Pots of Gold and Glitter

O.K. Who the hell is at the switch, wheel, minding the store or whatever needs tending too in this Country? Yeah, I know it's President Obama and crew, but somehow things are still rocking and rolling in a funky fashion and the guy in the Big Chair is not amused. How about you? I'm beyond miffed and now, I'm down right pissed at more of these claims from the Bailout Bustas. It's those performance, retention bonuses that has me just reeling, especially since my portfolio contains, you guess it, some AIG in my mutual fund! Yikes! But to add insult to this morbid situation is the fact that I'm just like many of you, a tax payer as well. Oh Joy. Meanwhile, President Obama, is attempting to channel our outrage, and I'm down with that, but Mr. & Mrs. America has just about had it with these fools. At this point, we are ready for some heads to roll, and the funny money madness to come to a screeching halt. I'm not buying it. Nothing is iron clad in this land and contracts can be renegotiated and redone. It's all tomfoolery if you ask me and perhaps we should do like the French, storm the AIG HQ and remind them of how Marie Antoinette and company met their demise. If we are all about transparency, then we need to see the listing of who is getting a bonus, amounts and what they did to deserve it since the company is now trading at a whopping .83 cent a share!. If Bernie Maddoff's $65,000 silverware is up's for grabs, we deserve to view these culprits front and center. Need to vent, then share it. We've got plenty of room...

Politicallly Eating: Stonewall Democratic Caucus of Arkansas will host a legislative luncheon this Thursday, March 19th from 11:30- 1:00 at Capitol Hill Lounge (1524 West 4th- next to Capitol and AEA bldgs). This is a great opportunity to meet with our lawmakers and put a face on GLBT issues. You don't need to have any experience with lobbying as this will be an informal setting where we will chat with legislators while they eat. Personal stories and intereactions are often the most powerful. We are also looking for two volunteers who can arrive at 11 am to help set-up and serve tea/lemonade/water. Please email jalafount@sbcglobal.net if you can be a server. We look forward to seeing everyone at the lunch

Native Ameicans & HIV: HIV is affecting thousands of American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN). AI/AN have the third highest rate of AIDS diagnosis in the United States, despite having the smallest population. March 20 is National NativeAmerican HIV/ AIDS Day. AI/AN people with AIDS are likely to be younger than non-AI/AN people with AIDS. AI/ANs also have the shortest time between AIDS diagnosis and death. Anthony Fauci, head of NIH'S National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, ahead of the awareness day said, "Lack of access to basic health care services, stigma associated with homosexuality and HIV/AIDS, barriers to effective mental health care, and high rates of substance abuse, sexually transmitted infections and poverty all increase the risk of HIV/AIDS in native communities and create obstacles to HIV prevention and treatment." He added, "Consequently, as a proportion of their population, more American Indians and Alaska Natives became infected with HIV than whites in 2006. American Indians and Alaska Natives acquired new HIV infections at a rate of 14.6 cases per 100,000 people, while whites became newly infected at a rate of 11.5 cases per 100,000. Moreover, American Indian and Alaska Native women became infected with HIV at more than three times the rate of white women in 2006" (NIAID release, 3/13).