Nosotros son caliente para el Consejo del Ciudad!

We went to a City Council meeting (see last post by JT). It was interesting. We showed up early, sat in the second row playing Tragic: the Garnering, and then got right down to business (well, after two and a half hours of watching City Council members hem and haw about other stuff).

We didn't think we'd have much luck getting anything done, since the City Council members looked old, and old people keep trying to kill us with their gods, but JT stood and delivered well, and they all seemed genuinely concerned about what we had to say. They decided to have someone talk to another poor-people-helping group, and see what could be done. The best part is, JT's going to be informed of what's going on via email.

Hopefully we can get our names out there to the members of the City Council, so that they can have the obscenely awesome pleasure of knowing who the fuck we are.

Round of applause for the J-Tizzle!

Respec'!

-Ryan

Speaking to City Council

Tonight, I address City Council about Beautiful Flower and Penis's experience a few weeks ago at the Greene County Health Clinic.

Thank you for allowing me the time to speak.

I can best explain why I'm here by explaining the events that led up to it. Some friends and I run an internet show, the goal of which is to strike down the taboos on discussing sex. Three weeks ago, in the process of filming an episode on getting tested for STDs, we went to the Greene Co. Health Clinic and were turned away at 8:15am in the morning. The woman at the desk informed us that if we wanted to get in, we should get there a half an hour early.

Later that week, we complied. Upon arriving at 7:25am, we found three slips of papers with numbers 1 through 3 written on them set out by the check-in window. Believing they were just to keep things organized once the clinic opened, we took them and began filling out the paperwork. Shortly thereafter, a man walked in - two of us noticed that he was favoring his groin when he walked - and asked if any more numbers were available. The man had tried to get in before, but had not been able to. As it turns out, these numbers represented the only three slots available, not just a means of organizing things for the initial rush.

Over the next half hour, before the doors even opened, over 10 people arrived, many of which were likely there to be treated or tested for STDs. Now, all of us are almost certain that we are clean, having been tested before, so it was apparent to us that the needs of these people were much greater. We all elected to give our numbers to the people we thought needed them most, and left...even as more people were coming in.

Which is when I set up this appointment. I'm hear to ask that you find a way to allocate more resources to STD testing at the Green County Health Clinic. Aside from general human compassion and a clear excess of demand, there is also an economic case to be made for why you should do this.

My initial suspicion is that, like with anything else, preventative maintenance is far less costly than treating the developed problems that arise from allowing new infections to grow into something far more sinister. My suspicion is confirmed to be true by virtually every credible medical body in this country that has voiced an opinion on the subject. For instance, a study performed in 2004, as reported by the peer-review medical journal The Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine Vol. 158 indicated that keeping people from such testing would have serious health and economic consequences.

Another example comes from the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention. According the the USCDC, "untreated STDs result in billions of dollars in preventable healthcare spending." One example is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, which is a frequent result of untreated Chlamydia. According to the USCDC, the annual cost of this disease is four billion dollars nationwide. This is one disease out of a long, long list that result of untreated STDs.

I could go on and on, but I'm only allowed five minutes, so I need to be wrapping this up.

While Aids Project of the Ozarks here in Springfield will perform HIV testing for free, the STIs that should worry us financially are the cureable ones, namely gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, trichomoniasis, scabies and crabs, of which syphillis, scabies, and crabs can be transmitted via skin-to-skin contact. These are the STIs that can be caught earlier and treated cheaply, and the cheapest way to get tested for them in this area is at Planned Parenthood for $110 per person.

For many of us, this puts us into a situation where we must choose whether to pay the rent of to get tested for STIs. The city has already taken steps towards fixing this problem by providing the testing, but they have not done enough. The liabilities for this are shared by everybody, including not only the citizens of Springfield, but by the city of Springfield itself. The only reasonable argument I can imagine for why you would not do everything in your power to fix this problem is if people would not use the services if they were made available, but clearly they would. Even with the diminished ability to get free testing, demand is still excessive, and it would only grow if the option to be responsible for no cost, or reduced cost, were made available. The people of Springfield clearly want to help the city keep the cost of treating full blown diseases resultant of undetected STDs down, and we only need you to give us the means.

Thank you very much for allowing me the time to speak. I am available via e-mail at john454@missouristate.edu if you have any questions or if you require any more of my research.

Ryan will be dressing up for this. If you knew Ryan, you'd realize what a rare occurance this is. He just asked me to help him button his shirt sleeves and I almost declined asking "Is this really the leader of the Revolution?"

To which Ryan responded "Shit, the Revolution begins by looking this good."

We're the Juggernauts, and we're bringing style back to fighting the good fight. :D

STD Testing

A few days ago, Amber, JT, and I went to the free clinic in Springfield to get tested for STDs in order to create a video blog about the experience for Beautiful Flower and Penis. We were hoping that, by setting an example, kids would feel better about going out to get their goods looked at.

