Skip to main content
Category

Thinking

A List of Famous People with HIV

By Health, ThinkingNo Comments

There aren’t a lot of famous people who’ve been open about their HIV status. This is not surprising given the historic stigma associated with HIV. In the 1980s there was a real lack of information about HIV/AIDS, this led to myths and a lot of fear. There were also no treatments. This was a public information broadcast back in 1986, and it really shows how little we knew about HIV/AIDS and what a diagnosis meant (death):

Click here to display content from YouTube.
Learn more in YouTube’s privacy policy.

Open video directly

But there are some brave people who have been open about being HIV positive.

Freddie-Mercury-HIV-positive

Freddie Mercry [Deceased], Singer. Image from & Copyright © People.com.

 1. Freddie Mercury
Perhaps the most famous person to be open about their HIV positive diagnosis was the legendary Freddie Mercury. He opened up about his HIV positive diagnosis the day before his death.

What is fascinating about Freddie Mercury is that he has been remembered for the way he lived, not the way he died. He is remembered for his work: writing songs, singing them and fabulous performances.

If I could have tea with anyone from any time, living or dead it would probably be Freddie Mercury. As a fellow creative soul (albetit not in the same field) I’d love to know where he got his inspiration. How he came up with his ideas. How he managed to find the magic melodies and be ahead of his time, yet timeless at the same time. Freddie Mercury gave very few interviews, so I guess I’ll never know the answers to these questions.

Gareth-Thomas-HIV-positive

Gareth Thomas, Retired Professional Rugby Player. Image from & Copyright © Wikipedia.

 2. Gareth Thomas
Gareth Thomas is a Retired Professional Rugby Player from Wales, UK.

Gareth Thomas disclosed his HIV status as being positive, yet also being undetectable and untransmittable earlier this year. His HIV status really shows how far treatment for HIV has come. Once a death sentence, it is now a treatable condition. Many people who are HIV positive can now have the same life span as those who are HIV negative.

Prior to this Gareth Thomas is the first major sportsman to come out as gay in Rugby, which he did so in 2009. Rugby is a very masculine sport, so he should be commended for being honest and open about his sexuality.

Andrew-Bell-HIV-positive

Andrew Bell, Singer. Image from and Copyright © The Info NG.

 3. Andrew Bell
Andrew Bell is the lead singer in the band Erasure. In 2004 he disclosed his HIV positive status to the public.

Since Andrew Bell’s disclosure he has been involved with a number of charities raising funds for HIV research and projects. This includes work with National AIDS Trust (NAT).
Charlie-Sheen-HIV-positive

Charlie Sheen, Actor. Image from and Copyright © GQ.

 4. Charlie Sheen
Charlie Sheen is an Actor with a checkered past. His past according to several sources includes violence, alcohol and substance misuse and being very sexually promiscuous. It is the latter of these behaviours that probably led to Charlie Sheen being diagnosed as HIV positive.

In 2015 Charlie Sheen disclosed his HIV status in an interview. In the same interview he reported that he had spent approximately $10 million to keep extortionists quiet about his HIV status.

Christopher-Smith-HIV-positive

Christopher Smith, Retired Politician. Image from and Copyright © The Info NG.

 5. Christopher Smith
Christopher Smith is a Retired Politician in the UK. I didn’t know that he even existed before doing research for this blog post. He is one of the unsung heroes in the LGBT community.

Christopher Smith was the first gay male Politician to come out, coming out as gay in 1984. He has severed in several Governments and has undoubtedly influenced people’s views about people who are LGBT. He has probably supported legislation for LGBT rights and promoted a more inclusive and equal culture.

I am aware that there are no women on this list. I couldn’t find a single famous female who has been open about their HIV positive diagnosis. If you know one, please leave a comment below and let me know.

A HIV positive diagnosis used to be like a death sentence, but today it isn’t. Treatments for HIV positive have never been better and have led to people with HIV being found to be undetectable and untransmitable. Want to know more about HIV? Learn more here.

Write soon,

Antony



I aim for posts on this blog to be informative, educational and entertaining. If you have found this post useful or enjoyable, please consider making a contribution by Paypal:


Share on Social Media:
Friday 6 December 2019

25 Popular Sayings and What They Really Mean

By The Web, ThinkingNo Comments

I love a good saying. In fact, I’ve made up a few of my own. My made up ones include:

  • What’s it made out of, Gold? – Meaning that something was really expensive to buy.
  • What a liberty! (I know Catherine Tate’s Nan character says this, but I was saying it before the TV show.) – Meaning how rude.
  • I can’t believe you’d even think that, let alone say it. – Mock shock at someone’s comment.

