Be Wise; Try Smartdate
Statistics from the National Women’s Message Center show 78 percent of the 738,280 reported rape or abduction victims each year know their attackers.
Are there ways to remove some of the risk of those first few dates before you get to know him well? Yes. One way is to tell a friend who you are going out with, where you are going and that you’ll check in with that friend when you return home. Then tell your date you’ve told a friend. It may sound overly cautious, but then …
Now, though, there’s an electronic method of doing the same thing. SmartDate (www.smartdate.com) is like an electronic diary that allows a woman to leave a trail of information including the date’s name, phone number, make of vehicle, destination and departure and return times.
In the first 10 weeks after the September 1997 launch, more than 7,300 women registered. Women can also register bad dating experiences with the site. Law enforcement officers will have access to the site.
Services are $12 a year. (From spring Vent magazine)
All we can say is ‘wow’: Percentage of one dollar bills circulating in Chicago that carry traces of cocaine: 78. (From April Men’s Health)
Speaking of the balance of trade: Looks like there’s a market for American sperm. U.S.-based fertility clinics have set up Web sites and would-be parents around the world are logging on to pick their sperm by race, education level and looks. And, since American clinics have fewer regulations than those abroad, supplies are plentiful. The Brits, however, seem to be looking askance at this growing export from the Colonies and have issued a warning that online specimens may not be as “rigorously” screened as native contributions. (From: Feb. 16 Newsweek)
Quote of the week: The United States Olympic Committee public relations director Mike Moran about the USOC stance on the men’s hockey team trashing two Olympic Village apartments: The USOC was “not embarrassed.” He said he doesn’t “know why we would be embarrassed” and that the USOC cannot be “babysitters for professional athletes.”
First, we thought the Olympics was about amateur athletes. Second, we kind of agree with the guy. (From March 2 Sports Illustrated)
Think about it: All over the area, recreational softball teams are gearing up. It’s not too early to ponder this: Number of recreational players injured each year from sliding into base: 1.7 million.
And then, there’s the post-game activity. So keep in mind that one study estimated the number of times some people drive drunk before being caught exceeds 1,000. We are not, however, advocating that softball players, or anyone else, play the odds. (From April Men’s Health) , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo
MEMO: Susan English is the Weekend Editor at The Spokesman-Review, contact her by mail at 999 W. Riverside, Spokane, WA 99201; by e-mail at susane@spokesman.com; or by phone at 459-5488.