javascript/xp/hotmail

Sometimes I can open javascript in my email and sometimes I can't. Earlier today I couldn't open The Rocky Mountain News stories in my email, but I could a few minutes ago. I couldn't open the Denver Post stories either time (same company). The only thing I did was get off the computer for awhile. I've made all the adjustment in settings I know about, but the results remain the same. Any suggestions? The Missing Manual suggest down loading the VM when I visit a Java Web site, which apparently I never do as I never get the download message. Is there a safe download site someone recommends?

Thanks

Charles

PS XP home edition; version 2002. Pentium lll 996mhz/256ram