Paris Hilton is a disease ridden tramp

The United States has a problem: here it is. The figures must be taken with a grain of salt; when looking at the second column one must remember the United States has a better diagnosis rate than most places with high AIDS/HIV prevalence. The real problem is the estimated rate of new infection; hefty numbers in a first world country. AIDS isn't the flu; except in cases of assault or institutional incompetence, the only way to get AIDS is by being ignorant of the consequences of some pretty fucking involved choices. Rough to see in a developed country.

Maybe laughing in the dark is the easiest way to deal with this. For example, by suggesting Paris Hilton and Lindsey Lohan get locked in a house without AZT and see who falls first, like Todd of IDLYTW. What exactly he's laughing at in the dark is unclear, however. The suggestion is an reference to the promiscuity of the two women in question, neither of whom have thus far indicated any symptoms of venereal diseases, an aversion to safer sex, an enjoyment of intravenous drugs, or even a level of promiscuity outstripping that of typical pretty, insecure people of that age.

The ability to laugh at a suggestion like this depends on the cultural belief in the 'dirty skanky ho'. Old and enduring as the hills in North America, it's a synthesis of schoolboy Christian conservatism - looseness equals disease - and masculine insecurity - sexually active women are scary. Todd's articles are striking in this regard both in terms of the overtness of his attitude - witness his obsession with rigourously virginal Brazilian model Adriana Lima here and here - and most recently with his unquestioning belief that the Da Vinci code film mocks Jesus in a way that manifests the liberal, arrogant quality of Hollywood.

The phenomenom is complex, involving political, sexual and religious philosophies, but I'd like to point out just one thing today: even if gossip blogs gleefully discuss assfucking and masturbation, in some ways they're no more envelope-pushing or socially interesting than the Fox News Network.