December 2010 - My Journey with AIDS

“It Gets Better” tops 2010 list

Dan Savage and husband Terry Miller started something in 2010 that Mark Kelley and the CBC Connect crew put at the top of Connect 10: A Countdown of the most popular stories online in 2010. Responding to highly-publicized cases of bullying of gays...

Published Wed, Dec 29 2010 7:09 PM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: Uncategorized

Perth – It’s like Black Creek Pioneer Village but with cars

There is a move afoot in Perth (Lanark County), Ontario to designate the original town boundaries to encourage its continued preservation. I think it’s a great idea! Read More...

Published Thu, Dec 23 2010 6:31 AM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: photography, Perth, architecture

Peace

I didn’t like the shape and tone of a recent argument presented here, so I’ve removed it. I take my leave of this city, which I call home (if reluctantly sometimes), and go to a place of beauty which is home to a good bit of my heart. Merry...

Published Wed, Dec 22 2010 8:40 AM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: family, Perth, friendship, Christmas

Senator Don Meredith! Can “Dr.” Charles McVety be far behind?

One of the first business days after the House of Commons broke for the Christmas recess and Stephen Harper appoints Don Meredith to the PM’s new favourite play-pen, The Senate. Wait! This Don Meredith? Stephen Harper’s cynicism knows no bounds...

Published Mon, Dec 20 2010 9:36 PM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: activism, spirituality, politics, social justice, YouTube, sexual orientation, Chaplin Memorial Fund (United Theological College), United Church of Canada, church, Toronto Centre, fundamentalism, social conservatives, Christianism, Israel-Palestine, homophobia

Senator Don Meredith?

This Don Meredith? Stephen Harper’s cynicism knows no bounds – appointing to the Senate the fifth-place finisher, himself an appointed replacement to the Conservative candidate, in the Bob Rae by-election. Read More...

Published Mon, Dec 20 2010 1:36 PM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: activism, politics, Toronto Centre

A doggone Christmas morning

It started off like any other Christmas morning. My two sisters and I were up first, kneeling in front of the tree, keeping a respectful distance for our first assessments, but sliding in ever closer, checking the weight of a few parcels, seeing if there...

Published Mon, Dec 20 2010 12:28 AM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: family, youth, autobiography, Québec, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield QC, Christmas, pet, Cockapoo

A simple gesture over the holidays that could make a world of difference

I know that I was not the only Canadian very proud a few years back when Parliament passed legislation designed to make it easier for generic pharmaceutical companies to ship life-saving AIDS medications, and others, to developing nations of the...

Published Fri, Dec 17 2010 10:49 AM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: Uncategorized

First snow (Wednesday evening)

Now with pictures: Activists warmly received – okay met with mild bemusement – during very cold “Die-in” for Bill C-393

It was such a cold walk down to Yonge-Dundas Square this morning I was glad to be able to walk the full block south from Gerrard to Gould Streets through the corridors of Jorgenson Hall at Ryerson University. I was dressed for the outdoors reminiscent...

Published Mon, Dec 13 2010 10:20 PM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: youth, autobiography, activism, AIDS and HIV, politics, Canada’s Access to Medicines Regime, social justice, Planet Earth has AIDS, Toronto, Xtra!, Capital Xtra!

Activists warmly received – okay, met with mild bemusement – during very cold “Die-in” for Bill C-393

It was such a cold walk down to Yonge-Dundas Square this morning I was glad to be able to walk the full block south from Gerrard to Gould Streets through the corridors of Jorgenson Hall at Ryerson University. I was dressed for the outdoors reminiscent...

Published Mon, Dec 13 2010 6:20 PM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: youth, autobiography, activism, AIDS and HIV, politics, Canada’s Access to Medicines Regime, social justice, Planet Earth has AIDS, Toronto

A & P’s Chapter 11 and my Chapter 1

A & P, the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, is being ahem reorganized. The company’s Chapter 11 filing today is juxtaposed in my mind closer to Chapter 1 of my life. The biting cold wind of this mid-December day reminds me of the A &...

Published Mon, Dec 13 2010 12:49 PM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: family, youth, writing, autobiography

The re-activation of an AIDS activist

While no one could say that I had ever completely stopped my AIDS activism I have, I would suggest, limited myself in recent years to writing or speaking about it on a smaller scale. It was consistent, determined protests – some of which I was a...

Published Sun, Dec 12 2010 11:45 AM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: media, autobiography, activism, AIDS and HIV, politics, Canada’s Access to Medicines Regime, social justice, Planet Earth has AIDS, Toronto, AIDS ACTION NOW!, Bill C-393 Student Coalition, Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network

Defying the Christmas-based economy

Were it not for Christmas, we hear constantly, many retailers would not make it through a year. The exploited workers of China, whom we have increasingly employed since local manufacturing jobs became of secondary concern to our finding cheap goods...

Published Sat, Dec 11 2010 12:25 PM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: family, autobiography, Chaplin Memorial Fund (United Theological College)

“Die” for access to generic AIDS meds in the poorest of countries – it won’t kill you!

Over the lunch hour this coming Monday the Bill C-393 Student Coalition, along with members of AIDS ACTION NOW and other allies, will join in creative protest in support of vital legislation before Canada’s Parliament. Bill C-393 is designed to reform...

Published Thu, Dec 09 2010 5:37 AM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: youth, autobiography, activism, AIDS and HIV, politics, Canada’s Access to Medicines Regime, social justice, Planet Earth has AIDS, Toronto, AIDS ACTION NOW!, Bill C-393 Student Coalition

Ya had to know I’d have a true John Lennon story of my own, didn’tcha?

I just wouldn’t bet on it ever making it into The Complete History of Music. On the evening of December 8, 1980, a Monday, I had attended the regular weekly meeting of St. Catharines City Council in my capacity as a news reporter for a local radio station...

Published Wed, Dec 08 2010 10:06 AM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: media, autobiography