The North AMerican HIV/AIDS Network & Search Engine (HASE) for prevention; directory list of searchable POZ links - Anonymous IRC Chat Server, add your HIV+ related sites (find medications and treatments resources to HIV prevention and AIDS awareness) to help OUR project grow.

Sites will be back, but my backups (I only have back ups from a month ago, so I lost a month of work) of sites will not even fit on the hard drive of this working computer. So until I can afford another hard drive, I cannot put them back up. As it is, all my money is going towards getting files retrieved from ceased hard drive. I now have to borrow money for Christmas stuff which will be paid back next month. Therefore, I feel by February the 1st I can afford a $150 dollars towards a new hard drive (guess I will have to go at least a week without food in February because of this expense). But if by some miracle I get this money sooner, then they will be up ASAP!

HARD DRIVE SEIZED UP - I am so tired of using my old computers (out of my 3 main computers, only this one is now working, others need parts and it is so hard working on only one computer that does the work of 2 or more already with the servers), something always going wrong with them, I cannot afford to upgrade or get a new computer. I have worked about 26 months on my projects, for what? My old hard drives cannot take all the action on my server, the logging, getting, etc - I am now paying some one (using my grocery money and Xmas $$$) to recover my web sites as I LOST THEM AND THE HARD DRIVE THEY ARE ON IS NOT WORKING !!! ARRRRGGGHHH, please "Higher Power", help me, I wish I could get a day off from this constant torture of resetting up what I have already reset up at least a thousand times (Christmas is almost here, I need at least 2 days to go to a friend's family thing - I haven't had a Christmas in 3 years) - I work so hard for nothing, I charge nothing for my costly services, I even go without food sometimes to make sure I can keep things running, but being HIV+ I am risking health issues with the stress and not eating sometimes - I need help! PLEASE HELP ME OUT, this is more than a one man network. My only working email is HIV.AIDS.POZ@GMail.com at this moment since my server (used to run ftp, email, application, chat, database and web servers)

ROGERS CABLE SUCKS - they change the IP address of my machine every week now, for over 2 years before, they never did this too me. I cannot afford to get a high speed service that provides static IP that allows wed sites to be run.

This network ~~has~~ WAS been created by one single person without any financial contributions! Hi, my name is Dave Brown. I have been HIV+ for 11 years, which I got from open heart surgery in 1989 (I was 18 years old, 29 now), and my only current source of income is a monthly disability cheque of $800+/month Canadian (about 550/month American) (rent takes up about 60%). I ~~have~~ HAD created everything from my 1 bedroom basement apartment. This network, and spreading HIV awareness has become my life's passion, however I am finding it difficult to continue all this alone. I work 70 hours or more every week, I am the only financial contributor, and am responsible for promotion, graphic design, web design, database applications, server (chat, mail, web, database, FTP, domain names, application, etc) administrations, HTML coding, JavaScript coding, network operations center (NOC), CGI programming, ASP programming, updating, upgrading software and hardware, communications, server/backup maintenance, fixing constant glitches, resetting domain names, public relations, chat rooms moderation (watch for trouble makers and bashers plus chat with, and help direct new comers to information), search engine editing, guest book moderation, dating service moderation, forum moderation, banner creation, link checking, faxing, research, email responding, call center, system analysis, accountant, etc...

I had learned many skills by working at a telecommunications company, I was in charge of almost everything by the end of my run there (quit as HIV symptoms got in the way). I also went to school for electronics engineering. But majority of the web based applications and designing I taught myself from books, and the internet, as I had the extra time to kill while on disability. My job at the telecommunications place gave me a computer and some software as a going away gift, this is what started my HIV/AIDS network back in 1998 (although it took 2 years before I had anything decent on the internet).

I have calculated that if I had hired all the programmers and IT technicians to get me this far, it would have cost me about $50,000+. To have the HIV/AIDS Search Engine constructed would have cost $15,000 just for the Database Administrator/programmer, plus I would still have needed to hire a web designer and graphic designer. Since I defiantly could not afford all that on my disability cheque, I learned how to program and do everything involved with online services myself. It took me 2 years to learn everything, 3 years to gather all the computer parts and software.

There are so many more services I would like to set up, but I am finding that keeping everything going is taking up all of my time, as I have outdated computers running my servers and cheap, out of date, software that has many glitches. If I could afford upgrades and a better internet connection, then I could easily continue to grow and spread awareness. If I could afford to hire help, I am sure I could create the largest, and most comprehensive HIV/AIDS Network EVER. The first step however is to register as a Not For Profit Incorporated Organisation in Canada, so that I may try and raise funds through charity.

I feel good about my network and I have many people come into my chat rooms telling me what a good person I am to have set this up for those who need it. I am most proud of my HIV/AIDS Search Engine (HASE) and I use it all the time myself.

See my main projects USTA BE here or see some of my side (non HIV/AIDS) projects USTA BE here. Not all 100% finished, but they are running and working.