When he's killed at a young age in a car accident, the unnamed narrator enters the spirit world and is surprised to learn that the angels want him to join their ranks. Upon arriving in Heaven, he discovers an idealized world of comfort, but the euphoria doesn't last, as he's forced to return to the rigors of school in an angel-training course. Soon he discovers that the many disappointments of his life have left him with a bitter disdain for all of mankind, and that an angel's existence might not be for him.
Then he befriends Marley, a fellow angel-trainee. After a life of tragedy and addiction ending in overdose, she doesn't feel worthy of receiving the halo herself. But amidst a surreal world of asexual attraction, guardian spirits who curse like truck drivers, and a supreme being who might possibly enjoy waiting diner tables, the two start to help each other overcome their metaphysical and personal distress. It seems in death, you might learn there's more to you than you ever knew in life.

Warfare has long been central to a proper understanding of ancient Greece and Rome, worlds where war was, as the philosopher Heraclitus observed, 'both king and father of all'. More recently, however, the understanding of Classical antiquity solely in such terms has been challenged; it is recognised that while war was pervasive, and a key concern in the narratives of ancient historians, a concomitant desire for peace was also constant. This volume places peace in the prime position as a panel of scholars stresses the importance of 'peace' as a positive concept in the ancient world (and not just the absence of, or necessarily even related to, war), and considers examples of conflict resolution, conciliation, and concession from Homer to Augustine. Comparing and contrasting theories and practice across different periods and regions, this collection highlights, first, the open and dynamic nature of peace, and then seeks to review a wide variety of initiatives from across the Classical world.

Warfare has long been central to a proper understanding of ancient Greece and Rome, worlds where war was, as the philosopher Heraclitus observed, 'both king and father of all'. More recently, however, the understanding of Classical antiquity solely in such terms has been challenged; it is recognised that while war was pervasive, and a key concern in the narratives of ancient historians, a concomitant desire for peace was also constant. This volume places peace in the prime position as a panel of scholars stresses the importance of 'peace' as a positive concept in the ancient world (and not just the absence of, or necessarily even related to, war), and considers examples of conflict resolution, conciliation, and concession from Homer to Augustine. Comparing and contrasting theories and practice across different periods and regions, this collection highlights, first, the open and dynamic nature of peace, and then seeks to review a wide variety of initiatives from across the Classical world.

Ambrose of Milan is famous above all for his struggle with, and triumph over, 'Arian' heresy. Yet, almost all of the evidence comes from Ambrose's own writings, and from pious historians of the next generation who represented him as a champion of orthodoxy. This detailed study argues instead that an 'Arian' opposition in Milan was largely conjured up by Ambrose himself, lumping together critics and outsiders in order to secure and justify his own authority. Along with new interpretations of Ambrose's election as bishop, his controversies over the faith, and his clashes with the imperial court, this book provides a new understanding of the nature and significance of heretical communities in Late Antiquity. In place of rival congregations inflexibly committed to doctrinal beliefs, it envisages a world of more fluid allegiances in which heresy - but also consensus - could be a matter of deploying the right rhetorical frame.

When he's killed at a young age in a car accident, the unnamed narrator enters the spirit world and is surprised to learn that the angels want him to join their ranks. Upon arriving in Heaven, he discovers an idealized world of comfort, but the euphoria doesn't last, as he's forced to return to the rigors of school in an angel-training course. Soon he discovers that the many disappointments of his life have left him with a bitter disdain for all of mankind, and that an angel's existence might not be for him.
Then he befriends Marley, a fellow angel-trainee. After a life of tragedy and addiction ending in overdose, she doesn't feel worthy of receiving the halo herself. But amidst a surreal world of asexual attraction, guardian spirits who curse like truck drivers, and a supreme being who might possibly enjoy waiting diner tables, the two start to help each other overcome their metaphysical and personal distress. It seems in death, you might learn there's more to you than you ever knew in life.

Once a student is accepted into an academic professional program the competition to hire the graduate begins. Interviews with clinical laboratory graduates indicated a perceived combination of socialization agents and tactics and the influence of specific job attributes provided a means for them to make informed job choice decisions. Participants perceived the most important employment choice considerations as: - the ability to regulate one's work schedule - maintaining work environment flexibility - familiarity with organizational environment - the nature of the job - sufficient employee benefits package. Collective formal socialization provides an overview of the clinical laboratory profession and personal interest disciplines. Individual informal socialization allowed active evaluation of organizations as potential employers. Combined socialization agents and tactics influenced the participants' perceptions of the organizational environment and nature of the job providing a means to make informed job choice decisions. This book provides insight for organizations participating in professional academic program internships to emerge as successful recruiters.

This representative survey of sexual behaviour in the general population of America offers basic information about topics such as the transmission of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies, child abuse, sexual harassment and sexual violence. Conducted by a research team centred at the University of Chicago, the National Health and Social Life Survey (NHSLS) was designed to determine not only incidence and prevalence of sexual practices, but also the social and psychological contexts in which they occur. Based on personal interviews with a probability sample of 3432 American women and men between the ages of 18 and 59, this study explores the extent to which sexual conduct and general attitudes toward sexuality are influenced by gender, age, marital status and other demographic characteristics. Some of the questions the researchers address include: how do social factors such as education, race, and religion affect sexual conduct?; how have American sexual patterns been changing?; how do women's and men's sexual lives and attitudes differ?; and how is sexual behaviour organized across the life course? Other topics covered by the survey include early sexual experiences, masturbation, contraception and fertility, sexual abuse, coercion, sexual health, satisfaction and sexual dysfunction. A wide variety of sexual practices and preferences are also explored in the questionnaire, including specific questions on homosexual desire, identity, and behaviour, the appeal of various sexual practices, and their frequency and incorporation into sexual lives. With many charts, graphs and tables, and a copy of the complete survey questionnaire, this work is intended to be of use as a reference for scientists, analysts and researchers seeking reliable information on the sexual practices of American adults.