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European Commission
Algirdas Šemeta
Commissioner responsible for Taxation and Customs Union, Audit and Anti-fraud
Speech Combatting Tax Evasion: A Tougher EU approach
Press conference / Brussels
6 December 2012
One Trillion Euro.
That is what we are losing every year to tax evasion and avoidance in the EU.
To break it down, we are talking about €2 000 per European citizen.
It is a scandalous loss of public income, particularly in these economic times.
And it is an attack on the fundamental principle of fairness.
The crisis has made the fight against tax evasion all the more urgent.
But in a globalised economy, with increasingly mobile activity, this is not a battle that can be fought alone.
Success relies on combining forces at national, EU and global level, in a strong, cohesive stance.
On that basis, and as requested by the European Council, I present to you today a comprehensive Action Plan to better fight tax evasion and avoidance as a Union.
It sets out over 30 measures to close loopholes, increase information exchange, reinforce rules and intensify cooperation between Member States.
And all those measures support a new EU stance based on 3 fundamental points:
Tax Competition
For growth and jobs in the EU, we know that we need quality tax systems.
Tax systems which support companies and promote a favourable business environment.
But equally, tax systems founded on the principles of good governance and fairness where everyone would pay what they owe.
Allow me to focus on the issue of tax competition, as I know that this has become an issue of lively debate.
It is perfectly acceptable for each Member State to strive for a competitive tax system, so long as they do so in a fair and open way.
The problems only arise when tax regimes are artificially designed to steal tax bases or encourage aggressive tax planning.
Tax competition must not open the door to fraudulent or abusive tax practices.
In the EU, we have an instrument to ensure fair tax competition.
The Code of Conduct on Business Taxation provides a solid basis for Member States to assess each other's tax regimes, and demand that harmful ones be amended.
However, I believe that this Code could be used with more ambition by Member States than it is today.
I urge any Member State that has any concern that our standards are being compromised to immediately put this before the Code.
They should also look into strengthening it and expanding its scope, notably to wealthy individuals.
Among the other ideas in today's Action Plan are an EU Tax Identification Number, better tools for information exchange, and extending the scope of Eurofisc.
Through better use of our current tools and targeted new actions, we can reinforce transparency, information exchange and fair competition within the EU.
The success of these measures will be determined by the level of commitment amongst Member States themselves.
But they must keep up the peer pressure between them on these issues.
Tax Havens
The next important step that I propose is to extend our good governance principles beyond the EU.
There is no valid reason why our global partners should not respect the same minimum standards as our Member States.
So, we must take a tougher line against tax havens. And we must take it together.
It is time for the EU to have its own definition of tax havens, which goes beyond current globally accepted standards, and to define and use defensive tools against uncooperative jurisdictions.
Today, the Commission recommends that Member States use common criteria to identify and blacklist tax havens, and apply coordinated measures against them.
Acting as a Union, representing 500 million citizens, will prove far more effective in this area than a patchwork of national approaches.
Modern Economy
I have spoken on the role of fair and competitive taxation in fighting tax evasion – at home and abroad.
The third step is to strengthen our tax environment.
We must hamper those that seek to escape taxation by tax shopping amongst mismatches and loopholes between national systems.
The vulnerabilities of national tax systems in a global economy are increasingly apparent, with the greater mobility of capital and increasingly sophisticated tax planning.
Given the cross-border nature of aggressive tax planning, coordinated EU action on this issue holds major added value.
I don't claim to have a silver bullet that can address all the complexities linked to this issue – that would require a major global shift.
But the approach I propose can certainly close important loopholes and make life harder for tax avoiders in Europe.
What the Commission recommends today is that Member States apply common measures to block opportunities for aggressive tax planners.
They should reinforce their Double Tax Conventions, to prevent them from being exploited for tax avoidance purposes.
And they should adopt a uniform General Anti-Abuse Rule, which would allow them to tax on the basis of real economic substance, and ignore artificial tax arrangements.
At EU level, we will review key legislation, such as the Parent-Subsidiary Directive, and strengthen anti-abuse measures in EU corporate tax laws.
We will also push for a high level of ambition in the international arena, working closely with the OECD to address these problems.
Finally, let us not forget the role of the taxpayers themselves in this story.
I have spoken already of the need for business friendly tax systems, which ease compliance costs and reduce administrative burdens.
However, there must be give and take.
Businesses must acknowledge the many benefits they derive from the Single Market, by paying their fair share in taxes.
In the current economic climate, there should be little tolerance of abusive tax schemes used to escape taxation.
Arguing that they are legal does not make them right.
Aggressive tax planning goes against the very nature of corporate social responsibility, as well as undermining fair taxation.
We will develop a Taxpayers' Code, so there is no uncertainty about the rights and obligations of those operating in the EU.
Meanwhile, honest businesses have everything to gain from a stronger EU stance on avoidance.
It will reduce the competitive distortion they face compared to their less honest counterparts, and level the playing field.
To conclude:
Today I have presented the way forward for a stronger EU approach to tax evasion. It is an ambitious agenda, but a highly achievable one.
Now it is up to the Member States to play their part.
They must commit to deeper coordination, support the new tools proposed and unite in pushing our standards globally.
To make sure that the momentum is maintained on this critical subject, I will create a new Platform for Tax Good Governance.
This will closely monitor progress and create incentives for action through peer pressure.
The rewards on offer are great: billions of euros in revenue, and fair and competitive tax systems for recovery and growth.
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|A cute favor to give your guests to serve as a reminder of exactly what the Thanksgiving holidays are all about.
Thanksgiving Blessing Snack MixI have been a great fan of Organized Christmas for years and ran across this recipe for a great - and meaningful - holiday snack mix that I had saved on my computer back in '02. Why don't you mix some up as favors for each of your Thanksgiving guests and be sure to pop by and visit this site for some other great holiday ideas, printables, recipes, tips and much more! They even have several printable tags already made for ya! How great is that?
Here's the mix.
Bugles: Shaped like a cornucopia, it's a symbol of our nation's abundance.
Pretzels: Arms folded in prayer, a freedom sought by those who founded our country.
Candy corn: Sacrifices of the Pilgrims' first winter. Food was so scarce that settlers survived on just a few kernels of corn a day.
Nuts or seeds: Promise of a a future harvest, one we will reap only if seeds are planted and tended with diligence.
Dried fruits: Harvest gifts of our bountiful land.
M&Ms: Memories of those who came before us to guide us to a blessed future.
Hershey's Kiss: The love of family and friends that sweetens our lives.
Add some of your own conversation starters to the treat bag to get the dinner conversation going!
Recipe: Thanksgiving Blessing Snack Mix©From the Kitchen of Deep South Dish
Prep time: 15 min
- 2 cups Bugles corn snacks
- 2 cups small pretzels
- 1 cup candy corn
- 1 cup dried fruit or raisins
- 1 cup peanuts or sunflower seeds
- 1 cup of regular M & M candy
- 16 Hershey's kisses
- Thanksgiving Blessing Mix gift tags
Mix everything except the kisses in a large bowl. Scoop out about 1/2 cup of the mix into small cellophane bags, and then add a kiss to each bag. Tie closed.
Print the gift tags and use a hole punch to punch a hole in each tag, run a ribbon through and attach to the bags.
Makes 16 bags.
Source: http://deepsouthdish.com
Requires Adobe Reader - download it free!©Deep South Dish
☛ Are you on Facebook? If you haven't already, come and join the party! We have a lot of fun & there's always room for one more at the table.
Cajun Boiled Peanuts
Pig Candy
Ritz Cracker Thin Mint Cookies
Images and Full Post Content including Recipe ©Deep South Dish. Recipes are offered for your own personal use only and while pinning and sharing links is welcomed and encouraged, do not copy and paste post or recipe text to repost or republish to any social media (such as other Facebook pages, etc.), blogs, websites, forums, or any print medium, without explicit prior permission. Unauthorized use of content from ©Deep South Dish is a violation of both the federal Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and copyright law. All rights reserved.


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The Art Gallery of Ontario's Annual Appeal
Please consider making a charitable gift to the AGO's Annual Appeal this year. The AGO relies on the generosity of donors to sustain our mission of bringing people together with art to see, experience and understand the world in new ways. And you receive a tax receipt for 100% of your donation.
Your gift helps the Gallery present exhibitions about art and artists from around the world, supports the care and conservation of our invaluable collections, and assists with exhibitions and installations by local and regional artists.
Donate today! Your donation ensures the Art Gallery of Ontario continues to inspire members and visitors from around the world while protecting our remarkable collection for future generations.


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When the fashion world embraces curves, we are totally on board.
Meet the latest edition of the Furla family, the Clio. With a saddlebag shape and funky print detail, it wouldn't look out of place on the set of a '70s sitcom. The bag practically screams vintage chic, albiet with on-trend tassel detail and next-century gleaming gold hardware.


