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Here is a brief description and link to the entire collection of My Fabulous Disease videos, stretching back to the premiere episode in 2008. The videos have been viewed in classrooms, at conferences and in support groups, and you're welcome to re-post and share with proper credit.
This list is always available to you for browsing — just look under Categories on your right for "A LIST OF ALL "MFD" VIDEOS."
AIDS2016: The Full Video Collection from My Fabulous Disease. The people, the parties, the protests! AIDS2016, the international AIDS conference held in Durban, South Africa from July 16-22, had it all. And it was my privilege to bring you the stunning sights and sounds of the gathering, sponsored by The Global Forum of MSM and HIV. My special thanks, too, to my amazing videographer, Australian HIV advocate Theo Tsipiras. Allow me to let these videos, and the inspiring people from around the world who populate them, to speak for themselves. Enjoy!
Checking Privilege at 'HIV Is Not A Crime' 2016. The issues of race, gender and privilege crackled through the recent HIV Is Not A Crime (II) conference like a live wire, throwing sparks at every turn. From the main stage to the hallways, attendees called out white classism, the utter failure of the criminal justice system (unless its purpose is solely to imprison black men), and what it truly means to be an ally of marginalized communities. Produced by The Sero Project and the activism powerhouse Positive Women's Network USA, the conference served as a "training academy" for advocates working to reform or repeal State-wide HIV criminalization statutes, and the work of organizers is a testament to our common bond: the empowerment of people living with HIV, speaking about ourselves, for ourselves.
The 2015 United States Conference on AIDS, September 15, 2015. The video contains three AIDS czars, one stripper pole, a ferocious batch of trans protestors, and more inspirational front-line workers than you can shake a stick at. My congratulations to the National Minority AIDS Council for their famously creative production of the weekend. The spirit shared by the advocates, healthcare providers, and organizations who convened for USCA was electrifying, and just the boost many of us need to keep our energy up and our dedication renewed. Oh, and special thanks to the CDC's Act Against AIDS campaign for letting me take over their Instagram page during the conference, and to Gilead Sciences for sponsoring the "Mind the Gap" session on social media and inviting me to host it.
Spilling My Guts at the ACT UP NYC Long Term Survivors Forum, April 15, 2015. When it came my time to speak, to offer my personal perspective on a lifetime with HIV, I abandoned my note cards and the story came pouring out of me. My voice quivered the entire time. I cried and told my secrets and my shame and my grief in ways I have never revealed on my blog. The room responded with warmth and acceptance. Afterwards, iconic ACT UP members whose names I recognized greeted me and thanked me (like Jack Mackenroth, at right). It was one of the most nerve-wracking and proudest days of my life.
This Gay Teenage Couple Defies HIV Stereotypes, November 12, 2014. HIV continues to devastate the South with alarming infection rates. One might assume that in the most stubborn of Red States, gay men have lives of rejection and misery, that they are apathetic about HIV, that they are ignorant about seeking treatment or accessing prevention strategies such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), or that living as a gay teenager brings so many challenges that HIV falls far down the ladder of priorities. That is clearly not the case for Chanse or for his boyfriend Josh, also 19 years old, who both swept into action when Chanse tested positive and, in another room of the agency, Josh learned he was HIV negative.
Methtacular! The Addictive Musical Comedy, September 2, 2014. It is no secret that I am a crystal meth addict in recovery. But writing about it, at least in the often humorous style for which my blog is known, escapes me. My process of recovery feels too precious, too personal, and yes, even too delicate. So it was with some skepticism that I recently attended the Chicago premiere of Methtacular!, an autobiographical one-man show in which the star leads us through his descent into drug addiction through music, comedy, and even a game show segment using audience members as contestants. I laughed with bittersweet recognition and sat amazed at the talents of writer and performer Steven Strafford.
AIDS2014: The Complete Video Blog Collection. July 29, 2014. What an amazing week! I was commissioned by TheBody.com (where My Fabulous Disease was born) to create video content from the international AIDS conference (AIDS2014) in Melbourne, Australia, and my coverage leaves the more clinical news to those better qualified. Instead, I focused on the sights, people, and issues swirling around the event. Meet a drag superhero promoting prevention, or attend the march and candlelight vigil, or meet a man from Nigeria who risks jail every day simply by providing services to gay men. The videos are stuffed with stories like these, and they certainly put things in perspective in my own life. Check them out, Mate!
The Juicy SILENCE=DEATH Stories You Never Knew. June 29, 2014. How could I attend a conference alongside one of the co-creators of the iconic SILENCE=DEATH artwork and not get all the juicy details from him about the creation of that image, and all the other artwork we know so well? Avram Finkelstein provides some fascinating behind-the-scenes commentary on the personal and activism struggles that were going on in the very center of ACT UP and his own artistic collective, Gran Fury. Required viewing for anyone interested in our history (his story of the gay porn image of two sailors will leave you speechless).
The Powerful 'HIV is Not a Crime' Conference. June 11, 2014. This video takes you to the first-ever national conference on HIV criminalization, HIV is Not A Crime, held in Grinnell, Iowa. The conference was definitely work, as advocates from around the country met to strategize how best to reform State laws that have little regard for the modern realities of HIV. In fact, there are people serving sentences right now for "exposing" others to HIV for actions that defy science as we know it, such as biting or spitting. This video review of the conference will introduce you to the issue of HIV criminalization, the advocates fighting it, and some of those who have served jail time under the statutes.
NEGATIVE: HIV Negative Gay Men Speaking for Themselves. I primarily write from the perspective of those of us living with HIV, which is important of course. But sometimes I feel as if negative gay men in particular find it difficult to express their concerns without being immediately attacked or shushed. So, I invited four very different negative guys to "talk to me like you talk to your friends when no one is around." Their startling honesty paints a picture of a community dealing with fear, confusion, and skepticism over what to believe and what their risks are. This candid video (the language is NSFW) doesn't speak for everyone, but you're going to relate to one of these guys — and hopefully feel empathy for them all.
Mark S. King at the International Conference on Stigma. Still riding the wave of notoriety from writing a cover story about HIV stigma for POZ Magazine, I squeezed another drop of selfploitation with this appearance at this important conference in Washington, DC. Seriously, it did give a chance to reflect on the huge response to that article, and say some things about how at least some of my thinking on the topic had changed. That and, as I tell the conference audience, "I'm here to gay up this event a little bit." Make that a lot.
Aboard The 2013 HIV Cruise Retreat ("The Poz Cruise"). Ah, it's that time of year again. And for nearly 300 vacationing people with HIV and our friends, that meant a trip on the high seas together. Why would so many people devote time and money to this event? Because a lot of our group come from smaller communities where they have a bigger challenge making friends and disclosing their status. For seven days, WE are in the majority, and there's such freedom in that. Yes, the event is not cheap (starting around $599 for seven days), but as this video shows, the love of this group for one is another is priceless.
Gay Parade Tips from a Poz Grand Marshal. There's no way I was going to be honored as Grand Marshal of the Atlanta Pride Parade and not share it with those living with HIV and our allies. So, I invited some along! We had a blast, and you know that while I was waving to the crowd I also had my trusty video camera ready! This one is for you, if you are living with HIV, because as far as I'm concerned, we all deserve a parade. This video is my account of the exciting, validating day in the Atlanta sun.
Two Minutes of Advice for Those Testing Positive. I produced this as part of the "You've Got This" campaign, in which people with HIV offer their pearls of wisdom to those who just tested positive. So, of course, I felt the topic could benefit from a little humor and joyfulness (should becoming a drag queen be one of your first tasks after you test?). In the end, just projecting a life of engagement and happiness means a lot to someone facing a new diagnosis, and that was my primary purpose here — but the video does manage to include sound advice.
The Inspiring Advocates of the 2013 U.S. Conference on AIDS September 16, 2013. In my video blog recap of the annual conference sponsored by the National Minority AIDS Council, you'll meet as lot of people addressing HIV stigma in various ways. You're also going to meet advocates of both the celebrity variety (Mondo Guerra of Project Runway (right), and photographer Duane Cramer) and those doing the work on the ground in communities large and small. As usual, it was the people and their personal commitment that caught my attention, and this recap is a salute to their efforts.
The Real Poz Guys of Atlanta III Sepotember 2, 2013. Why Andy Cohen isn't badgering me with phone calls to bring this series to Bravo, I'll never know. Nearly four years ago, I invited four friends living with HIV over to my place for a night of devouring brownies and sharing secrets, while my friend Charles captured it on video. The result was "You Gotta Have Friends," the first episode of what would be renamed "The Real Poz Guys of Atlanta." The second episode was posted more than a year later (you can see a recap and both previous episodes here). And now, episode three.
A Totally Gay Tour of Congressional Cemetery July 16, 2013 You haven't lived until you have hosted a game show in a cemetery. There I was, laughing and being silly while standing directly over the remains of more than 25,000 of the dearly departed. And I was doing it with the authorities. When I asked the president of Congressional Cemetery, Paul Williams, if he would play a game with me on camera for this blog, he took it all in stride. Because my blog has always been about living joyfully with HIV, perhaps this video brings that philosophy to its logical conclusion: accepting the passing of our lives with gratitude and happiness.
A Cure for AIDS: The HIV Activists Turning Hope into Action June 24, 2013. They are cautiously optimistic. But their faith is contagious, if you'll pardon the choice of words. And they also know that that we got protease inhibitors because of the same kind of tireless community efforts that they are displaying now. In fact, one can easily connect the dots from the activists shown in the Oscar nominated documentary How to Survive a Plague to this current crop of treatment advocates who are trying to take HIV research across the finish line.
The New National Voice of People with HIV is… May 24, 2013. With the demise of The National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) earlier this year, there's some jockeying for position among other national groups. Who will win the crown of "the new national voice of people with HIV?" A recent public forum in Washington, DC, tried to begin an assessment of the national situation by asking people living with HIV what issues were most important to them. The most compelling minutes of the event were courtesy of the sheer audacity of former administrators from NAPWA who made a pitch for their new HIV advocacy venture, Pozitively Healthy. In this video I take them to task and even provide a wry "dramatic reenactment" of their organizational negotiations.
2013 Marriage Equality Rally at the Supreme Court March 26, 2013. I was stunned by the emotions — pride, sadness, and anger — that spilled out onto the streets of Washington, DC, during this marriage equality rally, from both sides of the issue. And for some reason, the old tune "Classical Gas" kept spinning in my head as I shot the footage. When the anti-gay marriage folks arrived with a marching band — oh, those trumpets! — I knew I had to make a music video of the song and just prayed that YouTube wouldn't block me from using it. I was in luck, and so are you, because this has become one of my favorite videos to date. Enjoy.
Behind the Scenes of the Video Series "A Day in the Life." March 24, 2013. Beginning two years ago, TheBody.com asked me to produce a series of videos ("A Day in the Life: Keeping Up With Your HIV Meds") that would profile a person living with HIV, what their day looks like, and how their medication regimen fits into their daily routine. It was a great opportunity to highlight the everyday lives of people living with HIV, but also to let their spirit and passions come through, and show we are whole people — not simply the virus. They are each less than ten minutes long; just scroll through them below and find a story that sounds like yours — or better yet, hear what the journey of someone completely different from you is like! Are you ready?
HIV and Gay Media: The Vanishing Virus February 27, 2013. What is the responsibility of LGBT media in this climate of rising infection rates and a bored readership? Are they simply reflecting the community's waning interest, or do they have a responsibility to keep HIV in the headlines, to serve as advocates for better public awareness? I was in the perfect place to ask these questions: The 2013 LGBT Media Journalists Convening, held in Philadelphia and sponsored by the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association. About 100 media professionals, including a healthy dose of bloggers like myself, attended the event, which educates LGBT journalists on various issues so they we might report on them with more authority. I asked them about their own coverage of HIV, and how best to re-engage our community.
Treating My Facial Wasting with Artefill January 24, 2013. For several years now, I've made the occasional pilgrimage to Vero Beach, Florida, to be treated by Dr. Gerald Pierone for facial wasting, or lipoatrophy. And for all of these years, we have battled The Look: the sunken cheeks and sagging face of someone who has been on HIV medications for a long time. In my latest video blog below, you're going to see our progress, step by step. Facial fillers remain one of the topics about which I receive the most emails, and this video blog should answer most all of your questions.
The Night Don Lemon Hugged Me December 13, 2012. We talked about HIV stigma and Madonna lighting. He shared a story of seeing an AIDS patient on a New York City street years ago. We were two very different men comfortable in our own skin, who refused to allow shame a place at the table. At the end of our interview I began to shake his hand and something remarkable happened. Don stood and reached out for a hug. The humanity – and perhaps even bravery – of his simple act wasn't lost on viewers, many of whom wrote to tell me how moving it was.
On Board the 2012 HIV Cruise Retreat November 15, 2012. Sailing from Ft Lauderdale to various islands of the Caribbean, the Cruise Retreat included more than 200 gay men, women and our supporters. Along the way, there were games, shore excursions and even budding romances. The protective walls that often surround those of us living with HIV came crumbling down, replaced with new relationships, email addresses and phone numbers. I don't expect that everyone has the ability to afford the trip, but the message of the event – reach out for support and friendships where ever you might find them – echoes in my mind and heart today.
Is There Pride in Being HIV Positive? October 30, 2012. During the Atlanta Gay Pride Parade, it struck me how many contingents there were of people from all segments of the LGBT community celebrating their pride. And then it struck me how absent the HIV/AIDS organizations were, or at least people living with HIV themselves. What, then, is the intersection of HIV and Pride? Is there pride in being HIV positive? I posed this question to various people attending the parade and festival, and came away with some very surprising answers.
AIDS2012: The Complete Video Blog Collection. My adventures at the international AIDS conference in Washington, DC, are all documented here, in a review of the six video blogs (!) I produced during the week. The videos are funny, dramatic (the March to End AIDS may be my favorite), and feature both HIV/AIDS "stars" and the amazing people doing the work on the ground who never can get enough credit. Includes Jack Mackenroth ("Project Runway" and POZ Army), Jamar Rogers ("The Voice"), Daniel Bauer ("Beyond Belief"), Dr. "Johno" Mermin of CDC, Sean Strub (The SERO Project), Edwin Bernard (HIV Justice Network), protesters, drag queens, sex workers, and so much more!
HIV Criminalization Face-Off: One Poz Man and His Accuser. February 7, 2012. What if you could witness a face-to-face confrontation between a man living with HIV and the sex partner accusing him of not revealing his status? Wouldn't you like to be a fly on that wall? The fireworks could be mighty, as emotions raged between the furious accuser and the positive person trying to defend his actions. What might that meeting look like, exactly? In this video, you're going to find out. I was proud of how this video turned out, and gratified by advocates who considered it a solid and well balanced look at this controversial issue.
The 'My Fabulous Disease' Holiday Spectacular! December 13, 2011. That's right folks, this is fun for the whole family! In fact, MY whole family gets in the act, as we share holiday cheer, get a lesson on Christmas cookies from Mom, and even get a visit from Santa. When we filmed this video, I told my family that there were people watching my blog who didn't have a close relationship with their family, and discussing HIV was out of the question. They took this to heart, as you will see, and their compassion shines through. Merry merry!
The Long Road Home from Relapse. November 29, 2011. Okay, this isn't a video but I didn't want you to miss it so I'm making an exception. This is a honest account of my drug relapse and it quickly became the most viewed blog posting in the history of this site. While my perception of the reasons and fallout from my relapse continue to evolve, this is how I felt at that time. I hope it might help others — either to give you a sense of addictive thinking, or remind you why you never, ever want to go back to using.
Sailing the 2011 HIV Cruise Retreat. November 15, 2011. I realize how fortunate I am. So many of us are not able to take the time or devote the money for a cruise like this. It's my hope that this video blog will inspire you to seek community, in whatever way you can, and never forget that a sense of humor sure does help the journey. And what a journey this 7-day Caribbean cruise was! There was plenty of social events, educational workshops, excursions to the shores of various islands, and let us now forget the parties — The Mad Hatter Party was worth the fare alone, but then The Blue Party, hosted by my comic alter ego Anita Mann, reached new levels of madness and joy. You can get more info about the event at www.HIVCruise.com. The event welcomes men and women, gay and straight, and they are a truly inspiring, fun filled group.
Divorce, Stress, HIV… and no jokes. November 3, 2011. This is a rather personal blog video, there's no doubt about that. I was even a little apprehensive because it doesn't offer the usual helpful tips or the "entertainment value" of my other videos. But one of my problems has always been trying to be the life of the party when I'm not feeling it. So I was relieved and pleased that there was so much love for this video, in which I sit down with my friend (and a therapist) David Fawcett to discuss divorce, loss, HIV, and what to do when life isn't all that damn fabulous. This is a different Mark than you might be used to, unplugged and exposed.
Finding Support in an e-Patient World. September 26, 2011. You're part of a healthcare revolution in cyberspace, my friends. It's changing the way people find treatment information, relate to their doctor, and support one another. In this video blog from the e-Patient Connections conference, you get to meet some of the marvelous people who are leading the charge. And guess what? It turns out that there are people living with a wide variety of conditions who are online and advocating for themselves and others. This moving and funny video will teach you something.
7 Ways to Save Money on Your Meds. August 16, 2011. With all the doctor appointments and wellness activities we engage in, living with HIV/AIDS can be a full-time job. And the truth is, it doesn't pay very well. We've all been feeling the pinch of tough economic times. So I hope you'll find some savings in this video blog, "7 Ways to Save Money on Meds," featuring Jason King, a patient advocate for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. Jason has some tips that your pharmacist may not be telling you.
I'm Gonna Wipe That AIDS Right Off of My Face. August 2, 2011. Most of us know "the look," and I've started to get it. It's the telltale gullies and sunken cheeks associated with longtime HIV infection or (more likely) medications. Many of my friends and colleagues in this struggle suffer from it, and they may either be comfortable with it, proud of it as a badge of honor, or simply resigned to it. I salute us all, whether our features tells our HIV story or not. But meanwhile, I'll do what I can to wipe that shit off my face. In this video, I revisit Dr. Gerald Pierone for a treatment of Radiesse and Sculptra, and get information about the more permanent facial filler, Artefill.
The Entire 2011 ADAP Conference in Nine Minutes! July 19, 2011. The 2011 ADAP Advocacy Association (aaa+) conference held July 5-7 in Washington, DC, was bursting with spirit. Dozens of advocates from across the country met for three days of workshops and speakers, and in this video blog, you'll see the entire conference boiled down to only nine minutes. I'm the cliff notes of HIV/AIDS events! The AIDS Drug Assistance Program waiting list continues to grow on a daily basis, denying patients the very medications that can keep them alive. This national disgrace deserves our attention and our phone calls to our elected officials, urging them not to forget the most vulnerable among us.
Should AIDS Activists and Pharma just get along? July 12, 2011. Am I an AIDS activist, ready to question authority and demand high standards of service for those living with HIV/AIDS? Or am I a "resource" for the pharmaceutical industry, so that they might craft more effective community programs that will lead AIDS patients to "care." This video on treatment activism mulls over the conflict, provides some historical context, and keeps the red spray paint at hand, in case the activism needs to go "old school." This became the most "shared" blog posting of mine to date, and very quickly, too. I think people responded to the mix of education and edgy advocacy.
Dab Garner's 30 Year Story of Survival. June 28, 2011. This video is quite simple, really. One man explains to you what happened to him, from becoming one of the first AIDS patients in San Francisco to his life today in the service of others with HIV. Dab Garner has clearly put things into perspective, and his calm manner shows a man at peace with his fate, his survival, and the ghosts around him. It's an amazing story, actually. And considering the importance of passing our history down to younger people, it might not be a bad idea to share this video with someone you know, maybe even someone under 35 years old.
Vacations and Retreats for People with HIV/AIDS. April 28, 2011. Summer is approaching and vacation plans are being made " but have you ever considered a retreat or getaway with other people living with HIV/AIDS? It might sound odd to seek out a vacation event just for people with HIV. For me, my status is only a part of who I am, and I've gotten pretty good at disclosing when I need to. But for many of us it's tough getting past that hurdle. So joining a group of others living with HIV might be a fun solution if you're looking to make friends with other people living with HIV and build your support network.
April 6, 2011. My friend and HIV fitness author Nelson Vergel ("Testosterone: A Man's Guide") returns for another visit, this time to discuss erectile dysfunction and HIV, including the treatments available and issues specific to those of us with HIV. He also gives detailed information on the use of testosterone replacement therapy. Quite an informative video.
A Special One-Year Anniversary Posting! March 8, 2011. After weeks of teasing you with announcements and Top Ten listing, I finally put an end to milking the occasion with this, a special video celebrating one year of blogging on my site. This is lightweight, no doubt, but I do answer the most popular questions I get about myself and the blog, and it gives me a great opportunity to thank you, my readers and watchers. It has indeed been a great first year, and this video demonstrates my gratitude.
Touring an HIV+ Gay Sex Club. Plus: The Porn Stars that Got Away. March 1, 2011. I revisit a video tour of a public sex venue from last year and catch up with the host of "Poz4Play," a monthly gathering of HIV positive gay men. Along the way we discuss serosorting (limiting partners to those who share your HIV status) and if these parties offer real prevention or a false sense of security from other STD's. Meanwhile, I share what happens when you get "too real" in your line of questioning with porn stars (hint: they stop returning your e-mails).
The Hilarious Idiocy of Anonymous Gay Sex. February 7, 2011. When someone brought this YouTube video to my attention, I laughed out loud at its amazing recreation of an online hookup between two gay men, and the level of stupidity that is often involved when negotiating sex. The person who created this video prefers the anonymity of cyberspace, but I think he deserves a medal for perfectly demonstrating what we're up against when it comes to making intelligent sexual choices.
Hitting the Gym with HIV Fitness Expert Nelson Vergel. February 3, 2011. Fitness expert and author Nelson Vergel gets my growing waistline to the gym for a lesson in aerobic activity and weight training and the benefits and risks to those with HIV. Part Two in an ongoing series of fitness and nutrition videos with Nelson.
AIDS Activism 101: Steps to end the ADAP crisis. January 31, 2011. An interesting and practical look at the steps to take to have a voice with your elected official, by getting the activists at the 2011 ADAP Summit to cle4arly explain what was happening with the program, and then easy directions to contact your elected official about this (or any!) advocacy issue.
Five Things About HIV (They're Not Telling You). January 18, 2011. Activist and POZ Magazine Founder Sean Strub stops by for a game of ping pong and then a very provocative discussion of why public health campaigns keep getting it wrong in terms of messages to gay men, and some things that gay men should know that have not been widely reported.
HIV Fitness Stud Nelson Vergel Raids My Fridge. January 11, 2011. The first in a series of fitness and nutrition videos with HIV fitness expert Nelson Vergel. In this video, Nelson raids my fridge and gives simple, practical tips on eating right, mysterious "diet" labels, and the importance of proper pooping!
Recovering Joy. December 14, 2010. Why include a video of my performing in drag at a Christmas benefit for people in recovery from drugs and alcohol? Because it's funny. And because I wasn't very funny when i was an active addict, and there are a lot of wise messages contained in this very funny rendition of "Twas the Night Before Christmas," as read by my alter ego, Ms. Anita Mann.
Once, When We Were Heroes. November 28, 2010. This is an essay that won a 2008 award from the National Lesbian and Gay Journalism Association, for best written piece of the year, but I created this video version because I wanted another way of sharing its message. It potently describes the early days of the AIDS epidemic, and draws a bittersweet line between life than, and now. The best of my work.
My T-cells could use a facelift. November 11, 2010. This is the video that might be my personal favorite because it is funny and speaks to my issues of aging and regret and selfishly trying to hold on to old behaviors. Watch as, through video editing magic, my mature self and my young, selfish self argue about the effects of aging in a gay culture. Funny and wise, I think.
My Video Report aboard the HIV Cruise Retreat. November 1, 2010. During my maiden voyage as M.C. for the HIV Cruise Retreat, I didn't know what to expect. But as you'll see in this rollicking video diary, our group bonded and laughed and learned. Absent were so many of the social tensions that usually follow a group of largely gay men around. We all just cared for one another and had a terrific time. I hope I can return every year!
The Price is Right, 30 Years after Coming on Down. October 18, 2010. Would you believe I won a car on the Price is Right, back in 1980 when Bob Barker still had dark hair, and I have the video to prove it? I sure do! You'll watch the video and get to read an essay about the entire experience, and how it haunted me for years, when the advent of AIDS ruined all those wonderful plans I had told Bob Barker I was making for my life.
In Praise of HIV Negative Gay Men. October 13, 2010. Oh man, did this one ever get me into trouble. Here I thought I had such a great idea, doing a video to praise an encourage HIV negative gay men for staying that way, and acknowledging the fact that, in many ways, their struggles without HIV are harder than mine with it. Oops… this video offended just about everyone, mostly for a perceived sarcasm in my delivery. I'll let you watch and decide for yourself.
The 2010 HRC Dinner (in under four minutes!). October 10, 2010. I attended this national dinner for the Human Rights Campaign in Washington, DC, and had fun teasing the event by presenting the bloated evening in less than four minutes. My snarkiness was rewarded — it has become my most-watched video because, as it turns out, there appear to be quite a lot of people who like people being snarky about HRC. Just sayin'.
Fighting Back Hard Against Bullying. October 5, 2010. This essay about gay bullying includes the video "It Gets Better with the King Brothers," the video I made with my (also gay) brother Dick. We had no idea it would become one of the most watched videos for the project, and it now slated to be included in the "It Gets Better" book out in March, 2011. People seemed to like our brotherly love!
Condoms & Bareback Sex at the Gay Summit. (September 20, 2010.) As gay sexual advocates met at the annual Gay Men's Health Summit in Ft Lauderdale, there was an assortment of workshops and speakers focused on a golden oldie: promoting condom usage among gay men and how to address barebacking. Included is an interview with activist (and one-time bareback poster boy) Tony Valenzuela.
My Forbidden Love for Gay Monsters. September 28, 2010. This essay on my crush on Quentin Collins from Dark Shadows, and love for horror movies, gave me a chance to show off a video I produced for a stage production of Night of the Living Dead. I had such a blast making it!
HIV Stigma (and my lover Jack) at USCA. September 14, 2010. At the United States Conference on AIDS held in Orlando, I learned about a new project to address HIV stigma (which seems to be growing, not shrinking) and the reasons why. I also provide a tour of the conference itself and get some designs lessons from Jack Mackenroth, the Project Runway hunk who is HIV positive and is behind a public awareness campaign.
Sex While HIV Positive: The New Criminals. September 6, 2010. This video was significant to me for two big reasons: making it introduced me to the heroic activist Sean Strub for the first time in person, and it gave Sean a chance to very clearly outline a misunderstood topic. At a time when treatment successes and public acceptance of HIV/AIDS has made strides, why are there horrific laws that not only unfairly fault those with HIV, but are based on bad science?
Does the Gay Men's Health Summit make me look fat? August 26, 2010. Also while at the Gay Men's Summit in Ft Lauderdale, I attended a workshop on body image and gay men — and not a moment too soon, since my expanding waistline was threatening what my culture (and I) valued about the perfect body.
AIDS2010 for Dummies: An Entertaining Review. August 3, 2010. This is a collection of ALL the videos I produced while in Vienna for the 2010 International AIDS Conference, and it's quite a colorful collection. I left the research-oriented reporting to others and followed the people, sights and sounds of this amazing conference — teenagers from around the world teaching about condoms! An AIDS prevention musical featuring sex workers (STAR WHORES)! The rallies and the protests and the celebrities are all here. My thanks to TheBody.com for sending me to this event as their correspondent!
The Gay Pride PSA (that will never air!). June 15, 2010. What begins as a funny reflection of what gay pride has meant to me (organizing a parade starring ME as a drag queen — when I was eleven), becomes something much, much different in this short video. I guess the wreckage of my drug addiction was still haunting me. What results is a sweet message about PRIDE that suddenly punches you in the gut. I'm proud of this one.
Six Tips for Choosing Your HIV Doctor. May 28, 2010. When I began making plans to move from Atlanta back to Ft Lauderdale, the most daunting task was having to find the right doctor in my new city. Luckily, my Atlanta physician, Dr. David Morris, walked me through some practical tips that anyone can use. Watch his advice — and then watch as my cameras capture my very first meeting (really!) with my new doctor in Ft Lauderdale, as I follow the tips and grill him with questions!
What It Feels Like for a Mom. May 4, 2010. How does our HIV status affect the ones who love us most? What fears are they not telling us? I've always wondered, so I sat my mother down for an interview about my HIV, what it was like raising two gay sons, and how it affected the family when we experienced our own AIDS tragedy. She never flinched at the questions, and her answers are sincere and revealing.
Has My AIDS Crisis Ended? April 18, 2010. As the annual AIDS Walk strolled through my community, I remembered the crisis mentality of earlier Walks — and how getting myself to a Walk at all no longer seemed so important. Has my "crisis" lifted? As part of this video I sat down with U.S. Congressman Barney Frank and asked him about the difference between the emotional toll to gay men, "then" and now.
Facing Change. March 25, 2010. While packing for my move back to Ft Lauderdale from Atlanta, the chore of separating my belongings ("deciding what to keep and what to throw away…") brings up some emotions (it also brings up a face in a box, more than ready to tease me for feeling blue). I give the packing a rest long enough to get honest about the reasons for the move, and the beauty of second chances.
The Real Poz Guys of Atlanta. March 11, 2010 (originally posted on TheBody.com on February 23, 2010). Another fun evening of friendship and chocolate and secrets with my supportive group of friends in Atlanta. This time, we bake brownies and talk about everything from our doctors to our love lives, and then have Show 'n Tell! A great example of the value of strong social support for people living with HIV/AIDS.
Anita Mann's Infamous TV Set Number. (Filmed in 2008). Set to Nancy Lamott's "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," my drag queen alter ego battles herself locked in a TV set in this, her finest hour on stage. This performance was taped at a fund raiser for gay and lesbians in recovery from drugs an alcohol, since Anita (and I) are in recovery from crystal meth addiction. Laughter isn't just good for my t-cells, it is also vital to my recovery from addiction!
A Facial Wasting Update. (Originally appeared on TheBody.com on February 2, 2010). In a previous video I took you along to my first appointment with Dr. Gerald Pierone to address my facial wasting, and that video focused on how my wasting affected me personally. This video, told more from the perspective of Dr. Gerald Pierone, takes you along on my third visit for facial fillers to treat my wasting (lipoatrophy) with Sculptra and Radiesse. Hope you're not afraid of needles.
Serosorting and Sex Clubs. (Originally appeared on TheBody.com on January 4, 2010.) This quickly became my most-viewed video blog to date. Was it the intelligent discussion about serosorting (limited one's sexual partners to those who share your HIV status), or was it the guided tour of a gay sex club? Hmm. At any rate, Poz4Play sex party host Bill Trimble leads me through the titillating hallways of his monthly sex party "exclusively for HIV positive gay men." Then we have a seat next to the sling and enjoy an equally interesting conversation about the sexual choices gay men make — and why Bill believes he is providing important HIV prevention.
My Search for Meaning. (Originally appeared on TheBody.com on May 27, 2009.) Such a tiny topic, eh? And yet when you are faced with such tragedy like the AIDS crisis you can find yourself asking, "What's it all about?" I've shared my frustration with the topic and then conduct interviews with psychiatrist Dr. Jesse Peel, AIDS physician Dr. David Morris, and gay theologian Rev. Chris Glaser. Interesting food for thought.
You Gotta Have Friends. (Originally appeared on TheBody.com on April 22, 2009) So many people wrote to express their appreciation of this video and its simple plot: I invited four friends over for dinner and conversation, and all of us are living with HIV. The intimacy of the conversation is real; these are, in fact, good friends of mine. We cover everything from how we disclose our HIV status to friends and dates, to what our mothers think (and which ones are supportive). Antron, Craig, Eric and James demonstrate that in the sometimes stressful world of HIV, friends really matter.
Treating My Facial Wasting. (Originally appeared on TheBody.com on March 25, 2009.) After dealing with facial lipoatrophy (wasting) and seeing it so evident in my videos, I decided to do something about it by visiting Dr. Gerald Pierone in Vero Beach, FL and being treated with injections of facial fillers. Facial wasting and fat displacement are common side effects of both HIV infection and the medications used to treat it. This topic was updated in a later video when I returned to Dr. Pierone, "Facial Wasting Update."
Mark's R-Rated Sex Pig Blog. (Originally appeared on TheBody.com on January 28, 2009.) Barebacking, glory holes, casual sex and disclosing my HIV status are all discussed in this bawdy, provocative episode. Aging and negotiating sex as a gay man is as funny as it is frustrating, if you ask me. My favorite part: negotiating safer sex through a glory hole. The video is notable for another, unrelated reason: I was only one month clean from my crystal meth addiction and you can still see the ravages of drugs on my face, which is a lesson all its own.
The Drug Addict Takes a Holiday. (Originally appeared on TheBody.com on January 13, 2009.) Ouch. This one is tough for me to watch. After my former partner Ben ended our relationship when I ended up in drug rehab, I visited him in the home we had shared in Ft Lauderdale and tried to make sense of our past and what may happen in our future. This video is also a visual testament to age, past drug abuse and HIV meds catching up with me, as evidenced by the lipoatrophy (facial wasting) so apparent on my face.
Taking Care of Hal. (Originally appeared on TheBody.com on November 20, 2008.) I never dreamed I would be spending two months in Michigan helping my oldest brother through chemotherapy. But it got me outside of my head, beyond my own HIV diagnosis, and helped me focus on helping someone else. Sometimes, that's the best medicine of all. (My brother, Harold R. King, Jr., passed away in the Fall of 2010.)
Oprah Comes Calling. (Originally appeared on TheBody.com on November 10, 2008.) In this, only the second episode of my ongoing video series, Oprah reaches out to touch me! It leads to bittersweet memories of Louise Hay (the "Hayrides" of the 1980s in West Hollywood), and of my gay brother Dick and his partner's struggle with AIDS. Also, I get an annual physical with Dr. David Morris. Interesting in that you can see me trying to find a balance between humor and helpfulness.
The PREMIERE of My Fabulous Disease! (Originally appeared on TheBody.com on September 24, 2008.) In September of 2008, my video series "My Fabulous Disease" debuted on the best HIV resource on the net, TheBody.com. Here is that episode, which introduces me as a gay man in recovery living with HIV/AIDS. Little did I know what video adventures would lie ahead!


