Phoenix

Thanksgiving. For years it’s brought people together to feast on turkey. In honor of this joyous American holiday, 20 Watts has decided to elucidate you, fine reader, on the many bands named after a variety of fowl. We bring you our very special Thanksgiving 20, based on artists named after a variety of avian creatures.

So what’s the very best of bird-themed music? 20 Watts’ STAFF has the answer in our tenth 20 installment. Watch for new 20s each Thursday, only on 20 Watts, and check out our previous 20s below!

wow. i’m listening to CocoRosie again aka the best ArmenianNativeAmericanSisterDuo from Brookyn by way of France and Hawaii. this is my first time hearing “By Your Side”– i don’t know how i missed it but i finally found this album again. Housewife— it’s satire- i think. really good satire on the things sometimes we have to do.

I’ll scrub your floor
Never be a bore
I’ll tuck you in
I do not snore

I’d wear your black eyes
Bake you apple pies
I don’t ask why
And I try not to cries

Ever woken up early and instantly regretted “that” conversation you had last night?

The one where you made a bigger deal out of something than was necessary and in the process managed to make an ass out of yourself. The one which leaves you awake at 8am on a Sunday morning waiting for your partner to wake up so you can find out if you’ve fucked it up completely.

For all those stuck in Sunday morning purgatory, here’s the first RatMoon playlist.

Paramore - Born for This

Shinedown – If Only You Knew

Boys II Men - On Bended Knee

Ashanti - Foolish

Sade – By Your Side

The Beatles – Every Little Thing

You think I’d leave your side baby?
You know me better than that
You think I’d leave down when your down on your knees?
I wouldn’t do that

I’ll do you right when your wrong
I—–ohhh, ohhh

If only you could see into me

oh, when your cold
I’ll be there to hold you tight to me
When your on the outside baby and you can’t get in
I will show you, your so much better than you know
When your lost, when your alone and you can’t get back again
I will find you darling I’ll bring you home

If you want to cry
I am here to dry your eyes
and in no time you’ll be fine

You think I’d leave your side baby
You know me better than that
You think I’d leave you down when your down on your kness
I wouldn’t do that

I’ll do you right when your wrong
I—–I, ohhhh, ohhh

If only you could see into me

Oh when your cold
I’ll be there
To hold you tight to me
Oh when your alone
I’l be there by your side baby

Need I explain why this song is here? This song is beautifully created and timeless.

I don’t have pictures to post at the end of this, partly because I have found other things to occupy my past few days. This being said, I am going to provide you with an audio clip of a duo group called CocoRosie. I’ve been listening to this song on repeat for the past thirty minutes, roughly, and for some reason I can’t stop pushing play once it finishes. Perhaps it will do something for you as well.

By Your Side – CocoRosie

I am not sure if you have ever played the game Mad Gab, but it is quite an amusing game to play with friends. The purpose of the game is to recognize the word(s) or phrase that is implied with the group of words that are awkwardly formed on the card. I know this is confusing, but I’d like to give an example.

Fit He Owes Door. This is something that would appear on a card that you would have to guess what it says. If you’ve already played and are decently good, you will instantly understand that the word is Video Store. So, the game goes and, depending on the house rules, you get a certain amount of points in the allotted time.

There are two reasons I am bringing up this game. The first is that it is a genuinely fun game to play. While the opposing team is going, listening to them sound it out can be quite laughter ensuing. It’s ridiculous because you think they know what they’re saying, but they are just as clueless as someone speaking another language that they can’t understand. The second reason involves an idea that was sparked while in small group at church tonight. The topic was discerning the voice of God, and while we were discussing someone had mentioned that it might be that we’re straining really hard for something so simple. This is where the game kicked in.

It makes sense to me, and perhaps only me, that both Mad Gab and discerning God’s voice are similar. While the other team is doing their round, you can listen in and find out what it is they’re supposed to say way before they find out themselves. If you’ve never played the game, you go into with no experience and 0% chance of having an idea of what some examples are. That being said, discerning the voice of God seems comparable in that we need experience. We need to be involved in relationship with the Lord so that we can align with his motives and listen to what he has to say. If we aren’t communicating, how can we listen?

