Woman Claims Viral Anti-Homophobia Ad Personally Violates Her Because Her Name is ‘Gay’

The most ridiculous discrimination complaint of the day comes from a woman in New Zealand, claiming this viral anti-homophobia ad — many of you will remember it — discriminates against her because her name is “Gay”.

The ad, which features sheep farmers, uses humor to explain that when you call something “gay” when it’s really just a disappointment you could be unintentionally hurting those around you.

A 57-year-old woman named Gay Fairweather complained to the Advertising Standards Authority in New Zealand.

Wrote Fairweather:

“I’m complaining about the slogan “if it’s not gay it’s not gay”. It’s meaning is happy & I’m hetrosexual (sic). I am deeply insulted with the slogan as I feel it’s saying unless I’m a lesbian I’m not me. I have never been offended or insulted that my name is Gay. There has been the looks & laughter, which I’m fine with. I’ve accepted that I’ve had to change the spelling of my name for emails & other software that requires my name. I am not fine with a slogan saying I am not me because I’m not a lesbian. I feel the slogan is insulting to all the females who’s name is Gay & is unacceptable.”

The ASA responded that the ad was “unlikely to cause serious and widespread offence to most people” and concluded that “the advertisement before her was promoting the appropriate use of the word ‘gay’ in relation to homosexuality and to discourage its use in a derogatory way.”

The post Woman Claims Viral Anti-Homophobia Ad Personally Violates Her Because Her Name is ‘Gay’ appeared first on Towleroad.

Woman Claims Viral Anti-Homophobia Ad Personally Violates Her Because Her Name is ‘Gay’

The Drugs Don’t Work: Antibiotic Resistance And The End Of Modern Medicine
Antibiotics have arguably been the single most important discovery of modern medicine and their invention has saved millions of lives.

But, to understand the current problem with antibiotics, you need to go back to Albert Alexander, a policeman working in Oxford in 1941. He had the misfortune of being scratched on the face by a rose. A bacterium, called Staphylococcus caused such a severe infection that one of his eyes had to be removed, and he became critically unwell.

Luckily for Albert, he became the first patient to be treated with Penicillin, the first commercially available antibiotic. Unluckily, not enough of the drug was available, and despite an initial improvement he succumbed to his infection.

Mass production was the key, and manufacturing was scaled in time for the Normandy invasion in 1944. And so, the global antibiotic arms race began.

Resistance is futile

Over 154 million prescriptions for antibiotics are now written each year in the USA. The problem is that 30% are unnecessary; 44% of these are written to treat patients with acute respiratory conditions which are often not caused by bacteria.

Bacteria are very clever. Resistance to drugs can be acquired by sharing mobile genetic units (called plasmids) between bacteria; this is known as “horizontal’ evolution. When resistant bugs are in the hospital where you are getting treatment, it is therefore very easy for them share resistance genes.

If you want to see what this looks like, check our this terrifying experiment. It demonstrates that bacteria can withstand a dose of antibiotic 1000 times the initial strength within 5 generations:

Antibiotics are also widely used for preventing infections in live stock, and as a result they are in our food chain and resistance be passed from food to fork as well as from person to person.

But, resistance is not a new problem. I work at St. Mary’s Hospital, London (Now Imperial College London) where Sir Alexander Fleming famously discovered Penicillin. He warned us about this problem at the time and he even noted in his Nobel acceptance speech:

“It is not difficult to make microbes resistant to penicillin in the laboratory by exposing them to concentrations not sufficient to kill them.”

But, we didn’t listen.

New drugs now cost about $2 billion to develop and it may take 10 to 20 years to bring to market. The FDA approval rate for new antibacterial drugs has also fallen from about 20 from 1980 to 1984, to less than five from 2005 to 2009. Antibiotics are cheap, and you may only use them intermittently, so there is very little incentive for drug companies to make more.

Is this the end of modern medicine?

Probably not. BUT antibiotic resistance will cause 10 million deaths globally by 2050 at a cost of £66trillion ($100trillion) to the global economy.

We are now effectively in a post-antibiotic era, where the drugs literally don’t work. This means that common infections and minor injuries can kill, and we may not be able to safely perform operations where we rely on antibiotics to prevent complications.

Which bugs should we be afraid of?

The WHO recently published a list of 12 families that pose the greatest threat to human health.

In the USA, the first case of multi drug resistant E.Coli was identified that was resistant to antibiotics colistin and carbapenems. This may have even contributed to the death of Hugh Hefner.

