GAYTWOGETHER

News, Entertainment & Cool Stuff - 11/6/09

The 9 Most Trafficked Websites No One Visits -  http://ow.ly/zJyS

Amazing Art Through A Mircoscope - NYTimes.com - http://ow.ly/u7xB

New retweet feature on Twitter begins a limited roll-out -  http://ow.ly/zJyf

7 Incredible Natural Phenomena you've never seen -  http://ow.ly/zJuW

IMPORTANT READ:  “Enough is Enough” by author @MichaelsThought - http://bit.ly/3IJUo4

What Elections Actually Mean For Barack Obama - http://ow.ly

The Sex Ed Lessons You Wish They'd Taught You - http://ow.ly/

Google on the march for world domination. - http://ow.ly/yKz1

Cold/Flu Products: What Works, What Doesn't - http://ow.ly/u7gQ

Does The Brain Like e-Books? http://ow.ly/uCPb

5 Irrational Fears (Even Rational People Have) - http://ow.ly/ut9j

News, Entertainment & Cool Stuff - 11/5/09

Maine Agrees With Obama: No Same Sex Marriage - http://ow.ly/ziHe

Amazon to help you be a spammer on Twitter - http://ow.ly/ziLf

The Sex Ed Lessons You Wish They'd Taught You - http://ow.ly/

Whoops, Barack Obama Forgot to Care About the Gays Again - http://ow.ly/zje4

HEALTHY READ: Most Effective Stress Relievers - Forbes.com http://ow.ly/ziOq

Apple Announces Over 100,000 Apps Now Available on the App Store http://ow.ly/ziQ2

10 Ways You Can Use Twitter Lists http://ow.ly/ziSK

More on secret copyright treaty: kids could go to jail for noncommercial music sharing - http://bit.ly/gdcoK

$$$ Kids Toys You Wish You Still Had $$$ - http://ow.ly/zj6t

World's Oddest Couples - http://ow.ly/zj8a

What Soft Drinks are Doing to Your Body - http://ow.ly/zjau

Diet, Health And Terrific Looking Skin

A good diet is central to overall good health and can help you overcome skin issues.   (This is part of the continuing series of columns for GAYTWOGETHER authored by popular Chicago dermatologist Omeed Memar, M.D. Dr. Memar’s practice focuses on good skin care for the LGBT community.)  Among the elements recommended by Dr. Memar include, protein, carbohydrates, fats, essential fatty acids and all the essential vitamins and minerals.   A healthy skin diet will consist of liberal quantities of seeds, nuts and grains, vegetables and fruits, supplemented by special protective foods like milk, vegetable oils, yogurt, honey and yeast....

News, Entertainment & Cool Stuff - 10/21/09

• 50 Years Of Pentagon Studies Support Gay Soldiers
• Unspoken rules govern cell phone etiquette
• RUMOR: Verizon and Apple Already Testing 4G iPhone
• Apple - Magic Mouse - First Multi-Touch mouse.
• What to do if you smell a terrorist
• COOL STUFF: How To Use Your Hand as a Ruler
• 6 Movie Heroes (Who Sucked At Their Jobs)
• Twitter Co-Founder Asked - What's Up With Fail Whale?
• 'Big Brother 9 champ accused of selling drugs
• 10 Simple Freezer Tricks to Save You Time and Money

News, Entertainment & Cool Stuff - Headlines & Highlights - 09/24/09

Census Worker Hanged: Bill Sparkman Found With "Fed" On Body ---> http://ow.ly/qNCQ

U.S. Closes Mexico Border Crossing After Shootout - NYTimes.com ---> http://ow.ly/qCQo

30 Richest Internet Entrepreneurs ---> http://ow.ly/qBH9

World's Scariest Underground Tunnels ---> http://ow.ly/qCSO

Google Has A Solution For Internet Explorer: Turn It Into Chrome ---> http://ow.ly/qCNY

