Health

Somehow the huge increase has always been there and not known so that equals the same old same old just more of it … right? I love spin doctors (emphasis mine): More thoughts after the jump.

The improved science will allow more real-time monitoring of HIV infections. Now, CDC officials say, the estimate will likely be updated every year.

Yearly estimates allow better recognition of trends in the U.S. epidemic. For example, the new report found that infections are falling among heterosexuals and injection drug users.

Some experts celebrated that finding, saying it’s a tribute to prevention efforts, including nearly 200 syringe exchange programs now operating in 36 states despite a federal ban on funding for such projects.

But they also lamented the CDC’s finding that infections continue to increase in gay and bisexual men, who accounted for more than half of HIV infections in 2006. Also, more than a third of those with HIV are younger than 30.

Some advocates say that suggests a need for more prevention efforts, particularly targeting younger gay and bisexual men.

For years, AIDS was considered a terrifying death sentence, and since 1981, more than half a million Americans have died. But medicines that became available in the 1990s turned it into a manageable chronic condition for many Americans, and attention shifted to Africa and other parts of the world.

[From CDC Underestimates Number Of US HIV Cases | 365 Gay News hat tip: Joe.My.God (gay blog)]

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I just came out of an emotionally destructive relationship LAST WEEK! WHAT NOW?

My first encouragement would be to slow down your thoughts and sit down with someone you consider to be a wise Christian mentor, support group or professional counselor. It never hurts to get objective feedback. Online/Offline anonymous questions are fine but they will never be anything compared to what you would receive from a caring objective mentor or counselor.

The question doesn’t say whether this was a homosexual or heterosexual relationship, married, familial or friends. It doesn’t say whether this was a long term relationship, friendship or a summer fling. In the end though, I don’t think it matters because destructive relationships are destructive relationships. Here is my general-not-professional-and-just-my-opinion advice (which is all I ever give.)

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I went to go workout after work. Same parking lot. Same lady working at the front desk. Same NTD hootin’ at one of his clients. Same videos playing on the monitors scattered around.

It was all the same … until …

I walked in the locker room to put away my same ol’ stuff. But something wasn’t the “same.” It was quite different actually. I mean there was this guy who dressed the same as anyone else (tennis shoes, shorts, t-shirt … etc). But, he was in the locker room … of a gym … eating pizza.

Not just pizza. Oh no. It was big New York style pizza, cookies … and a smoothie chaser.

He was completely enraptured by the cable news show playing on the monitor in the corner.

I nonchalantly walked passed him. As I put my stuff away in the same locker I usually use I thought, “Did I actually see what I just thought I saw?” I turned around and the same dude was still enthralled, sitting on the bench with a half eaten pizza slice in hand, one still on a paper plate keeping the cookie company. The smoothie looked like it had just been served to him.

I was simultaneously jealous and grossed out. Junk food jealousy and grossed out because … hello … he was in a locker room.

blech.

This story is totally going to end up in one of my teachings or articles or something. Just think about it.

The Washington Post reports …

Monday, June 30, 2008; Page A10

A survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of HIV-AIDS data from 33 states between 2001 and 2006 revealed a distressing trend: HIV infection in young gay men rose 12 percent a year. For African Americans in that group of 13- to 24-year-olds, the annual increase was 15 percent. The safe-sex lessons that took hold after the loss of a generation of gay men during this epidemic’s two-decade advance appear to be lost on the young. The stunning success of retroviral drugs for those with AIDS and HIV, the virus that causes the disease, has diminished people’s fear of the disease, though it still has no cure…

[From A Persistent Scourge - washingtonpost.com]

This news breaks my heart.

Sao Paulo Gay pride parade drew record attendance. The following is from gay activist Chris Crain’s blog and written by Kevin:

“… what is most remarkable about São Paulo pride is its utter failure to articulate even the most basic message. Beyond a few pronouncements and a banner or a website, a coherent message of any kind fails to reach anyone in the street. Instead, the Parada is a sea of drunken recklessness, criminal violence and disturbing overcrowding which has begun to actually drive the resident gay population of the city away from it. The organizers are very competent in breaking world attendance records, but are hopelessly inept at finding some way to truly organize the attendees around any sense of mission or purpose beyond getting loaded, and getting laid.”

[From Citizen Crain: Pride?]

Seems like nothing has changed since I went to these types of events back in the day… well except our events didn’t have millions of people. His article goes on to describe robbery, murder and what appears to be a tragic accidental death of a young man partying at a local hotel. For those who don’t know, June is a big gay “pride” month. These parades happen around this time of year.

Last night I went to bed with a headache. I woke up with a headache. I took some Advil right after getting to work … no effect. In fact it got worse.

Light started stabbing me … mercilessly.
Then I could smell a fly fart from three miles away.
Every little smell is magnified to something otherworldly.
Do people have to whisper so loudly?
Then my thoughts started to scatter. Not to the point of confusion but … not normal.
…and feel free to whip out the scatter brained jokes, I deserve them

These are the first signs I have of a developing migraine.

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La Shawn has a very interesting post about a condition known as Synesthesia.  Basically synesthesia is the combination of two senses (more?) that are activated from one stimulus.  I saw a 20/20 piece on this years ago and found it very interesting because like La Shawn, I just thought that was how everyone experienced music, color and other things.  Anyway, here is my comment on her blog after she asks for others to share their experience.

I do think I have some form of it. I have always seen the months and alphabet as having colors. April is red of course. February is quite naturally purple and 2 is yellow.

I also see things when I hear music. I saw “videos” in my head LONG before cable television (as a kid.) I can’t listen to music without some kind of unbidden visualization.

Also, at a sordid time in my past I was pulled over by a cop who decided to put me through the paces of a sobriety test. I was actually sober but… anyway. He asked me to say my ABC’s backwards. I asked him if he wanted that in English, Spanish or sign language? He said, “Take your pick.” I chose Spanish and rattled it off in one breath. He was amazed and said that sober people can’t even do that. I was surprised and said, “well, I am sober and I just did it.” When he asked how I said that I could see the whole alphabet lined up in one big long line like a picture.

Sometimes I smell things when I look at paintings … but not all the time.

Do you experience synesthesia?

Halperin posts A Nation Responds to New of Kennedy Brain Tumor.

I find it so humanizing that as bad as American politics can be … as much as I cannot agree with Ted Kennedy on SO many things … I genuinely felt terrible after hearing news of his brain tumor.  I am very glad to see many conservatives and Kennedy’s political opponents sharing good will, respect and civility toward Senator Kennedy.

Please join me in praying for Senator Kennedy’s healing.  Will you do that with me?  Michelle Malkin is praying.

Boundless is featuring my article Grace & Gay Men.  This is what Ted Slater wrote in the announcement email.

Before I talk about the articles we published earlier this week, I want to draw your attention to the one we’re publishing tomorrow, “Grace and Gay Men.” It was a difficult article for author Randy Thomas to put to paper. I think, though, that by being so vulnerable about his experience as a gay man, Randy is able to give us more of a heart for those engaging in the gay lifestyle.

Also, my friend Brenna Kate wrote another article for them about cutting.  Both are pretty darn personal.

Welcome Boundless Readers.  Please let me know what you thought of the article.

UPDATE:  The Boundless Line blogged about the article… Denise and the folks leaving comments are very encouraging,  Thanks!