MIT Fellowship and Relocation
8 years ago
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Finding the Answers Within
Finding Answers Within
You Have All the Answers
You Have All the Answers
Many of us seek the answers to life’s questions by looking outside of ourselves and trying to glean advice from the people around us. But as each of us is unique, with our own personal histories, our own sense of right and wrong, and our own way of experiencing the world that defines our realities, looking to others for our answers is only partially helpful. The answers to our personal questions can be most often found by looking within. When you realize that you always have access to the part of you that always knows what you need and is meant to act as your inner compass, you can stop searching outside of yourself. If you can learn to hear, trust, and embrace the wisdom that lives within you, you will be able to confidently navigate your life.
Trusting your inner wisdom may be awkward at first, particularly if you grew up around people who taught you to look to others for answers. We each have exclusive access to our inner knowing. All we have to do is remember how to listen. Remember to be patient as you relearn how to hear, receive, and follow your own guidance. If you are unsure about whether following your inner wisdom will prove reliable, you may want to think of a time when you did trust your own knowing and everything worked out. Recall how the answers came to you, how they felt in your body as you considered them, and what happened when you acted upon this guidance. Now, recall a time when you didn’t trust yourself and the results didn’t work out as you had hoped. Trusting your own guidance can help you avoid going against what you instinctively know is right for you.
When you second guess yourself and go against what you know to be your truth, you can easily go off course because you are no longer following your inner compass. By looking inside yourself for the answers to your life’s questions, you are consulting your best guide. Only you can know the how’s and why’s of your life. The answers that you seek can be found when you start answering your own questions.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Martin: The Republicans Are Desparate
(CNN)--Watching Sen. John McCain and top Republicans swing wildly in their attempts to slam Sen. Barack Obama, with less than two weeks ago to go before Election Day, is like watching an old fighter --clearly out of gas, his legs turned to rubber, and all he can do is grab, hold, punch behind the back, just anything to try to win.
McCain's campaign is no longer about issues. He and his supporters want to bring up anything and everything to derail Obama, and nothing is sticking, so they just keep returning to their old bag of tricks.
In the past two weeks, we've seen Minnesota Republican Rep. Michelle Bachmann make one of the most audacious statements ever, suggesting that Obama holds anti-American views, that other members of Congress have the same views, and that the media should launch a widespread investigation to ferret them out.
No, seriously, she said that on MSNBC's "Hardball."
It didn't take long for the folks on the left to get ahold of her comments. After the video spread like wildfire, Democrats across the country pumped $700,000 into the campaign coffers of her opponent. The normally talkative Bachmann is now on lockdown, not granting any interviews, as she has to work hard to hold onto her seat.
Then you have former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, who was caught suggesting that if Obama wins, he is going to put in place the policies of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Now, Gingrich has absolutely no clue what policies Wright advocated, but he wants to scare the dickens out of voters by literally making stuff up about Obama.
Cindy McCain, who has barely moved her lips during this campaign, is now accusing the Obama campaign of running the dirtiest campaign ever, and lighting up the New York Times and others for their viciousness. Never mind what's happening in her own backyard with all of the false and outlandish comments coming from her husband, his running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin, and their supporters.
They are now in full blame-the-media mode.
Then you have both McCain and Palin slamming Obama for essentially being a socialist. We shouldn't be surprised that it's come to this because we already had radio hosts like Lars Larson, Glenn Beck and others trying to paint Obama for months as being a Marxist. Now the junior senator from Illinois is a student of Lenin!
This has totally gotten out of hand, but instead of trying to castigate Obama and tar and feather him, the Republicans should look inward and look at how their actions have seriously harmed this nation.
The Republicans ran Congress for six years. The Republicans have held the White House for the last eight years. The Republicans have advanced the deregulation agenda that played a major role in creating the financial mess we are currently in.
The Republicans have led the foreign policy we have in place that has destroyed the moral authority we once held. Their president is one of the most unpopular in history, so bad that he and Vice President Dick Cheney can't even come out of the White House to campaign on behalf of McCain because they are so reviled by Americans.
Can someone please remind these folks of this?
Every campaign says they want the election to be about the issues, but when McCain's campaign manager Rick Davis made it clear that they want it to be about character and not issues, well, we should have realized we would get to this point.
That's why we're hearing so much about Bill Ayers. That's why they've spent more time blasting out statements about ACORN than real policy points.
It's pretty sad, really. It's sad that instead of making it about a vision for America , they want it to be about the castigating of a good man. It's sad that McCain can't fully articulate an economic plan that encompasses all Americans, instead of redistributing income upwards to the super rich.
It's sad that his only answer to the economy is tax cuts, when we need a much broader answer.
Much can happen over the next 13 days. I've seen campaigns won and lost with less time on the clock.
McCain will continue to throw jabs, swinging wildly, ignoring the game plan he came into the fight with, hoping something -- anything -- connects against the jaw of his younger, more fluid opponent. And like any aging fighter, as the rounds tick away, he could get even more desperate and fearful. So hold on to your seats. Lord knows what will come out of the GOP side over the next 13 days.
Editor's note: Join Roland S. Martin for his weekly sound-off segment on CNN.com Live at 11:10 a.m. ET Wednesday. If you're passionate about politics, he wants to hear from you. A nationally syndicated columnist, Martin has said he will vote for Barack Obama in November. He is the author of "Listening to the Spirit Within: 50 Perspectives on Faith" and "Speak, Brother! A Black Man's View of America ." Visit his Web site for more information.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
RESEARCHERS IDENTIFY NOVEL TYPE OF ANTIBODY THAT POTENTLY INHIBITS HIV INFECTION
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH NIH News National Cancer Institute (NCI) Embargoed for Release: Monday, October 20, 2008, 5:00 p.m. EDT
CONTACT: NCI Office of Media Relations, 301-496-6641,
RESEARCHERS IDENTIFY NOVEL TYPE OF ANTIBODY THAT POTENTLY INHIBITS HIV INFECTION
A small antibody fragment that is highly effective in neutralizing the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) by preventing the virus from entering cells has been identified by researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This finding may provide insight into the development of new treatments against HIV and other viruses, hopefully in the not too distant future. The study appears online Oct. 20, 2008, in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Treating HIV-infected individuals is difficult because the virus is able to mutate and become resistant to antiretroviral drugs. "In the United States, it is estimated that more than 50 percent of patients who are receiving antiretroviral therapy for their HIV infection carry strains of the virus that are resistant to treatment with at least one of the currently available antiretroviral drugs," said NCI Director John E. Niederhuber, M.D. "The development of new drugs against HIV is an urgent public health need."
Antibodies are large proteins naturally produced by the immune system to help fight disease-causing foreign invaders, such as viruses and bacteria.
