unicorn

11 hours ago, unicorn said: The risks and benefits of infant circumcision, and the results are simply irrefutable: benefits far outweigh the risks. What a ridiculously pitiful non-argument. While one's personal preference for the esthetics of cut or non-cut is a matter of opinion and personal taste, the risk/benefit ratio is simply a matter of scientific fact and cannot be disputed.

News flash! The earth is round! 😁

As often happens, when someone doesn't have facts and science behind him, he resorts to arguing with "here's someone who agrees with me." The risks and benefits of infant circumcision, and the results are simply irrefutable: benefits far outweigh the risks. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2562792/ "The records of 136,086 boys born in US Army hospitals from 1980 to 1985 were reviewed for indexed complications related to circumcision status during the first month of life. For 100,157 circumcised boys, there were 193 complications (0.19%). These included 62 local infections, eight cases of bacteremia, 83 incidences of hemorrhage (31 requiring ligature and three requiring transfusion), 25 instances of surgical trauma, and 20 urinary tract infections. There were no deaths or reported losses of the glans or entire penis. By contrast, the complications in the 35,929 uncircumcised infants were all related to urinary tract infections. Of the 88 boys with such infections (0.24%), 32 had concomitant bacteremia, three had meningitis, two had renal failure, and two died. The frequencies of urinary tract infection (P less than .0001) and bacteremia (P less than .0002) were significantly higher in the uncircumcised boys. Serious complications from routine prepuce removal are rare and relatively minor. Circumcision may be beneficial in reducing the occurrence of urinary tract infections and their associated sequelae." For those unfamiliar with biostatistics lingo, p<0.0001 means that the odds that the difference was due to chance is less than 1 in 10,000. There is no doubt about it. Infant circumcision prevents serious illness and saves lives. As for the authority of Professor Kim, he's a retired physicist who simply has a bone to pick. He has NOT done serious research into this issue: AI Overview Professor Kim Dae-sik (or Dai-Sik Kim) is a prominent physicist known for his work in nano-optics, formerly a long-standing professor in the Department of Physics at Seoul National University (SNU) from 1994 to 2019, and now holds the title of Emeritus Professor at SNU, while also serving as a Distinguished Professor at UNIST (Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology). He's recognized for his research on light confinement in nanostructures, leading groups at SNU and later at UNIST, and has been involved in interdisciplinary fields like AI and philosophy. We routinely perform all kinds of interventions on children (and especially babies) in order to protect them, since obviously infants lack the capacity for informed consent. The most obvious example which everyone knows is immunizations. Immunizations provide far more serious risks than infant circumcision--for example, fevers, and even febrile seizures (which don't cause permanent damage). However, immunizations prevent serious illness and death, so the benefits outweigh the risks. As for the alleged decrease in sensitivity, this has been thoroughly disproven in multiple well-designed scientific studies. The nerves which provide sexual pleasure are in the glans (tip of the penis), not the foreskin. It's difficult for me to understand the depths of stupidity one would need to have in order to believe than someone circumcised as an infant somehow knows he's had a loss of sensitivity. Obviously, the only way to study this issue is to study men who've been circumcised as adults. These studies have been done: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1743609515301727 Results Searches identified 2,675 publications describing the effects of male circumcision on aspects of male sexual function, sensitivity, sensation, or satisfaction. Of these, 36 met our inclusion criteria of containing original data. Those studies reported a total of 40,473 men, including 19,542 uncircumcised and 20,931 circumcised. Rated by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network grading system, 2 were 1++ (high quality randomized controlled trials) and 34 were case-control or cohort studies (11 high quality: 2++; 10 well-conducted: 2+; 13 low quality: 2−). The 1++, 2++, and 2+ studies uniformly found that circumcision had no overall adverse effect on penile sensitivity, sexual arousal, sexual sensation, erectile function, premature ejaculation, ejaculatory latency, orgasm difficulties, sexual satisfaction, pleasure, or pain during penetration. Support for these conclusions was provided by a meta-analysis. Impairment in one or more parameters was reported in 10 of the 13 studies rated as 2−. These lower-quality studies contained flaws in study design (11), selection of cases and/or controls (5), statistical analysis (4), and/or data interpretation (6); five had multiple problems. Conclusion The highest-quality studies suggest that medical male circumcision has no adverse effect on sexual function, sensitivity, sexual sensation, or satisfaction. Morris BJ and Krieger JN. Does male circumcision affect sexual function, sensitivity, or satisfaction?—A systematic review. J Sex Med 2013;10:2644–2657. Please note that this article is a meta-analysis, combining the data of multiple (36 to be precise) studies. There is no higher level of evidence than a meta-analysis, so this issue is settled as well.

