Shawn’s Tool Academy: Hate Crime “Hoax” Lady
April 30, 2009
Just when it was starting to look like Shawn’s Tool Academy was an “old boy’s club”, along comes North Carolina congresswoman Virginia Foxx. Here’s what Crazy-Like-The-Foxx had to say about her vote against hate-crime legislation named after Matthew Sheppard:
“The Matthew Shepard bill is named after a very unfortunate incident
that happened where a young man was killed,” Foxx, a Banner Elk
Republican, said. “But we know that that young man was killed in the
commitment of a robbery. It wasn’t because he was gay. The bill was named for him … but it’s really a hoax that continues to be used as an excuse for passing these bills.”What’s worse is that Matthew Shepard’s mother was there to hear it.
A hoax?
A hoax is how we allow people like this to get elected. People who don’t bother to get the facts, who are blinded by paranoia that they are being “swindled”.
Virginia Foxx, you are a tool. And you’ve broken the glass ceiling in the Tool Academy. This is also the first time a Tool Academy alum’s stupid remarks have been caught on video, which may make Foxx a lock for Tool of the Year honors.
Positively Yours,Shawn
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Interview with the Werewolf: Andy Deane
April 26, 2009
Check out my interview with Andy Deane, we discuss his debut book, The Sticks: Could a werewolf eat a positoid and survive the meal?. Find out!
Decker’s Daily… Aloe?
April 26, 2009
*WARNING- if poo blogs upset you, turn away now*
A week ago, I was in a bad way. For some strange reason, my body had forgotten how to create a turd. It really was a throwback to the old Viracept days a decade ago, when I first started on HIV meds.
By day three, I started to get worried, realizing that I would probably be risking dehydration if I didn’t help my body along somehow. A friend suggested cold pressed Aloe, Gwenn ran to Whole Foods and found some Orange Papaya flavored aloe. I had one glass (two teaspoons mixed with a half glass of water, didn’t taste like anything really) at 8 pm and another around midnight.
The next morning on Earth Day I made a turd.
It was an incredible turn around. I have no idea what threw my body out of whack, but man, I was reminded about what a drag those early days on HIV meds were, when I had diarrhea for months. So, if you are new to the idea of cold pressed aloe, but old to the dilemma of diarrhea, you may want to consider seeking this out and giving it a shot.
Positively Yours,
Shawn
The Hug of the year Award, First Nominee
April 24, 2009
I’m thinking that I need a counterbalance to Shawn’s Tool Academy, where I’ve been nominating senators and popes for tool-ish behavior. Awards for excellence in hugging, anyone?
The first nominee(s) are from the Cable Show in DC. Here’s Sean Strub speaking as the new CEO of Cable Positive. In the spirit of the moment, he gets a surprise hug from Rachel Maddow, who hosted the event. These two are definitely frontrunners for the Hug of the Year.
Positively Yours,
Shawn
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New Depeche Mode Album, Old Synthetic Division Tale
April 21, 2009
Today, Depeche Mode’s new album, Sounds of the Universe, comes out. As many know, they are my favorite band, and I got to meet them at 14 through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the highlight of my existence until I got laid.
Today’s date is a triumph for the band, but the date of April 21st conjures up bad memories in my own musicial career as Synthetic Division…
Eight years ago to the day, local, conquering legends, The Dave Matthews Band, were returning to town to play UVA’s football’s home, Scott Stadium. I
was starting to get some momentum as a one-piece synth act in
Charlottesville, and figured it was time for a big move, something that
would really get folks talking. I booked a show at the Tokyo Rose’s “The Dawning” Goth night, a 150-or-so person capacity room.
Then I made up these flyers, which were posted around town.
This flyer was REALLY postedi n Charlottesville, VA, likely to the horror of the public.
Things were looking good for the upset, but Matthews has people in town. The word must have gotten back to them because at the last minute, Neil Young was brought in to open for DMB, outdrawing me by about 49,850 people. Without Young tapping into my fanbase, who knows what would have happened on April 21, 2001?
Their spot secured, Dave Matthews and his band left town victorious. All I was left with was a Purple Heart Award in the C’ville Weekly’s post-Dave show coverage. I wanted the cover and one word: TRIUMPH.
This past weekend, DMB returned to play two shows, picking at the unhealed, bloody scab of a hemophiliac trying to clot. Trying to forget what could have been. As I look back at that ill-fated Battle of the Bands, my old buddies in the Mode are here once again, just like they were in those early teen years when I discovered them.
Positively Yours,
Shawn
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Decker’s Daily and AIDS Walk Update
April 20, 2009
Last week I launched a humble little program called “Decker’s Daily Coffee”, offering people a chance to buy me a latte. I was fully prepared to lash out and accuse everyone of discrimination for not supporting me because I have AIDS. (And not for being a shameless mooch.)
Well, to my surprise, I got donations!
One was even a week-long sponsorship from Scott Kramer and Rex in New York City. They’ll be walking in this year’s AIDS Walk NY on the Invincible- Team Pat Benetar squad. Here’s a pic of the latte lovin’ duo with Pat Benatar, the inspiration behind their team of AIDSWalkers, who have raised over $40,000 since 2000.
Love is a battlefield- and an AIDSWalk! (Scott, Pat and Rex)
———————————-
Last year, Team Supersnack, the group that Gwenn and I walk with, “defeated” Kenneth Cole by outraising his team, the culmination of a long, drawn-out fake feud that I started on my blog. As it turns out, this year I will not be walking in the AIDS Walk NY. Is it because I will be focusing full-time on iced mocha drinking?
No!