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Award Winning Writer Kwame Dawes• February 14, 2012 Share:
The Wabash College English Department invites the public to the Will Hays, Jr. Visiting Writer Series talk by Kwame Dawes at 8 p.m., Thursday, February 16, in Korb Classroom in the Fine Arts Center.
Dawes is a poet, fiction and non-fiction writer, playwright, scholar, and musician, and is the winner of the Emmy Award and Pushcart Prize. He was born in Ghana but grew up in Jamaica. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of New Brunswick and is currently a Professor of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
He is the author of 19 books of poetry and numerous other books of fiction and non-fiction, among them the most authoritative study of the lyrics of Bob Marley. His critical essays on Caribbean Literature, African Literature, and issues of race and identity have appeared in numerous journals, including, The London Review of Books, Granta, Essence, and World Literature Today. Dawes is also the editor of three anthologies, Hold Me to an Island: Caribbean Place, Home is Where: An Anthology of African American Poetry from the Carolinas, and Red: Contemporary Black Poetry.
He is the programming director of the Calabash International Literary Festival, which takes place every year in Jamaica. He is an actor, playwright, producer, an admired storyteller, and a broadcaster. In 2009, Dawes won an Emmy for LiveHopeLove.com, an interactive site based on Kwame Dawes's Pulitzer Center project, HOPE: Living and loving with AIDS in Jamaica.
The Will Hays, Jr., Visiting Writer Series, through a generous gift from the Hays family, was established in 2002 to celebrate Mr. Hays' distinguished career as a writer, public servant, and a tireless supporter of secondary and higher education. Currently, every two years, the series, coordinated by the English Department, recognizes a prominent creative writer selected from a broad range of categories to reflect Will Hays' own varied writing interests.
His talk is free and open to the public.


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Long Gone Lonesome Hank Williams
By: Linnea Crowther
6 years ago
Hank Williams was a member of that tragic club of musicians who died far too young – he was just 29 years old on New Year's Day, 1953, when he passed away. But in the few years he had on earth, he became one of the legends of country music with his simple but powerful songs.
Not every song Hank Williams wrote was a heartbreaking tale of loss… but most of his greatest hits were. Among them was one of the most popular of his songs, "Your Cheatin' Heart." Written about his first wife – with the assistance of his second wife – it's perhaps the greatest of all the (many, many) country songs about infidelity.
"Long Gone Lonesome Blues," another song about an unfaithful lover, had Williams yodeling his sorrow. His famous son covered this song – though the father's version charted higher (No. 1, to Jr.'s No. 5).
"Cold, Cold Heart" was one of Williams's most successful songs, No. 1 on the country charts and well known to pop music fans as well, thanks to Tony Bennett's famous cover. Lots of other artists have made it their own, too – Johnny Cash, Aretha Franklin, Nat King Cole, Bill Haley, Freddy Fender and more.
And then there's the eerie one. "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive" wasn't meant to be a mournful song – it was a funny song with a silly title. But when Williams died suddenly and mysteriously, while the song was hot on the charts, it seemed to take on weight and deep meaning. Williams's cowriter, Fred Rose, died a year later, making the song that much more poignant.


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"The Hangover" star Justin Bartha is engaged, according to reports.
The actor, 34, proposed to fitness trainer Lia Smith while on vacation in Big Sur in early May, and she said yes.
A source tells UsMagazine.com, "They're the cutest couple. She was completely surprised by the whole thing."
A representative had yet to respond to requests for a comment as WENN went to press.
Bartha began dating Smith after splitting from Ashley Olsen in 2011.


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Traverse City Attractions: Haserot Beach Dive
Traverse City Attractions: Up on land it's just a pile of junk; but underwater it's a dive attraction. Strange but true, says local dive master Jennifer Watkins, who recommends the junk pile off Old Mission village to newly certified divers looking for a cool exploration spot. Your scuba training payoff: an old car, random boat parts, even a fridge, all are submerged in 25 feet of water near the drop-off at Haserot Beach. It's become an artificial reef of sorts, attracting smallmouth and rock bass. The pile appears to date back to the 1950's. "Some teenagers tried to make their own party island and put a bunch of stuff out there," Watkins says. The dive is about a 15-minute swim from the boat launch, and you'll want another 20 minutes to explore. The junk pile is shallow enough for snorkeling, too. Or try snorkeling along the shoreline, scouting for Petoskey stones and colorful rocks. Check Scuba North for scuba and snorkel gear rentals and group dives throughout summer. 13380 S. West Bayshore Dr., Traverse City, 231.947.2520,scubanorth.com.


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Jelastic has augmented its Java hosting platform with App Packaging, a new application provisioning and configuration technology designed to allow users to skip "most of the steps" required during manual installation with a one-click deployment option.
On top of its developer tools, Jelastic is now targeting this offering at Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) and hosting providers to package applications with the programmatic instructions that they used to put in How-To's. For the Independent Software Vendor and the hosting provider, this now becomes a one-time process. For the end-user, it's a single click.
Each ISV partner places a "Get it hosted now!" button on its application's home page and provides an email address and environment name. The automated process of creation, deployment, and configuration takes about a minute and when completed, the application is ready for use.
"Jelastic has already made it easy for developers to deploy their applications, with no code changes required. But if a user wanted to deploy and run an application, they still had to create the environments that the application needed, had learn how to configure the app, most likely had to read a how-to, and then still needed to get help to actually get the app running. In the best of all possible worlds, this took hours of headaches and emails with tech support," said the company.
Jelastic suggests that hosting service providers can use this product to offer their customers open-source Java applications without concerns about recoding, adaptation, deployment, or scaling.


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NASA N+3 SupersonicSome of the most interesting images available on the NASA.gov website are artist renderings of space exploration concepts. Here are a few of my favorites.
All of these images come from the NASA.gov website and represent a small sample of the available images. I encourage you to explore the NASA multimedia library for additional images.
Remember, click the thumbnail image to get the highest resolution version of each image.
This artist's rendering shows an advanced concept design of an environmentally friendly supersonic airframe and propulsion system. Credit: Lockheed Martin Corporation.
Resource: NASA.gov
Full Bio
Mark W. Kaelin has been writing and editing stories about the IT industry, gadgets, finance, accounting, and tech-life for more than 25 years. Most recently, he has been a regular contributor to BreakingModern.com, aNewDomain.net, and TechRepublic.


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A column from the diocese of Chichester. this week Rev. Mark Betson, the diocese's Environment Officer
I am currently making preparations for the Plough Sunday service to be held at Chichester Cathedral on the 7th February.
Although the agricultural calendar would usually see the plough tilling the earth much earlier, this time has been set aside to stand back and ask for a blessing on the work of our hands and for a bountiful harvest.
It's a good time of year to do that not just for farmers, but for all of us and what we hope to achieve this year.
Christmas preparations can be so focused on creating one perfect day, which if expectations are built too highly, can disappoint.
Too much money spent, too much food consumed can lead to the days after seeming haunted by guilt at the memory of that day.
It helps create the atmosphere of the so-called 'Blue Monday' a few weeks later.
However, Plough Sunday turns that around. It's not about looking back, but looking forward.
It may be hard to see that on a grey January day, just as it's difficult to see from the bare earth of a ploughed field that a crop will grow.
However, life is full of surprises and, given time, you will hopefully see something start to grow.
It's not easy, but given nurture and faith, you can see the shoots of hope for the year begin to bear fruit.
This week is the annual 'week of prayer for Christian unity'. At a time when news from the church can often seem to highlight areas of difference and division, this week provides an opportunity for Christians of all denominations to express their unity in faith.
Various events are being organised in places across Sussex from Petworth to Horsham, look out for local publicity if you'd like to know more.
Chorister Open Day
On Saturday 6th February, parents with boys in years 2 and 3 are invited to an informal event at Chichester Cathedral from 2-4.30pm to hear more about life as a chorister.
You can join the junior choristers for an afternoon and discover more about what they do and the enjoyment they find in coral music.
To book please contact the Prebendal school on 01243 520970.
Farewell Service for the Archdeacon of Hastings
The Ven. Philip Jones has served the communities of East Sussex as Archdeacon of Hastings for many years. As he retires at the end of January, a farewell service of Choral Evensong at St John's Upper St Leonard's on Sunday 31 January at 6.30pm. All are welcome to come and give thanks for his contribution to the spiritual life of the Anglican Church in Sussex.


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If you're looking for leadership methods that work, know that other people are as well.No one is perfect, but focusing on always learning can help you become a great leader. The following article has the information you do just that.
Honesty is an important virtue of becoming a great leader. A leader should be trustworthy. When people know that they can trust you, they also respect you.
Being decisive is a good method in boosting leadership skill. Since you are in charge, many decisions may come down to you. If you have a team that is giving many different ideas on how to fix problems, it is important to choose solutions that will benefit the whole team instead of only a few people.
Even the smallest tokens of satisfaction can keep your employees motivated to do well.
Tenacity is easily among the more critical leadership quality. When things aren't going the right way, the entire team will look to you to gauge their own reactions. You need to be focused on the goals despite all of the goal no matter what obstacles present themselves. Your team will help inspire your enthusiastic footsteps.
Don't act like you know everything just because you are in a leadership position. You may have great ideas that you think are perfect, but remember that others around you also have ideas to contribute. They can add to your plans or identify issues that may arise during implementation of them.
Even excellent leaders make errors. A good leader would be able to admit guilt and speak about them honestly with his employees. It shows that you're a flawed human and far from perfect.
Hire people to help build your business. Don't hire a bunch of others like you. This stifles innovation in your business. It can also lead to a company that fails based on your weaknesses.
You can be a great leader or a manager if you take some time every day to examine and evaluate the mood and environment at how everything is doing in your workplace. You could invite a few members of your team to join in during these sessions.They can offer suggestions and changes can be brainstormed.
If you are overconfident, then chances are you will eventually fail. Make sure you're weak areas.
Take responsibility for what come out of your statements. Leadership starts with being accountable for what you say and do. If you do take the wrong actions or say the wrong words at work, you need to make things better. Don't try to get others to fix things.
One thing that can help you to be an effective leader is to start learning how to listen to the best leadership skills to develop is listening to people that you lead.Once you've listened to what their ideas are, listen for feedback to expand your success in new directions.
Integrity and leadership are one in hand. Integrity means being honest about telling the time. Leading with integrity will get your team respects and trusts you.
You should be sincere and sincerity toward your clients or your colleagues. Never be arrogant in your dealings, though. Sincerity builds understanding and trust between you build your co-workers. Insincerity will be obvious to your employees so practice being honest with people.
Be a good role model for employees. Don't just because of your title. If you expect promptness and a positive demeanor, you must do the same. Try to be someone that other people are likely to respect.
You should make sure your team safe and comfortable at all times.
Being a good leader can be quite demanding. These demands may make website juggling work with your personal life difficult. Remember that you have to have a well-rounded life as someone who is happy is necessary for good leadership. So enjoy your life by taking breaks from work when necessary.
It is not possible for you to handle everything on your own. Ultimately, your team is what makes you or breaks you, so make everyone feel important.
Organize all work and set the bar high. Your business can be productive if you concisely and clearly communicate the job that needs to be done.
A great leader is aware of his or her strengths and strengths. This will help you better yourself and provide a great standard for your employees should follow.
Do everything in your best to help your team overcome obstacles.
By having a tough position, your leadership position will get stronger as well.
Being able to change your mind when presented with new facts or more current information is an essential leadership skill.Leaders who refuse to revisit their minds when they are sure to fall out of anyone. Your success is based on how open you have the confidence to change poor decisions.
You have to accept expert advice to become a better leader. The information you've just read is very beneficial. Keep learning what great leadership means in all of your endeavors.
Helping The others Realize The Advantages Of Payment Automation
If you're looking for leadership methods that work, know that other people are as well.No one is perfect, but focusing on always learning can help you become a great leader. The following article has the information you do just that.


