Strollerderby : men

What Should A Man Do While A Woman Breastfeeds

Brett Singer — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Scene: a toddler's birthday party. A father is chatting with a woman that he knows from the kids' pre-school. The woman is holding a baby.

The baby stirs. Opens her tiny mouth. Starts... what was the word again?

Oh! Right. Rooting. When they're hungry. That's it.

The woman starts to undo her shirt. Then her bra. She takes out her breast and the baby eagerly starts to eat.

OK dude. Now what?

I'm a fan of breastfeeding in general. I don't think anyone should be pressured into doing it but I believe that it's healthy for the baby, and if the mother is able to do it, that's great. I also believe that women should be able to breastfeed wherever they want. (Maybe not on a Broadway stage while the show is going on, or even in the audience of the theater while the show is going on. But the lower lobby? Sure.) So this isn't about that.

The question is, which is more offensive? Looking? Or looking away?

I don't have an answer, so I'm curious what our readers think. In general it seems rude to head for ze hills as soon as the little one starts her liquid lunch. On the other hand, if I'm standing and the woman is seated, it's difficult to talk to her without seeing her breast. Which in any other situation is considered quite rude. This isn't a sexual thing. I don't think breastfeeding is hot, or inappropriate, or anything of that sort. At the same time I don't know how a woman feels about being on display like that. Or even if they feel on display at all.

So. Help me out here! What's the right thing to do?

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What's Wrong with "Women and Children First?"

JeanneSager — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:02:00 GMT

The crash of Flight 1549 came just when the nation needed it - a crisis averted, a hero in our midst, nearly two hundred people saved. Next to the inaguration, it's the brightest spot what's been an otherwise bleak American horizon of late.

But we're a country that thrives on some sort of scandal - so it's no surprise the heroism of Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger has quickly turned to criticism of the age-old (at least one hundred and fifty-some year-old) standard of evacuating people in case of tragedy: "women and children first."

To be fair, I'm biased. I am, after all, a woman. I'm also a mother. So women and children rank pretty high on my list. By all accounts, I should be rushing to the defense of the mandate Jezebel aptly dubbed "strangely quaint" and "old fashioned."

A lot of what Jezebel's Sadie said made sense - there has to be some organizational basis for getting people moved from here to there, and few would argue with a child's right to be cut the line in light of a tragedy. Children first, at least, is almost irrefutable. They still have a chance at a life. They still have time left to make a difference.

But Sadie makes one very salient point - kids need caregivers when they're rescued. And last I checked, caregivers come in all forms - daddies too. So what happens when we stick to "women and children first?" If a child is traveling with their Dad in tow, is the screaming tot ripped from his arms and thrust into those of a stranger, wriggling and crying? Add a toddler torquing his body in frustration to an already stressful situation, and you've just lost precious moments.The organizaton you're striving for can be dealt that fatal blow with the moments lost calming them down.

Yes, I would want to get off a sinking plane as quickly as possible - and with my daughter in my arms. But as important as I would hope someone thinks I am in my daughter's life, so too is my husband, my father, my brother . . . I am not a he-man hating feminist (yes, some of them still exist). If one of them were there with my child, I would hope that an able-bodied adult would be willing to let child and "male relative caregiver" take the place of "mother/woman."

Perhaps the more appropriate choice is children - with appropriate caregiver - first, to be followed by whomever the pilot and his crew thinks can be gotten to next in the most organized fashion?

Image: AP

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Study Finds Girls "Prefer Chatting" to Being Physically Active

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:00:00 GMT

New research has found that women of all ages are less active than men. Observing schoolchildren at play, researchers have concluded that girls would rather socialize than play sports.

While I don't doubt the study’s findings that men are more physically active than women, I have some reservations about the explanation that girls simply like to sit around chatting, while boys like to run around and get dirty.

Until I graduated high school, I considered myself the least athletic person I knew. It was a big joke among my friends that any activity requiring physical exertion was off bounds for me. But once I realized that being active did not have to mean doing Indian sprints at Varsity field hockey practice, I became very athletic. I now bike everywhere, do yoga, dance, hike, surf, and run.

I certainly didn’t shun sports because I “prefer to chat.” But a casual observer could easily have drawn this conclusion from watching me on the sidelines during gym class, laughing with a girlfriend instead of trying to get in on the athletic action. The truth is, I was too intimidated to participate in traditional team sports, since I seem to have inherited a gene which makes me physically incapable of throwing and catching a ball. Even the sports that I did enjoy—gymnastics and track—were unappealing to me because I had no interest in competing. I just wanted to move around and have fun.

