All posts by MT

HIV in 2024 – Status Update

“In 2023, 630 000 [500 000–820 000] people died from HIV-related causes globally. Since 2010, HIV-related deaths have been reduced by 51%, from 1.3 million [1.0 million–1.7 million]. The global HIV epidemic claimed 69% fewer lives in 2023 since the peak in 2004.

  • 76 000 [53 000–110 000] children died from HIV-related causes in 2023.
  • 560 000 [430 000–730 000] adults died from HIV-related causes in 2023.
  • HIV continues to be a major global public health issue, claiming 42.3 million [35.7–51.1 million] lives so far.”
Global trends in people acquiring HIV and people dying from HIV-related causes,
2010-2023 and projections to 2030

Provided by World Health Organization

First Impressions Matter – Or Do They?

What’s the first impression you want to give people?

I’m a believer that first impressions matter but I also firmly believe that they are often inaccurate. When I meet people I want them to think I’m nice and hopefully funny. I find that humour makes any situation better.

When you first meet someone you have to be a little careful, they may not “get” you or your sense of humour. That can lead to a bad first impression.

I’ve met people that I thought I would get along with, yet after getting to know them my first impression was completely off. I have also met people who I thought eurghh but alas I was wrong, they turned out to be pretty great.

So I guess I would like to give people an accurate representation of who I am as a first impression.

The Coolest Thing I Found: A Ring with Karma

Daily writing prompt
What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever found (and kept)?

I think the coolest thing I have ever found was a ring in the girls bathroom. For those that don’t know girls usually take off their rings when they are washing their hands. There it was all shiny and perfect. I think I left it there, but at the end of the night it was still there so I took it.

But Karma is a bitch, I loved that ring and wore it everywhere until I lost it. But in my mind I guess it was someone else’s turn to have the fabulous ring.

TThoughts Podcast – But I think I’m the only one

Daily writing prompt
What podcasts are you listening to?

Lately, I’ve been grappling with the sense that the work I produce is slipping into a void, unheard and unacknowledged. I’ve poured time, energy, and passion into exploring topics I believe matter deeply—yet the response often feels like a haunting silence. Listening to TThoughts Podcasts, where a young Black woman boldly shares her political musings, I’m struck by the courage it takes to put ideas out there, regardless of the echo or response.

It feels lonely to question systems, to critique social policies, and to dissect the nuances of political theory without feeling seen or heard. Still, perhaps there’s a deeper meaning in sharing perspectives, even when they seem to go unnoticed. Maybe it’s about planting seeds, sending out ripples we may not immediately see.

This feeling of “shouting into the void” reminds me that building awareness and change, especially on complex issues, can be a quiet, slow process. Maybe it’s okay if my voice, and the voices of others like me, reach just one person today and another tomorrow. One day, those small connections may turn the quiet into a resonant call for change.

With Love from ChatGPT

Urban Garden 2024

I’m not really a plant person. I love nature but I didn’t really think much of keeping plants. My mum started getting one or two plants but I didn’t really pay it any mind until someone at work was moving and they were giving away plants. I thought mmmm my mum would probably like it, not realizing I would love this plant. The garden crouton. We have had it for like 3 years. It was getting thin but I think it was lack of sunlight. We all need a little light.

Our aloe vera had a flower last year. We didn’t know an aloe Vera can have a flower but it did.

Our African Bush Lily finally had a flower after about two years. It started as two stalks now they are 5 or 8.

Our pepper didn’t bear any fruit this year but it has for about 5 years I believe. Last year they had some weird bugs and this year nothing.

Some plants died, some were eaten by Lolah but generally they are doing pretty well.