The Female Orgasm

The Female Orgasm 1

Abstract

The findings from the studies within are all from well respected and astute individuals and illustrate the importance of open communication and awarenes of one’s partner in any given social and/or sexual situation. The author thinks that Mestin, Levin, Sipski, Hull and Heiman’s study was the best in covering all areas of the female orgasm including physical cues to identify a true orgasm that is absent of ejaculation, female ejaculation itself, statistics and analysis of the data. Zaviacic’s revolutionary work revealed the new ways in which to identify false claims cases in rape from the real ones and Karama was influential in examining MRI’s in relation to brain activity in the female before, during and after orgasm.

In the context of intimate and long-term relationships, sexual compatibility and mutual pleasure is essential for long term happiness, thus knowledge of the female orgasm by her partner can make her more satisfied in this realm of the relationship.

The issue of satisfaction in marriages and other long-term intimate relationships, and its connection and relationship to sexual satisfaction is an important area of life to the author. The perspective of this paper will be the issue of the female orgasm itself, and how a good line of communication between partners is what can help to make orgasm more frequent in the female. Aside from the physiological aspects of the female orgasm, female sexual behavior will be covered and how knowledge of these non-verbal cues can help to facilitate open communication between partners. For example, approximately 32% of dating college females reported that they engaged in physical aggression against their male partners (Hettrich, O’Leary). It was also found in this study that the reasons for

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this aggression were poor communication and dissatisfaction in the relationship from the females point of view. Female violence against their male partners seems to be on the rise, and the author would like to see this decrease. Physical battery against women is wrong, and the converse should be taken just as seriously. Finally, a review of the literature pertaining to this subject will be discussed and reviewed by the author and will include the findings, correlations (or lack thereof) and how the research relates to the problem; the problem in this case being lack of satisfaction in intimate relationships, because of communication problems and the lack of orgasms the woman has. There can be a number of reasons for lack of communication in an intimate/sexual relationship. For our purposes here we will concentrate on issues of the couple in question being uneducated and unfamiliar with physiological sexual arousal and how it relates to a straight line of communication. One analogy the author likes to use is that of a dam or floodgates. When there is an obstruction of any kind, the water does not get through or is inhibited in some way. When the dam is torn down or the floodgates are open, the water comes flowing through in waves. The same holds true for communication between partners and the ability of the female to achieve orgasm(s). When there are doubs, concerns, fears, worries or distractions in the female, the “water” is held back; but when there is an open line of communication about the above issues and those issues have been dealt with openly, then the “water” has the freedom to run wild.

When the author deals with the specifics of the female orgasm later, the following statement will make more sense. Certainly a woman can achieve orgasm through electric or battery powered means (with or without a partner) without much inhibition

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physiologically and without much communication, but for a woman to have a true full body orgasm as opposed to a genital one, and to achieve a state of altered consciosness for the better in her orgasm, then the lines of trust and communication must be present. Lack of this trust and communication is what can lead to frustration, stagnation, infidelity and unfullfillment in the relationship. Perhaps, in order to get a handle on how to help a female achieve orgasms that reach the stratosphere, then knowledge of the actual orgasm(s) and how they are experienced by both partners is essential. Merriam-Webster defines orgasm as, “intense or paroxysmal excitement; especially : an explosion

of neuromuscular tensions at the height of sexual arousal that is usually accompanied by the ejaculation of semen in the male and by vaginal contractions in the female”. This is a very nice clinical definition, and in many ways it is correct; at least from a physiological point of view. There is more. Much more. A growing knowledge of the female orgasm has enabled their partners to use techniques that can enable females to ejaculate as well as men. The phenomenon of females ejaculating is still a controversial issue since its broad awareness in the scientific community in the late 1990’s.

The debate stems from questions as to whether female ejaculate is synonymous with men’s semen and thus be called true ejaculation. Given the fact that women are not physically equipped with sperm, the author would have to strongly disagree, though until further evidence proves or disproves this, no one still knows for sure. Furthermore, the act of ejaculation in females seems to stem from (or is related to) stimulation of the Grafenburg spot, the prostate gland (which gives the female right before spurting a feeling of having to urinate) and to a minor extent, the clitoris. Since ejaculate comes out

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of the urethra, the debate continues as to whether this ejaculate fluid in women is semen, urine or a combination of both; that is to say, “does the fluid originate in the bladder, urethral sponge or both? Female ejaculation ranges from mild dripping to intense gushing and the amount of ejaculate has been known to range from a tablespoon amount up to approximately a litre. It is important to note that female ejaculation does not necessarily occur every time in love making or sex play and it should never be the end goal. However, one can set up certain times in which partners get together to explore this phenomenon specifically so that frequency is increased.

In general, male orgasm has been viewed as more frequent through intercourse alone, though with increasing knowledge of female ejaculation, the assumptions seem to be starting to even out. As mentioned above, female ejaculation is most often associated and correlated with the Grafenberg spot and Skene’s paraurethral glands and ducts, in which the latter are now being recognized as the official female prostate. The case for this is made stronger by Milan Zaviacic who engaged in autopsy findings, biopsies and detailed histological examinations of the urethra of 150 women. However, the strongest evidence for Zaviacic’s studies occurred during the early 80’s in which he found the enzyme-histochemical finding of prostatic phosphates in female tissue. Probably the most interesting finding from Zaviacic’s studies (though a bit off topic here) is that in foresnsic medicine, prostatic acid phosphates activity can no longer be used to determine rape in cases containing no spermatozoa becaue the same activity can be found in female ejaculate and in in vivo produced spots on worn female underpants. Nevertheless, female ejaculationn is a new phenomenon to some cultures (namely North America) and is

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taking females and all aspects of human sexuality by storm. An in depth understanding of this issue by women, men and couples can enhance any relationship, since it brings both partners, or sole individual into better contact with themselves and each other. The concept of communication in helping to bring this intense experience into fruition is imperative. Understanding of the human female’s sexual behavior is not only a science, but an art and can eliminate many shortcomings when it comes to sexual satisfaction for individual women and for couples as well.

