Finally the USA does something right!

US stem cell research funding ban lifted by court

Terrifying really the amount of power that country has in terms of scientific research when you consider the amount of say religious groups and conservatives who know nothing about have in such matters. Stem cells could be one of the most important areas of research in the coming years, and it could all have been messed up on account of crazy right-wingers thinking its 'cruel'. Heres to common sense winning through! An embryo isn't a sentient form of life, and it might never be whether or not it is used in stem cell research. The more research can be done and the more the whole area is understood, the more likely it will be to find a less ethically sensitive way of achieving the same end result. Fact of the matter is that some of the research so far is showing great promise for many, many people around the world who are having to live with disabilities/illness that as of now have no other treatment.

Victory for science! "Opponents, who include religious groups, argue that the research is unethical and illegal." Since when should religious groups have any influence over scientific research? Worrying. People should stick to what they know.

Nowt interesting

http://www.statravel.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/uk_division_web_live/hs.xsl/tour-detail.htm?provider=1&tourId=STA_pqhd8&backto=results&region=AS&country=MY

https://www.caxtonfxcard.com/loadingit.asp?dist=CAXTGENL

Just for future reference. Could just favourite them, but that would be too easy.

Tune

Bloody plane crashes - why is only ever the ones with talent?

All paid up!

Made the last payment off my trip to the USA just now, how exciting! Got everything booked up now - all the accomodation in New York and San Francisco and a few little touristy bits on the first and last days. All I need to do now is sort out what I'm taking and get out there!

Made another impulse buy - a Creative Vado mini-video camera. Might come in handy, for £40 though figured it was worth a punt. Watch this space. Sadly I'm back up in Durham though so not much to try it out on, at least back home theres the dog and the chicks. Ah well. All in good time.

Bye-bye Spotify

It was inevitable really, Spotify has gone the way of Premium or shit. I've had an account with them since they introduced the beta in the UK and finally I've had enough. It was an amazing service, a huge amount of new music to discover and for free, thats what I signed up for. Now they have made the wonderful decision of limiting all free accounts (not just the newer ones which were limited anyway) and putting a block on tracks you play more than 5 times. Brilliant. Not all of us can afford to pay out £10 a month to access something you don't get to keep. I can understand the free accounts get in the way of profit, so why not just stop taking any more free accounts and let those who built up their service carry on? Ah well. Its not like there are no other options out there. Hit Grooveshark today on the search for Getting Away With It...Live by James. Not on Spotify, but managed to find it there. Got the CD on order but in the meantime I'm enjoying it through this playlist:

http://listen.grooveshark.com/playlist/Getting+Away+With+It+Live/51871194?src=5

Brilliant band.

Wireless fails again

What the hell made the good people from Pulp book the sodding Wireless festival? They've proven that they can't handle getting together a good line-up that doesn't feature a never ending stream of chav bands. Really, really pissed off right now. The second act on the bill is GRACE JONES. Seriously? What the hell. There are plenty of washed-up yet decent bands from the Britpop era out there - it wouldn't take a genius to try them. Fact is that if they aren't played on Kiss they don't exist at that festival. Wish I could offload that ticket, but would love to see Pulp. Over £50 to only see one band, sucks.

Not much happening in life apart from revision, and theres not too much of that going down. Third year exams nearly coming, should probably be a bit more urgency about it. Ah well. Got my trip to USA to look forward to, and then plans for a trip to Costa Rica next year. Hopefully I can fit that in before getting a job or something over the summer. No idea what the plan is after next year. Hopefully will all become clear.