PULSE Magazine (Spring 2007)

SPRING 2007 PULSE XX
OUR VOICES OUR VIEW OUR WORLD
S P R I N G 2 0 0 7 T H E H E A R T B E A T O F B L A C K G A Y A M E R I C A

In combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults
TRUVADA®
does not cure HIV infection or lower your chance
of passing HIV-1 to others and must be used as part of
combination therapy. TRUVADA should not be used with
VIREAD®
, EMTRIVA®
, Combivir®
, Epivir®
, Epivir-HBV®
,
Epzicom™
, or Trizivir®
.
USE OF TRUVADA:
TRUVADA is indicated in combination with other antiretroviral
agents (such as nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase
inhibitors or protease inhibitors) for the treatment of HIV-1
infection in adults.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:
• Lactic acidosis (a buildup of acid in the blood) can be a
medical emergency and may need to be treated in the
hospital.Call your healthcare provider right away if you have
nausea,vomiting,unusual muscle pain,and/or weakness
• Serious liver problems (hepatotoxicity), with liver
enlargement (hepatomegaly) and fat in the liver (steatosis),
may occur. Call your healthcare provider right away if
you have light colored stools, dark colored urine, and/or if
your skin or the whites of your eyes turn yellow
• Flare-ups of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection: If you
have HIV and HBV, your liver disease may suddenly get© 2006 Gilead Sciences, Inc.
All rights reserved. PT0062A 07/06
TRUVADA, VIREAD, and EMTRIVA are registered trademarks
of Gilead Sciences, Inc.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Move On With Life
Once-a-day TRUVADA®
can help get you to undetectable
and keep you there. As part of an HIV regimen, the meds in
TRUVADA:
■ Can be taken with or without food
■ Reduce viral load and increase CD4 cell count
Ask your doctor how TRUVADA can be part of a complete
once-a-day regimen.
TRUVADA is the #1 Prescribed HIV Med*
worse if you stop taking TRUVADA. Do not stop taking
TRUVADA unless directed by your healthcare provider
• Kidney problems: If you have had kidney problems or take
other medicines that can cause kidney problems, your
healthcare provider should do regular blood tests to check
your kidneys
• Bone changes: It is not known whether long-term use of
TRUVADA causes damage to your bones. If you have had
bone problems in the past,talk to your healthcare provider
before taking TRUVADA
Changes in body fat have been seen in some people taking
anti-HIV medicines. The most common side effects of
TRUVADA when taken with other anti-HIV medicines are
dizziness,diarrhea,nausea,vomiting,headache,abdominal
pain,depression,rash,and gas.Skin discoloration (spots and
freckles) may also occur.
Discuss all medicines you take with your healthcare
provider and be aware:
• Your healthcare provider may need to follow you more
closely or adjust your therapy if you are taking Videx®
,
Videx®
EC, Reyataz®
, or Kaletra®
with TRUVADA
For more information,please visit www.truvada.com or call
1-800-GILEAD-5 (1-800-445-3235) and select option 2.
There is additional information about TRUVADA on the
next page. *Based on data from PHAST retail monthly data;
April 2006–June 2006; Wolters Kluwer Health.

Patient Information
TRUVADA®
(tru-VAH-dah) Tablets
Generic name: emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
(em tri SIT uh bean and te NOE’ fo veer dye soe PROX il FYOU mar ate)
Read the Patient Information that comes with TRUVADA before you start taking it and each time you get a
refill. There may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking to your healthcare
provider about your medical condition or treatment. You should stay under a healthcare provider’s care
when taking TRUVADA. Do not change or stop your medicine without first talking with your healthcare
provider. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you have any questions about TRUVADA.
What is the most important information I should know about TRUVADA?
• Some people who have taken medicine like TRUVADA (nucleoside analogs) have developed a serious
condition called lactic acidosis (build up of an acid in the blood). Lactic acidosis can be a medical
emergency and may need to be treated in the hospital. Call your healthcare provider right away if you
get the following signs or symptoms of lactic acidosis.
• You feel very weak or tired.
• You have unusual (not normal) muscle pain.
• You have trouble breathing.
• You have stomach pain with nausea and vomiting.
• You feel cold, especially in your arms and legs.
• You feel dizzy or lightheaded.
• You have a fast or irregular heartbeat.
• Some people who have taken medicines like TRUVADA have developed serious liver problems called
hepatotoxicity, with liver enlargement (hepatomegaly) and fat in the liver (steatosis). Call your health-
care provider right away if you get the following signs or symptoms of liver problems.
• Your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice).
• Your urine turns dark.
• Your bowel movements (stools) turn light in color.
• You don’t feel like eating food for several days or longer.
• You feel sick to your stomach (nausea).
• You have lower stomach area (abdominal) pain.
• You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or liver problems if you are female, very overweight
(obese), or have been taking nucleoside analog medicines, like TRUVADA, for a long time.
• TRUVADA is not for the treatment of Hepatitis B Virus infection (HBV). Patients infected with both HBV
and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who take TRUVADA need close medical follow-up for several
months after stopping treatment with TRUVADA. Follow-up includes medical exams and blood tests to
check for HBV that could be getting worse. Patients with Hepatitis B Virus infection, who take TRUVADA
and then stop it, may get “flare-ups” of their hepatitis. A “flare-up” is when the disease suddenly
returns in a worse way than before.
What is TRUVADA?
TRUVADA is a type of medicine called an HIV (human immunodeficiency
virus) nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI). TRUVADA
contains 2 medicines, EMTRIVA® (emtricitabine) and VIREAD® (tenofovir
disoproxil fumarate, or tenofovir DF) combined in one pill. TRUVADA
is always used with other anti-HIV medicines to treat people with HIV
infection. TRUVADA is for adults age 18 and older. TRUVADA has not been
studied in children under age 18 or adults over age 65.
HIV infection destroys CD4 (T) cells, which are important to the immune
system. The immune system helps fight infection. After a large number
of T cells are destroyed, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)
develops.
TRUVADA helps block HIV reverse transcriptase, a chemical in your body
(enzyme) that is needed for HIV to multiply. TRUVADA lowers the amount of HIV in the blood (viral load).
TRUVADA may also help to increase the number of T cells (CD4 cells). Lowering the amount of HIV in
the blood lowers the chance of death or infections that happen when your immune system is weak (oppor-
tunistic infections).
TRUVADA does not cure HIV infection or AIDS. The long-term effects of TRUVADA are not known at this
time. People taking TRUVADA may still get opportunistic infections or other conditions that happen with HIV
infection. Opportunistic infections are infections that develop because the immune system is weak. Some
of these conditions are pneumonia, herpes virus infections, and Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC)
infection. It is very important that you see your healthcare provider regularly while taking TRUVADA.
TRUVADA does not lower your chance of passing HIV to other people through sexual contact, sharing
needles, or being exposed to your blood. For your health and the health of others, it is important to always
practice safer sex by using a latex or polyurethane condom or other barrier to lower the chance of sexual
contact with semen, vaginal secretions, or blood. Never use or share dirty needles.
Who should not take TRUVADA?
• Do not take TRUVADA if you are allergic to TRUVADA or any of its ingredients. The active ingredients of
TRUVADA are emtricitabine and tenofovir DF. See the end of this leaflet for a complete list of ingredients.
• Do not take TRUVADA if you are already taking COMBIVIR®, EMTRIVA, EPIVIR®, EPIVIR-HBV®,
EPZICOM™, TRIZIVIR®, or VIREAD because these medicines contain the same or similar active
ingredients.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking TRUVADA?
Tell your healthcare provider if you:
• are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. We do not know if TRUVADA can harm your unborn child.
You and your healthcare provider will need to decide if TRUVADA is right for you. If you use TRUVADA
while you are pregnant, talk to your healthcare provider about how you can be on the TRUVADA Antiviral
Pregnancy Registry.
• are breast-feeding. You should not breast feed if you are HIV-positive because of the chance of passing
the HIV virus to your baby. Also, it is not known if TRUVADA can pass into your breast milk and if it can
harm your baby. If you are a woman who has or will have a baby, talk with your healthcare provider about
the best way to feed your baby.
• have kidney problems or are undergoing kidney dialysis treatment.
• have bone problems.
• have liver problems including Hepatitis B Virus infection.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription
medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take:
• Drugs that contain didanosine (VIDEX®, VIDEX EC®). Tenofovir DF (a component of TRUVADA) may
increase the amount of VIDEX in your blood. You may need to be followed more carefully if you are
taking TRUVADA and VIDEX together.
• REYATAZ™ (atazanavir sulfate) or KALETRA® (lopinavir/ritonavir). These medicines may increase the
amount of tenofovir DF (a component of TRUVADA) in your blood, which could result in more side effects.
You may need to be followed more carefully if you are taking TRUVADA and REYATAZ or KALETRA
together.
Keep a complete list of all the medicines that you take. Make a new list when medicines are added or
stopped. Give copies of this list to all of your healthcare providers and pharmacist every time you visit your
healthcare provider or fill a prescription.
How should I take TRUVADA?
• Take TRUVADA exactly as your healthcare provider prescribed it. Follow the directions from your health-
care provider, exactly as written on the label.
• The usual dose of TRUVADA is 1 tablet once a day. TRUVADA is always used with other anti-HIV
medicines. If you have kidney problems, you may need to take TRUVADA less often.
• TRUVADA may be taken with or without a meal. Food does not affect how TRUVADA works. Take
TRUVADA at the same time each day.
• If you forget to take TRUVADA, take it as soon as you remember that day. Do not take more than 1 dose
of TRUVADA in a day. Do not take 2 doses at the same time. Call your healthcare provider or pharmacist
if you are not sure what to do. It is important that you do not miss any doses of TRUVADA or your
anti-HIV medicines.
• When your TRUVADA supply starts to run low, get more from your healthcare provider or pharmacy. This
is very important because the amount of virus in your blood may increase if the medicine is stopped for
even a short time. The virus may develop resistance to TRUVADA and become harder to treat.
• Do not change your dose or stop taking TRUVADA without first talking with your healthcare provider. Stay
under a healthcare provider’s care when taking TRUVADA.
• If you take too much TRUVADA, call your local poison control center or emergency room right away.
What should I avoid while taking TRUVADA?
• Do not breast-feed. See “What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking TRUVADA?”
• Avoid doing things that can spread HIV infection since TRUVADA does not stop you from passing the
HIV infection to others.
• Do not share needles or other injection equipment.
• Do not share personal items that can have blood or body fluids on them, like toothbrushes or razor
blades.
• Do not have any kind of sex without protection. Always practice safer sex by using a latex or
polyurethane condom or other barrier to reduce the chance of sexual contact with semen, vaginal
secretions, or blood.
• COMBIVIR, EMTRIVA, EPIVIR, EPIVIR-HBV, EPZICOM, TRIZIVIR, or VIREAD.
TRUVADA should not be used with these medicines.
What are the possible side effects of TRUVADA?
TRUVADA may cause the following serious side effects (see “What is the most important information I
should know about TRUVADA?”):
• Lactic acidosis (buildup of an acid in the blood). Lactic acidosis can be a medical emergency and may
need to be treated in the hospital. Call your doctor right away if you get signs of lactic acidosis. (See
“What is the most important information I should know about TRUVADA?”)
• Serious liver problems (hepatotoxicity), with liver enlargement (hepatomegaly) and fat in the liver
(steatosis). Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any signs of liver problems. (See “What is
the most important information I should know about TRUVADA?”)
• “Flare-ups” of Hepatitis B Virus infection, in which the disease
suddenly returns in a worse way than before, can occur if you stop
taking TRUVADA. Your healthcare provider will monitor your condition
for several months after stopping TRUVADA if you have both HIV and
HBV infection. TRUVADA is not for the treatment of Hepatitis B Virus
infection.
• Kidney problems If you have had kidney problems in the past or take
other medicines that can cause kidney problems, your healthcare
provider should do regular blood tests to check your kidneys.
• Changes in bone mineral density (thinning bones) It is not known
whether long-term use of TRUVADA will cause damage to your bones.
If you have had bone problems in the past, your healthcare provider may
need to do tests to check your bone mineral density or may prescribe
medicines to help your bone mineral density.
Other side effects with TRUVADA when used with other anti-HIV medicines include:
• Changes in body fat have been seen in some patients taking TRUVADA and other anti-HIV medicines.
These changes may include increased amount of fat in the upper back and neck (“buffalo hump”), breast,
and around the main part of your body (trunk). Loss of fat from the legs, arms and face may also
happen. The cause and long term health effect of these conditions are not known at this time.
The most common side effects of EMTRIVA or VIREAD when used with other anti-HIV medicines are:
dizziness, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, headache, rash, and gas. Skin discoloration (small spots or freckles)
may also happen with TRUVADA.
These are not all the side effects of TRUVADA. This list of side effects with TRUVADA is not complete
at this time because TRUVADA is still being studied. If you have questions about side effects, ask your
healthcare provider. Report any new or continuing symptoms to your healthcare provider right away. Your
healthcare provider may be able to help you manage these side effects.
How do I store TRUVADA?
• Keep TRUVADA and all other medicines out of reach of children.
• Store TRUVADA at room temperature 77 °F (25 °C).
• Keep TRUVADA in its original container and keep the container tightly closed.
• Do not keep medicine that is out of date or that you no longer need. If you throw any medicines away
make sure that children will not find them.
General information about TRUVADA:
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for conditions that are not mentioned in patient information leaflets.
Do not use TRUVADA for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give TRUVADA to other
people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them.
This leaflet summarizes the most important information about TRUVADA. If you would like more information,
talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about
TRUVADA that is written for health professionals. For more information, you may also call 1-800-GILEAD-5
or access the TRUVADA website at www.TRUVADA.com.
Do not use TRUVADA if seal over bottle opening is broken or missing.
What are the ingredients of TRUVADA?
Active Ingredients: emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
Inactive Ingredients: Croscarmellose sodium, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline
cellulose, and pregelatinized starch (gluten free). The tablets are coated with Opadry II Blue Y-30-10701
containing FD&C Blue #2 aluminum lake, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose 2910, lactose monohydrate,
titanium dioxide, and triacetin.
r Only
March 2006
EMTRIVA, TRUVADA, and VIREAD are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc. REYATAZ and VIDEX are trade-
marks of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. KALETRA is a trademark of Abbott Laboratories. COMBIVIR,
EPIVIR, EPIVIR-HBV, EPZICOM, and TRIZIVIR are trademarks of GlaxoSmithKline.
©2004–2006 Gilead Sciences, Inc.
21-752-GS19 3 10 06

