PT NEWS PT NEWS PT NEWS PT NEWS PT NEWS PT NEWS PT NEWS _____________________________________________________________ An Interactive Weekly Newspaper full of stories, weekly articles, gay news, news from the Pink Triangle chat room, trivia, BIOS, screen names, and much, much more! Without YOU, the reader. the PT News would not exist! _____________________________________________________________ Pink Triangle News - Issue No. 60 - June 11,1999 - Circulation: 245 [email protected] Editors: FreddieB & Alladdinn ____________________ Howdy again Guys and Gals and welcome to another issue of the PT News. There's not a whole lot to say this week. Freddie has been working long hours at work and hasn't been home a lot this week and I have been working on the Geeseboys crisis, (which will be told in more detail later in the paper)! This issue will kind of be a short on, since there wasn't a great deal sent in to us this past week. Enjoy the news! Ali ____________________ NOW.without any further delay.We proudly bring you this week's edition of the PT News! _____________________________________________________________ DISCLAIMER: It is the intent of this paper to provide an enjoyable, informational reading material to you, the reader. The opinions and/or advice given throughout this paper are those of the readers that submit, and may not necessarily be those of the editors! All articles and submissions have been accepted and printed here in good faith (without editing) and is not verified, or researched by the editors, therefore may not be true! WARNING: SOME ARTICLES CONTAIN SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIAL! _____________________________________________________________ WEEKLY CONTRIBUTORS OF THE PT NEWS: _____________________________________________________________ RE__ - "Round 'em UP" Primebear - Gay Voice Of America & Coming OUT [email protected] Tech Master - Tech Tips [email protected] Misty - Misty's Drag Bag Goldie12 - THE Poetry Corner [email protected] Maxam - Our resident "Roving Reporter!" Ganymede03 - Various articles _____________ THE EDITORS OF THE PTNEWS Alladdinn (Co-Editor, PT Birthdays) [email protected] Freddieb (Co-Editor, Up Close & Personal) [email protected] _____________________________________________________________ EDITORIAL (Alladdinn) "LOVERS SEPERATED BY THE BORDER" The Geeseboy's story. Some of you may already know, but for those who haven't heard yet... Goose and Gander were separated at the border last weekend on their way to Florida. Goose was denied access into the states because it appeared he was moving to the states, and Gander was denied access back into Canada because he doesn't have his papers yet to become a Canadian citizen. Gander caught a train bound for Florida and was met in Chicago by Beth, Ashlee & Shymom who drove up from Ohio to take him back to Ohio with them. We are currently working on what is the best option to get him on to Florida from there. Goose is now at his sisters in Ottawa until he can figure out how to get into the states legally, so that he and Gander will never be separated again! At least we know both men are safe, but as you can imagine, both are in pretty low spirits right now because they have to be apart and who knows for how long this time! Several people have asked if there were anything they could do to help to reunite this couple again. I sent out a special memo earlier in the week, telling the Geese's story and asking for help from any of you that could possibly assist in this crisis. Although we don't know if this will help, I and some others have written letters to Rosie O'Donnell, (The talk show host) who might possibly be able to help in some way or at least give us some helpful legal advice on what the next step should be. If you would like to write Rosie in support of getting these two wonderful men together again, you can send your letter to www.rosie.com through the CONTACT ROSIE link at the bottom of the page! Hopefully, if she gets flooded with letters, she will see that these two men are loved by their PT family and belong together, possibly helping find a way for them to be reunited again! Thanks family on behalf of Goose and Gander for your support! I'm sure you will join Freddie and I in keeping them in your thoughts and prayers until they are reunited again! Just a quick addition to this... Gander is now here in Florida with Freddie and I, and we are working desperately to come up with lowest airfare to get Goose here also. Keep your chins up Goose and Gander, you WILL be back together SOON! Thanks again family, Alladdinn & FreddieB ____________________________________________________________ LETTERS TO THE EDITORS [email protected] __________________ Send your letters to the editors to: [email protected] ALL comments and suggestions are valuable to us in providing you with the most enjoyable