Although the general structure of all antibodies is very similar, a small region at the tip of the protein is extremely variable, allowing millions of antibodies, characterized by slightly different tip structures, to exist and bind to different targets, known as antigens. Previous research has shown that reducing antibodies to the smallest independently functional fragment, known as a variable domain, can extend their utility as therapeutic agents. These fragments, called domain antibodies (dAbs), retain the variable tip structure and, therefore, the antigen-binding specificity of the parent antibody. Because of their small size, they are able to access targets that cannot be reached by much larger, whole antibodies.
In an earlier study, the researchers identified a unique antibody, called m0, while screening a large library of antibodies directed against the HIV protein, Env (also known as gp120). The library contained the variable portions of antibodies that can bind to Env antigens. "We found an antibody fragment that exhibited the ability to neutralize HIV and had properties that allowed us to construct a novel library containing dAbs directed against HIV," said Dimiter S. Dimitrov, Ph.D., of NCI's Center for Cancer Research.
Based on m0's framework, the leading author of the study, Weizao Chen, Ph.D., constructed a very large library of dAbs (25 billion different dAbs), screened it against Env proteins from two different strains of HIV, and identified a dAb, m36, that bound strongly to different Env proteins and blocked the infectivity of a broad range of HIV strains. The researchers believe that m36 represents the first human dAb against HIV reported.
"The antibody fragment that we identified, m36, could have potential in the development of a therapeutic drug that inhibits HIV," said Dimitrov.
"Further research with this molecule also could offer insight about how the virus infects cells and how it evades neutralization by the immune system."
The research team is working to test various combinations of m36 with other inhibitors that may be effective against HIV. The team is also attempting to construct more potent versions of m36. Partnership with industry could speed the ability to evaluate m36 as a potential treatment for HIV.
Dimitrov's team is also using this approach to identify dAbs against cancer and other disease-related antigens.
For more information on Dr. Dimitrov's research, please go to < profileid="5749">.
NCI leads the National Cancer Program and the NIH effort to dramatically reduce the burden of cancer and improve the lives of cancer patients and their families, through research into prevention and cancer biology, the development of new interventions, and the training and mentoring of new researchers. For more information about cancer, please visit the NCI Web site at http://www.cancer.gov or call NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) - The Nation's Medical Research Agency - includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit.
Reference: Chen, W, Zhu Z, Feng Y, Dimitrov DS. Human domain antibodies to conserved sterically restricted regions on gp120 as exceptionally potent cross-reactive HIV-1 neutralizers. "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences." Online October 20, 2008.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) -- The Nation's Medical Research Agency -- includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit.
CONTACT: NCI Office of Media Relations, 301-496-6641,
RESEARCHERS IDENTIFY NOVEL TYPE OF ANTIBODY THAT POTENTLY INHIBITS HIV INFECTION
A small antibody fragment that is highly effective in neutralizing the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) by preventing the virus from entering cells has been identified by researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This finding may provide insight into the development of new treatments against HIV and other viruses, hopefully in the not too distant future. The study appears online Oct. 20, 2008, in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Treating HIV-infected individuals is difficult because the virus is able to mutate and become resistant to antiretroviral drugs. "In the United States, it is estimated that more than 50 percent of patients who are receiving antiretroviral therapy for their HIV infection carry strains of the virus that are resistant to treatment with at least one of the currently available antiretroviral drugs," said NCI Director John E. Niederhuber, M.D. "The development of new drugs against HIV is an urgent public health need."
Antibodies are large proteins naturally produced by the immune system to help fight disease-causing foreign invaders, such as viruses and bacteria.
Although the general structure of all antibodies is very similar, a small region at the tip of the protein is extremely variable, allowing millions of antibodies, characterized by slightly different tip structures, to exist and bind to different targets, known as antigens. Previous research has shown that reducing antibodies to the smallest independently functional fragment, known as a variable domain, can extend their utility as therapeutic agents. These fragments, called domain antibodies (dAbs), retain the variable tip structure and, therefore, the antigen-binding specificity of the parent antibody. Because of their small size, they are able to access targets that cannot be reached by much larger, whole antibodies.
In an earlier study, the researchers identified a unique antibody, called m0, while screening a large library of antibodies directed against the HIV protein, Env (also known as gp120). The library contained the variable portions of antibodies that can bind to Env antigens. "We found an antibody fragment that exhibited the ability to neutralize HIV and had properties that allowed us to construct a novel library containing dAbs directed against HIV," said Dimiter S. Dimitrov, Ph.D., of NCI's Center for Cancer Research.
Based on m0's framework, the leading author of the study, Weizao Chen, Ph.D., constructed a very large library of dAbs (25 billion different dAbs), screened it against Env proteins from two different strains of HIV, and identified a dAb, m36, that bound strongly to different Env proteins and blocked the infectivity of a broad range of HIV strains. The researchers believe that m36 represents the first human dAb against HIV reported.
"The antibody fragment that we identified, m36, could have potential in the development of a therapeutic drug that inhibits HIV," said Dimitrov.
"Further research with this molecule also could offer insight about how the virus infects cells and how it evades neutralization by the immune system."
The research team is working to test various combinations of m36 with other inhibitors that may be effective against HIV. The team is also attempting to construct more potent versions of m36. Partnership with industry could speed the ability to evaluate m36 as a potential treatment for HIV.
Dimitrov's team is also using this approach to identify dAbs against cancer and other disease-related antigens.
For more information on Dr. Dimitrov's research, please go to < profileid="5749">.
NCI leads the National Cancer Program and the NIH effort to dramatically reduce the burden of cancer and improve the lives of cancer patients and their families, through research into prevention and cancer biology, the development of new interventions, and the training and mentoring of new researchers. For more information about cancer, please visit the NCI Web site at http://www.cancer.gov or call NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) - The Nation's Medical Research Agency - includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit
Reference: Chen, W, Zhu Z, Feng Y, Dimitrov DS. Human domain antibodies to conserved sterically restricted regions on gp120 as exceptionally potent cross-reactive HIV-1 neutralizers. "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences." Online October 20, 2008.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) -- The Nation's Medical Research Agency -- includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit
Monday, October 20, 2008
McCain Solicits Foreign Contributions to His Campaign
(click on the title of the post to view the article)
Now I have really heard it all. John McCain couldn't possibly have any more nerve than he does at this very moment. In addition to all the name calling and drama that his VP nominee has caused in this election, the republican campaign rallies that have incited harsh language and violence (and even threats to Obama); now he is doing the very same thing that he has accused Obama of doing????
I just have one question to all of you Obama haters out there right now......
WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING????
I can tell you, RACISM!
My personal opinion on this matter; this is no longer about politics and positions........if you are a person who has even an ounce of rational thought.....you need to vote for Barack Obama!
