Tag Archives: protection

WARNING: Malware “Ransomware” Attacks Computers Worldwide

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A global ransomware attack is holding more than 60,000 computers hostage. Banks, telephone companies and hospitals have all been ensnared in the worldwide hack, with the malware locking down computers while demanding a hefty sum for freedom.

The attack has hit thousands of computers across China, Russia, Spain, Italy and Vietnam, but the UK hospitals have attracted the most attention because real lives at risk while their devices are locked down.

IT systems and phone lines in National Health Service hospitals were locked up on Friday, in a coordinated attack across the world. The East and North Hertfordshire NHS trust updated its website shortly after the attack, telling visitors that they were “currently experiencing significant problems with our IT and telephone network.” –  CNET

The malware was released by a group known as The Shadow Brokers, which recently claimed to have dumped hacking tools stolen from the US National Security Agency (NSA).

Microsoft released a patch in March, but many systems may not have updated as of yet.

Do yourself a favor and check your Microsoft updates and if you have any run updates immediately!

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo Vows To Protect Gays And Minorities From Attacks By Donald Trump And His Minions

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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo Vows To Protect Gays And Minorities From Attacks By Donald Trump And His Minions

 

From the Facebook page of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo:

The state of New York has a proud legacy as the progressive capital of the nation, and that is more important today than ever before. As New Yorkers, we have fundamentally different philosophies than what Donald Trump laid out in his campaign.

So let me be absolutely clear: If anyone feels that they are under attack, I want them to know that the state of New York – the state that has the Statue of Liberty in its harbor – is their refuge. Whether you are gay or straight, Muslim or Christian, rich or poor, black or white or brown, we respect all people in the state of New York.

It’s the very core of what we believe and who we are. But it’s not just what we say, we passed laws that reflect it, and we will continue to do so, no matter what happens nationally. We won’t allow a federal government that attacks immigrants to do so in our state.

We are a state of immigrants. We are the state that raised the minimum wage to $15. We are the state that passed Paid Family Leave. We are the state that passed marriage equality. We are New York, and we will stand up for you. And on that, I will never compromise. Count on it.

U.S Department of Labor Adds Transgender Workers As A Protected Category

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The United States Department of Labor has now  added gender identity to its class of employment protections!

Via White House Press Release:

The U.S. Department of Labor today announced its full commitment to implementing equal employment opportunity policies for all department employees and applicants. The policies ensure equal protections for all employees and applicants regardless of race; color; religion; national origin; sex, including pregnancy and gender identity; age; disability, whether physical or mental; genetic information; status as a parent; sexual orientation; or other non-merit factor. New, robust statements signed by Secretary Solis include updated policies on prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex, including gender identity and pregnancy. Secretary Solis strongly supports fair equal employment opportunity policies, and creating diversity and fairness in the workplace. “I am expressing my personal commitment to ensure that the U.S. Department of Labor is a model workplace, free from unlawful discrimination and harassment, which fosters a work environment that fully utilizes the capabilities of every employee,” said Secretary Solis. “It is my goal that we achieve and maintain a high-quality, diverse workforce at all organizational levels throughout the department.”

Transgender Legal Defense Fund (TLDEF) Executive Director Michael Silverman:

“Whether in private or public employment, what matters is not who you are, but how you do your job, the Department of Labor now joins the many public and private employers that have recognized that discrimination is bad business. We applaud Labor Secretary Hilda Solis for her leadership on this issue.”

Transgender people face tremendous discrimination in the workplace. In a recent survey, 47% of transgender people reported being fired, or denied a job or promotion, just because of who they are. In a recent case, TLDEF filed a lawsuit on behalf of a transgender man who was fired from a male-only job solely because he is transgender.

Employers like the Department of Labor set an example for other employers to follow. It is a great day when diversity is embraced and discrimination is rejected in the workplace,” added Silverman.”

Bit by bit.  Step by step we are getting closer.  But we need sweeping changes and all encompassing protections for the LGBT Community/.

While I applaud the Department of Labor.  The United States Government needs to update the Civil Rights Act of 1965 and 1991 to include the LGBT Community.

Nothing less will do.

Gay Man Severely Beaten Outside Albuquerque, New Mexico Gay Nightclub

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A gay man  and his partner who want to remain anonymous in fear of retaliation was severely beaten after leaving the Effex Club in Alberquerque, New Mexico on Saturday.

“I was pushed back and held back we were both sprayed in the face with pepper spray just before they started to chase us,” the man said.

He said he and his partner stopped to help a girl on a downtown sidewalk when five men ran after them yelling derogatory statements about their sexual orientation. Then, he said they started kicking his significant other. “His knee was shattered. His leg was broken and he’s in a lot of pain,” he said. “I am scared to go downtown and it’s up to you and to you to help make this a safe place not just for the gay community, but for all people.”

Dozens in the local gay community are demanding change saying they don’t feel safe in downtown Albuquerque. They claim there have been a lot of problems before this weekends beating and on Wednesday pleaded with the mayor’s office and the police department to make some serious changes.

Watch the video and read more AFTER THE PAGE JUMP…….

KOAT reports:

“Dozens in the local gay community are demanding change saying they don’t feel safe in downtown Albuquerque. They claim there have been a lot of problems before this weekends beating and on Wednesday pleaded with the mayor’s office and the police department to make some serious changes. ‘I don’t think there’s any way to describe how horrible it is,’ said the victim.

Police are not classifying it as a hate crime at this time because the motivation for the crime, they say, is unclear. 

(Although you would think that the fact that they chased them  “yelling derogatory statements about their sexual orientation” and that it happened outside a gay nightclub would give the cops a fucking clue.)

HIV+ Canadian Man To Be Tried For Attempted Murder

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A Canadian man , Steven Paul Boone who authorities named and identified in public reports as a sexually transmitting hazard to your health, has seen charges against him upgraded. To attempted murder.  Boone was arrested in May after an 18-year-old man said he contracted an “infectious disease” after having unprotected sex multiple times with Boone and while Boone was awaiting trial additional men came forward following health officials’ open call to Boone’s sex partners. Boone also faces charges of administering a “noxious substance” (yep, HIV). Which brings Boone’s grand total of counts against him to 31.

Boone who knew that he was HIV+ and aggressively sought sex partners hid the information and never divulged his status. (Weather he was asked and lied about it is unclear at this time.)  The allegations suggest the list of Boone’s potential victims could date back more than a year.

Its truly a disturbing story, spreading an infectious disease to people unaware, esp HIV/AIDS (Which, while chronic, still has no cure and still causes death), is an absolutely disgusting thing to do. But some of the responsibilty does fall back onto those who had the unprotected sex with Boone for they choose for themselves to act with careless disregard to their own protection. And, how can a fair judgement be made when the so-called victims willingly engage in unsafe-sex? Certainly if they had unprotected sex with Boone, it is reasonable to doubt whether or not they had unprotected sex with others.

Remember AIDS is not gone.  AIDS is not cureable. 

It is everyones responsibilty who is involved in a sex act to protect themseleves.  Weather it be with someone you meet through a friend or meet at a bathhouse.  Sex is not a dirty thing and can be lots of fun. 

But in the end it is up to YOU to be responsible for your own safety.