This network has 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.  I have 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 am an aggressive worker! In the last 2 years, I have had 2 days off (sick I was). I WORK ABOUT 8-12 HOURS A DAY, seven days a week! I have over 1600 web pages on my 12+ HIV/AIDS web sites. There are over 16,000 files on my web server mostly made by me (graphics, includes, databases, readme.txt, etc). I do not take holidays, travel or have fun. These are out of my price league as I spend all money on my sites! Some as why I have made so many sites, why not just one or 2? Well, I am trying to offer everything in one network, anything I can think to add will be added, until there is nothing else to add. I think I may have bit off more than I can chew as there is so much about HIV and so many ways I can create support and educational online tools.

  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 quit when I found out I was POZ and now they will not let me back until I pay my loans). 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 here or see some of my side (non HIV/AIDS) projects here. Not all 100% finished, but they are running and working.