The Pill: "safer than aspirin" and available over the counter in Seattle -- well, sort of. In a new pilot program (funded by the NIH -- at least until the White House hears about this), women can obtain birth control pills directly from certain Seattle area pharmacies, with just a short health screening. Women with risk factors like hypertension, smoking, and obesity are denied, but otherwise the program hopes to provide access to women who have no doctor or who are otherwise not using birth control. Thanks to Ms. Kim for the link! I think it's a great idea -- now if only the government would subsidize the stuff, and if the pharmacist threw in a few free condoms, perfection.

In fact, allow me to add this to my Radical Socialist List of Things the Government Would Provide Free at Public Dispersal Sites If I Were In Charge:

1. Toilet Paper, paper towels, tissues -- hell, all disposable paper products (recycled, of course)
2. Pantyhose
3. Menstrual apparatus of your choice
4. Birth control and STD prevention apparatus of your choice
5. Hand sanitizer
6. Clean socks
7. Envelopes (oops, that might go under #1)
8. Cat food

Bring on the true Nanny State, I say!