We have also seen the first death from a multidrug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, a bug that often causes of urinary tract infections. Testing at the hospital showed resistance to all 26 drugs the hospital had.

There has also been an alarming rise in the spread of multi drug resistant gonorrhoeaIs there a solution for antibiotic resistance?

Yes, but we need to act now.

This week is Antibiotic Resistance Awareness Week!

In 2016, the United Nations passed a resolution to tackle drug-resistant infections, calling for an international effort across human, animal and environmental health.

The UK government has a strategy and it wants to halve inappropriate prescribing by 2020 and to halve healthcare-associated, Gram negative bloodstream infections (GNBSI) by 2020.

New antibiotics are also coming. For example, teixobactin, was discovered in a screen of uncultured bacteria and it does not demonstrate resistance.

But the most important thing we can do now is maintain the value of existing and future antibiotics. This means:

• Only take antibiotics when you need them. So don’t ask your GP or family doctor to give you an antibiotic for your sniffles. It won’t work, and it will make the situation worse.

• If you are in contact with someone who has a bacterial infection, wash your hands and use sensible precautions to prevent spread.

• If you do have a bacterial infection, The NHS has issued advice for this, and this can be found here:
• 
• If you are given antibiotics, take the full course you are prescribed. This view is being challenged but for now it’s sensible.

One thing is certain. If we don’t act now, then we will go back to a time when a simple scratch from a rose thorn could be fatal.

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/dr-james-kinross/the-drugs-dont-work-antib_b_18549512.html

‘EastSiders’ Takes a Monogamish Road Trip

Thanks to incredible crowdfunding from eager fans, EastSiders is back.

www.advocate.com/current-issue/2017/11/15/eastsiders-takes-monogamish-road-trip

‘Cards Against Humanity’ Buys Border Land So Trump Can’t Build His F**king Wall

The nice folks behind massively insulting and essentially free game Cards Against Humanity have bought a chunk of land on the U.S./Mexico border to stop Donald Trump building his wall.

The company, which describes the product as “a party game for horrible people,” announced the holiday promotion Cards Against Humanity Saves America on Monday.

RELATED: Randy Rainbow Treats His Trump Fatigue with the ‘Good Old Days’ of Manageable Scandals: WATCH

“Donald Trump is a preposterous golem who is afraid of Mexicans. He is so afraid that he wants to build a $20 billion wall that everyone knows will accomplish nothing,” the website states. “So we’ve purchased a plot of vacant land on the border and retained a law firm specializing in eminent domain to make it as time-consuming and expensive as possible for the wall to get built.”

Mashable reports:

Fork over $15 of your hard-earned cash to Cards, and they’ll send you “six surprises” in the month of December, including an illustrated map of the land, a certificate of promise to fight the wall, and some new cards.

Given the nature of the game, the company has no problem being a bit brash, and because they are self-owned, and don’t rely on big box stores to push their product, the company can get away with a bit more.

On its FAQ page for the new expansion, one question asks: I don’t like that you’re getting political. Why don’t you just stick to card games?

Their answer? “Why don’t you stick to seeing how many Hot Wheels cars you can fit up your asshole?”

You can buy the new pack here.

The post ‘Cards Against Humanity’ Buys Border Land So Trump Can’t Build His F**king Wall appeared first on Towleroad.

‘Cards Against Humanity’ Buys Border Land So Trump Can’t Build His F**king Wall

Five Tips For Telling Your Partner You Want A Divorce
There is no easy way to tell your spouse you want to call time on your marriage. It may not have been an easy decision for you, there could be ill feeling and there is likely to be trepidation at what lies ahead. In addition, there may be some regret and some sympathy for your partner, however bad things have got.

So, how do you do it? We wouldn’t suggest breaking the news in a crowded restaurant or public place as some you may have witnessed on social media. Neither would we suggest making it a snap announcement after a particularly frustrating argument or incident. It should be carefully considered, with thought given to the chain of events it will set in motion. You should be clear on the process and, most importantly if children are involved, make sure they are a primary consideration.

Photo credit: iStockSow the seeds

Making a sudden announcement out of the blue is unlikely to get proceedings off to a good start. If you have not been getting on, it will come as no surprise to the other that things are not good, but they may not think you are anywhere near splitting up. Have gentle conversations in advance. Talk about how you feel there may be no long-term solution. Suggest counselling. Talk about what arrangements you might have to make if you split.

