Turkey, Pokémon Go To The Polls, Pence, Ivanka Trump, Orlando: NEWS

TURKEY. A military coup is underway in the NATO nation and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seeking asylum in Germany. Not long ago, shots rang out on a bridge in Istanbul as protestors gathered in opposition to the coup. Live updates HERE.

Watch: Gunfire heard on Istanbul bridge as people shelter behind a bus #Turkey t.co/WwWcU2FMM7

— Sky News (@SkyNews) July 15, 2016

Live coverage of the coup in Istanbul, below.

HEADLINE OF THE DAY: “The feds want to launch peanut butter drone strikes to save endangered ferrets.”

REPORTS. Donald Trump was up late into the night trying to see if he could dump Mike Pence from the ticket after it was well-reported that he would be the VP pick.

TRUMP HAPPENS. Donald Trump’s history of making awful remarks after awful things happen in the world.

HARDY HAR. Hillary Clinton tries a Pokémon Go joke.

The joke is not helped by seeing the video. pic.twitter.com/W8n8EMh1gf

— Philip Bump (@pbump) July 14, 2016

MUSIC. Zayn Malik releases new track “wHo” from the Ghostbusters movie.

CONSCIOUSLY UNCOUPLED. Gwyneth and Chris Martin are finally, officially divorced.

MAGIC. Scientists say they are one step closer to creating Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak: “The team, at the moment, is thinking small. They aren’t trying to make people, or battleships at that, disappear. Instead, they’re working on a new material that will make curved surfaces appear flat to electromagnetic waves.”  

RNC. Ivanka Trump’s rabbi who was supposed to deliver speech on bigotry pulls out of convention: “But hundreds of members of the Modern Orthodox Jewish community signed petitions asking him not to appear at Trump’s convention, and Lookstein quickly complied.”

ORLANDO. FBI says they have found no evidence that shooter targeted Pulse nightclub because it was a gay nightclub: “A month later, though, a complete picture of what motivated Mateen remains murky and may never be known since he was killed in a shootout with police and did not leave a manifesto. Officials said there is no evidence thus far that Mateen, 29, was gay or that his attack was motivated by homophobia.”

FRIDAY FAVE.

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Review: Ghostbusters (2016)

McCarthy, McKinnon, Wiig, and Jones fightin’ the undead patriarchy

Remember when Sony rebooted Sam Raimi’s take on Spider-Man (2002) with The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)? Their whole conceit at the time appeared to be “What if you didn’t know the story?” so they just told it again. Only everyone actually did know the story. The result was an instantly forgettable retread, useless but for the printing of money. While that may have been the whole point, it left a lousy corporate aftertaste. It took the world gargling with some Marvel Studios mouthwash (aka Captain America: Civil War) to make people excited about Spidey again.

The good news is that the mega corporation appears to have learned from their mistakes. Ghostbusters NOW does not moronically assume you don’t know Ghostbusters THEN. Sure, it’s the same story again — the Ghostbusters set up shop, refine supernatural gadgets, fight against a supernatural invasion of New York and the bureaucrats that get in their way — but writer/director Paul Feig and his cowriter Katie Dippold have correctly guessed that the fun of the movie will be in the makeover. The story gets a new look, freshened up details, and most famously, four female Ghostbusters and a male receptionist in place of the original’s four men and a female receptionist; that gender inversion proved more revolutionary that any rational human might have expected because a lot of manbabies have been freaking out on the internet ever since.

It is here where I should probably note that I think the original is fine, but nothing more. Its reputation as a great comedy is the work of supernatural mass possession, and/or nostalgia. Neverthless people hold it sacred. Those people include everyone involved with the new film. Given that Ghostbusters (2016) takes every opportunity it can to wink in the direction of Ghostbusters (1984) as if you know it by heart, it’s a mystery as to why they didn’t just write a new story that takes place 32 years after the original rather than revising the origin to take place now. But that’s Hollywood logic: they’re obsessed with origin stories even in franchises that are on film number 3, the case here, or 7 (as with The Force Awakens and its veritable retread of Star Wars‘s plot).

That aggravation aside, it was hard to even stay a little bit mad at the film since it starts well with a tour of a haunted house (with actual jokes for minor characters!) and stays funny for good stretches thereafter. It also knows how to keep a single gag going through multiple scenes as with its clever obsession with the iconic Ghostbusters logo. The cast works hard to entertain.

