Are men in danger of becoming extinct?
That title question is asked by a paper appearing in BMJ today...
The future of men and their health
Siegfried Meryn and Alejandro R Jadad
BMJ 2001;323 1013-1014
http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/323/7320/1013
Things on the homefront...are...slowly getting better...but I think I'll feel better after a long angst session on Saturday. Tonight is the pool tournament...and this weekend, I have to write up my paper outline as well as writing up two lab reports. I started marking...but I'm stuck in as how to mark one question...because the key I was given...doesn't really answer this question...and if I mark to the key...the results will be ugly...
Archival will be with the first post of the next week (as I don't think I'll be posting Saturday or Sunday).
Added to the literature: Friday, November 2, 2001 at 04:01 p.m.
When you figure you've got someone pegged...
...they'll do something that will surprise you.
Recent developments around here have gotten interesting...someone I thought I knew pretty well did something that I thought was out of character...but I guess not. Wow...things have changed quite a bit in under a week @_@...and of course, I do play a part...but in just a supporting role...
I said a while ago that I'd have no regrets...but yet at this point in time, I do...it'll probably take time for me to get used to the new order of things. It kind of makes the events of this summer seem almost ironic and starting to approach somewhere between useless and meaningless...and perhaps the events of this summer make it worse...especially for me.
I ~love~ interpersonal relationships >_<...perhaps if I find a bloody review article or primer somewhere, I'll be good.
Kourin...get me a membership for "the club" -_-;
Added to the literature: Thursday, November 1, 2001 at 05:01 p.m.
Random referrers
Title topic says it all.
Now...to mention some referrers...(though none of mine are interesting...except for the time that 'penius' was a referrer [thanks to WMC's...unique spelling :P]
making words Yep...that's what I do...some more interesting than others.
random words How very apt here ^^;;;
smile.dk Yeah...I like them...Butterfly has been playing on my computer a fair bit as well as Mr. Wonderful...I'll have to try and get Katelynne to find their CD in Japan ^_^;
the words smile.dk Nope...but I know they exist out there.
ayashi no ceres soundtrack I just have the first one...and its good...apparently the third one is best. Ask Ming-Ling...she'll be the one to tell you.
Added to the literature: Wednesday, October 31, 2001 at 08:06 a.m.
All Hallow's Eve = the opportunity to live out their fantasies
Ick...I'm about a week behind in my news telling of my "exciting" life...that's what anyone who dates/marries a science student/scientist gets to look forward to ;D
I'll quickly work up on the backlog of things...marking from two weeks ago...it took a while to do...and there was some blantant copying (paragraph answers word for word...for every question...and the kicker is that the assignments were together @_@). Debate tournment...wasn't too bad judging. I got moved around a bit due to some chaos happening on the part of the organisers. I was proud that I managed to skip the entire "how to judge" seminar (since I already knew what the guy, who I know, was going to say). The first round was the best of all (highest category)...but then I got moved down, and the quality deteriorated. For the first debate, there were four judges...and split down the middle so the appointed "head judge" cast the tying vote...I disagreed with him though.
Now...fast forward to last week...exams are all back now...did pretty good for the most part...so I'm fairly pleased...Friday...I talked to Seimei online and we had a very interesting conversation for about 2 hours...Saturday, I went out with friends to a Hallowe'en event being put on by the Arts' Student Society (or something like that). It wasn't too bad...though it kind of sucked to be stuck manning the table for a large portion of the night :/ Thursday night...I was busy finishing up my take home exam for biochemistry...that's all I'll say about that...
With reference to the title topic...I saw a fair number of men dressing up as women, there were a few dressed up with grossly oversized members (try about 8 inches around, 2-3 feet long) and of course there were the ones with the oversized breasts and the extraordinarily long male appendages with a string attached so as to simulate the obtaining of turgidity. I refer again to the title topic...and wonder what the choice of costume shows XD
Oh...myself? I dressed up as a "crappy ninja"...dressed entirely in black...except for a really gaudy coloured hat on top...I suppose one could also consider what I wore 'artsy-like'...^^;; Two of my friends dressed as Rinoa, one as Cipher and one as Quistis?...
Once again, I state on the record that interpersonal interactions confuses me.