On the other hand, experience with the game is great. If you’ve played before, then there is a chance that a card you’ve previously answered before will come up again, causing an easy point. Pertaining to the voice of God, I feel that, personally, it is much easier to hear the Lord when you know what you’re looking for. It may not be the same exact concept every single time, but with the experience of relationship with God, we have an understanding of his desires. I have had seasons of life where trying to hear God sounds like the last thing that could possibly happen because of a lack of relationship. There have been times where I have put it no effort and subsequently I am getting no response.

Thankfully, I am in a season of growth in relationship with God, and it’s wonderful. It isn’t necessarily that I am hearing God speak to me in audible sounds, but I feel more appreciation to things that haven’t been appreciated much. It is as simple as the thankfulness for the weather and the strangers that surround me.

Lá se foram quase 2 meses desde o último programa, mas estamos de volta com o PODCAST mais querido da internet brasileira:-). Nessa edição, o papo foi estratégico, interessante e claro, jovem ao extremo. Como conseguir se dirigir a jovens de maneira sólida, que traga resultados palpáveis para o Evangelho? Comunicação bem feita é a resposta, e para provar isso a galera do NUC (Núcleo de Comunicação da Força Jovem de MS) soltou o verbo junto com André Ferreira, Júlio Bastos e Cristiane Lynn. Porque estruturar ações de comunicação no trabalho da FJB, como iniciar e quais os resultados que esta visão pode trazer para a Obra de Deus são alguns dos pontos que você vai ouvir. Esse você não pode perder.

Links da Edição

Força Jovem Mato Grosso do Sul / www.forcajovem.net
NUC / www.nucbastidores.blogspot.com
Juventude Carioca / www.juventudecarioca.com.br

Trilha Sonora

Aeroplane – Red Hot Chilli Pepers
By your Side – Black Crowes
Carlie Brown´s Parents – Dishwalla
Good Love is on the way – John Mayer
U2 – With or Without you

Para ouvir o Snapcast, clique aqui.

Para baixar o Snapcast, clique aqui.

Didn’t mean to be MIA… Thursday I had a wonderful MOPS presentation a few hours away which consumed my time. 

During my long car ride I heard this song over and over.  The lyrics are so powerful.  Enjoy and we’ll see you next week!

Why are you striving these days?
Why are you trying to earn grace?
Why are you crying?
Let me lift up your face
Just don’t turn away

Why are you looking for love?
Why are you still searching?
As if I’m not enough?
To where will you go child
Tell me where will you run?
To where will you run?

I’ll be by your side wherever you fall
In the dead of night whenever you call
Please don’t fight these hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Look at these hands at my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the world’s sin
So I could carry you in
And give you life

Here at my side wherever you fall
In the dead of night whenever you call
Please don’t fight these hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

And I, I love you
And I want you to know
That I, I’ll love you
I’ll never let you go

By Your Side, Tenth Avenue North

Han tornat, ja era hora, perquè els necessitàvem i molt. En una dècada on la música ja gairebé ha deixat de ser un art, una passió, i s’ha convertit en un producte més de consum, ens urgia l’autenticitat i melomania dels germans Robinson. Aquest Before the Frost és l’antídot ideal, per aquests temps de dubtós nivell musical, juntament amb el Yonder is the Clock de The Felice Brothers, Let the Dominoes Fall de Rancid i The Eternal de Sonic Youth, quatre treballs diferents entre sí peró amb un punt en comú: l’amor per un art i una forma de ser al marge del que hi ha imposat.