reading material possible! All will be taken into consideration! ___________ Just wanted to say that I sent an e-mail to that Rosie person (who is she anyway?? LOL) and I really, really hope it helps goose and gander get together again. I hope everyone is well... I so sad I missed the re-union... I wish I coulda gone... can I have the video anyway? LOL Sorry I'm not in the room much... I miss you guys!! Love you forever. Bethrrs. ______ Ali's notes... Hey Bethrrs! It's good to hear from you again! Thanks for sending in your e-mail to Rosie (who btw is Rosie O'Donnell, the talk show host in the states.) We haven't heard anything back from her yet, but are still in hopes that she was flooded with email concerning this story, and can help in some way! Be sure to look for up coming announcements about the video from the reunion. When we get the video together, we will send out an announcement for anyone who would like to purchase it (for the low cost of $29.95 + shipping and handling). Thanks for taking an interest in the video, and also volunteering to help with next year's reunion. We will surely add you to the list of volunteers and send you an email when preparations and planning begins! _____________ Dear Freddie and Ali, I think the idea for the letters flooding into Rosie is a great one. I for one have already sent my letter to her last evening. I think it is terrible that our great friends have been detained in such a manor. I will be praying for them, as I know all our pt family will be. Best regards to you two as well. Your Friend, Ed Gundersen aka West ________ Ali's notes... Thanks West, you're a sweety and I'm sure Goose and Gander really appreciate your help and support! _____________________________________________________________ TECH TIPS and CYBER NEWS [email protected] (Techmaster) _____________ HERE'S THE ADDY FOR DOWNLOADING THE SOFTWARE FOR VP. Several people have been asking for the addy to download the free software in helping "mugs" view VP in all its glory, here is the download addy: http://www.excite.com/communities/chat/download/ _____________ VIRUS WARNING!!! (Submitted by Maxam) Do not open or download an attachment that says "zipped_files.exe". This latest authenticated virus e-mail attachment ("zipped_files.exe") is a real virus called "Worm.ExploreZip" and "W32.ExploreZip Worm". Information on this virus is given on this Symantec Anti-Virus web page: http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/worm.explore.zip.html For those of you without Internet access, the virus will "destroy any file with the extension .h, .c, .cpp, .asm, .doc, .ppt, or .xls on your hard drive(s), as well as any mapped drives, each time it is executed. " Also, it is executed every time Windows is started on the computer. Instructions on how to repair your computer if it is already infected are available on that web site. ______________ TECH FUNNIES (Submitted by Maxam) Customer: "So that'll get me connected to the Internet, right?" Tech Support: "Yeah." Customer: "And that's the latest version of the Internet, right?" Tech Support: "Uhh...uh...uh...yeah." _____________________________________________________________ WHAT AM I??? (Submitted by FreddieB and Alladdinn) Exactly where is your mind these days? We hate to hazard a guess, but if you ended up on these pages, my guess is that you were wondering that same question. The following test is a cute exercise that should give you an idea what you are thinking about. Look over the series of questions and write down the first answer that comes to your mind. 1.I am a protrusion that comes in many sizes. When I'm not well, I drip. When you blow me, you feel good. What Am I? 2.I'm spread before I'm eaten. Your tongue gets me off. People sometimes lick my nuts. What Am I? 3.I assist an erection. Sometimes big balls hang from me. I'm called a big swinger. What Am I? 4.Over 1,000 people went down on me. I wasn't maiden for long. A big hard thing ripped me open. What Am I? 5.You stick your poles inside me. You tie me down to get me up. I get wet before you do. What Am I? 6.When I go in I cause pain. I cause you to spit and ask you not to swallow. I can fill your hole. What Am I? 7.A finger goes in me. You fiddle with me when you're bored. The best man always has me first. What Am I? 8.All day long, it's in and out. I discharge loads from my shaft. Both men and women go down on me. What Am I? 9.I go in hard. I come out soft. You blow me hard. What Am I? 10.If I miss, I hit your bush. It's my job to stuff your box. When I come, it's news. What Am I? 11.I offer Protection. I get the finger ten times. You use your fingers to get me off. What Am I? 12.I have a stiff shaft. My tip penetrates. I come with a quiver. What Am I? 13.My business is briefs. I am a cunning linguist. I plead and plead for it. What Am I? 14.I make some guys shoot in the air. I