Monday, June 05, 2006
Fertility clinic forced to close after running out of sperm
A Scottish IVF clinic has been forced to close its doors to new patients because it has run out of sperm.
The clinic at the Aberdeen Maternity Hospital - one of only five in the country - has shut down because of a national lack of sperm donors.
Fertility treatment in Scotland has been plunged into crisis because new government rules means sperm donors can no longer be anonymous.
"It's also really hard for staff to have to withdraw a service that's been here for two decades. I hope supplies will improve but, to be honest, I'm very nervous about the future."
The clinic at the Aberdeen Maternity Hospital - one of only five in the country - has shut down because of a national lack of sperm donors.
Fertility treatment in Scotland has been plunged into crisis because new government rules means sperm donors can no longer be anonymous.
"It's also really hard for staff to have to withdraw a service that's been here for two decades. I hope supplies will improve but, to be honest, I'm very nervous about the future."
Actors play happy families to sell homes
The smell of freshly baked bread, coffee on the stove and a few props depicting a desirable lifestyle have become the stock-in-trade of the ambitious home seller. Now it seems that may not be enough.
Anxious that even the most gushing of descriptions may not market its wares hard enough, one property company has begun a trend that it thinks could catch on everywhere: hiring teams of actors to play "happy families" in its show homes.
Attractive film and stage actors are cast in the roles of cheerful-looking parents and their angelic children, recreating scenes of domestic bliss that they hope will impress prospective buyers.
The approach is being pioneered by Centex Homes in a development of 166 detached properties in Santa Clarita, California, 35 miles north of Los Angeles.
Anxious that even the most gushing of descriptions may not market its wares hard enough, one property company has begun a trend that it thinks could catch on everywhere: hiring teams of actors to play "happy families" in its show homes.
Attractive film and stage actors are cast in the roles of cheerful-looking parents and their angelic children, recreating scenes of domestic bliss that they hope will impress prospective buyers.
The approach is being pioneered by Centex Homes in a development of 166 detached properties in Santa Clarita, California, 35 miles north of Los Angeles.
Two people found dead under advertising balloon
21-year-old Sara Rydman and her friend Jason Ackerman were found dead Saturday morning underneath a deflated promotional balloon.
Investigators do not suspect foul play. Both victims were found fully clothed.
Investigators are still trying to determine the exact cause of death, but anti-drug experts say that there is a growing trend of people inhaling helium and other gasses in an attempt to get high.
Investigators do not suspect foul play. Both victims were found fully clothed.
Investigators are still trying to determine the exact cause of death, but anti-drug experts say that there is a growing trend of people inhaling helium and other gasses in an attempt to get high.
British men have worst sex lives, Canadians the best
Three out of 10 British men have not had sex in the last 12 months, according to new research.
An international study in the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy reports that only 70 per cent of men in Britain have had sex in the last year and that British men have the worst sex lives, while Canadians have the best.
The research, based on 6,000 people aged 40 to 80, in Britain, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, shows large differences in sexual activity.
An international study in the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy reports that only 70 per cent of men in Britain have had sex in the last year and that British men have the worst sex lives, while Canadians have the best.
The research, based on 6,000 people aged 40 to 80, in Britain, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, shows large differences in sexual activity.
To Judge Florentino V. Floro, Jr. an apology
Back in April I posted a story about Judge Florentino Floro in The Philippines who had been removed from his post after claiming to have psychic powers and was said to have made a covenant with "dwarf friends".
"His mental problems for now appear to render him unfit with the delicate task of dispensing justice," the Supreme Court said in a ruling.
Yesterday, obviously after scouring the interweb for reference to himself, Judge Florentino Floro left this message. Well he left four, actually.
So, Judge Florentino V. Floro, Jr., I have no reason to question your mental ability whatsoever. I'm sorry.
Edit:
Since I posted this earlier, Judge Florentino Floro has continued searching the interweb for stories concerning himself, has been back and left this message:
Thanks for your --Monday, June 05, 2006
To Judge Florentino V. Floro, Jr. an apology
Back in April I posted a story about Judge Florentino Floro in The Philippines who had been removed from his post after claiming to have psychic powers and was said to have made a covenant with "dwarf friends".---
I believe that your blog or report on my case is based on fair and true reporting, coz it was our Supreme Court Decision that stated the facts you blogged or reported. I never felt pain nor was I offended by the many blog reports and headline news, 70+++, it is part of my case. I hope that in the future, the TRUTH will come out, and I believe in DESTINY. Regards, and Best wishes to you/ your family.
Sincerely,
Judge Floro
Thanks Judge Floro.
"His mental problems for now appear to render him unfit with the delicate task of dispensing justice," the Supreme Court said in a ruling.
Yesterday, obviously after scouring the interweb for reference to himself, Judge Florentino Floro left this message. Well he left four, actually.
So, Judge Florentino V. Floro, Jr., I have no reason to question your mental ability whatsoever. I'm sorry.
Edit:
Since I posted this earlier, Judge Florentino Floro has continued searching the interweb for stories concerning himself, has been back and left this message:
Thanks for your --Monday, June 05, 2006
To Judge Florentino V. Floro, Jr. an apology
Back in April I posted a story about Judge Florentino Floro in The Philippines who had been removed from his post after claiming to have psychic powers and was said to have made a covenant with "dwarf friends".---
I believe that your blog or report on my case is based on fair and true reporting, coz it was our Supreme Court Decision that stated the facts you blogged or reported. I never felt pain nor was I offended by the many blog reports and headline news, 70+++, it is part of my case. I hope that in the future, the TRUTH will come out, and I believe in DESTINY. Regards, and Best wishes to you/ your family.
