Bill Maher and more make for a fun trip

Greetings from California! Fun to be down here, having finished lectures at San Marcos (the photo shows the mocktails provided at the event) and Northridge. I also did a little speaking engagement for the Cornell Club of Los Angeles. Speaking of Cornell (my alma mater), I went to see alum Bill Maher and the taping of "Real Time" on Friday. He's a blast, and guest Tavis Smiley was incredibly impressive. I especially like Maher's "New Rules," with clips available at the site.

More proof that abstinence-only programs don't work

News of another report proving that the abstinence-only approach to sex education just doesn't work. And in fact might be harmful. Why we waste hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars on a misguided approach full of misinformation is beyond me. (Well, not really. Check out this article exposing how abstinence-only has become a billion dollar industry for Bush's buddies in the religious right.)

Beyond the misinformation, these curricula contain simplistic slogans like "Do the right thing, wait for the ring," "Not on week days, only on wed days," and, yes, "Pet your dog, not your date."

Worse, despite evidence that these programs don't work (see the Waxman report for a congressional investigation), the Democratically controlled Congress (yes, I'm a bipartisan basher on this issue) has actually proposed a budget to increase funding for abstinence-only education. But new reports show that some are coming to their senses and stammering for an end to this funding, which will only lead to another fight.

Time for you to fight for your sexual rights. Contact your representatives, and tell them you oppose funding for Community-Based Abstinence Education.

A few fun links

Did you know that sharing the housework can lead to a better sex life?

I've been harping on this a lot, but in case you need more proof that sex is better in Scandinavia, here's breaking news that Sweden's state-run pharmacy is now starting to sell sex toys. Think Bush and Dick are going to spearhead such an initiative?

Meanwhile, I'm trying to make sex better in my old stomping grounds of Vermont. Here's a report from a recent lecture at Middlebury College that was lots of fun.  

That's it for now…off to Missouri first thing tomorrow!

The right amount of time for sex?

Not much time for me these days. Getting a bit battered by all the travel, and battling the start of a cold. But the show must go on!

Speaking of time, how about news that Americans and Canadians deem seven to thirteen minutes as the most desirable amount of time to have sex? Seems we're always shortchanging ourselves of some of the best pleasures in life…