usually have a little pecker. I'm better in your hand than in your bush. _____ You'll find the answers in next week's issue! The first one to answer all the questions correctly to the PT News addy ([email protected]) will win a PRIDE T-SHIRT!!! _____________________________________________________________ HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!! ______________________ PT BIRTHDAYS [email protected] (Alladdinn) ______ Howdy all you PT Birthday Guys and Gals! Let's take a quick look at last week's PT Birthday's for the week ending June 11, 1999. Jem................... June 07 Suz611............. June 11 HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! ______________ Now, let's take a look at next week's Birthday's for the week ending June 18, 1999. catbowl.... June 14 Cheryl (PT Mom's daughter) June 14 xxmarryxx ...... June 16 Screwdriver18.... June 17 TopCat............... June 17 WickedLove...... June 18 HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!! _____________ Here are the rest of the PT Birthday's for the month of June. Goldie......... June 20 Chickadee....... June 21 Thatgirl.............. June 27 bluetulip1...... June 29 _____________ WOW... Lots of Bdays in June eh? Must've been a LONG winter! LOL _____________ That's our Birthdays for last week, as well as our upcoming birthdays for the month of JUNE. I hope everyone is enjoying their Birthday greetings, and if anyone would be interested in having the Birthday Horoscopes return to the paper, please let me know! Until next week's list of Birthday guys and gals... Much Love and Happiness, Ali ___ PS I have a list compiled of all the PT family birthdays. If, for some reason you hadn't sent in your Bday previously (perhaps you are a newbie, or just thought: "Hey, I haven't sent my Bday in yet!", then please send it to [email protected] and I will add it to my list of Bday Guys and Gals! _____________________________________________________________ THIS WEEK'S FEATURE STORIES FROM OUR FAMILY MEMBERS _____________ Insurance Co. Wins HIV Coverage Case By DEBRA HALE SHELTON Associated Press Writer (Submitted by Maxam) CHICAGO (AP) A federal appeals panel has ruled that an insurance company should have the option to limit HIV-related health-care coverage to a fraction of the $1 million cap placed on other illnesses. A panel of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, ruling in the case of two HIV-positive Chicago-area men, found that a federal law barring discrimination against people with disabilities does not apply to the content of insurance policies. The decision overturned a ruling by a federal judge last year. For people with AIDS, the decision ``legalizes irrational discrimination by health insurers,'' Ann Fisher, executive director of the AIDS Legal Council of Chicago, said in a statement Thursday. The appeals panel ruled late Wednesday on a lawsuit that activists filed in 1997 against Mutual of Omaha Insurance Co. On behalf of the two men, whose names have not been released. Mutual of Omaha spokesman Jim Nolan said Thursday that the company was pleased with the ruling. Attorneys for the two men have not decided whether to appeal. One of the men's policies capped his lifetime benefits for HIV-related conditions at $25,000 and the other man's policy capped such benefits at $100,000. They said this was in contrast to the $1million that Mutual of Omaha would provide them if they needed care for other medical conditions. ______________________________________________________________ ATTENTION PLEASE.I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO MAKE!!! ______________________________________ Just a little note to let you all know and remind you That Misty and Isa have a site that is regularly updated with all the pics from the shows each month. Please feel free to browse the pages of the gallery and let us know what you think! You can find it at: www.geocities.com/WestHollywood/Chelsea/5977 That's all for now, till next we chat Isa!! *kiss* *hug* __________________________ Hey Pinkies, Well Alyx and I did not realize we were so popular, a mug is coming in the room impersonating us. So we both wanted you all to know that we are not coming in as a mug either as TawsAlyx, AvengerTaw or whatever this person who has no life thinks of next. So anyone of our friends what's to tell this mug that they know its not either one of us go for it, and I recommend choice words. Thanks Taw & Alyx ____________________________________________________________ BIOS BIOS BIOS BIOS BIOS BIOS [email protected] _________________________ Everyone enjoys discovering more about the people we see in the room on a daily basis. If you have not sent in your BIO.we'd love to hear from you, and for those of you who are new to PTN, a BIO is merely a little about yourselves to introduce you to our PT family. We all chat and get