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So most of you know that i took a well over stayed trip to Richards bay this month, which almost resulted in a full blown move. During my time spent there I learned so much about life, met a few great acquaintances and saw another way of living life, one which every big city individual will find hard to adapt to. I have received so many emails requesting to share how it all went down , that I decided to write a standard letter to all of you. The coastal lifestyle is different in so many astonishing ways, worries and stress have a different meaning there, its a complete different culture, a different layout of life itself. I have to admit it’s small and a very close community bound together. I would say the average KZN’r would visit the big city life for the adventure thereof, where we up here visit the coast cause we not use to waves at all. From my point of view it seemed to be one of the two extremes, you either get along or you don’t. I can’t really speak for the “not getting along part” as you all know , i get along with everyone. I met a girl there that inspired me on a daily basis, not necessarily what she said or had to say , merely seeing her operate her own life in such a way that there is a time and place for everyone and everything. This woman is a single mother of two , a two year old little girl and a little 6month old boy, but the shocking part of it all is the fathers are absent if not denying their involvement completely. I came to a point where I was absolutely furious at men in general , watching this woman do everything on her own, survive on her own, where in between building her children’s dreams she was building her own future as well. I know it sounds general to most of you, as in the beginning it did to me as well , but actually sharing days with her changes your perspective on the outstanding way of life when you do it all alone. She played so many roles in the household that there were nights where I sat in front of Facebook staring at these father’s profiles thinking to myself that since i know where both of them live, I’d really like to get in the car and go do something really rresponsible. These children do not lack anything, she is their best friend, their care giver, their mother, the rock and their comfort zone,

while she attends to them she runs a full household, supports her friends and family, and still put time aside to study. For us here in the city it would be unbelievable that she received a bursary from a CHURCH to study and A-cing all her exams , even through her busy life, she finds time to join in church activities. She made me realise how people differ, and how life can get you down, but you have to stand up and do what needs to be done to survive. I saw the absolute severity of absent fathers, of men that should still be called little boys, whom points fingers and pull up shoulders when their children are sick, avoids responsibilities or just completely denies it. Till today I cherish her friendship, honesty and love her more than ever. Then a young business man crossed my path, a very mysterious and unexplainable individual, his eyes would stare right through you, though not a very open person, he seems diligent and committed to his own personal adventures. I was seeing life through eyes that was not mine. He taught me that there is more to life and that its sometimes ok to just go with it, we as big city squeakers cant really just “ go with it” we always have to plan ahead and have answers to all our questions. He showed me the beauty of impulse and the random act of enjoying silence even when your mind is at its noisiest. This young man has a dire need for adventure and has the ability to turn even the mellowest moment in to a heart beating experience; to him life is beautiful only if you make it beautiful for yourself. He once asked me how someone could have such an impact on another’s life, and i had to stare at myself and realise that I was absolutely speechless, I soaked up his presence and mysterious ways as this was so un natural but yet so satisfying and energising to the inner parts of my being. This Lad is well known under the ladies, or so it seemed, but he seems to have shifted his attention to what is really important to him. Looking at his behaviour, he was brought up in a well established and well mannered way, to be honest that’s just what I think, the only real thing I know is he is Greek and has good manners. He shuts himself off from feeling anything or even just getting involved with others, which I found strange as we all have to share sometimes whether it’s just a thought or a mere gesture , its natural behaviour. It stunned me to see how reading someone’s body language was more important to see where this individual came from. There was a time that I thought this man was just absolutely full of himself, but I came to realise in actual fact this man is just who he is, whether he once got hurt for opening himself to the world and shut down completely or he enjoys the attention of people hammering on him for his attention, it doesn’t really matter, all I know is I had to take time out of my day to watch him closely , spend endless useless conversations with him, to find the beauty that lies beneath. He sometimes still comes to mind ,and finding him as a person has become part of my life, though I don’t really know how to approach the situation , I have come to a point where a memory of his awkwardness is enough to establish that I will most probably never know what lies within.

Here are some facts about the Father in families: Father Factor in Poverty

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Children in father-absent homes are almost four times more likely to be poor. In 2011, 12 percent of children in marriedcouple families were living in poverty, compared to 44 percent of children in mother-only families. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Children’s Living Arrangements and Characteristics: March 2011, Table C8. Washington D.C.: 2011. In 2008, American poverty rates were 13.2% for the whole population and 19% for children, compared to 28.7% for female-headed households. Source: Edin, K. & Kissane R. J. (2010). Poverty and the American family: a decade in review. Journal of Marriage and Family, 72, 460-479.