Twaller is Twitter for Travellers ---> http://ow.ly/qCWn

The Most Controversial Magazine Covers of All Time ---> http://ow.ly/qCOY

Actual people physically gather to talk Twitter ---> http://ow.ly/qCQ6

Fake golf club scam 'cost eBay customers millions' ---> http://ow.ly/qCRO

Courier: Microsoft Has an Apple Tablet Rival, And It Looks Impressive ---> http://ow.ly/qCXK

Chicago Gay Bar Bans Drag Queens --> http://ow.ly/qNcN

The Most Controversial Magazine Covers of All Time ---> http://ow.ly/qCOY(pics)

IMPORTANT WARNING: Twitter Worm Spreading via Direct Messages ---> http://ow.ly/qNkS

Starbucks Goes Mobile: Pay For Coffee With Your iPhone ---> http://ow.ly/qNl4

How To Accidentally Throw A Furry Orgy Using Craigslist ---> http://ow.ly/qNms

A Personal Story: Coming Out in Middle School - NYTimes.com ---> http://ow.ly/qNoR

How AIDS Became a Caribbean Crisis - The Atlantic ---> http://ow.ly/qNpp

MIT's Facebook "Gaydar" - Is It Homophobic? ---> http://ow.ly/qNpA

Titanic' prepped to set sail as 3D reissue (Reuters) ---> http://ow.ly/qNzz

News, Entertainment & Cool Stuff - Headlines & Highlights - 09/17/09

SAD NEWS: Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary dead at 72 ---> http://ow.ly/pJCu

PICTURES: Mario Lopez Gets Dolled Up In Lingerie For “Nip/Tuck” ---> http://ow.ly/pEDA  [pics]

Michael Douglas Prepares To Smooch Matt Damon As Liberace -----> http://ow.ly/pJBK

TV's 'Newlywed Game' features first gay couple ---> http://ow.ly/pJAr

Google Acquires reCAPTCHA ---> http://ow.ly/pFc3

Ways To Turn Trash Into Cash ---> http://ow.ly/pAlm

Tweeting By Numbers: 7 Ways to Become a Twitter Analyst ---> http://ow.ly/pFdj

Charlie Sheen -> '9/11 Story Is a Fraud' [ video ] --> http://ow.ly/pEX0  - believes 9-11 terror attacks were by the U.S. government.

The 5 Most Maddeningly Unresolved TV Plotlines ---> http://ow.ly/pFu6

2009 Most & Least Affordable Housing - Yahoo! Finance ---> http://ow.ly/pAmj

Why Dick Costolo Joined Twitter and the Magic Acquisition Number --> http://ow.ly/pAde

Filed Under: "Day-Dream Believer?" - Monkee Marries In Miami --> http://ow.ly/pAjL

Filed Under: "Overkill?" - Hopkins Student With Samurai Sword Kills Burglary Suspect ---> http://ow.ly/pEv4

BREAKING MEDICAL NEWS: Color-Blindness Cured by Gene Injection --> http://ow.ly/pHSh

COOL STUFF: 8 Mind-Boggling Optical Illusions --> http://ow.ly/pEoD

UGH! - You Know You Shouldn't Be a Tattoo Artist When...: [ pics ] --> http://ow.ly/pEBr

What We Know About Raymond J. Clark III - Yale murder - Gawker ---> http://ow.ly/pEyf

Twitter to raise funding at $1 billion valuation? CNET ---> http://ow.ly/pJC2

super tweet

News, Entertainment & Cool Stuff - Headlines & Highlights - 09/15/09

Backers of gay marriage want to repeal federal law ---> http://ow.ly/plwA

RIP PATRICK: 'Dirty Dancing' star Patrick Swayze at 57 --> http://ow.ly/pmI0

Windows 7 Upgrade Can Take Nearly a Day ---> http://ow.ly/pmjz

INTERESTING READ BEFORE YOU GET SUED: Legal Guide for Bloggers ---> http://ow.ly/p92V

