Number of Legal Benefits:
Marriage: Over 1,049 federal and state level benefits (see list)
Civil Unions: Over 300 state level benefits. *No federal protection (see benefit example)
Tax Relief:
Marriage: Couples can file both federal and state tax returns jointly.
Civil Unions: Couples can only file jointly in the state of civil registration.
Medical Decisions:
Marriage: Partners can make emergency medical decisions.
Civil Unions: Partners can only make medical decisions in the registered state.
Partners may not be able to make decisions out of state.
Gifts:
Marriage: Partners can transfer gifts to each other without tax penalty.
Civil Unions: Partners do not pay state taxes, but are required to report federal taxes.
Death Benefits:
Marriage: In the case of a partner's death, the spouse receives any earned Social Security or veteran benefits.
Civil Unions: Partners do not receive Social Security or any other government benefits in case of death. In the case of the death of former Congressman Gerry Studds, his partner of 15 years was denied the government pension that would have gone to a legally recognized spouse.
Child/Spousal Support:
Marriage: In case of divorce, individuals may have a legally-binding financial obligation to spouses and children.
Civil Unions: In the case of dissolution , no such spousal or child benefits are guaranteed or required out of state.
Immigration Rights:
Marriage: U.S. citizens and legal residents can sponsor their spouses and family members for immigration.
Civil Unions: U.S. citizens and legal residents cannot sponsor non-legal spouses or family members. (more on gay immigration rights)
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Gay Marriage Legalitites
Nations that recognize gay marriage:
Canada
In June of 2005, the Canadian Parliament enacted a law allowing legal marriage for same-sex couples.
Belgium
The second nation to legalize same-sex marriage in 2003.
Netherlands
The first country to grant gay marriage in 2001.
South Africa
South Africa became the fifth nation to recognize gay marriage in 2005.
Spain
Spain became the fourth nation to allow gay marriage on June 29, 2005.
US states that recognize gay marriage:
New Jersey*
New Jersey is the third U.S.
Croatia
Civil partnerships for same-sex couples have been granted since 2003.
Denmark
Legal civil partnerships have been allowed since 1989.
Finland
Has offered registered partnership benefits since September 2001.
France
Pacte Civil de Solidarité” (PACS), or “Civil Solidarity Pacts,” were instituted in France on November 9, 1999.
Germany
Gay couples can register as "Life Partnerships," granting lesser financial and pension benefits than marriage.
Hungary
Gay couples have been protected under common-law marriages since 1995; however they are not eligible for legal marriage.
Iceland
Since 1996, gay Icelanders have been protected under registered partnerships.
Luxembourg
Civil partnership legislation modeled after France's PACS were introduced in Luxembourg in 2004.
Mexico
Same sex civil unions were legalized in Mexico City in November 2006 and in the state of Coahuila on January of 2007, essentially making civil unions legal in all of Mexico (by law, each Mexican state must recognize the laws granted to individuals of the other states). (More on Gay Mexico)
New Zealand
In December, 2004, New Zealand enacted legislation recognizing same-sex civil unions.
Norway
Since 1996, gay Norwegians have been protected under registered partnerships.
Portugal
Same-sex partners have the same rights as opposite-sex partners in common law marriage.
Sweden
Swedish same-sex couples have been able to register under domestic partnership laws since 1995.
Switzerland
Same-sex couples are given limited legal benefits with civil recognition.
United Kingdom
Domestic partners can register under the Civil Partnership Act. This legislation took affect in December 5, 2005 giving registered same-sex couples all of the rights, privileges and responsibilities of married heterosexual couples. The Civil Partnership Act applies across all of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
US States that allow same-sex partnerships or unions:
California
California provides domestic partnership benefits. The state legislature successfully voted in favor of legal gay marriage in California, only to be vetoed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. In March, 2005, a San Francisco judge ruled that the law banning same-sex marriage was unconstitutional.
Connecticut
Although Connecticut defines marriage as between a man and woman, it became the second U.S. state to grant same-sex civil unions in April, 2005.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire, home of the Episcopal Church's first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson, became the 4th state behind Vermont, New Jersey and Connecticut to offer civil unions. Same-sex partners were allowed to register for civil unions in January 2008. More on New Hampshire Civil Unions
Oregon
Under Oregon's new domestic partnership law gay and lesbian couples are eligible for all the state-wide rights and benefits of marriage. Oregon also outlaws discrimination based on sexual orientation. (more)
Vermont
The first U.S. state to offer same-sex civil unions in 2000. Learn about Vermont civil unions.
