Seasons Change.

Darker earlier in the evening. Darker longer in the morning. Yep. Summer is quickly turning into fall. Before you reach for your favorite seasonal disorder meds, consider two great things about the change of seasons: great new music and the opportunity to change the world.

Chances are you'll be switching on the lights in your house more often as we have less hours of daylight. But wait. Don't touch that light switch. At least not until you consider switching a bulb or two to Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs, affectionately know as CFLs. OK, I know. They aren't bright, they're too noisy, and they take too long to start up. These traits describe the CFLs of yesterday. CFLs have changed as much in seven years as digital music players and digital cameras. The technology and the impact it can have on the planet are nearly as sexy as my iPod. Think about this: if everyone of the 110 million households in the US were to change out just one traditional light bulb it would have the same greenhouse gas reducing impact of, get this, removing 1.3 million cars off the road. Read more about "How Many Light bulbs Does it Take to Change the World" in the September 2006 issue of Fast Company, www.fastcompany.com.

After you've switched out a few light bulbs, it will be time to dim all the lights and listen to some great new music. I grew up thinking that the cool new music released every three months or so is actually what made the seasons change. I still think it is. And the soon to happen summer to fall transition is no exception. I promise you won't be disappointed if you go directly to iTunes and listen to these songs:

I Don't Feel Like Dancin' by Scissor Sisters. If the Bee Gees and Elton John were to have a love child (could be interesting) it would sound like this. With hooks that will make you feel mighty real and maybe even make you feel like dancin', plus a songwriting credit shared with Elton John himself, this one can't miss and belongs on your iPod.

Waiting for The World to Change by John Mayer. Yep, he's adorable and fans throw intimate items at him on stage. Mayer is growing into a consistent pop songwriter. If Marvin Gaye were still around, he's a song he could have written for us. Instead, Mayer presents it as a candidate for the musical theme for the 2008 DNC Convention. Which will hopefully be held in Denver.

When You Were Young by The Killers. The hottie lead singer Brandon Flowers (no relation to Wayland Flowers of "Madame" fame) once said that he wants the Killers to be important and to last. Healthy self-esteem, huh? Anyway, here's great powerpop that sends props to the 80s. Great backing vocals, drums and even an old fashioned guitar solo in the bridge.

Like 'em? Buy 'em! Stealing is bad.

True Stories

This is my first blog. This originally appeared in the 8/17/06 issue of OutFront Colorado.

I was at the gym, having just returned from a vacation in San Francisco,
and the TV news headline grabbed me: "Life made simple for people living
with HIV." Wow, what changed while I was on vacation? The story went on
to explain that a more simple to follow medication regime had been
formulated. Fewer pills. Sure, life made simple.

What the news story did not report was the fact that it's estimated this
new combined drug therapy will cost $1600 per month. The story also did
not report that many people living with HIV won't be able to tolerate
this combined drug regime. The story never mentioned how preventable HIV
really is. Or that new cases of HIV are trending up once again this
year, for the third year in a row. Or that, oh yeah, there's still not a
vaccine or a cure for HIV. Nope, none of those things. Just that life is
"simpler for people living with HIV." OK, so here's where I felt like
Holly Hunter in the film Broadcast News. You know, the part where she's
trying to convince the group of broadcasting scholars to only report on
the stuff that matters, not the fluff. The simple stuff.

Back to vacation. In San Francisco my partner and I talked about how
it's almost impossible not to notice the advertisements for HIV
medications. Each ad, regardless of the medication it promoted, featured
handsome people enjoying amazingly sexy lives, all because they were
able to take one simple pill. These ads were on billboards, buses,
trains, and coffee cup sleeves. We wondered where the billboards were
about preventing HIV? Of course, I am grateful for the medical advances
that are providing individuals infected with HIV longer and healthier
lives. But how come the coffee cup sleeves didn't have a message about
harm reduction or prevention? Where were the people handing out condoms,
reminding all of us about HIV? While the stories and images of people
living full healthy lives thanks to medications are inspiring, I wonder
if they are doing us a disservice. Every night in the US, young people
go out and hook up believing HIV is no big deal. That HIV is "managed
simply" with one pill. But you and I know that's just one part of the
story.

Chances are you've noticed the same trend. Just pick up any one of the
many glossy magazines targeting the gay community and check out the HIV
medication advertisements. While looking at these expensive print ads, I
find it fascinating to read the required, and not-so-simple drug
disclosures - in fine print on the page behind the sales pitch. These
disclosures remind you of all the side effects of the drug and also how
it might interact with other drugs. Oh, and the disclosures will remind
you that this pill is not a cure for HIV. But they don't remind you how
to reduce harm, prevent HIV, or how to tell your story.

Anyone who has ever been tested for HIV has a story. A story about fear.
A story about behavior. A story about decisions made in a moment of
passion. Have you told your story?

The need for education is greater than ever. Every hour of every day,
another young adult becomes infected with HIV. Here's where you,
together with the Colorado AIDS Project (CAP), can make a difference.
People learn through stories. We need people to stand up and share their
stories for columns like this one and through other CAP outreach
efforts. Please. Take a few moments and send your story to
info@coloradoAIDSproject.org. Tell us about what sparked your decision
to be tested. Tell about what went through your mind while you waited
for the test results and how it felt to receive them. How did it feel to
tell others, or to decide not to tell others about your results.
Regardless of your status, if you've been tested for HIV, you have a
story that could change other people's lives. Tell your story today.