Monday, March 28, 2011

[Peckers_Pics] Model Wars; PICS + Articles; Mar 29, 2011/Boycott TARGET



Model Wars; PICS + Articles; Mar 29, 2011 (Corrected)
Safe PICS For All Ages / Boycott TARGET / Support Keith Olbermann soon coming to "CURRENT TV"

Updates on Keith Olbermann  @ ObamaBiden2008 (Update: Keith joined "CURRENT TV").  Check with your cable provider to see if you have "Current TV".  Current TV's website has option for you to request service from your cable provider.   Current TV's founder is Al Gore.  Charter Cable does not carry "Current TV".  Please Contact Charter now!  Keith is a man who stuck his neck out for progressives, as well as the LGBT community. Update:  Keith began his FOK NEWS blog. 

Alert: Target + Minnesota Forward + Tom Emmer = Support for a rather dangerous and radical political philosophy that diminishes LGBT people to pests that should be murdered. And "Target" is cool with this?   ...Now Target is suing the LGBT community for their peaceful demonstrations in front of their stores.    ....Our answer:  BOYCOTT "TARGET"

Consider joining:

Diet & Fitness:

  • Reminder: Did you complete your Diet Journal today?
  • Did you do any physical activity?  If not, make a point of it by tomorrow! 
  • Perhaps our male fitness photos shall inspire you to get Fit!
Health - Wellness - Exercise - Reflections:
Answers About Alzheimer's Symptoms, Treatments and More

From the National Institute on Aging / March 28, 2011

Nearly everyone has harmless moments of forgetfulness: What was his name? Where did I put my keys? But what if you forget how to brush your teeth, or where you live? These could be signs of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills.

It does so by wiping out neurons and the connections that control memory, then it attacks areas responsible for language and reasoning. Once additional areas of the brain are damaged, a person with AD becomes helpless and unresponsive.

Among older people, it's the most common cause of dementia. Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning – thinking, remembering, and reasoning – to such an extent that it interferes with a person's daily life and activities.

As many as 5.1 million Americans, most over age 60, may have Alzheimer's. But still much about this disease remains unknown. Scientists continue to investigate what causes it and why it largely strikes older adults.

Here, we answer your basic questions:

What is Alzheimer's disease (AD)?
AD is common among older people, but it isn't considered a normal part of aging. It initially affects new memories, then gradually spreads to other parts of the brain. Although treatment can slow the progression of AD and help manage its symptoms in some people, currently there's no cure for this devastating disease.

As nerve cells die throughout the brain, affected regions begin to shrink. By the final stage of AD, damage is widespread and brain tissue has shrunk significantly. What is dementia?
Dementia is a general term that refers to a decline in cognitive function so extensive that it interferes with daily life and activities. This loss in the ability to think, remember and reason isn't a disease itself, but a group of symptoms that often accompanies a disease or condition.

Many conditions and diseases cause dementia. Two of the most common causes in older people are AD and vascular dementia, which is caused by a series of strokes or changes in the brain's blood supply.

Other conditions that cause memory loss or dementia include:

•Medication side effects

•Chronic alcoholism

•Certain tumors and infections in the brain

•Blood clots in the brain

•Vitamin B12 deficiency

•Dehydration

•High fever

•Some thyroid, kidney, or liver disorders

Many of these conditions are temporary and reversible, but they can be serious and should be treated by a doctor as soon as possible.

What causes AD?
Scientists don't yet fully understand what causes AD, but it's clear that it develops because of a complex series of events that take place in the brain over a long period of time. Likely causes include genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors.

Because people differ in their genetic make-up and lifestyle, the importance of these factors for preventing or delaying Alzheimer's differs from person to person.

What are the symptoms?
Alzheimer's disease develops slowly and causes changes in the brain long before there are obvious changes in a person's memory, thinking, use of words or behavior. Its course isn't the same in everyone, but symptoms seem to develop over the same general stages. Mild AD
As AD progresses, memory loss continues and changes in other cognitive abilities appear. Symptoms in this stage can include:

•Getting lost at familiar locations

•Trouble handling money and paying bills

•Repeating questions

•Taking longer than usual to complete normal daily tasks

•Poor judgment

•Losing things or misplacing them in odd places

•Mood and personality changes

In most people with AD, symptoms first appear after age 60. AD is often diagnosed at this stage.