Father Factor in Emotional and Behavioural Problems 

During my stay in Richards bay I had the honours of spending quality time with a single mother of two, a 2yr old little girl and 3 month old little boy, even though there are 2 different fathers to these children, it has not defined this woman as someone with no morals, but a rather someone who trusted a lot to easily. Seeing this mother in action astounded me, and seeing what she has to deal with daily made it even more of a shocker. I sat by myself asking the question of how easy it is to enjoy the part of making these little miracles but raising them is too much to ask. Somehow I find it hard to believe that an individual could walk away from something so innocent, a little individual whom has no opinion or choice. For me personally it never revolved around the mother, but the kids. It seems inevitable that these young men went on with their lives, the one enjoying his student experience while the mother of his child is struggling to make ends meet, the other father, rather enjoying the company of bad influences, than spending an hour with his little boy. How do you actually sleep at night, when you know that there is an individual out there that needs you so much that, not necessarily your finances, but your time. I reckon it is a hard pill to swallow to know that the man you enjoyed making your child just as much as you enjoyed the act, walks away from what he created with you.

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Data from three waves of the Fragile Families Study (N= 2,111) was used to examine the prevalence and effects of mothers’ relationship changes between birth and age 3 on their children’s well being. Children born to single mothers show higher levels of aggressive behaviour than children born to married mothers. Living in a single-mother household is equivalent to experiencing 5.25 partnership transitions. Source: Osborne, C., & McLanahan, S. (2007). Partnership instability and child well-being. Journal of Marriage and Family, 69, 1065-1083 A sample of 4,027 resident fathers and children from the Fragile Families and Child Well-Being Survey was used to investigate the effects of a biological father’s multipartner fertility (having at least one child with more than one mother) on adolescent health. Resident fathers engaging in multipartner fertility were older, more likely to be White, and had lower education levels and income, compared to fathers with one partner. Results indicated children’s externalizing behaviours were negatively affected directly and indirectly when their biological father had children with multiple partners. Source: Bronte-Tinkew, J., Horowitz, A., & Scott, M. E. (2009). Fathering with multiple partners: Links to children’s well-being in early childhood. Journal of Marriage and Family, 71, 608–631 Father Factor in Teen Pregnancy & Sexual Activity Being raised by a single mother raises the risk of teen pregnancy, marrying with less than a high school degree, and forming a marriage where both partners have less than a high school degree. Source: Teachman, Jay D. “The Childhood Living Arrangements of Children and the Characteristics of Their Marriages.” Journal of Family Issues 25 (January 2004): 86111.

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Separation or frequent changes increase a woman’s risk of early menarche, sexual activity and pregnancy. Women whose parents separated between birth and six years old experienced twice the risk of early menstruation, more than four times the risk of early sexual intercourse, and two and a half times higher risk of early pregnancy when compared to women in intact families. The longer a woman lived with both parents, the lower her risk of early reproductive development. Women who experienced three or more changes in her family environment exhibited similar risks but were five times more likely to have an early pregnancy. Source: Quinlan, Robert J. “Father absence, parental care, and female reproductive development.” Evolution and Human Behavior 24 (November 2003): 376-390. Father involvement in schools is associated with the higher likelihood of a student getting mostly A's. This was true for fathers in biological parent families, for stepfathers, and for fathers heading single-parent families. Source: Nord, Christine Winquist, and Jerry West. Fathers’ and Mothers’ Involvement in Their Children’s Schools by Family Type and Resident Status. (NCES 2001-032). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Education, National Centre for Education Statistics, 2001. A study assessing 4,109 two-parent families examined the effects of early maternal and paternal depression on child expressive language at age 24 months and the role that parent-to-child reading may play in child’s language development. The results revealed that for mothers and fathers, depressive symptoms were negatively associated with parent-to-child reading. Only for fathers, however, was earlier depression associated with later reading to child and related child expressive vocabulary development. The less the fathers read to their infants, the worse their toddler scored on a standard measure of expressive vocabulary at age two. Parents’ depression has more impact on how often fathers read to their child compared to mothers, which in turn influences the child’s language development. Source: Paulson, J.F., Keefe, H.A., & Leiferman, J. A. (2009). Early parental depression and child language development. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 50, 254–262. Facing the challenges that come with a relationship ending and the changes that brings to the family is well documented in the Net mums Coffeehouse. We read lots of posts from parents who are making that adjustment for themselves and their children. Sadly, some of those changes involve fathers who, for one reason or another, end their relationships not just with their partner but also their children. We see lots of posts in the Net mums Coffeehouse from mums who are struggling as their child's father has left and wants little or no contact with his children. We thought it would be helpful to pull together the support, advice and collected wisdom of those who have been there and know how tough it can be on the whole family, but particularly the children. We get the occasional post from a dad who is caring for his children whilst mum doesn't want contact and also from relatives who are full time carers as both parents have little or no contact. Whatever your circumstances we hope that the following will help you.

