KEN STREMSKY DISCUSSES SEX EDUCATION, HISTORY, AND OTHER TOPICS I discuss sex education, United States history, world history, geography, warfare, some jokes, and will discuss some other topics as well. FIRST CLASS MAIL COMPETITION I believe that FedEx and UPS should be able to compete with the United States Postal Service for delivery of first class mail. People could buy a mail box that has a box for mail from FedEx and a box from UPS. First class mail competition may decrease the probability that the United States Postal Service will deliver mail to the wrong address on a regular basis. REGULATION OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS The May 30, 2002 Financial Times on page 6 has an article with the title "Big hitters square up over dietary supplements' regulation: Half the US population may use supplements, but there is fierce debate on whether they should escape FDA controls on drugs" written by Geoff Dyer. The Food and Drug Administration should regulate dietary supplements. Companies that want to sell dietary supplements should have to prove that they are safe before they may sell them. Companies that want to sell dietary supplements should have to put on their labels what the Food and Drug Administration tells them to put on their labels. Companies should have to tell the Food and Drug Administration about harm their dietary supplements have caused before they allowed to sell them as well as after they are allowed to sell them. A SHORT COURSE ON SEX EDUCATION Many girls between 10 years old and 12 years old get pregnant each year. A female may get pregnant the first time she has sex. A female may get pregnant having sex standing up in a shower. Condoms are not 100 percent effective in preventing pregnancy. Condoms are not 100 percent effective at preventing sexually transmitted diseases. Many people are allergic to latex condoms. The birth control pill is not 100 percent effective in preventing pregnancy. The birth control pill does not prevent sexually transmitted diseases. A person may obtain a sexually transmitted disease from oral sex. A person may obtain a disease by sharing needles with someone else. A SHORT COURSE ON WINNING ELECTIVE OFFICE If a candidate discusses many controversial issues in the United States of America, the candidate is not likely to get elected. If a candidate takes a pledge not to increase taxes, the candidate is more likely to get elected. If a candidate lies to the press, the press will probably find out. If a candidate discusses the candidate's sex life, the candidate will probably be burned by the discussion. A candidate who has a better smile, laugh, body language, haircut, suit, and communication skills who does not know much about the issues is more likely to beat a candidate who knows a great deal about the issues but does not have as good a smile, laugh, body language, haircut, suit, and communication skills. A SHORT COURSE ON AMERICAN HISTORY The ancestors of the Apaches and other American tribes came from Asia many thousands of years ago. The Spanish, the French, the Russians, and the British colonized different parts of what is now the United States of America. Our finding fathers used guerilla warfare tactics against the British. We gained Louisiana from the French because of war in Europe. We gained Alaska from Russia at a phenomenal price. Our country sometimes used small pox covered blankets to kill off members of American tribes. We let Cuba and the Philippines go after the Spanish American War. I wish we had made them states. I hope Cuba and the Philippines will someday be states. Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941. During World War 2, the Federal Government put Americans of Japanese descent into internment camps while members of their families fought bravely for our country in Europe. Our Marines were murdered in the early 1980's. Pan Am 103 was blown up over Scotland more than a decade ago. Our country was attacked on September 11, 2001 and the attacks might not have been as successful if we had learned from the attack on Pearl Harbor. A SHORT COURSE ON WORLD HISTORY Before Abraham created Judaism, most people prayed to many Gods especially female goddesses. Fertility goddesses were worshiped by many civilizations for a very long period of time because these civilizations believed that the fertility goddesses would help them grow crops. Mesopotamia, China, and Egypt had great civilizations long before Europe did. Ancient Greece had a long and fascinating history that often had Athens and Sparta competing against each other for power. Alexander The Great was often a very successful warrior who sometimes used biological warfare. The Romans fought Carthage especially Hannibal who used elephants in some of his military campaigns. The Roman Republic existed for a very long period of time before Julius Caesar was born. Julius Caesar used the weaknesses of the Roman Republic to gain a great deal of power. After Julius Caesar was murdered, Octavius became Augustus and ruled the Roman Empire. Some of his decendants were great leaders. Some of his decendants were evil men. After the Roman Empire fell in the west, the Roman Empire continued to exist in the east especially Constantinople. The teachings of Ancient Greece and Rome were kept alive while the former Western Roman Empire was a mess. England gave the world Magna Carta in 1215 AD. England colonized our country hundred of years later. A SHORT COURSE ON GEOGRAPHY Taiwan is not in South America. Colombia is not part of Australia. New Zealand is not a part Europe. Zaire is not in South America. Turkey is the name of a country. Poland is not in Africa. A SHORT COURSE ON WARFARE Most countries have not given up land they have won in war after they have been attacked. Ancient Sparta had a phenomenal military ethic that sometimes went too far. A teacher told me a story which I think said a Spartan child did not mention that a fox the child was hiding was eating the child. A country that is prepared for war is more likely to win a war. A country's military should be commanded by civilians because military leaders sometimes love War too much. A country should treat its Veterans well because if a country does not treat its veterans well become will probably not want to become soldiers. A SHORT COURSE ON ECONOMICS When I was 18 years old, I supported luxury taxes on boats. I thought demand for luxury boats would be virtually inelastic which means an increase in price would not alter demand much. I was wrong. Luxury taxes decreased the number of boats bought significantly. When fewer people bought boats, many people who bought boats lost their jobs. After former boat builders lost their jobs, they bought fewer products from many companies. When those companies had fewer sales and profits, those companies laid off people. When Congress says a product may not be sold for a price higher than a price Congress sets, companies are likely to do research and make products. When a city says that rent may not be greater than a price the city sets, builders are less likely to build more apartment building. When the government taxes are high, people are less likely to work as much, people are less likely to be very creative, companies are less likely to hire people, and companies are less likely to increase pay of employees. SOME JOKES JOKE ONE Question: Why didn't Michaelangelo make a girlfriend for David? Answer: He knew that only God could create the perfect woman. JOKE TWO Question: Why did the wild turkey cross the road? Answer: He saw Benjamin Franklin coming toward him with a kite during a rain and thunder storm. JOKE THREE Question: Why did the candidate lose the election? Answer: The candidate's treasurer stole almost all the campaign contributions and ran to Tijuana. JOKE FOUR Question: Why did the dolphin change the television station? Answer: Flipper was on another channel. JOKE FIVE Question: Why didn't Leonardo Da Vinci fly a kite? Answer: He was trying to make a helicopter. JOKE SIX Question: Why did the incumbent drop out of the race for election? Answer: He caught his daughter in bed with the challenger and figured that after the shot gun wedding his son in law should have his position. JOKE SEVEN Question: Why do citizens of Rome hate elephants. Answer: They are worried the ghost of Hannibal will trample them with elephants. JOKE EIGHT Question: Why didn't Alexander The Great conquer India? Answer: He liked Chinese food better. JOKE NINE Question: Why did Julius Caesar enter politics. Answer: He wanted a salad to be named after him. JOKE TEN Question: Why did George Washington cross the Delaware? Answer: His bank was going charge him significant fees for bounced checks. Joke ELEVEN Question: Why did the Nazis lose World War 2? Answer: Female Russian snipers were better soldiers. JOKE TWELVE: Why do many men not want women to fight in combat? Answer: The men do not want to be crushed by women who fight like Joan of Arc.