Will there ever be an Aids vaccine?

Disturbing news that scientists are now doubting if a vaccine against Aids will ever be available. The latest trials ended in failure, and scientists are now wondering whether to move away from clinical trials to understanding the basic biology of the virus and its effects on the human immune system. I just hope that they don't give up totally, as so many people are infected, and need that hope that one day, there will be a vaccine, as well as new drugs to treat the current strains.

Is it time to give up the search for an Aids vaccine?
After 25 years and billions of pounds, leading scientists are now forced to ask this question

Albert Khan

A book of the photographs commissioned by the French banker Albert Khan is coming out soon. I visited the Albert khan museum in Paris last summer and was totally blown away by the photos. I am certainly going to get the book - as the photos are just exquisite.

Albert Kahn’s early colour photographs

Financial crunch

Shocking to hear that Credit Suisse have suffered even more losses than originally thought. Is part of the reasons behind the current financial crisis just sheer greed on the part of certain individuals who were happy enough to take millions of pounds in bonuses - now the banks are in trouble because of the behaviour of these 'rogue traders', why dont the banks ask for the bonuses back?

Credit Suisse posts £1bn loss

A bad hair day

Yesterday, I spent all day talking to employers, trying to recruit them onto an online graduate recruitment fair. Following the telephone calls, I sent emails, complete with material to explain exactly how the online fair would operate. Today - I was working elsewhere, and on checking my emails, I found one from a colleague. Apparently, yesterday, I forgot to attach the attachments - and this HUGE national employer has rung back today - so my colleague had to send out the attachments. What a idiot I am. I just hope they are SO mega impressed with the idea, that they sign up! Definitely a bad hair day yesterday! Lets hope tomorrow, I am a bit more on the ball...

Chickens

My friend has had some chickens delivered. She ordered TWO - and when they arrived, complete with a really posh plastic hen house with an integral shit tray, there were 2 others in the van who were having to go back to the farm, as the person who had ordered them had changed their mind, so now she has FOUR chickens! Now, at work, I am the one who always seems to have 'sucker' written in big letters on my forehead, but today, I think I handed over that mantle to Jackie. So, welcome to Henny, Penny, Pippa and Peg! I am sure I will be having weekly updates on the progress in house training, garden etiquette and where not to plop... I am looking forward to some fresh eggs as well!

Culture vulture

Spent a few days in Paris over my Easter break from university. Went to exhibitions and museums. Bliss. So, what did I see?

'Vlaminck - l'instinct fauve' at the Luxembourg
'Patti Smith - Land 250' at Fondation Cartier
Montparnasse Museum
Postal Museum
Lovis Corinth' - at Orsay
Exhibition of work at Ateliers de Paris - Faubourg St Antoine
Gregor Schneider - Maison Rouge


oh, and I bought some original artwork from the exhibition at the Atelier!

Olympic torch relay

Good to see that the free world is not rolling over under pressure from China. I am all for protest along the route of the torch - we have to be able to express our distaste and outrage at the treatment of Tibet. I certainly did not appreciate the sight of Chinese security persons on the streets of London last Sunday, and was pleased to hear the Australians will NOT be allowing these thugs on their streets - to 'protect' the torch. I hope the route through San Francisco is full of protestors. Not good to hear on the radio that the governor of the "Tibetan Autonomous Region" threatening "If someone dares to sabotage the torch relay in Tibet and its scaling of Mount Everest, we will seriously punish him and will not be soft-handed,". Please, please, please - can there be some protestors flown to the top of Mt Everest to thumb a collective nose at this silly, pompous man, as the torch goes past!

Demonstrators converge on San Francisco today ahead of torch relay

Zimbabwe elections

It is about time that Robert Mugabe accepted that the people of Zimbabwe do not want him as their President any more! Before the elections, a friend asked me what I thought the result would be, and I said that whatever the result, Mugabe would not go. I think that so far, I gave been proved right. Hopefully though, the pressure starting to be put on him by other African nations, will make him realise what a fool he is making of himself. Zimbabweans want democracy, not a dictatorship - they have voted for change, they now deserve that change.

Zambia calls for Zimbabwe solution

Dysfunctional families

Reports that the mother of Shannon Matthews has been remanded on charges of child neglect and perverting the course of justice, just go to show dysfunctional some families are. After a 24 day hunt for the child, she was found in the flat of her step-father's uncle. Since then, further members of the family have been arrested, including her step father, his mother and sister. Other press reports tell of family members trying to get money from the Madeline McCann fund. What is happening to the other children who were living with Mrs Matthews? With seven children by five different fathers - it must be a social services nightmare to sort it all out. I know it is very harsh - but how are these children supposed to succeed in life, when their family life is as dysfunctional as this?

Shannon mother in court on neglect charge