SPRING 2007 PULSEPULSE 03
PULSE + PTS
08 CONTRIBUTORS’ PAGE
10 WE GOT READ
Readers speak out
11 QUIET AS IT’S KEPT
What’s hot, What’s not!
12 BOOKMARK
Book Review
15 ADD LUX TO YOUR LIFE
Luxury items and accessories
16 SIGNATURE
Designer Fragrances
17 IN THE BLACK
A Guide to financial success
16 NON STOP POP
Music Review
29 FIT 4 LIFE
Health and Fitness: Abs workout
46 A CUT ABOVE
Grooming the classic Ceaser
70 LET ’EM EAT QUICHE
Quiche & Wine: The perfect love affair
80 HOLLA BACK
Q&A with Carnell Ambrose
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
ON THE COVER: On the “Wings of Spring” so fresh
so clean-Ashley sports the look with Aramis Lab
Series for Men Great Skin Care Kit. It contains: Lift
Off Power Wash, Maximum Comfort Shave Cream
and Age Rescue Skin Care Therapy. His scent is
Masculine by Dolce & Gabbana – a light modern
hint of citrus, coriander, lemon and cider makes it
this season’s must have!
Photo by
FADIL BERISHA
Creative Director
BYRON BARNES
Styled by
LLEWELLYN JENKINS,
Model: ASHLEY DUVENAY
for Identities, Inc.
Hair and Grooming by
DOUGLAS SNUGGS
58

XX PULSEPULSE SPRING 2007
FEATURES
18 GOING TOPLESS
Mercedez Benz Raises the ante in the vision stakes.
20 ROOM WITH A VIEW
Penthouse retreat far above the madding crowd.
23 THE STATE OF BLACK MEN’S HEALTH
30 HE GOT GAME
NBA Gets slam-dunked by first OUT player.
32 BROKEN PROMISE
The role of the black church in fostering HIV
35 THE EVIL THAT MEN DO
Poetry by Butta Fly Soul
36 THE SKIN I’M IN
An exploration into the depths of the Dark Complex
41 IT’S ALL RELATIVE
The Nightmare that is sexual molestation
44 3’S COMPANY
Brothers creating family in non-traditional ways
50 SPRING CLEANING
A photo essay by Tarrice Love
72 JOURNEY TO PARADISE
The Dominican Republic
76 HUNG
A conversation with artist Zuberi Zahur
FASHION
49 WE LOVE LOUIS
A Louis Vuitton exclusive
54 HEAVY METAL
Watches and Bracelets
56 EDITOR’S FIND
Andrew Nowell, designer on the rise
58 THEN & NOW
A Look at Spring’s Designer Menswear
66 CARRY ON
Lux luggage to go
68 PRADA FOR NADA
Prestige looks for less
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
20
44
72

06 PULSEPULSE SPRING 2007
LETTER FROM
THE EDITOR
It’s Spring, and it is the perfect time to do some deep cleaning. Not just of
our houses or apartments, but of our souls and spirits. Long months of cold and
dark can produce cobwebs of lethargy inside even the most robust of us.
With all of nature around us coming back to life, what a great time to put our
personal, spiritual, social and domestic houses in some serious order, and to
take stock of ourselves and those around us. What a great time to make some new
resolutions such as these. After all, why should New Years have all the fun?
Rebuild: Begin the process of renewal by making every effort to mend old
fences and build new bridges. Where relationships have soured, take this time
to reestablish them with family, friends, co-workers, neighbors and even your-
self. One way you can build is by taking an active part in community service,
because no matter how unfortunate you may think your circumstances are,
there’s always someone who is in a worse situation. Be kind to one another and
you can start by simply choosing your words carefully and using them wisely
for good, as disparaging words hurt and demean us all.
Reclaim your life by taking the driver’s seat and set your own goals and
priorities. Then set the wheels in motion by surrounding yourself with like-
minded people who will be there to steady you should you stumble or falter.
Read the PULSE interview with ex-NBA player John Amaechi and his inspiring
story (page 30).
Revamp your image from head to toe, be it working out in a gym, altering the
way you dress, improving your diet or simply treating yourself to the occasional
manicure or pedicure. Looking good starts with feeling good about yourself
so let’s not ignore doing some work on the inside. Ulisses (page 29) our fitness
expert will guide you in the process, and regardless of your pocket size, you
can polish up your act, as the Prada for Nada (page 68) feature illustrates.
Relax, not only when you are on vacation, but for a moment or two each day.
Whether it is meditation, reflection, chanting, aromatherapy, power naps or trying
out a new hobby, take the time to take care of you. Or better still, take a trip with
PULSE to the Dominican Republic, as we discover paradise (page 72).
Reshape how you think about things. Challenge your values and opinions on
important subjects like the environment, politics and race. Play the devil’s advo-
cate. Put yourself in someone else’s shoes. ‘The Skin I’m In’ (page 36) is an insight-
ful and sobering read into an old yet lingering issue in the black family.
I challenge each and every one of you to write a one-page autobiography for
yourself today. Put it in an envelope and open it again in six months. You will
be delightfully surprised at the positive change if you take even a few of the
suggestions above.
Rejuvenate!
“With all of nature around
us coming back to life, what
a great time to put our per-
sonal, spiritual, social and
domestic houses in some
serious order.”
Photographed by Fadil Berisha.
If you love PULSE visit our website
www.gmad.org for your next free copy.
PULSE : PTS
Your Mail[ ]
Byron Barnes, Editor-in-Chief