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The hand-painted portraits on 6-inch blocks of wood began going up last year in an apparent effort to brighten up the blue-collar California city. There are currently more than 2,000 of the images on utility poles, with many screwed to the bases.
The gnomes have red hats, white beards and brown shoes. Some of the images contain a mushroom.
Word that PG&E planned to remove the paintings sparked an outpouring of support from residents who said the gnomes add character to the city.
PG&E spokesman Jason King planned to meet Tuesday with the artist, who requested to remain anonymous, and a member of the City Council. The utility hopes to eventually relocate the gnome paintings from the poles to other spots in the same neighborhoods.
"We've received a lot of feedback from residents who love the gnomes," King told The Associated Press. "We're looking for solutions. We'll keep them where people can enjoy them."
King said PG&E did not want to encourage such installations, explaining a proliferation of such images could cause damage or make it difficult for crews to access the poles.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Bridgeton RiverFest is Friday through Sunday at the Bridgeton Harbor Marina on B Street.
The Bridgeton RiverFest is Friday through Sunday at the Bridgeton Harbor Marina on B Street.
This year it is coordinating with New Bern�s Ghostwalk, which is Thursday through Saturday. It is being touted as �Come for the Art, Stay for the Ghostwalk.�
Jim Hirschfield, a professor, artist and chair of the Intellectual Life Committee at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is this year�s RiverFest art judge.
More than two dozen artists have committed for the festival, with works ranging from water-ink, ceramics, acrylics, oils, pen-and-ink to clay.
The event also features art jewelers, wood art, metalwork, stitch designs, authors and handcrafted weather vanes.
The artists represent a wide range of coastal areas, both locally and regionally.
There will be a �Kidz Artapalooza� tent, with face painting, firemen, food and other activities, including pirates � The Brethren of Caroline from Concord.
The Friday activities include artist registration and set-up, along with a VIP party.
The festival goes public on Saturday, with a 10 a.m. opening of artists and vendor booths. The art awards are slated for 5:30 p.m.
On Sunday, booths again open at 10 a.m., with the �Kids Coloring Contest� winners announced at 3 p.m.
On the web: bridgetonriverfest.com.
Here are some other notable events this week:
The Bear Cubs Preschool Art Class meets at 1 p.m. today at Bear Hands Art Factory on Pollock Street. Hannah Mathiot provides different mediums for the children to try and teaches them how to put shapes together to compose their own pictures.
Admission is $15. Call 514-2787.
The Craven-Pamlico Christian Coalition meets at 7 p.m. tonight at the Golden Corral in New Bern. Those who wish to eat dinner should arrive between 6 and 6:30 p.m.
The guest speaker is David Hale, a member of the Craven County Board of Education. He will speak generally about the Craven County Board of Education, but specifically about the Common Core curriculum.
In November, state Sen. Norman Sanderson and Tami Fitzgerald of the N.C. Values Coalition are the scheduled speakers.
Call 514-0381 for information.
New Bern Parks and Recreation is now accepting applications for Christmas assistance through the Toys for Tots Program.
Applications will be available beginning today at the Stanley White Recreation Center, 901 Chapman St., or the West New Bern Recreation Center, 1225 Pine Tree Drive. The last day applications will be accepted is Dec. 11.
For additional information, contact Shelley Collins at 639-2912 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
The New Bern chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America meets Tuesday at 11 a.m. at 1325 McCarthy Blvd. in the Common Room at McCarty Court Apartments.
It is a support group for people with all degrees of hearing loss. Its purpose is to open the world of communication for people with hearing loss through information, education, advocacy and support.
The guest speaker will be Sandra McDermott from Avada Audiology and Hearing Care. She will be discussing wireless accessories that are available for use with hearing aids such as Bluetooth. The meetings are open to all. Call 635-2189 for information.
The Friends of the New Bern-Craven County Public Library autumn meeting on Tuesday at 7 p.m. has guest speaker Jim White, who will discuss the history of Portsmouth Island.
Saturday brings the program �Fannin� the Heat Away � A Celebration of the Art and Social History of the Handheld Church Fan.�
It is a program of old-fashioned show-and-tell. William McNeill celebrates a vanishing relic of Southern Americana � the handheld church fan. Refreshments will be served for the 2 p.m. program.
On Wednesday, from 4 to 6 p.m., Thea�s Ideas and New Bern Now present Breast Cancer Awareness at the Isaac Taylor Garden on Craven Street in New Bern.
The OKT Music Fest Autumn Concert Series continues at the garden on Thursday in New Bern with Hot Buttered Grits. The gates open at 6 p.m. There is a $5 cover.
The Pamlico County Library hosts Storytime Outreach Thursday at 10 a.m.
On Friday, there is Preschool Storytime at 10 a.m., with stories, puppets, crafts and other activities.
Also Friday, at 6:15 p.m., the Book-to-Film Series has �Walk the Line.�
A Halloween Festival of crafts, games and trunk-or-treat is Saturday at 11 a.m. At the same time Saturday, the Junior Craft Club meets.
There will be a preview screening party of the global video �Stomp Out Genocide� in New Bern on Friday at the Isaac Taylor Garden on Craven Street. It is at 6 p.m.
Produced by New Bern�s human rights foundation Arts To End Genocide, this collaborative project gives voice to children around the world to speak out against genocide and the abuse of human rights. Their vehicle for expression was through the art of dance.
The New Bern screening will offer local residents a chance to view the video prior to its public release on Oct. 30. Festivities include music by John Van Dyke, food by MJ�s, a question-and-answer session with the cast and crew and a chance to join choreographer Jane Peele and the children in doing the �Stomp.�
Tickets are $20 and available at the Isaac Taylor Garden, The Bank of the Arts, Fine Art on Middle Street, at Baxter�s on Pollock Street and on the web at artstoendgenocide.org. The $20 donation funds more sneakers for African children. Call 288-5260.
John Lawson Legacy Days are Friday and Saturday in Grifton on Contentnea Creek. It celebrates Lawson, a British explorer, writer, naturalist and surveyor, who visited the area and helped found New Bern. He was killed nearby in the village of Catechna by the Tuscarora Indians.
Legacy Days celebrates the full range of area history, including the earliest Native Americans, European settlement, colonial times, the American Revolution and the Civil War.
This year's theme is �Pioneer Heritage� and will add regional craftspeople and period re-enactors in costume to give attendees a new experience while keeping the ties to John Lawson and the Tuscarora Indians.
Again this year, events will include an expert on primitive technologies who will demonstrate fire-making, flint-knapping and making blowguns. There will be a presentation on local history, with colonial and Civil War re-enactors with a cannon-firing. There is also an authentic Civil War camp near the Contentnea Creek.
David La Vere returns with his book, �The Tuscarora War.�
Events are 6 to 9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free. On the web: JohnLawsonLegacyDays.org. Call 524-0190.
The annual Halloween Preschool Parade is from 9:30 to 11:30 on Friday in New Bern.
It begins at corner of Broad and Middle streets, presented by New Bern Parks and Recreation. For details, call 639-2902
This annual parade is for preschool-age children and their parents or teachers. Children dress in their Halloween costumes and parade down Middle Street and into Union Point Park. Registration is necessary for groups.
Call 639-2902 for more information.
In the case of inclement weather, it will be at the West New Bern Recreation Center at 1225 Pine Tree Drive.
The New Bern Walk to End Alzheimer�s is Saturday, beginning at 8 p.m. at the Galley Store and Marina at 300 E. Front St.
Registration begins at 8 a.m., with a ceremony at 9 a.m. The walk begins at 10 a.m.
The walk route begins at 300 E. Front St. following the Promise Garden ceremony. The route, which will be a mile long, will make a loop through downtown New Bern.
Call coordinator Amy Julian at 919-803-8285. On the web: alz.org/walk.
Tickets for the annual MERCI Clinic Fall Gala are available for Saturday night�s event.
It is from 6 to 11 p.m. at the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center.
There will be dinner by The Flame, featuring Chef Smoke. The evening�s attire will be Earthy Green Cocktail in fitting with the theme this year: �Goddess of Green � Organic, Recycled, Green, Natural.�
On Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the New Bern Police Department along with Neuse River Foundation, Coastal Coalition Against Drug & Alcohol Abuse and Realo Discount Drugs will host another drug drop. This annual event has drawn in more than 400,000 pounds of prescription drugs as more than 5,000 sites across United States.
Last year, Craven County citizens brought in more than 200 pounds. There is also a prescription drug drop box at the New Bern Police Department.
For information, call Natalie Baggett at 637-5643.
The Home At Last Animal Foundation supports a non-kill animal sanctuary, where it houses, cares for and protects more than 130 animals.
The group recently opened Fur Pet�s Sake Thrift Store, north of Bridgeton on U.S. 17. Proceeds benefit the sanctuary. It is open Friday through Monday.
On the web: croatananimalrescue.org
Charlie Hall can be reached at 252-635-5667 or email@example.com


