Vitamin peddler and HIV in South Africa

Science saves lives.  Bad science, masquerading as science, can kill.

Here's Ben Goldacre on the tragedy of preventable AIDS deaths in South Africa and the man who helped persuade the government not to use retroviral drugs because they were 'dangerous' and his vitamin pills (which are where he makes his money) would cure the disease.

Goldacre wasn't able to include the chapter in his book, becasue he was being sued. The case has now been dropped and he's publishing the chapter free online.

Czech folk customs - pomlázka

I got back from Eastercon to find a wonderful little parcel fromvjezkova  - who knows my love of folklore and ritual customs.

She sent me a delightful little plaque of a building from Holasovice - the style is known as South Bohemian folk Baroque and has distinctively decorated gables.

And, greatest delight, a little 'pomlázka'

It's a Czech Easter custom, Vera talks about it here and you can see photos of them on market stalls.

It's made of braided willow strands, eight strands in two different colours (they don't have to be that way, but this one is and it looks very pretty).  I now have an urge to work out how it's woven...

Thank you, Vera!