valentine's Day loving.

Pub-goers at four pubs will receive free condoms with their pints in the lead-up to the day, very deliberately included in the sexual health campaign, The Big Gamble.

The campaign targets members of the heterosexual population who have recently changed partners and comes after a dramatic spike in chlamydia notifications in the region.

"When people start a new relationship they might not know the sexual background of the person they're having a relationship with and lots of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have no symptoms," Healthy Cities Illawarra sexual health promotion officer Naomi Cox said.

"We thought Valentine's Day was an appropriate time to get that message out there and get people thinking about their sexual health.

"Along with the presents and love that comes with Valentine's Day, we also encourage people to use condoms and be aware of sexually transmitted infections."

Chlamydia notifications to South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Area Health Service tripled between 2000 and 2006, with a particularly large spike recorded between 2004 and 2005.

Condom packs, together with coasters and posters bearing the safe sex message, will be distributed to the University of Wollongong Unibar, the Beach Bar, North Gong Hotel and the Harp Hotel.

Healthy Cities recommends people beginning a new relationship have a sexual health check-up, particularly if they don't plan to use condoms. Those who recently ended a relationship, had unsafe sex or whose partner had an STI should also have a check-up.

♥♥♥♥♥

Valentine's Day isn't just a commercial day celebrated around little cards and heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, but it's a day to celebrate love! ..and what's another way to show love by "making" it? ♥

Although Valentine's Day is a special day, it shouldn't be a day to forget about safe sex! ..and despite the spike in chlamydia outbreaks in the South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Area, it's still a good idea to promote safe sex everywhere; especially on a day where copious amounts of people will be "doing it."

I understand that it might not be appropriate to just give patrons condoms in some locations, but having them readily available may be convenient and serve as a reminder to people who might have just "forgotten." Creatively distributing them (i.e. packaged discreetly, gift boxes) could even be an option for inconspicuously nudging safe sex.

Overall, it can't hurt to be safe.. literally :)

If you want to be prepared beforehand, MAXPRO condoms can provide for your Valentine's Day needs! Visit our store at http://store.maxprocondoms.com


Helpful Resources:
- Feature: Being Prepared (MAXPRO Blog)
- Ten Reasons Why Condoms Are The Best Contraceptive (MAXPRO Blog)

Provision To Increase Access To Medicaid Family Planning Services Cut From Stimulus Package

News Excerpt from: Medical News Today
January 29, 2009

Under pressure from Republicans, President Obama and House Democrats on Tuesday agreed to drop a provision of the proposed economic stimulus package that would have given states the option to expand Medicaid coverage of family planning services, the Washington Post reports (Murray/Kane, Washington Post, 1/28). Wall Street Journal's "Washington Wire" reports that the provision would have allowed states to extend Medicaid family planning coverage to women with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid without obtaining special permission from HHS (Meckler, "Washington Wire," Wall Street Journal, 1/27). Republicans who opposed the provision argued that it had "nothing to do with economic stimulus," the New York Times reports. According to the Times, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the Medicaid provision would have saved the government $200 million over five years by decreasing costs related to pregnancies and post-natal care covered by Medicaid (Calmes/Hulse, New York Times, 1/28).

The Post reports that Obama persuaded House Democrats to remove the provision "[a]s a show of good faith" before an expected House vote on Wednesday. During a meeting with House Republican leaders on Tuesday, Obama reassured Republicans that their concerns over the bill were being considered during the final stage of drafting (Washington Post, 1/28). A Democratic aide said, "It obviously has sort of generated this firestorm of criticism. It ended up being a distraction, and it will be removed" ("Washington Wire," Wall Street Journal, 1/27). The Senate will consider a similar, separate bill next week, according to the Post (Washington Post, 1/28).

Mary Jane Gallagher, president of the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, said, "Family planners are devastated that President Obama and Congress have decided to take funding for critical family planning services out of the stimulus." She added, "Their willingness to abandon the millions of families across the country who are in need is devastating." The Planned Parenthood Federation of America said the provision was a "victim of misleading attacks and partisan politics" ("Washington Wire," Wall Street Journal, 1/27). [...]

-----

After having read a few articles about the stimulus package and contraceptives, I was wondering why so much money would be invested in contraceptives. I understood that it would have benefits to health, but how would it contribute to improving the nation's debt? Then I stumbled across an article...

The article at RH Reality Check, "Boehner Gets It Wrong on Contraceptives, Stimulus", helped me to understand that it was much more than just a health concern. The article stated that:

"[...] publicly funded family planning services significantly reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and abortions that occur. Each year, the contraceptive services provided just at publicly funded clinics help women avoid 1.4 million unintended pregnancies, which would result in 640,000 unintended births and 600,000 abortions. Without these services, the number of abortion performed each year in the United States would be 49% higher than it currently is."