The Black Crowes gairebé sempre han menjat a part dintre del panorama musical; van néixer en la pitjor època pel rock d’arrels clàssiques, quan el metal dominava el panorama musical, els corbs negres van debutar amb Shake your Money Maker. Més tard, el grunge era el nou estil de moda, temps en el que van editar les seves dues obres mestres, The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion i Amorica. Cap dels dos moviments van poder amb ells i van ser capaços d’aguantar, i tombar en molts casos, amb els seus brutals i imprevisibles directes, carregats de marihuana i encens, ni més ni menys que els Sonic Youth de Dirty, els Faith No More d’ Angel Dust, els Metallica de l’ àlbum negre, els Nirvana de Nevermind o els Afghan Whigs de Gentelmen. Van aconseguir el respecte de tots ells, encara que no combreguessin amb el seu discurs musical, però si amb una autenticitat a prova de bombes.

La seva irreverència, marcada per la seva arrogància, cap el mainstream i cap a la hipocresia de l’interessat discurs “políticament correcte”, va fer d’ells els autèntics “enfants terribles” del rock; l’ exemple d’ artistes que mai donen el braç a tòrcer. Aquesta actitud amb el temps els va acabar passant factura, juntament amb la relació de Chris Robinson amb Kate Hudson, punt determinant en la carrera dels corbs negres. Si afegim la marxa del guitarrista Marc Ford, tot plegat va acabar per dinamitar el grup. El resultat d’aquesta situació van ser dos mediocres treballs del cantant i un lamentable disc del seu germà Rich.

El passat any 2007, The Black Crowes tornaven, després de sis anys separats, amb el correcte, i per moments decepcionant, Warpaint, un treball que sonava més als discs en solitari de Chris Robinson, que no pas al grup. Warpaint, no obstant, és un disc que amb el temps es veu com un pas necessari per arribar a aquest excel·lent, BeforeThe Frost. Amb aquest nou treball, ens trobem amb un disc enregistrat en directe, hàbitat natural de la banda, a uns estudis de la localitat de Woodstock, on la banda va reunir un petit grup de fans perquè assistisin de públic a la gravació del disc, aconseguint un ambient propici per crear el seu millor àlbum des del infravalorat By Your Side.

Good Morning Captain i Been a Long Time, es l’inici esperat per qualsevol admirador de la banda, i del rock en general, dos temes amb aires de The Faces adornats amb els aromes, marca de la casa, de marihuana. A partir d’aquí, el que trobem en els 11 temes que formen el disc, és el que tant havíem trobat a faltar aquest últims anys, els autèntics Black Crowes; els Black Crowes que surten immunes de tots els reptes que s’autoimposin. Ja sigui la música disco, el blue-grass, el funk, el country o la psicodelia made in Beatles, el que finalment fan és regalar-nos el que ja és un dels millors treballs d’aquest 2009 fructífer en àlbums de qualitat. Que bé que hagin tornat. Enormes.

By Sade

You think I’d leave your side baby?
You know me better than that
You think I’d leave down when your down on your knees?
I wouldn’t do that

I’ll do you right when your wrong
I—–ohhh, ohhh

If only you could see into me

oh, when your cold
I’ll be there to hold you tight to me
When your on the outside baby and you can’t get in
I will show you, your so much better than you know
When your lost, when your alone and you can’t get back again
I will find you darling I’ll bring you home

If you want to cry
I am here to dry your eyes
and in no time you’ll be fine

You think I’d leave your side baby
You know me better than that
You think I’d leave you down when your down on your kness
I wouldn’t do that

I’ll do you right when your wrong
I—–I, ohhhh, ohhh

If only you could see into me

Oh when your cold
I’ll be there
To hold you tight to me
Oh when your alone
I’l be there by your side baby
repeat 1x

By James Grimes

Stars:  *|*|*|*|*

Summary:  A poetic, youthful, energetic, and intelligent post-punk Alternative Rock album that far exceeds expectations.  This cements House of Heroes, in my mind, as one of the best Christian bands since Petra.

Art Assessment: Gritty, with turn-of-the-20th century overtones.

Review:  House of Heroes is something of a punk band.  The members are all young Christians.  They consider their primary influences to be Muse and The Beatles.  ‘The End Is Not The End’ is their fourth full length album… and it’s very highly acclaimed.  Though the band hasn’t become a massive hit yet, if this album is any indication, they are destined for greatness.  So let’s dive into the music, track-by-track.

