D.I.F.

Death In Family...I can not begin to express how I feel that my family has already had 3ish funerals this year. It's like the usual zed schedule of one death per week per family...such that when the phone rings you're a little antsy...'who died now?'

I have never fully understood the meaning of a family tree until now...when each branch is cut off or chipped...you feel the pain. The closer the branch, the more pain inflicted on the tree.

In the beginning of my life, my greatest joy was having sooo many relatives to go to. Now its the bane of my existance because it doesn't bring me joy to know so many people but sorrow as they slowly fade from the world one after the other. As if we we're numbered from birth to follow a certain sequence. "who's next?" we all wonder as we lay one of our own to rest.

"we mutemwikwa wesu...ahhh..wa uma ku mukoshi. We chiwa, walikalipa. Watusendela umutemwikwa wesu." Familiar words written by my grand-father the late Alick Nkhata ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alick_Nkhata , http://www.retroafric.com/html/sl_notes/04cd_3.html, which has become our family's funeral anthem about a beloved that has since breathed their last... how does one get used to death?

Obama again...phew!

So I thought I was the original queen of dumbness till the Prime minister of Australia decided to open his dumber than I trap and claim that Mr Obama's stance on Iraq "will just encourage those who want to completely destabilise and destroy Iraq, and create chaos and a victory for the terrorists to hang on and hope for an Obama victory". Quite frankly I like Obe's (obama's) response that if Mr Howard was so concerned he could send in more troops! If it's such a great fight, why isn't he (howardoodle) on the front line????

Then I heard some doomass going on about how Obe's not "black enuff?" WTF??? what the hell is a "black" person? I like what what Gwen Ifill( http://www.pbs.org/weta/washingtonweek/gwen/ ) had to say on meet the press...she was like being that I was born in the islands, people here don't think i'm black enough either. There's a misconception in the African-American world and in America in general that being black means being at the standards of African-Americans. Africans are simply Africans and African-Americans are "black" I frankly don't get it and I never will. When the term 'black' is used to describe people or culture, its usually the culture of African-Americans. I can not begin to tell you how many times African Americans have discriminated me for being African and "talking proper" and "acting sadidi (or whatever!)" and looking at me all crazy when I don't understand certain ebonic words...not realising that I'm trying my best to fit in as much as possible and understand their culture and language...never have I met an African American wanting or willing to learn my culture...or my language. Yet I have met many caucasians that have tried to learn something about Zambia...and a few words in my language!

So forgive me if on some days I don't give a rats ass what Kwaanza is, or if i'm not bothered to taste any "chitlings". Thats how the world works....

Vonage

Gosh I love me some Vonage!!! and they are not paying me to say this....coz i pay them...the features on the phone are just soooo awesome! I make a lot of international calls, and a call to england (not cell phones) for me is free which is great...and most of Africa is like 11 cents per minute...I was just told about another awesome feature by Mr computer addict Mike...where my family in England can call a local access number and then call my number and it charges them the same as if they were calling a local number in England! How cool is that???? Its the only phone I know that does that...If y'all know of a better deal...let me know!
Vonage - A better phone service for less

To the left... to the left

I am sooo addicted to beyonce's irreplaceable it's not even funny! maybe it's because they're playing it everywhere I go for some reason... not too keen on the video, but love the song! (click on the title or the link below for the video) hey I might just lose weight dancing to this:) ha! fat chance...no pun intended!
hi5 - Who's in?

President 2008

Can I just say that the race for presidency is getting ridiculous!!! Its like this is the time for all to be presidents! Its insane! Heck I could stand for president and win just because there's confusion and people can't focus...

To Obama I say: This country will have a white female president first before it ever has a Knee-grow president. Fact. Please donate your campaign money to me as it will serve a better purpose. My happiness:)

To Hillary: You have had enuff time in the lime light lady let someone else get some sparkles! I doubt highly that you'll be the first female president. If you let me have your campaign money, I can buy myself a 50-something inch plasma TV and forever be indebted to you, and i'll put a picture of you on my wall.

To Giuliani: Dude...2 words... "early" - "retirement" let your legacy end at 9-11

Edwards: I thought you done learnt the last time that the peeps don't want u dawgg!

Biden, Richardson, Romney, Mccain, Huckabee: Who????? keep talking, its nothing against you, I just don't like politicians!

Gingrich: Now this dude really....I mean reeeeaaalllyyyy scares the hell out of me! Something about his belief systems just don't settle well in my tummy! I heard him speak once...and honestly...I was petrified...his views on immigration are just...woah!

