FunAdventures

Thank-you Ice4fun, and I apologize to anyone if I missed the part of their posts where they were actually talking about voting for a certain party based on their policies and not their personal opinions about the leader of said party. Anyone who votes should look at the platforms and what the parties want to do, and how that affects you directly. Then choose what's best for you. That's it. Forget about Trudeau, Mulcair, and Harper as people. Think Liberal, NDP, Conservative as a group and decide which group is best for you. I get that this is a tough crowd to be in favour of conservative, but they are still winning in mind, based solely on their platform. Or, more accurately, because the other platforms are not good for me. Liberal - Well I'm not really sure what they propose. They have a very vague platform. But mainly I won't vote for them because they want to get rid of the TFSA, which in my opinion is the most powerful financial tool that us Canadians have (for both those of high incomes for tax free growth, and for those of low incomes for tax free growth where an RRSP contribution makes absolutely no sense). As my Aunt said after learning Trudeau would get rid of it "maybe the liberals have other avenues to make their money grow and not pay taxes on it". For those of you that believe for some misguided reason that the TSFA is bad, at least it's there for all Canadians to take advantage of, not just a select few at the top. NDP - $15/day daycare. $15/hr minimum wage. Sounds fantastical. However, as much as I love little children, I have no desire to pay for other peoples child care with my taxes. Sorry. But that's my position. You chose to have kids, I shouldn't have to pay for it. The $15/hr wage I'm indifferent about, but know that also means an increase in taxes. This is why the NDP = increased taxes. They have socialist platforms. However, they haven't suddenly reduced the cost involved in caring for your children, they've simply changed the way it's payed for. From the pockets of parents who decided to have the kids, to the whole working society (this still includes the parents - it just comes from their paycheques, not their pockets). So I'd honestly like to vote Green. Elizabeth May was fantastic during the debate and has won me over as the most competent leader. But I have no green candidate to vote for, so haven't looked at their platform to make an informed decision. This leaves me with the conservatives. They are the only ones that are not going to increase my taxes, while still allowing me to save and grow my money tax free. That's what's best for me at the moment. I encourage you all to choose what's best for you. That's what democracy is supposed to be. It shouldn't be based on opinions about the people, their hair, their smiles, or their age.

Hello gentlemen, I will be available all of next week for us to get up to some wild adventures :-) I will be available mostly during the day, but some evenings may be an option. If you have my number, please text me to set up a meeting, otherwise please email [email protected]. Hope to see you soon, Carrie

I would love to see you again. I am hosting this coming Wed thru Fri (July 1st to 3rd) if you would like to join me in some adventures? Please PM me email me to make a booking. Or text if you already have my number. Looking forward to seeing you, Carrie

I for one am glad a male's attire is being so intensely debated. It's so rare and refreshing. Female's attire is so often mentioned in media and news that hardly anyone notices, but it's one of those things that drive me crazy... For example "..... The Tecumseh, Ont., woman, who was dressed in a conservative black top and pants and whose hair appeared lighter than when she made her notorious videos, declined to comment ...... " completely ruined an otherwise interesting article about making sex videos in public spaces, http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/woman-gets-probation-250-fine-for-streaming-live-sex-show-from-windsor-public-library Wouldn't we all find it strange if every time a male went to court (or did anything for that matter) we got a description of their attire? I would welcome it. We could judge their innocence and guilt based on their clothing :tongue:

Those are all great ideas! I love the idea of renting a bicycle, but unfortunately the girl I am with is from China and has never learned to ride :-( I think today would be a great day for yoga and the war museum! Or perhaps a boat cruise to check out where Mr. Harper lives. One thing that has evaded us, is the horse carriage rides. We saw them the first night we were here, then the following day at lunch. But we can never seem to find them whenever we have the time. Anyone know how that works? Thanks for all the suggestions. Appreciate it

So I'm in Ottawa for real work and find myself with little to do tonight / tomorrow before I head back home. I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions for amazing things to do? I am with a non-SP friend, so as much as I would like to fill my time with some lovely gents from here, it is really not an option. I also figure this thread may help future visitors to Ottawa take advantage of their time here. Preferably it would be something that is unique to Ottawa / Ontario. Bonus points if it's cheap. Bonus points if it's near Ottawa/Gatineau centre. Bonus points if it is exciting and adventurous. What is your favourite thing to do in this wonderful town?

It must be watched in theater. I don't say this often. I find most movies not theater worthy. However, a small screen would not do the stunts and effects justice.