The strikes have (and continue to) mount high for McCain, and its unfortunate that many people who "claim" they aren't voting for Obama contend they are doing so because of ridiculous assumptions and misinformation, none of which is rooted in fact.
Get on the band-wagon now folks!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BARACK OBAMA '08!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now I have really heard it all. John McCain couldn't possibly have any more nerve than he does at this very moment. In addition to all the name calling and drama that his VP nominee has caused in this election, the republican campaign rallies that have incited harsh language and violence (and even threats to Obama); now he is doing the very same thing that he has accused Obama of doing????
I just have one question to all of you Obama haters out there right now......
WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING????
I can tell you, RACISM!
My personal opinion on this matter; this is no longer about politics and positions........if you are a person who has even an ounce of rational thought.....you need to vote for Barack Obama!
The strikes have (and continue to) mount high for McCain, and its unfortunate that many people who "claim" they aren't voting for Obama contend they are doing so because of ridiculous assumptions and misinformation, none of which is rooted in fact.
Get on the band-wagon now folks!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BARACK OBAMA '08!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
2nd ANNUAL HOUSE OF BLAHNIK SCHOLARSHIP- TIME IS RUNNING OUT!
2nd INSTALLATION OF SCHOLARSHIP FOR YOUTH OF COLOR
The House of Manolo Blahnik Seeks to Acknowledges Another Patron of the "Ballroom" Community
On behalf of the House of Blahnik, I am extremely excited to announce Year II of the House Blahnik Scholarship Fund 08-09. Our mission is… "to positively affect the overall development, health and wellness of our members, the larger lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities of color and their allies; while providing nurturing safe spaces for self-expression and continued growth.." We are proud to forge a national agenda that includes the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people of color within the ballroom/house community. We are honored to advance our people through supporting individual aspirations, upholding education and promoting pride. We are glad to be pioneers in the ballroom community.
The House Blahnik Scholarship Fund is granted to LGBT individuals of color, who participate in Balls, and are enrolled in an accredited institution of higher learning and/or individuals who are graduating seniors who have been accepted to an accredited institution of higher learning.
ELIGIBILITY
African Americans, Asian Pacific Islanders, Hispanics and other racial/ethnic minority persons who participate in the "ballroom/house" community who are enrolled at an accredited college; graduate or professional/ technical school, or who are accepted to an accredited college, university or technical school.
Members of the House of Blahnik are not eligible to apply. Former 'House of Blahnik' Scholars are not eligible to apply.
Members of the House of Blahnik are not eligible to apply. Former 'House of Blahnik' Scholars are not eligible to apply.
AWARDS DESCRIPTION
The House of Blahnik will issue a one time award in the amount of $1,000 to $5,000 to each student selected.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Applications are due October 31, 2008. Recipients will be announced on or before December 1, 2008. Award checks will be sent directly to the school or institution of the award recipients by January 1, 2009.
HOW TO APPLY
*****************************************************************************************
Stephaun Clipper-Wallace
Community Activist-Health Educator-Empowerment Specialist
www.stephaunelite.comwww.myspace.com/christianelite www.groups.yahoo.com/group/southeast_ballroom_scene
"There's always someone asking you to underline one piece of yourself -whether it's Black, woman, mother, dyke, teacher, etc. - because that's the piece that they need to key in to. They want to dismiss everything else." -Audre Lorde
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Barack Obama
What must it feel like?
To carry the hopes and dreams of an entire race of people on your shoulders?
As much as I hate to say it, I know beyond a doubt that the next four weeks are going to be nasty. He's leading, and there are people who simply cannot stomach the idea of his beautiful family living in the White House. There will be smears, all sorts of slander and lies, the likes of which you've probably rarely seen. So everyone, please, we MUST pray for this man!
And please . . . make sure you VOTE! Vote early if you can!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
McCain Endorses Threats to Obama
McCain was speaking today in New Mexico, doing his usual personal attack on Barack Obama, as the stock market plummeted (you can see the ticker next to McCain, dropping as he speaks - an apt reminder of what McCain was refusing to talk about today), and McCain asked the crowd "who is Barack Obama?" Immediately you hear a McCain supporter yell "terrorist." McCain pauses, the audience laughs, and McCain continues on, not acknowledging, not chastising, not correcting.
This is the man that many of you apparently want as President? Someone who would irresponsibly endorse hatred and violence? I am truly appauled, not by his actions (because I expect this from him); but at the American people whose values and perspective are in alignment with his.....
THIS IS REALLY SOME SCARY SHIT!!!!!!!!!!
This is the man that many of you apparently want as President? Someone who would irresponsibly endorse hatred and violence? I am truly appauled, not by his actions (because I expect this from him); but at the American people whose values and perspective are in alignment with his.....
THIS IS REALLY SOME SCARY SHIT!!!!!!!!!!
Friday, October 10, 2008
BREAKING NEWS: CT State Supreme Court Same Sex Marriage Decision
CT Same Sex Marriage
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Thousands of Swing State Voters (Illegally) Prevented from Voting
The A1 story in this morning's New York Times should concern everyone. Tens of thousands of eligible voters "in at least six swing states have been removed from the rolls or have been blocked from registering" in manners that appear...
http://rodonline. typepad.com/ rodonline/ 2008/10/tens- of-thousan. html
http://rodonline. typepad.com/ rodonline/ 2008/10/tens- of-thousan. html
XEM VanAdams: Dear Mothers...[Share with Yours]
This is one of the newst clips by my man Xem.....check it out!
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Da C.R.I.B.B.'S 2nd Annual Kombat Ball
The Atlanta metropolitan area is once again about to be exposed to a phenomenom known as the house/ballroom culture. This year marks the 2nd installation of the Kombat Ball hosted by DA CRIBB, a HIV prevention program under the umbrella of the National AIDS and Education Services for Minorities organization which is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
When referencing "House Balls" or the "Ballroom Scene/Community" many people reference documentaries such as award winning film "Paris is Burining" produced by Jennifer Livingston and the more recent debut of "How Do I Look" which provides its viewers with a more up to date synopsis of house/ballroom culture. Both of these films are available for purchase at Amazon.com.
When referencing "House Balls" or the "Ballroom Scene/Community" many people reference documentaries such as award winning film "Paris is Burining" produced by Jennifer Livingston and the more recent debut of "How Do I Look" which provides its viewers with a more up to date synopsis of house/ballroom culture. Both of these films are available for purchase at Amazon.com.
BALLROOM 101
(By: Father Jon Jourdan-Zion)
Back in the `70s the streets of Harlem bursted into flames by the evolution of the then Drag Pageants into what is known in modern day society as "Balls" (also known as House Balls, Drag Balls, Ballroom Scene). This underground subculture founded mainly by New York Blacks and Latinos gay kids and drag queens from various houses (think fraternities or sororities) to compete at a "ball" for prizes, which can range from trophies to cash. The ballroom scene is a place where lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people of color can go and not be judged for their sexuality or alternative gender. Throughout the years they have opened up to include all orientations (yes Heterosexuals do walk balls as well, but not with the same flair that the homos do, lol).
