Scars Run Deep - UPDATED

The Atlanta man seen being viciously beaten in a harrowing viral video today called his attackers “monsters” who left him with scars that “run deeper than anyone will know.” He added that nobody should worry that they will be attacked “for just being a gay male.”

One of White’s assailants, as well as the cameraman and another onlooker, referred to him as a “faggot” on the video (WARNING: Violent content). Atlanta police are hunting for White’s attackers, while FBI agents and federal prosecutors are examining the assault to determine whether a hate crimes prosecution is warranted.

White said that the filming of the assault--and the subsequent uploading of a clip online--was his assailants’s way of trying to draw attention to their barbarism.

However, by coming forward to cooperate with authorities, White remarked, “I’m the brave one.”

FULL STORY ...


UPDATE
Seems that Police are making headway in tracking down the a-holes who attacked Mr. White.

Investigators Release Name, Photo Of Remaining Suspect Sought In Brutal Videotaped Beating Of Atlanta Man

 READ THE STORY UPDATES HERE.

Syphilis is on a comeback

“The rates of STI in Alberta are the highest in Canada and that’s just unacceptable," said Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky. "Therefore we are taking aggressive and coordinated action on this very serious public health issue.”

“Alberta rates for chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis exceeded the national rate in 2009,” said Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. André Corriveau.

READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE

While syphilis infections in Alberta used to be found almost exclusively among gay men living in Edmonton and Calgary, the demographics have shifted as the outbreak has worsened.

'The outbreak is now largely among those identifying their sexual orientation as heterosexual.'—The Syphilis Outbreak in Alberta, Report December 2010

"The outbreak is now largely among those identifying their sexual orientation as heterosexual," the report says.

Edmonton and Calgary continue to have the highest number of cases, but Fort McMurray and Lethbridge are the new "hot spots," with rates exceeding the larger cities.

READ MORE HERE

Syphilis cases spike in Halifax

Doctors in Halifax are treating a rising number of syphilis cases, mostly among men.

Cases of the sexually transmitted infection have spiked since 2008, when it was virtually unknown in the city.

The resurgence of syphilis in Halifax follows a national trend.

In 2001, there were 300 cases in Canada. The numbers have been rising ever since, with outbreaks in Alberta and New Brunswick. In 2009 — the most recent numbers available — there were more than 1,600 cases across Canada.

Edgy anti-syphilis ads raise eyebrows

"Welcome to PlentyofSyph.com. In moments, you'll be connected to plenty of profiles, greetings and genital sores from hot local singles infected with syphilis," the ad reads.

Dr. Andre Corriveau, Alberta's Chief Medical Officer of Health, said the point of the campaign is to grab the attention of young people.

"Even though the site is designed as a lure or way of attracting people there really is a serious undertone," he said.

Alberta has the highest rate of syphilis in the country and the numbers are still growing. In 2009 there were about 280 new cases of the disease, compared with just two a decade earlier, Corriveau said.

You think Plenty of Fish.com is helpful in finding dates?

Be sure to VISIT PlentyofSyph.com

Or get more info about Syphilis HERE at Don't You Get It.ca

Many people infected with syphilis do not have any symptoms for years, yet remain at risk for late complications if they are not treated. Although transmission occurs from persons with sores who are in the primary or secondary stage, many of these sores are unrecognized. Thus, transmission may occur from persons who are unaware of their infection.

I, for one, welcome our new Overlord

Paul the octopus lived in a tank at a commercial attraction, theSea Life Centre in Oberhausen, Germany and became internationally famous after his feeding behaviour was used to correctly predict the winner of each of Germany's seven matches in the 2010 football World Cup, as well as the outcome ofthe final.

The Sea Life aquarium just unveiled a creepy yet fitting 6 1/2-foot tall monument of an oversized Paul the octopus limply crushing a large ball featuring the flags of all the 2010 World Cup nations' flags. I'm assuming this represents how for one summer, an octopus used the game to become overlord of the human world.

Some people got too much time on their hands...