I retook the alignment test not too long ago...I was True Neutral, with good tendancies...I can just hear WMC cackling at how my 'mad scientist' attempts have failed =P. Honestly...I'm a good scientist...really ;)...scary thing is that my friend who took it got Neutral Evil @_@;;;
Now...to some backlogged replies.
WMC & Kristina...interesting to see the run on phallic concepts recently ^^;; (though that Anita Blake commment was funny WMC ^^;) However WMC...I seem to recall that a) the majority of the software is for the PC and b) I was pretty sure that the emulation of the PC on the Mac was significantly inferior. WMC...you need to write more na no da :P
Jackie...congrats on making it through your weekend. {hands a plushie her way}
Seimei...getting to listen to nice music is always pleasant (though the problem with me is both time and money). There hasn't been another Ad Hoc choir since the last one...so I'm looking forward to it. I would so love to sing the Faure Requium again (since I think it's a beautiful piece to work with).
While I think about that...I'm reminded...I'd love to hear "Chili Con Carne as performed by "Real Group"...but I haven't been able to find any of their stuff anywhere :/
Katelynne...nice new colour for your blog ^_^ Glad the event went well this weekend.
Ryuuen...my sympathies to you for having your work used without your permission :/
Reading KL's blog reminds me that a) I want to learn to play Go one day...and this hence causes me to lead to the next non-connected ideas: b) I want to be able to play Mah Jong without having to look at the instructions and c) I want to learn to play Chinese Chess XD XD [possibly d) I should play more chess games than I do right now] Katelynne...want to have an e-mail game sometime? ^_^
cc...Kondansha won't be shipping to the US anymore because of fuss from the English right holders (i.e. Mixx)...speaking about Mixx...they've got the rights to Initial D (anime and manga), Cowboy Bebop manga, and...what ever that manga is with the boy and all of the girls around him...should remember, but can't (never read it mind you). Ick...~paying~ to volunteer...that seems wrong on too many levels.
That's about all I have time for right now...so I'll probably archive tomorrow and transfer this entry...and correct some URLs -_-;
I AM 26% GEEK.
I probably work in computers, or a history
deptartment at a college. I never really
fit in with the "normal" crowd. But I have
friends, and this is a good thing.
Take the GEEK Test at Fuali.com!
Added to the literature: Monday, October 29, 2001 at 05:08 p.m.
Confirmation
You're right entirely Priya...both on the acid name and the species of bacteria...(I looked it up last night in my micro textbook). It makes me wonder if irridiation of mail, etc. (as some people have proposed/some companies have suggested). Now that I looked over my text...I'm not sure if it would work...so you damage the DNA...but that would in fact cause spore formation (if the bacteria is not in spore stage already)...I'm not sure how they'd affect the spores though. {shrugs} I'm impressed that you were able to remember that information...I have to look up facts like that ^^;;;;. Might be because you've got immunology experience (which my university doesn't offer). I'm more the molecular biology type myself ^^;;;; (which kind of leads into the fact that it's good that they haven't been bioengineered).
Having said that...once the pores have settled down...they are easy to deal with...just some bleach IIRC...
Added to the literature: Thursday, October 25, 2001 at 07:46 a.m.
Friday, 4 PM
That marks the date that my biochemistry take home exam (proteins & enzymes) is due...the exam was released at 4 PM today...so I have about 46 hours to go (I didn't set a timer, though I thought about it.
Three comments in passing...a) Kristina...I'm glad you enjoyed the article. I could explain my interpretation of the phrase you quoted...^^;;;;; (but that probably says a lot about my corruption level ^^;;;). b) WMC...I've told you more than enough times that "Da" features strongly in biochemistry (particularly with proteins) :P. c) If you see me online...feel free to verbally abuse me if I'm not working on my exam...
Added to the literature: Wednesday, October 24, 2001 at 05:56 p.m.
More miscellany
I haven't quite gotten to replying to blogs yet...which probably shouldn't be that big of a surprise...^^;;
However, I'm reminded of this article from Saturday's Globe and Mail after Kristina's post talking about Chinese classics. It deals with the difficulties in translating "an obscure 17th-century Chinese erotic novel into English". Mention of the "Golden Lotus is made in here as well...as it is along the same style of work. ^^;
Ryuuen...thanks for your help...and I'm just as confused as you are in regards to the # of hits from your page ^^;; (not that I'm complaining or anything ;)
Leah McLearn's article in that issue of the Globe and Mail is pretty good too...it talks about "Hurry Date"...a service that allows for a person to quickly date a large number of people at one time (3 minutes/date...25ish people/night or so?) ^^;;; The best quote from her article is: "I feel the night become a blur. I approach the rest of the evening like a cheerful gang bang, except without the sex.". I will have to use that last line as a topic title one day...since it's almost priceless.
