AIDS, Afghanistan, Don't

Researchers are beginning to unravel the 'history' of HIV.

Yahoo: Monkey Gene That Blocks AIDS Viruses Evolved More Than Once

A gene in Asian monkeys that may have evolved as protection against a group of viruses that includes HIV has been identified by Harvard Medical School researchers, who add that their finding suggests the current AIDS epidemic is not a new kind of scourge.

...If this is true, it could mean that an AIDS-like epidemic is not unique to the current time, and such outbreaks may have afflicted the primate ancestors of humans.

Africa remains an AIDS hot spot. "Over 42 million people are living with HIV/AIDS, and 74 percent of these infected people live in sub-Saharan Africa."

BBC: Home HIV help 'could save lives'

Treating African HIV patients in their own homes instead of the clinic could substantially cut the number of deaths from the disease, say researchers.

Wide provision of antiretroviral treatment and care in sub-Saharan Africa could have a profound effect on prevention of mortality in people with HIV, improve the health and longevity of their children, and reduce the rate of orphanhood.

Afghanistan's Further Demise

The Guardian UK: Afghanistan mission close to failing - US

After six years of US-led military support and billions of pounds in aid, security in Afghanistan is "deteriorating" and President Hamid Karzai's government controls less than a third of the country, America's top intelligence official has admitted.

A big injection of foreign troops has failed to bring stability. The US has almost 50,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and - twice as many as in 2004 - while the UK has 7,700, mostly in Helmand. Another 2,200 US marines are due to arrive next month to combat an expected Taliban surge.

We tend to think that in Afghanistan there is a smaller number of troops, but the number is 50,000. The Afghanistan war is far removed from the mainstream media, we don't hear much about it. Yet it remains a major conflict, and it is devolving.

Just Don't

Yahoo: Spanking children can lead to problems later in life

Straus said studies have shown that corporal punishment leads to low self control and self esteem, as well as aggressiveness, antisocial personalities and the understanding that violence is okay which may lead to sexual coercion.

Save it for the consenting adult world.