Sincerely,
Judge Floro
Thanks Judge Floro.
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Urban Legends Slide Show
Are things as they seem?
Click on next image, then more about if you want more information.
There are some quite gory photos.
The Human Marvels
Here you will find tales of sideshow freaks, human oddities and learn of the history of sideshow.
Yamaha’s Crotch Air Bag
Their prototype safety scooter, designated the ASV-3, has a multi-chambered air bag rigged between your legs, under the seat, to open in the case of a crash, thus protecting your most prized possessions.
Yours for £50,000, an 8ft 7in cube to call home
It comprises a single space that's just 8ft 7in square, and even estate agents might struggle to find a word other than 'compact' to describe the living arrangements.
But according to its designers, this small white cube could be the businessman's home of the future.
Made from aluminium with a wooden frame, it is called a micro-compact home (or m-ch for short) and comes with all mod cons including a plasma screen, built in hi-fi and fully-fitted kitchen.
There is a fold-away double bed (the five-place dining table also converts into a spare double bed in case you have guests), a shower and lavatory.
Don't all rush at once.
But according to its designers, this small white cube could be the businessman's home of the future.
Made from aluminium with a wooden frame, it is called a micro-compact home (or m-ch for short) and comes with all mod cons including a plasma screen, built in hi-fi and fully-fitted kitchen.
There is a fold-away double bed (the five-place dining table also converts into a spare double bed in case you have guests), a shower and lavatory.
Don't all rush at once.
Kung fu fan tries to stop train
A 17-year-old boy surnamed Liang almost died when he tried to use a kung fu movement to stop a running train in Laibin Railway Station in South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
Liang was pushed to safety by a railway policeman just as he was about to be knocked down. Liang jumped down to the tracks and wanted to use Xianglongshibazhang, a famous kung fu posturing described in many swordsman fictions, to stop the running train.
He was taken into custody for breaking railway rules and said he wanted to test whether or not he could use kung fu to stop the train.
Liang was pushed to safety by a railway policeman just as he was about to be knocked down. Liang jumped down to the tracks and wanted to use Xianglongshibazhang, a famous kung fu posturing described in many swordsman fictions, to stop the running train.
He was taken into custody for breaking railway rules and said he wanted to test whether or not he could use kung fu to stop the train.
Alpaca punch when I get in a rugby scrum
As a rugby-mad youngster, Rory Matthews likes to train every day. Unfortunately, he lives on a farm and does not have anyone his own age to play with.
But he's not worried - because he's got Chicky the alpaca. Chicky, a fellow resident at the Children's Animal Farm near Melbourne, has proved a formidable sparring partner for eight-year-old Rory.
"I don't have any brothers and sisters to play rugby with, so Chicky helps me out," said Rory after another tough session with the brown and grey South American animal.
With slideshow.
But he's not worried - because he's got Chicky the alpaca. Chicky, a fellow resident at the Children's Animal Farm near Melbourne, has proved a formidable sparring partner for eight-year-old Rory.
"I don't have any brothers and sisters to play rugby with, so Chicky helps me out," said Rory after another tough session with the brown and grey South American animal.
With slideshow.
Police Say Man Tried To Use Potato As Silencer For Gun
Police say Shane Thompson carved a hole in a potato with a spoon, stuck his gun inside and threatened to shoot the mother of his child. Thompson reportedly told her that no one would hear the shot, because of the potato's silencing qualities.
Police say he never fired the tater-tipped gun, but instead hit the woman several times. Thompson has been charged with false imprisonment, aggravated assault and battery.
While spuds are nutritious, the silencer potato is an urban legend dating to the 1920s.
Police say he never fired the tater-tipped gun, but instead hit the woman several times. Thompson has been charged with false imprisonment, aggravated assault and battery.
While spuds are nutritious, the silencer potato is an urban legend dating to the 1920s.
How cheese on toast could be losing British families £70 a year
It may seem like the perfect between-meals snack or post-pub treat, but making cheese on toast is costing the average family a lot of money, according to new research.
The apparently simple dish apparently costs around £70 a household each year in wastage because of the amount of cheese that we let drip into the grill pan in our rush to eat.
A study looked at 100 men and women, including teenagers, who were asked to make cheese on toast exactly as they made it at home.
Each person was given a household block of cheese and an average sliced loaf of bread.
But 83 people cut "wildly uneven" slices of cheese with some pieces twice as large at one end as at the other. Each person's amount of cheese was weighed before being grilled and this averaged out at 50 grams per slice. Also in an attempt to cover all of the bread many people crammed cheese on every available bit of surface space.
This resulted in 77 cases where cheese was slightly hanging over the side of the bread.
"I cannot believe that people are really too busy or too lazy to properly cut cheese".
The apparently simple dish apparently costs around £70 a household each year in wastage because of the amount of cheese that we let drip into the grill pan in our rush to eat.
A study looked at 100 men and women, including teenagers, who were asked to make cheese on toast exactly as they made it at home.
Each person was given a household block of cheese and an average sliced loaf of bread.
But 83 people cut "wildly uneven" slices of cheese with some pieces twice as large at one end as at the other. Each person's amount of cheese was weighed before being grilled and this averaged out at 50 grams per slice. Also in an attempt to cover all of the bread many people crammed cheese on every available bit of surface space.
This resulted in 77 cases where cheese was slightly hanging over the side of the bread.
"I cannot believe that people are really too busy or too lazy to properly cut cheese".
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