Back in the day, these surrogate family constructs were created to deal with the reality that many people in the scene were being rejected by their families, and often-times by their communities. Many found refuge in these alternative families which also provided a space for them to explore and shape sexual and gender orientations. However, is important to point out that not everyone in the ballroom community is a product of rejection especially since homosexuality has arguably become more tolerant throughout the years.
Understanding the makeup of a "house" can be confusing. While they loosely follow the models of fraternities and sororities, they have a heavy influence of hetero-normative family constructs. Each house has a mother and father (neither being gender-specific) and children. Each house has its own flair, credo, and mode of operandi. The House name is adopted by each member of the house…thereby each member of the House of Xtravaganza would be named "such and such" Xtravaganza.
ATLANTA's TURN AT BAT
(By: Father Jon Jourdan-Zion)
New York saw early that there was a great need to bring HIV Awareness to the ballroom scene, thereby forming the House of Latex, founded in 1989 to support the efforts of youth and young adults to stay healthy and prevent the spread of HIV.
New Jersey soon followed with Project: Fire Ball which was the brainchild of People of All Colours Together (PACT) to bring HIV Awareness and Prevention strategies to The Greater Newark "Houses". This project was the first to successfully bring together a coalition of houses for a common cause greater than the pageantry of the balls.
Throughout the years almost every large urban city has adopted some form of the ballroom scene and often time have held "community service" balls either on a yearly bases or in conjunction with special health conferences. Now Atlanta, which debatably has the largest ballroom population, second only to the originating New York scene, will once again host an event; again taking its turn at focusing HIV prevention methods to the ballroom scene.
On Sunday, November 9, 2008, the National AIDS Education And Services for Minorities (NAESM) will sponsor Da C.R.I.B.B.'s Kombat Ball. Da C.R.I.B.B., a drop-in "safe space" and educational resource center for young gay and bisexual men of color, will invite participants to incorporate HIV Prevention messages within many of their categories. The Kombat Ball will be held at the TRAXX Niteclub (1287 Columbia Drive Decatur, GA 30332) from 3pm – 12Midnight.
Da C.R.I.B.B. is requesting a $5 donation at the entrance and promises to be filled with fun, excitement, creativity, and fierce competition. Arrive early because seating will be limited and standing room capacity will definitely be a sure thing.
For Info & Table Reservations: Jon Gabriel Ortiz (Father Jon
Jourdan-Zion) @ Da CRIBB at (404) 622.4207.
(By: Father Jon Jourdan-Zion)
Back in the `70s the streets of Harlem bursted into flames by the evolution of the then Drag Pageants into what is known in modern day society as "Balls" (also known as House Balls, Drag Balls, Ballroom Scene). This underground subculture founded mainly by New York Blacks and Latinos gay kids and drag queens from various houses (think fraternities or sororities) to compete at a "ball" for prizes, which can range from trophies to cash. The ballroom scene is a place where lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people of color can go and not be judged for their sexuality or alternative gender. Throughout the years they have opened up to include all orientations (yes Heterosexuals do walk balls as well, but not with the same flair that the homos do, lol).
Back in the day, these surrogate family constructs were created to deal with the reality that many people in the scene were being rejected by their families, and often-times by their communities. Many found refuge in these alternative families which also provided a space for them to explore and shape sexual and gender orientations. However, is important to point out that not everyone in the ballroom community is a product of rejection especially since homosexuality has arguably become more tolerant throughout the years.
Understanding the makeup of a "house" can be confusing. While they loosely follow the models of fraternities and sororities, they have a heavy influence of hetero-normative family constructs. Each house has a mother and father (neither being gender-specific) and children. Each house has its own flair, credo, and mode of operandi. The House name is adopted by each member of the house…thereby each member of the House of Xtravaganza would be named "such and such" Xtravaganza.
ATLANTA's TURN AT BAT
(By: Father Jon Jourdan-Zion)
New York saw early that there was a great need to bring HIV Awareness to the ballroom scene, thereby forming the House of Latex, founded in 1989 to support the efforts of youth and young adults to stay healthy and prevent the spread of HIV.
New Jersey soon followed with Project: Fire Ball which was the brainchild of People of All Colours Together (PACT) to bring HIV Awareness and Prevention strategies to The Greater Newark "Houses". This project was the first to successfully bring together a coalition of houses for a common cause greater than the pageantry of the balls.
Throughout the years almost every large urban city has adopted some form of the ballroom scene and often time have held "community service" balls either on a yearly bases or in conjunction with special health conferences. Now Atlanta, which debatably has the largest ballroom population, second only to the originating New York scene, will once again host an event; again taking its turn at focusing HIV prevention methods to the ballroom scene.
On Sunday, November 9, 2008, the National AIDS Education And Services for Minorities (NAESM) will sponsor Da C.R.I.B.B.'s Kombat Ball. Da C.R.I.B.B., a drop-in "safe space" and educational resource center for young gay and bisexual men of color, will invite participants to incorporate HIV Prevention messages within many of their categories. The Kombat Ball will be held at the TRAXX Niteclub (1287 Columbia Drive Decatur, GA 30332) from 3pm – 12Midnight.
Da C.R.I.B.B. is requesting a $5 donation at the entrance and promises to be filled with fun, excitement, creativity, and fierce competition. Arrive early because seating will be limited and standing room capacity will definitely be a sure thing.
For Info & Table Reservations: Jon Gabriel Ortiz (Father Jon
Jourdan-Zion) @ Da CRIBB at (404) 622.4207.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Countdown Special Comment on Sarah Palin' Hysteria (OWNED!)
Special Comment from Keith Olbermann on McCain / Palin Attacks on Barack Obama
Monday, October 6, 2008
John McCain on the Gay Q&A
(Click above link for the article, then come back and read my comments below)
I can't even honestly say that I am appalled by the comments Senator McCain made in this article, further, I would be lying if I said that this is any sort of surprise. It truly amazes me how people can look you directly in the face, speak to you, and still not even truly acknowledge you; as a matter of fact, its outright disrespectful.
The 14th Amendment of the governing document of this country states: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
So the question that I have had, that mind you still has not been answered is; when did my (and yours also) rights become subject to "state" oversight and agreement as opposed to a federal issue or concern? I have taken quite a few government/social studies classes (and even participated in enough student government associations to understand that the federal government's responsibility is to ensure the equal protection of rights for all citizens. My taxes are good enough to be taken from my check to go to this government, and my voice and rights should be provided to me. Is this not the way that it's suppose to work? I am slightly annoyned that we even have to have a discussion about this matter, as it seems perfectly logical to me. Unless of course you factor in the rationale that LGBT persons are not true citizens (or maybe some ridiculous fraction thereof) of this country. Whether I want to get married or not, whether I want a civil union or not, or whether I want the ability to call (yes, male partner) my husband should be a right that I should be afforded just based on the fact that I was born, live, and pay taxes in this country.
