Monday, January 27, 2014

Running Up That Hill



Kate Bush: "Running Up That Hill"

Thursday, January 16, 2014

The Girl From Baltimore



The Fleshtones: "The Girl From Baltimore"

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Female Trouble Trailer

Monday, January 13, 2014

Taking the OraQuick In-Home HIV Test

It's been a while since my last HIV screening, so I figured I was due. I usually go to Planned Parenthood, but this time I decided to do it myself, as it were. I stopped by a local pharmacy and picked up an OraQuick In-Home HIV Test.

It was $42.95, which seemed reasonable to me. Though, you can find them cheaper online if you're willing to wait for delivery. I wanted an answer ASAP, because I'm the impatient type. Remember having to wait weeks for results? Yeah, that was anxiety inducing. With OraQuick, you've an answer in under 30 minutes.



OraQuick in the box (above) and out of (below).


At first glance, the test appears a bit daunting. (What is this, a Voight-Kampff machine?) But really, it's a lot more simple than it looks. There's a lot of clutter in the box, including a pencil and a disposal bag and some literature on HIV testing and AIDS.


Easy peasy: It's just a quick swab of the gums, and drop the tester in a vial of whatever this clear liquid is. Then you wait. (That part is still a bit stressful. I made grilled cheese sandwiches to pass the time.)

The entire process in two pictures:



Swabbing (above); waiting on the results.


Twenty minutes later you've your results. It's much like a pregnancy test, with the pink lines indicating a positive or negative result.


If you're sexually active, you should get yourself tested. Know your status. Know your partners' status. Test regularly. OraQuick makes it quick, easy, and confidential.

Friday, January 10, 2014

Travels with Tintin



Tintin, Locust Point, Baltimore.



Tintin, Penn Station, Baltimore.



Tintin, Locust Point, Baltimore.

Wednesday, January 08, 2014

Travels with Tintin



Tintin, Fort McHenry, Baltimore.

Monday, January 06, 2014

Travels with Tintin



Tintin, Cedar Hill Cemetery, Baltimore.



Tintin, Winooski Town Square, Winooski, Vermont.



Tintin, E.A. Poe statue, University of Baltimore.

Wednesday, January 01, 2014

Pink Flamingos: Then and Now

The infamous final scene of Pink Flamingos was filmed in my neighbourhood, about two blocks from where I live. Recently I strolled out with my camera in an attempt to capture these locations as they look now.


Babs, Crackers, and Cotton round the corner of Read and Park, past a tavern. The phone booth is gone, the trees in the background are grown up, but the place is still a bar. It's called The Drinkery now and it's a run-down gay bar.


A block up the street, at Read and Tyson, they spot something that stops them in their tracks.


A man walks his dog down Tyson Street. It's really little more than an alley.


Babs is hungry! Read Street shops in the background.


Parking lot on Tyson Street where Babs has a snack. It's crumbled away to nothing now.