Oh you're mostly right pleasureme, It wasn't that his 'problems' are sexist. They are after all, just problems he has. That most people have.. humans fall in love, women cry, men cry. The bad part came when he said that because of HIS problems, a whole gender shouldn't be able to work in the field. "The OP, mistakenly, grouped all into the same category"... What did I group all into the same category? I am confused by this... I too found the social media responses hilarious. That was my point. I was laughing all day yesterday seeing my lab counterparts partake in this feed. I see now that my starting post really should have read "I think they are hilariously brilliant", and opposed to simply brilliant. I find it funny. Truly hilarious. Seriously. Writing on such a topic is hard. I can see how the tone of my original post was lost. It's supposed to be lighthearted. When I asked if you found it funny, it really should have said funny too. I think making fun of the situation is much more productive than getting all up in arms over it. Additional Comments: Oh I found another compilation of good ones. http://gizmodo.com/these-lady-scientists-are-so-distractingly-sexy-im-in-l-1710920322 LMAO

In case there are those who are unaware of the latest gossip in the scientific community, then check out some of these responses to Tim Hunt (A nobel prize winner and Sir). I think they are brilliant. http://mashable.com/2015/06/11/female-scientists-responses-tim-hunt-distractinglysexy/ They are in response to the three problems he has with girls working in science that he announced to journalists and fellow scientists while giving a talk at a conference. These three problems are why he believes women should not be allowed to work with men. He says it's too distracting... 1) He falls in love with them, 2) They fall in love with him, 3) They cry when criticized A quick google search will bring you all up to speed, and if I used twitter I would be all over #distractedlysexy, where I think the issue is being handled brilliantly. It highlights what a fool he is. Science is rarely sexy. What do you all think? Funny? Do we dare delve into the broader subject where this sort of sexist opinion is still prevalent in a lot of disciplines? I mean, really, why is it that the girls have to go? Couldn't he have instead said that men shouldn't be allowed to work with women because they get too distracted. ;-)

I completely agree with Peachy. For me it has nothing to do with the new laws that I have been fairly silent recently. It's simply that sometimes getting picked apart time and time again just makes it discouraging to participate. The thread about the risks of STI's comes to mind for me, where I felt I had to validate and defend my desire to obtain better information. It's tiring to do that, and not worth the effort. And I've seen it done to many others, where if there opinion doesn't go with the masses, they are berated. I personally would love to talk about more issues and am tired of every thread becoming about the 'new laws'. So I'll start a new thread now and see if I can start a discussion that I am sure will bring out a variety of opinions... Or at least I hope it will

I am just fishing here, but I am hoping one of you fine gents will be at CSC, and that perhaps we could coordinate some sort of fantasy play time into it?!?!?!?! ;-) I will be there. We could have so much fun ;-) Please only message me if you know what I am talking about. You can PM or email [email protected] Hope to rendez-vouz soon, Carrie

Hey everyone! Hope you are all happy and enjoying the sunshine as much as I am :-) Unfortunately, I see rain in the forecast for next week! Therefore, I think it would be a perfect time to create our own happiness. I will be hosting Mon the 11th until Thur the 14th. Won't you join me? Please PM or email me @ [email protected] for bookings. Cheers, Carrie

FYI. Just in case it's not obvious to you. Announcing that you have booked with someone who is only coming for one day, kind of ruins it for some others. Not many like to be 'second', or like the thought of other men on the same day. I get that you are just trying to help and say how wonderful she is, but she doesn't need your advertisement. And you may have just hindered who contacts her when she visits and I only assume that wasn't your intent. If you want to reco, perhaps you should wait until after the fact. Not trying to start a fight, but from a gal's point of view, this post doesn't help.

I am waiting for you :-) I will be hosting next week, Mon April 13th until Thurs April 16th. I would love to see you. Please PM me or email me at [email protected] for questions, bookings, and details.

