from here

LONDON NEW research has confirmed fears that men are becoming less fertile. The study shows a halving of sperm production in 10 years. Scientists made the discovery after post-mortem studies of mostly middle-aged men from Finland who died between 1981 and 1991. During that time the proportion of men who had the normal biological processes leading to sperm production fell from 56.4 per cent to 26.9 per cent. During the same period there was a significant increase in the number of cases of “spermatogenic arrest”, or men who did not have any mature sperm cells. The incidence of complete spermatogenic arrest rose from 8 per cent to 20 per cent, and of partial spermatogenic arrest from 31.4 per cent to 48.5 per cent. The weight of the men’s testicles had also diminished during the 10 years. Earlier studies had already indicated a long-term lowering of both sper,in quantity and quality. A British study last year showed that men born in the 1970s produced on average 25 per cent fewer sperm than those born in the 1950s. An annual decline of 2 per cent suggested that boys bom 60 years from now could be infertile. – PA

Window shopping on amazon, looking at the movies… (DVD, thou art evil).

*Not* a come on for people to get me gifties, but here’s my wish list if you want to see what I’m currently looking at to add to my collection, over time somday. Shocking? Nah, you knew I liked this stuff.

There are three beings I cherish a great deal. 🙂

Anyone who has read my journal can probably guess two out of the three.

Newt, Ornj, and My Little brother are they. I’m just taking a moment to express my deep regard and love for them. I feel differently about each, but the love is a constant.

Ornj is very special to me, as she draws out every variety of love that has meaning to me.To attack the definition from Plato’s point of view… Eros, true love, instant chemistry, abiding passion… Storge (affectionate, friendly love) – value companionship and trust, Pragma (logical, pragmatic love) – “list” of compatible traits, Agape (unselfish love) – love as a selfless, almost spiritual form of giving to the partner…. I think I’m mostly past the selfish “mania. Jealousy still rears up, but I trust and adore her so much, that it’s been pretty squelched… turned to the others.)

Anyhow, Ornj is an amazing woman. I swear, I don’t know what I did to have the good fortune of her company, but I’m glad that we’ve met, and blossomed so well… My heart still skips a beat whenever I see her, and I delight in even the most fleeting moments with. She brings out all my finer points, and makes me feel good too. If I could, I’d snatch her up, and run off with her to Ireland… take her everyplace she’s never been, and discover the world with her, together. Who knows what the future might bring? I’m happy to cuddle up and watch discovery channel too. 🙂 All time spent with her is pure gold. Laughter, Deep thought, shallow thought, discovery and passion. She gives me goosebumps.

Newton… he’s my little baby boy. I had no idea I could invest so much emotion into a little kitty. He draws out my playful side, my daddy side, and snuggles with me when I sleep. I adore that little babyhead. He’s never in a bad mood, is always affectionate, and only wants to eat kibble, play and nap with me… how can you go wrong? Plus he’s a cutiepoop. You have to admire a child who’s willing to follow you to the bathroom, and sit in the sink (or your dropped boxer shorts) and talk to you while you do your business.

Derek, my Bro. A good guy, really has only recently started to come into his own… Lived a life I envy a bit, and loathe a bit too… surfed in Hawaii for 5 years, pro-am. Now living locally, we seem to rarely get time to meet. it was Sundays for a while, but his schedule is very unpredictable. Hopefully I’ll get to see him tomorrow … it’ll be the first time in ages. I’ll probably end up doing his taxes for him, the slacker… (I should talk, I just did mine last night… by the way, I’m getting about 300 back. Woohoo! I was expecting about a tenth of that.) anyhow, he’s really the only member of my family that I can talk to and enjoy my time with. We *always* laugh when we get together, whether it’s muppet jokes, off-color humor (I’m going to cup and toss him, for old times sake tomorrow, if the timing’s right.Haven’t done that since I was about 15. I wonder how many folks know what a cup & toss is? I explained it to my sweetie this week, and I think she was mortified. Nothing terrible.)