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Elephants quickly distinguish voices of ethnic groups
Elephants showed the ability to distinguish voices of perceived friends from foes.
When humans talk, elephants listen – and listen closely. New research shows African elephants can tell people of different ethnic groups apart after hearing them speak just a few sentences.
The research also found that elephants listening to human utterances can distinguish between men and women and between adult and child. More than just a parlor trick, this keen insight into human language may help elephants decide whether a nearby human is a fearsome predator threat or a minor nuisance.
"They're using vocal information from another species – us – and they're using that to discern threat," says study co-author Graeme Shannon, a behavioral ecologist at Britain's University of Sussex. "That takes really advanced cognitive abilities. … These are subtle differences these elephants are attending to."
Those huge ears aren't for nothing. Elephants can distinguish between the roar of a single lion and the roaring of a trio of lions, and the oldest, most seasoned elephants can tell the roar of a male lion from the roar of a female, according to a 2011 paper by Shannon and his co-author Karen McComb, also of the University of Sussex. Elephants also distinguish between the signature calls of many other elephant groups, including groups they haven't seen for years, McComb has found.
To test elephants' ability to parse human speech, the researchers turned to the 1,500 or so elephants roaming Kenya's Amboseli National Park. A cattle-herding people called the Maasai, who live near the park, once speared Amboseli elephants on a regular basis. Now they attack elephants only occasionally, sometimes to avenge community members killed by elephants, sometimes because of conflicts over water and grazing space. By contrast, the Kamba people, farmers who also live near the park, pose little threat to the animals inside Amboseli.
The scientists placed loudspeakers – disguised with a screen of palm leaves – near herds of elephants, then serenaded the animals with recordings of a person saying, "Look, look over there, a group of elephants is coming." When the voice belonged to a Maasai man, the elephants tended to sniff the air and bunch closely together for protection. But when the voice was a Kamba man's, the elephants were more nonchalant. The elephants also reacted with relative calm to the voices of Maasai women and boys, who, unlike Maasai men, generally don't take part in spearing elephants.
The animals' responses show they're extracting clues about ethnic group, gender and age from human voices to gauge when to react immediately and when to stay put a bit longer, the researchers say. For the ultimate test, the scientists tinkered with the recording of a male Maasai to mimic a woman's speech, including changes to make the man's voice higher. There was no fooling the elephants. They reacted just as they had to unaltered male Maasai voices, suggesting they are picking up gender signals more accurate than those used by humans, the scientists say in this week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The findings are in keeping with an earlier study finding that elephants retreat in fear when they sniff clothing worn by Maasai but not when they take whiffs of clothing worn by Kamba, says an author of that study, Richard Byrne of the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. What's new here, he says, are the data suggesting elephants can distinguish men and women, who pose different levels of risk.
The elephants' abilities are "pretty remarkable," says Joshua Plotnik, a behavioral ecologist at research non-profit Think Elephants International, who was not involved in the new study. The study "is indicating that elephants are learning to adapt to a growing threat in their environment, and the unfortunate and disturbing part is that threat is us. … It just goes to show how intelligent these animals are that they can be this flexible."
Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled Joshua Plotnik's name.


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White House, senators to launch push on immigration legislation next week
The White House and a bipartisan group of senators will launch separate efforts next week to jumpstart negotiations to overhaul the immigration system, an issue that has languished in Washington for years.
Obama will start his second-term immigration push during a trip to Las Vegas Tuesday. The Senate working group is also aiming to outline its proposals at about the same time, according to a Senate aide.
Even before those plans are formally unveiled, there is emerging consensus on several key components, most notably the need for some kind of pathway to citizenship for the 11 million illegal immigrants already in the United States. The White House and Senate Democrats favor addressing immigration through a broad package of legislation, while some Republicans lawmakers prefer to tackle the issue through several separate bills.
The proposals will mark the start of what's sure to be a contentious and emotional campaign in the wake of 2012 election results that saw Latino voters turn out in large numbers to re-elect Obama -- a signal to some Republican leaders that the party needed to change its posture on immigration.
The aim of the Senate group is to draft an immigration bill by March and pass legislation in the Senate by August, said the aide, who requested anonymity in order to discuss private deliberations. The Republican-controlled House would also need to pass the legislation before it went to the White House for the president's signature.
For Obama, a successful push on immigration reform would be a promise kept to the Latino community after he disappointed many by failing to act on the issue in his first term, and it could be central to his legacy. The president met with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus at the White House Friday to discuss his upcoming proposals.
Following his re-election, Obama has pledged to tackle immigration reform during his second term.
"I think we have talked about it long enough," Obama said during an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" in December. "We know how we can fix it. We can do it in a comprehensive way that the American people support. That's something we should get done."
For Republicans, tackling immigration reform could be a way to broaden their appeal among Latino voters who are increasingly key to presidential elections. Latino voters accounted for 10 percent of the electorate in November, and 71 percent backed Obama over the 27 percent who voted for Romney.
In the Senate, lawmakers working on the effort include Democrats Charles Schumer of New York, Dick Durbin of Illinois and Robert Menendez of New Jersey; and Republicans John McCain of Arizona, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Marco Rubio of Florida.
Several of these lawmakers are veterans of the immigration reform efforts that ultimately failed under then-President George W. Bush.
Rubio is a relative newcomer to Senate negotiations on the issue, but he's seen as a rising star in his party and a potential 2016 presidential candidate. As a charismatic young Hispanic leader his proposals on immigration have attracted wide notice in recent weeks.
A few other lawmakers have also been involved including Michael Bennet of Colorado, Jeff Flake of Arizona and Mike Lee of Utah. It's not clear that all those involved will sign on to the principles the group hopes to roll out next week.


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Full Microsoft DirectX 10 Support
A DirectX® 10 GPU with full Shader Model 4.0 support delivers unparalleled levels of graphics realism and film-quality effects. GeForce® 9-Series mGPUs include 16 dedicated graphics cores to deliver the best visual experience.
NVIDIA CUDA Technology
CUDA ™ technology unlocks the power of the GPU's processing cores to accelerate the most demanding system tasks – such as video encoding – delivering up to 7x performance over traditional CPUs.
Feature requires application support for CUDA technology
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Vive la Brooklyn! Biggest Bastille Day in U.S. comes to Smith Street
Thousands of Francophiles are expected to invade Smith Street in Boerum Hill this Sunday, July 15, for the biggest Bastille Day celebration in the U.S.
The tenth-annual festival of everything French will take over the north end of the street, with dining and music on Dean Street, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. or later.
In an amazing transformation, Smith between Bergen and Pacific streets will be covered in sand, courtesy of John Quadrozzi Jr. of the Quadrozzi Concrete Company, and divided into courts for the international petanque tournament. Petanque is similar to bocce, but is played by throwing metal balls (boules) at a small wooden ball, or "pig" — usually while sipping a glass of pastis (Ricard's anise-flavored French apéritif). This year, 64–70 teams with players from around the world will compete.
"It's always bigger and better than ever," event founder Bette Stoltz of the South Brooklyn Local Development Corporation told the Brooklyn Eagle. "It's become literally a French neighborhood down there. I don't know which came first — but it's the right thing in the right place."
While the games officially begin at noon, "At 10 a.m. the Quadrozzi Concrete Company arrives with an antique mixer truck and spreads the sand. People come early to see that — it's such a weird scene," Stoltz said. "Everyone stands around and — what's kibitzes in French? They discuss whether they've spread it right. To me it's the funnest part of the day.
"French Consul General M. Philippe Lalliot comes every year, and Borough President Marty Markowitz usually stops by," she added.
"This year we're spreading 12 cubic yards of sand on Smith Street," Quadrozzi told the Brooklyn Eagle. "We deliver it with our historic 1961 Mack Truck concrete mixer — it's the first truck we had when we started the business, and it's fully restored."
"This is a special year," he added. "It's the tenth anniversary, and we've been here since the inception. We're happy to see that everyone enjoys the event every year and hope it continues for years to come."
French food, music and drinks give Smith Street the feeling of a summer day in Marseille. "It's petanque, it's pastis, it's fun — Vive la Revolution!" said Christophe Haxaire, one of the owners of founding restaurant Bar Tabac. Two bands will provide live music outside the restaurant, he said. "Milton and his band will play funky French happy music from 1 to 6 p.m., and François Weiss and his trio will play from 6 to 8 or 9, maybe 10."
Haxaire said that this year FDNY required that one lane of Smith Street remain open for a fire lane, so that will put a limit on the number of teams competing in the tournament. "We lost some field for playing, so this year we will have from 64 to 70 teams. Last year there were 65." Roughly 80 teams applied for the tournament.
The event — which takes place this year one day after July 14, the date that marks the actual anniversary of the storming of the Bastille in 1789 — was founded by Bette Stoltz along with restaurants Bar Tabac and Robin des Bois (now shuttered), and is sponsored by French apéritif company Ricard.
Other participating restaurants include Apartment 138, Coco Roco, Sue Perrette, One Girl Cookie, Bien Cuit bakery, Angry Wades and Brick Lane, along with foods representing the Brittany and Normandy regions of France and more.
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Image of the feature "Doorways: S doorway, nave (rebuilt)" at Dysert O'Dea.
by Tessa Garton.
Round-headed, of four orders. Richly decorated with geometric, foliate and animal ornament and with radiating heads on the arch. The present arrangement of orders does not always match and the arches do not fit the jambs properly. The door may have been reconstructed from more than one doorway or from a doorway and chancel arch (Harbison, 1987, 11).
|h. of opening
|2.07 m
|w. of opening (below imposts)
|0.95 m