Perhaps it’s not girls’ natural inclinations that make them less active than their male counterparts, but rather the way sports are taught in school.

Photo: The Telegraph

Indiana Planned Parenthood Sells Gift Certificates

Brett Singer — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 16:00:00 GMT

From the Chicago Tribune:

"What do you get the person who has everything—except adequate health insurance? If you live in Indiana, consider this offering from the state's Planned Parenthood affiliate: gift certificates in $25 increments."

In news even less surprising than Clay Aiken coming out of the closet, anti-choice groups are not happy. The Tribune quotes Jim Sedlak, who is with both the American Life League and Stop Planned Parenthood (where DOES he find the time?) as saying that the gift cards are just PP's "annual [attack] on the Christian community at Christmastime...[Planned Parenthood] could easily have said, 'these certificates are not to be used for abortions.' But they intentionally chose not to do that." Because I'm sure that Planned Parenthood spends most of their time thinking about how they can ruin Christmas for Christians everywhere.

Now my initial reaction was a great big ol' "Huh?" Luckily my mother was present when I heard this news (on The Daily Show). She pointed out, as does president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Indiana Betty Cockrum, that most of what PP does is "provide basic health care." In fact, Cockrum says that's 95 percent of what they do. Still, "a pap smear in a Pear Tree" doesn't sound very appealing.

All joking aside (you can see Jon Stewart's slightly reluctant mirth-making on this topic in the video below), I guess this isn't as weird as it sounds. It's not weirder than a doctor's office selling gift cards. Well, that would be weird too. The underlying message of providing health care is a good one. But who do you buy one of these cards for? The Duggar family? Jon and Kate? Kevin Federline? (I know, it's about health care, not just birth control. The jokes are almost too easy. If Jon Stewart can apologize, so can I!) I guess in theory you could pick one up for someone you know who doesn't have health care. But isn't that incredibly awkward? "Hi, I know you're uninsured, so I thought you could use one of these. Happy holidays!" I would love to know how many cards Planned Parenthood Indiana (who have the unfortunate acronym PPIN – say it out loud and then make a Beavis and Butthead chuckling noise) actually sells. So far, they say they've sold about twelve. This isn't Vegas, but I'm putting the over-under at 25. Anyone want to take that action?

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Planned Parenthood Gift Cards

Barack Obama Interview
John McCain Interview

Sarah Palin Video
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Source: The Daily Show, Chicago Tribune

Image: PPIN

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Male Blogger: Laboring Mom Not a 'True Emergency'

JeanneSager — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:56:00 GMT

You're about to give birth to your second child. Your contractions are three minutes apart and holding steady. Oh yeah, and your car is stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic. What are you going to do now?

According to a blogger at the Volokh Conspiracy, you call an ambulance and meet them at the next exit because, well, he doesn't consider this a "true emergency." Excuse me, David Bernstein, do you want to deliver a baby in the middle of the Mass Turnpike? Methinks you'd be yelling "help, emergency," about then.

I hate to take anything into the "man" vs. "woman" range, but this is one of those examples of a guy climbing on his high horse to tell us how a pregnant woman's body is going to work. Hate to tell you buddy, even WE don't know how the whole birth process is going to go. Bernstein's prime evidence for why he thinks Jennifer and John Davis were reckless and refused to just call an ambulance? The baby didn't come for another five hours.

Think of that. A baby that came in its own darn good time. No wonder they call the site the Volokh CONSPIRACY.

Alright, maybe I'm taking this a little hard. I actually have never had the frantic drive to the hospital. My labor had to be induced to encourage my daughter to come out of her comfy little cave. I agonized about the possibilities because of the area where I live and the timing of my due date: we're nearly a half hour from the hospital, and I was set to deliver right around the Memorial Day holiday in a highly trafficked tourist area.

I also dealt with a highly put out male co-worker who wanted to plan a vacation, and couldn't believe that our editor couldn't pin down a date when I'd begin my maternity leave. I was still working the day before I went into the hospital to have a nurse begin my pitocin drip. Trust me, I tried my darndest to get her moving earlier. She had the same stubborn streak then that makes for such pleasant morning interactions now.