Talking to your children 

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The age and maturity of your child will affect how and what you say about the situation. Keeping it age appropriate but being as open as possible will help diffuse some of the confusion that your child may be feeling. Many of the mums who have shared their experiences, have recommended picking a time when you are able to talk about what's going on without getting too upset. It's important also to choose a time when your child is not too tired or busy so that you can have an open and undisturbed chat together. Often a child will appear not to react much at first but may come back to ask more questions or just to check in. Be honest with your answers, but do try to be as neutral as possible. Constant reassurance will help your child to cope - stress that you are there for them and that they are very much loved. It's important to also make it clear that none of what has happened is their fault or their doing. Don't talk negatively about your child's father

Tempting as it may be to do so if you are feeling hurt, angry or let down, mums recommend never talking negatively about your child's father in front of them. It is important though, many say, to provide some sort of explanation for why daddy is absent so that your child knows it is not because of something they did or didn't do. It is a fine line between alluding to why dad is not here without bad mouthing him. Sally says: 'I remind my son that his father loves him but explain he is very busy and can't see him often.'

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Ruth says: 'My dad was not there for us and the best thing my mum ever did was not to bad mouth him, even through all the no shows and empty promises.' Holly says: 'Even though a part of me wanted to blurt out all the bad things I felt about my ex, I told my daughter that Daddy had some problems he needed to sort out and he needed time to do this. I reminded her that it was not her fault and that she was still much loved.' Make sure there are positive role models in your child's life

Create positive memories 

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Many mums told us that they made sure there were other positive male role models in their child's life. Whether it be Granddads, uncles or a family friend - they felt it was important to have the opportunity to spend time with close male friends/relatives, who could provide a secure and stable influence.

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If you can share positive memories of your child's father and talk about the happy times - either when you were first together or when they were there for your child. Your child can hold onto these snippets and build up a picture of who their dad is as a person. Leanne says: 'My son has a photo of his Daddy by his bed. He often asks how he is like his Daddy and whether I think he looks like him and we talk about how the ways they are similar and silly things we remember from when he was here. It's quite hard for me at times but I think it is important not to pretend he never existed'

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Plenty of love and cuddles 

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It can be tough being a single parent - many of you are juggling financial, practical and emotional considerations, often without the input of another adult. You're being both 'mum' and 'dad' to your child. Many mums told us that they place an extra importance on giving love, cuddles and a listening ear whenever their child needs to talk or perhaps just needs a hug. Make it especially clear that you are here to stay and are very definitely not going anywhere. Rishona says: 'Make it clear that it isn't your child's fault and sometimes these things happen in life and we learn from them and move on.' Emma says: 'I always tell my sons I love them and am not going anywhere. We have loads of hugs and cuddles and I tell them I will never stop loving them and they are stuck with me no matter what!'

We have all been there, that exiting feeling of indulgent in someone’s company, that nervous feeling when you get the glimpse of their perfume anywhere, the mere excitement of going to bed early knowing you will be seeing them in the morning. Even the most hated routines and tasks become easier and joyful, for the mere factor of passing them or just sharing a short conversation and having a good laugh. Then we all come to a cross road where we ask ourselves , is this real, or is this a mere natural feeling when someone new enters your life, most of us go on the natural instinct and somehow end up getting hurt, others read the signs and some even believe that “Karma” has a way of working things out. I always say, you need to go sit down and evaluate the situation that you have just found yourself in, before you start believing myths and all the extra bollocks we as human beings keep our minds busy with. If you take time to establish the difference between all these crazy feelings and outcomes we have when we come close to the opposite sex, you will immediately be able to tell the difference in every situation. It is said that Lust is a feeling of desire for someone’s body; it’s a mere chemical balance in the brain that raises your sexual interaction with the other party. Experts say it’s a powerful psychological force producing intense wanting for an object, or circumstance fulfilling the emotion. Lust is that first feeling you get when someone touches you with being that there is some sort of attraction. Though this might be the situation we all intend on asking ourselves from the first day, is this what it is called? In our society the distinction between feelings has not only become a sense of ability to be with held from each other , but mostly it has been smeared and made out either wrong or completely out of line. We all know that lust is a mere sexual attraction, but do we really take into consideration infatuation? For those of you who don’t know the definition, here is the shorter version of what you will find on the internet. It’s foolish love, its over-valuing the beloved mistaken beliefs concerning him or her. The feeling awakens an awkward craving to spend time with that person, while when the need is filled, mostly love occurs, but only in time. It’s the most natural feeling there is when there is good and healthy chemistry between two adults, though young teens also experience it, but differently than adults.

