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I read a study on weight loss and it included this:

The sex you were assigned at birth may affect how quickly or easily you lose weight. According to research, the bodies of people assigned male at birth tend to have higher muscle masses and expend more energy (thus burning more calories).

Question: What does "assigned at birth" mean? I assumed that it meant the sex that someone (doctor) specified on the birth certificate -- like a teacher assigns a grade. Is it subjective grading? So, maybe the baby was misgraded. Or does it mean the sex that you actually are at birth, e.g, X and Y chromosomes, or penis versus vagina.. Who made that "assignment"? It seems to me that the word "assignment" is simply a ruse to suggest that sex/gender is not really biological. It's whatever the person filling out a form thinks it is.

A second issue is that this study foils my wife's plan to declare herself to be a man long enough to lose some weight more quickly. I have seen her birth certificate and I can verify that she was assigned the sex "female" at birth. I'm pretty sure that she hasn't made any changes.

11/14/23 10:57 PM

#28588

David,

I think your assessment about the phrase "assigned at birth" is correct.

There have been babies born who have had both female sexual organs as well as male organs, so that presents a problem for doctors and parents to determine.

There also have been babies born who are anatomically confused, or underdeveloped. I'm pretty sure they are given unique designations determined by the medical staff. Those occurrences are rare.

What to me is unbelievable, is a doctor who says, "We place the baby in a comfortable crib, and decide what to do with the baby." WHAT?

Such admissions as that are SO cruel, abhorant and evil, the way I see it. Why wouldn't a woman who doesn't want the baby, simply allow the hospital to place the child in an adoption agency for adoption?

Seems so logical and decent and loving, especially for the baby.

11/15/23 09:17 AM

#28589

Janalu, You stated:

I think your assessment about the phrase "assigned at birth" is correct.

There have been babies born who have had both female sexual organs as well as male organs, so that presents a problem for doctors and parents to determine.

There also have been babies born who are anatomically confused, or underdeveloped. I'm pretty sure they are given unique designations determined by the medical staff. Those occurrences are rare.

My response are in purple:

I agree with you on this Janalu, I think instances of this are very rare. However, what I have learned about this is the doctor informs the parents that the child either has deformed genitals, or mixed (part of both). Then the parents decide how to proceed from there. Often a sex is designated (a decision based on the doctors’ recommendation and the parents’ preference) and then surgery to fix the genitals to conform to that decision is done. Time will tell if the kid grows up and feels the same way later on in life. It is probably a 50/50 chance they will get it right. These kids may end up content or confused and tortured depending upon the outcome. Bottom line is I doubt that a birth certificate has a check box for both, or neither. I could be wrong. Someone please show me a birth certificate that has this designation if I am mistaken. Then there is brain chemistry that comes into play as well. Your brain is influenced by hormones and your chromosomes. This in my opinion is why some people feel they are female when they appear as male, or vice versa. Or perhaps why some come to realize they are homosexual, for the same reason. This is more than a state of mind or belief, I believe it is part of the brains’ chemical/hormonal makeup.

Your next statement, this one below, puzzles me:

What to me is unbelievable, is a doctor who says, "We place the baby in a comfortable crib, and decide what to do with the baby." WHAT?

Seems so logical and decent and loving, especially for the baby.

Where did you see this or hear this? I have never heard of this. I think if the baby was born in any American hospital with competent staff adhering to the Hippocratic oath, they would not even consider such a situation. Most infants are put in a small crib to assess right after birth, and then handed over to the mother to hold. In my case, my son was handed over to me almost immediately after he was born. If the mother does not want the child, then it is cared for and put up for adoption. All she need do is sign the paper or announce she does not want it at all and the nurses in the nursery will feed it and cuddle with it or a volunteer will. If you have any proof of this, please supply me with a link, I am very curious.

11/15/23 09:19 AM

#28590

David,

I can attest to the fact that men need more calories and burn fat much more easily than women. Danny and I are currently dieting. He can loose weight on 300 more calories per day than I can, and we are both on beta blockers which slow our heart rates down!