Reminder to stay vigilant [QUOTE]TORONTO â?? A 43-year-old man has been accused of abducting a sex worker at gunpoint and keeping her captive in his Toronto home for five days. The woman was used as a sex slave before she was able to escape over the Easter weekend, police said. The brutal ordeal began March 31 when a man approached the 27-year-old woman on the street. After "a business transaction" was negotiated, the woman agreed to go to a home with the man, police said. "When they arrived, the victim felt uncomfortable with him and wanted to leave," Insp. Joanna Beaven-Desjardins said. The man then allegedly "produced a handgun, threatened the victim and held her against her will." Beaven-Desjardins said the woman was "bound with duct tape and handcuffs" for five days and "repeatedly sexually assaulted" and subjected to "some form of ritualistic actions." While Beaven-Desjardins was unwilling to elaborate on what the woman was forced to endure, she added "he did do things that we are very unfamiliar with." She said the woman escaped from her abductor on Sunday, fleeing through the front door onto the porch. "That's when somebody who was walking by heard her screams and called us," Beaven-Desjardins said. Officers were dispatched to the home, but by the time they arrived, the kidnapper was gone. The victim was taken to hospital for treatment and has since been released. She is now recovering from her ordeal. Investigators arrested a suspect on Monday. A woman who refused to identify herself at the home wouldn't say if she was at the roominghouse while the alleged kidnapping occurred. She also declined to make any comment about the accused man as she sat on the front porch of the home, across from Leslieville Public School. "I don't think you should assume everything you were told is fact," the woman said, asking reporters to leave her alone. Neighbours recounted the scene early Sunday as officers swooped in after a woman, who several witnesses said was only partially clothed and bound by duct tape, emerged from the home screaming.[/QUOTE]

I completely agree with CristyCurves. And these are my two cents: Although the people that partake here are generally good people who choose to be here, want to be here, etc etc.. this is not the reality for everyone. Just because we have it good, doesn't mean that the negative realities don't exist. I recently watched two documentaries on Netflix. 'Tricked' and 'Playground'. Both are worth a watch. These stories are real. And terrible. These girls are threatened, drugged, cut off from society (literally locked up while not 'working'), beaten, etc etc. Their families are threatened. They are trapped and scared. The system is broken, and we cannot pretend that it isn't. These documentaries also shockingly highlight how the system fails at carrying out their altruistic goal of protecting and helping the girls / boys. Frustrated victims, frustrated social workers, frustrated people trying to help, frustrated police who see that what the law tells them to do, doesn't help. The only people still smiling are the pimps. These are the stories that 'outshine' the good of this industry. AND THEY SHOULD. One negative situation should have more public spotlight than all of our stories combined. One thing I found fascinating was the excitement from pimps, particularly in Vegas, that think that legalizing the sex trade is the best idea ever. They wouldn't lose the girls under their control, and could expand. They would be safer. They were excited. It would make it worse for those girls. I found this fascinating because that seems to be what a lot of us want (legalizing it). But I wonder if it really would make things better / safer, or if we are just deluding ourselves. Both sides shouldn't see the upside of it. These stories are realities. These girls are real. They are not made up stories from politicians and activists that are 'out to get us'. I'm by no means saying that their approach to fixing this problem is working, but there is a problem. And I would rather our society acknowledge the bad shit that happens, then to sweep it under the rug and say 'well that's the minority of people involved, so who cares'. There is actually a website called 'Baby-Rape'. I think that says enough right there. Or maybe you want some stats such as of the 5,930,615 pornographic pictures of children online that have been reported, only 874 children have been identified. I'll gladly live with the stereotype if it means it will help even one girl / boy. Phaedrus you wrote "Now, everyone reading this post knows damn well that the impressions I've just outlined are absolute crap, and are in no way representative of this industry.". I think that that statement is crap (sorry) and is perpetuating this idea that the problems that exist are not worth acknowledging.

I haven't seen it, nor read the books. Mainly because I think it is over-hyped and I will be disappointed. However, I did come across this real life tale of two people trying it out. I found it hilarious. Worth a read and a laugh at the reality of it all. http://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/a36032/fifty-shades-of-grey-in-one-weekend/

Agreed. Your whole post makes perfect sense. Very well written, with valid points. I will just try to answer your main question though. For most people I think that is enough information. Knowing if something is good or bad, high or low, right or wrong, is enough. I'd say the majority of people fall into this category. And then there are the few people, like me (and Manitoba I assume), who continuously question what these terms mean. High to you, may not be high to me, and vice versa. For anything. Not just this topic. I call myself analytical. I love to formulate my own opinions on things, and I question everything that people tell me (well actually not everything as people tend to hate to be questioned). I love to know why. 'Why' is a question that drives those closest to me bonkers. Haha. It's just the way I am wired.. I think it's very much like the introverted vs extroverted topic. Nothing wrong with either way, just different. Anyways... I do feel like this thread has been hijacked (sorry OP)... If there is any data that people want to add, we should get back to it :-)

I completely understand your concern. But nobody here is looking for an excuse to have unsafe sex. We are just trying to educate ourselves. And you assume that the values are low. To me, high risk would probably fall in the greater than 80% range, moderate risk would be 60-80 and low would be less than 60. Aren't you at all curious as to what it truly is? Maybe you are lowballing what they mean by low, medium, high. And that's the point. We don't know what they mean. Maybe we aren't cautious enough? Complacency can be extremely dangerous. Also, for me, asking questions about the safety of sex in a place where there are a lot of people who know about sex, seems like a good idea to me. Health professionals or not.