PULSE : PTS
Our Voices[ ]
John Labbe is a Canadian-born graduate of the School of Visual
Arts NYC, who has worked as a photographer and illustra-
tor for 20 years. His work has appeared in Forbes, Playboy,
Newsweek, Deutsche Bank, LA Times, HarperCollins, Glamour,
NAACP’s Crisis Magazine, BET, HBO and Preston Bailey Design
Inc. John’s exquisite eye for detail captures the luxurious mood
of our interiors feature ‘Room With A View.’ (Pg. 20) Truly a
feast for the eyes.
As Fashion Director at BET fash-
ion stylist Llewellyn Jenkins was
responsible for outfitting the entire
BET hosts, as well as for the fashion-
able reinvention of all programs. He
has worked with a host of celebrities
including Billy Dee Williams, Diana
Ross, Dr. Bobby Jones, Iman, Lil Kim,
Ludacris, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Tyson
Beckford to name a few. His work has
appeared in Black Elegance, Bolero,
Cosmopolitan, Detour, Ebony, and
PULSE, and he has also styled numer-
ous advertising campaigns. For a
taste of Mr. Jenkins’ genius, check out
the “Then and Now”, “Heavy Metal”
and “Prada for Nada” features.
PULSE’s Model Editor Oscar Reyes is a fashion industry veteran.
This über agent has molded and guided the careers of famous
models: Tyra, Cindy and Naomi amongst others. His sharp eye for
predicting the next new face, afforded him the luxury of working on
the Model Management, Runway and the prestigious Elite division
boards. On seeing our cover model Ashley Duvenay at Identities
Models NYC, Oscar declared him THE fresh new face in fashion
and urged PULSE to give him his first cover.
A graduate of Morehouse College, Chad L. Groom is a writer and
fashion stylist. When not dressing various celebrities, he can be
found working on his first novel, “This Charmed Life I Lead” or
musing on pop culture for The REAL RE-Edit, (www.therealre-edit.
blogspot.com). His interviews with John Amaechi, former NBA
player on his coming out (Pg. 30), and with Harlem artist Zuberi
Zahur (Pg. 76) are informative and intimate.
Kyle David is a New York-based photographer whose work has been published in regional and
national magazines, a host of product and fashion spreads and national campaigns. He has
a captivating creative vision that captures the essence and character of every assignment he
works on. He photographed the ‘Lux’ feature and our food story ‘Let Them Eat Quiche’ which I
am sure you will find it utterly delicious.
The owner of CONNAISSEUR CreativeServices, Brian Haynes-Copeland, imbues each of his
projects, with a certain je ne sais quoi. His dynamism, unconventional flair and eye for detail are
why he is able to maintain an impressive client list which includes fashion and beauty, corporate
and private clients and several not-for-profit organizations. His feature, ‘A Room with a View’
is a great accompaniment to this issue’s focus on gracious living and home decor.
The talent who photographed our ‘It’s All
Relative’ (Pg. 41) feature, Keith Major,
has been shooting since 1990. Keith’s sub-
ject matter includes beauty, fashion, and
celebrity portraiture, his work has been
featured in a wide variety of publications
including Essence, Vibe and XXL maga-
zines. “This story was a fun one. I am
very exited about the team and the look
we created together”. Native New Yorker
Keith Major currently lives and works
in his hometown.
Kazumi, born to Black and Japanese parents, has been doing hair and makeup for a decade. She has
worked in film, video and television, and currently serves as key makeup artist for Nick Cannon’s
MTV vehicle “Wild’n Out”. She is in constant demand between LA, New York, Miami and all points
in between. Some of hip-hop’s most famous faces - Kanye West, Young Jeezy, Lloyd, Lil Wayne and
Nas have benefited from her magic.
OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Editor-in-Chief/Creative Director Byron Barnes
Managing Editor David P. Martin
Art Director Gary Montalvo
Senior Editor Joel Black
Deputy Editor Patricia B. Simpson
Senior Fashion Director Llewellyn Jenkins
Copy Editor Elizabeth Harper-Williams
Associate Editor David Mayer
Features Editors Chad L. Groom
Photo Editor Kathleen Carney
Model Editor Oscar Reyes
Art Editor Alvaro
Grooming Editor Milton Moore Jr.
Home Furnishings Editor Lorenzo McCain
Photo Researcher Janice Weitz
Traffic Manager Deavon Hibbert
Editorial Assistant John T. Brown
Interns Jaimee Speaks, Michael Compass, Suzanne Bertolli,
Avery Phillips, Lorraine Kauffman
Editor at Large John Campbell
Contributing Writers
L. Michael Gipson, Zulekha Haywood, Dane Campbell,
Brian Haynes-Copeland, David Malebranche, M.D., Butta Fly Soul,
Ulisses Jr., Chad Groom, Joey B. Pressley, Rick Matthews,
Carnell Ambrose, Caleb Kellermann, Luis Carillo-Fuentes.
Contributing Photographers
John Labbe, Keith Major, Tarrice Love, Fadil Berisha, Kyle David
Widder, Daniel Green, Duane Kramer, Malik M. L. Williams, Leonard
Davis, Michael McCollom, DeAlan Wilson.
Publisher & Founder of PULSE Gay Men of African Descent
Executive Director Tokes M. Osubu
Associate Publisher Robert E. Crawford
Marketing Director Major Andres Scurlock
Northeastern Accounts Director Jamal James
Southeastern Accounts Director LaWechee Champion
Finance Director Susan Li
Production Manager Justin Hall
Pulse Magazine
103 east 125th Street, Suite 503 New York, NY 10035
Phone (212) 828 1697 ext 114. Fax (212) 828 9602
www.pulse.org
T H E H E A R T B E A T O F B L A C K G A Y A M E R I C A
Opinions expressed by advertisers, columnists, feature writers or other contributors are not necessarily the
opinions of PULSE Magazine or its staff. All advertisements, pictures, text or illustrations are published with the
understanding that the advertisers are fully authorized and have secured proper consent for use thereof. PULSE
Magazine shall not be held responsible for any errors, loss, expense or liabilities on advertisements accepted after
the deadline. Publication of the name, photograph of any person or advertisement in PULSE Magazine, is not to
be construed as any indication of the sexual orientations of such person, advertiser or organization. Partial or
complete reproduction of any advertisement, news articles, features or photographers from PULSE Magazine is
strictly prohibited. PULSE magazine is a registered trade mark. All rights reserved. PULSE is a quarterly publication
distributed and published freely through Gay Men of African Decent, a Non-Profit Organization.
2007 Black
Pride Events
Miami Sizzle
Miami, FL
May 24-28, 2007
www.sizzlemiami.com
• • •
DC Black Pride
Washington, DC
May 24-28, 2007
www.dcblackpride.org
• • •
San Juan Brothas 2007
San Juan, PR
May 24-28, 2007
www.sanjuanbrothas.com
• • •
Black Gay Pride
New England
Boston, MA
June 8-10, 2007
www.mac-boston.org
• • •
Juneteenth Weekend
Celebration
San Antonio. TX
June 14-17, 2007
traxxthenightclub@yahoo.com
• • •
Memphis Black Pride
Memphis, TN
June 15-17, 2007
www.memphisblackpride.com
• • •
Black & Latino Gay
Pride Celebration
Columbia, SC
June 18-24, 2007
www.carolinasblackpridemovement.com
• • •
At The Beach
Los Angeles, CA
July 4-8, 2007
www.atbla.com
• • •
Windy City Black Pride
Chicago, IL
July 1-4, 2007
www.windycityblackpride.org

PULSE : PTS
Your Mail[ ]
OUR VOICES OUR VIEW OUR WORLD
PREMIERE ISSUE 2006
We Got Read!
Re: Man On The Glow
I live in Hotlanta, where we pay spend
a lot of coins on looking good. We take
grooming very seriously but are often
ridiculed for looking too ‘painted’ and
accused of trying to be female.
So I was particularly pleased to see the
PULSE sections on Man On The Glow and
Camouflage. The make up was tight and
the boys looked hot without sacrificing
their masculinity. My friends and I feel
vindicated and I tip my hat off to you.
BRYAN, Atlanta
RE: Tina
Dangerous Liaison poignantly under-
scores the importance of acknowledg-
ing and voicing the utterly personal
devastating experience of drug use.
Antoine’s story unfortunately is not
unusual among black gay men, but the
greater tragedy is the deafening silence
that accompanies this insidious meth
epidemic that is growing and entrapping
more and more of us.
Thank you for bringing this issue to
the open. Let’s hope it discourages peo-
ple who may be deluded into thinking
crystal meth use is a fun trip from going
down that path.
JOHN W. CHARLOTTE, NC
Re: Pulse
I am very impressed with the newly
revamped PULSE magazine! I have a few
comments/suggestions and a question:
-Are the “Pulse Points” for album
reviews out of 4 or 5?
-I hope a future issue will return to the
topic of Outercourse/Frottage
*I think the “Out Standing” feature
should be a regular offering from PULSE,
commending and celebrating local com-
munity leaders and rising national, inter-
national, & global leaders of SGL/LGBTI
peoples of African descent.
ANONYMOUS, USA
I just received the premier issue of
“Pulse.” It is clear, concise, and easy-to-
understand, with several thought-pro-
voking articles inside. You have really
done a great job with this issue, and it
has kept my interest, not to mention the
“eye candy.”
I might add, it is sleek, urban, and
contemporary in its style and format.
I showed it to a friend of mine, and he
agreed with its content.
I look forward to receiving the next
issues of “Pulse.”
FREDERICK BOND, St. Louis, Mo.
PULSE is absolutely gorgeous! As
much as I enjoyed reading the articles,
what stood out for me was the feeling of
admiring a fine piece of Art. Great Job!
JAI, Brooklyn, NY
I am writing to say congratulations
on PULSE! It is an amazing magazine.
The articles are timely, enlightening,
thought-provoking and informative.
As a native of Miami, FL, and as an out
black gay male here, this has been a long
time coming. I have worked in HIV pre-
vention and education for 14 years and
never has a magazine come along that
spoke to me as a professional as well as
a black gay male. Working in this field
isn’t easy as you all know but when oth-
ers who are where you are put together
such a powerful work it gives you that
little boost to keep going.
Thank you for showing that we can
do all things. PULSE has inspired me to
continue writing and to keep pushing for
our people.
May the Orishas continue to guide
your hands.
DONOVAN S. FLOYD, Miami, Fl.
“The entire magazine from
the front cover to back is
eye catching and holds one’s
attention until you sit it down.”
DONOVAN S. FLOYD, Miami, Fl.
Write To Us!
We want to know what you think. Send e-mails
to Pulse@GMAD.org or Mail to 103 East 125th
St. Suite 503, New York, NY 10035. Include your
name, address and telephone number. Letters
may be edited for clarity and length.

PULSE : PTS
Our Opinion[ ]
PULSE tastemaker’s roundtable on
what’s in and out…
OUT: Lazy deejays who spin the same
tired set in the club week after week.
IN: NYC’s most versatile turntablist
and best kept secret, DJ Bladerunner.
OUT: Scary Spice aka Melanie Brown,
until she drops the Murphy baby and
gets her child support.
IN: Posh Spice, aka Victoria Beckham,
with all that soccer money.(Girl, you
know you should write Mel a baby
shower check!!!)
OUT: Star Jones on “The View”
IN: Viewing Star Jones on Court TV
OUT: On the DL (That’s so so tired!)
IN: To be “Out”
OUT: Going to the gym to “work out”
IN: Going to the gym to “work IT out”
OUT: Sex Parties
IN: Socials
OUT: Butch queens in “Timbs”
IN: Butch queens in Air Force Ones
OUT: “Drop it Like Its Hot”
IN: “This is Why I’m Hot”
OUT: Ginuwine, Usher and Jaheim
IN: Ne-Yo, Chris Brown and Omarion
OUT: High-ass Starbucks
IN: Cheap and Dirty Dunkin’ Donuts
OUT: Ashanti
IN: Corinne Bailey Rae
OUT: Justin Timberlake
IN: Robin Thicke
OUT: 28-day Cold Turkey stints
IN: 24-hour Rehab stints, followed
by a shopping spree
OUT: Nasty tongue rings
IN: Nasty Gold teeth
Quiet as
Kept...it’s
PhotobyTarriceLoveforIdentitiesInc.

PULSE : PTS
Book Reviews[ ]
More Body, More Soul: More
Beautiful Black Men
-Duane Thomas
Universe, Price: $29.95
More Body, More Soul: Beautiful Black Men
is the brother-book to Duane Thomas’s late
90’s classic – Body & Soul: The Black Male
Book. Featuringworkbytopphotographers
including Barron Claiborne, David LaCha-
pelle, Roger Erickson, Guzman, and Dah
Len, More Body, More Soul gives us a can-
did and provocative look at the sensuality
and vitality of today’s most talked-about
black male movie, film and television stars
including Jamie Foxx, Will Smith and Jay-Z,
Usher, Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury.
Spirited: Affirming the
Soul and Black Gay/Lesbian
Identity
-G. Winston James (Editor)
and Lisa C. w (Editor)
RedBone Press, Price: $16.95
AMEN. Kudos to RedBone Press for com-
piling a book of Black GLBT writers who
do one better and that is write from their
perspective on religion and spirituality.
We as a Black people have always held
strong to our belief and relationship with
God but how does one reconcile that with
being a part of a church that shouts that
you are an abomination? It is an arduous
road but one that can be achieved and
this book helps as it sets out to do what
the title suggests…affirms one’s soul.
Finding Martha’s Vineyard:
African Americans at
Home on an Island
-Jill Nelson
Doubleday, Price: $27.50
Martha’s Vineyard was and still is an
oasis for many African Americans who
have summered there, who live there
year-round, and for those who have yet
to experience the richness of this idyllic
place. Jill Nelson paints a picture for the
reader that details her own experiences
in summering on Martha’s Vineyard
along with getting personal stories from
other people who share a love for this
place that was and is to many an Ameri-
can dream. Finding Martha’s Vineyard
is a book that should not be taken for
granted as it details a time in American
history where there was pride in being a
person of color and for many who sum-
mered there it was a time to be amongst
your own and celebrate in the richness of
this piece of the American dream.
Root Shock: How Tearing
Up City Neighborhoods Hurts
America And What We Can
Do About It
-Mindy Thompson Fullilove, M.D.
One World/Ballantine, Price: $14.95
According to www.rootshock.org the defi-
nition of root shock is the traumatic
stress reaction to the destruction of all
or part of one’s emotional ecosystem.
This metaphor is taken from botany.
Plants suffer from root shock when
they are relocated from one place to
another. The loss of the familiar soil–
with its particular texture and balance
of nutrients–and the inevitable dam-
age to the root system cause the plant
injury or early death. Dr. Mindy Fulli-
love, a professor of clinical psychiatry
and public health at Columbia Univer-
sity sets to examine the effects of root
shock and the devastating effects it had
on residents in three different settings:
Hill District of Pittsburgh, Central Ward
in Newark and the small Virginia city
of Roanoke.
BOOKMARK by
Justin Hall
PhotobyKyleDavid

