text:
Dear friends: So it seems the second vortex is upon us, here on the frigid shores of Chadwick Bay, in the newly chimed-in year of 2014. Clutching our chests and wincing in our lower backs, we endure the sense of winter-drowning that only the poor soul who has shoveled snow, while it kept snowing, knows.
We're in the portion of the season that is cheerfully known as, "the dead of winter." It would not be unusual for a family member to possibly be in the middle of throwing a knick knack forcefully at your head, right now, over a petty incident, like not mopping up the boot-water, causing their sock to get soaked.
But maybe you're already out in the garage, drawing a face on a volleyball to talk to as a companion. By the look on your face right now, I have a feeling that some of you may already have that relationship. That's OK. The sooner you embrace that we're all going crazy, the easier your journey towards Spring will be.
All kidding aside, there's a lot to be stressed about and I'm just going to offer some food for thought on what can boost your morale.
You see, the hardest part about winter here is that it's a wild force that can't be controlled and incites blatant disruption that is hardest to ignore. In addition to the humbling loss of control, we are surrounded by hushed land, so the inner world becomes louder.
But think of how people have lived before the industrial revolution, when we were in a mutual relationship with seasons. Winter was a time of some reflection between the harvests, to stop and assess what changes to make the next year, as you gained more experience in vital skills, and honed your methods. When a species is connected to the planet, the days are spent challenging the individual DNA's ability to survive, not in a fantasy world of derivatives, but the real world.
To survive, a mature unit of a species in the wild must reach levels of competence and mastery, and each season offered a certain set of challenges, so that you became well-rounded, in other words, well-prepared. When you ask people "what they do," they give you their job position title or student status, and usually that's where people stop. We are not encouraged to be independent "doers," because that takes away time we could be consuming, so someone else can turn a profit, after they plant a seed of dissatisfaction or inadequacy into us.
It saddens me to see so many good, bright, genius people, so often let their life be defined by consumption instead of creation. The creative act is when you are most your real self, transcending formulas and binary divisions, black and white thinking. The creative act is essential to be an ambitious and brave person of integrity in these times. And I hope my pep can encourage others, because as they say in statistics, the likelihood of you existing, as a person on this planet, is more rare than the odds of plucking a single atom out of the universe. So be aware of how sacred even our worst moments can be, because it won't be duplicated, and you're the only one who knows that specific slice of the story.
So be brave, get interested. I have two pages of notebook paper, crammed with a list of things I can't wait to learn. From how to make a $7 longbow out of PVC pipe, to how to sew my own dustbowl feedsack dresses, to how to grow potatoes in a burlap sack, to how the Seneca people lived through the seasons, and even down to how to spool fiber for thread off of a sheep or a bunny; then there's how to sew in the wilderness with a porcupine quill. I can't stop there, this is challenging and mysterious! I hope I live long enough to become good at as many things as possible, like making hard cider out of wild apples, and skinning a deer.
Until next month, stay strong, and get busy this winter! Creativity and action let's you fall in love with ordinary life.
Lindsay Morrison is a Forestville resident. Send comments to firstname.lastname@example.com


text: Janet R. VanDerveer of Conroe, Texas formerly of El Paso, Texas and Marshalltown, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012 after a lengthy illness. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, Nov. 26 at the Main St. Chapel of the Anderson Funeral Homes, in Marshalltown. Visitation will be 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 24 at the Main St. Chapel of the Anderson Funeral Homes. Interment will be at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens, in Marshalltown. Online condolences may be sent to www.andersonfhs.com Further arrangements are pending at the Funeral Home.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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Chapters 13, 14, 15
The belief that some distressing physical symptoms could not be readily explained in terms of neurological impairments contributed most directly to
Freud's interest in unconscious conflicts
In suggesting that the mind is like an iceberg, Freud was most clearly emphasizing the importance of the unconscious by having the entire _____ at that level
Katrinka habitually makes nasty, hostile comments about her teachers. Freud would have suggested that her behavior illustrates the powerful influence of the
For several months after he lost the job he had held for nearly 20 years, Mr. Ullomi frequently lost his temper and suffered periodic crying spells. His behavior is most clearly an example of
Abdul mistakenly believes that his classmates are unusually hostile. In fact, Abdul is the most quarrelsome and aggressive child in the school. According to psychoanalytic theory, Abdul's belief that his classmates are hostile is a
Which neo-Freudian theorist emphasized the influence of the collective unconscious in personality development?
Carl Jung
Karen Horney, a prominent neo-Freudian, expanded Freud's assumption about
seeking security over insecurity
Tests that present ambiguous stimuli designed to uncover hidden personality dynamics are called _____tests.
The major reason for criticism of the Rorschach test is that
only a few of the many Rorschach-derived scores have demonstrated validity
Frida was informed by a professional palm reader, "You generally communicate openly with others, but you have certain dark secrets that even your closest friends could never guess." The fact that Frida was impressed by the palm reader's insight into her personality best illustrates...
the Barnum effect
The Barnum Effect
individuals will give high accuracy ratings to descriptions of their personality that supposedly are tailored specifically for them, but are in fact vague and general enough to apply to a wide range of people.
Coretta is quiet, pessimistic, anxious, and moody. In terms of the Eysenck's basic personality dimensions she would be classified as
Mr. Dutoit was asked by his psychotherapist to look at some ambiguous pictures and make up a story about each. Mr. Dutoit was most likely taking the
Thematic Apperception Test
Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)
a projective test in which people express their inner feelings and interests through the stories they make up about ambiguous scenes
According to Bandura, reciprocal determinism involves multidirectional influences among
behaviors, internal personal factors, and environmental events
According to the social-cognitive perspective, one of the vest ways to predict a person's future behavior is to
observe that person's behavior in various relevant situations
Athletes often attribute their losses to bad officiating. This best illustrates
the self-serving bias
According to psychoanalytic theory, the part of the personality that strives for immediate gratification of basic drives is the
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator classifies people according to personality types identified by
Carl Jung
The tendency to accept favorable descriptions of one's personality that could really be applied to almost anyone is known as
the Barnum effect
Which perspective most clearly emphasizes influences of traits and situations on human behavior?
social-cognitive perspective
Social-cognitive perspective
views behavior as influenced by the interaction between people's traits (including their thinking) and their social context
Analena's refusal to purchase fattening snacks at the grocery store is both a cause and a consequences of her superior dietary self-control. It may have started because of the environment at the grocery store or her thinking before get got to the store. This best illustrates the importance of
reciprocal determinism
Sasha believes that the questions on college tests are so unrelated to course work that studying is useless. Sasha's belief most clearly illustrates
an external locus of control
external locus of control
the perception that chance or outside forces beyond your personal control determine your fate
After experiencing inescapable brutalities as a prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp, Mr. Sternberg became apathetic, stopped eating, and gave up all efforts to physically survive the ordeal. Mr. Sternberg's reaction most clearly illustrates
learned helplessness
Research on self-perception indicates that most people
view themselves very favorably in comparison to most others
When Professor McKay nervously began teaching a university class for the first time, he overestimated the extent to which his students would notice that he was anxious. His reaction best illustrates
the spotlight effect
Mira claims that alcohol dependence is a disease that, like pneumonia or meningitis, can be cured or prevented with proper treatment. Her belief is most clearly consistent with
the medical model
Using DSM-IV-TR guidelines, two different clinicians are likely to give a specific patient the same diagnosis, This indicates that the DSM-IV-TR si
Rishi, a college student, complains that he feels apprehensive and fearful most of the time but doesn't know why. Without warning, his heart begins to pound, his hands get icy, and he breaks out in a cold sweat. Rishi most likely suffers from a(n)
generalized anxiety disorder
While he was studying, Matthew was suddenly overwhelmed by feelings of intense apprehension. For several minutes he felt so agitated that eh could not catch his breath. Matthew was most likely suffering from a(n)
panic attack
Mrs. Swift is alarmed by her own intrusive and irrational thoughts that her house is contaminated by germs. Her experience best illustrates the agitating effects of
an obsession
A therapist suggests that Mr. Broshi continues to bite his fingernails because this behavior often reduced his feelings of anxiety in the past. The therapist's suggestion most clearly reflects a ___________ perspective.
Hypochondriasis is characterized by
the misinterpretation of normal physical sensations as symptoms of a disease.
Several weeks after being fired from a job he has held for more than 20 years, Landon awoke one morning in a state of bewildered confusion. He had little sense of who he was and even failed to recongnize his wife. Landon's experience is most indicate of
dissociative disorder
Because it is so pervasive, _______is often considered "the common cold" of psychological disorders
Which perspective suggests that depression is a reaction to loss and the internalization of unresolved anger toward parents?
Freud's theory of personality that attributes thoughts and actions to unconscious motives and conflicts; the techniques used in treating psychological disorders by seeking to expose and interpret unconscious tensions.
Jabar, a 25-year-old auto mechanic, thinks he is Napoleon. He further believes he is being imprisoned against his will in the mental hospital where his relatives have brought him for treatment. Jabar is most likely suffering from
The distinctive features used to identify the three clusters of personality disorders are
anxiety, eccentricity, and impulsivity
Carl Jung referred to a shared reservoir of memory trace from out species history as the
collective unconscious
The symptoms of ______ are likely to appear at an earlier age than the symptoms of ______.
antisocial personality; schizophrenia
Mr. Choi's therapist wants to help him become aware of his conflicting childhood feelings of love and hate for his parents. The therapist's goal best reflects a primary aim of
client-centered therapy/ person-centered therapy
a humanistic therapy, developed by Carl Rogers, in which the therapist uses techniques such as active listening within a genuine, accepting, empathetic environment to facilitate clients' growth.
In 1924, Mary Cover Jones reported that 3-year-old Peter lost his fear of rabbits when one was repeatedly presented while he was eating a tasty snack. This episode best illustrated the potential usefulness of
exposure therapies
Systematic desensitization involves
associating a pleasant relaxed state with anxiety-arousing stimuli
In which operant conditioning procedure are positive reinforcers given for desired behaviors?
a token economy
Token economy
an operant conditioning procedure in which people earn a token of some sort for exhibiting a desired behavior and can later exchange the tokens for various privileges or treats
family therapy
therapy that treats the family as a system. Views an individual's unwanted behaviors as influenced by, or directed at, other family members
Meta-analysis refers to
a procedure for statistically combining the results of many different studies.
Because Gretchen is afraid of contracting infectious diseases, she compulsively avoids shaking people's hands or touching doorknobs. Research suggests than an especially effective treatment for her difficulty would involve
behavior therapy
cognitive-behavior therapy
a popular integrated therapy that combines cognitive therapy with behavior therapy
Melanie's therapist suggests that when she feels anxious, Melanie should attribute her arousal to her highly reactive nervous system and shift her attention to playing a game with her preschool child. This suggestion best illustrates
cognitive-behavior therapy
In programs to treat alcoholism, clients consume alcohol that contains a nausea-producing drug. The therapist is using a technique known as
aversive conditioning
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text:
GRAND RAPIDS, MI — U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga broke away from the Washington, D.C., beltway Wednesday afternoon to answer readers' questions on a variety of topics.
Some questions, including the Affordable Care Act and income inequality, were pointed and worked to get at the issues affecting West Michigan families on a day-to-day basis. Another mentioning a popular Netflix show was more lighthearted, showing our nation's leaders actually do binge-watch like the rest of us.
The hour garnered many questions in the post's comments feed, in addition to some sent by email and Twitter. Here are a few highlights from the conversation:
Affordable Care Act
Readers asked the congressman about problems with President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law, from its delays and whom it covers. Another wondered if universal healthcare seen in other countries could make a difference in the U.S.
... I do not support "Universal" healthcare in the Canadian/European sense b/c I don't believe it is successful in lowering costs and expanding high quality healthcare. We are seeing story after story about hard working taxpayers seeing their premiums AND their deductibles increase.
And how about the Pelosi and Reid claim that it would CREATE jobs? It has done the opposite as we saw from the recent GVSU study. Since Obamacare is not living up to the promises made, that is why you are seeing POTUS delaying and choosing not to enforce provisions of a law that he helped write and signed into law.
I don't believe he has the legal authority to do what he is doing and I expect that there will be continued legal challenges much as which happened with the President's "Recess Appointments" that was overturned by the Supreme Court.
One such case involving recess appointments, National Labor Relations Board v. Noel Canning, has not yet been overturned by the court but has been argued. Analysts argue the court appears ready to strike it down.
Coupled with low approval ratings and being on pace as the least productive Congress ever, one wondered what Congress can get done.
Well, we are certainly trying, despite the very different world views in this divided government. I think the real question is can we make significant change legislatively in the short run. Probably not.
But there are smaller issues such as my Mergers and Acquisitions bill that just passed the House unanimously, that will mean real job opportunities here in WM as small biz owners retire or sell their biz. On a much larger scale, Tax reform as well as regulatory reform would have a major impact. Now, that could be negative or positive depending on the form of "reform."
"House of Cards"
Huizenga isn't yet caught up on the hit Netflix show — he's still working through season one — but early indications show his life in D.C. isn't all that thrilling.
... The only thing truly realistic about the show is that the Whip has a black suburban and a body guard and that the Washington Monument is still on the National Mall. Other than that, it is all pretty unrealistic. I'm glad that my life isn't that exciting...
Read more of the congressman's responses, here: Recap of live chat with West Michigan Congressman Bill Huizenga
Andrew Krietz covers breaking and general police/fire news for MLive | The Grand Rapids Press. Email him at firstname.lastname@example.com or follow him on Twitter.


