Let’s Face It, Christmas Has Been Rebranded

A crisp winter’s evening. The still air is broken by the sound of a church bell ringing. Startled, yet filled with excitement, a small child scrambles to the window. They peer through the pane, leaving a ring of condensation against the frosty glass. Is it? Could it be? A glimpse, no more, of something in the distance – far away across the snow-covered vista. It’s magical. It’s here. It’s really here! The child rushes to find a warm coat as, carried on the wind, soft voices are heard:

“Holidays are coming, holidays are coming…”

This time of year has always been filled with myths and legends, heart-warming stories to ease us through the coldest of winters. Of late, since 1995 in fact, a new story has joined the canon. The myth of a bright red articulated truck, entering a small snow-dusted town, acting as herald to a non-denominational ‘holiday season’. Crowds gather to share comradeship, love and a famous soft drink.

Every year, at this time, I find myself admitting – to close friends and family – that this tale of the garishly lit vehicle traversing through the snow to bring tidings of (deliberately vague) holidays and fizzy drinks moves me. Genuinely. I don’t feel ‘Christmassy’ until I’ve seen it. This isn’t sarcasm, I’m being totally candid. This revelation usually leads to cries of derision, that, like some modern day overly saccharine Scrooge, I’m ‘missing the true spirit of Christmas’.

Similarly, at this time, naysayers flock to social media to complain about the pop standard given the acoustic treatment for John Lewis’ latest mini movie. These pint-sized epics, depicting sage morals against a backdrop of consumerism, are too frequently dismissed as missing the point.

I couldn’t disagree more strongly.

It’s time to face it, Christmas has been rebranded. We need to get over it and move on.

What do I mean by this?

Well, if Christmas didn’t exist, we’d need to invent it. It’s no coincidence that the feast lies at the darkest part of the year, literally ‘in the bleak mid-winter’. A time when we need something to look forward to, a pick-me-up. Pre-Christian society understood this, with their ‘Yuletide’ winter solstice celebrations, which were neatly ‘re skinned’ (using a modern parlance) by early Christianity with the familiar Bethlehem-based narrative. The story changed, but the heart of the feast remained the same – communities coming together to celebrate, during the bleakest of seasons.

The mid-winter oasis of the ‘festive season’ was, for generations, the exclusive territory of religion. But things change, meaning evolves and time moves on. We know, of course, that the ‘holidays’ so movingly crooned of in the Cola commercial are a contraction of the Christian ‘holy days’. Yet the word no longer has an ecclesiastical connotation. The same might be said of ‘Christmas’ itself – an abbreviation of ‘Christ’s Mass’, which (I feel) wouldn’t be the primary definition for most. Like ‘holiday’, the word has new common meaning: a festive period of goodwill and joviality. There are new myths and traditions too, with John Lewis and Coca Cola at the heart of these, here in this country.

I wish those who choose to celebrate the religious during this festive time well. They do not, however, have a monopoly on ‘the true meaning of Christmas’. The meaning of anything in the public domain is constantly evolving, to reflect the times. These new connotations and understandings around the feast are, in my view, totally valid and ‘true’. In the 21st century shopping malls have replaced churches as places of pilgrimage, while brands provide a tribal sense of belonging that used to be the preserve of organised religion.

In truth, I don’t think that, fundamentally, much has changed. Like with all rebrands, the core elements of the offering stay the same, they’re just presented differently. A feast that previously was about family, friendship and celebration against a background of religion, now plays out against a background of consumerism. Both versions help maintain our society’s fabric, yet the rebrand is more relevant for today’s secular life.

Perhaps the view I’m outlining will prove a step too far for some, seeing it as heretical and bold. Perhaps it is. That said, such frustrations about how the mid-winter feast was presented were probably felt by the pre-Christians when their Yuletide was rebranded all those years ago.

I, for one, am excited about Christmas – just like the child with their nose against the glass as the red lorry trundles through the snow. For me, it represents all the best parts of life, a time when people make the effort to be that bit nicer to each other – which can only be a good thing.

The stories we tell each other around this festival are down to us, whether they be tales of friendly monsters under our beds, red nosed reindeer having their day in the sun or overfilled inns improvising accommodation. All have their place as part of the ‘true’ meaning of this wonderful midwinter shindig.

Happy Holidays

Chris McGuire

Read Chris’ ‘Out Of Depth Dad’ blog here.

