There's nothing like an ad for a dating service to remind you that
your own love life isn't quite up to snuff. Until, of course, you watch Jon Lajoie's Dating Service Commercial.
The Montreal-based comedian has pulled together all the familiar
elements we know and dread from those "I met my soulmate" ads that seem
to be impossible to escape -- the soft lighting, the acoustic guitar
soundtrack, the coy looks from the supposed real life users. But that's
where the similarity ends.
WARNING: Some language may offend some people.
Showing posts with label relationship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label relationship. Show all posts
2012-02-24
2012-02-19
Ottawa's first steps to be "Suicide Safer"
Billed as the city's first summit on youth suicide prevention, the event featured politicians, health care leaders, educators and young people. The goal of the event was to bring Ottawans together to talk about what was already in place and what will be needed to be in the future to help prevent youth suicide, an issue that has captured local and provincial attention in recent months.
2012-02-09
... and we welcome Washington State!
Washington state lawmakers voted to approve gay marriage Wednesday,
setting the stage for the state to become the seventh in the nation to
allow same-sex couples to wed.
The action comes a day after a federal appeals
court declared California's ban on gay marriage unconstitutional, saying
it was a violation of the civil rights of gay and lesbian couples.
The Washington House passed the bill on a 55-43 vote. The state Senate approved the measure last week, and Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire is expected to sign the measure into law next week.
California's Prop 8 recinded and Supreme Court may not hear Appeal
Until Tuesday, it looked like California's Proposition 8 gay marriage case would be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. But that looks less certain now.
The narrow California-only approach adopted by the 9th Circuit means the high court might choose to steer clear of the dispute.
If so, that would leave for another day — perhaps several years in the future — a national ruling on same-sex marriage.
READ THE WHOLE STORY ...
2012-01-25
Sexual Minority Stress & Mental Health
The study also found that legal marriage for same-sex couples may confer a unique protective effect against poor mental health. Having a same-sex domestic partner or same-sex spouse boosted the emotional health of the studied men, but having a same-sex legal spouse appeared to be the most beneficial relationship arrangement.
“This study shines a light on the mental health of a generation of gay men who survived the early years of the AIDS crisis and came of age on the heels of the gay rights movement.”
The study’s findings further suggest that targeted campaigns may be necessary to address this generation of gay men’s heightened risk for poor mental health. Sexual orientation stigma, the loss of many of their peers to AIDS and general aging-related stress, such as concerns over finances and independence, also affected the mental health of these midlife and older gay men.
READ THE WHOLE STORY HERE ...
For more information about this study, please see the American Journal of Public Health at:
http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2011.300384
2012-01-14
Silence = Death 2.0
Sound absurd?
Social workers around the world say it’s happening every day.
Gen Silent is the critically-acclaimed documentary from filmmaker Stu Maddux that asks six LGBT seniors if they will hide their friends, their
spouses- their entire lives in order to survive in the care system.
Watch the Trailer here ...
2011-12-12
Penguins in Love
The African penguins, named Buddy and Pedro, formed a close bond while part of a "bachelor flock" at Pittsburgh’s National Aviary, Canadian newspaper the Globe and Mail reported.
The penguins remained close when transferred to the Toronto Zoo, and displayed courtship and mating behavior towards each other. Because of this they were dubbed the "gay penguins," although zoo keepers said their relationship was not necessarily sexual.
“It’s a complicated issue, but they seem to be in a loving relationship of some sort,’’Joe Torzsok, chair of the Toronto Zoo's board, told the Toronto Star.
The decision to separate Buddy and Pedro was taken because the zoo wanted to breed the endangered animals and spread their good genes. But the splitting up of the "gay penguins" has resulted in a backlash from around the world, the Globe and Mail said.
READ FULL STORY ....
2011-09-29
If you're crazy, maybe you live in a city.
The fact is that there is a higher concentration of psychiatric illness in the city than in the country. There is increased risk for anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and schizophrenia.
Of course, there are lots of possible reasons for this. There is a greater socioeconomic divide in cities, and people of low socio-economic class have a higher risk for psychiatric disease. There is also better access to health care in cities, and someone who might pass as just “very odd” in the country is more likely to get diagnosed in the city. Finally, it is often easier to function in a city with a severe mental illness, with some better access to shelter, care, and emergency medicine.
But there is also some evidence that living in a city can “bring on” mental disorders.
While many mental disorders are thought to have a genetic component to some degree, the addition of stress may be able to bring out an underlying mental illness. And of course, cities are stressful.
Specifically, cities produce social stress, the stress of living around and being seen (or feeling you’re being seen) by lots of people, constantly.
2011-07-27
Public Health, Private Lives
I watched this show on CBC yesterday and was pleasantly surprised to see the story of Dr. Jeff Myers, his work and the depiction of his same-sex relationship.
Jeff Myers runs the palliative care program at Sunnybrook and is a driving force behind palliative care in Canada. He passionately believes in a dignified end of life, and that how we treat the chronically ill and dying reflects on all of us.