These are the very evils that people like Tim Wise and Rev. Wright speak about, yet somehow, they get lost in translation from the lips of the orator to the halls of congress and the oval office.
I submit to anyone who reads this, please get out and vote; because true change only occurs when you do something.
I can't even honestly say that I am appalled by the comments Senator McCain made in this article, further, I would be lying if I said that this is any sort of surprise. It truly amazes me how people can look you directly in the face, speak to you, and still not even truly acknowledge you; as a matter of fact, its outright disrespectful.
The 14th Amendment of the governing document of this country states: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
So the question that I have had, that mind you still has not been answered is; when did my (and yours also) rights become subject to "state" oversight and agreement as opposed to a federal issue or concern? I have taken quite a few government/social studies classes (and even participated in enough student government associations to understand that the federal government's responsibility is to ensure the equal protection of rights for all citizens. My taxes are good enough to be taken from my check to go to this government, and my voice and rights should be provided to me. Is this not the way that it's suppose to work? I am slightly annoyned that we even have to have a discussion about this matter, as it seems perfectly logical to me. Unless of course you factor in the rationale that LGBT persons are not true citizens (or maybe some ridiculous fraction thereof) of this country. Whether I want to get married or not, whether I want a civil union or not, or whether I want the ability to call (yes, male partner) my husband should be a right that I should be afforded just based on the fact that I was born, live, and pay taxes in this country.
These are the very evils that people like Tim Wise and Rev. Wright speak about, yet somehow, they get lost in translation from the lips of the orator to the halls of congress and the oval office.
I submit to anyone who reads this, please get out and vote; because true change only occurs when you do something.
KEATING ECONOMICS: John McCain & The Making of a Financial Crisis
John McCain wants you to forget about his role in our country's last major financial crisis and costly bailout: the savings and loan crisis of the late '80s and early '90s.
But voters deserve to know that the failed philosophy and culture of corruption that created the savings and loan crisis then are alive in the current crisis -- and in John McCain's plans for our economic future.
We just released a short documentary about John McCain's role in that financial crisis -- watch it now and share it with your friends:
http://my.barackobama.com/keatingvideo
Voters should know the facts about John McCain's poor judgment -- judgment that has twice placed him on the wrong side of history.
Thanks,
David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America
But voters deserve to know that the failed philosophy and culture of corruption that created the savings and loan crisis then are alive in the current crisis -- and in John McCain's plans for our economic future.
We just released a short documentary about John McCain's role in that financial crisis -- watch it now and share it with your friends:
http://my.barackobama.com/keatingvideo
Voters should know the facts about John McCain's poor judgment -- judgment that has twice placed him on the wrong side of history.
Thanks,
David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America
Jenry Bejarano????
*Preface: I don't normally go off the deep end for "celebs", because I get that they are real people; but......
OMG! Someone is going to get hurt!! You all know that I am entirely too busy to watch television like that, which is why I catch most things online since I am usually there anyway doing work of some kind. No one told me about this beautiful man Jenry Bejarano, who has apparently graced the show AI and is stealing the hearts, minds, and souls of millions around the world.
This very attractive guy not only looks good, but he sounds just as clear and sweet. I have included a clip of him doing a shoot as well as a few pics of him.....some of them I won't share!!!!
Jenry, I support ya dude! Keep doing ya thang!
HIV Budget Cuts in New York Impact Local Agencies
NEW YORK: "State Budget Cuts Hit Local AIDS Agencies"
Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) (09.30.08):: Sharon Hong
New York's state budget reductions are hurting AIDS service providers in the Capital Region, advocates say.
Gov. David Patterson instituted a 3 percent budget cut for all state agencies in the spring, and he ordered additional cuts after a midyear report predicted a $630 million shortfall this year and a $5 billion deficit for 2009-10. Each agency covered by state local assistance funding was reduced 7 percent. The governor's two-year plan cut spending for the rest of this fiscal year by more than $1.5 billion. This "across-the-board action" represents "a fair and equitable approach," said Matt Anderson, a Division of the Budget spokesperson.
Michele McClave disagrees. "Everyone understands the fiscal situation of the state, but we don't feel the cuts were made in a thoughtful manner," said the executive director of the AIDS Council of Northeastern New York. She said the cuts do not weigh the costs and benefits of keeping vital community programs funded. ACNNY's work includes HIV prevention education, testing, case management, and help with essentials like food, clothing, and transportation. "Things like that will keep them stable, so their health will be stable and they will take their medicine," McClave said.
State funds represent about half of ACNNY's $4.5 million budget, McClave said, with the remainder coming from federal grants, Medicaid, and private donations.
"At a time when we could and should be expanding, we will be restricting and reducing services," McClave said. Responding to the $90,000 reduction, ACNNY has eliminated four direct service positions, case managers, and prevention educators.
Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) (09.30.08):: Sharon Hong
New York's state budget reductions are hurting AIDS service providers in the Capital Region, advocates say.
Gov. David Patterson instituted a 3 percent budget cut for all state agencies in the spring, and he ordered additional cuts after a midyear report predicted a $630 million shortfall this year and a $5 billion deficit for 2009-10. Each agency covered by state local assistance funding was reduced 7 percent. The governor's two-year plan cut spending for the rest of this fiscal year by more than $1.5 billion. This "across-the-board action" represents "a fair and equitable approach," said Matt Anderson, a Division of the Budget spokesperson.
Michele McClave disagrees. "Everyone understands the fiscal situation of the state, but we don't feel the cuts were made in a thoughtful manner," said the executive director of the AIDS Council of Northeastern New York. She said the cuts do not weigh the costs and benefits of keeping vital community programs funded. ACNNY's work includes HIV prevention education, testing, case management, and help with essentials like food, clothing, and transportation. "Things like that will keep them stable, so their health will be stable and they will take their medicine," McClave said.
State funds represent about half of ACNNY's $4.5 million budget, McClave said, with the remainder coming from federal grants, Medicaid, and private donations.
"At a time when we could and should be expanding, we will be restricting and reducing services," McClave said. Responding to the $90,000 reduction, ACNNY has eliminated four direct service positions, case managers, and prevention educators.
Socially Conservative Southern Attitudes Complicate Fight on AIDS
FLORIDA: "Reports Suggest that Socially Conservative Attitudes, Common in Southern Cities Such as Jacksonville, Make It More Difficult to Fight the Spread of AIDS"
Florida Times-Union (09.30.08):: Jeremy Cox
A report released in July by the Southern AIDS Coalition (SAC) cites "social conservatism" as one of the key reasons why the South leads the nation's four regions in the number of AIDS cases.
