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Office Manager Indicted for Embezzling Nearly $490,000 from Sterling-Based Landscaping Company
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – LeeAnn Dove, 48, of Herndon, Va., was indicted by a federal grand jury earlier this week of embezzling nearly $490,000 from a landscaping company based in Sterling, Va.
Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, David E. Beach, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service's Washington Field Office, and Steve Simpson, Loudoun County Sheriff made the announcement.
Dove was indicted on six counts of wire fraud, one count of mail fraud, and eight counts of bank fraud. If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each wire and mail fraud count and 30 years in prison for each bank fraud count.
According to the indictment, Dove was employed by Great Falls Landscapes, a landscape design and construction company based in Sterling. From December 2004 to November of 2010, Dove used her position to add fake employees to the company's payroll, whose paychecks she deposited into her personal bank account. During her six-year scheme, Dove also used company credit cards for personal purchases, including electronics, furniture, limousine services, concert tickets, and thousands of dollars in gift cards.
The case is being investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office as part of the Washington Metropolitan Area Fraud Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Paul J. Nathanson is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
Criminal indictments are only charges and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on https://pcl.uscourts.gov.


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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Planetary Zerg Alert
Tune in or turn out and be absorbed into the hive mind at the global StarCraft ® II: Heart of the Swarm ™ launch party! Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. today shared its plans for the official Heart of the Swarm launch events taking place in the US, France, Australia, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Russia, Brazil, and Mexico starting in the evening of March 11. At each of these events, Blizzard developers and key retail partners will host gamers from around the world who want to be among the first to join Kerrigan, the Queen of Blades, in her quest to reunite the zerg Swarm.
In addition to the nine official launch events, thousands of stores worldwide will be open at midnight to welcome players and help roll out the next chapter in the epic saga of StarCraft II. (Check with local retailers for hours and availability.)
To kick things off and follow the celebration as it spreads across the planet, Blizzard will be cohosting a special 21-hour launch broadcast with noted eSports personality and commentator Sean "Day[9]" Plott, in conjunction with Twitch.tv, at http://www.StarCraft2.com/SwarmLaunch. Starting at 3:00 a.m. PDT on March 11, the stream will give viewers around the world the opportunity to watch the Australia, South Korea, France, and US launch events live. Viewers will also be treated to additional exclusive content, including community-created videos and "King of the Beta" tournament matches between top pro gamers, hosted by Day[9], who'll be transmitting from a bunker deep inside Blizzard's Irvine HQ.
"The StarCraft community has been anticipating Heart of the Swarm for a long time," said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. "I believe you will find it was worth the wait. We're looking forward to celebrating the release by hosting an awesome global launch party in two weeks and delivering our best StarCraft content to date."
In the US, the official launch event will be hosted by Blizzard and retail partner GameStop at:Check Out Our Best Services for Investors
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CNN — One of the country's best-known, modern patriotic songs turned 30 this year.
Lee Greenwood penned his classic "God Bless The USA" in May of 1983.
After its release in 1984, the song made it to number seven on the Billboard hot country singles chart.
The song's popularity surged in later decades, notably during the first Iraq war in the early 90's and in the wake of the the September 11th attacks.
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But the tremendous response the song got from the audience quickly led him to make it his closer.


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Would you like to go in a culinary tour of Latin America? Now you can! Thanks to the lovely Joan during the next 10 weeks we'll be visiting 10 countries of our big and beautiful American continent with her Culinary Tour 2010. I am very happy that Mexico is the first stop of this tour. I'd love to show you around the whole country and invite you to sample foods from every region and corner of the country. However, that would be impossible to do in just one post. We would have to spend countless years to explore it and we don't have that kind of time.
That's why before we catch the plane to our next stop in the tour, I want to take you out to breakfast in my hometown, Mexico City. One of my favorite places to eat, or just sit down with a delicious cup of coffee or chocolate caliente is Los Bisquets Obregón. Their bread is one of the most delicious I've ever had, but my favorite thing is their bisquets.
In the past I've already talked about bisquets and how much I love them, but I had never made them myself. I used to buy them at the Mexican market, but Jon noticed several months back that they stopped making them. It was a bleak period for us. Until my friend Gabriela posted the recipe on her blog last month. With the recipe and the new KitchenAid mixer I got as a Christmas present I don't have an excuse not to make them at home.
At Los Bisquets Obregón they serve bisquets cut in half, topped with refried beans and cheese, toasted in the oven and served with pico de gallo, just like molletes. But my favorite way to eat them is for breakfast. I top them with refried beans, a slice of ham and queso Oaxaca. I put them in the oven for 8-10 minutes at 350°F and put a fried egg on top when they come out and serve them with roasted tomatillo sauce. This is the best way to start the day!
- •200 gr (2 sticks) butter at room temperature
- •500 gr (17.6 oz) AP flour
- •15 gr (.5 oz) dry yeast
- •15 gr (.5 oz) baking powder
- •150 ml (1/2 cup) milk
- •2 eggs
- •1 TBSP vanilla extract
- •10 gr (about 2 TBSP) salt
- •75 gr (2.65 oz) sugar
- •eggwash
- Warm up milk and dissolve yeast in it.
- Mix flour with baking powder. Add butter and with your fingers mix it with the flour until it is incorporated.
- Add eggs, milk, yeast, vanilla, salt and sugar. Knead for 3 minutes if using a mixer or 5 minutes if kneading by hand. Be sure to not over-knead. The dough has to break easily when you pull a small piece of it. The dough will be sticky at this point, but not too sticky.
- Turn onto a floured surface and roll it into a rectangular sheet. With your fingers tear the surface of the sheet so it sticks to itself when folding it. Fold it in three and roll again. Repeat one more time.
- Roll the dough into a ¾" to 1" sheet.
- With a round cutter (3" to 4" in diameter approx.) cut the dough and place the circles on a greased baking sheet.
- With a smaller cutter (1" in diameter approx.) mark the circles in the middle of the bisquet.
- Brush bisquets with egg wash and let them rise in a warm place for about 45 minutes or until they double in size.
- Bake at 380°F for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
¡Buen provecho and I'll see you in El Salvador!
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(26) Readers Comments
Sounds super delicious! This is like an entirely good for you, tricked out version of a breakfast sandwich.
Stunning photography, as always!
Thanks for the introduction some new!
Honest to goodness look so delicious
Thank you for sharing your recipe !
Have a great day !
Hi Ben — I'll take two of those plates of yummy food. These look truly fabulous. I haven't heard of them before. No calories, right? Hope you're doing well and hanging in there this winter.
I love seeing what everyone has been cooking for this culinary tour. What delicious looking bisquets! I've never seen these treats before but I will definitely have to add them to my list of yeast baked goods to take on.
que lindos te quedaron!! una vez mas quedo tentada a prepararlos…. los tengo en mi lista de pendientes desde que los vi en el blog de nuestra querida amiga Gaby, y ahora viéndolos nuevamente aquí , me vuelvo a entusiasmar para prepararlos pronto


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Posted: Jun 30, 2010 5:55 AM by Andrea Fontenot
Source: Associated Press
The LSU AgCenter has a new way for farmers and people in the food business to market products.
Louisiana's Market Maker website is taking registrations now, and should be searchable by Aug. 15.
Sellers get free accounts.
Businesses must be agriculture-related - for instance, agritourism would qualify.
Buyers don't need accounts.
They can search for food-related business from roadside stands to meat processors and even dinner
theaters, and then map them.
For more information click here.


text: Artist Obtain Cherish DesireLA-based artist Desire Obtain Cherish (DOC), aka Jonathan Paul, was born in 1975 in Salinas, California. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) at Parson's School of Design. Since his emergence as a street artist in the 2000s, DOC has blended the concerns and methods of street, pop, conceptual and appropriation art with popular culture to create his own unique satirical message. His work, though often controversial, is always engaging, and explores contemporary obsessions with sex, desire, drugs, gender, celebrity, media, commerce and fame.??Desire Obtain Cherish often directs the creation of his own work, insisting his ideas are more in line with contemporary commerce methods than traditional artisan methods. DOC claims, "Ideas win today in our society. It's not anything new. I ingest, then digest. Art is really just a mirror or ourselves."??DOC's artwork rarely inspires moderate responses, an indication of his achievements' importance. With DOC focusing on some of the most banal objects as models, his works avoid typical standards of "good taste" in art, and instead focus on the vulnerabilities of hierarchies and value systems. DOC's work "reflects a darker, albeit more humorous slant on middle-class American values versus a spiritual or expressive essence of a highly individual artist."??Since his first solo show at Lab Art street gallery in Los Angeles in 2011, Desire Obtain Cherish's work has propelled with unusual fervor amid collectors and the public alike. Recent shows include Scope International Art Show at Art Basel Miami Beach, the Palm Beach Art Fair, an exhibit at UNIX Fine Art gallery in the Wynwood Arts District, the Wynwood Art Fair in Miami, and a solo show slated for the Olympics in London this summer. |