to know one another in PT, but trying to keep up with chat and IM's, along with ICQ (uh oh's) can be a challenge at times. Your BIO doesn't have to be anything lengthy, just anything you'd like to share with the rest of our family, so as to get to know you better! Thanks, Ali _____ NO BIOS this week! ______________________________________________________________ AIDS INFORMATION AND SUPPORT ____________________ Weakened AIDS Virus Still Damaging By the Associated Press (Submitted by Maxam) Several people in Australia who caught a weakened form of HIV in the early 1980s are showing AIDS-like damage to their immune systems, a development with disappointing implications in the search for a vaccine. Between 1980 and 1984, 13 people in Australia received blood donated by an HIV-infected man, and eight of them caught the virus. When none got sick, researchers analyzed the virus and found that it was missing a working copy of a gene called nef, which boosts HIV reproduction. Over the years, three of the infected people died of other causes, and none has gotten AIDS. Some researchers had hoped that a vaccine modeled on the weak virus could be an effective AIDS vaccine, protecting people for life without making them sick. The idea would be to create a vaccine using a weakened version of HIV that is missing nef and probably other genes. Studies in monkeys suggest that this may protect animals from getting the simian version of AIDS. However, some of the Australians now appear to show weakening immune defenses. Of the donor and five surviving transfusion recipients, three have falling levels of helper T cells, a hallmark of AIDS damage. In January, the donor whose blood infected the others began taking AIDS drugs because of his low blood count. The Australians are known as the Sydney Blood Bank Cohort. A report on them was published in today's New England Journal of Medicine by Jennifer Learmont, and others from the Australian Red Cross Blood Service. In an accompanying editorial, Drs. Kathleen Collins of the University of Michigan and Gary Nabel of the National Institutes of Health said the experience provides ``another cautionary note'' about the use of a live but weakened HIV strain as a vaccine. ``If large populations of uninfected persons were given this virus, there would almost certainly be unacceptable risks,'' they wrote. ___________________________________________________________ THE JOKE SHACK - A dirty mind is a terrible thing to waste. ______________ JAWS OF LIFE (Submitted by Maxam) A guy walks into a bar with a pet alligator by his side. He puts the alligator up on the bar. He turns to the astonished patrons. "I'll make you a deal. I will open this alligator's mouth and place my genitals inside. Then the gator will close his mouth for one minute. He will then open his mouth and I will remove my unit unscathed. In return for witnessing this spectacle, each of you will buy me a drink." The crowd murmured their approval. The man stood up on the bar, dropped his trousers, and placed his privates in the alligator's open mouth. The gator closed his mouth as the crowd gasped. After a minute, the man grabbed a beer bottle and rapped the alligator hard on the top of its head. The gator opened his mouth and the man removed his genitals unscathed as promised. The crowd cheered and the first of his free drinks was delivered. The man stood up again and made another offer. "I'll pay anyone $100 who's willing to give it a try." A hush fell over the crowd. After a while, a hand went up in the back of the bar. A woman timidly spoke up. "I'll try, but you have to promise not to hit me on the head with the beer bottle." _____________________________________________________________ IT'S A GAY WORLD ___________________ What we are looking for is stories of our family from around the world. This could be anything from how the gay society is treated, or accepted in your area of the world, gay events, such as GAY PRIDE, news, nightlife, or stories of gatherings of the PT family in your neck of the woods! Specifically, we would like to hear from those from Australia, Guam, New Zealand, Hawaii, England, Canada, New Finland, as well as the Four Corners of the United States! If you have any ideas or questions.please email us at: [email protected] We are looking forward to hearing from you all! Alladdinn ____________________ This is Gi18jane! AKA Valerie Suter... I just wanted to let everyone know that the rainbow house here in Myrtle Beach SC is fighting to keep the flag flying outside the bar...While police say we have to take it down, we agreed... So we went to Lowe's and bought a few cans of paint...The whole bar is now painted a rainbow...the sidewalk and everything... I think that it is great! We would like all of you to come and join us for pride fest 99... For directions or any questions email me at [email protected]... Love