Twitter, Facebook & Instagram

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/lets-face-it-christmas-has-been-rebranded_uk_5a1eada9e4b0e9a1b9c7b54a

Paid Leave is Critical for People Living With HIV

While the Family and Medical Leave Act provides some protections for people living with HIV, not all are eligible to utilize this critical workplace protection. Furthermore, the LGBTQ community is disproportionately affected by HIV, and inclusive paid leave policies that support LGBTQ people’s right to balance both their health, job, and family is a vital protection. Read more in Paid Leave Is Critical for People Living with HIV.

www.hrc.org/blog/paid-leave-is-critical-for-people-living-with-hiv?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

World AIDS Day finally has the anthem the pandemic has been calling out for
In the upcoming season of “Merce,” the lovebirds consider what a cure would mean. In a romantic gesture that would make any person living with HIV swoon, Merce’s boyfriend assures him that his love will be the cure.

www.queerty.com/world-aids-day-anthem-really-need-arrived-20171201?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn Charged with Lying to FBI

Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn has been charged with making false statements to the FBI.

Flynn is scheduled to appear at the federal court in Washington at 10:30 am where he is expected to make a guilty plea.

Read the charges HERE.

Developing (refresh for updates)…

The post Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn Charged with Lying to FBI appeared first on Towleroad.

Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn Pleads Guilty to Lying to FBI: Updates

Apple And Stanford University Launch Heart Study On Apple Watch

Apple has today launched a major health experiment called the Apple Heart Study.

In a partnership with Stanford University School of Medicine, the study uses the heart rate sensor on the Apple Watch to collect heart rate data and in turn better understand the condition of an irregular heart beat.

One such example of this is AFib, a condition that affects potentially tens of millions of people and can lead to blood clots or even heart failure.

The problem is that for many, the symptoms needed to diagnose it go completely unnoticed.

This is where Apple comes in. Millions of people now have a pretty accurate heart rate sensor on their wrists in the form of an Apple Watch.

Using the data anonymously collected by the heart rate sensor, researchers at Stanford are hoping to not only better understand irregular heart rates but even potentially reach a stage where gadgets like the Apple Watch can predict if they’ll lead to something more serious.

The study is currently only available in the US and includes a dedicated app that once installed will not only send data anonymously to Stanford but will also notify the participant if it detects an irregular heart beat.

Once notified they’ll also get a free video consultation with one of the study’s medical professionals through the app.

If further study is needed they could then send the user a BioTelemetry electrocardiogram (ECG) patch which would then need to be worn for seven days and can then be used for further diagnosis.

The study is the latest example of a series of tools that Apple calls HealthKit and ResearchKit.

While HealthKit stores all the health data that it collects, ResearchKit then allows universities to create apps that can then collect and analyse that data anonymously through Apple.

There have been a number of studies so far ranging from tackling dementia to helping people handle the stress of having a cancer diagnosis.

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/apple-and-stanford-university-launch-heart-study-on-apple-watch_uk_5a215e45e4b0a02abe90986f

101 Faces of AIDS at the Start of an Epidemic

www.advocate.com/photography/2017/12/01/101-faces-aids-start-epidemic

Festive Nostalgia: A 90’s Christmas From Inside My Childhood Terraced House

Everybody loves a little nostalgia every so often, so what better time than to reminisce about Christmas time as a kid during the 90’s. Yes the 90’s. A time of Take That, Penguin Bars and glow-in-the-dark Ghostbuster pyjamas.

I am a father to a daughter and I must say I have started to feel the excitement toward the festive season once more. Not since I received a Turtle Blimp in ’93 have I felt so positive about Christmas.

Let’s rewind to the 90’s, inside my working-class household.

The build up to the big day was a casual affair. We never ventured out to cut a fresh Christmas tree – instead, we had a damp, heartless, fake one which lived in a place where children were never allowed to go – the loft. A dark, dingy place which was only opened twice per year.

Decoration Day was so exciting. Our whole lives would stop. My parents insisted on keeping to the Never-Putting-The-Decorations-Up-Earlier-Than-Two-Weeks-Before-Christmas-Day routine. Ahhh, the smell of damp boxes and 17-year-old tinsel was bliss. A true Christmas sense.