Or maybe it's simply being a parent that made me feel for the Davises. In the Boston Herald article Bernstein took to task for its pro-parent tone, Jennifer Davis says her husband maneuvered into the breakdown lane to continue the rush to the hospital. Two state troopers gave them the go-ahead to keep going. A third, however, detained the couple and went back to his cruiser to look up John Davis' driving record (six traffic infractions in twenty years, by the way), and made them wait until he was done writing out another motorist's ticket. He then quizzed the contracting Jennifer, making her unzip her jacket to prove she really had a pregnant belly under there. He finally issued a citation before letting the couple go - the $100 bill arrived in the mail the other day.

The Davises, by the way, had actually pulled over to ask the trooper if they could continue in the lane to the exit where they'd get off and choose another route to the hospital. This was hardly the case of a trooper pulling over a speeding driver in the breakdown lane and diligently investigating suspicious activity. This was a police officer forgetting his mission is to protect AND serve.

Yes, I'm taking the side of the parents in this one too. Now what do you want to bet David Bernstein will find a conspiracy here?

Image: Boston Herald

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Nebraska Butt Bandit Caught

Brett Singer — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 16:00:00 GMT

OK everyone. News flash. Pay attention. Are you ready? Here we go:

Men are weird.

Not all men, of course. But I just don't see a woman doing something like this:

Ten misdemeanor counts have been filed against a man Cherry County authorities believe is the vandal some townspeople have dubbed the "Butt Bandit."
...
Larvie is suspected of leaving greasy, graphic imprints of his naked behind, and sometimes his groin, on the windows of stores, churches and schools in Valentine since the spring of 2007.
The marks were made with lotion or petroleum jelly.

Before you say, "oh, that must have been a high school kid, or some frat boy moron doing a pledge prank" allow me to inform you that the accused, Tom Larvie, is 35 years old.

He's 35 and put "greasy, graphic imprints of his naked behind" on windows. And "sometimes his groin." You know, if the mood struck him. And he's been doing this since 2007. Allegedly, of course.

"Mommas, don't let your babies grow up to be weirdos..." C'mon! Sing it with me now!

Source: Newsday/AP
Image: hecklerspray

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GPS Lingerie Upsets Some, Entices Others

Brett Singer — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Parents everywhere worry about how to keep track of their daughters.

Brazilian lingerie maker Lucia Lorio has the answer to your prayers – GPS lingerie!

OK, any parent who would buy something like this for their daughter (or son for that matter) should receive a visit from Child Services. But The Daily Mail says that "feminists around the world have reacted with horror" to the location-aware undies. They think it feels too much like a, "modern-day, high-tech chastity belt."

You may not be surprised to learn that the manufacturer feels differently. "This collection... is a wink to women and a challenge to men because, even if she gives him the password to her GPS, she can always turn it off," says the designer. He thinks these dopey undergarments are for the "modern, techno-savvy woman."

Ladies, would you ever wear something like this? And guys, would you buy this for your woman?

Source/Image: Daily Mail

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Things You Should Never Say To A Nursing Mother

Brett Singer — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:30:00 GMT

For most of these, we'll assume that you are speaking to your significant other, unless otherwise indicated.

- “Can I get a squirt of that?” The answer is no. If you're desperately curious about the taste of breast milk, try some that the mother of your children has expressed into a bottle.
- Two words that should never go together: “Tittie milk.” Not funny. Trust me.
- “How far can you squirt that stuff? Can you hit this cup on the shelf? How about if I move it closer? Honey? What are you doing with that hammer? OW!”
- “You and the baby are being really loud. Can you do that someplace else? I'm watching TV.”

And here are a few things not to say to a woman you don't know if you see nursing in a public place:

- “Ew! Gross!”
- “Niiice.”
- "Hey baby. Get it? Hey... baby...?" (It's not funny. I know you think its funny. But it's not.)
- A blank stare.
- A lascivious stare.
- Any sort of stare at all.

Anything to add? Remember – it takes a village.

image: Flickr

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Post-Election, Women Hate Sexism Almost as Much as Feminism

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:34:00 GMT

A recent survey on post-election attitudes to sexism reveals that a majority of Americans live in La La Land. For starters: While most men don’t believe there is gender bias in the media or at home, almost half (4 in 10) “freely admit to having sexist attitudes towards a female president.”

Espousing similarly mind-boggling contradictions, the vast majority of women believe that Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton were treated unfairly by the media—but would be mortified to call themselves “feminists.” Only 20 percent of women identify as feminist, and even fewer (17 percent) would be supportive of their daughters’ using the label.