(pic: bbc.co.uk)

Capitalism

I have been trying to get settled down in my new place, and it has been one nightmare after another concerning my internet and all. To start with Verizon...who I was a loyal customer of for years, told me they could get me service at my new place...note that the bottom of their notice says "initial approval of service doesn't guarantee service" or something in those lines. So here I was patiently waiting even after my "service start date" had passed, I gave them time to get it together, and called in to remind them...and they pleasantly told me they had "lost my order mmmhhh....yeah. But when billing time comes they know where to find me...! Verizon are the same punks that I found out before buying my house claimed untruthfully on my credit report that I owed them money and that they had sent the collection agency after me....but my crazy ass was still loyal to them...coz thats the kinda customer I am.

So any way to cut a long story short...they finally after 3 weeks told me that they do not provide service to my new area....at least 400 people live in my new area...how did verizon not know for 3 weeks that they couldn't provide service here???????? are you telling me none of my buddies around here had tried to get service through verizon before????

This lead me to be mad about the fact that now I had to get comcast to come out again to my house...which means another fee...and plus comcast is more expensive than verizon....mmm I don't know about them being "5X faster" than DSL coz i really don't see the difference...but if they insist that they're faster, then oh well...!

Making me more mad is that companies do not have to have good customer service coz there just isn't enough of a monopoly in the USA. If there were enough people doing the job, you would be able to pick and choose buses, trains, broad band...etc.

Companies have penalties if you do not do things with them on time...i.e airlines wont give you your money back if you don't follow THEIR rules...but if they don't follow their rules...i.e by not leaving at the time they said they would, or not getting you to where you're going at the agreed upon time...they owe you nothing. So they can be late...but you the "customer/ client" who is paying for a service can not.

Also how is it that...I am paying Comcast, or my carpet cleaners to come over and provide a service for me, and THEY tell me they will be there between 9am and 1pm??? I am the customer, shouldn't I tell you when I'm available? shouldn't YOU work around my time since I am PAYING you, you are not providing a free service.....I don't get it!

Ok so after all that complaining I need to go and figure out how to connect my phone....

Jennifer Hudson

Let me just say, it was really awesome news for her to win the Golden Globe award.... I felt like I won...how pathetic is that? :) aaahhhh the importance of dreaming and keeping the dream alive!

www.jenniferhudson.net

MLK- 2007

MLK day

Well since everyone is talking about it, I might as well right? It’s MLK day again, one of those holidays respected by few…(most employer certainly don’t since I don’t get time and a half for working on this day!)
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Just to go off topic for a bit…I bought a new house in a predominantly muzungu hood, and I have since received many awkward stares…I can imagine they are all planning on selling their places now since blackson just landed in their area…it was so funny. One was like “are you our new neighbor?” and I was thinking “why, yes indeedy! I’s sure your neighbor honey-child!” I’m sure they were off to call the realtor by noon!
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So any way back to the real reason I was writing today, I was listening to NPR over the weekend and they had a program on about Martin Luther and how he changed peoples lives, the best story I picked was one woman who was in college around the shooting of MLK and changed her major to go in public prosecution because her dumb-ass-racist roommate said MLK deserved to be shot for thing blacks and whites could be treated the same! I wish I could be as easily inspired by things you know? I mean sometimes I get highly passionate about things, but the passion is short lived because I find other things to be passionate about, and forget the previous thing….ahhh you get what I’m saying:) but if you really want to know what I think, read last years post... www.manena20.blogspot.com/search?q=mlk

Being from Zambia and not growing up in the high tension racist era, I missed by lesson about white folk, so I still get surprised when I hear things and shocked when I watch the movies. I mean I remember how nobody really wanted to go to South Africa in the 80’s and how I still get scared when I hear the words Boer, Afrikaans…etc its like its encoded in my DNA so that even though I didn’t “live it” I still somehow experienced it.

I am sure I’m not making very much sense today, but my excuse is that I didn’t get enuff sleep. The reason is, yesterday I had to move most of my stuff from the old place to the new place and I was pooped, then today I was supposed to have cleaners at the new house and they assured me they would be coming between 7am-9am and I agreed to those absurd hours because I assumed I would be done with them by noon and ready to tackle other stuff…but oh no! at 7:30 they called me to tell me that the people that were supposed to come over had a fender-bender and wouldn’t be able to come, so they were sending another set of people…who made it to my house at 11a.m…and yes I was pissed and yes… they heard about it! 33% discount my ass! So now I am still very tired and I had to sleep on the floor coz my bed went to the new house and I stayed at the old house because—drum roll please—It has cable and internet access!!! How pathetic is that???? I guess I am now officially AmericanJ I wouldn’t have had that option in zed.
I also just realized…I have no new year’s resolution…umm kinda scaryL …. I have to go and think about that now….