text:
Once city and federal officials finish hammering out a binding decree to mandate scores of changes in the New Orleans Police Department, one of their first tasks will be to hire a monitoring team charged with determining whether police leaders are actually accomplishing the required reforms. The team will also cost New Orleans a lot of money.
If other cities with similar consent decrees are a guide, the monitor could cost New Orleans as much as $1 million annually, one of the few easy-to-anticipate costs associated with what will be a lengthy process meant to turn around the troubled department. But there will be others. Over perhaps a decade of implementation, the city should expect to pony up for expanded training for NOPD's rank and file, as well as new technology and equipment to help cops do their job.
Some of those measures could have big price tags. And at a time when city coffers have shrunk, finding the extra dollars won't necessarily be easy and could possibly delay the implementation of certain goals.
But people involved with decrees in other cities said money is rarely the reason some departments drag their feet in complying with federal mandates. Instead, they blamed institutional resistance to change, a problem that has caused cities like Oakland, Calif., and Detroit to remain under federal oversight for longer than originally envisioned.
Judith Levy, the assistant U.S. attorney in Detroit who represents the Justice Department with the decree there, said the key to a successful decree is having police leaders who embrace the needed reforms.
"It doesn't take money to do that," Levy said. "It takes training police executives, lieutenants and sergeants and above, to take responsibility for what officers are doing and instill in officers what the expectations are."
In New Orleans, city and police leaders have said they're fully on board with the decree process, emphasizing that Mayor Mitch Landrieu invited the Justice Department to conduct its initial investigation almost immediately after taking office.
What that decree looks like is being determined right now, as attorneys and consultants representing the city negotiate with attorneys from the Justice Department's civil rights division.
Counting on specialists
Proponents of consent decrees talk about their power to force broad cultural change in police departments, which tend to be large, hidebound institutions that resist innovation. In an interview last year, Christy Lopez, a Justice Department lawyer helping to negotiate New Orleans' decree and a former federal monitor in Oakland, stressed that the success or failure of New Orleans' decree will be judged not on how many new policies the NOPD writes, but what federal officials are seeing from officers on the streets.
Still, implementation and monitoring of decrees is a detail-oriented, lengthy process that involves sentence-by-sentence reviews of what is required in the decree and whether a department is following the requirements, former monitors said.
James Ginger, who monitored decrees in Pittsburgh and New Jersey, said each paragraph of an agreement is broken down into components that guide both the department and monitor on how to determine whether the agency is in compliance. For example, if one portion of the decree requires that police arrest people only when they have proper probable cause, the monitor will create a methodology for reviewing reports to determine whether cops are following the law.
Doing this job will be a team of experts who can carry sizable price tags, Ginger said. When he was the federal monitor over the New Jersey State Police, the team included two police chiefs and a former U.S. attorney.
"These are folks who don't work for $10 or $12 an hour," said Ginger, who formerly worked as the planning director for the San Antonio police department before becoming the first monitor of a big-city police agency.
The more requirements in the decree, the more specialists are needed. New Orleans' decree is expected to be broad, as it will be based on one of the most wide-ranging Justice Department investigations ever conducted. The decree could encompass everything from officers' use of force to NOPD's street policing tactics to the department's handling of domestic violence investigations. That means that the experts involved will need a range of backgrounds.
Two years of monitoring in Oakland, which is partially done with its decree, has cost $1.7 million. In Detroit, where the department has made a good deal of progress in the past year, the monitoring costs $94,900 a month, or just over $1.1 million annually.
For 2012 in New Orleans, the city has budgeted a total of about $1 million for the consent decree, which includes paying the monitoring team once it is selected, as well as the outside counsel and consultants working to craft the deal, said Ryan Berni, a city spokesman.
Pitfalls crop up
Ginger said some of the other costs of decrees can take police departments and governments by surprise. In New Jersey, for example, the state police did not anticipate how much money they had to put into a new data system. But part of the problem for that department, he said, was that New Jersey leaders had neglected the department's technological needs for more than a decade.
"What you are trying to do over a five-year period is make up for 15 years of neglect," he said.
Those involved with these agreements said the expenses tend to fall into certain categories, such as training of police officers and technology and equipment upgrades.
For most police departments, a major expense is the creation of an early warning system, a computer database that flags officers who have racked up numerous complaints and are in need of further scrutiny or intervention.
New Orleans has made a start in that area. Last spring, the NOPD and the city's Office of Inspector General announced they had installed a $115,000 computerized early warning system to replace one that had fallen into disrepair. But any requirements in the finalized consent decree that requires the system to be expanded or refined would likely come with a price tag.
In Los Angeles, an expansive system reportedly cost $40 million and took years to get off the ground.
Kristin Burgess, who works for the Oakland Police Department's inspector general office, said that beyond paying for upgraded technology, training costs can be significant. Additionally, staff sometimes need to be hired, such as a new four-person unit in her city created to monitor the early warning system. In Detroit, the department has assembled a 21-member Office of Civil Rights responsible for audits and inspections, as well as managing the early warning database.
"If you don't have resources to implement the reforms, it can be a huge problem," Burgess said.
But the bigger challenge is ensuring that police leaders embrace the changes, she said. Police in Oakland have lagged in implementing the agreement put in place for their department in 2003, so the federal oversight has been extended beyond the original five-year scope.
"The leadership of our organization for the first two years of the agreement did virtually nothing," Burgess said. "That just sets you back two years."
The federal judge over the Oakland agreement recently indicated he's grown so frustrated over the slow pace of implementation that he's asked attorneys to file legal motions about possible receivership for the department. In the same order, the judge expanded the authority of the federal monitor, for example requiring the police chief to consult the monitor on personnel and policy decisions.
Similar problems hamstrung the Detroit Police Department through a succession of police chiefs who didn't believe in the decree, first enacted in 2002, Levy said. She credited the current chief, Ralph Godbee, with embracing the decree to the point where he holds "commander accountability meetings" to ensure compliance.
Detroit had some early problems with monitoring. It eventually emerged that the disgraced former mayor, convicted of perjury, had an inappropriate relationship with the longtime monitor.
That monitor would tell the police what parts of the decree they were violating, but she did little to show the way forward. That has changed under the current monitor, whose staff are more helpful.
"The current monitoring team is tough as nails on the city of Detroit on civil rights. But it is not a bean-counting effort," Levy said. "It is an endeavor to help them change the culture and leadership of the department so they can comply."
Laura Maggi can be reached at email@example.com or 504.826.3316.