Moderate AD
In moderate AD, damage occurs in areas of the brain that control language, reasoning, sensory processing and conscious thought. Symptoms may include:

•Increased memory loss and confusion

•Problems recognizing family and friends

•Inability to learn new things

•Difficulty carrying out tasks that involve multiple steps (such as getting dressed)

•Problems coping with new situations

•Delusions and paranoia

•Impulsive behavior

Severe AD
People with severe AD can't communicate and are completely dependent on others for their care. Near the end, the person with AD may be in bed most or all of the time. Their symptoms often include:

•Inability to recognize oneself or family

•Inability to communicate

•Weight loss

•Seizures

•Skin infections

•Difficulty swallowing

•Groaning, moaning or grunting

•Increased sleeping

•Lack of control of bowel and bladder

How is it diagnosed?
Several methods and tools can determine fairly accurately whether a person with memory problems has "possible Alzheimer's disease," "probable Alzheimer's disease" or another problem. However, a definitive diagnosis of AD can be made only through autopsy after death.To diagnose Alzheimer's in a living person, a physician will:

•Ask questions about a person's overall health, past medical problems, ability to carry out daily activities, and changes in behavior and personality.

•Give written and oral tests, such as the Mini Mental State Examination, that score memory, problem solving, attention, counting and language skills.

•Carry out medical tests, such as tests of blood, urine, or spinal fluid.

•Perform brain scans, such as a computed tomography (CT) or positron emission tomography (PET) scan or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test.

These tests may be repeated to give doctors information about how the person's health and memory are changing over time. Such tests also can help diagnose other causes of memory problems, including mild cognitive impairment and vascular dementia.

What is mild cognitive impairment (or MCI)?
Mild cognitive impairment is a medical condition that causes people to have more memory problems than other people their age. Vascular dementia is a medical condition caused by small strokes or changes in the brain's blood supply.

Is there treatment for Alzheimer's?
Only a few medications have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help control the memory loss that characterizes AD. Donepezil (Aricept®), rivastigmine (Exelon®), and galantamine (Razadyne®, formerly known as Reminyl® and now available as a generic drug) are prescribed to treat mild to moderate AD symptoms. Donepezil also is approved to treat severe AD.

These drugs stop or slow the action of acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine (a neurotransmitter that helps in memory formation).

These meds also help regulate neurotransmitters, the chemicals that transmit messages between neurons. The goal is to help patients carry out everyday activities and slow symptoms related to thinking, memory, or speaking skills. They also may help with certain behavioral symptoms. However, they do not stop or reverse AD and appear to help patients only for several months to a few years.

Memantine (Namenda®) may be prescribed to treat moderate to severe AD symptoms. This drug appears to block receptors for glutamate, another neurotransmitter involved in memory function.

Other medicines, such as antidepressants, help ease behavioral symptoms of AD, such as sleeplessness, anxiety, anger, depression and wandering. They don't treat AD, but can provide some comfort.

Can symptoms for Alzheimer's be mistaken for another condition?
Emotional problems, such as stress, anxiety, or depression, can make a person more forgetful and can be mistaken for Alzheimer's or dementia. Some people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have memory losses similar to those with AD, but typically do not have the personality changes or cognitive problems that characterize AD.

Thyroid problems, drug reactions, depression, brain tumors and blood-vessel disease in the brain can also cause Alzheimer's-like symptoms, but most can be treated successfully.

Is there anything that can be done to prevent the disease?
Although no treatments or drugs have yet been proven to prevent or delay AD, people can take some beneficial steps and that might reduce possible risk factors for AD. For example:

•Regular exercise

•Eating a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables

•Engaging in social and intellectually stimulating activities

•Controlling type-2 diabetes

•Lowering high blood pressure levels

•Lowering high blood cholesterol levels

•Maintaining a healthy weight
Any new promising research into the causes or cures for AD?
AD research is focusing on ways to better identify high-risk individuals at very early stages of the disease. Efforts to understand more about certain biological compounds, how they work and what causes their levels to change may answer questions about what initiates AD and how it develops.

Learning more about these markers also may help scientists track whether certain medications are effective in early stages of the disease and may some day lead to new prevention strategies.

The use of imaging techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET), to measure brain structure and function, is also showing promise in AD research.

How long can a person live with AD?
AD is a slow disease that starts with mild memory problems and ends with severe brain damage. The time from diagnosis to death varies - as little as 3 or 4 years if the person is older than 80 when diagnosed, to as long as 10 or more years if the person is younger.

