I just got back from giving blood here at the Chiron Blood Drive. It felt good to do it. It's been a long time. I haven't been able to donate since 9/11 because of all the traveling I've done. I also was central to this effort because I designed the poster for the drive, so I felt more than my normal obligation to give.

I always get a kick out of the screening process, which asks some absurd questions like have you been to Africa since 1977?, have you had sex with someone who had a blood transfusion since 1977, have you had sex with someone from Africa, have you been to Europe in the last 3 years (Mad Cow), and on and on. 1977 is relevant because it's the year AIDS reared it's ugly head, but since I was 7 in 1977, all the questions about sex are ridiculous.

When I got into the donating room, I said, "I forgot to mention that I had just unprotected sex with an African HIV+ intravenous drug user. Is that important?" Everyone but the nurses laughed, but they don't have much of a sense of humor.