Washington
On April 21, 2007, Washington's domestic partnership bill was signed into law giving gay and lesbian couples many of the benefits of marriage. (more)
Nations that ban same-sex unions:
Honduras
On March 29, 2005, the constitution of Honduras was amended banning same-sex marriage and adoption by same-sex couples.
Latvia
December 21, 2005 marked the day Latvian president Vaira Vike-Freiberga signed into law a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman.
Uganda
On September 29, 2005, legislation banning same-sex unions was signed by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. Penalties for gay marriage will be set in 2006. Under current law, homosexual acts are punishable by imprisonment from five years to life.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Extra Credit Awared to:
Stephanie
Shemeka
Darraugh
Jessica
Maegen
for the Social Justice Symposium...
If you are missing...let me know
Shemeka
Darraugh
Jessica
Maegen
for the Social Justice Symposium...
If you are missing...let me know
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Book I was Talking about in Class: What Our Mothers DIdn't Tell Us
If you want it you can get it used on Amazon for a penny plus shipping of course :)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0684859599/ref=dp_olp_2/105-8133150-2462851?ie=UTF8&qid=1193245509&sr=8-1
Extra Credit Cut off for past assignments: FRIDAY
I won't be accepting any more extra credit after Friday, so please don't ask...thank you!
Monday, October 15, 2007
Three Points Extra Credit for Write Up: Social Justice Symposium
Social Justice Symposium
October 16, 6 pm, Harvey Hall. You are invited to continue the dialog about social justice issues that was reflected in the Jena-6 conversation recently by attending this year's social justice symposium: Extreme Realities: Poverty and Hope in South America. The speaker is Elizabeth Clack, the Field and Training Coordinator for a Christian organization in Capetwon, South Africa called The Warehouse. Ms. Clack will address the role of the church in building and strengthening communities that are overwhelmed by the rampant poverty and disease in many communities. The backdrop of South Africa's racial history will also be explored.
October 16, 6 pm, Harvey Hall. You are invited to continue the dialog about social justice issues that was reflected in the Jena-6 conversation recently by attending this year's social justice symposium: Extreme Realities: Poverty and Hope in South America. The speaker is Elizabeth Clack, the Field and Training Coordinator for a Christian organization in Capetwon, South Africa called The Warehouse. Ms. Clack will address the role of the church in building and strengthening communities that are overwhelmed by the rampant poverty and disease in many communities. The backdrop of South Africa's racial history will also be explored.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Next Assignment DUE OCTOBER 31
You can turn it in early if you like, but that is the official date. Hope it is clear now :)
A Must Mention as well: Katelyn!
Katelyn got a nearly perfect score on her Midterm, rounding up a total of 50.5 points out of 50 with her extra credit response!
Honorable Mention: DEANNA NICK...only one point behind Katelyn on the Midterm!
TOP MIDTERM GRADE: KATRINA PARKER!!
Not only did she get a perfect grade, she also got both extra credit points on the bonus question!
Congrats Katrina!
Midterm Grades Submitted!
A: 95-100
B: 94-85
C: 75-84
D: 65-74
F: less than 65
I submitted grades based on three assignments: Worldview paper, Life Segment paper and the midterm. Total points on the three are 130.
I only have two extra credit participants: Jessica and Shemeka. Those points were also included. If I missed someone on the extra credit, remind me please.
As far as the questions about getting an "almost perfect" paper? If you got say...a 29/30....you did great...just maybe not as great as a few others in your class (in ie. creative writing, structure, application, originality).
Monday, October 8, 2007
Brain Function
Summary Below:
The Frontal Lobe:
How we interact with our surroundings.
How we react to our environment.
Our judgments on daily routines.
Our emotional responses.
Our expressive language.
Assigns meaning to words we choose.
Involves word association.
Memory for habits and motor activities.
Problems this can cause:
Paralysis of various body parts.
Problems remembering the order of steps involved in completing multi-task movements, such as making coffee or brushing your teeth.
Problems interacting with others.
Loss of flexibility in thinking.
Dwelling on a single thought.
Inability to focus on a task.
Mood changes.
Personality changes.
Inability to express language (Broca’s aphasia).
Difficulty problem solving.
The Temporal Lobe:
Hearing
Memory
Visual perceptions.
Categorizing of objects.
Problems this can cause:
Problems recognizing faces. (prosopagnosia).
Problems with understanding spoken words. (Wernicke’s Aphasia).
Selective attention to what we see or do.
Difficulty identifying objects and verbalizing about objects.
Short-term memory loss.
Interference with long-term memory.