Being able to read a woman’s sexual non verbal communication has been one of the great

conundrums since the beginning of time. Eye contact, hair twirling and flipping,

adjustment of clothes, posture, personal space, touching (or lack thereof) are all indicators of the human female’s intentions in a prospective courtship as well as in long term relationships. However, it has been found that giving off these non verbal cues is often more than meets the eye. It is important to note that non verbal cues and communication is strongly dictated by culture, but for our purposes here we will consider non verbal cues of women in North America and how this geographical area correlates to their non verbal sexual behavior. Additionally, the following information applies more to prospective sexual partners or mates, but it still applies to understanding how a woman communicates and how a knowledge of this communication will facilitate more frequent and accessible orgasms. This understanding is also where many long term relationship start. Kinesthetically, women’s non verbal cues are more subtle and reserved than are men’s and women’s non verbal cues often have less to do with asserting position and more to do with actually communicating. However, women’s non verbal cues can be very misleading

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to men because they often have contradictory meanings. For example, a woman will smile even though she may not be interested in a prospective partner due to social conditioning of women to be more expressive of their emotions. The man will be led to think, “she is smiling so she is interested in me”. Then again, she may be smiling because she actually is interested in him. A paradox indeed. From a tactile point of view, women will use touch much less often than men as a show of interest or affection regardless of the actual level of interest the woman may have in a prospective male partner. Many men will see this as a lack of interest from the female. When women do initiate touch, it has

more to do with comfort or support rather than direct sexual interest, which can easily be misconstrued by the male as sexual interest. “When “women are not pleased in or out of the bedroom, they will minimize eye contact” says psychologist Lorel Lindstrom, Ph.D. With this in mind, men should keep in mind that steady eye contact from a female is a good indicator of interest, although not always sexually; but interest nonetheless.

Gender played a significant role in sexual-information processing. The finding that the male respondents perceived greater sexual intent than the female respondents in the female actor socially interacting with a man is consistent with the existing literature (Abbey, 1982; Abbey & Harnish, 1995; Abbey & Melby, 1986; Harnish, Abbey, & DeBonno, 1990; Johnson et al., 1991; Saal et al., 1989). Essentially what this means is that generally speaking, men are more likely than women to misconstrue a male-female relationship as sexual in nature when women do not. Interestingly enough, there are now some new research ideas that are explaining the resons why this is so, and perhaps knowledge of these reasons are what can help bring a reduction to these false

The Female Orgasm 7

assumptions. The theories proposed are evolutionary in nature. That is to say that the reason men over-sexualize any male/female relationship, is that from the dawn of time, men perceived that loss at a chance of reproduction was worse than rejection. Conversely, women tended to percieve that deception by men was more costly than a chance to reproduce. Of course this is only theoretical, but it does make some logical sence in the “survival of the fittest” mentality.

Getting back on topic as to the actual female orgasm, it would be prudent to do a review of the literature on the topic from some of the most respected specialists in this area.

First of all there is the question as to whether or not orgasms are universal; that is to say do they all feel the same way, last for as long, are consistent in intensity ect. Interestingly enough, there have been studies to determine this very question, specifically one conducted by Kenneth Mah. In it he and his associates used a two-dimensional descriptive model of the orgasm experience. Subsequently 888 university students, the majority of which were females (523) provided adjective ratings to describe what their orgasms felt like through sole masturbation, and sex with a partner. A cross-validation study was used. Clitoral vs. vaginal orgasm has garnered the most attention, but it has been noted that previous studies have concentrated on the female orgasm via genital and pelvic stimulation, and have generally ignored possible biopsychosocial influences (Levin, 1992; Mah & Binik, 2001). In other words regarding the latter, the physical health of the woman, the social atmosphere of the situation and psychological state all play a part in the perceived orgasm (or lack thereof). It has also been noted by Mah that assumptions in experience of orgasm between the sexes are very different. He has

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illustrated that there are certainly biological differences in the make up of the sex organs but there are far more similarities than differences in the actual state of any given orgasm.

For example, in a previous study by Vance and Wagner (1976) raters could not tell the difference in written accounts of male versus female orgasm experiences. The genral findings of the study were that the experience of orgasm with a partner as opposed to solitary masturbation was greater in satisfaction. The author hypothesizes that the reason for this is that there is the communication, exchange of energy and ideas that occurs between partners, that is impossible to achive through solitary masturbation.

A very interesting and wide scope study on the human female orgasm by Meston, Levin, Sipski, Hull, and Heiman provide ample work on which to draw information. Their definition of the female orgasm is “a variable, transient peak sensation of intense pleasure, creating an altered state of consciousness, usually with an initiation accompanied by involuntary, rhythmic contractions of the pelvic striated circumvaginal musculature, often with concomitant uterine and anal contractions, and myotonia that resolves the sexually induced vasocongestion (sometimes only partially) and myotonia, generally with an induction of well-being and contentment (2004). In 1973 the typologies of human female orgasm was introduced by Fisher. Typologies of male orgasm had not been explored at that time and the author is not aware if it is being explored today. Nevertheless, typologies were described by female subjects as different sensations and in different areas if the reproductive system. Clitoral based orgasms were described as “warm, ticklish, electric and sharp.” Vaginal orgasms were described as “throbbing, deep, soothing, and comfortable.“ Back in the mid sixties Masters and Johnson had claimed

The Female Orgasm 9

that all female orgasms were the same, similar or outright identical, and as pioneering their work was, the author thinks that they lacked the physiological technology at the time to make such claims. In other words, muscular contractions of different areas such as the anus, vagina, g-spot contractions, vulvar and uterine contractions were not easily detected at the time. Things are changing. Perhaps the major physiological difference in male/female orgasms (aside from multiple and extended orgasms achievable more easily by women) is that once stimulation is stopped in the male, he can maintain appropriate arousal in order to move forward towards orgasm. However, in the female, once

stimulation ceases, the road to orgasm reaches a dead end and stimulation must start all over again. In order to relate back to communication between partners and its correlation with the femal achieving orgasm, it is very important for males (or partners in general) to be able to identify nonverbal and physiological cues from the female to determine if orgasm was indeed induced. There are a great many things in relation to this that can give proof of orgasm. However for the sake of time and with the consideration that each woman is different and therefore may exhibit little, most or all of the physiological characteristics, only one proof positive sign that cannot be faked will be mentioned. Although physiological cues such as increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, uterine contractions, dilated pupils, perspiration and pelvic movement are certain signs of arousal, they are not necessarily always correlated to actual orgasm in the woman and can be misleading.

The first study of brain activation in women during sexual arousal used blood-level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD fMRI) during erotic or neutral

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visual stimuli (Karama et al., 2002). All six women reported moderate sexual arousal in response to the erotic film but not to the neutral film. Areas of greatest activation included the inferior temporal lobe, anterior cingulate gyrus, insular cortex, corpus callosum, thalamus, caudate nucleus, globus pallidus, and inferior frontal lobe. These areas are similar to those previously reported to be activated in men, although the men showed primarily unilateral activation (Stoleru et al., 1999). Certainly this technology can illustrate when a woman is having an orgasm, though it is quite unlikely that most couples have the apparatus set up in their home for each love making session and is

therefore imprudent. One of the sure signs of the female orgasm are located in the areola.

Basically what occurs to the areola during exitement is that blood flow is concentrated to this area causing it to swell, and has been known to swell enough to almost engulf the nipples. When orgasm occurs the areola corrugate and immediately proceed to flatten. This is a sure sign of a female having an orgasm and cannot be faked. This is a great way for a partner to identify orgasm in the female during penetration or other activity when he/she is not looking at the vaginal area where most of the signs of anal and vaginal contractions occur. In other words, when not performing cunnilingus and/or manual stimulation where visualization of the vagina and anus is apparent, the identification of areola swelling “provides a visual identification of the female orgasmic experience" (Masters & Johnson, 1966, p. 130).