Dad would use the classic gold pins to place the decorations on the ceiling. Mum would annoy him by telling him they looked skewwhiff. Mum took on the role to project manage the tree. Tinsel, baubles and of course chocolates! I would mischievously pinch a cheeky chocolate when Mum and Dad were in the dining room squabbling over whether there was a need for a table decoration.

Tinsel galore. Lots of sparkles and colours. Our house resembled an Indian curry house with a bulky television.

To continue the magical build-up, it was now time to visit the great fella himself. Namely Father Christmas. We would be taken to some far-flung destination ― namely our local shopping centre to visit the bearded bloke. I don’t remember too much of these encounters. Probably scientific proof that meeting a strange man with a white beard is a truly frightening experience. What I do remember were the pathetic gifts you used to receive from the elf once the visit was over. I didn’t even ask for marbles.

Christmas Eve Antics

Christmas eve approached incredibly swiftly; excitement builds dramatically on this day. I can’t recall too many times during my life where I have felt true excitement. Probably a realisation to myself that I lead an incredibly dull life, then.

Mum would put out some Christmas Eve nibbles – usually some Quality Streets, some cheese footballs, cheeselets, dry-roasted peanuts and some more cheese footballs.

Dedicated sacks for presents were put out for all four of us siblings. Big brother must’ve known that Father Christmas was as real as wrestling. Smug. Names on sacks and an allocated area for each sibling was granted. Mine was always nearest the tree (morning chocolate).

Bed time was imminent – semi-skimmed milk, a mince pie from Kwik-Save and a carrot were left out for Santa as reward for giving us presents. Classic Father Christmas cuisine. He knew where he stood with our family. No mucking about with gluten-free sandwiches or protein shakes.

No Sleep

Sweat built and a peculiar realisation sunk in that a person dressed in a suit would enter our house via a chimney we didn’t have. Footsteps were heard. That sounded like dad falling up the stairs. Need to hide under my Attack of the Killer Tomatoes duvet cover.

I remember needing a piss during the night, but being too afraid to venture on to the landing and in to the bathroom. Terrifying. What if he saw me? Big brother was probably fast asleep looking forward to opening his requested Hi-Tec jumper.

He’s Been!

Christmas morning finally arrived. You awaken from a semi-deep sleep and realise it is the day you have been waiting for. You know it is Christmas morning because it is 4:09am. You wander in to the parent’s bedroom; they are fast asleep dreaming about cooking the turkey and washing sprouts.

I remember wandering downstairs on my own to see whether he “had been”. Sounds like I was looking for him to have done a poo somewhere in the house. Unsurprisingly, he “had been”. Off I ran up the stairs to inform the parents. “He’s been”, I would announce. No positive response from them, other than, “What time is it”?

C’mon parents, get in to the spirit of Christmas ― doesn’t a turkey need basting you lazy b******s.

I didn’t say that.

Siblings would also be awake and off we all went down the stairs. I ran of course, and skidded over the living room carpet in complete joy. What a life!

You asked your parents for permission to begin the process of opening the sack-full of presents. You knew which one was the ‘main’ one. It was obvious. You begun by opening the boring ones. The socks; the felt tips and a dairy milk selection box. Slowly you worked your way up in order of amazingness (is that a word?). Next up was the inevitable calendar ― usually a WWF Wrestling one. Out came the middle-of-the-road ones such as the Golden Axe video-game for the Mega-drive. A good, solid present.

Next up was Rocksteady and Beepop figurines from the Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles. Another decent, well respected present. Thanks parents. Respect.

Now for the main event. Here it comes. It’s big, it is wrapped impeccably well. You have waited many weeks for this moment. And it is finally here. THE MEGAZORD. Yes, the Megazord is now firmly in your hands. You saw them inside their boxes in Gamleys, in Toystack and in Woolworths for many months preceding this very moment. And now it is in your living room. In case you were wondering, the toy in question was from Power Rangers. All the Rangers would morph and become one giant beast to defeat evil. So happy.

Dad would suddenly blare out all the Christmas tunes from the state-of-the-art cassette player ― probably Shaking Stevens. “Snow is falling…All Around me…Children singing…Having fun”.

And Christmas had begun!

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/festive-nostalgia-a-90s-christmas-from-inside-my-childhood-terraced-house_uk_5a20876de4b0545e64bf9173

HRC Observes World AIDS Day With Our Global Innovators and Fellows

Today, December 1, HRC commemorates the 30th observance of World AIDS Day. Each year, millions around the world remember those we’ve lost to HIV and AIDS and recommit ourselves to ending the epidemic.

