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It’s good that the President thought pf visiting the place so that he can see and feel the shortcomings his countrymen have gone through. He declared to the people that there are a lot of people and neighboring countries that are willing to help. He also said that he came to help the people.

He said that it is now necessary to gather and collect donations such as money, blood, time and care. The survivors really need relief right now. Their homes have been taken away leaving them empty handed. In a county suffering from disaster, it is not appropriate to leave them hungry. Health and safety should come first in treating this situation. Although the people are hopeless, at least these reliefs will ease their pain and keep them struggling to survive.

But volunteers and kind hearts is all that they need. The country is at low and especially the victims of the hurricane. Much has been taken away from them so an extra hand is all they need to keep up with the hardships they are facing now. Hopes have been high that soon the country will recuperate from this tragic experience although they fear that it is quite impossible to achieve.

He visited the victims again bringing relief and other helpful options to the families. He stated that even if the relief did not come too soon as expected, at least more services and relief operation has been offered today. More food has been brought and delivered. The people need more food each day. There are a number of people in evacuation sites so constant relief is needed to keep them alive and in good health.

He then asks for blood donors for the victims who are under a serious state and condition. If more concerned citizens will reach out, the more chances there will be of saving people’s lives. Many victims had been badly hurt and they need immediate medication and treatment. This situation should be given more care and attention so as not to let them suffer more.

For more related articles, you may visit http://www.personalinjurylawyerinc.com]]>

If you were to look at it closely, the misconduct of some employees closely resembles that of a child’s misbehavior while he is seeking his mother’s attention and not receiving it. Remember the antics of a young child in the supermarket who had a “Terrible Two’s” tantrum because his mother won’t but him the candy or toy he wanted? Well, it is my opinion that the goal behind the employee’s purposeful misconduct is to seek attention, in one way or another.

“Every behavior, good or bad, has a goal behind it.”

Looking at the goals that triggers misconduct, let’s begin by looking at the primary misconduct, that of attention-seeking. Behavioral studies show that the desire for attention is universal in all people, regardless of age, color, language, culture, etc. People tend to seek attention in positive and useful ways; but if they can’t get it that way, they will seek attention in negative and useless ways.

Turning the Negative into a Positive To become effective in helping negative attention-seekers, we must first change our response to them by showing them that they can be accepted as a useful and contribution member of the family or organization. We do this effectively when we show them that they achieve significance through their positive and useful contributions rather than through they useless bids for attention or service. In order to focus on their constructive behavior, we must either ignore their misbehavior or pay attention to it in ways they don’t expect. Caution: Attention should never be given on demand, even for positive acts, because doing so reinforces their inappropriate desire for attention.

* Instead of reinforcing their negative and untrue belief that they don’t belong unless they are the center of attention, help them develop positive feelings about themselves, their abilities, and their contributions.

Who’s Your Daddy?

Next set of misbehaviors are those of the power-seekers who feel that they are significant only when they are bossing (bullying?) people around. They tend to do what they want, when they want, and how they want despite the rules, regulations, or policies. Even when their parents or supervisors succeed in subduing them, the victory is only temporary. The argument may be won, but the relationship is lost - maybe permanently. On the other hand, sometimes the defying child or employee may seem to be complying, but they are doing so in their own way, in their own time, and at their own speed, all contrary to the rules, regulations, or policies. This artificial obedience is known as “defiant compliance”. If this struggle for power continues and the power-seeker comes to feel that they cannot defeat their parents or supervisor, they may trade-in their desire for power for their next misconduct weaponry, that of subtle revenge.

* When dealing with power-seekers, refrain from getting angry, from “blowing your top”, and disengage from the power struggle by refusing to hold a no-win conversation. After arranging an appointment to meet with them when they calm down, turn your back and walk away. (After all, it does take two to tango, doesn’t it?)