Seimei...I'll try and write you up a quick e-mail today...really (sweatdrops at his e-mail track record).
Added to the literature: Wednesday, October 24, 2001 at 07:50 a.m.
Il neige
It's snowing outside...which means that the infamous winter is coming soon...{though I'll note that the winters in the past while have been much milder than normal...I associate this to the effects of global warming}.
Lovely...-_-;
Oh...don't have much time now...but I have to make mention of my lab yesterday >_<...I managed to knock over some 1 M KOH over my books, onto the floor (and a little bit on my pants) while trying to pipet it in...only two samples had to be repeated though...my right index finger still stings a little bit from the KOH :/ That lab manages to always "amuse" me each and every week @_@;
Added to the literature: Tuesday, October 23, 2001 at 05:54 p.m.
Il neige
It's snowing outside...which means that the infamous winter is coming soon...{though I'll note that the winters in the past while have been much milder than normal...I associate this to the effects of global warming}.
Lovely...-_-;
Oh...don't have much time now...but I have to make mention of my lab yesterday >_<...I managed to knock over some 1 M KOH over my books, onto the floor (and a little bit on my pants) while trying to pipet it in...only two samples had to be repeated though...my right index finger still stings a little bit from the KOH :/ That lab manages to always "amuse" me each and every week @_@;
Added to the literature: Tuesday, October 23, 2001 at 05:42 p.m.
If you keep on pounding me like this, don't you think that I'll eventually break?
Finally...the run of midterms and such is done...take home exam released on Wednesday though still remains...and the paper and seminar looming. I intend to use the next few days to work on labs and this neglected paper ;_;
Before presenting (for myself), a list of things to talk about...I have two questions for readers of this blog.
a) How many episodes are there in the anime form of Berserk? I saw 25 episodes...but it seems incomplete (as I don't know how he got the cannon on his arm...is there in fact a 26th episode? (I thought there was only 25 episodes myself...but perhaps I'm wrong O_o;; )
Could someone give me a brief synopsis of "Yami no Matsuai"? I have access to the anime for a short while...and I'm wondering if its worth picking up (I want to get the next two volumes of Infinite RYVIUS available...and tapes are cheaper in quanta of three...and as Yami no Matsuai is 4 tapes...it would allow for two packs of three... I have to request by the end of the week...so information before then would be quite helpful to me. :)
Now...to a few quick comments before I start listing things I want to talk about in the next entry or so. Ryuuen...you must really like this blog ^_-. Jackie...if you're reading this now, I hope you've finished up your CS assignment...ummm...that's about it for now until I get around to reading blogs carefully. (I'll still reply to the blogs mentioned in the last post...oh...Ryuuen, that wasn't exactly what I was going to refer to, but I'll probably address that point as well now XD). Priya...good luck in your interviews. I'm going to try real hard to write you an e-mail this week...perhaps even tonight (kind of relating to that point...but probably a few other points as well).
Ah...I saw a few articles in JMB that caught my eye...one of them I simply had to read due to the title alone ^^;;;;.
BMJ 2001;323:826 ( 13 October )
News roundup
Project launched in India to measure the size of men’s
penises
After reading the article, the study is being done to examine condom failure.
Other interesting article:
New variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: the epidemic that never was
George A Venters
BMJ 2001; 323: 858-861
Must look for AIM (Annals of Improbable Research) XD
I think http://www.improb.com/ points in that direction. XD XD XD
Now...things to address in the future:
comments on other blogs, marking, debate tournment, a few points from Saturday's Globe and Mail...random events in life...commentary on relationships?! (depends on how willing I am into going into freetalk mode) and finally perhaps a commentary on science, etc. (with regards to Gilbert Ling @_@)
Added to the literature: Tuesday, October 23, 2001 at 07:55 a.m.
