Stuff to watch and other stuff to read.

There was an excellent special on Frontline (PBS) tonight entitled "The Age of AIDS." It chronicles many different aspects of HIV/AIDS, from scientific origins and research, to grassroots activism around the world. Tonight was part one, and the conclusion airs tomorrow night. I hugely recommend you watch it, even if you think you are already an expert. I bet you'll learn at least one new thing, and, if nothing else, you'll be moved by the stories and people in the program.

In other HIV/AIDS-related news, the Kaiser Family Foundation published a survey this month of about 2,500 Americans, asking them about their beliefs and knowledge about the virus. Lots of Americans favor increased governmental funding, both domestic and international, to help fight the epidemic. That's good.
What's not so good? "Significant percentages of Americans think HIV might be spread through kissing, sharing a drinking glass, and touching a toilet seat – 37%, 22%, and 16% respectively.
In addition, a majority does not know that a pregnant woman with HIV can take drugs to reduce the risk of her baby being infected (55%), or that having another sexually transmitted disease (STD) may increase a person’s risk of getting HIV (56%)."