The study separated the students into four groups: the first group participated in an 8-hour abstinence-focused class, the second group participated in an 8-hour safer sex-only class that focused on condom use, the third group participated in 8 and 12-hour classes that integrated both, and the fourth participated in a healthy-living class that focused on other ways to be healthy not relating to sexual activity.

Two years later, the students from each of the four groups reported whether or not they had lost their virginity. Fewer of the abstinence-focused students (33%)  reported losing their virginity than did the safer sex-only students (52%). Students who participated in the comprehensive program had less sexual partners than those in the control group (the healthy-living class).

While abstinence-only advocates are celebrating their self-described ‘victory,’ it’s important to pay attention to a few key details of this study that liberals and conservatives alike seem to be leaving out.

The study presented looks at abstinence-focused education, not the traditional abstinence-only education that has been proved to fail for years.

“It did not take a moralistic tone, as many abstinence programs do. Most notably, the sessions encouraged children to delay sex until they are ready, not necessarily until married; did not portray sex outside marriage as never appropriate; and did not disparage condoms.”  –The Washington Post

This study operated much like a lot of comprehensive sexual education programs do today– tell students not to have sex until they’re ready, but if they do to use condoms. While the abstinence-focused class didn’t hand out condoms to students, it didn’t cast them in a negative light either.

“There is no data in this study to support the ‘abstain until marriage’ programs, which research proved ineffective during the Bush administration,” said James Wagoner, president of Advocates for Youth.

Another detail many seem to ignore is that the second group of students is in a safer sex-only class. This class emphasizes condom use and does not promote abstinence. Most comprehensive classes taught today emphasize abstinence first, condoms later. The second group of students were placed in a class that is not likely to be found in many educational institutions.

The Obama administration is planning to launch a $114 pregnancy prevention initiative for programs that have been proven to work through research. The administration says a program like this one could be eligible for funding.

The question is- is this any different than what we’ve been trying to teach so far?

Interim Communications Director Anita Dunn was one of the first official White House reps to go on the record saying that Fox News isn’t a real news source. Surprisingly, other valid news organizations went up in arms at this accusation.

David Axelrod said on Stephanopoulos’ ABC show, “The only argument Anita is making is that they’re not really a news station if you watch. It’s not just their commentators, but a lot of their news programming. It’s not news, it’s pushing a point of view… We’re going to appear on their shows, we’re going to participate, but understanding that they represent a point of view.”

Axelrod goes on to explain that one of the White House’s main concerns is not that Fox News calls itself a valid news source, but that other legitimate news stations claim it as so. He says. “The bigger thing is that other news organizations ought naught to treat them that way, and we’re not going to treat them that way.”

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel appeared on CNN with John King stating, “It’s not so much a conflict with Fox News. The way we look at it is it’s not a news organization so much as it has a perspective. And more importantly, is not to have the CNNs and others in the world be led and following Fox as if it were a legitimate news organization.”

While some people believe it isn’t the President’s or the White House’s job to criticize news organizations and their critics, I say kudos. The White House isn’t saying they refuse to make appearances on Fox News programs. They aren’t refusing to speak with them. They are merely asking that Fox admits to be what it really is- biased and opinionated- when it is obviously so. And obviously, the White House and Obama know that there will be critics. Their goal isn’t to get rid of all critics. Their goal is to have their critics and fans be labeled as such- fans and critics, people that lean one way or the other and don’t go right down the middle.

A black bear has made a home for himself in the median between I-5 northbound and southbound. Image courtesy kirotv.com

Wildlife officials are attempting to capture and move a lone black bear which made an appearance Thursday in the I-5 median near Stanwood, Washington.

KIRO 7 has the story, and sent their chopper to the area to get footage of the bear and his very noisy home. The median is a combination of a marsh and wooded area, according to the article.

Wildlife agents have stated that the bear has been living in the median for almost 3 years. He has been drawing complaints recently due to drivers being nervous that the animal is too close to the high-speed lanes.

The agents have set up traps filled with doughnuts and other sweet bear treats. Hopefully this animal will be captured and moved back to its rightful home.

“It really would be in the bear’s best interest to move it to a more friendly environment,” said Julie, a commenter on KIROTV.com

Always wanting to be a step ahead of other states and currently in the middle of a terrible budget deficit to the tune of $16 billion due to the recession, California may become the first state in the U.S. to legalize marijuana for recreational use and therefore make a killing off of taxes on the drug.

The Snitch, the San Francisco Weekly’s blog, broke the news yesterday that Assemblyman Tom Ammiano will introduce legislation to legalize marijuana in all forms, removing “all penalties in California law on cultivation, transportation, sale, purchase, possession, or use of marijuana, natural THC, or paraphernalia for persons over the age of 21,” according to Ammiano’s press secretary Quintin Mecke.

In addition, the bill would prohibit local and state police from enforcing federal marijuana laws and would place a tax on the sale of the substance in an amount of $50 per ounce. It’s estimated that this will bring in over $1 billion per year to the struggling California state government.

The question now becomes if a bill like this will make it though the legislature. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has yet to comment on the bill, but he has come out and said that the state really needs all the help that it can get right now. He famously thanked President Obama for the stimulus bill despite other Republicans’ opposition to it, and also criticized other Republican governors like South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford for saying they may refuse the money.

“I’ll take it. I’m more than happy to take his money or any other governor in this country that doesn’t want to take this money,” Schwarzenegger said on ABC’s “This Week With George Stephanopoulos.”

Perhaps if California does pass this bill other states will follow. It’s estimated that marijuana is the #1 U.S. cash crop, and recent polls show that the public opinion for legalization is approaching 50%. Perhaps the day is finally here and the government can stop wasting money and crowding our prisons with nonviolent pot smokers. A national pot tax wouldn’t completely solve this financial crisis, but it would be a great way to make up some of our lost revenue.

Seattle University President Fr. Steve Sundborg

It’s pandemonium down here at the Spectator office as we just broke the news that Father Sundborg, president of Seattle University, has been named as a defendant in a sexual abuse lawsuit. The victims, who are holding a press confrence tomorrow, allege that Sundborg withheld information and had a “hell file” containing very sensitive, not good information about Jesuit Priests and their exploits.

The more than 150 cases against the Jesuits that were settled in 2007 with a $50 million payout from the Jesuits did not previously name Sundborg as a defendant, but the current lawsuit claims that if he had acted on knowledge held in the files, at least one of the sexual offenders could have been stopped before they molested in the 1990s.

Stay with us for updates about the events as they become known.