When Getting Mad Is Getting Even or Stopping the Madness

The revenge-seekers are somewhat paranoid in their thinking, in convincing themselves that the world is out to get them, in believing that they have no significance unless they are hurting others, and in finding their belonging by being cruel in their relationships. Unfortunately, they trigger a downwards spiraling chain of events. Their revengeful acts, when discovered, deeply hurt their parents or supervisors, causing them to want to retaliate. The revenge-seekers then respond to the counterattacks by seeking further revenge, either by intensifying their misbehavior or by selecting another item from their weaponry inventory.

* To be of help to the revenge-seekers, train yourself to avoid retaliation, at all cost. As difficult as it may seem, train yourself to improve your relationship with the revenge-seeker by remaining calm and showing them goodwill. Be prepared to the unexpected: If the war of revenge continues despite your attempts to defuse it, the revenge-seeker may come to feel completely defeated and may give all attempts to become a contributing member. They may even turn their feelings inwards by displaying manipulation as their next weapon of choice.

To Suck Up or Seek Out? That Is the Question.

Manipulators, because they tend to feel inadequate to interact appropriately in a relationship, may display feigned inadequacies or disabilities. Rather than come right out with their wishes, wants, and desires, they will find elaborate ways to get others to do something for them. They become con men and women. To them they are finding the “easy and sure way” to get what their want by lying, cheating, overcommitting, supercharming, and “gently” aggressive.

* To help the manipulator convert this misconduct, train yourself to eliminate criticism, and focus, instead, on their assets, strengths, and abilities. Look for ways to help them, as I like to call it, “maximize their potential”.

Turning Misconduct Into Super Performance

Remember that all misbehavior and misconduct, even appropriate bids for attention, stems from discouragement. Discouraged people lack the courage to behave in an active, productive, and constructive manner. Their misbehavior does not become evident unless the manipulator perceives a real or imagined loss of status. Whatever goal or purpose the manipulation serves, it is done in the belief that only in this way can they have a place in the family or organization.

Conclusion: In your relationship with your child or employees, remember that their behavior and intentions towards you will change only when you change your approach. Although you do not cause them to misbehave, you can reinforce and encourage their misbehavior by reacting in ways they expect. Therefore, concentrate your efforts on changing your behavior if you want them to change theirs.]]>

power of attorney is a legal document that allows you to dictate who you would like to make decisions on your behalf. While there are many useful purposes for a power of attorney, they are especially important to unmarried couples, which live together, when a partner becomes incapacitated and unable to make decisions. In such situations, the law usually designates the incapacitated person’s next of kin as the decision maker. With a power of attorney, unmarried couples can give their partners the power to make such decisions.

Powers of attorney can be as general or specific as you decide. You can give your partner the power to make decisions on your behalf at any time or only when you become incapacitated. You can also dictate what types of decisions you are authorizing your agent to make. A health care power of attorney (also referred to as a durable power of attorney for health care, medical power of attorney, health care proxy and appointment of health care agent of surrogate) would authorize your partner (or other agent) to make decisions about your medical treatment and dictate who you would like to be able to visit you while receiving medical treatment.

By executing a power of attorney for finances (also referred to as a durable power of attorney for finances) you could dictate whom you want to make decisions about your legal and financial matters. You can be very specific about what actions you are authorizing your partner (or other agent) to make, including which accounts he or she has access to and the types of decisions he or she can make.

Note that Legal Helper Corp. provides an easy-to-use, quick, and economical online method for creating completed power of attorney for any occasions.]]>

An abused immigrant who is married to a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident or who divorced her abuser in the past two years may now petition on her own for an immigrant visa and green card application, without the abuser’s knowledge or consent.

In this confidential process, CIS (formerly called “INS”) agents cannot legally contact the abuser and tell the abusive spouse anything of the abused immigrant’s attempts to obtain a green card under VAWA.

The process can often be completed within a year for those married to U.S. citizens. This process also provides renewed work authorization to lawful permanent residents who usually face a longer waiting period due to visa number backlogs.