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Full Version:
2 Stroke Oil Mixed With Dieselfuel...good....bad Or ...dangerous????
Ford Owners Club - Ford Forums
Ford Models
Ford Mondeo Club
January 30, 2013, 5:34 pm
I am considering to add 2 stroke oil in diesel fuel , mixing ratio 1/200. This in order to have a better lubrication of the injection system. According to the responses that I have already read it can't hurt and would the engine run smoother then regular; others say that it is, indeed, harmful. What do you think about this? Should I do it or not?
January 30, 2013, 6:34 pm
Have a look here.-
January 30, 2013, 10:00 pm
Don't know about your country but in the UK they add 5-7% (depending on supplier) bio-diesel (veg oil) to diesel
This replaces the lubricants (sulphor) that used to be in Diesel but is removed in modern diesel to reduce smoke/ pollution
Recently designed diesel- engined cars are tested to work with the modern low-sulphor diesel and are fine without additional lubricants (as above, the veg-oil acts as a lubricant)
Earlier common-rail diesel engines (roughly 1998-2007) may have problems with low - sulphor diesel, the (pre) added veg-oil may be enough to lubricate the pump/ injectors but these components were not designed for this fuel
A little low- ash 2-stroke oil may help to prevent wear on these components, and there have been reports of engines running smoother & quieter
You must be careful, though, 2-stroke oil was designed for 2- stroke petrol engines, not 4-stroke diesel engines, some 2- stoke oil may react with diesel or the veg-oil (bio-diesel) added to modern diesel there are
There are 3 basic types of 2 stroke oil -
Castor based
Semi - synthetic
These cannot be mixed, if you are running a 2-stroke petol engine on Castor based 2- stroke oil and wish to switch to synthetic, you must strip the engine down, clean off all the old (castor based 2-stroke) oil/ wash it out with petrol, rebuild the engine using the new (2-stroke synthetic) oil, and run it with the synthetic oil - you cannot use Castor- based 2- stroke again without going through the same procedure - mixing 2 types of oil may cause a reaction, producing a "gloop" which can block oilways which may cause an engine siezure (on a 2-stroke petrol engine)
So if you are adding 2-stroke to your 4- stroke diesel engine, best to stick to 1 type of oil (Castor based / semi synthetic or synthetic) - or one make of oil to be on the safe side
Castor based is an old type of 2-stroke it tends to smoke more and cannot withstand high tempratures as well as the other 2, synthetic tends to be more expensive than semi- synthetic
Some oils are expensive and adding 2- stroke oil will add to the cost of running your diesel - for most people, the bio-diesel added to modern diesel should be sufficient to lubricate your pump, injectors etc - adding a little 2-stroke oil (and sticking to the same type/ make) is unlikely to do the engine any harm (as long as the oil does not react badly with the diesel) the oil has a zero cetane rating (no calorific value) but is being added in such small realative quantities that this will not significantly reduce the overall cetain rating
Try a little low-ash 2-stroke and see what happens - if the engine runs smoother, quieter and faster, without increasing the smoke output - its all good , let us know how you get on, anyway
February 5, 2013, 8:55 pm
I'd posted a thread about diesel engines and adding 2-stroke oil, on the Dutch forum Ford Mondeo Club (FMC). A member has, as a test,filled his tank and added up to 300 ml of oil. The test is started yesterday, until the next refueling. He is quite excited about the first day: he says that the engine is quieter and running smoother AND that consumption has been reduced by 0.5 litres/100 km/62.1 milles. Considerably if you ask me. But the test is only successful after the second refueling is done.
Keep you updated.
If it is succesfull, I will follow.
February 11, 2013, 8:59 pm
In general he is satisfied.
There has anyone reported that he's doing the test for allmost 10.000 kms, now
his findings: from first addition indeed quieter stationary running , nailing cold engine almost completely disappeared,
fuel consumpsion: 0.5 L/100 kms less
I am convinced of the benefits of this addition.
I will follow
February 18, 2013, 4:47 pm
Last Saturday I bought 2 stroke oil and added 300 ml to the diesel (full tank).Meanwhile already drove aporx. 150 km, mostly freeway.
Positive results so far, but it is only the beginning.
The results so far: smoother running, not nailing(is it the right word?) at cold start....
consumption: less then before ( cc 120km/h 6th gear: current 4.0 - 4.4 L/100 km (unbelievable, but true) - before aprox 5.0 L/100 km. But, as i've said: this is only the beginning......
As I increased speed upto 180km/h, consumption rised smoothly upto 5L/100km .........
Full Colour Version:
2 Stroke Oil Mixed With Dieselfuel...good....bad Or ...dangerous????
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text:
Today, must be April fools day because this is just hilarious. As we all know Metacritic is a reviews aggregate site that gives us all a a hub for all reviews across several platforms. Well, it seems like Paradox interactive has take it one step further, launching a site that reviews the reviewers that do reviews (Yes, it really sounds that confusing). The site is live by clicking here. Here is what this site will do, "this new system will provide game-enthusiast enthusiasts with a better overall concept of these writers, and allow them to make easy read/browse/troll decisions before spending their hard-earned unique pageviews." That sounds awesome!
"MetaMetaCritic will provide a more accurate, balanced system for reviewer reviews," said Lars Larsson at Paradox Interactive. "In a landscape with so many diverse scales for rating games journalists, it's hard to get an idea who the best writers really are. We all have different criteria for what makes a good review. How do we measure value and re-read value? And some of us try to base our ratings on abstract concepts like tone, voice, or whether an article was 'finished' or not. I've seen a lot of reviews get criticized lately for releasing day-one counterpoints – and don't get me started on the ending of the Mass Effect 3 review." Larsson continued.
Well there you have it. Meta Meta Critic a site where reviewers are being reviewed because they need to, Happy April 1st, everyone! I swear the stuff some people come up with pure comedy.
Source: Paradox interactive
Leave your comments below and add to this discussion. Like what you saw, follow us on Twitter @GamerFitNation, like us on Facebook and follow us on Google+ GamerFitNation!


