Let’s paint the town red because there is much to be celebrated today.

Elly kicked cancer’s butt! She has been declared cancer-FREE by her doctor. It is likely though that she is still radioactive from, you know, activating the Wonder Twin power in her epic battle against that super villain. But like Harry Potter, LOVE is the ultimate magic that is going to keep her safe.

The Internet has come through for Trevor: much love and good thoughts and prayers were sent his way.  According to the Facebook update, “Trevor is out of surgery and in recovery. They were able to reduce the blockage from 85% to 15% and are hopeful that he will be able to leave the hospital Friday.”

At Sundown, our Jewish friends will begin celebrating Hanukkah (I honestly do not know which spelling to follow AND I still copy and paste this word after so many years… I suck. I know.)  The Festival of Lights. If it has become all too predictable to embed the video of Adam Sandler’s classic Hanukkah song for the post published on the first day of Hanukkah, so be it. He’s insanely adorable (or maybe the other way around), and it is always such a pleasure to listen to the list of famous people who (happen to be) are Jewish, including Rob “You Can Do It” Schneider who’s a Filipino Jew.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1sf5yqZX-k

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On December 1, 1955, a 42-year-old African American woman in Montgomery, Alabama refused to give up her seat on the bus to make room for a white passenger. Rosa Parks. You know her name well.

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Today, as is every December 1, is also World AIDS Day.

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“The AIDS pandemic is almost 30 years old, and in that time 60 million people have been infected with HIV, and more than 30 million people have lost their life to the most destructive epidemic in recorded history.

In what has become one of the most recognized international health days in modern history, World AIDS Day is a day to raise awareness and commemorate those who have passed on.”  — LGBTQ Nation

30 years seem to be a long time. Remember the panic in the 80s? The hush-hush? Remember the Red Ribbons?

Things certainly have changed, for the most part, better. We are now in a different century. We seem to have left it behind us. However, there is still no known cure: 33 million people are estimated to be living with HIV. In the US those who are not (or have been) affected by this disease seem to have forgotten about it. (And I used to be one of those). Yes, we still hear about the news from Africa, about Bono’s charity work with (RED), and about the fundraising concerts he gave. But that’s all the way in Africa, right? Do people here still bother with the Red Ribbons on World AIDS Day?

According to CDC and AIDS.org,

• An estimated 56,300 Americans are newly infected with HIV each year.
• There are approximately 1.1 million Americans who are living with HIV/AIDS.

• The CDC estimates that 21% of HIV-positive people don’t know they are infected-meaning they may be transmitting HIV without knowing it.

* The picture with the girl holding red balloons also came from Micael. Micael is living with HIV and he talks about what this day means to him this year, the first time as someone from the other side (or this side depending on where you are speaking from) . His writing, especially his poetry, is often packed with sharp edges and gut-throttling punches. Raw and visceral. With an ample amount of biting humor. I think many of you here would also find it magnetic, difficult to tear away.

That is why today is important. We in the modern, safe(r) parts of the world need to help educate and spread the word here and now. Help our young remember. Even the Pope recently consented that using condoms in some cases is a moral issue. Someone else’s life may be at stake here.

At the same time, Bono’s (RED) collective has from the start identified the twin evil of the AIDS pandemic in Africa: Poverty. Lack of access to medication and education. Babies kept on being born with aids. A vicious cycle.

This year (RED) launched a campaign to eliminate AIDS: no more babies born with AIDS, a new generation of children that are not (nor are in danger of being) born with AIDS. In 5 years. 2015.

For the first time since AIDS arrived on the scene, we have a chance to realize, in the next 5 years, a whole generation born AIDS free. This goal is achievable through continued funding from the global health community, including the Global Fund.

To raise awareness for this massive campaign, (RED) has persuaded several landmarks around the world to turn themselves RED for today.

Feel free to paint the town red today in your own way.

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