1ST DECEMBER : WORLD AIDS DAY! PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS or Aids) is a collection of symptoms and infections resulting from the damage to the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

This condition progressively reduces the effectiveness of the immune system and leaves individuals susceptible to opportunistic infections and tumors.AIDS is a transferable disease. HIV is transmitted through direct contact of a mucous membrane or the bloodstream with a bodily fluid containing HIV, such as blood, semen, vaginal fluid, preseminal fluid, and breast milk.

This transmission can involve anal, vaginal or oral sex, blood transfusion, contaminated hypodermic needles, exchange between mother and baby during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding, or other exposure to one of the above bodily fluids.

In 2007, an estimated 33.2 million people lived with the disease worldwide, and it killed an estimated 2.1 million people, including 330,000 children.
Although treatments for AIDS and HIV can slow the course of the disease, there is currently no vaccine or cure. Antiretroviral treatment reduces both the mortality and the morbidity of HIV infection, but these drugs are expensive and routine access to antiretroviral medication is not available in all countries.

Due to the difficulty in treating HIV infection, preventing infection is a key aim in controlling the AIDS epidemic, with health organizations promoting safe sex and needle-exchange programmes in attempts to slow the spread of the virus.

PREVENTION :

The three main transmission routes of HIV are sexual contact, exposure to infected body fluids or tissues, and from mother to fetus or child during perinatal period. It is possible to find HIV in the saliva, tears, and urine of infected individuals, but there are no recorded cases of infection by these secretions, and the risk of infection is negligible.

SEXUAL CONTACT
The majority of HIV infections are acquired through unprotected sexual relations between partners, one of whom has HIV. The primary mode of HIV infection worldwide is through sexual contact between members of the opposite sex. During a sexual act, only male or female condoms can reduce the chances of infection with HIV and other STDs and the chances of becoming pregnant. The best evidence to date indicates that typical condom use reduces the risk of heterosexual HIV transmission by approximately 80% over the long-term, though the benefit is likely to be higher if condoms are used correctly on every occasion.The male latex condom, if used correctly without oil-based lubricants, is the single most effective available technology to reduce the sexual transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Manufacturers recommend that oil-based lubricants such as petroleum jelly, butter, and lard not be used with latex condoms, because they dissolve the latex, making the condoms porous.

The female condom is an alternative to the male condom and is made from polyurethane, which allows it to be used in the presence of oil-based lubricants. They are larger than male condoms and have a stiffened ring-shaped opening, and are designed to be inserted into the vagina. The female condom contains an inner ring, which keeps the condom in place inside the vagina – inserting the female condom requires squeezing this ring. However, at present availability of female condoms is very low and the price remains prohibitive for many women. Preliminary studies suggest that, where female condoms are available, overall protected sexual acts increase relative to unprotected sexual acts, making them an important HIV prevention strategy.
Studies on couples where one partner is infected show that with consistent condom use, HIV infection rates for the uninfected partner are below 1% per year.Prevention strategies are well-known in developed countries, but epidemiological and behavioral studies in Europe and North America suggest that a substantial minority of young people continue to engage in high-risk practices despite HIV/AIDS knowledge, underestimating their own risk of becoming infected with HIV.
Randomized controlled trials have shown that male circumcision lowers the risk of HIV infection among heterosexual men by up to 60%. It is expected that this procedure will be actively promoted in many of the countries affected by HIV, although doing so will involve confronting a number of practical, cultural and attitudinal issues. Some experts fear that a lower perception of vulnerability among circumcised men may result in more sexual risk-taking behavior, thus negating its preventive effects.

MAJOR MISCONCEPTION SURROUNDING CAUSE OF AIDS

A number of misconceptions have arisen surrounding HIV/AIDS. Three of the most common are that AIDS can spread through casual contact, that sexual intercourse with a virgin will cure AIDS, and that HIV can infect only homosexual men and drug users. Other misconceptions are that any act of anal intercourse between gay men can lead to AIDS infection, and that open discussion of homosexuality and HIV in schools will lead to increased rates of homosexuality and AIDS.

There is surely a need for proper awareness regarding AIDS and HIV, and this post of mine as a part of bloggers union for a cause worldwide comes up with an appeal to all readers of my blog, not just to be aware of this but also to forward the world of awareness in a country like mine, where education and literacy issues along with ever growing population are haunting, your cooperation is a need of the hour! take care! wish you all a happy healthy and safe life!

POETIC CRIES FOR PAINTING'S EXPRESSION

A fusion of two artists , one saluting the other! Simply amazing!

STARRY STARRY NIGHT!

In October 1971, came out an album titled “American pie”, that featured a song “Vincent” written by don Mclean as a tribute to Vincent Van Gogh. It is popularly known by its opening line, "Starry Starry Night", a reference to van Gogh's painting Starry night. This beautiful song elaborately takes us to a glimpse of different paintings by van Gogh. This song was written by don Mclean in the year 1971 after he got inspiration reading a book based on the life of the artist. Then this lyrically masterpiece poetry was recorded in the form on a 4 minutes : 3 seconds song under the label BGO in the production of ed freeman from May 1971 to June 1971. The following year, the song became the No. 1 hit in the U.K. and No. 12 in the U.S. Then for several years, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam played the song everyday. Moreover, a copy of the sheet music is in a safe beneath the museum, along with a set of van Gogh's paint brushes, the hat he wore while painting Starry Night, and various other items. The song clearly demonstrates a deep-seated admiration for not only the work of van Gogh, but also for the man himself.