REYATAZ is a registered trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. © 2006 Bristol-Myers Squibb Company,Princeton,NJ 08543 U.S.A. 12/06 F1-K0316E
Please see Important Patient Information about REYATAZ on the
next page.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
ABOUT REYATAZ (atazanavir sulfate)
INDICATION: REYATAZ (atazanavir sulfate) is a prescription
medicineusedincombinationwithothermedicinestotreat
peoplewhoareinfectedwiththehumanimmunodeficiency
virus(HIV).REYATAZhasbeenstudiedin48-weektrialsinboth
patientswhohavetakenorhavenevertakenanti-HIVmedicines.
REYATAZ does not cure HIV or help prevent passing
HIV to others.
Do not take REYATAZ if you are taking the following
medicines: ergot medicines,Versed®
,Halcion®
,Orap®
,
Propulsid®
,Camptosar®
,Crixivan®
,Mevacor®
,Zocor®
,rifampin,
St.John’s wort,AcipHex®
,Nexium®
,Prevacid®
,Prilosec®
,or
Protonix®
.DonotuseViagra®
,Levitra®
,Cialis®
,Vfend®
,Advair®
,
Flonase®
,or Flovent®
while you are taking REYATAZ without
first speaking with your healthcare provider.This list of
medicinesisnotcomplete.Discussallprescriptionand
non-prescription medicines,vitamin and herbal
supplements,or other health preparations you are
taking or plan to take with your healthcare provider.
Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any
side effects or conditions,including the following:
• A change in the way your heart beats may occur
and could be a symptom of a heart problem.
• Diabetes and high blood sugar may occur in
patients taking protease inhibitor medicines like
REYATAZ (atazanavir sulfate).
• Yellowing of the skin and/or eyes may occur due
to increases in bilirubin levels in the blood (bilirubin is
made by the liver).
• Rash (redness and itching) sometimes occurs in patients
taking REYATAZ,most often in the first few weeks after
the medicine is started,and usually goes away within
two weeks with no change in treatment.
• If you have liver disease,including hepatitis B or C,
your liver disease may get worse when you take anti-HIV
medicines like REYATAZ (atazanavir sulfate).
• Somepatientswithhemophiliahaveincreasedbleeding
problems with protease inhibitor medicines like REYATAZ.
Changes in body fat have been seen in some patients
taking anti-HIV medicines.The cause and long-term
effects are not known at this time.
Other side effects of REYATAZ taken with other anti-HIV
medicinesinclude:nausea,headache,stomachpain,vomiting,
diarrhea,depression,fever,dizziness,trouble sleeping,
numbness,and tingling or burning of hands or feet.
You should take REYATAZ once daily with food (a meal or
snack).You should take REYATAZ and your other anti-HIV
medicines exactly as instructed by your healthcare provider.
REYATAZ, a protease inhibitor (PI) taken in HIV combination therapy:
◆ Can help raise your T-cells
◆ Can help lower your viral load to undetectable†
◆ Low chance of diarrhea (shown in clinical trials)‡
200mg/300mg
capsules
one pill,
once-a-day
in combination
therapy*
Now it’s the only one pill, once-a-day protease inhibitor (PI)
as part of HIV combination therapy.*
*Single pill REYATAZ is for patients who have taken anti-HIV medicines before. It must be taken with ritonavir once daily in HIV combination therapy.
REYATAZ does not cure HIV,a serious disease,or help prevent passing HIV to others.
ASK YOUR DOCTOR if REYATAZ, in HIV combination therapy, can help you fight HIV your way.
There’s a new reason
toask about
†
Undetectableisdefinedasaviralloadoflessthan400or50copies/mL
(dependingonthetestused).
‡
REYATAZincombinationtherapyhada1-3%rateofmoderate-to-severediarrhea.
200mg/300mg
capsules

