Nerd Power!

[lik_m_ade]

It's like, one of the weirdest things to ever pop up in a capitalist society. Basically, these big companies will actually *PAY* to cover your medical expenses, car or property damage, etc., in return for a relatively small fee.

Sadly, you have to pay the fee ahead of time, so you can't just wait till you know you need it, or else it'd be a lot easier to budget for it.

First congrats on finding a truly elegant solution to your HD problem. Much more effective than our proposals.

Regarding insurance, your description is mostly true. Historically it was more of a risk lottery with individuals pooling their monies knowing that they would likely end up paying a little more than the cost of the actual problems they would have(because for most something catastrophic will never happen) but being assured that they would pay much less if they were the one whose calamity number got picked.

With the advent of stable investment markets and actuarial tables, it functions now much more like a casino with the house (the insurer) betting they will make a greater return in the markets and in premiums than they will have to pay out-and like the house they almost always win. The analogy breaks down in that instead of simply heading home broke, like most casino visits, you at least get protection from the peril you insured against (in most cases).

However, like the house, they've also been known to close the table down if they start losing (I had to switch house insurers here 3 times as the companies kept moving out claiming they couldn't make a profit in the region due to high claim payouts and low returns after the tech crash) or tightening up claim allowances.

But overall, it can still be a good thing to have (once again risk vs. return) but not always-I don't carry more life insurance than I have at work as I have no dependants and my assets are enough to pay off my liabilities, give a bit to my sister's kids and hire a brass band for my jazz funeral.

Saves me money and cuts down on assassination attempts.

Nuff said!

 

[microbiology311]

No insurance=Micro gets screwed... thats how it works..

but I did find the county health clinic that sells BC for 15.00 a month but they don't have my kind.. GOD DAMNIT!!!!!

 

[lik_m_ade]

No insurance=Micro gets screwed... thats how it works..

but I did find the county health clinic that sells BC for 15.00 a month but they don't have my kind.. GOD DAMNIT!!!!!

Even that may not last for long-I knew I had heard something about this and checked one of our newscasters. Apparently this comes from trying to cut the federal deficit in the US:

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070323/birth_control_070323/20070323/

I thinking there must have been better things for the US government to target for money than parmaceutical companies subsidizing drugs to individuals who lack money to pay for them.

On another note, not being a consumer of female hormones except between a hamburger bun with ketchup, bacon and cheese, would it be a big thing to change brands? Are the effects that different? I know a lot of women experience side effects, but are they to the pill in general or to a specific brand name?

 

[RavenousRae]

insurance.. whats that!?

I don't have it either I go to planned parenthood for my BC. But it is totally worth the worth the extra money to pay for the type that works with your body because they can fuck you up otherwise. And there are some BC's that you don't get your monthly friend either, at least I don't. It is lovely I agree Vess!

 

[microbiology311]

I don't have it either I go to planned parenthood for my BC. But it is totally worth the worth the extra money to pay for the type that works with your body because they can fuck you up otherwise. And there are some BC's that you don't get your monthly friend either, at least I don't. It is lovely I agree Vess!

yeah.. there are those.. but I like getting my monthly.. its my reminder that I'm not pregnant because there are always those close calls... and God knows I don't need or want kids right now but I like sex so its a trade off.. hehehhe

but I'm calling my dr. tomorrow to see if any of the BC's the clinic has is comparable to what i'm taking now....

 

[Lady Reiha]

I don't have it either I go to planned parenthood for my BC. But it is totally worth the worth the extra money to pay for the type that works with your body because they can fuck you up otherwise. And there are some BC's that you don't get your monthly friend either, at least I don't. It is lovely I agree Vess!

*grumbles* at least you guys can have birth control. I have NO CLUE what it is, but there's something in both the pill and depo, and that one under your skin that makes me go wacko, I get extremely ill and i gain a whole BUNCH of pounds.
maybe someone here can help me? ( Men of the Nerd Thread- don't read this!!!)

I was first on Depo Provera for a year. My doctor told me that I'll gain no more than 10 pounds, and I'll get at the worst, mood swings and for the first 3 months- up to a year, umm..you know, no time of the month..thing. At the time, I weighed only 95 pounds, and my height is still the same- 5'3. ( No..I was not anorexic -_-). I was also 17.

Within the first month, I gained the 10 pounds, had mild moodswings, and downthere seemed okay. It wasn't until Month 2, I gained 30 pounds, spiltting headaches, and I was also experiencing morning sickness. I would collaspe sometimes at school, and I felt really weak. Also my time of the month was becoming a daily thing, and it was always heavy. Within the 6 months, I was hospilized twice, and I went to my doctor about an estimated 5-10 times? She told me that it was mostly severe side effects, put me on some medication to protect my liver (apprently Depo can damage it, she said) and told me to take Iron w/ B12 on a daily basis. She told me that the depo brought out Anemia in me (however that happened, who knows!!!!)