Pali aka ntunse ka ikele nga ifi...

Pali aka ntunse ka ikele nga ifi...

Pali aba kashana batatu mu munshi umo. Aba aba kashana Mwape, Chileshe na Nkole, bali aba upa nomba tabakwete abana. Banakulu bantu abalepita mu mushi yabo ba tile ati "ba kashana, kabiye mu mpanga panshi pa mimana ibili. Mukasanga abana benu mu fimuti fyabamo. Nomba muka tekanye nemisango yenu."

Awe abakashana efyo ba imine! ba longele ifyakulya na utukwembe twakufwika abana. Pa kufika mu mpanga, basangile aka kote, nefipute sululu aka onda nemilomo shabuta tutu ku nsala. Aka kote ka tile "mwebo, shi njafweniko. Insala namalwele fya mfilila." Mwape na Chileshe ba tile "yangu! nefyo ulenuka, teti tukwafwe!" "twishile mu kufwaya abana, teti tuye tule nunka nga iwe!" Efyo ba konkenyepo no lwendo.

Nkole aleshye aka kote, "mama, nala misunga." Asendele umukote, no kumusambika, ukumufwika, na ukumutina ifipute. Afumine apo, amupangila ubwali na kasense. Elyo ba pwile ukulya, Nkole a pangile apakulala, baya namutulo.

Elyo akasuba ka biliike, Nkole asangile aka kote naka sanguka umukashyana! aka kote katiile "witina Nkole, nine Mwansa kasunga wa mpanga. Pa kunsunga bwino filya wa chitile, nimbona ukuti uli wa mutima ubusuma. Na lakweba ifyakusanga umwana umusuma uwaina bwino, na imisango iyisuma. Wikesula ichibi mu chimuti ichimba bwino, uka sule ba kolwe ngabakweba ati balakutwala kumumana mukupoka umwana umusuma. Nga wafika ichimuti ca kashika, uka konkonshe, aba kesula icibi, uka bebe ukuti nine nkutumine. Enda bwino Nkole."

"natotela BaMwansa." ukufuma apo, nkole a imine, mukuchita efyo Mwansa alandile.

Mwape pa kumfwa icimuti icaleimba bwino na umwana alelila, akonkweshe pa chimuti "odi, ndefwayako umwana." ici muti ca aswike "musende, mwana obe." elyo icibi ca iswike, umwana wa fumine akwete amatwi nga kalulu, no mutwe nge nsofu. "mayo nsendeni!" Mwape alitina, nokwamba ukubutuka, ici mwana ca ile cilemupundila mumushi, "nsendeni mayo!"

Chileshe ena asangile ba kolwe ba mweba ati, "tuleya tukulange umumana ukwaba umwana umusuma." Chileshe aliba konka ba kolwe, nokwisa sanga umwana na inkanda nga isabi, namunso nga ba kapululu. "nsendeni mayo!" umwana apundile. Chileshe abutwike nga bwino ukubwelelamo ku mushi.

Nkole, asangile umwana umusuma mu cimuti ca kashika, nokumusenda kunganda. Pa kufika ku mushi, asangile Chileshe na Mwape bali nemfumu..."mwe mfumu, abana aba babi tatuleba fwaya." Infumu ya tile, "mwa ile baleta mweka...bana benu, basungeni!" Bonse abantu ba mumushi bali kumbwa umwana wakwa Nkole, elyo ali kula bwino sana, uwamutekanya.

Moral of the story is.... all that glitters is not gold!! Be kind and gracious to everyone no matter what they look like.

Christmas and New Year

On christmas day, my sister, her husband and my brother took me sight seeing, then we went home where they had cooked a special christmas meal and I got to see christmas crackers, which I really hadn't seen in years! So I pretty much felt like the country bumpkin...and they indulged me:) Therein started my drinking spree. I had champers and wine, and the next day purchased some $2 Irish cream...baileys wanna-be. Well in my defence it all tasted the same!

