I do not believe you have to be an abortion rights activist to be progressive. Resorting to terrorism… also not progressive. What I think is progressive is the willingness to move beyond divisive language and politics to the path of inclusive, respectful, solutions-oriented dialogue.

With all this in mind, I went down to the vigil for Dr. Tiller, held at the Millennium Arts Plaza, unsure of what to expect. It was a small gathering, with some 25 in attendance, and not very long. Most were from Planned Parenthood and the Cedar Rivers Clinic (Feminist Women’s Health Center), but I also saw folks from outside this circle who had come out to pay their respects for the man and his work . Overall, the event reminded me of three things: 1) the importance of showing up, 2) that vigilantism always fuels the fire of discord, and 3) that a small group of dedicated people really can do a world of good in a community.

Beverly Whipple, executive director of Cedar Rivers Clinics in Yakima, Tacoma and Renton, and board member at the National Abortion Federation, was the main speaker. I feel like her comments would have been more powerful if she had refrained from finger pointing and blaming “them” for the way things are. But all in all, I quite enjoyed hearing her speak about the ways in which her friendship with Dr. Tiller inspires her own passionate work here in Yakima, and about the significance of the loss on a national level.

Then the floor was opened to the public, and Reverend Jane Newell also shared her thoughts, making what I thought an interesting connection between advocacy work and spirituality.

Click here to read my transcript of both speeches.

Click here to read Adriana Janovich’s Herald-Republic article covering the event.

The Big O. Possibly one of the most popular topics of discussion for women of all ages, but especially college age girls. Did you have one? How many times? How long did it last? How good was it? etc, etc. I’m sure that at one point or another, all of us have either been the one dispensing the questions or the one taking them on the other end.

Still, it remains a relatively touchy subject for those who are not able to experience it and figure the only way is through plain old sex. Well, a new book called, The Science of Orgasm, explores all of the research currently known about this phenomenon.

One of the book’s main authors and leading researchers, Beverly Whipple, was interviewed by Wired.com on the topic, and I have a feeling that what she says will surprise and excite you as well. (Fun fact about Whipple: she believes sex is actually good for you and those who have more sex are healthier)

Anyways, back to the Big O discussion…

Did you know orgasms are possible in many forms?

“We have documented in our laboratory that women can have orgasms from imagery alone without touching their body. The point is that women can experience orgasms and sexual pleasure from many forms of stimuli. It does have not have to be through genital stimulation.”

Or that women with no feeling below the waist can experience orgasms?

“That particular woman had not tried any sexual stimulation, either with herself or a partner, in the two years since she had an injury. When she was in the laboratory, this woman experienced six orgasms through self-simulation. It was extremely emotional. She was crying, I was crying. She didn’t think this was possible, and she was so pleased that she had volunteered to be a research subject. This had helped open up her essential pleasure again.”

Ever wondered how orgasms develop and where they go in the body?

“Vagus” means wanderer — the nerve wanders through the body. Previously, it wasn’t thought that it goes as far as the pelvic region. But our research and that of other laboratories is showing that it does in fact go to the cervix and uterus and probably the vagina. It carries the impulses from those regions, travels up through the abdomen, goes through the diaphragm, through the thorax (chest cavity), up the neck outside the spinal cord, and into the brain.”

Crash course in Orgasm 101 successfully completed. Now if we could only teach our guys to “flick the switch” everytime, life would be grand.