He is a strong believer that every Canadian should have access to outstanding pain symptom management. He sees his role as that of an advocate in the field of palliative care — to make it more visible, credible and understood. He's worked in palliative care since 1999.
Myers admits that there is an emotional toll to his job. He never allows himself to "lose it" in front of his patients but when alone or with his husband — Jeremy — he allows himself to grieve. However, what keeps him going is the chance to witness moments of amazing humanity.
Myers is also an assistant professor and the newly appointed associate head of the University of Toronto's Division of Palliative Care.
2011-07-19
“Breast Milk Baby” coming to a store near you
When I first read about this, I thought it was rather creepy, but after reading the whole story of this, I can see how much it could help people understand the importance of breast-feeing.
----
In a press release yesterday, Spain-based Berjuan Toys announced their commitment to bring their Breast Milk Baby doll to the U.S. after it sold well overseas. The company has generated more than $2 million in sales since the dolls were first released in Spain four years ago.
The doll previously received a formal endorsement from the Spanish breastfeeding organization FEDALMA, as well as support from members of other international breastfeeding organizations.
Each doll comes with a “fashionable” halter-top to be worn by the child; it’s decorated with two flowers carefully positioned where the nipples would be. The doll then makes motions and suckling sounds when a sensor in its mouth comes close to sensors inside the flowers. Available in both genders and three different skin colors, the six types of Breast Milk Babies are currently on sale in Europe and available online for $89.
2009-12-18
Canadian Gothic
"Scott Brison describes it as 'Canadian Gothic.' ... 'Just a couple of guys and their dog standing in a field,' he says about his Christmas card this year.
But there are others, the Nova Scotia Liberal MP says, who are describing it as 'The Brokeback Brisons' – an homage to the Ang Lee movie about two gay cowboys and their love affair on a Wyoming mountain. This is the first time, meanwhile, the couple has posed together for a Christmas card and it is likely the first same-sex married-couple MP Christmas card...
It was sent to about 5,000 friends and constituents.
2009-11-24
Focus on THIS family!
This movie was featured on a recent episode of In The Life, PBS's magazine show about gay, lesbian and transgendered issues.
In 1999 Reverend Greg Stewart preached about the dire need in Los Angeles County for foster and adoptive parents. Soon after, he and Stillman White, his partner of more than 20 years, opened their home to some of these children. Their priority was to keep siblings together, regardless of age, gender, or chance for success. Over the next three years, the men fostered and then adopted five children considered “at risk”and in desperate need of love and support they have never known.
2009-10-19
Shattering Secrets: Incest
Mackenzie Phillips' recent admission about her intimate relationship with her own father - John Phillips of the famous musical group The Mamas and The Papas - has prompted others to bring their own stories of incest to Oprah's TV show.
Learn more about their painful stories filled with confusing emotions.
2009-05-19
They've been working on this schtick for 62 years
Here’s a wonderful impromptu piano performance at the Mayo Clinic by 90-year-old Marlo Cowan and his wife of 62 years, Fran. A cheerful reminder of how to have a long life and a successful marriage.
2009-03-06
Anglican Diocese of Ottawa to defy ban, on same-sex blessings
The Diocese of Ottawa has said it will perform same-sex blessings, becoming the first Canadian Anglican diocese to make such a move since a ban was imposed on the practice by the international church.The diocese said it is developing a liturgy and protocol for the rite and once they are created it will start performing the ceremonies for gay couples on a limited basis. But critics of same-sex blessings say those steps will widen the schism in the Canadian church.
In 2004, the worldwide church called for a moratorium on the rite after the Diocese of New Westminster in British Columbia struck out on its own and began performing same-sex blessings. That move was considered a seminal event that led to the Canadian split.
2009-01-13
Ciao, Baby
"Dear Andrea, I’m sorry to tell you this. Mark passed away last week. He was killed in a car accident. I’m Jeff, I was his friend. Dear Andrea, I would like to suggest that you stick to your plan and come here anyway..."
If you could go back, what would you say to the one you loved? When fates collide, a new story begins.I know nothing about this film, never heard of it before, but it looks like it could be sweet. Here is a trailer for it.
2009-01-11
Picture it ... Italy, Suddenly Last Winter
Suddenly Last Winter is the story of Gustav and Luca. Their life changes when the Italian government presents a draft law that would give rights to unmarried and gay couples, prompting a wave of homophobia in Italy. The Vatican and conservatives fight against it, preaching that the end of morality and the family are nigh if the legalisation on civil unions is not blocked. Together for over eight years, Luca and Gustav want to understand the different positions and undertake a journey into a country they did not know before and did not expect to find: their own.
Here is a trailer for the film
Click through to the website to see a video/discussion by the film makers
2008-12-18
Timeless comedy
An hilarious 1954 clip of Sid Caesar and Nanette Fabray as their domestic squabble is set to the rhythm of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony.
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