‘Intro’:  Thirty seconds of instrumental, a string prelude.  Not much to say here, except that it’s promising.

‘If’:  The punkness of the band is immediately evident.  The lyrics, though, are the main focus, enunciated very clearly and forcefully, not just in this song, but in every other song in the album.  And we should thankful, because the writing is full of wit, humor, and a rare kind of balanced youthful angst.  This particular song is something of a parody of the head-over-heels-in-love song that’s so common, with literary and cinematic references to support the humor.  And it’s darn catchy.

‘Lose Control’:  If you felt the previous song was not hard enough rock, this one will give you your fill.  This is pretty clearly all a first-person declaration of being… an enigmatic sinner, who strives to do good.  To quote, “I am the death that makes your life seem good/I am the pain that brings you close to God/I am the prophet warning of the flood/I am the answer you misunderstood/I am the answer that you misunderstand/I do the evil that an honest man can’t/I live in shadows that the enemy casts/I have no future and I have no past”. It’s that balanced angst I was talking about, and it’s awesomely well done.

‘Leave You Now’:  Now we return to the love theme, but since this is House of Heroes, it’s presented with a twist! I mean, how many punk/alternative/Christian/rock bands do you know that will sing a love song from the position of a man in a concentration camp, who longs to escape with his girl to America?  It’s just as infectious as the previous tracks, and it’s got it’s own great personality.  I’d buy that for a dollar.

‘Dangerous’:  Another great love song, this one is more vague and laid back.  Not my favorite, but by no means bad.

‘In The Valley Of The Dying Sun’:  Here we get our first taste of the more complex pieces that the Heroes can deliver.  It tells the story of a soldier — in a parabolic way — who finds peace with God as he struggles to reconcile what he’s done in war with the kind of man he wants to be.

‘Code Name: Raven’:  Another awesome, war-themed song, this time from the point of view of a spy in the Second World War.  It’s a great blood-pumping anthem, almost like the theme to a TV series.

‘By Your Side’:  A song about two close friends or brothers who grew up at the turn of the 20th century and ended up dying in the Second World War.  The song is where they draw the title for the album, as seen here: “And like that sand through our hands/Go our grandest plans/And just to see your face for one moment/I’d cross the ocean again/The end is not the end.” Musically, this song is more laid back, and is acoustic-led.  Kind of tearjerking.

‘Journey Into Space, Pt. 1′:  A melancholy song of a man who falls in love during the war, and they both face the threat of imminent death — possibly for being on opposite sides.  It’s amazing how hopeful the Heroes can keep their music in the face of such heavy themes.

‘Sooner Or Later’:  Despite the fact that there is currently no Part 2 to the previous track, this one seems to wrap up the story, having much the same theme, and seeming to show that the lovers get out of the line of fire in time to go home.  Or at least that more hope is opened up.

‘Baby’s A Red’:  Yes, yet another love song, but given that this is House of Heroes… well, there’s another twist! A humorous track, that involves a Cold War theme with clever lyrics referencing McCarthyism.  Being in love with a ‘Red’ isn’t the easiest thing in the world, apparently, but the protagonist is pretty darn happy about it.  This includes a string instrumental interlude that was also used as the intro track.

‘Drown’:  Switching abruptly from the string of love songs, we’re suddenly into universal themes.  It tells of a world flooded, metaphorically, with destruction, and of the protagonist’s efforts to warn the world.  Perhaps this is meant as a companion piece to ‘Lose Control’?

‘Faces’:  This one brilliantly handles the issue of lust, with a solid, fun set of lyrics that keeps it from seeming like preaching.  It’s a great one to reflect on after so many love songs.

‘Voices’:  In a kind of 1930s horror movie theme, speaking of a protagonist who considers himself a monster, a murderer, haunted by his past sins.  In one of the most overtly Christian sections of the album, there is a soundbite from a sermon, that teaches a powerful message about guilt.  And believe it or not, it works marvelously in the song and with the theme.