"Shame and fear of stigmatizing reactions on the part of others may lead to reluctance to seek testing and treatment for HIV and other STDs," said SAC, a nonprofit consisting mainly of government health department leaders. "Anecdotal evidence across the South indicates that the prominence of the church, with its sexual prohibitions, intensifies fear of stigma."
Bob Catalla, medical director of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation's Jacksonville clinic, recently attended the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City. There, he listened as speakers discussed cultural barriers to HIV/AIDS prevention, including homophobia and lack of awareness among youth. "While most would equate these barriers to exist in some remote developing country," he said, "I couldn't help but think of home."
In 1996, a lawsuit forced Duval County's sex education component to go from abstinence-only to include discussions of abstinence and birth control. Parents can exempt their children from the lessons, though only around 1 percent do so, said Kathy Bowles, supervisor of the county's safe and healthy schools program.
The state no longer funds billboards or bus signs as part of its public awareness campaign in Jacksonville. "There's this underlying [sentiment of], 'We don't want this to be visible,'" said Dick Niemann, a longtime HIV/AIDS activist in Jacksonville.
Florida Times-Union (09.30.08):: Jeremy Cox
A report released in July by the Southern AIDS Coalition (SAC) cites "social conservatism" as one of the key reasons why the South leads the nation's four regions in the number of AIDS cases.
"Shame and fear of stigmatizing reactions on the part of others may lead to reluctance to seek testing and treatment for HIV and other STDs," said SAC, a nonprofit consisting mainly of government health department leaders. "Anecdotal evidence across the South indicates that the prominence of the church, with its sexual prohibitions, intensifies fear of stigma."
Bob Catalla, medical director of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation's Jacksonville clinic, recently attended the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City. There, he listened as speakers discussed cultural barriers to HIV/AIDS prevention, including homophobia and lack of awareness among youth. "While most would equate these barriers to exist in some remote developing country," he said, "I couldn't help but think of home."
In 1996, a lawsuit forced Duval County's sex education component to go from abstinence-only to include discussions of abstinence and birth control. Parents can exempt their children from the lessons, though only around 1 percent do so, said Kathy Bowles, supervisor of the county's safe and healthy schools program.
The state no longer funds billboards or bus signs as part of its public awareness campaign in Jacksonville. "There's this underlying [sentiment of], 'We don't want this to be visible,'" said Dick Niemann, a longtime HIV/AIDS activist in Jacksonville.
CDC Says 1.1 Million Americans Infected with HIV
UNITED STATES: "CDC Says 1.1 Million Americans Infected with HIV"
Reuters (10.02.08):: Will Dunham
An estimated 1.1 million Americans were living with HIV at the end of 2006, CDC reported Thursday. The prevalence rate, 447.8 cases per 100,000 population, was based on reports of new HIV infections from 40 states with the best data, AIDS diagnoses and deaths from all 50 states, and extended back-calculation. The number of people living with HIV is growing as more people become infected and as effective treatments delay AIDS-related deaths.
The estimate is similar to a 2003 CDC report that more than 1 million Americans had HIV. Using the improved surveillance data, CDC now estimates that 994,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in 2003.
"These data really show the continued impact that the epidemic is having on Americans, and they really reinforce the severe toll that is expected on multiple communities," said Richard Wolitski, acting chief of CDC's HIV/AIDS prevention division.
The data show the epidemic disproportionately affects African Americans and gay and bisexual men. Males comprised 74.8 percent of prevalent HIV cases; 48.1 percent of all cases were attributed to male-to-male sexual contact. High-risk heterosexual sex accounted for 27.6 percent of infections, including 72.4 percent of cases among women. Injection drug use was the cause of 18.5 percent of HIV cases. African Americans represented 46.1 percent of all people living with HIV in 2006.
In 2006, one in five Americans with HIV - 232,700 - did not know they were infected.
"We're not going to be able to treat our way out of this epidemic," Wolitski said. "We need to have strong prevention programs so we can prevent these infections from occurring in the first place."
The report, "HIV Prevalence Estimates - United States, 2006," was published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (2008;57(39):1073-1076).
Reuters (10.02.08):: Will Dunham
An estimated 1.1 million Americans were living with HIV at the end of 2006, CDC reported Thursday. The prevalence rate, 447.8 cases per 100,000 population, was based on reports of new HIV infections from 40 states with the best data, AIDS diagnoses and deaths from all 50 states, and extended back-calculation. The number of people living with HIV is growing as more people become infected and as effective treatments delay AIDS-related deaths.
The estimate is similar to a 2003 CDC report that more than 1 million Americans had HIV. Using the improved surveillance data, CDC now estimates that 994,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in 2003.
"These data really show the continued impact that the epidemic is having on Americans, and they really reinforce the severe toll that is expected on multiple communities," said Richard Wolitski, acting chief of CDC's HIV/AIDS prevention division.
The data show the epidemic disproportionately affects African Americans and gay and bisexual men. Males comprised 74.8 percent of prevalent HIV cases; 48.1 percent of all cases were attributed to male-to-male sexual contact. High-risk heterosexual sex accounted for 27.6 percent of infections, including 72.4 percent of cases among women. Injection drug use was the cause of 18.5 percent of HIV cases. African Americans represented 46.1 percent of all people living with HIV in 2006.
In 2006, one in five Americans with HIV - 232,700 - did not know they were infected.
"We're not going to be able to treat our way out of this epidemic," Wolitski said. "We need to have strong prevention programs so we can prevent these infections from occurring in the first place."
The report, "HIV Prevalence Estimates - United States, 2006," was published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (2008;57(39):1073-1076).
California to Cover Cost of HIV Screening
CALIFORNIA: "California to Cover Cost of Screening for HIV"
New York Times (10.02.08):: Rebecca Cathcart
When Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Tuesday signed AB 1894 into law, California came closer than any other state to making HIV testing a routine part of health care, as recommended by CDC in 2006. Authored by Assembly member Paul Krekorian (D), the measure requires private health insurance companies in the state to cover the cost of HIV testing "regardless of whether the testing is related to a primary diagnosis."
At present, health care providers must use certain codes on insurance forms in order for the cost of testing to be covered. "I do get letters from time to time from insurance providers asking what justified the use of this code," said Dr. Daniel Ciccarone of the University of California-San Francisco. Removing the need for a doctor to justify ordering an HIV test will remove a key barrier to testing, he said.
Covering the almost $30 cost of an HIV test will encourage more providers to recommend it, agreed Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. He noted that routine testing is the most effective way to reduce ongoing transmission of HIV.