you all, Gi18jane ______________ Ali's notes... Thanks Gijane! Man, I'd love to see the looks on the policemen's faces when they drive past the place now! LOL ______________________________________________________________ "WANTED, NEEDED, SEARCHING FOR, GOTTA HAVE IT, CAN'T FIND IT!" _____________________ PT CLASSIFIEDS _______ PT Classifieds are meant to not only be humorous, but also used as a means of placing advertisements for things you might be looking for, possibly used for personals, as well as letting missing people know they are missed! If you would like to place an ad, please send it to: [email protected] and we will gladly print it for you! _____________________ WANTED: Any found memories of this past weekend's events from the reunion that you'd like to share with the rest of the family. There are lots of stories to tell of the weekend, and we'd like to share all of them! Thanks! _____________________________________________________________ POETRY CORNER [email protected] ____________________ When things are down and you need to release, a poem is a perfect way to feel because it can't talk back or try to give solutions to your problem. (Krymsyn) ____________________ Untitled what gives you the right to say whom I love is not okay do you think your slate is so clear that you may call us faggot and queer your hatred is unnecessary your fear unfounded your reactions irrational your prejudice damaging we are all alike in our uniqueness we are all afraid of our passions some of us choose the road less traveled some of us take the other path and live a life of lies we should be respected for our courage not condemned for showing our strength thatgirlp ______________________________________________________________ MISTY'S DRAG BAG (Misty) Well folks its me here. I'm sitting here tonight, alone. Isa has gone off for two weeks heading across the border to visit some friends on a long overdue visit. I wish I were with him but sitting here by myself for the first time since he moved in I feel the solitude of my thoughts like the weight of the world. Many of us have known loneliness over the time, it used to be my constant companion. Yet now oddly, it feels so strangely different. I never used to mind being on my own, in fact I preferred it. If I wanted company it was only ever a telephone call or a computer chat link away. Now I miss the little things. Having to make my own coffee (LOL), making dinner for one (which is really strange cause I normally don't eat dinner), not having him there just to give a kiss/cuddle to as I walk past. Its amazing what tricks we can play with the mind, I mean, he is only going for two weeks and I know he will be back after that unless Wild kidnaps him for playing with her toys and stealing her underwear like I told him to. But it does make me stop and think once again about some of my VP friends. Whose loneliness or sometimes closeted lifestyle means the only time they can be with friends is when they are online. You know once I actually complained about someone talking to me. I wasn't in the mood to be chatting really but I was bored and decided to use the time to go surfing through chat to find new rooms/av's/etc and someone interrupted my melancholy brooding but starting idle chit chat. I was not rude but firm in my responses trying my best to "get rid of them". But then they had said something which made me stay and we ended up talking for the next 5 hrs. Would you like to know what they said that made me change my frame of mind? It was "I'm lonely and I can't find anyone who will talk to me". 5 hrs later and I had given them a few sites to go to chat to people, I even told them to give my name in a couple of the rooms so that he could become a member of the Clique and join in. They weren't gay, or cute or cybering or anything else, they were just lonely. I've caught up with him a couple of times since but he always seems to be so busy chatting away to his newfound friends that I don't disturb him. And I think about some of the strangers that come in PT from time to time. Sometimes all they want is to talk to someone. Sometimes they want cyber but I always just give those ones Max's name (LOL). I wonder how many max's these people try before they give up. Sometimes the strangers come in as a guest, not even being safe enough in their own home environment to download the software for fear of being found out. I know, I know, sometimes a mug can be really annoying but stop and listen first before you start bouncing their handled butt around and out of the room. Judge each person as an individual, the way you would like to be treated. You might just find a friend. Anyway enough of my prattle, a Big hug for you all Lots of Luck and Love Misty _____________________________________________________________ SITES WORTH SEEING Websites from a few of our "Family" members