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The Jets are in trouble. Their last game against the 49ers was an embarrassing 34-0 rout. Mark Sanchez passed for 103 yards. The Jets' next game is Monday night against the Texans, and the team has to improve. So someone on the Jets' Facebook page came up with the idea to ask Jets fans for help, seen below: "What do we need to focus on to be ready for Monday?" Here are some responses, fully [sic]'d:
Brad Rinschler Quitting
Stiles John Walters leadership!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anthony Frederick Magic water from Space Jam
Sam Krogstad TEWBOW AT QB.............
Jabril Showers SWAG
Jabril Showers YOU HAVE NO WEAPONS AROUND MARK SANCHEZ AT ALL ..REVIS IS DONE,SANTONION IS OUT FOR SEASON..!!BUT REMEMBER THE SEASON IS STILL YOUNG..AND WE ARE TIED FOR 1ST IN THE DIVISION
Elfido Vargas ya needa work on getting a new QB seriously im a jets fan to the heart but wen i no something is rong is becuz something is rong you guys shud give tim tebow a shot 2 see what he can do ....... sanchez styll thinks he's in college he's to scared to step up to the plate !!!!
Alex Durr O line need to protect sanchez so he can make the throw and WR need to get their hands out of their A** and catch the dang ball. Oh and if got tebow, please use him more than one play to run. Like two games ago, he ran for 22 yards on 1 carry. I mean if one thing is not working use him, dnt pay him to warm the bench and tell sanchez "ule get that one back dnt worry man"
Marcos Marino you will need a very comfortable talk with the team
Marcos Marino xgvjkxñc
Vincenzo Ambra tell Mark to stop sneaking Longoria into his room the night before the game... I was young once...I know what a woman like that could do.
Youn Twon tim tewbow as stater job!
Courtney Elliott Play Tebow more! Use him more effectively other than special teams. The guy has talent and its just being wasted on the side lines. Rex just got him for media hype.. use him or let someone else have him that will USE him correctly!
Knick Grasso Play the guys who want to win. We need winners on our team not mopers! More Joe Mcknight, more aaron maybin, more creativity...MORE HEART! All that locker room is missing is some fire! Someone needs to light a fire up under this teams arss so we beat the texans and silence some of the critics!
Eric J. Greco Greg McElroy
Edward Kehl A game called FOOTBALL !!!!!!