GEEK TWEET: 10 code snippets to interact with Twitter ---> http://ow.ly/plB7

Perez Hilton: Derek Hough Wants You To Know He Is NOT Gay ---> http://ow.ly/plxb

GREAT RESOURCES: 10 Designer freebies sites ---> http://ow.ly/pe87

Donor gives $100,000 to D.C. march - Washington Blade ---> http://ow.ly/pmn0

SMART STUFF: Extend Your Battery Life with the Right Browser - Laptops --> http://ow.ly/pmkv

The Unfortunate Sex Life of the Banana --> http://ow.ly/p92e

How to Display Your Content on a Blog’s Front Page From: Webdesigner Depot ---> http://ow.ly/plDb

GREAT RESOURCE SITE: American Sign Language - ASL --> http://ow.ly/pe8P

Neil Patrick Harris be the first openly gay, male A-List actor? ---> http://ow.ly/pjDT

AMAZING: Google Releases News-Reading Service ---> http://ow.ly/pmUD

Elton John Cannot Adopt Ukrainian Orphan ----> http://ow.ly/pjEF

Your Health: Age Well, Live Well: Wrinkles: Preventing, Removing Or Forgetting Them

One of the common complaints that I hear about are wrinkles and what treatments are available to help people look years younger. Americans spend about $250 million a year on wrinkle fillers – a more-than-threefold increase in four years. (This article is part of the continuing series for GAYTWOGETHER authored by popular Chicago dermatologist Omeed Memar M.D. - Dr. Memar’s practice focuses on good skin care for the LGBT community.) For prevention, wear sunscreen and don't smoke.  To reduce the appearance of wrinkles:

Hydrate. Use a moisturizing soap to clean your face; then, apply an emollient moisturizer.

Try the prescription antioxidant tretinoin (Retin-A) or an over-the-counter antioxidant product with reliable studies backing it up.

Get an alpha-hydroxy acid peel, Botox and/or a filling agent.

Wrinkles are the result of many factors: sun exposure, facial expressions, genetics, environmental pollutants (such as smoking) and various lifestyle-related aspects, including sleeping on one side of the face.

News, Entertainment & Cool Stuff --- Hightlights From TerrificTwitters - 08/25/09

Pink Pooch With Earrings Stolen From Gay Bar By Dude With Britney Spears Tattoo ---> http://ow.ly/l3Hi

Filed Under: "How About Telling Us Something We Don't Know." ---> Gays and Lesbians Love Social Networks ----> http://ow.ly/l4BO

Federal judge dismisses suit arguing the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional -- latimes.com ---> http://ow.ly/lcxg

Filed Under: Do They At Least Take A Pee?" Families Today - Before Breakast - Technology Is Morning’s First Priority ---> http://ow.ly/lckE

Filed Under "Just The Way I Like It - FREE!" ---> 40 High Quality Dual Screen Wallpapers ---> http://ow.ly/lcjP

Filed Under "Now How About Rebates For Old Crappy Computers?" ---> Cash for Clunker nears end of road - Aug. 24, 2009 ---> http://ow.ly/lciD

"Why I Hate Flickr - No REALLY!" ---> Flickr Shuts Down Discussions About Flickr Constantly Shutting Things Down ---> http://ow.ly/lcgZ

Jury: Philip Morris Should Pay $13.8 Million to Smoker's Daughter ----> http://ow.ly/lcg2

Heartfelt video --> "you don't lose until you quite trying" - a vet's message of hope ~ http://bit.ly/15f5d5

Filed Under: "And I Thought It Was Just Me: ---> Complete Guide to Making Outlook Faster (Than Molasses) ---> http://ow.ly/lc6M

Filed Under: "So That's How They Make That" ---> Top Secret Recipes ---> http://ow.ly/l4De

Filed Under: "COOL STUFF" ---> 13 Fantastic & Fun Image Generators ---> http://ow.ly/l4Ej 

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Age Well, Live Well: You Are What You Eat!

