Hello

Mainz is filling up again as new students arrive for the start of the new semester. One of note is Andrea who arrived at the weekend from Barranquilla. Let's hope she gets used to the German way of life soon, and fills out all those forms...

Not new, but Albe and Paolo have come to visit us in Mainz for the next five days, flying from Sardinia, where Albe has been fattened up by the family of Paolo (not sure if they were planning on roasting him afterwards...)

Now to the news. Gravitational effects are being tested with a launch today of a plastic sheet and some balls. No seriously. A lot of thought and preperation has gone into making the balls the nearest to perfect spheres, with the plastic sheet being taken from a trampoline. Ok, that last bit was made up.

In the UK a woman is seeking divorce because her husband has been taking Viagra and she can't control him. It's a good job they don't live on a farm, is all I can say.

Onto Latin America. Whilst most of the news is focusing on the kidnappings in Iraq, the thousands happening a year in Mexico are not being noticed. The BBC has a report on one of the kidnap negotiators. Maybe with this in the media, some more people might take notice and try to help stop it.

The 'hand of God' is being given a second meaning at the moment, with Diego Maradona relying on it whilst in hospital with various problems including with his breathing and high blood pressure. I recommend following the link to see his life through pictures.

And now to Colombia where the leader of the paramilitary group AUC, Carlos Castano has gone into hiding after an attempt on his life from, apparently, other paramilitaries not content with him negotiating with the authorities. Of course, when it's your own men out to get you, it becomes very difficult to find a safe place to hide. Maybe this could finally allow the disarming process to advance and hopefully end up with there being no more paramilitaries. With 'just' the Farc and Eln to contend with, maybe a solution to this civil war that has lasted over 40 years will become easier to achieve. Here's hoping.

For those of you who love sculptures, or even for those that don't, in Harbin, a city in northern China, they are having a snow and ice festival. Many intricate sculptures and even houses are built with ice and snow, and the pictures on this site are amazing. Another place to put on the holiday list to visit...

On closing, in case you hadn't heard, Spain announced that it will now bring home it's troops from Iraq, thus following the wishes of its people. Let's hope that other leaders might take the hint and also listen to the people that elected them...

Peace