PATIENT INFORMATION
REYATAZ®
(RAY-ah-taz)
(generic name = atazanavir sulfate) Capsules
ALERT: Find out about medicines that should NOT be taken with REYATAZ (atazanavir sulfate). Read the
section “What important information should I know about taking REYATAZ with other medicines?”
Read the Patient Information that comes with REYATAZ before you start using it and each time you get a refill.
There may be new information. This leaflet provides a summary about REYATAZ and does not include
everything there is to know about your medicine. This information does not take the place of talking with your
healthcare provider about your medical condition or treatment.
What is REYATAZ?
REYATAZ is a prescription medicine used with other anti-HIV medicines to treat people who are infected with
the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV is the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome
(AIDS). REYATAZ is a type of anti-HIV medicine called a protease inhibitor. HIV infection destroys CD4+ (T) cells,
which are important to the immune system. The immune system helps fight infection. After a large number of
(T) cells are destroyed, AIDS develops. REYATAZ helps to block HIV protease, an enzyme that is needed for the
HIV virus to multiply. REYATAZ may lower the amount of HIV in your blood, help your body keep its supply of
CD4+ (T) cells, and reduce the risk of death and illness associated with HIV.
Does REYATAZ cure HIV or AIDS?
REYATAZ does not cure HIV infection or AIDS. At present there is no cure for HIV infection. People taking
REYATAZ may still get opportunistic infections or other conditions that happen with HIV infection. Opportunistic
infections are infections that develop because the immune system is weak. Some of these conditions are
pneumonia, herpes virus infections, and Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infections. It is very important
that you see your healthcare provider regularly while taking REYATAZ.
REYATAZ does not lower your chance of passing HIV to other people through sexual contact,
sharing needles, or being exposed to your blood. For your health and the health of others, it is important to
always practice safer sex by using a latex or polyurethane condom or other barrier to lower the chance of
sexual contact with semen, vaginal secretions, or blood. Never use or share dirty needles.
Who should not take REYATAZ?
Do not take REYATAZ if you:
• are taking certain medicines. (See “What important information should I know about taking REYATAZ with
other medicines?”) Serious life-threatening side effects or death may happen. Before you take REYATAZ, tell
your healthcare provider about all medicines you are taking or planning to take. These include other
prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
• are allergic to REYATAZ or to any of its ingredients. The active ingredient is atazanavir sulfate. See the end
of this leaflet for a complete list of ingredients in REYATAZ. Tell your healthcare provider if you think you
have had an allergic reaction to any of these ingredients.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before I take REYATAZ?
Tell your healthcare provider:
• If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It is not known if REYATAZ can harm your unborn
baby. Pregnant women have experienced serious side effects when taking REYATAZ with other HIV medicines
called nucleoside analogues. You and your healthcare provider will need to decide if REYATAZ is right for
you. If you use REYATAZ while you are pregnant, talk to your healthcare provider about the Antiretroviral
Pregnancy Registry.
• If you are breast-feeding. You should not breast-feed if you are HIV-positive because of the chance of
passing HIV to your baby. Also, it is not known if REYATAZ can pass into your breast milk and if it can harm
your baby. If you are a woman who has or will have a baby, talk with your healthcare provider about the best
way to feed your baby.
• If you have liver problems or are infected with the hepatitis B or C virus. See “What are the possible
side effects of REYATAZ?”
• If you have diabetes. See “What are the possible side effects of REYATAZ?”
• If you have hemophilia. See “What are the possible side effects of REYATAZ?”
• About all the medicines you take including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal
supplements. Keep a list of your medicines with you to show your healthcare provider. For more information,
see “What important information should I know about taking REYATAZ with other medicines?” and “Who
should not take REYATAZ?” Some medicines can cause serious side effects if taken with REYATAZ.
How should I take REYATAZ?
• Take REYATAZ once every day exactly as instructed by your healthcare provider. Your healthcare
provider will prescribe the amount of REYATAZ that is right for you.
• For adults who have never taken anti-HIV medicines before, the usual dose is 400 mg (two 200-mg
capsules) once daily taken with food.
• For adults who have taken anti-HIV medicines in the past, the usual dose is 300 mg (one 300-mg capsule
or two 150-mg capsules) plus 100 mg of NORVIR®
(ritonavir) once daily taken with food.
Your dose will depend on your liver function and on the other anti-HIV medicines that you are taking. REYATAZ
is always used with other anti-HIV medicines. If you are taking REYATAZ with SUSTIVA®
(efavirenz) or with
VIREAD®
(tenofovir disoproxil fumarate), you should also be taking NORVIR® (ritonavir).
• Always take REYATAZ with food (a meal or snack) to help it work better. Swallow the capsules whole.
Do not open the capsules. Take REYATAZ at the same time each day.
• If you are taking antacids or didanosine (VIDEX® or VIDEX® EC), take REYATAZ 2 hours before or 1 hour
after these medicines.
• If you are taking medicines for indigestion, heartburn, or ulcers such as AXID® (nizatidine), PEPCID AC®
(famotidine), TAGAMET® (cimetidine), or ZANTAC® (ranitidine), talk to your healthcare provider.
• Do not change your dose or stop taking REYATAZ without first talking with your healthcare provider.
It is important to stay under a healthcare provider’s care while taking REYATAZ.
• When your supply of REYATAZ starts to run low, get more from your healthcare provider or pharmacy. It
is important not to run out of REYATAZ. The amount of HIV in your blood may increase if the medicine is
stopped for even a short time.
• If you miss a dose of REYATAZ, take it as soon as possible and then take your next scheduled dose at its
regular time. If, however, it is within 6 hours of your next dose, do not take the missed dose. Wait and take the
next dose at the regular time. Do not double the next dose. It is important that you do not miss any doses
of REYATAZ or your other anti-HIV medicines.
• If you take more than the prescribed dose of REYATAZ, call your healthcare provider or poison control
center right away.
Can children take REYATAZ?
REYATAZ has not been fully studied in children under 16 years of age. REYATAZ should not be used in babies
under the age of 3 months.
What are the possible side effects of REYATAZ?
The following list of side effects is not complete. Report any new or continuing symptoms to your healthcare
provider. If you have questions about side effects, ask your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider may be
able to help you manage these side effects.
The following side effects have been reported with REYATAZ:
• rash (redness and itching) sometimes occurs in patients taking REYATAZ, most often in the first few weeks
after the medicine is started. Rashes usually go away within 2 weeks with no change in treatment. Tell your
healthcare provider if rash occurs.
• yellowing of the skin or eyes. These effects may be due to increases in bilirubin levels in the blood
(bilirubin is made by the liver). Call your healthcare provider if your skin or the white part of your eyes turn
yellow. Although these effects may not be damaging to your liver, skin, or eyes, it is important to tell your
healthcare provider promptly if they occur.
• a change in the way your heart beats (heart rhythm change). Call your healthcare provider right away if
you get dizzy or lightheaded. These could be symptoms of a heart problem.
• diabetes and high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) sometimes happen in patients taking protease inhibitor
medicines like REYATAZ. Some patients had diabetes before taking protease inhibitors while others did not.
Some patients may need changes in their diabetes medicine.
• if you have liver disease including hepatitis B or C, your liver disease may get worse when you take
anti-HIV medicines like REYATAZ (atazanavir sulfate).
• some patients with hemophilia have increased bleeding problems with protease inhibitors like REYATAZ.
• changes in body fat. These changes may include an increased amount of fat in the upper back and neck
(“buffalo hump”), breast, and around the trunk. Loss of fat from the legs, arms, and face may also happen.
The cause and long-term health effects of these conditions are not known at this time.
Other common side effects of REYATAZ taken with other anti-HIV medicines include nausea; headache;
stomach pain; vomiting; diarrhea; depression; fever; dizziness; trouble sleeping; numbness, tingling, or burning
of hands or feet; and muscle pain.
What important information should I know about taking REYATAZ with other medicines?
Do not take REYATAZ if you take the following medicines (not all brands may be listed; tell your
healthcare provider about all the medicines you take). REYATAZ may cause serious, life-threatening side
effects or death when used with these medicines.
• Ergot medicines: dihydroergotamine, ergonovine, ergotamine, and methylergonovine such as CAFERGOT®,
MIGRANAL®, D.H.E. 45®, ergotrate maleate, METHERGINE®, and others (used for migraine headaches).
• HALCION® (triazolam, used for insomnia).
• VERSED® (midazolam, used for sedation).
• ORAP® (pimozide, used for Tourette’s disorder).
• PROPULSID® (cisapride, used for certain stomach problems).
Do not take the following medicines with REYATAZ because of possible serious side effects:
• CAMPTOSAR® (irinotecan, used for cancer).
• CRIXIVAN® (indinavir, used for HIV infection). Both REYATAZ and CRIXIVAN sometimes cause increased
levels of bilirubin in the blood.
• Cholesterol-lowering medicines MEVACOR® (lovastatin) or ZOCOR® (simvastatin).
Do not take the following medicines with REYATAZ because they may lower the amount of REYATAZ in
your blood. This may lead to an increased HIV viral load. Resistance to REYATAZ or cross-resistance to other HIV
medicines may develop:
• Rifampin (also known as RIMACTANE®, RIFADIN®, RIFATER®, or RIFAMATE®, used for tuberculosis).
• St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), an herbal product sold as a dietary supplement, or products
containing St. John’s wort.
• “Proton-pump inhibitors” used for indigestion, heartburn, or ulcers such as AcipHex® (rabeprazole), NEXIUM®
(esomeprazole), PREVACID® (lansoprazole), PRILOSEC® (omeprazole), or PROTONIX® (pantoprazole).
Do not take the following medicine if you are taking REYATAZ and NORVIR® together.
• VFEND® (voriconazole).
The following medicines may require your healthcare provider to monitor your therapy more closely:
• CIALIS® (tadalafil), LEVITRA® (vardenafil), or VIAGRA® (sildenafil). REYATAZ may increase the chances of
serious side effects that can happen with CIALIS, LEVITRA, or VIAGRA. Do not use CIALIS, LEVITRA, or
VIAGRA while you are taking REYATAZ unless your healthcare provider tells you it is okay.
• LIPITOR® (atorvastatin). There is an increased chance of serious side effects if you take REYATAZ with this
cholesterol-lowering medicine.
• Medicines for abnormal heart rhythm: CORDARONE® (amiodarone), lidocaine, quinidine (also known as
CARDIOQUIN®, QUINIDEX®, and others).
• VASCOR® (bepridil, used for chest pain).
• COUMADIN® (warfarin).
• Tricyclic antidepressants such as ELAVIL® (amitriptyline), NORPRAMIN® (desipramine), SINEQUAN® (doxepin),
SURMONTIL® (trimipramine), TOFRANIL® (imipramine), or VIVACTIL® (protriptyline).
• Medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection: SANDIMMUNE® or NEORAL® (cyclosporin), RAPAMUNE®
(sirolimus), or PROGRAF® (tacrolimus).
• The antidepressant trazodone (DESYREL® and others).
• Fluticasone propionate (ADVAIR®, FLONASE®, FLOVENT®), given by nose or inhaled to treat allergic symptoms
or asthma. Your doctor may choose not to keep you on fluticasone, especially if you are also taking NORVIR®.
The following medicines may require a change in the dose or dose schedule of either REYATAZ or the
other medicine:
• FORTOVASE®, INVIRASE® (saquinavir).
• NORVIR® (ritonavir).
• SUSTIVA® (efavirenz).
• Antacids or buffered medicines.
• VIDEX® (didanosine).
• VIREAD® (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate).
• MYCOBUTIN® (rifabutin).
• Calcium channel blockers such as CARDIZEM® or TIAZAC® (diltiazem), COVERA-HS® or ISOPTIN SR®
(verapamil), and others.
• BIAXIN® (clarithromycin).
• Medicines for indigestion, heartburn, or ulcers such as AXID® (nizatidine), PEPCID AC® (famotidine),
TAGAMET® (cimetidine), or ZANTAC® (ranitidine).
Women who use birth control pills or “the patch” should choose a different kind of contraception.
REYATAZ may affect the safety and effectiveness of birth control pills or the patch. Talk to your healthcare
provider about choosing an effective contraceptive.
Remember:
1. Know all the medicines you take.
2. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take.
3. Do not start a new medicine without talking to your healthcare provider.
How should I store REYATAZ?
• Store REYATAZ Capsules at room temperature, 59° to 86° F (15° to 30° C). Do not store this medicine in a
damp place such as a bathroom medicine cabinet or near the kitchen sink.
• Keep your medicine in a tightly closed container.
• ThrowawayREYATAZwhenitisoutdatedornolongerneededbyflushingitdownthetoiletorpouringitdownthesink.
General information about REYATAZ
This medicine was prescribed for your particular condition. Do not use REYATAZ for another condition. Do not
give REYATAZ to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them. Keep
REYATAZ and all medicines out of the reach of children and pets.
This summary does not include everything there is to know about REYATAZ. Medicines are sometimes prescribed
for conditions that are not mentioned in patient information leaflets. Remember no written summary can
replace careful discussion with your healthcare provider. If you would like more information, talk with your
healthcare provider or you can call 1-800-321-1335.
What are the ingredients in REYATAZ?
Active Ingredient: atazanavir sulfate
Inactive Ingredients: Crospovidone, lactose monohydrate (milk sugar), magnesium stearate, gelatin, FD&C
Blue #2, titanium dioxide, black iron oxide, red iron oxide, and yellow iron oxide.
VIDEX® and REYATAZ® are registered trademarks of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. COUMADIN® and SUSTIVA®
are registered trademarks of Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Company. DESYREL® is a registered trademark of
Mead Johnson and Company. Other brands listed are the trademarks of their respective owners and are not
trademarks of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.
Princeton, NJ 08543 USA
This Patient Information Leaflet has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
1193697A4
F1-B0001B-10-06 Revised October 2006

GLOWING RECOMMENDATION– Hand-
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designer and event planner Saundra Parks of the
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bloom. Silks Ties- $75(ea.)boyamahomme.com
CLEAN SWEEP - Makari creates the perfect
spring offering. Makari Deep Cleansing Lotion.
$29.99. Makari Night Treatment Cream. $44.99.
Visit the Makari flagship store at 52 West 125th
Street in New York City (212) 348-7464, and
Makari @ Makari.com for their complete line.
Luxto your Life”
“add
PULSE : PTS
Luxury[ [
Byron Barnes, Editor-in-Chief
Candlesticks, Ties and shirts
photographed by Kyle David
PULSEPULSE 15

SignatureFRAGRANCES BY DESIGN
What is it about a scent that is so strongly associated
with memory? How common it is for many of us
not to not remember the name of our first love, but
we can distinctly remember the aroma of “stolen
splashes” of Dad’s Old Spice? This Spring let “clean,”
masculine notes play a recurring role in your collective
memory with spicy leather, flirty bergamot, and
intriguing cashmere in this season’s most provocative
fragrances… tangled in a crisp spring breeze.
PULSE : PTS
Smell Good![ ]
by Zulekha Haywood
PhotobyDanielGreenStyledbyLlewellynJenkins
(Clockwise)
BOND NO. 9
Eau De New York
Eau De Parfum/
Natural Spray
3.3 Fl. Oz. $198.
CALVIN KLEIN
EUPHORIA
3.4 Fl Oz. $62.00
POUR UN HOMME
DE CARON
Eau De Toilette Natural
Spray 200ml $95.
CANALI MEN
PRESTIGE EDITION
Eau De Parfum Intense
Natural Spray
3.4 fl. oz $75.
MUGLER COLOGNE
Eau De Toilette
Spray & Splash
4.1 Fl. Oz. $68.00
GUCCI POUR
HOMME II
Eau de Toilette
Natural Spray
3.3fl.oz $65.
R.S.V.P
KENNETH COLE
Eau De Toilette/
Vaporisatuer
3.4 Fl Oz. $59.50.

The Basics:
MOST OF US “GET” THE BASICS of financial
management. While it may not be our favorite
pastime, we generally know how to balance our
checkbook, pay credit card bills and identify
retirement funds. But, for many, that’s the extent
of our financial comprehension.
In fact, most people fail to make the grade when
their financial knowledge is tested beyond the ABC’s
of financial literacy. According to a 2006 study com-
missioned by Northwestern Mutual, Americans
have little grasp of important – and relevant –
financial matters that can affect their financial
futures. This article seeks to explain financial
matters to everyone from the savvy investor to the
“paycheck to paycheck” guy. When dealing with
financial services, it’s important to start with the
defensive end of planning – creating a “safety net”
to reduce the effect of loss. Once a good defen-
sive foundation is in place, our attention turns
to wealth accumulation. The third stage focuses
on estate planning and preservation. Finally, and
perhaps most important to many individuals is
taking advantage of tax strategies. It is important
to become familiar with certain terms that are
thrown around carelessly and most Americans
don’t understand. They are:
BONDS VS. STOCKS: An easy way to look at the
differences are that Bonds represent debt from a
Corporation or a Government, and stocks are own-
ership in a company.
GROUP INSURANCE: 6 in 10 people wrongly believe
they will be able to take their group life or disability
policies with them should they leave their job.
NURSING HOME COSTS: Most underestimate such
expenses; while the average daily cost is approxi-
mately $300, few people have any clue that these
costs exist. In addition, few protect themselves
against these costs.
COLLEGE SAVINGS PROGRAMS: Less than half
know 529 plans are savings vehicles for funding
education.
Afraid of Risk?
NOBODY INTENDS TO MAKE MONEY mistakes.
After all, most people dream of being wealthy. The
problem is, a few common financial misbehaviors
seem to be tripping people up. People sometimes get
so caught up in what’s “hot” for the moment, and
being afraid of loss that they fall into “blind spots”
that may be causing them to make poor financial
decisions. Let’s face it, we don’t like to lose. The same
is true when it comes to our finances – we’re simply
“loss averse.” Here’s a quick example to help illus-
trate what “loss averse” means:
Given the following choices, would
you rather:
A) Win $249 for certain
B) Take a 25% chance to gain
$1,000 and a 75% chance to
gain nothing
If you’re like most people,
you chose the sure win. That’s
because the pain we feel from
losing $100 is much greater
than the pleasure we feel
from gaining $100. Of course,
this isn’t assuming that it’s a
good idea to carelessly throw
money away. It’s simply a
second way to look at finan-
cial behavior. Financial mis-
behaviors can be hard habits
to break. The good news is
that understanding your
own blind spots and pat-
terns is a positive step toward
improving them. Talking to
a qualified financial profes-
sional is another way to learn
about and correct your misbe-
haviors before they turn into
money maladies. To contact Dane
by phone, dial (212) 819-1800. His
office is located at 245 Park Ave,
Suite 1800, New York, NY 10167. Or
visit www.nmfn.com/danecampbell.
PULSE : PTS
Finance[ ]
InThe Black:Pulse Guide to Financial Success
by Dane Campbell, a Financial
Representative with the NEMEC
Financial Group of The Northwestern
Mutual Financial Network
PhotobyDanielGreen

