October 2014 Suggested Retail Price $2.95

The Story of Belo Cipriani

Featured Inside:

ISSN: 2372-2207

Blind: A Memoir

Photo Credit: Todd Pickering, courtesy of Guide Dogs for the Blind

2 Diversity Rules MagazineOctober 2014

My Two CentsBy Jim Koury, Editor

Inside This Issue (partial listing)

Keep Up Now .................................................. Page 3 Feature Interview: Belo Cipriani .................... Page 4 Tarringo Vaughnl .............................................Page 7 Ripped and Stripped. ....................................... Page 8 Service ............................................................. Page 10 Amazon Trail ................................................... Page 11 inQUEERies ................................................... Page 14 Robert Saldarini .............................................. Page 16 History Made in Las Vegas ............................. Page 17 Remedies ......................................................... Page 19 Resources and Diversions .................................Page 22

Welcome to the October issue of Diversity Rules Magazine. I have to say this issue is probably one of the best!This month’s feature interview is a story of remarkable courage and strength to move ahead with one’s life after a devastating life event. Belo Cipriani’s story, “Blind: A Memoir,” chronicles his life after the attack that left him blind. He makes us all realize that what we all take for granted can be taken away from us very quickly. He has lost his gift of sight but he has adjust-ed and is carrying on with his life spreading his message. I know you will enjoy his interview as much as I did doing it.The October issue has a wide vari-ety of other great features. In addi-tion to the great monthly contrib-utors, there are book reviews and film features that you’ll enjoy.

If you are in the Woodstock, NY area you won’t want to miss the

Woodstock Film Festival as fea-tured on page 15. This year’s fes-tival runs from October 15 - 19, and is packed full of great films, including a number of gay themed ones. It is an outstanding festival right here in upstate New York.With this issue I must make a somewhat sad announcement but one that is part of any magazine’s evolution. Due to a number of fac-tors, the print edition of Diversity Rules will be going on hiatus until at least the November issue. An Indiegogo campaign is underway to facilitate the print copy’s return as well as to provide funding for some other endeavors. For more information about the Indiegogo campaign go to page 21. I hope you all will spread the word about the campaign and help make it a successful one and help us reach our goal of $5000. With your help Diveristy Rules Magazine will be on track for a healthy long-term future!

Diversity Rules MagazinePO Box 72

Oneonta, NY 13820James R. Koury, Editor/Publisher

607.435.1587

Websitewww.diversityrulesmagazine.com

Blogwww.diversityrulesmagazine.blogspot.com

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Copyright 2014 Diversity Rules MagazineAll Rights Reserved

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If you have a question or comment regard-ing this issue or future issues of Diversity Rules Magazine, the publisher would love to hear from you! Feel free to contact Di-versity Rules using the e-mail above or mailing address listed above. Content sub-mission are always welcome too!

All submissions become the property of Diversity Rules Magazine. However, origi-nating authors reserve all rights to their creative works.

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Diversity Rules Magazine will not know-ingly publish or advertise text which is fraudulent or misleading. The publisher reserves the right to edit, limit, revise, or reject any text without cause.

Diversity Rules Magazine does not assume any fnancial responsibility for typographi-cal errors. If any errors are found, please notify Diversity Rules Magazine immedi-ately. Materials in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without writ-ten permission from the publisher.

3Diversity Rules MagazineOctober 2014

Terry’s brother Rob died of AIDS in 2004 and left her his writings of which Keep Up Now is the result. To find out how to manifest happiness and abundance, check out Terry’s

website at: www.terryludwig.net. Terry can be reached at: keepupnow@gmail.com.

The cool breeze of fall reminds me that winter is on its way, but not before one last brilliant show of colors makes their way across the valley for a final dazzling performance. Fall is also a time of harvest, reaping the bounty, cultivated during the warmth of summer. The change of season brings to mind the many changes we face on our journey. The bounty is a demonstration of possessions, accumulated during times of prosperity. For me, it’s a reminder to look at what I’ve attached myself to, in order to establish my safe haven. Where am I resting to enjoy the beauty of my manifestations, and how do my manifestations change when the in-evitable winds of change begin to blow? When it’s time to move on; where does my safety lie? I look to see what I have attached myself to, in search of hap-piness. What are my expectations from my relation-ships? Have I attached myself to expectations from the tangible items I have manifested? If the answer is yes, I will have difficulty during my transition into the next season of my soul.

The changing season is a wakeup call, to remind me

that my salvation comes from within me. I’m reminded that nothing can disturb my peace or upset me in any way, because nothing outside of my-self can save me. The winds can blow,

relationships may waver, friends and material possessions will fluctu-ate with the seasons, but I will always have the light, inside of me, to show me the path and guide me along the way. I can choose

happiness for myself, at any moment, and create the manner of day that inspires happiness. Or I can choose to let the winds crash against me and disrupt my peace of mind, causing fear, turmoil and strife. My state of mind is ultimately my responsibility and a result of the choices I make. I am reminded time and time again, that I may have to go through the clouds, before I can reach the light, but I have never found anything in the cloud patterns that have endured; or that I truly wanted.

Ultimately, it is my thoughts about my journey that make it good or bad; happy or sad. When I can stand in my truth, knowing I am One with all that is; I real-ize there is nothing to fear. I know there is no lack, and everything I need is inside of me. At that mo-ment, I accept all of the gifts I have been given and gladly share my bounty with my brothers; once again, affirming the unity we share.

Keep up Now ~ with the stream of higher consciousness and stay connected to the

Source.

Keep Up NowBy Terry Ludwig

(c) Can Stock Photo Inc. / grsphoto

“With each step we take we draw closer or further from ourselves.

We are all witness to aspects of our own individual evolution in this life. Still, the more attached to this physical place we remain the less likely we are to be con-scious of that growth. There are those who for whatever reason seem to stagnate in this realm.

For them, what they see is all there is. Their life’s measure; material possession. Ironically, even this accumulation has potential spiritual value. The key to unlocking its’ treasure is in giving it away.”

– Rob Ludwig

October 21st, 2014 is the ten year anniversary of Rob’s passing. His life and words have inspired this column. It was Rob’s intention to share his life’s lesson with all of you. The day before he passed he told me he would leave all of his writings to me, and I would know what to do with them. This col-umn has been the answer. He once told me, after the fact, he had subconsciously agreed in this life-time to contract the AID’s virus, because it would have been the only thing that would keep him from searching outside of himself for true Love. Rob loved big, with his whole heart and his special relationships were his lessons in loving himself. He told me he was grateful for his ultimate lesson – the true meaning and acceptance of Love. In his final days, he shared his divine Love with everyone he touched.