Comparing "female circumcision," which carries only deleterious effects, and no health benefits, with male circumcision is simply factually wrong. The health benefits of male circumcision, particularly in substantially reducing the risk in urinary tract infections in infants and toddlers, far outweigh the risks--and that's a solid fact. While I certainly wouldn't characterize it as abuse not to circumcise male infants, the science definitely states that benefits far exceed the (very minimal) risks. Opponents of circumcision only use factually disproven arguments to support their emotional preferences. As suggested by a prior poster, studies of men who've had circumcision as adults have been done, disproving the bogus allegation that sexual pleasure or sensitivity of the glans decrease after circumcision. Any comparison to "female circumcision" is baseless. AI Overview Male circumcision offers several health benefits, including reduced risks of urinary tract infections (UTIs), sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like HIV, HPV, and herpes, and penile cancer, while also preventing foreskin issues such as phimosis (inability to retract foreskin) and balanitis (inflammation), and simplifying hygiene. Medical bodies like the AAP state benefits outweigh risks, though it's not universally recommended, with neonatal circumcision carrying lower risks than later procedures. Key Health Benefits: Reduced UTI Risk: Significantly lowers the risk of urinary tract infections, particularly in infancy. STI Protection: Decreases the risk of acquiring HIV, HPV, genital herpes, syphilis, and chancroid. Penile Cancer Prevention: Lowers the risk of penile cancer, though it's already rare. Foreskin Problems: Prevents conditions like phimosis (tight foreskin), paraphimosis (trapped foreskin), and balanitis (inflammation). Improved Hygiene: Easier genital hygiene and prevention of smegma buildup. Partner Health: May reduce risks of bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, and cervical cancer for female partners. Considerations: Procedure Safety: Generally safe when done by a trained professional with pain management, with lower risks in newborns. Not Essential: These benefits are significant, but circumcision is not considered medically necessary for all males. Organizations' Stance: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) concludes that benefits outweigh risks, supporting parental choice and insurance coverage, while the American Urological Association (AUA) highlights its safety and benefits in preventing certain conditions.

Aside from the obvious, mentioned by @jimmie50, that only someone who grew up in a Jewish household can understand Hebrew (well, perhaps an Old Testament scholar as well), there were other cultural references which, again, only someone who grew up in a Jewish household would get. I'm not saying that most of the jokes needed Jewish upbringing to understand. We just felt left out for those that did. The most successful and professional comedian in the group, Michael Blaustein, didn't make any inside jokes. He's now 37, but if you want to see him when he was a very cute 22 year-old, the movie Attack of the Alien Jelly Monsters from the Depths of Uranus is available for free on the Tubi platform... 😉

https://www.instagram.com/blaucomedy/ https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/michael-blaustein.html

Here's a Facebook video about a woman at one of his shows who admits to shouting "Michael Blaustein" when she has sex with her husband! https://www.facebook.com/reel/851746204410575

We live near the Laugh Factory in Hollywood, and often go to the shows there. I found out that one of my favorite (and hottest) comedians was part of a set, so we went to the show. It wasn't advertised as such, and I didn't pay any attention to the fact that all of the comedians were Jewish. Who would have thought that a comedian called "Tehran" was a Jew? Yes, he was an Iranian Jew. Some of the comedians made comments in Hebrew, to which at least half of the audience responded. I still enjoyed the show (my fave Michael Blaustein didn't make any inside Jewish jokes). I kinda felt, though, that if they were going to be jokes only Jews would know, that the show should have been thus advertised. What do you think? https://www.facebook.com/blaucomedy

As a top, I can attest that sex with trans men is fantastic. You can feel the vaginal walls squeeze your cock as they orgasm. It's hotter than anal sex. However, most trans men are straight, and finding gay or bi trans men who'll escort is obviously very difficult (and, obviously, they can't have had bottom surgery). The previous realistic sex doll company, Sinthetics, did offer the option of male dolls with vaginas, but this newer company only allows you to snap on various artificial penises, as far as I can tell.