11/15/23 12:47 PM

#28591

Sandra,

The person who said that was the former governor of Virginia until 2022.

He is also a pediatric neurologist by occupation.

He made that statement when he was asked about abortion in his state, which astounded many people.

His name is Ralph Shearer Northam.

His statement came after he was telling of what happens when a botched abortion produces a living baby instead of what the mother actually desired. He made it seem like the physician would discuss with the mother as to whether to let the infant die or not. His words made headline news for days afterward, since, as you have stated, the logical thing to do would be to give the baby everthing it needs to support its health, whether the mother wanted the child or not.

11/15/23 02:14 PM

#28592

My wife witnessed that in nursing school...

Sad

11/15/23 02:16 PM

#28593

So, I woke up and headed to the PC. Clicked a few things and then it wanted me to install windows updates with microsoft.

Fine. Re booted, waited. Done.

Then, I noticed a new icon on my task bar. Bing Co pilot. Googled...

It is a new AI assist button. I removed it from my task bar so I don't get confused.

As most of you who know me realize. I already have artificial intelligence. Any more would be superfluous.

11/15/23 02:17 PM

#28594

Janalu,

I was confused. I have experienced miscarriages, two in fact. They were scary, painful and extremely emotional. I have not experienced a later term pregnancy that was non-viable, or one where the child was so severely deformed it was certain to die a painful death. I can't imagine the pain and suffering of not only the child but the parents. What a horrible situation to be in. There are no winners here. None.

11/15/23 02:43 PM

#28595

Sandra,

I'm sure miscarriages are truly very painful for hopeful parents. My own mother had a miscarriage that she never spoke of. That's proof, I think, of how painful it was for her. I only learned that she had had a miscarriage when I was in Ft. Worth where her sister lived, at the time I was attending TCU. My aunt invited me out to her house for the weekend one time, and while I was there, she told me that my mother had experienced a miscarriage, much to my surprise. She was surprised too, that my mother had never mentioned it, but I told my aunt that probably my mom and dad had made the decision to just put the whole matter behind them and not speak of it again, since I'm sure they were very sad about it all. They went on with their lives and had three more kiddos, so they were happy with life as it happened thereafter, fortunately.

11/18/23 01:57 PM

#28596

Jim Bedwell

11/18/23 02:01 PM

#28597

Jim Bedwell

Sandra/Lady Janalulu,

Yes, not that long ago, that was DEMOCRAT Virginia Governor Ralph Northam's matter of factly explaining how the parents & doctors could decide whether to commit infanticide or not after birth - and on tape - UNREAL!!!!

Like Mark Twain said, "You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus".

11/18/23 05:30 PM

#28598

I have decided that anyone who uses the word genocide should be required to prove that they know the definition.

In 2000, the population of Gaza and the West Bank was 2.9 million.
In 2022, the population of Gaza and the West Bank was over 5 million..

Exactly what geno was cided??

https://data.worldbank.org/country/PS

Note also that 2 million of the 9 million inhabitants of Israel are Muslim or Christian Palestinians.

11/18/23 09:58 PM

#28599

David,

Not only what you say is true, but also, what the Israelis say that is quite telling, is that "If the Palestinians lay down their weapons and cease firing, they will have an excellent chance at having a two-state nation, but if the Israelis lay their weapons down, Israelis will have no nation, due to annihilation."