text: They probably won't do that since Halo 1 has already been released on Xbox Live Original Section. It has everything Halo 1 had. Same Graphics,Bugs,Glitches, and No Online. That Would Be Cool If They Did Like A Halo Trilogy and make it all on one disc. Don't Expect To See That Though.


text:
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Indiana's NewsCenter) - The Fort Wayne Komets beat Wichita, 6-3, Monday night to win the 2012 CHL Presidents' Cup Championship.
The victory marks the ninth league title in 60 seasons of Komet hockey. It's the first CHL championship for the K's, who joined the league two years ago.
Most Valuable Player honors went to Komets forward Mike Vaskivuo.
Click on the video icon to see the Presidents' Cup presentation and interviews with Komets goalie Nick Boucher, winger Kaleigh Schrock and defenseman Daniel Maggio.
What are your thoughts CLICK HERE to leave us a "QUESTION OF THE DAY" comment.
© Copyright 2016, A Quincy Media broadcasting station. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
If there's one person you probably don't envy right now, it's Jamie Dimon.
In the past week, the JPMorgan CEO has been summoned to testify before Congress and learned that his company is facing investigations by an alphabet soup of federal agencies, from the CFTC to the FBI to the SEC. He's also had to spend a lot of time in the middle of a media feeding frenzy, offering mea culpas and referring to himself and members of his team as "stupid," "sloppy" and "dead wrong."


text:
New Venue for BVE
BVE at ExCeL
BVE at ExCeL
2013 will mark BVE's first event from its new home, London's ExCel. As London's premier exhibition and conference centre, ExCeL provides BVE with the space and facilities to expand and grow, whilst remaining essential, relevant and accessible to all production and broadcast professionals. Set in the thriving Olympic Park area, and served by excellent transport links and infrastructure, ExCeL provides the perfect home for BVE's future.
ExCeL in Numbers
ExCeL in Numbers
- 600m Central Boulevard offering free Wi-Fi
- 6 onsite hotels - offering 1,400 rooms
- 13 campus restaurants (8 restaurants & pubs; 5 hotel restaurants) -
- 28 Boulevard eateries
- 3 onsite DLR stations – Royal Victoria, Custom House for ExCeL and Prince Regent
- 3,700 onsite parking spaces
- 100,000 m2 of event space
For more information on ExCeL, including how to get there and where to stay, please take a look at our ExCeL Facts & Figures pack.
Download the handy ExCeL London City Guide to see what you can do onsite and around ExCeL whilst visiting BVE 2013.
Find Excel London
Find Excel London
View My Saved Places in a larger map


text:
Teel looks like he's the real deal
ANNAPOLIS, Md.-Mike Teel kept insisting he didn't need the confidence boost, even as the whispers seemed to grow with each Rutgers victory and every uninspiring performance by its quarterback.
He was managing the offense the way the coaches wanted him to, he kept saying. He was making the right checks, playing within himself, allowing the Knights to ride the strength of running back Ray Rice's dazzling start.
His demeanor wasn't any different after the best game of his career helped No. 24-ranked Rutgers improve to 6-0 yesterday with a dominant 34-0 rout of Navy at Navy-Marines Corps Stadium, but his teammates sensed that his contributions meant a lot to the third-year sophomore.
"I don't want to put words in his mouth, but this game has to help him," star running back Brian Leonard said. "Every good game you have, it helps."
Especially if it's your first one.
The biggest question - the only one really - hanging over Rutgers during the school's best start in 30 years was answered in part this game.
The question: How would Rutgers' offense react when an opposing defense took away its power running game and kept Rice in check, as Navy did yesterday by limiting the nation's No. 2 rusher to 93 yards on 21 carries? The answer: career-highs of 215 passing yards and three TDs on 15-for-26 passing by Teel.
"It's his best game so far, but I don't think it's close to what his best game will be," tight end Clark Harris said. "He has a lot of big games left in that arm."
Teel viewed his near-breakout performance with the same detached, clinical view he had of his first five games, when Rutgers seemed to win almost despite him. The Knights came into the game ranked 112th nationally in passing, with Teel having thrown just two touchdown passes.
"I just went out and played the game and took what they gave me," he said. "Guys stepped up and made some plays."
Rutgers' defense did the rest, although it really wasn't a fair fight after Navy quarterback Brian Hampton - the team's rushing, passing and scoring leader - was carted off the field after suffering a dislocated left knee with 5:41 left in the first quarter.
Minus the leader of their triple option and forced to turn to seldom-used sophomore Kaipo Kaheaku-Enhada, the Mids never had a chance.
The nation's No. 1 rushing offense coming (at 350.5 yards per game) was held to 113 yards on 50 carries as Navy was both shut out for the first time and held to its lowest offensive total (161 yards) in four years.
The Midshipmen also suffered seven sacks and were forced to punt 11 times.
"I think it definitely took something out of them when they lost their quarterback," defensive end William Beckford said. "But we also played great defense. Everyone took care of their responsibility and executed."
Navy coach Paul Johnson, while crediting Rutgers' defense, said the loss of Hampton was a huge emotional blow for his team, which fell to 5-2.
"A lot of guys had tears in their eyes (after Brian was hurt). It really affected some of them," he said. "But adversity happens and you have to go on and play."
Rutgers also made its own breaks after struggling to a 10-0 halftime lead. The Knights broke open the game by blocking two third quarter punts. The first, blocked by Manny Collins and recovered by Tim Brown at the Navy 23, resulted in a short touchdown drive that ended with a 9-yard scoring pass from Teel to Tiquan Underwood.
The second, blocked and recovered by Glen Lee, led to a field goal and a 20-0 lead. Underwood wound up with two TD catches and fellow wide receiver James Townsend stepped up with three receptions, highlighted by a 30-yard touchdown catch.
That was needed on a day Rice saw his streak of 100-yard rushing games snapped at seven.
"They wanted to stop the run and make us beat them with the pass," Rice said. "I'm really happy for Mike with the game he had."


text:
It really is the most magical time of the year!
For the 2016/17 ski season, we're launching 20 new chalets in various resorts across the Alps
For some people though it is all about the skiing.
Take a look our blog about 'Why Take a Christmas Holiday with Skiworld'
You can guarantee a white Christmas this year by booking a Skiworld holiday for you and your family or friends. With plenty of options for where to spend your Christmas ski break and a huge variety of accommodation to choose from, it's never been easier to organize a memorable December ski holiday. Whether you are after a tradition chalet with wood log fire, a modern hotel with luxury trimmings or a self-catered apartment for a flexible holiday - We have something to suit everyone!
Relax and enjoy a special Christmas in a Skiworld chalet. Just because you're away from home doesn't mean the kids will be forgotten by Santa; you can take them away on a magical Christmas ski trip and still enjoy the festive perks!
Before bed on that special eve, be sure to leave out a glass of sherry, a few mince pies and (of course) a nice juicy carrot for our visitor's red nosed friend and maybe, as long as everyone is good of course…there might be a little something under the tree when the children wake up...
During selected dates in December, Father Christmas dons his skis as he travels to all of our European catered chalets to bring children aged 2 -11 a small gift to help make Christmas in the snow REALLY SPECIAL!
Spend Christmas in one of our lovely chalets and you will enjoy:
Sample Christmas Chalet Menu
Christmas Soup
Christmas turkey en croute with redcurrant gravy, roast potatoes,
glazed carrots, buttered peas, brussels sprouts and bread sauce
Traditional Christmas Pudding with ice cream
and warm Christmas brandy compote.
Book a Skiworld holiday during the December ski season and you and your party are guaranteed a spectacular white Christmas! We've plenty of options for where to spend your Christmas ski break, depending on what you want from your holiday. For a Christmas ski holiday in Europe, take your pick from Austria, France or Switzerland
Here are just a few of our best recommendations in Europe for you to consider:
• Val D'Isere – Chalet Premiere Neige
• Courchevel – Chalet Ecureuil De Neige
• Mayrhofen – Chalet Stoanerhof
• Les Arcs – Chalet Cicero
• Meribel – Chalet Laetitia
We also offer Christmas skiing trips to Canada or the USA. Here are just a few of our best recommendations for you to consider:
• Whistler – Coast Blackcomb Suites
• Banff – Brewsters Mountain Lodge
• Aspen – Limelight Hotel
• Vail – Vail Cascade resort & Spa
• Breckenridge – Beaver Run
Find out more about our favourite ski resorts at Christmas on the Skiworld blog.
We all know Christmas can be as much hard work as it is fun, but that shouldn't be the case when you're on holiday. Skiworld offer a variety of accommodation for ski holidays at Christmas to ensure that your break is both rejuvenating and exciting - but it's our catered ski chalets that really allow you to barely lift a finger if you don't want to. So why not enjoy the exhilaration of skiing without having to worry about whose job it is to cook the turkey!
Particulary if you are after a family Christmas atmosphere to go along with your skiing holiday, chalet accommodation is the perfect choice for a relaxed, homely stay. Many of our chalets benefit from beautiful views and are often perfectly located for both the skiing and the après ski. Our chalets are fully catered and cots, highchairs and a special high tea can be provided for children.
All of our Catered Chalet Holidays enjoy a mouth watering 3 course traditional Christmas dinner (in our 'Classic' chalets) and 4 courses in our 'Superior' and 'Signature' chalets. All with crackers and free-flowing wine. With our traditional decorations, Christmas cakes and mulled wine, after a long day on the slopes you will be sure to unwind this festive season.