Further, there is no appearance in front of a judge required (the process is paper driven) by the immigrant spouse and s/he may leave her abuser at any time, without harm to her immigration status. So, given these benefits, why do so many immigrants in such abusive marriages not file for their permanent residency under VAWA?

There are two main reasons. For one, many do not know of VAWA’s protections for abused immigrants and secondly, most do not recognize that what they have experienced or are still facing can be considered abuse or “extreme cruelty” under U.S. immigration law.

A finding of “extreme cruelty” (abuse under immigration law) is based on the emotional, psychological, financial, and/or physical abuse that an immigrant experiences during his or her marriage. The immigrant must not only prove to CIS that such abuse happened as best s/he is able but must also indicate how this abuse has affected the immigrant.

What one immigrant may consider abusive (i.e., derogatory put-downs) may not be considered abusive to another immigrant or person, depending on their culture, upbringing, background, or life experiences.

The immigrant must explain to CIS why their spouse’s actions affect her so significantly and subjectively, and thus, why CIS should consider those actions, taken in their totality (i.e, a pattern can be shown instead of one or two extremely abusive actions) should be considered “extreme cruelty.” For example, in many cases, a pattern of purely psychological abuse may be more terrifying and damaging to an immigrant’s emotional and physical well-being than physical abuse.

It is important to point out that an immigrant does not have to indicate that she experienced physical abuse to receive an approved VAWA case.

The following lists some common examples of behavior that may be considered “abuse” under U.S. immigration law:

Any type of Physical abuse, which also includes:
·Forcing you to have sex with him against your will, for fear that he will have you deported or will physically harm you;
·Forcing you to engage in his sexually perverse behavior even though you do not want to;
·infecting you with HIV or other disease due to his reckless or intentional acts;
·Groping, grabbing or touching you in your private areas in private or in front of others, humiliating you and making you feel uncomfortable;
·Forcing you to engage in unsafe sex with him or others;

PSYCHOLOGICAL & EMOTIONAL ABUSE MAY INCLUDE:

·Repeatedly making fun of you and humiliates you;
·Intimidating you (or threaten to harm your family or friends);
·Following you to or constantly calls you at your place of work trying to find out what you are doing;
·Making degrading remarks about your home country or your gender or sexuality;
·Threatening to have you and/or your children deported or call INS if you don’t do what he says or if you tell anyone about the abuse;
·Threatening to withdraw his green card sponsorship;
·Refusing to let you visit with your friends or family members or speak to them on the phone;
·Keeping tabs on you all day and becomes angry/obsessive about your whereabouts and who your friends are;
·Locks you in your own house or apartment;
·Refusing to let you use the phone to contact anyone or the police;
·Attempting to sabotage your friendships and work relationships;
·Attempting to destroy your reputation or causes you to lose your job;
·Giving you false hope that he will never hit you or abuse you again;
·Holding your passport hostage if you don’t do what he wants;
·Refusing to let you see your immigration papers and maintains absolute control;
·Treating you as his servant;
·Harming your pets or threatens to kill them;
·Ignoring you when you speak to him and refuses to speak to you, unless you do what he wants;
·Destroying your property;
·Threatening to commit suicide;
·Ignoring you for hours or days, refusing to speak to you or acknowledge that you are speaking;
·Blaming you for the abuse and his poor choices;
·Threatening to take away your children or tries to use your children against you;

FINANCIAL ABUSE MAY INCLUDE:

·Forcing you to pay all the joint expenses and even his private expenses;
·Forcing you to work double shifts, long hours, or perform demeaning work;
·Forcing you to beg him for money, even for the emergencies and basic essentials;
·Sorting through your things and invading your privacy, looking for items you have purchased and humiliatingly make you account to him for even your own spent money;
·Refusing to buy you food or clothing;
·Stealing from you;
·Forbiding you access to your joint accounts;
·Punishing you for purchases s/he made accusing you of lying or stealing from him/her;

Many times, an immigrant who seeks legal assistance because of abuse does not mention psychological or financial abuse because she fears that she will not know how to prove it. Physical abuse usually can be documented with photos, police reports, court transcripts, and restraining orders, but admittedly, psychological abuse is more difficult to demonstrate.