text:
- Tech+ - http://blogs.denverpost.com/tech -
Former Qwest CFO and admitted felon Robin Szeliga is now COO of a nonprofit
Posted By Andy Vuong On May 2, 2012 @ 12:42 pm In General,Telecommunications | 10 Comments
Remember Robin Szeliga, the former Qwest [2] chief financial officer who pled guilty to one felony count of insider trading in 2005 [3]?
Szeliga worked for Qwest during its meteoric rise and spectacular collapse under the leadership of former CEO Joe Nacchio. She left Qwest in July 2003.
Well, Szeliga now serves as the chief operating officer for the nonprofit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado. She will be the featured speaker at the Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce downtown luncheon May 16th [4].
Here's how the press release announcing the event describes Szeliga's career:
Following a successful career in the corporate world, Ms. Szeliga transitioned to the non-profit world three years ago. … Ms. Szeliga has first-hand experience in the corporate boardroom and knows the risks and rewards inherent in the corporate setting. She was formerly CFO of a Fortune 100 Company, and her life and her career were forever changed by the circumstances and the decisions she made as a first-time C-level executive.
No mention of Qwest in the release. Here's how the Department of Justice states the facts in the plea deal with Szeliga:
According to the stipulated facts outlined in the plea agreement, SZELIGA was Qwest's Chief Financial Officer (CFO). On April 30, 2001, while in possession of material, non-public information regarding Qwest's true operating performance and financial condition, SZELIGA sold 10,000 shares of Qwest stock at $41 per share, obtaining gross proceeds of approximately $410,000, with a pre-tax gain of $125,000.
Under the 2005 deal with the Justice Department, Szeliga received two years' probation, $250,000 in fines, $125,000 in restitution for the ill-gotten gains and six months of home detention. She's also barred from ever being a director or officer of a public company.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado is described as an organization that "works to help children reach their full potential through professionally supported, one-to-one volunteer mentoring relationships with measurable impact."
UPDATE 3:15 P.M. | I called Big Brothers Big Sisters a couple of hours ago asking for comment about the Szeliga hire, but have not heard back. I will update this post if/when they return the call.
UPDATE 5:54 P.M. | Big Brothers Big Sisters president and CEO Dave Stalls told me that because of Szeliga's history with Qwest, her hiring process three years ago was "the most involved background checking, screening, interviews" that he's ever led.
He said the background check included an interview with a prosecutor in the Justice Department's case against Szeliga.
Stalls also spoke with at least two members of the Association of US West Retirees, he said.
"I needed for this organization to reach out to them to say 'OK, if we hire this person, what's your take on this? You guys have been hit by what happened with Nacchio and the crew,'" Stalls said. "And they were enlightening for me."
They said they would support the hire, Stalls said.
Szeliga started as a director of finance for the organization, which has annual revenue of $3.4 million and employs 50 in Colorado. Such positions typically generate about 50 applications, Stalls said, and Szeliga was clearly the most qualified. She was promoted to COO from vice president of operations in the fall.
To connect with Denver Post technology writer Andy Vuong, please "like [5]" him on Facebook at facebook.com/byandyvuong [5].
You can also visit insidetechknow.com [6].
Article printed from Tech+: http://blogs.denverpost.com/tech
URL to article: http://blogs.denverpost.com/tech/2012/05/02/qwest-cfo-robin-szeliga-coo/4447/
URLs in this post:
[1] Image: http://blogs.denverpost.com/techknowbytes/2012/05/02/qwest-cfo-robin-szeliga-coo/4447/szeliga/
[2] Qwest: http://blogs.denverpost.com/tech/tag/qwest-2/
[3] who pled guilty to one felony count of insider trading in 2005: http://www.justice.gov/usao/co/press_releases/archive/2006/July06/7_28_06.html
[4] Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce downtown luncheon May 16th: http://coloradowomenschamber.chambermaster.com/Events/details/downtown-luncheon
[5] like: http://www.facebook.com/byandyvuong
[6] insidetechknow.com: http://www.insidetechknow.com
Click here to print.
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Director, RMH Corporate Communications
Sentara RMH Medical Center received the Crystal Award in Sustainability for Healthcare at the second annual Energy and Sustainability Conference, held Feb. 11-12 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.
Paul Ketron, director, Facilities Management, for Sentara RMH, received the award and also presented at the conference, which was hosted by Virginia Commonwealth University and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce.
Over 500 business and industry leaders attended to learn how sustainability is changing some organizations and how others are adapting and leveraging sustainability to enhance business results. They also shared their experiences.
The "Crystal Awards in Sustainability" recognize Virginia companies and institutions for their environmental sustainability achievements. Winners were selected in the fields of government, higher education, commercial real estate, K-12 schools, healthcare and manufacturing.
"It is an honor to be recognized by statewide colleagues and be included in the select group of awardees," said Ketron. "At Sentara RMH, we have an outstanding team of committed Facilities Management staff who work diligently to maximize our resources to not just maintain the status-quo, but to press to higher levels of achievement. This award is a validation of their work."
Sentara RMH Medical Center was awarded Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) certification for its new facility, which opened in June 2010. It was the first healthcare facility of its size to receive LEED certification in the state of Virginia.
Ketron said that the new hospital's Central Energy Plant was measured recently and found to be operating at an efficiency level of 0.6, significantly better than the national average of 1.0. This number is based on tons of cooling produced by number of kilowatts used, he explained.
"With the continuous drive to use energy efficiently and lower operating costs, we have taken the benefits of the new hospital design and built upon them," said Ketron. "We have reduced the hospital's utility expense by over $2.00 per square foot from our previous facility on Cantrell Avenue [in Harrisonburg]."
Ketron added that the hospital captures heat off the boiler exhausts to heat water for the Central Energy Plant as well as a large section of the lower level of the hospital. The hospital also leverages its well water to offset some Central Energy Plant processes, and it uses landfill gas to fuel boilers for hot water and steam production.
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This story is featured in the Spring 2012 edition of myBoone Health magazine. Click here to subscribe for free. Click here to watch a video interview with the family.
When you're planning a birthday party for quadruplets, choosing a cake can be tricky.
Just ask Kristin and Stuart Eastman of Columbia. Their quadruplets shared a variety of opinions as their fifth birthday approached.
"I like chocolate cake," Wilson said.
His sister Ellie agreed, "I want chocolate."
But then Caroline chimed in, "I want pink cake."
"Actually, I want pink too," said Ellie, in a change of heart.
"But I really like vanilla," said Luke.
Kristin and Stuart just smiled.
Five years ago, Kristin gave birth to the quads at Boone Hospital Center. It was a delivery like few can imagine.
Multiple births involve risks and can sometimes contribute to developmental problems. Like many multiple births, the Eastman quads arrived premature and had to spend several weeks in the Boone Hospital Intensive Care Nursery.
But with good fortune and excellent care at the nursery, the quads developed into strong, healthy children with no major health issues.
Today, at five years old, the Eastman kids are still on the small side, but they are developmentally on par with their peers. They're also extremely active.
Luke goes to taekwondo class and Wilson does gymnastics. Caroline and Ellie both take ballet lessons.
Kristin and Stuart say the staff and physicians at the Boone Family Birthplace Intensive Care Nursery played a major role in getting their kids off to a good start.
"They were just incredible. I got to know the nurses quite well; they became part of our extended family," Kristin said. "We attribute a lot of their early success to the physicians and staff at Boone."
A special delivery
Like her four children, Kristin is a Boone Baby.
As a child she moved around the Midwest with her family. She later returned to Columbia in 1994 to join the University of Missouri swim team.
She met Stuart on a blind date. He's a Joplin native who attended Westminster College.
The couple married in 2004. Stuart is an Edward Jones financial advisor, and Kristin worked as an elementary school teacher.
When the time came to have children, the couple had difficulty conceiving. They sought out fertility help, and Kristin soon learned she was pregnant.
Blood tests revealed she was likely pregnant with multiple children. Because twins run in Kristin's family, that fact in itself was not surprising.
Reality began to dawn on the couple when an early ultrasound showed several developing embryo sacs. Before long, four definite heartbeats were showing up during Kristin's visits to the doctor.
"He started counting, 'well there's one, and that's two,' and he kept counting," Stuart said. "It was then I kind of started realizing, wow, this is real."
After sharing the good news with family and friends — to a unanimously stunned reaction, "The look on their faces was like, what? What did you say again?" recalled Stuart — the couple began making preparations.
Not only did the Eastmans need all the standard baby items — times four — they also needed a bigger house, which prompted a move to a four-bedroom house on the west side of Columbia.
They spent time counseling with physicians and caregivers at Boone Hospital who walked them through every stage of the process. The doctors even discussed how society would react to seeing a family with quadruplets.
"'You don't realize what this is going to mean,'" Kristin and Stuart remember being told by the doctors. "'Back in the day, twins were the big thing. Then triplets. But now, it's quadruplets. Be prepared, because there are going to be a lot of people who are going to want to talk to you and help.'"
At 22 weeks, Kristin went on bed rest, a common step taken to prolong a pregnancy, especially when multiple children are involved. Fortunately, that ended up being the only step needed to sustain the pregnancy for several more weeks.
"For having quads, it was really a fairly smooth pregnancy," Kristin said.
But by 29 weeks, Kristin didn't feel right and went to the hospital. Her blood pressure was elevated, indicating she may have preeclampsia, a potentially dangerous problem.
Physicians also determined the babies had stopped gaining weight in her womb.
The time came to schedule Kristin's delivery. They picked the morning of April 18 for a planned Caesarean section. The children would be born at 30 weeks and three days, which is very premature but not unusual for quadruplets. Normal gestation is about 40 weeks.
On the morning of the 18th, Kristin and Stuart arrived at the hospital at 7 a.m. as a large team of caregivers assembled for the delivery. About an hour later, Kristin received an IV. Before long, she was being wheeled into the operating room for the delivery.
Stuart vividly remembers the busy scene inside the room.
Kristin's doctors were working with her as 12 additional staff and physicians including neonatologists, respiratory therapists and other caregivers waited in the room for the infants to arrive.
"It was like a well organized orchestra in there," Stuart said. "There were at least three medical professionals per child."
Then, at 9:14 a.m., Wilson Eastman was born. He was followed closely by his siblings Ellie, Luke and Caroline.
They were all born within three minutes of each other.
Ellie and Caroline weighed 1 pound, 12 ounces. Luke was 2 pounds, 10 ounces and Wilson weighed 3 pounds, 4 ounces.
The Eastmans went from having no children to having four in three short minutes.
Now the task fell to the physicians and caregivers at the Intensive Care Nursery to help the four children grow and eventually go home with their parents.
The ICN
Boone Hospital physicians worked closely with Kristin and Stuart as they cared for their quadruplets inside Boone Hospital's Intensive Care Nursery.
For any child born around 30 weeks the main concerns are lung and brain maturity.
Wilson, Ellie and Luke were quickly put on oxygen after being born to help them breathe with their immature lungs.
Doctors also spotted a potential intestinal problem with Caroline, which tests revealed to be nothing more than a gassy bubble.
"Overall, there were no major things wrong with any of them," Stuart said.
Their preparation before the delivery helped Kristin and Stuart become familiar with the sight of children with wires and cords attached to their bodies.
"The real shock was when you saw how small they were," Stuart said. "When you went and saw the well babies in the other nursery they seemed like giants compared to our kids."
Kristin was discharged from the hospital just days after her delivery, but she returned each day to be with her four babies in the Intensive Care Nursery. She would come to the hospital in the morning, leave in the afternoon to rest and then return in the evening with Stuart.
During this time, Kristin became close to the team of the nurses who were caring for her children. It was helpful that every child had the same nurse providing care each day.
"They were amazing, outstanding. We cannot gloat enough about them," she said. "They cared for our quads as if they were their own children. It made me feel so confident about leaving my children with them and knowing that they had top-notch care."
The Eastmans said hospital staff also guarded their privacy and helped them avoid an unwanted celebrity status.
"No one knew about the quads. It wasn't publicized, and that was a good thing," Stuart said. "You could go to the cafeteria without people coming up to you. We felt like we were commoners like everyone else."
After six weeks in the Intensive Care Nursery, Wilson and Luke were ready to go home.
This was another major learning moment for the Eastmans, who relied on hospital nurses to teach them how to care for their still fragile infants.
"They really helped us prepare to be parents and bring them home," Kristin said. "They showed us how to change their diapers. We hadn't really done much of that, especially with such little guys."
At eight weeks old, Ellie came home. Then, one week later, Caroline was discharged from the hospital.
The family was finally united at home.
Many helping hands
During the first two weeks when just Luke and Wilson were home, Kristin and Stuart had no problem caring for the babies. They each simply held one child.
But when Ellie came home, that was no longer possible. And when Caroline arrived, things became even more difficult.
"There were times we kind of wished they were back in the NICU," joked Stuart.
But friends and well-wishers soon rallied around the family to help. Every day, three shifts of volunteers arrived at their house to help rock and feed the children as well as do laundry and other chores.
Raising the young Eastman quads became a community effort.
"It takes a village," Kristin said. "We learned that people are really willing to help. So we opened up and allowed them to come in and help us. There is no way we would have been able to survive otherwise."
One of the family's first goals was to get the kids all on the same routine of eating and sleeping together.
And when the kids slept, Kristin and Stuart were sleeping as well. But that wasn't nearly enough.
Stuart found himself having to occasionally catch a quick nap at work. He'd put his head down on his desk for five or 10 minutes just to make it through the day.
"It's just one of the things where I had to do that or else I was exhausted," he said.
At home, baby items consumed their entire house. There were four swings, four play mats, four bouncy seats and four of everything else needed for a baby.
"It literally looked like Toys "R" Us at our house," Stuart said.
One of their fond memories from this time was actually being able to sit down to dinner together in the evening after a long day.
They would put all four kids in their swings, rocking peacefully in dining room as Kristin and Stuart ate, everyone together.
Team Eastman
As the quads grew from babies to toddlers and then into pre-school age children, the family needed less and less outside help.
Today, they have just a handful of volunteers who come to help two or three days a week.
"We are lucky enough to still have a few helpers who love the kids and want to be a part of the village," Kristin said.
As preemies, the quads benefited from some special therapy and language development help, but now they're on par with their peers and ready to begin kindergarten soon.
"It's been amazing just watching them develop from stage to stage," Kristin said. "From just holding the bottle on their own, to then walking and now running and swimming."
As they've grown, they've also assumed four very different personalities with their own tastes and interests.
Ellie and Luke are high-energy children who thrive in environments where they can be around other kids. On the other hand, Caroline and Wilson are more independent and enjoy having time alone to entertain themselves.
But even with their different personalities, the four siblings are very close.
"They have a very strong bond," Kristin said. "They stick up for each other, look out for each other, and they are very protective of each other."
Kristin and Stuart often refer to their family as a team: Team Eastman.
This summer, they'll be teammates in a new way as all four will be playing together on a tee ball team.
Looking back, the Eastmans are thankful for the care and education they received at Boone Hospital Center. They have four healthy kids, which is really all they can ask for.
"Every day is different. No two days are alike," Kristin said. "But I don't think we can ever imagine not having all four of them together; it's been a true blessing."


