Category: Uncategorized

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amfAR Dedicates $100 Million To HIV Cure By 2020

amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, one of the world’s leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to the support of AIDS research and HIV prevention, made a huge announcement today:

amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, today announced that it has created a $100 million investment strategy in support of its Countdown to a Cure for AIDS initiative, launched last year with the aim of developing the scientific basis of a cure by 2020. The establishment of the amfAR Institute for HIV Cure Research within a major academic research institution with a grant of $20 million will be the centerpiece of the investment strategy.

“This represents the greatest expansion of amfAR’s grant making in the 30-year history of the Foundation,” said Kevin Robert Frost, amfAR’s Chief Executive Officer. “We’re very excited to be launching this strategy and establishing an institute dedicated exclusively to the pursuit of a cure for HIV. Concentrating the minds and the efforts of leading AIDS cure researchers under one roof will facilitate the rapid sharing of knowledge and ideas and create the kind of synergy needed to accelerate the search for a cure.”

Since 1985, amfAR has invested $415 million in its programs and has awarded grants to more than 3,300 research teams worldwide.

(via press release)

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No Endorsement For Donald Trump By Black Evangelical Leaders

Last week, Donald Trump’s campaign was thrilled to announce that The Donald was set to meet with over 100 black evangelical pastors at an event that would include their endorsement.

Well, scratch that. According to Darrell Scott, a pastor from Ohio who has helped arrange meetings between Trump and black pastors, there was a “miscommunication” about the nature of the meeting.

Read that: No endorsement.

Via the AP:

Many of those invited to the event say they had no intention of endorsing the billionaire businessman and former reality television star.

“It’s a miscommunication,” said Darrell Scott, the senior pastor of New Spirit Revival Center in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, who has helped to arrange meetings between Trump and black pastors in recent months. Trump’s campaign “thought it was going to be a press conference for an endorsement when it wasn’t,” Scott said Sunday in an interview.

Trump campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks said in an email that Trump would still be holding a private meeting with the group on Monday before departing for a rally in Georgia.

Trump has struggled to expand his support with African-American voters after missteps like saying a black protester at one of his rallies deserved to get roughed up. He also retweeted an internet meme with false statistics about the number of black on white killings in America.

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Viral Video: Brandon Skeie Covers Adele’s “Hello”

Hottie Brandon Skeie (pronounced pronounced SHAY-ah) shares his stunning cover of the Adele mega-hit “Hello” – over 500K views so far.

And speaking of hello, hello Mr. Sheie! You can check out more of his cover songs on YouTube PLUS he shares his story of how he lost – wait for it – 100 lbs!

How’s all that for inspiration? He’s racking up a lot of fans on Instagram, YouTube and Facebook. Check him out.

(h/t Queerty)

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Trailer: “Gods Of Egypt”

I know my hubby Michael will love this movie. But there is already a bit of scandal around the film, that doesn’t open until February 26th.

When the trailer dropped earlier this month, critics denounced the casting of the film due to a huge lack of diversity. A movie titled “Gods of Egypt” had not one Egyptian cast in a major role.

The film’s studio responded to the criticism:

“We recognize that it is our responsibility to help ensure that casting decisions reflect the diversity and culture of the time periods portrayed,” the studio said. “In this instance we failed to live up to our own standards of sensitivity and diversity, for which we sincerely apologize. Lionsgate is deeply committed to making films that reflect the diversity of our audiences. We have, can and will continue to do better.​​”

“The process of casting a movie has many complicated variables, but it is clear that our casting choices should have been more diverse,” Proyas added. “I sincerely apologize to those who are offended by the decisions we made.”

Michael and I enjoy these kinds of fantasy/action films, so I’m sure we’ll see it at some point. But I’m glad the idea of diversity was brought up here. You have to wonder if the idea of casting an Egyptian actor even came up during the casting process….?

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“Hot Cop Of Castro” Arrested For Hit-And-Run

(photo via Facebook)

Sad to hear, and I should note we don’t have all the details. But the arrest was certainly not done without some certainty.

Via SFExaminer.com:

A well-known San Francisco police officer, also known as the “Hot Cop of Castro,” was arrested Sunday and booked on two felony charges of hit-and-run, Sgt. Michael Andraychak said.

Christopher Kohrs, 38, of San Francisco is alleged to have struck two pedestrians early Sunday morning in North Beach, police said.

About 2:20 a.m., officers arrived to the intersection of Broadway and Montgomery Street and discovered two pedestrians who had been struck by a car, Andraychak said.

The car, a Dodge Charger, was left at the scene but the driver reportedly fled the scene.

The two pedestrians, both men in their 40s, were taken to the hospital with serious but not life threatening injuries, Andraychak said. The men were apparently crossing Broadway when they were struck by the vehicle that was traveling west on Broadway.

(photo via Facebook)

(h/t TRR reader Aaron)

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Tweet Of The Day: A Mother Asks A Question On Twitter

I won’t comment further except to point out the number of folks who clicked the “Like” button.

Click on the date/time link. You’ve GOT to read the responses.

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Donald Trump Still Has No Proof “Thousands And Thousands” Cheered On 9/11

Donald Trump, currently falling in the polls for the GOP nomination (currently 3rd now in Iowa), refuses to acknowledge he has no proof to backup his claim that on 9/11 he saw “thousands and thousands” of Muslims in New Jersey cheering at the World Trade Center being attacked.

At least Chuck Todd tries here to get a real answer from Trump: “You’re running for President of the United States! Your words matter! Truthfulness matters! Fact-based stuff matters!”

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Daily Dance: Celebrate This Guy

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Dance like everyone is watching.Posted by George Takei on Friday, November 27, 2015

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Mike Huckabee: I’ve Never Heard Any Pro-Lifer Suggest Attacking Planned Parenthood

“I don’t know any pro-life leader, any – if you can tell me one, please correct me – but I don’t know of anybody who has suggested violence toward Planned Parenthood personnel.”

I think The Huckster is walking a fine line there. He may not want to name a “pro-life leader” but he knows there are those in that tribe that call for violence to close down Planned Parenthood. That’s not news to anyone.

(h/t JMG)