Giftmacher’s blog

I try not to blog on serious matters much, but I simply have to link to Ben Goldacre's bad science blog to show just how dangerous the unsubstantiated claims of the alt-med crowd can be. To cut a long story short, Ben has just taken the wraps off a book chapter he wrote detaining the nefarious activities of one Matthias Rath. (Ben's only released the info now, because Rath's legal attempt to suppress the story has been withdrawn.)

If you want to know how low someone will stoop to make money (although to be fair Rath may be genuinely delusional), give the story a read. It details Rath's bid to sell vitamins as an AIDS treatment while telling HIV/AIDS sufferers that anti-retroviral drugs, not the virus, are the real problem.

Anyway, the story is free to download and distribute, so take a look. When you've got over your disgust, probably some hours later, tell your friends.

Gift.

It was the 20 week scan today, and I've a fresh picture to show:

Could be picking its nose... sucking its thumb or roguishly twiddling its moustache dunno for certain. (Oh and babies are covered in hair at this stage, lanugo, so the tash is a serious option!)

I should also say that even I can feel the baby moving around at this point, apparently s/he is pretty feisty. This was a bit unfortunate for the sonographer doing the scan, it was so tricky to get a good picture. I had to hold Astraad's legs while the examination table was tilted 45 degrees to get a better picture! You know you've got an awkward one when you have to rely on gravity to get a scan!

On the plus side, apparently the baby has a nice cerabelum, and long legs. I'd like to think this will mean they will be both brainy and athletic :P Wish I knew where the long legs came from though; I'm a shorty.

Gift.

I really couldn't help myself, we're nearing the 20 week mark now (halfway) and felt compelled to get this particular item of baby clothing:

There's just no resisting paternal enthusiasm and the inner geek combined. I may even invest in a baby backpack so I can carry my little boy/girl around on my shoulders Luke-stylee :D Yes, I'm a man in need of help.

Gift.

So I'm playing it, but I've not got far yet. Not a bad game, but maybe not as good as I'd hope. Shame about the DRM too...

Yesh, a morning getting stuck full of needles again. This is the downside to holidays abroad: vaccinations. Wonderful inventions mind, I just have trouble getting over my needle phobia. While I'm on the subject, Astraad and I didn't want any wedding gifts when we got married so my work mates banded together and bought vaccines from UNICEF on our behalf. Should you be feeling charitable do take a look.

Anyway, not much to report, just job hunting and trying to figure out whether we should take anti-malarials on our honeymoon. We're going to a low risk part of Thailand (Chaing Mai), but the paranoid Biologist in me thinks that it'll be better safe than sorry.

Also, I am apparently the Dude.

Ah ah! Finally found a decent widget that'll let me keep track of Cricket scores, Sadly it's too wide to display in the sidebar here, but it's a beta version so that may change.

B'ah back to work already!

Still, can't complain as the wedding was great I just need something else big to focus on. I suppose searching for jobs qualifies, but it's not so much fun. :D

Right now I'm just waiting for our official photos back, we've seen a few proofs and they look great; I can't wait for the rest.

One thing I would like to mention to any potential wedding planners out there. If you plan to supplement the official photos by placing disposable cameras on tables for guests to use then:

1. Instruct everyone to use them to photograph the people on their table before they do anything else.
2. Get lots of cameras. Really do, the wastage is pretty impressive. Despite our cameras allegedly being good quality (Kodak) lots of shots had artefacts. More is therefore better.
3. If you really want lots of pics encourage guests to mail their own/post them up for you (at the event so you don't have to chase people up). It's probably the better solution given the number of people with digital cameras these days.

Anyhoo I hope that comes in handy to someone,

Gift.

Just a brief note of irritation. I must confess a dreadful and embarrassing habit, namely grocer's apostrophes. I don't know what it is about writing with a keyboard, as opposed to a pen, but I cannot help slipping in unnecessary and incorrect punctuation. I'm particularly prone to writing "it's" when indicating possession instead of "its", but that is the least of my mistakes; lately I've been writing "lot's" when I mean "lots".

What gives I wonder? I know it's incorrect but still do it almost by reflex. Perhaps I let the PC do too much thinking for me these days... I'm dumbing myself down!

Gift.

Well April fools is long past, but Rickrolling seems to be taking a while to run it's course. Some witty individual thought it's be a good laugh to bring a flashmob together in London Liverpool street station for a bit of rush hour light relief {Edit actually it was a Saturday... but you get the idea]. I'm not sure what the commuters thought but it is rather funny...