Other factors that affect how long a person will live with AD include the person's sex, the presence of other health problems, and the severity of cognitive problems at diagnosis.
Take Action:
  • Boycott advertisers of Glenn Beck - Fox News.  Glenn Beck is anti-gay rights.
  • Update: DADT has been repealed. President Obama has kept his promise!
  • Boycott Bill O'Reilly and FOX News and their advertisers.  Bill discussed a French commercial by McDonalds that was meant to show that McDonalds is Gay Friendly. Bill said what is next? Is McDonalds going to be Al-Qaida friendly as well?  Imagine - Bill O'Reilly compares Gays to Al-Qaida!
  • Boycott Arizona the home of  "hater" - U.S. Senator John McCain. Arizona's Hateful anti-Immigration Law - encourages racial profiling and increases hatred towards minorities.  A remedy: Demand Republicans to  support Immigration Reform (The Dream Act). Further, Senator McCain voted against ending DADT and Blocked Immigration reform! 
  • Boycott Target, Best Buy, Gold's Gym - for donating money towards anti-gay political candidates/organizations. Update: (12/26/2010): Target is continuing to donate to anti-gay groups/causes/politicians. Update 03/08/11 - Lady Gaga Ends Target Partnership, Reportedly Over Target's Poor LGBT Stance. Update 3/25/2010 - Target displays their hypocrisy and Sues California Gay Rights Group for Lobbying Outside Stores.  Target is attempting to block the LGBT right of free speech!  STOP SHOPPING AT TARGET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • End DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act).  Prevents Federal employees and Gays in the Military from gaining equal benefits. Prevents Gay Partners from gaining equal benefits.    
  • Pass ENDA (Employee Non-Discrimination Act).  ENDA would prevent employment discrimination of  LGBT workforce.
  • Boycott Salvation Army as they will not hire Gays! "DO NOT DONATE TO THEM."
  • BOYCOTT "Chick-fil-a" for donating to anti-gay marriage groups.
  • BOYCOTT KOCH INDUSTRIES PRODUCTS- to include their products: Angel Soft toilet paper / Brawny paper towels / Dixie plates, bowls, napkins & cups / Mardi Gras napkins and towels / Quilted Northern toilet paper / Soft 'n Gentle toilet paper / Sparkle napkins / Vanity fair napkins / Zee napkins / Georgia-Pacific paper products & envelopes / All Georgia-Pacific lumber & building products (INVISTA Products) / Lycra / Stainmaster Carpet.   The billionaire - Koch brothers are ultra republican - tea bag founders/supporters that do not support causes of the LGBT community.
  • Boycott WALMART - The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, force criticized Wal-Mart for denying employee benefits to same-s-x partners and for failing to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity. By comparison, the group said two other chain stores with a strong presence in New York, Costco and Walgreens, did much better.
  • NEW: Boycott Donald Trump, The Apprentice and NBC Network! Trump stated he is considering a run for president as a Republican. In a interview with the Des Moines Register, Trump added that he opposes all forms of legal recognition for gay couples, not just marriage. "They should not be able to marry," he said. So why does NBC keep the Apprentice running - when Donald Trump has stated he may run for president? Boycott NBC! Boycott advertisers of The Apprentice and Trump's other business's. Don't shop at any building with Donald Trump's name!  The Donald has expressed extreme Hatred.  Remember how poorly he treated Rosie O'Donnel?  Now we know why he did that!  It was hate against a lesbian as we now know he is hater.  Unforgiveable!  Ready to dump NBC because they air Donald Trump's "The Apprentice"?  Start Watching CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.
  • NEW: Boycott "APPLE." For the current owners and the aspiring owners of the I-phone,  Apple allows an application, "The Gay App", which is supposed to help gay individuals turn straight.  This is a step in the wrong direction.
    Apple needs to know that the decision to allow this App on their products is a fallacious idea! Update: March 23, 2011:  Apple removed this app from USA stores; but, possibly not from foreign stores.  This is offensive not just towards the LGBT community in the USA; but, offensive to  the entire LGBT community around the world.  How does anyone approve such a hateful, despicable app towards the LGBT community? Especially when Gay Teens are killing themselves after being harrassed by their church, parents, as well as  by bully's and teachers at school. The idea that this app was used, solicited is disgusting.  
  • Remember David Kato, Gay activist - Uganda, who was slain because he is gay!

And Now, Model Wars!

This group is called "Peckers Pics."  The English -  slang definition of "pecker" is to pluck at the truth. Therefore, we peck at items such as Gay Men's Health, Male Fitness, Gay (LGBT) Politics & Issues.  In this section you may peck at each photo in order to decide the winner of the "war of the fittest!"   Whereas, who is the model that may inspire you to exercise and "get fit?"  Warning: This may stoke you!
 
Your participation in discussion of health / news articles - appearing in this message is greatly appreciated.
 