When we got there, we found a stack of three numbers on the reception desk, which we dispersed amongst ourselves. Minutes passed, and it became clear to us that those numbers represented the three individuals who would be seen that morning by the clinic nurse. Three people. Once we realized this, we immediately gave up our numbers to the others who had shown up. It was painfully obvious that their needs greatly outweighed our own.

As we left the clinic, we were absolutely sickened by the entire situation. It turns out that only three people are seen two (thanks, Amber!) times a day. The population of Springfield is 151580, with approximately 16% living at a poverty level. I fail to see how this can adequately meet the needs of the city. How are we supposed to stop the spread of STDs, much less offer somewhere to be seen for maintaining your general health, when the free clinic is so limited in its capabilities?

Teh Juggernauts immediately took action. JT is planning on speaking at a community meeting to funnel more funding towards the free clinic, Amber is contacting various media outlets, and I...am bitching about it on the interwebz. 'Cause I'm cool like that.

Anyhow, since I am about 300 miles away from Springfield at the moment, I thought that I would look up some places you can go be tested for STDs.

1. The Free Clinic
1. This choice isn't for everyone and is very limited (*ahem*, see above experience), but it is still a valid option.
2. Planned Parenthood
1. Always a good option. They offer a wide range of services for a nominal fee. And, as far as I can tell, they are thoroughly nonsketchy.
   
3. College Health Facility
1. For us college kids, this is a good way to go. It's always cheaper than going to a regular doctor...but it can be a little bit sketchy. As far as I know, Taylor Health and Wellness at MSU doesn't offer STD testing. It turns out that they do offer on site STD testing. Thanks, Carly!
   
4. Your Lady Parts/Dude Thingies Doctor
1. I suppose this is the most obvious option, but can get pretty pricey. But knowing what's up with your junk is very integral to anyone's well being.

Does anyone know of other options that I am missing?


Lauren

Our City Is Not Doing Its Part

Today, as part of the filming for Beautiful Flower and Penis, Lauren, Amber, and myself made our second pilgrimage to the Green County Health Clinic to partake of their free STD screening.

The clinic opened at eight o'clock in the morning, and we arrived slightly before seven-thirty. Upon entering, we found three slips of paper with the numbers 1-3 on them at the clinic check-in window along with a stack of the form we'd need to fill out. We took the numbers and set to work.

Minutes later, a man walked in and made his way to the check-in window. He was wearing faded, torn clothing and we noticed that he was lightly favoring his genital area as he walked. With a worried expression, he asked us if we had seen where the numbers had been laid out, and we explained that we had them. He lamented that he had tried to get in before and that he was here so early because the lady working had told him that she put the numbers out at seven-thirty sharp: he had tried to get in before. We assured him that if these three numbers were all that could get in, one of us would part with ours. By the time eight AM rolled around, about ten other people were there, including a girl holding a marriage license and a pregnant Latino couple.

Sure enough, three people is all they could service - just three. It is no wonder that nobody is getting tested for STDs. This is simply unconscionable. It can't be that the city is saving money, since preventative maintenance is less costly than diverting the time and resources of our hospitals to treating fully developed STDs, of which even the curable ones can do extended harm if not detected early. This policy is surely costing the city more money and resources.

Noting that we had lesser needs than everybody there, we all gave up our numbers to those we felt needed them most and left. After all, the three of us are almost certainly clean STD-wise, and were only doing it for the show, so it made sense. After drowning our sorrows in biscuits and gravy, we returned home and called the city clerk to arrange five minutes to speak at the next city council meeting. I believe it will be me doing the speaking, while Amber is going to spend the next two weeks writing letters, undoubtedly with help from the rest of the Juggernauts.

About an hour ago I received a call from the lady in charge of the health clinic. Apparently the city clerk had forwarded her my number and she was calling to see what went wrong. Likely, the city had called her up and jumped down her throat after attributing our forthcoming addressing of city council to a complaint with the clinic itself rather than the lack of funding they're receiving for STD screening. She was very relieved, not to mention overflowing with praise, when she realized that we are going to be championing her cause, and that we had no intention to indict the clinic itself for not having the funding to do these tests. Ultimately, she agreed to e-mail me all the relevant statistics on her end with which to do battle on June 2nd, which is when the next city council meeting is.

We will keep you updated with our letters, numbers, speeches and what not, as well as any way you can help by writing or contributing. Stay tuned.

Commandments 1&2...whoops

I finally finished the picture of JT after about 24 hours of work, hope you like it!

Large piece of paper: 1.25$
Extra colored pencils: 10.47$
Putting in 24 hours of work to blaspheme: Priceless