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Paul, welcome to This Positive Life.
Hi Terri. Thanks for having me. It's a pleasure to be here.
Let's start with you telling our readers and listeners about your personal history of living with HIV; specifically, how did you find out you were HIV positive?
I found that I was HIV positive back in 1985. I went to a public health clinic with my partner at the time and another couple, took the test, and found out two nervous weeks later that I was indeed positive. My partner, fortunately for him, was not positive. That's how I found out for sure that I was HIV positive. I'd suspected that I had been [positive] for some time, given that I was a gay male who lived in New York City who knew a lot of people who were getting sick and ended up dying. It was unsettling to hear, but not a big surprise.
About Paul
Paul has been living with HIV for 27 years without ever needing to take treatment. He never thought much of it until the day a friend said to him, "You haven't been sick. ... Why do you think that you're doing so well?" Paul soon discovered he was one of the lucky few positive folks known as "long-term nonprogressors" -- people who have HIV, but whose CD4 count stays high and viral load stays low for a long time without the help of medications. In this interview, Paul discusses his life and explains how he's happily become a guinea pig for HIV researchers hoping to figure out what makes him tick.
You got tested in New York City?
Actually, in Southern California.
How long do you think you'd been living with HIV before you tested positive?
It's believed by myself and numerous doctors that I actually became infected in 1981. In the summer of 1981, I had a severe illness, which is now considered the classic symptoms of a person seroconverting to positive. I was quite ill for two weeks. At that time, as you probably know, and the listeners and readers might know, HIV was just beginning to really break loose in New York City and in other places. There were so many guys who were having night sweats and fevers, and losing a lot of weight, and the skin cancers were appearing. So it's believed that I became HIV infected in 1981 while living in New York City. I was 20 years old.
I'm assuming several years later you had a CD4 count done when that was available. What was your first CD4 count?
I've always been at a normal range. I think the first CD4 count I had was at the beginning when they were doing them, so that would have been in the early '90s. I think I was in the 900s or low 1,000s.
What is your CD4 count now?
It's 1,024.
You have been told that you're what we call a long-term non-progressor.
Yes, that's correct.
What exactly is the definition of that term?
There are a few variables. Basically it's someone who is HIV positive, and they're able to maintain a normal T-cell count -- that would be between 800 and 1,300. They also have an undetectable viral load. The measure of "undetectable" right now is under 50. They have no symptoms, no opportunistic infections. [Someone who fits this description --] and [if this is sustained] for seven years or more -- would be considered a long-term non-progressor. Of course, they are not on any HIV medications, and have never been on HIV medications.
You're not taking any antiretrovirals at this time?
Yes, that's correct.
And you never have?
Right, I'm not taking any now and I never have.
So do you take any supplements, or do yoga?
That's an interesting question. I did when I was much younger; I took lots of supplements, but for whatever reason I got out of the habit. I have had a highly physically active life. I'm 49 now so it's tapered off a bit. Throughout the full course of my infection, when I was much younger, in '81 through the '80s, I was a ballet dancer. I swam, lifted weights, did yoga; in terms of physical activities, that's what I did then. Now these days I'm more inclined to go on a long walk or hike, swim. I still meditate and do yoga occasionally, but no supplements at this time.
What has your health been like since your diagnosis?
"The good news I suppose is I'm a long-term non-progressor, which is very, very good. I've never been symptomatic for anything HIV related."
It's been pretty varied. The good news I suppose is I'm a long-term non-progressor, which is very, very good. I've never been symptomatic for anything HIV related.
Curiously -- and I think some of the researchers are interested in this -- I was exposed to toxic mold in the building site I worked in, in a retail store for a few years, and I became very ill. At that point, I had chronic bronchitis, developed asthma, esophagitis -- inflammation of the esophagus. I became quite ill for a few years.
Interestingly, at that point, you would think that that would have affected my HIV health, but I still was undetectable. My viral load was still in the normal range. I can say I have been blessed with maintaining my good long-term health.
When did you realize that something was different about your experience living with HIV? You read things in the newspaper, you see things in the media, or you have friends who may be challenged by some symptoms. When did you think, "I'm not having those experiences"?
That's a good question because it wasn't something that occurred to me until I was asked by my best friend. I think we were talking and my friend said, "Gee, Paul, you haven't been sick" and it's like 1991. I've been positive officially since '85. Many people I knew at that point had gotten sick and many had died at some point.
Back then there weren't any medications for people. My friend said, "Well, gee, why do you think that you're doing so well?"
It occurred to me in 1991 that there was something different about me. I just thought it was good fortune, or being very blessed. Then as the '90s progressed and I came to the desert southwest U.S., my physician said, "You seem to be what might be termed a long-term non-progressor." It was just a vague term. I still felt very, very fortunate.
Terri, it was all so scary because at that point you could get as sick and get quite ill. I never knew. I always just assumed that my turn would come. I just assumed HIV, back then, was fatal, pretty much totally fatal for anybody who had it, and that my time would come.
Then I went through the '90s and still maintained my good HIV health. It wasn't until around 2000 that I really realized that there might be something in this term long-term non-progressor.
I did some Internet searches for long-term non-progressor and found bits and pieces of information, nothing really solidly. A few years ago I did an Internet search and found that there was a study at the U.S. National Institutes of Health [NIH], and that people like us existed. There were researchers out there who were seeking us to participate in the research, in hopes of finding a therapeutic vaccine or cure. It's been a long time that I've had HIV, and it's just was a slow, slow dawning on me that there was something different about me.
Are you in clinical trials right now, to look at this specific issue?
Yes, I'm in several clinical trials right now. I'm in Dr. Bruce Walker at Harvard's elite controller study. I'm also in a study at the National Institutes of Health, their long-term non-progressors study.
I'm a permanent resident of Australia. I live in a small coastal town. I'm in a trial there, a research study with Professor David Cooper at the University of New South Wales in Sydney. So I'm in three ongoing research trials.
Are they all the same trial, or are they all looking at non-progressors but from a different angle?
Right, they are all looking at long-term non-progressors. There are some similarities in the types of things they are looking at. They do have decidedly different things that they're looking at. I guess when you do a research study, you have to have a theory and try to either prove it or disprove it.
My understanding of it is not that great, but the Harvard group is working with the Human Genome Project at the Broad Institute on the elite controller study. There are long-term non-progressors, like myself, who are also called "elite controllers." I think one reason why I am one is because I've been positive for so long, and I've been really able to control the virus.
So Bruce Walker's working with the Human Genome Project, in a partnership about elite controllers, though I don't know the specifics. The National Institutes of Health has had their LTNP [long-term non-progressor] study ongoing for many years. I've been e-mailing Stephen Migueles from the NIH. Their study has been going on for 12 years. That would be one of the longest research studies going on [focusing on] long-term non-progressors. He said to me, in an e-mail, that their median time for their long-term non-progressors is 17 years.
Professor David Cooper in Sydney, I'm not sure what his angle is, but his study's been going on quite a long time as well.
Do you know how many people are in the Harvard study?
Yes, I just found out this information a couple of days ago. They break down their study into two different components. There's a lead of elite controllers, and there are 127 of these controllers [people who have had HIV for years that have never had a detectable viral load or taken HIV medications]. They're also looking at people called viremic controllers. Those are people who are able to control the virus under 2,000 copies for one year or more without medication. There are 142 viremic controllers in the Harvard study.
Do you have a regular doctor that you see outside of the clinical trials?
Yes. In Australia I have a general practitioner. At my age, there are odds and ends that have come up [laugh]. I am joyously happy to say and also sad to say that I'm middle-aged, though it's a blessing really. I have bipolar disorder, so my general practitioner helps me with that more than any other health issue I have.
So he doesn't address your HIV at all, or peripherally?
At this point, because I'm doing so well with the HIV and because I participate in three ongoing trials, I get my blood taken as most people would with HIV -- they get their blood taken every three to six months I believe. I get mine taken on average every six months in one study or another, so they can follow my viral load, if I have one. They can monitor that, and also whatever my T-cell count is. My T-cell count has remained basically stable for the whole time it has been taken, so, 15 years or so.
You've mentioned that you were diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
Was this after your HIV diagnosis or before?
It was after, it was sometime after. In '85 I got my HIV-positive test results. When I found out I had bipolar disorder, I believe it was in 1999. It was a big blow to hear that. It was also a relief. It was a relief, in that I had problems all my life, and now I know there was a reason for it. It was this thing called bipolar disorder. Basically with that information I got, I was able to start a course of treatment, of medication and therapy.
When you say you knew about this all of your life, do you mean even as a child, or it was in your adult life?
I had a problem, what we would now call a mood disorder, probably since my middle teens. But it was never looked at and diagnosed. I had been diagnosed with having depression by my general practitioner years earlier, and I was put on medication for that. But bipolar disorder was altogether different from having depression; and the treatment was different.
Do you feel like there's any connection between your bipolar disorder and the fact that you're living with HIV? Do you think that that complicates it, or that it's not related?
I think it could be related insomuch as with bipolar disorder, one of the things you look at to remain stable are triggers -- things that can trigger a change in behavior or a change in attitude or a change in reaction.
If I were to be actively ill with HIV, that would be a huge stressor, which could then trigger a possible manic reaction or depressive episode. My being well with HIV is certainly helping my bipolar.
A lot of what we look at with bipolar disorder are the triggers and stressors and how to have a life that's manageable, with as little stress as possible.
For our listeners who may not know what bipolar disorder is, could you give a definition, maybe in lay language?
