Equal amounts of despair and happiness. On one hand, BT came and installed ADSL and its working brilliantly, had a tremendous weekend of summer barbecues, and friends Steve and Jeff were both in London on layovers to and from holidays. On the other hand, 20 years and 22 million deaths into the AIDS crisis the news is dire what with infections in the gay community on the rise, Africa devastated for generations, and the U.N. struggling with the hypocrisy of some of the world's governments.

Will we ever understand the psychological shadow that hangs over us, and may hang over us for decades? Will some of us ever stop worrying when we have a cold, slight fever, or ache? Why are so many surprised that infections are on the rise when society is so blase about the disease? 22 million people is more than the population of New York State. Brazil has lowered deaths from the disease by 60%, yet they can barely afford to provide medication because of the greed of the pharmaceutical companies. Two generations of Africans have grown up in societies devastated by the pandemic. I'm afraid for the world.