Florida Woman Wins Right to Punch Martin Shkreli in the Deplorable Face

Loathsome former Turing Pharmaceuticals CEO Martin Shkreli, who made headlines last fall after jacking the price of an AIDS drug by 5400%, this week auctioned off the right to punch him in the face.

Shkreli held the auction to raise money for treatment for a friend’s 6-year-old son who is battling cancer (maybe his heart isn’t 100% coal?).

I will auction one slap/punch in the face to benefit my friend Mike who passed away & leaves behind a young son who survived cancer. DM bids

— Martin Shkreli (@MartinShkreli) September 26, 2016

A woman named Katie from Florida won the auction. Shkreli offered to broadcast it on VICE media if they were willing.

Katie from Florida @like_ether_ has agreed to donate $50,000 & I am matching! Congrats to the Kulich family. Mike, I will never forget you.

— Martin Shkreli (@MartinShkreli) September 28, 2016

Katie will be permitted to “repeatedly pummel me in the face” as requested. Bidding is over. Congrats to her and the Kulichs! @like_ether_

— Martin Shkreli (@MartinShkreli) September 28, 2016

In September 2015, Shkreli, a former hedge fund manager, hiked the price of Daraprim, used to help (among others) AIDS patients with compromised immune systems, from $13.50 a tablet to $750 per tablet. Turing announced it had raised $90 million from Shkreli and other investors in its first round of financing on the same day as the pricejacking.

Shkreli promised to drop the price of Daraprim shortly after public outcry but his solution pleased few.

And despite pledging to cut its price, Turing Pharmaceuticals announced it would only provide discounts of up to 50 percent, for hospitals. Shkreli later said he regretted that he hadn’t charged even more for the drug.

In February, Shkreli appeared before the House Oversight Committee for a hearing on drug pricing. He was escorted from the room after refusing to speak, asserting his Fifth Amendment rights.

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Florida Woman Wins Right to Punch Martin Shkreli in the Deplorable Face

Seth Meyers Moderated the Second Presidential Debate, Asked Trump, ‘How’s Your Penis?’ – WATCH

You may have missed it, but last night Seth Meyers moderated the second presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. And the candidates were surprisingly blunt and honest.

Among the topics Meyers covered: the economic fallout from Bill Clinton stopping eating fast food, what the first 100 days of a Trump administration would be like, how Trump gets his face that color, what Hillary thinks of Trump’s hairstyle, the possibility of lifelike humanoid robots living among us, the resurrection of Steve Jobs, and of course, the current state of Donald Trump’s penis.

Watch, below.

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Seth Meyers Moderated the Second Presidential Debate, Asked Trump, ‘How’s Your Penis?’ – WATCH

HRC Announces Endorsement of Ann Kirkpatrick of Arizona for U.S. Senate

Today HRC announced its endorsement of U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick in her race for Arizona’s U.S. Senate seat.

“Ann Kirkpatrick has been a strong supporter in our fight for equal rights and protections for all,” said JoDee Winterhof, HRC Senior Vice President of Policy and Political Affairs. “Whether it’s her long-time support for nationwide marriage equality or the Equality Act, or fighting against attempts in Congress to write discrimination into federal law, Ann has a proven record of fighting to ensure LGBTQ people can live free from fear of discrimination. Ann is the person we need to fight to pass the Equality Act and help us finally move toward full federal equality.”

Kirkpatrick spoke out this year against Republican leadership in the U.S. House who flipped enough votes to defeat an LGBT non-discrimination measure, calling it a “shameful, cowardly day in Congress.” Senator McCain has refused to support the Equality Act, comprehensive legislation to protect LGBT people from discrimination, and opposes marriage equality.

Last week, HRC President Chad Griffin led a volunteer phone bank in Phoenix with HRC supporters to help turn out support for Hillary Clinton and Kirkpatrick.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-announces-endorsement-of-ann-kirkpatrick-of-arizona-for-u.s.-senate?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

ACC Moves Championship Game to Orlando After McCrory & NC General Assembly Refuse to Repeal HB2

Today, HRC and Equality NC, the statewide organization working to secure equal rights and justice for LGBTQ North Carolinians, responded to the decision by the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) to move the league’s 2016 football championship game to Orlando, Florida, due to North Carolina’s deeply discriminatory HB2 law.

