text:
I have settled in nicely here and I am rediscovering hobbies and how to make the most out of my weekends!
Movies: I plead absolute ignorance on this subject. Growing up, I always spent my money on CDs and I haven't been to the cinema since I was 17. Instead, I enjoy documentaries, comedy and non-standard sports on TV.
Music: Instrumental rock and progressive rock. In addition: gothic rock, hard rock, black metal, fusion, trad. jazz and blues, djent.
Food: All! Indian is a particular favourite.
On Saturday nights I typically play board games and/or computer games.
With that said, if you have kids (even if they are grown up) or otherwise would like to start a family, then we are sadly not best suited.
Ideally, it would be awesome if you are in-and-around Cheltenham (or within a sensible commute). However, if that spark is potentially there, then being further afield is not a showstopper.


text:
Dr. Liz
is a clinical psychologist who was
motivated to work on a near-death
experience study in the gay and
lesbian community. Her motivation
came to her upon learning that no
such studies existed. After putting
together a questionnaire she contacted
the gay community through a popular
San Francisco newspaper. Over
a two-year period, more than 30
people responded to her questionnaire.
Her findings are documented in her
excellent book entitled
Crossing Over & Coming Home
published through
Emeraldlink which also published
the excellent NDE book entitled
When Ego Dies.
Liz Dale is currently seeking
LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual,
and transgender) and non-gay
near-death experiencers to take
a survey about NDE
aftereffects. The survey is
entitled "A
Survey of Near-Death Experience
Aftereffects Among LGBT and
Non-Gay Near-Death Experiencers"
and can be taken on her website.
The survey results will be the
subject of Dr. Liz Dale's next
book which is to be published by
Balboa Press, a division of Hay
House. The survey also provides
a method for near-death
experiencers (NDErs) to submit
their NDE story either
anonymously or non-anonymously. If you
are an NDEr, especially a LGBT
NDEr, and are interested in
taking part in this historic
project, please take this
survey. Also, Dr. Dale asks to
please be so kind as to pass
this information on to others
who might be interested. The
survey's goal of quantifying the
similarities and of differences
between these two NDE groups
will greatly add to the body of
NDE literature available at the
present time. A second study,
sponsored by the International
Association for Near-Death
Studies (IANDS), is also in
progress. If you are interested
in participating in this study,
contact IANDS.
Dale's website has been
redesigned and now includes new
LGBT resources such as:
About.com LGBT
article links,
Wikipedia LGBT
portal links,
Directory Project LGBT
Google LGBT search result
links, and
Amazon.com Gay and Lesbian
links. If you would like to
contact Dr. Liz Dale to submit
your NDE story, you can email
her at:
or snail mail at: Dr. Liz Dale,
PO Box 153, Pinole, CA 94564.
consider one particular gay man's NDE testimony,
that of
Christian Andréason (pronounced
On-dray-son), to be perhaps the greatest
revelation and inspirational testimonies
about Jesus, God, and heaven I've ever read.
Best known for being an award-winning, critically
acclaimed, recording artist, Andréason is
a singer, songwriter and producer of inspirational
music. Since 1987 he has professionally
recorded hundreds of songs and produced
a total of 9 albums. Praised by celebrities,
major press and even former United States
Presidents, Christian's music and messages
of love have so far reached millions of
ears Internationally via Internet, television,
stage and radio. It was on June 2nd of 1995,
that Christian Andréason (www.allaboutchristian.com)
had his NDE. Once out of his body, Christian
took a rare, highly transcendental and extensive
tour of "The Divine Realm" where he entered
into the light of God. Read
more here...
Immediately after the impact from
falling forward onto the metal grating,
I felt myself floating up, out of my
body, and hovering above my body and all
the people who were watching it, and who
seemed paralyzed by shock and horror at
what had happened. I think they pretty
much assumed that I was dead. I remember
looking down and seeing my body
three-dimensionally for the first time.
And it was such a shock, because we
never see ourselves except in a
one-dimensional mirror reflection, or a
photograph. But I felt no pain at all; I
felt completely whole and free, and I
thought, "This is who I really am."
I saw my physical
body, all crumpled and bloody and lifeless;
and this enormous wave of compassion washed
over me and I wanted to tell all of the
bystanders that everything was going to
be OK and not to be sad or alarmed.
suddenly I felt myself being pulled, literally
at the speed of light, farther from the
physical Earth, and I saw all of the people
on the planet simultaneously in that one
moment. I saw people in China and Sweden
and Uruguay; I saw people sleeping and dreaming;
I saw people preparing food in their homes
and in restaurants; people traveling in
all manner of transportation, to and from
work and school and appointments; I saw
children playing together, and bankers and
teachers and factory workers at their jobs.
I saw mothers giving birth to children,
which was especially beautiful and moving
to me.
I saw people
in hospitals and prisons, mental institutions
and nursing homes and orphanages who felt
desperately alone and abandoned and afraid.
And I saw people painting pictures and planting
gardens; writing stories and composing music,
and people dancing.
I saw people
praying in mosques and temples, synagogues,
and churches; and people individually expressing
their own silent prayers. I saw indigenous
tribes in all different parts of the world
drumming and chanting. And God was sending
multitudes of angels to the Earth, to assist
in answering all of the countless, millions
of prayers being offered up at that single
As I seemed to
move further into the light, I saw the Earth
as though from outer space. It was like
a beautiful, shimmering blue and green jewel
floating in the cosmos. As I moved closer
I saw that the Earth was vibrating and pulsating,
as though it was a living, breathing entity
and not just some physical mass.
And I thought, "This is Mother Earth; this
is our Divine Mother."
But as I looked
even closer, I saw that there were terrible
wounds and sores on different parts of her
body, and that she was gasping for breath,
and calling out to God and to her children
to stop the killing and destruction and
hatefulness - that she was dying and praying
for all of us to help her to heal and regenerate.
Again I felt overwhelmed by feelings of
sadness and compassion, and I desired to
hold Mother Earth in my arms - to whisper
words of love and hope.
I remember that
a part of me felt frustrated and powerless
to actually do anything of value - just
as I have often felt in my physical body.
Yet another part of me felt completely powerful,
as though there was nothing that I couldn't
At that moment I asked God, "What do you
want me to do?"
And the answer that came to me was that
I had to go back into my physical body in
order to complete certain goals that had
already been set into motion.
And I thought, "But I can't go back because
my body is too far gone, it's beyond repair."
And I was also
afraid that I could never accomplish, with
all of my physical limitations, all that
I could do as a spirit form, which felt
so free and unencumbered.
I remember feeling
angry and fearful about going back, after
being in all of this light - to have to
go back to the darkness. And then I felt
the presence of Jesus Christ all around
me. The feeling of love was completely overwhelming.
I felt as though I was swimming in an ocean
of ecstasy.
And I asked him, "Do I really have to go
his answer was that I was a part of God's
divine plan, as is every person, and that
my ultimate purpose is to love and serve
God and all sentient beings. And I could
tell that he understood all of my fear and
doubt. And he assured me that I would heal
and recover, but that it would be a lifelong
process; and that I did have the power within
me, only I didn't realize it until now,
and that all I had to do was to ask for
the courage and strength to persevere in
my life and in my work. This particular
information held enormous value for me,
as I had often questioned whether I would
ever really find a place in the world -
having always been somewhat of an outsider
- a place where my passionate concern regarding
so many compelling modern issues could somehow
take solid form, and that I could hopefully
make even a small difference.
Then Christ said
that he would send me guardian angels to
aid me in my healing, and to guide and protect
me. Then the light became even brighter,
and suddenly there were angels everywhere,
playing the most transcendentally beautiful
music, and singing "Hosanna!" and hymns
of praise to God. And some of the angels
were crying, which I didn't understand.
And Jesus said that the angels were weeping
tears of joy for my new life on Earth and
that they were also expressing compassion
for the hardship I would endure for the
rest of my earthly existence. And he said
that he had summoned the angels to guide
me on my journey back to the Earth, and
to my physical body. I remember feeling
so grateful that Christ was there to help
me try and understand everything that was
happening. I also remember feeling that
I wasn't afraid anymore; that no one could
ever hurt me again. And that I would try
my best every day to serve God's will.
I awakened to
find two men kneeling over me, with expressions
of apprehension and concern on both their
faces. For some reason I felt that they
might be gay men. They both looked to be
in their thirties. I couldn't help but notice
how handsome they both were, and that they
were beautifully dressed in what appeared
to be very expensive business clothes. I
remember thinking that they might be some
kind of executives working for a corporation,
which in fact is exactly what they turned
out to be. One of the men obviously had
some type of first aid training, and had
monitored my vital signs. They informed
me that an ambulance was on its way and
to try to remain still and not speak, which
was easy to do, considering the extent of
my injuries. They had both taken off their
jackets and laid them over me, and I was
horrified to discover that the jackets were
covered with blood and completely ruined.
I remember feeling embarrassed, and yet
enormously grateful for the kindness of
these two strangers. Their entire presence
was completely warm and comforting, and
I felt strangely safe and protected.
They waited alongside
me until the ambulance came, and then arrived
at the hospital to make sure that I was
properly attended to. They visited me in
the hospital on two separate occasions.
I made a somewhat feeble offer to replace
their ruined clothes, but they simply laughed
it off, and insisted that the only thing
that mattered was that I was alive and more
or less in one piece. Again their mere presence
filled me with a sense of hope and courage.
I felt very strongly that both men symbolized
what would prove to be a succession of "angels"
that Christ had promised to send me. This,
in fact, turned out to be truer than I could
possibly have imagined.
Kirk is a lesbian who corresponded with
Kevin Williams and described her near-death
experience. This experience appears in Mr.
Williams' book,
Nothing Better Than Death.
The following
happened to me during the summer of 1981.
I was nineteen at the time. It was a time
in my life when I had pretty much decided
that there could be no God, no great being
in control of the world around me. If there
were, he wasn't doing a very good job. I
didn't realize it at the time, but once
I had made this "decision" I started going
downhill. I became selfish. That is self-centered
but not very self-concerned.
I should mention
that I had been having episodes of tachycardia
for several years. I was never diagnosed
(up to that point) with any kind of heart
defect. Had I been asked, I would have denied
any problems with my heart. I thought it
was very normal to get light headed and
almost pass out during periods when my heart
would race. Duh.
One evening I
was in the back seat of a car traveling
to San Francisco from Los Angeles. All of
a sudden my heart began to race and the
nausea hit. Next everything started spinning
and I could see lots of colors. Then I had
a sense of blackness come over me. Like
a dark damp cloud. I was terrified. I have
never been so scared. In my fear I said,
Immediately I
witnessed a fight. It seemed there was a
battle between a being in white/light and
this blackness. Immediately following, the
light overtook the darkness.
"I found myself
on my face in worship in front of this Being
of Light. I felt a warmth, the most intense
love filled me. It was an energy that penetrated
every fiber of my being. I had never felt
such a complete and total love. That unconditional
love I hear many talk about.
I know there
was conversation between us but I can not
remember what was said. I feel like it was
a time of healing for me, kind of a regeneration
if you will.
In the next instant,
I was floating above the car moving down
the highway looking at myself in the back
seat. I knew it was me sitting there, and
yet I was up here. I wasn't afraid or confused.
Everything was as it should be.
There was someone
there to my left. I don't think it was the
same being that I had just been with. He
(I had a sense it was a he) seemed to be
in a white robe or something. Funny, I never
really looked at him. His identity didn't
seem to be important. I think he was there
to guide me. I didn't make myself go, it
was more like he took me or led me.
We began moving
through space. I was aware of that because
the stars and planets were passing very
quickly. It was very exciting, I felt so
The order of
the next [series of episodes] I am unsure
of. I know each was a distinct episode,
but it is hard for me to put them in an
order or time frame.
The next thing
I knew there was a white "room." I can't
say it had walls but it seemed to be somewhat
enclosed. Maybe its boundaries extended
to the edge of the light that filled it
and that is why I call it a room. There
was a man in a white robe behind a podium
with a book on it. I knew it was the book
of life from the Bible.
I remember thinking,
"Uh oh, that stuff was for real."
I suddenly realized
that the "God" I had been presented wasn't
anything like the reality. I saw that it
doesn't matter if you call him God, Allah,
Great Spirit or whatever, he is the same
The different
religions just have different ways of explaining
the same Creator. I also realized that little
voice inside us that prompts us to do good
things comes from this Creator, it is that
light of love inside each of us. I don't
remember specifically being told this, more
like I just knew it.
I came to a place,
maybe a room maybe a space. I was shown
my life. If it was my entire life. I do
not remember all of it. The only part that
I remember now was just the last week or
so. Since I had given up on God. I saw how
selfish I had been. I felt the pain I had
caused one person in particular and it bothered
me very much. The things I had the most
guilt for was hurting other people, lying,
not being sensitive to their feelings, just
being selfish. The fact that I was a lesbian
didn't even seem to matter then. That was
surprising to me, given what I had been
brought up to believe.
There was another
room or area. It seems like there were others
there, I sensed some were female, some male,
but I can't say I recognized anyone.
I was shown a
diagram. I could see that it represented
choices. A choice led to other choices which
lead to other choices. Basically, actions
have consequences.
I began receiving
"all knowledge," or at least that is what
it felt like. They were there teaching me.
This didn't come to me as words like you
and I speak. More as complete thoughts.
