A lot of my technical writing is concerned with clinical trials, so I was especially interested in last night's edition of File on Four, which explained how many researchers are using wrongly-identified or contaminated cell lines in their cancer research. Examples included studies on breast cancer using ovarian cells, and "human" brain cells including mouse or rat DNA.

Validation of such cultures only costs a couple of hundred pounds, and some strains have been known as wrong for over 20 years, but are still being used today.

One of the big incentives for researchers is to get their work published in peer-reviewed publications like Nature. But a representative blustered in a very political way when asked 'why not insist on the validation of cultures before allowing publication?'

Likewise, a government spokesman refused to give a straight answer, and Cancer Research UK wouldn't even be interviewed.

I know scientists are human beings like the rest of us, but I had expected more than the dissembly, obfuscation and disingenousness exposed in this very revealing programme. Listen again while you can - or Podcast if you must.

Will you be giving to cancer charities knowing they carelessly waste your money like this?

... living in Sweden as a copywriter for Vantage Technology Magazine:

"To inspire, enlight and celebrate the beauty in life

Welcome to Vantage Technology Magazine... We want to inspire and enlighten you, with fine deep articles and advice about the most valuable technology... And celebrate the beauty in life...

Vantage Technology Magazine include more articles and pics, than five fine paper magazines... So bookmark us, now!

The word "vantage" mean shortly that you got a "superior position or view" and is related with "advantage" which is a quality, we especially want to give our readers...

You will first find The big Best Buy guide, with the most valuable and some fine alternatives, in almost every category... Great Technology, with a long article about the finest motor boats... An advanced HiFi school, that explain everything... We have also a long page with the almost secret history of the world and over 80 links to the finest sites...

Then are a few pages, not very big yet... But the Art, great beauty & joy section, will grow with a lot more pictures and the great Technology section, will get deep articles about exclusive homes and include many more small delights (as hifi, computers and time pieces) extra fine vehicles (cars, boats, airplanes) and other excellent technology... Welcome to the golden past and future, in Vantage Technology Magazine!

The word "vantage" mean shortly that you got a "superior position or view" and is related with "advantage" which is a quality, we especially want to give our readers!" [Ed: you already said that]

As soon as I came across this site, I immediately heard Stanley burbling away in his inimitable brand of almost-English - which I remember so well from my childhood. "Goldiloppers and the 3 bearloders" was a tape we frequently enjoyed.

I know one should not make fun of foreigners - after all, my Swedish is limited to a few food and drink items, but I only write web sites in my own native tongue, and wouldn't dare to try in, say, French or German without help.

More stuff here: http://vantechmag.com/index.htm

This morning, I opened some promotional mail from BT offering me IT support services. I was somewhat surprised to find that it contained a pair of rather horrid red nylon Y-fronts with a yellow IT logo on the front. The idea is that I can be a super hero in the IT world using their service; and possibly wear men's pants over my tights.

No doubt some bright young exec thought this was a good wheeze, but I was less than impressed.

On Saturday, I had a rare treat - yes, I actually wanted to watch the TV at the weekend! A Stephen Poliakoff night on the Beeb was just the ticket: Gideon's Daughter is one of my all-time favourite modern dramas, and so I settled down for an evening of unalloyed pleasure.

Not quite unalloyed however. On ITV, the ads are a tedious but necessary distraction; on BBC, they just enrage me. At the end of the Culture Show special about SP (which included extensive coverage of a new piece A Real Summer), Mark Kermode mentioned that it would be on next, so I jokingly said "Oh yes - I bet there's a trailer for it now" - and lo and behold, there was, immediately after the credits. Then the piece itself.

Perhaps I am unusual in not being tempted by endless trailers for the same thing, however good it is. By the time Capturing Mary eventually appears on the screen, I shall nearly be at screaming point from all the repetition: more a spoiler than a trailer.

Are BBC marketing executives all complete cretins? Or do they so underestimate the attention span of the general public that they think we need hourly reminders about what's on later? Sheesh.