It used to be called manic depression. If you look at it that way, as far as I understand it, it's a chemical imbalance in the brain. You can have periods of [what are called] "manic highs," and depressive lows. Those can often last for years. You can be manic for years, you can be depressive for years. Or you can also do this thing called rapid cycling, which is what I tend to have. You go through very manic highs. It's like being on a wild carnival ride. Then you can plummet into depression for these 8 to 12 hour cycles, which is a nightmare [laughs]. It's like constantly being on a roller coaster that you have no control over.
If you're diagnosed and if you're medicated, and have talk therapy and counseling on how to deal with the stressors in your life, then you're able to control it. People who have a good outcome, and I have a very good outcome with bipolar disorder, they're able to control it and live a relatively normal life. Meaning you might be able to hold down a job, have good relations with family, coworkers and friends.
What we would consider a normal life is often difficult for people with bipolar disorder, because of the biochemical imbalance in the brain. It just goes out of wack. It's like an electrical short circuit; a person can't have control over their behavior when their brain chemistry is so imbalanced. So, for bipolar disorder, it's very important to get a proper diagnosis and proper treatment.
Since we're talking about psychosocial issues, emotional issues, I was curious as to your experience living with HIV as a non-progressor, versus people in your life who are progressing in their illness, and how this might affect you emotionally. You've been witness to a lot of things -- stories in the paper or people in your own life who may have gotten sick and possibly died.
Right. Certainly as an out gay male when I was 18, and becoming infected in 1981, I was 20 at that point, and then officially becoming HIV positive in 1985, I knew a lot of people who became sick and that was distressing in itself, for me.
Then throughout the '80s and most of the '90s, assuming that would happen to me as well was a very stressful and tense time. It felt like the Grim Reaper was hunting me and any day my card would be called, and that would be it. For probably 10 to 15 years, I assumed that my turn would come.
Seeing people who you loved and admired around you suffering and dying, or taking AZT [zidovudine, Retrovir] and suffering on that, and then dying a horrible death. A good portion of my life, I was in a lot of distress.
Yet at the same time, there was what they sometimes term "survivor's guilt" -- here I am doing really well. I don't really prescribe to guilt per se, but you do feel very conflicting emotions about why are you so lucky, and other people are dying.
Today it's a bit different because there are effective medications, at least in the Western world, where we have access to medication and treatment that have better qualities of life and better outcomes for people. Still, a lot of people don't do well on medication. I think 15,000 people a year in the U.S. die from HIV/AIDS.
"I've taken it, for myself, as a mission to do all that I can to help in research, both in Australia and the U.S."
To that end, that's why I, being a long-term non-progressor, participate in research. It's believed among many researchers that long-term non-progressors have in our white blood cells, or DNA, or whatever molecularly, something that could be the key to the virus, to coming up with a vaccine or cure. I've taken it, for myself, as a mission to do all that I can to help in research, both in Australia and the U.S.
I give blood, probably four to five times a year -- not just give blood, but there's a couple of procedures that I undergo at Harvard and the NIH called apheresis or leukapheresis, which is you're lying in a bed, and they put a tube in your arm. For about an hour and a half, they take out your blood. They take out your white blood cells, spin them around and give you back your red blood cells.
It's interesting because you're talking about how I feel about this. This year on my birthday, July 16th, I had that procedure at the NIH. I told Stephen Migueles, the main researcher there, I said it's really a privilege for me to be spending my birthday there. I turned 49. What a blessing is that. To be giving back, I hope in a tangible way, to the community but hopefully to the world at large. It's sort of a sobering, humbling position to be in.
Not a day goes by, Terri, that I don't feel incredibly fortunate and incredibly blessed that I've been given another healthy day. It's phenomenal. When I was 30, I often thought, what would it be like to be 40? Do I get to be 40? Do I get to be alive? Do I get to be healthy?
It sounds like your feelings about having HIV have changed over time. Maybe in the beginning it was a little bit more antagonistic, maybe more a relationship based in fear.
There was a lot of fear there, too. I have to say at the same time, when I was diagnosed positive, I don't know why this was, but I just decided, well, here you go [Laughs]. This is not sounding like a good outcome. I decided to make the most of every day that I could. To try to be as positive a person as I could be, to give back to the community, to be kinder to people, to appreciate the little things around me. It really bothered my partner at the time. He was really angry and pissed off and hurt and upset about my diagnosis, my HIV-positive test results.
I just decided not to focus on all the scary stuff. I didn't want to live every day being scared and frightened for myself. I'm not going to have much of a quality of life in the near term if I'm just frightened. Then I thought, well, if the time comes and I'm ill, and I'm suffering, then I'll try to deal with that as best I can at the time. I didn't go into it with a bad mindset.
Are you a religious or spiritual person?
Yes, I'm a very spiritual person, since I was a teenager. I've studied different kinds of metaphysical things and philosophies and religions: Buddhism; Vedanta, a branch of the Hindu faith. I meditate every day. But not like a Christian religion.
What is a typical day like for you? Do you work?
I do work. My partner and I have a bed and breakfast along the ocean in Australia.
Oh wow.
Yes, yes, I'm very fortunate, Terri. I've been the luckiest person I know actually. Because of the bipolar condition, I'm not able to do a lot. I get up in the morning and have my coffee; check the Internet, check e-mail, check online to see if there are reservations or inquiries for the bed and breakfast.
If it's the busiest season, summer there, which is Christmas through February, I will greet the guests, make breakfast; I act as a host at the B & B [bed and breakfast], suggest places they can go on the coast to visit and to tour, and some great beaches. I see them off for the day, and clean up after breakfast. If people have checked out, we'll change the rooms. If people are checking in, we usually know about what time they will be checking in and then we greet them and act as the host.
By the end of the day, I'm ready to not deal with the guests anymore and just have a quiet dinner with my partner.
That's the busy season, which is about three months out of the year. The rest of the year I have a pretty quiet life. I go for walks. I'm working on a memoir, partially around me being a long-term non-progressor, about that and having bipolar disorder, and circling through different things in my life, and what it's like to now be living a good life, and how it is to be fortunate with that. So I'm working on that.
I write poetry, I've been a published poet. I'm also on national radio in Australia, a segment on a national program called "Country Viewpoint." I work on different essays about small town country life.
How long have you been with your partner?
Five years.
Is your partner also living with HIV?
No he's not, he's negative.
Well that brings up, of course, a question about serodiscordant couples. How does that work as far as your sex life?
Well, you're always safe. You just sort of get on with it. To me it's, you know [laughs], you're supposed to have safe sex. That's the way you don't infect others, and you don't put others at risk. You practice safe sex, and it's not a problem really.
"It could be a drag, I suppose, to have to wear a condom. Given what your alternative is -- to come down with a chronic or fatal disease -- I don't see what the big deal is about wearing a condom."
I know in the popular culture today, there are seemingly a lot of people who don't want to have safe sex. I don't personally understand that. It can be a drag, I suppose, to have to wear a condom. Given what your alternative is -- to come down with a chronic or fatal disease -- I don't see what the big deal is about wearing a condom.
I'm assuming that the latex condoms that you get in Australia are of the same quality and . . .
Same quality, same brands, yes.
As what we find in the United States.
Yes, exactly.
I asked that because certainly health educators will say make sure you buy condoms that are manufactured by the United States, because some of the testing and standards may be a little different in other countries.
Well, that's going into a whole global issue. I know we get so many products, food products, pharmaceuticals now from China. Just because it says "Made in the USA," what does that mean? Does that mean that the box was made in the USA?
[Laughs] Right!
[Laughs] That's very dubious. That's about issues larger than where something that's being branded is made. We have to have faith in where things are made. That's a test of our faith that things are safe and effective based on where they're made.
I'm curious as to what made you move to Australia?
Oh, that's an interesting story [Laughs]. I had met this fellow and we were dating. I had just come back to the city in the southwest from New York. I was not doing terribly well because of the bipolar. I was doing OK, but not feeling so great. I was stable on medications and all that, but not feeling terribly good about things.
Anyway, so we were dating, and this fellow knew that I was in the hospitality field. I was a chef for many years. One day he calls me up and says "I need to talk to you." I go, oh no, what does that mean? We were talking and he says "Well, you know I have a bed and breakfast in Australia. I need a manager, and perhaps you'd like to come and manage my bed and breakfast." So I'm like oh. We were dating, but we weren't committed. He gave me free round-trip airfare and said you can leave whenever you want. I thought, well, that's not a bad deal [Laughs].
"In Australia, gay and lesbian couples can sponsor one another for immigration. So he sponsored me for immigration. After two and a half years, I just got my permanent residency in January for Australia."
So I went, and then over time our relationship became more and more serious, and more and more dedicated to one another. Over time he sponsored me as his partner for immigration. In Australia, gay and lesbian couples can sponsor one another for immigration. So he sponsored me for immigration. After two and a half years, I just got my permanent residency in January for Australia.
Thank you very much. That was an arduous trip because they have a rule in Australia that, if you are HIV positive, you can't immigrate into their country. They don't want you. That's based on health care assessment, in terms of the associated cost. I was able to -- working with researchers I work with -- get letters of support saying that I was a long-term non-progressor. I was not likely to develop any health care costs associated with HIV. We think that's why we prevailed on it; it was based on the long-term non-progressor [status]. Although we're not sure, they didn't give us a reason why we prevailed.
Interestingly enough, along those lines, last year 10 people with HIV were able to immigrate to Australia. Now the prime minister, it being an election year, is saying we don't want anyone with HIV to come here. He said some draconian thing a few weeks back, that they perhaps didn't even want anyone with HIV to visit. That's been dropped. That caused a huge uproar. You might have had something in The Body on that. I know the magazine POZ had something on that.