But most people, myself included, use well known popular sayings. Here are 25 popular saying with what they really mean:

sayings-2019-0

Something is easy or very easy to do.

sayings-2019-1

What you do carries more weight than what you say you’ll do.

sayings-2019-2

Talks a lot, usually aggressively, but lacks the influence or power to do anything. Or doesn’t follow through with what they say they’re going to do.

sayings-2019-3

Another day of work, another day earning pay. Usually said when people are fed up of going to work or are more generally tired.

sayings-2019-4

My mum says this one a lot to me. It means that you are loved and that you bring happiness or joy into someone’s life.

sayings-2019-5

I use this phrase whenever a woman flirts with me. But its more common use is to say that someone is trying the wrong approach or solution to a problem.

sayings-2019-6

This saying warns of the dangers of asking too many questions or investigating something in too much detail.

sayings-2019-7

Means get to the point.

sayings-2019-8

Whatever you’re waiting for happen probably wont. At least in the opinion of the person who says the phrase.

sayings-2019-9

He’s got a bad attitude.

sayings-2019-10

Lacks sensitivity. Is clumsy in words or actions. I always think of the Tasmanian devil swirling around in a glassware shop when I think of or say this phrase.

sayings-2019-11

This comes from the Bible in tale of the Good Samaritan. Basically means that he’s kind and compassionate.

sayings-2019-12

Stop. Wait. Get more information before you proceed.

sayings-2019-13

Means that you don’t want to tell them information that will disappoint them and make them less happy. There is a recognition in this saying that they will have to be told, just that you don’t want to be the one to do it. There’s a similar saying that means the same: I don’t want to rain/piss on their parade.

sayings-2019-14

I’m really happy about something.

sayings-2019-15

It was very expensive.

sayings-2019-16

It’s raining heavily outside.

sayings-2019-17

I’ve had some sex.

sayings-2019-18

There’s no point to feeling upset about something that has happened and can’t be changed.

sayings-2019-19

This actually comes from the film Jerry Maguire. Here’s the clip:

Click here to display content from YouTube.
Learn more in YouTube’s privacy policy.

Open video directly

People use it when they want evidence that something is worth the asking price.

sayings-2019-20

Having a decision to make with two equally bad choices.

sayings-2019-21

Those that are early risers see opportunities first and therefore have the biggest chance of success.

sayings-2019-22

Something that everyone in the room knows, but it is considered impolite to mention or talk about. I personally thrive on highlighting the elephant in the room using humour to defuse any tension.

sayings-2019-23

You can advise someone to do something, but you cannot make them do it.

sayings-2019-24

Someone old can’t learn something new. Someone stuck in a routine can’t have it changed. I disagree with the sentiment and meaning of this phrase. People can change their lives and anything in their lives at any time.

Blog soon,

Antony

Share on Social Media:
Sunday 1 December 2019

The Benefits of a 4 Day Work Week for the Employee & Employer

By Political, ThinkingNo Comments
office-icon-by-antony-simpson A lot of employers are looking at the benefits of a 4 day work week for their employees. In the UK its even attracted the attention of The Labour Party, becoming part of their manifesto. The idea is that the employee works the same amount of hours, but over 4 days instead of 5 days.

I like this idea. It seems to be a win-win. The employee gains, but so do employers. Here are the benefits of a 4 day work week for the employee:

  • Increased happiness.
  • A better work/life balance.
  • More time with family and friends.
  • More time to take up hobbies, interests or even volunteering.
  • Better physical health – lower levels of stress, more and better quality sleep, improvement in concentration, memory and problem solving. Possible increased physical fitness due to more time for a better diet and exercise.
  • Increased creativity.
  • Reduced risk of ‘burn out.’
  • A feeling of working to live, rather than living to work.
  • Save money due to less travel and lunch expenses.
  • Less time stuck in traffic on the commute to and from work. As employees will start earlier and finish later.

For Employers:

  • Increased productivity. Employees spend less time on non-work activities and really put their heads down to make the most of the hours they are in work.
  • Lower rates of sickness and a lessened length of sickness absence.
  • Employees that are more engaged.
  • Smarter ways of working developed.
  • Better outcomes from work undertaken.
  • More resilient individuals and teams that find it easier to deal with and adapt to change.
  • Employees give better customer service.
  • Improved communication and collaborative working.
  • Automation of some manual processes leading to increased efficiency.
  • Reduced estate costs – electricity only being used 4 days a week rather than 5 days.
  • More loyalty from staff – They’ll think twice about moving on if it means they’ll have to go back to a five day work week.

What do you think about a four day work week? Leave a comment below.

Blog soon,

Antony



I aim for posts on this blog to be informative, educational and entertaining. If you have found this post useful or enjoyable, please consider making a contribution by Paypal:


Share on Social Media:
Saturday 23 November 2019

International Mens Day – Some Inspirational Men In My Life

By Friends & Family, ThinkingNo Comments

Today is:

International-Mens-Day-Logo-2019

I have a number of men in my life, in fact they are some of my favourite human beings. They inspire me with their kindness, compassion and wicked sense of humor. These men include:

Papa who is a wonderful listener and has a very dry sense of humor.

Colin from the family that has unofficially adopted me. Colin is fatherly and wise; he is the father that I wish I’d had growing up.

My brother Neil inspires me with his emotional resilience and loyalty. I will always remember his face of absolute child-like joy when jumping in a bin at mum’s to compress the rubbish.

My brother Shaun for always taking life in his stride and never being afraid to make changes to make his life. One massive change he made led to more happiness all round and it no doubt took a lot of courage to face the truth: that neither of them were happy.

My friend Simon inspires me with his ideas, his unique perspective on life and the faith he has in me.

I always feel like the younger soul with these men. But one that they will always nurture and protect.

 man-icon-2019

Take care,

Antony

Share on Social Media:
Tuesday 19 November 2019
×