Merriam Webster defines feminism as “the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes.” In other words, most women are embarrassed to label themselves as people who believe in gender equality, but are outraged over the media’s coverage of Palin’s hair. Only 48 percent of women believe that the media treated Clinton fairly, and far fewer female respondents (29 percent) believe that Palin got fair treatment. (Perhaps Palin seemed to get harsher gender-based media coverage because Clinton wasn’t, say, buying $150,000 worth of clothes on the GOP’s dime?)

Sure, some high-profile activists may have given the term “feminist” a more extremist connotation than many women would like it to have, but that doesn’t necessitate rejecting the whole theory. I don’t agree with many of PETA’s over-the-top tactics, but that doesn’t mean I stop calling myself a vegetarian.

Ready for more oblivious sexism? 39 percent of men feel that the role of president is more “naturally suited” to a man than to a woman. I guess that explains why so many more men than women (two-thirds to less than half) believe there is gender equality in the home—the wife just does all the housework because she is more “naturally suited” to it.

On the upside, the poll was relatively small, with 1,000 respondents.

Photo: Jezebel

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Magazines Make Men Feel Insecure, Too

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:30:00 GMT

It's official: airbrushed images of stick thin women with large breasts make everyone feel bad, even dudes. A recent study has found that men feel more insecure about their bodies after reading men's magazines like Maxim and Stuff, just as women's self-esteem suffers from reading such journalistic treasures as Cosmo and Allure.

The problem is not, as you may have guessed, that men long to have the perfect six-packs and toned legs of male celebrities. (Let's be honest: the only magazines that have sexy pictures of men's bodies are not being read by either women or straight men.) Rather, the standard of impossible beauty portrayed in most mainstream magazines makes men feel insecure because they're worried they won't be able to get laid. How can I ever get a girl like that?, they wonder.

Answer: you can't. Just as we women will never get a body like that. So, as Salon's Kate Harding suggests, what we need to do is fill magazines with images of absurdly attractive men, since hot men don't make anyone feel bad about themselves. "Seriously,y'all," she writes. "Think of the children."

Photo: Many Bells Down

Men with Baby Heads

Cole Gamble — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:00:00 GMT

Disturbed yet? Depending on your temperament, these pictures are gonna crack you up or give you bad dreams. Either way, you can’t tear your eyes away

from them. And it all comes from this great new site I found where they switch the heads of grown men and little boys.

The site is called Manbabies.com and the real key to it is how well these images are photo shopped. They’re seamless, and freaky. But they seem limited to just guys and boys. What do you think, should we see some moms and daughters up there too?

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Guy Changes Name to Captain Fantastic

Brett Singer — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:30:00 GMT

The Telegraph is reporting that a "teenager" named George Garratt has changed his name to – wait for it – Captain Fantastic Faster Than Superman Spiderman Batman Wolverine Hulk And The Flash Combined. I think "The Flash Combined" is a Jewish name that means, "Please don't hire me for this job."

I'm putting "teenager" in quotes because the guy is nineteen. When did we decide that it was still OK to call nineteen year olds "teenagers"? Is it based on how immature they are?

Anyway, The Nitwit Formerly Known As George Garratt changed his moniker because he, "wanted to be unique." The thing is, Elton John already used the name Captain Fantastic, something the Telegraph article oddly doesn't mention.

The Captain's grandmother isn't speaking to him anymore, which seems a little shortsighted. If there's one thing this kid needs, it's a good talking to.

What would you do if your child came home and said they had changed their name to something dopey like this? Or this?

Source: Telegraph

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More People Cheating than Ever Before

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 19:30:00 GMT

Eternal monogamy: the beloved ideal that about a quarter of Americans find impossible to uphold. Marital infidelity is on the rise, according to the New York Times. Since 1972, the General Social Survey has consistently found that about 10 percent of married people cheat, with men cheating almost twice as often as women (12 percent to 7 percent).

But analyzing infidelity trends over the last two decades has shown some marked changes. In 2006, 28 percent of men over 60 reported cheating at some point in their lives, compared to 20 percent in 1991 (Viagra went on the market ten years ago). And among older women, incidences of cheating have increased triplefold—from 5 percent to 15 percent.

We can’t chock this increased infidelity up to boredom after a silver anniversary because the trend holds true for couples under 35 as well. 20 percent of young men and 15 percent of young women now report treating, compared to 15 percent and 12 percent two decades ago.