The original film leaned so hard on Bill Murray’s effortless deadpan for its laugh-out-loud moments that it sometimes felt like a one man show that the goddess Sigourney Weaver was occassionally interrupting to steal scenes. The new version spreads the joking around much more equitably and why not? Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, and Leslie Jones are all dependably funny women and the screenplay makes sure they each get a big solo moment. But it’s Kate McKinnon as the lusty for science! (and…?) “Holtzmann ” who generates the biggest laughs.

Which one of these headshots makes him look smarter?

Chris Hemsworth has a blast mocking his ridiculous attractiveness as their dumb hunk receptionist and the film rewards him with a showstopping finale. The ladies keep him around just for the pretty which is a fun but not mean-spirited potshot at Hollywood’s perpetual Male Gaze.

In one of the movie’s most memorable gestures, Holtzmann licks one of her weapons; her own genius turns her on. But, keeping it real now, no one will love this movie as much as this badass loves science. I don’t want to oversell it. Let us not speak of the hideous new version of the 1984 theme song. Let’s not dwell on the unfortunate fact that the only black Ghostbuster is the sole non-scientist again. And we won’t check the running time since Paul Feig makes super funny movies (Bridesmaids, The Heat, Spy) but they always risk outstaying their welcome.

But “Answer the Call,” anyway as the tagline commands. The best reason to see Ghostbusters (2016), aside from crushing the spirits of misogynists who want it to fail, is that it’s sweet and silly where the original opted for sarcastic and smug. They may have nurtured the script with that 1984 template, but by its very 2016 nature it becomes a different beast. And the feminist revamp, if we can even call it that, is of the affectingly subtle variety. These four women respect each other and work together to get better at Busting those Ghosts. It may not be the freshest popcorn entertainment in the world, but in this particular movie summer, it’ll more than do.

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Mike Pence Wanted to Use HIV/AIDS Money to Fund Conversion Therapy

Mike Pence, Indiana Governor and Donald Trump’s running mate, said in 2000 that he was in favor of sending money allocated to care for people with HIV/AIDS to organizations that provide conversion therapy.

Pence advocated for that position on his campaign website from that time, as BuzzFeed’s Andrew Kaczynski reports: 

During his first successful run for Congress in 2000, now-Indiana Gov. Mike Pence wrote on his website in a section on LGBT issues that money from a program to help those with HIV/AIDS should go to organizations “which provide assistance to those seeking to change their sexual behavior.”

That section on LGBT issues was called, “Strengthening the American Family.” It read:

• Congress should oppose any effort to put gay and lesbian relationships on an equal legal status with heterosexual marriage. 
• Congress should oppose any effort to recognize homosexual’s as a “discreet and insular minority” entitled to the protection of anti-discrimination laws similar to those extended to women and ethnic minorities. 
• Congress should support the reauthorization of the Ryan White Care Act only after completion of an audit to ensure that federal dollars were no longer being given to organizations that celebrate and encourage the types of behaviors that facilitate the spreading of the HIV virus. Resources should be directed toward those institutions which provide assistance to those seeking to change their sexual behavior. [emphasis added]

RELATED: Hillary Clinton Highlights Mike Pence’s Anti-LGBT Past in New Video – WATCH

Though the section does not explicitly mention conversion therapy by name, the context along with the focus on changing one’s sexual behavior both strongly indicate that conversion therapy is what was being indicated.

For reference, here’s what the Ryan White Care Act does according to the Department of Health and Human Services:  

The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) provides a comprehensive system of care that includes primary medical care and essential support services for people living with HIV who are uninsured or underinsured. The Program works with cities, states and local community-based organizations to provide HIV care and treatment services to more than 512,000 each year, reaching approximately 52% of all those diagnosed with HIV in the United States.

In essence, Mike Pence was in favor of taking money away from organizations that achieve the above goals if they ‘celebrate and encourage’ homosexual sex and sending money to groups that endorse the belief that you can pray away the gay.

Watch a video on the Ryan White Care Act, which turned 25 last year, below.

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7 Ways Life Has Changed Since 'Paris Is Burning'

The film Kiki, which showcases New York’s ball culture, provides an opportunity to examine the progress of and ongoing prejudices faced by LGBT people of color.

www.advocate.com/film/2016/7/15/6-ways-life-has-changed-paris-burning

“Gay Days” Amusement Park Event Canceled After Male Couple Told To Stop Hugging

Oh, Canada, what have you done? You were supposed to be better than this: an employee at Canadian amusement park Wonderland ordered a gay couple to stop hugging each other “because this is a family park.” What’s worse, the park has reportedly refused to institute sufficient sensitivity training — which probably explains why homophobic harassment is a problem there.

