Free Breaking News

Support free news online by subscribing today!

AIDS: A Ferocious Killer That Endangers The New Generation

A red ribbon adorns the North Portico of the White House Friday, Nov. 30, 2007, in recognition of World AIDS Day and the commitment by President George W. Bush and his administration to fighting and preventing HIV/AIDS in America and the world. White House photo by Eric Draper

A Red Ribbon Adorns the North Portico of the White House in commemoration of World AIDS Day.

Safety Where It Counts

Since the discovery of AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), the epidemic has increased globally. The world faces the most devastating plague infecting an estimated 40 million people by the beginning of the 21st century. This ferocious killer affects South Africa the most. It is a country not only torn by war, but also ravaged by HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). This place is in need of safe sex the most. The website known as Avert is dedicated to suppressing the HIV infection in Africa.5.7 million South Africans are known to be infected with HIV. If that wasn’t bad enough, 28% of the pregnant women in that country are HIV positive. That means their children will be infected and they can possibly spread it even more before their time on this planet is done.

A Global Campaign To Fight HIV

World AIDS Day commemorates the tremendous impact to the society of this global epidemic. It plays a critical role to expand campaign for HIV testing to save lives. The HIV-related programs are aimed to provide access to necessary treatment to this life-threatening infection. This promotes universal awareness and emphasis in stopping the spread of HIV. For the millions of people living with HIV, they are provided with highest attainable standard of health, care, and support services for a better quality of life. There are proposed strategies to provide restrictions to those opportunistic virus carriers to prevent them from infecting others. Policymakers are compelled to address these key issues, to combat the deadly ratio of the HIV stigma.

The Need For Individual Participation

Millions of people die from HIV not only in South Africa but also around the globe. It is time for the community to participate in the abstinence from engaging in high-risk sexual behaviors. Everyone should be involved in affirming our dedication to fight the virus. This is a serious problem affecting our economic system; therefore, everyone in the society should become advocates of responsible sexual values and informed intelligent decisions regarding sex. Experts agree that this will be the most effective way to defeat AIDS.

References:

http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTHEALTHNUTRITIONANDPOPULATION/EXTHIVAIDS/0,,contentMDK:22774711~pagePK:210058~piPK:210062~theSitePK:376471,00.html

http://www.enotes.com/spread-aids-article

December 16, 2010 Posted by | Health, New, Society | , , , , , | Leave a Comment

The Untimely Death of The King Of Parody

This photo was uploaded on October 30, 2008 and belongs to Jerry Angelica.

King of Parody Leslie Nielsen is dead.

The King of Parody

When you think of Leslie Nielsen, you would mostly think of parody movies. He was made famous by the classic comedy “Airplane”, as well as his role in the “Naked Gun” and its sequels. Ever since those movies, he was picked up to do the same kinds of parody films. These films would always deliver in cartoon violence, slapstick comedy, as well as poking fun in popular fads that run rampant at that time. In this sense his films weren’t just a parody of films, but they also made fun of mainstream culture to appeal to a wide audience. It works in that the people, who are into the fads at the time, will have a good time seeing their favorite fads being shown in a comedic light. Meantime, the people, who hate those fads, love the idea of poking fun on the mainstream. Nielsen had a gift with these movies as he was known for his lighthearted outlook on life on and off-screen. Nielsen would most often play a clueless character with many memorable one-liners that are still spewed by many people of all ages today. This especially rained perfectly true when he played the President of the United States in the film “Scary Movie 3″ and its sequel. He played a perfect rendition of how people viewed George Bush as a clueless President. It was comedic gold on all levels.

The Legend Lives On

Leslie Nielsen died of pneumonia on November 28, 2010. He reached the graceful age of 84. People Magazine stated that he was in the hospital for two weeks surrounded by his family and friends before he passed on. It is the kind of ambience many of us wish to have in our own death. People Magazine also stated that it just seemed like he fell asleep when he passed, a seemingly painless and respectable death for a legend such as himself. With Nielsen no longer able to poke fun at popular culture through movies, you might wonder who will step up and take the throne. The truth is that no one can ever replace a legend. Artists like Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, and Leslie Nielsen can never be replaced. Their memories and their works will live on in their timeless arts, and the world will always remember the legends of entertainment.

References:

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20445526,00.html

http://movies.yahoo.com/news/movies.ap.org/leslie-nielsen-naked-gun-fame-dies-age-84-ap

December 16, 2010 Posted by | Entertainment, New | , , , | Leave a Comment

Victoria’s Secret: Fascinating Underclothes That Create Fantasy

This photo was taken on November 15, 2008 and belongs to Steal Their Style.

Heidi Klum struts on the runway, donning Victoria Secrets' underwear.

A Fashion Statement in Intimate Apparel

Victoria’s Secret has become a household name for intimate apparel. They have generated a total of 5 billion dollars in sales. It is a brand that defines sensuality and sexiness. It is no longer the underwear, which you hide under your drawers, but a visually stunning attire for fashion. People are willing to shell out more dollars to spoil themselves with nice underwear. It helps boost the level of confidence in women, making them feel sexy and good about themselves in their underwear. They have built a strong brand for itself that elevated the traditional white cotton pieces to elegant and sophisticated styles in luxurious satins with frills, laces, and embellishments that signify high fashion.