References

Kenneth Mah, Yitzchak M Binik. The Journal of Sex Research. New York: May 2002.

Vol. 39, Iss. 2; p. 104.

- A two-dimensional descriptive study was done with college age students from 18-21.

They each described what their orgasms felt like in words, and the result was that the

descriptions were similar across the board.

Schultz, W C M, van de Wiel, H B M, Klatter, J A, Sturm, B E, Nauta, J. Archives of

Sexual Behavior. New York: Apr 1989. Vol. 18, Iss. 2; p. 87.

- The study of the sensitivity of the vagina in response to electric stimuli and how it is

related to coitus in inducing orgasm

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Nicholas Pound, Martin Daly. Behavioral and Brain Sciences. Cambridge: Aug 2000.

Vol. 23, Iss. 4; p. 620.

- The study of polygamy in relationships with female and male partners was studied.

Emma L Hettrich, K Daniel O'Leary. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. Beverly Hills:

Sep 2007. Vol. 22, Iss. 9; p. 1131.

- 32 percent of college females who date said that they have physically battered their male

counterparts; the primary reason being poor communication skills.

Catherine H Mercer, Julia V Bailey, Anne M Johnson, Bob Erens, et al. American Journal

of Public Health. Washington: Jun 2007. Vol. 97, Iss. 6; p. 1126.

- Findings concluded that exclusive female to female sex posed greater health risks than

women who exclusively have sex with men.

Elske Salemink, Jacques J. D. M. van Lankveld. Archives of Sexual Behavior. New

York: Apr 2006. Vol. 35, Iss. 2; p. 175.

- It was concluded that distraction of any kind perceived by the woman adversely affects

genital stimulation response.

Cindy M Meston, Roy J Levin, Marca L Sipski, Elaine M Hull, Julia R Heiman. Annual

Review of Sex Research. Mount Vernon: 2004. Vol. 15; p. 173.

- Studies of female orgasm including ejaculation, brain imaging and function, cognitive- behavioral approaches and musculature of the genitals are all thoroughly examined.

Kimberley A. Payne, Yitzchak M. Binik. Archives of Sexual Behavior. New York: Apr

2006. Vol. 35, Iss. 2; p. 111.

- The labial thermistor clip was attached to 10 volunteers while watching 10 minutes of a nature film and 10 minutes of an erotic film. The temperature registered significantly higher in 9 out of ten participants watching the erotic adult film as opposed to the control film.

Jennifer Benjamin. Cosmopolitan. New York: Jul 2007. Vol. 243, Iss.1; pg. 110.

- Literature was reviewed as to the importance of not being distracted in order to achieve orgasm.

Debby Herbenick. Men's Health. Emmaus: Dec 2006. Vol. 21, Iss. 10; pg. 65, 1 pgs

- Issues of sexual technique are discussed in how to please a woman.

The Internal/External Universe of Aikido

Abstract:

Aikido is a martial art whose predominant philosophy is focusing on the center of oneself and how this relates to the universe outside of ourselves. It also focuses on conflict resolution and how to protect one’s opponent as well as oneself. This certainly applies to social psychology and how we apply the teachings of aikido in the world we live in.

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The interaction that the author of this paper is primarily involved with on a daily basis is that of his internal existence in relation to that of the external universe. If there was to be one point in his life that triggered his awareness of this relationship, it would be his venture into the study of aikido and its subsequent teachings. The secret of aikido is to make yourself become one with the universe and to go along with its natural movements. One who has attained this secret holds the universe in himself and can say, “I am the universe.” (Ueshiba) Ueshiba and Kisshomaru state that “the word “universe” is usually thought of as some overwhelmingly grand concept, but in actuality it is very concrete and centered within one’s own body.”(2002) With this training, the author strives to understand the principles of ki through actual experience and employ various techniques to make those principles part of our everyday consciousness.

A very important aspect of the author’s training with regards to self and the universe is the idea of circular motion. Every circle has a center, and it is this center that is the focal point of existence. Circular movements allow us to avoid collision with an opposing force, and facilitate harmonization. In order to create a true circle, there must be a firm center. An example of this concept is that of a spinning top. A top revolves around a stable center, yet hardly appears to move at all. If you touch the top slightly however, it will immediately fly off with a burst of centrifugal force, and its latent power becomes evident. The concept of the top is a perfect example of stillness within movement or sumikiri.

One very effective method of keeping the author’s center, he has found is breathing from the seika tanden. The seika tanden is the psychophysical point about two inches below the navel. The author has found that it is essential to remind himself that the ki that

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animates his own body is the same ki that animates the entire universe. As a result, all of the circular movements of aikido are never contrary to principles of nature. Control the breath and unite the self with the natural rhythm of the universe.

The earth was born from the universe and those who flourish in that life-giving environment can directly become one with nature. They never oppose natural law, and never try to control things through force. Such people manifest a natural matter-of-fact equanimity. Such an attitude, based on deep experience, can be a great plus in a variety of social settings. If the author trains in a natural and fulfilling manner, with equanimity and a solid center, a tremendous amount of ki energy will be generated.

This will be of great benefit to oneself and society. To achieve this state of being is a much greater accomplishment and of greater value than attaining victory in some contest.

With aikido human beings at large can transcend the distinction between mind and body and relate this to the remainder of the universe. Ki power that emerges naturally and directly enables human beings to experience the joy, power, freedom and flexibility of existence on a daily basis. Living vibrantly with true vigor, we can meet any challenge and accommodate ourselves to any contingency. The practice of aikido can make this all possible and this emphasis on harmonization and accommodation accounts for its followers around the world.

On a personal note, the author has seen many transformations in the dojo with students who did not have balance or a strong center, and go on to become incredible men and women as a result of their training in aikido. When training with a partner, the ki of both (or in some cases multiple opponents) is transferred and the individual with the greater ki

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and pure emptiness will be able to subdue, while at the same time protecting both the opponent and himself simultaneously. The writer mentions this because in the dojo training follows certain rules. On the street however, anything can happen, making it difficult for us to retain our equanimity. It is rather easy to maintain equanimity in ideal circumstances, such as a classroom, dojo or any other protected and sheltered environment; one of the goals of aikido is to teach us how to maintain this equanimity regardless of a given situation no matter how harrowing or difficult.

This is perhaps where the study aikido best applies to the realities of the external existence of humankind. In addition to the training of aikido, meditation is perhaps one of the most significant pathways that the author has found in bringing peace to himself and the rest of society at large. Research has shown that Western awareness of this phenomena has only occurred in the past 35 years or so; since then however, there have been great strides in knowing more. As far as self-efficacy is concerned with relation my the writer’s practice in aikido, he has reached a point in his life where visualization has been mastered, and because of this visualization, his self-efficacy has been focused and accurate every time a production of any sort arises. The visualization may be seconds in response to an initial occurrence such as a mugger threatening his life (which has occurred), or it may be strategically modeled as in a chess match (relate the chess match to life situations). On any note, the author’s self-efficacy is well intact.