It's a tragedy because good looks are mostly wasted on straight men. Unless a woman is independently very wealthy, women are almost always more interested in a man's financial success and his ability to provide than his looks. I remember being intimate with a gorgeous bisexual man once. He told me that when he went to a gay bar, men immediately swarmed him like bees to honey/sugar. When he went to straight singles bars, he would approach women, and the first questions they'd ask was "What kind of work do you do? How much do you make?" Men simply have significantly higher testosterone levels than women do, so lust means a lot more for men than for women. A gorgeous man can have his pick of other men (regardless of how successful he is), but won't get far with women unless he's doing well financially. There's a reason that men who do gay porn make several times more than those who do straight porn. There are tons of gay-for-pay actors who lament the fact that they have to take it up the ass in order to make any money doing porn. When I see them doing interviews, they say it's easier to take it up the ass (which doesn't require arousal) than to try to be a top.

What a super, super hot scene. I've seen that movie twice (that website reminded me of the movie, and I just watched it again a few days ago). Steven Strait is hot as hell (such a tragedy that Strait is straight!), and Drew Van Acker ain't nothing to sneeze at, either. 😍

But then I don't feel bad about their taking a foolish risk and paying the consequences. City folk are often unacquainted with dangers in the wild. Nothing wrong with informing them. It reminds me of the warning sign showing the former Boston marathon runner who died trying to make it from the rim of the Grand Canyon to the river and back on the same day...

You may be thinking about a company called Sinthetics. Indeed, they had a greater range of skin color choices: https://www.instagram.com/sinthetics/ They were quite a bit more expensive, and they went out of business 3-4 years ago, I think. Adding robotics and AI will probably be the wave of the future. I wonder if spouses would get "jealous" of these creations? If anything, I'd hope these could help with issues of true fidelity, reduce the chance of cheating with someone else, and help extend marriages when the spouse is no longer a "hot thing." Then again, I hear of spouses (mainly women) who get all flustered when they discover their husbands use of pornography. They should be delighted their husbands aren't seeing someone else! As a bonus, sex dolls could help reduce the spread of diseases!

Well, I suppose it might lead to temporary embarrassment to that person. Maybe one's porn collection as well? It's hard to imagine that would dissuade many from acquiring such a doll. Once I'm dead, I'm dead. I personally have enough porn to last an eternity! 😉

Yes, one can order any number of penises at the same time as ordering the doll. I know they come with a variety of head options, but I don't know if those simply snap on as easily as the penises do.

Would any of you, by any chance, have had experience with one of these newer sex dolls, or ever be interested? These look pretty realistic, if I can believe the photos: https://spartanlover.com/collections/realing-male-sex-dolls/products/511-male-sex-doll-jensen

Thanks for the update. The GoFundMe site said it was with his approval, but I guess they were lying. According to the article: "Something’s come up that … I’m really frustrated, confused and I don’t understand … Somebody set up some kind of foundation or fund for me, to donate money, like charity. And that’s not me, OK?" he says in the clip. "If I needed money, I wouldn’t ask for no fucking charity. I’d rather stick a gun up my ass and pull the trigger." Well, hopefully we won't hear about a down-and-out retired actor with a gunshot wound in his ass! 😬

A few years ago, at 65, he still looked hot!