Fans around the world had asked for a memorial to the psychic mollusk

"For the world is hollow and I have touched the sky"

Despite a number of uncanny experiences with Town & Country magazine's back page, and a statistically improbable collection of Gemininian friends (cuz only a Gemini can really understand another Gemini!), I do not believe in Astrology. In fact, over the years I have unwittingly started several angry arguments with people who are into Astrology by questioning their pseudo-science. 

"Okay, I understand that you can calculate the position of the sun, moon, planets and stars to exacting degrees, but who decided that the positions of the spheres when someone was born indicate particular qualities?"

"HUMANS, that's who! The interpretations are completely subjective!"

They would usually assume their fallback position by accusing me of not understanding the precision of their charts, and that they are merely describing where things are - stars don't lie.


But, until a few weeks ago, I never imagined that even their math was flawed ... that's just crazy talk!


Turns out that their "precision" forgets about "precession" and the actual positions of objects in the sky don't match what their charts say. Not only do all of the Zodiac signs have the wrong dates, but there are actually 13 signs, not 12. And, it is a lot harder to draw things with 13 sections than it is with only 12.

New Zodiac Signs

Capricorn • January 20 - February 16

Aquarius • February 17 - March 11

Pisces • March 12 - April 18

Aries • April 19 - May 13

Taurus • May 14 - June 21

Gemini • June 22 - July 20

Cancer • July 21 - August 10

Leo • August 11 - September 16

Virgo • September 17 - October 30

Libra • October 31 - November 23

Scorpio • November 24 - 29

Ophiuchus • November 30 - December 17

Sagittarius • December 18 - January 20

Have a listen to this short interview with the scientist that has stirred up a scandalous storm of stellar proportions by suggesting that Astrologers' charts are wrong.

THAT means that, even if I DID believe in Astrology, rather than being a "

dual-natured, elusive, complex and contradictory

" Gemini, I am actually a 'solid, practical, extremely determined and strong-willed' Taurus. But, me and 'Bull' rarely see eye-to-eye. Now, 

I am going to have to redefine my entire personality to match the magical truthiness of Astrology.

With this new information, I really wish I had been born at the beginning of December so that I could identify with Ophiuchus ( being careful not too mis-pronounce it though ) because then everyone would assume I was wielding a big snake (nudge, nudge, wink, wink).

Ophiuchus holds a huge snake, Serpens, in both hands as shown in the Atlas Coelestis of John Flamsteed. Serpens is unique in being divided into two halves.

Chances are the people who believe what they want to believe rather than the facts will continue to do so, hoping the truth will slowly fade into the background for another 2,000 years (when I guess I will be an Aries). But unfortunately, to quote an old friend and her Tarot cards, the stars don't lie.

I predict that a new cult of 'True Astrologers', flanked by their newfound Ophiuchian (pron.?) friends will now descend from the heavens and tell us all that THEY are the aliens that seeded our planet with Life, and we should now call them God... I can hardly wait.

Until then, I guess I should start calling up all of my old, happily twinned, Gemininian friends and tell them that it's over, cuz things get REALLY CRAZY when a bunch of bulls get together.

"For the world is hollow and I have touched the sky"

Canadian AIDS Society's Solution to blood-screening discrimination

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Sept. 27, 2009) - The Canadian AIDS Society (CAS), will be appearing as a Friend of the Court in the Freeman case, which contests the constitutionality of the Canadian Blood Services' lifetime deferral on gay men and men who have sex with men. In this role, CAS will propose an amendment to update the Canadian Blood Services' screening questionnaire, with a desire to improve safety and gain community support for the Canadian blood system.

"The current discriminatory wording of the screening questionnaire needs to be updated. With new, highly accurate HIV testing, it is no longer scientific, as American blood banks have acknowledged with respect to their own similar policy. It's eroding confidence in the blood system, which turns away many youth and gay men who are not at risk of HIV at a time when Canada's blood supply is in need of donors," says Douglas Elliott, the Canadian AIDS Society lawyer. "The questionnaire is not scientifically valid, which compromises the safety of the system by encouraging self-screening and inciting boycotts on blood donation based on human rights principles."

