Where did Temporary Sobriety Initiatives (TSIs) such as Dry January, FebFast and Ocsober, come from? And what is their role, if any, in prompting people to revisit their relationship with alcohol? These organized campaigns have flourished throughout the English-speaking world in the past decade. Collectively, they involve thousands of participants and raise substantial sums of money for medical research, as well as drug and alcohol related charities. Alcohol, Binge Sobriety and Exemplary Abstinence considers these campaigns as part of a lifestyle movement that transcends single events and even singular national contexts. It uses case studies from Australia, the USA and the UK to examine both the short history of TSIs as a response to problematic localized drinking cultures – including binge drinking – and their relationship to a much longer and transnational history of temperance activism. In taking TSIs as a case study of both embodied philanthropy and participatory health promotion, this book considers how TSIs are structured, promoted and experienced as an embodied event to create imitable, and sometimes contradictory, examples to create a public pedagogy of ‘responsible drinking’.

The latest three- and four dimensional images produced by modern ultrasound technology offer strikingly realistic representations of the foetus - representations that have further transformed experiences of pregnancy, the public understanding of foetal existence and the rhetoric of the abortion debate. Presenting a timely feminist engagement with this new technology, The Visualised Foetus explores the widespread familiarity with and popularity of this new technology within the context of a longer history of foetal visualisations. The book offers an array of case studies that examine the diffusion of 3/4D ultrasound images beyond the clinic and the implications of this new technology for biopolitics in the European and American context. With attention to the non-diagnostic and commercial use of 3/4D images, the impact of 3/4D ultrasound within the abortion debate, and new claims that ultrasound aids maternal-foetal bonding, The Visualised Foetus demonstrates the tension between the social and medical significances of foetal ultrasound, the pleasures and dangers of foetal imagery for women, the contested status of ultrasonography as 'scientific' imagery, and struggles over the authority to define and interpret ultrasound imagery. As such, it will appeal to scholars of the sociology of medicine and the body, social theory and gender and cultural studies, as well as those with interest in science and technology studies.

The inspiring story of a young woman's escape from poverty and abuse to achieve her dreams and overcome obstacles through hard work, constant determination, and unyielding faith in God.

Country music singer Julie Roberts is no stranger to overcoming hard times through determination, hard work, and strength. Having escaped an impoverished childhood and an abusive, alcoholic father, Julie moved from South Carolina to Nashville, Tennessee, to attend Belmont University and work as a receptionist at Mercury Records-all while secretly pursuing her dream of becoming a singer. Filling her nights with music and booking shows at obscure venues, the one requirement when Julie was hired at Universal Music Group was that she not be an aspiring singer. Yet, despite her best efforts to keep quiet, Julie knew God had placed music within her as a child and that it was bound to come out sooner or later. Raw, honest, and sometimes painful, Julie's lyrics resonated quickly with country music fans, and her emotion-soaked debut album-a reflection of her own painful past-was an instant success.

Just as Julie's dreams were coming true, her life began to unravel. Soon, she was battling debilitating physical illness, the rising waters of Nashville's hundred-year flood, and a stalled career. Instead of succumbing to despair, Julie proved miraculously resilient-taking the steps she needed to face adversity head on and rebuild her life through her characteristic optimism, hard work, and faith.

Journey with Julie as she walks through the highs and lows of her career, the personal struggles she's endured, the lessons she's learned, and her sense of purpose as she rebuilds her singing career and contributes her voice to the work of supporting others with multiple sclerosis. Julie's courage combined with her joyful personality and love for God will encourage readers in a uniquely powerful way.

The latest three- and four dimensional images produced by modern ultrasound technology offer strikingly realistic representations of the foetus - representations that have further transformed experiences of pregnancy, the public understanding of foetal existence and the rhetoric of the abortion debate. Presenting a timely feminist engagement with this new technology, The Visualised Foetus explores the widespread familiarity with and popularity of this new technology within the context of a longer history of foetal visualisations. The book offers an array of case studies that examine the diffusion of 3/4D ultrasound images beyond the clinic and the implications of this new technology for biopolitics in the European and American context. With attention to the non-diagnostic and commercial use of 3/4D images, the impact of 3/4D ultrasound within the abortion debate, and new claims that ultrasound aids maternal-foetal bonding, The Visualised Foetus demonstrates the tension between the social and medical significances of foetal ultrasound, the pleasures and dangers of foetal imagery for women, the contested status of ultrasonography as 'scientific' imagery, and struggles over the authority to define and interpret ultrasound imagery. As such, it will appeal to scholars of the sociology of medicine and the body, social theory and gender and cultural studies, as well as those with interest in science and technology studies.

