text:
posted: Jun. 10, 2011 @ 1:42p
Rest in peace
Sleeping Catwallet
Cat, 6/15
Cat in her cage, 6/14
The final estimate, 6/14
Second estimate, Monday 6/13
Cat, 6/12
Cat inside, end of Saturday, 6/11
Cat in her cage outside, 6/11
Receipt for the exam
I came home yesterday at night, and ran over a sleeping female stray cat on my driveway. Grey cat, long grey gravel driveway just didnt see her. It is not our cat, but we give her food from time to time, like 2 or 3 other neighbors. Usually, Im not a sensitive person but seeing a crying animal under my car drugging her legs wasnt pleasant. I told myself that if I see any blood in her mouth or other body openings, Ill have to help her to die, but I didnt find any signs of blood. My idea was that her legs or pelvic, or both are broken.
It was 11 pm, so I placed the cat into a cardboard box to protect from possible dangers (stray dogs etc) and left it on my porch until this morning.
This morning she was alive, so I decided to take her to a local vet. When I said stray cat they wanted to put her asleep for free, but when I mentioned that Id like to try to save her life, they said that they have to do X-ray to find out what the damage is. The doctor said that a broken pelvic is usually a reason to put a cat to sleep so it doesnt have a bad life after all, but a broken leg is not a problem. Also, the doctor said, it may be something simple and nothing may be broken to begin with. The cost of X-ray and exam is around $200, and put the cat asleep is free since it is a stray cat (I told them that I found the cat on my front yard). A true FW person inside of me told me to take the 2nd way, but because Im stupid I guess I decided to pay for the exam. Yes or No to decide that a live creature has to live or die may be hard to say when it comes to that. I dont really have extra $200 to spend on a stray cat, but WTF I didnt want to kill her without giving her a chance.
They called me an hour ago and said that the cat doesnt have any broken bones but one of her leg joints is badly dislocated and cat needs (may need?) a surgery to reattach one of her muscles. The cost of the surgery is around $500. To put her asleep is $40 now since I signed the paperwork and claimed the ownership. When I asked if the cat can recover on her own if I put her into a large dog cage I have for 3-4 weeks on my back porch, they told me it is possible, but I will have to give her pain killers they can give me for $40. And after that, she still may not recover completely.
What is your advice, people? What is a way for a true Fatwaller to have his/her animal fixed for the smallest money possible? I called a local animal shelter but they can only euthanize her. No way I can afford to spend extra $500 for a cat surgery when my relatives abroad barely have money to buy food. From my past life in a country with no vets around I know that cats are very capable to recover on their own, but still I dont want to have a disabled cat after all I have to take care for the rest of her life.
I will add a picture of the stupid cat my wife took a long time ago. The cat looks ugly as hell and was always missing one lip, but still - she is a cat
Update (11.30pm Central Time 6/10)
The cat will have her surgery (Femoral head ostectomy) done the next week. The original vet (see the estimate attached) can do it Thursday, 6/16. I will check another place nearby and will try to contact Jeff state community college that has a vet school to see if they can do it sooner (and cheaper) than that. I will do my best to convince my wife to keep the cat after the surgery.
Thank you everyone for your time to answer my original post, advise, support of the cat, sending me money via PayPal. Right now I have $195.18 USD sent to my PayPal account for the cat from 7 people. I promise to email them unedited copies of the original receipts as soon as I can. I also promise to keep everyone here posted on the outcome of the surgery and post here the final receipt and pictures.
Update (around 3:26 pm 6/11)
The cat is in her cage now (the cage is for large dogs, so it has plenty of space), with food and water. I have put a litter box for her and to my surprise she used it drugging her body into it. While checking on her I found that she is declawed - I don't know how she has survived her 2 years outside in Alabama country (the vet said that she is about 2 years old).
It is very hot outside today and I started feeling bad for the cat seating under the tarp and breathing hard; I had to bribe my wife by telling her go and use a not-so-good Old Navy $10 off $50 coupon to bring the cage inside and keep it in my garage (the only room under my control more or less).
After me cleaning her crap for all the days ahead I may not give the cat away after all, so, please, disregard my offer to give the her away for now.
At this moment I have $329.59 USD sent to my PayPal account by 17 people.
Update 6/11 (Saturday), around 11.45 pm
The cat likes to be in the garage in her cage I think. She is relaxed, sleeps most of the time and eats quite well. She loved when I tried pet her a little bit (it sounds wrong when I admit on public that I tried to pet a female cat for some reason, I don't know why), and had a very strange reaction for a cat - started licking my fingers like a dog, non-stop, making a loud sound. Love hungry? I don't know, but that's what my wife thinks. After drinking some wine tonight, my wife said that cat doesn't look too ugly after that and she will get used to her she thinks. My wife is still in shock after FW thing, so she feels bad that she didn't like the cat before.
I have $481.39 USD sent to my PayPal for the cat from 21 people. I will be emailing unedited estimate to all of them tonight.
Update, around 11 pm, Sunday 6/12
The cat is doing OK in her cage, eats and drinks well. She can barely stand and shakes a lot while trying to do that, but still drugs her body into the litter box to use it. I had to give her Metacam pain killer she's got from the vet. The label on that one says use it for dogs only and never give it to cats, but there is no other effective medicine for cats for arthritis and so on pain I was told, so vets continue prescribe Metacam in small doses. They say in Canada it is considered to be safe for cats, but litigation here makes the label a necessary thing. The cat should be getting Metacam in a 5 lbs dose every 3 days.
Finance, 6/12
I have $761.39 USD sent to my PayPal account from 35 people. It should be more than enough to cover the cat's surgery, vaccination, possible boarding overnight and so on. Thank you to all of you who did it. I know you didn't do it for me and I shouldn't thank you because it is not what you were looking for when you send your money. But Cat can't thank you so I have to do it.
If I get anything extra later on sent to my PayPal or a different way (some folks told me they want to send personal checks) I will use it to cover $197 I spent on the cat's X-Ray, exam and pain killers, so don't send me money, please, if you don't want me to use it for that - I asked about the surgery and the surgery is fully covered as of today by 35 kind people, absolute strangers from Internet I don't know. $197 was my personal spending on the cat and I shouldn't cover it with the money sent for the surgery, but if you send me money now, when surgery is fully covered, I use your money to cover $197 because I'm a "broke member". Once again, the surgery is fully covered! Yes! Thank you, dear FW people! Whatever is left after all, is going to be donated to a local animal support group that has cats seating in glass boxes at my local PETsMART waiting for their new owners.
I promise to report how I'm going to spend every cent of the money and provide all the receipts after all.
Monday, 6/13, around noon
Ive got another estimate from a local animal clinic this morning (attached). They played with numbers a little bit and added some extra things the first place did not, but the most important thing they have mentioned the Cat needs to have her Leukemia (FIV) test done. Since we have another cat at home (my wifes cat), FIV and proper vaccination are extremely important to prevent our cat to get infected. The total with the surgery at the second clinic is $650 makes the first clinic still to be a better deal even if they add $45 FIV test, $22 Leukemia vaccination and $12 rabies. But I need to find out about the surgery supplies to have the true cost.
After doing some research I have decided not to check our local community college that has a vet program. Since Cat has money for a surgery with a pro, I dont want a student to train on it. A vet class is a nice option with no money on hand to save an animal, but since FW folks has covered the surgery Ill skip this option.
Im going to stop by at the first place (Deerfoot animal clinic) tomorrow morning on my way to work to get the original estimate updated to get their price and to schedule the surgery for Thursday if their deal with all the vaccination and tests is below $650.
Finance update (around 10 pm, Monday, 6/13)
PayPal - $1,014.64 USD from 44 people. Amazon payments - $10 from 1 person.
Thank you! It is more than enough for anything at the moment, dear all, so please don't send any money anymore. Everything I may think of as of today is covered by you, 45 strangers from FW, and I promise to keep you updated on everything. I still need to send unedited copies of the 1st estimate to some of you - sorry, didn't have time for that but will do it ASAP.
Update, 6/14
I have the estimate from Deerfoot Animal Clinic revised by their doctor to include Rabies and FVRCP vaccination, and a combo test. Total price is $592.40 now, so it is a better deal than the 2nd place I tried. I talked about the cats lip. The cat had a very bad ulcer a long time ago that has destroyed her upper lip. There is no infection now and it there is no need to do a surgery on that.
We have the official surgery date now it is 6/16, Thursday. The surgery will be performed by doctor Russell. I will deliver the cat to the clinic on my way to work at around 8 am.
Update, 6/15
The cat is OK and is waiting on her surgery tomorrow morning. She cant eat or drink anything after midnight tonight, so she is eating now all the time.
PayPal: $1,024.05 USD from 45 people, Amazon Payments: $10 from 1 person. I sent unedited estimate to all of you (one email - email@example.com was returned as undeliverable).
Update, Thursday, 6/16, 9:23 am
The surgery day is today! Cat was delivered to the clinic about an hour ago. I have added some blood work tests they recommend to any pet before sedation, and also asked to check her for ear infection and for worms, including ringworm. They will call me after the surgery to let me know how the Cat is doing. I will update you ASAP.
Update, 12.10 pm
Ive got a call from Dr. Russell 15 min ago. The Cats combo tests are all fine, but he found something else so he wanted to confirm that I still want him to proceed with the surgery. There is an abnormal growth of body tissue in the Cats throat that may or may not be cancerous. He wanted to make sure that I want him to perform a $600 surgery for a cat that may not live long. He sounded like the second possibility is really possible, but didnt confirm anything when I asked him directly since he doesnt know what that is without additional testing. After some thinking I told him to proceed with the surgery and take a test of that area to see what is going on. It is a $80 test, but since we have money to cover it and want to know what is going on, I think it makes sense.
That tissue growth(I dont know if it is a tumor or what) in Cats throat may explain the fact that the Cat was always very quiet during 2 years we know her, we could barely hear her meowing. Well, if she was like that for 2 years, there is a chance that it may be not too bad.
I will let you know ASAP when I hear anything else.
I just got a call from Doctor Russell. The cat went into cardiac arrest and passed away during the surgery. They did their best he says but couldn't do anything. He told me it may be related to that tissue growth she had. His opinion is that it was probably the best thing for her he is sure that Cat has cancer spread everywhere. You can call him if you wish to find out more: 205-661-9630.
I will get her later on to burry on my backyard. I will refund everybodys money end of today. Please use it to help other stray animals. God bless you all and thank you for everything you did for her.
Friday, 6/17
Ive got Catwallet back this morning. She looked exactly the same like on her last photo that I took while the Cat was asleep, just had some stitches on her left leg. I have finished her 3 foot deep grave and we have buried her under raspberry bushes. We do not go to that area of our backyard so the Cat will rest in peace, finally, after all the months of straggling with heat, cold, Alabama wilderness, illnesses, looking for food and love.
A long time ago Ive heard a story about Angels coming to us not to help, but to change us. They come in different, usually not the most unattractive shapes, and patiently wait for us to step forward and do something good something that we usually never do. If that story is true, then who knows, maybe this little ugly cat was sent to try to change me and my wife. She came to the front door of our house two weeks before our daughter was born, 17 month ago, and since then, under rain, sun and snow, was patiently waiting on us to step forward - to see her not like an ugly annoying stray cat, but as a helpless creature that also needs love and attention. For many long months, she has taught us to share food, provide a little bit of care, to notice unattractive and annoying poor things that we usually dont see or dont want to see around us while busy with our own, more important stuff. And when kitty has finally found that she is loved, that all her efforts to make me and my wife a little bit better are finally successful, that there are actually many, many people in this World that can love her the way she is, that sent their money to help her, that were thinking about her for all these days, she got satisfied and went somewhere else - on her new assignment.
It is Catwallet story I will remember and will teach my daughter when she gets older. Thank you all