So after about a half a year of that, and she wouldn't take me off! She kept telling me that it'll past within the year, but I refused to take it. I stopped going to the doctors for a while. I started going back, about a year or so later, and asked if she could prescribe me on the pill. She told me it wasn't as effective, and blah blah blah, but anyways, within that year, I tried 3!! yes 3 friggen different brands. I also told her to do the one they stick in your arm ..I think it's called Norplan or something..I can't remember. But the same thing, I wasn't feeling better, i was getting sicker, and felt like crap.

I was told at the hospital that I could have either an allergy or a sensitivity from any hormonal drug. Basically slimming my chances for birth control to almost nothing. So I just use condoms. And if I'm in doubt, or something happens, I just get the morning after pill (You don't need a prescription or a doc's note here). And I buy a pregnacy test. Seems to be working


But does anyone know what it could be exactly? Cuz..I kinda want to be more protected..but It can't be anything hormonal. Any Ideas?

 

[RavenousRae]

Rei I totally understand I went through the weight gain and lots of other scary stuff when I was on estrogen based pills. Now I can no longer be on estrogen because it fucks me so much. I almost went blind, was bed ridden for a couple weeks, all kinds of fun stuff. Now I'm on the progestin only, mini pill, and it's the only thing that works with me. So there are just many different types and combos out there, sometimes they work sometimes they don't like any meds. Sorry you've had problems, it's unfair that some people get off so easily! <pets Rei>

 

[Lady Reiha]

Rei I totally understand I went through the weight gain and lots of other scary stuff when I was on estrogen based pills. Now I can no longer be on estrogen because it fucks me so much. I almost went blind, was bed ridden for a couple weeks, all kinds of fun stuff. Now I'm on the progestin only, mini pill, and it's the only thing that works with me. So there are just many different types and combos out there, sometimes they work sometimes they don't like any meds. Sorry you've had problems, it's unfair that some people get off so easily! <pets Rei>

Hey quick Q.

Not only does it fuck you up, but do you feel like it's changed you somehow, like you mood?
Also, It seems like I can't lose the weight. It's like, it slowed down my metabolism..

did you have the same end result? As for the near-blindness.. never got that!!! OMG O_O"

 

[RavenousRae]

Hey quick Q.

Not only does it fuck you up, but do you feel like it's changed you somehow, like you mood?
Also, It seems like I can't lose the weight. It's like, it slowed down my metabolism..

did you have the same end result? As for the near-blindness.. never got that!!! OMG O_O"

It changed my mood when I was on it, I've leveled out since. The weight yes, that is a constant issue, it's been hard to keep control of since. I think it did slow down my metabolism.

The blindness was from a rare disease that some women get when when they have very high levels of estrogen, some men can get it too apparently. It's a not a surprise that you didn't get it, it's good!

 

[lil_squirter]

Most birth control has some adverse effects on weight..aside from Condoms but that's another topic. The highest average weight gain associated with B.C. is from the shot method. 1 shot every three months virtually eliminating periods with a gain of 5 to 10 pounds in the first year and upwards to 60 pounds in extreme cases. Due to the mass of hormonal changes forced by these methods of contraception weight gain, emotional instability, headaches, blood clots, anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, and fatigue are all fairly common side effects.

That said, every woman's body is different and every form of B.C. will work differently on it. Your present weight is even a factor, some B.C.'s only work up to a certain weight limit and yet Doctors rarely mention this to patients. Since the amount of fat in the body influences/effects hormone levels it is no wonder that the two are deeply entwined.

Sadly trial and error is the only way any woman can know what is right for her. I feel for Rae and what she had to go through with her situation, I had adverse effects to both the shot and the patch but nothing near yours, hun. I am so sorry you had to suffer with that. I think some men sometimes think it is a simple matter of popping a pill once a day when in reality it can effect everything from weight to libido to mood.

How ironic is that? Taking birth control to have sex without risk of getting pregnant and the B.C. makes you not want sex...and ups your weight so you guys complains...and your mood puts you into depression. It could be a nasty vicious cycle if all those hit.

 

[Texguy84]

Heh, I went blind for a couple hours once in high school, that was scary. What was worse, was it wasn't like, a dark kinda blind, it was a glary white kinda blind that made my eyes hurt all the time. My mom figured it was just stress, it cleared up while I was laying down watching Tenchi in Tokyo (well, facing the TV and listening to Tenchi in Tokyo), but it was scary while it was happening.