Do you have dual citizenship between Australia and the United States?
Yes. Right now I'm a citizen of the U.S. I have a permanent residency visa for Australia. I have to wait two years before I can become a citizen in Australia. At that point I will do that. Also, there is an agreement between the two countries: You can carry dual citizenship, so I'll maintain my American citizenship as well.
If you dropped your United States citizenship, wouldn't that affect your coming into the U.S. as an HIV-positive person?
As I understand the law now, you're not allowed to come in if you're HIV positive.
That's why I ask, if you dropped your United States citizenship, would that be a challenge for you to come over to the States to participate in the clinical trials?
It would be. The way that I understand it, people do get around the U.S. law not allowing HIV-positive people to enter the U.S. all the time. If you put your medication in different vials or ship them to a friend, or there's other things that you can do. I don't think they really have been cracking down on that in the U.S. for many years. But it does give you cause for thought: What would happen if they didn't let me back into the country I was born and raised in, paid taxes in, was a good citizen in? I think any time you immigrate there are complex issues to deal with, and certainly that would be one.
What is the health care system like in Australia?
It's excellent actually. If you're a legal resident, which pretty much everyone is, if you have a work visa or a school visa, or anything like that other than a tourist visa, you're entitled to the national health care system, which is free to everybody. If you draw an income there, I think 1 percent of your income goes to health care costs. So everybody pays there. Everyone has access to it.
You can get private health care as well, and you get added bonuses to that. So the health care system there is great. You don't have, like in other countries, I don't know what it is, in the U.S. there are 49 million people who don't have health insurance. Even if you need to go to an emergency room, you can go to an emergency room. Or if you need to see a doctor, you can see a doctor. If you need specialized care, you get specialized care.
One thing that's really interesting, and I found this just shocking when I moved here: My bipolar medication, if I don't have insurance in the U.S., comes to $1,100 a month. If you're bipolar and you can't work, $1,100 a month is nearly impossible, especially if you have to pay rent and buy food. In Australia, the same medication, the same dosage, is $95 a month. It's a much better system.
Let me ask you about your friends and family. I'm curious about when you first found out about your HIV status in the mid-80s, what were your family and friends' reactions when you told them that?
The second part of the question is, how have these relationships changed since you've been living so long? Would you say that maybe their reactions were different, and now that you've been living longer, maybe they have a different opinion or perspective about the HIV diagnosis?
I think initially we were all shocked, some of my friends and family. I didn't tell my folks when I found out. It seemed like it would have been a burden to them. Since I was well, it would have been a burden to them to hear that. So I didn't tell my folks. I told my brothers and all my best friends.
Everyone rallied around me. People started praying for me, and offering words of encouragement and support. Friends said -- this is a long time ago, too -- my friends said if you ever get ill or need help, you can stay with us and we'll take care of you. There were really strong voices of support, not just encouragement, but support. I felt, if I did have a bad outcome, I would be taken care of. That certainly took a bit of pressure off me in terms of what might happen to me.
At the time I did finally tell my folks, my parents. I told them that I was having health problems associated with a toxic mold incident, because I felt that my health might indeed be in jeopardy. I actually had to quit where I was working, and I needed some financial help, so I thought that I needed to tell them why I was quitting. So I told them I think in '95.
Moving forward to the second part of your question, I think we're all -- my friends and family -- there's a sense of wonder and amazement that I'm still doing so well. We just feel that I'm a very blessed individual to have had this outcome. We don't know why, we just shrug our shoulders and look heavenward, if you will.
"I still wonder if at some point I might stop being a long-term non-progressor. There's not a day that goes by that I take for granted."
What a blessing this is! I wonder, I don't dwell on it, but I still wonder if at some point I might stop being a long-term non-progressor. There's not a day that goes by that I take for granted, meaning I really appreciate every day that goes by. We're collectively holding our breath. We don't think about it too much, and hope that my good fortune continues.
Have you kind of mentally made plans, like if all of a sudden I started progressing, what would that be like? What would my life be like?
I haven't put a lot of thought into to it, other than I know that I'm in a country that will take care of me. In the U.S., depending I suppose on what state you live in, you may or may not get health assistance.
In Australia, if you're not able to work and you're ill, you have public housing assistance, you have food assistance. All of your medications and your doctors will be paid for. If I were to get ill, I'm in a country that will take care of me. That's a huge relief to me.
I think that I would feel that things would be a bit better for me now if I were to get ill than certainly in the '80s when there were no HIV medications. I think that I would be in as good a position as anybody who would be diagnosed now, to have a likely better outcome.
So if there was a change in your health, you would not be opposed to going on medication?
I would have to look at the current research. I think they say now that if your T cells drop [below a certain point you should start taking antiretroviral therapy.] Different people have different ways of looking at it. I read someplace that if your T cells drop below 350, you should go on meds. Perhaps not until then.
I think for the newly diagnosed, some physicians advocate early HIV medication treatments. I don't know where I would go with that. I think the medications that are coming out these days, some are better with less side effects. Some people can't take those. Some side effects are really horrendous; they can give you a poor quality of life.
I would think I would try to not go on medication until I thought it was necessary. Well not what I thought, but in consultation with my physician. Since I'm in all these different research projects, I have access to some of the best researchers on HIV in the world. I would seek their advice as well. I would be treated, however, in Australia.
Were you, throughout the years, ever tempted to start medication? I would imagine in '85 it may have been very tempting.
It would've but then there was nothing in '85. I don't know when AZT came out.
I think it was '87.
Did it come along that early? OK. I knew someone who went on it in '89. It's hard to say if he had a rough go with it because of the medication, or because his health was deteriorating. I don't know if I would've been. I was well, and I was not getting [sick]. The tests weren't as well developed as they are now.
When I got to the southwestern town that I lived in part of the year [in the U.S.], I had a very good physician here and he said that he thought, based on my numbers and my health, there's absolutely no reason for you to consider going on medication. That he'd seen patients who had problems with medication, so why mess up a good thing if you're well, if your numbers are good. He didn't see it as being necessary as a preventative. So it never occurred to me to do that. It's interesting in relation to that that there could be some more long-term non-progressors who would be treatment na?ve, if they hadn't gone on meds, say, back in the '90s.
What do you feel, on a daily basis, is your contribution to you staying well? I'm curious about your diet. You've talked about your positive attitude and that you walk. I'm curious about some other things that maybe you do that we haven't talked about.
In terms of being well, I'll give a little back story about myself when I was living in New York City. Back in 2000 I became unwell with the bipolar condition -- I wasn't on medication at that point. I became very manic and checked myself into a psych ward, which isn't a place anyone ever wants to go to if they don't have to. I realized at that point that my main job in life was to be well.
Getting back to your question, so what do I do to be well? I get regular sleep. I go to bed basically at the same time every night. I get up the same time every day. I don't do drugs. People can do them if they want. But I don't do cocaine or speed or marijuana. I don't smoke cigarettes. I do drink coffee. I do have wine. I do have an excellent diet. Being a chef it's quite easy for me to prepare tasty, nutritious meals, so my diet is really good.
I have a wonderful support system of family and friends, people who are nurturing, encouraging and supportive of me. I work in a business based at home, so I'm my own boss. I don't have the stressors of having an angry boss of or dysfunctional coworkers. I live in a small town of 1,000 people that's surrounded by ocean and a national park. I'm surrounded by wildlife.
I have a very quiet, tranquil life when I'm back in Australia. I swim, either in summer in the ocean or the pool in the winter, three days a week. I go for walks everyday, I meditate regularly. I pray.
Gosh, what else do I do [Laughs]? I do this with all regularity. All of that is a fundamental part of my life. I don't think, I need to do this or I need to do that. It's just a part of my life. I've been doing that a long time, for many, many years anyway. I do it more consciously, because I know by doing all of those things, that I'll be even more well with the bipolar disorder. This will keep me out of the psych ward, which is the primary goal: to never have to go back into a psychiatric ward.
Are there ever times when maybe you miss your swim for the week? Can you tell the difference, like "I feel a little off this week. I can tell I missed swimming or walking."
Yet another good question. It's interesting. When I was much younger I was a ballet dancer, so I was dancing 60 hours a week and swimming and doing all of that. I'm a bit addicted to being in good shape. Now that I'm older and I don't have as much time or the pool's further away, if I don't swim for a week or two weeks, I really notice a difference. I don't feel as at peace with myself, as calm, as fit. Maybe it's the matter of endorphins or oxygenating the blood, I'm not sure.
When I realize that I haven't been for a swim or been for a long walk, and I go, "Well this is the day," and because I live next to a national forest, I can just get up and go for a long walk and half hour out in the bush, in the forest, and feel reenergized. So I do notice that, very much so.
It's coming close to the end of us chatting. I was curious about what your fears or your hopes are for the next generation, as people face the risk of HIV.
My fears are that people won't practice safe sex, because it's simple to do that, to wear a condom. I mean that's kind of a no-brainer. I think that if you go to bars and clubs, they even give out free condoms. Public health services will do that. I don't think they're particularly difficult to access.
I think there's problems with drugs, where sometimes people aren't as mindful as they need to be when they're having sex. They need to have a better forethought about that, and be prepared, carry some with them perhaps if they think they're going to be in the position to have sex. They should be safe.
My hopes are many. My hopes that better medications will come along that are more affordable, that access to them in developing countries will be affordable on their standard of living and not based on what we would charge here.
My hopes are, and partly why I'm participating in research into long-term non-progressors, is that we may be able to develop therapeutic vaccines or even a cure in time. I know that's a long trajectory to get there, but there are many people diligently working on this. My hopes would be that that would happen as well.
