Sexting Tragedy: Jamie Metrick

Okay parents, I'm going to say something you probably don't want to hear; teens are sexual beings. Your teenagers have sex lives whether or not they have full-on intercourse. They are exploring their sexual likes and dislikes and are hopefully finding safe, responsible, and healthy sexual outlets. Teenagers also know a lot more about technology than you do. So of course  they have figured out how to use something as innocuous as texting to explore their sexual playfulness. Now I'm going to say something teens don't want to hear; don't send pictures of your genitals over the phone/internet! Even if your boy/girlfriend swears they'll be the only one to see it somehow, someway someone else is going to see it. You could have a vengeful ex, a prying parent, or just a nosy friend with a forwarding list.

Unfortunately, Jessica Logan made this mistake. But that's all it was, a stupid teenage mistake. What Ryan Saylers allegedly did, on the other hand, was cruel and humiliating and could have landed him in jail. In fact their are several cases in the U.S. of seventeen and eighteen-year-olds being charged with distributing child pornography for possessing nude pictures of their consenting partners who are minors. Saylers is lucky to not have his life ruined but chose to make Logan's short life a living hell in return. To me this is not so much a "sexting scandal" as it is just another case in a continuing problem of extreme bullying and harassment amongst teens. The details of this case sound very familiar to me: a girl who is really the victim of sexual exploitation is blamed, ostracized, and harassed by her fellow schoolmates. Jessica's parents have a right to sue Saylers and Co. for emotional cruelty, Officer Payne for giving their daughter truly dumb advice, and the school board for turning a blind eye to Logan's obvious harassment.

While I personally don't see the merit in sexting, teens are still going to do it. And you know what, it is their right to explore their sexuality and take the risk of exposure if they want to. Parents ultimately cannot control the raging bundle of hormones and curiosity that are teenagers, and maybe to a reasonable extent they should not. No matter how much abstinence-only brainwashing you teach or how many chastity rings you can slip on their fingers, teens are going get frisky. The best parents and schools can do is have honest, comprehensive sex ed. programs and help teens make informed decisions about sex. That, and stricter anti-bullying policies.

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Can You Hear the Fee: Jamie Metrick

Verizon has been my own cellular phone provider for a number of years. Me and my family switched from another network for a better family package and the reception improved significantly. So when my parents decided to switch cable providers, they thought they'd give Verizon Fios a try. But from the beginning, with a botched installation that ruined their house's siding, it was nothing but trouble. It took a hard-won lawsuit just to get Verizon to agree to repair the damage to the house. My father furious with the lack of good customer service, immediately tried to cancel the plan. However, he was stuck: Fios runs on fiber optic cable which replaced all the copper wiring that could not be switched back and the termination fee was so expensive, it was cheaper to keep it. 

They have had Fios for over a year, the cable quality is only average and they still pay a ridiculous amount per month. Verizon does what it is supposed to do: provide a solid, if not superior service. They charge way too much, period. A cancellation fee of $350 is above and beyond any phone bill someone could rack up in a couple of months. And charging people for accidental button-pressing, why not charge for dialing wrong numbers too? I think Verizon is guilty of good old fashioned highway robbery. Good for the FCC doing something genuine to protect consumers' rights and not worrying about celebrity nipples for once.
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Obama's New War Plan: Jamie Metrick

My feelings on the Afghani deployment are also mixed. At this point, I don't think anyone wants more war, more debt, and more American lives lost. But are Obama supporters really so naive as to think once he became president he would magically find a way to subdue the Taliban and Al'Qaeda and everyone would come home? And in his first year no less? President Obama has chosen a plan of action that is only the first step in stabilizing Afghanistan. He may not be the idealist Czar of change he campaigned as, but he is a pragmatist. I can't help but feel that by being a target of criticism of both the far right and the far left his political strategy is well-advised and balanced. 

I think we all must prepare ourselves for the long-haul. We are trying to simultaneously restore two war-torn nations and defeat several international terrorist organizations. These conflicts may not be resolved even after two Obama terms. We had a chance to stabilize Afghanistan in the 1980s and - as anyone who has read Charlie Wilson's War can tell you - we blew it. We have been dealing with those ramifications ever since and may have to for years to come. I fear that anything this and future administrations do will be futile, but only time will tell. 

