DarwinCatholic: How Far Can We Go?

In my days as a young unmarried Catholic, I often suffered through chastity talks or had dating manuals pressed on me. The Protestant dating manuals (or, more accurately, not-dating, since apparently dating is right out in those circles, to be replaced by the nebulous concept of "courtship") were painfully earnest in their descriptions of hypothetical couples who were keeping their relationships 99.44% pure by following strict rules of behavior. Chastity talks were even more painful because you had to be there in person, squirming in your folding chair and wishing the floor would swallow you as the speaker hemmed and hawed, or, even worse, was wildly enthusiastic for Purity! There seemed to be no happy medium between ?either rigid guidelines that seemed designed to minimize contact between a couple, or hazy exhortations to purity that gave one no practical guidance in the matter of a relationship rooted in reality.

After the discussion following this post about the proper level of physical interaction before marriage, Darwin ordered a book on the subject by Brett Salkeld, a fellow blogger and acquaintance.?Brett and his co-author Leah Perrault know this sad scene all too well, and they have written a refreshing remedy and valuable resource, How Far Can We Go? A Catholic Guide to Sex and Dating.

Here are two famous answers to the question "How far can we go?"

• Keep both feet on the floor.

• Asking "How far can we go?" is like taking your girlfriend or boyfriend in your arms, walking to the edge of a cliff, and asking, "How close can I get to the edge?"

We had to write this book because we think both these answers are unsatisfactory. We think we can do better. The first answer is very practical, but anyone with a little imagination can get around it. In trying to set out an easy-to-follow guideline for Catholic couples, it ignores the question of Christian formation. It says that physical intimacy is only about how you act, and has no connection to the kind of person you are called to become.??

The second answer is much more dangerous. The foundation of the metaphor it uses is that sex is roughly equivalent to suicide! In other words, sex is dangerous and sinful. Any advance in physical intimacy is just getting you closer and closer to the edge of the cliff. When we give answers like this it is no wonder the world thinks the Church is down on sex!?

...One of the reasons that Christian books on sex and dating have given a misleading view about sexuality is that they ignore the essential communicative aspect of sexuality. Sexual sin is presented as crossing some vague boundary partway up an imaginary list of increasingly intimate physical acts. But, in the context of physical intimacy, sin isn't crossing an arbitrary line. Sexual sin is about using your body to lie to your partner (and probably yourself) about the nature of your relationship. There need to be one or two clear lines about what is appropriate for unmarried people, but those lines are not drawn to keep people from acts that impure in and of themselves. They are drawn to keep people from lying with the language of their bodies. This book, then, is not primarily about which acts are and are not permissible. This book is about learning to speak the truth with your body.

One thing I really appreciate here is that Salkeld and Perrault have a respect for their young audience, and don't treat the question "How far can we go?" as an attempt to find out how much whoopie one can get away with, but an honest query about what is right and appropriate at any point in a relationship. (I snickered out loud at their description of a youth group leader who answers this question from a young couple by saying, "I'll let you in on a little secret. Your relationship will do much better if, instead, you ask yourselves how pure you can be." If you haven't heard twaddle like that, you haven't been around the Authentically Catholic! youth scene much.) They emphasize from the start that their model of dating "presumes that those who use it are sincerely trying to live holy lives. If you're hoping to find loopholes so you can get away with as much as possible and still say you're following Catholic rules, this model isn't for you."

Just what is this model? It relies on honestly answering the question "How much of myself does God want me to give to this other person?"

Sex is not a shortcut to intimacy! If you want to have sex but don't want to get married, you need to look at your reason for not getting married. If it's not a very good reason [the financial demands of a big wedding being an earlier example], work through it and then get married. If it's a good reason, it's probably a good reason not to have sex. Sex speaks a profound language of the body that is both a sign and a source of the kidn of unity that married people share. If you're not ready for marriage, then you're simply not ready for the demands of a relationship that includes sex.??

If you understand our explanation of the Church's teaching on premarital sex, you should be able to follow our dating model. It works on exactly the same principle; physical gifts of self ought to reflect our self-giving in other areas of a relationship.