text: Use this Books-A-Million promo code and you'll save $10 off on your order of $50 or more. Click the button that says "Apply My Coupon." Your page will refresh, and with the coupon applied, you will see a Coupon Discount total showing your total savings. Then click "Submit This Order. Excludes gift cards, Millionaire's Club Card memberships, magazine subscriptions, Rosetta Stone, The Elf on The Shelf, eBooks, LeapFrog products, MOTOROLA XOOM™ and XOOM™ accessories, digital devices (NOOK™, NOOK Color™ or NOOK Tablet™), or NOOK accessories.


text:
NEW YORK (AP) — Google is launching a new service that will let users store their music remotely and access them from any compatible device, including mobile phones, tablets and computers.
Google Inc. said Tuesday the service will be available by invitation only starting Tuesday. It says the service, "Music Beta by Google" will be free at first while it is being tested. It did not say what it plans to charge later.
Google says users will be able to store up to 20,000 songs.
The offering competes with Amazon's cloud-based music service. This lets you play songs you've uploaded on your computer or on a smartphone that runs Google's Android. Apple Inc. is also believed to be working on a similar service.


text:
Non-Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species do not make significant seasonal migrations. Juvenile dispersal is not considered a migration.
Locally Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).
Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.
In Vermont, softshells migrated about 3 km between riverine wintering sites and river mouth nesting sites near Lake Champlain; migratory movements were most extensive in spring and late summer (Graham and Graham 1997).
In northern Lake Champlain, Quebec-Vermont, annual home range size was 1.8-110.3 (mean 32.1) sq km in 11 females and 0.4-6.9 (mean 2.8) sq km in 4 males; linear home range size was 5.6-25.0 (mean 13.7) km in females and 1.4-6.3 (mean 3.9) km in males (Galois et al. 2002). Usually the distance between the two most distant points for an individual reflected the distance between spring-summer and fall-winter activity centers (Galois et al. 2002). A female in that area nested more than 30 km from its wintering area (Daigle et al. 2002).


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Is beauty really only skin deep, or does one's physical appearance have a deeper spiritual value? Does smooth skin represent spiritual power? Are wrinkles a sign of Divine disfavor?
This week's Ethics and Religion Talk question asks our panel to consider the ethics of elective plastic surgery. Our questioner asks, "I am considering cosmetic surgery to remove wrinkles, but I know some people believe that it is not ethical. What do you think?"
The Rev. Nurya Love Parish, an associate priest, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, replies:
"There are two competing ethical values that must be weighed in this instance. On one hand, there is the value of honesty, which would indicate that keeping one's wrinkles is virtuous. On the other hand is the value of beauty, which would indicate that removing one's wrinkles is virtuous. Those who value honesty over beauty would probably say that such surgery is unethical. Those who value beauty over honesty would probably say the surgery is ethical. There is no clear choice in these circumstances.
"However, there is one additional consideration: the relative worth of such surgery in a world where innocent people suffer needlessly. The ethical value here is clear: it is foolish to spend money on an unnecessary surgery given that the alternative is to provide life for another human soul. The most ethical thing to do is to provide for the poor with the funds you would otherwise spend on the surgery and let your wrinkles be a mark of your wisdom."
Sandra Nikkel, Ministry Coordinator of the Grand Rapids East Classis and Pastor of the multicultural Ministry at Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church, replies:
"The new trend of removing wrinkles via cosmetic surgery has left many people disappointed or at least dissatisfied. Trying to cheat the aging process does not always rend the expected results. Aging is a natural part of life and accepting it speaks of a well emotionally adjusted life. An emotionally healthy person will receive aging as a part of one of the stages of life that we are designed to go through. There is so much to learn from it that I believe that if we spend our efforts trying to stop or slow down the aging process we might miss the lessons that this golden age is designed to teach us. This is why I think that cosmetic surgery is unethical. I think one would benefit more from learning to live a life with wrinkles to the fullest than trying to look 20 years younger. I personally find that adjusting to the new wrinkles that appear on my face or my hands allows me to take a step back and think about how far I've come. It gives me an opportunity to show gratitude for the many things I've overcome and for the things I have learned. This allows me to live life more wisely and more fully, especially as I meditate on the lessons that I have learned through the years and I remember that life is short and that I need to live it wisely."
Fred Wooden, the senior pastor of Fountain Street Church, replies:
"Is it wrong to buy an expensive car or a second home or jewelry? These are personal desires that have no evident good except pleasing us. How is it more vain to get plastic surgery than other indulgences? And yet, without some pure pleasures life is less satisfying. Questioner, would the surgery make you a better person - in your estimate and that of others? Be honest. The same could be asked about sports cars and lavish homes and other 'luxuries.' By definition, luxuries are things that have no purpose except to please us. Can the cost - financial and otherwise - be justified? That you are asking this question means you have doubts. Take them seriously before acting."
My response:
I hesitate to label any elective surgical procedure as unethical. At the same time, Judaism advises us to treat the body as a gift from God. Our society has an unhealthy obsession with the vigor of youth. Rather than treating the signs of aging as a sign of weakness and infirmity, better that we should treat crow's feet and laugh lines and sagging cheeks as signs of experience and wisdom.
There are certainly good reasons for some cosmetic surgical procedures -- tightening up skin after extreme weight loss can make one physically and emotionally healthy. Individuals with gender identity disorder, after careful screening and diagnosis, can be candidates for sex reassignment surgery.
There are also unhealthy reasons for surgery. An obsessive need to make radical or continual changes in one's appearance likely points to a potentially serious mental illness. I would advise anyone considering such surgery to seriously evaluate whether the reasons are healthy or not, including seeing a therapist if there is any doubt.
Ethics and Religion Talk is compiled and written by David Krishef, rabbi at Congregation Ahavas Israel in Grand Rapids. Krishef takes questions from readers and shares them with a panel of clergy, then provides the responses in collaboration with community engagement specialist Zane McMillin. The views expressed are those of the panelists and do not necessarily represent the official perspectives of their congregations or denominations. Please submit questions from your own day-to-day encounters to firstname.lastname@example.com.


text: Ok I see your point there. I know we are early in TC. I also know that its not so much football experts, but journalists making the camp reports so we have to take it with a grain of salt. But to this point, Anderson seems above and beyond Wilson. I'm not disputing that there is always the possibility of that changing, as Wilson was clearly more talented coming out of college. Regarding Anderson though he seems more and more like a guy who really should have been drafted. He played well enough last year to not only stick, but be a player on ST. This year he seems to have the 4th WR spot in his grasps, and Bennett is not safe by any means IMO. (before he gets hurt that is..) This is a great problem to have. Hell, I hope Anderson/Wilson are fighting it out for years to come. That would be an awesome problem to have 2 talented guys who keep pushing each other and improving every year.


text: I just wanted to let everyone know that Tmobile Wifi Calling is a reality on our MIUI's. So I wanted to give a shout out to Mark to see if he can incorporate this into these excellent roms! Here's the thread on xda HD2 forum : Tmobile USA only! Follow the instructions for "other" roms minus the adding of wifi info in build.prop (look below for my quick instructions since tytung r10 kernel is built into the newer miui's---> ) http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1038784 1. remove libhtc_ril_wrapper.so in init.rc ***If coming from miui update tytung r10 and/or already modified the init.rc then u may not need to do this step. (Tytung has taken this out for us in his r10 kernel thanks tytung!)*** 2. Flash the zip below 3.Reboot then wait for everything to settle. (Don't use wifi calling until after step 4 or u may not have sound on calls) 4. Reboot again and then wifi calling should work Wif Calling update (modified build.prop) : MIUI 1.5.20 http://www.mediafire.com/?fe3j3w5nx1g3py8


text:
Offshore oil and gas operators in the Gulf of Mexico are evacuating platforms and rigs in Tropical Storm Bonnie's path.
Personnel have been evacuated from 11 production platforms, or nearly 2 percent of the platforms in the Gulf, according to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement's Hurricane Response Team. Personnel from two rigs, or roughly 5 percent of the rigs in the Gulf, have also been evacuated.
Production platforms are structures located offshore from which oil and natural gas are produced. Rigs can include several types of offshore drilling facilities including jackups, submersibles and semisubmersibles.