When I think, it is generally in words and
pictures, this is how I received the information.
As complete words and pictures in my mind.
As I could form a question in my mind I
had the answer. Not just the answer to that
question, but the why and how and the answer
to every other question that the answer
would bring up.
EVERYTHING in the
entire universe fits together like a jigsaw
puzzle. EVERYTHING MADE SENSE.
I remember thinking,
"I have to remember this."
I looked over
to the right and in the distance I could
see a beautiful valley with lots of people.
There was someone looking out over all of
it. I felt that it was Jesus. I then looked
down and saw a line. My foot (Yes, I
did have a spiritual "body" as did the others
I encountered) was stepping over the
line to go to be with the others.
Then I was told,
"If you cross that line you can't go back,
it would mean you would have to die."
Funny as it may
sound, up to that point I didn't realize
I would have to die or was about to die.
It never occurred to me. I didn't realize
that I was separate from my body even though
I had seen it in the car. I felt complete.
I remember laughing and thinking this isn't
how I pictured death.I said I wanted
to stay. I was then told that the people
I was with (in the car), as well as my mother,
would not understand and it would hurt them
deeply. I understood.At some point
I was shown a map and was told to leave
and go to Virginia.The angels were
singing and it seems like I could see the
clouds all lit up (it was nighttime).
The next thing I knew I as sitting in
the back of the car. I could hear the most
beautiful music.I didn't tell anyone
what had happened to me for a long time.
I felt out of place the next several days.
I wanted to go back. I knew instinctively
that I could not do anything to bring that
about though. I tried and tried to remember
everything I learned when I was filled with
knowledge but it isn't there.
Jean Ritchie's excellent book entitled
Death's Door, she has documented the
suicide attempts and subsequent near-death
experiences of a woman named Helen. Her
near-death experiences demolish the myths
held by many religious people that suicide
and homosexuality are one-way tickets to
hell. Although today Helen is very comfortable
with the fact that she is a lesbian, coping
with it has not always been easy. By the
time she was seventeen, she was drinking
heavily and experimenting with drugs. Over
the years, her problems greatly escalated
which led her to decide to take her own
life. After writing suicide notes and taking
an overdose of pills and drink, Helen was
rushed to a hospital in very serious condition.
Her heart stopped four times, she learned
later from the medical staff.I remember
clearly floating up above myself, and looking
down on my body. It was connected to numerous
machines. I could see the drip and the oxygen
mask. I could see the doctors working to
restart my heart with electronic pads. I
could see that my parents were there. It
felt very peaceful, much better than where
I had been before. I was bathed in warmth
and light, and the calm was almost tangible.
I felt it was up to me to decide where I
wanted to be, up there or back in my body,
but the peace was so overwhelming that I
knew I wanted to stay.And then I
was in a small supermarket, floating between
the aisles. It was like any ordinary supermarket,
with shelves loaded with goods. My grandmother,
who died when I was very young, was at the
checkout, and so was my auntie. I knew without
anyone telling me that it was my auntie,
my mum's sister, although she had died of
a brain hemorrhage before I was born. They
were beckoning to me to go to them, but
through the plate-glass window I could see
my parents and my immediate family, also
beckoning and urging me to hurry.
[The next
thing Helen remembers is waking from her
coma with the oxygen mask pressing on her
face and causing some pain. She felt regret
at having left the peace behind.]
Helen's second near-death experience
occurred a couple of years after the first,
after another suicide attempt. This time
she took pills and tried to swallow bleach.
Her partner found her and called an ambulance.
The following is her experience.
I was drifting in and out of consciousness,
more out than in, but I remember being wheeled
from the flat on a stretcher. Again, I floated
above and could look down and see two men
carrying the stretcher, and I felt secure
and safe in the knowledge that I was walking
away from all the chaos of my life. Again,
I felt it was my decision to walk away.
Then I remember a very powerful force pulling
me towards a serene, very beautiful realm,
a higher realm. I traveled very slowly along
a tunnel toward a bright light, and I could
feel an overwhelming sense of warmth and
peace and whiteness. I wanted to walk into
the whiteness, which was so tranquil and
happy. It was like stepping into a vacuum,
there was nothing tangible, no scenery to
look at, but a tremendous feeling of being
somewhere, like nirvana. I felt okay, as
though this was where I was meant to be,
as if I had arrived home, and I was at ease
with myself for the first time in a long
time.I also felt at one with the
forces of the universe, as though I was
part of something much much bigger, and
yet I was also the whole of it. It was a
tremendously powerful feeling, and such
a contrast to the despair and depression
that had led me there.
[This second
time Helen did not see any relatives, and
although she experienced the same sense
of there being an element of choice in whether
or not she returned to life or continued
in that lovely place, she did not feel any
panic when she awoke in the hospital a few
days later.]I knew I had
not wanted to relinquish the good feelings
the place had given me, but at the same
time I did not feel regret at returning.
This time, the experience seemed to give
me strength. I felt refreshed.
[Helen was told
by hospital staff that she was lucky to
have survived.]Helen's two
near-death experiences have taken away any
fear she may have had of death, and she
now anticipates that when it comes she will
once again experience those feelings of
peace and tranquility. She does not believe
that her near-death experiences encouraged
her to make more suicide attempts: suicide,
she says, is born of despair with this world,
not a hankering after the peace and serenity
of the next. Eventually, Helen was able
to beat her alcohol and drug addiction.
She is back with her partner, studying for
a master's degree and doing volunteer work.
near-death experiences describe the unconditional
love that God has for everyone. This, of
course, includes gays and lesbians. Just
the fact that God created so many homosexuals
(approximately 10% of the population) should
be enough proof for any reasonable person.
Unfortunately, there are people out there
who, out of ignorance, fear, and bigotry,
persecute them by treating them as second
class citizens.
following insights comes from near-death
testimonies concerning bigotry. These insights
show how homosexuality is just as natural
as heterosexuality and is certainly not
offensive to God as some religious texts
Creed, race, gender, and sexual preference
have no real meaning to God. No matter who
we are, we were all children joined under
one God. The only rule is God's true law
"Do unto others as you would have them do
unto you." (P.M.H.
Those religions which claim superiority
over others, or exclude people for various
reasons, go against God's law that we love
one another as we love ourselves. (Sandra
God is really only concerned about what
is within us, our heart and spirituality,
not our sexual preference. The way to heaven
is through love for everyone unconditionally.
We do not go to heaven by worshipping Jesus,
or by believing in his name, or by believing
in the cross, or by accepting him as our
Savior. We grow to heaven by creating heaven
within us by practicing the unconditional
love of Jesus for everyone no matter who
they are. (Kevin
Williams' research)
There is no one religion just as there is
no "chosen" people or person. We are all
children of God in the sense that we are
all souls of God's creation. What counts
is what comes from the heart, not what one
professes to believe. The most difficult
thing for a person who has been deeply steeped
in a particular religious tradition is to
realize that the form alone is not what
elevates a person; it is the heart. (PMH
It also needs to be recognized that not
all teachings described as religious are
beneficial. Religion which is judgmental,
prejudicial, critical, and narrow may impede
the spirit's natural growth. It is love,
not religion, which creates spiritual growth.
Where religion teaches love, there is growth.
Where religion impedes love, there is stagnation.
According to Dr. Ian Stevenson, the foremost
reincarnation researcher, many of children
with past-life memories show abilities or
talents that they had in their previous
lives. Dr. Stevenson's research led him
to conclude that homosexuality is a natural
human trait resulting from the reincarnation
of a person of one gender as a person of
the opposite gender.
Such people must
adjust to their new gender and sexuality
at an early age. Former girls who are reborn
as boys may wish to dress as girls or prefer
to play with girls rather than boys. Former
boys who are reborn as girls may wish to
dress as boys or prefer to play with boys
rather than girls. Former men who are reborn
as women will be attracted to women and
will therefore be lesbian. Former women
who are reborn as men will be attracted
to men and will therefore be gay. (Dr.
Ian Stevenson)
Dr. Stevenson's research supports scientific
evidence that defines homosexuality as a natural
human genetic trait and not a lifestyle
of personal choice. Modern
medical research has found that the
brains of homosexuals are genetically
different than heterosexual brains. A study by
Dr. Simon LaVey reported in
Science News, August 31, 1991. Vol. 140,
No. 9, page 140 discovered this
fact. Such
research reveals homosexuality to be a natural process; and therefore, a divinely
created process.
Anyone who has grown up
on a farm or ranch, as I have, knows that
farm animals frequently exhibit homosexual behavior.
These facts of nature and of God discredits
self-righteous religious beliefs that
homosexuality is merely a choice, a sin
and a lifestyle which people can easily
chose to abandon. Near-death and
metaphysical evidence shows people are
born the way they are for a higher
purpose known to God and our Higher
Selves. It also makes logical sense that God creates and loves
unconditionally no matter what their
And finally, pardon my adult language here,
but does God really care if a person prefers
the anus and/or genitals of a man over the
anus and/or genitals of a woman regarding
sex? My understanding is that God is concerned
about a person's "heart" and not so much about their
The Bible was written during a time when
society considered all sinners, homosexuals,
adulterers, and prostitutes as outcasts
and worthy of death. Women had the same
status as cattle, slavery was sanctioned,
and so-called sexually immoral people were
stoned to death. But Jesus didn't follow
the social norms of those days. He hung
out with sinners, prostitutes, tax collectors
and even made some of them apostles.
following is a presentation of the case that Jesus
is not concerned about a person's sexual
preference which was contrary to Paul's opinions.
did not know Jesus except from a vision
of the resurrected Christ. He also didn't take the opportunity
to visit the twelve apostles until
fourteen years after his conversion. Nor
did he spend enough time learning at the
feet of those whom Jesus lived
with, taught, and appointed. Instead,
Paul rebukes
Peter and clashes with the Twelve on several
despite the fact that Jesus told the Twelve they would
rule on twelve
thrones and judge Israel. The only real historical facts
Paul mentions in his letters concerning
Jesus was that he was crucified and had
a brother James. Paul's letters display
a bizarre degree of ignorance of Jesus'
teachings. In fact, Paul contradicts the
teachings of Jesus so many times, many
scholars conclude
Paul was
the founder of Christianity instead
of Jesus.
The following is a list of some
of the
major contradictions of Paul's teachings
with Jesus concerning social issues and
religious issues.
Paul contradicted Jesus on these important
Bible scholars speculate how Paul's
views on these issues are largely responsible
for some of the atrocities that have plagued
humanity in western civilization, such as
anti-Semitism, the Inquisition, Nazism and
the Holocaust, and slavery. To Paul's
credit, it may have never been his
intention for his personal letters to
the churches to be elevated to the
status of "God breathed" Holy Scripture.
When you consider all of the teachings
of Jesus
in the gospels, it is safe to assume Jesus loves homosexuals; and nowhere in
the gospels does Jesus condemn homosexuality.
is within you that the divine
- Joseph Campbell
Experiences Main
Crossing Over & Coming Home: 21
Authors Discuss the Gay NDE as Spiritual
by Dr. Liz Dale
This is the first book to examine
the NDEs of gays and lesbians. One
gay man was told that God creates
homosexuals. Another gay man was
told that his sexuality was a gift
from God. This groundbreaking research
will open your eyes and heart to
God's perspective of homosexuality.
When Ego Dies: A Compilation of Near-Death
and Mystical Conversion Experiences
by Diane Corcoran, et al
This is "The Big Book of the NDE" written
by people who have been to the Other
Side. Includes a wealth of various information
about the NDE.
We're Here: An Investigation Into Gay
by Lynn Kearr
A ground-breaking book which focuses
on true stories of reincarnation by
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Science of Desire: The Gay Gene and
the Biology of Behavior
by Dean Hamer
A chronicle of the scientific investigation
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Science and Homosexualities
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Biblical Ethics & Homosexuality:
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Notable Biblical scholars confront the
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wealth of information about sexuality.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
A manual is a document which has collection of information about a product regarding its usage or operation. It may be prepared to describe a product or help the reader in understanding the set of steps to follow. A manual format may be a training manual, user manual, system manual, quality manual etc. Whatever the topic of a free manual is, it must have detailed information about the topic. Pictures, graphs, tables can be added in any manual to make it more meaningful. Usually a manual is prepared by a person who has complete knowledge of the product, machine or a procedure so that the manual may cover each and every aspect of its topic.
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How do you store and manage your business and personal contacts? Ensuring these contacts can be accessed across multiple platforms, from online, desktop, and mobile devices, because you never know when you are going to have the need to make contact with an individual? Do you utilize a few different options and import and export to all of them? Or do you tend to only use one application and export to a mobile device that you have on hand at all times?
I find myself utilizing Outlook for contacts, and then exporting to mobile devices. The only problem there is updating contact information. That's why Plaxo is a location to be looked into. Your contacts make changes to their information, and you are immediately notified of the changes. (If they choose to notify you.) Thus ensuring you have the latest up to date contact information. I had started using this route, but found it tiresome and too time consuming to add contacts in that didn't have Plaxo accounts. What are the business and personal contact storage managing solutions that you employ?