In each chorus, McLean pays tribute to Van Gogh by reflecting on his lack of recognition: "They would not listen / they did not know how / perhaps they'll listen now," except in the final verse, McLean says "They would not listen / They're not listening still / Perhaps they never will." This is the story of van Gogh: unrecognized as an artist until after his death. The lyrics suggest that van Gogh was trying to "set [people] free" with the message in his work. McLean feels that this message was made clear to him: "And now I understand what you tried to say to me," he sings. Perhaps it is this eventual understanding that inspired McLean to write the song. Many believe that the song is a touching tribute to van Gogh in respect of the hardship he faced with regards to his mental illness and his admirable good natured ways. Throughout his life, van Gogh was plagued with mental disorders, particularly depression. He "suffered for his sanity" and eventually "took his life, as lovers often do." The word "lover" puts into context how McLean saw the relationship of van Gogh with his art - a relationship of love. This love was strong enough for van Gogh to persevere with his art even without acceptance from his contemporaries: "For they could not love you, but still your love was true."

Below are the lyrics to Don McLean's hit song Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) and a comparison to Van Gogh's Actual Life.

Expressing Van Gogh's inspiration for the painting. However, one line says : "Look out on a summer's day." which is a false statement as Van Gogh was in an asylum at Saint-Remy, and was not able to paint picture from an actual view point, it is strictly from his mind.	Starry, starry night. Paint your palette blue and grey, Look out on a summer's day, With eyes that know the darkness in my soul. Shadows on the hills, Sketch the trees and the daffodils, Catch the breeze and the winter chills, In colors on the snowy linen land.
These are references to other Van Gogh paintings. Flaming Flowers: The sunflower series Swirling Clouds: Starry Night Field of Amber Grain: Wheat Field with Crows Weathered Faces: The Potato Eaters.	Starry, starry night. Flaming flowers that brightly blaze, Swirling clouds in violet haze, Reflect in Vincent's eyes of china blue. Colors changing hue, morning field of amber grain, Weathered faces lined in pain, Are soothed beneath the artist's loving hand.
This is Van Gogh's tragic Death. Even though he loved painting, his paintings could never love him back. Van Gogh attempted suicide by shooting himself in the chest, which ultimately led to his death two days later.	For they could not love you, But still your love was true. And when no hope was left in sight On that starry, starry night, You took your life, as lovers often do. But I could have told you, Vincent, This world was never meant for one As beautiful as you.
Van Gogh's artistic legacy is contained within his paintings, drawings and writings. They are everlasting and will never "forget" the style that created them. They are Van Gogh's eyes that watch the world. This is all metaphorically speaking though.	Starry, starry night. Portraits hung in empty halls, Frameless head on nameless walls, With eyes that watch the world and can't forget. Like the strangers that you've met, The ragged men in the ragged clothes, The silver thorn of bloody rose, Lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow.
Finally we come to the conclusion of realizing Van Gogh's eternal struggle with insanity.	Now I think I know what you tried to say to me, How you suffered for your sanity, How you tried to set them free. They would not listen, they're not listening still. Perhaps they never will...

"Vincent" has been featured on the soundtracks of several TV shows, including Heart of Greed Nip/Tuck, and The Simpsons. This song was the favorite of the legendary British Footballer George Best and was sung at his funeral in 2005 by Brian Kennedy. Other famous cover versions of the track include artists like Josh Gorban, Tori Amos, Julie Andrews, Justin Hayward, Jane oliver and Julio Iglisias. It is perhaps one of the most lyrically soothing song melodies that I have ever come across and wanted to share it with the readers of my Blog, for true creativity lovers this is an ultimate fusion of two forms of art that brings us closer to almighty, here “music” saluting “painting”. Awesome! I must say!

WAIT FOR YOUR NEXT SHOT! MISSED OPPORTUNITY IS NOT THE END!

life is too short to spend time in grief for the opportunities that you miss, for the goals that you fail to score, for the sixes that you miss hitting at the right moment. This is a bigger game than what you think it to be.

Have you ever seen a football match, the striker while running with the ball towards the goal post is simultaneously concentrating on his ball possession, the defenders approaching him or running with him and has one eye on where the goalkeeper is placed, he has to finish the ball in the back of the net and hence he too has to keep in mind the directions in accordance with the corners of the goal post. He runs and sweats, he kicks the ball with utmost accuracy that he can but not always he scores a goal, at times he gets the shot saved by goalkeeper and many times he misses the goal totally with a poor direction kick! This is it! Shot is missed! What happens next? He stops! NO! He makes a “what the hell!” expression on his face, then watches the ball again and runs back towards the center of field with even greater effort. Back to the wait for the same run again. Again waiting for his next shot!

This is how life is! The winners always focus on the very next opportunity coming their ways while losers spend ages talking about where they missed it! Regretting and crying! I just want to ask how worth is it? I mean you scored a zero in a cricket innings, there is always a next match! You fail in an examination, then too you will give some other one, some other time, the game is not over, you still have your next shot awaiting. It is how you approach towards your next shot that makes a difference.

One can say that i am foolishly optimistic but i guess somewhere down the line Japanese too would have thought that way after the atomic bomb blasts to make a tremendous comeback. One can never be a loser or a winner in eternity, winning is nothing but actually the habit of staying focused at every next shot of yours, and losing is mostly missing the first shot and then due to its sadness, missing the remaining ones that follow.

Patience is the name of the game! If its summers, winters are not behind. After every day there is a night. You missed your train, some other will follow. You dropped a catch, there will be another one in the air soon. You forgot to do something, do it punctually the next time. All winners learn from their own mistakes, they always make the next shot right even if they miss the previous one! They very well know that after you think everything is over, tomorrow is yet to come! Hit the bull's eye this time! This is your shot!

regards
PULKIT