From the CDC: “The results of experiments and observations of insect biting behavior indicate that when an insect bites a person, it does not inject its own or a previously bitten person's or animal's blood into the next person bitten. Rather, it injects saliva, which acts as a lubricant so the insect can feed efficiently. Diseases such as yellow fever and malaria are transmitted through the saliva of specific species of mosquitoes. However, HIV lives for only a short time inside an insect and, unlike organisms that are transmitted via insect bites, HIV does not reproduce (and does not survive) in insects. Thus, even if the virus enters a mosquito or another insect, the insect does not become infected and cannot transmit HIV to the next human it bites.

There also is no reason to fear that a mosquito or other insect could transmit HIV from one person to another through HIV-infected blood left on its mouth parts. Several reasons help explain why this is so. First, infected people do not have constantly high levels of HIV in their blood streams. Second, insect mouth parts retain only very small amounts of blood on their surfaces. Finally, scientists who study insects have determined that biting insects normally do not travel from one person to the next immediately after ingesting blood. Rather, they fly to a resting place to digest the blood meal.” http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/qa/transmission.htm

via This has been bugging me for a while: Why is it that mosquitoes do not transmit HIV or AIDS? : science.

Uber Creepy Tour: Abandoned Six Flags New Orleans [69 Pics] | Design + Ideas on WU.

Indeed, 90 percent of the world’s wheat has little or no protection against the Ug99 race of P. graminis. If nothing is done to slow the pathogen, famines could soon become the norm — from the Red Sea to the Mongolian steppe — as Ug99 annihilates a crop that provides a third of our calories.

via Red Menace: Stop the Ug99 Fungus Before Its Spores Bring Starvation | Magazine.

Citing concerns with the party's national council, as many as 17 Tories inked a resignation letter Thursday saying they can't carry out their “democratically supported mandate” under newly imposed limitations.

Last week, the national council informed the board it would take control of this year's annual general meeting and will have the final word on any riding association spending.

via Dispute in MP’s riding builds.

THE tins of seasoning on top of Zach Motl’s refrigerator — Old Bay, Hungarian paprika, Madras curry powder — are for show only, chosen for their graphic punch and nifty typefaces. Living in a room that’s only 178 square feet, you don’t want to cook much, Mr. Motl said; it’s just too odoriferous. He once made French onion soup, and the apartment smelled for four days. “It was gross,” he said.

via On Location – Zach Motl Fits a World Into a Tiny Brooklyn Studio – NYTimes.com.

Complainants have compared the movement to being buffeted by strong winds, sliding on black ice, or hydroplaning. They said that after trying to straighten the car, it can overcorrect — requiring the driver to use a tight, persistent, two-handed grip on the wheel to travel in a straight line. Yes, that’s right — keeping both hands on the wheel constantly will solve the problem.

via Toyota Recall: Unexpected Veering Is The New Unintended Acceleration – Toyota Recall – Jalopnik.

“…it’s safe to bring kids up. I think it checks a lot of the boxes of what families feel are important qualities.”

via ‘X-Files’ star uncovers Vancouver gems – CNN.com.

The Olympic are leaving an indelible mark on Vancouver and those who live here year-round. The wall on Beatty Street where a series of artistic murals featuring paintings commissioned by the Steve Nash Foundation in 2007, drawn by 16 artists under the direction of Milan Basic, were spray-painted over in the “Olympic blue” colours in time for the games. Local residents showed their appreciation by leaving a stenciled Olympic rings logo reading:

“With glowing hearts, we kill the arts.”

via Adrian MacNair: With glowing hearts, Olympics kills the arts – Full Comment.