A Brand That Signifies Class

The marketing aspects played a big role in the phenomenal success of the brand. Their marketing strategies are focused on building an emotional connection between the brand and its shoppers. Their stores are designed to create a comfortable environment to men searching for lingerie for their partners or for women who are buying something that’s nice for their wardrobe collection. The pink concept was powerful and a solid-brand image that satisfied a woman’s desire to become an eye candy. The shopping bags are in beautiful complementary gift-wraps that give a notion of glamour. Their glossed catalogs presented their merchandise in a tastefully seductive manner. Victoria’s Secret posters are in glittery ads made of air-brushed commercial photography taken by the world’s most renowned photographers.

Victoria’s Secrets’ Fallen Angels

Unlike many brands, Victoria’s Secret does not invest on the expensive faces of Hollywood celebrities to become its endorsers. Companies would hire size zero, bony, anorexic models to dress up. On the other hand, Victoria’s Secret brought the most beautiful faces with healthy curvy bodies to strut the runway. This gained so much notoriety in the fashion industry. No wonder, Victoria’s Secret fashion shows are one of the most remarkable events in the line of fashion. As they became a household name for undergarments, they also became an institution in the modeling industry, launching a pad of the hottest and marvelous models parading in sexy undergarments. Victoria’s Secret even became a platform to the post-modeling success of these girls like Heidi Klum and Tyra Banks.

References:

http://www.suite101.com/content/popular-sexy-lingerie-lines-for-american-women-a186628

http://www.smh.com.au/executive-style/culture/the-second-life-of-victorias-secret-models-20100408-rtxe.html

December 16, 2010 Posted by | Fashion, New | , , , | Leave a Comment

A Fistula Is a Hole That Should Not Have Been There

This photo was taken on March 9, 2008 and belongs to jonathanvlarocca’s photostream.

A diagram of a fistula used by a company in Berlin, which sponsors fistula surgeries in Africa. In Congo, sexual violence or rape leaves its victims not only psychologically scarred, but also gives them traumatic fistula.

A Fistula Is a Hole That Should Not Have Been There

A fistula is a hole that should not have been there. The human body, which has suffered from injury or has undergone childbirth or surgery, might be afflicted with a fistula. Infection or inflammation may also lead to fistulas. A fistula is an abnormal connection, hole, opening, tube, or tunnel between an intestine, an organ, or a vessel, and another part or structure of the human body, such as the skin. Over two million people worldwide suffer from fistula, according to The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Types of Fistula

There are four types of fistula. A blind fistula opens on one end alone, but links with two body parts or structures; the complete type of fistula opens internally or within the body and emerges out an organ or body part towards the skin; the horseshoe fistula goes around the rectum before linking itself to the anus and sprouting upon the skin surface; and the last type of fistula, the incomplete fistula is a tunnel originating from the skin that does not merge with any of the body’s part or structure.

Where Might a Fistula Occur

A fistula may occur between an artery and a vein, called arteriovenous fistula; the bile ducts and the skin (biliary fistula); the cervix (cervical fistula); in the neck; the internal skull space and a nasal sinus (craniosinus fistula); the vagina and the bowel (enterovaginal fistula); the stomach towards the skin surface (gastric fistula); the peritoneal cavity and the uterus (metroperitoneal fistula); the gut and the navel (umbilical fistula; and wherein one of the lungs, the pulmonary artery, and the pulmonary vein merge together, the type of fistula there is, is called pulmonary arteriovenous fistula. When stool is passed through a hole or opening that is not the anus, the type of fistula that occurs, is called an anal or fecal fistula.

Fistula Symptoms and Diagnosis

Fistula treatments depend on its location and the degree of severity of its symptoms. Fistula sufferers experience fever, itching, pain, a general unwell feeling, and tenderness. These symptoms could progress to an abscess, once a fistula seals, which is a sign of infection. To determine first if a person has a fistula, barium enema, colonoscopy, fistulogram, sigmoidoscopy, or an upper endoscopy may be ordered by a doctor or physician. In a fistulogram, particularly, a contrast material or dye is injected into the fistula to have better visibility of its X-Ray scans. The dye is either inserted into the rectum, in the case of an anal or fecal fistula, or into the hole or opening of a fistula on the skin surface, using a small tube.

Fistula Treatments

A doctor or a physician may prescribe an antibiotic (Flagyl), an immunosuppressant like 6-MP, or a TNF-inhibitor, such as Remicade. Enteral diets (diets in the form of liquid) may be ordered, to facilitate fistula closure or healing, since there would likely be fewer stools that will pass into the anus out the body. Fistulas that do not respond to medical or pharmacological treatment warrant surgical intervention. A fistula that resides in a healthy part of the body will simply be taken out or removed without touching any part within its perimeter. On the other hand, a fistula located in a diseased part of the body, such as in the intestine, will need a resection, which could temporarily result to an ileostomy. An ileostomy is done to direct the feces or stool to it, away from the intestines, giving the operated part or structure with a fistula time to heal and recover.

References:

http://ibdcrohns.about.com/cs/relatedconditions/a/fistula.htm

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002365.htm

December 16, 2010 Posted by | Health, New, Ready | , , , , , | Leave a Comment

   

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.