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Future

Fighting Fire With.... Twitter... London's Fire Brigade Goes 2.0

BBC, LONDON FIRE BRIGADE (UK)

Worldcrunch

LONDON - Are you already getting Twitter alerts from the subway company? Football results? Movie listings ? Now it's your turn to do your city a favor. The London Fire Brigade is now recruiting the Twitter army to spread information on fires and incidents around the city.

Tweet your emergency: London Fire Brigade plans to accept callouts over Twitter tnw.to/k0YU9

— Matt Brian (@m4tt) December 18, 2012

The London Fire Brigade also announced today that it was thinking about setting up the world’s first 999 emergency Twitter feed.

"The Brigade was quick to point out that people should never tweet to report emergencies and should instead always dial 999. It said it has already experienced people tweeting it to report fires and strongly advised against this as its Twitter feed is not monitored round the clock. Fire chiefs said people should continue to dial 999 to report emergencies."

Meanwhile, the London Fire Brigade is asking Londoners to send in simple descriptions of fires and incidents, using – if possible – photos and videos @LondonFire.

With 30 million emergency calls a year, says the BBC: "It's time to look at new ways for people to report emergencies quickly and efficiently and social media could provide the answer in the future."

Firefighters are attending a fire at a pub on Balham High Road. A small amount of the first floor is alight. More soon.

— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) December 18, 2012

Firefighters are attending a fire at building under construction on Allington Street in Victoria. More soon

— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) Décembre 11, 2012

Flames might burn your scones. And ignite your homes. And we will try to #fixyou#foodfightclub

— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) December 13, 2012

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Society

Sleep Divorce: The Benefits For Couples In Having Separate Beds

Sleeping separately is often thought to be the beginning of the end for a loving couple. But studies show that having permanently separate beds — if you have the space and means — can actually reinforce the bonds of a relationship.

Image of a woman sleeping in a bed.

A woman sleeping in her bed.

BUENOS AIRES — Couples, it is assumed, sleep together — and sleeping apart is easily taken as a sign of a relationship gone cold. But several recent studies are suggesting, people sleep better alone and "sleep divorce," as the habit is being termed, can benefit both a couple's health and intimacy.

That is, if you have the space for it...

While sleeping in separate beds is seen as unaffectionate and the end of sex, psychologist María Gabriela Simone told Clarín this "is not a fashion, but to do with being able to feel free, and to respect yourself and your partner."

She says the marriage bed originated "in the matrimonial duty of sharing a bed with the aim of having sex to procreate." That, she adds, gradually settled the idea that people "who love each other sleep together."

Is it an imposition then, or an overwhelming preference? Simone says intimacy is one thing, sleeping another.

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