If you keep pounding me like this, don't you think that I'll eventually break?
Finally...the run of midterms and such is done...take home exam released on Wednesday though still remains...and the paper and seminar looming. I intend to use the next few days to work on labs and this neglected paper ;_;
Before presenting (for myself), a list of things to talk about...I have two questions for readers of this blog.
a) How many episodes are there in the anime form of Berserk? I saw 25 episodes...but it seems incomplete (as I don't know how he got the cannon on his arm...is there in fact a 26th episode? (I thought there was only 25 episodes myself...but perhaps I'm wrong O_o;; )
Could someone give me a brief synopsis of "Yami no Matsuai"? I have access to the anime for a short while...and I'm wondering if its worth picking up (I want to get the next two volumes of Infinite RYVIUS available...and tapes are cheaper in quanta of three...and as Yami no Matsuai is 4 tapes...it would allow for two packs of three... I have to request by the end of the week...so information before then would be quite helpful to me. :)
Now...to a few quick comments before I start listing things I want to talk about in the next entry or so. Ryuuen...you must really like this blog ^_-. Jackie...if you're reading this now, I hope you've finished up your CS assignment...ummm...that's about it for now until I get around to reading blogs carefully. (I'll still reply to the blogs mentioned in the last post...oh...Ryuuen, that wasn't exactly what I was going to refer to, but I'll probably address that point as well now XD). Priya...good luck in your interviews. I'm going to try real hard to write you an e-mail this week...perhaps even tonight (kind of relating to that point...but probably a few other points as well).
Now...things to address in the future:
comments on other blogs, marking, debate tournment, a few points from Saturday's Globe and Mail...random events in life...commentary on relationships?! and finally perhaps a commentary on science, etc. (with regards to Gilbert Ling @_@).
Added to the literature: Monday, October 22, 2001 at 06:13 p.m.
Next entry coming next week...
Right now...I'm in a rather frazzled, stressed state. I don't really have time to make an entry until early next week...however, I'll be taking notes down on my notepad for my next entry (which should be a big one).
Need to comment to/about entries from: Priya, Kristi, Ryuuen, cc, Seimei, Jackie?, and perhaps a few others that I can't remember.
I won't really be actively reading blogs in the next while...so if you need/want?! to tell me something...send me an e-mail (scongly@softhome.net).
Ah...but I do have a question...Berserk is 25 episodes or 26? I saw 25...but it seems unfinished (but I could have sworn it was different and only had 25 ep).
Lastly...in a PSA announcement...Tin's blog is now back at http://www.livejournal.com/~inori/
Added to the literature: Tuesday, October 16, 2001 at 07:49 a.m.
A little rant
{not directed at any reader}
Just because I know the material (or should theoretically) doesn't give you the carte blanche to always ask me when you have a problem. Try working things out for youself more...repeatedly pestering me doesn't make me happy >_<
As well...do you ~really~ need to type up so many labs on the computer?...
Added to the literature: Thursday, October 11, 2001 at 07:53 a.m.
As promised
As promised...a glimpse into the world of a biochemistry student with a copy of my response to one assignment. I will delete this post next week. I apologise in advance to those (probably all) who are bored by this entry.
I suppose this serves as an example of my more formal writing style...which clearly differs from my style here and in e-mail typically ^^;;;;;
{deleted as promised--10/22/01--SC}
Added to the literature: Wednesday, October 10, 2001 at 10:11 p.m.
Daaa?
I haven't been following blogs too too carefully in the last little bit...too many things to do (lab report Friday, two lab reports Monday, two exams Monday, biochemistry assignment, etc. etc. etc.). This is not a fun week...
A few comments in brief...MIA right now is WMC and Tin...in the attempt to try and spur the former to break radio silence, I've finished your letter evil one...I just need to mail it off now ^_^
My..."Catch you Catch me" is an addictive tune @_@;
Yes...in the next day or so, I'll post up one of my biochemistry assignments just to give a flavour for what I get to do...I'll only leave it up for a week though (it's big...it's preformatted right now on the computer...just need to copy and paste.
The tool called Trillian is good (allows me to use AIM, ICQ, and MSN Messenger at once in one program)...but it manages to crash my computer on sign out (freezing on the "Thanks for using Trillian screen >_<). I wonder what the problem is ;_;. {growls} It's crashed twice now on logout...forcing a restart :(...if it keeps happening, I may just have to keep using the three programs separately.