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There are conflicting accounts about the origins of Google's de facto motto. Some say that Paul Buchheit, creator of Gmail, came up with it at a meeting about "corporate values" in 2000. Others ascribe the phrase to Amit Patel, a Google engineer, a year earlier. Either way, the slogan "don't be evil" came to symbolise the freethinking freshness of the company.
Many people, however, see the motto in a more ironic light. There are widespread concerns about Google's commitment to things like paying tax and combating child porn, which have seriously damaged the image of the corporation.
Google's tax arrangements remain a moot point. Now, however, following a wave of intense pressure sparked by the murders of April Jones and Tia Sharpe, the company has announced that it is taking steps to address the evil of child pornography that lurks in the darker corners of the internet.
As the Sunday Telegraph reported, Google is "setting up a 1.27 million ($2 million) fund available to independent software developers to produce new tools to combat child pornography", and "working on new technology" which will "allow child porn images which have already been 'flagged' by child protection organisations such as the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) to be wiped from the web in one fell swoop".
This can only be good news. My colleague, Willard Foxton, maintains that the worst images of child rape can be found in obscure areas of the internet over which Google does not have dominion. It seems, however, that a lot of nasty material is available through Google, and this may lead a user through the wormhole to the dark side. If Google are able to address this problem, it will certainly be acting more in accordance with its motto.
More problematic is the announcement by Claire Perry MP, David Cameron's special adviser on preventing the sexualisation and commercialisation of childhood, that from 2014 a blanket restriction will be placed on access to pornography online.
This has nothing to do with child rape. The measures are intended to prevent children against exposure to legal pornographic images, and as such seem like something of a blunt instrument.
I have argued before that proposals for having a default block on pornographic material, which requires that the user "opt in" to viewing adult content, is a good idea. Under Claire Perry's system, however, the system will "reset" itself at seven o'clock each morning. This means that if a responsible, adult web user opts to have the restrictions on pornography lifted from his computer in the evening, the ban will have been automatically reinstated come morning.
This seems like a step too far. Some may believe that viewing pornography is inherently loathsome. But this is a personal view and should not inform such draconian measures. Blocking pornography as standard is a necessary step to combat the sexualisation of our children, but users should be asked to "opt-in" on a monthly basis, not every single day.
As for images of child rape, however, a zero tolerance approach is demanded. The public outcry has reached fever pitch, and this may have forced Google's hand. Nevertheless, Google's renewed efforts to tackle child pornography suggest that the corporation may be less evil than we had thought.
This post originally appeared in The Daily Telegraph.
Get the latest Google stock price here.