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Lily Carter in the Limo with her gfs Summer Brielle Taylor,Sammie Rhodes.
Lily Carter drinking the bubbles.
Lily Carter spreading her legs wide and exposing her sexy red panties.
Lily Carter gets her pussy licked and her tits rubbed.
Lily Carter getting serviced by two babes.
GF Licking Lily Carter's Asshole.
Lily Carter, Sammie Rhodes, Summer Brielle Taylor, on a girls night out. Renting a limo and getting drunk, leading to some sexy hot lesbian action. Lily Carter gets the ride of her life. Watch this babes just go to town on one another.
More Lily Carter inside Reality King


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Magic Magic
Removed from everything she's ever known, a young traveler finds herself surrounded by a group of strangers in the Chilean countryside.
© 2013 Magic Magic, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Juno Temple, Michael Cera, Catalina Moreno, Emily Browning, Agustín Silva, Sebastián Silva, Frida Torresblanco, Mike White, Mike White
directed by
Christine Vachon, David Bernad
movie reviews from Rotten Tomatoes®
reviews counted: 2see all Magic Magic reviews -
Top Critic Reviews
Fresh: Meticulously acted, gorgeously shot and hilariously insightful about the strange, inarticulable ways people can get on one another's nerves, this psychological thriller takes its premise to surprising, darkly comic extremes ...
- Peter Debruge, Variety, Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Fresh: The first half of Magic Magic is greatly enjoyable: the performances are strong, the photography is crisp and immersive, and the mood is ripe and ominous.
- Tom Huddleston, Time Out, Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Audience Reviews
meh... weird, suspensful but just when you think its about to turn, nothing happens.
- fb573220345, Saturday, September 7, 2013
A shy and emotionally fragile American girl is trapped with four strangers in a vacation home in Chile when her friend ditches her to deal with personal issues. Well acted, with a decent atmosphere of subtle paranoia; unfortunately, the script is missing the narrative hooks to draw you into its REPULSION-lite scenario.
- 366weirdmovies, Friday, September 20, 2013


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For more than a decade, Pistris, Inc. has positioned itself as the world leader in maritime domain services. We provide services specializing in all manner of maritime operations - including coastal and riverine warfare, law enforcement, waterborne special operations, maritime antiterrorism and rescue. It is truly a unique company that is unrivaled by any other around the world.
The multinational nature of our team allows us to confidently work in any physical or political environment. Our blending of a variety of specialist personnel –all of whom have experience at the planning and operational levels- into a cohesive team, provides Pistris, Inc. with the experience and perspective to address any program.
We firmly believe in taking a more analytical approach to our operations than our competitors, and can be counted on to remain sensitive to our clients' broader goals. We have extensive experience in working overseas - specifically within the developing world - and our spotless reputation allows us to operate in political environments that would not normally be accepting of other companies.
Many organizations believe that their experience on land qualifies them to offer maritime services, but the unique difficulties associated with maritime operations require very specific skills and comprehension that only Pistris possesses. Our complete grasp of littoral operations is crucial to the long-term effectiveness of our services


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Omar Sharif has no fear of Islamists
Omar Sharif
More >
Create alert for LondonLondon
, Create alert for Enas BakrEnas Bakr
, Create alert for Mohammad YasinMohammad Yasin
, Create alert for Omar SharifOmar Sharif
, Create alert for Muslim BrotherhoodMuslim Brotherhood
Director Enas Bakr, who is the agent of legendary Egyptian actor Omar Sharif, denied rumors that the actor is refusing to come back to Egypt. Press reports stated that Sharif was so worried about a Muslim Brotherhood candidate - Morsy - winning the election that he would never go back to the country again. But his agent says it's nonsense and he's just on vacation in France.
According to the London based Elaph, the delay in Sharif's return home is simply due to the fact that Lebanese director Mohammad Yasin has postponed filming the new movie "Ishaet Hub" (Love Rumor), which Omar will star in, until conditions in Egypt are more stable and calm. Rumor has it the film will have an enormous budget and will be a blockbuster hit.


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Tour Diary: Star commentators, meeting a legend and a special fan
Watching RR-CSK with Dravid mock commentating, catching up with Prakash Padukone and smiling after a player's dad joins the RC fan club.
Watching the IPL with RCB stars
It was akin to following a match at home. Seven guys sitting around the TV, munching on a sandwich, sipping an energy drink, offering an opinion as the cricket unfolded on screen. Except the setting was the pavilion of the Chinnaswamy stadium, and the six others sitting around me went by the names Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Dale Steyn, coach Ray Jennings, Evan Speechly (Physio) and Ramesh Mane 'Kaka' (Masseur).
Rajasthan Royals were toying with Chennai Super Kings and even as RCB's other players sweated it out on the ground, a cricketing insight on the match on TV came from the greats every few balls.
Rahul started it, and understandably so. Having found great form in the practise match, he was relaxed and with the TV on mute, he turned commentator, the fun sort. You can read one of his comments here: http://www.royalchallengers.com/chief-blogger/overheard-part-6
Anil then waxed eloquent about Suresh Raina's ability to hit sixes without ever stepping out of his crease. As he raised a 'warning' about the relevance of that tactic against Shane, Raina was bowled, and Anil smiled a knowing smile.
In the midst of all this was Dale Steyn's aahs of relief, as Evan worked his ankles and lower back. Coach offered a few gems of his own, cracking up everyone in the room. It's a great dressing room to be in, this one.
One great to another
Venkat Vardhan's (owner of DNA entertainment) elegant house would have been the envy of all and sundry in Bangalore on Sunday night, Glittering as it was with the presence of the entire RCB team, there was another sportsperson of yore, who stood out in a cricket heavy crowd.
I didn't come across him till we'd gotten to dessert, and in hindsight, I might have missed the opportunity if it hadn't been for that second helping of kheer. I turned around, and blinked. In the second it took me to realize the enormity of the moment, I muttered, "Good evening, how are you?". "Very well", and a smile was Prakash Padukone's reaction.
We chatted a bit, and I took an appointment to see him on Monday. It was there that I realised a part of what went into the making of a champion. His office at the Tata Padukone academy was sparse, and spotless.
A sepia toned family photo lent class to the table and as he spoke, his half-open drawer revealed there was no place for messy stationery either. Every diary had its space.
He took down notes for our discussion, and at the end, as we were leaving, we noticed the used paper being immediately dispatched to the dust bin.
Meticulous came to my mind immediately. I guess it's what they call learning from the legends
Roelof's dad is here!
While browsing through the comments on my Challenger of the Day section with Roelof Van Der Merwe (http://www.royalchallengers.com/chief-blogger/challenger-of-the-day-roelof-van-der-merwe), I came across something unusual.
This is what it said, " THIS IS MY BOY,I AM A PROUD DAD SITTING HERE IN SOUTH AFRICA AND SUPPORT RCB WHO BECAME MY SECOND SIDE AFTER THE PROTEAS—GO ROELA GO"
Excitedly, I checked the profile, but the location said Chandigarh. I was hoping it wasn't spam, and sure enough, when I spoke to Roelof about it, he texted his father, nodded and hi-fived.
Ladies and gentlemen, let's welcome Mr. Van Der Merwe Sr (Username: "Roela" which is also Roelof's nickname) to the fan club!
It's getting exciting in here!
Latest comments
I wonder what Kumble was thinking when Raina got bowled. Did he say anything when Morkel hit Warnie for 3 sixes?
Good article....enjoyed this one...