If you are seeking to look youthful, my list of "super foods" below can help. My general rule of thumb to maintain healthy skin is "feed it and don’t hurt it." (This article is part of the continuing series for GAYTWOGETHER authored by popular Chicago dermatologist Omeed Memar M.D. - Dr. Memar’s practice focuses on good skin care for the LGBT community.)

In order to maintain new skin, nail and hair growth your skin needs plenty of protein and water. Also, you know it, but I have to say it – stop smoking and sunning! Skin damaging and premature aging are caused by free-radicals. Sun and smoking and natural aging all release free-radicals. Anti-oxidants, on the other hand, a group of compounds protect the body and skin from damage caused by free-radicals.

New Report Shows LGBT Health Disparities

A new report on the non-HIV health and human service needs of LGBT people in New York state shows significant disparities compared to non-LGBT people, reflecting national trends exacerbated by lack of adequate data and homophobia.

The state-sponsored report, the first of its kind for New York, was prepared by researcher Somjen Frazer and published by the Empire State Pride Agenda.  It is based on government data, interviews with 60 LGBT health and human services experts, and surveys of 3,500 LGBT New Yorkers.

Key findings of the report, according to Somjen, include the pervasiveness of homelessness, which poses a substantial barrier to service access. Fourteen percent of LGBT people, including one-third of transgender respondents, reported being homeless currently or at one point in their lives.

Lack of culturally competent care also creates hurdles, with 40% of LGBT respondents saying that too few health professionals were adequately trained to deliver services to LGBT patients. Moreover, 27% said they feared they would be treated differently if their health care provider learned they were LGBT.

Lastly, violence continues to present a challenge, with 13% of respondents saying that they had been physically or sexually assaulted because they were LGBT. Only 25% of those hit, punched or kicked in a homophobic assault said they had reported it to the police.

The full report, LGBT Health and Human Services Needs in New York State, can be found here.
[ Source ]

Fruit Can Benefit Your Skin - Try It & Apply It

Fruit can benefit your health and your skin. Not only will you enjoy the aroma of the fruit when you’re preparing these mixtures, but when applied to your skin but feel luxurious. They enrich, moisturize and tone tired, dehydrated skin. (This article is part of a series of columns for GAYTWOGETHER authored by popular Chicago dermatologist Omeed Memar M.D. - Dr. Memar’s practice focuses on good skin care for the LGBT community.) Recipes for facial masks and scrubs after the jump....

Age Well, Live Well: Do All Your Baking in the Kitchen, Not in the Sun!

Those very hot days of summer are here — and so is overexposure to the sun. (This article is part of a continuing series of columns for GAYTWOGETHER authored by popular Chicago dermatologist Omeed Memar M.D. - Dr. Memar’s practice focuses on good skin care for the LGBT community.) Contrary to popular myth, a good tan is not a measure of good health, but actually a sign of skin injury. Too much sun can cause sunburn, wrinkles, freckles, skin texture changes, dilated blood vessels, rash problems and worst of all, deadly skin cancers. Consider using a self-tanner to get that bronzed healthy glow.

Here are some suggestions on how to enjoy the sun safely:

Make sure your sunscreen has at least one of these three products: Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide or Avobenzene. 

Try and use a lotion that has a SPF protection of at least 30, although most dermatologists recommend SPF 15, on all exposed skin, including the lips, even on cloudy days. 

If exposed to water, either through swimming or sweating, a water-resistant sunscreen should be used. 

Reapply sunscreen frequently.

Sit in the shade whenever possible.

Wear protective, tightly-woven clothing.