The dating model the authors set forth is firmly rooted in responsibility and free will: not a "one-size-fits-all" set of rules (because every person and every relationship is unique), but guidelines for discerning at each step of a relationship the appropriate levels of not just physical intimacy, but spiritual, intellectual, social, and emotional intimacy All of these are often bound up with one another because humans are bodies and souls -- what effects one must effect the other.?One of the most common-sense statements in the book is that intimacy needs to grow gradually over time, and the authors provide examples of couples at different stages of life and relationship -- high school students, couples in college, working college graduates, and high-powered career men and women -- to show how this discernment can play out in various ways. There's a fun set of graphs that examine how all forms of intimacy progress over the course of the journey from perfect strangers to spouses. The authors aren't shy about expressing the Church's teachings against common sexual pitfalls such as pornography and masturbation, and clearly explain the reasons for these teachings.?They are unequivocal on the Church's teaching against premarital sex and activities that try to mimic the effects of sex, and devote the last chapters of the book to marriage and NFP.

I absolutely recommend this book -- I really think it's one of the best resources I've encountered for an honest and balanced treatment of what it means to be a faithful Catholic moving toward marriage. For what it's worth, I find the authors' discussion of sexuality and intimacy in relationships to be very true to Darwin's and my experience of having a real and intense and Catholic unmarried relationship while trying to steer a good course between prudery and prurience. This is the book I'll give to my own children to read when they're old enough for such discussions, and I can give no higher praise than that.

UPDATE: You can hear more about Brett and Leah's approach and speaking work at their website: http://www.howfarcanwego.com

Source: http://darwincatholic.blogspot.com/2012/02/how-far-can-we-go.html

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High Quality Large Bird Cages for Your Pet Bird's Convenience ...

Have you been looking for a cage with the right attributes for your pet?s comfort? Perhaps your best buddy Eclectus has long been whining of his compact spread home? It is definitely imperative that you consider the cage on its own when taking care of any kind of Avian pet. Just like other large animals, bird species for example the large sized pet parrots also need large hutches to survive.

I have been looking after large parrot variety for about 10 years at this point. I?m a dedicated pet owner of a pair macaws, A couple of pairs of cockatoos along with a single chatty avian, Eclectus-my ideal friend. For a limited introduction, my own Greenwing macaws usually are identified to be this gentle giants greatly assist nice dispositions and tend to be truly caring. Our Major Mitchell?s Cockatoos on the contrary are definitely the loud and energetic ones that find constant attention just like neglected, may resort to destructive behaviors. Finally, the eldest involving my pets can be an Eclectus Parrot which I?ve actually taught for years to further enhance their speech capability. That one is recognized for being astonishingly friendly, intelligent nevertheless is usually very delicate thus, may become distressed if also dismissed. As an avian lover, I always make sure that We feed them very well, provide them with proper pound and spend some time with them, because these sort of birds seek a lot of attention.

Basically, the actual cage will serve as his or her home so it is important to pick one with high top quality construction.Take note of a few important facts prior to getting one. If you don?t would like pet to get into any serious injury, opt for a cage with clubhouse spacings that are not too big. Something more important is the space inside the parrot cage; you ought to consider enough area about the height and width for optimum mobility from the parrots. A restricted place will cause despression symptoms as well as harmful habits to some. Furthermore, you must make sure that the clubhouse gauge are 4mm-5mm heavy if you have powerful parrots like the Hyacinth Parrot.

Our parrot pets are actually delighted with the distinct bird cages I selected for them. For my own two big macaws, I purchased a cage with regard to macaws for less than $700, which includes parrot-proof latch on many doors, a big various pet playthings that may be dangled from the top panel, a slide out seed container, a removable center solar panel that can be made into a sole massive cage plus more features in one solution. The cage I obtained for less than $600 offers great benefits for my Cockatoos, featuring a nesting box door for breeding and top opening for an accessible play top. Lastly, I got my Eclectus a fresh cage that was larger and considerably more secure for less than $600. The flip-top bird cage gave him a pleasing delight. The sunroof style opening and the special front veranda patio were amazing, and he is absolutely happy with their new home.

I am pleased I just made the best selections. The low cost Small bird cage with all the delightful functions did truly wow me. Each was obviously a complete bird safe place built to perfection for that bird?s utmost benefit.

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Tags: bird, cage, Large

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 1st, 2012 at 10:08 pm and is filed under FASHION. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

Source: http://www.eranostra.com/2012/02/01/high-quality-large-bird-cages-for-your-pet-birds-convenience/

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Direct Marketing Services To Improve Your Business | Articles Effect

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Company resources are necessary and therefore should be maintained properly and accuracy. The usage of direct marketing providers and mechanisms comes into play as a fantastic reprieve for all these kinds of small business owners.