References

Orme-Johnson, D.W.& Haynes, C.T.(1981). EEG phase coherence, pure consciousness, creativity and TM-Sidhi experiences. International Journal of Neuroscience, 13, 211-217.

Ueshiba, K. & Ueshiba, M. (2002). Kihan Aikido: Kihon-hen. New York: Kodansha.

Execution

Execution in America has been a controversial subject of debate in recent decades. However, execution and torture itself goes back thousands of years and was turned into what those at the time considered an art form, in the middle ages. It is important for me to illustrate some of the methods of torture and execution throughout history for one to have a grasp of the current debate as to whether or not execution is an ethical practice in today’s society. This writing does not intend to prove pro or con as a just finality since such a proclamation would be futile. Instead, I will bring to light the stark realities of what human beings are capable of and what can possibly be considered social norms or deviancy based on chronological, sociological, ethical and moral situations.

I will go into detail of only a few of the methods of torture used throughout certain periods of history for the sake of the length constraints of this paper, though such illustrations will be more than adequate in leading up to the current ethical considerations on the subject of execution and torture.

The practice of torture and execution goes back to ancient times, though the documented specifics of such events date back to the middle ages, and the frequency and prevalence of these occurrences were also at their peak during this time.

In addition, these tortures and subsequent executions were often witnessed by a great deal of spectators as a form of entertainment; refreshments would be served and parties held in the protagonists honor.

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Two specific cases are as follows: Widely applied in the armed forces, and initiated by the Spanish and utilized up to and including the last century, The Spanish Donkey was the means by which traitors, deserters and insubordinates were dealt with. The torture consisted of seating the victim, hands tied behind the back, astride a wall, the top of which resembled an inverted ‘V’. Weights were then attached to the ankles, these being slowly increased until the victim’s body split in two. This type of device also existed in the British army, though , instead of a cumbersome wall, the appliance was made by nailing suitably shaped wooden planks together in the shape of a horse, its backbone forming a sharp ridge about eight or nine feet long, thereby allowing more than one victim to be punished at a time.

Due to the risk of death, even when prescribed only as a minor punishment, It was realized that, unlike floggings and similar corrective measures, which healed fairly rapidly, the donkey could incapacitate a soldier and make him permanently unfit for army duties, and so the practice was eventually discontinued.

Naval captains of most nations, even as recently as the nineteenth century, had absolute authority over their crews and took whatever measures they saw fit in order to maintain discipline. Serious crimes such as incitement of mutiny, striking an officer and the like, warranted the death sentence. One method of administering this verdict was something called keel-hauling. In 1710 an English Sailor, guilty of blasphemy was stripped of all his clothes except for a strip of cloth around his loins. He was suspended by blocks and pulleys, and these were fastened to the opposite extremities of the yard-arm and a weight

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was hung upon his legs to sink him to a competent depth.

By this apparatus he was drawn up close to the yard-arm, then let fall into the sea where, by hauling on the pulleys of the other end of the yard, he was passed under the ship’s bottom and after some little time, was hoisted up on the other side of the ship; this after sufficient intervals of breathing, was repeated two or three times.

It should be remembered that the height of the old sailing ships was considerable, the fall in itself resulting in possible injury being sustained on hitting the surface of the sea; then to be half drowned, dragged across the hull, which was invariably encrusted with barnacles, limpets, mollusks and other marine creatures, their shells rasping flesh and muscle off ones bones, must have been an ordeal indeed.

Two other methods of torture and execution that are certainly more recent are The Electric Chair and Lethal Injection. The chair was first used on William Kemmler in 1890 in Auburn, New York and injection introduced in the 1970’s. The latter many consider to be the most humane way of putting someone to death in history. However, this may not be true in all cases, especially if the chemical mixture is not perfect, which can result in a very agonizing end.

Lethal injection will be discussed in concentration here since this is the most controversial, recent and common method of execution in the United States in this day and age.

Jonathan Groner, an Ohio doctor of pediatric surgery in Columbus’ Children’s Hospital and associate professor at Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health states “ A humane execution in the ultimate paradox.” The reason for this paradox is that

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in order to execute people without “inflicting torture” states would have to employ licensed doctors to administer the chemical cocktail, but medical professionals are bound to an oath and ethics to do no harm, and are ethically unable to participate in executions. Groner more specifically calls this cycle the “executioner’s paradox.” Using Ohio State as a template, this writer can illustrate as done earlier , the specifics of the lethal injection procedure and protocol; it is as follows:

The prisoner is strapped to a stretcher and injected with anesthetic sodium pentothal. Without anesthesia the inmate would experience asphyxiation, a severe burning sensation, and cardiac arrest. Now unconscious, the prisoner is injected with pancuronium bromide, which paralyses muscles including the lungs and diaphragm. Pavulon is often used in immobilizing patients during surgical procedures.

The two drugs are followed by an injection of potassium chloride, which causes cardiac arrest; this would also produce tremendous pain to a conscious inmate.

A study published in 2005 by the English medical journal Lancet, authors found that on the basis of toxicology reports from six U.S. states 43% of prisoners had remained conscious after the dose of sedatives was administered. The Lancet concluded that “It would be a cruel way to die: awake, paralyzed, unable to move, to breath, while potassium burned through your veins.”

The question still looms however, with the eye for an eye society; and it is a very valid question. How would you feel if the same inmate receiving death by injection had murdered your wife, daughter ect. I suppose very good questions like this cannot be answered unless it has actually occurred to an individual. Is a life sentence in prison more

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of a punishment than death? Those on death row sometimes remain there for years before they walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Groner states that in regards to this current question, “All of Europe does not execute people. Our founding fathers conscious decision was that we wouldn’t be an eye for an eye society. I would also say that you can judge a society by is prisons. How we take care of society’s ill off reflects on a society at large; and there is nobody worse off than a death row inmate.”

This is a bit off point for our purposes here however. The true issue here lies with “the executioners”, who are essentially the licensed doctors who are actually giving the final death blow. Is it unethical for doctors to aid in the administration and execution of individuals? In my honest opinion, yes. Do I think that other methods of execution would not put doctors in the position as executioner? Yes. Do I think that lethal injection should be discarded in favor of other methods of execution that do not place doctors in the questionable ehical practice of execution? Yes. This intellectual venture was not about abolishing or not abolishing the death penalty, it was a matter of the ethics involved for the doctors who must take part in such events. I do not think that they should be involved in the process.