Increase or decrease in sexual behavior.
Inability to categorize objects.
Right lobe can cause persistent talking.
Increased aggressive behavior.
The Brain Stem:
Breathing
Heart Rate
Swallowing
Reflexes to seeing and hearing.
Controls sweating, blood pressure, digestion, temperature (autonomic nervous system).
Affects level of alertness.
Ability to sleep.
Sense of balance.
Problems this can cause:
Decreased ability to breathe and control respirations.
Difficulty swallowing food and liquids (dysphagia).
Problems with perception of the environment.
Problems with balance and movement.
Dizziness and nausea (vertigo).
Sleeping difficulties (insomnia, sleep apnea).
The Cerebellum:
Coordination and voluntary movement.
Balance and equilibrium.
Some memory for reflex motor acts.
Problems this can cause:
Loss of ability to coordinate fine movements.
Loss of ability to walk.
Inability to reach out and grab objects.
Tremors
Dizziness
Slurred Speech.
Inability to make rapid movements.
Occipital Lobe:
Vision
Problems this can cause:
Problems with visual field cuts.
Difficulty locating items in the environment.
Problems identifying colors (Color agnosia).
Production of hallucinations.
Visual illusions.
Word blindness.
Problems recognizing drawn objects.
Inability to recognize movement of an object.
Problems with reading and writing.
Parietal Lobe:
SOURCE
The Frontal Lobe:
How we interact with our surroundings.
How we react to our environment.
Our judgments on daily routines.
Our emotional responses.
Our expressive language.
Assigns meaning to words we choose.
Involves word association.
Memory for habits and motor activities.
Problems this can cause:
Paralysis of various body parts.
Problems remembering the order of steps involved in completing multi-task movements, such as making coffee or brushing your teeth.
Problems interacting with others.
Loss of flexibility in thinking.
Dwelling on a single thought.
Inability to focus on a task.
Mood changes.
Personality changes.
Inability to express language (Broca’s aphasia).
Difficulty problem solving.
The Temporal Lobe:
Hearing
Memory
Visual perceptions.
Categorizing of objects.
Problems this can cause:
Problems recognizing faces. (prosopagnosia).
Problems with understanding spoken words. (Wernicke’s Aphasia).
Selective attention to what we see or do.
Difficulty identifying objects and verbalizing about objects.
Short-term memory loss.
Interference with long-term memory.
Increase or decrease in sexual behavior.
Inability to categorize objects.
Right lobe can cause persistent talking.
Increased aggressive behavior.
The Brain Stem:
Breathing
Heart Rate
Swallowing
Reflexes to seeing and hearing.
Controls sweating, blood pressure, digestion, temperature (autonomic nervous system).
Affects level of alertness.
Ability to sleep.
Sense of balance.
Problems this can cause:
Decreased ability to breathe and control respirations.
Difficulty swallowing food and liquids (dysphagia).
Problems with perception of the environment.
Problems with balance and movement.
Dizziness and nausea (vertigo).
Sleeping difficulties (insomnia, sleep apnea).
The Cerebellum:
Coordination and voluntary movement.
Balance and equilibrium.
Some memory for reflex motor acts.
Problems this can cause:
Loss of ability to coordinate fine movements.
Loss of ability to walk.
Inability to reach out and grab objects.
Tremors
Dizziness
Slurred Speech.
Inability to make rapid movements.
Occipital Lobe:
Vision
Problems this can cause:
Problems with visual field cuts.
Difficulty locating items in the environment.
Problems identifying colors (Color agnosia).
Production of hallucinations.
Visual illusions.
Word blindness.
Problems recognizing drawn objects.
Inability to recognize movement of an object.
Problems with reading and writing.
Parietal Lobe:
Location for visual attention.
Location for touch perception.
Goal directed voluntary movements.
Manipulation of objects.
Integration of different senses that allows for understanding a single concept.
Problems this can cause:
Inability to attend to one object at a time.
Inability to name an object. (amnesia).
Inability to locate words for writing. (agraphia).
Problems with reading.
Difficulty with drawing objects.
Difficulty in distinguishing left from right.
Difficulty doing mathematics. (dyscalcula).
Lack of awareness of certain body parts and/or surrounding space. (apraxia) that leads to problems with self-care.
Inability to focus visual attention.
Problems with eye and hand coordination.
SOURCE
Friday, October 5, 2007
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
THANK YOU!
Thank you for making me feel so welcome here! ...and singing for me...and cooking and baking and shopping and making signs, streamers and glittery things!
You are the best class ever!
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