‘Field Of Daggers’:  Returning to the theme of war, this time referencing an eternal struggle between good and evil.  It’s got some of the best guitar work on the album, and impassioned vocals declaring glory to God, as “He was and is/He is and is to come/He holds the key.” The album then closes on strings… or does it?

‘The Young And The Brutal’:  The final track is hidden, and reflects the most obvious punk influence.  It is literally a song about young punks, but seeing that this is House of Heroes… okay, you know the rest.  It’s short, sweet, and just as good as anything else on the album.

So, when it’s all said and done, what did I think of ‘The End Is Not The End’?  Well, at the risk of sounding unoriginal, I’d like to quote AbsolutePunk.com, who in regards to this album, wrote:  “…it’s a record with so much going for it, in terms of quality, quantity and intelligence, substance, etc. … that it’s destined to be the blueprint for how pop music can and should be done, but most likely won’t. Open your eyes, pop music creationists: this is how you do it right.”  Amen, and amen.  Not only is this an exceptional Alternative Rock album, it manages to send a clear Christian message without being pedantic and overbearing.  It’s beautiful, fun, funny, moving, rocks hard, kicks ass, takes names, and wins me over.  Long live the Heroes.

pont: Ovidiu
sursa: youtube

Why are you striving these days
Why are you trying to earn grace
Why are you crying
Let me lift up your face
Just don’t turn away

Why are you looking for love
Why are you still searching as if I’m not enough
To where will you go child
Tell me where will you run
To where will you run

And I’ll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you call
And please don’t fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Look at these hands and my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the world’s sin
So I could carry you in
And give you life
I want to give you life

Cause I, I love you
I want you to know
That I, I love you
I’ll never let you go

From the Tenth Avenue North boys…

Tenth Avenue North’s “By Your Side” video, created by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. This song and video really says it all.

Jadakiss Performing We Gonna Make It Live @ Sneaker Pimps 2009 NYC Hit the link to see A couple More

Mighty D Block

By Your Side

Here’s the ‘ringtone’ He decided to have last night at 11:30:

“Why are you looking for love?  Why are you still searching as if I’m not enough?”

It’s off of the song “By Your Side” by Tenth Avenue North.  A fantastic song, and even better lyrics.

But it suddenly felt like God was trying to get through to me.  It was that moment where you go, “What am I doing?!”  And then, I wanted to write.  So I pulled out the notebook I use for moments like this and just wrote out a conversation; one between me and God.  I don’t know if this is what it was like for Moses, David, John, Peter, or Paul, but it was like you could feel the words coming.  The thoughts weren’t something I was thinking through and molding into my own words–they just came.  Maybe I’m crazy.  Maybe not.

-God, You’re tearing me apart, You’re breaking my heart!! WHY?!

-So I can show you how whole I can make you.  You just have to hand Me the controls and I will create a dream you could never have imagined.  But first you have to stop trying.

I love you.  I love you more than any other boy in your life does.  But love is never fully enjoyed ‘one-way’.  I want you to put ME as your first love.

-But God, its’ not like we’re going to date or hold hands or get married…?

-No, but I am the model for all men.  And if you want the guy that’s best for you, he’s going to have traits that match mine.

-But I won’t know what that looks like unless I know what you’re like, right?

-Exactly.  Kathleen, I want the very, very, absolute best for you.  But you have to let me prepare him and bring him to you.

-But waiting is so hard.

-Then don’t think of it as waiting.  Just because I’m preparing someone for you doesn’t mean you have to sit and twiddle your thumbs until I’m finished, I’m preparing you for him as well.

-It’s a painful process.

-Yes, but it shapes your heart into a young woman perfect for the young man I have for you at this very moment.

But until that time comes, lean on ME.  Not the boy you’re crushing on this week, not someone who will be gone tomorrow.  I’m never going anywhere and I will NEVER fail you.  I keep no secrets and I never lie to you.  I also never change my mind because there will NEVER be anyone I love more than you.

