Commy and friends were recently transfixed by a fascinating insight (given by one of his more studious female counterparts) into the history of female contraception.
And, as Commy felt obliged to point out, who would not have been careful in those days? Days when any casual sexual encounter was fraught with the spectre of some ghastly sexually-transmitted disease and/or unwanted pregnancy! Hang on a moment …
Whilst commending the ingenuity of women who came up with some remarkable (and frankly stomach churning) experiments in the pessary department, Commy knew it was only a matter of time before MAN’S contribution was questioned. And yes, he did have to concede that hollowing-out fruit and vegetables (and finding new and inventive ways to hide them) was way above and beyond the call of duty for women, but men too had borne their share of responsibility, he argued.
Forced to come up with some examples, this was the best he could manage at short notice, together with some of the comments they provoked:-
* Renaissance Man – Didn’t he use sausage skins as condoms? Thus creating the ultimate banger?
* Coitus Interruptus - For men with an iron will …if you’ll pardon the expression!
* Rhythm Method – Beloved choice of the Catholic Church but, judging by the birth rate of Catholic countries, not seen as particularly effective. Q: ‘What do you call people who practice the rhythm method? A: Parents.
* In more recent times – The Vasectomy- the ultimate sacrifice! Only to be undertaken after a major discussion with the family! Although the man is usually out-voted fifteen to one!
Commy does recall learning one very interesting fact from the evening; that the origins of the modern day oestrogen pill can be traced back to sheep! He is reliably informed that it was developed when scientists noticed that sheep grazing in fields of clover conceived less. Commy felt obliged to point out that other experiments had produced exactly opposite results. Although, they were conducted with women/nightclubs and Bacardi Breezers!
Notes from Eds: If you have enjoyed this (or any previous) posting, do please share it with your friends. Thank you!
"You can forget about trading in the car and color TV ..." Cartoonist: Norris, Len Date on cartoon: July 31, 1968 Published in: Vancouver Sun
"I can't really say whether munching garlic prior to bed-time would be interpreted as a violation of the birth control ban by his holiness!" Cartoonist: Uluschak, Edd Date on cartoon: August 29, 1968 Published in: Edmonton Journal
Was Torquemada one of the Bush administration's torture people? .. no .. page one of seven .. WARNING .. it's GRUESOME ..
Torquemada and the Spanish Inquisition
By Anthony Bruno
The Water Cure
The accused woman lay naked on an escalera, a ladder tipped so that her head was lower than her feet. The torturer had stretched her out to her full length and bound her tightly. Iron prongs held her jaws open. Her nostrils were stopped, allowing breathing only through her mouth. She struggled, but her bounds permitted little movement, and days of relentless questioning had left her exhausted. The torturer draped a piece of linen loosely over her open mouth. Jugs of water lined a nearby wall.
Three other men stood over the woman in the torture chamber.
A doctor observed her reactions and assessed her general condition. The mandates of the 15th Century Spanish Inquisition required the presence of a physician to monitor the health of the accused. The purpose of torture would be nullified if the accused was physically unable to hear and understand the proceedings. A confession, if it came, had to be a pure act, not the half-conscious ramblings of a mortally wounded sinner.
A clerk sat at a crude wooden table, poised to write down the particulars of the session.
The man in charge of the proceedings, the inquisitor, ignored the woman's panicked squeals and read through the charges levied against her. Witnesses had previously testified that on several successive Saturdays, smoke did not emerge from the woman's chimney, a strong indication that she was secretly a practicing Jew. Judaism forbids manual labor on the Sabbath, and starting a fire was considered manual labor. During questioning the woman had insisted that although she was born a Jew, she was now a converse, a convert to Catholicism. But the telltale signs, which were outlined by the Grand Inquisitor himself, Tomas de Torquemada, indicated that she was in fact a heretic, a practicing Jew pretending to be a Catholic and secretly subverting the Catholic faith.
When the inquisitor finished reviewing the charges, he looked to the doctor who gave him a nod of assent. The inquisitor then pointed to the jugs of water and told the torturer to be ready. The torturer lifted one of the sloshing jugs; each contained one liter of water. The woman's eyes widened in panic. She knew what was coming, and she tried to scream.
The first level of torture employed by the Spanish Inquisition was the "water cure." Water was poured into the accused's open mouth. The linen cloth was washed into the opening of the throat, preventing the accused from spitting the water back out. The overwhelming sensation of drowning forced the accused to swallow the water. The rules of torture as written by Torquemada, a man whom historians have compared to Hitler, stipulated that no more than eight liters of water could be used in a single session.
Torquemada writing
The torturer held the earthen jug in his arms, ready to follow the inquisitor's orders. The woman cried and struggled for breath, anticipating the worst.
The inquisitor stepped forward and spoke. "We shall begin."
Republicans reverse themselves in trying to drag America backward
The Rachel Maddow Show [video] February 9, 2011
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a member of the Health Subcommittee, talks with Rachel Maddow about the absurdity of Republican legislators rallying against ideas they previously supported on contraception and more.
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