Picture of the Day - 480

"Sea Breeze" by Ilyra Chardin

If you wish to see more of Ilyra's photography, please visit her Flickr photostream by clicking the name under the picture.

World Beard Day 2016

"World Beard Day is celebrated annually on an international level with people from every nation and continent gathering together with their beards. It is held on the first Saturday of September and is characterised by the happiness of all people being with their beards and with each other.

On World Beard Day, it is customary for the bearded members of a family to relax and partake in no jobs or chores. The beardless members of the family traditionally show their support by waiting on the bearded hand and foot. World Beard Day is all about promoting and elevating the global status of the the beard. Whilst many countries and cities practice World Beard Day customs specific to their own region, shaving on World Beard Day is universally considered to be highly disrespectful."

"On the 3rd of September 2016, hirsute men and women around the world will hold thousands of World Beard Day events in bars, backyards, lounge rooms, beaches, parks and public squares.

Beard-appreciators on every continent are encouraged to organise their own World Beard Day event, which can be as simple as inviting a few bearded friends, neighbours or strangers over to your house for a day of fun, celebration and unity (between bearded people)."

For more information on this celebration and glorification of that symbol of natural and raw manliness, please visit the blog "World Beard Day", where you will also find suggestions on how to celebrate this special day.

It Works Now, But... (Updated)

The Second Pride website crashed spectacularly a while back.

Work has since been going on to revive it again. There seems to be some progress as this is what I got when I just tried.

However, even if it will be in order soon - according to the original timeframe decided upon - the candidate statements should have been posted there on August 31, 2016, and there was to be a questions and comments period going on right now until the evening today. 

The actual voting should start tomorrow and go on until wednesday, if the board doesn't decide anything else considering the unforeseeable server-crash. 

I strongly encourage the board to first see to it that the website is up and in working order, then decide on a new timeframe for the elections. After all the eligible voters have not been able to know who the candidates are or to pose questions to them.

Update (after a fast response from the board of directors)

I have been informed that work is feverishly going on on the new website (they have to work from scratch).
LLedge Eames, the chair of SP, and Karl Kalchek, the chair of the election committee, after a discussion yesterday, agreed that the goal is to post candidate statements during this weekend. The timeline for the election will be adjusted, once they have access to the  website.
The candidates that have stepped forward have been informed of the above.
Viktor Sandamn, the secretary of Second Pride, will post a notice concerning this to the Second Pride Festival Group today.

Postponement of The Oval's Dame Edna Show

My friend Othon Weiland, of The Oval Theatre Company, has informed me that the spectacular Dame Edna Show, which was to premiere on September 3, 2016, has had to be postponed until further notice.

I will of course keep you updated with any additional information or changes on the matter.

Picture of the Day - 479

"I will not fail this city !!" by Brian Werefox

If you wish to see more of Brian's photography, please visit his Flickr photostream by clicking the name under the picture.

SP Election 2016 Schedule and More

This is from a notecard sent by Viktor Sandman in the Second Pride Festival group and concerns the upcoming election of members to the board of Second Pride. (I have edited it only slightly for various reasons, hence there are no quotation marks except on the first part.) The process has been somewhat delayed by the server crash of the Second Pride-website.

"It is time for our annual elections to fill vacant positions in the Second pride board of directors. We are also seeking volunteers to serve on the election committee.

Please read the attached notecard and follow the information given if you are interested in volunteering, or if you would like to run for one of the open seats on the board.

Thank you for your interest,

Seco"


Please click on "Read more" for additional information.

European Commission Approves Truvada

On August 22, 2016, the European Commission announced that it approves Truvada as PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis against HIV) in all 28 EU countries.

Truvada is the first antiretroviral drug to be licensed in all 28 countries of the European Union to reduce the risk for HIV infection, subject to national regulatory authority approval of required pharmacovigilance materials in each country.

Two major studies (iPrEx study and Partners PrEP trial) demonstrated substantial reductions in the risk for HIV-1 infection when Truvada was used as PrEP. Both studies linked better adherence to daily Truvada to better protection against HIV-1 infection.

Experts believe that it will be available on the pharmaceutical market in the next six months. Even now PrEP plays an important role, together with other measures, in HIV prevention.

PrEP is relatively costly (universally recognized is $1,539.90 for 30 tablets) if it is not reimbursed by health insurance and is affordable by very few people. Now many hope that alternative PrEP becomes available in the market and that this very effective method of prevention will be available to many more.

It is not yet clear when PrEP will be available in Sweden and at what cost.

In addition to the European Union, Truvada is also authorized for PrEP in the United States, Australia, Canada, Kenya, Peru, and South Africa.