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There has been a lot of rumors & discusion as of late about what will be the next show on Toonami. Acording to a twitter post by Jason DeMarco (VP of Strategic Marketing & Promotions for Cartoon Network & Adult Swim, also the man behind Toonomi), Samurai 7 will be premiering on the action cartoon block in the coming months. The show originally aired for 26 episodes in Japan during 2004, then later dubbed by Funimation in 2006.
With both Deadman Wonderland & Cowboy Bebop ending their runs in two weeks, we could see the show as early as the end of the month taking Deadman's premiere spot while DW occupies the 2:30/5:30 time slot. This is if Toonami plans on keeping the rerun block intact.
Update: According to the schedule on adultswim.com, Samurai 7 WILL be taking Deadman Wonderland's spot starting August 19th.
Original Twitter Post from DeMarco: https://twitter.com/Clarknova1/status/230421858359574528
Full News Story: http://therealjpoe.com/2012/07/31/samurai-7-to-be-on-toonami/


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Geranium Care
Read on for detailed information to help get your plants looking as colorful and vigorous as the photos on this website!
Sun, sun, sun! Planting your geraniums in a sunny location with a minimum night temperature of 60°F is the ideal condition for all of your geraniums. However, your geraniums will still survive in night temperatures above freezing when they are once well established. All varieties will tolerate some shade or filtered light. The Alpine geraniums do very well in intense heat and sun.
Water, water, water! You must water your plants regularly, particularly in hot weather. Soil should always be moist down to the bottom of the roots. Make sure not to over-water, indicated by mucky or soggy soil. All geraniums can take some dryness, but for a limited time only. For best growth, keep geraniums moist at all times.
Fertilize, fertilize, fertilize! Fertilize your geraniums weekly since geraniums, especially Alpines, are heavy feeders. Use 15-15-15 or 20-20-20 water soluble fertilizer (1 T. fertilizer/one gallon water), or use any all purpose fertilizer (like Miracle-Gro) per instructions on label. Slow-release fertilizers (like Osmocote) are good supplements to liquid feed. Slow-release feed is used by mixing double the designated amount on instructions into soil.
How To Properly Plant Your Cuttings:
- Open your box(es) of geraniums as soon as you get them. Even if you don't plant them immediately, it's good to let them breathe.
- When working with geraniums, use the best sanitation methods possible. Wash hands with soap before handling plants. Use clean pots and clean potting mix before planting in containers. (More details in our FAQs.)
- Plant geraniums as soon after receiving them as you can in a clean, light, well-draining mix. We recommend two parts peat, one part perlite, and one part soil OR one part sterilized soil to five parts commercial potting mix. It is extremely important to add 10% to 15% of soil or clay to the mix, even if from your own garden. Take garden earth from well below "weed seed" level.
- Water your geraniums three times on the day of potting and continue frequent watering during the first week, never allowing the soil to get soggy.
Feel free to call us (888-GERANIUM) with your questions if, after checking our FAQ's below, you can't find the information you're looking for.
- Why geraniums? Geraniums provide long-lasting, intensely vibrant color and very vigorous, healthy, growing habits. Without requiring excessive care, they'll give your garden consistent color all season long. Our cuttings are from tissue-cultured, virus and bacteria-free stock plants. Give them enough sun, fertilizer, and water and watch them grow!
- What does tissue-cultured, virus and bacteria-free mean? This refers to the process by which our providers create sterile, disease-free stock plants, a two-year process. We start with new, clean stock each year. We make every effort to maintain a sanitary environment in our own greenhouses, so when cuttings are taken from the stock plants, the geraniums we sell you are the cleanest and healthiest they can be.
- How do I create my own clean environment at home when planting my geraniums? Use new containers to plant in or make sure to scrub used containers with strong detergent and hot water or a 10% Clorox bleach solution to sterilize. Wash your hands thoroughly before handling the plants. Commercial, bagged potting soil is generally already sanitized.
- How often do I have to pinch my geraniums? What's the proper way to do it? Pinching (or breaking off) the tips of plant stems (not blossoms) is done to encourage additional growth and produce fuller plants. As a general rule, it's best to pinch "leggy," too-long stems after the plants are well-established. When pinching, take approximately 1/2" - 1" off the tip of the stem (more for extra-long stems, if needed.) This applies to all geranium varieties, except the Alpine Balcons. Because the Balcon series tend to grow very long, each stem should be pinched 1"-2" at least two times, when the stems are 10"-12" long. Don't be afraid to pinch the Balcons again later if some stems seem to be too leggy.
- What does it mean if the leaves turn yellow? Yellow leaves can be the result of either over-watering OR under-watering. The only way to determine the reason is to check your soil. If' your soil is consistently soggy, cut back on the amount of water you use each day. Conversely, if your soil is powdery and dry, make sure you water every day, thoroughly dampening the soil all the way to the roots. On very hot, sunny days, soaking the plants with lots of water is a good thing, as long as the water drains through the soil and plants don't ever sit in a puddle of water.
- What can I do if my geraniums don't flower right away? Sometimes it takes a little while for the plant to be established before it starts to form buds. Once it's been planted for a week, it's safe to fertilize. Geraniums are heavy feeders, and it's essential to fertilize often (once every one or two weeks) in order to promote flowering. While geraniums need sun and can often tolerate some shade, they must have plenty of light in order to produce flowers. Make sure they grow in open, airy spaces rather than under shaded trees. Consistent watering is also necessary for continuous, all-around growth.
- Can I "winter-over" my geraniums? While some have success with this method, we do not generally recommend it because fresh plants each spring grow much better than wintered-over plants. If you do attempt to keep your geraniums alive during the winter, rather than use the old-fashioned technique of hanging them upside down or keeping them dormant in a dark, cool space, place geraniums inside in front of a sunny window; a southern exposure works best. Keep your geraniums moist but not wet, and do not let them dry out which often happens in a heated home. Alpine geraniums can do well with this indoor, wintering method.


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To make reservations by phone, call 1-800-228-9290 in the USA and Canada (or any of our worldwide reservation telephone numbers).
Delight in world-class cuisine at one of the most famous restaurants in Tempe, AZ - Top of the Rock - featuring Contemporary American fare and breathtaking views of the city.
Enjoy a savory combination of American Southwest flavors while relaxing in an open room with a beautiful cascading waterfall flowing into a Japanese Koi pond. Open for Breakfast Buffet & Lunch Daily.
Come for lunch at our Tempe restaurant's open-air pool bar and grill serving sandwiches, burgers and house specialties.
Featuring lunch and dinner menus, the Lobby Lounge is the perfect place to catch up with colleagues and friends.
Enjoy your favorite cup of coffee at our on property Starbucks, located at the Market Cafe.