“What will it take for Governor McCrory and state legislative leaders to stop holding the people and economy of North Carolina hostage?” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “The ACC, based in Greensboro, has now joined the growing list of organizations moving games and other events out of state in order to protect fans, students, and employees from Governor McCrory’s discriminatory HB2 law. The ACC’s decision to move the 2016 football championship to Orlando — a city with a perfect 100 point Municipal Equality Index score that has also come together in the wake of a tragic attack on the LGBTQ community — has sent an especially strong message to Governor McCrory and his allies. The days of attacking LGBTQ people for political gain are over.”

“It has been almost 200 days since Governor Pat McCrory and his legislative allies have pushed through the worst anti-LGBTQ bill in the nation without consideration of harm to the state,” said Equality NC Executive Director Chris Sgro. “Every day that goes by, LGBTQ North Carolinians are at risk of continued discrimination, and North Carolina’s economy will continue to suffer. Losing the ACC championship game to Orlando is saddening, but not surprising. Orlando has comprehensive non-discrimination protections that make it a welcoming place for all fans and players. Governor McCrory needs to stop playing politics and do what’s best for North Carolina. He needs to repeal HB2 and focus on protecting all North Carolinians from discrimination. Only then will we win back the NCAA, ACC, and other vital events.”

The ACC’s decision comes after Gov. McCrory and the North Carolina General Assembly refused — once again — to repeal the state’s vile and dangerous HB2 law. In a new interview out today, House Speaker Tim Moore admitted that the General Assembly never intended to repeal HB2 — even if the city of Charlotte repealed its city ordinance protecting LGBTQ people. Speaker Moore and others had previously attempted to pressure Charlotte’s city council into repealing its ordinance as a way to saddle the city with political blame for HB2.

The city of Orlando earned a perfect 100 point score on the 2015 HRC Foundation’s Municipal Equality Index, and it has fully inclusive, non-discrimination protections in place for LGBTQ residents and visitors — even more comprehensive protections than those Charlotte passed in February. Recognizing the importance of creating a positive and conducive environment for business, Charlotte city leaders joined 100 other cities with similar ordinances, and in response, Gov. McCrory and state lawmakers doubled down on discrimination by ramming HB2 into law.

In making the decision to move championship games out of North Carolina, the ACC first announced on September 14, 2016: “As members of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the ACC Council of Presidents reaffirmed our collective commitment to uphold the values of equality, diversity, inclusion and non-discrimination. Every one of our 15 universities is strongly committed to these values and therefore, we will continue to host ACC Championships at campus sites. We believe North Carolina House Bill 2 is inconsistent with these values, and as a result, we will relocate all neutral site championships for the 2016-17 academic year. All locations will be announced in the future from the conference office.”

The ACC announcement follows the NCAA’s decision to stand up for LGBTQ equality by moving all 2016-2017 championship events out of the state of North Carolina due to HB2. Citing the hostile environment created by the anti-LGBTQ law, the NBA also previously announced it is moving the 2017 All-Star Game out of the state, costing North Carolina an estimated $100 million in All-Star Game related profits.

Despite widespread opposition to HB2, Governor McCrory and the General Assembly have been unwilling to even consider repealing the full substance of the discriminatory law, including its ban on transgender people accessing restrooms consistent with their gender identity in government offices and schools, and its removal of municipalities’ ability to pass LGBTQ-inclusive nondiscrimination laws and minimum wage ordinances.

www.hrc.org/blog/acc-moves-championship-game-to-orlando-after-mccrory-nc-ga?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

The Creator of Pepe the Frog Is Voting for Hillary Clinton

Illustrator Matt Furie said it’s been “really weird” to see his cartoon become a symbol of white supremacy.

www.advocate.com/election/2016/9/29/creator-pepe-frog-voting-hillary-clinton

Acquaint Yourself With Britney Spears’ Harem Of Male Backup Dancers

The good people at Attitude are doing God’s work. To honor Britney Spears’ headline performance at the 10th Apple Music Festival in London — and really, just to post a bunch of gratuitous manflesh, because hey — they spent untold hours poring through numerous Instagram accounts in order to unearth the goods on Spears’ harem of well-proportioned backup dancers.

