A break in the heat which also means a break in blogging inspiration

So, I slept for 11.25 hours last night, woke up at around 12:45pm central time (I usually get up around 10am) and went "What the F***!".  Then I remembered it was wednesday and spent the morning checking Facebook and my webcomics and some news sites, trying to discover something to blog about. 

So I found a couple of things.  One of which is here.  In regards to a comment said at an HIV/AIDS fundraiser.  And I agree, there needs to be more information about the fact that HIV/AIDS is not just an old persons disease.  It can happen to anyone at anytime.  From elderly people to infants, because it is borne on the blood.  Any contact with infected blood, from a car accident victim for example, potentially carries a risk of infection.   It's not just from gay sex, or hetero sex, that you can be infected.  If the idea that HIV/AIDS is a sad, old person disease is a prevalent one, we are doing our future and our young people a disservice by allowing it.  More information is always a good thing, whether you want to hear it or not.  At least if you know you can make an informed decision. 

Also there is a comment beneath the story that makes a point as well.  The A in AIDS which means Acquired.  To a lot of people that means that you have to do something, you have to go out of your way to end up infected with HIV.  As mentioned above, that is not true.  The infection of an individual can be a complete accident or a result of a mix of factors.  Only one way to get infected is via intercourse (homo or hetero).  As mentioned above, because HIV is a blood borne infection, any contact with infected blood carries a risk, no matter how small, and that is something to keep in mind.

Salt Lake City apparently is banding together to combat hatred and intolerance, in this story.  I think it's wonderful that a community, both hetero and homo, are banding together to show solidarity against this sort of tragedy.  I do think, however, that it's sad that it took the beating of this poor young man for this sort of coming together to occur.  It's very disheartening that in our everyday lives that the LGBT+ community can't find this kind of cohesiveness.  I realize that human beings tend to gather together in the face of tragedy, suffering, and persecution, but what most young people don't understand (or care about) is that everyday we are viewed as second class citizens by anyone of our countrymen or peers, we are being persecuted, we are suffering, and it is a continuing tragedy that some can't let go of their hate. 

So, we'll go on.  And hopefully, to quote Dan Savage and company, it will get better.

End of the World as we Know it...

So I'm beginning to think that the end of the world really is nigh.  I mean just look at some of the things that I'll be mentioning today and we'll see what conclusions you draw.

First of all, with the number of earthquakes that we've had recently across the globe, doesn't it seem a little odd to anyone?  Personally I'm waiting for California to break off the continental US.  That alone will convince me that something is really most sincerely wrong with the world.  Anyway, on to the main events...

I was actually appalled when I read this article.  I can't believe that in some parts of the world even the dead cannot rest peacefully.  It sickens me that there are those in this world so filled with hate that they would actually dig up the corpse of a fellow human being in order to express that hate to their community (and because of the effects of mass communication) the world.  I just think that there are better ways to make a point, and the dead should remain peacefully buried/cremated/liquefied/mummified/at rest.

Speaking of hate, and taking a look at the plank in our own eye before we go spouting off about the speck in our brothers', I came across this article and, I'll be honest, my first thought was "this is news to people?"  I kinda figured after President Obama was elected that there would be a surge in such activities.  I actually thought it was going to be worse than it was, thankfully it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  But then with the Healthcare ruling, and the reactions surrounding that, (I attempted to find the actual articles from more journalistic sources, but failed, so here are a couple links which both say the same thing that the article I had hoped to find would have said) Article A, Article B.  The fact that a ruling on healthcare in this country, where a woman can die in the waiting room hospital and nobody pays attention, which starts the revamp of things, (I get that the story is a couple of years old, but nonetheless still shocking for our post-industrialized nation, don't you think?) can cause such an extreme reaction is just more evidence that it's easier to hate than it is to compromise or love your fellow humans.

Then there's this, which while I think is a good thing considering all the risks around sex, I found it very interesting that a gay icon would say that.  Now I only make that statement with the knowledge that the gay community is known for (stereotypically and literally) being rather free with (and militant about) our sexual rights. So for a gay icon like the Lady to support abstinence/chastity over sex is a huge boon to our community.  Although, I'm personally surprised that more people haven't vilified her for that statement.  But I guess that's the power of celebrity. 

I came across this story while I was looking today and was rather intrigued.  Mostly because (I'm sure there are more, I just haven't heard of them) I was wondering how many Christian music artists/other Christian celebs are going to have to come out in order for the christian community to realize that Gay's aren't going away, and they probably know more of us than they think.  The first time I thought this was when I found out that Katy Perry (I kissed a Girl and all that) was formerly a Christian music artist.  Huh, well who knew...?

And then, probably as the biggest harbinger of the end of the world, Bill O'Reilly in a moment of either extreme passion or clarity offered to pay the court costs that the ruling foisted off on the father of the marine who's funeral was protested by "that organization" (I refuse to mention the name of "that organization" in my blog for similar reasons that I will not link to Ex-gay ministries).  While I'm not a big fan of Bill, and usually think he's an inflammatory rhetorical boob, I have to say that he has gained a smidgen of grudging respect from me for this move.  While I'll admit that it was more than likely either a move to gain popularity or involve himself in the politio-judicial whirlwind surrounding that story, either way it was still a nice thing to do.  Let's hope he has the cajones to follow through.

Well there you have it.