2009

Ya know, there's just some years you'd like to skip, and this would be one of em.

2008

With a very wet experience under their belts, and the promise of a way better weather forcast, the Hawgstock crew is already working hard and psyched to throw one helluva 2008 rally-this year sporting a Las Vegas theme. So join us this August 21-24. 

Stop by the Hep C Straightup booth and say hello.

Help us answer that age-old, philosophical question ...    WET ENOUGH?

Read more about last year and the true spirit of bikers           ... here.

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 ....

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.

2007

February 6, 2007

Hep C Straightup Q & A Goes Live!

That’s right.  Hep C Straightup Q & A will be live & in person at the Capitol City Custom Cycle Show in Des Moines, Iowa.  The show will be held over the weekend on February 10^th & 11^th, 2007.  We’ll be there both days. 

Chrome Horse Promotions, the guys that bring ya the Capitol City Custom Cycle Show – namely, Tater Gilmore – were good enough to donate a space for us.  We sure do appreciate that.  Hats off to ya, Tater!

Yep, it’s our first time out, so nothing fancy here ... but you should be able to find us at a little card table type of venue, with our handbills, and hopefully some cool stuff from the pharmaceutical companies that make hep C treatment drugs. 

So, if you’re in the neighborhood, then c’mon by & say hello, ask a question, or send a friend.  It’ll be great to see ya. 

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January 15, 2007

HON Conduct Compliance Earned by
Hep C Biker Site

Hep C Straightup is damn proud to tell ya we've gotten the Geneva Convention's good housekeeping seal of approval! 

    ... ok ... not actually the Geneva Convention, but a bunch of folks in Geneva, Switzerland that are all about ethics & integrity when it comes to health issues on the internet. 

So ... what is it?

The HON Code of Conduct is an initiative by The Health on the Net Foundation, a Geneva, Switzerland-based non-profit.   They created a code of ethical conduct - the "HONcode" - a standard for trustworthy online info, to encourage credible medical information on the internet. 

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..... is used by thousands of health and medical web publishers. 

I'm here to tell you ... they don't just give these things away.  We've been in communiqué for some time now ... going back and forth about what is an "expert," & what is "blue collar."  But all in all, I'm glad we've done this, and that the HONcode exists.  Because they help us to sift through the crap out there.  Straight up.

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2006

November 3, 2006

Hep C Straightup Incorporates

That's right ... at about 3 this afternoon, Hep C Straightup became Hep C Straightup, Inc.  "We're totally thrilled with this step," k.c. regalado, founder and board chair, said of this move.   "With everything good to go, there was just one little scramble for the $20 filing fee."  Then went on to talk about plans for upcoming hepatitis C educational activities.  Next in the process, the Straightup applies for its tax exempt status.

The first meeting of the board of directors and potential directors, is scheduled for December 2, 2006.

October 26, 2006

Hep C Straightup, Inc. is almost here!

Plans to incorporate Hep C Straightup as a non-profit draw very close as we prepare to celebrate our one-year birthday.  We'll be sending our stuff in to the Iowa Sec'y of State next week.  It's a pretty exciting -yet busy - time. 

So, we're all the more glad to have JJ on board to contribute an occasional article - despite going through interferon treatment right now - making us appreciate her all the more.  Thanks, darlin', and we're with ya as you slay this dragon! 

September 15, 2006

Minnesota HepFest Coverage

Coverage of the 9th annual Minnesota HepFest is in.  Next year ya might just wanna go to Sturgis via Minnesota, as HepFest host, Pat Buchanan announces that next year's event will be the last.   ... read the rest

July 20, 2006

Hep C Straightup goes with Go Daddy

After a brief interlude in nowhere's land, the Straightup begins our new home here at GoDaddy.com.  How about those Super Bowl ads - eh?  Yea, well, anyway ....  Nerd Grrl will be trying some cool things at our new home, like creating a hep singles' chat, RSS & other nerdy things.  She really gets off on that kind of stuff.

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