San Diego Housing Bubble News and Analysis

Sad, but true.

Anyone know anything interesting about sharks?

I recently discovered that shark skin has dermal denticles that are hydrodynamic.

Men just succeeded in making themselves dispensible. While they are claiming victory, women don't need them any more.

we cannot declare victory until a male birth control exists

This is desperately needed and I can't believe it hasn't been invented yet. Instead of the woman secretly going off birth control in order to entrap a man with an unplanned (by him) pregnancy, it would be the man secretly going on birth control.

"Beats me. I don't know why you can't get pregnant. I guess we'll just have to keep trying." Male BC would totally shift the balance of power between men and women.

Until this is invented, no way can women claim that medicine is geared towards primarily serving mens' needs.

Um, guys...it's been around for a long time already:

http://www.trojancondoms.com/

Then there's this:

The vasectomy is a simple office procedure in which a segment of the tubes carrying the sperm from the testicles is removed, and the ends are sealed off. The procedure takes about ten minutes and is performed under a local anesthetic. [This should be a no-brainer for all those who claim they don't want to be "trapped" by a woman.]

http://www.malehealthcenter.com/c_vasect...

And this:

For the first time, a safe, effective and reversible hormonal male contraceptive appears to be within reach. Several formulations are expected to become commercially available within the near future. Men may soon have the options of a daily pill to be taken orally, a patch or gel to be applied to the skin, an injection given every three months or an implant placed under the skin every 12 months, according to Seattle researchers. [I think they've had a form of BC for men available in Europe for some time -- at least I've read about it years ago.]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3543478/

Most women would be more than happy to let men take over the BC responsibility. Oddly enough, though men often complain about being "trapped" they all too often refuse to take any responsibility for their own birth control. They have ALWAYS had choices (abstaining from having sex with women you don't want to procrate with would be a logical first step, no?).

A. Condoms suck (can't feel anything; hard to get on; they can break; yada yada)

B. I tried to get a vasectomy 6 years ago and the doc wouldn't do it since I didn't have any kids. This was after some chick I had recently broken up with claimed I was her babydaddy. Luckily a blood test cleared me.

C. It' good to hear that a male BC pill is within reach. That's the holy grail.

D. Abstinence? Who are you? Sarah Palin?

Personally, I am quite happy with the way the gender wars worked out... having my own job, not being chattel, and all that jazz. I hear we even get to vote these days!

[quote=8bitnintendo
Really? What state was this? That's definitely not legal in California.[/quote]

What do you mean it's not legal in California? Are you saying he can force the Urologist to perform a surgical procedure, however minor, against the surgeons wishes? I assure you that he cannot. I had a similar case when I had a 17yo asking me to tie her tubes. She had no kids either, and I refused to do it. My 3 other colleagues at the time refused to do it as well.

You have to be extremely careful when performing technically permanant (although most CAN be reversed, it's just an expensive and difficult procedure to do so) sterilization procedures. It's not impossible for the patient to claim they were inadequately counseled prior to the procedure and get the surgeon to pay for future IVF costs.

Amen. That would be more a victory for some women. Contrary to popular belief, many women aren't fond of being barefoot and pregnant. I've known a few who got trapped by men. Something to do w/owning and controlling and using kids as a tool. This trick of getting pregnant trap is not limited to women. Twisted men out there, too.

And by CA renter - Thanks for pointing out what is available to men already. Besides condoms, vasectomy is an option. Find another doctor who would do it. Is he the only one in town?

See OP topic of men and their desire to be irresponsible.

i got a vasectomy. it hurt.

I was surprised at the discomfort.

most guys find it very difficult to allow another male to approach their testicles witha sharp knife.

I have the VASCLIP. It's basically the same procedure as a vasectomy, but instead of cutting and knotting the vas deferens, the doctor just puts a rice-sized clip on each vas deferens. When my doctor did mine a few years back, he had done a few hundred and reversed about 10% of them with a 98% success rate. So, while not perfect, the VASCLIP is less destructive than a regular vasectomy and it's much easier to reverse as you're essentially just removing the clips (insted of having to reattach the vas deferens). It costs about $500 over-and-above the cost of a regular vasectomy. I felt some mild discomfort for about a day - no big deal.

Here's some info:
http://www.drgholami.com/noscalpel.htm

I've never had any desire to have kids, but I also know that folks change their minds. So, I also have semen stored at a sperm bank in case I change my mind and I don't want to bother having the VASCLIP removed - although I think it's highly unlikely. The cost is about $250/year.

You rarely get a chance to have your cake and eat it too. In my opinion, the VASCLIP/sperm bank option is about as close as you'll get.

A female friend of mine dated a guy who was in his mid-20s, childless, and who had a vasectomy after a girlfriend of his faked a pregnancy. Apparently it wasn't easy to find a doctor willing to do the procedure. I can understand their thinking, as I have male friends who were convinced they never wanted kids when they were 23 who now are more open to the idea at 29 or 30.

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Women entering the workforce created the biggest one time boost in American productivity and wealth ever. It indirectly helped fuel our binge on huge homes, gigantic wardrobes, luxury cars and omg shoes! The current American lifestyle demands two incomes. It has its pros and cons. The linked articles' penultimate paragraph about how there are no more great works of art or science is a laughable joke. The past 40 years have been the most productive scientifically ever. We're in the golden age of publishing and literature. Information travels the globe at the speed of light.

