Important concept: NUANCE

I’m not going to summarize this entire NYTimes health article, but here’s the gist:
The withdrawal method and condoms end up having a similar pregnancy rate (~17-18% yearly) due to common use. Condoms are better overall, but they have a very high rate of misuse which obviously impacts their effectiveness. So condoms would be better, but people don’t’ use them correctly. Thus, the withdrawal method and condoms end up having similar pregnancy rates.

Pretty simple concept, right?
Well, apparently no one wanted to research the topic..or publish it once it was researched because this incredibly complicated concept might confuse people.

And by people, they clearly (and admittedly) mean teenagers.

Apparently, teenagers might not understand you if you say something like this:

Condoms prevent pregnancy and the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
If you do not use condoms correctly, you are more likely to get pregnant or come into contact with an STI
The withdrawal method may also prevent against pregnancy, but not as well as condoms when they’re used correctly. If you use this method, there is no protection against STIs.
Condoms are better if used correctly.

See that? You can communicate a message about sexual health without assuming that all teenagers are too stupid to understand a little bit of nuance.

The researchers who found the similar pregnancy prevention rates point out that if we share this message, we provide important education and help reduce some of the fear and confusion felt by people not using another method of birth control. They are not advocating for withdrawal over other methods, simply stating that it should be included in list and scaled/measured appropriately.

A little less shame and a little more education seem OK by me.

Big news. And no, we did not buy a house, get engaged/married, or procreate. So stop thinking about any and all of the above--you know who you are.

And no, I'm not giving out the big news in the title. You'll just have to read the post.
:)


Anyway:

I don't usually post super specific info about myself.



Ok, that's kind of a lie!

I post about my job(s), furniture, and life with Layla and B.



But I don't think there's a single picture of my face anywhere on the blog.



Guess that's (kind of) about to change!



I entered a contest a few months ago.

I saw a flashing banner on bravo's website (B and I are project runway junkies) that said TIM GUNN and something about psoriasis.



In case you don't' know, I think Tim Gunn is pretty great.

And by pretty great, I mean perhaps my favorite person on tv.

Oh, and I also have psoriasis.



Anyway, I went to the website and entered the contest.

Then I forgot about it for months!



Well, turns out I'm one of the winners.. (scroll down..I'm there, I promise).

I get to walk in a runway show wearing a custom designed outfit, and chit chat to media about living with psoriasis.



I thought that all that chit-chatting should probably include my own blog.



I won't give you all the details. Check out the website.



Oh, and check out the info about my designer.

We ichat.

And email.

And phone chat.

I've made her tweak the design several times. Even after I've supposedly made decisions.

She just smiles and sends new designs.

I'm a huge fan.



Anyway, there's my big news!

Top Chef needs to come back right away..like 5, 4, 3, 2..now!

Top Chef Masters is just not cutting it for me (pun semi-intended)!

It's fun enough, but I can't really root for anyone because they're only around for 1 episode.

I know we're supposed to like them because they're famous, but I like learning about the contestants on the regular version over the course of the season.

Anyway, the real reason I'm ranting about a random cooking show is that the absence of my favorite has led me to watch....Chopped.

Yeesh.

It's really bad.

Ted Allen is kind of terrible as the host.

And most of the contestants are dimwits.

The current episode features an EXECUTIVE CHEF who just poured curry powder over lamb in a saute pan and called it creative. Oh, and authentic.

Sorry executive chef cookoo, but curry powder is neither.

Must have new episodes of Top Chef before I hurt the television..

Unless you are under the age of 5, you should NOT be allowed to carry a mangy purse shaped like an animal

I think the title says it all.

I was walking from the subway to work yesterday when I noticed the woman in front of me.

I thought she was carrying a small dog under her arm.

Then I realized it wasn't a dog.

It was a dog shaped purse.

AHHHH.

Furniture shopping is fun..free water & you can play on all the merchandise

B's old sofa is a goner!

Woohoo!

Well, sofa might actually be too nice a word.

It's a cushy love seat.

It's rather comfy, but has definitely seen better days.

Thanks to some help from B's mommy & daddy, we are now the proud owners of an actual sofa.

It's even a sleeper sofa!

Here's a picture:

Nothing too fancy.

Well, it is black leather.

That's a little fancy.

But not too fancy!

The kitty has no idea what's in store.

Plastic guards for the corners, and tons of spray bottles ready nearby.

This is what is looks like as a bed:

We're going to add a comfy pillow top.

Or maybe even an airbed on top of the mattress.

And pretty sheets.

It will look much fancier when we have guests over, I promise!