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Relax, the House of Lords or the King will surely hold this up. Free speech! Oh wait…. I don’t know what is worse. Having a powerful upper house with equal representation for all states on a state by state basis (and the inequalities of that arrangement, as intended) and a final determination by the president - places where perhaps good legislation goes to die (as in 🇺🇸) or A powerful lower house that has the propensity to rush to terrible legislation that gets passed by the Commons, and then ceremoniously rubber stamped by an handpicked House of Lords and a King. 🇬🇧 Democracy is a lovely idea but the concept of a flawed democracy is also a thing, amirite?

It’s a PITA to have AIDS. Sure, we can treat today what many people died from in the 80s and 90s. But these treatments have limits. It’s hard to get insurance coverage for Shingles vaccines under 50… I’m in my 30s and my experience with shingles is that I know I don’t want it again. And like shingles/chickenpox is a herpes virus, Herpes Simplex 1 or 2 comes with a vengeance in people who have AIDS. It used to be a small patch for the outbreak but once I hit AIDS, its an 800 mg of Acyclovir which is the minimum amount I have to take to keep myself from having an outbreak the size of a baseball. Double digit CD4 is intriguing until you have to start taking Bactrim everyday because otherwise I would literally suffer from a nice little pneumonia. Those vaccines are only useful if you’re t-cells stick around to protect you! Struggling to breathe is how I don’t want spend my nights. This daily Bactrim pre exposure prophylaxis didn’t seem to work for my MRSA infection, requiring surgery to remove the abscesses. And it’s a party until the virus attacked my brain directly. My neuropsychologist said that my delirium was caused by a lack of T-cells and that my viral load has been a factor in my brains’ psychoses episodes. These are just the things that I have to deal with. And I consider myself one of the lucky ones! YMMV.

No one wakes up with an inherent desire to contribute to capitalism. It isn’t part of our nature to view our time and energy as indispensable cogs in an economic system that has defined Western civilization for centuries. And yet, capitalism—rooted in principles laid out long before Adam Smith put pen to paper—remains the framework that dictates the rules of daily life for billions. But what happens when that framework begins to crack? Today, we see evidence everywhere: rising inequality, environmental collapse, and the increasing consolidation of wealth and power in the hands of a few. Climate change reminds us daily that our extractive approach to resources and labor is unsustainable. Meanwhile, technological progress, often celebrated as capitalism’s crowning achievement, seems to accelerate its contradictions. A system that once relied on widespread competition now thrives on monopolies and resembles something closer to 21st-century feudalism. When these concerns are raised, the predictable counterargument emerges: “What is the alternative?” Skeptics default to this question, as though history has already exhausted every economic possibility. They point to the failures of past experiments—Soviet communism, Maoist collectivism, or even poorly executed welfare states—as if these are the only options. But I reject this framing. Or, I go boldly against the “No Alternatives” Fallacy. The question, “What is the alternative?” assumes a false dichotomy: capitalism or chaos. It’s a question rooted in fear rather than imagination, designed to preserve the status quo rather than encourage exploration. What if, instead of clinging to what we know, we embraced the unknown? Economic systems are not static. Just as feudalism evolved into capitalism, capitalism, too, will evolve—or collapse under its own weight. The alternative is not a return to failed systems but the creation of something new, informed by modern technology and guided by principles of equity and sustainability. Take Scandinavia as an example. These nations didn’t achieve their current blend of capitalism and socialism through violent revolution or ideological purges. They evolved—gradually—by recognizing the importance of balancing individual enterprise with collective well-being. Universal healthcare, free education, robust social safety nets: these are not utopian fantasies but proven policies that work in the modern world. A perfect example this is not, as these countries are fairly culturally and socially homogeneous, but are socially still very much on the right track. One solution: Living Contrary to Scarcity-centric Capitalism… So, what can we do now? How do we, as individuals, begin to dismantle a system that feels so pervasive? One way is to act in direct contradiction to capitalism’s demands. The system is only functional if we strive for unending productivity, participation in consumerism, and self- centered individualism. We can disrupt it by prioritizing rest, solidarity, and community care. This isn’t about opting out entirely—few of us have that privilege—but about taking what the system offers and advocating for more. Millions rely on Social Security, SNAP benefits, and other programs designed to provide a safety net; yet these programs are deliberately underfunded and inadequate, often failing to keep pace with inflation or the rising cost of living. Social Security Disability Insurance, for example, requires recipients to wait two years before becoming eligible for Medicare—despite recipients’ having paid into the system. This is by design. A system that barely meets basic needs surely reinforces the concept of dependency rather than empowerment. By collectively demanding improvements, we can expose and exploit these contradictions. After all, even the wealthiest beneficiaries of capitalism—those who eagerly accepted PPP loans during the pandemic—have no qualms about taking from the system when it serves them. Why should we? … to understand the “Power of Collective Suffering”… Our collective struggles under capitalism are not isolated incidents; they are symptoms of a system in decline. Within our suffering lies power. Recognizing the shared nature of our experiences is the first step toward building solidarity and imagining alternatives. The evolution of capitalism into something more just and sustainable won’t happen overnight, nor will it come from the top down. It will require experimentation, imagination, and a willingness to challenge deeply ingrained assumptions. It will also require action—however small. We must be willing to advocate for stronger safety nets and equal rights for all. We do this by educating ourselves and others on how current systems work, how they fail, and we also stand up and take what we’re entitled to, not in the face of shame, and demand more. If we accept that time is finite, then surely we must also accept that our economic systems must evolve to meet the demands of the present, not the ideals of the past. ……For “A Call to Action” Promoters often present capitalism as inevitable, natural, or eternal. History tells us otherwise. Systems change because people demand it, not because the biggest benefactors - those who are (privileged, connected, corrupt) and benefit the most - are willing to give it up. “End stage capitalism” doesn’t mean the end of society; but the beginning of a new chapter— one that we must be willing to write. So, let us imagine boldly, act collectively, and evolve together. Our alternative is not just another economic system. In just merely stating that our alternative is to aim for survival, surely sets ourselves up for the same failing scarcity economy that we currently have. We should raise the bar and aim for the abundance economy.