Careful how you say it

Show some compassion. Do not just announce it is over and you want a divorce. Sit down with no distractions and gently break the news. If you have properly sown the seeds, it will not come as a surprise. Suggest how you should start moving forward. Look to a brighter future. Do not enflame an already charged situation with harsh or careless words no matter what you think of the person at that point in time. This approach will reap rewards in the end and should lead to a more amicable relationship after divorce, which is particularly important when you have children.

Don’t point the finger of blame

A marriage involves two people – and so does a divorce. There is little point apportioning blame. It does not help, and it will not change anything. Like the point above around avoiding course words, heaping blame on your spouse will enflame a situation. That may make them angry, it may simply upset them further and there is no gain in this. Sadly, the divorce process in England and Wales does still require reasons for divorce. This cannot be avoided but it can be done in a sympathetic way. Use the word “I” more than “you” to explain your decision and feelings about what’s gone wrong between you.

Don’t let it drag on

Once you’ve had the difficult conversation, be ready to separate. Don’t just carry on as normal and think about how it will work a week later. Have the talk and make the move. This means giving it thought in advance. Will you still both stay in the same house? While this is increasingly common, it should involve moving to separate rooms. Better is for one of you to be staying somewhere else, but think about the implication of this on everyday life, such as seeing the children, additional budget required and simple things like will it affect your commute to work.

Plan your future parenting

Children can be knocked sideways by their parents divorcing. When speaking to your spouse about divorce, ensure you talk about arrangements for the children. Like all of these points, it involves giving it some thought in advance.

Reassure your partner that whatever happens, you still want them to be involved as a parent and that this is important to you. You will need to discuss how to break the news to the children and, ideally, this will be done with both of you at the same time, in a calm and familiar environment.

For advice on these issues speak to one of the experienced family lawyers at Woolley & Co, Solicitors on 0800 321 3832.

Written by Andrew Woolley, Woolley & Co Family Solicitors.

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/andrew-woolley/five-tips-for-telling-you_b_18548938.html

Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment: FAQ

Open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) continues until December 15. If you still haven’t signed up or debating if you’re even eligible for a plan then check out some frequently asked questions below.

Am I eligible for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act?

• If you don’t have health insurance through your job, Medicare, Medicaid or another source, you may be eligible to purchase insurance through HealthCare.gov.

How do I enroll? What is the deadline?

• Signing up is easy and can be done in several ways – via the Internet at Healthcare.gov or by phone at the Marketplace Call Center 1-800- 318-2596.
• If you prefer in-person help, go to LocalHelp.HealthCare.gov to find a location in your area.
• Spanish speaking consumers should visit CuidadoDeSalud.gov.
• Open enrollment ends on December 15. This is much earlier than last year so sign-up early to beat the rush.

I am young and healthy. Do I need to get covered?

• Most definitely. No one plans to get sick or hurt, but it happens.
• Getting covered means you can go to the doctor’s office when you get sick, instead of the emergency room and you won’t have to worry that unexpected health costs will place you and your family at financial risk.

What do plans cover?

• Health plans offered through the marketplace all cover preventive care at no charge and have no co-pay. This means free check-ups, vaccinations, and more.
• All plans provide coverage for a range of important health benefits such as prescription drugs, including Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), doctor visits, hospitalization, mental health and substance use disorder services, maternity care and much more.
• Healthcare.gov has Doctor and Prescription Drug Lookup tools so you can find out which plans cover your doctors and prescriptions.

How much will it cost?

• Healthcare.gov has an Out of Pocket Cost estimator that will help you estimate your total costs for the year including premiums, deductibles, and co-pays.
• Most people can find plans available for less than $75 dollars a month.
• Tax credits, which many individuals are eligible to receive, help make plans affordable.
• If you choose to go without insurance, you may have to pay a penalty.

www.hrc.org/blog/affordable-care-act-open-enrollment-faq?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Where Art Thou, V?

Fifty percent of men (and nearly as many women) don’t know where the vagina actually is.

www.advocate.com/current-issue/2017/11/15/where-art-thou-v

Couples Get Engaged On Day Australia Votes ‘Yes’ To Same-Sex Marriage

Couples across Australia have celebrated with happy tears and engagement rings after the majority of people voted ‘yes’ to legalise same-sex marriage.

Results of a three-month-long postal survey revealed 61.6% of people voted ‘yes’ and 38.4% ‘no’ for same-sex marriage. While the results are not legally binding, they will put pressure on the Government to act on changing the law.

When the vote results were announced, some took the opportunity to get engaged. Michael Lucas was one of them. He proposed to his boyfriend in the arrivals hall at the airport shortly after hearing the news.