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Posts Tagged 'party in my pants pads'
All this week at Becoming Crunchy, I've been reviewing Mama Cloth, or cloth menstrual pads, along with reusable tampon-like products – the Diva Cup and Sea Sponge tampons (even wrote a guest post on this topic over at The Cloth Diapering Mama!)
I'm very excited to host a mama cloth giveaway tomorrow as part of the upcoming Earth Day Blog Carnival hosted by Child of the Nature Isle and Monkey Butt Junction, but I wanted to do a little wrap-up of my experiences and reviews before we go ahead with the giveaway.
Did I Make the Right Decision?
I'm gonna answer that one with a big "Heck Yes!!"
I really want to emphasize – I was so not all about mama cloth when I first heard of it; I decided to give it a try because I had read so many great reviews, and because I would prefer my daughter to use natural products over disposables when she gets to that point in her life, but I really didn't expect to like it.
Now I'm just wishing I had made the decision sooner!
This is just one of those things I know I will never regret doing; there are too many benefits that outweigh the negatives of using disposable pads and tampons.
OK…Then Which One Should I Use?
My personal, number one recommendation? Read the rest of this entry »
There's a Party in My Pants!
That's because I'm reviewing Party in My Pants – the cloth pad company that definitely wins the award for the best name ever! (Seriously – I bought from them because of their name! )
If you're just catching up with Becoming Crunchy today, I've been reviewing mama cloth, or cloth pads from various businesses, along with reusable tampon-like products.
So far I've covered Moms Crafts 4 U (along with Earth Mama Angel Baby Monthly Comfort Tea), Lunapads, GladRags, the Diva Cup and Sea Sponge Tampons.
I also got the great opportunity to guest post over at The Cloth Diapering Mama today – I would love for you to go check out my post on Looking at That Time of the Month in a Whole New Way - especially because it includes information on how you can help support girls and women in countries around the world who are being deeply affected by an inability to afford sanitary menstrual products – a cause that is very dear to my heart.
I have one last review this morning, a post later on today with a few wrap up points, and a giveaway tomorrow!! (A chance to try mama cloth or add to my stash without spending $$? Don't mind if I do!). The giveaway will also be part of tomorrow's Earth Day Blog Carnival hosted by Child of the Nature Isle and Monkey Butt Junction, so it's definitely going to be a great day for some good reading.
All that housekeeping out of the way, let's get started… Read the rest of this entry »


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Wise Guyz Twins
If it's fortune, fame or females you're seeking, the WiseGuyz Twins give you a blueprint to follow and a soundtrack to ride to. Self proclaimed representatives of real pimps, playas and macks the WiseGuyz twins are serving up "dope" in prolific proportions. Whether it's their swag, or spit, or the fact that it all comes in twos, it's not just their sound that's addictive. While it seems like they're just starting out, Brooklyn born identical twin brothers Jamel (Shad) and Jerel (Preach) are here to teach rather than learn. Standout single P.I.M.P from the new mixtape Y.F.F. (10.4.2013) feels more like your old head putting you on to game rather than 20 somethings just breaking onto the scene. WiseGuyz are nostalgic and current at the same time. Preach "the Pimp" can be found quoting Ice Berg Slim in the streets of New York in his museum. A 1984 Cadillac Coup Deville with red leather interior and white walls. Visually defining what it means when he says "Pimping ain't dead". While Shad "the Mack" has been spotted at exclusive events with the industry crowd and wearing Japanese designers you haven't heard of yet. Living up to his motto "Trendsetters are born not made". Their latest single "Word Around Town" off the new mixtape ¥.F.F (10.4.13) combines both of their styles like a chemical explosion. It's hard to compare the WiseGuyz to any other artists, sound or style. They were born in Brooklyn, and raised in Hampton, VA. This gave them a versatility and sound uncommon to what you're hearing now from the south or New York Rappers. The WiseGuyz started rapping together at roughly age 14 and were influenced by their older brother that was a DJ. As well as the drug and fashion culture of the 80s and 90s. Like their flow their style is casual fly. Think diamond Rolexes, gold chains and styrofoam cups. For example "Getting It" and "Word Around Town" show an unapologetic aggressive sound that forces you to pay attention. While "Star" and "Mona Lisa" melodically convince you that you've just experienced greatness in the making. The WiseGuyz were most recently featured in XXL's the Break, for up and coming new artists. Their mixtapes can be found on Datpiff and Sound Cloud and their videos can be found on thisis50.com and YouTube. The WiseGuyz shoot, produce and edit their own videos, just adding to their vast list of talents. Be prepared Y.F.F Young, Fly and Flashy is not just the mixtape it's the movement and there's more to come! Contact us at: email@example.com


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4 | Self Classified Guest House | Ratings explained |
All bedrooms are furnished and equipped to the highest standards comprising of: a TV with integrated DVD / CD player, alarm clock radio, tea and coffee making facilities and a hair dryer a heater / cooler fan, room thermostat, bath robes, all personal care and toiletry requirements.
DirectionsView directions provided by hotelFrom the M54 westbound junction 6, take the third (3rd) exit (right) past the Wrekin Retail Park, (Tesco etc) and continue to the next big island. At this roundabout and at the next roundabout continue over following the signs for the Princess Royal Hospital. At the third (3rd) roundabout continue straight over and on to the next roundabout then turn left, first (1st) exit, just past the Travel Inn, follow the signs for Admaston. After the Pheasant Inn pub on your left, turn right at the crossroads into Bratton Road then take the first (1st) right on the raised road section. Dovecote Grange is 200 yards down on the left hand side. Railway:Wellington Shropshire Oakengates Telford Central Shifnal Attractions:Telford Steam Railway Wroxeter Roman City Wonderland The International Centre |