Going Topless A convertible and a six-pack…
the stylish way to bring sexy back!
ROAD SHOULDERS, sleek golden skin, a
gleaming grille and solid muscle. No it’s not
your recurring dream about Tyson Beck-
ford. It is the newest convertible concept
car from Mercedes Benz, OCEAN DRIVE.
It is sure-footed, bold, expressive and
intelligent; a real head turner. Yet not in
production, this luxurious open air road-
ster has all the makings of a superstar.
The Mercedes-Benz Ocean Drive is a
dramatic take on their current high-end
sedan, the S600. While inheriting most of
its mechanical parts from the S600, this
sexy convertible’s outside is all its own:
From its enlarged grille, angular com-
bination LED headlamps and 36 turbine
spoke wheels to its tone-on-tone paint
scheme in shimmering shades of gold,
ultra-slim chrome door handles. The
Ocean Drive has a thoroughly masculine
cut, with bold contours defining this 17
foot long luxury automobile as a sure-
footed piece of German craftsmanship.
The four seat passenger cabin is all
about luxury, convenience and beau-
ty: from its sumptuous ultra premium
leather interior, to its bronze-tinted win-
dows. Handsome walnut burl surrounds
you while the twin, headrest mounted
DVD entertainment system and build-
in champagne rack (complete with two
sterling silver flutes, standard) tries hard
to distract the backseat passengers from
the world around them.
The 510 horsepower, twin-turbo V-12
(from the S600) is legendary for its power
andfinesse.Themammoth,34-square-foot
convertible top takes only 20 seconds to
openorclose.TheOceanDrivealsoincludes
cutting-edge technology from other Mer-
cedes models, including radar controlled
cruise control and a seat belt pre-ten-
sioning system automatically activated
during an emergency braking situation.
The Ocean Drive is, from stem to
stern, a glorious mélange of a bygone era
of elegant lines and masculine footing
with the most technologically sophis-
ticated propulsion, entertainment and
safety systems.
The Mercedes Ocean Drive drips with
class and opulence. It has the look, drive
and exclusivity you demand. The future
is just around the corner, so get ready.

The life of the urban, accomplished
Gay professional can often feel like a
rollercoaster ride, be it in Los Angeles,
Paris or New York: endless traffic, busi-
ness meetings and hurried lunches can
be overwhelming. Even international
travel, while offering a chance for a little
R and R can sometimes feel routine.
PULSE takes you inside the New York
City, eastside Penthouse home of one
such professional who has created the
ideal retreat far above the maddening
crowd, while still being fully part of all
the excitement the city has to offer. With
interior designer Doreen Chambers of
Doreen Chambers Interiors in charge, the
cavernous apartment is a perfect study in
refined luxury. The rooms are bathed in
a combination of varying shades of rich
yellows. All from Vintage Masters, Island
Brights and the Ralph Lauren lifestyle
collections for home. They subtly change
from wall to wall, as well as from room
to room that echo early morning hues of
sunrise to the palest washed gold sands
of private beaches on Shelter Island.
An emphasis on comfort is seen in the
elegant European-crafted furniture that
creates a space which is not only genius
in its incorporation of the city landscape
as a backdrop, but achieves intimacy and
warmth through the expert display of
world class art throughout. Peg Alston
of Peg Alston Fine Arts, located on Cen-
tral Park West has selected and built an
impressive art and sculpture collection
by renowned artists including William
T. Williams, Lisa Beane, Frank Bowling,
Cheryl R. Reily, Richard Mayhew and Ed
Clark.
The custom-made oval marble din-
ing room table, imported from Italy was
Room with aView By Brian
Haynes-Copeland
Photographed by
John Labbe

a year in the making and comfortably
sits six. It is the sight of candlelit gour-
met dinners and lively conversation. The
panoramic view from the dining table
of New York skyline is breathtaking! Old
world luxury is visible in every room: A
commissioned African-inspired life-size
gilded mirror which stands from floor
to ceiling reflects an exquisite crystal
chandelier and vintage paintings from
the Masters. A Chi-Wara carving from
Mali holds court majestically amid plush
custom-made furniture. The living room
is draped in luscious Italian fabrics and
tie-backs imported from Brimar of Swit-
zerland. The library’s leather book bar
cabinet sits besides an oversize custom-
made cinnabar sofa from DDC, Domus
Design Collection. On the opposite wall,
is positioned a walnut armoire on a beau-
tiful hand-woven Indian rug. The room is
beautifully accented by a blue and yellow
tuffet and lamp, both by McKenzie Child.
The relaxed and lush theme continues
in the Italian-inspired bedroom where
a soft cream leather chaise lounge sits
(Opposite page) Oval Italian Marble Table
(This page from the top) Cheryl R. Reily
Art, McKenzie Child Lamp, Chi-Wara
carving from Mali, West Africa, Custom-
made cinnabar sofa & leather book bar
and McKenzie Child Tuffet

atop a white Mongolian rug. The bed-
room suite boasts a cherry wood mas-
ter bed, complimented with gorgeous
matching side tables which rest atop a
butter cream Italian imported area rug.
All linens and throws are from the estate
of the late Gianni Versace. The stunning
penthouse is infused with sweet floral
notes from biweekly arrangements per-
sonally designed by TaraSimone Powell of
Barbra’s Flowers located in Harlem, NY.
New York City at night never looked
more breathtaking than from the dining
room. Sitting at the oval marble dining
table, imported from Milan looking out
to the East River, you would be forgiven
for thinking you had reached the pearly
gates. A walk out onto the patio which is
large enough to land a helicopter takes
the eyes north towards Central Park.
Stand here and be embraced in the vast-
ness of the Big Apple and then slowly
b r e a t h e.
(Counter clockwise from the top)
Cherry wood Master bed with matching
side tables; linens from Gianni Versace’s
estate, Panoramic view of NYC, captured
from the patio, Pillows and soap dish from
Gianni Versace’s estate.

½ s tat e of bl ack
gay men’s health:
t h e r e a l c r i s i s
When people usually speak of Black men who have sex
with men (MSM)* nowadays, it’s often in a negative or
pathological context. On a routine weekly or monthly
basis, we are bombarded with news stories, newspaper
articles, journal papers or reports from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) “sounding
the alarm” regarding the high rates of HIV among our
population. Five years ago, it was “1 out of every 3”
Black MSM are HIV-positive; since June of 2005,
david malebranche m.d.

Of
course the recent “1 out of
every 2” ratio comes from
the study that was con-
ducted in only five major metropolitan
cities in the United States, which discov-
ered that out of the 444 Black MSM who
they recruited from places where “MSM
congregate” (i.e., bars/clubs, organiza-
tions and street venues), 206 of these
men tested positive for HIV. Does that
mean that of the hundreds of thousands
of homosexually active Black men in
America, approximately 50% of us are
living with HIV? Hardly. What it does
mean is that of the 444 Black MSM in
these specific five cities who participated
in this particular study and frequented
these particular venues, 46% were HIV-
positive. While there is reason for con-
cern that almost half of the brothers in
this study were HIV-positive, one would
be hard-pressed to say this accurately
represents the HIV prevalence among all
homosexually-active Black men in the
United States. You would almost think
that the press and media were trying to
suggest that by merely being Black and
homosexually active means that one is
going to contract HIV.
So why is the news about us always so
negative? Well, if you look at the real-
ity of what is going on with Black men
in this country, the exclusively nega-
tive focus on HIV from smaller stud-
ies associated with Black MSM is just a
microcosm of a larger issue. Black men
in the United States are more likely to
be raised by single parent households,
suspended or expelled from school, not
graduate from high school, not attend
college, make less money, be incarcer-
ated and suffer from practically every
chronic disease outcome than our White
counterparts. The reasons behind these
grim statistics are multifactorial, and are
beyond the scope of this article, but what
is obvious is that the social context that
drives these facts is often left out of the
discussion when describing our adverse
health outcomes.
What is missing is an elaborate
description and narrative of our lives
that provides a context explaining why
these poor outcomes may be happen-
ing to us, so that we can address these
underlying issues and change the course
of these outcomes. While Katie Couric
can do a Today show report portraying
suburban White mothers addicted to
crystal meth as innocent “victims” of
this insidious drug, surely news reports
describing crack use or the HIV epi-
demic among Black people can provide
a similar context and evoke empathy and
understanding from their viewers, right?
Unfortunately, the lives of Black people
in this country are often portrayed as
nothing more than negative statistics,
numbers on a page, with no explana-
tion or insight behind these figures, just
suggestions that we are suffering from
disease merely because of who we are
and how the media perceives we natu-
rally behave. And we are as guilty of this
depiction of ourselves as any non-Black
person is. For Black MSM and HIV, this
plays out as the implication that we are
disproportionately impacted by this
virus because innately we are carriers of
this disease and just like running around
and having sex without condoms much
more than anyone else. Sometimes it
almost seems that it is a conspiracy to
pathologize homosexuality among Black
men in general, or an attempt to make
sure that the image of Black men loving
other Black men never happens because
we are all living with HIV. Marlon Riggs
once said that Black men loving Black
men was a “revolutionary act,” and with
the way we are often portrayed as vec-
tors of disease, this quote has never been
more appropriate than it is today.
While it is easy to complain about our
current social situation and the superfi-
cial manner in which the media portrays
us, proposing solutions is much more dif-
ficult. Racism, poverty and homophobia
are surely not going to go away during
our lifetime, so to imply we are going to
rid the world of these deeply rooted sta-
ples of American society is ridiculous at
best. What we can do, however, is begin
the process of deprogramming ourselves
from the negative mental health outlook
and reactionary behavior that has been
passed on for generations since the days
of slavery. It is not just the fact that we
have to deal with racists, adverse social
conditions and homophobia on a daily
basis. It is not that we drink alcohol, use
drugs, and engage in unhealthy eating
habits or smoke tobacco more than any-
one else. And it is not the fact that we
are having sex without condoms or using
IV drugs more than other ethnic groups
that is solely responsible for this current
HIV epidemic. Instead, it is how these
larger social forces affect our collective
well being and mental health that is
influencing our behaviors and reactions
to these stressors.
Trauma begets trauma, and the his-
tory and presence of racial and other
social traumas in our lives has become
an unwelcome (or for some people, a wel-
come) visitor in our collective psyche.
The social pressures, forces and subse-
quent internalized low expectations of
ourselves that make us ignore our high
blood pressure until we have a stroke are
the very things that make us ignore signs
the new alarming statistic is that “1 out of every 2” Black
MSM are HIV-positive. At this rate, by 2010, there will be
study claiming that every Black homosexually active man
inAmericaislivingwithHIV.AndyouthinkI’mkidding.