for you to check out! (Maxam) ____________________ "The Pink Pages" (Kinda like the yellow pages!) You can use this page to link to everyone else's pages!!! (Note: Freddie & Ali's page of pics is not complete yet, so you can't view any of the pics. but I am working on it!) Here's the addy: http://www.hotyellow98.com/ptreunion/pinkpages.html Here are a few new additions that were also sent to us http://www.plumbdesign.com/theraurus/ http://www.qrd.org/qrd/www/tree.html http://www.netfinder.com/links/html/sgpl.html http://www.webbyawards.com/ http://www.prolaunch.com/ http://www.wpdfd.com/wpdres.htm _______ REMEMBER folks.Please let us know if you CAN NOT link to these sites. We are trying to make it so that it is easy for you to use the PT News as an informational tool to go to these sites! ____________________ If you have a personal website you'd like to include in your list, please fell free to send us the site address: [email protected] and we will gladly add you to our list! __________________________________________________________ UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH FREDDIEB (FreddieB) _______ Boy!...It's good to be back!!! I didn't think I was going to survive the reunion with all the preparations and partying, but I've checked my pulse and I'm still alive and kicking. Taking a week off of work wasn't the best idea because I'm really paying for it now. I haven't worked under 70 hours per week since I've been back. Next week, I will be back to my normal schedule and hope to have lots of exciting stuff for your reading pleasure. I really look forward to hearing your responses to my questions every other issue and glad you all have taken the time to be Up Close and Personal with FreddieB. Don't forget to take the little quiz earlier in the paper and send in your answers to win your prize!!! May the best and quickest person win!!! Now for this week's questions. Answer as you please, but remember to be honest and open. 1. WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES? IF SO, WHAT WOULD THE FIRST THING YOU WOULD CHANGE IF YOU DID? 2. WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT YOUR LIFE? WHAT DO YOU LIKE LEAST? 3. HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOU HAD YOUR FIRST SEXUAL EXPERIENCE? 4. IF THERE WERE A PUBLIC EXECUTION ON TELEVISION, WOULD YOU WATCH IT? 5. SOMEONE YOU LOVE DEEPLY IS BRUTALLY MURDERED AND YOU KNOW THE IDENTITY OF THE MURDERER, WHO UNFORTUNATELY IS ACQUITTED OF THE CRIME, WOULD YOU SEEK REVENGE? 6. WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW THE PRECISE DATE OF YOUR DEATH? 7. WERE YOU ABLE TO WAKE UP TOMORROW IN THE BODY OF SOMEONE ELSE, WOULD YOU DO SO? WHOM WOULD YOU PICK? 8. YOUR HOUSE, CONTAINING EVERYTHING YOU OWN CATCHES FIRE, AFTER SAVING YOUR LOVED ONES AND PETS, YOU HAVE TIME TO SAFELY MAKE A FINAL DASH TO SAVE ANY "ONE" ITEM, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Read each question carefully and please answer honestly. This is not a test. Just a means of getting to know you more Up Close and Personal. Thanks for sharing your views with me and our readers. Be Good and Play Safe, FreddieB __________________________________________________________ EMAIL LINKS AND INFORMATIONAL MATERIAL: [email protected] (Letters to the Editors, Opinions, Comments, Complaints, Submit an Article, Classified Ads, Birthdays) [email protected] Political (Primebear) [email protected] Tech Tips (Tech Master) [email protected] FreddieB [email protected] Alladdinn _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS ____________________ Now that you have finished reading the PT News.NOW is the time to respond! THANKS for your help in keeping these articles alive and responding in such an efficient manner! Without your help, the PT News would not be what it has become today! _____________ If you like what you are reading on a weekly basis, tell us! Also. tell a friend who may not know about the PT News! It's easy! Just have them send in their screen name and email address to: [email protected] ______________ PLEASE REMEMBER... the DEADLINE for articles and submissions to the PT News is Thursday, 6:00 p.m. EST. This is so if any corrections or additions need to be made, or problems that may arise can be resolved before the paper goes out on Friday. The PT News is distributed each Friday night, 12:00 a.m. EST. We have been experiencing some server problems with some of our readers, due to the volume of the paper it may be delayed reaching your email. Please be patient, we are looking into solving this problem! Thanks for supporting the PT News, your contributions, as a valued reader is important to us! ___________________________ Until next we meet, whether it be in the PT, or coming to you through your mail boxes.Be safe, Be kind, and keep chatting! Have a GREAT weekend! FreddieB & Alladdinn Editors PT News