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I am a long-time clinician that specializes in the treatment of addictive disorders. I am looking for input from members in this community about how they might view the 12-steps. I got sober in AA (close to 32 years ago) but left shortly after I started as the heavy reliance on God was off-putting. I don't have a 12-step orientation and have met clients who could use a fresh approach/new eyes about a non-believers view of the steps.
I am not a fan of the program so I don't want to get into the discussion about the merits of program, etc.
Views: 1952
Hi. I am afraid I do not know too much about the 12 steps but my initial thoughts on looking them up are that by turning away from alcohol and to religion a person is just replacing one psychological crutch with another and failing to address the underlying issues which led to drinking? I am not at all sure that turning your will over to God is any way to understand and beat the compulsion to drink excessively? Surely examining the reasons behind addictive tendencies is the key?
I strongly disagree with you. I am starting to follow several 12 steps programs. I come from a strongly atheist country and arriving in the US, where atheist are a small minority, made me think of it a simply a different culture. And when you go to a different country there are usually a lot of things that you don't understand, that you think could be useless, that you might even think of being stupid, but you never criticize them because you are a foreigner and respect the culture of others. I would probably never have realized that without coming to the US. And a believe that this respect for other cultures can be applied even in your own country.
As a complete atheist (absolutely atheist, really) I think that the 12 steps program is really of big help for addicted people. It is indeed possible to use religion as a replacement addiction and I know some persons who immediately started using it like that. But it is absolutely not what the 12 steps program is about. I am really interested in how god can help people and I have my own atheist interpretation about how it works. As for myself, I "pretend" that god exists (although I will never really believe it is the case) but I manage to get a feeling that really helps me a lot. I think it is all in the brain, I dont believe in these things, but I really believe it helps. There are several interesting books about buddhism and the 12 steps, for example. They use meditation as a tool for recovery. It is just a simple mental exercise, no gods, no beliefs, and explain that the only obstacle to remove someones defects is just seeing the defects. Once you see them and accept them, they go away by themselves. This is what I think they do by using god to remove your defects. they just give up controlling themselves with willpower and they accept their problems as just being part of the landscape of their life. They act as they should act without waiting for their own willpower to be there. It is that "blind faith" that makes things get more simple. Sometimes the solution to a problem is just accepting not to solve the problem by thinking and forcing it, just leave it be there. Just act and don't force things, just act and don't try to change your brain and your feelings yourself. They believe that god will remove the defects. I personnaly believe that it is just time that removes it, but for that you need to give up trying to control everything, and try to let the problems settle down. And be honest with yourself. Leave time remove your problems and just focus on the feelings that are there in the present moment, without trying to influence them. I am atheist and for now I tried the buddhist method and the christian method, and I have to admit that I prefer the christian method. Just "do as if". I think it is more efficient. I think that if there are so many believers, it is just because religion fits the brain, and I think that there are many useful things in religion that can help.
Addicts have a tendency to feel guilty all the time, and always try to stand up and reject anything that they think is there to make them feel guilty. But they see guilt everywhere and thus tend to reject many things. But depending on the people, religion is not necessarily there to make you feel guilty. Anyway you do what you want. But try not to reject the whole thing just because you have had a bad experience with some persons, or even 90% of the persons. There are good things to take there and it is better to take them.
And about the end of your comment, the 12 steps are not a way of solving the core problem of your addiction. The 12 steps are not a therapy technique, it is just a support to help you stop acting out and stop trying to control everything and remove bad habits. The real core of the problem, you have to solve it with your therapist, thats why it is usually advised to go to a 12 steps group AND a therapist. I personally think that both are absolutely necessary.
I love that statement, and want to start using it more often in real conversations. Even if I'm just lying, and want to cash in on how humble it makes me seem.
Doug Stanhope - AA Is A Poorly Constructed Cult And Doesn't Work
Dear Todd:
I have not had issues with drink during my life other than making sure I never began.
When I lived in Portland, OR, I became aware of some of the local athests, that had a drinking issue, and had their own program. I think it was a peer based model, other than this I have no further knowledge, sorry. The group might still be in operation, but my last time index was in 1983.
I wish you well. I understand how hard it can be, watching my father.
My opinion is that in order for real freedom from addiction to be gained, one has to have a profound and fundamental change. I see the steps as a possible means to help addicts to gain a different perspective regarding how they relate to substances, themselves, others, and the cosmos. I wrote my thesis on spiritual recovery from addiction, so this is something about which I have thought a great deal. It is the fundamental change in perspective that supports the recovery, but that change can come about in many ways.
Atheists can still use the steps to affect some of that change if they have enough presence of mind and self-awareness to not take them literally and to see the big picture. However, they become stifling after a while. Because of the cult-like nature of how 12-Step programs work, it can be difficult to move on.
I think the psychological work that can be done using the steps needs to be done, but not necessarily in that form, and that the steps do not work for everybody. The problem with the way the steps are used in the fellowships is that the guidance, which may happen to be very good, does not come from professionals.
This is a really good question, and I wish I had a better answer. Recovery from addiction is a bitch no matter which way one chooses to go.
I have actually known more people who stopped drinking without AA than those who did with AA.
I would suggest that the people you know are not chronic alcoholics.
I have not personally dealt with addiction, but I am close to someone who has, and who has successfully used the 12-step program to recover from his alcohol addiction. He is not an atheist, more of an agnostic, but he replaced the idea of god with something else, his belief in the overarching power of evolution. He did this in the early days of the internet, not going to AA meetings in church basements but ones in the world wide web on message boards. He's been sober for 21 years now, so I'd say that it worked pretty well for him
I am not familiar with their approach and how it differs from AA (besides the obvious), but I know there is a nontheistic alternative called Rational Recovery. Anyone familiar with it?
I used to go to AA, but left for a number of reasons. My "12-steps" has morphed into something like this;
1- I am a part of the world, and my actions have consequences that effect those around me that share the world with me. It is my choice whether those actions are positive or negative, and I choose to try to make the world a better place for me being in it.
2- Do the right thing; every day, every action, to the best of my ability. No excuses.
3- When I screw up (and I will, because everybody does), then admit it, apologize, set things right, and give back a little something extra to show that I really mean it.
4- Maintain positive activities to occupy the time that I normally would be using, and cultivate positive relationships with new people to replace the old "using buddies" that I can no longer associate with.
5- No matter what, do not use. Not a drink, not a snort, not a single pill, not ever. Not ever.
That's pretty much it, and it's been working well for me.


text: CEO of Catholic Relief Services to deliver Loyola's 2013 commencement address May 2, 2013 | By Nick Alexopulos Carolyn Y. Woo, Ph.D., president and CEO of Catholic Relief Services, will deliver Loyola University Maryland's 2013 commencement address on Saturday, May 18, at 1st Mariner Arena. As speaker, Woo will receive a Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa. More than 1,600 baccalaureate and advanced degrees will be conferred during the Exercises, which begin at 11 a.m. in Baltimore's 1st Mariner Arena. "Dr. Woo's monumental contributions to academia and social justice throughout her distinguished career are an exemplar of the leadership and vision we value deeply at Loyola," said Rev. Brian F. Linnane, S.J., Loyola's president. "I'm thrilled that her insight, coupled with Loyola's rigorous, Jesuit educational experience, will further inspire this year's graduating class of exceptional men and women to lead, serve, and innovate in the next chapter of their lives." Woo was recently named one of the "500 Most Powerful People on the Planet" by Foreign Policy magazine. In January 2012, Woo became CEO and president of Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS was founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the United States to serve World War II survivors in Europe. Since then, the Baltimore-based organization has expanded in size to reach more than 100 million people in nearly 100 countries on five continents. Before CRS, Woo served from 1997 to 2011 as dean of the University of Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business. During Woo's tenure, the Mendoza College was frequently recognized as the nation's leading business school in ethics education and research and received top ranking in 2010 and 2011 for its undergraduate business program from Bloomberg Businessweek magazine. Prior to her time at the University of Notre Dame, Woo served as associate executive vice president for academic affairs at Purdue University. She was the first female dean to chair the accreditation body for business schools (AACSB: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) and directed its initiative for Peace through Commerce. She has served on advisory boards or boards of directors for numerous organizations, including CRS; Catholic Charities USA; Migration & Refugee Services, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; and Fuel Up to Play 60 (sponsored by the National Football League and the National Dairy Council). Woo also helped launch the Principles for Responsible Management Education for the United Nations Global Compact program. Born and raised in Hong Kong, Woo immigrated to the United States to attend Purdue University, where she earned her bachelor's in economics with highest distinction and honors, Master of Science in Industrial Administration with award as Krannert Scholar, and Ph.D. in Strategic Management. She is married with two sons. Other honors to be awarded by Loyola at this year's Commencement Exercises will include: Carroll Medal (recognizing distinguished alumni for noteworthy and meritorious service on the University's behalf): Sally Riley, MSA '68, Mount Saint Agnes College reunion chair and vice president of the MSA alumnae association. John Henry Newman Medal (presented to those who have made outstanding contributions to Catholic education): Adrian Dominican Sister Maureen Fay, O.P., Ph.D., University of Detroit Mercy president emerita. The Milch Award (recognizing superior contributions and achievement by an organization involved in service): Sandtown Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit Christian housing organization in the Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood of West Baltimore that seeks to rebuild vacant housing. Additional information about Loyola's 161st Commencement Exercises is available at www.loyola.edu/commencement.


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Florida Senate president's former company sued for Medicare fraud
The U.S. Department of Justice has sued the hospice company founded by Florida Senate President Don Gaetz, accusing the company of engaging in Medicare fraud for more than 11 years, including during the time Gaetz was vice chairman.
The lawsuit, filed May 2 in the district court for the western district of Missouri, alleges that since at least 2002 Vitas Hospice Services and Vitas Healthcare Corp., the largest provider of for-profit hospice services in the country, "misspent tens of millions of taxpayer dollars from the Medicare program."
Gaetz sold the company in 2004 to its current owner, Cincinnati-based Chemed, and reportedly no longer owns any shares or has any affiliation with the company. Chemed operates hospice services in 18 states including Florida.
The suit, filed on the eve of the final day of the legislative session, alleges that Chemed and its hospice subsidiaries defrauded Medicare by billing the agency for patients who were not eligible for hospice care, and for charging Medicare for crisis care given to patients who either didn't need it or never received it.
Gaetz, R-Niceville, who was elected to the Senate in 2006, said through a spokeswoman late Wednesday that the Department of Justice complaint involves issues that occurred after he left the company.
Since 2004, "and for the past nine years, President Gaetz has not owned any stock in the company or served in any capacity as an employee, officer, director, consultant or volunteer,'' said Katie Betta, Gaetz's Senate spokeswoman. "The complaint relates to matters long after President Gaetz sold his interest in the company."
The company said in a statement issued May 3 that it intends "to defend this lawsuit vigorously."
"Chemed and VITAS have made significant investments in controls, systems and procedures to uphold the highest industry standards and to maintain compliance with all regulatory requirements,'' the statement said. "Our compliance efforts are designed to ensure our services are provided only to eligible patients."
Under federal law, only dying patients with six or fewer months to live are eligible to receive Medicare-reimbursed hospice care and only patients "experiencing an acute crisis that requires the immediate and short-term provision of skilled nursing services" are eligible to receive so-called crisis care, the most costly form of hospice care, according to the complaint.
In 2013, for example, Medicare's daily reimbursement rate for crisis care was $742 more per patient than the daily rate for routine home care, the complaint said.
The lawsuit alleges that Vitas Healthcare systematically attempted to overcharge Medicare for services that were either not provided or given to patients who were not eligible for the level of care billed to Medicare. The Justice Department also claims the company used aggressive marketing tactics and pressured staff to increase the number of crisis care claims submitted to Medicare and set goals for the number of days that were to be billed.
The complaint cites the example of a California patient identified only as "MC." Vitas reported that the patient was eligible for Medicare-reimbursed hospice care, the complaint alleges, but the company's own records stated that MC did not have a terminal illness whose prognosis was six months or less. She was instead, "living independently and performing daily activities without assistance," including doing her own laundry.
The cost to Medicare for crisis care for MC was $170,999 between 2009 and 2012, according to the complaint.
The Justice Department found that Vitas' billings for crisis care was almost six times higher than the national average.
A Vitas nurse reported that on more than one occasion she arrived at the home of a patient described by Vitas as needing crisis care but instead would find the patient "at church, at the beauty parlor, or playing bingo," the complaint said.
Despite the fact that these patients did not need or receive crisis care, the complaint alleges that Vitas billed Medicare for the services anyway.
"The Medicare hospice benefit is intended to provide patients nearing the end of life with pain management and other palliative care to make them as comfortable as possible," said Stuart F. Delery, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division in a statement.
"Too often, however, we hear reports of companies that abuse this critical service by using aggressive marketing tactics to push patients into services they don't need in order to get higher reimbursements from the government."
The complaint seeks treble damages, statutory penalties, and the costs of the action, plus interest.
Gaetz founded Vitas Healthcare as a nonprofit, Hospice Care Inc., in Miami in early 1978 with partners Hugh Westbrook and Esther Colliflower. That same year, Gaetz and Westbrook helped pass Florida's hospice licensure law, which gave his hospice a 20-year head start over for-profit competitors.
Florida's hospice act was the first such law in the nation and became the model for the federal Medicare/Medicaid hospice benefit plan that Congress enacted in 1982. The company became a for-profit company in 1984 and changed its name to Vitas Healthcare in 1992.
Gaetz and his partners sold Vitas for $406 million to Cincinnati-based Chemed, best known as the owner of Roto-Rooter.


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The Eternal Priesthood
When I was sixteen years old I became convinced that I was not going to be around much longer. Now before you jump to the conclusion that I had become obsessed with my own demise, I should give the reason …Read More
"To Fulfill All Righteousness"
"Behold, I havecome to do your will, O God," said the Messiah when He came into the world (Heb. 10:5–7). The writings of the New Testament, especially the four Gospels, testify that Jesus was faithful to that resolve …Read More


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This 100+ page illustrated guide will get you started with some of the most popular World of Warcaft gold-making addons including TradeSkillMaster, Auctionator and Auctioneer. It also covers the basics on each profession, the popular gold-making website "The Undermine Journal" and much more. If you're new to gold-making or just want to brush up on your basics this is the guide for you.
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text:
You Might Want To Look At This
Posted by Primus , Dec 21 2011 · 1,581 views
I'll take more pictures once I make a new lightbox, my old one got smashed when I moved out of my apartment. There are some spots on this guy that I want to touch up, but I'm happy with the overall look of the MOC, especially the silhouette.
- 0


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Appliance manufacturer Electrolux recently unveiled designs for the Heart of the Home, a giant touchscreen stove that will grace the next generation's kitchens. Sadly, there's no robotic maid included.
The Heart of the Home - which strongly resemble the tablet computers from Minority Report - will allow future chefs to fricassee with the touch of a finger. Electrolux hopes to have the multi-use device on the market within the next 40 years. According to an Electrolux representative:
One simply places one's ingredients on the surface. The appliance then analyses the ingredients and presents a list of suitable recipes. After deciding on a recipe, the user marks an area with his hand to determine how large the cooking area should be. Then the desired depth of the surface is created by simply pressing the hand against the malleable material. After achieving the required width and depth it's just a matter of setting temperature and time with a simple touch of a finger.
As you can see here, users mold the amorphous metal to cook and then use the surface to host dinner parties with their hip, cyber-yuppie friends. We hope this iStove comes with a lock mechanism, otherwise someone's going to get an elbowful of burner.
[via Telegraph UK]


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Using a unique organic extraction method, our product has been targeted for low molecular weight which increases bio-availability and effectiveness to unparalleled levels. Fulvic acids are extremely effective chelating agents, facilitating the uptake of micro and macro nutrients, increasing resistance to stress, and boosting overall vigor, thereby producing larger, better quality harvests. Ancient Amber is compatible with any fertilizer program but is most effective when used as a foliar spray or in hydroponic systems.
— Ships from H: WA, CA, CO, MI, TN, PA, FL USA.


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PHOENIX –Brant Houston and David Cay Johnston, a pair of luminaries in investigative reporting, will headline a special SABEW workshop Nov. 30 at the Tampa Tribune.
The workshop will be final stop in the "Drilling Deep" series, sponsored by the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation.
The workshop will feature two experts with ties to the Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) organization: former IRE executive director Houston of the Investigative News Network, and current IRE President Johnston.
Joining them in the lineup of speakers is Chris Davis, two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and investigations editor for the Tampa Bay Times (formerly known as the St. Petersburg Times) and Aaron Kessler, a staff writer covering international corruption for the not-for-profit 100Reporters. Kessler is an award-winning investigative reporter who formerly worked at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
The foundation awarded SABEW a $25,000 grant to provide training in investigative business reporting in four cities. Workshops were held this summer in Oklahoma City, Los Angeles and Toronto, drawing a total of 165 journalists.
Workshop organizer Marty Steffens, the SABEW chair at the Missouri School of Journalism, rounds out the speakers. Steffens was the principal planner of the Oklahoma City workshop.
To see materials from the workshop, click here.
The workshop will be held at the Tampa Tribune at 200 S. Parker St. Tampa, FL 33606.
Brant Houston holds the Knight Foundation Chair in Investigative and Enterprise Reporting and teaches investigative and advanced reporting in the Department of Journalism in the College of Media at Illinois. Houston serves at the chair of the steering committee of the newly formed Investigative News Network, a coalition of nonprofit journalism centers, and as coordinator for the Global Investigative Journalism Network. Houston became the chair after serving for more than a decade as the executive director of Investigative Reporters and Editors, a 3,500-member organization, and as a professor at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Before joining IRE, he was an award-winning investigative reporter at daily newspapers for 17 years. He also is the author of three editions of the textbook, "Computer-Assisted Reporting: A Practical Guide," and co-author of the fourth edition and fifth edition of "The Investigative Reporter's Handbook."
David Cay Johnston is one of the foremost investigative reporters in the U.S., and is current president of Investigative Reporters and Editors. His latest investigative book, published in September, is The Fine Print: How Big Companies Use Plain English to Rob You Blind. In 2001 while at the New York Times, he received a Pulitzer Prize for exposing tax loopholes. Just two of the tax dodges that were shut down after his expose were valued by Congress at $260 billion. He is known as the "de facto chief tax enforcement officer of the United States" and other journalists have called his work the equal of the late 19th Century great muckrakers Ida Tarbell, Lincoln Steffens and Upton Sinclair. Since 2009 he has taught the tax, property and regulatory law of the ancient world at Syracuse University College of Law and Whitman School of Management. Johnston's other books include Free Lunch: How the Wealthiest Americans Enrich Themselves at Government Expense and Stick You With The Bill, about hidden subsidies, rigged markets, and corporate socialism. That 2012 release follows his earlier book, Perfectly Legal: The Covert Campaign to Rig Our Tax System to Benefit the Super Rich—and Cheat Everybody Else, a New York Times bestseller on the U.S. tax system that won the Investigative Reporters and Editors Book of the Year award in 2003.
Two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist Chris Davis is the investigations editor for the Tampa Bay Times, formerly the St. Petersburg Times. As a reporter and editor in Florida for the past 15 years, he has led investigations on a variety of subjects, including real estate fraud and property insurance. As an editor, he helped lead the Sarasota Herald-Tribune to numerous national awards including its first Pulitzer in 2011 for a series on Florida property insurance. He joined the Tampa Bay Times last year and leads the newspaper's investigative team. Mr. Davis grew up in South Carolina and attended the University of South Carolina. He lives with his wife in the Sarasota area.
Aaron Kessler is a staff writer covering international corruption for 100Reporters, an investigative journalism nonprofit started by several veterans of The New York Times. He has spent nearly a decade investigating a range of subjects — from financial crimes and corporate fraud to government abuses at the local, state and federal levels. As a business reporter for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Kessler conducted a multi-year investigation of contaminated Chinese drywall, which has wreaked havoc in thousands of U.S. homes. He has twice been a finalist for American business journalism's highest honor, the Gerald Loeb Award, and has won numerous national and regional awards, including from the Society of American Business Editors & Writers and the Society of Environmental Journalists. His work was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in 2011, and was also named a finalist for the Livingston Award for Young Journalists. Kessler has previously reported for the Detroit Free Press, Charlottesville Daily Progress and Joplin Globe, and his investigative work has also appeared in the Kansas City Star and Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Marty Steffens is SABEW Chair in Business Journalism at the University of Missouri. She worked in the newspaper industry for 30 years, heading up many in-depth and investigative projects. Projects she edited helped change federal laws on military air crashes involving civilians, and court challenges she spearheaded opened family court records in New York. She worked for the Los Angeles Times, Dayton Daily News, Minneapolis Star, Evansville Courier and St. Paul Pioneer Press. She was executive editor of the Binghamton Press and Sun-Bulletin and San Francisco Examiner. She's led coverage of all types of disasters, from fires to flash floods and is the co-author of Reporting Disaster on Deadline (Routledge 2012). She has trained journalists in more than 18 countries, weathering a typhoon in Hong Kong and domestic terrorism in Moscow.
SABEW - Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication,
Arizona State University
555 North Central Ave, Suite 406 E, Phoenix, AZ 85004-1248
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
©2001 - 2019 Society of American Business Editors and Writers, Inc.


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Oh, what I wouldn't do for perfect skin! After posting the below photo on Instagram (@NatalyaFGM) I had so many of you getting in touch asking about the Face Place facial that I thought a proper review would be helpful! While it does look like something out of a torture chamber the Face Place treatment itself is very relaxing and definitely one I would recommend, mainly because it's something a bit different that may give your skin that little extra boost. Often skin can become accustomed to certain products and treatments so I always think it's good to switch it up and try something new!
The Face Place treatment at the Sense Spa at Rosewood London comes straight from LA (and those of you who love reality TV may have spotted it featured in RHOBH a few times). The facial consists of two main parts - first a deep manual cleansing of all facial pores, followed by the use of galvanic current to deliver improved skin tone, firmness, fewer lines and a clearer complexion. Each facial is bespoke to a client's requirements, so mine concentrated on hydration and deep cleansing. I am always trying to keep my pores in check and find that this treatment leaves my skin feeling nourished, but also clear and blemish free. The facialist Rowan Hall-Farrise is amazing at adapting the facial to different skin types and is a source of so much skincare knowledge that I would definitely recommend addressing her with any of your skin concerns. She's also absolutely lovely so we barely stop chatting throughout!
After the treatment my skin is left pink for about an hour and a few hours later it already looks clearer and smoother and feels plumper. The treatment is great for sensitive skin as it doesn't use any harsh products and I don't experience any dryness afterwards.
Have you heard of Face Place before? Have you experienced any treatments using galvanic current? I would love to hear your thoughts!


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Well, it's as simple as the title says, post your Desktop with Rainmeter skins here!
Rainmeter itself is a desktop customization software like the Windows Taskbar, just with more possibilities to customize!
Get it here: http://www.rainmeter.deviantart.com
Gallery: http://www.rainmeter.deviantart.com/gallery
Just some rules:
- What skin/s have you used? Please put a link to it/them!
- Link to the background image/s?
I'll start with my desktop.
It's a collaboration of (I think?) 7 skins, listed here:
- vNext Suite
Tonxico Weather
iTunes Player 2 Right Align
Spotify Player
Colored Shutdown Functions
Circle Player
I've edited all of these and put them together in one skin, called Simplicity. You can download it here:
You need to change the HDD names, otherwise you have mine in there... :D
That's a slideshow, folder with all is here:
So, that's my skin, Now show yours! :D


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|June 19, 2019, 07:09:46 PM
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June 17, 2019, 01:49:41 PMSalanewt: Two weird posts about hacking in a week.
June 17, 2019, 04:34:53 AMSalanewt: Lol.
June 16, 2019, 06:54:57 AMFox: This place is depressingly too quiet.
June 03, 2019, 07:55:18 PMFox: I wonder if Atrius would be interested in how my map editor would be shaping up... even if it is a bit.... messy. - As for Textcomp being compatible with more games.... maybe some day = I would like to do that...., but it isn't on my priority list right now, unfortunately. :(
May 29, 2019, 10:55:32 PMKyleRunner: Fox, could you, please, make your Textcomp compatible with more games (Mario Golf and Tennis)?
May 27, 2019, 10:10:08 PMCaledor: I released a patch that does just that. It's in the download section
May 26, 2019, 04:47:43 AMryancaesar12345: and how to change a elemtal color like steam normal violet change to blue?
May 25, 2019, 02:53:49 PMryancaesar12345: i saw in reloaded too many icon replace or changes and shade and flash decrease block damage 60 and 90 to 50 and 60 i think summon % hp damage decrease class separation change the treasure items the effects are change
May 25, 2019, 02:22:15 PMFox: Another thing about the Separation Patch and why we need PC based class type charts = With Atrius's patch = If you set all eLevels to 0, ... then when you get djinn of just one type, and each PC becomes something... well... Jenna/Piers would have the same base classes as Felix/Sheba... ... but this is concept-wise to show that something may be given up.....
May 25, 2019, 02:12:36 PMFox: "overwritting it" I mean the data in the buffer... not the originally file you loaded. - That only ever gets overwriting via the Save/Save As buttons.)
May 25, 2019, 02:07:44 PMFox: That being said, any newer version made, won't necessarily be compatible to an older version of gsmagic. It all depends on what I do.
May 25, 2019, 02:04:52 PMFox: The way I have it now - there's a bit of a space limitation for world map editing... that if the data covers more than what it originally does, it will let you know... (Although, it may only tell you after already overwriting it.) - So I'll need to eventually do fixes for that. But as this is an experiment editor, I'm still willing to release partial completions at times... for sake of concept,
May 25, 2019, 01:59:36 PMFox: (The absolute latest version of my editor is WIP/has not been released.... and I was hoping to feature World Map tilemap editing.)
May 25, 2019, 01:55:00 PMFox: (Careful with some editors though.... as you'll need to understand GBA is little endian... so some hex editors might show the data as Big Endian.... basically little endian is reverse bytes. (so AA BB CC DD as 8-bit/bytes.... becomes DDCCBBAA as a 32-bit)
May 25, 2019, 01:51:30 PMFox: tla editor... bt rather... to google for a hex editor... such as HxD, Windhex, Hex Editor Neo, etc... and use that.... Or you could just do it in VBA's memory viewer for temporary edits. (You can still save the ROM section by saving a dump, and changing from .dmp to .gba, though... but that takes a bit to explain.)
May 25, 2019, 01:49:40 PMFox: I thought maybe I would need to clarify. - gsmagic is my experiment editor. It can be found on this forum. (e.g. http://forum.goldensunhacking.net/index.php?topic=2805.0 has it, but is not the latest version of my editor.) ; Those patches - applying them is for making them easier to edit via a hex editor.... Since originally it is done in assembly... a bit of a mess for editing.... , so those patches turn that data into table(s).... ; When I say "hex editor" = No, I don't mean to use the
May 25, 2019, 01:27:51 PMryancaesar12345: i dont understand a thing simple success rate and simple summon .ips files how to understand? by patch in original rom and view in gs tla editor?
May 25, 2019, 01:26:12 PMryancaesar12345: gsmagic? what is that and is that a editor where i can download that?
May 25, 2019, 01:03:43 PMFox: gsmagic only really supports GS2 (U) as well... While there is minor support for GS1 (Mainly to view maps), can't really say it counts yet.
May 25, 2019, 01:00:10 PMFox: http://forum.goldensunhacking.net/index.php?action=downloads;sa=view;down=59 = And the Simple Summons thing... (Hex editor experience expected..) ... For all three of the hex editor experience stuff... I mean just basic knowledge should be enough to get by.


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Dana and Ray Brandon
Ray's Take I was asked once if two could live as cheaply as one. I answered, "Certainly, as long as one of them didn't eat or wear clothes." Most couples realize having a baby is going to mean extra expenses. However, many are shocked when they realize just how high those expenses are. According to the U. S. Department of Agriculture, a child born in 2011 will cost an average of $235,000 to raise to age 17. That number doesn't include a penny for private tuition or college.
Fortunately, that is spread over all those years. The bad news is for even low-income families, raising a child still costs $212,000.
Of course, planning – and saving – for these additional expenses makes the most sense. Long before families are started, I suggest couples live on one of their incomes, saving all of the other. That helps create a pretty good portfolio and accustoms the family to a single-income source, should they decide one of them should be a stay-at-home parent.
If you are planning on using childcare, learn what your planned provider charges. Start penciling that amount into your monthly budget before the baby arrives so you get the feel for its impact, setting aside the money for later.
At the very least, sit down before the baby is born to develop a new household budget, remembering to factor in food, clothing, diapers, medical care, and all the equipment babies need. Finally some good news: the cost per child decreases with more children. Where do the savings come from? Shared bedrooms, hand-me-downs, and bulk food purchases.
Having said all of this, let me say that being a parent is probably the greatest privilege and joy of my life, and the rewards swamp the expenses a million to one every day. But the hard cold facts are that you can't pay a bill with feelings.
Dana's Take It's back-to-school time, so let's talk about the cost of private schools for pre-K-12. Tuitions vary from parochial to private, but count on $10,000 per year per child, starting at age 3 through 18. The lifetime cost of raising a child just went up by $150,000 in today's dollars. Many private high schools charge closer to $20,000 a year, so bump that number up to over $200,000, per child. Add meal plans, uniforms and sports. Gulp.
Without deliberate planning, tuition and childcare expenses can sap dollars intended for college and other goals. Grandparents, bless their hearts, help with tuition for about a third of private school students. Scholarships can help, too. A good education can be a great investment. If a private education is on your dream list for your children, start the conversation and start planning. As Ray says, "Every dream deserves a plan."
Ray Brandon is a certified financial planner and CEO of Brandon Financial Planning (www.brandonplanning.com). His wife, Dana, has a bachelor's degree in finance and is a licensed clinical social worker. Contact Ray Brandon at email@example.com.
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