gement | And everyone must breathe until their dyin' breath

While we were on our knees
Praying that disease
Would leave the ones we love
And never come again
-- Regina Spektor, "On the Radio"

I'm up to my neck in work, but December first is World AIDS Day. Many of the people on my friends list are already doing the right things, but just to reality check the rest of you... (Yes, I mean you!)

Unless you're in a lifetime monogamous relationship with another virgin, get tested and get your partner tested. Get tested again if you're getting together with someone new. Get tested if you're looking at "switching up" to sex without barrier protections. Get tested every six months unless you're celibate or mutually monogamous. If you're mutually monogamous, get tested once just to make sure. And for heaven's sake, if you must stick needles into any part of you, make sure they're single use only, and get tested. Not just for HIV, but for Hepatitis and all the other nasties out there.

Thank you for staying alive.

[Edit: Yes, and actually protect yourself and try to choose safe partners and if you're already infected get treated and care about the fact that 1 in 4 adults in Botswana is infected. But it seems pretty clear that people who aren't protecting themselves very well are continuing to do so, and we're never going to stop this if you (yes, you) don't even know if you're a carrier. So get tested.]