Teens experience a sexually attraction in this stage, where adults experience more of an intellectual infatuation than anything else.

This term is merely used to establish not only the need to be intimate but the need to get to know the individual in person. It’s a different experience to feel the real thing , the four letter word that so many fear of feeling, and most fear of admitting, which is astounding , as it’s the most grown on feeling possible, a feeling of freedom of yourself with only one person.... but how do we know it’s real ? Examine whether you treat the object of your interest as a person or a thing. You care for this person even knowing his or her faults. You are committed to sticking together even through the most difficult circumstances. You can tell this person anything about yourself, even if the truth doesn't flatter you, and you know that your partner will accept you. Evaluate how secure you feel. You know that your partner will stand by you no matter what, and you are prepared to commit to your partner for the rest of your life.

Think about how long you've been in the relationship. You have known the person for a long time, and you can't imagine life without him or her.

Observe how sex affects your feelings. After you have sex with your partner, you feel closer to him or her. For you, affection and post-coital cuddling are just as important as sex, although you love to keep the flame alive. Analyze the way that you're thinking about the other person. Something funny has happened to you at work, and you can't wait to tell your partner. Alternatively, you've had a bad experience, and you want to talk to someone who will understand. If your partner is the first person that you think about when you want to share your innermost thoughts, then you may be in love. Look at how you handle conflict. When you have an argument with your partner, you keep working until you're able to find some common ground. No argument can erase your commitment to one another, and you appreciate your partner speaking the truth even when it's painful. Consider your feelings about moving the relationship forward. You feel comfortable with your partner, and you feel a strong bond of trust. Moving in together or getting married feels natural and logical. How to Know if You're Infatuated Examine whether you treat the object of your interest as a person or a thing. When you experience infatuation, your mind is consumed by thoughts of the other person. You're thinking not only about the other person but also about how you want to reveal yourself to the other person. You have an idealized vision of what this person is like, and your vision may or may not be accurate.

Evaluate how secure you feel. Instead of feeling secure, you are thinking more about how to impress the other person. Your focus is on how to get the other person to like you, and you feel nervous because you don't know how the other person feels. Think about how long you've been in the relationship. Your relationship is pretty new, and while you're constantly thinking about the other person, you're not confident that he or she has what it takes to go the distance. Observe how sex affects your feelings. Sex is exciting, but you feel tentative afterward. You worry about whether your partner found you appealing, and you worry about what the next step after sex will be. Analyze the way that you're thinking about the other person. You think constantly about the way that the person smiles, the way he or she says your name or the way that your partner looks at you. You think obsessively about these details, and you try to decide how the person feels about you based on these somewhat trivial qualities. Look at how you handle conflict. The person you like disagrees with you, and you wonder if the relationship is over. You wonder whether you know the person at all or whether your impressions have been wrong all along. Consider your feelings about moving the relationship forward. You want to ask the person to date exclusively, but you're nervous about what he or she might say. You're afraid that asking for commitment may frighten the person away. Your feelings aren't deep enough for love; you're probably more in the realm of infatuation.

When You're Feeling Hot, Bothered and in Lust Examine whether you treat the object of your interest as a person or a thing. If you're looking to catch someone as a prize or to get someone to go to bed with you, you're treating the person like a thing, and you're probably experiencing lust.

exclusive with your partner. You're satisfied to date other people, and you don't care if the other person also has multiple partners. Even though you may feel jealous if your lover finds another partner, your lack of commitment suggests lust, not love.

Evaluate how secure you feel. Security isn't important to you; you're more interested in the score and in how great it feels to be physical together. After you get what you want, you can take or leave the other person.

Think about how long you've been in the relationship. You may just be meeting the person you're interested in, or you may have known the person for a long time. In either situation, the relationship is more about fulfilling your sexual desires than it is about creating a partnership. Observe how sex affects your feelings. You have sex with the person, and even though it's great, your mind has already moved onto something else. You wonder how long you have to hold the person afterward, and you're already thinking about scoring your next sexual encounter. Or you want to keep having sex with the person--at least, until somebody else comes along. Analyze the way that you're thinking about the other person. You're trying to figure out what you have to do to get this person to invite you up for a nightcap. Your focus is on knocking down the person's guard so that he or she will be open to a sexual encounter. Look at how you handle conflict. Who cares if you have an argument? You can find someone new without the hassle of bickering and fighting. The sex is great, but it's not worth the baggage--unless it's make-up sex after one of those passionate arguments Consider your feelings about moving the relationship forward. In reality, you could care less about getting