text:
Lobbying Tracker
Follow Washington influence using Sunlight's Lobbying Tracker tools for keeping up with K street. Keep checking this page as we add more resources and tools to LobbyTrack.
Lobbyist registrations
The lobbying registration tracker has a new home on Sunlight's Influence Explorer, and this version may not be up to date. Check out the new real-time lobbying registration tracker for the latest updates.
Mcallister & Quinn for University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law
Date received: Oct. 9, 2012
Issues: Budget/Appropriations
Specific issue: Federal funding opportunities
FORSYTHE, EDEN (covered positions: Sr. Counsel, Executive Commission on China )
Quinn, Andrew S (covered positions: SA, LA- Rep. Hoyer; Legislative Assistant, Rep. Steny Hoyer )
See original filing


text:
|Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <firstname.lastname@example.com>, email@example.com
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text:
Baseball players who hit .300 are superstars, which suggests that Greendale Elementary School teacher CaraLynn Williams is a DonorsChoose superstar.
A teacher for nine years, Williams has sought eight grants through the national nonprofit organization and has received all of them.
Like thousands of educators across the country, Williams posts grant proposals on the DonorsChoose website seeking a few hundred dollars each time. She learned about the latest, successful grant last week, providing funds for supplementary science materials to use with her fifth graders. When she applied for her first grant early in her career, Williams had no expectations on how the program would work.
Since then, Ive posted my grants on social media, she said. Donations have come from retired teachers in the Aiken area and others from out-of-state even from military people out of the country.
Every year, teachers throughout the Aiken County School District receive DonorsChoose grants. While there are no assurances teachers will receive grants, about 70 percent do.
Two other Greendale teachers kindergarten teacher Liz McClearen and science specialist Kristin Wells were delighted to get notifications last week, as well, that DonorsChoose has successfully brought them money to use in the classroom.
Founded by a teacher in the Bronx, the DonorsChoose program started accepting grants in 2000. Some people make contributions anonymously.
I find that surprising, said Greendale Principal Sonya Colvin. There are people who go to the site and look for grant ideas that interest them enough to donate to a person they dont even know. Our parents also will make donations to their childrens teachers.
McClearen has received three donations in the past. Her newest $277 award, in part, will provide the cost of alphabet tubs full of items that introduce her 4-K children to letters such as an apple for A and a ball for B.
Often, McClearen will keep in contact with donors.
Im building a community of followers who want to know about (the) kids and how they are doing, McClearen said. Those donors are coming back, as well as family and friends. Theres a great community here at Greendale, too.
Wells meets with students from all grade levels, providing them with a wide range of science activities. Yet Wells grant is titled, Reading Is Not Boring. With additional materials, she will focus on reading comprehension for fourth-graders to assist them in science and other subjects.
Some dont have as much exposure to reading at home, Wells said. Its exciting when someone chooses to fund you.
Teachers and prospective donors can find more information at www.donorschoose.org.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROB NOVIT Greendale Elementary School teacher CaraLynn Williams, has received her eighth DonorsChoose grant during her 9-year career. Joining her are fifth-graders, clockwise, from left, Quartez Scott, Korey Heath, Katita Mozone, Vernon Lawrence, Manssa Orlandi and Jayla Valentine.×
STAFF PHOTO BY ROB NOVIT Kristin Wells, a Greendale Elementary School science specialist, gets a hug from fifth-grader Tayonna Taylor. The DonorsChoose program has awarded Wells with a grant she will use with her fourth-grade students.×