Team Supersnack is turning their attention to DC’s AIDS Walk in October. Recent statistics have suggested that 3% of the district’s residents are living with HIV. Unbelievable. So, before I strap on my favorite walking sneakers to kick AIDS ass in DC, I want to tip my hat to Scott, Rex, Poz and the thousands of people who will be walking the walk next month.
Even Kenneth. (Okay, so he doesn’t actually walk, but he donates lots of money to the cause… how about a latte, Kenny?)
Positively Yours,
Shawn
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World Hemophilia Day
April 17, 2009
Today is World Hemophilia Day! If you’d like to observe the 20th anniversary of World Hemophilia Day here’s what you can do this weekend.
- Hug a Thinblood: Not too tightly, but not too soft, either. Cyberhugs are good, too.
- Donate Blood: People with bleeding disorders rely on blood products. It’s safe and easy to donate!
- Punch Yourself In Nose: PLEASE NOTE… This is only for Thickbloods. Pretend the bleeding won’t stop for a while, and empathize with Thinbloods. (Please Don’t, actually.)
World Hemophilia Day really snuck up on me this year. I’ve slept half the day away, and now I gotta go play catch up. My advice to fellow Thinbloods- take full advantage of today! If there is someone you are pining for, they have to go out on a date with you. Especially if you show up in the suit pictured with a dozen roses… be creative in how you exploit this!
And no, Decker’s Daily wasn’t launched on Monday to rack up sponsors today. Though I was shocked to have gotten 8 days of coffee- more on that later… for now, I gotta get out of the house, grab a cup of joe, and scream to the world: “I am Thinblood, hear me roar!”
Positively Yours,
Shawn
Share the Blog. Not the Virus. Introducing The Confusinator
April 16, 2009
Apparently there was a lot of muffled laughter about The Swatchmen, a superhero group I will lead into battle the day after I am cured of hemophilia. (Read the original blog here.)
Well, the Swatchmen Facebook group is bursting at the seams with 48 members, one of which already has their alter ego ready to go- The Confusinator!
I imagine we’ll break the 100 mark by the time that cure rolls in.
You may want to join us. I have a lot of pent up thickblood envy that I am planning on unleashing once I am cured. So join or, as the Confusinator would put it, “Consequence the suffers!”
In all seriousness, who knows when a cure for hemophilia will happen? The science will take time, I’m sure. I joke about being cured, but I have mild hemophilia, and stay away from the temptation of joining the local rugby league, so the impact of the disease on my adult life is minimal.
Still, the enormity of the advances made from just before I was born to the potential of what awaits in my lifetime is a pretty wide swing. From people being able to manage bleeding episodes by infusing concentrated blood plasma, in effect going from a “victim of disease” to a superhero (The Infusinator, anyone?), to the horrific consequences of HIV infection… to being cured.
That’s a lot of science, human error and human triumph in the story of those who have lived with hemophilia or “thinbloods”, as I affectionately refer to those with bleeding disorders. (Shout out to my peeps with Von Willebrand!) And I eagerly await the day when there is a cure, but I hope that lessons learned are never forgotten.
If they are, then maybe someone will have to answer to myself, The Confusinator, and lots of former Infusinators.
Positively Yours,
Shawn
Share the Blog. Not the Virus. Decker’s Daily Coffee
April 13, 2009
HIV medications get a lot of credit for my current health, which is good. They deserve it for pulling me out of the shit basket a decade ago, when I was really sick… but you know what really keeps me going now?
Iced mochas.
Just about every day I find a way to get my thinblooded hands wrapped around a tall glass of godliness. And, like the hand that clasps that iced sugar rush and brings it towards my trembling lips, I can’t imagine my life without the drink. They are so good. I can’t stand it. But lately, in these harsh economic times, I’ve been thinking: “These are really starting to add up.”
That’s where you come in.
I’ve spoken and written about my personal life for so long, but I’ve always kept one thing private: the extent of my love for coffee drinks. On Decker’s Daily Coffee, I am going to post a picture every day that I make sweet love- er, drink- a coffee drink.
And not only am I inviting you into this world, I am also offering you the distinct honor of treating me to a drink.
Yes, it’s that easy! You can even pimp something if you’d like, just keep it down to a sentence and one link. Who will see your name in the bright lights? Me- and I’ll be very thankful. Want to remain anonymous? That’s cool too. Okay, okay, I know what you’re thinking.
“But Shawn, would you buy me a coffee drink?”
The answer is no.
“Why?”
Because… I have AIDS. HIV meds are expensive.
“What?!”
Are you not sponsoring me because I have AIDS?
“I have AIDS too!”
Oh.
So maybe I don’t know what you are thinking.
And I’m sure there are many other variations of that conversation I could walk through. Just know that I understand the ethical violations this solicitation presents. I did a lot of soul searching before coming to the decision to launch Decker’s Daily Coffee because, until recently, a Depression was just something I slept through in 5th grade history class.
But now it’s real. And I gotta hustle. Because I gotta have my coffee.
Positively Yours,
Shawn
Share the Blog. Not the Virus. Hear My Tori Amos Remix
April 10, 2009
I’ve gotten back into writing some music as of late, and here’s something I did for the Subculture Shock compilation disc for the Spring fund drive.
If you’re not familiar, Subculture Shock is a radio show that plays underground alternative music, and they started playing my music back in 1999 after I moved to Charlottesville… I remember what a thrill it was to hear one of my songs on the radio.
Here’s the song I gave them. It’s a remix of a Tori Amos song, “Raspberry Swirl”, that Synthetic Division- my synthpop duo- first covered a couple of years ago. (You can buy the cover on iTunes). You can listen to the remix here.
Enjoy! And here’s the original Tori song. Which is about a lesbian love affair. Being lipsynched by Divinette, the drag queen.
I Am Not Your Senorita,
Shawn
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