To their credit, Wonderland management did eventually apologize. They also said that they offer “human rights training.” What does that mean? Well, nobody seems to know, because the park won’t say any more.

Related: Giant Christian Scripture Mysteriously Appears At Gay Cruising Park

As a result, PFLAG Canada has cancelled the next Gay Days outing. They’ve held it annually at Wonderland for nearly a decade, but with the park unable to commit to specific steps to prevent anti-gay behavior, there’s just no way to give them your business in good conscience.

After all, how hard would it be for them to say, “oh, yes, we include sexual orientation in our diversity training programs; and here is how employees are disciplined if they violate inclusion policies.” Or, if they do not actually do that, they could still at least say, “whoops, we should have been doing more, but this has exposed a problem in our training process and now we’re going to work with PFLAG to improve it.”

Related: Antigay Group Sues SF Over Public Urinal At Dolores Park’s “Gay Beach”

But nope. Nothing like that. Not a word. It seems as though they just don’t care.

Well, Canadian gays, you know what to do: move the party someplace where you’re welcome. Shouldn’t be too hard.

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/qNDrZb6heIs/gay-days-amusement-park-event-canceled-male-couple-told-stop-hugging-20160715

Boxers or Briefs? Tatted Up Guys Strip Down and Spill – WATCH

Just in time for the weekend, The Underwear Expert (UE) is back with a new episode of their popular web series, “Boxers or Briefs?”

The show, hosted by DanielXMiller, sees UE interview different types of guys to find out what they prefer to wear down there.

The latest episode sees two tatted up guys share their underwear habits.

Previously, UE has talked with hot yogis, shirtless fitness instructors, dog lovers, naked Tom of Finland models, shirtless parkour athletes, Democratic primary voters, dodgeball players, WeHo kickball players, DJs, dancers, CrossFit-ers, male models, and men on the street in Hollywood, WeHo, and Santa Monica about what they like to wear under their shorts.

Watch the new episode, below.

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Jon Stewart Will Return to TV for the Republican Convention

Jon Stewart will be returning to airwaves next week to help Stephen Colbert with special coverage for the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio.

Vulture reports: 

The former host of The Daily Showwill appear on Colbert’s CBS 11:35 p.m. program [starting Monday] to help kick off two weeks of live editions timed to the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, Vulture has learned exclusively. Exactly what he’ll be doing Monday remains a mystery, at least to prying reporters.

PREVIOUSLY: Jon Stewart Crashes Colbert’s Show, Becomes Donald Trump – WATCH

There’s no word yet how extensive of a role Stewart will play in Colbert’s coverage of the RNC. The presumption is he will be in Cleveland for the convention, though that hasn’t been confirmed either.

CNN Money adds: 

Having Stewart is a bonus for Colbert, who kicks off two weeks of live late night broadcasts from New York’s Ed Sullivan Theater during the Republican and Democratic national conventions. […]

Doing live shows allow Colbert and his staff to comment on the day’s events at the convention rather than waiting until the next day. Colbert usually tapes “The Late Show” in the late afternoon during the week.

This will not be the first time Stewart has graced “The Late Show” with Colbert.

Stewart helped Colbert open the first night in September and in December with a Trump wig. Stewart is also an executive producer on the show.

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GLAAD summer tour continues at change-making bakery, events with local advocates

www.glaad.org/blog/glaad-summer-tour-continues-change-making-bakery-events-local-advocates

Trump Penetrates Mike Pence’s P-Hole in New Logo

Donald Trump’s campaign unveiled its new official logo now that anti-LGBT Indiana Governor Mike Pence has been added to the ticket. And it’s oddly sexual.

To be blunt, the logo appears as if Trump’s “T” is penetrating the hole in Pence’s “P.”

Politico describes it in more tame terms: 

An email sent by the presumptive Republican nominee’s Make America Great Again Committee, the joint fundraising committee between the campaign and the Republican National Committee, features the new insignia: An interlocking blue T and P (for Trump and Pence), with the T going through the white space in the P. To the left are four red stripes and three white stripes, imitating the American flag

Below the logo is Trump’s name, in its usual font and blue color, and Pence’s name below in slightly smaller type, and in red.