text:
Comment: Why are we gay?
Post your comment
Comments on this article are now closed.
Reader comments
Great article, David.
I accept that Chris Birch's explanation is feasible – others may be too – but he is likely to have explored this with his clinicians and those who know him, and this is the explanation he has come to. So, whilst it is interesting to discuss other potential explanations, it is not my place to say what is or what is not the facts with Chris.
I think you have offered a really reasonable and balanced account of the various issues that have been explored (to date) in the investigation of orientation.
As you rightly say it is a complex matter; for some it may have a psychological basis, others is may be genetic, others neurological, others inuterine, others perhaps different cryptogenic explanations and yet, others a combination.
Many on both sides of the debate seek a clear answer, that sits orientation in a box – is it caused by x y or z – and it seems the reality of the answer is maybe, in some cases.
You are gay because you chose to be gay when the time came to choose direction. Those of who are normal, and heterosexual did not have to choose what direction to take, as normality was and is the course for heterosexuals.
Not back at work then Stu, funny that, as you don't work.. well not as a paramedia….well certainly not a NHS one, as they have no one in emplyment with your name or image…
I didn't choose Aiden- I always knew- at first I couldn't believe or accept it as all my school friends were lusting after girls!
So there's a choice but it's not a choice for all? Is that what you're saying? How are those who are given a choice selected?
Firstly, you obviously don't know the right person to speak to because I was on duty on Saturday and Sunday in my NHS uniform – one shift on the road and the other in the control room as clinical advisor.
You can keep up with your dodgy rhetoric if you wish.
However, I note you refuse to state which NHS organisations you have spoken to, let alone who you spoke to, when and what you asked – and how you persuaded them to breach Data Protection.
The fact is you didnt you are lying and I dont care. You can live in your fantasty world.
As for my being gay – no I didnt choose it, nor would I ever have chosen it given my background. I was born this way.
You were chose to be a liar, bigot and to harm others.
Fair play to you – but some day, you will face the consequences for your actions – and I so hope I am around to remind you of your hatred and wipe that smile right off your ugly face.
Stu, you really shouldn't rise to that idiot. He's not worth it.
Thanks Genes. I shall try not to!
This mindless idiot is just harrassing you . . . tell him to P**s Off
Actually I will do it for you . . . Aiden – P**s Off
Thanks JohnK.
Its good to get support. Aiden is just a bully (and he has to gall to call me one!) lol
As far as I am concerned he can just fukc off, butno doubt he will continue with his little lies and games.
I didn't choose to be gay. I would never have stood up and said 'yes please' to vilification, threats of hurt, death and rape, abuse in pubs and on the streets in the name of 'fun' by their perpetrators, being refused jobs, being made a joke of by people who should know better and told to accept 'it's not you, you're OK'. Really, who would choose that. Would you? My choice was simple – accept who I am.
Aiden is a self hating closet case who is a delusional religious troll. That is all anyone needs to know about him apart from the fact that he is an utter bore.
Whoever that is fabulous … bit pat on the back!
He is a bore, he lies and uses lies that make him claim that he has commited an act of conspiracy to breach the data protection act.
I rang my HR department yesterday morning and they said they would never disclose such information and will put a marker on my personnel file that no information about me is to be disclosed without contacting myself first. They feel it is important to protect me from harassing bullies – whoever they might be!
Aiden, I take it you choose to be straight? And Stu, I'd be worried that this weirdo is stalking you. It seems from his comment that he has checked every paramedic just to prove to his lonely self that you are not one – with your name or IMAGE? WTF does that mean? Scary.
@James E
He's just a bully that makes me laugh.
I know what I do for a living, and so do my patients.
He can lie all he likes.
Actually if you read what he says, which is
"You are gay because you chose to be gay when the time came to choose direction. Those of who are normal, and heterosexual did not have to choose what direction to take, as normality was and is the course for heterosexuals."
then he is basically saying heterosexuals don't make any choice of direction as that's the way they are but homosexuals do make a choice. Funny that eh?
What is even funnier is that while Aiden is typing his endlessly boring sh 1 te he is likely wanking like crazy open mouthed over gay porn while dribbling down his chin. He'll be on his knees begging Cheesus to make him straight as soon as he comes on his jimjams. Religious homophobe equals spanking the bishop watching gay porn in secret. It's more than probable that dear Aiden would just love the bishop to spank him right back because he's been such a naughty boy. The more he claims to be a spokesman for the 'straight' the surer it is he's not.
I don't think anyone these days is seriously suggesting there are any gay people who are gay because of "psychological causes". That particular area, after almost 150 years of extensive research, was categorically thrown out in the 1970s by the APA and later in the WHOs DSMIV. The article actually makes that clear.
Psychological influences impact on the decision to come out, the way we approach relationships/sex and the many facets of the modern gay identity. But there is not one verifiable psychological cause for homosexuality itself.
it might seem an unimportant distinction but remember that if there is a psychological cause then ipso facto there must be a psychotherapeutic means to correct it. Think about that.
A problem arises when groups of people, usually religious, say there is just one acceptable sexual orientation and that all must conform to even when it is against their natural sexual orientation.
Everything you are is simply a product of your brain. This article seems to yearn for more than that. You aren't afforded more than your one brain, and everything that you are is contained within. Brain damage might feasibly make a person gay (although I think his particular story is a bit more of the "that's my story and I'm sticking to it" variety) but it also might make a person straight, or racist, or happy, or suicidal, or Buddhist (in the case of a formerly Christian friend of mine). It means nothing to the community, just a lot to the individual. What does it mean to the community? One more body on the dance floor. That's it.
"It means nothing to the community" Unfortunately it does seem to mean a lot to some "communities", to the point of obsession.
I think that it is human nature to seek answers to questions – without the intrepid, the curious, the questioning, we would all still be living in caves. I do think the question is a valid one.
But I don't trust the human race of today to seek answers in a credible, rational, ethical or legitimate manner. The day we can answer this question, we just won't need to.
True, Valksy
I think too many people want one answer (ideally a simple one), when the reality is that issues of orientation are complex. There is no simple answer – some people (both some LGBT people and some of those who seek to harm us) may be disappointed with this; but it should not stop us from trying to understand as much as we can.
This article would be even better if you included references! Would to be able to point to peer-reviewed stuff.
From my own experience, I can remember thinking gay thoughts at a really young age and my mum said she thought I was gay at playschool.
I had no concept of sex or sexuality, but there was something definitely there.
I wonder if one can be born in a state that, depending on certain environmental factors in the very early years, homosexuality can occur. So you'd be predisposed to becoming gay: someone could have the same life experiences as you and not be gay and someone could be born the same as you and not be gay…but a mix of both biological AND environmental factors would result in some neurological event that leads to homosexuality.
At any rate, the reason is irrelevant – we can't change, we do no harm… Back off. :)
I have always had the gut feeling that, on the whole, orientation is determined by biological influences – whether they be neurological, inuterine or whatever. However, I think its hard to deny that there can be environmental issues that impact on some/all of us at one point or another.
Environmental issues in the form of societal pressure and homophobia has impacted greatly on many people, especially older people who remember reading court cases about the jailing of someone for same sex encounters in private-that's one extreme, at the other extreme is the casual overheard homophobic remark you heard from adults. All of these things are bound to have a massive impact which sometimes resulted in homophobes as well as repressed neurotic LGBT.
Those sort of environmental influences certainly will be important or relevant in some people, to one extent or another. The impact could range from outright denial through various aspects of repression through to rejecting the environmental influence.
I do think there can be positive environmental influences too including acceptance, support, friendship and many others. I have benefited from such influences that did not impact on my orientation but reinforced my understanding and acceptance of my being gay.
von Krafft-Ebing, R (1869) Psychopathia Sexualis
Re: Scientificness of Freud, there are a number of books on the subject.
On genetics:
Burr, C (1996) A Seperate Creation: How Biology Makes Us Gay, New York, Bantam Press
D'Alessio, V (1996) 'Born to be gay?' New Scientist (151:2049) 28 Sep 1996
Hamer, D et al (1993) 'A linkage between DNA markers on the X chromosome and male sexual orientation', Science (261:5119) 321-327
Horton, R (1995) 'Is Homosexuality Inherited?' Book Review of The Science of Desire: The Search for the Gay Gene and the Biology of Behaviour, New York Review of Books, vol XLII, 13 Jul 1995, 36-41
LeVay, S (1996) Queer Science: The Use and Abuse of Research into Homosexuality, MIT Press
you legend!! thanks :)
On foetal development:
Blanchard, R & Bogaert, A (1996) 'Homosexuality in men and number of older brothers' American Journal of Psychiatry (153: 1) p27-31
Barker, D.J.P. (1997). "Maternal Nutrition, Fetal Nutrition, and Disease in Later Life". Nutrition, '13', pg. 807
Williams, T J (2000) 'Finger-length ratios and sexual orientation' Nature (404) 455-456
On neuroscience:
Phineas Gage is well-documented, and details are on google!
Sanders G, Wright M (October 1997). "Sexual orientation differences in cerebral asymmetry and in the performance of sexually dimorphic cognitive and motor tasks". Archives of Sexual Behavior 26 (5): 463–80
Savic I, Lindström P (July 2008). "PET and MRI show differences in cerebral asymmetry and functional connectivity between homo- and heterosexual subjects". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 105 (27): 9403–8
There are plenty of other references ;-)
please can you help us by listing all that you know….wish to read them.
One assumes he just did idiot, or are you just being an intellectually bereft waste of space……
Literally, I could list tens of studies on this. Start with those and follow the references.
If you've got access to Web of Science you could also look at citations as well.
I think the issue of how being gay arises is less important than the fact that however you become gay for most people it's innate, it's fully a part of who you are. However I suspect research into what makes us gay will show us that sexuality for some is a lot more fluid than we suspect & a multitude of causes work in unison to create sexuality so the chances of anyone finding a way to change someone's sexuality are remote. You only have to look to look to the animal world to see that homosexuality & the fluidity of sexuality is a normal important part of nature. If being gay were an aberration it wouldn't be so prevalent in nature & humanity. Surely evolution would have done away with us if we didn't have a purpose (in early tribal societies it would probably have been distribution of care of young). Gay people have as an important role to play in our society as heterosexual people, nature loves variety and she ain't gonna stop mixing it up anytime soon.
If there were no issues about being gay no one would be looking for anything. And I for one am sick to death of hearing that it's "caused" by this that or the other. I don't bloody well care. It's all tripe.
As a gay man I am interested to know the scientific facts that mark me as the same as others who are not gay and those that mark me as different.
Being interested in developing my knowledge and understanding, surely is a good thing?
It is a whole lot more interesting and less biased to investigate what causes human sexual orientation, any motivation to specifically go after homosexuality seems suspect to me.
I imagine any legitimate research would be investigating sexual orientation generally anyway.
Mono-zygotic twins are interesting when one is gay and the other straight, but even these so-called identical twins will have differences,
"Scientists have offered a new explanation for the differences between identical twins. Epigenome refers to natural chemical modifications within a person's genome (genetic material). As an article in the New York Times explains, they "act on a gene like a gas pedal or a brake, marking it for higher or lower activity
