World AIDS Day

Today is World AIDS Day. If you want numbers on how devastating AIDS is around the world, click here.

HIV is not something "they" pick up. WE are they. Everyone with HIV is a victim, no matter how they've contracted it. Wear condoms. Use dental dams. Utilize needle exchanges. Tell your friends to do the same. Just because the news media isn't covering it as much doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

For those so inclined, there are a number of HIV vaccine studies in the works around the country, most likely around where you live. A standard FAQ for those studies can be found here.

Live. Learn. Love. Be safe.

(no subject)

Lord Julius: One of my importers -- an assassin? Send for the army!!
Cerebus: WAIT! Lord Julius -- these matters are best handled quietly...!
Lord Julius: Send for the army and have their feet wrapped in cotton!!
-From Dave Sim's Cerebus

Dunno. I just found that funny.

Working hard for the cash

I'm broke. I need cash. I run across this ad on Craigslist.org:

FREE TIME?
Healthy Controls wanted to participate in a research study
for measurement of neurochemicals in spinal fluid.

Must be: Aged 18-65 & Medication-free

Involves: 1 overnight stay in the hospital and a spinal tap

Payment: $200!

If interested, email Alexis with your contact info at:
brainimaging@neuron.cpmc.columbia.edu

Pretend you're my Jiminy Cricket for a sec. What do you think I should do?

[Poll #395562]

And, to cap off the night

My underwear has a hole in it. A hole in the crotch. And I'm not going to change it.

Lord help me if I have to get sent to the emergency room for something tomorrow. My mom will be so ashamed.
"Alright guys, let's get her pants off and look at that leg wo-oh my God! Her underwear has a hole in it!! Quick, call ER down here, let them get a look at this! Ha!"

Okay, true story: I had a major crush on this guy in one of the school's numerous acappella groups into my junior year. He also happened to work as an EMT on campus. When I get involved in an accident, guess who's one of the people that picks me up? And guess who's the person who has to remove my shirt and palpitate my abdomen to check for internal injuries? And guess who's the girl who chose to wear her badly tattered underwire bra? Yeah. I knew I was okay when even with the great pain I was feeling I could feel such an overwhelming sense of embarrassment during the whole shindig. My crush died right there, during the long morphine-less ride to the hospital.


If you'll excuse me, I'm going to dig up another set of undies now...