HIV Action - First Video Testimony Online

Occasionally, my job as a nonprofit advocate requires a certain amount of creativity in ways I’d never imagined.

This year, as a result of California’s $16 billion deficit, Governor Schwarzenegger has proposed a sweeping number of cuts to the state programs both big and small. The press has called attention to some of the higher profile cuts to education, parks, and . Less frequently discussed are the $11 million in proposed cuts to the state’s HIV/AIDS programs. 

Now I fully understand the predicament California is in– a $20 billion deficit is nothing to sneeze at. On the other hand, what makes anyone think that cutting state health programs is a good idea? This is especially true with HIV funding, which either goes towards care and treatment, or provides HIV education, prevention, and testing. From a purely fiscal perspective, cutting corners here just means more government dollars will be spent later once low-income Californians with HIV get sicker and have to go to the emergency room.

In an effort to get people mobilized and send a message to legislators, me and a handful of committed individuals got together to produce some short online video testimonies from people living with HIV/AIDS.  We spent an afternoon shooting the testimonies of four very cool individuals. In my spare time over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been working on the raw footage to do the editing and credits.

And then my hard drive crashed. [Argh. We won't talk about those painful two days.]

Anyway, after I got things up and running again, I managed to finish the first of the video testimonies. It’s now available online at http://www.youtube.com/user/HIVAction. Others will be added in the days to come.

Check it out and spread the word: No cuts to HIV programs!

Julian Pacaud

http://www.institutdrahomira.com/julienpacaud/shop.html

Geekout: Blue Beetle

This is what comic books should be. DC Comics’ Blue Beetle is fresh, exciting, funny, and smart. Major kudos to writer John Rogers (who also co-penned the Transformers movie and TNT’s upcoming Leverage miniseries) and company for taking what could have been a small-scale project and turning it into one of the best books on sale right now.

The hero of the title, Jaime Reyes, is in many ways a modern day equivalent of Peter Parker when that character first appeared in the sixties,–a neophyte hero going up against all sorts of menaces while trying to find time for high school midterms and household chores. But instead of retreading the whole superhero teen angst, Rogers opts instead for the right balance of light and dark. The result is a comic book that isn’t afraid to explore the darker aspects of superheroing, but finds comfort and reassurance in family and friends.

The short version: El Paso teenager Jaime Reyes gains possession of an alien scarab that bonds with him, granting him the ability to armor up and deploy all sorts of cool weapons. Jaime’s discovery of how the scarab works, as well as why the hell it chose him, is half the fun of this inventive title.

The other half of the fun comes from the engaging supporting cast, who rally behind Jaime as he embarks on his journey of discovery. In addition to some awesome parents who bend the curfew hours for superheroics (”Let’s say, when it’s a natural disaster, not school hours, you can just go.”), Jaime is blessed with best friends Paco and Brenda (see bickering kids below), who are as loyal and resourceful as they are snarky and funny. This is the kind of posse every newbie superhero should have.

Another reason Blue Beetle is so enjoyable is because it provides the new reader with a side door entrance to the DC universe of superheroes. Jaime is actually the third person to bear the name Blue Beetle, which means he’s a legacy hero, something the folks at DC love to do (To date: at least four Flashes, three Robins, two Batgirls, and a host of Starmen). The last Blue Beetle, the late Ted Kord, ran with the Justice League and was well-liked by superheroes and comic geeks alike.

But Rogers plays it smart. Rather than have Jaime run off and join the superehero set right away, he sets the bulk of the stories close to home in El Paso (with the occassional jaunt into outer space or Gotham City) as a way of distancing Jaime from that crazy world. Of course that doesn’t mean that he’s ignored by the superhero community. Various capes drop in on Jaime, curious to see who’s taken Ted’s place. But Jaime’s got his head screwed on right– his family, friends, and community come first.

I can’t recommend Blue Beetle highly enough. In an era of Super Mega Event comic books, this title manages to score points consistently just by telling good, engaging stories that have heart. The first three trade paperbacks are out now. I encourage you to pick them up before they disappear.

Riley Has A Word For It Now

Pricetaggery.

We were watching TV last night, and someone on some show used the word. Almost immediately, Riley starts laughing and turns to me.

“A-ha!” he cries. “So there’s a word for that thing you do!”

Oh, television.  Why must you supply new taunts for people to use on me?

This Weekend: Annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Little Tokyo

It’s official: I’ve become a man who lives for the weekend. How else to explain the fact that I started making weekend plans last Monday?

This week’s pick: The Annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Little Tokyo. The main festivities take place at Japanese Village Plaza, which is a short walk from our place (Man! I love living downtown!). Highlights of the event include the Daion Taiko drummers, the sake barrel-breaking ceremony, a sashiko exhibit and demonstration (I don’t know what that is, but I’ll find out), and lots and lots of martial arts demonstrations. I’m sure my brother’s going to want to visit the Martial Arts History Museum exhibit, which actually looks pretty cool.

I’m guessing lunch at THE BEST RAMEN PLACE EVER is out of the question– that small joint has a crazy long wait list on regular days; this weekend is gonna be impossible. That’s fine, because you’ll always find a good sushi joint in that corner of town (Well, duh). I’m all kinds of good as long as I can get me some sake for lunch (It’ll be Saturday! I’ll drink alcohol at lunch if I want to! You’re not the boss of me!).

——————————-

Other things to try out this weekend:

• Leatherheads: George Clooney, Renee Zellweger, and John Krasinski try their hand at some good old fashioned screwball comedy. Early reviews have been mixed, but I am so gunning for The Office’s Jim to have a solid hit, I might check it out this weekend and contribute to the box office receipts.
• Fridays Off The 405: I’ve been promising myself I’d drag Riley across town for this monthly event, which takes place at The Getty Center in Westwood. Admission is free. Enjoy an awesome, awesome view of L.A., the musical stylings of King Britt, and more art than you can stick a shake at.
• The Brewery Art Walk: Somewhat closer to home is this biannual event, which features the work of over 100 artists who reside at The Brewery, right off the 5 Freeway. Admission is free. After you get your art on, be sure to stop by Barbara’s at The Brewery.