You Are What You Eat - But Not Always

Take a moment and consider this logic: Fat-free foods are healthy, Skittles are fat-free, therefore, Skittles are healthy.  Make sense?  Of course not.  But it's exactly the type of reasoning that food manufacturers want you to use. You see, in our example, we started with a false premise. That's because the term "fat-free" is often code for "high-sugar" -- an attribute that makes a product the opposite of healthy. Case in point: Johns Hopkins University researchers recently determined that high blood sugar is an independent risk factor for heart disease.  So high-glycemic foods -- those such as sugars and starches that raise your blood sugar dramatically -- are inherently unhealthy.

Unfortunately, faulty food logic is far less obvious when you're shopping outside the candy aisle.  Why?  Because making healthy choices isn't as simple as knowing that beans are packed with fiber, or that fruits are loaded with disease-fighting antioxidants. After all, manufacturers often add ingredients, such as sugar, that can instantly turn a good snack bad. As a result, many of the products that you think are wholesome are anything but. And that's why we've created our list of the dirty dozen: 12 "healthy" foods that you can -- and should -- live without.

A Place To Live - Aging & The LGBT Community

A topic many in the LGBT community don’t think about often is aging.  We can accept it, but American society, unfortunately, still isn’t comfortable with “the gays.”  Thus, when gay seniors need to find a retirement home, they are often shoved back into the closet.  Significant others of many years are torn apart as they aren’t legally recognized as a couple with rights. What happens to you if you’re in your 60’s or 70’s with no biological family? How do you find affordable living arrangements that don’t muzzle a major part of your identity or life?

A Place to Live: The Story of Triangle Square is a documentary film that investigates this problem. The film won the Audience Award at OUTFEST in 2008.  The film follows seven older adults as they try to secure places in the first affordable LGBT housing facility in the U.S.—Triangle Square Hollywood. A lottery was set up to select the first residents, since the applicants overwhelmed the number of units in the facility.

A Place To Live Trailer - LGBT Seniors in Crisis

The nonprofit Gay & Lesbian Elder Housing (GLEH) was founded in 2001 with the goal to build and operate a safe, affordable, multicultural housing development specifically for LGBT older adult. They called their initial project Triangle Square. Producer Cynthia Childs saw the construction site for Triangle Square and recognized the project’s cultural significance. She and director Carolyn Coal found people willing to talk about themselves and how they came to Triangle Square.

A Place to Live: The Story of Triangle Square is a documentary film that investigates this problem. The film won the Audience Award at OUTFEST in 2008.  The film follows seven older adults as they try to secure places in the first affordable LGBT housing facility in the U.S.—Triangle Square Hollywood. A lottery was set up to select the first residents, since the applicants overwhelmed the number of units in the facility.

A Place To Live Trailer - LGBT Seniors in Crisis

The nonprofit Gay & Lesbian Elder Housing (GLEH) was founded in 2001 with the goal to build and operate a safe, affordable, multicultural housing development specifically for LGBT older adult. They called their initial project Triangle Square. Producer Cynthia Childs saw the construction site for Triangle Square and recognized the project’s cultural significance. She and director Carolyn Coal found people willing to talk about themselves and how they came to Triangle Square.

Age Well, Live Well: Keeping Your Skin Healthy

Your skin is your body's first defense against disease and infection, and protects internal organs from injuries. The largest organ in the body, skin helps regulate body temperature, prevents excess fluid loss, and it helps your body remove excess water and salt. (This article is part of the continuing series for GAYTWOGETHER authored by popular Chicago dermatologist Omeed Memar M.D. - Dr. Memar’s practice focuses on good skin care for the LGBT community.) There are a number of ways to keep your skin healthy, and many options available to treat skin problems. Consult a dermatologist if you feel skin treatment is necessary.

A Guide To The Harmful Effects Of Poppers

Use of poppers have been associated with harmful effects on the immune system and increased risk for HIV. In general, popper use is to be avoided and not part of healthy and safe sex.