TAYLOR SIMMONS
 
VS
Joshua Kloss
 
You Decide!
PrideFest; Lake Worth, Florida; March 27, 2011
Stoked?
PrideFest; Lake Worth, Florida; March 27, 2011
Lady Gaga is the face of gay rights in New York
by Nitasha Maindiratta / March 28, 2011 / Washington Square News

Lady Gaga, a former Tisch student, has been gaining more praise for her activism than her new album as of late.

Several lawmakers have applauded Gaga for her role in the gay rights movement, particularly in the state of New York.

"I congratulated and thanked her on her strong stance on marriage equality," said Assemblymember Deborah Glick, the state legislature's first openly gay member. "She reaches different demographics and encourages younger people on the issue. No one person can change the law but the efforts of a lot of people can. Celebrities use their profiles in progressive change and influence others."

At NYU, where many students identify themselves as homosexual, the issue of gay rights is particularly important. Tisch freshman Dimitri Moise, who identifies as gay, performed an a cappella Gaga song at the university's Ultra Violet Live competition. Gaga, he said, is great for the cause due to her pervasive influence.

"Having equal rights as others is something that is critical to me," he said. "I just hope that in the future our rights can be at the level as everyone else. Lady Gaga being a huge proponent of gay activism will be a huge support for this ... because [she] is so influential as a performer and a person."

Groups advocating marriage equality are also praising Lady Gaga for her efforts.

"I am so appreciative of Lady Gaga's vocal support of our community, from 'Don't ask, don't tell' to marriage equality," said Anthony Brown, executive director of The Wedding Party. "Most celebrities shy away from outspoken advocacy for LGBT issues, but Gaga has made it part of her persona and she continues to challenge her huge audience to step up and take a stand [for] equality in every way. ... She takes a no-nonsense approach to the issue and, through her advocacy, makes it not only acceptable to support gay equality, but she makes it cool."

Gaga made headlines this year when she ended an exclusive CD deal with Target stores due to the donations the company made to Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer, who had previously made homophobic comments. In a statement about Gaga's withdrawal, Target asserted that it did in fact support the LGBT community, saying that it "remain[ed] committed to the LGBT community as demonstrated by our contributions to various LGBT organizations."

As much as her music is about the "monster" of fame and the seductive nature of the spotlight, Evan Wolfson, the president and founder of the marriage equality group Freedom to Marry, says Gaga has wielded her star power in a positive way to help other people be heard.

"Lady Gaga is in a unique position to have her voice heard by millions across the world," he said. "By leveraging her platform to speak out on this issue, she is elevating the voices of millions of New Yorkers as well."
"Every gay and lesbian person who has been lucky enough to survive the turmoil of growing up is a survivor. Survivors always have an obligation to those who will face the same challenges."
....Jake
  
 
Important Notice: Our ObamaBiden2008 Group works hand - in - hand with Peckers PICS (Both groups were co-created to work with each-other).  To prevent duplication of articles and questions, all members of this group are expected  to join ObamaBiden2008. It is unfair for members that belong to both groups to hear members of just Peckers PICS (only) to make statements when the ObamaBiden2008 has covered such topics in detail.  Therefore, members need to join ObamaBiden2008  immediately.  This shall clear up communications and confusion.  The LGBT cause is too important and beyond 1 person's need to just look at pictures.   Therefore, please join ObamaBiden2008 now.  No you don't have to read every article! But, it covers the LGBT community and includes updates on Health insurance; LGBT boycott list; Westboro Church; and the end of DADT, etc...Also, updates with the multi - state gov't's war against unions and people with disabilities. The group is created for you!  There are gay teen suicides going on. There are Hate crimes against gay people. There are gays who are fired over their sexual identity.  There are gay people who died for our cause! You always reserve the right to remove yourself from all my groups if you do not appreciate this request.  I have done everything I can and now it is time for you to step up!  My Groups are for Yahoo members who sincerely care about LGBT rights and Gay Mens Health!   Please Join Now!

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All members of "Peckers PICS" are requested to join our "Obama Biden 2008" group as it runs in conjunction to this group.  Both groups shall not repeat articles from one group to another.  However, to gain full knowledge of Gay rights, members must belong to the Obama group as well as this group.  Therefore, please accept your invitation to join. 

To join the Obama group please click (or copy and paste the link into your browser) @  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ObamaBiden2008/join

Thank you!
 

"Every gay and lesbian person who has been lucky enough to survive the turmoil of growing up is a survivor. Survivors always have an obligation to those who will face the same challenges."

...Jake (Moderator)



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