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World AIDS Day 2013
World AIDS Days is Dec. 1, 2013, and it represents an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV.
In observance of World AIDS Day, the Port Arthur Health Department is hosting a STD & HIV/AIDS march on Dec. 2 at 11:30 a.m The march will serve to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS along with various other sexually transmitted diseases that plague the community. There will also be a t-shirt design contest during the event that will showcase slogans and designs that promote awareness of STDs. All participants are eligible to participate. The winner of the t-shirt design contest will receive a $75 gift card.
The walk will begin at 1300 Joe Louis Ave. in Port Arthur and will proceed along a pre-mapped path that will end at the pavilion on Thomas Blvd., next to Washington Elementary School. For more information, please call disease intervention specialist Robert Gillord at (409) 983-8892.


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Sunday, September 13, 2009
Takeshi Mogi goes offline
The person who has taught me most about Japanese whisky is Takeshi Mogi. His was the original website on the subject and I have had the pleasure of meeting him in person on several occasions. I have always gone away feeling enriched by the experience.
He is a real gentleman and has been unfailingly helpful in steering my blundering attempts to understand a complex topic. I know that many other people have been similarly helped by Mogi-san (not all of whom have been sufficiently generous in acknowledging their reliance on him).
Sadly, he has decided not to continue with his excellent website. I hope Nonjatta will be able to say a little more about his reasons for this in due course and perhaps notify people of any new projects he has under his hat, but I just want to put up this note to express my sadness at the passing of a great web resource.
3 comments:
- David said...
I'm sorry to hear it too. Mogi-san is certainly a gentleman and was most generous to me in helping me to appreciate Japanese whisky.
Happily, the legendary Nonjatta continues to fly the flag for Japanese whisky online.
- September 17, 2009 at 8:52 AM
- The Daily Reviewer said...
Congratulations! Your readers have submitted and voted for your blog at The Daily Reviewer. We compiled an exclusive list of the Top 100 spirits Blogs, and we are glad to let you know that your blog was included! You can see it at http://thedailyreviewer.com/top/spirits/2
You can claim your Top 100 Blogs Award here : http://thedailyreviewer.com/pages/badges/spirits
P.S. This is a one-time notice to let you know your blog was included in one of our Top 100 Blog categories. You might get notices if you are listed in two or more categories.
P.P.S. If for some reason you want your blog removed from our list, just send an email to firstname.lastname@example.com with the subject line "REMOVE" and the link to your blog in the body of the message.
Angelina Mizaki
Selection Committee President
The Daily Reviewer
- September 30, 2009 at 5:32 PM
Always wanted to try this whiskey after reading about it.
I look around last week and couldn't find it on some online shops, most were sold out.
My girlfriend managed to find me a bottle of
Yamazaki 1984 at Sipplondon.com
I haven't drank it yet, - waiting for Xmas :)
- December 13, 2011 at 8:15 AM


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Brittany Motel
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We have a 14 day cancellation policy. If you cancel your reservation within 14 days of your stay, you will be responsible for the full amount of your reservation. Longer cancellation periods may apply during foliage season, certain holidays, and special events. No refunds for early departures, late arrivals, and no-shows.
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A Texas barber landed behind bars after accusations that he masturbated while cutting children's hair.
Jeremiah Siqueido, 32, of Spring, was charged Thursday with indecency with a child after a mother of three told deputies that Siqueido took frequent breaks while cutting her children's hair Wednesday at the shop in the 23300 block of Aldine Westfield.
During the breaks, Siqueido would walk into a back room of the barber shop, the mother said.
The mother followed him into the back room, where she said she saw him masturbating while staring at her children, according to a news release from the Harris County Precinct 4 Constable's Office.
He was arrested Wednesday and is out of jail on $5,000 bail.
Siqueido was convicted in Montgomery County in 2006 of injury to a child, according to court records. He did not have a criminal record in Harris County.