“We are elated and giddy and in strong need of a drink,” he tweeted.

Peter and Steve were also in the crowd celebrating the moment that Australia said ‘yes’. According to journalist Tom Cowie, the pair – who have been in love for 10 years – celebrated by getting engaged in a Melbourne laneway.

Meanwhile James Brechney proposed to his partner Stuart Hensall in Sydney’s Prince Alfred Park. The couple have been together for two-and-a-half years.

James, who wore a bright pink suit for the special occasion, told ABC News: “As terrible as this postal survey has been, the by-product has been this beautiful moment.”

Here are some of the other couples who celebrated the momentous result.

Did you get engaged following the result in Australia? We’d love to hear from you! Email [email protected] with your story and photos.

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/proposals-on-day-australia-votes-yes-to-legalise-same-sex-marriage_uk_5a0c05a3e4b0bc648a0ecb4c

Fake ‘Russian Twitter Accounts’ Published Thousands Of Posts About Brexit

More than 400 fake Twitter accounts believed to be run from Russia have reportedly published posts about Brexit.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh examined 2,752 accounts suspended by Twitter in the US.

They identified 419 accounts operating from the Russian Internet Research Agency (IRA) and attempting to influence UK politics, The Guardian reported.

Professor Laura Cram, director of neuropolitics research at the University of Edinburgh, told the newspaper that at least 419 of those accounts tweeted about Brexit a total of 3,468 times – mostly after the referendum had taken place.

Commenting on the Brexit tweets, she told the newspaper the content overall was “quite chaotic and it seems to be aimed at wider disruption. There’s not an absolutely clear thrust. We pick up a lot on refugees and immigration”.

A Twitter spokesman told the newspaper the company “recognises that the integrity of the election process itself is integral to the health of a democracy. As such, we will continue to support formal investigations by government authorities into election interference as required”.

Theresa May on Monday accused Russia of a “sustained campaign of cyber espionage and disruption”, including “meddling in elections” and hacking foreign ministries and parliaments. 

May’s comments come as Twitter and Facebook have been asked to give evidence as the committee begins an inquiry into Russian interference.

Collins has expressed fears that “this could just be the tip of the iceberg” telling American magazine Wired that the scope of the problem was unknown as “we’ve only really just started looking and doing a proper detailed study of what accounts linked to Russian organisations have been doing politically”.

He told HuffPost UK that the inquiry into the “dissemination of false content” by foreign powers, including Russia, “was an “incredible serious matter”.

“Any inference with the democratic process of the United Kingdom by a foreign power, whether the motivation was to affect the outcome of a vote, or simply to stoke discord, is an incredibly serious matter and one that I, and the Committee are determined to get to the bottom of.”

Collins has written to both Twitter and Facebook asking for “urgent information” about accounts, pages and adverts linked to Russian linked organisations, including the St Petersburg based Internet Research Agency which has been dubbed the “troll factory”.

“Given the information that these companies have already provided to Congress, it would be naive to believe that Russia was not active in the United Kingdom,” he said.  

Collins’ comments came as it emerged that a picture that divided public-opinion in the wake of March’s Westminster Bridge terror attack was a plant – a made-to-enrage post from a Russian-government born bot.

The image seemingly showed a Muslim woman strolling past a victim as she chatted on her phone.

May on Monday unloaded on Russia, accusing it of a sustained campaign of cyber espionage and disruption”, including “meddling in elections” and hacking foreign ministries and parliaments. 

During a speech to the Lord Mayor’s Banquet at the City of London’s Guildhall May said Russian Government backed-trolls, had, planted “fake stories” and “photo-shopped images” in an attempt to “sow discord in the West and undermine our institutions”.

She told Moscow: “We know what you are doing. And you will not succeed. Because you underestimate the resilience of our democracies, the enduring attraction of free and open societies, and the commitment of Western nations to the alliances that bind us.

“The UK will do what is necessary to protect ourselves, and work with our allies to do likewise.”

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/fake-russian-twitter-accounts_uk_5a0bf913e4b00a6eece52a65

Alex Greenwich: 사랑이 승리했다. 그러나 할 일이 남았다
오늘 사랑이 승리했다. 전국의 크고 작은 도시마다 승리감과 기쁨이 넘쳐났다. 길고 힘든, 정말 놀라운 캠페인을 …

기사 보기: 국제, 동성결혼, 오스트레일리아, 호주, 동성, 결혼, 동성애, Korea News

www.huffingtonpost.kr/alex-greenwich/story_b_18558620.html