It still can be proven, though, through evidence including detailed affidavits of witnesses, hospital records and counseling reports.

Financial abuse may also be proven through receipts, checking account statements, affidavits of witnesses, and other types of documentation.

It’s imperative for any immigrant in an abusive marriage to seek assistance from an attorney, to brain-storm with the attorney about what kinds of evidence and witnesses will be available, and more than anything, to know her options.]]>

Common scenario of sexual harassment is at the workplace. At the very first signs of unwanted sexual advances toward you, try stopping it by directly confronting the person. If this isn’t successful, go to your supervisor or human resources department for assistance. There may be several informal and formal actions that will be suggested for you and the company could do. These options range from contacting your unit or department and informing them of your complaint but keeping you anonymous, sending a letter to your harasser, or speaking directly to them to inform them that their behaviors violate the company policy and the federal law. He may also need to be informed that retaliation is not the way to solve his problem.

You might also be asked by the person-in-charge if you agree to an arrangement for a carefully prepared meeting between you and the harasser. This confrontation may help you to confront the issue. You may also be able to work out some sort of resolution. f you do not want to, however, there’s no law mandating such king of meeting.

Another way of confronting sexual harassment head-on is by having mediation proceedings. Traditional mediation, however, should be used with great care as this form is not always appropriate. First of all, ensure that the mediator is has ample training and experience, you must have an objective for the mediation and let the, describe in detail the process to unfold. If you really do not want to see your harasser personally, then the mediator may talk to you and your harasser separately, going back and forth.

Filing a formal complaint with your employer may also be another option if you feel that your problem was not taken seriously. But you must first know the policies involved and how it operates. You might do this by asking someone who have also undergone such procedures. Inquire in advance in order that you and the accused have the same rights and access to information, time frames and the length of time necessary to resolve the problem. Confirm also some oral communications by writing by giving the person who informed you with a written communication.

If these informal methods come to no avail, it may be time to want your harasser be punished by filing a lawsuit. Consult with an attorney that has experience in handling sexual harassment cases or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Your state’s anti-discrimination agency might also be able to help you. -30-]]>

Identity theft occurs more frequently than you would like to believe - and is committed frequently by someone you know. This is what happened to Linda Foley, a magazine writer, who learned that her own employer had swiped her identity to open cell phone and credit card accounts. Now Foley, along with her husband, fight back as the Co-Executive Directors of the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) in San Diego, California.

Can This Happen to You?

After Bridget J. Thomas learned that her identity was stolen by a bank employee at a branch 300 miles from the one she used, she was shocked. And that was just the beginning of her nightmare! When the thief was caught, she was working at a different bank in a different state. After her arrest, collection agencies continued to hound Ms Thomas.

Setting the Record Straight Might Not Be All That Easy - or Quick!

Setting the record straight is the tip of a nightmarish iceberg that can take months - even years to accomplish – often with undue pain and suffering for the victim. In serious cases victims spend an average of 600 hours and $1,400 in out-of-pocket expenses to repair their credit. Until they can prove their innocence, they are more likely to be:

• charged higher rates for insurance and fees for credit cards,

• rejected for student loans or home mortgages,

• arrested for crimes they did not commit.

• unable to get or keep a job,

A Call From A Collection Agency Or A turndown For A Loan Is Often the Only Tip-off That Your Identity Was Stolen.

A thief needs only one thing to open the doors to his windfall - your Social Security number. Unfortunately it is routinely used by government agencies, health care providers, utility companies, merchants, employers, and financial institutions. Often, your Social Security number is publicly available. That’s how General John M. Shalikashvili, the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, became a victim. His Social Security number and those of many other military officers were published in the “Congressional Record” and were later posted on the internet. Thieves used their identities to open 273 new credit cards accounts and run up a bill of over $200,000.00 in charges.