text:
JERUSALEM (Aug. 22)
Mayor Rashid el-Shawa of Gaza, who returned Sunday from a mission to Amman told Defense Minister Moshe Dayan yesterday of the steps Jordan has agreed on with him to bring its treatment of visitors from Gaza into line with its treatment of West Bankers.
Shawa, who led a delegation of 40 notables to Amman and conferred with King Hussein, reported that he had been granted 3000 passports for Gaza Strip students who want to study at Jordanian universities. The Mayor said he had also obtained permission for Gaza citizens to cross into Jordan without special entry visas from the Jordanian government, although each must have a letter of recommendation from the Gaza municipality.
As a goodwill gesture, Shawa said, Hussein released 14 women arrested during the Jordanian civil war of Sept., 1970 and promised to pardon 18 men sentenced to death for their part in the aborted terrorist uprising against the government. Under another arrangement, Shawa said, Gaza citrus dealers will be allowed to deliver their produce in their own trucks–up to 40–instead of having to transfer the goods to West Bank trucks.


text:
Welcome to E-Books Directory
This is a freely downloadable e-book.
Relationships, Change and Mathematical Analysis
Read this book online or download it here for free
Custom Search
Relationships, Change and Mathematical Analysis
by Roy McWeeny
Publisher: Learning Development Institute 2011
Number of pages: 94
This book deals with the mathematics we need in describing the relationships among the quantities we measure in Physics and the Physical Sciences in general. This leads us into the study of relationships and change, the starting point for Mathematical Analysis and the Calculus -- which are needed in all branches of Science.
Download or read it online here:
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text:
The 28-year-old woman accused of setting Dana Vulin alight is expected to plead not guilty when the matter goes to trial in April.
Natalie Dimitrovska appeared in the Perth Magistrates Court via videolink from Bandyup Prison on Thursday morning.
Perth Magistrate Robert Young previously rejected a bail application Ms Dimitrovska because he believed she was too high a flight risk, he said.
Ms Dimitrovska was arrested at the Perth International Airport on February 24, 20 minutes before she was due to board a one-way flight to Macedonia on a ticket purchased hours earlier, the court heard.
The same day she was charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm and has since been held in custody.
Ms Vulin, 26, suffered burns of up to 60 per cent of her body after she was doused with fuel and set alight at her Rivervale apartment in February last year.
Ms Vulin's sister Svetlana Velickovski said in November her sister was in a "living hell" requiring constant care.
"She's still getting dressed daily by a nurse for her wounds that refuse to heal," she said.
"She still can't move her arms, she can't dress herself, she can't shower herself.
"I'd love to sit here and say she's doing better but she's not."
Ms Dimitrovska's lawyer indicated she would plead not guilty to a charge of grievous bodily harm at the trial which has been set for the District Court on April 19.