The article also stated that avoiding unwanted pregnancies would have saved the government over $200 million over five years. Unfortunately, as the main article illustrates, Obama dumped on the bid for family planning. Could this be a loss of hope for millions of families?

Luckily, there will be a similar and separate Bill to be considered by The Senate next week. If approved, hopefully this will have enough (or more) provisions to cover the cut in the stimulus package.


Helpful Resources and References:
- Ask President Obama to Stand Up for Family Planning (RH Reality Check)
- Boehner Gets it Wrong on Contraceptives, Stimulus (RH Reality Check)
- Limbaugh Attacks Pelosi Over Contraceptive Stimulus (MAXPRO Blog)

Weasels vs. AIDS Relief

News Excerpt from: Washington Post
By Michael Gerson
Wednesday, January 28, 2009; Page A15

[...]During Obama's transition, Dr. Mark Dybul was initially asked to stay on as the coordinator of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) for several months until a replacement could be found and confirmed. Because Dybul was the main architect of the program and one of its guiding visionaries, few were surprised by the offer. With Ambassador Randall Tobias, Dybul organized the most staggeringly successful foreign assistance effort since the Marshall Plan -- eventually helping support lifesaving AIDS therapy for more than 2 million people.

While I worked at the White House -- from 2001 to 2006 -- I saw Dybul combine the ability to build bipartisan consensus for PEPFAR on Capitol Hill with exceptional compassion for the victims of a cruel and wasting sickness. It mattered little to the Bush administration that Dybul was openly gay or that he had contributed to Democratic candidates in the past. He was recognized as a great humanitarian physician -- a man of faith and conscience -- almost universally respected among legislators, AIDS activists, foreign leaders and health experts. Almost.

A few radical "reproductive rights" groups -- the fringe of a fringe -- accused Dybul of advocating "abstinence only" programs in AIDS prevention. It was always a lie. Dybul consistently supported comprehensive prevention efforts that include abstinence, faithfulness and condom use -- the approach that African governments themselves developed. In fact, Dybul was sometimes attacked from the right for defending a broad definition of AIDS prevention, including programs to address prostitution and transgenerational sex. Over the years, PEPFAR distributed 2.2 billion condoms -- hardly an "abstinence only" approach.

By encouraging Dybul to stay until his successor was in place, the Obama administration displayed a generous spirit, as well as a practical concern for continuity in a vital program.

Then, the day after the inauguration, Dybul received a call asking him to submit his resignation and to leave by the end of the day. There was no chance to reassure demoralized staffers, or PEPFAR teams abroad, or the confused health ministers of other nations. The only people who seemed pleased were a few blogging extremists, one declaring, "Dybul Out: Thank you, Hillary!!!"

As in most political hit-and-run attacks, the perpetrator was not anxious to take credit. It seems unlikely to be Hillary Clinton herself -- Dybul's ultimate boss at the State Department -- who had not even been confirmed when Dybul received his call. But someone at State or the White House determined that sacrificing Dybul would appease a few vocal, liberal interest groups. One high-ranking Obama official admitted that the decision was "political." Yet the AIDS coordinator is not a typical political job, distributed as spoils, like some deputy assistant position at the Commerce Department. It involves directing a massive emergency operation to provide lifesaving drugs, through complex logistics, to some of the most distant places on Earth. And now that operation may be months without effective leadership -- undermining morale, complicating inter-agency cooperation, delaying new prevention initiatives and postponing budget decisions.

It is difficult to imagine what vision of public service could cause any Obama official to celebrate a victory by sabotaging a good man and a good cause. And it is difficult to conceive what political gain Obama has achieved. This type of captivity to extreme interests is precisely what has discredited Democrats so often in the past. It is a kind of politics with all the "newness" of a purge, all the "freshness" of a mugging.

Governing, admittedly, is not badminton. But it costs little to be graceful. And pettiness, in this case, may impose a cost on the world's most vulnerable people.

"We, who seven years ago," wrote William Butler Yeats, "Talked of honour and of truth,/Shriek with pleasure if we show/The weasel's twist, the weasel's tooth." For some in the Obama administration, the baring of the weasel's tooth took merely a day.

But none of this should bother Mark Dybul, who sleeps well in the knowledge that he helped save millions of lives -- an experience his critics will never share.

-----

Personally, the firing of Dybul makes me wonder what is in store for the program; what does Obama's administration have in mind for the future of the program?

With having worked as an AIDS doctor for several years in San Francisco and saving millions of people's lives, Dybul's resume is fairly reputable! He even won over George W. Bush; all the while being openly gay. So, why the sudden change in mind?