Also, there has never been a legitimate, fully recognized nation known as Palestine. It was only a name given to the area by the Romans as an insult to the Jews, after the Romans defeated the Israelis and drove them out of their God-given country. There also is no truly distnctive group of Palestinian people, as they are Arabs who have intermarried with other people, having no unique identity, plus, they have no individual Palestinian language. They are most commonly known to be related by their DNA, to the Jordanians. The Jordanians, as well as the Egyptians don't want Palestinians to settle into THEIR two countries, (the Syrians as well) since the Palestinians are known to be warring people, likely to embrace jihad at the drop of a hat. Palestinians are rarely peaceful and cooperative with any group. The Palestinians actually elected Hamas to enter their country and take over governmental duties. Since Hamas entered, there have been no more elections held in Gaza. Hamas doesn't allow any more elections. They rule with an iron fist, and just a few days ago, photos were shown on YouTube of dead Palestinians trying to flee to the south of Gaza for safety. Those Palestinians were SHOT by Hamas men hellbent on keeping Palestinians in their homes, so that the evil gunmen could use them as shields.

11/20/23 12:14 PM

#28600

Change of pace.

Maybe we can get sponsors for the reunion....like...

11/20/23 03:59 PM

#28601

I loved WKRP in Cincinnati.`

11/21/23 03:28 PM

#28602

I liked Barney Miller.

I especially liked Abe Vigoda and Steve Landesberg. I remember one episode when Landesberg was telling the guys he had decided to try growing house plants. One of the men asked him what he was growing, and he said, "Corn."

11/21/23 08:47 PM

#28603

Janalu, I'm pretty sure that I have mentioned that my son Christopher was in a show with Hal Linden (Barney Miller).

11/22/23 12:29 PM

#28604

David,

It's great that Christopher had so many acting experiences with some very fine actors in his earlier life. I'm sure he has great memories to talk about.

Is he now a costume designer for the Dallas stage productions?

Hope his leg surgeries turned out well. I remember your telling of that time, and showing us some photos.

11/22/23 02:51 PM

#28605

My mother passed away at 7:01 this morning. Danny and I were with her at the very end. She was with me when I took my first breath and I was with her when she took her last. The end of an era. The mother I knew was gone over 10 years ago. So this passing was something I have been expecting for quite some time. I am relieved she is no longer in pain physically or emotionally. Just peace.

I am exhausted. I have not slept well in days. I have to say the hospice folks whom were recommended by the assisted living center were primo. Excellent. I made my concerns and wishes known for her comfort and fears. They were all addressed in a timely manner which made her transition from life to death as humane as possible. For this I have no words. Those folks are saints.

We spent yesterday in her room with photo albums celebrating her fiesty spirit and crazy camera work. She gave our lives flavor and a bit of adventure. It was a good day. I will treasure those moments and memories.

Now I nap.

11/22/23 03:14 PM

#28606

Sandra,

I'm sorry that you've lost your Mom, but it's nice to know that it was a peaceful transition for you and her.

She lived a remarkably long, full life, and it was awfully nice of you to allow her to live in your home for many years of sharing. I'm sure you'll think of her often with laughs and good cheer, as little incidences trigger your mind.

11/22/23 03:43 PM

#28607

Kurt Fischer

Sandra:

I am so very sad to hear of the passing of your mother. It was wonderful that you and Danny were able to be with her, possibly as much of a comfort to you as to your mother. I know the passing of my parents left an imprint on me that has lessened over time, but will forever leave a hole. My father has been gone for 16 years and today I thought of calling him to tell him something.

As Janalu said, it was wonderful you were able to spend so many years with her and have so many memories to think about. You and Danny take care of yourselves.

11/23/23 10:44 AM

#28608

Ron Knight

Sandra I am sorry for your loss. You and Danny are in our prayers on this Thanksgiving Day. I was my mom's primary caregiver for the last 5 years of her life. I know how much of a burden both physically and emotionally it has been for you.

And everyone else, Happy Thanksgiving to all! I am very thankful for all the many friends I have from RHS all the way back to Heights Elem.

And Tommy, I am sorry for the passing of your beloved 4 legged family member.

11/23/23 11:15 AM

#28609

Russ Stovall

Sandra:
Sandra I'm so sorry to hear of your mothers passing. So thankful that the transition was peaceful for her and yourself. You're an angel for taking care of her. May she rest in peace. Take care of yourself and get some well deserved rest.

11/23/23 03:30 PM

#28610