However, I do wish that Obama would learn a lesson from the Reagan administration and instead of spending billions on the military, use some of that money to build schools, hospitals, and other infrastructure in Afghanistan. We have tried bullets and bombs. I think it is time to try education and economic growth. It will not yield instant, drastic results but it will lay the foundation for real and long lasting change in Afghanistan.

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World AIDS Day: Jamie Metrick

Personally, I have not had my own life affected by HIV/AIDS nor has anyone close to me. But it doesn't matter. AIDS effects everyone, be it our government policies or health care or how we conduct our sex lives. We all must take precautions and be aware that this awful disease does not discriminate who it infects. Unfortunately, HIV positive people do face discrimination. Only 20 or so years ago during the peak of the Gay and Lesbian community's AIDS epidemic there was talk by our legislators of segregating and/or quarantining all homosexuals, even requiring them to wear badges or patches identifying themselves as infected. Today du jour discrimination against HIV/AIDS is illegal, but fear and ignorance still allow de facto bias to continue.

So for this year's World AIDS Day, and for all your days to come, if a HIV positive person chooses to disclose to you their status please give them the courtesy and respect they deserve. Even well-meaning people can panic if someone discloses, especially a potential sexual partner. If a sexual partner is positive and tells you up front, you have the right to say no if you are uncomfortable. But know that many HIV negative people are in long-term and serious relationships with HIV positive people. Whatever you choose remember it takes a lot of courage to disclose this information. Besides, there are many people who do know they are positive and choose not to reveal their status, potentially putting other people at risk.

And as always, if you are sexually active use protection and get regular tests for STIs. AIDS isn't the death sentence it once was, but there are people around the world and here at home who do not have access to effective treatments. There are wonderful AIDS-related charities such as AmFAR, World Vision, and UNICEF always looking for donations! If you have recently discovered you are HIV positive you can go to Project Inform for information, advocacy and support at www.projinf.org.

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2012, The End of the World: Jamie Metrick

Ah, yet another end of the world panic. Historically, they are almost as old as human civilization itself. About every culture has apocalypse mythology, especially our Judeo-Christian one. Ever heard of a little Christian sect called the Seventh Day Adventists? Throughout their church's history they have sworn the Rapture was nigh about six or seven times -- all wrong of course. The Medieval Vatican would also pull this stunt; predicting the End Times on specific date getting people scared for their eternal souls. And then on Judgement Day, nothing. But oh, how good is God for He has decided to grant us a reprieve! Until next time...

There is a lot of power to be had getting people that scared over the ultimate scary event. For modern people that fear used less for control and more for getting people to shill out cold hard cash. The ad team behind 2012 knew it and thanks to a good viral marketing campaign, they cleaned up big time. So will canned food and bottled water manufacturers. So will people selling 'survival kits' on Ebay. So will the pseudo-scientists who write books on 2012 and give lectures. And hopefully so will the real practicing Mayans who get good tourist revenue. Hey, anyone remember way back nine years ago to a little thing called Y2K? People thought that was the end of civilization. I wonder if those people who spent thousands of dollars on nuclear fallout shelters, have found a good use for them (pool house, rec room?). And then of course there is that multi-million dollar line of Rapture books and movies, The Left Behind series. Damn, those Evangelicals sure know how to market. The end of world, it seems, is quite a cash cow.

No, the world will not end in December 2012. I say this without any hesitation and total conviction. And if I'm wrong it's not like anyone will be around to say I told you so. But there are less grandiose things to worry about. To paraphrase Joyce Carol Oates' wonderful short story, "Apocalypse: A Diptych," the world comes to an end everyday in a thousand little ways we don't even notice.