text:
All Star Series Lowrider Muffler
3A Racing released an exclusive series of patented muffler designs for hot-rods, lowriders, and street rods. Constructed from full stainless T304, it's perfect for vehicles with lowered suspensions or limited mounting space. The All Star Series lowrider muffler increases exhaust flow and produces up to 40 percent less back pressure compared to stock mufflers. It's available in both single- and dual-tip styles. www.3aracing.com, West Coast 310.436.3600, East Coast 718.886.6600
Tubing Bending Pliers
Dynapex Tubing Bending pliers make bending tubing as easy as bending steel wire with regular pliers for brake lines, fuel lines, and other tubing lines on and off your vehicle. www.dynapex.net
Trailer Ramps For Your Low Ride
Brute Industries, manufacturers of Race Ramps, offers its patented Trailer Ramps to help get low-ground-clearance vehicles onto trailers without scraping the nose on the trailer ramp door. Trailer Ramps are another innovative use of Brute Industries' patented, super-lightweight, 100 percent solid construction technology. Simply place the trailer door or existing ramps [see photo] of your open trailer on the notch of these specially designed ramps for a more gradual angle of approach-4-inch high ramps are 46 inches long and 14 inches wide, reduce the angle of approach to 5.5 degrees, and can accommodate tires up to 12 inches wide. Trailer Ramps are lightweight and have built-in straps to allow easy transport and the ability to be hung on a wall. Trailer Ramps are easy to clean and won't rust. www.raceramps.com
Power Window Push and Pull Switch Kits
SPAL USA has expanded its power window aftermarket product line with the new power window Push and Pull switch kit. The Push and Pull switch kit (part number 33040174) is a universal two-door kit designed to be flush-mounted to nearly any vehicle door for a high-quality appearance and simple operation. The kit includes all the components necessary for installation: three push-pull switches, one single frame, one double frame parallel, one double frame horizontal, and wiring harness. www.spalusa.com
3-In-One No-Rust Shield
Protect your tools and equipment with the new 3-In-One No-Rust Shield. It was developed at the WD-40 Research and Development Center and offers state-of-the-art technology coupled with the respected 3-In-One name, all from a company with more than 50 years of experience in developing high-quality products at a great value. Metal-seeking vapor phase corrosion inhibitors (VpCI) from the product migrate through an enclosed space to form an invisible layer that seals metals against air and moisture, which can cause rust and corrosion. The unit protects exposed metal in enclosed spaces without harmful effects on electrical, mechanical, or chemical properties. www.3inone.com
New '55 and '57 Bel Air Convertible Body Shells
Who says time travel is impossible? Bob's Classic Chevy can take you back to the '50s with brand-new reproduction '55 and '57 Bel Air convertible body shells. Built to OEM specifications, the shell features heavy-gauge, spot-welded steel, including fenders, quarter panels, doors, hinged hood and deck lid, braces, and floor pans, and is ready to mount onto an original or custom chassis. 866.572.4389
New Valve Covers for your Small-Block
Specialty Auto Parts USA has done it again with the new dynamite surface finishes coupled with a dynamic new design to highlight these valve covers. Specialty Auto's all-new slant edge die-cast aluminum covers have been licensed by GM Performance Parts to carry the Bow Tie and Chevrolet name, which are reserved for premium-quality products only. The breather grommet is supplied with each cover, and a no-emblem, highly polished, slant-edge version is also available. Specialty Auto Parts stylish but aggressive-looking valve covers fit any '58-'86 Chevy small-block and are available in black crinkle, polished, chrome, metallic gray, or Chevy Orange, and feature raised or recessed logo styles. The design allows for the use of larger rockers and the covers include an OE-style oil baffle. www.proformparts.com
Vintage Air Sure Fit For '61-'64 Chevy Impalas
This Gen IVT climate control system now delivers Vintage Air's famous just-right temperatures and dehumidified defrost to '61-'64 Chevrolet Impalas. Sure Fit Chevrolet A/C, heating, and defrost systems are designed specifically for your classic Chevy. The Gen IVT uses an exclusive, fully electronic microprocessor control system that requires no cables or vacuum connections. Separate heating and cooling coils and a SPAL permanent magnet blower motor give you maximum capacity and performance. The kit includes all the parts to modify your factory controls with their new cable converter slide potentiometer adapters. Sure Fit systems attach to existing holes in your dash and firewall in most cases. Vintage Air has provided high-quality climate control systems to the lowrider and classic car industry for over 30 years. www.vintageair.com, 800.862.6658
Firehawk Heavy-Duty Floor Mats
Designed and manufactured by American Auto Accessories, it is the automotive industry's first all-tire tread pattern floor mat based on Firestone's performance tires. Each Firehawk floor mat is constructed from durable thermal plastic rubber with raised contours to trap mud, snow, and all debris. Available in both two- and four-piece sets with trim to fit designs for all hot-rods, lowriders, or street rods. www.3aracing.com
High-Performance OE Prototype for Motorcycles
Kicker continually reaches new heights with the most innovative products and ideas, so it's no surprise that the quintessential mobile-audio leader will now take its signature sound on a different ride down the highway. It has developed a high-performance OE audio system, complete with pounding bass for motorcycles. The system consists of dual mid- and high-frequency drivers mounted in the Street Glide's trademark "Bat Wing" fairing, along with a pair of 10-inch subwoofers installed in custom-fabricated, hard-covered saddlebags. The bags are styled to complement the original classic lines of this popular touring bike. www.kicker.com