It was noted to be a "political" reason. "Political?" Details, please?

Per the article, Dybul were to stay with the program until a replacement were to be found. Now that he has been dismissed, I'm wondering who the new replacement is. I understand that Obama is all about change.. and hey, maybe the administration is just Spring cleaning for something new, exciting, and wonderful! I guess we can't really judge what's going on until we find out who the new replacement is.


Helpful References and Resources
- PC trumps HIV: The scandal behind the Dybul firing (bloggernews)
- Mark R. Dybul (Wikipedia)

Ten Reasons Why Condoms Are The Best Contraceptive

News Excerpt from: Finding the Best Cure

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

There are numerous contraceptive methods that you and your partner can use. Popular approaches include everything from pills to injections to implants. Perhaps the best known contraception method is the use of condoms. When used correctly all of these techniques can be very effective methods of preventing unwanted pregnancy.

But the well known fact is that using condoms is considered by most experts to be the easiest, least expensive, and least intrusive method of contraception. The use of condoms can have important health and safety benefits as well.

Here are 10 reasons to use condoms rather than alternative contraceptive methods:

1. Condoms make sex less messy. They are neat and tidy.

2. Condoms are widely available in pharmacies, supermarkets, drug stores, shopping malls and convenience centers. They can also be ordered online from many well established websites.

3. Condoms are a virtual necessity for busy people in modern society because they are ready to go at any time.

4. Condoms are easy to use. The intervention of a health care professional, or the use of drugs is not required.

5. When used properly condoms are a highly reliable method of birth control. On average they are up to 98% effective.

6. There is no need to “take” a pill that has a dramatic effect on your entire body and alters natural processes. Condoms are only required when you are having sex.

7. Condoms can actually enhance the sexual experience because they are available in many sizes, shapes, textures, and flavors.

8. There are no medical side effects as with virtually all other birth control methods.

9. Condoms are the most effective way to protect women from infections and the development of cancer of the cervix.

10. Condoms are the only contraceptive that helps to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.

The benefits of condoms are so important and so compelling that many people who have tried alternatives are returning to condoms. They have decided the unwelcome side-effects of other methods that rely on drugs or intrusive implants are not acceptable. An increasing number of people are simply unwilling to tamper with the natural cycles of their body.

Perhaps even more important, experts around the world have come to realize that condoms are the only way to create a significant barrier to infection and sexually transmitted diseases. As a result, the distribution and use of condoms has become one of the most important weapons in the battle against the spread of HIV aids and other sexually transmitted diseases [...]

-----

As exhibited in the article, there are many reasons to consider (or reconsider) condoms — and I'm sure there are more reasons than just the 10 presented!

With sex becoming more and more prominent in today's society, it's definitely important to make sure you, as well as your partner, are safe when engaging in "intimate moments." Risks of STD's, HIV, and HPV are heightened when unprotected sex is practiced. As stated by the American Cancer Society (ACS), "Condoms (rubbers) may protect against HPV when they are used correctly, and it is important to use them because they do protect against AIDS and other sexual diseases."^[1]

In addition, when used correctly, condoms are 98% effective in protecting you from pregnancy. While the common Birth Control Pill (BCP) can be as effective, it's also a pill you have to remember to take every day. Granted you often forget to take the pill, it lessens the effectiveness. BCP can also alter a woman's natural cycle, and while there might be advantages to this, there are definitely some disadvantages. First of all, it doesn't protect you from sexually transmitted infections so it is still advised to use a condom in addition to BCP. Per Planned Parenthood, other disadvantages include: breast tenderness, change in sexual desire, nausea, vomiting, etc.^[2]

Okay, let's re-evaluate the Pill.. So it has the possible chance to change sexual desire? ..and it doesn't protect from STIs? This isn't some kind of ploy to sway you away from BCP, but if you haven't really given much thought to your safe sex method, these may be reasons to re-access what is important to you and your partner, as well as your body.

Another reason to consider condoms is their shelf life! "When stored in a cool, dry place condoms without spermicide are generally good for around five years from the time they are manufactured."^[3] So if sex is an occasional thing for you (i.e., monthly, semi-annually, etc), at least you can have some condoms on reserve and feel safe knowing that you can be protected. Again, just be sure to check the expiration date after you blow off the dust!