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A scooter rider was taken to hospital following a crash at Galleys Corner, Braintree, this afternoon.
Police were called at 3.40pm after a silver Ford KA and a blue Peogeut scooter were in collision.
The scooter rider, believed to be a woman, suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital.
The road has now been cleared.


text:
A Distraction
By causing myself physical pain I felt like it would get rid of or at least distract me from the emotional pain that I was feeling at that particular time.
BleedingMascara 18-21, F 3 Responses 0 Mar 3, 2008
in stead of cutting i grab ice blocks and hold them to my skin till it feels like its burning. it hurts but doesnt leave scars.
give it a try
stay strong
Me too. i've got 12 scars and one which i've had for a few months, the scar was so deep i couldn't hide it and my parents found out. Sometimes i really want to start again.
All cutting urself does is take the pain away for that moment in it feels good but it does not stay like that for the day i cut myself every so often just to keep that like relieving feeling u know also i use rubber bands


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Oh dear, once again Heather Causnett focuses all the blame for the ills of child nurture on the mothers (Letters, February 18).
Are there no violent, addictive, neglectful and slovenly fathers? After all, children have two parents, and surely the responsibility for their care rests on both parents equally.
I know from experience that there are loving and caring parents of both sexes.
Pamela Brown, Goodwood Grove, Dringhouses, York.


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The Difficulty In Modern Games
Every time I read about new games and all, one thing I like to look into is the difficulty. Difficulty usually has to be just right for the game to be as good as it can be. As strange as it may sound, difficulty seems to be getting progressively easier than it once was, which doesn't seem to make sense. Usually, video games no matter the genre would assumingly get more difficult as the player progresses, often to cope with the player acquiring new items to make the game easier. Sometimes a game will be easy from the start, and get more difficult as you continue through the game, while some will be the other way around usually due to advancements in armor, weapons, and other new items, but games from this current decade seem to have a consistent easy difficulty, but why?
If a game is too easy, it doesn't challenge the player, which can be good or bad depending on what type of gamer the player is. For maybe the average gamer, lack of challenges wouldn't bother the player since they are likely to just play the game for whatever reason it may be. For the more hardcore player though, the game will probably be considered boring, and won't likely get much replay value if everything is done with ease. Either way, the idea of boredom as a result of games being too easy can apply to you no matter what gamer you may consider yourself, or actually be.
On the other end of the spectrum, if the game is too difficult, it may get bad reviews, fans may hate it, but will sometimes even be notorious for its difficulty. If a player is constantly failing to complete the objective in a game as a result of the game being too difficult, then the player may feel like they are not very good, or it may make the player angry to the point where they give up and write the game off as not very good. Whether it be for the more hardcore video game player, or the casual player, this result still seems to be consistent when it comes to overly difficult games.
In some games that I've played, the game will, depending on how the player is doing automatically, lets you progress regardless of actually completing the objective. Two semi-recent games that demonstrate this are Uncharted 3 and Rayman Origins. In Uncharted, if the player is repeatedly failing to complete any of the various puzzles, the game will give the option to skip the puzzle without any penalizations. While the puzzles were harder in Uncharted 3 than in the other Uncharted games, according to players and critics, none of them were so astonishingly difficult that they needed a skip option.
Rayman on the other hand, allowed the player to skip entire segments, one after the other if they were dying often on the level. Some parts are acceptable as they can be overly difficult to certain players, and why shouldn't the player be allowed to continue on through the game as a result of overly difficult situations? Though the skip option seems like a great idea on paper, like Uncharted, it does not penalize the player or make them any better at it by skipping it. The skip option can be abused level after level as the player sees fit on any of the levels in the game.
A game series that seemed to go in all three directions of difficulty in its time was Jak and Daxter. The first game in the series, Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy was well received as a whole, but many fans complained the game was simply too easy in all aspects. Jak and Daxter developer Naughty Dog took this criticism and made Jak 2: Renegade a significantly more difficult game as a result. To no one's surprise, fans were quick to criticize the sequel's difficulty spike, and report this directly to Naughty Dog. Being the recurrence of previous events, when Naughty Dog released Jak 3, they made sure to make that it was neither too difficult, or too easy for the player. As surprising as it seemed, Naughty Dog managed to successfully make the game just right in terms of difficulty for all players. If a player constantly exceeded expectations with ease, the game was dynamically made more difficult, while making the game easier if the player was having a hard time.
It would be best to assume that after the events of the Jak and Daxter trilogy, Naughty Dog made sure to have its future games play tested more excessively to ensure that the difficulty was just right for all players. Naughty Dog's award winning series Uncharted seemed to sit just right with players based on the option being given to the player to choose their desired difficulty, rather than being forced to play on either extreme.
A game that received much praise for the difficulty of the game as a whole was Demon's Souls, which was followed up by Dark Souls. Both were so incredibly difficult to play legitimately that they are often remembered for that and that alone. The two games are among very little that actually provide a challenge to video game players nowadays. More difficult games have a tendency to have a more rewarding feeling when they are finally conquered, although it may take some mastery and practice to get to this stage. It seems like the majority of all games that release in these modern times are overly easy to at least some extent. Even games like Call of Duty that claim to be very difficult, especially on the veteran or hardened difficulties are often inundated with constant checkpoints around every corner, as well as anything else the player may want to protect themselves.
The presence of feeling accomplishment hasn't been around in my experiences to say the least in many years, probably dating back to the very early 2000's. It could be argued that I simply felt that games were much more difficult at that time as I did not have all of the gaming experience that I do now, but for some reason, I feel obligated to disagree and say that games simply had a different level of difficulty way back when. I guess the lack of difficulty in most modern games seems to leave a void in myself, especially when thinking back to when games didn't specifically focus on looking good and selling rather than having a great overall experience…
4 Comments
there was no hero mode in jak and daxter the precursor legacy the 2nd and 3rd did
and I thought number 3 was easier than 2 lolzGD Star Rating
While I understand and appreciate difficulty in gaming, difficulty can also be "manufactured" and thus frustrating for the gamer. Is the game difficult on its own merit? Or is it difficult because when you fail a level you must start over at the beginning? To me, that's a cheap parlor trick by the developer and has nothing to do with a gamer's talents or skills. Every gamer, no matter how "hardcore" or crazy with playing on insane difficulty levels, makes mistakes, and to penalize them by creating artificial difficulty is just ridiculous.
For example, a challenging boss fight that has players facing a variety of stages of the boss' morphing as they get further reduced in health is a welcome challenge spike to me. If I fail, I learn from my mistakes and next time I fight said boss I will be armed, hopefully, with more knowledge than before. That doesn't guarantee my success, so it can still be difficult.
But to create difficulty by having less frequent checkpoints or causing all equipment and armor to be lost when a player starts all the way back at the start of a level is obnoxious and unnecessary, and has NOTHING to do with the challenge of the game itself.
Again, another example, if you face a nasty enemy in Demon Souls, and it wipes the floor with you, do you really have to start all the way back with nothing each and every time? Why is that a challenge? Even if you have a checkpoint right before the nasty enemy, YOU STILL HAVE TO FIGHT IT AGAIN! Why cause undo frustration in 99% of gamers because of a checkpoint? What, I can't have a sense of accomplishment in beating the insane enemy WITHOUT forcing me to start all over? Sorry, no. Makes no sense. It's artificial difficulty. Games should encourage you to move forward by letting you retry – the try, fail, try again, succeed method works fine – and not punishing you unfairly.
Gaming today might be considered "easier" than in generations' past, but there are still some wicked challenges in games that test my patience greatly. You mentioned Jak and Daxter…the first game has the most annoying camera in the history of platformers, and it's wildly frustrating to constantly fall off ledges and start at the bottom of Spider's Cave all over again. Is it difficult? No, but frustration by poor game designers has a lot more to do than setting a difficulty scale. Poor level and camera design, in this case, causes the difficulty to appear higher than it's supposed to be. I get through it because I am a completist and I work hard at achieving goals in gaming, but I get terribly frustrated when poor game design causes me to fail. After all, is the game about the camera, or about solving puzzles?
It must be noted that I am level 14 on PSN (PS3) and have almost 1,600 trophies, 15 of which are platinum. I'm not talking out of my butt here. I have platinum trophies in some of the most fiendishly difficult games, like all the God of War games, Uncharted series, Bad Company 2, Modern Warfare 2, and several others.
See, you also have to realize that gaming has changed. To gripe about difficulty without taking into context the incredible writing and production value that goes into games today, is short-sighted. Developers want gamers to spend time with their product, and to want more of their products, so replay value and trophies/achievements allow them to create a sense of completion with gamers. If you make games too hard, like From Software does, you alienate a huge range of gamers, including veterans like me. I have Demon Souls and my personality just doesn't lend itself well to seeing an adventure like that through. It's about being patient with the development, not the game; it's about being focused on the difficulty, not the setting, story, music, or any of the other elements they spent time making.GD Star Rating


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Surely He'd Be A Natural!
PA | Posted 27.03.2012 | UK Entertainment
Read More: Russell Brand, Jonathan Ross, Britain's Got Talent, Jane Goodman, National Television Awards, UK Reality Tv, UK TV, UK Entertainment News
Jonathan Ross picked up a special recognition gong at last night's National Television Awards. The chatshow host said he had been "lucky" to win a...


