Fertility starts dropping after about 35 (varies by person, obviously) but doesn't really hit the skids until 40, on average. Downs Syndrome - the most common genetic abnormality - rates increase after 30, but don't get really incredible until after 40 (Wikipedia has a chart). The reason you hear at lot about the age of 35 with Downs is that's the age at which the chance of miscarriage from amnio becomes lower than the chance of having a Downs child. I read in the NYT recently that 90% of women who have an amnio that's positive for Downs abort, which surprised me; most Downs children born are born to younger women, since they tend not to have the screening.

There's also the late-life care of a Downs baby, because the parents are less likely to be around for the long-term adulthood needs of the child. It would be a horrible choice to have to make, for sure.

And of course, I'm a good example of what happens with advanced maternal age: fertility issues treated with meds which cause multiple births which causes preterm labor.

For the first time in 40 years, according to the US Vital Statistics report, infant mortality rates in the US are increasing and not decreasing, mostly as a result of advanced maternal age.

GA: WRT Callie also irked because she's not a better choice. She has done NO teaching. It would have been better to have Halfrek be the chief resident. But of course, contractually, Halfrek isn't a series regular.

Oy.

None that we've seen, for sure Kat. Which is what makes it so annoying - they could have set this up so much better, but now it just feels like an asspull.

Dude. I'm dinking around in Second Life (for my job. Really.) and you can buy an island.

I'm seriously thinking we need Buffista Island.

Hee! Can you run Second Life on the Mac? I'll retreat there with you...

In First Life News, I can't find the 100ft extension cord that runs my grass trimmer anywhere You would think it would be HARD to misplace 100ft of anything, you know?

I'm seriously thinking we need Buffista Island.

Totally! Continuous virtual F2F!

ION, there was this painting on the wall of the F2F hotel... it's the third picture here [link] - with an enlarged detail in picture # 4.

So I'm curious - what do folks see in the picture?

I'll post a discussion of the picture in a few minutes....

I just listened to that cop who called the cops on himself after stealing pot, making brownies, and thinking he was dying...and then dead.

Comedy gold, until I think about the fact that he wasn't charged with any crime, and is still able to breed.

Can you run Second Life on the Mac?

Yes.

You need a decent graphics card. Which my Mac Mini does not have. I'll have to install Second Live on my HP box....

what do folks see in the picture?

It's clearly The Faceless Mermaid of Orgasm Shoals, captured in the American Mural style "Symbolic Vagina."