I tend to be more optimistic. I think we made great progress since I was likely infected in '81. People then were dazed, confused and scared to death. We've come a long way. More people are being saved. I hope that people will take precautions and get tested.
If you think you're positive, or you might be exposed, give a good think about it and perhaps consider getting tested. If you are positive, a good way to stay healthy is to get treatment with medication. I know that I was putting down the U.S. health care system, but I do think for many people with HIV, for health care access, the U.S. is probably OK and they can get HIV treatment. At least in blue states.
Sorry, didn't mean to get political on you there [Laughs].
[Laughs] Right. I just thought of something that I wanted to ask you. You've mentioned a couple of times that you think you were infected in '81. What makes you think you were infected in '81?
I'd had sexual relations, sexual intercourse, with a few guys, who later became very sick with things that would be considered precursors to getting AIDS and dying. One fellow I saw about a month later, he was very scared and very nervous, and I went over to his place. He showed me these purple lesions on his hands. That would be the beginning of the end for him. I have no doubt that that's when I was infected.
If I can just say one thing, if I'm allowed to say something?
I have a friend that I met through the Harvard elite controller studies. Her name is Loreen Willenberg, and she is probably familiar to readers and listeners at The Body. [For The Body's interview with Loreen, click here.] She and I had been talking sometime about trying to start a non-profit foundation for long-term non-progressors, that would get word out over the Internet for some of us who are looking for information about research studies, that they might find easy access on the Internet to information about the studies and whatnot. We're hoping to call that the Zephyr Foundation.
I wanted to let listeners know that we're looking to try to help researchers recruit more people. There are actually many research studies around the country and around the world and there's a difficulty finding them if you're a long-term non-progressor.
We're hoping to get this thing going called Zephyr Foundation. Depending on what kind of funding there could be, there could be money in that that could actually assist long-term non-progressors get to some of these studies: airfare, hotel costs.
There's a prominent study here in the U.S. that I can't get to. I can't afford to go to the location where it's being held, and they can't afford to fly me there. Seems to me that that's a missed opportunity. There's a researcher in Europe as well who's welcomed me to that study, and I can't get there. I can't afford it and they don't have the money.
The Zephyr Foundation, if it were to come about and hopefully it will, would go towards helping fund long-term non-progressors to participate in studies. That's something that Loreen Willenberg and I are trying to work out.
I want to thank you, Paul, for chatting with us today.
This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.
Click here to e-mail Paul.
Studies Enrolling Long-Term Nonprogressors

subset: commoncrawl


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Tamdan McCrory
TRAINING: I start my mornings with some type of strength, conditioning, and/or mobility workout with my trainer Mike Atkinson. Afternoon/evening workouts are either at Xtreme for technique and sparring or with my striking coach Dewey Cooper.
What ranks and titles have you held? Brown Belt in BJJ under Ken Kronenberg of Tai Kai Jiu-Jitsu & MMA, an affiliate of Team Balance. Apprentice Instructor under Ajarn "Chai" Sirisute of the Thai Boxing Association of America. Apprentice Instructor in Jun Fan/JKD under Kevin Seaman. WFL Middleweight Champion, NABC Welterweight Champion, and let's face it, everyone knows I'm the Bellator Middleweight Champion by default anyway.
Getty Images reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this image or clip. If you violate our intellectual property you may be liable for: actual damages, loss of income, and profits you derive from the use of this image or clip, and, where appropriate, the costs of collection and/or statutory damages up to $150,000 (USD).


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Smartly Tapping Global Markets: A Driver for the Rise of the South
We've become accustomed to talk about the rise of the "global South" in business and economic circles—as these past several years have seen developing countries (mostly BRICs, but also others) surging economically while the global North has retrenched. I've discussed in this blog space [1] how outbound investment from developing countries is one indicator that we can point to confirm this trend.
The UN Development Program (UNDP) recently released its annual Human Development Report that takes as its theme the rise of the global South. I attended the Washington launch of the
report which was held, for the first time, at the World Bank. World Bank chief economist Kaushik Basu [2] noted during the event it's a welcome move. The World Bank and UNDP have much information, tactics, resources, and energy to share.
- First, and most prominently, UNDP lays out drivers that have led many developing countries to improve their lots. One of them is the tapping of global markets. The authors note that global markets have played an important role in advancing progress. But the catch here is countries' terms of engagement with these markets. Integration with global markets has to come with investment in people, institutions, and infrastructure. And the report points out that there is a role for governments to play to guide these investments.
- The report notes that South-South investment flows can leverage foreign markets in new ways that enhance development opportunities. Examples include Indian firms supplying information and technology services in Africa as well as Asian FDI expanding utility and telecoms infrastructure. There are many others.
- The report says that the capacity of people and institutions also affects the ability to accrue benefits from FDI—and that this relationship between a skilled populace and inward FDI is mutually reinforcing. Very interesting food for thought.
- The report also notes that companies doing well in the South tend to be long-term risk-takers.
In short, UNDP is recognizing that 1) the rise of the global South is one of the most important themes in development today, and 2) tapping global markets, well managed, is an important way to improve people's lives.
Where does MIGA come in on this? First, South-South investments—those are investments from one developing country into another—are one of our strategic areas of focus. Second, MIGA-insured investments need to be consistent with the development needs of the country and have the highest environmental and social standards.
I write this to underline that multilateral institutions are doing their part to foster standards of practice that demonstrate investments can be profitable and good for host countries.
From a broader perspective, I think that the continued interest in corporate social responsibility is a force that pushes UNDP's terms of engagement argument forward.
What remains is a commitment and ability for national governments to act in the best and long-term interests of their citizens when engaging with investors looking to locate in their countries.
None of this is perfect, but the awareness and tools are certainly available to increase this particular driver—tapping global markets—as a force for increased development.
Read UNDP's report here [3].
Or here's a summary [4] if you have less time.
- Tags:
- The World Region [5]
- Global Economy [6]
- Private Sector Development [7]
- Political Risk Insurance [8]
- foreign direct investment [9]
- united nations development programme [10]
- human development [11]
- global south [12]


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Thursday, September 11, 2008
Happy Birthday ME!
A lovely day was had delivering a elmo cake, relaxing, eating and drinking alfresco at my parents house with lovely family and really wonderful friends.
Now almost a week later, I am gone on a lovely Lindermans 2007 Shiraz surprisingly brought over by an even lovelier neighbour, tucking into a tub of chocolate ice cream. Wow what a week, better get back into the kitchen and turn the oven on.
Re reading this its interesting how many times I have used lovely, maybe that's what happens after the better part of a bottle of red . . . hmmmm.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Make Up Case Krispy Cake
I can not claim this design as my own, the birthday girls Mum was looking through some of my cake books and just loved Debbie Brown's make up case from 50 Easy Party Cakes, so we made the case by I updated the look of the cosmetics, using lots of black colour paste and luster dust, and glitter. Just like my real ones in my case. Well maybe the colours are not quite so bold. And I am more of a green girl, but we can talk about that another day.
Debbie's board is a flat colour whilst mine is hand embossed with various sized flowers on pink fondant.
I have included the Rice Krispy recipe for you, and it can be formed into just about any shape, very fun.
Kellogg's Rice Krispies Treats Original
3 tblspns butter or margarine
10oz packed regular marshmallows
6 cups Rice Bubbles/Krispies
1. Melt marg or butter in large saucepan over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.
2. Add Kellogg's Rice Bubbles/Krispies cereal. Stir until well coated
3. Using buttered spatula or waxed paper, press mixture evenly into 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cut into 2-inch squares when cool. Best if served the same day.
Source: Kellogg's Rice Krispies - Recipes to make with kids. www.ricekrispies.com
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Chocolate Wildflowers 60th Cupcakes
The brief for this 60th Birthday cake was pretty specific, the birthday girl loves chocolate, loves strong colours and loves native flowers and was happy to oblige.
Cutting cake - Classic Chocolate cake torted with dark chocolate
glaze, and finished with the same glaze. Styled with freestyle chocolate Australian Wildflowers, gum leaves and just a touch of green edible glitter
Cupcakes - Classic Chocolate & Vanilla, topped with dark chocolate glaze, styled with
freestyle chocolate Australian Wildflowers, gum leaves and just a touch of green edible glitter.
All that glitters . . .
On my blog is edible, especially these Spiced Cupcakes topped with fondant, white jimmies and gold balls.
These were made last minute for my Mum's birthday, I seem to spend all my time a creative effort on other peoples cakes, not my own family's. So these were created from what I had in my cupboard, just waiting to be used, my only hurdle was that I had only one egg. Must get those chickens laying again.
Very very tasty, perfectly sweet with a cup of strong tea.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
It's been raining
Australia is suffering from drought, not that it looks like it in this picture. This is the view from out front yard, I think that we are pretty lucky.
Homemade Rainbow
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Dragon Fly Cake
Made for my lovely SIL's 50th, is a mad about Dragon Flies and is an extremely talented mosaic'r so the cake design just stemmed from these two starting points.
Bottom layer torted Chocolate Butter cake and Banana cake with Nutella Italian Buttercream.
Top Layer torted Chocolate Butter cake and Coffee cake with Nutella Italian Buttercream.
You can see more photos on my flickr photostream, I have another mosaic ed cake to post, fingers crossed I'll get it up today.
P.S. A lovely person on flickr asked - 'How long did this take?'