Have an ogle: 

Willie Gomez

“I perform, dance, sing, model.”

Vince Capaldi
Made in Quebec, lives in London. Interests: travel, friends, love, music, life.

Zach Brazenas

Dancer, yoga teacher, massage therapist.

Jae Fusz
Los Angeles-based dancer for Britney, Nicki Minaj, Kesha, Xtina, Miley Cyrus, and Mariah Carey, among others.

Mikey Pesante
He loves life and feels truly blessed. ‘Nuff said.

Dakota Adan
As well as dancing with the Princess of Pop Dakota has also worked as an underwear model, and we’d suggest you get those pictures on you ‘Radar’ as soon as possible.

Brandon Bryant

Brandon was a contestant on season 5 of So You Think You Can Dance, where he placed second runner-up. He’s definitely higher than ‘3’ in our eyes though.

www.queerty.com/acquaint-britney-spears-harem-male-backup-dancers-20160929?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Donald Trump Did Illegal Business with Cuba, Violating US Trade Embargo

One of Donald Trump’s company’s did illegal business with Cuba, violating the U.S. trade embargo, Newsweek reports:

A company controlled by Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for president, secretly conducted business in Communist Cuba during Fidel Castro’s presidency despite strict American trade bans that made such undertakings illegal, according to interviews with former Trump executives, internal company records and court filings.

Documents show that the Trump company spent a minimum of $68,000 for its 1998 foray into Cuba at a time when the corporate expenditure of even a penny in the Caribbean country was prohibited without U.S. government approval. But the company did not spend the money directly. Instead, with Trump’s knowledge, executives funneled the cash for the Cuba trip through an American consulting firm called Seven Arrows Investment and Development Corp. Once the business consultants traveled to the island and incurred the expenses for the venture, Seven Arrows instructed senior officers with Trump’s company—then called Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts—how to make it appear legal by linking it after the fact to a charitable effort.

Trump vowed to maintain the embargo on Cuba on the first day of his presidential campaign, the magazine adds.

Rachel Maddow previewed the new report on her show last night:

UPDATE: Marco Rubio says he’s “deeply concerned” and says Trump will have to “answer some questions.”

“This is something they’re gonna have to give a response to. I mean, it was a violation of American law, if that’s how it happened,” Rubio said on the ESPN/ABC “Capital Games” podcast.

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Donald Trump Did Illegal Business with Cuba, Violating US Trade Embargo

Olly Alexander Shines in Years & Years’ Music Video ‘Meteorite’ – WATCH

Olly Alexander and band Years & Years have debuted a scintillating music video for their new single “Meteorite,” off of the Bridget Jones’ Baby soundtrack.

This latest effort has the same energy and style we’ve come to expect from Years & Years over the last, er, year. In 2016, they released videos for their tracks “Desire” and “Worship” off their breakout debut album Communion that all left an impression.

In “Meteorite”, frontman Alexander continues to work a fashion look that is distinctly his, donning a couture gender-bending outfit emblazoned with 86,000 Swarovski crystals. Alexander says the outfit was an homage to those worn by pop goddesses Britney Spears and Beyoncé.

“It’s an honour to follow in the footsteps of some of my heroes (Britney, Beyoncé etc.) and be decked out in tens of thousands of dazzling crystals!” Alexander told NME.

Watch the video below.

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Olly Alexander Shines in Years & Years’ Music Video ‘Meteorite’ – WATCH

Hoboken, Alec Baldwin, Bob Schieffer, Zika, Alicia Machado, The Weeknd, Phoenix: HOT LINKS

HOBOKEN. At least three dead, hundreds injured as rush hour train crashes into New Jersey rail station.  “Preliminary reports suggest the crash involving train No. 1614 on the Pascack Valley Line was accidental or caused by operator error, according to five law enforcement officials, though they stress it is early in the investigation. NJ Transit confirmed the crash involving the 8:45 a.m. train out of Spring Valley; the agency was expected to hold a news briefing later Thursday. ”

An early look at next week’s cover, “Miss Congeniality,” by Barry Blitt: t.co/wlrJpfxEXd pic.twitter.com/QCCCPlJFT6

— The New Yorker (@NewYorker) September 29, 2016

MISS CONGENIALITY. The New Yorker puts Trump’s fat-shaming on the runway.