References

Sturm, D. (2006, October 12). Is lethal injection barbaric? Ohio revisits the ethics of execution. The Free Press. Retrieved April 12, 2007, from

http://www.freepress.org/departments/display/2/2006/2178

Abbot, G. (2005) Execution: The Guillotine, the Pendulum, the Thousand Cuts, the Spanish Donkey, and 66 Other Ways of Putting Someone to Death. New York New York: St. Martin’s Press.

Sexuality in Europe

Introduction

European sexuality has long been more open and accepted than in North America. In addition, North America is only now beginning to realize that borrowing European sexual attitudes is healthier in the fact that it can decrease sex crimes. I will illustrate these points given the proper channels. I will also go into greater depth in the areas of female orgasm, and how European females have more potent orgasms in general because their view of sexuality is one of freedom and health, as opposed to guilt and it being looked down upon. Erotic art museums will be tapped upon as well, illustrating how European nations are the leader in this area, and how sex is showcased for the beauty it holds, rather than sweeping it under the carpet.

Finally, I will present some opposing viewpoints to my research.

Abstract

I have elected to use much more than only two articles for my information regarding this topic; therefore I cannot adhere to only two sources, as it would be professionally irresponsible. I will cite my sources throughout the paper accordingly and will have a substantial reference page. Let us begin.

Below are a list of stats on rape per country between 1998-2000 which is recent enough to get a clear idea of what we are dealing with here; with the U.S. far surpassing all European nations.

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Rapes per country in ’98-00 are as follows:

United States

- 89,110 Spain - 5,664 Norway - 555 Netherlands - 1,648

United Kingdom - 8,593 France - 8,458 Finland - 579 Denmark - 497

Germany - 7,499 Poland - 2,399 Ireland - 218 Switzerland - 404

Bulgaria - 593 Hungary - 589 Estonia - 73 Belarus - 530

Lithuania - 183 Romania - 1,110 Czech Republic - 500

Russia - 6,978 Latvia - 104 Moldova - 200 Slovenia - 86

Italy - 2,336 Portugal - 385 Ukraine - 1,151 Slovakia - 129

Greece - 114

Per capita you ask? The U.S. is number 9 out of the top 65 countries. The U.S. is also far above any other European nation per capita.

(Seventh United Nations Survey of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems, covering the period 1998 - 2000 (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Centre for International Crime Prevention)

The question still remains as to why? Why do European nations have such a low rate of rape compared to the U.S.? My hypothesis is that because sexuality in Europe has always been open and regarded as beautiful, the need to commit violent repressed rage in a sexual way is less likely to occur. However, in contrast to the U.S. where sex is seen and perceived as “dirty”, “wrong” and immoral, the degree to which the repression manifests itself as anger grows stronger especially in men. In addition with regard to women, American women in general are more likely to be afraid to engage in a sexual relations with sexually aggressive men and/or women and thus will have a harder time achieving orgasm, than will a more freethinking European female. Of course I am referring to any sexual advance or activity that does not involve children, animals or humiliation or pain.

4

“Eastern European females, specifically from Russia, Hungary and Bulgaria are the most sexually active in the world, by having sex 150 times per year.” (Durex 2003) Italian females are the most likely to achieve an orgasm every time they have sex according to the 2004 Durex survey. Also found in the 2004 Durex survey, Croatians, Hungarians and Italian females were the most sexually satisfied and thus did not need to fake orgasms. In the 2005 Durex survey, it should not be a suprise that again the European females top the list in sexual satisfaction, with Polish and Belgians coming in at 57% and 56% respectively.

The Swedes and Scandinavians top the list of who wanted more sex, thus illustrating the healthy drive European females have toward sex. Also in the 2005 Durex survey the overall winners as being the most sexual are Greek females with the Croats coming in second. The point is clear that European females enjoy sex and are more proficient at it than their American counterparts.

Erotic art is another facet of European sexual culture that has set the standards for the United States. I will not delve too far into the past regarding this, however I will look at the current phenomena. Sex museums or now better known as erotic art museums, became most popular in Europe in the 1960’s. Of course the most concentrated number of erotic art museums exist in Europe and only about a handful exist in the U.S. The list in Europe contains such places as: -The Mussee in Paris which opened in 1998

-De Wallen in Amsterdam’s Red Light District

-The Venus Temple also in Amsterdam’s Red Light District is the oldest operating sex museum upon opening in 1985.

- The Erotic Art Museum in Hamburg , Germany

- The Beate Uhse Erotic Museum in Berlin, which is the largest erotic museum in the

5

world.

- The Museum Erotica in Copenhagen, Denmark

- The Museo de la Erotica in Barcelona, Spain

- The Erotic Art Museum in St. Petersburg Russia claims to have the remains of Raputin’s penis.

The first erotic art museum to open in the U.S. was in New York City called the Museum of Sex in 2002.

In Miami Beach the World Erotic Art Museum opened its doors in 2005. Surely children should not be exposed to this kind of art, since they do not have the emotional or intellectual insight to grasp what the work is offering, but they should be opened up to this as adolescents and shown how sex is beautiful and natural and not a sin, and indeed patrons of the Museums in Europe come from all walks of life, including adolescents. For every position in life there is an opposite, and the case is no different here. There have been many opponents to free sexual attitudes in the history of man, or at least in the history of the United States.

Some say that pornography for instance, leads to greater violence against women; I am not one of those people. In fact I believe that it is quite the opposite. In the 70’s and 80’s feminists such as Andrea Dworkin claimed that viewing pornography leads to greater sex crimes particularly against women. A lower per capita crime rate as discussed earlier has led not only myself but others to conclude that the availability of porn in European nations such as The Netherlands and Sweden leads to fewer sex crimes, since the repression is nonexistent and there is a medium for healthy males to release sexual feelings in a nonviolent way. (Polinski 2006)

6

There is also evidence that areas in the U.S. where there is limited internet access, in turn leads to a higher incidence of rape. (D’Amato 2006)

There is also the argument that viewing erotic images in any form or engaging in vast amounts of sexual activity will lead to violence. Back in the 1980’s there was a huge debate in this area in relation to heavy metal music. The fact is, that a well psychologically rounded individual who views erotic images understands the line between what is on display and what is a social norm. However, those with already existing or predisposed tendencies toward violence will likely be affected by these images in a negative way; thus the problem lies with the individual and not with the art form.

Conclusion

Sex is a beautiful and natural occurrence; to ignore this fact would be unnatural. Of course, there are sociological norms that must be dealt with and considered before engaging in any sexual practice. The point of this paper is to try and bring to light my point that sexual freedom and expression is not dirty, should not be looked down upon, and should be cherished. Europeans had the right idea from the beginning, and it seems as if at least some of their practices are making ripples (not waves as of yet) here in America. I truly believe that with open sexuality comes fewer hate crimes, sex crimes, violent crimes and rapes.

In addition, open sexuality actually gives women more power than inhibits them from it, and brings a more level playing field to the sexes. The female orgasm is a phenomena and we have only tapped the surface as of yet; no pun intended. Female sexuality (female orgasm and ejaculation especially) is, in my opinion, an area that I just may make my career, since it encompasses so many things and is still so much a mystery. I look forward to it all

References

Pornography, rape and the internet. Retrieved on 2007-03-12.