Too long! The decorating started at 8.45am with torted and crumbed cakes, and hour off for lunch and finished at 6.10pm, with me jumping in the shower, scraping the icing off my hands, washing my hair, slapping on some make-up and getting out into the kitchen to take some pictures (boo night photography). To get to the other side of town by 7.30pm. We made it just! Then it was cosmos and blackjack, until 11pm, and a drunken drive home (I wasn't driving) and silly texts to my best friend. Waking up the next morning thinking argh now I have to clean up. Long story to a simple answer, it took about 9 hours.


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Happy Friday everyone! I just wanted to drop in today to share a gorgeous shop I discovered a week or so ago..
Sanna Annukka is a designer and printmaker, and my oh my do I love her work! These gorgeous original screen prints are so bright and cheerful, I'd love to have one hanging in my house. They're also quite large which just makes me love them even more! :)
Aren't they great?! You can see all of Sanna Annukka's work in her shop, and also on her blog.
I hope you're all having a wonderful holiday season! x


text:
We swore and sweated; convulsed in frustration. No internet. No older brothers. No Henry Miller novels. Just a couple of dudes in shorts, racking their tiny minds for the chance to bust a move. It was important. It was an education. We'd tear out of school and straight into the classroom – into the adult world, as we imagined it. We lost our virginity to a prostitute. Took the house at blackjack. Romanced a beach bunny. Disco danced. Had a shotgun wedding. Learned about Spanish Fly. Bonked a blow-up doll. And cheated on our bride with a Biblical avatar. It was intense.
But what compelled us to wallow through this boot camp of sleaze? Was it a high score? A level cap? An Olivetti trophy? Nope. Just simple curiosity about the brave new world of risk and reward we were on the cusp of IRL. Larry may have been designed for adults, but it's difficult to imagine it being of interest to anyone without an enormous Cheetos stain right down to the gut-bump of his grimy wife-beater.
Tony and I, on the other hand, were a perfect storm of demographic hot spots, surfing a swell of eye-popping post-latency horniness and naivete, held up by the stiff offshore breeze of spare time. Solving the game's puzzles allowed us to engage – without consequence – with the mysteries that our recently kick-started libidos demanded answers to. While, for an adult, the game was a parody of the mechanics of seduction ( > talk girl / > give chocolates / > get naked), for us, it was a cutting edge simulation.
Playing L.A. Noire, recently, I was reminded of Larry: wrestling with a clumsy interface to solve complex puzzles in order to satisfy a prurient interest in the seedy underbelly of an American town. Deja vu all over again. It's an odd game. A triple-A title of infamously meticulous development that features the old school frustrations of often awkward and unintentionally quirky gameplay, combined with moments of inscrutable difficulty ("What the hell does that look mean?"). At times, I was floored by how poor certain elements were. And yet I quite contentedly played on.
If it wasn't the gameplay bringing me back, then, what was it? Well, as in The Land of the Lounge Lizards, it was the nitty-gritty of plot. While it wasn't necessarily fun to play at times, it was certainly a compelling experience. The film noir beats were more than pleasing, and occasionally sublime – even if getting to them was a little like being made to complete Tetris lines in order to keep an old reel of Chinatown lighting up the silver screen. I was prepared to jump through the hoops, though, because at the end of the day, I wanted to see how things progressed. As the cases became more lurid in nature, I wanted to see what darkness lay within the hearts of men. I wanted them to become more intense, more shocking – the perpetrators more cunning and evil. And then I wanted to pull apart their webs of lies.
As I considered these urges, I began to wonder where, generally speaking, the pleasures of gameplay finished, and those of narrative satisfaction began. It was fitting that L.A. Noire
inspired me to ponder this matter, given that contemporary games tend to make detectives of us all. Enter Rapture or Liberty City. The Capital Wasteland, Hyrule, or the SSV Normandy. Whatever game it is, the thematic keynote is almost always the same: the routine of everyday life has been interrupted, and the central protagonist must toil to re-establish order – the classic mode of the crime procedural.
see deal
L.A. Noire - PlayStation 4$19.98on Amazon
Indeed, this is nothing new, being a cornerstone of Western storytelling, but the way in which it has been accomplished of late, in game design, has seen a distinct shift away from a purely active response (e.g. kill everyone in the room), to more complex webs of cause and effect. Players are given far more choice in what type of order is restored (e.g. selfish gain versus community well-being), and by what means these conditions are met (e.g. through might or diplomacy).
Obviously, thoroughbred action games still exist; even games which have been deliberately crafted to avoid narrative involvement (Left For Dead springs to mind). And there are games, like online shooters, played solely for sport. But imagine the campaigns of the Modern Warfare series without the cut-scenes and narration; without Makarov's nefarious persistence, or Soap's passage from raw recruit to hardened warrior. They become a disjointed and disaffecting series of battles, rather than the components of a larger theatre of war – and this in spite of the plot being one of the most convoluted and credulity-straining in gaming history!
In fact, we've become so accustomed to being tossed a juicy narrative bone each time we pull on our gaming pants that unless we're delving into an arcade/casual, or very tightly managed action game, its absence can be crippling. Consider Borderlands, for instance, with its enjoyable gunplay, but lack of a compelling story arc. I ended up adding it to my pile of shame (fully incomplete games) because I lost interest a few hours in. Combat is lively, but not particularly challenging or spectacular. The borderlands themselves don't seem to be in any obvious peril. Their inhabitants don't display any particular pathos. So what was I doing there? Killing things in order to become powerful enough to kill more powerful things. Without the lure of narrative development on the horizon, and lacking gameplay scintillating enough to stand alone, all that's left is grinding.
What of this narrative lure, though? Are we enthralled by games' stories because of their quality, or simply because they break up the carnage? Generally, the latter seems more likely. Bearing this out is the excruciating mess that tends to result when the story is taken out of its natural habitat and hashed out for cinema audiences. Game-films' only strengths, in my experience, lie in imbuing their inspiration's titles with deeper existential meaning. Resident Evil. Doom. Max Payne. But they also raise an interesting question. With weaker stories and far more rudimentary visuals, how is it possible that games can provide experiences that are equal in emotional and intellectual impact to movies?
Well, the answer is that a game's whole is more than the sum of its parts. Game design involves a fusion of many different art forms and technologies, with the accolades reserved for the studios which manage to combine them most effectively. Narrative is a "technology" to be deployed during the creation of a game, as deemed necessary. And interestingly, now that the obsession with graphical improvements has cooled off (for the moment), the focus has shifted to the new kid on the block.
The rise of narrative in gaming has been exactly that – stories created under the auspices of game design, like any other component, tailored to the experience intended. Advancements in technology will permit new narrative techniques and possibilities, just as Rockstar demonstrated to us with L.A. Noire, concealing the expositive material which facilitated progress behind state of the art motion capture. But even as it stands, the stories within games have become an indispensable part of what we consider the pinnacle of gaming to be. Clearly, we love our CoDs and Battlefields, our Forzas and Gran Turismos, our Marios and Super Meat Boys. But the games which have really set the bar of late are the BioShocks, the Grand Theft Autos, the Fallouts, the Elder Scrolls – titles which have reversed the status quo by making gameplay serve narrative, and been all the more impressive for it.
The fact is, our lives are intricate portraits of human desire; its satisfactions and frustrations, both negligible and immense. When games mimic the agonies and ecstasies of our time on this planet, the depth of experience equals those inspired by any art form. But unlike its predecessors, this one is evolving rapidly, and it will be fascinating to see how gaming and storytelling grow together in the years to come.
Daniel Clark is a freelance gaming journalist based in Australia. Why not follow him on IGN? Oh, and you can keep track of the Aussie team's shenanigans on Facebook here.
If you buy something through this post, IGN may get a share of the sale. For more, learn more.


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Free Content Undermines Democracy?
from the people-pay-you-for-this? deptA journalism professor by the name of Tim Luckhurst is claiming that newspaper paywalls are needed to preserve democracy, and that free content online undermines democracy. We've heard this argument before, and it makes no more sense now than when it was first raised. The basic argument is that free content online isn't bringing in enough revenue to pay reporters, thus newspapers are going under and firing reporters. Thus, with fewer reporters, there are fewer people to watch the government and therefore corruption runs rampant. Or something like that.
Of course, there are so many fallacies wrapped up in this argument, it's difficult to even know where to start (though, one would have hoped that a journalism professor would have done the decent thing and checked into these things a bit more carefully before writing a silly opinion piece based on a variety of myths):
- Newspapers need readers to pay to survive. Not true. Not even close to true. First, newspapers have almost never made money from subscription fees or newsstand purchases. Those fees rarely even covered the cost of the newsprint and delivery. Newspapers have always made their money on advertising and classifieds (a form of advertising).
- Free content online is why newspapers are in trouble. Again, not true. In most cases, the publications that are in trouble are in that position because they took out tremendous amounts of debt. Most newspapers are actually still profitable on an operational basis, but aren't making enough to repay the debt. The problem was poor management thinking in believing that leveraging their futures to ridiculous levels made sense.
- Without old school newspapers, government corruption is not well covered. This one remains to be seen, but there is growing evidence that it, too, is not true. The power of the internet has made it such that many more people can hold our governments accountable by gaining a voice and speaking out against corruption or corruptive influences. It's not fixing the problem entirely, but then again, neither did newspapers. The fact is that it's much easier now to call attention to corruption, and there are more and more forums to help with that -- such as Wikileaks, combined with the ability to self publish or more easily contact those with a larger audience.