Develop a Form of Defense

To stop identity thieves in their steps, there are several things you can do. You can begin by freezing access to your credit file. By doing so, you cause your file to become off-limits to anyone who does not know the secret PIN (Personal Information Number) of your choosing. This sets the wheels in motion to protect you from the bad guys - anyone who attempts to apply for credit in your name. It causes their application to be rejected; although your credit cards won’t be affected. And if you want to apply for new credit or let a bank, store, or agency run a background check on you, you can get a credit thaw. For example, if you decided to shop for a big-ticket item, like a car, you might thaw your history for auto dealers.

Other Things You Can Do - Starting NOW!

• Periodically check your credit report for suspicious activities. Americans are now entitled to a free annual credit report from each of the three bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.

• If you elect to shop online, use a credit card rather than a debit card. With a credit card, you have the extra protection of maximum liability of $50.00 for unauthorized purchased.

• Learn more about “phishing” email scams, and other schemes, frauds, and cons to separate you from your identity and your money. For more information about these scams and about resources at your disposal, go to http://www.ProtectingYourIdentity.blogspot.com/

In the Event You Do Become A Victim

Here are some steps to take:

• Act fast and prepare yourself for an uphill battle uncooperative and unsupportive credit card and law enforcement agencies. For guidance and support, I suggest that you turn to organizations and agencies like ITRC (www.identitytheftcenter.org), the Federal Trade Commission (www.FTC.gov), and others. All can be found at http://www.ProtectingYourIdentity.blogspot.com/.

• Call the fraud dept. of one of the three credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion, and request that a fraud alert be placed on your credit reports. (The other two credit bureaus will automatically be notified.) The alert lasts for 90 days and requires creditors to call you before opening new accounts in your name; however, a word of caution is in order here. There are no legal requirements to honor alerts and merchants who are eager to make a sale may ignore them.

• Close your credit card accounts and change the passwords on all your financial and banking accounts.

• File a police report. Although credit bureaus won’t extend a fraud alert without it, be aware that local police departments may be reluctant to provide a report. Many may lack the resources to properly investigate the crime.

• Mail copies of the police report to all three credit bureaus with a cover letter demanding your complete credit file.

• Call every credit where you know a bogus account has been created and have them close your file immediately. Demand copies of all fraudulent applications for credit and billing statements. Creditors don’t want to divulge that information, but they will if you enclose a copy of a police report and forward your request it in writing via certified mail.

Conclusion:

Face it, identity theft is a growing problem affecting everyone in some way or another. With the increase popularity of internet usage, it has become easier for cybercriminals to steal our identity. In 2002 alone, the victim total due to identity theft climbed to 10 million, a new high. The cost to the economy was up an astonishing 41 percent to $52.6 billion, according to The Identity Theft Survey Report, available from the Federal Trade Commission at the website (www.consumer.gov/idtheft/). Each year these totals are climbing with no apparent sign of slowing down.

What are your chances of becoming a victim of some form of identity theft? According to the Federal Trade Commission is one in ten.

“So what am I to do?” you ask. My recommendation is that first you educate yourself with information and resources at your disposal. Next, purchase identity theft insurance. Find more information at http://www.ProtectingYourIdentity.blogspot.com/.]]>

In reality, selecting a divorce attorney is also an incredibly stressful experience. Do it right and you can breath easy. Do it wrong and you will spend years making up for losses that might have been prevented.

There are a few tried and true tactics that you should be using when you select a divorce attorney. Before you even begin, you need to identify the type of case that you will be involved in. Will you be mediating your divorce? Will you be negotiating? Or, will your case be one of those cases that goes to court and becomes a knock down, drag out divorce litigation?

There are divorce attorneys who specialize in these different types of cases and you need to hire the type of divorce attorney who is best suited to the type of case that you have. If you need to deal with a knock down, drag out litigation, you do not want a mediation attorney trying to protect your interests. Likewise, if you are going through mediation, the last thing you want is a divorce attorney who will try to create issues and move you towards litigation.