All of my underwear and a lot of my socks are originally the property of other Men. If one leaves his clothes, I make an effort to get it back to him. If the effort is fruitless for whatever reason, my wardrobe increases. I don’t mind wearing another man’s worn underwear, and I probably will do just that… but I do eventually like to wash them. I don’t find using any personal effects of people who I choose to have sex with to be gross. Why would I care about sharing toothbrushes, or razors, or eating after someone a problem? I have shared a lot more personal items than that.

One thing about getting pozzed and HIV regimens: you don’t really get to choose. I for example have a mutation which causes HIV to be fully resistant to NNRTI class drugs, like what is half of the medicines in Cabenuva, so there is no complete regimen for me and anyone else who inherited their HIV from people who had trouble with Efavirenz or Nevirapine toxicity and side effects years ago. Your HIV is genotyped and phenotyped using Stanford’s comprehensive database of HIV mutations, and it will suggest to you what drugs are most effective. YMMV.

It’s Folsom Weekend. Exciting weekend ahead for San Francisco. Judging from the weather report for tomorrow (Friday) it should be a nice day for Marshalls Beach, if we’re lucky. And of course Folsom Street Fair is on Sunday. I am curious. What are your plans, or how did it go?

Buena Vista Park, fully. Usually gets busy near 10:00-11:00 PM and 4:00-500 AM but stuff could happen anytime. If its 70° on the Pacific coast side of SF (in the Avenues) I would recommend a day at Marshall’s Beach. It is a hell of a climb down but once there we take our clothes off and find our courage. Bring a nice jacket regardless. Unlike the rest of the United States, we have a marine layer that has the effect of dampening our atmosphere by creating fog and cool ocean breezes. I say if you want warm, this is not the time of year, weatherwise to come to San Francisco. There are very few warm nights. Welcome to San Francisco. Don’t leave anything behind in your rental car on the street. Paperclip, empty bottle, etc. You’ll be bipped. Don’t get bipped!

Yes. Being 5’ 8” and 120 LB I get raped whenever I’m with a (unknown to me) rapist and we end up alone together, when they can get away with it. If this scenario presents itself as long as they don’t try to harm me (happened twice) I don’t fight back and I let them finish inside me. I also had friends invite over someone who has ended up raping me while they watched, and I don’t mind that as long as they are not violent. I have however been violently assaulted, strangled, and nearly killed by my rapist and that’s not cool. If you rape me please don’t be so violent. I’m not going to report your need to blow your DNA in me, if you respect my boundaries. I have been raped 6 times.

I know that your Norvir or Cobicistat boosting your Protease Inhibitor (or in your Genvoya) will also provide a major boost to Viagra too.

In 2018 I tested positive on July 24 with a 4th generation antibody test. Confirmation test was Negative, and the second confirmation was also negative. Tested positive ultimately in September when they retested the sample done at the same time as the other two. (Was in a Research study) Ask your doctor for one of these. Indeed, they are also called HIV 1 RNA Test. These are accurate with less than a week of time after exposure.