- Putting up a paywall will somehow fund more journalism. Again, remains to be seen, but there's little evidence to support this claim. There are numerous competing offerings providing news in the marketplace today. There is little indication that enough people are interested in paying directly for news to the level it would take to support news operations. Combine that with the decrease in ad revenue (the real source of revenue for most news organizations) from cutting off a large chunk of an audience, and it seems likely that these paywalls will actually serve to decrease overall revenue over the long term rather than increase it. It's not clear how that helps anyone.
Filed Under: democracy, free, free content, journalism, paywalls, tim luckhurst


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An insider's view of what is really happening in the Harris County Criminal Courts
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
An Interesting Docket Entry
What "Show Cause" hearings typically deal with are people (lawyers or otherwise) who have been or are possibly about to be held in Contempt of Court.
If you will remember, Steve Morris (the Harris County District Attorney's Office Bureau Chief for the Governmental Integrity Bureau), and Carl Hobbs (the DA's Office Division Chief over Grand Jury) were two of the three prosecutors who were kicked out of the 185th's Grand Jury two weeks ago under threat of arrest.
What exactly they are being called to the 185th on Monday for is something that I'm not sure about. I've heard rumors from multiple people, but I'm not in a position to confirm or deny anything at the moment.
But I think that if you have two of the three prosecutors involved in the original 185th Grand Jury incident coupled with two Grand Jury court reporters, one might be able to read between the lines that the District Attorney's Office has clashed, yet again, with the Grand Jury.
Keep your eyes on this one, folks.
I think Monday is going to be an interesting day.
63 comments:
- BLACK INK said...
The implication you allude to is too blatantly egregious to be believable.
If true, Lykos is done.
- November 1, 2011 at 11:45 AM
One could surmise that grand jury testimony regarding the 185th's inquiry into the BAT Van issues has been compromised in some way. This could get real dicey. No doubt someone did something really bad and/or really stupid.
- November 1, 2011 at 11:46 AM
Chron.com reports that GJ transcripts of testimony are at issue. Two GJ reporters are also on the docket that day. Oops.
- November 1, 2011 at 11:53 AM
What will upset me is that the reporters were pressured to give up the information, if that is indeed what happened. They will be thrown under the bus and left to rot.
- November 1, 2011 at 12:04 PM
The Chron has more specific details. Wow.
- November 1, 2011 at 12:14 PM
Thank you, thank you. Did I not call the government integrity division expansion last week. Rumor has it, this is expanding to other cases involving Judges, court employees, and the DAs office which have been covered up in the past several years. Patsy only likes bringing integrity cases from past administrations, and releasing wrongly convicted individuals not prosecuted on her watch.
- November 1, 2011 at 12:24 PM
Patty, Pat, Pat....gonna take as many down with you as possible, eh?
Hello? State Bar of Texas? Yes, we've got some stuff here you may want to look at...some folks who apparently are done needing their law licenses.
- November 1, 2011 at 12:27 PM
Check out Chronicle Article.
Is anyone really surprised? If Joni V. really said all who are subpoenaed should alert Leitner, then why should we be surprised others are trying to get transcripts?
Keep it up, Patsy! We love the fact that you have cleaned up our office and made it so transparent and gotten rid of the good 'ol boy mentality.
I now appreciate the view Molly Brown had from inside her life boat. What a view!!
- November 1, 2011 at 12:42 PM
Oh, Carl. Why didn't you retire when you had the chance?
- November 1, 2011 at 1:04 PM
I'm sure Patsy will be present in the 185th on Monday morning to support her prosecutors. Hahaha. That's what a real leader would do if his/her people were acting under his/her guidance.
If Patsy isn't there, it is only because she will be at the gas station fueling up the bus. She needs to make sure she has enough gas to keep running over all the people that she throws under. The way this is going she is going to have to throw a lot people to try and save herself!
- November 1, 2011 at 1:20 PM
I'd love to see Carl throw Pat under the bus and then calmly announce his retirement. He's beyond eligable to retire and I just can't imagine him getting tangled in this except under duress....duress is Pat's M.O., so it wouldn't be hard to believe at all.
- November 1, 2011 at 1:47 PM
Holy Batshit, Nixon's grandma has gone and done it now!
1st, all GJ proceedings are secret.
2nd, HCADAs are thrown out of GJ under threat of arrest.
3rd, The District Judge supports her GJ.
4th, The Appellate Court sides with District Judge.
5th of Jack decides--fuck the GJ, fuck the District Judge and fuck the Appellate Court my name is Patsy Lykos and you can't tell ME what to do I'll just get a damn transcript of those stinkin' secret GJ proceedings.
- November 1, 2011 at 2:28 PM
Steve Morris and Carl Hobbs clear out your desks the bus is waiting.
Judge Pat the only thing between you and Jim Leitner ought to be body armour--once a back stabber always a back stabber.
Baby Prosecutors you'll have a real team leader soon.
- November 1, 2011 at 3:12 PM
We heard today Roger very worried about what he has been doing on county time-----Wanyne will get records--
- November 1, 2011 at 5:18 PM
its like Christmas around here these days. It will be a happier year if Joni V gets a nice little GJ subpoena for her attempts at tampering with the process. After the meeting I felt so dirty. I could only hear Joni keep saying, "I am only trying to protect my people."
Protect us from what? Turning in evidence against the L Team. Evidence that would surely kill that career you practically stole from others?
Get ready Joni V. Private practice is in your future.
Merry Christmas to all.
- November 1, 2011 at 5:34 PM
- Ron in Houston said...
Where do I apply for a permit for a popcorn stand outside the CJC?
Anyone want some popcorn?
- November 1, 2011 at 5:38 PM
Maybe Seaton should have taken the bet.
- November 1, 2011 at 6:21 PM
I was wondering how much Jack Daniels will be consumed by Pat Lykos? Where is Joe the Investigator these days?
- November 1, 2011 at 6:40 PM
I was just thinking that, Rage. Day late and a dollar short is the Seaton family motto.
I'm sure another bet will crop up soon.
- November 1, 2011 at 7:07 PM
Nobody puts baby in a corner.
- November 1, 2011 at 8:00 PM
Dear Patsy,
Thank you for all your efforts. You deserved a trip to Hawaii. I appreciate all that you have done to bring the rule of law and transparency back to an office that was run amuck.
- November 1, 2011 at 8:04 PM
Maybe Carl and Steve were ordered to aprpoach the court reporters, since they're paid by the DA's Office, and asked them to let them look at the transcripts of the 185the GJ? Why else would all be ordered to appear?
WOW. What's up with that?
- November 1, 2011 at 8:29 PM
Anyone heard if the 185th is still meeting in 1201 Franklin? Or have they found more, um, private headquarters? Because between the taking of secret transcripts, and the fact that the DA's office has long recorded GJ proceedings, there is no doubt that the admin would listen in if possible.
Also, anyone know if there were more ADAs called in today?
- November 1, 2011 at 9:05 PM
I was wondering if Pat Lykos is flying in from Hawaii on a broom?
- November 1, 2011 at 9:37 PM
11-1-2011 1:47-
Sorry to report that Carl drank some of that Lykos Cool Aid in exchange for being pulled up out of the well...
PS: He passed the glass on to Joni.
- November 1, 2011 at 9:56 PM
Nobody is going to be able to just glimpse at the court reporter's notes and understand them. The court reporters would have had to be ordered to transcribe them before anyone except another court reporter could read it. And if you know any court reporters, they are not transcribing a single page unless they're being paid and unless they have to. And only someone with the checkbook can authorize it. Do YOU have the desperation, the authority and the big checkbook to be the one who makes a court reporter listen to you and thus authorize their transcription?
- November 2, 2011 at 6:16 AM
I am out of town dealing with a family crisis and reading about all this. A couple of observations:
1. People are foolish to underestimate the ability of Pat Lykos to survive a calamity. This woman does not care about this grand jury or anything like that. What she lacks in basic humanity she makes up for in survivability. When she was judge she was extremely unpopular, yet she got re-elected time after time. Those who think this Grand Jury will bring her down are wrong. She is a cagey politician. Like other cagey politicians, she will have insulated herself with a number of warm bodies. ( see Exhibit 1 - Mondays docket for names of warm bodies)
None of them will have what it takes to bring her down. Others may fall, she will not.
2. She also won't be resigning. Those who think she will do so dont understand her. Her personality is not just mean, she is obstinate. She will run another term and whoop Kelly again. The party will stand mute. Does anyone here seriously think that Jared Woodfill has the cojones to stand up to her???
Hell he is probably scared of her.
3. I hope I am wrong but I don't think I am. I expect Lykos and the Lykosians will survive this Grand Jury one way or another. Lykos is here to stay.
4. The only chance of This Grand Jury touching Lykos is if a truly independent prosecutor is appointed. Mr St Martin is an honorable man but his connection to Kelly is undeniable. His participation in the process will only serve Lykos interest in providing het with an automatic " this is political defense". She will come out looking like the victim. No, the smart move here is to replace Mr St Martin with a retired lawyer who is held in high regard and who is not connected to
Lykos arch rival Kelly. The smart move Here would be to beg " the Real Bob Bennett" to come out of retirement to serve as special prosecutor. If he obtained indictments against Lykos she would have no credible built in political
Defense. That's the smart move. I am not seeing a lot of smart moves, so I doubt it happens.
5. The only other chance to beat Lykos
Is to beat her at the polls. A new Republican Candidate for DA with Strong name recognition and a reputation for integrity could possibly beat Lykos in a primary. If the Honorable Michael McSpadden would run against her, he would have a good chance of winning and he would restore the integrity of the office. But that's not likely
I hope I am wrong but...
