I've always been a fan, but this year I've been rather obsessed with TIME Magazine. I pick up the week's article every week at the airport. It's really just a nice way to stay in touch with what's going on around the world and get some thoughts flowing during otherwise potentially mindless and unproductive flights.

Last week's issue (October 12th) was one that really struck me as being interesting. I really like this article about the potential (and likely...) problems with the current proposed health-care reform. This article added to this issue's bipartisan writing that I appreciated so much!

Another article that really got me thinking is about a new AIDS vaccine. Now, I'm not sure how relevant I think this study is to the future of AIDS vaccinations, as the data doesn't seem compellingly positive. Never mind the actual purpose behind this article. No...this article raised two other, larger questions for me:

1) Circumcision is 60% effective in preventing the spread of AIDS?! What?! I had no idea. I mean, I know it's supposed to be cleaner, but I never would have thought it might be cleaner in that way. This makes me wonder how some people can still avoid circumcising their children. AIDS is certainly not a laughing matter, and there are currently about 30,000,000 people living with it. Ah! Scary.

2) In this study, participants were first injected with the vaccine (or a placebo) and later injected with AIDS to measure the vaccine's efficacy. Yes; I understand that this is how such a study must work. BUT WHAT THE HECK?! Who are these volunteers? What could the study possibly offer you to risk (quite significantly) being infected? Is this entirely a selfless act in the name of science and progress? So wild.

Anyway, others should pick up an issue every once in a while. The Verbatim column is quite entertaining, and just reading in-depth opinions about relevant (and sometimes not-so-relevant) issues is so thought-provoking and mind-stimulating. Not to mention...it's a great way to read some wonderful writing...one of the best ways to improve your own!