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Adherence: Keeping Up With Your Meds
- Introduction
- Things to Consider
- Planning
- Building a Support Network
- Committing to Staying on Therapy
- Final Thoughts
- Strategies for Adherence
Staying on a treatment regimen is difficult under the best of conditions. Even doctors and nurses find it difficult to take a simple course of antibiotics as directed. Taking HIV therapy sometimes requires a person to take a dozen or more pills a day, with specific timing and diet restrictions. Then, when a person also uses drugs for other infections, the total daily pill count can soar. Keeping up with your meds alone becomes a major activity. So it's little wonder that people have trouble keeping up with the program. Therefore, adhering to your HIV therapy means taking an honest and objective view of your life and daily activities.
Things to Consider
Taking on complex, long-term treatment doesn't feel natural to most people. However, this challenge is not unique to people with HIV. Millions have learned to cope with diseases that require long-term management, including diabetes, mental illness and heart disease, among others.
Whether or not you feel you're able to adhere to a new regimen may be one thing to consider -- along with your lab results and overall general health -- in deciding the right time to begin HIV therapy. Your readiness, or ability to commit to the demands of therapy, is an important consideration to discuss with your doctor.
Why adhering to all your HIV drugs is important is because not taking them as prescribed every day will lead to inadequate levels of the drugs in your blood. This can result in many things, including no real therapeutic benefit, possible disease progression, development of resistance, and unnecessary side effects.
Giving careful thought to what benefits you hope to get from treatment, how you'll evaluate the benefit, and how you might manage side effects will be helpful. Some people try a "dry run" before beginning therapy, like taking empty gel caps, or small candies like M&Ms, on the prescribed schedule while sticking to any diet requirements. While this doesn't prepare one for possible side effects, it can help you find times when remembering to take therapy might be more of a challenge
Perhaps the first and most important aspect of adherence lies in choosing the right therapy for you in the first place. Drugs can differ in many ways including:
- Whether or not they can be taken with food,
- Whether they are taken by mouth or injection,
- How many times a day they must be taken,
- How many pills per day are needed,
- What other drugs or complementary therapies they can and cannot be used with,
- Their side effects and how they make a person feel, and
- Some require refrigeration or other special handling.
Adherence is more than just taking pills. Properly adhering to your medicines involves sticking to an entire regimen:
Similarly, people differ widely in their habits and needs. A few examples:
- Some people are bound to rigid work schedules, such as hourly workers.
- Some have constantly changing schedules, or they routinely move in and out of different time zones, like airline workers or truck drivers.
- Some people are unable to work and their schedules are dictated by a seemingly endless string of medical appointments.
- Some also have children, parents or partners to care for.
- Some have people around to help remind them of their drug schedules, while others are alone and must rely on timers, pill boxes or other devices.
- Some people have wasting syndrome or infections that might make eating difficult; others have no dietary problems but don't eat regularly.
- Finally, some people have to deal with other challenges like substance abuse, homelessness or mental illness.
To find a treatment regimen you can live with, it's necessary to settle two sets of requirements: yours and the drug's. People who lead busy but largely unstructured lives might prefer drugs that can be taken easily with or without food. This may make it easier to fit therapy into changing routines. Others, whose time is tightly structured by work, might find it easier to go on more demanding regimens. These people can select a regimen purely on the basis of its potency.
People who have trouble eating or who struggle with weight loss may wish to avoid drugs that can't be taken with foods or even conversely, those requiring that they be taken with food. Others who take many other drugs for opportunistic infections or other health conditions might avoid HIV drugs that have many drug interactions. They might even avoid creating regimens that require taking many more pills. Also, the more HIV drugs you've already used, often the fewer choices you have about what to use next. Thus, often in more advanced disease, your drug history tends to dictate what can and can't be taken.
There may not be any perfect regimen for you, but there are options that are more and less easy to adapt to your life. The goal is to select a regimen you can live with -- one that fits with who you are and how you live. Once you select a regimen, sticking to it requires planning, support and commitment.
One study suggests that about 12% of people miss one dose in the past day, and 11% the day before that. Other studies report that nearly all who failed to achieve and sustain a viral load below the limit of detection had greatly changed from their prescribed regimens for a month or more.
There are many reasons for failing to stay on your treatment regimen. One study showed that of those who missed one or more doses:
Stable access to drugs is critical for their effective use. People cannot stay on a regimen if they don't have constant access to their drugs. While it may sound obvious, many people taking HIV meds sometimes find themselves running short of one or another drug for a variety of reasons. This is often because of poor planning. Skipping doses because you've run out of a drug is still skipping doses.
Some drugs have different storage requirements than others, so your planning must also address these storage needs. This is primarily true of Norvir (ritonavir) and Kaletra (lopinavir + ritonavir), which for storage over one or two months respectively need refrigeration. Once storage is addressed, it's helpful to put aside a full week's supply, in an accessible place, right after getting your drugs, and then start using the rest of that supply. This creates an emergency stash should unforeseen circumstances cause your basic supply to run short. Your stash should be rotated or replaced once a month to keep it fresh. Some people use a small container attached to their key chains for a daily backup.
Keeping a steady supply of meds requires you to work closely with your doctor and pharmacist. And, when using AIDS Drug Assistance Programs or pharmaceutical company patient assistance programs, even more of the burden falls on you to make sure you order supplies as the program requires and still have a safety net for unforeseen situations. The main point is to always stay at least a week ahead of your needs.
People differ in their abilities to adhere to their regimens and this is influenced by lifestyle and other factors. People dealing with major life problems like active drug use or homelessness face difficult challenges with adherence. But that doesn't mean adherence is impossible. People with depression are also more likely to have difficulty with adherence. If you suffer from depression or mental illness and are considering treatment, consult a mental health expert as well as your regular doctor.
In reality, only you can decide whether you're ready and committed enough to maintain a steady course of treatment. If you are not ready or not in a position to make a serious effort at adherence, you may be better off delaying treatment. This doesn't jeopardize your ability to use effective treatment later. In contrast, misusing your drugs can jeopardize your future options by encouraging drug resistance. This can affect entire classes of HIV therapy.
|Many things can get in the way of taking your meds properly:
Building a Support Network
Setting up a good relationship with your doctor is critical for maintaining your adherence. Your doctor should know the current standards of care for treating HIV. He or she should spend time with you to fully explain the benefits and the challenges of treatment.
If you decide to start treatment, it's important to clarify your regimen with your doctor. Knowing what drugs you're taking and why will help you better understand the importance of adherence. One survey showed that the vast majority of people were unclear of their regimens only ten minutes after talking with their doctors. Some understood the dose but were confused about diet restrictions. Others were unclear on the correct doses or the timing of them.
A useful way to understand your treatment regimen is writing down instructions and repeating them back to your doctor. You can check them again with your pharmacist when you pick up or order the drugs. Use the team approach. Your doctor, nurse, pharmacist and other providers can help you start and maintain effective therapy.
Since adjusting your diet can be difficult at first, it's important to know what and when you can and cannot eat. Just as important, try to understand exactly what is meant by the drug's diet requirements. For example, many people interpret them for Crixivan (indinavir) to mean that it should not be taken with food, which can be difficult for many people. The actual requirement is that it shouldn't be taken with fatty foods. Light snacks and non-fat foods can be taken with the drug without concern.
Similarly, the requirements for Viracept (nelfinavir) are often thought to mean that it must be taken with food. In fact, the label says only that it should be taken with food. In some cases, there's a genuine medical need to take a drug with or without food. In other cases, like for Videx (didanosine, ddI), taking it with food is recommended only to lessen its side effects or unpleasant aftertaste.
Some researchers note that people who foster friendly and supportive relationships with medical office staff get better service from them. Bringing another person -- a family member, friend or advocate -- to appointments ensures that two people can ask questions and get information.
Ask your doctor to be clear about side effects how to manage them. Being mentally prepared for side effects can make them easier to manage if they occur. Make a plan with your doctor around what to do if you experience a difficult side effect. Knowing that you will have timely contact with a doctor may reassure you that side effects will be managed well.
It is also important to find out what to do if you miss a dose. If you do miss one, ask your doctor how you should handle it -- if you should make it up or just take the next scheduled one at the usual time. Also, note the missed dose and the reason for missing it. There may be a strategy you can use to avoid missing a future dose.
If you're unable to take all the drugs in your regimen, don't take a partial dose. Contact your doctor immediately if you can't take your full dose for whatever reason. In this situation it might be necessary for you to stop all of your HIV drugs until you're able to take a complete dose in the regimen again.
Committing to Staying on Therapy
Resistance is another reason to adhere to your regimen. Today's potent combination therapy has brought new hope and new challenges to people living with HIV. However, if therapy is not used properly (like skipping doses, taking lower than prescribed doses or not taking them on time), drug resistance will probably develop faster. In this case, the potential benefits of therapy can be lost.
In order to prevent drug resistance, it's important to keep enough drug in your bloodstream 24 hours a day. Each time you miss a dose, the drug blood level falls below the minimum necessary level for several hours. This creates an opportunity for HIV to develop resistance to the drug(s).
Moreover, resistance to one drug may result in resistance to other drugs of the same class, called cross-resistance. This is particularly true about NNRTIs. High level resistance to one of the protease inhibitors almost certainly passes on some degree of resistance to almost all the others.
There's little debate about it being difficult to always adhere to today's complex regimens. It is somewhat less clear how much non-adherence is tolerable before resistance becomes a threat. There are no data telling us exactly when resistance begins. There is, however, plenty of evidence that people who are adherent have better and more sustained anti-HIV responses. While no single episode of a skipped or late dose is likely -- by itself -- to trigger resistance, the more often they occur, the more likely it is to develop drug resistance.
Final Thoughts
Perhaps the greatest way that adherence to HIV treatments differs from adherence in other chronic illnesses is the lack of immediate symptoms or consequences when adherence fails. This lack of a rapid response places more of the burden for adherence on the mind and less on the immediate reaction of the body. A person living with HIV must take a long-term view in order to have a long-term future.
Adherence also challenges many of the support systems for people living with HIV. Some doctors have less time to spend educating their patients. As well, most doctors have little or no training in the tools that might help people stay on their treatment regimens. Sometimes, in order to be fully supported, people may need to seek help from others, like treatment support groups, case managers or treatment buddies.
The best long-term solutions for treating HIV -- outside of a cure -- must focus on making better and longer-lasting therapies. These include ones that are easier to use, more easily absorbed, have fewer side effects and drug interactions, and maintain more consistent drug levels in blood. This work is underway for some treatments that may require only once-a-day or even once-a-week dosing.
In the meantime, there are many ideas for what you can do to make the most out of your treatment regimen. Consider the ones presented here or come up with your own solutions that make the most sense for your life.
Strategies for Adherence
Adherence strategies may not work for everyone. Because of cultural, gender and socio-economic differences, these suggestions are more appropriate for some people than others. Different issues are more important in some settings than others.
For example, some people have a great need for privacy around their HIV status and taking medicines. This places greater emphasis on planning ahead for moments of privacy each day. For people struggling with lack of housing, active drug use or untreated mental health conditions, adherence strategies will often go beyond what we cover here. Still, even in the most challenging situations, people have daily routines that can be used as triggers for taking meds.
Adherence strategies can and must vary from person to person. The best way to ensure success is your motivation and commitment to your regimen. It may help to know that many people have accommodated long-term treatment in their lives. People with chronic illnesses have long shown that it can be done. It may take a few tries before you find the approach that works best for you.
Some of the following strategies and tools have worked for many people taking HIV therapy:
- Integrate your regimen into your daily routines. Most people find it easier to fit medicines into their lives, rather than scheduling their lives around their medicine. Use a daily activity, one that you do every day without fail like brushing your teeth, to prompt you to take your meds. Take them before the activity; it's easier to remember.
- Count out all your meds in daily doses for a week at a time. Use a pillbox, Mediset or nail organizer from a hardware store to hold each dose. Setting up a weekly pillbox also needs to become routine. Meds can also be divided daily by dose and put in separate bags or canisters marked with the dosage times -- some use film canisters. Some people put each canister near the place they'll take a dose. For example, put the morning dose by the coffee pot, and evening dose by the TV.
- Keep a checklist or diary for doses that you've taken with a space to note how you're feeling.
- Use an electronic pillbox or beeping alarm to remind you when to take your meds. The downside of these mechanisms is that the electronic pillboxes are too small and the alarms may be very obvious.
- Use a daily planner, especially at the start of a new regimen. Inserting your dosing requirements into a planner, as if they were appointments, can be a useful reminder. Others use hand-held computers or electronic organizers to remind them of daily doses. These kinds of devices can be bought for under $50.
- Evaluate your regimen about two weeks after you start it. It may take a few weeks of experimenting to figure out how to best schedule your meds with other events in your life. For this reason it may be useful to start a dry run of therapy with small candies, allowing time to adjust your routines before actually taking the drugs.
- Plan ahead for weekends, vacations or moves. People often miss doses when they're away from home. For most, weekends are different from normal weekday routines, so it's important to plan ahead. Take into account the changed environment. Will you feel comfortable with your normal routine or will you need other strategies?
- Keep all your meds with you when you travel. Baggage can be lost or delayed.
- Plan ahead for privacy if you need to hide the fact that you're taking meds. In this situation, try to find at least one person with a similar problem with whom you can discuss strategy. You could adjust your lunch or break schedule to ensure privacy or keep water in your bedroom at all times.
- Keep a diary. Include whatever is important to you: when you took treatment, reason for missed doses, how you feel, etc. Keeping a record like this reminds you how well, or poorly, you're doing with adherence.
- Use your support network to remind you of your medication needs. Some people have a treatment buddy who can make daily reminder phone calls.
- Set up a support network for your emotional needs. It's hard to take treatment and also deal with daily stress, whether it's taking care of children, working or dealing with illness.