So, step one in the process of selecting a divorce attorney is to identify the type of case that you have. Next, start asking people for help. Since the divorce rate in the United States is at about 50%, chances are you know at least several people who have been through a divorce. Ask about their process, how they selected a divorce
attorney, and how their attorney performed for them.

AFter you have received the names of several divorce attorneys that you received from asking other people, go online and start researching those attorneys and others. Many divorce attorneys have websites, write articles, and advertise on divorce portal websites. You can get quite a bit of information about how an attorney approaches cases and treats clients by reviewing their website.

After you have reviewed the divorce attorney websites, make a list of at least two and as many as five divorce attorneys who you think you will be comfortable speaking with. Call the offices of those divorce attorneys and schedule consultations. Some of those attorneys will charge you for a consultation; the more experience the attorney has, the more likely that you will have to pay for time with that attorney.

When you attend a consultation with a divorce attorney, be prepared. Make an outline of the history of your marriage and the problems facing you now. If you or your spouse has filed any papers in court, make sure you bring them with you. Bring one or two years tax returns or a recent financial statement so that the divorce attorney can review some of your financial data before being asked questions about “results”.

Make sure you ask each divorce attorney questions about how that attorney’s office operates in response to client phone calls, emails, or other inquiries or needs. If you will be working with a divorce attorney who has no other attorney in their office, be prepared to wait in line when you have a need for a response. That attorney will have other clients who have needs just as significant as yours, and an attorney can be responsive to only one client at a time. Even with that drawback, there may be a divorce attorney who you feel is just right for you who is also a solo practitioner. That is a trade off that you may have to get comfortable with.

After you have completed all of the consultations and reviewed the answers to all of your questions, decide which divorce attorney you felt most comfortable with and which one you believe will work with you to get the type of results that you want.results that you want.]]>

What is it they’re selling? Is it insurance, electricity, gas, telecommunication services? Or is another company patrolling your area ‘informing’ people, they can claim injury for an accident, which wasn’t their fault?

An insight in to the history of personal injury claims

It didn’t exist a decade ago… well not to the likes of people being injured. You have an accident and nobody really cared besides the obvious family and friends. ‘Take some medicine’ or ‘have some rest’. Even if you end up in hospital or the doctors surgery… ‘just takes these and you’ll be fit as a bear in a couple of weeks’. And that’s it! Nothing dramatic ever happened.

Today’s Generation

There’s advertisements everywhere you turn, billboards, newspapers, magazines, radio and TV. Someone knows someone who has a personal injury firm or a brother knows a mate, even ‘my chick’s brother has a firm’. So dramatic and competitive people fall for their tricks. Remember before, nobody’s interested, but now they’re your best friends. ‘Don’t worry, we’ll sort it out’.

Now, If your mates firm messed up your case, what can you possibly do? Report him to his superiors? It’s probably his partner’s firm. Your brother-in-law has taken your case and now can’t find the essential paper work. You’ll ring the company and want to speak to the consultant who took on your claim? Is he/she still working there? You want an update, but all you get is ‘we’re stilling waiting for your medical report’ or ‘your file has been transferred to another department, I’ll just find out?’

Complications after complications…

Remember in the early years, the slogan ‘no win no fee’? ‘If we lose you don’t pay anything?’ You sign a couple of pages and sorted, your injury claim is up and running. Brilliant.

Now after months have gone by, you hear nothing. 3 months later, you call to hear what status your claim has reached. ‘Your file’s up and running and you should be attending a medical specialist soon.’

6 months go by finally your medical arrives. 4 months later you receive a cheque of £400 and eyes the size of golf balls?! What the hell is going on???

Frustrated with the settlement cheque, you ring the company for questioning. They pull out your file and take you through the charges and how they reached a final settlement. ‘But, you… ‘Yes, it’s all in black and white and you signed it!’ But guess what, you’re too late, and now you’ll learn from that mistake…

Now For The New Trick…

100% Compensation! Yes, you get all of your compensation. Amazing, finally a dream come true…

What does it mean?

