The Roman Empire and the HIV Connection

According to a new study from the University of Provence, Europeans currently living in the Roman Empire's 'previous colonies are more vulnerable to HIV.'

If you're saying: 'Say what?!' just about now, read more here. Very interesting article.

A snippet says:

"The claim, by French researchers, is that people once ruled by Rome are less likely to have a gene variant which protects against HIV.
This includes England, France, Greece and Spain, New Scientist reports.
Others argue the difference is linked to a far larger event, such as the spread of bubonic plague or smallpox.
...
The idea that something carried by the occupying Romans could have a widespread influence on the genes of modern Europeans comes from researchers at the University of Provence.

They say that the frequency of the variant corresponds closely with the shifting boundaries of the thousand-year empire.

In countries inside the borders of the empire for longer periods, such as Spain, Italy and Greece, the frequency of the CCR5-delta32 gene, which offers some protection against HIV, is between 0% and 6%.

Countries at the fringe of the empire, such as Germany, and modern England, the rate is between 8% and 11.8%, while in countries never conquered by Rome, the rate is greater than this."
graph per bbc

Are Comebacks the New Inventions?

This, I enjoyed reading as it seems congruent with some of the things I've thought about.

"The Doc Martens revival is still going strong - though initially worn as part of the 80s renaissance, the boot fits effortlessly into the New Nineties when worn in a grungier style, such as the current penchant for tartans, plaids and chunky woollens. Elsewhere, we are seeing skinny jeans giving way to bell bottoms, wide-legs and bootcuts (though we have yet to encounter a full-throttle "baggy" revival, a Madchester renaissance seems somewhat inevitable)."

I enjoyed my DC Martens. Good shoes. Durable. But oh-so-heavy and such a drag to schlep. I retired them a while back as I figured it was a text I'd read a lot already. Plus, they didn't feel decade-appropriate. I don't really understand why they're making a comeback to so many closets.
Or, for that matter, why 90210 had to make a comeback.
But I digress.
Can't HBO throw a bone to other cable stations and allow them to show reruns of Curb Your Enthusiasm, or something?
Anyway, one thing's for sure, though. It's not only Doc Martens that are making a successful comeback.
And as someone just uttered to me, 'well, I guess one of the good things of growing up in the 80's and 90's is that we don't have to watch anymore TV these days. We're already all caught up.'
I had to say: 'Quotable.'

graph per images google
graph per hbo