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Three wheelie bins have been destroyed in fires behind shops in Westbury High Street this week, with a fourth bin blaze in Edward Street.
The door and guttering at Fairprice was damaged on Monday, and on Tuesday and Wednesday bins behind the Jambo Takeaway were set alight. Westbury firefighters attended all the incidents.


text:
Details & Care
Tired of traditional ponytail holders that pull and dent your hair? Emi-Jay hair ties are made from a soft and stretchy material that has been hand-dyed and knotted. You can also wear them as a bracelet (try them in your school colors or favorite sports-team colors). But most of all, they are guaranteed to make your outfit and your day!
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text:
I'm looking for a positive, confident person with similar qualities and interests; a person who can challenge me to be my best.
Sense of humor
Smart phone
Fishing rod and waders
|Straight, Man, Single, 5' 6", Fit
|White, Speaks English, Attended University, Catholic
|Never smokes, Drinks socially, Doesn't do drugs, Omnivore, Doesn't have kids but might want them
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THE number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in Wirral increased last month.
According to the Office for National Statistics the number rose to 6,382 in December - a rise of 88 on the previous month's figure of 6,294.
The official data shows that nationally, number of people in a job has risen 280,000 in the last three months - the largest quarterly increase since records began.
There are now a record-breaking 30.15m people in work – an increase of 1.3m since 2010.
Unemployment has fallen 167,000 in the last three months, the largest quarterly fall since August to October 1997.
The unemployment rate now stands at 7.1%. But youth unemployment reached a record high of more than 1m, with more 16 to 24 year olds now out of work than at any time since 1992.
Cllr Pat Hackett, Wirral's cabinet member for the economy, said: "While Wirral's JSA figures have risen slightly by 88 over the past month, the rate of claimants - 3.2% - remains unchanged and means Wirral still has the lowest rate in the Liverpool City Region.
"While significant challenges remain, it is pleasing that Wirral has reduced its number of claimants by nearly 19% in the past year with 1,477 claimants coming of the register.
"One of the reasons for this success has been the achievements of the ReachOut Partnership, which is a combination of voluntary and community organisations contracted by the Council to help hard to reach members of the community – those who have particular barriers in the way of them finding work – get back into employment.
"Over the last three years, they have supported more than 2,000 people to find a job – an average of 65 per month – and their work is a key part of the Council's Worklessness Support programme."
Employment minister and Wirral West MP Esther McVey said: "Creating jobs and getting people into employment are central to our economic plan to build a stronger, more competitive economy, so it is very encouraging news that we've seen a record-breaking rise in employment over the last three months – the largest ever.
"With the highest quarterly fall in unemployment since 1997, it's clear that the Government's long-term economic plan to get people off benefits and into work so they can secure their future is proving successful."
Wirral South MP Alison McGovern said: "The reality faced by my constituents is that it has been a tough last three years and they are still finding finances difficult.
"We have a long way to go and Government measures such as the bedroom tax are hitting those people who can least afford rising prices.
"Most people want an economic recovery that is well shared among everyone."
Apologies for an earlier report incorrectly stating the number of Wirral claimants had fallen significantly.
Unfortunately, that article was erroneously based on the 2013 year-end total, and not the month-by-month figures.


text: Local News Nebraska Radio Network > NU's Green moves up to #1 at 157 pounds NU's Green moves up to #1 at 157 pounds Posted on 1/21/2014 2:04:00 PM by Bill Pollock Nebraska junior James Green jumped to No. 1 at 157 pounds in five different NCAA wrestling polls that were released on Monday and Tuesday. Green, a Willingboro, N.J. native, entered the weekend ranked third before his 9-7 decision over then-No. 1 Derek St. John of Iowa. Green now claims the top spot in InterMat, Amateur Wrestling […] Permalink Share This Print Bill Pollock Related Articles Former Husker, Alex Gordon, sticking with #Royals Nebraska well represented on Northwest Missouri State's D-II football championship roster When they were Storm Chasers. Several members of the 2015 World Series Champs started their run in Omaha (VIDEO/AUDIO) Five Huskers headed to track and field nationals after first day


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Every year, thousands of New Zealanders become eligible to enrol to vote for the first time, and this section of the website will help you get on the roll and ready to vote.
New Zealanders are lucky to live in a democracy, and we can all play our part in keeping our democracy strong by getting on the electoral roll and voting. It means we can take part in local elections, when we choose the people who will make decisions about our local areas, and general elections, when we choose the parties and politicians who will represent us in Parliament.
It also means we get to have a say on big national issues through public referenda.
Who can enrol?
In New Zealand the law says that you must be enrolled on the electoral roll. You must enrol if you:
- are 18 years or older, and
- have lived in New Zealand for more than one year continuously at some time in your life, and
- are a New Zealand citizen, or
- are a permanent resident of New Zealand*.
* Cook Island Maori, Niueans, Australians and Tokelauans can enrol once they have lived in New Zealand continuously for 12 months. They do not require permanent residency to be eligible to enrol and vote.
Only those who are enrolled can vote, take part in a referendum, or sign a referendum petition.
You can provisionally enrol when you are 17 by filling in an enrolment form. You will then be automatically enrolled on your 18th birthday.
There are only a few reasons why a person cannot enrol. Find out who is excluded from enrolling.
How do I enrol?
Getting on the roll is easy! You can get on the roll now, or get a form sent to you by Free texting your name and address to 3676 or calling 0800 36 76 56.You can also pick up a form at your local PostShop. The form will ask you for information about yourself. Find out what the form will ask and why.
When you have enrolled, your name will go on the electoral roll, which is the list of people who have enrolled and are allowed to vote.
If you are Māori, you get to choose whether you want to be on the Māori or the General Roll. Find out more about the choice to go on the Māori or the General Roll.
If you are concerned about your safety if your name goes on the Electoral Roll, you can ask to go on the Unpublished Roll. Find out more about the Unpublished Roll.
If you need help to fill in your form, because of language or disability issues, you can ask someone else to help you, or you can contact your local Registrar of Electors.
How do I vote?
Every three years New Zealand holds a general election. This is when you choose the people and political parties who will make the decisions about the way New Zealand is run.
In New Zealand, we use a voting system called MMP. In a general election, you have two votes. The first vote is the party vote, where you vote for the political party that you most want to see in Parliament. This is called the party vote and largely decides the total number of seats each political party gets in Parliament.
With your second vote you can choose the person you most want to be your local Member of Parliament. They will represent your electorate, which is the geographical region you are enrolled in. The person who gets the most votes in your electorate will be your local Member of Parliament.
Find out more about how our MMP voting system works.
What address should I enrol with?
You should enrol at the address that you regard as your home. It could be that you are a student in another city but go home for holidays, or that you work in one city during the week and another on weekends. It is your choice as to which place feels most like home to you.
Do I have to tell the Registrar of Electors when I move to a new address?
Yes. You should contact your Registrar of Electors every time you change address.
You must inform your Registrar of Electors after you've lived at your new address for one month by filling in an enrolment form. Simply click here to update your residential address details and we'll either send you the printed copy, or you can download your own, to check, sign and send back.
Read more about updating your enrolment details electronically.
Can I get help to enrol and vote?
If you are unable to fill in the enrolment form, a support person can help you, or fill in the form on your behalf.
Your local Registrar of Electors is also able to help you get on the roll. Click here to find your local Registrar.
A support person can come with you when you vote. They can go behind the voting screen with you, and can read out the words and information on the voting papers. The support person can also mark the voting papers for you if you ask them to.
Voting is secret. You do not need to tell anyone who you have voted for.
Information on enrolling to vote is available in: Arabic, Burmese, Cook Islands Māori, Farsi, French, Gujarati, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Māori, Niuean, NZ Sign Language, Punjabi, Russian, Samoan, Simplified Chinese, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, Thai, Tokelauan, Tongan, Traditional Chinese and Vietnamese here.


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text: by David Crane email@example.com Miguel Caballero has been labeled by "Business Week" magazine as "the Armani of Bulletproof Apparel". This is because his company, Miguel Caballero LTD (located in lovely Bogota, Columbia), specializes in "high security fashion", including bullet-resistant (men's) business and casual attire. You know, I can't help thinking how appropriate Bogota, Columbia is as a location for Mr. ... Read More »


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Phnom Penh - Fireworks lit up the night sky over Phnom Penh on Monday as Cambodia's former king Norodom Sihanouk was cremated in a royal ceremony.
The elaborate rituals, attended by the country's reigning king, Sihanouk's son Norodom Sihamoni, and Sihanouk's widow, began in the late afternoon.
Buddhist monks chanted at a specially built cremation site in the capital, where Sihanouk's body had lain since Friday. As darkness fell and the sound of birdsong filled the air, the cremation began.
The late monarch's casket was shielded from view with tall screens.
Thousands of dignitaries, including the prime minister of France, were present at the ceremony, though the grounds and surrounding streets were largely cordoned off from the general public.
Hundreds of mourners were however able to watch from the compound's sidelines. Many wept while clutching photographs of Cambodia's King Father.
"His loss is one that we can never fathom - losing someone like this is beyond compare. That is why we came here today," said 61-year-old Chan Sarin.
Norodom Sihanouk was a significant political figure in Cambodia for nearly 60 years before abdicating in 2004 because of poor health. He died in Beijing on October 15 at the age of 89.
The charismatic monarch lived through turbulent times, including the 1975-1979 ultra-Maoist Khmer Rouge regime when an estimated 1.7 million to 2.2 million people died from forced labour, starvation, disease and summary executions.
But many elderly Cambodians associate him with the country's independence from France in 1953, and the prosperous late 1950s and 60s.
Some of Sihanouk's ashes were to be scattered at the meeting of the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers in Phnom Penh, with the rest placed in an urn in the capital's royal palace, local media said. - Sapa-dpa