Source: http://www.articleseffect.com/direct-marketing-services-to-improve-your-business.html

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Perfect Fifth Year Wedding Anniversary Gift for Your Better Half?

Every couple are excited in finding one year anniversary gift ideas for their loved ones. Your five year wedding anniversary is a very special event and as much as possible, you want to get the bets gift for your partner, right? Paper is the traditional gift for five year anniversary and though it can just mean a simple card, there are a lot of one year anniversary gift ideas that are paper but a bit more exciting and creative.

Though cash is the most obvious gift when you think of paper, it may lack a bit of class as a five year anniversary gift for her. Though some people be thankful for cash as gifts, it is better to be creative when considering five year anniversary gifts for her. There are a lot of options for five year anniversary gifts for her. One thing you can get her is a gift certificate. If your wife enjoys going to spa and be pampered, a gift certificate is the best five year anniversary gift to her favorite spa. On the other hand, if she enjoys reading books, you can get a bookstore gift certificate. A lot of women love shopping for clothes and she will definitely appreciate a gift certificate for her shopping spree.

If you are the type of couple who loves traveling and taking trips, it is best to go out of town as a gift for your five year as a married couple. A romantic weekend getaway will surely make your five year anniversary a very memorable one. You can go to a nearby romantic place and book a hotel for the weekend and spend quality time with each other. five anniversaries are milestones and they are worth to be celebrated. Wedding anniversaries are special events as they give a great chance to recognize the relationship and let couples know how special and important they are.

Other five year anniversary gift ideas can include a set of man-woman perfumes, watches, bags, and other accessories. You can also gift the couple a set of romantic bedroom accessories that consist of matching bedcovers, cushions, curtains, table mats, etc. If you have time, make these five year anniversary gift ideas all the more special by getting their pictures printed over these. You can also simply paint something romantic over them and personalize further with a message.

For classy five year anniversary gift ideas consider gifting a bottle of champagne, with a cake or bouquet of flowers. If you are close to the couple and are absolutely certain that they do not have plans for the day, you can even plan a small party for them, or simply just \?invite yourself\? and your spouse for a double date. Watch romantic movies together, prepare dinner for them, or just have a fun night out!

A five stone engagement ring design is the perfect gift on many occasions. Browse anniversary rings for women at DeBebians now!

Source: http://breakfromreality.net/relationships/2026/perfect-fifth-year-wedding-anniversary-gift-for-your-better-half/

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Things To Understand As A Contact Copywriting Starter. | Internet ...

The main difference between internet entrepreneurs and small business owners who succeed online and those that do not is having the correct information, awareness of powerful web business-building resources and most importantly taking action on this knowledge.

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It is simple to succeed in email copywriting if you ensure all the different elements have been in spot to make your current copy is prosperous. Ideas which can be clear to see and apply and will show immediate results for your email copywriting are given below?

Individuals Buy Advantages: You need to focus on benefits, because that is what will sell the items or services. If you are hoping to get some nice reactions out of your email replicate, then producing your readers aware of what you need to offer them has to be your top priority. It is a superb idea to list out the benefits of your product and let your prospects observe how wonderful it is, but if you end up not having the ability to show the prospects grounds to offer their cash, then you definitely will not be able to make a sale. Every advantage your item/service provides is important information, with regards to acquiring that most desired selling. So regardless of size of the benefit (huge or little), you ought to always follow up a component with the positive things to ensure that your prospects to be knowledgeable of how your product might help them. Focus on Developing a Relationship: Your own email copy is all about both developing a relationship along with your subscriber base and getting your readers to create a move. Make an attempt to work on the permanence factor of one?s email copy, to ensure that your readers to identify a connection between the emails that you send to them. The particular disparity between seo copywriter and email copywriting is that with your emails you attempt to recognize the actual desire of your readers, to be able to recurrently provide them with that. You?ll be able to convince them to simply take steady activity on all the promotional emails that you mail away, once you have ascertained a tie to your email list. So stay positive that each email that you send out to your list concentrates on forming a relationship. By doing this you will augment the reliance factor that
a person disclose to your subscribers, which will inadvertently leader to greater conversion rates.