Why Men Rape Have you ever sat in front of the television staring at a news report of a raped woman, child or male for that matter, wondering in the silence of your own mind how any individual can find it satisfying forcing them onto another? Whether it’s sexual satisfaction or just mere pleasure in the uncontrolled movement and distress of the other individual, the thought of knowing that you are hurting someone, the sadistic notion of force and abuse at the same time. Personally it horrifies me. There are so many woman out there that go through this whether its daily or just a once of experience, but yet they seem to stand up and move forward, thought the scars remain, my natural instinct tells me they never really heal on the inside, trust is never really earned for them, they move through life as shadows of their own hurt and pain. The threatening and hysterical thought of that happening to me, frightens me in such a way, that all sanity would leave my body in an instant. I’ve spoken to so many men about this subject, and most of them reacted in a moment of rage and fury about how someone can even attempt to do something like this, and none could provide me with a secure answer or reason. So I went forward and asked Google.

According to an article written by Jennifer McGarth on May 20 2009, she states that psychologists’ reckon that rape is caused by some psychological illness within the offender, however sociologists view rap in couple of different ways. Some believe rape is due to an expression of gender inequality while others believe rape is attributed to permissiveness sexually, within society. Many in the psychology fields strongly believe and defend the point , stating that those who rape are either emotionally disturbed or have personality defects, it’s said that rapists aren’t insane , but have a correctional problem making them impair in relationships under stress through sexual violence. Then you get another part where they believe that the offender justifies their behaviour due to childhood experience and lack the ability to be consensually intimate with a partner. Some sociologist state that is the other party’s sexual permissiveness that causes the rape to take place. In societies that

are more sexually permissive men take rejection form woman personally which results in severe frustration which forces them to rape woman, other refer to the feminist theory of gender equality , and rape is a result of long term sexual inequality, therefore rape is used to intimidate woman and “keep them in their place”. The majority of rape cases involve the offender being male, and therefore the theory is proved according to socialist as a power of dominance in gender equality. Personally looking at the theories and beliefs, from an objective point of view, dominance and power does not initially pertain to hurting another human being, and rape is the exact behaviour to hurt someone. This leads me to the mere explanation of a socio-path. Research shows that a socio-path path is, by definition: an individual who will engage in behaviours for his or her own self fulfilment, at the expense of another, and will use others for one’s own fulfilment irrespective of whether or not is causes harm. A socio-path does not have empathy for others and does not have a conscience, or experience remorse or guilt when he or she victimizes others. A sociopath will do what makes him or her feel good, or to get what he or she wants, regardless of how they affect others. If a sociopath exists within a society that supports the use of women for sexual pleasure and boxes women in this stereotypical status, then rape may not even seem or feel wrong to him. When a society is changing its own structure as often occurs as a natural adaptation within an integral system of nations, communities, and family systems, and this results in the way the status or roles of men and women are perceived, some people may come to feel threatened by these changes. Such change always forces changes in identity and the way people perceive their own role and function within their society. As mentioned earlier in this article, this can be at the root of why a society in transition may not be ready to take responsibility for the protection of women, when traditional roles and ways of functioning within the society are changing.

Additionally, some men have a literal hate for women. This is called misogyny. There are cases of women who have hate for men as well, but this article will address misogyny as the topic is about rape against women. Men who have a very real and literal hate for women may have been beaten, abandoned, or abused by women, such as their mother, or a female relative, or may have some other traumatic experience with women during their childhood. When you combine misogyny with psychopathic, you have a very dangerous mixture within a man who is capable of cruel, abominable and appalling crimes against women.

That instinctively leaves me with one explanation, that men rape not because of past experiences but because of the way they think and react in certain situations. Is hard to think that the person next to you might be capable of something like that, but if you read up on this you will note that we are all capable of going into a sociopathic state of mind at any time in our lives, whether instigated or lead on, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a psychological disorder that can happen to us all.

