Yesterday I was given some rather shocking and heart-breaking news. A peer, a friend, announced that he has Lou Gherig’s disease. Patrick is only 31 years old. So talented in a variety of media (design/film/music), you can see that he lives life to the fullest in his work and I’ve always admired him. Please donate to his foundation, which was set up to bring awareness of this disease to people. Go to www.patrickobrienfoundation.org (a direct link can be found at themayocynic home page also).
The other people in the community where we all became friends, despite heated differences of opinions on many issues, are all finding wonderful ways to help spread the word. There have been times I’ve been quite upset or saddened by things said on Newstoday. There have been times where it was constantly so mean-spirited and aggressive that I would step away for a day or two. But for the most part, I’ve felt that the majority of people there have been some of the most amazing people I could ever hope to meet. Both in talent and emotional capacity. I remember when one person was sounding rather suicidal, many people from Newstoday – particularly one in Canada – made long distance calls to the Bay Area to try and talk with him. Another person was downright broke and hungry…and someone else on Newstoday ordered and paid for a pizza to be delivered to him. Another guy ocassionally offers to do a random act of kindness for the next person who posts. More often than not, I can remember the poster asking for a donation to a good cause and not something for personal gain.
I haven’t met most of these people face to face, but I love them. They remind me that maybe the world isn’t really full of just the assholes I often come across. That there is still decency and good to be found, even on an online forum. We’re like brothers and sisters there. We fight, boy do we fight, but we still love each other because of bonds that run much deeper than we can describe. We at Newstoday are not for everyone. Some n00bs have left after just a day or so because, as I see it, they weren’t thick-skinned enough. But I swear they are amongst some of the greatest people I’ll have the privilege or desire to know.
We love you TF, Transfatty, Patrick. And we’re with you all the way.