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Day Hike
This is a story of what starts out to be a day hike my wife and I recently took. On the drive to the trail head, we actually discuss how pathetic it is that people go out for a short hike, aren't prepared, get lost, and need to be rescued. As our hike progresses, we gradually and reluctantly realize we've gotten ourselves into just that situation. This is a story about preparing (or not preparing) for the unlikely, about making decisions under pressure, about having a fallback plan, and about humility.
Day Hike
January 30th, 2011. Shortly before noon. Our teenage daughter says, "By the way, there's no school tomorrow - can I go to a sleepover at Katie's house?".
Hmmm. So, what are we gonna do? It's partly cloudy, no rain in the forecast - wanna go for a hike?! How about we go up Beacon Rock in the gorge?!
Silke says, been there, done that, like ten times. Something new!
So we get on the Internet and find Elevator Shaft to Couger Rock - a 6.7 mile loop with 1,860 feet of elevation gain, passing through privately owned Nesika Lodge. We print out the hike description, grab a couple more layers of clothing, some snacks, a couple water bottles, and we're out the door at about 12:30. "You realize we're wearing nothing but cotton, right?" "Yeah, but - day hike, perfect conditions... we're just in the gorge."
Topic of conversation on the drive out: How do people get lost on day hikes in the Columbia River Gorge and need search and rescue? I just don't get it. I mean, the geography is pretty clear - everything flows downhill to the Columbia. Most of the trails loop, and you can always go back the way you came. And they're usually crowded with people.
We park at Multnomah Falls, the lot between the two sides of the freeway. We're on the trail by about 1:15. Starting off along with all the tourists on the trail up Multnomah Falls, we cut off at the first switchback, and hike along the Gorge Trail for about a half mile. Elevator Shaft is really cool - a 1,000' ascent up a moss covered rock slide. Beautiful views. 61 switchbacks by my count. The trail isn't always easy to follow, but you never lose it for long. On the way up, we stop and have lunch - canned sardines in mustard sauce with crackers, and an apple.
At the top of Elevator Shaft, another couple passes by on their way down. These are the first people we've seen since we left the main trail, and the last we would see today.
We continue the climb up to the next ridge. Time check - it's 2:15. We want to be back to the car by 4:30, home by 5, Silke can shower and be out the door by 5:30 to get to Bettina's dinner in Hillsboro by 6. She always goes all out - this is going to be good. Worst case scenario, Silke comes a little late to the dinner.
Our route going up the hillside to the next ridge isn't much of a trail - but it is a trail. Once on the ridge, we follow occasional pink trail makers tied to branches, but at some point the trail becomes ambiguous. We follow one path that eventually peters out, and then come back and take the other option, which also disappears. We don't see any more pink markers.
So we keep close to the edge of the ridge, and continue East toward Couger Rock. The bushwacking isn't too bad - but eventually, the slope we're traversing becomes steeper, and we can tell it's turning into a cliff shortly ahead, so we backtrack a bit and make our way higher up on the ridge to a point where it's safe to continue East. Worst case scenario, I drive Silke all the way to Hillsboro on the way home and she doesn't get a shower.
From there, we eventually come to Couger Rock. It's below us, toward the river. The hike description says to descend down to the rock, but then come back up to continue East along the ridge and then turn South, away from the river, to pick up the Larch Mountain Trail and loop back to Multnomah Falls. Since bushwacking has taken so much time, we talk about trying to descend back down to the Gorge Trail on the other side of Couger Rock. Hard to tell from 1800' up, but it looks do-able. Unfortunately, there's no trail. We descend another 10 or 15 minutes, before the underbrush starts getting thicker, and we start to see scattered cliffs. What we don't know is if there's a safe route through them. The further down we go, the longer it's going to take if we have to come back up to the ridge. Do we want to take that gamble? No. Damn. We decide we have to turn around and climb back up the distance we just descended. Things aren't looking so good. Worst case scenario, Silke misses the dinner. That would be so sad.
We climb back up, panting, without stopping for rests. We've wasted half an hour. We're exhausted.
OK - we need to re-evaluate the plan. We aren't lost - we know where we are. But we don't have a trail. We know going back the way we came means bushwacking almost an hour, and then descending the mossy rock slide as it's getting dark. Not a good option. We know ahead of us is Nesika Lodge and eventually the Larch Mountain Trail, a very well traveled route. But the route from here to there is one we've never taken.
Time to call Linda. She answers, with much background noise. "Hi! I'm vacuuming and rocking out to Van Morrison! What's up?!" We're running as I talk, heading East. "Linda. <pant> Here's the situation. <pant>" It's only a few seconds before the vacuum cleaner is off, the music is quiet, and Linda says, "OK - you're freaking me out. What do you want me to do?" We tell her where we're at, which direction we're headed, what our plan is, and ask if she can search for any maps showing the closest trails to where we are. Our connection gets lost. We turn off Silke's phone to save battery, leaving mine on, and keep running. We find a faint trail.
Linda calls back. We've drawn her in to our predicament, and she's probably as frantic as we are - but her focused energy is just what we need. None of her maps show any trail near Cougar Rock. But while we're talking on the phone, suddenly, right ahead of us, are three large buildings. It's Nesika Lodge. We check the doors - all locked, of course, and no one is around. There's a continuously running water spigot - we fill our bottles. There's a covered porch area. It's about 4:30. It'll be pretty dark in less than an hour. Worst case scenario, we have to descend the paved part of Multnomah Falls trail in the dark. That's do-able.
On the other side of Nesika Lodge, there's a trail, or maybe it's their access road. Linda learns the access road is Multnomah Basin Road, which leads many miles up near Larch Mountain - not a road we want to follow. There's a trail sign just East of the lodge: To the left, 4 miles to Oneonta Creek. (Huh - I wonder if that connects to Oneonta loop - we know that trail.) To the right, 4 miles to Multnomah Falls Lodge and our car. We go right. At this point we're still on the access road. There's a huge tree fallen over the road. My phone connection to Linda starts cutting out again. I'm able to tell her where we're at and which direction we're heading, and that our goal at this point is the described cut-off from the access road to Larch Mountain Trail, which is supposed to be within 1/2 mile. I ask her to research the people who own the lodge - worst case scenario at this point is we're spending the night there somehow. But our goal now is to find Larch Mountain Trail, and to get to the top of the paved descent before dark. Linda asks if she should call search and rescue. Oh, please, no! Then, we lose our connection. I turn off my phone to save battery. Did she hear me say no?
We find a cutoff trail to the right, like it's supposed to be. No signs. Christmas tree ornaments hang from tree branches, adding a beautiful but surreal twist to the scene. We're running. Hopes are high. After a few hundred yards, the trail hits the road again and our hopes crash back down. It must just cut off a loop of the road. So we turn right and continue.
Our printout describes a hairpin turn to the left, with a trail going off to the right which is a cutoff with switchbacks down to Larch Mountain Trail. We come to a 90 degree left turn in the road, with a trail going off to the right, and a sign with an arrow. We pause momentarily. OK - it's a left turn, but I'm not sure I'd call it a hairpin left turn. There's a trail right here like it says. And the sign says "Larch Mountain Trail" - but is it pointing to the trail, or pointing down the road? Gotta be the trail, right? Too much falls into place. So we take it - running again.
It's definitely getting darker. The trail continues on in this direction, and we run for maybe 5 minutes when we encounter some fallen branches. We climb over them. The trail hasn't been descending, no switchbacks like in the description. We cross some deteriorated planks over a marshy area. More fallen branches. The trail is starting to fizzle out - it looks like it hasn't been used in years. We stop. This isn't good. This isn't the trail. Do we go back and continue even further down the road? We're running out of light - if that doesn't pan out, we won't have time for a fall back plan. OK - this is it, then, time to go to the fall-back plan - we're heading back to Nesika Lodge. Silke's not convinced this is our reality. "No! Really? No! We can hike out in the dark - we've hiked in the dark before - we have our cell phones for light!" We're still jogging while we talk. "No way - there's *no* way - even if we do find the trail, you know how it is up here - even the well maintained trails cross creeks, have cliffs - lots of cliffs! There's no moon - it'll be pitch dark soon - that's even if we do find the trail!" It doesn't take long before we're on the same page, and we continue back to the lodge. Worst case scenario, now, is we can't get inside, and we spend the night under that covered area. But if we get back quickly, we may still have enough light to explore and find a way to get in one of the buildings. We run.