Boxing day, we decided to go to the west end of London. Big mistake!!! it seemed like everyone was out shopping...t'was the start of the sales. We we're walking around town packed like sardines...I am serious! every store was jam packed, we had to hold hands for fear of loosing each other in town! I had to keep reminding myself the sales were in pounds and not dollars, so they weren't all that good for me... but i abused my credit cards none the less. I really thought Americnas love shopping...but in comparison, I seriously think Londoners are bigger shoppers. Every store we went to was packed like crazy and so were the streets...I really couldn't believe it. One store actually claimed it had 150 000 people shop there on boxing day itself!

New Years day, Mercy and I planned not to go out because she had to work... so after a bottle of Baileys...foolish me suggested we needed to go out and just do the count-down. So we got to the club via a guy that liked Aisha...then we got into the club free via a guy that liked Mercy, and we got free drinks all night and a ride home via a guy who liked me... So how about we didn't get home till 7a.m. and Mercy was supposed to go to work at 12p.m....so in reality, we slept for 3-4 hours. By the time we awoke, the loser that liked me had called me atleast 16 times...and I'm not exaggerating. I mean, I know I'm hot...but there was no need to be that desparate! Apparently after we left the club someone got stabbed and died in his girlfriends arms...how sad!

Ohh and I also got to taste Nigerian Snails....I am not sure I'll eat them again..:) Oh and we made a few drunken calls on New Years...sorry Bruce! lol;)

England

I think I didn’t sleep for the duration of my visit…I was almost always sleep walking! I have been to England a countless number of times…but I always seem to discover something new…especially in London. There’s always a new pub or club to go to. My family and friends were awesome at entertaining! I also found out that my scale is a LIAR!! My family confirmed that I HAVE lost weight…so I’m evicting my bleeding scale!

I especially enjoyed spending time with my brother, he has matured tremendously, but I think he’s a little too serious right now, which is both good and bad…oh crap and he reads this….but I also have to say that he keeps his dwellings very very clean…at first I thought its just coz I was visiting, but then I noticed he had like a gazillion cleaning sprays and stuff…he also cooks great food I was impressed. He’s going to make someone a lovely husband!

I finally got on the London eye…splendid view! I am not sure why I never did before…hmmm. I really love the architecture in London…though a lot of the houses have less space than in other cities.

I think I’m also in love with Leicester…I’m still trying to figure it outJ.

My aunt had New Years Eve bash and it was great to see people that I hadn’t seen in a while. It was a little embarrassing because I forgot a few people and felt bad about it, but oh well they’ll live!

Guess who's back???

Ola people...I'm back from my vay cay....awesome awesome awesome!

I left on christmas eve on American Airways...now I always use British airways and I was rather Skeptical about trying something new. Well for starters, AA was like $200 cheaper, so madam cheapo bought the ticket! I was afraid they would loose my bags because of the stopovers and flight changes, but they didn’t…so kudos to them! The only problems I noticed were that, they do not offer free socks, toothbrush, toothpaste and eye mask like BA does and they don’t come round as often to offer hydration either!

I have also decided that when I die, I want to be an Angel or a Bird…yeah okay so I’m pushing it on the angel part, so I’ll stick to being a bird! I just love flying soooo much! If I don’t get a window seat I feel so cheated…its pathetic I know… but it’s me! The view from the sky is just breath taking…

I also love take-offs, but can’t stand when the plane lands….some pilots just don’t know how to do it right….like the one that flew us into Baltimore…I almost thought we were crashing…or that the plane had failed for some reason…any way it was quite scary!

So the bottom line is, I need to marry rich so I can keep going off on a whim…and maybe own my own jet…you know…I want to live large;)

Happy Holidays!!

I am preparing for my trip to England...seems the weather might put a damper on my travel plans, but fingers crossed I will be in London for Christmas! Shopping has been interesting especially since I can not stand crowded places for long periods of time... but tis the season and I can only live with it,

I got a special call from my aunt who lives in the Netherlands and is a Jehova's witness...i think it was a reminder not to call her on xmas day...but never the less I enjoyed reminescing with her. She told me a story of how my paternal grand-mother had been so excited when I was born, and my maternal grand-mothers siter Anne had been amused by it. I don't know, for some reason I thought being a second child... no one was that excited and my parents were probably alone at the hospital, but as it turns out, it was a full house! You know even though you know you're special in the eyes of your family and friends, its always great to hear validation... the occassional "we are so proud of you!", "great job!", "we miss you" and the ever precious words..."we love you!"

My friends and I are going out tonight for more friend time, it's more sushi and wine...and its raining...so my moods a bit dark...can't wait to see my buddy's so I can have a laugh.