Robb Fickman
- November 2, 2011 at 7:54 AM
Anon 6:16,
That would be extortion. The court reporters in the district criminal courts are county employees dumb ass. Our tax dollars don't pay a court reporter to drink coffee and produce gibberish the state is entitled to a transcript without tipping the court reporter.
- November 2, 2011 at 8:11 AM
8:11, you're a dumbass. Talk to the court reporters up there at the courthouse and see how many of them have EVER transcribed a transcript without first being paid for it. They're salaried and the transcripts are their own work product. DUMBASS. STFU until you know how it works.
- November 2, 2011 at 8:41 AM
Come on, Carl. Throw her under the bus. You don't need to go out like this.
- November 2, 2011 at 9:02 AM
What if:
-The Court reporters were told to transcribe the testimony by Morris or Hobbs and then told Judge Brown about it.
-Morris or Hobbs were instructed by Leitner to have the testimony transcribed.
-Leitner told Lykos what was being done.
-Hobbs or Morris decide not to fall on their swords and instead tell the truth.
-everyone asserts their 5th Amendment privilege.
Stay tuned...
- November 2, 2011 at 9:05 AM
Any truth to the rumor that three ADA's resigned yesterday?
Were they disgusted with the tarnishing Lykos has brought on the office?
Any of them involved in DWI prosecutions involving BAT van evidence?
- November 2, 2011 at 9:14 AM
You should know the court reporters named are employees of the District Attorney's Office. When I worked at the office they never transcribed testimony unless the attorney presenting the case or some other employee of the District Attorney's Office requested they transcribe the testimony. If Hobbs and Morris have transcripts of testimony, then they probably requested it. Now the question is, who let it be known or did so many people read the transcripts it got back to the Judge?
- November 2, 2011 at 9:30 AM
I would assume that since the DA's Office was KICKED OUT of the GJ proceedings that they ain't really got a right to come back later and request a copy of the transcript. I mean, what's the point of a GJ at all if any pissed off Tom, Dick or Hairy Lykos can get a transcript after they've been booted by the GJ under threat of arrest, declined entry by a judge after that and then also declined entry AGAIN by the Court of Appeals? That bitch should go.
- November 2, 2011 at 9:55 AM
Has anybody thought about looking at the show cause orders?
- November 2, 2011 at 10:53 AM
- A Harris County Lawyer said...
Anon 10:53,
I've got copies of them. The Chronicle pretty well summed up the essence of them. There are attachments of the Appellate decision not to order Judge Brown to let the prosecutors in, and the orders appointing a Special Prosecutor. It does not specify facts or how it came to the Court's attention that the prosecutors had the transcripts.
- November 2, 2011 at 11:05 AM
Show cause orders for all 4 are online for anyone to access at HC district Clerks Office website
- November 2, 2011 at 11:13 AM
Excellent plot details here:
I'd tell Bennett he did a good job on his blog, but he banned me some time ago.
Still his post shows that the potential conflicts and political games are deep. No way this was an accident--right down to the seating of the grand jury and election of the foreman.
- November 2, 2011 at 11:27 AM
Anon 8:41,
Wow. What a sweet deal. In the real world an employee's work product belongs to the employer.
I really am a dumbass for not jumping on the gubment's teat with you guys. In your world, working a full day for a full days pay is for dumbasses.
- November 2, 2011 at 11:38 AM
Rage unfortunately you and I have something in common--we've both been Bennett banned.
I am obligated, therefore, to respond to Ms. Cynthia Henley's Dick DeGuerin-like-comment here:
Ms. Henley,
Whew a bit testy are we? lt sure sounds like sour grapes after having your butt kicked by Kelly Siegler at the court house more than once. Dick deGuerin is a similar excuse maker when it comes to going toe to toe with Ms. Siegler.
Contrary to the media and defense bar agendas all defendants are not innocent. Prosecutors are supposed to work hard on their cases and not settle to try only the whales. It is very easy to blog-blast a prosecutor who is as talented as Kelly Siegler. I mean if you can't beat her straight up at the courthouse just defame and disparage her reputation with impunity on a blog.
BAD people? Seriously? The real BAD people Kelly Siegler put behind bars.
A high profile prosecutor after 21 years is expected to piss off some people at the court house. And if the facts won't work perception often does. It is intersesting on what the Kelly haters like you have highlighted over Kelly's long career:
*In a voir dire she struck a juror stating Lakewood members were nuts and flakes or something to that effect. The juror happened to be black. Several other blacks were already on the jury. This was a murder trial and we are more worried about the benign designation of being referenced as a nut? If that is the most horrible transgression someone had to endure they had a pretty sheltered life. It does not make anyone a racist.
*Her husband sent a youtube email. *Her boss was a freak.
But Kelly Siegler is BAD people for that too. Give me a break. Compare those "atrocities" to Pat Lykos and company and get back to me. Oh and let's not forget that Kelly Siegler secretly conspired with Judge Susan Brown to make Pat Lykos be Pat Lykos just like Kelly conspired to make Chuck Rosenthal be the fool he was and is.
What do they call people who can't differentiate fiction from reality Ms. Criminal Defense Attorney?
How exactly is Kelly Siegler similar to John Bradly? By extension, your reasoning and logic would make you just like Andy Nolen. But then again your admiration of Pat Lykos speaks volumes and negates any credibility.
- November 2, 2011 at 1:45 PM
Three prosecutors did resign.
1. One experienced senior Felony 2
2. One experienced senior Felony 3
3. One talented Misdemeanor 2
- November 2, 2011 at 2:56 PM
- A Harris County Lawyer said...
Yes, Allison Secrest, Knox Nunnally and David Nachtigall all turned in their resignations.
- November 2, 2011 at 3:01 PM
Isiah Carey is reporting the HCDA employees and HCSO deputies votes 94% no confidence in Lykos. I vote 100% no confidence in Lykos or her minions.
- November 2, 2011 at 3:05 PM
As the crew begins to abandon the sinking ship the rats will be the last to go.
- November 2, 2011 at 3:31 PM
- BLACK INK said...
Rusty Hardin would be a great Special Prosecutor......but he's also a friend of Kelly Siegler and what if he also contributed to Siegler's campaign?
Would that make him ineligible and part of this vast conspiracy as well?
- November 2, 2011 at 3:54 PM
Regardless of who has been appointed as Special Prosecutor(s), the facts of who did what, when, and how will determine the outcome. Let's allow that process to run it's course.
- November 2, 2011 at 4:36 PM
On Mark Bennets Blog, Defending People Cynthia Henley says:
1 November 2011 at 11:28 pm
"NEVER Siegler. Sorry but she is B A D bad. People think she is great because she is so mean but that is because they have not been on the receiving end with one of their innocent loved ones. (And that capital murder dismissal – well, that guy got lucky is all I can say.)
Having Kelly would be like having John Bradley back here again . . . (and I'm glad he decided to go be the big fish in a small pond. He was a poo when he was here and has obviously gotten worse.)
Bad as Lykos is, at least she has run off most of the cheaters in the office. There are still a few, and there are still lots of problems, but she has gotten rid of a bunch of – junk"
"That guy" you refer to as the capital murder dismissal who got lucky actually has a name--Anthony Graves.
You may dismiss the outcome as "he got lucky" but why don't you ask Mr. Anthony Graves himself what he thinks about luck, Kelly Siegler and why?
Yet without a scintilla of evidence to substantiate your slur, you chose to throw it out there anyway. Shame on you.
It's a catch 22 game for you and your fellow Kelly haters. Kelly either intentionally convicts innocent people or the dismissed defendant is lucky. Shame on you.
Crabs do not appreciate the obsessive preparation and skill that Kelly Siegler, Peyton Manning, Steve Jobs and others of that class utilize to recognize and seize opportunity.
The crabs confuse success with luck not realizing that luck is when preparation meets opportunity.
If you really believe that Pat Lykos is the savior of the DAs office and that Kelly Siegler is like John Bradley than you need to rent space at the World Trade Center with Daffy Duck.
As for the cheaters and junk at the HCDAO--they've been run in not out.
- November 2, 2011 at 5:01 PM
Just read Bennett's blog and wow. These guys are really good. Plotting for HPD to buy BATmobiles several years ago, plotting for Amanda Culbertson to question the realiablity of the intox machines, plotting for Channel 13 to do a story about the issue, plotting for Lykos to seek an end of a contract with Lone Star ending Culbertson's employment with Lone Star, plotting for a GJ to begin an independent investigation, plotting for Hobbs, Morris and Barnhill to remain in the GJ after having been asked to leave, plotting for the GJ bailiff to threaten them with arrest, plotting for the DA's Office to file a motion which revealed the entire event, plotting with the 14th Court of Appeals for a quick smack down on the application for writ of mandamus, plotting for the GJ to make application for attorney pro tem, plotting the appointment of Steven St. Martin and Jim Mount, plotting for Hobbs and Morris to get copies of the transcripts of the witnesses who appeared, all to help Kelly Siegler. (they seemed to have forgotten to plot for Siegler to run again) OR....... Bennett has joined forces with Lykos to try to insure the continued poor quality of prosecution in Harris County by floating this bizarre theory. It is easier to win when the state has no adaquate training or leadership.
- November 2, 2011 at 6:14 PM
Well damn. I liked Knox he was a good prosecutor and a fellow devil dog.
- November 2, 2011 at 9:22 PM
6:14, surely you're not that stupid.
