BLUE COLLAR & SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION spoken here

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February 22, 2008    

The Health On the Net Foundation
           Renews Certification
                                    for Hep C Biker Site

Most old school bikers are no stranger to the hep C epidemic here in the U.S.  Nonetheless, real, tangible & useful information about this disease continues to escape us.  This is why  Hep C Straightup is damn proud to tell ya that on January 16, 2008, the Health on the Net Foundation has seen fit to renew the Straightup’s HON code certification ... just for being ourselves: Straightup.

Hep C Straightup exists to provide hep C education, geared toward the biker & blue collar communities.  We can be found online at www.hepcstraightup.com.  Blue Collar is spoken here.

The HON Foundation is a bunch of folks in Geneva, Switzerland that are all about accountability, ethics & integrity when it comes to health issues on the internet.  With so much crap out there to sift through, these good folks (doctors, scientists, computer geeks, etc.), came up with this “code of ethical conduct - the ‘HONcode’ - a standard for trustworthy online info, to encourage credible medical information on the internet.”

Lemme tell ya – they don’t just hand these out to folks who talk outta their butts.  When we first applied we had to come up with a lot of additions & changes to Hep C Straightup.  But, it’s all good, cuz being Straightup is what we’re all about.  We also imagine that they might have learned a thing or two about what “Blue Collar” is....

To illustrate....

In their own words, to get this certification:

“The HONcode requires that information providers disclose potential conflicts of interest, provide author's credentials for medical information, and address thorny issues of privacy and confidentiality, which vary according to legal jurisdiction ... and is used by thousands of health and medical web publishers.” 

The Straightup Blue Collar translation:

That we don’t lie or con ya; we don’t talk outta our butts; we put up, or shut up; and continue to be stand up bikers helping stand up bikers.

For us, a lot of this just comes naturally.  It just mostly means that it probably takes longer to post the Q & A’s y’all send in.  But, at least you get the Straightup. 

Now, if this sounds like we’re bragging ... we are.  Blue Collar and shameless self promotion are spoken here.  Take’r easy ....

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October 9, 2007

Moments before she & her entourage ran into a honda rider on the Iowa roads, Hep C Straightup ran into Michelle Obama on a campaign stop.  Lemme be clear: Hep C Straightup gives no opinion about, nor intends to influence anything about, or related to, political campaigns.  We’re only about Hep C education. 

Not Yer Average Ol’ Lady

     ... but possibly the next First Lady

October 9, 2007 – Iowa Falls, IA.  Well now, ya wanna talk about a trip.  I’m sitting here in this nice, quiet Iowa Falls coffee shop, with a frozen café mocha in front of me, trying to knock out this cycle’s (pun intended) Editor’s Note.  The place is called the Coffee Attic.  Hell ... for me, they coulda spelled it “addict,” but whatever.  With its wood/brick décor, adorned in antiques, the warm, rustic atmosphere usually provides a quiet off beat refuge; one where I can recharge, relax & get in touch with the creativity & space I need to do hepcstraightup.com.

But not today ....

Today’s a little different.  I came in after lunch to find my usual table pushed aside.  A number of folding chairs were set up, with a microphone on it.  Well, being that I typically fly under the radar, I rightly figured that they didn’t want me to speak.    

Today, Harvard law graduate, and potential first lady, Michelle Obama is here to speak to the good people of Iowa Falls on behalf of her husband, who happens to be runnin’ for president of the US.  So ... about this time I’m surrounded by people: busy, nervous-looking staffers, including lots of elderly ladies – one of whom I had to almost wrestle down to keep my chair. 

I gotta tell ya … I’m pretty impressed.  A graduate of Princeton, and Harvard Law School (not an easy get), Michelle Obama talked about her humble beginnings, growing up on the south side of Chicago.  So when she identified as blue collar, she caught my interest.  Additionally, her staffers told me, though she wasn’t taking questions from the podium, she’d stick around & chat for a bit. 

Straight up, it sounded like an opportunity to do some hep C education that could, potentially, go to the right ear.  Because despite her obvious qualifications - well-spoken, yet subtle charisma, and height (kee-rist! The woman is like 6’4” in pumps) - it’s her husband, who’s running for president.  

Nonetheless, as she made her way out of the coffee shop, and stopped where I was sittin’ and asked if I was a member of the press.  I introduced myself, told her about Hep C Straightup, and asked her what she thought about the issue of the hep C epidemic. 

For just a second there, I felt optimistic, cuz her eyes lit up with recognition.  She knew what I was talking about.  But then just as quick, she went back to a polished candidate’s-wife mode and said, “this is why we need health care, resources, education & outreach....” which, to me, sounded like it came right off the back of a Liver Foundation brochure.    

Ah well ... politics, schmolitics.  Take’r easy ...

-- kc regalado, ed.

       
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Wanna write something for the Straightup?

If you like to write something for the Straightup about  hepatitis C, motorcycles, whatever ....  We'd be more than happy to give it a look-see.  Just hit the @ sign, & give me a holler. 

You don't have to consider yourself a "good" writer.  We value everyone's experience with this disease.  Besides ... I'd probably just edit the crap out of it anyway. 

So, go ahead.  You know you want to ....

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