Happy World AIDS Day Everyone!

AIDS Recognition Promps Further Human Rights Development

Every year, World AIDS Day has a theme, and this year’s theme is “Universal Access and Human Rights.” According to the advocacy group Avert, “World AIDS Day provides an opportunity for all of us – individuals, communities and political leaders – to take action and ensure that human rights are protected and global targets for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care are met.”

Thanks for providing the opportunity! It’s not like we could just give people basic rights and human decency and medical care every day.

Norfolk State University is hosting events in support. Dana will have more info on events later today in her This week in LGBT Hampton Roads column.

Speaking of Basic Human Rights

DADT is back to front pages status, where I’m happy to see it remain until its repealed. Yesterday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen announced the results of their survey into the potential impacts of repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.

Drum roll please….

Hooray! They’re into human rights and decency!

“We spend a lot of time in the military talking about integrity and honor and values. Telling the truth is a pretty important value in that scale,” Gates said. He reasons forcing thousands of people to lie about who they’re dating, in love with, etc. is pretty much the opposite of “telling the truth.”

President Obama has also (in words at least) come through with a statement which read “Today I call on the Senate to act as soon as possible so I can sign this repeal into law this year and ensure that Americans who are willing to risk their lives for their country are treated fairly and equally.”

Today, our local military is getting involved in the discussion. The article’s title is “Hampton Roads Veterans Join ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Discussion.” Well, yes. They join the discussion by stating things like “Just because you feel uncomfortable around some people doesn’t mean you can discriminate against them” and “Repealing the ban on openly gay service members would make the military stronger – partly because gay service members would be able to concentrate on doing their jobs without worrying about being outed and booted from the military.” Doesn’t sound like they’re “discussing” repeal, sounds like they’re supporting it.

Salon.com also has a plainspoken, to-the-point piece on why DADT is potentially more detrimental while still in practice than it will be once repealed. It’s more opinion-y than the others, however, so consider yourselves warned.

For a rundown on what’s been happening in the last year regarding this issue, specifically calling out veteran and Senator John McCain’s opposition, and how it’s gotten more and more out of touch, enjoy this clip from everybody’s favorite American, Jon Stewart.

ODU To Tackle Climate Change

ODU will announce plans tomorrow declaring their intent to be a “a national hub for research, teaching and expertise in rising sea levels related to climate change.” Citing a barrage of justifications, evidence, obviousness, reason, common sense, pressing need, and qualifications, it sounds like a great initiative, bringing a bit of prestige to our local university and highlighting an issue we obviously deal with in Norfolk. I mean, we were on the front page of The New York Times last week over this.

According to Pilot, “The ODU initiative includes at least $200,000 and a commitment to pursue grants to hire faculty, conduct research and expand climate change in the curriculum.”

Now, let’s all cross our fingers that Cooch doesn’t ruin this for everyone.

What’s My Name? Part 18,474,377,234

Columnist Mike Gruss tries to reign us in during his article on inexpensive marketing strategies intended to bolster Hampton Roads as a region by point blank instructing the readers “Not up for discussion: Tidewater vs. Hampton Roads as a regional name.”

That’s cute.

I’ll give you seven guesses what the comments parade looked like. Silly Mike, you should have said, “Not up for discussion: Tidewater vs. Hampton Roads vs. Norfolk vs. Chesapeake vs. Norfolk-Virginia Beach vs. America’s First Region vs….” Nevermind. I see why you didn’t go there.

Besides, we all know it’s Norfolk/Virginia Beach.

Bore Me

It has been determined that April 11, 1954 is the most boring day in modern history, with no famous people being born or passing away. No treaties, no battles, no big storms or crashes or royal weddings. Nada. This was determined by True Knowledge, a search engine invented by William Tunstall-Pedoe. I moseyed on over to the website to see how smart it really is. I first asked it “Why do men have nipples?” It got it right. That’s an easy one, though.

I thought harder. “What is Hampton Roads?” It figures it’s both the waterway and the region, but says the region is also known as its 4 billion other names, with the only specific city mention “Norfolk/Virginia Beach.” Yes!

It also has a “related searches” section where it shows you other questions asked by the people who asked “What is Hampton Roads?” One of the top hits:“Is global warming real?” Womp womp.

Famous People and Norfolk

Did you guys know Bob Sagat grew up here!?! This is awesome and amazing. I knew we rocked for something. All those times I try to give us cred with things like “we invented the waffle cone” or “we’re where the beginnings of America, like, began.” Gone baby gone. Bob Sagat Grew Up Here.

Speaking of, there’s a youtube out there (which I will not link to, as some may find it offensive). You may know of which I speak. It involves a potty-mouthed Tourette’s sufferer whose favorite appropriate-to-say-in-public tic is to violently utter under his breath “Bob Sag-ittt. Bobsagatbobsagat.” I find this practice to be quite stress relieving myself and highly recommend it.

In other celebrity news, The Biebs himself, Justin Bieber, came to town recently. He filmed footage of his visit at CHKD, which will now appear in his upcoming music video “Pray.” Like, OMG Biebs. That’s, like, so cool.

Shocking News

77 year old musician Willie Nelson was arrested for pot possession last week.

Last Appeal

If I care about anything, it’s local culture, with my biggest focus on music. I really hope to see everyone out at The Rise Up! this Saturday night. Like Aaditya said, the price of the ticket equates to $2 per band. It’s kind of like voting. You get to complain if you participate and things don’t go your way. You don’t get to complain if you sit back and do nothing to change things in your favor.

I’d be saying this even if I didn’t work for AltDaily. These musicians are talent personified and they’re ours! How cool is that?