I reiterate from above:

*******************

I have the VASCLIP. It's basically the same procedure as a vasectomy, but instead of cutting and knotting the vas deferens, the doctor just puts a rice-sized clip on each vas deferens. When my doctor did mine a few years back, he had done a few hundred and reversed about 10% of them with a 98% success rate. So, while not perfect, the VASCLIP is less destructive than a regular vasectomy and it's much easier to reverse as you're essentially just removing the clips (insted of having to reattach the vas deferens). It costs about $500 over-and-above the cost of a regular vasectomy. I felt some mild discomfort for about a day - no big deal.

Here's some info:
http://www.drgholami.com/noscalpel.htm

I've never had any desire to have kids, but I also know that folks change their minds. So, I also have semen stored at a sperm bank in case I change my mind and I don't want to bother having the VASCLIP removed - although I think it's highly unlikely. The cost is about $250/year.

You rarely get a chance to have your cake and eat it too. In my opinion, the VASCLIP/sperm bank option is about as close as you'll get.

Hey, Navydoc! Still around eh? Did you move into that house back East? If so, how do you like it - and living there? Didn't you live in Coronado before?...

Edited to add: I just reread my comment and realized I sound like a smartass, but that's not how I meant it. Clearly you're practicing medicine here and know the regulations much better than I do as a layman. I am a bit confused as to what this section is supposed to mean otherwise, though.

1232. No clinic which permits sterilization operations for contraceptive purposes to be performed therein, nor the medical staff of such clinic, shall require the individual upon whom such a sterilization operation is to be performed to meet any special nonmedical qualifications, which are not imposed on individuals seeking other types of operations in the clinic. Such prohibited nonmedical qualifications shall include, but not be limited to, age, marital status, and number of natural children.
Nothing in this section shall prohibit requirements relating to the physical or mental condition of the individual or affect the right of the attending physician to counsel or advise his patient as to whether or not sterilization is appropriate. This section shall
not affect existing law with respect to individuals below the age of majority.

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displa...

I think maybe it's difficult for some people to remember or imagine what it was like for women a short 50 years ago. KPBS interviewed Gail Collins, author of When Everything Changed. Listen to show here. Besides not being able to vote, have a job or even credit. I for one am ever so grateful for the courage it took those women to fight for the rights we have today.

I have a buddy, he had a vasectomy after his first divorce. Met a flight attendant, she fell for him.
They got married, she was talking about the plans
to have kids, that sort of thing.

I asked him "Dude, didn't you have a clipjob?"
he said "Yes, but it's the best sex i've ever had.
Do you think i want to stop that?"

later when she wasn't getting pregnant she insisted
he go see a fertility doctor. He sat down at the
beginning and looked the doctor in the eye
and said "Doc, I know how this test is going to come out. It's going to read bad. You need to understand I was a CIA assassin, and will kill you
unless you say the following to my wife. ' Cassie,
Bill has a low count, but i've seen low before and people still have kids, it's more a matter of time and luck for people. Just keep on trying and keep up hope'"

The doc told his wife exactly that. But about 3 years later she divorced his ass anyways, so,
it's not a perfect scheme.

Nice story. Shocking that the marriage wasn't a success in light of the story of how it was based on deceipt.

Ah, the strides. Now if women really want kids, they just have to go to a sperm bank and do away w/the middle man.

That happens, but very rarely. Why? The "middle man" is the source of support in the vast majority of the cases. Most women want both - the kids AND the support. They typically won't have one without the other... except by accident.

In my circle alone I know a single mom who gets NOTHING from father of child who lives in Spain. I disagree. Many women are quite financially capable and no longer rely on men for support. Many women have come to the understanding that it most men's desire not to have children, so they are doing it solo.

I think the ultimate wish is for a family, but since men are generally not wanting to participate in that scenario, women are coming to the realization that they will have to accomplish this on their own and finding that it is not so difficult. Many have support of family and friends. It is becoming more common than you think.

Maybe men are still paranoid about women wanting support, but I'm seeing many independent women who are happy to have their freedom and the price is supporting themselves, which is a very low and small price to pay for their liberties.

Now, I'm not saying there aren't gold-diggers out there, but I'd say they are generally looking for someone w/considerable amount of money and those men are specifically searching for the criteria that those women hold, so in that case, it's a mutual understanding. Those women are owned and trophies.

Re-read my post. I used the words "vast majority," "most" and "typically." There are exceptions to every rule. Your single mom who gets nothing from the father in Spain - assuming she doesn't WANT anything from him - is the dramatic exception to the rule. Anecdotes are just that - anecdotes. I reiterate my quote - verbatim.

The single mom in question wants nothing and is content w/having complete control over the raising of her child w/out the interference and problems that are sometimes caused w/sharing a child. The child does excellent in school, excels in sports and it's impressive how well mom does.

I do not believe this is the exception. Maybe at one time. But it is becoming much more common than you think. Maybe hard to accept. Men like to think women need them for support and conceiving. Heck, look at lesbian couples having children. Men don't want to support or have kids. They are getting their wish. Women are doing it w/out them. Win-win for everyone.

I would love for you to be right about this, but the numbers just don't support your position. Ask yourself this: How many women are single parents with no support from the fathers BY CHOICE (like your friend)? You know a boatload of women with children (married or not) and you have one example. I actually know of one myself... out of a large sample. And, yes, I agree that this is (thankfully) becoming MORE common, but that doesn't mean that it's common, in general. Look around - it's still the exception to the rule.

most people, even modern women, don't turn down free money.

hard to collect child support from spain.

Taking money means strings and obligations. She is very happy to not have that.

you would have to have a lot of dough to be in that frame of mind. by definition, that's NOT most women. that's the upper crust, or the hevaily abused.

Wait, I thought we had the p-word and made all the rules? I mean I even custom made the shirt at Cafe Press and everything.