An earlier version of the bill would have required MediCal, the state's public insurance provider, to cover routine HIV testing as well. Weinstein acknowledged, however, that the California's deficit and protracted budget crisis made requiring additional payments by the state plan a tough sell.
The requirement takes effect Jan. 1, 2009, and will affect 22.19 million people, according to the California Health Benefits Review Program.
The law is another important step toward routine testing in California, which last year dropped the requirement that hospital patients give written consent before being tested for HIV.
New York Times (10.02.08):: Rebecca Cathcart
When Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Tuesday signed AB 1894 into law, California came closer than any other state to making HIV testing a routine part of health care, as recommended by CDC in 2006. Authored by Assembly member Paul Krekorian (D), the measure requires private health insurance companies in the state to cover the cost of HIV testing "regardless of whether the testing is related to a primary diagnosis."
At present, health care providers must use certain codes on insurance forms in order for the cost of testing to be covered. "I do get letters from time to time from insurance providers asking what justified the use of this code," said Dr. Daniel Ciccarone of the University of California-San Francisco. Removing the need for a doctor to justify ordering an HIV test will remove a key barrier to testing, he said.
Covering the almost $30 cost of an HIV test will encourage more providers to recommend it, agreed Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. He noted that routine testing is the most effective way to reduce ongoing transmission of HIV.
An earlier version of the bill would have required MediCal, the state's public insurance provider, to cover routine HIV testing as well. Weinstein acknowledged, however, that the California's deficit and protracted budget crisis made requiring additional payments by the state plan a tough sell.
The requirement takes effect Jan. 1, 2009, and will affect 22.19 million people, according to the California Health Benefits Review Program.
The law is another important step toward routine testing in California, which last year dropped the requirement that hospital patients give written consent before being tested for HIV.
Sheryl Lee Ralph, Vincent Hughes Host Sit-In for HIV/AIDS Awareness
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: "Sheryl Lee Ralph, Vincent Hughes Host Sit-In for HIV/AIDS Awareness"
Washington Informer (10.02.08):: Mercia Williams-Murray
More than 50 people gathered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial Saturday for a sit-in to raise HIV/AIDS awareness and lobby the federal government to focus more resources on fighting the disease. Among the participants, who wore red clothes, were actress and HIV activist Sheryl Lee Ralph and her husband, Pennsylvania state Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Seventh). Hughes and Ralph said that poverty is the determining factor in HIV/AIDS, and Hughes asked participants to inquire about HIV/AIDS resources whenever politicians are campaigning in their communities.
Washington Informer (10.02.08):: Mercia Williams-Murray
More than 50 people gathered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial Saturday for a sit-in to raise HIV/AIDS awareness and lobby the federal government to focus more resources on fighting the disease. Among the participants, who wore red clothes, were actress and HIV activist Sheryl Lee Ralph and her husband, Pennsylvania state Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Seventh). Hughes and Ralph said that poverty is the determining factor in HIV/AIDS, and Hughes asked participants to inquire about HIV/AIDS resources whenever politicians are campaigning in their communities.
HIV Emerged Earlier Than Previously Thought?
UNITED STATES: "HIV/AIDS Emerged as Early as 1880s"
National Geographic News (10.01.08):: Amitabh Avasthi
New research suggests that AIDS among humans occurred at least three decades earlier than previously thought. Rapid urbanization in west-central Africa "was the turning point that allowed the pandemic to start," said Michael Worobey, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Arizona-Tucson and the study's lead author.
Previous research has indicated that HIV-1, Group M - globally, the most prevalent strain of the virus - originated in Cameroon in 1930 and began to reach epidemic levels in Leopoldville, Belgian Congo (now Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo) about 1960. The new study suggests the virus was probably being transmitted among humans in sub-Saharan Africa between 1884 and 1924.
While analyzing tissue samples, the researchers took note of one from Kinshasa in 1960 that contained fragments of HIV-1 RNA. When they compared the 1960 virus with the oldest known strain of HIV-1, from 1959, they found significant differences. A mathematical model showed that at least 40 years of evolution must have elapsed to account for the 1960 strain's differences from the 1959 sample. The most recent common ancestor of both strains can be traced to 1908, according to the model.
Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which funded the study with the National Institutes of Health, said the finding "solidifies our understanding of the timetable of how this virus emerged from the chimpanzees to establish itself as a human infection." "This confirms that this was a virus that was lurking around for many decades before it exploded into the human population to become a noticeable pandemic, as opposed to something that started in the '70s or '80s," Fauci said.
Scientists see a clear understanding of the epidemic's origins as critical both to controlling HIV/AIDS and responding to future emerging viruses.
The report, "Direct Evidence of Extensive Diversity of HIV-1 in Kinshasa by 1960," was published in Nature (2008;455(7213):661-664).
National Geographic News (10.01.08):: Amitabh Avasthi
New research suggests that AIDS among humans occurred at least three decades earlier than previously thought. Rapid urbanization in west-central Africa "was the turning point that allowed the pandemic to start," said Michael Worobey, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Arizona-Tucson and the study's lead author.
Previous research has indicated that HIV-1, Group M - globally, the most prevalent strain of the virus - originated in Cameroon in 1930 and began to reach epidemic levels in Leopoldville, Belgian Congo (now Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo) about 1960. The new study suggests the virus was probably being transmitted among humans in sub-Saharan Africa between 1884 and 1924.
While analyzing tissue samples, the researchers took note of one from Kinshasa in 1960 that contained fragments of HIV-1 RNA. When they compared the 1960 virus with the oldest known strain of HIV-1, from 1959, they found significant differences. A mathematical model showed that at least 40 years of evolution must have elapsed to account for the 1960 strain's differences from the 1959 sample. The most recent common ancestor of both strains can be traced to 1908, according to the model.
Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which funded the study with the National Institutes of Health, said the finding "solidifies our understanding of the timetable of how this virus emerged from the chimpanzees to establish itself as a human infection." "This confirms that this was a virus that was lurking around for many decades before it exploded into the human population to become a noticeable pandemic, as opposed to something that started in the '70s or '80s," Fauci said.
Scientists see a clear understanding of the epidemic's origins as critical both to controlling HIV/AIDS and responding to future emerging viruses.
The report, "Direct Evidence of Extensive Diversity of HIV-1 in Kinshasa by 1960," was published in Nature (2008;455(7213):661-664).