-I love you, God.

-I love you too, dear one.  So much more than you know.

Remember to come to me and talk with Me.  I want to hear about everything.

-Thanks, God.  I’ll remember.

-Oh, and one more thing.

-Yes?

-There’s no call-waiting with Me either.

-Haha, thanks, God.  Good night!

-Good night, child.

Singapore’s media policy towards homosexuality and Section 377A will hinder any improvement of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Singapore. The preliminary success of AIDS Chinese drama serial 不凡的爱By My Side and scholarly material show that educational-entertainment programs on free-to-air TV can be used to positively generate HIV awareness and prevention. However, the fact that homosexuality is a taboo topic for the media means that media companies and non-profit and government initiatives cannot use this tool to fight the epidemic where it is needed the most.

Okay, the previous paragraph summarizes the jist of my post, but please read on, I spent a lot of time researching it and writing it  

According to the The Ministry of Health update on HIV/AIDS report released on June 3, 2009, new heterosexual infections have decreased while homosexuality cases continue to rise.

This is not really ‘new’ news. HIV/AIDS has always been the torch used to scare those who don’t know better. It is also true that HIV is a problem in the gay community around the world, let alone Singapore .

The real news, however, is the fact that in 2008, MediaCorp aired the Chinese language drama serial 不凡的爱By My Side in 2008 which tells the story of a married, middle-aged Chinese man (Chen Hanwei) who contracts HIV after making the mistake of having unprotected sex with a prostitute. Caldecott Queen  Zoe Tay and teen idols Rui En and Elvin Ng round up the star-studded series that ran from 20 episodes between October and November 2008.

To my knowledge (through reading of reviews, forum responses, online synopsis and some youtube excerpts), the series was actually quite good. Success came in an increase in number of people who went for HIV testing, and a general improvement in HIV prevention knowledge. The real litmus of success, I argue, is the decrease of new infections, evident only in the heterosexual population.

The fact that there is a reported decrease in HIV infections in only the heterosexual population means means that well-written, educational but still entertaining shows like By My Side can be used successfully for HIV prevention.

If you’re still skeptical about the importance of 不凡的爱By My Side in preventing new HIV/AIDS infections,  look at the facts: new cases among the Chinese population  rose only by 2.2% (8 new cases in 2008) as compared to 20% between 2006-2007, while new infections among Malays rose by a whooping 51% (47 in 2007 to 71 in 2008). 

Of course, the real success of By My Side can only be claimed preliminarily as the show only aired for 2 months, and only in Chinese language free-to-air TV. More data needs to be seen. Nonetheless, the use of entertainment to increase awareness over health issues with positive results has been widely studied and documented. Such social change initiatives have also been successfully implemented in places like Africa.

So, why is it that such a powerful tool for HIV prevention is not being used to target the segment of Singapore’s population that has been consistently portrayed as the one that needs it most, i.e. gay men? This seems contradictory.

The discrimination and stigmatization of homosexuality in our society, reinforced  by our media policy and ultimately codified in section 377A, is the reason.

Singapore’s media policy essentially punishes media organizations that portray homosexuality or bisexuality in any light other than bad. (Click here for MICA related articles on the topic ; see The Straits Times article extracted below for a report of the MOH release). So which means even if the writers of 不凡的爱By Your Side wanted to include gay characters in the show, they can’t possibly do so with integrity or effectiveness. Consider this: if the main character Bu Fan (Chen Hanwei) were to be portrayed as a caricature, how credible would the show be? Would his circumstances be as real and as moving as a more authentic portrayal?

Aside from stigmatization codified in Section 377A, strong anti-gay hate language is also permissible in Parliament (RE: Thio Li Ann),  as is ill-informed rhetoric (RE: Balaji 2004 speech and the gay lifestyle). I don’t blame Singapore media for side-stepping the issue altogether if homosexuality is illegal.

