From 103763.351@CompuServe.COM Fri May 17 17:46:28 1996 Date: 17 May 96 16:50:09 EDT From: "Michael S. Wilson" <103763.351@CompuServe.COM> To: Paul/Rita Subject: Newsflash Issue 10 for Archives XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> NEWSFLASH >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Volume 1, Issue 10. May 17, 1996. Essays, poetry, verse, mad scribbling. Posted weekly to newsgroups and archives. Submit your wordcraft here. Send any poems, opinions, essays or short stories to mswilson@ usa.pipeline.com. Copy freely but please don't mangle - not fair to the artists. Thanks. ##################################### Table of Contents 1. HIV News - Ed. 2. Free Shot - Stan Wotring 3. Static Cling - Stan Wotring 4. Where is Spooky Tooth - Ben Ohmart 5. Grovel, Toil and - Ben Ohmart 6. Quotable quotes. **************************************** HIV NEWS It was recently reported in Newsweek and other news sources that researchers have made an important discovery about the AIDS virus. They were studying a receptor molecule on human cells called CD4, and how the virus binds to these molecules. They found that HIV is usually repelled by cells, even though they had this binding receptor. So they searched for a "co-factor" through a long process of testing. Researchers at the NIAID identified a previously unknown coreceptor, a cell-surface feature they have named "fusin". The findings suggest that although HIV can't invade cells by means of the CD4 receptor alone, it readily infects those displaying both CD4 and fusin. This could point the way to new treatments and drugs, especially drugs that could halt or severly arrest progress of the disease. More hope for all of us in stopping this disease. See this week's issue of Newsweek for an in-depth article on the discovery. Another recent development in AIDS research is the home hiv test, that will soon be marketed by Johnson & Johnson. The test will cost about $40.00 and allow anyone to test themselves in the privacy of their own home. At least a person can have some privacy this way. Free and confidential testing is offered now by county health departments nationwide. Get tested - Wear condoms - Pass the word! In another development, Republicans in the House are spearheading a movement to ban Gay marriages nationwide. President Clinton, while generally for civil rights for Gays, Lesbians, is thought to be against marriages also. This is kind of tragic. Marriage implies monogamy and loyalty to your partner. The current status quo makes it real easy for partners to just walk away from a relationship, or to go out and cheat repeatedly. A legal recognition of some kind of marriage or "Life Partner" status for the Gay/Les community would most certainly cut down on promiscuity. Less promiscuity (due to a strong, solid legal bond) equals less infectious disease being spread around. Legal gay Marriages=less screwing around=less AIDS. Perhaps they just want us to kill each other off sooner. But let's not make it easy for them. Write your congressperson, especially if they are one of these Republican critters. Vote in the elections for more liberal candidates - make your voice heard. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ SUBMISSIONS Free Shot People seem to think it is weak to turn the other cheek. Perhaps this perception is just a reflection of their own guilt. Aggression grows when victory is guaranteed. (c) 1996 Stan Wotring Static Cling Satisfaction is a rare and blissful state. Goals tend to migrate to the extreme. Contentment only requires an acceptance of the status quo. One has to be able to hold the moment. (c) 1996 Stan Wotring Where is Spooky Tooth? There used to be a band and maybe they wouldn't even exist to this day if we hadn't talked about them once years ago before you and i were we and now I'm buying the single bags because making a whole pot is stupid and i came across this old record in a shop that still has records and there is Spooky Tooth like it was waiting for me all the time. - Ben Ohmart Grovel, Toil and The friend, the one who never dates was complaining about loving Tori Amos and i had to admit i didn't care. and i felt guilty about this. So i wrote to her. She never wrote back, and now, i think i love her too. - Ben Ohmart ############################################### Every great oak was once a nut that stood it's ground. - anonymous Where all think alike, no one thinks very much. - Walter Lippman It is not who is right, but what is right that is important. - Thomas Huxley. No matter how hard the cock, or how young the body, the virus still lurks: Use protection. - Dream Queen ***************************************************** Thanks for reading this. Feel free to submit a essay, poem, letter or whatever. Send to mswilson@usa.pipeline.com. @@@@@@@end of issue 10@@@@@@@@@@