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Cordless Phones
Corded Phones
Personal Care
Home Appliances
Home Ventilation
Cameras & Camcorders
Business Systems
Fax & Printers
Panasonic RP-HJE350-Silver
Brand New
Includes 90 Days Warranty
+ View Larger Image
No Longer Manufactured
Product Details
Panasonic RP-HJE350
in-ear headphones offer high-quality audio in a
lightweight and portable design
. In action the '350s have good bass extension and clear, full vocal delivery, and all-round attack is short of the very best. Anti-touch noise slider, which is essentially a clasp that clips around the back of the neck and helps prevent noise being carried up the cable.
The RP-HJE350s are carefully shaped to sit comfortably in the ear without burrowing deep. The headphones feature 10.7mm neodymium drivers to deliver crisp, clear audio with a wide frequency response. The Slimz design and 2-step cushion keep the headphones small and provide a comfortable fit. A
clear sound cord slider
allows you to adjust the cable's under-chin tension. The Slimz design and
2-step cushion
keep the headphones small and provide a comfortable fit. The ErgoFit design and 3 sizes of soft silicone eartips provide a
stable and comfortable fit
that also helps to block out unwanted environmental noise.
RP-HJE350 Features:
Ear Bud Headphones
Lightweight & Portable Slimz Design With A 2-Step Cushion
Comes w/ 3 Pairs of Ear Pads
10.7mm (0.42")Neodymium Rare Earth Magnet Drivers
-8 Times Stronger Magnet Power Gives Higher Sensitivity & Wider Frequency Response
Deliver Crisp, Clear Audio
ErgoFit Design & 3 Sizes Of Soft Silicone Eartips
Clear Sound Cord Slider
Adjustable Cable's Under-Chin Tension
ErgoFit Design
Impedance: 16 ohms
Frequency Response: 6Hz-24kHz
100dB/mW Sensitivity
200mW Maximum Input Power
3.5mm Stereo Mini Plug
The Panasonic RP-HJE350-S has lots of exciting features for all customers. PremiumStore sells the Panasonic RP-HJE350-S as a Brand New item. These are just a few of the reasons to buy a Panasonic RP-HJE350-S from PremiumStore today!
About Us
Contact Us
Our Guarantee
Privacy Policy
Return Policy
Order Status
All logos displayed on this page are registered trademarks with their respective organizations.
: PremiumStore.com is an independently owned retailer of consumer products.
Copyright © 2017


text:
- Description
- Tasting Notes
- What's Inside
- Shipping
- Occasions
They will be thrilled to receive this bright and cheerful tower packed full of a variety of delicious sweet and savory snacks to satisfy their every craving.
Gift Includes:
- Chocolate Covered Fruit
- Icewine Truffles
- Chili Pistachios
- White Cheddar Gourmet Popcorn
- Mixed Dried Fruits
- See the What's Inside tab for a detailed description of each item
- Six vibrant boxes stacked together to make a tower
- Exclusively designed keepsake gift boxes
- Scissors for easy opening
- Arrives decorated with a beautiful satin ribbon
Measures 15.5" H.Gift #17256
For holiday delivery, GiftTree can hold your gift and have it shipped to arrive anytime. To use this option, select "Ship Later" on the next page.
Sweet & Savory Snack Tower is a hand delivered gift. These gifts are delivered by one of our local design centers located throughout the United States and Canada.
Same day delivery is available for most gifts when ordered before the cutoff time. The cutoff time for Sweet & Savory Snack Tower is in the recipient's time zone.
Chili PistachiosFresh pistachios are blanketed in a spicy chili seasoning to give a new flavor to an old favorite. 4 oz
Fanciful FruitsChoice dried fruit picked from California's fertile valleys. Includes apricots, plums, and more. A wholesome, delicious snack from Torn Ranch. 8 oz
Lemon Raspberry CookiesA sweet, crisp lemon cookie exterior and a sweet raspberry filled interior, dusted in powdered sugar for an extra special touch. 5 oz
Chocolate FruitColors, sizes, and shapes abound in this bright collection of chocolate covered fruits. Includes apples, apricots, cranberries, blueberries, and cherries. 4 oz
Ice Wine TrufflesA luscious truffle center hidden in a decadent milk chocolate covering. Pure joy! Hand-crafted in Canada. 5 included. Five included
White Cheddar Gourmet PopcornPremium, all-natural popcorn generously coated in savory white cheddar cheese and spice blends. 1 oz
Sweet & Savory Snack Tower has been purchased most frequently by our customers for the following occasions:


text:
Mediterranean Oil and Gas (MOG) announced to the London Stock Exchange late Thursday (London time) that it "continues to refute" claims against it concerning a deal involving the Malta Area 4 production sharing contract. The statement came after Leni Gas and Oil announced Thursday lunchtime (London time) that it had begun legal proceedings against MOG in the High Court of England and Wales.
The news follows a September 2012 announcement from Leni that it had instructed lawyers to force disclosure from MOG about a deal made in late August in which Genel Energy agreed to pay MOG $10 million in return for a 75-percent stake in the Area 4 license. The Genel deal came less than a month after another deal in which Leni sold its 10-percent interest in Area 4 to MOG.
Leni previously said it wants to know what MOG knew about Genel's interest was in Area 4 at the time of its sale of its 10-percent interest in the license.
In a statement, Leni Chief Executive Neil Ritson said Thursday: "We have repeatedly asked MOG to answer simple questions explaining the facts at the time the company agreed to sell its interest and since we have not had what we regard as satisfactory answers, LGO's board has found itself with no option but to seek relief through the courts."
Leni Chairman David Lenigas added: "The company's strong view is that it was misled by MOG at the time LGO sold its 10% interest on July 31, 2012. As MOG won't confirm the facts, we will now let the Court decide on the matter."
MOG responded in its own statement Thursday that it continues to refute the various claims which have been made by Leni and that it "has addressed these allegations in lengthy and detailed correspondence over a period of four months", adding that "the allegations made are unfounded and the company will defend itself and the interests of its shareholders rigorously and will seek indemnity costs against [Leni Gas and Oil]".
Click on the button below to add a comment.
Generated by readers, the comments included herein do not reflect the views and opinions of Rigzone. All comments are subject to editorial review. Off-topic, inappropriate or insulting comments will be removed.
Related Companies
More from this Author
Most Popular Articles
Regional News
From the Career Center
Jobs that may interest you