As I had discussed in a previous post, the media plays an important role in education and social change. If any real leeway is to be made in improving the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Singapore, formal steps must be taken to allow HIV/AIDS advocates to engage the homosexual population in respectful and non-judgmental ways through media. (The same goes for the portrayal of the Malay and Indian communities in the media)

The lack of non-caricature, non-stigmatized portrayal of gay men and women is a problem in fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Singapore. HIV/AIDS will continue to spread in Singapore not because of sin or lifestyle, it’s the lack of successfully targeted  educational programs, and the alienation of those who need it the most.

(The Straits Times article has been extracted after the jump)

June 5, 2009
HIV up among gays and bisexuals
Spike also seen among intravenous drug users
By Judith Tan
THE number of homosexuals and bisexuals here who tested positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) last year climbed to a new high.

The increase comes as overall figures rose 7.8 per cent, with activist groups and counsellors calling for more education across all genders and lifestyles.

Although the number of HIV cases from heterosexual transmission – which makes up the bulk at 54 per cent – has fallen from 255 in 2007 to 248 last year, the spread among homosexuals and bisexuals has spiked, rising by 16 per cent and 127 per cent respectively between 2007 and last year.

These statistics, released on the Health Ministry (MOH) website on Wednesday, show a total of 456 people tested positive for HIV, the first stage of the Aids virus, last year. Unfortunately, half were already in the late stages when they were diagnosed.

The virus can lay dormant for up to 10 years, showing little sign of infection.

Of those who tested positive, more than nine out of 10 were men and the total number infected since the first official Aids case appeared here in 1985 is now 3,941. Nearly one-third have died.

The MOH did not cite reasons for the increase in the numbers, but the increase in clinics carrying out anonymous tests may have encouraged more people to come forward for testing.

Anonymous HIV testing began here in 1991 in a Kelantan Lane clinic run by the Action For Aids (AFA), a voluntary community- based organisation committed to Aids prevention, advocacy and support.

It was extended to two general practitioner clinics in June 2006, and another four in November last year.

Apart from that, researchers and volunteers are saying there is an increasing number of gay men getting infected due to open relationships with their partners.

‘The men have become complacent and do not use protection. This trend was also found by research done in five large cities in the United States and in the Netherlands,’ said Mr Brenton Wong, former vice-president of AFA.

Male and female individuals in both the 20-29 and 30-39 age group had the highest increase of transmission.

AFA spokesman Lionel Lee said these age groups are the most sexually active and also travel more, increasing their exposure to the virus.

They may have also not seen the effects of HIV personally. They are therefore less likely to be afraid of contracting HIV, he said.

Another concern was the spread of HIV through intravenous drug use. Infections increased almost three times – from seven in 2007 to 20 last year.

‘The use of drugs is also on the rise, impairing judgment. Younger people have become adventurous sexually and are rather complacent about having multiple sexual partners and using protection. Coupled with drugs, it is a definite recipe for disaster,’ Mr Wong said.

He added that younger people are not aware of the early years of the Aids – acquired immune deficiency syndrome – epidemic when death rates were high.

‘For this new generation, the educational messaging about safe sex should be consistent and persistent to knock some sense into them,’ he said.

Mr Lee said the AFA is exploring new avenues to educate high-risk individuals, but added: ‘We have not been able to use the mass media as this is still a sensitive topic.’

juditht@sph.com.sg

http://www.straitstimes.com/Prime%2BNews/Story/STIStory_386048.html

By your side – Sade

You think I’d leave your side baby
You know me better than that
You think I’d leave you down when you’re down on your knees
I wouldn’t do that

I’ll tell you you’re right when you want
And if only you could see into me

Oh when you’re cold, I’ll be there
Hold you tight to me

When you’re on the outside baby and you can’t get in
I will show you, you’re so much better than you know
When you’re lost and you’re alone and you cant get back again

I will find you darling and I will bring you home

And if you want to cry

I am here to dry your eyes

And in no time, you’ll be fine

Oh when you’re cold, I’ll be there
Hold you tight to me
Oh when you’re low
I’ll be there by your side baby