I hope everyone has at least one being like this to love, and be loved by. I’m incredibly blessed to have all three… my greatest blessings.

I love them, to a point where I can’t explain… and I guess I don’t have to, just be happy that they’re there.

*kisses, hugs, and noogies to all of ’em…. and to all of you, my buddies.

Hooray! DSL, here I come!

This e-mail is to inform you that your BellSouth(R) FastAccess(R) Internet Service equipment has been shipped!

Shipping Information:
Item: External Modem
Ship Date: 04/11/2001
Should be received no later than: 04/17/2001

ahh… soon. and, Buddha’s delight is on it’s way, w/2 spring rolls! yumma!

Whoosh.

Just sort of puttered out of bed this morning. It took me a long time to wake up. The Cleansing diet was ok, but left me a little headachy, and a little weak.

Today, Chinese food will be my reward. Something with either rice or pasta. maybe sharpen my slightly dulled senses.

Be back after lunch.

Watching a Touch Of Evil, an Orson Welles classic starring Charlton Heston and Janet Leigh. Frickin’ Great movie, I’d never seen it before… got it from my buddy Kev who is a videophile and a connoisseur of all things Heston, too. Pretty cool stuff… amazing opening shot. This video on the desktop is nifty… I can’t wait until I work out how to share the TV tuner card over the network. It’s sort of weird to me, seeing Ol’ Chuck playing a Mexican.

At least he doesn’t put on the mock “Si’, si’ Senor” routine. He’s groovy looking in his sunglasses too. Welles makes the ideal Harvey Bullock-style fat,unshaven slob detective, too. Leigh’s a remarkable bit of woman, too… a good offset to Chuck’s square-jawed countenance.

There’s a very weird night watchman in the movie… freaky. Bizarre Mannerisms. The laptop’s speakers are ok, but with headphones it’s far better.

Funny hearing Welles say sure… sure. Shades of Donovan’s Brain! Now I want to pick up a DVD of The Third Man. *giggling… the punks are hopped up on marijuana.

Ah well.. gnite!!

trippy link…

turn down the volume, if you’re at work.

duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude. 🙂

Getting ready to take my morning walk. One of the bennies of doing that is a lot of time to think, and clear the cobs.

Since it’s Good Friday, my mind will no doubt turn to sacrifice and kindness.. I’m happy that is one of the core beliefs of Christianity… I’m surprised Easter isn’t the big holiday, instead of Christmas, for most Christians, really. I suppose it’s a different vibe, one that may not be as acceptable? (I think Christmas is great by the way, but maybe #2 in priority) Not many folks are fond of a hero being tortured before winning out, these days, I think. I wonder how many kids understand the brutal aspect of crucifixion and death, and the whole miracle of resurrection. When I was little, seeing Jesus nailed to the cross really wasn’t a scary thing, just a decoration, really. I was more interested in the saints, and the stations of the cross, than the results… it wasn’t until I was older that I realized that it was a guy in a lot of pain, both emotional and physical, sacrificing himself so that humanity would have a chance. I wonder what the age of most folks who go to church, really understood what that was all about.

Not a lot of Easter specials on TV… a few Peter Cottontail things, and a couple of religious things…but nowhere near the media blitz that Christmas gets.. I suppose it’s because it’s not as marketable? Not as PC to show a story of violence and tears with a happy ending, maybe.

Thinking on a lot of things like this lately.

I am hungry, headachy, wakeful, and heard from my sweetie… I was worried her poor gizzard was going to explode. I’m glad she’s feeling a bit better today.

Cooked veggies today. Hooray! 🙂 I wish Cheese was a vegetable. and bread. 🙂 Or rice….

Going to do soup, and salad. 🙂 There’s a great veggie soup at the local sub shop… I am really looking forward to grabbing some starches, though… oh, drat.. I think there’s noodles in the soup. maybe rethink. *ponderponderponderbrainpoot

Well, I’ll figure it out… steamed veggies and some seasoning will set me right, I think. Maybe swing by the deli, and see what’s there… hope to avoid butter…

Time will tell. It seems all the wrong folks got worried about my “Get over it” post. Just a minor rant on my part… if you’re acting like it’s high school, or mope *all the time*, that’s what I was talking about.