text:
Get daily updates via RSS
View all posts by: Victor Caballero
Priceline.com - no one deals like we do!
Click here to check out Lowe's current promotions.
Click Here for Newegg.com Clearance Items.
Living Social
Groupon Los Angeles Daily Deals
Yelp Daily Deals:
Lending Club P2P Borrowing and Lending:
Lending Club
Prosper P2P Borrowing and Lending:
Lot18 Exclusive Wine Deals:
Lot 18 Invitation Link


text:
VALIANT CAPTIVIA Post-market Registry (VCOUS)
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- Study Results
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
The Valiant Thoracic Stent Graft has been preloaded on the new Captivia Delivery System (Captivia). This new delivery system was CE marked on September 14th, 2009 and was commercially released in the European Union on October 1st, 2009.
The Valiant Thoracic Stent Graft with the Captivia Delivery System (Valiant Captivia) is designed to treat diseases of the descending thoracic aorta including but not limited to aneurysms and dissections.
The purpose of the VALIANT CAPTIVIA Registry is to collect and evaluate mid term clinical performance data of the Valiant Captivia Thoracic Stent Graft System following OUS market approval.
|Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic
|Device: TEVAR
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Observational Model: Cohort
Time Perspective: Prospective
|Official Title:
|VALIANT CAPTIVIA Post-market Registry A Multi-center, Post-market, Non Interventional, Prospective Study
- Treatment Success [ Time Frame: at 30 days, 12 months, 24 months and 36 months ]
technical success and freedom from
- TAA diameter increase of stented segment (>5mm compared to 1 mo),
- Types I/III endoleak,
- Aneurysm rupture,
- Conversion to open surgery,
- Stent graft occlusion,
- Stent graft migration resulting in SAE or secondary intervention.
- Technical Success at Time of Initial Implant [ Time Frame: intraoperatively ]Technical success is defined as successful delivery and deployment of the stent graft (assessed intraoperatively). This is achieved by deployment of the Valiant Thoracic Stent Graft in the planned location with no unintentional coverage of the left subclavian artery, left common carotid artery and/or brachiocephalic artery and with the removal of the delivery system
- SAE [ Time Frame: through 12 months ]Serious Adverse Events (SAE)
- ACM and ARM [ Time Frame: at 30 days, 12 months, 24 months and 36 months ]All-cause (ACM), Aneurysm related (ARM) and dissection related mortality
|Study Start Date:
|February 2010
|Study Completion Date:
|August 2013
|Primary Completion Date:
|March 2013 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Assigned Interventions
patients undergoing TEVAR
Those with a thoracic aortic aneurysm/dissection
Device: TEVAR
Thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair
Other Name: Valiant Captivia stent graft system
Detailed Description:
Use of controls
This study is a post-market registry without using a control. All analyses will be descriptive in nature and no statistical comparisons are planned.
Sample size
- There is no sample size calculation since this is not a hypothesis driven study; VALIANT CAPTIVIA has recruited 100 subjects and will follow these subjects through for approximately 36 months.
Number of investigation sites and study duration
- 15 investigation sites in Europe and Turkey where the Valiant Captivia Thoracic Stent Graft System is commercially available have enrolled 100 subjects.
- There will be no minimum nor maximum number of enrolled subjects per investigation site.
- The sites' compliance with the clinical investigation plan will be assessed on an ongoing basis. In case of serious non-compliance, the sponsor may decide to stop subject enrolment in a site based on the assessment.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|Child, Adult, Senior
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
|Sampling Method:
|Non-Probability Sample
The Valiant Thoracic Stent Graft with the Captivia Delivery System is indicated for treatment of diseases of the descending thoracic aorta including but not limited to aneurysms and dissections. The Valiant Thoracic Stent Graft is indicated for exclusion of the aneurysm, the false lumen or site of rupture and restoration of blood flow through the stent graft lumen. The device is intended for use in subjects who are candidates for conventional surgical repair, and in subjects who are not candidates for conventional surgical repair due to pre-existing risk factors.
Study enrolment is open to subjects who in the opinion of the investigator are candidates for endovascular TAA repair with the Valiant Captivia Thoracic Stent Graft System according to the instructions for use (IFU).
Inclusion criteria
- Age ≥ 18 years or minimum age as required by local regulations
- Indication for surgical repair of thoracic aortic aneurysms and/or thoracic aortic dissections with an thoracic endovascular stent graft in accordance with the applicable guidelines on endovascular interventions and the Instructions for Use of the Valiant Captivia Thoracic Stent Graft System
- Signed consent form ('Patient informed consent form' or 'Patient Data Release Authorization Form')
- Intention to implant the Valiant Captivia Thoracic Stent Graft System or having implanted the system within the last 3 months before subject enrollment
- Willingness and ability to comply with the CIP
Exclusion criteria
- High probability of non-adherence to physician's follow-up requirements
- Participation in concurrent interventional trial which may confound study results
- Prior implantation of a thoracic stent graft
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01181947
|Medical University of Innsbruck
|Innsbruck, Austria, 6020
|Klinikum der J.W.Goethe-Universitat
|Frankfurt am Main, Germany, D-60590
|Klinikum der Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe - Institut fur Diagnostische und Interventionelle Radiologie
|Frankfurt am Main, Germany, D-60590
|Medizinische Hochschule Hannover
|Hannover, Germany, 30625
|St Franziskus Hospital GmbH
|Muenster, Germany, 48145
|Krankenhaus Barmherzige Bruder Regensburg
|Regensburg, Germany, 93049
|Universitatsklinikum Ulm
|Ulm, Germany, D-89075
|Polyclinic Hospital S.Orsola - Malpighi
|Bologna, Italy, 40138
|Catharina Ziekenhuis
|Eindhoven, Netherlands, 5623 EJ
|St. Antonius Ziekenhuis
|Nieuwegein, Netherlands, 3435EM
|Hospital Clinico Universitario de Valladolid
|Valladolid, Spain, 47005
|Baskent University Ankara Hospital
|Ankara, Turkey, 06490
|Dokuz Eylul University
|Izmir, Turkey
|Ege University Hospital
|Izmir, Turkey
|United Kingdom
|St George`s Hospital
|London, United Kingdom, SW17 0QT
|Principal Investigator:
|Giovanni Torsello, Prof.
|St Franziskus Hospital GmbH
|Principal Investigator:
|Rosella Fattori, Prof.
|Policlinico S.Orsola Malpighi
|Principal Investigator:
|Carlos Vaquero Puerta, Dr.
|Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid
|Principal Investigator:
|Matthew Thompson, Prof.
|St. George's Hospital
|Principal Investigator:
|Werner Jaschke, Prof.
|Medical University of Innsbruck
|Principal Investigator:
|Yigit Goktay, Prof.
|Dokuz Eylül University
|Principal Investigator:
|Karl Heinz Orend, Prof.
|Universitatsklinikum Ulm
|Principal Investigator:
|Omke Teebken, Prof.
|Hannover Medical School
|Principal Investigator:
|Thomas Schmitz-Rixen, Prof.
|Klinikum der J.W.Goethe-Universitat
|Principal Investigator:
|Markus Steinbauer, Dr.
|Krankenhaus Barmherzige Bruder Regensburg
|Principal Investigator:
|Stephan Zangos, Dr.
|Klinikum der Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe - Institut fur Diagnostische und Interventionelle Radiologie
|Principal Investigator:
|Joep Teijink, Dr.
|Catharina Ziekenhuis
|Principal Investigator:
|Robin Heijmen, Dr.
|St. Antonius Ziekenhuis
|Principal Investigator:
|Mustafa Parildar, Prof.
|Ege University Hospital
|Principal Investigator:
|Fatih Boyvat, Prof.
|Baskent University Ankara Hospital
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
|Responsible Party:
|Medtronic Endovascular
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT01181947 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|August 10, 2010
|Results First Received:
|December 17, 2014
|Last Updated:
|January 22, 2015
Keywords provided by Medtronic Endovascular:
Stent graft
thoracic aorta
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Aortic Aneurysm
Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic
Vascular Diseases
Cardiovascular Diseases
Aortic Diseases
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017