Once your claim is settled, you will receive the ‘full’ compensation money, without deductions. Now this is the clever bit… the specialist will payout 100% Compensation, but that does not mean the claim management company will not!

At the end of the claim, the management company (owned by your mates friend) will charge you a kick back after you have received your 100% Compensation. Effectively, you receive 100% Compensation, but once you received it, the claim management company will now take out their fees. Smart eh???

You still, by law, got 100% Compensation from the specialist. Which is what they claimed, however, the deductions kick in afterwards.

You’ve taken enough beating as it is. It’s time to be smart! Beware of the 100% Compensation slogans flying around. How do you avoid them?

Ask!]]>

same-sex couples the rights granted to heterosexual couples.

However, rather than order the government to issue marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples, the court left it up to the state legislature to remedy the situation. In response to the court’s order in Baker v. State, the Vermont legislature passed a law creating a “civil union registration system,” under which same-sex couples can register their partnership and receive all the benefits of state laws that apply to married couples.

Although the U.S. Constitution requires each state to give “full faith and credit” to the laws of other states - for example, by recognizing marriages and divorces made across state lines - the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), passed in 1996, expressly undercuts the full faith and credit requirement in the case of same-sex marriages.

That said, because the DOMA abridges the rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, it may be challenged legally in the near future. Furthermore, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court clarified its ruling late last year that denying marriage licenses to same-sex couples violates the Massachusetts Constitution’s guarantee that all citizens be treated equally under the law. Lambda Legal predicts that within a few months, same-sex couples in Massachusetts will begin getting married. They will be able to visit their spouses in the hospital, make decisions about each other’s health care and be fully recognized as parents of their children.

Anti-gay groups may proceed ahead in efforts to amend the state’s Constitution to carve out an exception to the time-honored guarantee of equality. As that debate moves forward, people will see same-sex couples who are legally married - and they will see that in seeking to protect their families, these married couples pose no threat to society. Benefits for Same-Sex Couples in California, Hawaii and Vermont. If you’re a member of a same-sex couple living in one of these three states, you can take advantage of laws that allow you to register your partnership and receive many of the benefits granted to married couples. California.

To register a domestic partnership in California, visit the California Secretary of State website at www.ss.ca.gov. (Look under “Special Programs Information.”) Hawaii. To learn about registering your partnership in Hawaii (where it’s called a “reciprocal beneficiary relationship”), visit the website of Hawaii’s Vital Records office at www.state.hi.us/doh/records/rbrfaq.htm. Vermont. To read the official guide to Vermont’s civil union law, go to www.sec.state.vt.us and click on “Publications.”

http://www.article-emporium.com/submit]]>

What Terry Wanted because she didn’t have a living will. Don’t make the same mistake!

Understanding Living Will: Life-sustaining treatment, Terminal condition“Life-Sustaining Treatment” means treatment that, based on reasonable medical judgment, sustains the life of a patient and without which the patient will die. The term includes both Life-Sustaining Medications and artificial life support such as mechanical breathing machines, kidney dialysis treatment, and artificial hydration and nutrition.

The term does not include the administration of pain management medication, the performance of a medical procedure necessary to provide comfort care, or any other medical care provided to alleviate a patient’s pain. “Terminal Condition” means an incurable condition caused by injury, disease, or illness that according to reasonable medical judgment Will Produce Deathwithin six months, even with available life-sustaining treatment provided in accordance with the prevailing standard of medical care.

Many serious illnesses may be Considered Irreversibleearly in the course of the illness, but they may not be considered terminal until the disease is fairly advanced. In thinking about terminal illness and its treatment, you again may wish to consider the relative benefits and Burdens of Treatmentand discuss your wishes with your physician, family, or other important persons in your life.

Appeals Panel Refuses to Order Schiavo’s Feeding Tube Reinstated]]>