Soon, we're back to the road. It's getting dark. I turn my phone back on. Still no reception. But as we crest the ridge, suddenly my phone beeps to tell me I have a text message. It's from Linda: "George - lodge member - 503-572-8512, no key".
It's 4:58 as we arrive back at Nesika Lodge, and I call the number and George answers. Sounds maybe in his 60s. Very warm, friendly voice. He already knows our situation from talking to Linda.
"Beautiful place, George." "Thanks. You need to visit sometime under different circumstances! OK, now, I can talk you down to Multnomah Falls - you can do it in an hour." "We don't have an hour - the light's mostly gone already!" "Oh - right - you're up there. It's still pretty light here in the city. But you have flashlights, right?" "Uh - no." I describe our attempt at finding the trail - he recognizes which trail I'm talking about, and tells me we were heading out into nowhere. He'd drive out and get us, except in addition to all the fallen trees, one of the bridges recently washed out. "So, no hidden key?" "Right - so you should break a window and get yourself inside for the night." "Oh - no - really? First we're going to try the windows, hopefully we can get in without doing any damage." "Well, good luck with that. No chance on the lodge - it's practically bullet proof. Maybe on the women's dorm - that's the East-most building." "OK - I'll call you back."
It's starting to rain now. This wasn't in the forecast. Silke has a rain shell. I brought one, too - it's sitting in the back seat of the car. I am such an idiot.
We start trying windows on the women's dorm. They're all new, with screens. Silke's starting to shiver. We try 3 or 4, removing the screens and trying to lift and wiggle the glass. No luck - not even close. Silke comes back from around the corner, "Come here - there's an old window!" Sure enough. Wood frame, single pane - held in place with three bent nails! I use my Leatherman to bend the nails back, but the window is stuck tight. Silke appears again (how does she keep disappearing without me noticing?). She's carrying... an umbrella? The long, skinny, metal tip fits perfectly in the corner between the window frame and the molding. The window slowly pries out. Silke catches it, puts it on the ground, I boost her in, and she's got the door open a few seconds later! We start exploring, using our cell phones as flashlights.
OK - worst case scenario, we might be cold, but we've got shelter, and at first light we hike out toward Oneonta - it's got to hit that loop we hiked a few years ago - then we can hitchhike to the car.
I call George with the good news - he's genuinely happy. "OK, now, you'll find candles and matches on the shelf, you'll find sleeping bags downstairs in the locker, and there should be wood there by the wood stove. Make yourself a fire!"
Holy cow. Now, we're on vacation! The franticness of the last 90 minutes fades away. We find the candles, and 20 way-too-old strike-anywhere matches later we get one lit. We find the sleeping bags downstairs. The upstairs room is mostly filled with bunk beds, the mattresses all turned on edge. As we settle in and get the fire going, the rain starts coming down harder. It's pitch black outside - no light whatsoever - and the sound of the rain pounding on the roof drowns out the occasional sound of a truck passing on highway 84 1800' below. We hang the sleeping bags near the wood stove to warm them up and get rid of the damp musty smell. A pinhole roof leak lets an occasional drop of water through to land on top the wood stove with a splat and a hiss. We sit on a small bench in front of the wood stove, the two candles barely casting a shell of light just a few feet in any direction.
We call Linda. She's a nervous wreck. She really wants to call search and rescue - I assure her we're really very cozy now. She asks to talk to Silke. She knows from past experience I can be an unreliable witness - I've been known to downplay events which, coming from Silke's mouth, evoke an entirely different reaction. But she's able to convince Linda that we're really OK.
Silke calls her dinner host and leaves a message. How much to say? Too little and it sounds like she's just blown off the dinner. Too much and they'll be worried. She settles on something informative yet vague, but assuring them she was OK. We learned later that, after hearing the message, they spent the evening contemplating whether *they* should call search and rescue.
It's 7:00pm. We're exhausted. Hungry. "Bettina prepared an amazing meal with an unbelievable dessert - she always does." We have 40 almonds and 1/4 of a chocolate bar left, which will be good to save for the morning before the hike out. The sleeping bags are almost hot to the touch as we crawl inside them. It'll be at least an hour, stomachs growling, before we actually fall asleep, talking through everything that's happened, and everything that still needs to happen in the morning. It's pouring even harder. Worst case scenario, we have to hike out tomorrow morning in the rain.
I wake up. It's pitch dark, and cold. It's midnight and the fire is almost dead. Silke wakes up as I add more wood. It's still pouring. "No, I think that's wind." "It wasn't windy earlier - I think it's rain."
We wake up to an alarm going off on Silke's phone. I don't remember falling back asleep. "Oh - six o'clock - time for my morning walk with Lisa Ham. Oops - sorry, Lisa." It's still pitch black, but it should start getting light soon. It's so cold! We stay snuggled in our sleeping bags and talk. It still sounds the same outside, so I start resigning myself to hiking out in the rain. The windows are starting to glow with a faint light.
"Are we going to tell anyone about this? It's way too embarrassing." "I know. We're pathetic. How could we let this happen?" "OK - let's review the facts. First and foremost - we aren't lost! Pathetically unprepared for anything but a day hike in dry weather, but at no point were we lost." "Yeah, sure, but we don't how to get back." "Sure we do - we absolutely do! We head back West along the ridge, bushwhack for two hours until we get to elevator shaft, and then descend for an hour down moss covered wet rocks!" "Not a good option." "Yeah - OK - agreed."
We can see the silhouettes of trees outside through the windows. They're moving. "OK - I'm getting up." "Really? It's sooooo cold!" I get dressed - the phone says it's 6:50. I go outside to discover that Silke's right - the sound we've been listening to isn't rain, it's wind. And the reason it's not raining is because at some point in the night, it turned into snow. The grounds of Nesika Lodge are now white!
"I think if we'd have spent the night outside, we would have died." "No. No way. People spend the night lost in the woods and make it through just fine." "We would have frozen! Well, I would have." "We'd have kept each other warm. We probably wouldn't have slept, and it would have been absolutely miserable, but we would have found an overhang somewhere to keep out of the rain, maybe a blanket of leaves, gotten up and jumped around now and then to keep the circulation going. But that didn't happen."
We put things back the way they were, eat 20 almonds and 1/8th of a chocolate bar each, and pull the door locked behind us. I call George.
"No, no problem, I'm up - I'm at work." I tell him our dilemma about which trail to take. He describes the route we tried yesterday to a tee, up to the point where we took the wrong trail. Continue on the road another quarter mile and you come to the unmistakable hairpin left turn. "If you come to the bridge, you've gone too far - turn back." With this we decide to give Larch Mountain Trail another shot.
Sure enough, it's an unmistakable hairpin left turn - we're talking 180 degrees - with a trail going off to the right, which immediately starts heading downhill into Multnomah Basin, and then we hit the switchbacks and hear the sound of Multnomah Creek. It's hard to decide whether this is the happiest we've been in the last 15 hours, or the second happiest.
It's a beautiful morning for a hike. The trace of snow quickly disappears as we descend into the basin. It's not raining, but everything is wet from last night.
"OK - new worst case scenario." "What?!" "Well, our car has been parked in a day use area overnight. What if someone got worried and there's a search and rescue happening after all? Worst case scenario, we get to the trail head and we're met with news cameras." "OK - if that happens, we just walk right past and ignore them, right? 'No, not us - just on a day hike', right?"
We get to the parking lot an hour and a half later. The car is sitting just like we left it. No news crews. That scenario, we would soon learn, eagerly tuning in to hourly news updates, would happen tomorrow, to two 50-something women who, at that very moment, were preparing to leave for their day hike in the gorge.


