Because bread is good, and axioms are rare

The Turkish Uprising: What’s happening in Turkey right now March 14, 2014

A fresh new wave of protests is rocking Turkey, as tens of thousands march on the streets to demonstrate against the government. But unlike what’s going on in Ukraine and Venezuela, the protests in Turkey mark a second, renewed round of protests that began last summer. 

Protests began with the death of a teenager named Berkin Elvan, who was in a nine-month coma after being injured during last year’s government rallies. Thousands attended his funeral in Istanbul and marched in the streets afterwards.

Tens of thousands are also protesting across Turkey, especially in big cities such as Ankara and Izmir. 

The government’s response has been to send riot police to clash with the protesters. The tactics have mostly been restricted to tear gas, water cannons and beatings. It seems that police may have forgotten that’s how Elvan died — he suffered a head injury when he was hit in the head with a tear gas canister. He was passing by the protests to go buy bread for his family.

On Wednesday, a protester died from a head injury while a police officer also passed away from a heart attack.

Around 36 children were arrested in Ankara for protesting on the streets. Over a hundred people were also arrested in Izmir. Students across the country are also organizing school boycotts and sit-ins.

Elvan’s death marks the eighth casualty resulting from last year’s protests. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has yet to comment on Elvan’s death.

Protests began last year over the development of Gezi Park in Istanbul, although it quickly spread into a widespread anti-government demonstration.

Turkey will hold local elections on Mar. 30. Erdogan has promised to step down if his ruling AK Party loses power.

Scientists Document Rare HIV Transmission Through Female-to-Female Sexual Contact

A woman in Texas likely infected her female partner with HIV through sexual contact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday.

The case offers the strongest evidence to date that HIV transmission between women, although rare, is possible.

"There were cases where it was suspected, but not all the pieces were there to say it so clearly as this one," says Patrick Sullivan, an epidemiologist at Emory University who wasn’t involved in the study.

The circumstances in this case were unique, a spokeswoman for the CDC tells Shots. The couple frequently had sexual contact without a barrier and exchanged blood through rough sex with toys.

The case is a good reminder that HIV can spread during all types of sexual interactions, Sullivan says.

"Anytime there’s intimate contact — even through the use of sex toys — prevention measures should be taken, especially when there’s a chance of blood contact," he says.

The HIV virus can be found in vaginal fluid and menstrual blood. But it’s been tough for researchers to determine the risk of infection between women. In many cases, other transmission routes, such as intravenous drug use and heterosexual intercourse, can’t be ruled out.

These other risk factors weren’t present in the current case, a CDC team wrotein the current issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Continue reading.

On one hand, I am so grateful to see this published and getting attention.  On the other hand it frustrates me that it took so long a WE KNEW THIS WAS POSSIBLE AND HAPPENING FOR YEARS. I've educated about it in the field, conducted HIV testing of WSW populations and run up against so much vitriol and dismal from WSW populations, health educators and doctors.  Fluid exchange transmits HIV/AIDS. The easier a behavior allows for transmission of those fluids, the more likely you may contract or transmit HIV/AIDS. To presume any sort of risk based on other factors then RISK BEHAVIORS is naive and ignorant. Gender identity, sexual orientation, race, community, these may influence RISK BEHAVIORS due to community norms, preferences etc.. But do not assure or negate them. 

This is why in my opinion WSW transmission is likely WAY under reported, as doctors and HIV educators/testers assume that an HIV case from a WSW must have some IDU (intravenous drug use) or sperm involved at some point.

People presume the ways in which WSW have sex are ways that would NOT be maximizing fluid exchange, and therefore think based on NON VERIFIABLE opinions that WSW populations aren't at risk. That same logic, based on presumptions, is used to create stereotypes about the likelihood and frequency of RISK BEHAVIORS for trans*women, gay males, men of color, trans*males, women of color and persons of color.

For example, did you know that STI rates in senior citizens are rising at a very steep rate? (Source http://www.cdcnpin.org/scripts/population/elderly.asp) THAT'S because it's the person's RISK BEHAVIORS not the box of presumptions our society puts on them that increases likelihood of transmission.

Because at the end of the day it is RISK BEHAVIOR that effects your likelihood of contraction not who you are, your gender/s or who you look like. 

There are REASONS related to why populations may behave in ways that increase RISK BEHAVIOR. Reasons like OPPRESSION, RACISM, SEXISM, SURVIVAL NEEDS, SELF LOATHING PERPETUATED BY COMMUNITIES/MEDIA/RELIGION/PEER GROUPS, etc..

But, that's not the PERSON that is the box you are thinking about when you are looking at them. Their risk IS NOT the boxes you ASSIGN to them.  While YES having sex with a partner/s from a population with a high saturation of HIV/AIDS may increase your risk of contraction in my experience ( over 6yrs in the HIV/AIDS field and an MPH) it matters more HOW you are having sex with that person/s. Are you using LOT'S of the CORRECT type of lube?

Are you using a CONDOM/DENTAL DAM/NON-PERMEABLE barrier?

Are you using the BARRIER correctly?

Are you using ONLY latex/vix skin/ rubber/glass sex toys ( not jelly rubber or other materials that can’t be fully sanitized) with your partner/s?

Are you cleaning your sex toys between partners or using barriers on the toy's?

Are you wiping down your leather with the correct solutions to properly clean it? If you are positive are you taking your med's, monitoring your viral load and acting in healthy ways for you and your partner/s? Are you using INFORMED CONSENT with your partner/s? IF yes to all of the above, congratulations, you have very low risk for transmitting or contracting HIV/AIDS NO MATTER YOUR LABELS OR BOXES.

Kenguru is a tiny electric hatchback for wheelchair users By Ellis Hamburger, theverge.com

LOOK AT THIS COMPOSER BABY

LOOK AT HER

Homemade Natural Remedies for a Cold

Cough Syrup

Vapor Rub

Immune-Boosting Tea

Hibiscus & Lemon Cough Drops

Essential Oil & Epsom Salt Bath Mix

c

wow

How did they get away with that

AH

History isn’t one straight line progressing towards a liberal society.

Look how much Americans attitudes have changed between 1980 and today. 1980 was the first time most very religious people voted, they abstained before that at the behest of their churches. Now they dictate policy at every election.

In my family photo album there are pictures from the 20s of a woman called ‘uncle bob’. She dressed in men’s clothing, and had a ‘companion’. This was a rough industrial town, they were working class, nobody cared. It was her business.

Driftwood sculptures by James Doran

Source: Truths You Won’t Believe

Hypselodoris bullockii

…is a colorful species of Chromodoridid nudibranch that is native to the tropical western Pacific Ocean and the eastern Indian Ocean. Although H. bullockii is typically a light purple color, it is surprisingly quite variable in color and can occupy a large range of colors. Like all other 7chromodorid nudibranchs H. bullockii feeds almost exclusively on sponges.

Classification

Animalia-Mollusca-Gastropoda-Heterobranchia-Euthyneura-Nudipleura-Nudibranchia-Doridoidea-Chromodoridae-Hypselodoris-H. bullockii