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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - View original article
Michelle Obama | |
2013 official portrait | |
First Lady of the United States | |
Incumbent | |
Assumed office January 20, 2009 | |
Preceded by | Laura Bush |
Personal details | |
Born | Michelle LaVaughn Robinson January 17, 1964 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
Nationality | American |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Barack Obama (m. 1992) |
Relations | Craig Robinson (brother) |
Children | Malia Ann Obama (b. 1998) Natasha Obama (b. 2001) |
Residence | Hyde Park, Chicago (private) White House (official) |
Alma mater | Princeton University (A.B. 1985) Harvard Law School (J.D. 1988) |
Profession | Lawyer |
Religion | Protestantism |
Signature |
Michelle Obama | |
2013 official portrait | |
First Lady of the United States | |
Incumbent | |
Assumed office January 20, 2009 | |
Preceded by | Laura Bush |
Personal details | |
Born | Michelle LaVaughn Robinson January 17, 1964 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
Nationality | American |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Barack Obama (m. 1992) |
Relations | Craig Robinson (brother) |
Children | Malia Ann Obama (b. 1998) Natasha Obama (b. 2001) |
Residence | Hyde Park, Chicago (private) White House (official) |
Alma mater | Princeton University (A.B. 1985) Harvard Law School (J.D. 1988) |
Profession | Lawyer |
Religion | Protestantism |
Signature |
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama (born January 17, 1964) is an American lawyer and writer. She is the wife of the 44th and current President of the United States, Barack Obama, and the first African-American First Lady of the United States. Raised on the South Side of Chicago, she is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School, and spent the early part of her legal career working at the law firm Sidley Austin, where she met Obama. Subsequently, she worked as part of the staff of Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley, and for the University of Chicago Medical Center.
Throughout 2007 and 2008, she helped campaign for her husband's presidential bid. She delivered a keynote address at the 2008 Democratic National Convention and also spoke at the 2012 Democratic National Convention. She and her husband have two daughters together. As the wife of a senator, and later the first lady, she has become a fashion icon and role model for women, and an advocate for poverty awareness, nutrition, and healthy eating.[1][2]
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson was born on January 17, 1964, in Chicago, Illinois, to Fraser Robinson III,[3] a city water plant employee and Democratic precinct captain, and Marian (née Shields), a secretary at Spiegel's catalog store.[4] Her mother was a full-time homemaker until Michelle entered high school.[5] The Robinson and Shields families can trace their roots to pre-Civil War African Americans in the American South.[3] On her father's side she is descended from the Gullah people of South Carolina's Low Country region.[6] Her paternal great-great grandfather, Jim Robinson, was a slave on Friendfield Plantation in the state of South Carolina,[7][8] the state where some of her paternal family still reside.[9][10] Her grandfather Fraser Robinson, Jr. had built his own house in South Carolina, and he and his wife LaVaughn (née Johnson) returned to the Low Country after retirement.[7]
Among her maternal ancestors was her great-great-great-grandmother, Melvinia Shields, a slave on Henry Walls Shields' 200-acre farm in Clayton County, Georgia; he and his children would have worked along with the slaves. Her first son Dolphus T. Shields, was biracial and born into slavery about 1860. Based on DNA and other evidence, in 2012 researchers said his father was likely 20-year-old Charles Marion Shields, son of her master. (Charles later married a white woman and had white children).[11] Melvinia did not talk to relatives about Dolphus' father.[12] Dolphus Shields moved to Birmingham, Alabama after the Civil War, and some of his children migrated to Cleveland, Ohio and Chicago.[11]
All four of Michelle's grandparents were multiracial, reflecting the complex history of the US, but her extended family said that people didn't talk about the era of slavery when they were growing up.[11] Michelle Obama's distant ancestry also includes Irish and other European roots.[13] In addition, a paternal first cousin once-removed is the African-American Jewish Rabbi Capers Funnye, son of her grandfather's sister.[14][15]
Michelle grew up in a two-story house on Euclid Street in Chicago's South Shore community area. Her parents rented a small apartment on the house's second floor from her great-aunt, who lived downstairs.[4][16][17][18] She was raised in what she describes as a "conventional" home, with "the mother at home, the father works, you have dinner around the table."[19] Her elementary school was down the street. The family enjoyed playing games such as Monopoly and reading, and frequently saw extended family on both sides.[20] They attended services at nearby South Shore Methodist Church.[16] The Robinsons used to vacation in a rustic cabin in White Cloud, Michigan.[16] She and her 21-month older brother, Craig, skipped the second grade. Her brother is a former basketball coach at Oregon State University and Brown University.[21] By sixth grade, Michelle joined a gifted class at Bryn Mawr Elementary School (later renamed Bouchet Academy).[22]
She attended Whitney Young High School,[23] Chicago's first magnet high school, where she was a classmate of Jesse Jackson's daughter Santita.[20] The round-trip commute from the Robinsons' South Side home to the Near West Side, where the school was located, took three hours.[24] Michelle Robinson was on the honor roll for four years, took advanced placement classes, was a member of the National Honor Society, and served as student council treasurer.[4] She graduated in 1981 as the salutatorian of her class.[24]
Michelle was inspired to follow her brother to Princeton University,[5] where Craig graduated in 1983. At Princeton, she challenged the teaching methodology for French because she felt that it should be more conversational.[25] As part of her requirements for graduation, she wrote a thesis entitled Princeton-Educated Blacks and the Black Community.[26][27] "I remember being shocked," she says, "by college students who drove BMWs. I didn't even know parents who drove BMWs."[24] While at Princeton, she got involved with the Third World Center (now known as the Carl A. Fields Center), an academic and cultural group that supported minority students, running their day care center, which also included after school tutoring.[28] Robinson majored in sociology and minored in African American studies; she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in 1985.[4][29] She earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Harvard Law School in 1988.[30] At Harvard she participated in demonstrations advocating the hiring of professors who were members of minorities[31] and worked for the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau, assisting low-income tenants with housing cases.[32] She is the third First Lady with a postgraduate degree, after her two immediate predecessors, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Laura Bush.[33] In July 2008, Obama accepted the invitation to become an honorary member of the 100-year-old black sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha, which had no active undergraduate chapter at Princeton when she attended.[34]
She met Barack Obama when they were among the few African Americans at their law firm, Sidley Austin (she has sometimes said only two, although others have pointed out there were others in different departments),[35] and she was assigned to mentor him as a summer associate.[36] Their relationship started with a business lunch and then a community organization meeting where he first impressed her.[37] The couple's first date was to the Spike Lee movie Do the Right Thing.[38] They married in October 1992,[37] and have two daughters, Malia Ann (born 1998) and Natasha (known as Sasha, born 2001).[39] After his election to the U.S. Senate, the Obama family continued to live on Chicago's South Side, choosing to remain there rather than moving to Washington, D.C. Throughout her husband's 2008 campaign for US President, she made a "commitment to be away overnight only once a week – to campaign only two days a week and be home by the end of the second day" for their two daughters.[40]
She once requested that her then-fiancé meet her prospective boss, Valerie Jarrett, when considering her first career move.[19] Jarrett is now one of her husband's closest advisors.[41][42] The marital relationship has had its ebbs and flows; the combination of an evolving family life and beginning political career led to many arguments about balancing work and family. Barack Obama wrote in his second book, The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream, that "Tired and stressed, we had little time for conversation, much less romance."[43] However, despite their family obligations and careers, they continue to attempt to schedule date nights while they lived in Chicago.[44]
The Obamas' daughters attended the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, a private school.[45] As a member of the school's board, Michelle fought to maintain diversity in the school when other board members connected with the University of Chicago tried to reserve more slots for children of the university faculty. This resulted in a plan to expand the school.[5] Malia and Sasha now attend Sidwell Friends School in Washington, after also considering Georgetown Day School.[46][47] Michelle stated in an interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that they do not intend to have any more children.[48] The Obamas have received advice from past first ladies Laura Bush, Rosalynn Carter and Hillary Rodham Clinton about raising children in the White House.[47] Marian Robinson, Michelle's mother, has moved into the White House to assist with child care.[49]
Michelle Obama is a Protestant Christian. She was raised Methodist and joined the Trinity United Church of Christ, where she and Barack Obama married, performed by Rev. Jeremiah Wright. On May 31, 2008, Barack and Michelle Obama announced that they had withdrawn their membership in Trinity United Church of Christ stating that "Our relations with Trinity have been strained by the divisive statements of Reverend Wright, which sharply conflict with our own views."[50]
The Obama family has attended several different churches since moving to Washington D.C. in 2009, including Shiloh Baptist Church and St. John's Episcopal Church. At the 49th African Methodist Episcopal Church's general conference, Michelle Obama encouraged the attendees to advocate for political awareness, saying "To anyone who says that church is no place to talk about these issues, you tell them there is no place better – no place better, because ultimately, these are not just political issues – they are moral issues, they're issues that have to do with human dignity and human potential, and the future we want for our kids and our grandkids."[51]
Following law school, she was an associate at the Chicago office of the law firm Sidley Austin, where she first met her future husband. At the firm, she worked on marketing and intellectual property.[4] She continues to hold her law license, but as she no longer needs it for her work, it has been on a voluntary inactive status since 1993.[52][53]
In 1991, she held public sector positions in the Chicago city government as an Assistant to the Mayor, and as Assistant Commissioner of Planning and Development. In 1993, she became Executive Director for the Chicago office of Public Allies, a non-profit organization encouraging young people to work on social issues in nonprofit groups and government agencies.[23] She worked there nearly four years and set fundraising records for the organization that still stood 12 years after she left.[20]
In 1996, she served as the Associate Dean of Student Services at the University of Chicago, where she developed the University's Community Service Center.[54] In 2002, she began working for the University of Chicago Hospitals, first as executive director for community affairs and, beginning May 2005, as Vice President for Community and External Affairs.[55] She continued to hold the University of Chicago Hospitals position during the primary campaign, but cut back to part-time in order to spend time with her daughters as well as work for her husband's election;[56] she subsequently took a leave of absence from her job.[57] According to the couple's 2006 income tax return, her salary was $273,618 from the University of Chicago Hospitals, while her husband had a salary of $157,082 from the United States Senate. The Obamas' total income, however, was $991,296, which included $51,200 she earned as a member of the board of directors of TreeHouse Foods, and investments and royalties from his books.[58]
She served as a salaried board member of TreeHouse Foods, Inc. (NYSE: THS),[59] a major Wal-Mart supplier with whom she cut ties immediately after her husband made comments critical of Wal-Mart at an AFL-CIO forum in Trenton, New Jersey, on May 14, 2007.[60] She serves on the board of directors of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.[61]
Although Obama has campaigned on her husband's behalf since early in his political career by handshaking and fund-raising, she did not relish the activity at first. When she campaigned during her husband's 2000 run for United States House of Representatives, her boss at the University of Chicago asked if there was any single thing about campaigning that she enjoyed; after some thought, she replied that visiting so many living rooms had given her some new decorating ideas.[62]
At first, Obama had reservations about her husband's presidential campaign, due to fears about a possible negative effect on their daughters.[63] She says that she negotiated an agreement in which her husband was to give up smoking in exchange for her support of his decision to run.[64] About her role in her husband's presidential campaign she has said: "My job is not a senior adviser."[41][65][66] During the campaign, she has discussed race and education by using motherhood as a framework.[25]