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Choosing the Right OB/Gyn
Questions to ask before picking an OB.
WebMD Feature
Whatever phase of life a woman is in, from her teens to menopause, she's likely to have intimate discussions with her gynecologist or obstetrician. Finding a doctor you trust isn't always easy. And when you move or your health insurance changes, finding a new doctor can be tricky and time-consuming.
Physicians who specialize in obstetrics and gynecology are focused on women's health, including prenatal care and birth. Many insurance plans allow women to select an obstetrician-gynecologist as their primary care doctor. Other plans, though, require your primary care doctor to be an internist or general practitioner, and require you to get a referral in order to see an ob-gyn.
Your Values or Mine?
Before choosing a new doctor, consider the results of a new study reported in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology. Researchers found that how your health care provider lives her own life affects the medical care you receive -- and perhaps even the suggestions you get about contraception. Erica Frank, M.D., M.P.H., of Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, examined contraceptive use by female physicians. One of Frank's findings was that female physicians were more likely to delay their pregnancies, and were more likely than women in the general population to use contraceptives.


text:
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- 10-minute neck massage (valid for neck treatment options only)
Water House
Boasting three locations within the Hong Kong landscape, Water House accommodates urbanites seeking pampering services and aesthetic updates, performing their blend of Korean-inspired treatments tempered with medical know-how. A flagship store in Mong Kok caters to royalty for a day with VIP rooms, each kitted out with their own private saunas, with customers also having the option of visiting their Causeway Bay outlet for hyaluronic facials and DOUBLO-s HIFU machine treatments that nourish and rejuvenate skin cells. Bodies are attended to as well, addressing issues like aching joints or unwanted lumps and bumps with their range of traditional massages that include Thai, acupressure, and lymphatic drainage, alongside slimming services that burn fat and help rid cellulite.
- Causeway Bay: Mon - Fri: 10am - 9pm / Sat: 10am - 8pm
- Wu Sang House, Langham Place: Mon - Fri: 10am - 10pm / Sat - Sun, Public holidays: 10am - 8pm
Please see the Universal Fine Print 買家貨品之品質及服務乃商戶之責任


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Denim Vest (crochet) by Lion Brand Yarn
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© Lion Brand Yarn
by roseknits24-7 Flickr
© Sherfy
Denim Vest (crochet)
This pattern is available for free.
Lion Brand Pattern #: ccusa-denimVest
SKILL LEVEL: Easy
SIZE: Small, Medium, Large, 1X, 2X, 3X
Finished chest 35 (39, 45, 47, 51, 55) inches
Chunky USA (Article #420) discontinued 620-930 yards
Crochet Hook - Size K-10.5 (6.5 mm)
One 1-inch (25 mm) Button
10 sc and 16 rows = 4" (10 cm)
10 dc and 12 rows = 4" (10 cm)
Pieces: Left Front, Right Front, Back
Lion Brand photo pictures the knit version.
See Denim Vest (knit) for the knit version.
For more information, see: http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/ccusa-denimVest.html


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Katy Perry Russell Brand Twitter
January 22, 2012 by staff
Katy Perry Russell Brand Twitter, KATY Perry has fired the ultimate parting shot to husband Russell Brand and unfollowed him on Twitter. Perry has removed Brand, who goes by the handle Rustyrockets, from the 83 people she follows on the social networking site.
Brand, who filed divorce papers in December, still follows his estranged wife.
Like another recently estranged couple, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, Brand and Perry often used Twitter to flirt and share intimate details of their relationship with their followers.
Brand famously uploaded a picture of his wife without any make-up without her permission. He was forced to take it down by an irate Perry, who is famous for her trademark kooky clothing and overly made-up face.
Perry has remained silent on the impending divorce from her husband of a year.
Please feel free to send if you have any questions regarding this post , you can contact on
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this site are that of the authors and not necessarily that of U.S.S.POST.


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Chabal - an iconic figure for France over the last decade - believes Philippe Saint-Andre's players looked tired before the tournament had even begun.
And the former Sale man believes an urgent overhaul of the domestic and international season is needed if France is to return to their former glories.
"The players are continuously involved in games," said Chabal. "Fred Michalak played 46 games in a year and that's too many.
"An international player now only gets a break from rugby if they're injured and that's not good enough.
"French rugby has a lot of questions that need answering if we're to improve on our Six Nations. Nobody listens to the players and that needs to change."


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Paradise Sai Mannat
Indiabulls Blu
Runwal Elegante
Shastri Nagar Andheri(w)
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Apple Tablet! First Hands On!!!
We've seen the Apple Tablet. We can't tell you how exactly, but we can tell you, ...IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE. Apple's revealing all next week, but here's a sneak peak from our reporters' notebooks:
-James Cameron invented it.
-Lets you, like, read books or something -- hey, look, a Fart Machine app!
-Includes trial eMagazine subscription to Cat Fancy.
-Enhanced eBook version of Twilight includes live-feed from camera embedded in Robert Pattinson's hair.
-Google Voice is pre-loaded but currently only supports Na'vi dialect.
-New augmented reality software turns everyone you look at into Larry King.
-Apple's proprietary processor is a combination of silicone, unobtanium, unicorn blood, and a dash of soylent green.
-New 3D games allow full control of Gerard Butler.
-Mac fanatics will finally be able to consummate the most important relationship in their lives thanks to new FleshLight app.
-Exclusive Nelson Muntz app uses inferiority sensor to heckle nearby Zunes and Kindles with "Haw haw!"
-Doubles as a Pez Dispenser.
-Will fill 10PM to 11PM slot on NBC as host of "YouTube 2Nite!"
-Emits a soothing sound of Steve Jobs singing Gangsta's Paradise at all times.
-It's not called the iTablet. Or iSlate. It's simply called:


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The staff at THT Live has decided to crew up and start slinging links. Pat Andriola told me that he thinks we have the muscle to knock off Tommy "Prince K" Bennett, Rob "Avon" Neyer, and BBTF (the entire New-Day Co-Op) . I told him we got our thing, but it's just part of the big thing. He still wants to throw the competition into vacants. Enough of this. To the links.
Dan Turkenkopf projects runs above and below average for catchers' ability to block pitches in the dirt based on pitch f/x data from the last 3 seasons.
Joe Posnanski with two posts well worth reading, one A Christmas Story reminiscent of The Sandlot and the other on Strat-O-Matic and The Negro Leagues, reminiscent of a piece that's really well written.
Tim Kniker lays out a methodology to evaluate a manager's bullpen management. Money quote: "Ron Gardenhire of Minnesota takes the award for best bullpen manager by a wide margin, never finishing below eighth in the majors in any year, and having the best BMAR in each of the last two years." Read on for more BMAR. (Subscription required.)
Shawn Hoffman delves into matters MLBAM and piracy. Why hasn't MLB embraced YouTube yet exactly?
And be sure to check out Rally's Baseballprojection.com. The CHONE projections are out for 2010 and 2009 WAR data has been added for all players active prior to 2009.


text: Although they may look good enough to eat, don't munch on these cool new Gumdrop Tree Candles. These festive holiday candles are shaped like little Christmas trees covered in glitter dusted gumdrops that are actually scented like real gumdrops. They have a 6 hour burn time if you actually decide on watching the gumdrops melt away.


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Main Aisa Kyun Hoon – Lakshya
Hrithik Roshan is the king of dancers in Bollywood. He is a very flexible dancer, who can do any possible step on earth. He is extremely talented, stylish and show the right attitude through out his moves.
Shakira Ve – Fool N Final
Shahid Kapoor is simply effortless in his moves. He dances as smooth as butter. The actor is a student of the Shiamak Davar Dance Academy and was seen as a background dancer in the movie "Taal". He is the only actor in Bollywood who gives a tough competition to Hrithik Roshan.
Main Tera Dhadkan Teri – Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani
Ranbir Kapoor is another Bollywood actor who can confidently boast of his dancing skills. The actor backs his dance moves with the perfect attitude and style.
Soni De Nakhre – Partner
Govinda is one Bollywood actor who has always been every choreographers favorite. His dance moves are filled with humor and energy. His expressions are super hilarious but are the highlight of his dance. He is just mind blowing with his steps.
Thug Le – Ladies vs Ricky Bahl
The latest entrant to the list of Bollywood dancers, the very charming Ranveer Singh is another effortless dancer. He is one actor who makes the most difficult step also seem super easy. However, this boy still has a lot of potential, which is yet to be exposed.
6 Comments
shahid nd hritik are best. ye ranbir nd ranvir kab se best dancer ban gaye??/
4 me Shahid is the bestest dancer on earth;)
shahid and hrithik are the best dancer in bollywood
They are all great, but Hrithik & Shahid have a style & swagger that puts them in a league of their own. They are amazing to watch! Govinda's still got good moves for his age too!
Hrithik is the king of dance while Shahid is a fab 2nd best,.
No doubt, it is Hrithik! Absolutely awesome!