Theories about the reasons for increased cheating largely center on the advent of the Internet and cell phones, which have made it easier to coordinate extra-marital encounters. But the marked increase in women’s infidelity is harder to explain: are women cheating more now because they are more likely to go on business trips or stay late at the office? Or are they simply more likely to report their infidelities now that there is less (though still much) social pressure for women to be chaste while men are applauded for their sexual exploits?

Whatever the reason, I must admit that I’m looking on the bright side of this increase in female infidelity. I’m certainly no champion of extra-marital affairs, but it happened at these relatively high rates even in hunting and gathering societies. So, if cheating must happen, why should men be the only ones in whom it is expected and even, to do some degree, accepted?

Image: New York Times

Dudes for Palin: Vote for the Hot Chick!

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 19:30:00 GMT

It may not surprise you to learn that, according to the New York Times, “dudes” constitute Sarah Palin’s most vocal supporters. But it may disturb you to learn what these men have to say about her.

Although Palin was ostensibly chosen for her anticipated appeal to women, the former beauty contestant has (gasp!) won over far more men than women, with her initial approval ratings at 44 percent among men and 36 percent among women. (Those numbers have since dropped considerably, down to 31 percent among men.)

Even as many conservatives fault Palin for being, to put it nicely, not “serious” enough, Joe Sixpacks can’t get enough of her. One of Palin's female supporters acknowledged that Palin rallies are about “70-30, maybe 65-35, men to women.” Among the shout-outs that Palin routinely receives at her rallies are cries of, “You tell ‘em babe!” and “You rock me out, Sarah!” Some men sport “Proud to vote for a hot chick” buttons, while others carry “Dudes for Palin” signs.

Palin apparently loves the testosterone-charged rock concert atmosphere of her rallies. After entering a rally to the heading-banging tunes of AC/DC, she told the crowd, “That was kinda cool.” She has also introduced her husband as “Alaska’s First Dude.”

At least one Palin supporter interviewed by the Times admitted that he came to a Palin rally “just to look at her.” He wisely chose to remain anonymous. Let’s hope he realizes that, just as it’s embarrassing to admit to supporting a political candidate simply because of her appearance, actually voting an inexperienced, scandal-plagued woman into the White House simply because she’s “beautiful” at a time in which our country is engaged in two wars, is widely hated throughout the world, and is in the early stages of widespread economic collapse, would be an unforgivably inane decision.

Dudes, if you want to stare at hot chicks, watch Desperate Housewives.

Photo: New York Times

Economic Reasons to Become a Man

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:30:00 GMT

Unless you’re willfully ignorant, you’re probably aware that there remains a significant gender wage gap in America—namely, that women make 79 cents for every dollar earned by men. Some people blame this disparity on discrimination, while others argue that it relates to different career goals.

Well, an avant-garde study has determined that discrimination is at least partly at work (gasp!). What better population to test out gender differences on than transgender people? In a study of transgender people in the workforce, researchers found that, across the board, men who became women earned an average of 32 percent less after the transition, while females who became males earned an average of 1.5 percent more after they transitioned.

Some of these people remained in their old jobs after their transitions, while some started new jobs. Some were out to their employers; others were not. The constant was that they had all already attended school and picked a profession—and, across the board, men earned more in this chosen profession.

So, it's official: women don't only earn less than men because they want to be mommies.

Image: Getty

You Look Like Your Husband's Mom

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:35:00 GMT

A study has found that men tend to be attracted to women whose facial structures resemble those of their mothers. The same holds for women, who tend to pick partners who look like their fathers. This is because the faces we are exposed to in childhood largely determine what we find attractive later on.

Psychologists call it “sexual imprinting.” We lay folk call it creepy.

On the bright side, we’re not talking striking resemblances, but more subtle similarities, like jaw bones and eye shape. So, rest assured, you don’t look exactly like your mother-in-law.

And just in case you were concerned about inbreeding, a psychologist from the University of Durham puts all your fears to rest. “We have a lot of mechanisms—such as pheromones and smell—to stop us choosing someone too similar to us, like an immediate family member,” says Dr. Lynda Boothroyd.

Man, is science sexy or what?