HIV/AIDS There are currently so many myths, strange beliefs and stories that lead us to believe what aids are and where it came from. I recently crossed paths with a training Nurse who taught me a lot about this illness. We as individuals have set out jokes and pranks going around about this illness, but we do not realise the seriousness of what this disease pertains. We all have experienced that one night where we go home and think to ourselves, what have I done, it scares me to think of what could’ve happened in that night. There are times where we laugh at our stupid decisions and actions in the a moment of pure lust, after a long conversation with this particular nurse I came to realise the importance of safety and protection, the threat and suffering these individuals go through because of one night’s bad choice or mistake made. HIV/ AIDS in definition are Human immunodeficiency virus infection / acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a disease of the human immune system caused by infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). [1] During the initial infection, a person may experience a brief period of influenza-like illness. This is typically followed by a prolonged period without symptoms. As the illness progresses, it interferes more and more with the immune system, making the person much more likely to get infections, including opportunistic infections and tumors that do not usually affect people who have working immune systems.HIV is transmitted primarily via unprotected sexual intercourse (including anal and even oral sex), contaminated blood transfusions, hypodermic needles, and from mother to child during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding.[2] Some bodily fluids, such as saliva and tears, do not transmit HIV. [3] Prevention of HIV infection, primarily through safe sex and needleexchange programs, is a key strategy to control the spread of the disease. There is no cure or vaccine; however, antiretroviral treatment can slow the course of the disease and may lead to a near-normal life expectancy. While antiretroviral treatment reduces the risk of death and complications from the disease, these medications are expensive and may be associated with side effects.Genetic research indicates that HIV originated in west-central Africa during the early twentieth century.[4] AIDS was first recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 1981 and its cause—HIV infection—was identified in the early part of the decade.[5] Since its discovery, AIDS has caused nearly 30 million deaths (as of 2009).[6] As of 2010, approximately 34 million people are living with HIV globally.[7] AIDS is considered a pandemic—a disease outbreak which is present over a large area and is actively spreading.[8]HIV/AIDS has had a great impact on society, both as an illness and as a source of discrimination. The disease also has significant economic impacts. There are many misconceptions about

HIV/AID such as the belief that it can be transmitted by casual nonsexual contact. The disease has also become subject to many controversies involving religion.- From Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia What frightens me the most is the clinical latency of this disease, we all know about the window period where you test negative when in actual fact you are positive, most individuals go on with their lives after that first test and keep on doing what they do , not taking into consideration what the outcome could be. Research shows that most symptoms only occur after the window period and 20-50% of the cases are most commonly fever, large tender lymph nodes, throat inflammation , and a rash, if you look at these symptoms from outside the epidemic view of aids, they seem like normal symptoms for a flu, or a bacterial infection, and in most cases these are the symptoms that actually kill you. Due to their nonspecific character, these symptoms are not often recognized as signs of HIV infection. Even cases that do get seen by a family doctor or a hospital are often misdiagnosed as one of the many common infectious diseases with overlapping symptoms. Thus, it is recommended that HIV be considered in patients presenting an unexplained fever who may have risk factors for the infection.

HIV testing Most people infected with HIV develop specific antibodies (i.e. seroconvert) within three to twelve weeks of the initial infection. Diagnosis of primary HIV before seroconversion is done by measuring HIV-RNA or p24 antigen. Positive results obtained by antibody or PCR testing are confirmed either by a different antibody or by PCR.Antibody tests in children younger than 18 months are typically inaccurate due to the continued presence of maternal antibodies. Thus HIV infection can only be diagnosed by PCR testing

for HIV RNA or DNA, or via testing for the p24 antigen. Much of the world lacks access to reliable PCR testing and many places simply wait until either symptoms develop or the child is old enough for accurate antibody testing. In sub-Saharan Africa as of 2007–2009 between 30–70% of the population was aware of their HIV status. In 2009 between four and 42% of the population was tested. These figures represent substantial increases from ten years previous. HIV/AIDS has become a chronic rather than an acutely fatal disease in many areas of the world. Prognosis varies between people, and both the CD4 count and viral load are useful for predicted outcomes Without treatment, average survival time after infection with HIV is estimated to be 9 to 11 years, depending on the HIV subtype. After the diagnosis of AIDS, if treatment is not available, survival ranges between 6 and 19 months. HAART and appropriate prevention of opportunistic infections reduces the death rate by 80%, and raises the life expectancy for a newly diagnosed young adult to 20–50 years. This is between two thirds and nearly that of the general population. If treatment is started late in the infection, prognosis is not as good: for example, if treatment is begun following the diagnosis of AIDS, life expectancy is ~10–40 years. Half of infants born with HIV die before two years of age without treatment. The primary causes of death from HIV/AIDS are opportunistic infections and cancer, both of which are frequently the result of the progressive failure of the immune system. Risk of cancer appears to increase once the CD4 count is below 500/μL. The rate of clinical disease progression varies widely between individuals and has been shown to be affected by a number of factors such as a person's susceptibility and immune function; their access to health care and the presence of co-infections; as well as the particular strain (or strains) of the virus involved. Tuberculosis co-infection is one of the leading causes of sickness and death in those with HIV/AIDS being present in a third of all HIV infected people and resulting in 25% of HIV related deaths. HIV is also one of the most important risk factors for tuberculosis. Hepatitis C is another very common co-infection where each disease increases the progression of the other. The two most common cancers associated with HIV/AIDS are Kaposi's sarcoma and AIDS-related non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Even with antiretroviral treatment, over the long term HIV-infected people may experience neurocognitive disorders,[151] osteoporosis, neuropathy, cancers, nephropathy, and cardiovascular disease. It is not clear whether these conditions result from the HIV infection itself or are adverse effects of treatment. AIDS was first clinically observed in 1981 in the United States The initial cases were a cluster of injecting drug users and homosexual men with no known cause of impaired immunity who showed symptoms of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), a rare opportunistic infection that was known to occur in people with very compromised immune systems.