text:
Can you even believe it? Me, who isn't a runner, or I guess haven't ever been a runner, needed to go to the store to buy running shoes. For running. Since I've not done this before, I had no idea where to start or what to think. I had the opportunity to check out Finish Line at my local mall, and I honestly had a GREAT experience. My two year old and I were greeted with a friendly welcome, and my anxiety about being the "fat girl" shopping for running shoes were put to rest very quickly. I didn't really think that they'd laugh at me but man, I was nervous. I've lost a lot of weight already and come far in terms of progress with the Couch 2 5k program but I have a long way to go and it felt weird heading to the mall to purchase running shoes!!
Once we were at the women's running shoe section, I realized, very fast, that there wasn't a way for me to make this decision solo. There were like 4 sections just of running shoes- different brands, different styles, different colors- oh gosh, it seemed like the choices were endless!! I did spot this cool little station that can help you narrow things down but honestly, for a novice like me, I wanted serious assistance. Both staff members working were so nice to us and so willing to help me figure out the best shoes for my needs!!
The one thing I knew was that I didn't want black sneakers. That's it, folks. (I also knew immediately that I needed to buy socks, since this silly blogger totally went to the mall FOR a shoe shop wearing sheepskin boots and no socks…seriously, only me!!). Once we had that color exclusion out of the way, I was asked how many miles a week I run, what kind of conditions, am I a distance runner (hello, look at me. But thanks for asking with a straight face, made my day, folks!!). I explained my biggest concern about my feet having grown so much wider (and longer!! or so I thought) since having my kids and my frustration finding shoes of any sort that fit well and were comfortable. We measured my foot (it has NOT gotten longer but yes, wider), and my friendly employee, we'll call him Matthew, was off to get me some shoes to try. While he was gone his coworker, Mary (not her real name) helped me to find some fun running socks (and this is big. I've never worn anything but white ankle socks for exercise, oh, in my life??) which happened to be on sale (woo hoo! Sales!!).
Matthew brought out a ton of shoes for me. Every shoe he brought out, I think it was 4 different brands, he brought in an 8 and an 8.5 because I was on the "line" for both sizes. He explained to me why he brought each shoe out, and I tried all but one pair on (the tongue is one piece with the shoe and it just felt weird going on my foot so I knew I didn't like it) – it was such a nice experience being able to ask questions (some of these felt like I wasn't wearing a shoe, others more like the sneakers I'm accustomed to wearing) and have answers right away- knowledgeable answers. I thought it was great that he brought out four different kinds of shoes- not just brand, but the build and feel and weight of the shoes.
Ultimately, it came down to two pairs for me- and for once in my life I didn't even LOOK at the price tag (I would have) – I was trying to find the right shoe for my foot. Or, well, my feet. You know. So I tried both pair on a few times and walked around, and was torn. I was informed that one pair was normally $130 but on sale for $69. I still wasn't sure what to do. The super cool looking shoes that have pink but 100% look orange from my phone photos? Didn't even feel like I had shoes on my feet. Light and airy. Comfortable. But a change for me. Or the not-super-cool looking but comfortable and familiar feel shoes that were on sale almost half off….what do do. I was really happy that the staff wasn't making me feel rushed or that I was bothering them with my questions and all- both Matthew and Mary really seemed to want me to go home happy with my purchase.
I went with familiarity. Plus the sale price, I won't lie- it helped. But mostly? These shoes WORK for me. They work for my 35 minute jogs (because I can say that now, almost 8 weeks into this program, that I can jog for 35 minutes in.a.row!! My 35 minute jogs on the bike trail or on my street (paved) – no extended distances and not daily wear. This is a great shoe, and I love it. I love the shopping experience I had to get these shoes.
I also have a new favorite place to purchase running shoes. I think eventually I'll have to replace these, and I may have different needs, and I'm sure I'll have tons more questions.
Thanks to Collective Bias and Finish Line for the opportunity to check out the store and get some new shoes for my feet. All opinions are, as always, my own.0


text:
An exhibition of work by students of a Haworth-based painter will continue until Monday.
Class Art is a display of work by students who attend monthly sessions taught by abstract painter Judy Sale.
The exhibitors are Verity Scarlett, Michele Russell, Claire Collen and Judy herself.
Judy said the exhibitors were Yorkshire residents from varied backgrounds and cultures.
She said: "Each has discovered an individual style of working and making art that is totally personal – sometimes having had no art making experience previously.
"The contemporary artwork they have produced is amazing and proves that creativity exists within us all.
"Given the encouragement to experiment and develop, it is surprising what can be achieved."
The pictures can be seen at two separate venues, both in Main Street, H&L Fashions and Embers Restaurant.
Judy is also exhibiting work in exhibition entitled Make Room For The Bike, at the Damside Mill in Jacobs Lane, Haworth, until July 6.
Email email@example.com or call 07805 752611 for further information.