- November 2, 2011 at 9:23 PM
When I was in Jr. High, there was a guy in the back of the class, who was, well average. Good steady C student, average to below average in sports. But there was one thing he excelled at, seeking attention. In every class his hand was up with some bizarre comment or claim. When the teacher or other student would point out how incorrect he was, he would mutter how he knew more than the teacher or he would call the student stupid. Never could support anything he said with any resource or citation other than "everybody knows". I never saw him in high school because I did not take shop. Now I know what happened to him.
No Rage, I am not that stupid.
Anon 6:14
- November 2, 2011 at 10:49 PM
Then, 6:14, it was your attempt at sarcasm that failed, or you don't know what I meant by you being stupid.
Sorry, but this one's on you.
- November 3, 2011 at 6:04 AM
Anon 6:14,
Well stated.
Rage is that proverbial guy from the past who never quite measured up. He is defined by his pathological lies and delusions. Fantasy and reality are a very thin line for this guy. When Rage's reality is challenged he goes into relative stages of meltdown. The greater he perceives the threat the angrier he becomes. He has no real grasp of substantive issues and exposes his weakness by resorting to Jr. High name calling, hence your flashback.
Rage essentially is a narcissist with nothing to back up his grandiosity but for his rants in cyber space. He thrives on the attention that he can not obtain in the real world with real people face to face.
This comment, yours and the others who engage him feed the emptiness that defines Rage.
When his real world identity is exposed, which it will be, we will discover a mediocre individual of no particular import that will conjure up, "eh, that's him?"
- November 3, 2011 at 8:49 AM
Oh rage, you really got me with your response. A grown up variation of the rubber glue retort but still a Jr. High response. I know you will now win with that time honored, Jr.High classic winning last person to say is so, uh huh or you're stupid.
Anon 8:48 Thank you for your post. A long time ago I commented that it was best to ignore rage. To respond is simply to give him the attention he so desperately seeks. I will not be responding to anything rage posts in the future and suggest others follow suit.
- November 3, 2011 at 10:07 AM
Rage, as a former Judge who saw his fair share of allegations, I am curious as to your thoughts on the beating video.
- November 3, 2011 at 10:46 AM
Rage, as a former Judge who saw his fair share of allegations, I am curious as to your thoughts on the beating video.
Well, I'd have to watch it first and I really don't care enough about supplying you with my opinion to do that.
- November 3, 2011 at 1:58 PM
There is one bad decision being made after another by the office. Do we really think Carl Hobbs was involved in making any of the decisions in trying to obtain transcripts he isn't supposed to have? He was just following orders from der Fuhrer.
Also...does anybody see the egregiousness of convicting a person in court 4 not only in light of Pat stating HPD shouldn't be trusted to manage the BAT Vans but Amanda Culbertson actually removed three of the breath test machines on April 21st, 2011...coincidentally the exact same day as the defendant's breath test in the trial in court 4! Unbelievable.
NO mention made to the defense.
- November 3, 2011 at 2:39 PM
Re Anon 6:14
"if only we hadn't made this journey! If only the car hadn't broken down! If only we were amongst friends or sane persons!"
- November 3, 2011 at 10:44 PM
- Intersection where the law collides said...
McSpadden? Excellent idea. Runs with a monied crowd and respected by the downtown business community. Excellent name ID, tough on crime reputation and more than anything, able to play with Lykos. She throws mud and he'll know how to respond. He won't flinch.
I actually thought of someone on the misdemeanor bench of what she brings to the table in a Republican primary. I doubt she'd do it. She's got a great life and I'm not sure if she'd want the job.
Lykos is ready for the two folks most people think will run against her.
Lykos is great at crafting and maintaining her image. She's flawed or weak in certain respects like all elected officials. She's expanded her base in anticipation of a tough race in the general election.
No one is really her friend except for Chow. It takes years to become her friend. She has confidants and loyalists. That's as close as you're gonna get. I'm not sure if she has any old staffers of hers working with her. That would change my opinion.
She can be beat. I've always respected her political instincts, but she's not perfect. I know it's easy to believe the recent media coverage about the office would lead someone to believe Lykos will lose, it's just not that easy.
- November 3, 2011 at 11:19 PM
To two who popped off here: You actually used your real names on Defending People and Mark Bennett "banned you" from posting? He has a no anonymous policy. Why were you two banned if you used your real names?
- November 4, 2011 at 8:50 AM
- November 5, 2011 at 7:48 PM
Anonn 7:48
Filing dates changed to Nov 28-Dec 24 inclusive.
Kelly and Mike will both run and we'll see who makes it to the run-off.
- November 7, 2011 at 7:56 AM
OOPS...last day to file is December 14th, my bad.
Anon 7:56
- November 7, 2011 at 10:27 AM


text:
The Detroit Tigers of the American League were the opposition for the Sandusky team when League Park opened at the corner of Columbus and Perkins Avenues on April 22, 1907; future Hall of Famer Ty Cobb played right field for the Tigers. An estimated crowd of 2200 fans were at the game that day. Herman Schleman's "Sanduskys" were defeated 18 to 1 by the Detroit team. Herman Schleman later went on to manage the Telling Strollers in Cleveland.
Elmer Smith, a Sandusky native, hit the first grand slam home run in World Series history when he played for the Cleveland Indians in 1920. Other major league baseball players born in Sandusky are George "Jerry" Upp, Elmer Miller, and Alva "Al" Halt (pictured below, at around age 20, with the Sandusky BPOE Elks Team in 1910, four years before he entered the major leagues; unfortunately, although we know the names of the players, we do not know which person is which).
The Martins and Shamrocks were popular baseball teams in Sandusky in the 1910's. (Below: the Shamrock baseball team, Sandusky city champions, 1912.)
Baseball continues to be played in Sandusky in several area leagues, with youngsters as young as age five playing T-ball. To read more about baseball in Sandusky, you can view the sports pages from our local newspapers in the Archives Research Center.
Baseball on the beach at Cedar Point, date unknown.


text:
After Toy Fair, the collectibles world takes a bit of a breather as everyone recovers from the event, the travel and everything related to it. Between that and the fact that they just showed off a veritable ton of upcoming products all in one showing, the reveals tend to slow down a bit. But, as always, there are great new items to look at and add to our wishlists. This week DC Collectibles gave fans the chance to vote on which version of Mera they want to see in the Bombshells line, Kidrobot revealed some new Marvel Labbits and NECA unveiled the plans for a new version of an existing "Pacific Rim" figure. And that's just the half of it! Read on to see all the action revealed this week.
DC COMICS BOMBSHELL | After hitting 50,000 likes on their Facebook page, DC Collectibles not only made a thank you video posted on their blog, but also gave fans a chance to vote on an upcoming statue! The piece in question is Mera's entry in the DC Comics Bombshell line. DCC gave fans three different looks -- one beachy, one sailor-based, and a combination of the two -- and asked fans to vote on which one they preferred. Head on over to find out which look won!
MARVEL LABBITS | Kidrobot has Labbits in all sizes for Marvel fans! As you might be able to tell, Labbits are bunny-shaped vinyl toys made to look like the heroes and villains from the House of Ideas. In addition to a pair of 7-inch Ghost Rider and Deadpool Labbits which debut on March 7 & 13, respectively, Kidrobot also has a second series of Marvel Mini Labbits in the works that will consists of Cyclops, Silver Surfer, Spider-Man, Thing, Wolverine, Captain America, Hulk, Carnage, Iron Man and Anti-Venom. They also hit on March 7.
PACIFIC RIM | NECA might have already presented a Gipsy Danger figure in the 7-inch scale, but they're working on an even better version. As you can see from the designs reveled over on Figures.com, the new version is now 7.25 inches tall and comes with swap-out hands that will include the Plasma Cannons. The new version will debut in the fifth series of Pacific Rim toys which hits in the summer.
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE | Bif Bang Pow continues to roll out a variety of different collectibles and wearables based on 29 years' worth of "Saturday Night Live." New offerings for 2014 will include Ambiguously Gay Duo action figures and Monitor Mates as well as a Seth Meyers Weekend Update Bobble Head and even three different takes on the Dick in a Box including a tin tote, salt and pepper shakers and a wearable version with a belt. We're sure everyone in your life will love that last one.
THE VENTURE BROS. | Brock Sampson is a dirty, dirty boy. Just look at this new figure from Bif Bang Pow! The 3 3/4-inch figure comes with a shirt that shows its wear as he goes on adventures keeping Dean and Hank Venture safe. He comes with a knife and the confident swagger we've all come to know and love on "The Venture Bros."
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2 | Funko just keeps on adding to their various licensed figures lines. They just announced a series of Pop Vinyl figures based on the upcoming Dreamworks Animation sequel, "How to Train Your Dragon 2." The wave includes Hiccup, as voiced by Jay Baruchel in the film, and America Ferrera's Astrid as well as dragons Stormfly, Hookfang, Barf & Belch and Toothless. They debut in April, a couple months ahead of the film's June 13 release.
RESIDENT EVIL | The next Resident Evil piece from Hollywood Collectibles Group is pretty massive. The 21-inch tall Tyrant statue shows off the villain's gross evilness to a T. HCG even has two versions, the regular statue as well as the site-exclusive version that comes with a print of the piece itself measuring 18" x 12". You can pre-order either version now, and they both ship this summer.
HEAVY METAL | "Heavy Metal" fans will recognize this next Hollywood Collectibles Group statue as the Alien Marine Girl as seen on a 2004 issues of the magazine drawn by James Ryman. As with many of their other offerings, there's a regular version as well as an exclusive that comes with a print of the statue. Alien Marine Girl stands 21 inches tall and looks ready for just about anything space can throw at her.


text:
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Genesis 1 and 2 seem to indicate different times for the creation of Eve. Was Eve created on Day Six or not?
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