A sparkling new Regency romance novel from Julie Roberts, perfect for fans of Julia Quinn's BRIDGERTON, Sabrina Jeffries, Nicola Cornick, Grace Burrowes and Mary Balogh! Could her whirlwind marriage be too good to be true? 'A rollercoaster of a novel full of adventure, passion and the righting of wrongs *****' Amazon Reviewer on The Hidden Legacy A sparkling new Regency romance novel from Julie Roberts. Alexander Kilbraith, Earl of Rossmore, keeps his heart guarded. Having lost his wife ten years ago, he vows never to marry again, meaning his reckless half-brother, Geoffrey, is in line to inherit his title. Alex's desire for love is reignited when he meets the beautiful country girl, Grace Matthews. Not long after being acquainted but unable to resist her charm, Alex sweeps Grace into a passionate whirlwind marriage. But Grace is hurt when Alex's affections soon become distant. Left alone at Solitaire House in Dorset, she develops a friendship with Norwegian Sea Captain, Hugo Olsen, against social propriety. And with the prospect of a heir now threatening Geoffrey's potential of becoming Earl of Rossmore, he is willing to go to all lengths to destroy Grace's future... Readers LOVE Julie Roberts: 'An enticing story with romance, drama, some fabulous obnoxious characters and a real flavour of the time' 5* NetGalley review on A Tainted Marriage 'A most enjoyable read. Intrigue and mystery with characters who have had issues and emotional traumas in the past and then misunderstandings throughout the course of their relationship until the inevitable and happy ending' 5 * NetGalley review on A Tainted Marriage 'This is no ordinary Regency Romance. It is so well researched and written that you feel you're there with the characters all the time *****' Amazon Reviewer on The Hidden Legacy 'Meticulously researched *****' Amazon Reviewer on The Hidden Legacy 'Roberts has a sure, historical hand, and her use of a real 19th century marriage law to fire the plot is cunning *****' Amazon reviewer on A Tangle of Secrets

A funny, hot, and sexy new release from N.M. Silber Once upon a time two lawyers fell in love across a courtroom ... Gabrielle Ginsberg was a public defender with plenty of nerve and Braden Pierce was an assistant district attorney with a whole lot of swagger. Gabrielle wanted Braden and Braden wanted Gabrielle. And Cameron wanted Gabrielle. And Marla wanted Braden. And Cole wanted Gabrielle. And Mrs. Mason wanted Braden. And an anonymous letter writer wanted to keep Gabrielle and Braden apart. Together Gabrielle and Braden discovered many important things, like which doors at the courthouse actually locked, and that desks could be useful for more than writing. They also found out that the path of love was not always smooth, and it was sometimes trod upon by some really wacky people, like a confused fanny grabber, an eighty-two year old pothead and a gentleman who threw a wine and cheese party in his pants. Could true love overcome a lack of privacy, interference by jealous rivals and the insanity of the criminal court system? NOTICE: This book contains explicit descriptions of sexual situations and mature language. It is intended for readers over the age of eighteen.

Anyone who has ever spent anytime at all in Georgia fully knows the savory sweet taste of a tree ripened Georgia peach or otherwise they are missing out on a part of life. There is nothing more satisfying nor sweeter on a hot summer day. During our youth we grew up in the South and had this experience as well as many other traditions. We were lucky enough to have each other to share our lives with, that we could confide in, and that we knew would always be there for us when life's ups and downs came our way. As we transition from youthful girls to grown women, our paths take very different forks. It is both our shared childhood and unique forks that define who we are. There have been many highs and lows in our separate journeys. The spring in the South is an amazing time to visit or appreciate what is. It is the time and events in our separate lives that have culminated in our need for a reunion.

Relating to other people provides the basic foundation for our lives. Our instincts propel us into connection with others, and our personalities emerge through the responses we receive and give. Relating is so embedded in our social experience that we do not think about it, we just do it. How we relate is learned in early formative experiences and we carry those with us into our adult relational lives. Unfortunately we do not learn about what we are doing; basically, we have to wing it. The book is part of a larger endeavor to bring more awareness to how we learn to relate and how our learned relational styles impact our relationships. It is hypothesized that conflict grows out of lack of awareness of our relational needs. We include detailed information on what relational needs are and how learning to communicate them brings mutuality and connection. As a therapist, I was struck by how difficult it was for either person in a relationship to turn their attention to the other persons' experience. In the presence of the other, most people were so involved with asserting their own experience and trying to get it validated, that there seemed to be no room or interest in what was happening to the other person. This is not relating. Developing a process whereby each person could express and get feedback for their own experience and then do the same for the other person, seemed to help couples get back into connection with each other. The CLEAR relational process was developed to do this. The process mimics some basic communication styles of a parent and child; fundamentally, how each person needs their experience related to and mirrored back and how two members need to learn to negotiate with each other to stay connected in a positive relationship. The collection of essays is organized so that it serves as an outline for a mini-course on relationship process. The book is divided into eight sections. The first six are on relationships and conflict and the last two explain how to use the relational process on the web.

Where did Temporary Sobriety Initiatives (TSIs) such as Dry January, FebFast and Ocsober, come from? And what is their role, if any, in prompting people to revisit their relationship with alcohol? These organized campaigns have flourished throughout the English-speaking world in the past decade. Collectively, they involve thousands of participants and raise substantial sums of money for medical research, as well as drug and alcohol related charities. Alcohol, Binge Sobriety and Exemplary Abstinence considers these campaigns as part of a lifestyle movement that transcends single events and even singular national contexts. It uses case studies from Australia, the USA and the UK to examine both the short history of TSIs as a response to problematic localized drinking cultures – including binge drinking – and their relationship to a much longer and transnational history of temperance activism. In taking TSIs as a case study of both embodied philanthropy and participatory health promotion, this book considers how TSIs are structured, promoted and experienced as an embodied event to create imitable, and sometimes contradictory, examples to create a public pedagogy of ‘responsible drinking’.

Ten days after one's son has been killed may seem to be a strange time to start writing a book. It is a time of raw emotion, and intense pain, but for the author this was combined with an unyielding feeling that there was a story to be told. This is the true story of a life unfolding, of events coming together in the most unlikely ways, and an increasing awareness of God in everyday life. The situations encountered - illness, redundancy, a new career and a tragic bereavement, light the way of a spiritual path and invite readers to consider their own spiritual journey. The disappointments, the insights and the grief are shared with readers in a compelling book which, written from the heart offers hope and inspiration to anyone facing the challenges of life.