Friday Night Open Thread

I don’t like horror movies. They scare me.

Damn!

U.S. Senate Opens Hearings Into What Percentage Walrus Is, Indeed, Paul

The U.S. Could Learn a Lesson From Niger

Niger Military To Prosecute Mohamed Bazoum for “High Treason”
Aljazeera | 8/14/23

Niger’s military says it will prosecute deposed President Mohamed Bazoum for treason. . .

In a statement read out on national television late on Sunday, a spokesman for Niger’s military laid out the charges against Bazoum as “high treason and undermining the internal and external security” of the country.

Sounds vaguely familiar.

This Also Popped Up When I Entered the Word “Female” Into a Web Search Engine

(I really find the can-of-beer graphic hilarious, and IMAO-worthy)

What is female ejaculation?

Female ejaculation is when a female’s urethra expels fluid during sex. It can happen during arousal, but there is not necessarily an association with having an orgasm.

Scientists do not fully understand female ejaculation [Not yet??], and there is limited research on how it works and its purpose. [After all these years??] Female ejaculation is normal, although researchers remain divided on how many people experience it.

In this article, we look at the current thinking on the mechanisms, purpose, and frequency of female ejaculation.

What is it?

Female ejaculation refers to the expulsion of fluid from a female’s urethra during orgasm or sexual arousal. The urethra is the duct that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body.

There are two different types of female ejaculate:

Ejaculate fluid

This type more closely resembles male semen. It is typically thick and appears milky. The paraurethral glands produce this fluid. Other names for these glands include Skene’s glands, Garter’s duct, and female prostate.

Analysis has shown that the fluid contains prostatic acid phosphatase (PSA). PSA is an enzyme present in male semen that helps sperm motility.

In addition, female ejaculate usually contains fructose, a form of sugar. Fructose is also generally present in male semen, where it acts as an energy source for sperm.

Squirting fluid

This fluid is usually colorless and odorless. It originates in the bladder and is similar in composition to urine. This fluid can sometimes contain PSA, and a person typically expels this fluid in greater quantities than ejaculate.

Is it real?

Researchers have confirmed the existence and origin of both female ejaculate fluid and squirting fluid. A 2020 review concluded that there is “sufficient evidence” to support the existence of female ejaculation, but further research is necessary to assess its chemical composition.

Other studies have also confirmed the physical origin of squirting fluid and its ties with physical arousal,

A small 2022 study involved doctors injecting a colored dye into the bladder of several participants before providing sexual stimulation. It was confirmed that the expelled fluid in squirting contained the dye administered.

In a 2014 study researchers used ultrasound to monitor women during self-stimulation. The study found that all the women started with an empty bladder, which began to fill during arousal. The post-ejaculation scans revealed that the participants’ bladders were empty again.

Woman opening a can of beer, it is splashing everywhere
helivideo/Getty Images

Is it normal and how common is it?

The secretion of fluids during arousal and stimulation is normal. People may produce different volumes of different fluids depending on circumstance and stimulus.

The authors of a 2013 review estimated that 10-54% of women experience female ejaculation. However, it is difficult to fully assess the rate at which people experience it.

Some people may secrete fluid during arousal without noticing. It is possible that they are not aware of it because the fluid can flow backward into the bladder rather than leaving the body.

What is known is that the experience of female ejaculation, including the feeling, triggers, and amount of ejaculation, varies considerably from person to person.

Are there any health benefits?

There is no evidence that female ejaculation has any health benefits. However, research has found sex itself to offer several benefits.

During orgasm, the body releases pain-relieving hormones that can help with back and leg painheadaches, and menstrual cramps.

Immediately after climaxing, the body releases hormones that promote restful sleep. These hormones include prolactin and oxytocin.

Other health benefits include:

Learn more about the health benefits of sexual intercourse here.

Straight Line of the Day: What Is “Disease X”?

New Pandemic Vaccine for ‘Disease X’ in the Works
American Military News | 8/7/23 | Timothy Frudd

In the shadow of the recent global Covid-19 pandemic, scientists in the United Kingdom are already taking proactive steps to shield humanity from the next viral threat.

According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the new Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre (VDEC) is working to develop “life-saving new vaccines” to combat a number of illnesses, including the mysteriously-labeled “Disease X.”

“Preparing to tackle ‘Disease X’,” the agency said in a press release. “VDEC scientists have developed immunological assays or tests through which they can measure the effectiveness of vaccines against bacterial infections. These assays are being evaluated for use to combat similar, more threatening pathogens with a pandemic potential.”

Welcome to IMAO! We’re Shipping Some of Our Old Posts and Memes to Unfunny Europe

Friday Classic Funny

Looks like Mr. Walrus and the regular interns are not around so it’s some Monty Python for everyone.