Origins Both HIV-1 and HIV-2 are believed to have originated in non-human primates in West-central Africa and were transferred to humans in the early 20th century. HIV-1 appears to have originated in southern Cameroon through the evolution of SIV(cpz), a simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) that infects wild chimpanzees (HIV-1 descends from the SIVcpz endemic in the chimpanzee subspecies Pan troglodytes troglodytes). The closest relative of HIV-2 is SIV(smm), a virus of the sooty mangabey (Cercocebus atys atys), an Old World monkey living in coastal West Africa (from southern Senegal to western Côte d'Ivoire). New World monkeys such as the owl monkey are resistant to HIV-1 infection, possibly because of a genomic fusion of two viral resistance genes. HIV-1 is thought to have jumped the species barrier on at least three separate occasions, giving rise to the three groups of the virus, M, N, and O. There is evidence that humans who participate in bushmeat activities, either as hunters or as bushmeat vendors, commonly acquire SIV. However, SIV is a weak virus which is typically suppressed by the human immune system within weeks of infection. It is thought that several transmissions of the virus from individual to individual in quick succession are necessary to allow it enough time to mutate into HIV. Furthermore, due to its relatively low person-toperson transmission rate, SIV can only spread throughout the population in the presence of one or more high-risk transmission channels, which are thought to have been absent in Africa before the 20th century. Specific proposed high-risk transmission channels, allowing the virus to adapt to humans and spread throughout the society, depend on the proposed timing of the animal-to-human crossing. Genetic studies of the virus suggest that the most recent common ancestor of the HIV-1 M group dates back to circa 1910.[185] Proponents of this dating link the HIV epidemic with the emergence of colonialism and growth of large colonial African cities, leading to social changes, including a higher degree of sexual promiscuity, the spread of prostitution, and the accompanying high frequency of genital ulcer diseases (such as syphilis) in nascent colonial cities.[186] While transmission rates of HIV during vaginal intercourse are low under regular circumstances, they are increased many fold if one of the partners suffers from an sexually transmitted

infection resulting in genital ulcers. Early 1900s colonial cities were notable due to their high prevalence of prostitution and genital ulcers, to the degree that, as of 1928, as many as 45% of female residents of eastern Kinshasa were thought to have been prostitutes, and, as of 1933, around 15% of all residents of the same city were infected by one of the forms of syphilis. An alternative view holds that unsafe medical practices in Africa during years following World War II, such as unsterile reuse of single use syringes during mass vaccination, antibiotic and anti-malaria treatment campaigns, were the initial vector that allowed the virus to adapt to humans and spread. The earliest well documented case of HIV in a human dates back to 1959 in the Congo. The virus may have been present in the United States as early as 1966, but the vast majority of infections occurring outside sub-Saharan Africa (including the U.S.) can be traced back to a single unknown individual who became infected with HIV in Haiti and then brought the infection to the United States sometime around 1969. The epidemic then rapidly spread among high-risk groups (initially, sexually promiscuous men who have sex with men). By 1978, the prevalence of HIV-1 among gay male residents of New York and San Francisco was estimated at 5%, suggesting that several thousand individuals in the country had been infected.

Science and Religion have both tried to predict how the next chapter of humanity will be defined, but I believe it is within us carbon based species to grab the bull by the horns and become captains of our own fates. We get lost in messages that we have to preserve our planet and that no individual is greater than the group, but some part of us should surely be screaming that there is something more than just looking after ourselves, but to look ahead.

The current generations living on earth are probably the most accomplished in the history of measured time. We have mastered land and air. We have achieved the impossible and have broken barriers more often and frequently than our predecessors. We should thank them for their contributions, but it is the spirit of human endeavour that is leading our tiny planet as a whole not the achievements of days past.

We have weathered nature and all the challenges it has provided, we have survived more ‘end of the world’ scenarios than any other period. But what is next for this miniscule blue spot in an infinite universe? Where could we possibly be heading in the near future and what will future generations have to say about our approach to take humanity to the next step.

