BBC NEWS | Health | Autism risk linked to older dads

The team of UK and US experts said children born to men over 40 had a six times higher risk than those born to men under 30.

They said the study in Archives of General Psychiatry was further proof men also had "biological clocks".

To brake, or not

I didn't get my brakes fixed on Saturday as I had planned, and I didn't get them fixed today either . . . sort of.

On Saturday I discovered the major chain brake shop at the mall had closed down completely. That surprised me. It was still in business a month or so ago when I bought new tires for the cars. And the two mom 'n pop brake shops in town were closed for the weekend because of the holiday. And Firestone was so jammed full there was not a single parking space to be had in the entire parking lot.

I went to Firestone this morning and they were actually open and remarkably not busy so I stayed there for the hour and a half it took them to grind the rotors (whatever those are) so I could drive the car for a couple of months before I have to find and spend almost $300 to get said rotors replaced. On a good note, my brake pads are in excellent condition.

BBC NEWS | Technology | Net browser promises private surf

chron.com | School official launches sagging pants crusade

DALLAS - A Dallas school board member has had it with baggy pants that overexpose.

Ron Price has asked the Dallas City Council to look at strengthening the law to give citations to those who expose their underwear.

Oh, my goodness. I wonder if I could get the ol' home town to pass a law if I become a school board member and complain about having to look at people's underwear hard enough. Maybe I could even widen the law a bit to include citing women who insist on wearing tops that expose their bra straps. That's really disgusting.

(Please note my tongue is firmly planted in my cheek despite finding it incredibly tasteless to wander around in public with one's undergarments showing.)

Well . . .

(Yes, I know. Such a deep subject for such a shallow mind.)

The man they hired to replace my boss who quit has now gone as well so I am boss-less again.

This is a three day weekend, for which I am truly thankful. I've had the hardest time waking up this week so being a lazy bum for three days sounds like just the thing I need.

Tomorrow I have to get my brakes fixed . . . probably. They aren't squeaky but braking is kind of rough. The car has started to shake.

Let's see . . . What else is there? Not much. Just work and reading and the odd bit of knitting every now and then.

Well, I'm off to bed.

Later, 'gators!

I really need to stop taking these quizzes

Your Element is Metal

Your power colors: white, gold, and silver Your energy: contracting Your season: fall You are persistent (and maybe even a little bit stubborn). If you see something you want, you go for it. You have a lot of strength, and it's difficult to get you down. Very logical, you tend to analyze everything going on in your life.

What Element Are You?

Ew!

What Your Soul Really Looks Like

You are very passionate and quite temperamental. While you can be moody, you always crave comfort. You are a grounded person, but you also leave room for imagination and dreams. You feet may be on the ground, but you're head is in the clouds. You believe that people see you as a bit small and insignificant. People pay more attention to you than you think. Your near future is still unknown, and a little scary. You'll get through wild times - and you'll textually enjoy it. For you, love is all about caring and comfort. You couldn't fall in love with someone you didn't trust.

Inside the Room of Your Soul

I must be in a strange mood today

You Are an Irish Coffee

At your best, you are: wild, spontaneous, and outgoing At your worst, you are: too extreme and reckless You drink coffee when: you want to keep drinking booze Your caffeine addiction level: low

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

Never been there

You Belong in Amsterdam

A little old fashioned, a little modern - you're the best of both worlds. And so is Amsterdam. Whether you want to be a squatter graffiti artist or a great novelist, Amsterdam has all that you want in Europe (in one small city).

What European City Do You Belong In?

I'm so sad

My knitting buddy at work quit. She decided she wanted to try her hand at being a stay at home mom. Good for her, but bad for me. I don't have anybody to knit and gossip with anymore.

His Dark Materials

I finally finished the trilogy. I must say that it is one of the best sets of books I've read in a long time and the fact it was intended for a juvenile audience makes it positively astounding. I am, however, rather surprised the Religious Left or Right or whichever it is that wants to drag us all back 2,000 years to a time when persecution, bigotry, prejudice, and subjugation of "lesser" people was the norm didn't balk at these books and insist Pullman be burned at the stake. I can only assume they haven't read the books or they just didn't understand them and didn't want to flaunt their ignorance. Or maybe I don't understand the books and they are just what the Religious Whatever think the world should be.

For me, the books were about saving the majesty of mankind by letting the old way die and by opposing those that would keep us in thrall in the dark because they relish the power it gives them. To put it even more simply, to save the souls of man god must die and a new heaven needs be built on a foundation of wisdom gained through knowledge of ourselves and the world we live in.

Mass murder in the skies: was the plot feasible?

On the way to work this morning

The drive home this evening

You know it's one of those days if . . .

I spent an hour yesterday morning watching red deer graze in Germany. I took the morning off 'cause I had business to transact at my bank and I was bored, so . . .

Driving home in the rain today

Guess what this is . . .

Give up? It's a kitten. A girl kitten. A girl kitten who's been living with us for a few days and whom I didn't find out about till yesterday when the Prodigal Son called me at work to let me know about her. I suspect he called me at work since I share an office and he thought I wouldn't verbally eviscerate him for bringing another cat into the house.

According to the Prodigal, the little monster was stuck in the tree in the front yard and he had to climb on the roof to get her down. He also claims he left her in the yard so she could find her way home but she apparently decided she liked our house better than wherever she comes from because she refuses to leave no matter how many times we put her outside.

She is such a mellow little kitty. Nothing phases her, not even five adult cats hissing and spitting at her and taking the occasional pot shot. Jokingly, on my way to bed last night, I said we should call her Mellow Yellow. I had no sooner turned off the light than the Prodigal was beating at my door to tell me the kitten's name was Melanie. Not only did I say no, I said hell no! I will not have a cat named Melanie any more that than I will have a cat named Precious which is the name Izzy arrived with. The Prodigal informed me he was calling her Mel and I told him we'd see.

So now, finally, I present to you . . . Melisande who shall be called Mel or Meli or Melis.

Just so you know, two

Your True Birth Month Is January

Loyal Social Logical Easily jealous Loves children Rather reserved Highly attentive Likes to criticize Needs close friends Ambitious and serious Smart, neat and organized Hardworking and productive Loves to teach and be taught Quiet unless excited or tensed Sensitive and has deep thoughts Knows how to make others happy Searches for the greatest romance Resistant to illnesses but prone to colds Romantic but has difficulties expressing love Always looking at people's flaws and weaknesses

What's Your True Birth Month?

Just so you know . . .

You Are: 20% Dog, 80% Cat

You are are almost exactly like a cat. You're intelligent, independent, and set on getting your way. And there's no way you're going to fetch a paper for anyone!

Are You More Cat or Dog?

I've been knitting

The knitting bug bit me today so I finished a project I've been working on forever while I indulged in watching the 5th DVD of the 5th season of Stargate SG-1. Somehow I've managed to miss the entire first half of the 5th season of the show. I'm not sure how I did it.