Posts by Larry Cruz51

It’s just so predictable... every single time there’s a debate about tattoos, you run into these people who act like all they can see is a giant warning sign for HEPATITIS flashing right under the ink...
So, tell me, do those same people avoid intimacy altogether just to make sure they don't catch something by accident?
Or do they actually exercise a bit of caution regarding their partners?

Of course, you aren't going to just hand your skin over to anyone; you’re going to be selective about where you get inked. But even with the most elite artist in Los Angeles, mistakes can happen—accidents involving hepatitis or whatever else... It doesn't mean someone is somehow permanently invincible just because they stayed safe for the last ten years.

And yes, I have a tattoo. And no, I don't have hepatitis.

Ryan Smith4 said:First off, I really don't want to get into a debate about ethics here.

What I am actually trying to figure out is what the "price tag" looks like for certain surgeries in American hospitals.
Does anyone have any first-hand experience with this?

Here is what some of my very close family members went through:

Ear surgery: $833 (split)-recently

Colon tumor surgery: about $500 back then (ten years ago). (also split)

Brain tumor surgery: roughly $2,000 in New York City
Post-op care after the brain surgery (with a different doctor): $500 upfront, then another $500 upon discharge from the hospital, plus the cost of all the nursing care on the ward for several months. (She had to stay there; I couldn't drive her every single day. She was disabled)
Pain management medication—stuff you could only get with a prescription, essentially morphine, $40 every single day for 6 to 7 months.
Do I even need to mention that I had to sell off part of our property? It didn't matter... she passed away regardless...😢 (They knew that when I was paying for the treatments. They took the money anyway: they got their claim filed)

Absolutely NO way, God forbid, NOOOOOO!!!!!

Artificial dye is incredibly obvious, and on a man, it’s just particularly cringeworthy.

Don't turn yourself into a walking caricature.

Furthermore, if someone is dealing with a hormonal imbalance that causes hair growth, there isn't a single laser treatment or electrolysis method on this planet that will provide a permanent fix...

placidjackal97 said:I mentioned in my very first post that I haven't actually worked in the US before.

😵

My mistake... I completely missed that.😳

I'm scheduled to start electrolysis in about two weeks. When should I expect to see if it actually worked? Should I wait a month or two to see if there's no new hair growth?...

placidjackal97, did you only go in for one session?

Harold Gomez65, regarding the laser treatments, I know where they have them in Miami and Washington, D.C.... there's probably a salon in Seattle too, likely that one that runs all those heavy advertisements...😁

placidjackal97 said:Larry Cruz51, do you actually need my number or what?

But honestly, what good is that if your salon is all the way over in Germany...

Anyway, most women getting these kinds of treatments here in the States aren't exactly thrilled with the situation. I’m planning on making a quick trip out there soon and I am totally prepared to drop some cash on it, but frankly, not if the prices are just going to skyrocket again...

Angela Cox7 said:Does anyone have any bright ideas on how to deal with this (or just stop it from happening)? Shaving is absolutely out of the question.

Just kidding. 😁

I'm joking.
Leg hair is a never-ending struggle...
Since I don't exactly have the kind of bank account needed for those fancy laser treatments... waxing is pretty much my only option. Though, honestly, it feels a bit better knowing that probably 99% of women are going through this too. A collective, universal struggle...🙂

placidjackal97, could you please send over the address and phone number for your salon?😎

placidjackal97, come on, give us a little plug for that salon where you used to work... tell us the name, the address, and a phone number so we can check it out🙂

Taylor Swift

vividskipper40 said:Do the hairs just stop growing back entirely?

Personally, I’ve never actually tried electrolysis.
But I have two friends who still deal with regular hair growth...
even after several sessions.

placidjackal97, you must have been lucky since yours were thin and light, so they just don't seem to grow back anymore.

And just a heads up, LASER isn't painless. I've tried it myself. The area gets all red, though that usually clears up within 24 hours.
The results aren't even that great considering how much money you throw at it.

Is anyone actually eating this stuff?
Not me... I find it completely tasteless.

But anyway, back to the main point:
So, the whole idea here is that people have discovered soy contains estrogen hormones, which apparently isn't great for men to go on a soy binge since it can impact fertility.
Since I’m a woman who happens to hate soy, and my boyfriend doesn't eat it either, this doesn't really affect me personally.

The issue, according to researchers out of Harvard, is that soy carries estrogen, and having that present in the system could potentially harm male fertility.

Scientists are warning us that a massive amount of processed foods in America contain soy, and these products often pack more estrogen than any other food item.

Researchers further note that studies have shown excessive soy intake hits hardest at men who are already dealing with sperm quality issues for other reasons.

According to experts, boys who consume high amounts of soy before hitting puberty might face fertility struggles later on, along with an increased risk of structural reproductive issues or even testicular cancer down the road.

a Jay and Silent Bob😁

Uma Thurman rules.
Is it even necessary to list the reasons?...

1. Limp Bizkit
2. Westlife
3. Karma
4.(I'll try to remember once I see it on TV again)

Dido's White Flag... specifically the whole Life for Rent album.

I've been listening to that silly Lucky guy. It honestly feels a bit easier when I watch him just wail away about his sorrows...

I’ve decided to head out with a friend to see if 'Love is Love' is actually worth the hype...

I wonder if they'll give us a little something special since we're a couple...😁

Edward Robinson6 said:we're talking about this summer's US Open, which is supposed to be an actual three-day festival this year😎

tooooooooo🙂

finally someone worth listening to.

Honestly, my take on the movie was that it was absolutely dreadful. Just incredibly dull.
Yet, so many people seem to absolutely adore it.
Well... different strokes for different folks.

Casey Palmer5 said:I’m curious to know how you all handle that pre-exam panic and stress? I study, obviously—no question there—but I still can't shake this awful feeling of anxiety...

I happen to be one of those ultra-cautious types. I simply refuse to walk into an exam unless I am absolutely certain I'll pass. Lately, I've been using a specific tactic: whenever that wave of anxiety hits right before a test, I intentionally do everything *except* study. The body needs a break from the books, after all.

And that is exactly how Laura Roberts61 managed to ace her last two finals with straight A's; previously, I was a bit more disorganized, so things didn't go quite that well.😉

My next one is coming up at the end of February.

Jerry Moore2 said:Lately, I've been dealing with some intense neck pain, which then starts radiating down my neck and into my back during the night.

Try sleeping on your back.
Give yourself a good massage using some Deep Heat or perhaps a similar warming cream to help relax those muscles...
While you're sitting at your desk working on the computer, try wearing one of those posture braces under your shirt. It helps keep your spine aligned, and nobody will even know it's there.

Have you considered starting some light exercise? Perhaps a bit of sports?