and symptoms of HIV infection and put
off HIV testing until we are hooked up to
a breathing machine from complications
of pneumocystis pneumonia. If you don’t
believe me, consider the common answer
that I get in clinic when I ask my patients
at Grady Hospital in Atlanta what medi-
cations they are taking, regardless of
whether it’s a 70-year-old woman with
high blood pressure or a 34-year-old man
living with HIV – “the little blue pill.” If
we are not invested in our own health,
no one else will be either. And the fact
that we would blindly put a “little blue
pill” in our system every day without
knowing its name or how it works speaks
to a larger social ill than a simple lack of
interest in the names and mechanisms
of medications.
The news is never as bad as people
think, and there are so many wonder-
ful things that Black same gender loving
men are doing in this world, but it never
seems to occupy the headlines of major
media outlets. We are fathers
and teachers, engineers and
lawyers, entertainers and
politicians, health profession-
als and scientists, all of whom
aredoing amazing things on a
daily basis that we never hear
about. We are intricate and
essential parts of this society,
embedded in the fabric of its
history, present and future,
but according to most we are
no more than just men who contract
HIV. Given this context, we have to
reflect the attitude of Serena Williams,
who won the 2007 Australian Open by
demolishing the #1 ranked player in the
world. When the tournament started,
she was ranked 81st in the world, and
all the commentators said she was too
fat, out of shape, not “match ready,” and
whatever other negative spin they could
put on her story. When asked about her
chances of winning the tournament
this year when most were saying she
couldn’t, she merely said “I believe that
I can win this tournament, and that’s all
that counts.” And she was right – she
went on to become champion in one of
the most lopsided women’s final match-
es in tournament history.
We would be wise to take a page from
Serena’s book, and begin to rewrite our
stories to be more than despair and HIV,
just as she rewrote hers to be more than
being rusty and out of shape. It doesn’t
matter whether we get the recognition
or not from larger society, that may or
may not come. What matters is that we
move forward and believe in our amaz-
ing lives and stories, and tell these sto-
ries through how we live our lives and in
our respective professions and careers.
We owe this to ourselves, we owe this to
our forefathers who paved the way for
the life opportunities we have before us
now, and we surely owe it to our young-
er brothers, who are being caught in a
matrix of brainwashing that tells them
their lives are nothing more than mise-
ducation, incarceration and HIV. We all
know this is just a small fraction of the
story, but we cannot wait for anyone else
to tell our stories with truth and integ-
rity. We must do it ourselves.
So what are the solutions? Well,
there’s no one solution or “cookie-cutter”
approach that can be readily applied to
our lives as men of African descent, but
here are a few suggestions that I have
heard over the years but are not often
followed:
1. Go to therapy – Whether this means
talking to friends or family, conversing
with your local pastor, getting in touch
with your spirituality, engaging in per-
sonal meditation or seeing a counselor
or trained therapist. Just do it – you can-
not move forward without constructive-
ly dealing with your past, and you’ll be
happy you did. And once you take care of
your own issues, you’ll be in a much bet-
ter position to help others with theirs.
2. Facilitators, not barriers – Focus
on what has worked in your life or oth-
er people’s lives, and concentrate on
implementing that to be the best per-
son you can be. There’s too much talk
about barriers to health and not enough
attention paid to facilitators of health. So
why focus on barriers and failures and
attempt to work around them, when you
can focus on what has worked for you
or others and simply apply that to your
everyday life.
3. Find a mentor and be a mentor – We
all need help, inspiration and guidance
no matter the age or level of accomplish-
ment. Whether one acknowledges it or
not, other brothers are looking to you for
strength and motivation. Allow yourself
to be helped and make yourself available
to help others who may need you.
4. Set high expectations for yourself
– personally and professionally – if you
don’t, no one else will.
5. Make the connection between your
mental and physical health – They are
undeniably linked, and you cannot
address your physical state without
addressing your emotional, psychologi-
cal and spiritual health status. So focus
on all these aspects of your health, as
they all deserve and require equal
amounts of attention.
If you are getting tired of the nega-
tive publicity surrounding Black homo-
sexual men, join the crowd. But we can
do something about it by focusing on
improving on ourselves and how we are
represented in our communities and
media outlets. If we don’t, we’re noth-
ing more than the lifeless statistics they
say we are.
The social pressures, internalized low expectations of ourselves
that make us ignore our high blood pressure until we have
a stroke are the very things that make us ignore symptoms
of HIV infection until we are hooked up to a breathing
machine from complications of pneumocystis pneumonia.

ROBIN THICKE
The Evolution of Robin Thicke
interscope
Pulse Pts
With his sophomore release, The Evo-
lution of Robin Thicke, Thicke switches
lanes between pop and R&B and it looks
like he’s finally in cruise. Much of the
credit goes to his hit ballad, Lost With-
out You which climbed to the top of the
R&B charts this winter. While the disc
is refreshing and mixes upbeat and mid-
tempo tracks with guest appearances
by Faith Evans, Lil’ Wayne and Pharrell
Williams, it’s on the ballads that Thicke
truly struts his groove.
MUSIQ SOULCHILD
Luvanmusiq
Atlantic Records
Flatlined
With Luvanmusiq, Musiq added Soulchild
back to his moniker after dropping it in
2001. That’s all he added, unfortunately.
The lead single Buddy promises that this
collection would be as funky fresh as the
radio and club-friendly “banger”. Indeed,
a couple of tracks like “betterman” and
“Ms. Philadelphia,” will have people nod-
ding unconsciously. Sadly, Luvanmusiq
does not really deliver. Musiq should
spend less time with creative album and
song titles and more time creating clas-
sicsoulmusic.
JOSS STONE
Introducing Joss Stone
Virgin Records
Pulse Pts
Aptly titled Introducing Joss Stone, with
such Neo-Soul icons as Raphael Saadiq,
Common and Lauryn Hill thrown in the
mix, this album takes us on a retro-soul
journey and offers an album she says
is “truly me”. With 3 albums however,
Stone’s voice hasn’t shown significant
growth or variety from her previous
releases. Still, Introducing will please new
and old fans alike, but is just not quite
the catapult she needs to truly showcase
her full vocal arsenal.
CHRISETTE MICHELLE
I Am
The Island Def Jam Music Group
Pulse Pts
One of the most anticipated voices on the R&B
scene today is that of 22 year old singer/song-
writer, Chrisette Michelle, who is currently fea-
tured on the hooks of songs by some of hip-hop’s
heavyweights like Jay-Z’s “Lost Ones,” and Nas’s
“Can’t Forget About You.” Pour the voice of this
Def Jam Recording artist into a prism and Chri-
sette will give you a spectrum of hues crossing
jazz, gospel and soul unlike anything you’ll hear
on the radio today.
Non-Stop PopBy Jason King
PULSE : PTS
Music[ ]

Individual results may vary.
I have HIV. But, I’m
getting the job done.
Dyon Martin
Co-Owner,
Handbag Company
Important Information About
SUSTIVA®
(efavirenz)
INDICATION: SUSTIVA®
(efavirenz) is a prescription
medicine used in combination with other medicines to
treat people who are infected with the human
immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1).
SUSTIVA does not cure HIV and has not been shown
to prevent passing HIV to others.
See your healthcare provider regularly.
Do not take SUSTIVA if you are taking the following
medicines because serious and life-threatening
side effects may occur when taken together:
Hismanal®
(astemizole), Propulsid®
(cisapride),
Versed®
(midazolam), Halcion®
(triazolam), or ergot
medicines (for example, Wigraine®
and Cafergot®
).
In addition, SUSTIVA should not be taken with:
Vfend®
(voriconazole) since it may lose its effect or may
increase the chance of having side effects from SUSTIVA.
SUSTIVA should not be taken with ATRIPLA™
(efavirenz 600 mg/
emtricitabine 200 mg/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg)
because it contains efavirenz, the active ingredient
of SUSTIVA.
Fortovase®
, Invirase®
(saquinavir mesylate) should not be
used as the only protease inhibitor in combination with
SUSTIVA.
Taking SUSTIVA with St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum)
is not recommended as it may cause decreased levels of
SUSTIVA, increased viral load, and possible resistance to
SUSTIVA or cross-resistance to other anti-HIV drugs.
This list of medicines is not complete. Discuss with
your healthcare provider all prescription and non-
prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal
supplements you are taking or plan to take.
Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have
any side effects or conditions, including the
following:
• Severe depression, strange thoughts, or angry/
abnormal behavior have been reported by a small
number of patients taking SUSTIVA (efavirenz). Some
patients have had thoughts of suicide and a few have
actually committed suicide. These problems may occur
more often in patients who have had mental illness.
• Dizziness, trouble sleeping or concentrating,
drowsiness, unusual dreams, and/or hallucinations
are common, and tend to go away after taking SUSTIVA
for a few weeks. Symptoms were severe in a few
patients and some patients discontinued therapy. These
symptoms may become more severe with the use of
alcohol and/or mood-altering (street) drugs. If you are
dizzy, have trouble concentrating, and/or are drowsy,
avoid activities that may be dangerous, such as driving
or operating machinery.
• If you have ever had mental illness or are using
drugs or alcohol.
• Pregnancy: Women should not become pregnant
while taking SUSTIVA. Serious birth defects have
been seen in children of women treated with SUSTIVA
during pregnancy. Women must use a reliable form of
barrier contraception, such as a condom or diaphragm,
even if they also use other methods of birth control.
• Breast-Feeding: Women with HIV should not
breast-feed because they can pass HIV through their
milk to the baby. Also, SUSTIVA (efavirenz) may pass
through breast milk and cause serious harm to the
baby.
• Rash is a common side effect that usually goes away
without any change in your medicines, but may be
serious in a small number of patients. Rash may be a
serious problem in some children.
• If you have liver disease, your healthcare provider
may want to do tests to check your liver.
• Seizures have occurred in patients taking SUSTIVA,
usually in those with a history of seizures. If you have
ever had seizures, or take medicines for seizures, your
healthcare provider may want to monitor you.
Changes in body fat have been seen in some patients
taking anti-HIV medicines. The cause and long-term
effects are not known at this time.
Other common side effects of SUSTIVA taken with
other anti-HIV medicines include: tiredness, upset
stomach, vomiting, and diarrhea.
You should take SUSTIVA on an empty stomach,
preferably at bedtime, which may make some side
effects less bothersome.
Make it your goal to ask your doctor about Once Daily SUSTIVA.
SUSTIVA and the SUNBURST LOGO are registered trademarks of Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Company.
ATRIPLA is a trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb & Gilead Sciences, LLC.
REYATAZ is a registered trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. All other trademarks are owned by third parties.
© 2007 Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ 08543 U.S.A. January 2007 T4-K0136G
Please see Important Product Information about SUSTIVA on the next page.
HIV medication with as
many goals as you.
Once Daily
SUSTIVA
In HIV combination therapy:
● Proven to help keep viral levels
undetectable*
for a long time†
● Helps improve your body’s immune
system by raising your T-cell count
● The NNRTI that doctors prescribe most‡
SUSTIVA does not cure HIV and has
not been shown to prevent passing
HIV to others.
*Undetectable is defined as a viral load of less than
400 copies/mL or less than 50 copies/mL (depending
on test used).
†
Up to 168 weeks.
‡
Based on IMS Health U.S. Retail and Mail Order Total
Prescriptions for NNRTIs, May 1999–December 2006.
Visit www.sustiva.com