According to UNAIDS, there were approximately 1.8 million individuals newly diagnosed with HIV globally in 2016. In an update to its 90-90-90 goals for 2020, UNAIDS reported that only 70 percent of people living with HIV globally have been diagnosed as of 2016. These statistics highlight the need for more accessible HIV programs and services, particularly in developing countries with limited medical resources.

“On World AIDS Day, we pause to remember those we have lost to AIDS-related illness, and recommit ourselves to ending the HIV epidemic and combating HIV-related stigma,” said Peter Cruz, Associate Director of the HIV and Health Equity Program. “We must keep fighting back against the continued attacks by Donald Trump and Republican leadership on the Affordable Care Act and critical HIV and AIDS programs. Today and every day, HRC stands united against attempts to roll back our progress and believes we must do everything in our power to accelerate the pace of progress toward an AIDS-free generation.”

To mark World AIDS Day, HRC recognizes a few of our Global Innovators and Global Fellows who are working tirelessly on behalf of individuals living with and affected by HIV in their countries.

Manisha Dhakal, Blue Diamond Society, Nepal (HRC Global Innovator)

“HIV and AIDS service interruption because of funding gaps was the biggest challenge that we face. Because of these gaps, it is difficult to access condoms, lubricants, and testing services for gay men and transgender people.”

My Call-to-Action:

“There should be an enabling environment that helps people access services. Enabling environment means sensitizing service providers and supporting legal provisions for the most at-risk populations so that they can access those services easily. Let’s work together to end discrimination and stigma to create an enabling environment with a rights-based approach.”

Ryan Law, Zhitong Guangzhou LGBT Center, China (HRC Global Fellow)

“People living with HIV and AIDS are still facing huge stigma and big challenges in terms of getting medical care and equal worker’s rights. We have been doing a lot of work to tackle this issue, like HIV prevention outreach education within the community, working with hospitals to offer better testing services and non-discriminatory and professional treatment to individuals living HIV and AIDS, and building a platform for people living with HIV to come together and support themselves. We are making progress. Earlier this year, we won the first case ever forbidding workplace discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS.”

My Call-to-Action:

“I think we should push for access to PrEP, because it is an effective way to stop new infections. Unfortunately, we don’t have it [in China]. One of the biggest reasons new infection rates are going up is because we lack proper sex education; if you don’t talk about sex, then you can not talk about sexual health, and that leads to unhealthy behavior. That is why we need to push our educational system to have better sexuality education.”

Diego Leo Mora, HIV en los medios, Colombia (HRC Global Fellow)

“The biggest challenge facing people with HIV and AIDS in Latin America is the stigma and discrimination that they are exposed to due to ignorance of the epidemic. Unfortunately in this region, people are not very proactive when researching HIV and prefer to have actions that are a consequence of what is heard from voice to voice, which implies a lot of barriers that affect the quality of life of people living with the virus, including access to health services, work, education and the treatment of society in general.”

My Call-to-Action:

“We must be multipliers and generators of new HIV information, where we can encourage the use of good language and good practices to end the stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS. It is necessary to ally with different stakeholders in society. We are all political agents and from our own homes and friends we can begin to improve the quality of life of people living with HIV and AIDS.”

Alexis Nizigiyimana, Village Health Action, Burundi

“My entire work is focusing on advocacy and HIV prevention and management among key populations (people who inject drugs, sex workers and LGBT) through Village Health Action that I founded in Burundi. Through my work, I realized that there is an increased prevalence of HIV and Hepatitis B & C.  The main challenges are  criminalization of the LGBT community in Burundi, impeding them from accessing health care services. Most importantly, a law which forbids the provision of opioid substance therapy and needle syringe exchange programs for people who inject drugs led to an increase in HIV and Hepatitis B & C transmission.”

My Call-to-Action:

“Advocate at the local and global level for improved access to health care as a human right for key populations.  Also, increasing financial support to organizations that provide health care services and advocacy to these populations. Lastly, influence policy makers to abolish these discriminatory laws.”

Read more information about HRC’s HIV and Global programs.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-observes-world-aids-day-with-our-global-innovators-and-fellows?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed