WORLD AIDS DAY 2008

Today is an awareness day that world organizations as well as local ones remind us of the toll AIDS has taken, and memorials that take place to remember them. Many think that HIV/AIDS is not as relevant in 2008 as it was in 1988, yet trust me, it is. In a year that someone I knew still died more than likely from complications of the disease, AIDS is still a killer and today we memorialize those lost, and mobilize others to be tested.

I only ask that we not choose to make this the ONLY day when we think about those who have lost their lives, or that are living with the disease that leads to AIDS, HIV. For many, it is something that is dealt with much more often than once a year. My concern with having just ONE day to focus on this sometimes forgotten crisis, is that we will forget HIV/AIDS is alive and well the other 364 days.

If you are sexually active, get tested every six months. If you live with the virus, see your doctor every 3 months and take the appropriate blood tests to monitor the disease as often those who die are those who are not having frequent health checks. And EVERYONE(who is sexually active), practice safe sex.

AIDS does not go away tomorrow. If anything you remember this World AIDS Day 2008, please remember that.

Response to Protests on Passage of Prop 8

I AM PROUD OF THE PROTESTS, I support the civil disobedience and taking over the streets and the demonstations.

No Civil Rights movement in the history of the US has had success without civil disobedience and in some cases, rioting along the way.

I know we don't "get any sympathy" but sitting quietly and counting on the voters and our supportive friends to convince those on the other side did no good. Entrusting the No on 8 Campaign and Equality California to wage a meaningful campaign to win, thinking they knew what they were doing, got us nowhere. Their "don't engage the opposition" mentality got us nowhere. And they want us to keep it up.

I DON'T THINK SO.

I say we have held our hands and kumbaya'd for far too long. It is time for the LGBTs of California to take to the streets again again like we did in SF during the White Night Riots(look that up in Wikipedia if you don't know what those were), like we did in 1969 in Stonewall. And they were called the Stonewall riots, were they not?

The Government needs to know they have a civil rights PROBLEM on their hands. Economic distress, and civil unrest. These are the times in which we live.

And it is NOT going to go away.

So yes, I am proud and EXTREMELY supportive of all REBELLION and acts of civil disobedience.

What really gets me is this: Civil Rights are not obtained by Statewide propositions voted on "by the people". That is some fucked up shit, period. My civil rights should NOT be based on popular vote!!!!

Was ending slavery a proposition? Was giving women the right to vote? The voters should not be allowed to make decisions on Human Rights issues! Our elected leaders and the high courts are in the places to make those decisions, and we need to let them know this issue will not go away. We must show them this a movement, and we do not take getting our Civil Rights awarded to us by the highest court in the state, taken away by voters lightly!

This is in no way over.

From Joy to Anger

I was so joyous Tuesday night. Wednesday, with the passage of Prop 8, it turned to anger.

Congratulations President-elect Obama, I have hoped and wanted for this for a long time.

By the way, you have a Civil Rights crisis in California.

That is all.

MY U.S. Presidential Election Prediction

Alright here is how I think it turns out, by the states, by the numbers, and on a national level:

Obama will win the popular vote by pretty much the same margin Bush beat Kerry in 2004, I believe it will be far closer than present polls have said due to Obama supporter complacency and ballot box prejudice. I think he will win by 2-3% points.

Obama will take all the Kerry States:

California (55)
Connecticut (7)
DC (3)
Illinois (21)
Maryland (10)
Massachusetts (12)
New York (31)
Rhode Island (4)
Vermont (3)
Delaware (3)
New Jersey (15)
Washington (11)
Maine (4)
Hawaii (4)
New Hampshire (4)
Wisconsin (10)
Pennsylvania (21)
Michigan (17)
Minnesota (10)
Oregon (7)

Bush States Obama is Winning Outright:

Iowa (7) - by 5-6%
New Mexico (5) by 5-6%
Colorado (9) - by 2-3%, Palin's appearances the Religous Right make this closer than polling shows
Virginia (13) - by 2-3% because Republicans did show up eventually to defend it, but too late too little

Preliminary Total = 286 (270 needed to win)

Battleground States I predict He will win*(and predicted percentages):

Nevada (5) - 1-2%
Ohio (20) - 1-2%
Florida (27) - less than 1%, it may be very similiar to 2000 with Obama being on the winning end

*but does not NEED to win if he has NM, CO, VA, and IA

Predicted Grand Total for Obama: 338 electoral votes (270 needed to win)

Batlleground States (states in play) I predict Obama will lose (and predicted percentages):

Missouri (11) - by 1-2% (yes, a Republican will win MO but lose the election)
West Virginia (5) - 4-5%
North Carolina (15) 1-2% (it will be close but older white racist voters + religous will narrowly prevail)
North Dakota (3) 3-4%

McCain will get all the other Bush States too:

Alabama (9)
Alaska (3)
Arizona (10)
Arkansas (6)
Georgia (15)
Idaho (4)
Indiana (11) - by 1-2%
Kansas (6)
Kentucky (8)
Louisiana (9)
Mississippi (6)
Montana (3) - by 2-3%, much closer than expected
Nebraska (5)
Oklahoma (7)
South Carolina (8)
South Dakota (3)
Tennessee (11)
Texas (34)
Utah (5)
Wyoming (3)

Grand Total for McCain: 200

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Now, GET TO THE POLLS TOMORROW AND MAKE THIS A REALITY!!!!

California: Please Vote NO on 8 (Hate)

This is personal for me! PLease don't take my rights away!