In May 2007, three months after her husband declared his presidential candidacy, she reduced her professional responsibilities by 80 percent to support his presidential campaign.[19] Early in the campaign, she had limited involvement in which she traveled to political events only two days a week and rarely traveled overnight;[67] by early February 2008 her participation had increased significantly, attending thirty-three events in eight days.[42] She made several campaign appearances with Oprah Winfrey.[68][69] She wrote her own stump speeches for her husband's presidential campaign and generally spoke without notes.[24]
Throughout the campaign, some media often labeled her as an "angry black woman,"[70][71][72] and some web sites attempted to propagate this image,[73] prompting her to respond: "Barack and I have been in the public eye for many years now, and we've developed a thick skin along the way. When you're out campaigning, there will always be criticism. I just take it in stride, and at the end of the day, I know that it comes with the territory."[74] By the time of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in August, media outlets observed that her presence on the campaign trail had grown softer than at the start of the race, focusing on soliciting concerns and empathizing with the audience rather than throwing down challenges to them, and giving interviews to shows like The View and publications like Ladies' Home Journal rather than appearing on news programs. The change was even reflected in her fashion choices, wearing more informal clothes in place of her previous designer pieces.[62] The View appearance was partly intended to help soften her public image,[70] and it was widely covered in the press.[75]
The presidential campaign was her first exposure to the national political scene; even before the field of Democratic candidates was narrowed to two, she was considered the least famous of the candidates' spouses.[65] Early in the campaign, she told anecdotes about the Obama family life; however, as the press began to emphasize her sarcasm, she toned it down.[58][64] The New York Times op-ed columnist Maureen Dowd wrote:
I wince a bit when Michelle Obama chides her husband as a mere mortal – a comic routine that rests on the presumption that we see him as a god ... But it may not be smart politics to mock him in a way that turns him from the glam JFK into the mundane Gerald Ford, toasting his own English muffin. If all Senator Obama is peddling is the Camelot mystique, why debunk this mystique?[65][76]
On the first night of the 2008 Democratic National Convention, Craig Robinson introduced his younger sister.[77] She delivered her speech, during which she sought to portray herself and her family as the embodiment of the American Dream.[78] Obama said both she and her husband believed "that you work hard for what you want in life, that your word is your bond, and you do what you say you're going to do, that you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don't know them, and even if you don't agree with them."[79] She also emphasized loving her country, in response to criticism for her previous statements about feeling proud of her country for the first time.[78][80][81] That keynote address was largely well received and drew mostly positive reviews.[82] A Rasmussen Reports poll found that her favorability among Americans reached 55%.[83]
On an October 6, 2008 broadcast, Larry King asked her if the American electorate was past the Bradley effect. She stated that her husband's achievement of the nomination was a fairly strong indicator that it was.[84] The same night she also was interviewed by Jon Stewart on The Daily Show where she deflected criticism of her husband and his campaign.[85] On Fox News' America's Pulse, E. D. Hill referred to the fist bump shared by the Obamas on the night that he clinched the Democratic presidential nomination as a "terrorist fist jab"; Hill was taken off air and the show itself was cancelled.[86][87][88]
During her early months as First Lady, she visited homeless shelters and soup kitchens.[89] She also sent representatives to schools and advocated public service.[89][90]
Obama advocated for her husband's policy priorities by promoting bills that support it. Obama hosted a White House reception for women's rights advocates in celebration of the enactment of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 Pay equity law. She supported the economic stimulus bill in visits to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and United States Department of Education. Some observers looked favorably upon her legislative activities, while others said that she should be less involved in politics. According to her representatives, she intends to visit all United States Cabinet-level agencies in order to get acquainted with Washington.[91]
On June 5, 2009, the White House announced that Michelle Obama was replacing her current chief of staff, Jackie Norris, with Susan Sher, a longtime friend and adviser. Norris became a senior adviser to the Corporation for National and Community Service.[92]
Other initiatives of First Lady Michelle Obama include advocating on behalf of military families, helping working women balance career and family, encouraging national service, and promoting the arts and arts education.[93][94] Obama has made supporting military families and spouses a personal mission and has been increasingly bonding with military families. According to her aides, stories of the sacrifice these families make move her to tears.[94]
In November 2013, a Politico article by Michelle Cottle accusing Obama of being a "feminist nightmare" for not using her position and education to advocate for women's issues was sharply criticized across the political spectrum.[95][96][97] Cottle quoted Linda Hirshman saying of Obama's trendy styles, promotion of gardening and healthy eating, and support of military families that "She essentially became the English lady of the manor, Tory Party, circa 1830s."[95] A prominent critic of Cottle was MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry, who rhetorically asked "Are you serious?"[97][98] Supporters of Obama note that the First Lady has been one of the only people in the administration to address obesity, through promoting good eating habits, which is one of the leading US public health crises.[99]
In March 2014, Obama posted on a blog on the White House website that she and her two daughters Malia and Sasha, and her mother Marian Robinson, would visit China later that month. She met with Peng Liyuan, the wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping and visited historic and cultural sites, as well as a university and two high schools.[100] In May 2014, Obama joined the campaign to bring back school girls who had been kidnapped in Nigeria. The First Lady tweeted a picture of herself holding a poster with the #bringbackourgirls campaign hashtag.[101]
Obama's predecessors Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush supported the organic movement by instructing the White House kitchens to buy organic food, and Obama extended their efforts toward healthy eating by planting the White House Kitchen Garden, an organic garden, the first White House vegetable garden since Eleanor Roosevelt served as First Lady, and installing bee hives, on the South Lawn of the White House. The garden supplied organic produce and honey to the First Family and for state dinners and other official gatherings.[102][103][104][105]
In January 2010, Obama undertook her first lead role in an administration-wide initiative, which she named "Let's Move!," to make progress in reversing the 21st century trend of childhood obesity.[104][106] On February 9, 2010, the First Lady announced Let's Move! and President Barack Obama created the Task Force on Childhood Obesity to review all current programs and create a national plan towards change.[107] Michelle Obama stated that her goal was to make this effort her legacy: "I want to leave something behind that we can say, 'Because of this time that this person spent here, this thing has changed.' And my hope is that that's going to be in the area of childhood obesity."[104] Her 2012 book American Grown: The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America is based on her experiences with the garden and promotes healthy eating.[108] Her call for action on healthy eating has been echoed by the United States Department of Defense, which has been facing an ever expanding problem of recruit obesity.[109]
In the 2008 US presidential election, Michelle boasted, to gay Democrat groups, of her husband's record on LGBT rights: his support of the Illinois Human Rights Act, the Illinois gender violence act, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell, and full repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, civil unions; along with hate crimes protection for sexual orientation and gender identity and renewed effort to fight HIV and AIDS. They have both been opponents of constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage in the federal, California, and Florida constitutions. She said that the US Supreme Court delivered justice in the Lawrence v. Texas case and drew a connection between the struggles for gay rights and civil rights by stating "We are all only here because of those who marched and bled and died, from Selma to Stonewall, in the pursuit of a more perfect union."[110][111][112]
After the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell on September 20, 2011, Michelle Obama included openly gay service members in her national military families initiative.[113] On May 9, 2012, Barack and Michelle Obama came out publicly in favor of same-sex marriage. Prior to this, Michelle Obama had never stated her position on same-sex marriage publicly. Senior White House officials claim that Michelle Obama and Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett had been the two most consistent advocates for same-sex marriage in Barack Obama's life.[114] Michelle went on to say that "This is an important issue for millions of Americans, and for Barack and me, it really comes down to the values of fairness and equality we want to pass down to our girls. These are basic values that kids learn at a very young age and that we encourage them to apply in all areas of their lives. And in a country where we teach our children that everyone is equal under the law, discriminating against same-sex couples just isn't right. It's as simple as that."[115] At the 2012 DNC Michelle said "Barack knows the American Dream because he's lived it ... and he wants everyone in this country to have that same opportunity, no matter who we are, or where we're from, or what we look like, or who we love."[116]
With the ascent of her husband as a prominent national politician, Michelle Obama has become a part of popular culture. In May 2006, Essence listed her among "25 of the World's Most Inspiring Women."[117][118] In July 2007, Vanity Fair listed her among "10 of the World's Best Dressed People." She was an honorary guest at Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball as a "young'un" paying tribute to the 'Legends,' who helped pave the way for African American women. In September 2007, 02138 magazine listed her 58th of 'The Harvard 100'; a list of the prior year's most influential Harvard alumni. Her husband was ranked fourth.[117][119] In July 2008, she made a repeat appearance on the Vanity Fair international best dressed list.[120] She also appeared on the 2008 People list of best-dressed women and was praised by the magazine for her "classic and confident" look.[121][122]
At the time of her husband's election, some sources anticipated that as a high-profile African-American woman in a stable marriage she would be a positive role model who would influence the view the world has of African-Americans.[123][124] Her fashion choices were part of the 2009 Fashion week,[125] but Obama's influence in the field did not have the impact on the paucity of African-American models who participate, that some thought it might.[126][127]
Her public support grew in her early months as First Lady,[89][128] as she was accepted as a role model.[89] On her first trip abroad in April 2009, she toured a cancer ward with Sarah Brown, wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.[129] Newsweek described her first trip abroad as an exhibition of her so-called "star power"[128] and MSN described it as a display of sartorial elegance.[118] Questions were raised by some in the American and British media regarding protocol when the Obamas met Queen Elizabeth II[130] and Michelle reciprocated a touch on her back by the Queen during a reception, purportedly against traditional royal etiquette.[130][131] Palace sources denied that any breach in etiquette had occurred.[132]
She has been compared to Jacqueline Kennedy due to her sense of style,[120] and also to Barbara Bush for her discipline and decorum.[133][134] Obama's style has been described as "fashion populist."[33] In 2010, she wore clothes, many high end, from more than 50 design companies with less expensive pieces from J.Crew and Target, and the same year a study found that her patronage was worth an average of $14 million to a company.[135] She became a fashion trendsetter, in particular favoring sleeveless dresses, including her first-term official portrait in a dress by Michael Kors, and her ball gowns designed by Jason Wu for both inaugurals.[136]
She appeared on the cover and in a photo spread in the March 2009 issue of Vogue.[137][138] Every First Lady since Lou Hoover (except Bess Truman) has been in Vogue,[137] but only Hillary Clinton had previously appeared on the cover.[139] In August 2011, she appeared on the cover of Better Homes and Gardens magazine, the first person to do so in 48 years, and the first woman.[140] During the 2013 Academy Awards, she became the first First Lady to announce the winner of an Oscar (Best Picture which went to Argo).[141]
The media have been criticized for focusing more on the First Lady's fashion sense than her serious contributions.[33][142] She has stated that she would like to focus attention as First Lady on issues of concern to military and working families.[123][143][144] In 2008 U.S. News & World Report blogger, PBS host and Scripps Howard columnist Bonnie Erbé argued that Obama's own publicists seemed to be feeding the emphasis on style over substance.[145] Erbé has stated on several occasions that Obama is miscasting herself by overemphasizing style.[49][146]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Michelle Obama. |
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Honorary titles | ||
Preceded by Laura Bush | First Lady of the United States 2009–present | Incumbent |
Honorary Chair of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities Serving with Chairwoman Rachel Goslins 2009–present |