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|You are in: Science/Nature
Thursday, 15 March, 2001, 13:42 GMT
Mir: Floating from one crisis to the next
Although Mir has done a vital job for science and space exploration, there is little doubt among experts that the platform's destruction is long overdue.
Michael Foale, the American astronaut who spent 145 days on board the station, said it was like going into "someone's very old garage where stuff's just been put away for years on end and nobody's moved it".
The trials and tribulations of Mir include a fire, a mid-space collision, numerous computer crashes, cosmonaut error and a failed plan to save it through private investment.
The drama should come to an end when the station is crashed into the Pacific Ocean on 22 March. It has been unmanned since July.
Failed finance
A private US-Russian company, MirCorp, planned to turn the space station into an ultra-exclusive tourist destination, and even signed up its first passenger, American businessman Dennis Tito.
"We cannot continue this game...which I call Russian roulette," said Yuri Koptev, the head of Russia's space agency, to explain why the government had decided not to keep the station in space.
"We simply don't have the right to do that, because we are a government agency responsible for the safety of the Mir," he added.
MirCorp has since announced that it will retool its equipment to enable it to work with other orbiting platforms, and hopes to get permission to send paying customers to the new International Space Station (ISS).
Mechanical problems
Mir's mechanical problems started on 23 February, 1997, when the station was nine years old.
The smoke was so thick, the four Russians, one American and one German on the station could barely see. The incident almost led to the crew abandoning Mir.
Two weeks later, another oxygen generator malfunctioned, forcing the crew to rely on back-up canisters similar to the one which caused the fire.
A month later, there were more problems with the platform's life-support systems when the unit that takes carbon dioxide out of the air broke down.
Leaking air
On 25 June, 1997, Mir faced its most dramatic crisis when a cargo ship rammed the station during a docking test.
The incident caused extensive damage to a laboratory and buckled an energy-producing solar panel, which cut electricity supplies to the station by 50%.
Michael Foale was on board Mir when the collision happened and told the BBC he thought he was about to die.
He said: "It was frightening for one or two seconds. The first thought was are we going to die instantly because of air rushing out so fast we can't control it."
They had two days to recover from the collision trauma before an onboard computer crashed, the first of many malfunctions over the months to come.
Computer crash
The computer problems were blamed on an electrical problem, possibly a power surge.
In July 1997, a cosmonaut, Alexander Lazutkin, added another footnote in the logbook of Mir's accident-prone operation when he disconnected an important cable, setting the vessel adrift without solar power. The Russian denied stress or tiredness were responsible for the accident. He said he simply made a mistake.
The problems on Mir continued into 1998 with the discovery of an air leak in an exit hatch which had caused a loss of pressure in the station's docking chamber. It was later fixed during a space walk by cosmonauts.
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Christian Slater and Gena Rowlands have joined Anthony Hopkins' "Slipstream," reports Production Weekly
When it comes to "Slipstream", Christian Slater and Gena Rowlands have both become so interested in it. Even more as the project is of Anthony Hopkins'. Thus the twosome has signed on to star in the upcoming drama flick.
As of the story, "Slipstream" follows aging screenwriter Felix Bonhoeffer (Slater) who has lived his life in two states of existence: the world of reality and the world inside his head. Hired to rewrite a murder mystery set in a desert diner, and unaware that his brain is on the verge of implosion, Felix is politely baffled when the characters from his movie start showing up in his life and vice versa.
With Hopkins wrote the screenplay, composed the music and plans to direct, the film, loosely based on his own wild thoughts about God, is scheduled to begin filming in Los Angeles this June.


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Welcome to the ineedhits Search Engine Marketing blog, where we share the latest search engine and online marketing news, releases, industry trends and great DIY tips and advice.
As momentum builds for the holiday season, Google has timed the launch of their new AdWords driven Product Listing Ads to perfection.
Given they've had a very tough year, online retailers will be looking to rev up sales this festive period to make a mends for the poor performance of 2009. Google's Product Listing Ads could provide the additional exposure for retailers.
The Product Listing …
Keep up to date with the latest from our blogs.


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NL East Race Already Over: Braves Win!
The Braves have already won the National League Eastern Division. The rest of the league just doesn't know it yet.
The Washington Nationals and their fans think they are going to get things together, and make a charge to overtake the Braves. Well, they won't. The Nationals had their 15 minutes of fame last year, and history will show their team to be nothing more than a "One Hit Wonder." The DeFranco Family of baseball.
The Nationals have gotten whipped off the field, too. Gattitude has already chewed up and spit out Nattitude.
Braves fans can look in their rear view mirror without hesitation. That isn't the Washington Nationals gaining on them. It may be concession prices, though.
The NL East is once again Braves Country.
The Braves are currently 31-19, and have had enough injuries so far this season to start their own orthopedic clinic. Yet that hasn't stopped them from opening up a nice, cushy lead.
Brian McCann, Freddie Freeman and Jason Heyward have all missed large chunks of the season, and lefty bullpen ace JonnyVenters and top starter Brandon Beachy haven't pitched all season. Despite those losses, and the recent loss of key setup man Eric O'Flaherty, the Braves have kept rocking along.
McCann is now back and hitting like a guy who is in the last year of his contract and looking for a huge deal that will give many generations of his family eternal financial security. Freeman has assumed the clean-up spot in the order, and is feasting on RBI opportunities, and Heyward has hit the ball hard since he returned from appendectomy surgery.
Evan Gattis, Craig Kimbrel, Justin Upton, Chris Johnson, the starting rotation, Andrelton Simmons' great defense, the Braves have more assets than Bill Gates. But the main reason why the Braves will win the NL East, is they have a stockpile of quality players that they can trade to overcome whatever injuries or weaknesses may present themselves the rest of the way.
When Beachy returns, the Braves will have six quality starters, they have three quality catchers, they have two quality third basemen, and they have a couple extra outfielders. They even have a utility infielder (Ramiro Pena) who many teams would covet as a starter. The Braves also have quality minor players that they could deal if necessary.
Braves GM Frank Wren has a virtual blank check at his disposal to win the NL East Division Championship this season.
You can start printing the 2013 NL Eastern Division Champion banners. Braves win!


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Brisbane Roar coach Mike Mulvey is hopeful German playmaker Thomas Broich can shake off a corked thigh in time for Friday's A-League clash with Perth Glory.
Broich trained separately from the main group on Monday after picking up the knock during Saturday's 2-1 loss to Adelaide United.
Socceroos defender Ivan Franjic (stomach strain) is unlikely to make the trip west after missing last weekend's clash but Mulvey believes Broich can join his teammates when they fly to Perth on Thursday.
"Ivan, I've probably put a pen through his name already. We need to give him time to recover properly," Mulvey said.
"Thomas I'm more hopeful for. He definitely wants to play. That's the first point - you've got to be strong in your mind.
"Knowing him, his powers of recovery and determination, there's a good chance he'll be fit."
The Roar will train in Brisbane on Thursday before boarding their flight, but Mulvey says that's an arrangement they've become used to.
He said the team travels early when playing the Wellington Phoenix in New Zealand but it wasn't a consideration when taking on the Glory in Perth.
"We think we've got it down pat now with Perth," he said.
"One of the hardest things with travelling is the training facilities ... that makes an impact so we'll do our training here before we travel.
"There's been a fair bit of upheaval in Perth but I know (Glory coach) Ken Lowe well ... he's a very passionate man and that's been shown already. He's very organised and it seems like the ship has been righted.
"This is going to be a tough game for us, no doubt about it."


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A TEENAGER who fled his homeland after an attack that wiped out his whole family has made a video about his journey to Swindon as part of a campaign to tackle racism against immigrants.
Abdulkareem Musa Adams, 16, was forced to leave his home in Darfur, Sudan, at the age of seven after his parents and sisters were killed in an attack that destroyed his entire village.
Eight years on, Abdul has been granted asylum in the UK and lives with his foster mum Ira Muir in Swindon. The teen now works with Fixers, a youth organisation that empowers young people to tackle difficult issues through creative projects.
Through them he made a film about his struggle – Journey To A Safer Place – as part of a campaign to end prejudice against refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants.
In the video, showcased to students at St Joseph's Catholic College on Tuesday, Abdul said: "I want to thank the UK for giving safe haven to people like me.
"My life is better now. I have a foster family and I'm learning English and going to college.
"I wish I could still be with my family in Sudan but I am so grateful for the help the UK has given me."
Abdul and his brother were out herding goats when they first saw the smoke rising from their village. When they returned, everything had been destroyed.
"When the attack first began all we could see were helicopters because we were on the outskirts," Abdul said.
"Then we saw people on horseback riding into the village and then flames coming out of the houses, and we could hear the sound of guns and bombs."
The boys travelled for three days on a donkey into neighbouring Chad, where they stayed at a Red Cross refugee camp for 18 months with a couple whose family had also been killed in the attack. But they lost each other during a commotion sparked by fears they may be forced to return to Sudan.
Abdul still searches daily on social networking websites Skype and Facebook for people in Chad, Libya and Sudan who can help him find his brother.
"From that point onwards I feel like I have been on the run," he said.
"For years now I have been trying to get away from trouble. I felt so hopeless and alone."
Abdul went on to Libya, where he stayed for three years and got caught up in the uprising against former leader Col Muammar al-Gaddafi. He was sent to jail for refusing to become a child soldier, where he was beaten on a daily basis – at times so badly he was left in hospital. From there made his way to France, where he survived by sheltering in dustbins and on handouts from a local mosque and church.
But, unable to find sanctuary there, Abdul climbed onto the underside of a truck that took him to the UK and finally made his way to Swindon.
There he was helped by The Harbour Project, a charity which provides a safe haven for refugees and asylum seekers.
To find out more about Abdul, contact Fixers by visiting: www.fixers.org.uk. To contact the Harbour Project visit www.harbourproject.org.uk


