Believing AIDS "only happens to certain types of people" or "will never have an effect on my life" are still common misconceptions. HIV, which causes AIDS, doesn't care what kind of person it lives in. Right now it is happy to live in one of every 250 Americans and affects one in every 10 businesses in some way. Military organizations are not exempt. HIV is devastating certain foreign militaries through the loss of manpower and associated economic burdens. HIV infection begins when the virus enters the body. This most commonly happens through unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected partner. Other means of transmission are sharing infected needles and syringes, infected mothers passing the virus to their unborn child; and infected blood entering a healthcare/emergency responder's body. HIV/AIDS is not spread by hugging, holding hands, coughing, sneezing or by mosquitoes. Once inside the body, HIV slowly cripples the immune system, allowing infections and cancers to take over. This is called AIDS. AIDS is now the third leading cause of death of American women ages 25 to 44, and the leading cause of death among African-American women in the United States. It is the leading cause of death among American males ages 25 to 44. Just knowing the facts about HIV does not prevent people from taking risks. A recent study of Air Force military recruits revealed 45 percent had engaged in casual sexual encounters and 63 percent did not always use condoms. It isn't enough to tell young people to "just say no." It is critically important to build skills, nurture and heal self-esteem and generate support from a community of connected individuals. Young people need to learn how to say "no" through peer-based programs. Over and over, they need to practice: "What do you say when your partner wants to have sex and you don't?" Young people need internal standards of behavior, to know who they are, what they want for themselves and how to find paths in the right direction if they are to make responsible decisions concerning HIV transmission. Nurturing the greatest sense of self and health is the most important responsibility shared by parents and teachers. HIV/AIDS is truly a global problem, but can be acted upon locally. By developing young people to be peer educators themselves, we can build a strong atmosphere of support for healthier behaviors. Additional information on HIV/AIDS is available from local military public health or on the Internet at http://www.ama-assn.org.

My name is gossip. I have no respect for justice. I maim without killing. I break hearts and ruin lives. I am cunning and malicious and gather strength with age. The more I am quoted, the more I am believed. My victims are helpless. They cannot protect themselves against me; because I have no name and no face. To track me down is impossible. The harder your try, the more elusive I become. I am nobody�s friend. Once I tarnish a reputation, it is never the same. I topple governments and wreck marriages. I ruin careers and cause sleepless nights, heartaches, and indigestion. I make innocent people cry in their pillows. Even my name hisses. I am called Gossip. I make headlines and headaches. Before you repeat a story, ask yourself: Is it true? Is it harmless" Is it necessary? If it isn�t, don�t repeat it.

A Winner says, "Let�s find out." A Loser says, "Nobody knows."

When a Winner makes a mistake, he says, "I was wrong." When a loser makes a mistake, he says, "It wasn�t my fault."

A Winner goes through a problem. A Loser goes around it and never gets past it.

A winner makes commitments. A Loser makes promises.

A winner says, "I�m good, but not as good as I ought to be." A Loser says, "I�m not as bad as a lot of other people."

A winner tries to learn from those who are superior to him A Loser tries to tear down those who are superior to him.

A Winner says, "There ought to be a better way to do it." A Loser says, "That�s the way it�s always been done here."

· They lack a strong purpose for their life.

· They don't aim to be better than average.

. They can't be bothered to educate themselves in the areas in which they are most interested.

· They don't control their negative thoughts nor their bad habits. This is a lack of self-discipline.

· They put up with (tolerate) poor health caused by self abuse such as overeating, poorwork habits, lack ...of exercise, smoking and misuse of alcohol and drugs.

· They procrastinate i.e., they are all talk and no action.

· They lack persistence. When the going gets tough, most people give up.

· They have a negative attitude which stops them from seeing the potential or positive possibilities in any ...situation.

· They don't control their sexual energy and convert it into creative efforts.

· They are always looking for "something for nothing" instead of concentrating on working for what they ...want.

· They don't make prompt decisions and stick to them.

· They don't learn to overcome the six most common fears: - poverty, criticism, poor health, losing the ...love of someone they love, old age, death

· They select a poorly suited mate which leads to misery and unhappiness.

· They don't select someone who shares their same interests, standards and dreams.

· They are never willing to take a chance.

· They work with people who neither inspire them nor motivate them to achieve all that they can.

· They accept superstition and prejudice, which closes their mind and creates fear.

· They stay in a career they don't like.

· They don't concentrate all their efforts on one definite aim.

· They don't learn how to handle money which means they're always in fear of poverty.

· They lack enthusiasm.

· They don't show others that they're particularly interested in anything.

· They never listen to anyone else's views on religion, politics or racial discrimination. This is commonly ...known as intolerance.

· They don't co-operate with others.

· They are given power that was not earned through their personal efforts, and then they are always in ...fear of losing it.

· They are intentionally dishonest, which eventually leads to a bad reputation and perhaps the loss of their ...freedom.

· They are egotistic and vain. The people with these traits are totally obsessed with themselves and care ...nothing about others.

· They guess instead of thinking or getting the facts. If you don't know what you're talking about, stop ...and listen to others.

· They forget to ask for God's help.

· They forget to show other people that they love them, by spending time with them.