"small epigenetic events before birth probably account for many of the minor differences in the appearance, personality and general health of young twins."changes in their DNA sequence shown in Copy Number Variations where a gene occurs in multiple copies.
The very reason it is interesting is because it is not clear what evolutionary mechanism is responsible for homosexuality despite it likely being prevalent in all human populations (and countless other species).
I think the significant scientific interest in homosexuality in particular is more than justified considering.
Yes, people may twist and interpret findings in a way to meet and justify various agenda but this is always the case with scientific research, however any true scientist who respects the scientific method should minimise the influence their personal opinion has on results.
There is the potential for a lot of beneficial research in this field.
Call me a skeptic, but I don't trust Chris Birch. There is something entirely unfeasible about his story.
If it is true, then it is an anomaly. Stroke has not been proven to cause radical personality changes.
So I think- if anything- this should be seen as an exception to the rule (supposing we even grant it that status).
Sexuality cannot be changed. It is an intrinsic part of all individuals. We are 'born this way', irrespective of whether one takes favour of the argument for a biological or the environmental stance (or both).
Actually, there are quite a few cases in which stroke has caused radical personality change: http://www.cracked.com/article_19504_6-people-who-gained-amazing-skills-from-brain-injuries_p2.html
I recall reading about at least one person who changed from gay to straight (without praying!)…
I shall call you a skeptic ;-)
It may well be a unique (or one of a small number of anomalies) that Chris Birch has had his orientation altered by the cerebral event.
Its not true to state that stroke can not cause radical personality changes – there are many documented cases:
(A New Zealand study which discusses the issue of brain injury (which stroke effectively is) on various aspects of a person including personality and notes numerous cases of significant personality and attitude changes).
Many things can occur post cerebral event that are not usually possible, the brain is a complex organ that we do not understand in full. So, whilst you are correct to say that orientation can not be changed, and I would agree that no one can consciously change their sexuality; but cerebral event can change things we may not choose to alter including speech, cognition and perception (and yes, in rare cases, orientation).
I'm the oldest of three farmboys. Raised Protestant in Ontario, Canada, progressive conservative, etc. Always musical and artistic, yet no more than my grandfather who paints or my great uncle who plays fiddle at square dances. I can rebuild a truck engine and shoe a horse.
Women are great pals, but don't turn me on. Give me a tall, muscular man, though… is it getting hot in here?
I think it is more likely that people are bisexual and just don't realize it until something triggers their brain
Hi Jennifer
I know I am gay and not bisexual.
I have always known this since I have been aware of issues of sexuality. I havent always accepted it, but I have always known it.
I did try a girlfriend when I was suppressing it – but not for me!
Your theory may be true of some people, but equally some may have a cerebral event which alters them in some way, and that could include their orientation due to changes in brain chemistry or physiology.
If I had a cerebral event and determined post event that I was heterosexual, then that would not be due to any repression of my heterosexuality or any bisexuality, I can assure you!
I absolutely hate the thought of fanny; it makes me feel quite poorly.
I was searching for images of lips the other day. Don't use google images for "lips close up" :(
I have just had dinner and now feel quite nauseous – thanks! lol
@Jennifer Partlow
What "Emprical – Scientific" evidence do you have which supports your theory that all people are bisexual ?
If you are going to say "Psychoanalysis and Freud's theory of Polymorphous Perversity" . . . this is not "Emprical – Scientific" evidence.
Yes, I think you have a point. It seems to me that more people are more likely to be bisexual than are either 100% straight or 100% gay.
According to what survey?
Let's say Kinsey?
Personally although I believe some some people are born gay and other cases are physiologically driven, I think it makes sense to believe in natural selection. The human body and mind are the most immensely complex and advanced things the earth has seen. Is it so unrealistic to believe that gay people are the product of our biology in order to prevent our species from massively overpopulating? Other species have unique abilities that they use in order to survive their environment or lifestyle. So as a young man raised in the modern world I choose to believe that we are all part of a greater biological design. And being gay is part of this same design to prevent our species from damaging itself.
I worry about scientific research into what makes people gay because I wonder why some of the scientists want to find it. I can easily imagine them searching for the scientific 'cure' for being gay – gene therapy or something, and a queue of pregnant Christian women wanting to abort gay babies – the lesser of two evils!!! Or something like the scene in the third X-Men film. Substitute gay for mutant at the 'cure centre'.
Of course I could just be letting my imagination run riot! ;)
I agree. I'm intrigued and would like to know, but not in order to change myself or others. However, I've always been wary about such investigations and their findings being used by those who see anything other than heterosexuality as a negative anomaly to be 'dealt' with.
I thought that was kinda the point of the film, people that are born different, are ostracised by society they begin to fight for their rights and those that are "normal" develop a 'cure' for it whilst secretly they are different too and want it to change themself and in their head they believe that everyone else that is different want it too.
You shouldn't be afraid of new data. Even if it is contrary to your world view. I have always been sexually attracted to men, but haven't been able to ever form an emotional connection with one. The spectrum is broad and multi dimensional. While those of use who prefer men for sex and women for relationships don't have a name, we do exist and are evidence of an even bigger world than those on the pure gay-straight spectrum are willing to admit.
So the stroke not only caused a change in his sexuality but also turned him quite effeminate…
Call me a cynic but I think someone was overcompensating before the stroke…
I don't think he came across as very effeminate. Yes, he had a daft hairdo, but I've seen lots of straight male hairdressers with outlandish hairdos too. Other than that he certainly wasn't camp or queeny at all.
I totally believed his story. It seems extremely unlikely to me that he was gay before the stroke. Scientists know that strokes cause changes in the brain that affect personality traits. Whatever happened to him it seems as though the part of his brain killed off by the stroke must have been the part associated with heterosexual attraction and as his brain rewired to compensate it turned him gay.
He seemed like a nice bloke, genuinely interested in understanding what had happened to him.
I don't think it matters why we're gay.
In one sense it doesnt matter, in another sense it is interesting to help us understand how everything fits together (if that makes sense?)
Actually, it does make sense, Stu. The "accept it no matter what" is the argument the religious use – "its a sin, becuase god says so, and do not question god".
I want to know. Knowing doesn't change what I am.
If questions are constantly being asked why people are gay, but the question why people are heterosexual is always neglected . . . this is very telling
The heteros consider themselves normal and other non-hetero people abnormal. Whenever a group of people can be singled out as different it makes it easier for the others to hate them. We as human beings should celebrate our diversity, not use it as a reason to hate. We do have far to go as a species, unfortunately.
The human possibilities are quite limited basically to gay, bi or straight, asking why humans are any of those isn't really a proper question at all but rather just an expression of being incapable of accepting the human condition.
People can be homosexual, bisexual or heterosexual because those three are the basic human possibilities, perhaps asexuality should be included as well.
This is as relevant as whether I was conceived on a beach, in the back of a car, on a bed, or in a forest! The only interesting question for LGBT is: If science proved conclusively that ABC causes children to be gay and a treatment could be applied to avoid ABC, would you apply the treatment to your children?
This calls into question whether it would be an improvement in life for the child and, collectively, for "society". For society, gays are essential. For a specific individual, it's not as clear-cut, although with marriage equality, other equal rights, and a developing gay youth esprit, the next decades could be a great time to be gay.
Also…I think if we as a community start to question our sexuality we're walking on dangerous ground and gives these religious fools something else to use against us!
What happened to my previous answer?
this is silly-the guy was gay before or at least bi and he came out, using the stroke as an excuse-dont be fooled…
"Comment: Why are we gay?"
Comment: Why does it matter?
It does not matter to me, as it is how and what I am.
It only seems to matter to hypocritical bible bashers obsessed with others sex lives.
My sister was born with Down's Syndrome.
Makes her no less a human, born upon this planet and entitled to fullfill her entire potential in the life that she lives and will have.
As I see it, I have not got a problem. It is those continually whining that "gay" is a problem that have the issues.
Why are they so insecure in themselves that they NEED to put down those not the same as them.
It is they that need to be vilified and questioned as to their motives.
PS: Pink News:
The image used on this story looks like some of the images I have seen of Iranian gays hanging from cranes.
Please be more sensitive.
Perhaps what you're seeing is to do with Pareidolia because all I see I see what looks like a statue of a man with a big question mark on his shoulders.
If I look at it with squint eyes it looks a bit like Abu Hamza's arm raised against the sky.
I agree all I see is a man with a question mark on his head.
Not sure where you perceive it as a scaffold for hanging.
Hi Dave it could be that seeing a similarity between the image above and these images of men being hung is a symptom of vicarious trauma. Its not good to look at these distressing images too much it can be very damaging to some people.
I prefer Stonewall's one liner, some people are gay, get over it.
Why the constant need to get an explanation. I'm sure most of would say I always knew I was gay, I always fancied blokes. I don't really want an analysis done of it all just an acceptance of it.
It almost like getting a explanation of everyone's unique personality.
I find this aticle, and similar ones, very offensive.
I am who I am (as someone once sang) and feel no need to speculate as to "why". I certainly feel it is an impertinance or worse for other people speculate why I am ….. what are they implying? Odd? Queer? Not normal? Against nature? A bit mixed up? One that came out not quite right?
The fact that very few people wonder why some people are born straight suggests that this apparent great interest in why I was born gay is because there is somethin wrong with it.
I'm not sure this sort of pseudo-scientific theorising is any better than religion. And as for speculating as to whether "treatment", were it possible, might or might not be allowed… its positively hitlerian.
Can i ask that PN re-considers this article?
I disagree that people aren't wondering about why people are born straight. In fact, as I state in the article, some of the neurological structures are common between straight people and gay people.
It's relevant because of the comments people have made on the various stories on this subject. I think that the possibility that a neurological injury can make someone gay has raised a lot of legitimate fears in the various communities that this makes a "cure" more realistic. However, one of the aims of the piece was to demonstrate that being gay is too complex to reduce to a simplistic therapy, and as I genuinely don't think that society would allow it.
As for why we ask the question, I think it's innate human curiosity. It's natural to ask "why am I left-handed?", "why do I like Star Trek?" and "why am I gay?" is a legitimate question. I thought a summary of some of the research might interest some of us. It does me ;-)
There is NOTHING to cure.
The summary of the research is most interesting, but the Chris Birch story sounds like a hoax to me.
"I am who I am (as someone once sang) and feel no need to speculate as to "why""
I don't see why you find this offensive. Why is a valid question. "Why" is the first question a scientist asks, and its the very reason we no longer believe the earth is the centre of the universe or the earth is flat. Why is the question religious people hate the most. There is no implication in this article that gay people are "odd" or "not normal", where did you get that from?
I think most reasonable people accept that being gay is not a choice and not changeable. In this respect those who say "get over it" are right (and I often join them in saying so).
