Here Comes that Sound & MORE

LRCP Set Sails: The Little Rock Capitol Pride committee has set forth on it's mission to raise funds for PRIDE 2009. Last Friday (10.3.08) at UBU, a combination voter registration drive courtesy of CAR and show will be featuring local talent served as their opening salvo to the community for support. Unfortunately, from my observations as well as my past attendance at the support was marginal at best. What happened you're wondering? Well, perhaps the lack of advance advertising and promotion ya think? Even though I got an e-blast, it was of a late nature. No word of mouth or local buzz, except among those die heart entertainers in search of an audience also could have played a part in the low turn out. Once again, as I've said before, these events just don't happen, they must be planned, organized and advertised vigorously for them to work. In the past, I've been criticized about my "frankness" about why this organization and others creep toward their goals usually coming up short of the goal post. So there, I've said it again. Events are not based on presumptions, but rather produced for success.

AIDS in the MID-South: I was pleasantly surprised to get a phone call from Cathy Patterson of IPAC concerning posting info about meetings and seminars happening in the Memphis area, that could serve as a support track for individuals in Northeast Arkansas. This type of outreach keeps me at the keyboard and fulfills our mission to inform and empower. Do we need a town hall meeting in Little Rock? Let's hear your comments.

Local organizations, international medical group to host
Memphis town hall meeting on new/emerging HIV treatments

A consortium of local AIDS service organizations (ASOs) and the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (IAPAC) will co-host a town hall meeting next week to discuss new and emerging HIV treatments. The town hall meeting will take place from 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm, Thursday, October 9, 2008, at the Saint Andrew AME Church’s Community Life Center (1472 Mississippi Blvd., Memphis). The evening’s featured speaker will be John M. Norwood, MD, of the University of Tennessee.
HIV-positive patients are encouraged to attend the town hall meeting, which is meant to offer insights into expanded treatment options, including recently approved antiretroviral drugs, as well as some currently in the pharmaceutical development pipeline.
The town hall meeting will be co-hosted by IAPAC and the following local ASOs: Friends for Life, Corp., Planned Parenthood, Greater Memphis Region, Mid-South Coalition on HIV/AIDS, New Directions, Inc., Girls, Inc., Project Hope, Southern AIDS Coalition, South Memphis Alliance, and Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center.
# # #
The International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (IAPAC) is a non-profit medical association representing more than 12,000 members in 103 countries. Its mission is to advance advocacy, educational, and technical assistance activities that improve the quality of care provided to men, women, and children living with HIV/AIDS. For more info go to their website: http://www.iapac.org/ or cpatterson@ipac.org

HILLARY CLINTON TO CAMPAIGN IN ARKANSAS !

Sen. Hillary Clinton will return to Little Rock this month to campaign for Sen. Barack Obama.
"Senator Clinton is returning to Arkansas, and I could not be more pleased," said Democratic Party of Arkansas Chairman David Pryor. "Arkansas Democrats are always excited to see Hillary. We're going to have a great time as we encourage Arkansans to vote for Senator Obama."




Senator Clinton will be joined by Gov. Mike Beebe, DPA Chairman David Pryor, and many other elected officials and Democratic leaders, for a get out the vote rally in Little Rock on Friday, Oct. 10, around 5 p.m. on the steps of the State Capitol. The Stonewall Democracts are looking for people to stand behind their banner. All you have to do is just show up and get on board. If you want to really show your support, they campaign is asking 10,000 Arkansans to donate $10 on or before 10/10 to help elect Barack Obama President of the United States. According to a party e-blast they state that this is the critical last month of the campaign. Your donation, and those raised by Hillary, will help bring the change we need. If you've got it to spare you can use this link to show your support. No donation using this link are directly connected to COP:24/7. donate $10 or more here.

Noises Off- Top of the Ticket: Alright, they debated, again. Those two dudes at the top of the tickets named Obama & McCain. What did we learn this time? Well let's see. Apparently at this posting Senator McCain is in a "scorched earth mode tactic. Obviously, his many years of experience on the Washington scene has taught him that when the candidate is down. Go for the jugular and spew anything that you think that the public can bear to hear. There's no doubt that McCain is knowledgeable, experienced and passionate about his views. But his performance last evening demonstrated I would prefer to take my chances with the Bouncing O as well as comfortable with Senator Biden "a heartbeat away from the Presidency." As the town hall meeting proceeded, as usual I stayed open minded. I wanted to give each candidate another chance to spell it out for the American people. Even though several times during this battle of the titans, I just wanted the facts, just the facts about how, why, who and when will this nation take a corrective actions on this rocky path. Hey guys, I'm not interested in character assaults, mealy mouth phoo phoo, "Kubuki political Theatre or any of that other shigity that doesn't mean a hill of beans. I realize that as politicians neither of you are going to "keep it real" and tell us that not only should we stop with the earmarks, but reckless spending, wrongheaded policies, useless blue ribbon panels and those sound bites that are suppose to be comforting. What's really needed is just the facts. The fact that we are all in this together, each playing our part whether consciously or not. It's no secret that we are nation of consumers, not savers. Our mantra is we want it now at any price, at any cost not matter what the outcomes or who will eventually have to pay. Many have played by the rules, but overall it seems to me that we don't really want to know the truth, just the what we can stand through a filter and rose colored glasses for affect. However, when it's all said it and done, we do need a whipping boy, someone to blame and then we quietly go back to tending to our everyday lives until the next crisis rears it head. Aw shucks, let's just get on with it. Early voting starts in Arkansas, October 20. We will post links for your consideration.