D'Amato, Anthony (June 23, 2006). Porn Up, Rape Down. Retrieved on 2007-03-12.

http://www.durex.com/uk/globalsexsurvey/2005results.asp Retrieved on 2007-03-12.

DON'T STRESS

Thesis Statement: Prevention is the key to alleviating, if not eliminating many of societies woes such as, drug addiction, abuse and violence of all kinds, and physiological ailments and desease.

Introduction

In many cases, as I will illustrate later based on empirical data, the stress that humans suffer, and the consequences thereof, are created subconsciously and can be a thing of the past with proper techniques in self awareness and meditation. This is nothing new to the world; however it is new to Western medicine. The work of Freud in the early 1900’s is regared as many as the birth of psychology. In contrast many of Freud’s “discoveries” had already been in existence for over 2500 years.

An introduction and knowledge of these ancient concepts will enable the human populus to prevent any stress related phenomenon, and consequently achieve a calm and peace within themselves, regardless of any social situation or atmosphere. The power always begins and ends within. Grasping this concept is the key that will unlock the door to universal enlightenment.

Physiological Changes

I will begin by delving directly into the long documented benefits on physiology in relation to meditation of all styles, since I want to establish a concrete platform on which to build my own thesis. In addition, I would like to dispell any doubts from individuals who may not want to believe.

To begin, a relatively brief history of meditation is in order before the physiological effects are discussed. In all likelihood, meditation as humans have come to know it today started in India about 2500 years ago by a young man named Siddhartga Gautama (The Buddha).

Perhaps the most powerful and beautiful aspect of Buddhism is how it has taken the shape of the container that has held it in each place it has settled. A bowl can be narrow and tall or wide and short, simple or ornate, yet hold its contents well. Inevitably, Buddhism has also changed the vessel, and this transformation was no more evident than when Buddhism reached China and spread to Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. The practices of Buddhism as they existed in India and were transmitted southward to countries like Sri Lanka and Thailand probably resemble their origins more closely today than they do in the countries of the northern transmission (Smith, 2000).

Research shows that Western awarness of this phenomena has only occurred in the past 35 years or so. Since then however, there have been great strides in knowing more.

By itself, meditation is an effective treatment for reducing stress (Benson, 1995; Calderon & Schneider, 1999; Kulkarni, 1998; Shapiro, et al., 1998; Walton, et al., 1995). These factors may be instrumental in explaining the reports that meditation can improve outcomes of chronically ill patients (Anton, 1999; Davis, et al., 1998; Speca, et al., 2000; Vedanthan, et al., 1998; Young, 1999; Zaza, et al., 1999). One study even reported that Psoriasis patients recovered faster when including a meditation regimen into treatment (Kabat-Zinn, et al., 1998). Meditation has also become a popular tool in psychotherapy as a relaxation technique (eg. Benson, 1978) and to stimulate insight (Shapiro, 1995).

Some of the more popular techniques used in research are transcendental meditation (TM), Hatha yoga, and various forms of the method popularized by Herbert Benson in Studying the "relaxation response" (Benson, 1975). Benson was a real groundbreaker when it came to the true physiological benefits of meditation. Decreases in renal (kidney) and hepatic (liver) blood flow during meditation has been hypothesized as being due to increased muscle, skin, or brain blood-flow demands (Jevning, et al., 1978). Further research found that muscle and skin blood flow did not increase as renal and hepatic blood flow decreased, implicating an increase in blood flow to the brain (Jevning, et al., 1979; Jevning, 1992).

In addition to the work these great researchers, blood pressure has also been documented. Reductions in systolic blood pressure have been observed during experimental sessions (Barnes, et al., 1999; Castillo, et al., 2000; Lee, et al., 2000; Wallace, et al., 1971), as well as for long-term practitioners (Wallace, et al., 1983). One can also look to a distinct brain wave activity during meditation, which does not relate to sleep or dream states. For instance, it should come as no surprise that among the well-documented effects of meditation is the alteration of brain-wave patterns. Dozens of studies have shown an increase in alpha rhythms, which are correlated with a state of relaxed alertness. In addition, numerous studies have shown enhanced synchronization of alpha rhythms among four regions of the brain; right, left, front, and back. This may be an indication of increased coherence of brain-wave activity (Ibid., p. 15-18).

Sleep, rest, and meditation have been compared on EEG, and like other physiological measures, and with few exceptions (Fenwick, et al., 1977), meditation has been found to have its own signature (Banquet, 1973; Farrow, 1982; Herbert & Lehmann, 1977; Jacobs, et al., 1996). For example, long-term meditators in meditative states have been found to produce theta-burst activity, whereas such a phenomenon has not been found in restful or sleeping states (Herbert & Lehmann, 1977).

The relationship between pain and stress can be better understood with the excellent work of Dr. Kabat-Zinn, and how this research has really opened up people’s eyes and hearts to the benfits of meditation and how it relieves stress. Dr. Kabat-Zinn's studies have demonstrated decreases in many kinds of pain in people who had been unresponsive to standard medical treatment. A large majority of the patients in Kabat-Zinn’s studies who were taught to meditate improved, while control groups of similar patients showed no significant improvement. Various related studies have shown improvement in pain from muscle tension, headaches, dysmenorrhea, and other conditions (ibid., p.30).

Another very influential figure in the study of meditation and its inherent health benfits is a man by the name of Deepak Chopra. Deepak Chopra, M.D., is a physician and author who practices TM. Trained as an endocrinologist, he now practices traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine (which emphasizes the use of herbs and meditation) in Massachusetts, and has authored several best-selling, highly influential books on holism, the best-known of which is Quantum Healing. Dr. Chopra also serves on a review panel for the National Institutes of Health Office of Alternative Medicine.

In his book Unconditional Life: Discovering the Power to Fulfill Your Dreams, he provides a set of questions with which to evaluate meditative practices.

"There are any number of important issues to consider when evaluating a form of meditation—above all: Did my mind actually find the silence I was seeking? Was I psychologically comfortable during and after meditation? Did my old self begin to change as a result of having meditated? Is there more truth in my self?"(Chopra)

It is important to note that all of the work these individuals have done are only scratching the surface.

Monetary Issues

A survey showed that the number of Americans who use such therapies rose from about 33 percent in 1990 to more than 42 percent in 1997 (Eisenberg, 1998). In addition, Americans spent over $27 billion on these therapies that year, more than was spent on out-of-pocket expenses for all U.S. hospitalizations. The U.S. government has also increased its financial interest in alternative medicines, increasing available funding for National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) from $2 million dollars in 1993 to 68.7 million in 2000.