text:
Rachel Weisz
Rachel Weisz has starred in the box-office blockbusters The Mummy and The Mummy Returns. She has also starred in war-buff hits like Enemy at the Gates, in horror flicks like Constantine and dramas The Brothers Bloom, The Fountain and The Lovely Bones. No matter what she's done, though, she's always caught our attention, and she's not about to step out of the spotlight anytime soon. Weisz will starred in the highly anticipated The Bourne Legacy, opposite Jeremy Renner, and she made headlines in June 2011 when she secretly married Mr. Bond himself, Daniel Craig.
AppealWhen Rachel Weisz first caught our eye in The Mummy, she was so sweet, innocent and alluring, she radiated sexiness (and left us wondering where this little angel had been hiding all those years). In the sequel to The Mummy, she not only trimmed up, but added a hint of sexual flirtation to her character that had us reaching for the ice in our sodas. It's hard to imagine that this British version of Monica Bellucci doesn't get hit on constantly, but that's what Rachel claims. She did, however, catch the eye of James Bond himself, Daniel Craig. The couple secretly married in June 2011.
SuccessRachel Weisz's fame is not overwhelming to the point that she can't walk around in public. She says it best when she says, "I'm not a celebrity. I'm an actor."
Rachel made her TV debut with Ewan McGregor when she played an aristocratic love interest in the miniseries The Scarlet and the Black, and her movie debut came in 1995, with Death Machine.
Since then, Rachel Weisz has starred in almost 20 films, such as The Mummy, Enemy at the Gates, Constantine, The Constant Gardner, Eragon, Fred Claus, The Fountain, The Brothers Bloom and The Lovely Bones.
Rachel Weisz BiographyRachel Weisz (pronounced "Vice") was born in London, England on March 7, 1970, to Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe; her Viennese mother is a psychoanalyst while her Hungarian father is an inventor credited with inventing life-saving respiratory medical equipment.
At the age of 15, Rachel Weisz began working as a model, but a change of heart led her to acting. Her parents were adamant about her receiving a college education before pursuing acting (incidentally, her mother originally wanted to act as well), so she studied literature at Cambridge's Trinity Hall.
rachel weisz in stealing beautyThe Cambridge student got involved in drama at the same time, co-founding a theater group known as Talking Tongues; she co-wrote, co-directed and co-starred in the productions. Some of the Talking Tongues' works were performed at the Edinburgh Festival, and in 1991, Rachel won a student drama award for a play she wrote and starred in.
Rachel got her first big break in a theater production of Noel Coward's Design for Living, for which she received the Evening Standard Award for Best Newcomer. She then moved to television, where she starred in the 1993 made-for-TV movie Dirtysomething and the BBC miniseries The Scarlet and the Black. She then appeared in the series Inspector Morse in 1993, and in the made-for-TV movies White Goods and Seventeen in 1994.
With nothing more than television roles to her name, Rachel was cast as a junior executive in the science-fiction film Death Machine in 1995.
But her big breakthrough came in 1996, when she was cast in Bernardo Bertolucci's stunning coming-of-age film, Stealing Beauty. Although the film's star was Liv Tyler, Rachel Weisz still managed to steal a bit of the spotlight as Miranda Fox, a snobbish artist's daughter.
rachel weisz in the mummyRachel was next cast in a string of smaller movies (not necessarily with smaller actors), such as 1996's Chain Reaction, co-starring Keanu Reeves and Morgan Freeman, as well as 1997's Swept from the Sea, Going All the Way (in which she played Ben Affleck's girlfriend and starred with Rose McGowan), and Bent, in which she played a prostitute.
After roles in The Land Girls and I Want You in 1998, Rachel Weisz leapt to blockbuster status and international fame with her lead female role in the unriveled hit of 1999, The Mummy.
Rachel returned to her roots as a Hungarian Jew in the epic film Sunshine (1999), where she starred opposite Ralph Fiennes in a role that garnered her a Genie Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in 2000. That same year, she was also nominated for a Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Best Actress in an Action Movie and a Saturn Award for Best Actress, both for The Mummy.
After starring in Beautiful Creatures in 2000, Rachel Weisz rang in the New Year by co-starring with Joseph Fiennes (another Fiennes brother) and Jude Law (her Primrose Hill neighbor) in the WWII Battle of Stalingrad film, Enemy at the Gates.
rachel weisz in the mummy returnsAlthough it didn't blow up at the box office, the sequel to The Mummy opened with record highs in 2001, breaking box-office records. Rachel returned with Brendan Fraser as Evelyn Carnahan O'Connell/Princess Nefertiri, making audiences scramble to see her, as well as The Rock and Patricia Velasquez. Despite Rachel's success in film, she still continued to take to the stage; she starred in an adaptation of Tennessee Williams' Suddenly Last Summer, for which she earned the 1999 Barclays Theatre Award for Best Supporting Actress, as well as the London production of The Shape of Things, in which she starred as an American sculptress.
rachel weisz in constantineRachel was next seen in About a Boy (2002) with Hugh Grant and Toni Collette, The Shape of Things (2003), Confidence (2003), Runaway Jury (2003), Envy (2004), and Constantine (2005) with Keanu Reeves.
In 2005, Rachel was also seen in The Constant Gardener opposite Ralph Fiennes once again, and in 2006, The Fountain with Hugh Jackman, Ellen Burstyn and Mark Margolis.
Rachel has also graced the cover of several magazines such as Tatler and Bikini, and despite her flair for posing, she declined Hugh Hefner's offer to appear in his renowned publication. So the entire male population didn't get to see dear Rachel, but some lucky males have been allegedly romantically linked to her, including her My Summer With Des co-star Neil Morrissey, her I Want You co-star, Alessandro Nivola, her Chain Reaction and Constantine co-star Keanu Reeves, and American Beauty British director, Sam Mendes. In June 2005, she got engaged to Requiem for a Dream director Darren Aronofsky.
rachel weisz in eragonRachel Weisz took her stab at a children's novel adaptation and her voice starred in Eragon, which hit theaters in 2006. The novel, which was already grossly popular, made it to the big screen with high hopes and it managed to do fairly well -- though not as well as some boy wizards and hobbits have done in the past.
Rachel Weisz also starred alongside Vince Vaughn and Paul Giamatti in the holiday comedy Fred Claus in 2007. And she tried her hand at a romantic comedy alongside Jude Law (once again), Norah Jones, Natalie Portman and David Strathairn in My Blueberry Nights(2007).
rachel weisz marries daniel craigRachel Weisz's star certainly isn't dimming. She had a role in the highly anticipated The Bourne Legacy in 2012, opposite Jeremy Renner, as well as the upcoming prequel to The Wizard of Oz, 2013's Oz: The Great and Powerful. She also made headlines in June 2011 when she secretly married Daniel Craig.
Show comments


text: An Open Invite From Colin Edwards Cycle News Staff | July 19, 2013 The following is from Colin Edwards… The time has come again… time for the major U.S. Grand Prix rounds and my crew and I are gearing up for yet another summer of fun at TTBC. July 25th-28th and August 10th-13th, we're hosting our most-anticipated Boot Camps of the year! It's all happening "post-Laguna GP" and "pre-Indy GP" weekends.I can't tell you exactly who's coming to either camp, but what I can tell you is about half of the GP paddock will be coming through our Saloon doors in the coming weeks. I'll be home then, and maxed out with guests… it's gonna get rowdy. 😉For these special four-day camps, we'll be welcoming guests from all over. You and your fellow boot campers will be riding alongside some of America's top road racing professionals and the world's elite Grand Prix racers. I'm sure you've heard of this guy, current World Champion, Jorge Lorenzo? Well, let me tell yah, we had the Spaniard in with us last August. He showed his true "inner-cowboy" and has then on been dubbed the "Scorpion King." You'll have to ask him why, ha.So, while you're at my ranch, yea we're going to be cuttin' up and having a good ole time, but me and my boys are here to teach you a thing or two. I'm going to school you on a way of motorcycle riding like no-other has done for you before, especially in the way we do it. You won't get this kind of training anywhere else in the world, it's unique.We'll teach you an overall motorcycle technique and skill that'll translate to ANY form of riding/racing you're doing. Once you've mastered this technique, it's like you just opened up a new-world of understanding for yourself on the motorcycle. What we do works! Not taking my word for it? The testimonials on our website say it all.When it comes down to it, at TTBC, we have the best kind of environment for learning; it's laid-back and fun. You're not sitting in a classroom all-day, we're ridin'. We welcome folks of all skill levels; from your entry level "novice" to your "top-tier" pros and we have six highly qualified instructors including me, of course. No bull, it's a no pressure atmosphere; it's all about the fun baby!! You'll leave my school with the knowledge of how to ride your motorcycle even more safely and properly, you have my word on that.I've said it before and I'll say it again, there's a reason why some of the world's best road racers, motocrossers, cross-country riders, and even your everyday street-touring riders choose to flat-track. What you learn on the dirt, you take with you to the asphalt! It's for BUILDING SKILLS! Seeing our students improve is what it's all about, it's what I'm about. I love it… that's why I built this place.It comes down to "feel" and understanding of traction limits with this style of riding; it'll teach ya to be in control of the motorcycle more-less "out of control." The best thing about this is you're learning these new skills in a low-risk environment; we're on Yamaha TTR-125s and TTR-230s, it's controlled and comfortable. However, if you think you're fast, like really wicked, bring it on… we'll push you and test your abilities! We cater our drills and curriculum accordingly. What's the suspension doing underneath you… or the tires? Can you "feel" when the tires are "going off?" Can you communicate to your suspension tuner exactly what it is the bike's doing? How are you riding the motorcycle? And why is that so important in helping you go faster? Let me be the one to answer those questions for you.I could go on and on telling you about how bad-ass we have it down here at TTBC and what you're going to learn, but I'll end this by saying; come join us for the fun, the learning and the experience. You just never know what's gonna happen when a bunch of salty racers come knocking at my door. After all, it's Texas, and the Boot Camp's my playground. 😉Join us this summer, there's still time and a few spots available to sign-up.See ya there,-Colin Edwards II Comments