text:
dear lord help me hpv lesions (HPV and HIV, 2009)
Hi i am 23 yrs old and about 6 months ago was diagnosed with genital warts. I also have some lesions on my tonsils and lips i have tested negative via elisa at 3 months and then tested about twice a month out to 23.5 weeks via oraquick advanced please help me. What is Going on? all my test were negative when can i stop testing and move on knowing i dont have hiv please answer i just need someone to help me thank you
"dear lord help me hpv lesions." Sure, I'll help, but calling me "dear lord" is a bit creepy. How about just sticking with Dr. Bob, OK?
It appears from your post that you're freaking out, because you fear that having genital warts (HPV) means you may also be HIV infected. Actually, these are two very distinct viruses (HIV versus HPV). HPV is much more easily acquired than HIV. Your negative HIV-antibody tests out to 23.5 weeks are definitive and conclusive. HIV is not your problem. No way. No how. No additional HIV tests are warranted. You have HPV-induced genital warts and need to have those aggressively treated. You also need to stop worrying about HIV, OK? I'll print some informant about HPV below.
Good luck.
Dr. Bob
losing myself (HPV and HIV, 2009) Sep 6, 2009
i am a 22yr old white male in virginia beach who had unprotected sex with a 42yr old white woman unkown hiv status 8 weeks ago. About 2 to 3 days after the encounter i noticed i had genital warts at the base of my penis. Which was later confirmed by a doctor at an std clinic and also a private practice dermatologist. Ever since then i have been scared sick and practically paralyzed by fear and anxiety that i have hiv. I had a blood test at 32 days and 46 days after my possible exposure which both came back negative. I honestly just dont know what to do next, my private doctor said the one month test should have been enough but he would double check with the 46 day test. Should i get tested again, i feel like im going crazy with fear of hiv and also having genital warts. Somedays i have to take an ativan just to function. also should i be able to feel lymph nodes in my groin, several the size of peas and then other longer more oval ones?
Response from Dr. Frascino
You're 22 and she's 42? Hmm . . . very Mrs. Robinson.
I'll make several points:
Unprotected sex does place you at risk for STDs, including HIV.
Genital warts are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). It is much easier to contract HPV than HIV. HPV can be transmitted by skin-to-skin contact. HIV, of course, cannot. I'll reprint below some information about HPV from the archives.
HIV-antibody tests taken prior to the three-month mark are not considered to be conclusive or definitive. (Your doctor should know this!!!) I would recommend you wait for your definitive test at three months.
Your palpable lymph nodes in your groin are most likely related to your HPV. I would advise against trying to examine your own lymph nodes. After all, you haven't been to medical school and really have absolutely no idea what you're feeling for, let alone what is "normal"! Let your doctor do the poking around, OK?
I would suggest you spend some time reviewing the wealth of information on this site and in its archives to become better informed about all aspects of HIV and other STDs.
Good luck.
Dr. Bob
Thanks and question about HPV (HPV, 2009) Jun 20, 2009
Dr. Bob. I would like to thank you for being so compassive with all people that ask questions. I am a 49 year old man from Mexico City. I had several encounters with different ladies in a massage parlor. There was neither penetrative vaginal, anal or oral sex. The most I did was fingering one of these ladies. However, I developed a terrible fear of having got HIV. I started reading your forum and 97 days after the last encounter with these ladies and 5 months after the fingering I was tested for HIV 1 and 2 with a MEIA test. The result came out negative. I continued being very anxious, so I looked for psicotherapy and was put also on zoloft (50 mg every day). The Dr. diagnosed OCD. I continued reading your forum and gradually feeling better. However, an urologist recommended me to test for HPV because he said masturbation from an infected lady could transmit the HPV virus. I did it and unfortunately I got HPV 16, is that possible? I labeled all this with my wife, as you always suggest and thanks God she has been very supportive. I am 98% sure now that with these practices and the test after almost 14 weeks of the last encounter I could not get HIV, as you say no way, no how. Nonetheless I am worried about passing the HPV 16 to my wife. The urologist has suggested a treatment with interferon alpha, what do you think about that?. Is that chemotherapy? I fear possible side effects. Dr. Bob I want also to thank you because I know you are a great pianist. I wanted to play the piano since I was a kid. Nonetheless at that time there was not money at home and it was much more difficult to get a cheap keyboard. When I was in my twenties a friend told me that I could not play the piano because I was very old. At 48, one year ago, I decided to buy a keyboard and I started playing and guess what I can play at least simple things. I probably never will play Chopin or List but what I am playing makes me happy, so you have been also a great inspiration in that respect. Thanks a lot. Just a last question, for the remaining 2% doubt of HIV, can I definitely WOO HOO? Muchas gracias querido amigo Alex
Response from Dr. Frascino
Hi Alex,
Your negative HIV-1/2 test at five months is definitive and conclusive. So you can certainly WOO-HOO as far as HIV is concerned.
HPV, however, is another story. HPV is much easier to get than HIV. You can contract HPV merely with skin-to-skin contact. So it looks like it's BOO-HOO as far as HPV is concerned. However, between HIV and HPV, you certainly would rather have HPV! There are a number of effective treatments available depending on the severity and location of the genital warts. I'll reprint below some information from the archives that discusses HPV and its treatment.
Good luck Alex.
Dr. Bob
i ve already asked a question for HPV Jun 15, 2009
hello doctor,
please refer me somewhere else if its not right to be here: viral load : not exist CD4:375
well i am diagnosed positive there are 5 years old. good health though. my main problem are the genital warts inside my arse. is there any chance for people with HIV to get rid of HPV SYMPTOMS?
there is some treatment i am doing every 3 months but there still some.
i would like to get rid of them permantly. is there any chance?
Advertisement > Response from Dr. Frascino
Genital warts (from HPV) can be difficult to eradicate when the immune system is compromised. However, aggressive and persistent treatment by an HIV-knowledgeable colorectal surgeon is usually effective. I'll reprint below some information about HPV. I realize genital warts are a "pain in the ass" literally and figuratively, but I'd strongly recommend you continue your treatments. You could also consider a second opinion just to see if more aggressive treatment might be warranted.
Good luck.
Dr. Bob
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
March 14, 2009
NOTE: In the U.S., counseling and referrals are available on a national human papillomavirus (HPV) hotline. Call toll-free at 877-HPV-5868 (877-478-5868.)
What Is HPV?
There are over 100 viruses known as human papilloma virus (HPV.) They are common. One study found HPV in 77% of HIV-positive women. HPV is transmitted easily during sexual activity. It is estimated that 50% of all sexually active people get at least one type of HPV infection. Some types of HPV cause common warts of the hands or feet. Infections of the hands and feet are usually not transmitted through sexual activity. Several types of HPV cause genital warts on the penis, vagina, and rectum. Those with HIV can get worse sores in the rectum and cervical areas. HPV can also cause problems in the mouth or on the tongue or lips. Other types of HPV can cause abnormal cell growth known as dysplasia. Dysplasia can develop into anal cancer in men and women, or cervical cancer, or cancer of the penis.
Dysplasia around the anus is called anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN). Anal intraepithelial neoplasia is the development of new abnormal cells in the lining of the anus. Dysplasia in the cervical region is called cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). AIN or CIN appear to be more common in people with HIV infection than those who are HIV negative.
How Is HPV Detected?
Many people have HPV infections but don't know it. HPV can go away without causing any problems. To detect HPV, health care providers look first for the problems HPVs cause: dysplasia or genital warts. A Pap test (or smear) is used to check a woman's cervix. It can also be used to check the anus of men and women. They are smeared on a glass slide or mixed into liquid and examined under a microscope. The cells are examined for abnormalities that may indicate abnormal cell changes, such as dysplasia or cervical cancer.
In 2009 the FDA approved two tests that use the sample collected by a Pap test. These tests look for types of HPV that are linked to health problems.
Dysplasia can be detected by Pap smears.
Some researchers believe that anal and cervical smears should be checked each year for people with elevated risk:
People who have had receptive anal intercourse Women who have had cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) Anyone with under 500 CD4 cells. However, other researchers think that careful physical examination can detect as many cases of anal cancer as anal Pap testing.
Genital warts can appear anywhere from a few weeks to a few months after you are exposed to HPV. The warts might look like small bumps. Sometimes they are fleshy and look like small cauliflowers. They can get bigger over time.
Your health care provider can usually tell if you have genital warts by looking at them. Sometimes a tool called an anoscope is used to look at the anal area. If necessary, a sample of the suspected wart will be cut off and examined under a microscope. This is called a biopsy.
Genital warts are not caused by the same HPV that causes cancer. However, if you have warts, you may have also been exposed to other types of HPV that could cause cancer.
Can HPV Infection Be Prevented?
There is no easy way to tell if someone is infected with an HPV. People who don't have any signs or symptoms of HPV infection can transmit the infection.
Condoms do not totally prevent transmission of HPVs. HPVs can be transmitted by direct contact with infected areas that aren't covered by a condom. Men and women with HIV who are sexually active may want to have a regular Pap smear, anal and/or vaginal, to check for abnormal cells or early signs of warts. A positive result can be followed up to see if treatment is needed.
A vaccine called Gardasil was approved in 2006. However, it has not been tested in or approved for people already infected with HPV. For more information on vaccination against HPV, see www.immunize.org/vis/hpv.pdf.
How Are HPV Infections Treated?
There is no direct treatment for HPV infection. Some people "clear" an HPV infection (are "cured"). They can later be infected with HPV again. However, dysplasias and warts can be removed. There are several ways to do this:
Burning them with an electric needle (electrocautery) or a laser Freezing them with liquid nitrogen Cutting them out Treating them with chemicals Other, less common treatments for warts include the drugs 5-FU (5-fluorouracil) and Interferon-alpha. A new drug, imiquimod (Aldara), has been approved for treatment of genital warts. Cidofovir (Vistide), originally developed to fight cytomegalovirus (CMV), might also help fight HPV.
HPV infection can last for a long time, especially in people who are HIV-positive. Dysplasia and warts can return. They should be treated as soon as they are found to reduce the chances of the problem spreading or returning.
The Bottom Line
Human papilloma viruses (HPV) are fairly common. Different types of HPV cause warts or abnormal cell growth (dysplasia) in or near the anus or cervix. This abnormal cell growth can result in cervical or anal cancer. Genital HPV infections are transmitted through sexual activity.
HPV infection can last a long time, especially in people with HIV.
A Pap smear can detect abnormal cell growth in the cervix. It can also be used to check the anus of men and women. Although Pap smears may be the best way to detect early cervical cancer, careful physical examination may be the best way to detect anal cancers.
The signs of HPV infection -- warts or dysplasia -- should be treated as soon as they show up. Otherwise, the problem could spread and be more likely to return after treatment.
HPV and HIV Nov 26, 2008
I found out about 6 months ago that I had HPV (genital warts) and recently I started feeling very tired, sore throat, I had a spot on my throat at one point but it went away.
I'm not usually the type of person to freak out just because I have similar symptoms as some disease but I was wondering if you can have HPV and HIV at the same time. Now I've had sex a few times since I've found out (protected of course) but one of the guys I had sex with before i was dignosed I had unprotected sex with. Then recently I found out that he never wears a condom so I'm super freaked out right now.
Response from Dr. Frascino
Can you be infected with HPV and HIV at the same time? Yes, you can.
Why are you "super freaked out right now" only after finding out your barebacking buddy barebacks with buddies other than you? As I have frequently said in this forum, we must assume all our sex partners could be HIV positive and take all the necessary precautions to prevent transmission of the virus.
If you've placed yourself at risk for HIV (which you have by going commando-Rambo with Bareback-Buddy), you need an HIV-antibody test at the three-month mark.
Good luck!
Dr. Bob
hiv and hpv May 20, 2007
My path report showed CIN-I and HPV. Does this mean I am positive for HIV?
Response from Dr. Frascino
No, HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) and HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) are two very distinct viruses. Testing positive for one does not automatically mean you are positive for the other. CiN-1 stands for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia stage 1. This condition can be cause by several strains of HPV. It will require follow-up with your gynecologist. If you've placed yourself at risk for HIV (unprotected sex, sharing IV drug paraphernalia, etc.), you'll need a specific HIV test three months or more after your last potential exposure. You can read much more about HPV and HIV in the archives. I'll reprint some information about HPV below.
Good luck.
Dr. Bob


text:
previous post) though, there are unremarkable details here and there.
I do love the cut-out detail of the top, the asymmetric pattern and
slits of the skirt. Inconspicuous beauty brings personal satisfaction
and more importantly, that fits almost anywhere from desk to dinner.
top: Tamara Mellon(here)
skirt: Dholic
earrings: Gorjana
bag: Pierre Balmain(also love this)
sandals: zara(old)