Photo: The Daily Mail

For a good marriage, women need to stay home

Brett Singer — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:00:00 GMT

That's a slight exaggeration, but not by much. Jezebel has a clip from the Mike and Juliet Show where Dr. Scott Haltzman (author of The Secrets of Happily Married Men) offers up marriage advice. His notion that wives need to "make their husbands feel like superheroes" and "nurture their needs" is enthusiastically backed up by Ro' Black, a stay-at-home wife. Ro' says that, "her marriage works because her husband gets a home cooked meal every night." She also picks up his stinky socks after he works out. Dr. Janet Taylor, another expert, goes so far as to suggest that marriage is a partnership and that perhaps Haltzman is going a little too far (gee, ya think?). Dr. Scott disagrees – he wants a pat on the back for making coffee for his wife every morning, and also wants his woman to get off the damn phone when he gets home from work, because he feels like he just "conquered the world" and would like this feeling to be acknowledged. According to the good doctor, he used to come home and "sulk" (his word) when she didn't immediately drop what she was doing and give him her full attention; now she does what he wants and he's happy.

What century is this?

I have no problem with a married couple that prefers a more traditional marriage, one where the husband works and the wife takes primary responsibility for the kids and the house. In fact, most of the people I know have situations that are exactly like that. Mine isn't, which may be why I'm more sensitive to the sort of idiocy being espoused by Haltzman the Hunter and Ro' Black.

Or maybe I think that some men might actually be mature enough to handle coming home and finding the Missus on the phone. Some men might even be okay if their wife makes more money than he does. Some men might even – wait for it – cook dinner for the family. Or – oh no, don't go there – do a load of laundry. Some men don't even have jobs! Of course, those marriages are doomed to fail, but nobody's perfect, right?

I'm not a feminist; I'm not sure a man can be a feminist, frankly. But I do think that the notion that the only way to have a happy marriage is for the wife to keep the husband happy, and that the only way to keep said husband happy is to cater to his every whim, is borderline psychotic. But hey, you know, live and let live. Go to Jezebel to see the clip. Fair warning: it might make you mad.

source: Jezebel

image: millsaps.edu

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Women on the Pill Attract Mr. Wrong

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 21:40:00 GMT

A new study shows that the birth control pill may affect the way women respond to pheromones—making them more likely to choose partners with whom they are not genetically compatible. Previous studies have shown that couples who have different aromatic genetic make-ups are more likely to be faithful and to have children with stronger immune systems. Now, in a study involving 100 women, British researchers have found that women on the pill prefer men whose genetic odors are similar to their own.

According to the study’s researchers, this change in odor attraction could lead to both fertility and relationship problems—since odor plays such a large role in attraction, women who go off the pill could stop feeling attracted to the partners whom they previously couldn’t get enough of.

The researchers suggest that the reason for this shift is that the pill essentially fools the body into believing it’s pregnant (hence the cessation of ovulation). If I’m already knocked up, the body seems to think, there’s no need for me to be on the prowl for compatible mates.

This is all fascinating to me, but I’m not ready to object to any weddings over it. What do those of you who have chosen a partner while on the pill think of this study?

Photo: CTV.ca

They Like Big Butts, and They Can Not Lie: Survey Finds Men Prefer Bigger Body Sizes

Cole Gamble — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:30:00 GMT

Drop that rice cake. I said drop it! For years, okay centuries, women have tortured, teased and starved themselves in the hope of reaching that ideal body size. One would assume this was all for the men. If that’s the case, someone should have asked the men, because ladies have been doing it wrong all along.

According to a body survey in the UK mag Fabulous, women claim their ideal body size is a 6. When asked, the men said they though the ideal female body size should be a 10. See the pic for a comparison.*

*These are UK measurements. Size 8 is equivalent to the U.S. size 6, size 12 is a U.S. size 10 and size 16 is a U.S. size 14.

Which begs the question, who have women been starving themselves for? When you ask your guy, “Do you like skinny girls?” and he says “no,” instead of reflexively calling him a liar and hitting him, maybe you should listen. He’s been telling the truth all along. So maybe it’s time to cut out the unending parade of diets and accept the fact men like women the way they look, maybe even more so with a few more pounds. And maybe before you ladies lose all the baby weight, take a second look at how thin you really need to be. The first round of fettuccini is on me.

For the record, I think all those ladies up there are hot.

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Breast-feeding in public – bad idea?

Brett Singer — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Capessa.com went out and asked women if they thought it was OK to breast-feed in public. Their answers may surprise you.

First, as a man, I have to point out that I disagree with the woman who says, "That's what breasts are made for." Before anyone gets upset, let me tell you that if I don't say that, I will be kicked out of the International Club of Guys. Which would be bad.