I’m not talking about the ant and the cricket parable but something much greater. What am I smoking and where could you get it you might ask? Wish it were that simple. It is all about cognitive thinking and reasoning, sometimes there isn’t an explanation for something but our inept human nature makes us seek answers. This stems from ages of storytelling…basic communication. If we aren’t able to pass over information from generation to generation without being able to answer questions about that information we see it as null and void, until some genius like person comes along and enlightens us.

Like they say, hindsight is a bitch, and we all wish we had discovered this or that or thought of this world changing gadget or plan, but we all can’t be that person. These single individuals come along to remind us that there will always be something bigger and better and that we should strive to accommodate the genius that come with these specimens. They always say a prophet isn’t recognized by his own people and there is probably a reason for that. He scrutinize the people around us, we put our belief in all kinds of things except each other. If we started putting more faith in our own kind, self-doubt will fly out of the window and anything becomes a possibility. Haters will hate I suppose, and there will always be critics. It’s not up to you to prove them wrong, it’s up to you to prove yourself right. This world is not enough…for now. Written by Paul Wesh

Have you ever wondered what would happen if the roles of male and female in social circles was reversed? Some say that barrier has been breached ages ago, and that through forward thinking and progress we are equal on every level and that every individual has the right to socialize how he or she pleases, whether it is to the public norm or not.

The way you categorize people is directly proportionate to your upbringing. The classic nature vs. nurture debate comes to mind. It is the guardians’ responsibility to help children grow up to be an accepted member of their community, to adopt the behavioural patterns of the surrounding culture. This socialization of children to the norms of their culture will ultimately decide how the person will adapt later in his life. Failure to set correct examples at critical stages in prepubescent stages could lead to the child feeling like an outcast, I don’t have to be a psychologist to tell you the detrimental impact that could have. It could potentially have traumatic consequences for those involved. The acculturation of both boys and girls at an early stage will determine how they interact at a latter stage of their development when they start exploring the differences between them and the opposite sex. This raises a whole new debate regarding homo- and bi sexuality whether in fact you “were born this way” or whether external factors influenced your psyche towards sexual orientation. I will for now rather just concentrate on the different roles males and females have in society.

All society does is label that individual and move on. We get spoonfed that it is not politically correct to stereotype people as there is probably more to them than meets the eye, I however see it as a coping mechanism in the sense that myself as an individual does not have the mental capacity to associate myself with every being that crosses my path, so the natural thing to do is categorize that person so that my brain knows how to react should they cross my path again. These categories eventually result in how you interact with people.

Obviously there is also the cultural factor to keep in mind when discussing socialization but I feel culture like religion is the root of all conflict, so let’s rather avoid that touchy subject for now. So where was I? What would happen if John Doe and Jane Doe inexplicably had to switch bodies? By some Hollywood screenplay miracle they go to a club and drink a magical potion that swops bodies, but unlike the Hollywood screenplay there is no way to reverse this exchange. How would John now in Janes body react socially and vice versa? Would John still go to the little girls room to powder ‘her’ nose? Would ‘she’ still use ‘her’ animal magnetism to lure a potential mate?

How would Jane now react that ‘he’ has different mental wiring? Would ‘he’ go on the prowl to win the affections of the fairer sex. Would ‘he’ join a wolfpack for the exchange of banter and interspecie competition? Would ‘he’ become a masochistic Neanderthal and just another example of ‘all men are the same’?

This would make for one entertaining RomCom, if this were a movie then the odds would be that they somehow end up with each other, fall in love, and by so doing literally fall in love with themselves and break the magical ‘curse’. A modern day fairy tale if ever there was one. The lesson being that eventually you must learn to love yourself before you can learn to love others.

So the hilarious consequences of men and females changing the way they socialize might seem like an unlikely event, and a near impossibility. Then again flight and smart phones were also something that never might have existed and they do, so don’t be surprised if one day you go to your favourite hangout and see a group of guys going to the bathroom together holding hands and giggling as they walk by a girl and her wing woman using the cheesiest pickup lines ever on a guy “just waiting for his mates”. Written by Paul Wesh

Feature

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

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To grow my brand and collaborate with top Electronic producers around the country/world.

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To release an EP every 3 months and an album every year.

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To be recognized by relevant artists and record labels around South Africa and possibly the world.

My strengths would have to be my production, creating my own feel to what I make and having patience with this industry as I see more and more “artists” getting massive coverage without ever having made one track of their own which I do not agree with.

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My weaknesses would have to be the fact that I have over 100 unfinished tracks and about 20 finished as I always come up with new ideas and then in turn start from scratch again.

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To give my fans exactly what they want and keep them happy.

ACHIEVEMENTS, ACCOMPLISHMENTS •

Got booked on the Deadmau5 Cape Town Bill

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Sponsored by Monster Energy South Africa

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