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STDs Rampant Among California's Porn Stars • Cats Not As Smart As We Thought, Study Says
New York, 3:11 AM
Thu Dec 10
65 posts in the last 24 hours
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STDs Rampant Among California's Porn Stars • Cats Not As Smart As We Thought, Study Says |
Original material is licensed under a Creative Commons License permitting non-commercial sharing with attribution.
06/17/09
06/17/09
our tiny, scardey cat always attacks the couch with her claws, so we tell her to stop and put her on the scratchy thing to try to teach her to use that. So, now when we catch her scratching the couch, we yell and she runs to the scratchy thing and hides. We've taught her that the scratchy thing is the punishment zone. She never uses it to scratch. our tiny, scardey cat always attacks the couch with her claws, so we tell her to stop and put her on the scratchy thing to try to teach her to use that. So, now when we catch her scratching the couch, we yell and she runs to the scratchy thing and hides. We've taught her that the scratchy thing is the punishment zone. She never uses it to scratch.
First, keep her claws trimmed. Unfortunately, you've learned the hard way what does not work and are causing her a lot of fear unnecessarily. It's not too late to fix this, but it will take time, patience and NO YELLING! :-)
The first thing you'll want to do is purchase a new scratching post that does not resemble the old one. Something tall and stable is your best option unless she is a "horizontal scratcher that likes flat surfaces. Then a flat, *wide* cardboard scratcher might be more appropriate (some cats like both and it doesn't hurt to have several options in different parts of your home.) This post is a favorite in my household: [www.grabcart.com]
The key is to observe the type of surfaces and angle they prefer to scratch at and then provide them things of their own that fit that preference.
Next, you want to place the post close to where she usually scratches. Rub catnip on it and see if you can entice her to use it by dragging a string up the side. Give praise and or treats every time she uses it, but never yell or get visibly frustrated if she doesn't at first. Never try to force a cat to use a post by grabbing their paws and making them scratch. You want them to understand that this is "their" post and make it a pleasurable experience.
If you see her start to use the couch do NOT yell as this creates fear, and this is especially a no-no when you are dealing with a "scaredy-cat." Instead, use a treat and/or a "happy" voice to distract her and then scratch your fingernails on the post and make it look like fun, or use a toy to entice her to come to the post instead. It also helps to cover the areas of the couch she is scratching with double-sided tape or a sheet or throw and make them inaccessible so her only option is the post. Yelling, etc. is not an effective training tool and doing anything that punishes or instills fear for doing what is a natural and necessary behavior is unfair and stressful for cats. Being kind and using gentle, fun persuasion is very effective and, while it is not instantaneous, it does work. It will take some time, especially considering there is some damage to undo, but it is not impossible.
06/17/09
06/16/09
Is there supposed to be some sort of built-in "graceful, poised, and generally respectable" filter in my long bones? I sure haven't noticed one.
06/16/09
It seems he became quite the hunter while I was away, bringing lizards, birds, gophers, and small rabbits inside through the doggie-door and playing with them.
One day, my Mom brought home a bell-collar and asked me to put it on the little guy. I did so and that was the end of his hunting escapades for a while. For 2 1/2 months, I worked and went to Summer-school and the cat would not come near me.
By Christmas, we were friends again. But in that time, he'd gone through a few other collars that he somehow managed to "silence" by damaging the bell. Eventually, he got good enough at refining his technique, that he could get birds, mice, and lizards, even with a bell intact. Lost him to a pack of coyotes. RIP.
06/16/09
So much porn eroticizes extremely risky acts, especially for women. There is almost no oversight, and people come and go all the time.
06/16/09
06/16/09
"Over the same period, there were 2378 positive tests for chlamydia, 1357 for gonorrhoea and 15 for syphilis in Los Angeles County among people describing themselves as adult film performers.
And this is only among people who voluntarily got themselves tested, only in Los Angeles County, only people who listed themselves as adult film performers.
06/16/09
"AIM Healthcare Foundation is an HIV testing clinic. We serve the Adult Industry, as well as the general public. Quite often, due to the early detection nature of our testing, and the low price, and 24 hour turnaround time for results, the general public with utilize our services. If and when these patients come back positive, THEY ARE ALWAYS REPORTED TO THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN A TIMELY MANNER, AFTER CONFIRMATORY TESTS RESULTS ARE IN OUR FILES.
Also, while serving the Adult Entertainment Industry, most talent have an HIV test from AIM, to present on the set when they arrive. Typically, in the Heterosexual Porn Industry which does not utilize condoms regularly, folks who desire to be talent will not be hired with an HIV positive test. AIM, continues to follow reporting regulations and does so to the County Health Department, as well as refers Positive patients for desired treatment either private or non profit. This is why they are not "publicized" as they had never fulfilled the desire to work in Adult Entertainment, due to the positive test. These are the two categories that the "16 HIV cases since 2004" are involved. All cases were reported, and referred for treatment."
Further, 2378 positive chlamydia tests over a period of FIVE YEARS in an industry that employs tens of thousands of people is still not shocking to me. AIM tests over 1200 people A MONTH. That's a shockingly low rate of infection. According to Planned Parenthood, one in 5 people are infected with some kind of STD. And according to the NY State Dept of Health, one in 5 teens contracts an STD every year in the US. In, for instance, the state of Illinois alone, JUST in 2005, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health there were 1,880 reported cases of HIV, 28,910 reported cases of chlamydia, 11,653 reported cases of gonorrhea and 489 reported cases of early syphilis. In one year. In Illinois.
So, no, I don't really think there is a rampant STD problem in the adult film industry. I think there is a rampant STD problem in Illinois, and we should all make smug, judgmental comments about how of COURSE the state of Illinois would have an STD problem.
06/17/09
06/16/09
My cat understands the cause and effect connection between objects just fine, friends.
The treats are kept in a cupboard that she can't get into. I am near that cupboard, but also near the kitchen door. Solution? Herd me away from the doorway, bite my feet and shout obscenities till treats are provided.
06/16/09
06/16/09
06/16/09
The other two remain blissfully ignorant.
06/16/09
06/16/09
Another reason to tell your fiance about that porno career...
--Regarding the intelligence of cats: Bish plz. Anyone who has a cat knows that if you are trying to read or write or go on the computer, the cat will jump between you and the reading material. This is because cats are trying to learn how to read. Once they can read they can organize and we will have a revolution on our hands.
--Regarding Imelda Marcos' jewelry: If you ever want to de-glamorize an enormous ruby, by all means, describe it as a prune.
06/16/09
Y'all...I'm sure you know this already but lawyers are using facebook as evidence for everything these days. Including criminal cases.
In fact, if one of your friends has been implicated in something (like a DUI as an example), be very aware that they are going to look at their friends list on facebook. Be smart and keep your shit locked down as much as possible....and don't accept tagged photos of yourself getting drunk off your ass and acting a fool.
06/16/09
06/16/09
06/16/09
06/16/09
06/16/09
06/16/09
Seriously cat owners, sleep with one eye open.
06/16/09
06/16/09
Yay Zicam!
06/17/09
06/16/09
He is either very stupid or an evil genius.
06/16/09
06/16/09
06/16/09
06/16/09
Perhaps we should form a support group?
06/16/09
Cats may not be smart, but they're evil as all hell.