Also: ARRG. My dad happened to have a conversation with an Air Force general today (seems my dad's job involves him randomly talking to generals, go figure), and he said I should wait until October and see if the Linguist job comes up again, so I have more time to finish classes and and then I can do Basic training in the much more hospitable October weather in San Antonio.

Arrrrrrrrrrrg. This is too complicated. Why can't we just go back to a Draft system so I can join the military whenever the military says it's time for me to join? -_-

 

[Texguy84]

Most birth control has some adverse effects on weight..aside from Condoms but that's another topic.

Actually, condoms can have side effects too, depending on what they're made of. Some folks are deathly allergic to latex.

 

[SexyCleric]

To avert course, what's wrong with good old rubbers?

On a nerdly note, ever since the movie 300 came out, I feel like I've lost yet another part of nerdom to mainstream.

No longer is the tactical brilliance of Leonidas and the battle of Thermopylae esoteric knowledge.
Plus, now everyone thinks the spartans are nothing but suicidal super troopers.
No mention about how women enjoyed the greatest freedom of any society of the ancient times.
Argh.

 

[sister76]

To avert course, what's wrong with good old rubbers?

On a nerdly note, ever since the movie 300 came out, I feel like I've lost yet another part of nerdom to mainstream.

No longer is the tactical brilliance of Leonidas and the battle of Thermopylae esoteric knowledge.
Plus, now everyone thinks the spartans are nothing but suicidal super troopers.
No mention about how women enjoyed the greatest freedom of any society of the ancient times.
Argh.

Yeah 300 gave a superficial view of Sparta. But I dont' think the popular perception of it has changed.

 

[SexyCleric]

Yeah 300 gave a superficial view of Sparta. But I dont' think the popular perception of it has changed.

Ah, but didn't used to be any popular notion!
My friend and I were discussing the weak-winnowing bit they did, and people who had seen the movie felt the need to comment on it. Nothing inheritantly wrong there, but the movie didn't really do it justice.

 

[lil_squirter]

Actually, condoms can have side effects too, depending on what they're made of. Some folks are deathly allergic to latex.

Allergies to latex or other condom material being a generalized form of reaction rather than one brought on specifically by the method of B.C. Most Latex allergies involve alot more than just condoms.

 

[Texguy84]

To avert course, what's wrong with good old rubbers?

On a nerdly note, ever since the movie 300 came out, I feel like I've lost yet another part of nerdom to mainstream.

No longer is the tactical brilliance of Leonidas and the battle of Thermopylae esoteric knowledge.
Plus, now everyone thinks the spartans are nothing but suicidal super troopers.
No mention about how women enjoyed the greatest freedom of any society of the ancient times.
Argh.

Not to mention that now EVERYONE knows the line "Then we shall fight in the shade!"

I loved how they made a big deal about the vital importance of the Phalanx, and then they only actually used it for a few minutes before the fight devolved into a free for all melee. Sparta-gollum would have done not entirely too bad in that style of fighting; though he can't move around all that quickly, the dude is handy with a spear.

 

[lik_m_ade]

Ah, but didn't used to be any popular notion!
My friend and I were discussing the weak-winnowing bit they did, and people who had seen the movie felt the need to comment on it. Nothing inheritantly wrong there, but the movie didn't really do it justice.

Yes, it has resulted in some discussion, but on the bright side, Hillary hasn't called for a national childcare program based on the Spartan method of childrearing.

"It takes a Greek city-state to raise a child"

Just be thankful that it will have less impact on the popular mind than "Troy" did. Oh the silly notions about ancient culture that people dragged away from that film.

 

[snake0067]

Off to conquer Karazhan wish me luck.

 

[Trombonus]

Fellow nerds the unthinkable has happened.

 

[Spins]

Fellow nerds the unthinkable has happened.

So very wrong.

What's next? A BattleToads/ Double Dragon game?!?

 

[Trombonus]

So very wrong.

What's next? A BattleToads/ Double Dragon game?!?

I know! Or maybe a Transformers/GI Joe crossover comic.

 

[SexyCleric]

Yes, it has resulted in some discussion, but on the bright side, Hillary hasn't called for a national childcare program based on the Spartan method of childrearing.

"It takes a Greek city-state to raise a child"

Just be thankful that it will have less impact on the popular mind than "Troy" did. Oh the silly notions about ancient culture that people dragged away from that film.

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

 

[microbiology311]

"Happy dance".. I GOT BIRTH CONTROL!! guess who is going to get laid tonight..... LOL! and Its FRIDAY!!!!!!

*dancing around the room* God, I love the weekends.

 

[SexyCleric]

"Happy dance".. I GOT BIRTH CONTROL!! guess who is going to get laid tonight..... LOL! and Its FRIDAY!!!!!!

*dancing around the room* God, I love the weekends.

*Cough*

You, of course, know there is a bit of a waiting period for most of them, right?