WAD 2004

I don't usually look forward to World AIDS Day. Although it's a worthy and important day, I often feel that too little is done about the pandemic. Many will feel as if they're doing something important by simply linking to (or just reading) a dozen or less blogs and/or links.

Even Link & Think isn't participating this year. Or so it seems. Here's a few links that I want to highlight:

International World AIDS Day 2004

The Black AIDS Institute focuses on the impact and devastation HIV/AIDS has had on African American communities. Comedian Mo'Nique shares her sense of lose and a call to arms:

Yes, I did lose my best friend to AIDS and I don't want you to lose yours. As Black women and as a community we need to start speaking up and speaking out on HIV/AIDS. It’s chilling to think that over half of all new HIV cases are a result of heterosexual sex, and Black women account for 72% of new HIV/AIDS cases among women in the U.S.? (The link to her entire Op-Ed is faulty; here's hoping that the Institute will have it fixed later today)

The U. N.'s WAD 2004 page

The same org focuses on the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls:

Many women and girls are vulnerable to HIV because of the high-risk behavior of others. This year’s World AIDS Campaign, with the strapline Have you heard me today?, seeks to raise awareness about, and help address, the many issues affecting women and girls around HIV and AIDS.

And because I'm not in the mood to write on a more personal note this year, here's my entry on WAD 2003.

I'm currently thinking about a more positive and reflective way to discuss and think about HIV/AIDS. Hopefully, I'll have some friends who will participate and spread the idea. I'll post about it again later this week. *fingers crossed*

Writer & Archivist Steven G. Fullwood has a heart-felt post remembering Cynthia Faye Fullwood. After reading this entry, I'm more determined to put in place the idea hinted at above.

Green Ribbon Day?

OK, this is my follow-up post in the aftermath of World AIDS Day 2004. Unfortunately, this will be extremely brief with a basic outline. For the past few years, I have been thinking about an additional observation of WAD; an observation/day specifically (but NOT exclusively) for People of Color dealing with HIV/AIDS. This concept was informed by the work of Balm in Gilead and the music of Sweet Honey in the Rock. Basically, I envision a day tentatively entitled I Remember, I Believe.

Steven G's moving post for his sister on WAD 2004 makes me want to really try this. Here's the basic outline:

1. Create an entry reflecting on a loved one that is dealing/has dealt with HIV/AIDS
2. Make it a positive, helpful post
3. If possible, provide links to orgs and groups that assist PLA
4. And if I can have it created in a timely manner, post a button on your site, even if you don't participate directly

Tentatively, I see Friday, December 17th as the first I Remember, I Believe day, but I'll try to post more about that very soon after feedback.

About Damn Time!

Andy Bey receives a Grammy nomination for his latest CD, American Song. About damn time!!

It's a Start

From dotmac.info:

Apple has introduced a new Start Page which will be the default home page for Safari. The page, at http://apple.com/startpage features Apple news, software update announcements, Mac OS X downloads, and .Mac shortcuts.

I'll be getting my news and updates from there over the new 2-3 weeks as I finalize my plans for a laptop purchase.

PayPal Accepted at iTunes Music Store

Several Mac News sites has this info, but here's it from on of my favorites, MacMinute:

Apple today announced that the iTunes Music Store in the US now accepts PayPal for purchases of music downloads, audiobooks and gift certificates. Starting today, customers can use their PayPal account to pay at the store with a credit card, bank account or stored account balance.

And as an added bonus, The first 500,000 customers to open a new iTunes account in the US using PayPal as their form of payment before March 31, 2005, will receive five free songs.

Green Ribbon Day Postponed

I'm just too tired and still a bit weak from (another!) bout of food poisoning, so I'm postponing Green Ribbon Day till some time early 2005.

Terrance Joins the Good Side

Terrance of Republic of T fame finally has an iPod. That makes him a slightly better MacHead than me since I still don't have my own iBook like he does.

GMail Anyone?

I'm giving away gmail accounts: first come, first served. Merry Xmas and all that.

contact me at: rdtaylor at gmail.com