Yikes! As of this writing, it looks as though he's managed to pull in almost $100,000. And the majority of donations seem to be from men! It reminds me of the story of an Illinois man who left hundreds of thousands in his will to two crushes of his: Kevin Brophy and Peter Barton. I must confess that I, too, had a major crush on Peter Barton when I was a kid. Kevin Brophy Peter Barton https://abcnews.go.com/Business/dead-man-leaves-estate-actors-met/story?id=18443026 "A man who died last summer willed his estate to two actors he never met, leaving them an estimated half a million dollars each.Ray Fulk was 71 when he died last July. He lived alone on a 160-acre property in Lincoln, Ill. that he inherited from his father. He had no family or children. "He was a loner, and a lot of neighbors didn't know who he was," Behle said. What Fulk did have, though, was an admiration for actors Kevin Brophy and Peter Barton, whom he had never met. He admired them so much that he left his estate to be split between them. Donald Behle, an estate attorney, said he helped prepare Fulk's will around 1998, and never saw him again. Behle had helped with the estate of Fulk's father, who died in 1997. Why did Fulk will his estate to the two actors? "He just said they were friends of his," Behle said, who knew they were actors but did not know Fulk had never met them. Behle is not sure why he considered them friends, but the State Journal-Register newspaper of Springfield, Ill., says he was a fan of their television shows. Barton is known for his role as Dr. Scott Grainger in the soap opera "The Young and the Restless" from 1987 to 1993. Brophy was in the 1977 show "Lucan." Fulk had a poster from the show on the wall of his house, according to the State Journal-Register. Behle is currently overseeing the sale of Fulk's property, which is appraised at $1,054,000. Behle declined to say how many bidders he has but said that a sale is "imminent." Fulk also had about $230,000 in cash and CDs...".

Interesting story (though I had to ask Google what jogging bottoms and trainers were). In the US, the imprudent are, in fact, often charged for their rescue. It's also a good idea to post prominent warning signs at the trailhead. The Devil's Backbone on Mount Baldy is particularly dangerous since it is a narrow, icy (in cooler months), and windy, with a steep drop-off.

The other two bodies found next to the teen's were identified today: https://people.com/identities-2-hikers-found-dead-mt-baldy-released-11878839 "The bodies of the two remaining hikers found dead on Mt. Baldy in California have been identified. The hikers were identified as 37-year-old Juan Sarat Lopez and 36-year-old Bayron Pedro Ramos Garcia, both Guatemalan nationals residing in Los Angeles, according to a Jan. 3 update from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department (SBCSD)...". Interestingly, I can't find any photos or other information about these two other victims online. It doesn't look as though they were active on social media.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Rourke#Personal_life "Philip Andre "Mickey" Rourke Jr. (/rʊərk/ ROORK; born September 16, 1952) is an American actor and former professional boxer who has appeared primarily as a leading man in drama, action, and thriller films. In a film career spanning more than forty years, his accolades include a Golden Globe Award and a BAFTA, in addition to Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award nominations. Films in which he has appeared have grossed over $1.9 billion worldwide... In April 2025, Rourke entered the British version of Celebrity Big Brother to appear as a housemate on its twenty-fourth season. In his first live appearance, he was criticized for an on-air physical action towards the show's co-host AJ Odudu, grabbing her by the waist and making her 'clearly uncomfortable', with some viewers wanting him to be taken off the show. On the third episode of the series, Rourke made openly homophobic and disparaging remarks towards housemate JoJo Siwa, and was subsequently given a formal warning by the show for his conduct. On April 12, it was announced that Rourke had been removed from the house, due to "inappropriate language and instances of unacceptable behavior", this time toward housemates Ella Wise (unwanted sexual remark) and Chris Hughes (aggressive verbal confrontation)...". https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-mickey-to-prevent-eviction

They've identified the body of the one who fell on 12/29/25. The identities of the other two have not been released. https://people.com/teen-boy-19-identified-as-1-of-3-hikers-found-dead-on-mt-baldy-in-california-11878122 "One of the three bodies recently recovered from Mt. Baldy in California has been identified as 19-year-old Marcus Alexander Muench Casanova... “He was a graduate of Los Alamitos High, a freshman at Santa Clara University's business school, and an avid sailor and outdoorsman ... It is difficult to explain the pain and anguish we are going through and ask for privacy as we try to find our way," the family said...".

I've long had a special place in my heart for Uriel Ramirez. He's gotten a lot of jizz out of me through the years...