World AIDS Day takes place every year on December 1st. It was originally established by World Health Organization in 1988, and was created to raise awareness around the globe about the AIDS epidemic caused by the spread of HIV infection.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “an estimated 38.6 million people worldwide are living with HIV and more than 25 million people having died of AIDS since 1981. The United States, like other nations around the world is deeply affected by HIV/AIDS. More than one million people in the U.S. are living with HIV and there are approximately 40,000 new cases of HIV every year.”

What can you do to help prevent the spread of HIV? Have you ever thought about getting involved in local organizations or community activities that aim to help support the cause, but didn’t know where to start?

There are several World AIDS Day events that you can attend – no matter where you are. Meet new people who share the same interest and concerns in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Here are a few ways to recognize World AIDS Day:

• For locals who’d like to respond to a global challenge, help assemble “World Vision Caregiver Kits” that will be distributed to people caring for those dying of AIDS in Africa.
• See a World AIDS Day film like: A Ripple In The Water: Healing Through Art as a way to address HIV/AIDS awareness.
• Kiehl’s World AIDS Day Shopping Benefit for YouthAIDS – Kiehl’s retail store will donate 20% of all net sales to contribute to YouthAIDS
• World AIDS Day at Boston University for a day long symposium on AIDS, arts, healing and leadership.

Find an World AIDS Day event and get involved!

Photo Credits: (Red Ribbon Candlelight Vigil - Franciscans International; Caregiver Kit - World Vision)

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The new internet series, “Quarterlife,” debuted this week on MyspaceTV.com. “Quarterlife,” produced by Marshall Herkovitz and Edward Zwick (the duo behind, “My So Called Life” and “Thirty-somethings”), is intended to capture the essence of the life experiences and dramas faced by twenty-somethings today. With angst ridden individuals battling life’s frustrations and struggles revolving around love, friendship, career pursuits, self-perception, each of the six main characters express what it’s like to deal with life after college and try to “make it” in the daunting real world.

What makes it unique is that it claims to be the first “true, network-quality series,” produced exclusively for online viewing. The show addresses an interesting shift in entertainment – from TV to computer screens. At a time when people cannot break away from their computers and the blogosphere, it seems like it’s going to be harder and harder to do so.

In addition to producing the “Quarterlife” series episodes, the creators of the program have involved the audience and online community fan-base with www.quarterlife.com, by encouraging interactivity. People can take part in the “Quarterlife” social network by using publisher tools to post video blogs, upload media for creative expression, and reference professional, political, and educational resources to facilitate discussion about their own personal quarterlife issues and concerns.

It’s an interesting concept to foster user engagement, but we’ll have to wait and see if it’s something that can really take off…

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We’ve seen and received dozens of requests for the soundtrack to our popular Yo-Yo video.   Head to Amazon or iTunes and grab a copy of Shake, Break, Bounce from The Chemical Brothers.

The Chemical Brothers – Shake Break Bounce

 Unfortunately for those of us in the U.S., the ‘electronic dance’ duo is touring Europe through the first part of 2008.  To keep you satiated, search Zvents for an endless list of dance, techno, and electronic from the hottest djs at the hippest night clubs.

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Our very own Eric Odland, who discovered collapsing art work, witnessed the 2007 YoYo Competition at San Francisco’s Exploratorium in September and we were lucky that he had his camera in hand.

“I caught the competitions near the end, which were the more advanced ones. There were some performers who were there to compete, as well as those who just wanted to demonstrate their amazing skills for the fun of it.”

The competitors were mostly young, between the ages of 10 and 20 with a few as old as 30, but clearly, age has little to do with professional Yo-Yo.

The final results were:

1A, 2A, etc refers to the type of tricks being performed. For example, 1A is a single, standard yo-yo where tricks are performed by manipulating the string. “Open Finals” means any type of trick can be performed.

For more amazing feats, unusual competition, and other fun things to do search Zvents. We can’t wait for to see the action at these events:

• The official Alabama State Fiddling Championship in April 2008
• Gingerbread House competition in December of course
• Monster Jam coming to Charlotte in February
• The the fast-paced precision & grace of hoop dancing coming to Phoenix

To catch the other great videos we post or stay on top of our favorite recommendations, be sure to add our RSS feed for the blog or subscribe through email and we’ll send you future posts.

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Can the Spurs defend their title? Will the Cavs and LeBron James take another step forward this season? Can the run-and-gun Phoenix Suns make the Finals before Steve Nash slows down? These are just some of the many intriguing questions as the 2007-08 NBA season gets into full swing.

Here are some exciting matchups coming up this weekend:

• Thursday: Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors - A highly-anticipated rematch of last season’s epic first-round series, in which the Warriors upset the heavily-favored Mavs.
• Friday: San Antonio Spurs at New Orleans Hornets - Both teams are off to 3-0 starts. The Spurs were expected to be, but the Hornets are showing that they’ve got some exciting young talent, led by star point guard Chris Paul.
• Saturday: Boston Celtics at New Jersey Nets - A battle of two teams led by a trio of All-stars — The new-look Celtics with Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce, and the Nets with Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, and Richard Jefferson.

Get out there and check out some NBA action!

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