text:
Today, upon learning of the passing of George Jones, the following country music stars released statements expressing their love and adoration for the "Possum":
"He had a voice that was the truth, raw and unfiltered. You cant get any realer, any more tortured or any more alive. No one can do what George Jones does, and that's why 50 years later, he still stands out as one of the greatest singers in any genre of all time. We were great friends, but it was really more like a father/son relationship. He even showed up in Lexington, Kentucky two years ago to surprise me onstage for my birthday... all the way from Nashville, to surprise me and sing 'He Stopped Loving Her Today' with me, which will be one of the greatest memories of my life. When I was just staring out, and I was picked to open the George Jones/Tammy Wynette Reunion Tour, I thought I'd made it... Then one night, George asked me if I was heading home because he and Nancy had a plane, and they'd take me. I remember sitting there on that jet, thinking, 'This can't be happening...' because he was George Jones, and I was some kid from nowhere...' I'm sure he knew, but he was generous to kids chasing the dream, and I never forgot it." Kenny Chesney Ricky Skaggs"THE Country Music singer of all time. The words 'Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes' has never been more true than today." Larry Gatlin"Years ago someone asked Coach Bum Phillips if Earl Campbell was in a class by himself. Bum replied, 'Well if he ain't, it sure don't take long to check roll.' I say the same of the late great George Jones. Rest in peace POSSUM. You were always kind to me… THANKS." Sammy Kershaw"George Jones has been a major part of my personal and professional life for a long time. I have been inspired by his music for the last 50 years and for 42 of those, I had the pleasure of knowing him personally and professionally. He was IT to me. George was and will always be my guy. I am luckier than a lot of people on this Earth because God let me be a part of George's life and him a part of mine. And on this day, his song couldn't be more true: 'He Stopped Loving Her Today.'" Mel Tillis"I met George when he came to Nashville and we became good friends. I'm really going to miss him. The world has lost the greatest singer to have ever lived." Ray Stevens"George Jones may be gone but his music will live on forever. What a great voice and a great friend." Pam Tillis"Country music as we know it would be vastly different if it weren't for George Jones. He's in our musical DNA. All country artists will have to figure out how to even begin to live up to his kind of legacy. 'Honky Tonk Heaven,' here he comes… though we're not ready to let go." Restless Heart"The greatest most soulful voice in history is gone. RIP George Jones… the guys of Restless Heart will miss you greatly." The Marshall Tucker Band"We met George many times over the past 50 years. This is a terrible loss for his family, friends, the country music industry and the world. He's the most identifiable and inspirational country artist that has ever lived.-Doug Gray Billy Dean"George Jones was a mentor and a giant to my generation of country singers. He was there for my first Ralph Emery Show appearance. Backstage I was so nervous and expressed concern to George that if Ralph Emery didn't like me, my career may never get off the ground. The first thing George said to Ralph when they went on air was how nice of guy he thought I was. George Jones was our country music soul singer, no doubt. Who's gonna fill those shoes?" The Bellamy Brothers"We've lost one of the greatest voices in history. Prayers and condolences to his family." Sweethearts of the Rodeo"Sharing the same vocal booth with George Jones on 'Traveller's Prayer' was without a doubt THE highlight of our career. He was a true legend, generous and supportive and he will live on and on in our hearts."
"I have no words to express my admiration and love for George Jones. To say he was my 'hero' does not do justice to the lifetime impression he made on me, both personally and professionally. George Jones is the foundation of country music and he's the reason I wanted to perform. He's the reason I'm still here in this business... out there on the road. He was my mentor and my teacher; George was my friend. He paved the way for so many and I was one of the lucky ones to have enjoyed the opportunity to not only sing beside him, but just 'sit and visit' with him. When I was just starting out, we toured together; he was the headliner. After a few shows, he told me that I was going to close the shows (because he wanted to watch "Andy Griffith"). For a newcomer, it was intimidating to open for him; there was even more pressure to close for him. George gave me strength and encouragement; he kept telling me 'you can do it, son.' George Jones is the Father of Country. We will all miss his voice, and I will miss his voice to call me 'son.'" Mark Chesnutt "Country music lost an icon today and I have lost a dear and beloved friend. With tear-filled eyes, I'm reminiscing this morning about all that I learned from and loved about George Jones. He was part of my 'country music education;' he made country music history and, in my opinion, George Jones is a song's best friend. No one will leave an imprint on my life like George did." Lorrie Morgan "The first 8-tracks that I owned were recordings by Conway Twitty and George Jones. Long before my career got started, I was at a concert (Travis Tritt's homecoming show) and George Jones performed. I sat there and sang along to every word that George sang. A lady, who sat in front of me, turned around and said, 'do you know George Jones' music?' When my reply was, 'heck yeah,' she introduced herself; it was his wife, Nancy. Nancy brought me backstage that night to introduce me to George. That was three years before I signed my record deal and we've remained friends and stayed in touch since then. Right or wrong, in good times and in bad, people loved George Joneshe made an impression. His music is his legacy and he will not only be remembered as the best country singer this world will ever know, but a great man that we all will truly miss." Mark Wills


text:
I don't feel sorry for the Packers. They put themselves in that situation. They are better than what they showed in that game. Which is the sad part in this all. We should be discussing how awful their offensive line is and how good Seattle's defense is but instead we are talking about the refs and one particular play.
I am not saying the refs made the right call. I am not saying that the call didn't impact this game because it did. However it didn't have to be that way...that play didn't have to matter. I think Seattle is a good team but I think Green Bay is much better. Had Green Bay played like they are capable of then this never happens. So as players take to Twitter and conduct interviews expressing their displeasure with the performance of these replacement officials they should first look in the mirror and express displeasure with their own performance on the field.