If the embarrassment of having to buy condoms is something that's swaying you away from this form of protection, then there is no real reason to fear any longer! As stated in the article, with modern technology, you can buy condoms online in the privacy of your own home. MAXPRO condoms has just that solution: MAXPRO Store

With all that said, don't you think it's time to buy some condoms? :)

For fine condom products, please visit our website & store:
MAXPRO Condoms
MAXPRO Store


Helpful Resources & References:
¹ What Cause Cancer of the Cervix (American Cancer Society)
² Planned Parenthood: Birth Control Pill (Planned Parenthood)
³ Condom Expiration Dates (Go Ask Alice!)
- Using A Condom Properly (guardian.co.uk)
- Birth Control A Friendly But Risky Alternative to Condoms (TigerWeekly)
- Feature: Being Prepared (MAXPRO Blog)
- Embarassing Moments Buying Condoms (MAXPRO Blog)

Some Women Need Vibrators to Get Off. Get Over It, Men.

News Excerpt from: Village Voice

By Dan Savage
Tuesday, January 20th 2009 at 3:06pm

Dear Dan:

I love the wife I married two years ago, but she absolutely can't come unless she uses a vibrator on herself. She's asked me to let her use it during sex or for me to use it on her, but I've refused. It's bad enough knowing I can't compete with that thing without having to look at it.

Let's Insert My Prick

Yeah, yeah, LIMP, you can't compete. Like a lot of other men, you've fallen in love with a woman who needs intense, focused stimulation in order to come, the kind of sensation that hands, fingers, tongues, and cocks just can't provide—a woman who requires a vibrator. Now let's take a little time to grieve, shall we?

Time's up.

Now, stop being such a douchebag about this, LIMP, and go ask the wife to show you just how to hold the vibrator and just where to apply pressure so that you—YOU!—can start giving her orgasms during sex. See the vibrator as a tool, moron, not a threat. Because if being with you means going without orgasms during sex for the rest of her life—all because she was foolish enough to marry an insecure bag of slop who refuses to do what needs to be done to get her off—then your wife just might decide to be with someone else.

And now an important message for all straight guys everywhere: Some women need vibrators to get off. Why? Well, perhaps it has something to do with the fact that most of a woman's clitoral tissues are inside her body; the exposed part of her clitoris is just the tip, comparable to the head of your penis. Now imagine if the shaft of your penis was buried inside your body, guys. You might need the help of a vibrator to get off then, too; you might need a tool that could stimulate your shaft through layers of skin and muscle and fat. We've been over and over this since the early 1990s, fellas, and there's no excuse anymore for freaking out about your wife/girlfriend/mom needing a vibrator, OK? [...]

-----

So, guys.. just reiterating, there's no reason to be intimidated by the *gasp* VIBRATOR. It's the 2000's!! ..or 00's? Hmm.. Well, whichever it is, don't you think women deserve to release their sexual tension too? Why should you be the only one to get all the pleasure? Chh!

As Dan Savage explained, the female anatomy is waaaay more complicated than it looks (Obviously because God spent more time on us) ..aaaaand just when you thought we couldn't get more complex, all women are unique and usually require different kinds of stimulation. While penetration, alone, might be fine for one woman, another might need "an extra something" in addition to what you're already equipped with.

Intimidation aside, try to use this "problem" as an advantage... or even an opportunity to experiment and have fun with your partner. It can't always be about you!

You can start off by showing her chivalry isn't dead by catering to her needs. It's likely that some women might have some extreme needs that might scare the bejeezus out of you, but try to have an open mind. Try talking to your partner & go over what she likes, what you like, and what both of you can do to make it all the more pleasurable. Do some research on your own (or together) and surprise her! Truth: Girls like surprises (However, they do have to be good) Also, putting in that extra effort shows that you're sensitive to what your partner wants.. and with her knowing that you're going the extra mile, you can earn extra brownie points!

So instead of looking at the vibrator as the enemy, think of it as a part of yourself (especially with vibrating rings). You have the opportunity to control & decide how much intensity and pleasure you want to give your partner. Again, just have fun with it! You, yourself, might even experience a little more pleasure than you would have expected!

If you want to take things slow and not go to super extreme measures, the MAXPRO 3 + 1 pack is a great starter! It has everything in one convenient package (3 condoms & 1 vibrating O-ring) — equating to pleasurable, safe sex! You can purchase it at select MAXPRO retailers.

For more fine MAXPRO products, like the MAXPRO Extreme Pleasure Packs (1 condom & 1 vibrating O-ring), visit our store at MAXPRO store


Helpful Resources:
- Feature: Why She Fakes It (MAXPRO Blog)
- Feature: Sex Around the House (MAXPRO Blog)

Last Minute Christmas Gift Idea

I'm sure there are a few guys out there who haven't gotten their significant others' their Christmas presents yet.. or maybe you have no freaking clue on what to get!

For a quick gift, watch the video, follow the simple steps, and viola!



Caution: Make sure not to leave any jagged edges! ..because you know, paper cuts can get nasty.

For full on protection, slip on a MAXPRO condom and let the holiday fun begin!!!