Skepchick Sundaylies: How Not to React to a Suicide, Lunar Influence, Male Circumcision, Safe Sex, and the Politics of the Emergency Room

Sunday Funny: The Science Channel (via SMBC)
The Physics Philes, lesson 110: Ring My Decibel
Mindy is all about wave intensity.
5 Inappropriate Responses to Robin Williams’ Suicide
Olivia gives advice on how not to respond to someone’s suicide.
The Curve Who Became a Witch: The Mathematics of Maria Agnesi
She wrote the first comprehensive calculus textbook in Italian, but this mathematical genius spent the last years of her life devoted to the less fortunate.
Quilling: Infused with Sexism and Religiosity
This paper craft has a sexist history.
Make a Thing Wednesday
Make things with MAL!
Introduction to Pseudoscience: The Influence of the Moon (en español)
Elara explain how the moon affects us, and how it doesn’t.
Responses to Your Search Terms — Gay Men Edition!
Benny dissects some common search terms entered into Google to reach Queereka.
Male Circumcision and HIV
Vincent examines some of the claims about research involving penile circumcision and HIV transmission.
The Queerview Mirror: Stay
Ser reviews Jennifer Michael Hecht’s book Stay and talks a little about suicide.
Student Expectations
College students still expect to be lectured. Apostrophobia wonders how we can change that.
Monday, August 11: I Wish I Would Have Cancelled Class!
Jodee had a harrowing day at school thanks to Mother Nature’s wrath.
August Anxiety
Jennifer is feeling the pressure of the Back-to-School season.
No Such Thing as Safe Sex?
Ginny responds to a post written by a dad who doesn’t want to teach his kids about how to have “safe sex.”
Full Circle
Topher talks about coparenting with his ex, who is a Seventh Day Adventist, and how he felt about being raised agnostic.
Food Allergies: Don’t Panic. Make a Plan.
Jenny talks about what it’s like to be the mother of a child with food allergies
Politics in the ER: Five ways Doctors Decide You Are a Drug Seeker
Assumptions about drug-seeking behavior creates barriers between patients and doctors.
How can circumcision produce ‘herd immunity’ when its best result is 50-60% transmission reduction IN ONE DIRECTION ONLY?
An operation that provides that small a protection, and only to men who are having sex with women, does not appear cost-effective at all. No wonder the idea is being promoted by the ‘death before condoms,’ and ‘preserve ignorance at all costs’ groups.
Even that 60% is, as I mentioned, questionable.
A lot of these people seem to think they have a destiny. Nothing I fear more than a man (and it is usually a man who has such delusions of grandeur) with a destiny.
I kind of understand why conservatives were so worried about gay marriage destroying traditional marriage. If you actually follow all the rules traditional marriage is just as unpleasant for heterosexuals as it is for gays married to opposite-sex partners. They oppose everything that heterosexuals need to have healthy relationships and sex lives.
It is irresponsible to wait until you get married to have sex. If you haven’t had sex you don’t actually know if you are sexually compatible.