"Poppers" are any of a variety of physiological-effect chemicals. Typically, they are some sort of n-nitrite compound, where 'n' is any convenient organic chemical. The original "poppers" were amyl nitrite, which came in small glass sphericals you 'popped' and then inhaled the vapors through your nostrils.

The common poppers found in sexual circles came in tiny amber bottles. Typically, these were sold as 'room deoderizers' or 'incense' (an absurdity, since they smell like used socks) and came in many names, such as "Rush," "Jolt," "Locker Room" (an honest name, at any rate), "Jack Hammer," ect. They were sold in adult bookstores.

Poppers are an inhalant, as n-nitrites have very low vapor points and become airborne almost immediately. The most common method of taking them is to simply open the bottle, hold it under one's nose, and inhale.

Amyl nitrite was defined as a 'medical use only' drug and its manufacture and sale made illegal. The manufacturers switched to butyl nitrite, then to i-butyl nitrite. The US [United States] finally passed a comprehensive legislation that, it appeared, covered all forms of n-nitrite. However, as of February [1993] a version of poppers with the chemical form of "cyclohexylnitrite" has been available in the United States.

Age Well, Live Well: A Diet For Great Skin

Jump on the pomegranate band wagon, plus more great skin tips! "To achieve flawless skin, I’m constantly advising patients that in addition to medical procedures and treatments, you have to be mindful of what you eat." (This is a continuing series of columns for GAYTWOGETHER authored by popular Chicago dermatologist Omeed Memar M.D. - his practice focuses on good skin care for the LGBT community.) Over the coming months I will be offering some easy-to-make recipes for meals and even homemade topical solutions (facials) for you to consider. To get started, I offer some tips that you should consider incorporating into your daily life:

Boost Your Energy Level By Sleeping Better

"If you want amazing sack time, the kind that will boost your energy levels and slow the aging process, you need to build it from the bed up."  In this article the experts weigh in on everything from the best beds to the best sleeping pills. Insomniacs, prepare to crash.   Peter Powers puts people to sleep. He isn't boring; he's a hypnotist. In 1993, the Australian entertainer brought his trance-inducing act to Liverpool, where he made a man lie down in a shop-window display and fall sound asleep. Eight days later, the guy woke up (no doubt with a store-clearing case of morning breath). Neat trick, huh?  Unfortunately, unless you're sporting a gold pocket watch and excel at mind control (your own), this isn't something you can try at home....

A truckload of mattresses, sheets, blankets, and pillows to identify the ultimate combination for catching serious shut-eye were tested.  And for those occasional stare-at-the-ceiling emergencies, the best over-the-counter sleep supplement and prescription sleeping pill were recommended. Does all of this mean you'll snooze like the Liverpudlian?  No, but you'll feel like you did.

Conquer That Winter Cold With The Right Cold Fighting Foods

 The news made headlines around the world: Chicken soup really does help fight colds. A team headed by lung specialist Stephen Rennard at the Nebraska Medical Center found that in a test tube chicken soup suppressed inflammation, which causes many cold symptoms. But chicken soup isn’t the only food that might help. Here’s a daily menu based on experts’ recommendations.

Breakfast: Orange juice or half a grapefruit. Both are great sources of vitamin C, which could shorten the duration of colds.

Whole-grain cereal or bread: Whole grains are rich in vitamins and minerals, including zinc and vitamin E, which can help keep your immune system healthy.

Black tea: Real tea leaves (not herbal) have substances that speed the action of cilia, the tiny hairlike cells lining your nasal pas-sages, helping them expel germs.

Mid-morning snack: Yogurt. It can help you maintain a healthy immune system, as long as it contains beneficial bacteria. One cup of yogurt with live active cultures or a glass of kefir a day provides all you need.

Chicken soup: The Nebraska researchers used a traditional recipe they called “Grandma’s Soup,” which had veggies like onions, parsnips, and carrots, along with chicken. But most of the commercial varieties they tested reduced inflammation, too. For even more protection, add a clove or two of garlic.