Oh and I HATE how the tax man takes a day and a half's worth of my pay check! I could have used that money for extra entertainment on New Years day!

So with that said...love you all! It's been a great year, and it's been great knowing you all.

and if you love someone, let them know...Muah!

Woman/ Black president

I can not believe the good old U.S of A is till having a dumb ass discussion about having a female president! I can understand the apprehension about having a black president because segregation is still fresh in their history. But to doubt a woman being able to run the country? that's just absurd!!!
How many women does it take in America to prove that they can do the job? Why do the religious stuffy-wuffy's think women don't look "presidential"? what kind of crap is that? if women were dum-di-dum-dum's, how did they manage to give birth, breast feed, clean snot off your noses and clean your doodies? OMG where's daddy? he's running for president!

Countries that have been led by women include but are not limited to: Germany, Indonesia, Chile, United Kingdom, Liberia, Phillipines, Finland, Panama, Ireland, Latvia, Sri Lanka, Burundi, China, New Zealand...and OMG! The Governor General of Canada is BLACK and FEMALE! So why is it so hard for Americans to accept that women can lead?
Margaret Thatcher was probably a man in a womans body...and up tp now, I still admire that woman!

It's over!!!

I took my final exams today and I am sooooooo happy school is finally over!! well for a while...but its over, i don't have to do any more papers and stuff...its awesome!

Yesterday I was waiting for a friend to fly in from indianna...and her flight was stuck in cleveland because there was heavy fog at BWI! quite sucky if you ask me!

Oh and I HATE the British consulate in Canada with a passion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Picture this, my friend Talula(not real name) applied for a visa to go to England. She is a permanent resident in Canada, owns a home, has tenants in that house, has a good job and has great credit. How about they told her she couldn't get a visa because they had no proof that she would be able to sustain herself without asking for public assistance, and that there was no proof that she would return to Canada. Now my question is...WHAT DUMMY LEAVES ONE DEVELOPED NATION THAT THEY ARE ESTABLISHED IN TO LIVE IN ANOTHER DEVELOPED NATION UNDOCUMENTED AND MAKING LESS MONEY????????? Quite frankly it seemed more like racial profiling because...no offense, but i'm sure my nijjah brodahs must have tried this before:) but whatever...they sure messed up my reunion! Besides, in two years she'll be a citizen and wont need a visa...so if she really wants to mess up her life and live underground in England they wont be able to stop her innit???

Also, I think my dream job has changed! I would like to be the president of Kenya...do you know Mr Kibaki gets paid over $20 000 per MONTH and that he just turned down a $40 000 raise? OMG!!! well I guess it's logical because he's a president... but mmmaaaannn, I want that salary!

I am going to try and get my friend from the airport today again...hopefully all goes well! Oh and I have to go to a cookie swap tomorrow... yeah, yeah... I know! WTF is a cookie swap?, those chicks I hang out with are turning me sooo white its scary! I had to let them know we have to do more "black" activities!

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Nuremberg for Africa!

There has been much ado about the holocaust deniers meeting in Iran these past few weeks. As a people we are soooo stuck to history...but typically only if it concerns white or white-ish looking people.

Where is Nuremberg for Africans? exactly who is on trial for all the killings done to Africans during colonization? how many mass graves are yet to be or will never be discovered? most of those punks that lived and abused Africans are still alive and kicking. What a happy life when you're not held accountable for your crimes!

No one wants to discuss this, and nothing was resolved at the meeting in South Africa to discuss such topics. And yet, there is no doubt that colonization "happened", no one can sit around and deny that it ever happend!

The past is the past. Let bygones be bygones.... lets all move on and stop feeling sorry for ourselves. We can not change that colonization or the holocaust ever happened. Yet with all the money going into Iraq, we could have cleaned up New Orleans by now, or we could have stopped the genocide in Sudan! Places with "actual" problems and not "potential" problems!!!

(Photo taken from: www.bigwhiteguy.com )

Civil Rights Vs Homosexuality

ok....so I know i've been bad...forgive me, its almost the end of the semester, and i had some papers due and some other stuff to do to ensure that I wont have to go to my campus after this week...so we're right on track and Friday should be my last day of school and I'll be better at writting...whew!

The Civil Rights state that all men are equal...I don't see anything about men sleeping together in that statement...and truthfuly, I don't see anything about women sleeping with men either. So I don't see how this can be used to fight for the rights of gay people.