I’m generally in agreement with what you all are saying but I want to make a further point that this iteration of San Francisco will not last. I won’t deny that the “scene” is on life support, in need of serious care to be sustained at a level we expect, and enjoy - especially in the fetishes we enjoy. San Francisco was able to be sustained miraculously before and during the pandemic, until yes - Mpx struck. But it wasn’t just that, it also was a large number of minor things that f’ed up everything: 1. Opportunities. Since the cost of living in the Bay Area remained high throughout the pandemic compared with other North American cities - many people, especially queer people working in Hospitality, Retail, Tourism, and Travel had hours cut or made substantially less money; ultimately choosing to move away. 2. Events…. And places to have them. It got boring. Many LGBT+ venues closed down permanently, from Watergarden to The Stud, and the rest remained shut down for a lot longer than anywhere else in the Western world. 3. Retirement. Quite a few longtime promoters and venue operators threw in the towel. Time to retire. All who is left need to step up to put in the work, or if time is not a possibility- provide oversight, and financial assistance to make it happen. If anyone has any good ideas, I am happy to help do some of the work on this. It takes a village quite a long time before results happen; and San Franciscans generally accept nothing but the best from the get-go. This is a town where first impressions make or break you. 4. Tourism to events we have doesn’t happen when we have few events. We have Folsom / Dore, we’d be anemic without it. Did anyone go tho the Castro Street Fair? Did Frameline happen this year? How was this past weekend with Halloween events? I honestly don’t know. What’s the draw for tourism when it is impossible to get here and then have little to do once here? Gay Tourism is a huge part of our hedonistic lifestyle and culture. San Francisco was the best sex tourism pilgrimage this side of the Mississippi, now maybe more like this side of the Sacramento River Delta. What is unfortunate is that our Queer nonprofits and City tourism agencies are not doing enough to stop the decline of Queer tourism, or marketing our assets like before. If, in 2024, the BOS expect us to rubber stamp their reelection efforts they are going to be in for a rude awakening. 5. AFFORDABILITY 55K in San Francisco left during the pandemic, but really, how many were queer? How many of us are forced to live outside of San Francisco due to high housing costs? How many times can you remember that “BART Ride of Fame” on a Monday Afternoon, sweaty and gross because it was 97° during the walk from your weekend mess to South Hayward, Walnut Creek BART; or worse, the trip from East Palo Alto - on University nonetheless - to sneak on Caltrain but hide in the bathroom from the fare inspectors, cause you lost your wallet (stolen) and had no way of getting back to SF, or possibly Oakland, and Uber wasn’t invented yet. Maybe this shit was unique to me, but the 55K number was also *only* unique to San Francisco. Hundreds of thousands of people left the Bay Area. Its too unaffordable for LGBT+ that were already here, and Generation Z doesn’t seem too willing to give SF a shot, save for some who don’t mind a good bit of work. 6. Crime. I moved from the westside of SF to live alone downtown and I have to say, it’s essentially a bit overblown. Lower Nob Hill gives one all of the downtown experience. In this area some affectionately call the Tenderloin annex, crime is unfortunate but rare; mostly limited to theft of property, not violent acts. Still, it could be better and safer. I tend to avoid the walk alone at night when I’m needing to go south of O’farrell and much of the TL East of Larkin to about Jones and McAllister. San Francisco has always been a boom and bust town, but each time people step up and start over. This has to happen or else we will have our own queer SF doom loop.

They must tread lightly and carefully with this kind of activity going forward. The constitution of California does protect the right to privacy, and this sort of activity is illegal under the CPRA if the user has opted out. If a California resident has opted out of having their data shared, this would be a blatant violation of the rights afforded to them by the California Privacy Rights Act, which is now fully in force. The Act, which was formerly known as California Proposition 24 (2020) specifies the types of information that we can block businesses from sharing, including everything from health, genetics, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, sex life, union membership, religion, philosophical beliefs, and also precise geolocation data. This law expanded the previous law, and went into effect on January 1, 2023, applying to personal data collected on or after January 1, 2022. The intentions of the Act, according to Wikipedia (because I am lazy) are to provide California residents with the right to: Know who is collecting their and their children's personal information, how it is being used, and to whom it is disclosed. Control the use of their personal information, including limiting the use of their sensitive personal information. Have access to their personal information and the ability to correct, delete, and transfer their personal information. Exercise their privacy rights through easily accessible self-serve tools. Exercise their privacy rights without being penalized. Hold businesses accountable for failing to take reasonable information security precautions. Benefit from businesses' use of their personal information. Have their privacy interests protected even as employees and independent contractors. California residents, take advantage of your CPRA rights! I routinely request that companies that track me, data brokers such as LexisNexis, and advertisers delete all of my personal information.

I had resistant shigella a few years back and it was the worst thing I’ve ever had to endure. 105° fever and no antibiotics were working. I almost died, and was rushed into the ER without wait. My immune system literally had no help. They tried several IV pouches of antibiotics and none of them worked. The antibiotic resistance testing in Petri dishes had little activity on the shigella strain. I was admitted for two days. The second time I had it, fighting it off was a little better. Miraculously I still had some T cells floating around with a memory of it.