Second, I was actually surprised to see how many women in the video seemed to feel strongly that breast-feeding was something that should only be done in private. (I particularly liked the woman who said, "Especially these days, there are so many PRODUCTS," as if she were auditioning for an infomercial.)

Now, here's my opinion: it depends on the place as well as the person involved. I don't have a problem with women breast-feeding their babies in a public place, but I have to admit that I tend to look away when they do, not out of shame but out of respect. In a situation where I don't know how comfortable a woman feels about having people see them and their little one doing their thing, turning away seems like the polite way to go. How it's done is also a factor. I've seen some women do it so casually that it actually took me a second to realize what was going on. A covering of some sort can actually make it more noticeable, which isn't the goal. Some discretion seems warranted, if only to avoid panting weirdos who salivate at the merest suggestion of boobage.

It's also worth pointing out that I don't see anything sexual in breast-feeding (much as I don't see anything sexual in giving birth). To each his own I guess, but to me, seeing a baby receiving milk from its mother is not exactly a trip to the Ba-Da-Bing.

Does breast-feeding in public still have a stigma attached to it? Has anyone out there been given a hard time for doing it?

Source: Capessa via Shine

image: flickr.com

Put your clothes on and step away from the porcupine

Attack of the Strippers

Your baby is ugly

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Jessica Alba - She's Still Got It!

Stay out of my room or I'll pee on your tree

Brett Singer — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:00:00 GMT

I've tried to write a summary of this story but I haven't been able to come up with a better intro than this one (from the New York Times):

When the men of the Phoenix Country Club saw their feeding ways in peril, they did not tarry. Some sent nasty e-mail messages, hectored players on the fairway and, for good measure, urinated on a fellow club member’s pecan tree.

As you can probably guess, it was that last one – the whole "urinating on a tree" thing – that grabbed my attention. What caused otherwise civilized men to make pee-pee on the pecan tree? Why, it was the women! They want to eat in the same dining room as the men! Well, if some chick wants to do that, I'm going to take a leak on her tree! That'll show those nosy broads.

The specifics are as follows: the Phoenix Country Club in Arizona does not allow women to eat in the men's grill room. According to the New York Times, this grill room is where high-level business deals are conducted, not to mention more pedestrian activities such as lunch. Well can't these persnickety hens go somewhere else? Actually, no. The "ladies' grill" has "a hot plate, some card tables and no bar." That's right. A hot plate.

Now, Arizona, Arizona… who's from Arizona? Oh! John McCain! Well, he's not a member. His son Andrew is, and so is Alice Cooper. (Kids, Alice Cooper is this rock star-type guy who used to really upset people because his act featured images of death and stuff. Yeah, we were pretty silly back then. Check out his Muppet Show episode, it's a lot of fun. And for those of you who remember Alice Cooper, yes. He's now a member of a country club that doesn't let women eat with men.)

This issue came to a head when Barbara Van Sittert and her husband Logan "appealed to the board of the club" to change the rules so they could have breakfast together. When they were told to stuff it, they went to the Attorney General's office, which recently issued an "advisory legal opinion that the club needed to comply with the state's antidiscrimination laws." That doesn't mean anything yet; the club has 30 days to try and settle the matter before the AG gets all legal on them.

So remember guys. If women want to do something you don't want them to do, whip it out and pee on their lawn. That'll show 'em.

image: progressivemajoritywisconsin.org

Dick Cheney whispering hush: Goodnight Bush

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Snip, No Tuck

Adrienne Martini — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:00:00 GMT

True story: A friend of mine had his vasectomy done by a urologist named Dick Chopp. It's a wonder Dr. Chopp can stay in business, given how antsy men are about having their plumbing messed with by a person with a knife. I can only imagine how squirrelly they get when "dick" and "chop" are subliminally linked.

Sadly, this New York Times Reporter's File didn't interview Dr. C but it does lay out the latest in vasectomy science. Knives are no longer needed. The incision is small. And, yet, men are ~~too chicken~~ unlikely to have this procedure done, even if they are certain they don't want more kids.

Perhaps the most surprising stat is that twice as many women undergo tubal ligation, which is more invasive and carries a greater risk, than men go in for the quick snip.

Again I wonder if this is a generational thing. Most of the married, child-having men I know sacked-up and had the big V, including my very own spouse. No, none was thrilled about it but saw it as a fair trade for a) having the other partner birth the babies and b) wanting to have with that partner ever again.