Waaah...so behind in reading "New Scientist"...so many interesting things in there :(
Finally...interesting article in today's Globe and Mail about the prefab bands (Popstars) and how the Canadian version isn't doing well (Sugar Jones; US equivalent = Eden's Crush?)
Added to the literature: Wednesday, October 10, 2001 at 03:47 p.m.
Very brief entry
Long weekend over...still too little work got done...(where have I heard that cry before).
{waves in Seimei's direction}...I saw your entry and got your e-mail :)
Bombing of Afganistan begins...both sides are pitting "good vs. evil"...and I can hear sounds of the Cold War...
I'll take a moment to point out perhaps the "most intelligent" suggestion after 11 September. One of the...what's the right term here...I'll try right wing Christian commentators had the 'brilliant' idea of making everything all right by "invading Afgahnistan and converting everyone to Christianity". Brava idiot.
Speaking about idiots...the troll on the shoujo manga ML. He was quiet yesterday...and that was good. If he pulls another stunt off like posting PWP explicit yaoi fic (not very good ones even) on the list again, I'm so going for his ISP. (abuse@rr.com is a happy e-mail address to use here).
Added to the literature: Tuesday, October 9, 2001 at 07:58 a.m.
Debriefing at 18:00 hours
That meeting I mentioned...it got moved up earlier to this evening...so I'll be in attendance
Waaaahs...I'm getting corrupted...I'm actually attending my second deparmental seminar in two weeks O_o;;; (but I want to go to this one...and one more...but I think it might be a `good idea` to show up to my prof's seminar (though it isn't my interest)...eek...10 minutes to go (and have to stop by Interlibrary Loans before that).
CC...the mass spec? Must be some powerful and complex experiment ;)...[spectophotometer?]
More Interlibrary Loans forms to fill out later...{sigh}
Added to the literature: Thursday, October 4, 2001 at 01:04 p.m.
Knowledge is power...but also demands responsibility
Kami-sama...are the things starting to really pile up on me...
Now that I've disposed of the whining...a few points or so to make. I saw the Penn and Teller magic documentary (part 1/3) yesterday on the CBC...quite funny ^^. Penn and Teller headed out to China to go searching out magic...line from the show. "David Copperfield is how they say Penn and Teller in China".
cc...you're doing only ~that~ in the lab -_-; That almost sounds like the 'do at home' labs that some online schools offer. My university...the larger things (like animal behaviour, ecology) are their...stronger point I suppose (though the only degree offered is a 'general biology'...there is no specialisation. It's a little less than optimal for me, because I would much like to see a stronger molecular biology program (I discovered that I really liked it...oh about two summers ago).
Tomorrow...must show up for seminar...Tuesday...meeting to go to...what the title topic refers (no I can't really say anything...and it really has no meaning to any reader here ^_^...and no, I'm not involved this time)
I'm going to again state for the record that S-san is evil :P...but not as evil as WMC :P...she knows why ^^;;;;
On that point...WMC...I'll really work hard on getting your letter done...but I haven't had time ;_; (Seimei is next up on my letter writing campaign).
Ah...Tin...a bit of 403 problems today with your blog...but perhaps it was just me ^^;;
Added to the literature: Wednesday, October 3, 2001 at 05:23 p.m.
More thought fragments
Someone yesterday in the lab said they were scared of me...they said I looked like a mad scientist XD XD XD. Take that WMC XD XD.
Watching TV on Sunday...I caught the first part of "The Practice". Explain to me why when I saw the premier the week before that they jumped forward several months in the story to after the court case of the Senator was done -_-. Also on TV news...Survivor III starts in about two weeks or so. This time, apparently the contestants look more like normal people..I'm still calling Survivor IV: Prairie Winter. :D
Oh yes...must see more Infinite RYVIUS (seen up to 8/26). That opening also is too catchy ^^;;; [done by dis...don't know the song title ^^;]
Added to the literature: Tuesday, October 2, 2001 at 01:33 p.m.