With that said, I would like to discuss Civil rights Vs Homosexuality because I'm tired of the gay community stating that they are denied their civil rights because they can't get married!!

Civil rights to me, apply to things that one can not change. I can not change my skin color(bleaching doesn't count! and anyone can see that Michael Jackson is still black!), and I can not change my sex. Gay people however, can be gay today and straight tomorrow! I have seen some people do that. It's only a sexual preference-- a life style.

Allowing/ protecting same sex marriage because its "genetic" will also be leading to a leeway for polygamy, pedophilia, same sex marriage and serial killer...for they too claim their condition is "genetic" and shouldn't their civil rights be protected too?

If a mans sexual preference is for really young girls... i'm talking 14-ish, should he be allowed to marry a 14 year old because its his "civil right"? isn't homosexuallity a sexual preference? Some men have a sexual preference for more than one women at a time... should they too be allowed to marry more than one wife?

Side Bar

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OMG I just found a site for pro- polygamy... www.pro-polygamy.com

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So if Gay people want to get married, could they kindly find another argument? They can not compare their plight to that of slaves or segregated people... it just isn't right!

During the silence

ok...so during my silence a few things happened. I saw the movie Borat, and i can tell you its stupid...but i can also tell you that I laughed so hard at one scene, that my abs were hurting the next day! I seriously felt like i had a major abdominal work out...it was great to realize I can exercise without really exercising...nice!!!

If you're planning on seeing the movie or have already seen it...the part that I liked was the "jewish scene"...when the Jews give them a bed for the night...! The other parts were a little crass....like penises and nude fat men fighting??...tacky!

Also I will be flying to England for christmas and new year, and would like to urge all of you planning any funny stuff like smuggling explosives on the flight to please not do that when I travel!!! I have enough bills to return to than have to pay extra for cancelled flights, extra hotel rooms...and all that crap...so please watch yourselves during the festive season...do it for me, and you'll go to heaven...or where ever you want to go in the after life!

I know there was some news that I wanted to talk about, but can't remember for the life of me...! so i'll skip to today in the news:

Koffi Annan is in trouble with the I-raqi's for saying they were better off under Saddams rule. I am not sure why that shocks the security advisor of Iraq Mr Al-rubaie!!! ofcourse lief is better for him now, he's getting paid i'm sure more money than he made during Saddams rule! so ofcourse things are better for him now! I have heard it said by others that life was better under Saddams rule... because it was a little safer than it is right now....So I agree with Annan on this one! and think Rubaie is acting like a retard.

Also the L.A archdiocese is paying out millions of dollars for sexual abuse scandals. Money that could have been used for the poor as it was intended...I am disturbed by this...and came up with a brilliant plan...CASTRATE ALL CLERGY MEN!!!! there I said it!

(photo's lovingly taken from bbc.co.uk)

World AIDS Day

Okay...so i've been quiet for a while... I know! I have so much to say and soooo little time to say it in... but i'll try to cath up today or this weekend:)

So today is world AIDS day. Are you doing enough to protect others and stay protected? have you been tested? has your partner? do you speak to your children about about it? to your friends and lovers? is the word still taboo in your house hold? does it give you a bad feeling to hear the word? has it affected your family? are you scared?

The challenge is WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE SURE MILLIONS MORE DON'T DIE FROM THIS? Kofi Annans world AIDS day message is for everyone to be held responsible to help curb this pandemic. To read more, go to the UNAIDS website.

something that I didn't know is that several major companies such as American Express, Emporio Armani, motorola, Gap...etc are doing things to raise awareness with their red collections of items...thats like awesome! I know they're capitalizing on the matter, and i'm not quite sure how much money they will donate to the cause, but this message was attched to google under their ad's...also to purchase these products go to http://joinred.blogspot.com/ and no ...I am not getting paid to do this... i just think its cool!

MEASU(RED) RESULTSThank you for purchasing (PRODUCT) RED items. (RED) sales in the US in the first six weeks since launch have raised enough money to:• Provide more than 40,000 men or women with ARV treatment for a year (Note: These treatments are only a small portion of a person’s overall treatment and represent just one year of lifelong treatment.)* Or• Provide more than 2 million peer educators with HIV training* Or• Provide a year’s worth of school materials and daily hot meals for more than 86,000 children orphaned by AIDS* Or• Provide more than 1 million Rapid Tests which detect HIV and deliver instant test results.**Note: These are estimates based on preliminary tracking. Actual contributions are calculated and managed on a quarterly basis