Illo credit: ADAM, Inc.

Greatdad.com's Husband Of The Year awards

Brett Singer — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 18:00:00 GMT

No, it's not Kevin Federline, Charlie Sheen, or even that guy from the Black Crowes. These are just regular fellas who really, truly, go out of their way to make sure that their wives are comfortable. Check out these photos:

See? What a bunch of great dudes. (And by "great" I mean "Wow, if I did any of these things my wife would throw me in the river wearing cement shoes.")

See the full collection -- and find out who wins top honors -- here.

images/source: Greatdad.com

Before and after baby pics from TMZ

Parody of Mother's Plea to John McCain

5 Things Most Parents Hate to Hear First Thing in the Morning

And Now - The Gay Brain

Rich guy pretends to be gynecologist to see women naked

MILF Alert! Who's Bikini Bod Is This?

Sizzlin' Hot Celebumoms - Bikini Photos!

Rich guy pretends to be gynecologist to see women naked

Brett Singer — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:00:00 GMT

I always thought that if you were rich, you could get dates. I mean, money can't buy you love, but it can buy you sex, right?

Well, maybe not. Zalman Silber, a "wealthy businessman" from Monsey, NY, has been accused of playing doctor, literally. Two women have charged that Silber rented a Park Avenue office and pretended to be a gynecologist. Then he gave the women, um, a full exam. This article at LoHud.com goes into a little bit more detail; let's just say that Silber did a very thorough examination.

He may have worked a similar scheme with a police officer in Rockland County. According to today's Daily News, Silber would tell women that they needed a gynecological exam in order to obtain a certain insurance policy, and that the exam had to be given by this doctor. At his house. Except that the doctor wasn't really a doctor, he was a cop. Then Silber would watch from another room. The officer has been suspended from the force without pay pending a full investigation.

It gets better (well, creepier). Silber's lawyer is Kenneth Gribetz, a former Rockland County District Attorney who resigned in a scandal that included such juicy details as an extra-marital affair and photos of him in women's clothing. So far his defense of Silber is that, "the statute of limitations [has] run out on two of the incidents cited by investigators," and "only two of four victims were able to pick Silber out of a lineup." Oh! Then he must be innocent.

This should be some trial.

Silber, a Hasidic Jew, is married with five children and another on the way. His wife Gila, "declined to comment." Wouldn't you?

Let be the first to say that Silber is not good for the Jews.

If you want to know how he got rich, you can read this article over at Inc.com. Silber created the Skyride, a simulated helicopter ride at the Empire State Building. He then sold the business for almost $10 million. A sample of his business advice: "Take advantage of other people's toil. That's really what everything is about." What a guy. He is described a "well-known philanthropist" who is "known within the Jewish community for helping people pay for medical care and other services." Or offering them a discount if he treats them himself! (Ba-dum-bum.) His ex-wife's brother, Alexander Halpert of Borough Park, Brooklyn, said, "He's a good man. When someone needed a doctor, he would arrange it." Yeah, maybe that's not the best thing to say right now.

It should be pointed out that all of these charges are unproven and are merely allegations. Even R. Kelly was found innocent. So who knows. But what a creepy story. It's like I've always said: men are pigs. (And I can say that, because I am one.)

image: New York Daily News

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Britney Spears - Dang Y'all I Forgot My Pants AGAIN! (this isn't really related but I really like the headline)

You're too pregnant. Can I bang someone else?

Brett Singer — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 12:23:00 GMT

I think my head just exploded.

Over on Yahoo!'s new site Shine, someone in the "Love + Sex" section posted a query:

"Will U allow your husband 'eat out' while U are pregnant ?"

Now, before you jump to conclusions… well, go ahead. Jump. But read this first:

"A friend of mine is seven month pregnant now. As her figure is out and not convenient to perform sex, her husband request to have sex with somebody else !!!!!"

Oh, would I love to have a tape of that conversation.

"She is now very unhappy about it................."

Ya think?

"If this happen to U , what would U do ???"

In one sense, this guy might have the biggest cojones on the planet. In another, more realistic sense, he might be the biggest a-hole ever to crawl out of the ooze, bonk a woman on the head and start procreating.

So what would you do?

image: Orbitcast

Note: to the best of my knowledge it wasn't Andrew Dice Clay who said this, but his photo seemed the most appropriate.