Steer clear of ?Spammy? Phrases: You have to be careful regarding using words in your emails which is blocked simply by spam filter systems. If the niche distinct your email features a word just like ?free? or perhaps ?money? in it, you will be triggering spam filters. Junk mail filters will filter this sort of words and categorize your own email because spam, and most of your subscribers won?t ever even view it. This is something to be aware of when you write the emails and choose your subject lines. Aweber and other leading autoresponders have a feature that warns you if your email is likely to trigger junk mail filters, another good reason to make use of this type of service.

Whenever you develop your own email copywriting skills, you?ll be able to generate sales from your list by simply writing just one email.

Source: http://homebusinessit.com/howtostartonline/2012/02/01/things-to-understand-as-a-contact-copywriting-starter/

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Short-term memory is based on synchronized brain oscillations

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Holding information within one's memory for a short while is a seemingly simple and everyday task. We use our short-term memory when remembering a new telephone number if there is nothing to write at hand, or to find the beautiful dress inside the store that we were just admiring in the shopping window. Yet, despite the apparent simplicity of these actions, short-term memory is a complex cognitive act that entails the participation of multiple brain regions. However, whether and how different brain regions cooperate during memory has remained elusive. A group of researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics in T?bingen, Germany have now come closer to answering this question. They discovered that oscillations between different brain regions are crucial in visually remembering things over a short period of time.

It has long been known that brain regions in the frontal part of the brain are involved in short-term memory, while processing of visual information occurs primarily at the back of the brain. However, to successfully remember visual information over a short period of time, these distant regions need to coordinate and integrate information.

To better understand how this occurs, scientists from the Max Planck Institute of Biological Cybernetics in the department of Nikos Logothetis recorded electrical activity both in a visual area and in the frontal part of the brain in monkeys. The scientists showed the animals identical or different images within short intervals while recording their brain activity. The animals then had to indicate whether the second image was the same as the first one.

The scientists observed that, in each of the two brain regions, brain activity showed strong oscillations in a certain set of frequencies called the theta-band. Importantly, these oscillations did not occur independently of each other, but synchronized their activity temporarily: "It is as if you have two revolving doors in each of the two areas. During working memory, they get in sync, thereby allowing information to pass through them much more efficiently than if they were out of sync," explains Stefanie Liebe, the first author of the study, conducted in the team of Gregor Rainer in cooperation with Gregor H?rzer from the Technical University Graz. The more synchronized the activity was, the better could the animals remember the initial image. Thus, the authors were able to establish a direct relationship between what they observed in the brain and the performance of the animal.

The study highlights how synchronized brain oscillations are important for the communication and interaction of different brain regions. Almost all multi-faceted cognitive acts, such as visual recognition, arise from a complex interplay of specialized and distributed neural networks. How relationships between such distributed sites are established and how they contribute to represent and communicate information about external and internal events in order to attain a coherent percept or memory is still poorly understood.

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Stefanie Liebe, Gregor M Hoerzer, Nikos K Logothetis & Gregor Rainer (2012) Theta coupling between V4 and prefrontal cortex predicts visual short-term memory performance. Nature Neuroscience, 29 January 2012, doi: 10.1038/nn.3038.

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft: http://www.mpg.de

Thanks to Max-Planck-Gesellschaft for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/117213/Short_term_memory_is_based_on_synchronized_brain_oscillations_

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Erivedge Approved to Treat Basal Cell Carinoma (HealthDay)

MONDAY, January 30 (HealthDay News) -- Erivedge (vismodegib) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat the most common form of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma, the agency said Monday.

The drug was approved for people for whom surgery or radiation aren't options, and for people with basal cell that has spread to other parts of the body, according to an FDA news release.

Basal cell usually is a slow-growing, painless type of cancer that begins in the top layer of skin, often on areas most exposed to the sun.

Erivedge was evaluated in clinical studies involving 96 people with basal cell carcinoma. The most common side effects included muscle spasms, hair loss, weight loss, nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, distorted taste, loss of appetite and constipation.

The drug was approved with an FDA's label warning that pregnant women who take Erivedge could have babies at greater risk of severe birth defects or death. "Pregnancy status must be verified prior to the start of Erivedge treatment," the agency release advised.

Erivedge is marketed by Genentech, based in San Francisco, Calif.

More information

Medline Plus has more about basal cell carcinoma.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/cancer/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20120130/hl_hsn/erivedgeapprovedtotreatbasalcellcarinoma

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