Teen Sex Advice Podcast Gains Popularity

Not really freaked about the garbage that is floating around on the airwaves? Take a look at this nut-job. It is appalling when people in a position of influence are so irresponsible and destructive when it comes to the minds of young people. I only pray that she see the truth before it is too late and that the kids who watch her show have enough sense to disregard this woman's absolutely ridiculous opinions. (jle)

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By: EMILY FREDRIX, Associated Press Writer Wed Jan 23, 3:00 AM ET

WAUKESHA, Wis. - Nikol Hasler doesn't recommend the "pull and pray" method of birth control. She says you should not have sex on nature trails because of bugs and Sasquatch. And if you hate your body as a teen, just wait.

The 28-year-old mother of three speaks from experience, and her video podcast, the Midwest

Teen Sex Show, is attracting thousands of viewers.

The product of a teen pregnancy, Hasler spent years in foster care and went to five high schools before graduating. She got pregnant just before her freshman year in college and dropped out after one semester. She was living in a homeless shelter when she gave birth to her first child.

That was nine years ago. Now Hasler uses her experiences to talk to teens about such topics as "The First Time," "The Older Boyfriend" and "Female Masturbation" on the online video series that started this summer.

"It's cathartic for me. It's a way for me to finally turn what was once something very negative about my life into something very positive," she said.

With co-creator and director Guy Clark, Hasler and actress Britney Barber use humorous skits (such as teens applying for a fornication license) to get their message across. Much of the advice comes from the no-nonsense Hasler talking directly to the camera.

There have been a dozen episodes so far, each about three to five minutes long. The topics vary.

On the first time: "Don't expect too much the first time. That's what the second time is for. Practice makes perfect and you're going to need a lot of practice."

On birth control: "Personally, I think any girl over the age of 8 should be on the pill. If you're old enough to bleed, you're old enough to be a statistic. It may have side-effects but so does pregnancy."

Hasler said she exaggerates about 95 percent of the time. (For the record, if she had an 8-year-old daughter, she would not place her on birth control.) She wants to make people think.

"When hearing a joke that makes you squirm... that causes you to examine that part of the joke in yourself and brings it forward and makes you think about it even more," she said.

The show's target audience — teens, young adults and their parents — is responding. The show has 65,000 subscribers through iTunes and other podcast subscription services, Clark said. It's regularly ranked in iTunes' top 10 health podcasts, and its Web site averages about 4,000 unique hits a day.

Hasler doesn't mention much about her past on the show, though her biography on its Web site labels her a "former expert practitioner of teen promiscuity." She does reveal in an episode about birth control that two of her three children weren't planned. She has three boys, ages 9, 7 and 1 1/2.

The show's Web site stresses that "all advice given is simply opinion and should not be taken as fact." The intent is to provide a forum for the discussion of teen sexuality, its creators say.

"Part of what's translated into this show is my own desire to kind of shake kids and say, 'If somebody had come around and said, 'Come on, these ideas are completely wrong,' then I would have been listening more," she said.

Understanding the Importance of Voting

This article is to remind Americans of the importance of their voting.

Written by Maureen Leidy - © 2002 Pagewise

With the presidential election upon us, it is more important than ever to get out and vote. Many people think that their vote does not matter. Imagine if everyone felt that way – we would never elect a president! There have been many, many elections – not just on a local level – that have been decided by less than 100 votes. So thinking that your vote does not count could not be farther from the truth.

Maybe you feel that when it comes down to it, all the candidates are the same, so why bother voting. Even if this is how you truly feel, remember that the winning president-elect may have an enormous impact on our children's future, not just for four years but for 40 years. How? Because with each new president that is elected, there is a chance that a United States Supreme Court Justice will retire. The president alone has the power to nominate a new Justice, and Supreme Court Justices hold office for life. While Congress and the President may pass laws and veto bills, ultimately it is the Supreme Court that interprets the Constitution and consequently determines how each American will live his or her life.

If you are still not convinced of the impact the Supreme Court has had on this country and the differences in the various presidential appointments to the Court, compare the Supreme Court decisions of the late 60's and early 70's – Miranda v. State of Arizona, Roe v. Wade with the Court's decisions of the 80's that have gradually whittled away at the decisions of a more liberal Supreme Court. Chances are the next president will nominate at least two Justices to the Supreme Court. This will affect not only your life but that of your children and grandchildren. So the question then comes down to which candidate would you prefer to choose the most influential position in this country, that of a United States Supreme Court Justice.

Without minimizing the importance of the presidential election, it is also important to vote in your state and local elections as well. Do you complain about the policies of your children's school? If so, ask yourself, "Did I vote for the members of our school board? Do I even know the members of the school board?" Change starts at a grass roots level whether you live on a farm or in the inner city, and all change starts by electing people to implement change, whether it is a mayor or a president.

Remember, too, when you are unhappy with the condition of your town's roads or your state's tax rate, being involved, voting for and knowing your elected officials will enable you to voice your complaints to the appropriate representatives. You voted for them and they work for you.

Some other useless reasons for not voting are that the polls are too crowded, or you cannot get there on time, or you do not have transportation. There are many organizations that volunteer their time to ensure everyone's right to vote. If you need a ride, call the League of Women Voters; if you know you cannot get to the polls on time, request an absentee ballot. What could be easier than voting by mail?

Whether the excuse is apathy or laziness, voting has become a privilege that far many too Americans take for granted. The next time you neglect to vote, ask yourself how you would feel if you didn't have a choice – to elect a president, or choose a job, or decide how many children to have. There are many countries where a person does not have a choice, and I'm sure they would gladly change places with you for the fundamental privilege of voting!