ALICIA MACHADO. Newt Gingrich continues the fat-shaming: “You’re not supposed to gain 60 pounds during the year that you’re Miss Universe.” Trump: “I will bet you if you put up and added up all the time I spoke to her, probably less than five minutes. I had nothing to do with this person, but they wanted to fire her. I saved her job because I said that’s what I was going to do. Look what happened? Look what I get out of it? I get nothing.”

PPP POLL. Clinton is winner of the debate, also leads in five battleground states: “New Public Policy Polling surveys in Colorado, Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, conducted on behalf of VoteVets Action Fund, find Hillary Clinton leading in each state. Voters in all five states see Clinton as having been the runaway winner of Monday night’s debate, and they question Donald Trump’s temperament and preparedness for office. Clinton has solid leads in Colorado, Pennsylvania, and Virginia- states seen as important to her path to 270 electoral votes- and modest leads in Florida and North Carolina, where wins would be indicative of a dominant overall victory in the Electoral College. If these results hold up, Donald Trump has no path to victory.”

BOB SCHIEFFER. Can you admit you have no evidence? “CBS News political contributor Bob Schieffer grilled Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, a Donald Trump surrogate, on her use of anecdotal evidence as proof of Americans’ opinions. Rutledge joined CBSN’s political panel ahead of the first presidential debate in Hempstead, N.Y.”

SNL. Alec Baldwin is SNL’s new Donald Trump:

COLIN KAEPERNICK. In danger of losing support? “His comments Tuesday about the first presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump were as needlessly divisive as the ‘pig cop’ socks he wore last month. In case you missed, here’s part of what the San Francisco 49ers quarterback said about Clinton and Trump: ‘Both are proven liars and it almost seems like they’re trying to debate who’s less racist.’NAACP president Cornell William Brooks and Rev. Jesse Jackson are among the civil rights leaders to have praised Kaepernick for his protest of racial inequality and police brutality. But they’ll have a harder time supporting the San Francisco 49ers quarterback after the incendiary comments about the presidential candidates, especially those directed at Clinton, who has strong support within the African-American community.”

ZIKA. Utah case may have been transmitted by casual contact: “Experts are investigating the possibility that the Zika virus can be passed on in sweat or tears, after the infection of a 38-year-old man in the US who appears to have caught the virus at his father’s hospital bedside. Until now it was thought that Zika was only transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes and, in rare instances, via semen and from pregnant women to their foetuses.”

PHOENIX. Armed robbers hit two gay bars in same night. “Both crimes happened in the Melrose District. The first happened just after 9 p.m. on Tuesday at Pat O’s Bunkhouse Saloon off Seventh Avenue and Indian School Road. Two victims were robbed at gunpoint in the parking lot. The second robbery happened at Los Diablos off Indian School Road and 10th Place, less than 2 miles away. Police said the suspects entered the back patio through an open gate and robbed patrons on the patio.”

HONG KONG. Transgender women denied entry at airport: “The two transgender women were told they could not enter Hong Kong as immigration officials did not believe they were there to shop and sight see. The pair were then asked to sign documents concerning their gender and were reportedly asked by officers if they were “cut already”, referring to their gender re-assignment surgery. The pair refused to sign the documents and returned to Bangkok.”

STARBOY. The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk.

THIRSTY THURSDAY. Ronald Epps.

The post Hoboken, Alec Baldwin, Bob Schieffer, Zika, Alicia Machado, The Weeknd, Phoenix: HOT LINKS appeared first on Towleroad.

Hoboken, Alec Baldwin, Bob Schieffer, Zika, Alicia Machado, The Weeknd, Phoenix: HOT LINKS