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Celebrities We're Tired of Hearing About: Jamie Metrick

If I never hear the terms "Octo-Mom" and "Washington Outsider" again, it would be a blessing. I am sick to death of all of the above "personalities," a name for which they barely qualify. It used to be that people of interest made the nightly news because they contributed something useful or important to the public. A scientist cures a deadly disease -- get him on 60 Minutes. The first female head of state in a developing country -- invite her on The View. A dog that can bark Shakespearean sonnets -- book it on The Tonight Show. Why are Sarah Palin and her brood still on public display: controversial politics, corruption allegations, and a dysfunctional family. Nadya Suleman has a bizarre birthing fetish and appears to be not very mentally stable. Carrie Prejean made some divisive statements, exploited that notoriety, and ended up part of a sex scandal. Instead of dismissing these people for their bad choices, our media are rewarding them with attention, money, and even prestige. 

The old-fashioned Freakshow never went away, it just moved to prime time and book deals. Why is it when people make stupid remarks or horrible life choices we can expect their new reality show to air next season? Why should we care what these anti-role models do? Why do the media care? Apparently people love the sensationalism, but I don't get it. What passes for hard-hitting "news" these days is slipping further from the important and creeping into mindless entertainment. Excuse me, did anyone know that 90% of all African-American children will be on food stamps at some point in their childhoods? It was totally on World News Tonight for, like, thirty seconds. This is something pundits should be discussing. Never mind the two wars, the economy, relations with China and Iran, and the political coup in Honduras. How many people even know about that coup? Or care? I long for the breaking headlines that report relevant stories that affect our lives. Is Levi Johnston's redneck junk on display that much more fascinating?

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The Placebo Effect: Jamie Metrick

While I believe that Western medicine is an imperfect science that does not hold the answers to all of our health concerns, it is the best we can do. It is researched, tested, and if it shows results, released to the public. But there is a world of difference between what ails the body and what ails the mind. I think while alternative treatments do not necessarily work better or as well as tested drugs and treatments for disease, they give people the feeling that they are at least somewhat in control. If you've ever been seriously ill, you know how helpless and out of control of your own body you can feel. 

I think some alternative medicinal treatments in addition to standard Western practices can have  a positive affect on a person's state of mind. Making someone feel emotionally and mentally positive can relax the body, and a relaxed body can heal faster. If drinking a certain blend of herbal tea can boost your immune system while you are being treated with chemo therapy – which in itself is effectively destroying the immune system - could it hurt? Maybe it does something, maybe it doesn't; but if you think it helps, who's to say it doesn't. Peace of mind can be a great pain reliever. The brain is a strong and powerful organ.

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Changing the Date of Halloween: Jamie Metrick

I must admit that I am an unabashed lover of Halloween even though I am technically an "adult." I love dressing up in costumes, watching scary movies, and having the go-ahead one night a year to eat as much candy as I can stuff into my face. Because, at the risk of sounding like a Charles Schultz special, Halloween is about the magic. We're only supposed to believe in magic for our brief youth and then give in to the dullness of reality. I think Halloween has become fun for teens and some of us grown-ups because for one night, we're allowed to at least pretend we believe in ghosts and devils and mischief.

But of course it's a profitable holiday: candy, costumes, decorations, pumpkins, fake blood. It's a macabre gold mine. But come on, soulless corporate America - who are blood suckers all year- maximize holiday profit potential by changing the date? They wouldn't dare mess with other holidays. Can you imagine the outrage if they moved Christmas to December 27th to give consumers an extra shopping day? And all of that "oh it will be more convenient for the children" crap is such a weak, thinly veiled excuse. If you want to talk about an inconvenient holiday, try Thanksgiving. Most of all, don't they realize this could hurt their bottom line? This Halloween happened to fall on a Saturday. In 2010, the last Saturday will be on the 30th, the year after that Halloween will be on the 29th and so on. You are actually loosing precious days to sell refined sugar and plastic fangs.

So on a practical level, there is nothing practical about a date change nor profitable that I can see. October 31st is Halloween. I don't see how any company or government legislation can change that. Kids are not dumb. Can you image telling a nine year old next year that Halloween is on the 30th? They'd just frown the way kids do when their little developing bullshit detectors go off and say, "But isn't it on the 31st?" If these companies really cared about children, and Halloween lovers like me, they wouldn't cut our revelry and magic short a couple of days to line their pockets.

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