On Friday, November 30, I attended a special showing of the documentary “How to survive a plague”, shown in Fresno. Using archival video, the film showcases the efforts of ACT UP and TAG during the early years in the battle against AIDS.
I think what amazes me the most is how much of this battle I was oblivious to, even though I was a young adult at the time. I recognized some of the media coverage of events from having seen it on television while it was happening, but I was unaware, even as recently as Thursday last, that most of the impetuous that drove research was due to pressure imposed by these groups.
Presented in a chronological progression, the challenges faced by those infected, as the community struggled to deal with this mysterious new killer, are laid out for the viewer. The continuing dismissal by those in power of the victims of this illness, the slow movement in funding and research as the death toll climbed, and the clear impression given by many that those infected with HIV simply got what they deserved, are all things of which I was aware.
What I didn’t know, and now completely changes my outlook on a history that I lived through, is how the protests and actions of ACT UP and TAG were instrumental in forcing government and the pharmaceutical industry to respond. It becomes clear that thousands, hundreds of thousands, or perhaps even millions more would have died without the concerted efforts of a relatively few people, many of whom were also suffering from AIDS.
From A&E’s community message board for their new “reality” show “
It’s down to the wire on the eviction of the relative who just won’t leave. I have two more documents to file with the court, the proof of service and a request for a Clerk’s judgement. I’m not sure what happens on the Court side of things once I file those forms, either I have to wait for them to process a judgement, or the clerk I file them with may be able to approve them on the spot (that’s what I’m hoping). If that’s the case, then I’ll take the paperwork over to the Sheriff’s Civil Division to be served. At that point, it’s less than 2 weeks before I have my house back.
JimmieJoe / KC6YRU 
I didn’t get the fashion gene…
December 2, 2012
Jim Reeves commentary, Gay, Personal dancing gene, decorating gene, fashion gene, gay dna, gay gods 1 Comment
December 1, 2012
I’ve never been sure about this whole suit-jacket-jacket-over-just-a-tee-shirt thing, it always seemed a bit… well, incomplete, I suppose. Most everyone I’ve seen doing it, however, has looked fine, so I thought I’d give it a try. It seems to work, for a picture anyway. I’m still not sure about wearing one with blue jeans, although, again, everyone I’ve seen out and about that way looks good (that may have more to do with them looking fine no matter what, than it does with anything they happen to be wearing at any particular moment. I’m looking at you, Ted).
I’m a bit annoyed with the Gay Gods for sending me down with incomplete DNA. No fashion gene, no decorating gene, no dancing gene…. I feel a bit like a rainbow flag with several colors missing!
BTW, the red marks on my neck don’t indicate anything more than my electric razor irritates sometimes, and I had just shaved. And for some reason, I get two spots on my chin when using digital cameras to take pictures. From my Kodak camera, to the iPhone, splotches show up in the strangest places, and are generally not visible to the naked eye. I’m not sure where all that gray is coming from that shows up in my hair in these pictures. It doesn’t seem to be there in my mirror!
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