Twitter quickly took to mercilessly mocking the logo after it was released.

What is the T doing to that P? t.co/tDvYm2QJYi

— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) July 15, 2016

who knew two letters could look so suggestive t.co/cXcv7RMsne

— Adam ⚡️ Sneed (@atsneed) July 15, 2016

or something@JuddLegum pic.twitter.com/0AJJDFqiSp

— darth™ (@darth) July 15, 2016

Michael Deppisch, who created President Obama’s 2008 campaign logo, tweeted this:

.@realDonaldTrump This took me 5 minutes. Your graphic designers are somehow more incompetent than you. pic.twitter.com/7inPMN4iUF

— Michael Deppisch (@deppisch) July 15, 2016

Others pointed out that Trump’s new logo managed to actually be worse than Hillary Clinton’s campaign logo, which was also derided after it was unveiled last year.

Difficult to do worse than an H with an arrow sticking out of it, and yet here we are. pic.twitter.com/yrABfBf80I

— Olivia Nuzzi (@Olivianuzzi) July 15, 2016

Some were generous in their description of the logo.

New Trump logo features Pence’s initial giving Trump’s initial a hug pic.twitter.com/wHu57GYVyX

— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) July 15, 2016

The new logo began to trend in Twitter’s “Moments” on Friday.

Someone actually designed this logo, with a shaft penetrating a p-hole pic.twitter.com/iFZ5sRkoI1

— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) July 15, 2016

Breaking the mattress of America. pic.twitter.com/M4Cq62YS2c

— Full Frontal (@FullFrontalSamB) July 15, 2016

The Trump/Pence logo should be pixellated at the point where the T penetrates the P’s hole pic.twitter.com/WxUedIB42A

— Erin Gloria Ryan (@morninggloria) July 15, 2016

t.co/h2Ui0f0YY6 pic.twitter.com/VXX44UGiGd

— Anthony De Rosa (@AntDeRosa) July 15, 2016

When you turn the Trump/Pence logo upside down, it literally looks like a handjob pic.twitter.com/4OLMD5H0sc

— Erin Gloria Ryan (@morninggloria) July 15, 2016

Husband looks over my shoulder, sees Trump/Pence logo. Him: “That’s not real, is it?” Me: “Yup!” Him: “It’s cute Trump thinks he’s a top.”

— Adam B. Vary (@adambvary) July 15, 2016

In about 9 months from today, the #TrumpPence logo will welcome a baby logo

— Brian (@Principat0) July 15, 2016

“What does the Trump/Pence logo look like?”

Me: pic.twitter.com/ikQRBIanbp

— Pokémanu (@ManuclearBomb) July 15, 2016

I’m not a designer but kinda seems like the VERY FIRST TEST for a logo is “does this look like sex stuff y/n”

— Emmy Bengtson (@EmmyA2) July 15, 2016

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Cancer-Fighting Immunotherapy Shows Promise as HIV Treatment: STUDY

In a study published Monday in the Journal of Virology, researchers from the UCLA AIDS Institute and from the Center for AIDS Research found that a a type of immunotherapy that uses artificially-created immune T-cells to fight cancer cells may also help the body to kill cells infected with HIV-1.

These artificially-created cells, known as chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) are designed to target and kill specific cells containing viruses or tumor proteins.

Scientists tried this approach for HIV-1 infection in the late 1990s, but the study was “abandoned for a lack of efficacy.”

They’ve now decided to give the idea another try because of seven recently-discovered “broadly neutralizing antibodies” (BNAs) that have the ability to bind multiple strains of invading viruses, unlike earlier isolated antibodies that tend to bind few strains.

“We took new generation antibodies and engineered them as artificial T-cell receptors, to reprogram killer T cells to kill HIV-infected cells,” said Dr. Otto Yang, professor of medicine at UCLA and the study’s correspondent author.

“Others have used antibodies against cancer antigens to make artificial T-cell receptors against cancer and shown this to be helpful in cancer treatment.”

In a UCLA press release the researchers announced that all seven BNAs had varying degrees of ability to direct killer T cells to proliferate, kill and suppress viral replication in response to HIV-infected cells.

Dr. Young is cautious, but optimistic: “what works in a test tube doesn’t necessarily work in a person,” he said, but the results are promising.

“These findings indicated that BNAbs are excellent candidates for developing novel CARs to consider for the immunotherapeutic treatment of HIV-1,” the study concluded.

Photo credit: wikicommons/NIAID

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