Conclusion

All of the above is a combination of information of two articles with all of the necessary points in determining the intrinsic relationship of meditation and its contribution to the well being of humans. There is no doubt that all of this research is in its infancy and as professionals in the filed are aware, this is only scratching the surface. As technology grows and becomes more adaptable, the human species can expect to achieve higher levels of consciousness and awareness with very hard work and dedication.

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Appendix

Creativity can sometimes be a scary thing. True innovators are often laughed at, distained, beaten, killed, and in some cases become legends; the latter maybe the scariest of all if it happens very quickly. Anyway, I think that this course has given me some room to flex my creative muscle and I thank the students and teacher for that.

Without effectiveness, the world would cease to exist, or at least cease to exist in a productive fashion. A nation need not be a world power to achieve this phenomena. Many small villages in Asia and/or Africa use effectiveness and efficiency probably better than most other places on Earth, since they have so little, they do vast amounts with what they are given. However, many spoiled people have many material possessions and do not do much with their lives, and further complain that they do not have more.

"Cold"

"Cold"

-by Peter Cooper Band

Cold. Nothing. Barren. Desolate. What a place to be? A wonderful place. My eyes can now see. Nothing in the way. Open. Vast. Nothing. It is cold.

Red Rain

"Red Rain"


The rain started to patter down on the roof, windows and deck of Susie McFadden’s dwelling. She lay in her bed and realized how much she
loved the rain, especially during the day, and even more especially when her parents were not home. There was something about the rain Susie found comforting. Perhaps it was because the rain was representative of her own tears
inside her heart.

She was most at peace when she had the house all to herself, it was raining outside and that she knew her fuck-buddy was on the way over. Susie and Victor Holloway started dating back in senior year of high school. She was now a Sophomore at Penn State University, and Victor (Vic as all of his friends knew him as) got a job as a welder. Vic was also a huge practical joker.

While Susie spread her long, lean body across the bed, she recalled an instance where Vic’s practical joking awakened feelings inside of her that she never knew she had. The previous year, Vic knew that Susie’s parents would not be home and that he would be going over to her house to fuck her. At this point in the relationship, Vic wanted to call it quits, and had devised a plan to get out of it in a blaze of glory.

He knew the alarm code for the house and had friends who could easily jimmy the lock on the back door with a credit card. Vic told them the code, informed them as to when the parents were leaving, and let them know when he was going to get Susie out of the house. Vic got Susie to agree to meet him at Tony’s Pizza for lunch before heading back to the house.

Everything went smoothly and according to plan, and when Ned, Ralph and Arnold got in the house, they were to hide in Susie’s bedroom closet. The closet had long narrow folding doors with small slits in them, and visibility of the bed was clear. One could also not see into the closet. After Vic and Susie finished lunch, they headed back to her place and almost immediately started at it.




They sucked face and rolled tongues hard, then soft. Alternating at a pace that started to make Susie drip with anticipation, soaking her panties. Vic moved down and started kissing her neck. Susie moaned in a guttural way, and it was at this point that Vic took his cue as he picked her up by the ass and carried her up the stairs with her legs wrapped around him.

As they entered the bedroom, he tossed her halfway across the room onto the bed like a rag doll. Vic started undressing and Susie did the same, but Vic told her to leave her socks, sneakers and bra on. He left his boots on as well for good traction. Vic took her and held her in the air facing him. His stiff cock was already in position to move in and he dropped Susie right on it.

“Holy shit!” Susie gasped. Once they had a good rhythm established, the synchronization continued for a while, before switching positions. He bent Susie over the side of the bed, all the while never pulling out. Vic rocked hard for another long while and announced he was on the verge. Susie pushed him off and knelt in front of him, looked up and said, “Let me feel it here!”

Vic exploded and caked Susie’s face, at which point Ned, Ralph and Arnold stormed out of the closet, and all of them including Vic yelled “Surprise!” Naturally, Susie was initially scared shitless, but after a moment realized that being watched without her knowledge turned her on incredibly. She kicked them out except for Vic who decided to stay behind and listen to Susie officially give him the ax. Instead she said. “It made me so hot knowing that your friends saw
the whole thing.

“It did?” Vic asked amazed.

“Oh God yeah.”

“Want to do a threesome?” Vic asked.

“For now I just want them to watch, but not from the closet.”





“It can be arranged.” He said. Since then they had an extremely open relationship. Just the thought of the first time made her wet. Just as she started to move down with her hand, there was a knock at the door. Vic never knocks on the door, she thought to herself

Susie quickly threw on a pair of sweat pants and a T-shirt and proceeded downstairs. As she approached the door she heard the sound of children laughing. Upon opening the door, a group of six or seven children dressed in outlandish garb shouted “Trick-or-treat!”

Susie did not go to classes today and in the midst of her reminiscent fantasy, she forgot it was Halloween. She hated Halloween. Trick-or-treaters bothered the shit out of her, and she thought that the evening she had planned would be filled with constant interruptions.

“Hi kids.” She said, faking enthusiasm for the kid’s sake. “Sorry. I don’t have any candy. I just ran out.”

“Ran out?! It’s only four thirty in the afternoon!” One of the young lads said defiantly. Almost immediately after the comment, a kid dressed as a skeleton hurled an egg at her, splattering it all over the front of her cheap T-shirt.

“You little bastards!” She screamed, then slammed the door. Then she heard a couple of eggs pelt the door behind her, and the fading laughter and glee of the little monsters. Susie closed the blinds in the front of the house and shut the lights to create the illusion of no one being at home. The phone suddenly rang. Jumping at the sound, she approached the phone as if it were a cobra ready to strike.

“Hello?” She said. Her voice a bit shaky.

“Hi babe” Vic said. Susie’s heart soared when she heard his voice.





“I’ll be a little late tonight, but not much. I got caught up at work, so I’ll show up in around half an hour.”

“Please hurry Vic. I’m starting to get the Halloween heebie-jeebies.”

“I’ll do my best to get out of here as soon as I can. Is there anything you want me to pick up before I come over?”

“Just you babe.”

“Bye.” Vic said.

“Bye sweetie.”

The phone clicked and Susie put the phone down softly, then listened to the silence in the dark house. It was deafening. She ran back upstairs and went to her room. She laid down and dozed off for a few minutes. The ringing of the phone woke her from her slumber. Susie picked it up on the first ring since the phone was right next to her bed.

“Hello?” She said in a whisper. No response. Only deep steady breathing “Vic?” Nothing. “Fuck you!” she screamed into the phone and slammed it down.

Susie figured that it was Vic or one of his buddies playing one of their practical jokes on her, especially during Halloween. At least she hoped it was one of them. What if it wasn’t? She started to get hungry. Susie always got hungry when she was nervous, and now she was very hungry. Upon entering the kitchen, which was spacious yet sterile, since her parents never cooked, she was surprised to see that it had been cooked in when she turned on the light. She saw that the stove had been used to cook what looked like a piece of meat of some sort, in a frying pan. Only the greasy remnants remained, but she could smell it for sure.