Hmmmm
Looks like the US and Britain will be launching an attack on Afghanistan soon...also looks like the US will eventually add removing the Taliban from power as an objective in their war against terrorism...the point to be noted is that it is difficult to think up of a replacement for the Taliban; the Northern Alliance helped plunge the country into civil war in the early 1990s...and their treatment of women isn't much better. :/ Didn't the US help put the Taliban into power? I can't remember for sure. I do remember Vietnam though and the results of that effort for the south.
Somehow, a new pair of pants made into my room...and I don't know who they came from (I'm guessing from my dad's closet, but I don't know). They're really comfortable though ^_^. Oh yes...I bought replacement shoelaces this weekend to replace the ones that broke.
cc...yeah, I've been reading your blog. Myself...I like the molecular stuff and like the more macro types of biology less ^^;;; To each their own ne? ^^. Anyhow...putting up yaoi fic won't phase me at all ^_^;;...remember, I've been desensitised for the most part...only something at the level of "Legend of Obi" might phase me (no, I haven't read it...but know too much about it already @_@;)...
I have the feeling that I've created a self-fulfilling prophecy no da...must be just me then.
Added to the literature: Tuesday, October 2, 2001 at 07:50 a.m.
Oh...and one more thing
I forgot to write this up this morning...if anyone wants Pokemon dub videos (new, factory sealed) let me know...the mall by my house has them on sale for 2/$4 CDN...I'll send them people's way at my cost ^^. NB: I'm not a Pocket Monster fan at all ^^;;;
{deleted}
Added to the literature: Monday, October 1, 2001 at 04:41 p.m.
Random symbols making ideas
With a blant borrowing from my blog title, I go on one of these hodgepodge entries.
Firstly...amusing site: A sign saying that "Dr. Doolittle's math class was cancelled" XD (though it appears to actually be a prof ^^;;)
Secondly...today is the first day of the hurt book sale...lots of good stuff there at discount prices. A few of the books tempted me, but a) I didn't have enough money and b) some of the books aren't...very...shelf worthy shall we say ^^;;;; (they were scholarly though...well...may be I'll just leave it at that ^_-)
Next...just finished up my lab report...submitted a little earlier this morning...I thought it was done, but I made a few corrections this morning (and last night...when I realised that the salt I was using was CaCl2, not CaO2 O_o;;;)
Kristi...you can get a MA in a year? How is that possible...I thought it took two years for a MA...or am I just confused again.
Let's see...we in the biochemistry department are a bit shocked to hear that one of the professors has had their duties relieved until further notice...no one knows what is going on...related to this topic, I got information now that shows me how lucky that the one guy took over my analytical chem course last year...they were willing to cancel a class I need for my degree (and is a prereq for two other required courses) and tell me to take another non-useful class (for my degree). {sighs}
Right now...I'm looking at abstracts about my protein...a lot of flogging to do still.
Kristina...this mystical paper that you and Tin have been talking about. May I receive a copy, if it is available for distribution? :)
Ah...another sign in the university...the Womens' Centre is holding a sex toy party. Heh...I remember one of my colleagues two summers ago talking about the time that she and her roommates went to one of those parties...and was rather surprised by what she found there. ^^;
Added to the literature: Monday, October 1, 2001 at 11:27 a.m.
Epiphany on being in school for longer...(but I knew it anyway)
Archived today...as is very obvious.
Title topic refers to Careers Day, which I and my friends affectionately call Pen Day (for the free pens that are there). There, austensibly, students go aroudn to see what companies are looking for in regards to skills, etc. Sadly, I'll be the first to tell you that a BSc in Biochemistry is useless...at least to the companies that show up there. Engineering, accounting...then you're highly wanted. Apparently, at other universities, science related companies show up and actually give science students some hope ^^;;; My colleagues and I have had this discussion before...what exactly a job can be obtained with just a BSc (even BSc Honours)? Sadly, the results haven't been exactly the most encouraging...
Career Day is sort of a rite for me every year...just like buying textbooks. It reminds me that I have to continue past my undergraduate schooling to find an appropriate job for my interests. As to what exactly that will intail? That Decision awaits (in a little under a year)...a few of you know what I'm considering...but even if you don't, I'm sure that a little bit of guesswork would prove to be quite accurate. I won't bore everyone with my pontification though.
cc...I hear you (though I'm more a molecular biologist-type myself)...
Added to the literature: Friday, September 28, 2001 at 07:49 a.m.