Exactly! And those are the numbers we want. :-) Please help us find them?

Because it is a subjective qualitative assessment. Someone, somewhere, had to come up with what qualifies as high, moderate, and low. Someone, somewhere, made a decision about it's risk. Any sort of definition like this, especially without defining what that classification means, is subjective. Irregardless of who writes or claims it. It is someone's opinion. That is it. Many people misuse stats, in every profession. Science is terrible for it, because the people who are writing are not statisticians, or they only want to publish the information that supports their conclusions. Stats are misleading. I love the example that Manitoba posted (a few posts back) about the article in Winnipeg. 50% increase! Sounds incredible! Definitely headline worthy. Saying that there is now 60 people, instead of 40 in a population of 700,000 is far less dramatic.

This thread is supposed to be about what the risks are. Not opinions about whether they are worth it. I am a numbers gal. I know exactly what he's looking for, and I don't think it exists. Numbers are great. Easy to make decisions with. Easy to learn from. Easy to read. Much better that someone's opinion on whether something is high, medium, or low. Though personally I hate percentages. They can be so misleading. I need real numbers. (Ie Take a look at one house and 3/4 people infected = 75% Vs, expand that population source to include the whole block and suddenly it's 3/~100 = 3%. Same amount of people infected, in the same demographic, very different percentages... Percentages suck without knowing the numbers behind them) He wants to find good sources of information. That's it. That should be commendable, and I'm glad he brought it up, as the information that is out there is terrible. Not very helpful at all, it is all qualitative, and to numbers people, qualitative data is just a question waiting to be answered. And finding good sources, is terribly difficult via google, especially for a topic like this. I see nothing wrong with asking questions and looking for answers. Although I have come to the conclusion that they just don't have the numbers. Everything out there is qualitative. I don't think quantitative data exists. I know there isn't for HPV. They've literally given up on trying. In fact most doctors will tell patients there is no need to disclose that they have it because it is just so common (at least for the low risk strains). I know this because I was helping a friend out and he was told he never had to tell anyone. By a few doctors. Shocking to me, but more shocking was how little they knew in terms of transmission risks, etc. They could tell us nothing about anything we asked about, except it should go away within 2 years. They did not know if that meant it could still be transmitted after 2 years, just that he should be clear of it by then. We spoke with multiple doctors, the sex clinic, spent countless hours online, even scoured through scientific journals... Never found a single source of good information. Most people, do not know. It is that simple. I don't think there is a database where they actually log any numbers. Where they can report when a new patient becomes infected. Where they can log information such as relationship status, how frequent they have sex, and how often. Even if they did, there is no way that all that information would be given accurately. I also don't think any University anywhere would allow a study on the events you want to know about. Ie, how many times does patient A (uninfected) have to sleep with patient B (infected), before patient A becomes infected. Is patient A now immediately 'contagious'? Is this result repeatable? etc etc etc etc.... I assume that the data they do have, is derived in correlation with the pharmaceutical side of things. It's easy to track how much medication is sold for a certain illness, vs how many people go into the doctor. That or via surveys.. which has so many flaws in it that I cringe when I think about it.

Getting sworn at / being called not nice names :confused: Big, BIG turn off

I second that! I would like to thank the people who offer new perspectives and voices outside of the 'normal'. Although sometimes people are quick to tell you how wrong you are for thinking the way do, there are people here who value and appreciate these opposing views. It's a good way to have a discussion or debate. Besides, if everyone agreed on everything, we wouldn't have anything interesting to talk about or learn from.

Haha.. Yes. Sorry I was just typing random thoughts that popped into my head. I realize now that no one else besides me knows they are completely unrelated thoughts. I do not think that he left because of lower ratings... or because I personally stopped watching... or to make the shares worth buying. I would love to see his movie though. This is the first I've heard of it.