However, it still does not stop me wondering why I was born gay and my parents were not? Why most of my friends are straight? What causes the difference? As Will rightly says "why" is usually the first question a scientist asks (and others who investigate in their professional lives often have why as an early consideration).
If we do not question, do not challenge (ourselves and our knowledge – as well as the propositions of others) then we stand still in our knowledge base and we miss opportunities to advance knowledge and ability (sometimes in areas we least expected). We also run the risk if we do not ask why of leaving those who base their knowledge on indoctrination, bad science, presumption or mere rhetoric unchallenged and allowing their (often preposterous) claims to go unchallenged.
Benji. It's not offensive. Everything he dates is well supported in various fields of research. I think you missed the point in any case.
what he is saying, and with which I whole heartedly agree, is that being gay is likely to be experienced as unique and unchangable and thoughts of biological or inter uterine therapeutic or prophylactic intervention or not just extremely unlikely and workable but also unthinkable. It would be the very worst kind of eugenics to do so.
Luckily we have a useful example of "enhanced embryonic masculinisation" – its called the Mountain Gorilla and he is hairy tyrant with a harem and the smallest penis of any great ape and he has a diet of leaves.
No thanks.
So sleep easy Benji.
I'm not sure I really what to hear answers to this question. If you ask why, then it challenges someone to find somekind of answer and as we know there are a lot of people out there who would like to use that ammunition against us.
I think perhaps for that reason this article is slightly offensive and scary to some. So many people want to "cure" us and it's usually those people who are asking the question why are people gay. Most gay people accept that they are gay and don't belive there is any reason for it.
If I was religious I would have probably said God made me that way!
Surely if they find out what makes us gay there is the real threat that some group or other could use this to identify us and God Forbid use the research to exterminate us. If it appreas to be a gene there is also the possibility that people may be able to identify gay children before birth and either terminate or cahnge the feotus. I am all for identifying what makes us gay but not at the cost that extremists could use it against us. Human history should have taught us that at least.
I agree that's a real fear, but as you know if you read the piece, I don't think that's plausible.
The piece was fantastic and facinating. I had never considered much of what was stated and always just thought I was born this way and no matter what anyone says I can't change who I am. I don't honestly think it is plausible as you say but in my experience the old 'never say never' springs to mind. I read and see every day how those in power and those with influence (be it misguided in the case of the church) seek to demonise homosexuality. The church has in the past rabble roused in order to exterminate those they see as 'evil'. In theory they could then do this again to try to eliminate gays if say, a gene, was discovered that determined whether you are gay or not.
See my post above.
The point of the article is that we are of the same stuff as heterosexuals. Until
They find a 'cure' for heterosexuality then there will be none for being gay either.
To put it even more clearly, changing sexuality of any kind in any way, is attempting to change what it means to be human. It can't be done. What evolution has taken 3 billion years to put in place will not be undone. (talk to me in another million years though).
Does this mean we should not ask "why"? Just in case someone abuses the answer?
Not in my opinion.
Sorry Stu. I didn't mean to imply we should not ask why. I merely fear that through the answer people might be able to identify us and persecute us. They already talk about messing with the genes of disabled babies in the womb so that they won't be born disabled. There is the possibility that future parents could then do the same with gay babies before they are born. Can you imagine if 'Christian' parents are told that their baby is gay because they have identified, theoretically, the gay gene. Imagine then what these parents would do! Hitler murdered thousands of gays and in many countries the Governments still do the same. Imagine then if it was easier to identify gay people by 'testing' them if science has proven a way of determining if people are gay or not. What then?? As I said I am all for finding out why we are gay. Be this through our genes or through evolution. I just fear the outcome as there are many out there who would use it against us.
Perhaps his family could try an exorcism to get their fat, beer swilling son Chris back.
Obviously Chris's soul must have left his body during the shock of his accident and a thin gay demon called Kris stepped in and took control of his body (lol)
The takeaway message is that ….. He's happier now than before!!! What a great marketing campaign…. 'I tried straight, it wasn't great. Now I'm gay, I'll never stray"
(sorry about the doggerel).
It seems to me that scientists are more interested in 'how' a natural phenomena takes place, while philosophers are the ones who ask 'why'.
In that case, a scientist would want to know how it happens that some are born gay, not why.
Incidentally sorry not been in touch for ages … will drop you a line explaining!
Surely a scientist is a kind of investigator, like pathologists, police officers, clinicians, customs officers, etc etc
If so then WHY is merely one of a number of questions they will probably ask of every fact or piece of uncertain knowledge that they have – WHY WHAT WHERE WHEN WHY HOW.
Oops replace second WHY with WHO ;-)
I understand that from your point of view the question 'why' has more to do with motivation, and that's ok, but you could just as easily ask 'how' is a person motivated and arrive at the same answer.
Similarly, although David Waldok says:" I disagree that people aren't wondering about why people are born straight.", his research points to 'how' a person is gay, not 'why'.
Moreover, asking 'why' a person is gay is as essential as asking why a person is alive.
For example, in our catholic catechism, the question was asked: Why are you alive?
And the answer which (of course) was provided was : I am alive to know, love and adore God.
Philosophically though, Jean-Paul Sartre believed that there was absolutely no reason for anyone to be alive, gay or not.
In that sense, we ignore 'why' the universe exists, right?
Maybe I'm quibbling, but I think we will never know why we are gay, unless we accept evolutionary biology's explanation, and so nobody can blame us for over-population.
… but we do have an idea of 'how' the universe works, and yes, it is fascinating stuff.
Still, please have the last word… :)
Not intending to have the last word
I think Why can be viewed from many angles and perspectives.
For example:
Why am I alive?
Clinically because my heart is beating, my electrolytes are in balance, I am breathing and my brain is functioning etc. I am being biologically sustained.
But WHY am I alive? Philosophically, there could be a range of options that explain that.
But WHY am I alive? someone repeatedly saying this could be alluding to some psychological reason
etc etc
The WHY can be important, equally so can the HOW WHEN WHERE WHAT and WHO
Scientific inquiry is generally intended to be as objective as possible and to reduce biased interpretations of results, results which can be reproduced.
Accordingly, to be termed scientific, a method of inquiry must be based on gathering empirical and measurable evidence.
While questions regarding 'who, what, when, where and how' of phenomena can be measured and answered scientifically, the question 'why' regarding a phenomenon leads to metaphysics, doesn't it, a discipline relying more on speculation or divine revelation than empirical evidence.
To me, the case of Chris Birch represents as profound a change as described in the dogma of transubstantiation, and I personally feel I can take it or leave it.
…as profound a change of nature… **
Having watched the documentary on Chris Birch, as well as having a sister and mother who have both suffered strokes, and being bisexual myself, I just have a couple of things to say.
Strokes can do strange things to brains and how they perform. When parts of the brain are destroyed, it compensates in other areas. What Reed Braden said is correct, your whole personality comes from your brain – it defines who you are, including your sexuality. Without it, you're just a shell.
People who are gay, bisexual or transgendered are born with the brain processes which determine this; someone who has a stroke simply has his brain processes re-tracked to bypass the area of damage, which results in the often drastic changes in personality and behaviour. It happens every day, where people who suffer a stroke and are fortunate enough to survive undergo fundamental changes in character. Why shouldn't sexuality be affected when it is determined by the brain to begin with?
My opinion.
Absolutely, its entriely feasible that orientation could be altered by brain injury.
I think we should actually be happy to embrace Birch's story, since it indicates that sexuality– at least in some cases– is related to physical differences in the brain, and is therefore as 'natural' as blue eyes or brown hair. Makes discrimination obviously ridiculous and unsupportable.
Yet there's something about the story I just don't trust. There's no way to prove that he wasn't gay all along, and the traumatic event of his stroke finally gave him the strength to live that truth, as well as a convenient 'excuse' to his family and community for his sudden apparent change.
Ultimately, sexuality is like the Mississippi River– there are a myriad of sources. I know that I've always been gay– I had a crush on Tarzan when I was four years old, long before I'd begun to wonder where babies came from or what this 'sex' stuff I heard of was all about…
There is also no way to prove that the change can be reproduced.
Stay tuned for Chris Birch's next stroke…
Sorry… I didn't mean to wish a stroke on Chris Birch.
But frankly, I think the whole story is a hoax.
I really don't care what's the reason for me being gay. I just want people to leave me alone and grant me the same rights that everyone else has. Then we can move on with our lives and concentrate on matters that will eventually kill us if we don't do something about it, like global warming and pollutions.
Agreed. Gay rights are human rights; let's just focus on that and not be distracted by metaphysics in the guise of scientific research.
Chris Birch has the quintessential gay look so its hard to imagine he wasn't just an in-denial homosexual all along.
We need research into the effect of pheromones on brains as this may explain the high levels of homosexuality in boys schools and similar all male establishments.
Your heart has packed in, attempting to feign you're not gay. When said, if they state further he is claiming so, with a damaged brain, they have more than completely disqualified their own thoughts within their profession. They need any payments to wage that? VERY BAD NEWS FOR THEM. (with any proof of wisdom, think they'd have shut right up).
It is also possible that this individual is a deeply repressed homosexual who up until his brain damage may have been successful in surpressing his natural homosexual inclinations. After his brain damage, the intricate defense system that he had previously used to deny his homosexuality, fails him and striped of his protective self-deception, he comes to realize his true nature. This is a completely possible explanation. It may be very difficult to determine which answer is reality.
Even if sexuality was a choice, that still doesn't give anyone a platform on which to condemn it.
Why are we gay?
Because reasons.
The most important thing is that everyone realizes it's not a choice!
I really don't care why i'm gay. I'm happy with being gay! I could never imagine myself as a straight person… i love dudes and that's what's important to me!
We are who we are!
If David Waldock is still asking himself why he is gay, it appears that he would get a more satisfying answer from an astrologer than from a scientist.
What we do know, at this point in time, is that neither brain damage nor other scientific theories can explain the reality of sexual orientation.
While contemporary scientific research has lifted the burden of being who we are, I hope that we – along with the rest of humanity – naturally feel responsible for what we do.
"it doesn't provide an explanation about bisexuality"
Thank-you for including this line. Far too many articles are written from the perspective of humans being 100% gay or 100% straight. I have a sneaking suspicion this isn't the way we're `wired` up to be.
@jennifer partlow
Personally I agree with this theory: humans are innately bisexual, but social conditioning determines where on the specrum we end up. But maybe this is what (religious) intolerants believe too – and their anti-gay broadcasting is intended to condition everyone the `correct` way?
@Ben Foster: maybe the scientific research is exactly for this purpose? Imagine the profits if a pill could be produced that `cured` gay thoughts. It *must* be tempting to big pharma.
@David Myers
Well said :-)
If scientists don't find a cause for sexual orientation then the human race will not suffer in the slighest. If they do find a cause for sexual orientation then the outcome would be thoroughly unpleasant. So why continue
It's very simple. It's natural population control.
Well scientists have not excluded the idea that there may indeed be a gene that causes homosexuality or heterosexuality so there may be some scientific reason that individuals have a certain sexual orientation but I would say it's just because I was born this way and leave it at that!
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