Hey, Chupacabra!

Sightings have gone up 500% in the last year!! 🙂

Rock on, south Florida!

I see so many folks here, and it seems like many just aren’t having fun. Doing it like junkies, they write and write, and get no relief, or worse, feel even more poorly then when they began.

Too many politics, too much whining. Mind you, you’re free to do what you like in your journal, but it seems that some of the shiny happy people have fallen away, leaving a lot of bitter, immature folks behind, with only a few shining gems amongst them. Many folks could learn from them… at least how to be a little happier.

To you Gems, I say *THANK YOU* for being here. I can think of one pearl in particular who has always got something interesting and/or entertaining to say…in fact there’s a few.

Speaking of gems, Mootpoint is back, as is Nashata.Grand. 🙂 I’m seeing an improvement already. If we could drag cider nback in, we’d have all 3 I was missing. 🙂

By the way, why does maryland seem to have so many cool LJ people?

blackhellkat,foom23, ktm, laurak, sweetalyssm… all marylanders, and all Gems.

Maybe that’s how I’ll spotlight folks… by region…

Phew.. Canada is chock-full of dear folk, too. I’ve only found a couple of nifty Floridians (but there are some)… yipe! time for me to lock up and head home. maybe I’ll continue this thought later, and upload some more piccies. 🙂

oh… forgot the crazy one eyed seven armed troll… thanks Daizee!! 🙂

I’ve found my life changing, this last decade.

Where once, I identified with Daffy Duck and Wile E. Coyote… I think that I can more closely identify with Sam the Sheepdog. I’m more competent at what I do. I’m not as excitable as I once was and seem to be cast more in the protector/helper role than the goofy dolt. I like it. I don’t get in trouble as often and can use my skills for more useful tasks then just running into walls.

I don’t know if I can pinpoint where I changed over. I do know that at university, I was sullen, and more than a little angry… easy to get my goat. I think that living on my own, with my own job and even having something of a dependant (If you can count Newton as one) has really changed my outlook on things. I’m not free to do some things, but those things are really damaging so it’s fine not to. I don’t want to get hurt, because folks depend on me. When I flew solo, it was easy to take the attitude of “Who cares, I’m the only one at risk”. Now, I have to feed the cat. 🙂 I’m not going to let my misdeeds hurt those folks that I love. What’s more is that as I’ve become more secure in my place, it’s easier to help other people, too. Philosophy is simpler when you’re not just trying to survive…. I’m not hungry, so I can afford to think. That’s a huge boon.

More to follow… have to get back to work.

An open letter to browser sniffers. This is directed to all y’all who are using browser-sniffing code to detect if someone’s using an older browser, like Netscape 4.*, and either popping up windows urging you to upgrade (one of which I recently encountered actually said “You suck”) or even redirecting you to an upgrade page without allowing you to see the site’s content at all.

The intentions behind what you’re doing are noble. In fact, I too enjoy using cutting edge stuff, too. Your hearts are in the right place, and we do need to get as many people to upgrade to newer, w3.org-standards-compliant browsers. However, please think about people who use the web at work, and whose companies (for whatever dopey, inexplicable reason) forbid them to install newer browsers due to Draconian restrictions against installing anything non-authorized on their machines. Some of us are stuck with older editions of Netscape and IE at work, and telling us that we suck because we’re unable to upgrade yet isn’t going to do anybody any good. Actually, it could piss some people off.

In fact, one of the sites whose annoying pop-up said that my browser would be unable to handle the code used to generate the site looked fine to me under copy of IE 4.5 I’m stuck with. I’m sure your painstaking designs are lovely, but I’m primarily interested in your words, and I can read your words with Lynx (and often do).

Speaking of which … your sites are at least reasonably Lynx-friendly, aren’t they? Blind and visually-impaired people who use text readers and speech synthesizers can access your site, can’t they?

Okay, said my piece. Have a frosty beverage, or something.