Now she was beyond freaked out and ran straight for her front door. When she opened it, Susie almost did not notice the severed foot on the doorstep..After being transfixed on the foot, she realized that it was a man’s foot. That was all she could make of it. Then the phone rang again. Susie was in too much of a state of shock to be frightened by it this time. Almost unconsciously, she walked from the threshold to the phone in the living room and picked it up.

“Yes?” she answered. Her voice trembling with fear and trepidation.

“Honey?” Vic said.

“Oh God Vic! Please come over! My God there is a severed foot on the front porch! I don’t know what’s going on. I need you here now!”

“I’m sorry Susie. I’ve just called to say good-bye.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

The next thing she heard was Vic screaming in anguish. It was the sort of scream that could not possibly be fake. It was a real genuine scream of anguish and suffering, from a very real source of punishment. It sounded as if he may be getting raped. She also heard another man in the background laughing with lunacy in his voice. Finally the phone went dead.

She went back to the front door. When she got to it, Susie remembered that it had been open all the time she was on the phone. Anyone could have snuck in and she would not have known, and now she was in some trouble since she lived a few miles away from campus in the Pennsylvania country, and she had been car pooling this week because her car was being serviced. Susie knew she was isolated and that her problems were just beginning.

When she looked down at the doorstep the foot was gone, and a note was in it’s place.




“Your boyfriend is a good footless fuck.” It said. Nothing more.

The rain was coming down harder now and the wind was kicking up. She assumed there would be no more Trick-or-Treaters tonight. She was surprised at the ones who showed up earlier and now wished they would come back. Even the company of those little shits would make her feel better than being alone. She closed the door and locked it. Using her cell phone to call her parents, who would not be home for hours, or anyone else was out of the question since she had no service where her house was.

Susie went to the house phone and tried to call her parents, but the line was dead as Micheal Jackson’s career. It had been cut, and the only way to communicate out was by her computer. The only thing was that she had dial-up, and since the phone line was severed, that would also be out of the question. The last possible resort Susie had was to venture out of the house and tread the mile or so to the nearest road and flag someone for help.

The thought and consequences of this were burning in her brain. Would he be waiting outside for her? If she did make it out to the road, would the person she flagged down be the one who was tormenting her? Susie felt paranoid, except that her fears were not based on false suspicion. There was a huge crash of thunder, and it was now getting very dark outside. Not only from the rain storm but from the natural occurrence of the sun disappearing like a helpless child drowning on the horizon.

Susie did not like guns, but this was surely a time that she wish she had one. Her father was a yuppie who did not believe in violence, though who would want to take the word of a yuppie since everything they stood for in the sixties is completely contradictory to how they turned out. She continued to stand at the foot of her stairs and think to herself: Guns are surely for pussies who are so insecure and full of fear that they need to have them laying around in order to feel safe. It does not help that the US government continually pumps it’s citizens full of fear on a daily basis in the news and through many other means. Plus any human being who pulls a gun on another totally helpless human being is the lowest form of rat shit that I can think of.




“Why am I thinking of this?” she asked herself out loud. She decided to go back into the kitchen, take some knives with her and run as fast as she could to the
main road for help. It was about a mile, but at this point it might as well be a thousand. Susie knew that someone was watching her, and she knew that someone wanted her to suffer in some unimaginable way. After collecting a large butcher knife from the kitchen, she went to the garage from the inside entrance of the house and grabbed a flashlight.

Susie stood in the garage for a moment and collected her thoughts and courage. She was ready to make the run and did not give a second thought about the rain. She did feel fortunate that she was not a princess type who never got her hands dirty. She could be tough if she had to. Susie opened up the garage door from inside. As it opened, the chains on it rustled and it creaked and moaned, and she felt like she was in a tomb that was being opened up to the cruel world. Upon it being opened, it also gave way to the view of darkness. Almost pitch black now, and only the sound of thunder and pelting rain to fill her mind.

Susie closed the garage and jetted out before the door closed. Then she walked a few feet and turned on the flashlight, half expecting the see the demented face of a madman looking at her with lunacy and brilliance in his eyes. Nothing. She
started walking, then trotting, and finally ran as fast as she could through the woods. It is not easy in the black of night and rain. After moving for about five minutes, she thought she should keep a steady walk instead.

“I cannot afford to break my ankle right now.” She said aloud to herself. Another thing that worried her was that it was much easier for a person to move in stealth throughout the woods when it was raining. With lumber and leaves matted down with water, they did not rustle and snap as they would if they were dry. That was good for her, but what if someone was following her out here? Plus Susie had the flashlight. It would not be hard for whatever was out there to see what direction she was going.






After what seemed like an eternity she saw a clearing where the road was. Susie stumbled out to it and tried to regain some of her composure. She hoped to God that a police car would drive by. No such luck. However, after a while of walking in the direction of campus, a gray Dodge pickup truck approached and came to a stop right next to her.

The driver opened his window and said “Car trouble?”

Without thinking, Susie jumped right in the truck and told the driver “Take me to the police station!”

“What’s the problem?”

“My boyfriend is dead and someone has broken into my house.”

“Hang on” the driver said.

Suddenly the truck was almost at full speed before turning down the dirt road that led to the back of Susie’s house.

“Why are you going this way?!” Susie demanded.

Then it became much too clear to her. This guy knew where she lived. When he pulled up to the front of her house another man came from nowhere wearing an Emmit Kelly mask and dragged her out of the car. A third man wearing a George Bush mask taped her mouth, ankles and hands.

“Happy Halloween bitch!” the man in the G.W. mask shouted. They took her inside the house up to her bedroom, and to Susie’s horror saw Vic nailed to the wall with huge metal slugs. Both his feet had been cut off and there was a knitting needle through his scrotum. His dead blank stare made Susie want to be
someplace else. Any fucking place than right here. Right now.





From behind she was thrown onto the bed and given an injection by the driver, while the men in masks held her still. Then they untaped her legs and pulled off her sweat pants and panties. The two men pulled each leg back and taped her ankles to the headboard. The pain of this was minimal for Susie, though she pretended to be in more pain hoping that these low class pieces of shit would have some sort of mercy on her. Suddenly she felt the effects of the injection and now she really did not feel pain. In addition she started to blackout.

She was awakened just in time to see a figure enter the room and decapitate all three men with a samurai sword. Then two other men entered. They untied Susie and being up close to them, she realized that it was Ned, Arnold and Ralph. Ned, Arnold and Ralph received the same call that Susie did with Vic on the other end of the line. Ralph knew Vic was on his way over here and wanted to check it out. He was a student of Judo and decided to take his sword for
insurance, in case this was not just a Halloween prank.

Moments later her yuppie parents came home to the carnage and terror and Susie’s father stood in the doorway of her bedroom with a dumbfounded look on
his face and sniveled ‘What happened?”

“Happy Halloween Dad.”
Story by:
Peter Cooper
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