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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 5/10/2010 (2510 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
WINNIPEG'S Breakfast Television fans are in shock this week. Jon Ljungberg, the show's affable host, confirms he will be saying goodbye Friday, Nov. 26. "Change has come to the station. It turns out they're taking the show in a different direction," says Ljungberg, who's been the face of breakfast TV for 11 years.
Always a class act, Ljungberg says the split from Rogers was "a respectful and mutual decision." In recent days at the station, he's been called "a stand-up guy, a true professional, and the icon of morning television in Winnipeg. "That means a lot to me," he says. To add to the radical changes in his life, John says he's suddenly single again. "At least my break from Breakfast Television was mutual," he adds.
Fortunately, you can't keep a good man down. The 48-year-old comic performs stand-up regularly across Canada and is a well-known illustrator of children's books. Debby the Polar Bear, which he wrote and illustrated, is coming out this spring. Plus, there's bound to be a dogfight going on to hire this multi-talented man. "Or, you may see me on November 26 at Broadway and Osborne with my squeegee," he says, adding, "Thank God I still have my sense of humour."
-- -- --
TOM JONES PANTY COLLECTION: "It's a dream come true," chuckles Geoff Hughes of women throwing their panties at him onstage. The 38-year-old Winnipeg actor plays the title role in Tom Jones and the Temple of Doom at Celebrations dinner theatre. (Real-life singer Tom Jones is renowned for the hail of underpants fired at him by rabid fans).
Aside from knickers provided by the show itself (dubbed "underplants") Hughes gets some interesting "legitimates" like a flowered thong signed The Diamond Divas, with XOXO and a big pair of flesh-toned granny panties with "I love you Tom xoxox Kaylee."
Monday's show was the raunchiest so far, because it was a private show for a national conference -- no kids in sight. "One woman was tugging on my belt and another woman grabbed onto my leg and said "I WANT YOU."
-- -- --
YOUNG PEOPLE MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Charity fundraisers Lisa Windsor, 21, and Todd Dubeck, 25 confess they started off partying pretty selfishly. "Last year, we were throwing a birthday event for OURSELVES because we both had never had a surprise party," confesses Windsor, who works at Celebrations dinner theatre. "Then we thought, 'This is really selfish. We should try to do something good.' My neighbour has MS and we see every day how this disease affects her, so we decided to raise money for MS ( multiple sclerosis) at the same time -- and we made $1,100. This year they're going big. They've organized a charity bash this Saturday night called Paint The Town Red at Canad Inns bar in Transcona. And, they've snagged the Danny Kramer and his Event Band members Derrick Godfried, Carlin Lemon, Greg Black, Julian Bradford, Janine Gobeil, and Luisa D'Abramo. Windsor just joined rock band Locked and Loaded, and will sing a few numbers with Kramer's band. Tickets are $10 at the door, or call 792-4223.
Got tips, events, sightings? Email firstname.lastname@example.com or send mail to The Insider c/o The Winnipeg Free Press at 1355 Mountain Ave. Winnipeg, R2X 3B6


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Bruker Corporation
Announces European Launch of Toxtyper™, a Novel Clinical Mass Spectrometry Screening Solution for Toxicology
MANNHEIM, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--At the annual conference of the DGKL (Deutsche Vereinte Gesellschaft für Klinische Chemie und Laboratoriumsmedizin –see www.dgkl.de), Bruker today announced the European launch of the novel, automated Toxtyper™ clinical mass spectrometry solution to meet the increasing demands for LC-MS/MS throughput and data quality in routine toxicology laboratories without the need for mass spectrometry expertise. The Toxtyper solution provides faster and more reliable identification of toxins and drugs of abuse within 10 minutes at therapeutic and toxic levels. Bruker developed the Toxtyper solution with a library of 850 compounds in close collaboration with Jürgen Kempf at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Freiburg, Germany, and with Professor Denis Hochstrasser and Dr. Marc Fathi's team at the Geneva University Hospital (HUG - Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève) in Switzerland.


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Researchers say promises of new technologies hide true impacts of jet travel
Staff Report
Abetted by the media and politicians, the aviation industry may be engaging in a bit of deceptive greenwashing when it comes to the issue of sustainable air travel, according to a team of university researchers from three countries.
The new study published in the journal Transportation Research Part D says the way new technologies have been hyped as solutions to addressing the environmental impacts of air travel has perpetuated a culture of non-accountability for increased emissions.
By 2050, aviation will account for 19 percent of the total energy use by the transportation sector, compared to just 11 percent in 2006, said Dr. Scott Cohen, of the University of Surrey.
For the medium-term, the aviation industry has agreed to move toward an overall cap on emissions. In an early February meeting, technical experts with the International Civil Aviation Organization agreed on the proposed standard this week; the organization is expected to adopt the standard at an annual meeting this spring. The industry will also start to consider an overall cap on emissions at 2020 levels. The ICAO could take a vote on such a cap, as well as a carbon-trading program, later this year.
The step is important because if international aviation were a country, it would be a top ten emitter of CO2 on par with Germany or the United Kingdom. And it's expected to grow enormously as global travel increases. More than 50,000 new large aircraft slated to take to the skies in the next few decades, potentially quadrupling emissions if left unchecked.
Continue reading "Is the aviation industry greenwashing its climate impacts?"


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Highmark-UPMC battle brings competitive pricing to region as new health care law dawns
Western Pennsylvania residents who obtain health insurance from government-run exchanges next year could be getting a bonus from the battle between health giants UPMC and Highmark Inc. — lower premiums than people in other parts of the state.
The two insurers and Coventry are the only three companies that are selling plans in the state exchange being set up under the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare. That's far fewer than the eight to 10 insurers in central and eastern Pennsylvania.
Typically, less competition leads to higher prices, but rates released on Wednesday by the federal government show that premiums are higher on average for residents in areas where more companies are competing for the business of uninsured people who are required to buy health care coverage.
"They're going to be the main two players on the exchange in our community," James McTiernan, a health care consultant with Triad Gallagher, a Downtown benefits consulting firm, said of UPMC and Highmark. "They priced it as competitively as possible to gain members."
But low premiums emphasized by the Obama administration as one of the key benefits of the law may come with a shock for some people. To keep payments affordable, they will have to juggle higher out-of-pocket costs, such as deductibles and co-payments.
According to rate data from the Department of Health and Human Services, the lowest-cost plans in the Pittsburgh region will be between 18 and 21 percent cheaper than the statewide average, depending on the level of coverage. Plans are categorized as bronze, silver, gold or platinum.
All of the plans cover the same benefits and cap annual cost-sharing expenses at $6,350 for an individual, $12,700 for families. The big difference between plans is how much cost sharing a person will have to pay. Bronze covers 60 percent of expected costs; silver, 70 percent, up to platinum at 90 percent. Bronze plans have the lowest premiums and the highest cost sharing.
Out-of-pocket costs may come as a surprise to people who have never bought health insurance.
Although the government's rate data did not include cost-sharing estimates, a study by Avalere Health released on Wednesday found that the annual deductible for a midrange "silver" plan averaged $2,550 in a sample of six states.
Although that's more than double the typical deductible in an employer-sponsored health plan, a study by the Government Accountability Office this year found that a median health plan purchased by individuals in Pennsylvania carried a $10,000 deductible.
The GAO also found that a median premium for individual insurance in the state this year was $141 a month for a 30-year-old, about 25 percent lower than the lowest premium in a mid-level silver plan.
In Pittsburgh, a hypothetical healthy 27-year-old would pay $119 a month for a bronze plan and $169 for gold. The statewide average for that same person would be $151 for bronze and $205 for gold, HHS data show. In Philadelphia, the bronze rate for the same person is $195, and $250 for the gold.
The premiums don't take into account federal tax credits that will be available to people who buy in the online marketplace and are intended to offset costs for lower-income workers. To qualify, a single person's annual gross income must fall between about $11,500 and $46,000.
Tom Tomczyk, a health care consultant with Buck Consultants, Downtown, was not surprised that premiums will be lower in Western Pennsylvania.
"Historically, Western Pennsylvania has had lower (medical care) costs than eastern Pennsylvania," he said. "It doesn't surprise me that exchange rates would follow that pattern."
The influence of fierce competition between Highmark and UPMC "may have something to do with the magnitude of the difference" in premiums between Pittsburgh and the rest of the state, he said.
Reimbursement contracts between Highmark and UPMC expire at the end of 2014, and UPMC has refused to renew them or negotiate new ones. Without contracts, Highmark members will have to pay costly out-of-network charges to access most UPMC hospitals and doctors.
UPMC spokesman Paul Wood hailed the premium costs as evidence that UPMC's strategy of breaking off its relationship with Highmark is leading to greater competition and lower prices for insurance customers.
"The expiration of the contract and the availability of these competitive health insurance plans have definitely made the rates much less expensive," he said.
Highmark spokeswoman Kristin Ash said the lowest-cost plans are likely to be narrow-network health plans, such as Highmark's Community Blue, which restrict access to some hospitals in exchange for reduced premiums. She said many insurers across the country are beginning to introduce narrow-network plans in an effort to lower costs. Community Blue excludes most UPMC hospitals.
"We realize as insurers that we may have to do things differently and broad networks may not be the way," Ash said.
The only other insurance company that will sell plans in the online marketplace is Coventry, which was acquired by Aetna Inc. this year.
While Aetna had applied to sell in Western Pennsylvania, it decided to offer only Coventry plans here, spokesman Walt Cherniak said.
Aetna, Coventry, United Healthcare and Cigna Corp. all provide health insurance to businesses in the region and have full access to UPMC. But in Pennsylvania, as in many other states, those for-profit companies have been cautious about selling to individuals under Obamacare.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Alex Nixon is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7928 or email@example.com.


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THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Mado
1647 N. Milwaukee Ave. (Hoyne Ave.) Send to Phone
312-342-2340 | Make Restaurant Reservations
OpenDinner nightly, Brunch Sun.
- Dress code: Casual
- Romantic setting
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THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Mado Restaurant Review: Exposed brick, a chalkboard menu and a communal table lend an approachable feel to this spot, which has seen the departure of husband and wife team Rob and Allison Levitt. In their place is Brandon Baltzley, who is serving up curried okra with white beans and charred cornbread and maple-accented lamb belly with apples alongside pastas and more substantial main courses.
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