CAS is suggesting a long overdue change to one question of the current survey directed to male donors which reads: Have you had sex with a man, even one time since 1977? Presently, if prospective donors respond yes to this question, they are banned for life from donating blood. However, a deferral of only one year is imposed on women who have had sex with a bisexual man in the last 12 months, even though such women are at the same risk as men who have sex with men. The proposed change would read: Have you had sex with another man in the past 5 years. If the response is "no" they would be treated like any other donor. If yes, they would respond to a further question: Have you had unprotected anal sex (i.e., without a condom) with more than one male partner in the last 12 months. If the response is "yes," they would receive a 12 month deferral. If "no," they would receive a 6 month deferral.

Challenging Canadian Blood Service's discrimination against gay men

OTTAWA — A gay man who repeatedly gave blood after lying about having sex with other men is suing Canadian Blood Services, alleging that the questionnaire used by the agency to screen out unsuitable donors is a violation of his Charter Rights.

Kyle Freeman alleges that the blood collection agency violates his Charter rights and those of other gay men by asking male donors on the questionnaire whether they had ever had sex with a man, even once, since 1977.

Freeman — who is seeking $250,000 in damages — sued after a lawsuit was filed against him by Canadian Blood Services accusing him of negligent misrepresentation for lying on the screening form.

Upstaged by a cheeky local

You have probably already seen this image, since it appeared on the internet, but here is a link that provides the whole story about it.

I think you will agree that it qualifies for Cute Overload! LOL

Put on a happy face!

Fears of Swine Flu got you down? Well take that mask and turn it upside down, like these people in Mexico have!

Follow the link below to see more ...

You're just an actor Billy-Bob!

CBC's Jian Gomeshi's patience and professionalism went beyond the call of duty in an interview with Billy-Bob Thornton - actor-turned-musician who fancies himself a Legend!



FOLLOWUP: I guess Billy-Boob got scared when he heard Canadians booing!
"Flu Grounds Thornton's Canadian Music Tour"

High-end Bait & Switch

Change your Levis, Change your Life!

Even afterward, there is something you can do.

IMAGE: Mexican campaign against discrimination toward HIV carriers
http://blog.uncovering.org/en/archives/2007/03/against_the_discrimination_of_hiv_carriers.html

Following from the previous item about PRE-exposure drugs, here is a discussion of a treatment that is already available to people who might have just been exposed to HIV.

Gay men may not be accessing HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) in situations when its use would be warranted, a study published in the online edition of Sexually Transmitted Infections suggests.

Investigators in Brighton conducted interviews with 15 gay men who were currently taking, or had recently completed, a course of post-exposure prophylaxis after unprotected anal intercourse. They found that prior to accessing this treatment, the men generally had a poor understanding of what post-exposure prophylaxis involved.

Post-exposure prophylaxis (a short course of treatment with antiretroviral drugs after possible exposure to HIV) is becoming increasing available for individuals reporting sexual risk behaviour. The number of gay men presenting for such treatment has increased following targeted advertising campaigns and the publication of professional guidelines.

There is robust evidence that post-exposure prophylaxis can prevent infection with HIV. But there have been reports of HIV infection despite its use following possible sexual exposure to the virus. In many instances these infections can be attributed to ongoing sexual risk behaviour.

Can Doctors prescribe The Cocktail to prevent people from getting infected with HIV?

Three-quarters of gay and other men who have sex with men would be willing to take pre-exposure prophylaxis to prevent HIV infection, American researchers report in the January 1^st 2009 edition of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. The investigators hope their research will help identify men willing to participate in pre-exposure prophylaxis studies or who would benefit from pre-exposure prophylaxis programmes.

Research into the development of an HIV vaccine has been disappointing and development of a microbicide is developing at a slow pace.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis involves HIV-negative individuals with a high risk of HIV infection taking daily antiretroviral therapy to prevent infection with the virus (but NOT an immunization).

'Still Alive' has a life of its own

This little ditty apparently comes from the closing credits of a video game called "Portal". It has made it's way onto YouTube and become a hit. It's called "Still Alive" and I hereby give you fair warning ... it's very, very catchy!