PATIENT INFORMATION
SUSTIVA®
(sus-TEE-vah)
[efavirenz (eh-FAH-vih-rehnz)]
capsules and tablets
ALERT: Find out about medicines that should NOT be taken with SUSTIVA (efavirenz).
Please also read the section “MEDICINES YOU SHOULD NOT TAKE WITH SUSTIVA.”
Read this information before you start taking SUSTIVA. Read it again each time you refill your prescription, in case
there is any new information. This leaflet provides a summary about SUSTIVA and does not include everything there is
to know about your medicine. This information is not meant to take the place of talking with your doctor.
What is SUSTIVA?
SUSTIVA is a medicine used in combination with other medicines to help treat infection with Human Immunodeficiency
Virus type 1 (HIV-1), the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). SUSTIVA is a type of anti-HIV
drug called a “non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor” (NNRTI). NNRTIs are not used in the treatment of Human
Immunodeficiency Virus type 2 (HIV-2) infection.
SUSTIVA works by lowering the amount of HIV-1 in the blood (viral load). SUSTIVA must be taken with other anti-
HIV medicines. When taken with other anti-HIV medicines, SUSTIVA has been shown to reduce viral load and increase
the number of CD4+ cells, a type of immune cell in blood. SUSTIVA may not have these effects in every patient.
SUSTIVA does not cure HIV or AIDS. People taking SUSTIVA may still develop other infections and complications.
Therefore, it is very important that you stay under the care of your doctor.
SUSTIVA has not been shown to reduce the risk of passing HIV to others. Therefore, continue to practice safe sex,
and do not use or share dirty needles.
What are the possible side effects of SUSTIVA?
Serious psychiatric problems. A small number of patients experience severe depression, strange thoughts, or angry
behavior while taking SUSTIVA. Some patients have thoughts of suicide and a few have actually committed suicide.These
problems tend to occur more often in patients who have had mental illness. Contact your doctor right away if you think
you are having these psychiatric symptoms, so your doctor can decide if you should continue to take SUSTIVA.
Common side effects. Many patients have dizziness, trouble sleeping, drowsiness, trouble concentrating, and/or
unusual dreams during treatment with SUSTIVA. These side effects may be reduced if you take SUSTIVA at bedtime on
an empty stomach. They also tend to go away after you have taken the medicine for a few weeks. If you have these
common side effects, such as dizziness, it does not mean that you will also have serious psychiatric problems, such as
severe depression, strange thoughts, or angry behavior. Tell your doctor right away if any of these side effects contin-
ue or if they bother you. It is possible that these symptoms may be more severe if SUSTIVA is used with alcohol or mood
altering (street) drugs.
If you are dizzy, have trouble concentrating, or are drowsy, avoid activities that may be dangerous, such as driving
or operating machinery.
Rash is common. Rashes usually go away without any change in treatment. In a small number of patients, rash may
be serious. If you develop a rash, call your doctor right away. Rash may be a serious problem in some children. Tell
your child’s doctor right away if you notice rash or any other side effects while your child is taking SUSTIVA.
Other common side effects include tiredness, upset stomach, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Changes in body fat. Changes in body fat develop in some patients taking anti-HIV medicine. These changes may
include an increased amount of fat in the upper back and neck (“buffalo hump”), in the breasts, and around the trunk.
Loss of fat from the legs, arms, and face may also happen. The cause and long-term health effects of these fat changes
are not known.
Tell your doctor or healthcare provider if you notice any side effects while taking SUSTIVA.
Contact your doctor before stopping SUSTIVA because of side effects or for any other reason.
This is not a complete list of side effects possible with SUSTIVA. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a more complete
list of side effects of SUSTIVA and all the medicines you will take.
How should I take SUSTIVA?
General Information
• You should take SUSTIVA on an empty stomach, preferably at bedtime.
• Swallow SUSTIVA with water.
• Taking SUSTIVA with food increases the amount of medicine in your body, which may increase the frequency of side
effects.
• Taking SUSTIVA at bedtime may make some side effects less bothersome.
• SUSTIVA must be taken in combination with other anti-HIV medicines. If you take only SUSTIVA, the medicine may
stop working.
• Do not miss a dose of SUSTIVA. If you forget to take SUSTIVA, take the missed dose right away, unless it is almost
time for your next dose. Do not double the next dose. Carry on with your regular dosing schedule. If you need help
in planning the best times to take your medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• Take the exact amount of SUSTIVA your doctor prescribes. Never change the dose on your own. Do not stop this med-
icine unless your doctor tells you to stop.
• If you believe you took more than the prescribed amount of SUSTIVA, contact your local Poison Control Center or
emergency room right away.
• Tell your doctor if you start any new medicine or change how you take old ones. Your doses may need adjustment.
• When your SUSTIVA supply starts to run low, get more from your doctor or pharmacy. This is very important because
the amount of virus in your blood may increase if the medicine is stopped for even a short time. The virus may develop
resistance to SUSTIVA and become harder to treat.
• Your doctor may want to do blood tests to check for certain side effects while you take SUSTIVA.
Capsules
• The dose of SUSTIVA capsules for adults is 600 mg (three 200-mg capsules, taken together) once a day by mouth.
The dose of SUSTIVA for children may be lower (see Can children take SUSTIVA?).
Tablets
• The dose of SUSTIVA tablets for adults is 600 mg (one tablet) once a day by mouth.
Can children take SUSTIVA?
Yes, children who are able to swallow capsules can take SUSTIVA. Rash may be a serious problem in some children.
Tell your child’s doctor right away if you notice rash or any other side effects while your child is taking SUSTIVA. The
dose of SUSTIVA for children may be lower than the dose for adults. Capsules containing lower doses of SUSTIVA are
available. Your child’s doctor will determine the right dose based on your child’s weight.
Who should not take SUSTIVA?
Do not take SUSTIVA if you are allergic to the active ingredient, efavirenz, or to any of the inactive ingredients. Your
doctor and pharmacist have a list of the inactive ingredients.
What should I avoid while taking SUSTIVA?
• Women taking SUSTIVA should not become pregnant. Serious birth defects have been seen in the offspring of
animals and women treated with SUSTIVA during pregnancy. It is not known whether SUSTIVA caused these defects.
Tell your doctor right away if you are pregnant. Also talk with your doctor if you want to become pregnant.
• Women should not rely only on hormone-based birth control, such as pills, injections, or implants, because SUSTIVA
may make these contraceptives ineffective. Women must use a reliable form of barrier contraception, such as a con-
dom or diaphragm, even if they also use other methods of birth control.
• Do not breast-feed if you are taking SUSTIVA. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that
mothers with HIV not breast-feed because they can pass the HIV through their milk to the baby. Also, SUSTIVA may
pass through breast milk and cause serious harm to the baby. Talk with your doctor if you are breast-feeding. You
may need to stop breast-feeding or use a different medicine.
• Taking SUSTIVA with alcohol or other medicines causing similar side effects as SUSTIVA, such as drowsiness, may
increase those side effects.
• Do not take any other medicines without checking with your doctor. These medicines include prescription and non-
prescription medicines and herbal products, especially St. John’s wort.
Before using SUSTIVA (efavirenz), tell your doctor if you
• have problems with your liver or have hepatitis. Your doctor may want to do tests to check your liver while you
take SUSTIVA.
• have ever had mental illness or are using drugs or alcohol.
• have ever had seizures or are taking medicine for seizures [for example, Dilantin® (phenytoin), Tegretol®
(carbamazepine), or phenobarbital]. Your doctor may want to check drug levels in your blood from time to time.
What important information should I know about taking other medicines with SUSTIVA?
SUSTIVA may change the effect of other medicines, including ones for HIV, and cause serious side effects. Your
doctor may change your other medicines or change their doses. Other medicines, including herbal products, may affect
SUSTIVA. For this reason, it is very important to:
• let all your doctors and pharmacists know that you take SUSTIVA.
• tell your doctors and pharmacists about all medicines you take. This includes those you buy over-the-counter and
herbal or natural remedies.
Bring all your prescription and nonprescription medicines as well as any herbal remedies that you are taking when
you see a doctor, or make a list of their names, how much you take, and how often you take them. This will give your
doctor a complete picture of the medicines you use. Then he or she can decide the best approach for your situation.
Taking SUSTIVA (efavirenz) with St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), an herbal product sold as a dietary sup-
plement, or products containing St. John’s wort is not recommended. Talk with your doctor if you are taking or are plan-
ning to take St. John’s wort. Taking St. John’s wort may decrease SUSTIVA levels and lead to increased viral load and
possible resistance to SUSTIVA or cross-resistance to other anti-HIV drugs.
MEDICINES YOU SHOULD NOT TAKE WITH SUSTIVA
The following medicines may cause serious and life-threatening side effects when taken with SUSTIVA. You should not
take any of these medicines while taking SUSTIVA:
• Hismanal® (astemizole)
• Propulsid® (cisapride)
• Versed® (midazolam)
• Halcion® (triazolam)
• Ergot medications (for example, Wigraine® and Cafergot®)
The following medicine should not be taken with SUSTIVA since it may lose its effect or may increase the chance of
having side effects from SUSTIVA:
• Vfend® (voriconazole)
The following medicines may need to be replaced with another medicine when taken with SUSTIVA:
• Fortovase®, Invirase® (saquinavir)
• Biaxin® (clarithromycin)
• Carbatrol®, Tegretol® (carbamazepine)
The following medicines may require a change in the dose of either SUSTIVA or the other medicine:
• The cholesterol-lowering medicines Lipitor® (atorvastatin), PRAVACHOL® (pravastatin), and Zocor® (simvastatin)
• Crixivan® (indinavir)
• Kaletra® (lopinavir/ritonavir)
• Methadone
• Mycobutin® (rifabutin)
• REYATAZ® (atazanavir sulfate). If you are taking SUSTIVA and REYATAZ, you should also be taking Norvir® (ritonavir)
• Rifadin® (rifampin) or the rifampin-containing medicines Rifamate® and Rifater®
• Zoloft® (sertraline)
These are not all the medicines that may cause problems if you take SUSTIVA. Be sure to tell your doctor
about all medicines that you take.
General advice about SUSTIVA:
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for conditions that are not mentioned in patient information leaflets. Do
not use SUSTIVA for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give SUSTIVA to other people, even if
they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them.
Keep SUSTIVA at room temperature (77°F) in the bottle given to you by your pharmacist.The temperature can range
from 59° to 86°F.
Keep SUSTIVA out of the reach of children.
This leaflet summarizes the most important information about SUSTIVA. If you would like more information, talk with
your doctor. You can ask your pharmacist or doctor for the full prescribing information about SUSTIVA, or you can visit
the SUSTIVA website at http://www.sustiva.com or call 1-800-321-1335.
SUSTIVA is a registered trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Company, PRAVACHOL is a registered trademark of
ER Squibb & Sons, LLC, and REYATAZ is a registered trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. Other brands listed
are the trademarks of their respective owners and are not trademarks of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.
Distributed by
T4-B0001B-03-06 Revised March 2006
Based on package insert dated March 2006, 51-022486-07, 1187089A1

PULSE Magazine (Spring 2007)

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