Letter to Young Americans from Entertainers
AN OPEN LETTE
WE ARE IN A STATE
We are at war, banks
Regis
Get as many peopl
Go to the poll and vote on Novem
Barak
This is the most impor
VISIT
God Bless
Sean “Didd
Shawn
Mary J. Blige
Kevin
What They Don't Want To Talk About
Obama for America
Stephaun --  Over the weekend, John McCain's top adviser announced their plan to stop engaging in a debate over the economy and "turn the page" to more direct, personal attacks on Barack Obama. In the middle of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, they want to change the subject from the central question of this election. Perhaps because the policies McCain supported these past eight years and wants to continue are pretty hard to defend. But it's not just McCain's role in the current crisis that they're avoiding. The backward economic philosophy and culture of corruption that helped create the current crisis are looking more and more like the other major financial crisis of our time. During the savings and loan crisis of the late '80s and early '90s, McCain's political favors and aggressive support for deregulation put him at the center of the fall of Lincoln Savings and Loan, one of the largest in the country. More than 23,000 investors lost their savings. Overall, the savings and loan crisis required the federal government to bail out the savings of hundreds of thousands of families and ultimately cost American taxpayers $124 billion. Sound familiar? In that crisis, John McCain and his political patron, Charles Keating, played central roles that ultimately landed Keating in jail for fraud and McCain in front of the Senate Ethics Committee. The McCain campaign has tried to avoid talking about the scandal, but with so many parallels to the current crisis, McCain's Keating history is relevant and voters deserve to know the facts -- and see for themselves the pattern of poor judgment by John McCain. So at noon Eastern on Monday, October 6th, we're releasing a 13-minute documentary about the scandal called "Keating Economics: John McCain and the Making of a Financial Crisis" -- it will be available at KeatingEconomics.com, along with background information that every voter should know. Watch a preview right now and share it with your friends. The point of the film and the web site is that John McCain still hasn't learned his lesson. And this time, McCain's bankrupt economic philosophy has put our economy at the brink of collapse and put millions of Americans at risk of losing their homes. Watch the video to see why John McCain's failed philosophy and poor judgment is a recipe for deepening the crisis: http://my.barackobama.com/keatingvideo It's no wonder John McCain would rather spend the last month of this election smearing Barack's character instead of talking about the top priority issue for voters. But if we work together, we can make sure the focus stays on the economy -- and how to fix it. Please forward this email to everyone you know. Thanks, David David Plouffe Campaign Manager Obama for America P.S. -- The documentary will be live at noon Eastern at www.KeatingEconomics.com.  | |
Paid for by Obama for America This email was sent to: stephaunelite@yahoo.com To unsubscribe, go to: http://my.barackobama.com/unsubscribe |
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Book Review: Conjuring Black Funk
Coming Soon!!!!!!!!!Book Review: Conjuring Black Funk
By: Herukhuti
Cover:
This is the first book by Dr. Herukhuti and a fiery collection of essays, poetry, creative non-fiction, and experimental writing that challenges conventional thought, offers alternative perspectives, and suggests ways of practicing Afrocentric, queer liberation/transgression. This book is an important contribution to Black Queer Theory, Black Feminist Thought, and Afrocentric Thought. Noted writer, social critic, and queer theorist, Samuel R. Delany contributed a great foreword to the book.
Now Arriving Back in NY!!!!!!!!
Ok, so I didn't give you all the update right? I went to Houston, Texas last week for a 4 day training called Sharpening Your Grant Writing Skills hosted by Proceed, Inc. This training was very nice, professionally managed and handled, and I even got something out of it. Some of it was a refresher, due to my prior exposure to grant-writing; however, the trainer (the lovely Pamela Richardson) provided many tips and tricks that I hadn't thought of to make the grant writing process easier.
During this training we stayed at the fabulous Renaissance Hotel on Greenway Plaza; and aside from it being a nice hotel, overall I enjoyed going back to Houston. As many of you who know me personally have probably heard, Houston (or moreso Galveston) is home of my very first black gay pride experience: Houston Splash. It was a beautiful weekend of the year 1995, when I first made my journey to the annual community event known as "Splash" (I assumed it was called that due to its close proximity to Galveston's beach).
This trip brought about some much needed reflection in my life in terms of my relationships with people, the way that I engage the world and my career, as well as the current space that I occupy right now. I was so ready to get home though, its nothing like sleeping in your own bed!!!
All and all, it was a great experience and I made some good contacts. My next trip will mostly like be Atlanta for the National AIDS & Education Services for Minorities (NAESM) 2nd Annual Kombat ball on November 9th!
See ya soon!
Gay Black Celebrities
By: Xen Van Adams
From: www.xenvanadams.blogspot.com
We live in a Day and Time where the BLACK and LATINO communities wouldnt DARE Support, Embrace or UpHold the career advancement of One of our Own Entertainers/Celebrities, IF they were to take the SAME stance that has been taken and enveloped by Clay Aiken, Ellen Degenerous, Neil Patrick Harris, Rosie O'Donnel, or Lance Bass.
From Queen Latifah and Missy Elliot, to Tyler Perry, Bow Wow & Omarion, Diddy, Duane Martin, Tim Hardaway, John Legend, 'Spectacular' of Pretty Ricky, and a slew of others, its going to take ONE of them to TAKE THE STAND, Before the Glass Ceiling of Homophobia is even cracked a Lil.
ORIGINALLY, This Video was going to be presented as a 'News-Oriented'/'Political Propoganda' view on the 'Issue'. However, once I began shooting the A Roll Footage, I decided to make the project more 'Entertaining'. MOST of my Videos have been SERIOUS in Nature. Im lightening it up, just a bit...
Meanwhile, KEEPING TRUE to My Opinions, Regular Commentary and Critiques.
Black-GAY Celebrities XPOSED
[HIDDEN in FRONT of MEDIA Screens]
From: www.xenvanadams.blogspot.com
We live in a Day and Time where the BLACK and LATINO communities wouldnt DARE Support, Embrace or UpHold the career advancement of One of our Own Entertainers/Celebrities, IF they were to take the SAME stance that has been taken and enveloped by Clay Aiken, Ellen Degenerous, Neil Patrick Harris, Rosie O'Donnel, or Lance Bass.
From Queen Latifah and Missy Elliot, to Tyler Perry, Bow Wow & Omarion, Diddy, Duane Martin, Tim Hardaway, John Legend, 'Spectacular' of Pretty Ricky, and a slew of others, its going to take ONE of them to TAKE THE STAND, Before the Glass Ceiling of Homophobia is even cracked a Lil.
ORIGINALLY, This Video was going to be presented as a 'News-Oriented'/'Political Propoganda' view on the 'Issue'. However, once I began shooting the A Roll Footage, I decided to make the project more 'Entertaining'. MOST of my Videos have been SERIOUS in Nature. Im lightening it up, just a bit...
Meanwhile, KEEPING TRUE to My Opinions, Regular Commentary and Critiques.
Black-GAY Celebrities XPOSED
[HIDDEN in FRONT of MEDIA Screens]
Grassroots Movement for Candidates
All,
I have just finished doing some extensive research on the party candidates for this coming presidential election. I am interested in hearing your feedback on a few of the new candidates, including one show below in this video. Please let me know your thoughts.
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