text:
BP Comment Quick Links
|Strength of Schedule Report
October 3, 2012
Western Front
If It Wasn't for Accountability, I Wouldn't Have Any Ability
Oh, navel. Thou art so lovely and so perfectly placed. I could gaze upon thy glory fore'er and still not grasp all the intricacies of thy splendor. Or I could point at stuff I said earlier this year and laugh. Yeah, let's go with Plan B.
January 31: Fixing a Bug in the Mariners
What happened
On the bright side, Montero doesn't turn 23 until the end of November, so there is plenty of time for him to plug the holes in his offensive game. Comparisons in the original article to Paul Konerko and Mike Sweeney seem off, mainly due to Montero's lack of plate discipline. Still, he should improve and become a middle-of-the-order force, particularly if playing a defensive position is removed from his list of responsibilities. Or not:
As for the Mariners, their offense did improve, thanks mainly to John Jaso, Michael Saunders, and Kyle Seager. Seattle scored its 557th run in its 147th game, beating 2011's total with 15 games left. Even though Montero wasn't the catalyst, the Mariners at least showed signs of life on offense:
Oh, and then there was this nugget about Michael Pineda, the guy traded to the Yankees for Montero: "He will get hurt at some point." Pineda missed the entire 2012 season due to right labrum surgery, so yeah. But I can't take comfort in this because a) taking comfort in someone else's pain is sick and b) getting hurt is what pitchers do.
February 21: Runs? We Don't Need No Stinkin' Runs!
What happened
And perhaps the most baffling improvement came when Marco Scutaro came over from Colorado on July 27 and forgot that he isn't much of a hitter. Add it all together, and the Giants made huge strides on offense this year, scoring more than they did in their 2010 World Championship season:
All this despite nearly being outhomered at home by the Tigers' Miguel Cabrera, who held a 27-23 lead with seven home games remaining for each before the Giants went on a rampage to win, 31-28.
Go figure.
February 28: Post-Moneyball Randomness
What happened
In my defense, nobody saw the A's approaching 89 wins this season. Ross was a terrible pick. I'm not sure I could have anticipated Reddick's power surge, but you know what I might have been able to see? The emergence of Chris Carter. Given his track record, that would have been a better guess, and not just because it turned out to be right.
March 27: No Country for Old Pitchers
[Kevin] Millwood has won the fifth spot in the rotation and will be paid $1 million to do his thing and buy the kids a little time.
What happened
We also examined Bartolo Colon and Jamie Moyer in this article. Colon pitched beautifully for the A's before being hit with a drug suspension in August, while Moyer pitched like a 49-year-old who had missed the previous season recovering from surgery.
I make that last smart-ass comment with all possible respect. Moyer has six years on me, and I can't imagine trying to do what he did this season, let alone actually doing it. I'm rooting for one more shot.
April 3: Is Will Venable Underrated or Overrated? Probably.
Late bloomer? Possibly. It isn't unprecedented. Again with my unavoidable Padres bias, a few that immediately spring to mind are Steve Finley, Matt Stairs, and John Vander Wal. It could be that Venable is another for whom things fail to "click" right away, but given the frequency with which players don't follow such a path, those are long odds.
More likely, Venable is what he is going to be. He is a useful enough player if deployed with discretion. Don't be misled by what you see on the field and start dreaming on possibilities. The flaws are part of his game.
This is who he is, this is what he does. Underrated? Overrated? I dunno, he's just Will Venable.
April 17: They Came from Across the Sea
What happened
Céspedes has gone 2-for-4 with a double and two strikeouts against Darvish in their respective rookie seasons (they could meet once more in Oakland over the season's final weekend). As you can see from Dan Brooks' handy and hypnotic Matchup Analysis Tool, the hits came on sinkers, while the strikeouts came on sliders.
April 24: Five Giant Themes
The point of my diatribe back in 2005 was to bemoan the fact that Bochy wouldn't play a promising young hitter who had enjoyed a terrific collegiate career at Cal. His name was Xavier Nady, and he slipped to the second round of the 2000 draft due to signability concerns, aka Scott Boras.
What happened
May 15: La Casa Sucia
What happened
June 19: Angels Rush in Where Rangers Fear to Treat
What happened
* * *
This article would have worked better had I made more bold predictions. Maybe I'll try that next year. But I predict not.
2 comments have been left for this article.
BP Comment Quick Links
"Babylon 5" references set off the world's biggest nerd alarm. I'm a hopeless nerd and even I'm not nerdy enough to get them. Maybe I'm not a black-belt nerd like I thought. Brown belt, maybe. Anyway, great article overall. If only political pundits revisited past predictions.
Oct 03, 2012 09:43 AM
Not a subscriber? Sign up today!


text:
Whether youre welcoming a new puppy or kitten into the family, or youre taking care of other small animals like chickens and rabbits, Sams Club has all your pet care needs covered.
First things first: youll want to make sure your pets are well fed and comfortable. Stock up on dog food, cat food and pet supplies such as dog beds and cat beds.
Training and grooming supplies are essential. Pick up all your dog grooming supplies like brushes and nail clippers, plus dog toys and cat toys to keep your furry friend entertained. Want to give your dog a home of her own? Browse our selection of dog kennels and dog crates.
Whether youve recently adopted a pet or youve been caring for them for years, consider Sams Club your one-stop pet shop.
PEDIGREE® and Rosette Logo are ® trademarks of Mars, Incorporated 2016.


text:
A businessman facing life in prison for the murder of a Wiltshire solicitor today failed in a Court of Appeal bid to clear his name.
Michael Chudley, 63, shot dad-of-three James Ward, 58, in his office at MGW Law, in Devizes, in July 2012.
He was initially accused of attempted murder, but his charge was upgraded when Mr Ward died three weeks later.
Chudley claimed diminished responsibility, but was convicted by a jury of murder at Winchester Crown Court last June and jailed for life.
Today, still claiming he was suffering from an abnormality of mind at the time, he took his case to the Court of Appeal in London.
However, it took three top judges only 10 minutes to rule Chudley's appeal "unarguable".
The businessman shot Mr Ward, from Bratton, after becoming embroiled in a legal dispute with one of the solicitor's clients.
The wrangle had resulted in Chudley losing his home and his business.
At his trial, he pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and today claimed that that defence to murder should have succeeded.
The trial judge's summing up of the evidence to the jury was "biased" against him, he claimed.
He also criticised his legal representatives, suggesting they did not carry out his instructions.
Giving judgment, Lady Justice Rafferty rejected all criticisms of the course that the trial took.
The trial judge had properly instructed the jury on how to consider the case, she said.
"The jury was fully entitled to find as it did on the evidence presented to it," she added.
"This application is rejected."
Lady Justice Rafferty heard the appeal bid with Mr Justice Cooke and Mr Justice Cranston.


text:
Niamey 70's Disco / Retro Canvas Tote Bag
Product Color:
Product information
Why get a Canvas Tote Bag Niamey 70's Disco / Retro? Are you one of those that can't leave home without 50 "essential items" that just won't fit into your pockets? Plenty of room for all your necessities and more. Or simply let it speak your mind! Due to its sturdy fabric it also makes a great shopping bag, which lasts and saves the environment.
This Niamey 70's Disco / Retro product includes a full side and bottom gusset and extra long handles for easy carrying. Niamey Canvas Tote Bag made of sturdy 100% Cotton. Measurements: 15" x 18" x 6".
Sku: BL0BR0000011021212120147BNYG00000


text:
Richard Mouw: A Twitterscript with an Evangelical Leader on Civility
This coming week we will be releasing our latest show, which focuses on the topic of incivility in political, religious, and civic culture with one of the leading Evangelical Christian leaders in the United States today. On September 8, 2010, Krista interviewed Richard Mouw, president of Fuller Theological Seminary and a professor of Christian philosophy and ethics, which we live-tweeted (@softweets) from behind the glass of Studio P at Minnesota Public Radio. Here's a compilation, our Twitterscript if you will, of all those tiny nuggets, and a few exchanges with our followers:
- Tweeting Krista Tippett's interview on civility with @richardmouw
Wed Sep 8 14:11:57 2010
- "The antichrist has changed across my lifetime…in the 1980s it shifted towards Islam" – @richardmouw
Wed Sep 8 14:12:47 2010
- On civility, @RichardMouw quotes the Hebrew prophet Jeremiah: "Seek the shalom of the city in which God has placed you."
Wed Sep 8 14:18:06 2010
- "What does it mean for me to honor the Muslim..the Mormon..the people of unbelief who are hostile towards Christianity?" – @richardmouw
Wed Sep 8 14:18:22 2010
- "What I owe to my mother and friends, I also owe to the stranger. And that's more than toleration." -@richardmouw on going beyond tolerance
Wed Sep 8 14:19:11 2010
- "Evangelicalism goes back + forth between alienation to a takeover mentality – but alternate between two theologies." -@RichardMouw
Wed Sep 8 14:26:32 2010
- "I do think Jesus is a model of civility – of convicted civility." -@RichardMouw, president of Fuller Seminary
Wed Sep 8 14:32:48 2010
- "For starters concentrate on your own sinfulness and the other person's humanness." Evangelical leader @richardmouw on gentle Christianity
Wed Sep 8 14:32:55 2010
- "Glenn Beck + anti-Islam have revived the Evangelical sense that they're taking something away and we need to get it back." – @richardmouw
Wed Sep 8 14:36:42 2010
- "It's very important for a leader to approach people having a hard time controlling their fears." -@RichardMouw on conservatives' concerns
Wed Sep 8 14:42:13 2010
- @mindywithrow You're welcome! It's tough keeping up. in reply to mindywithrow
Wed Sep 8 14:42:52 2010
- "We have to be careful that we not sin in the process of acting on those concerns." @richardmouw on "Glenn Beck followers'" moral concerns
Wed Sep 8 14:45:42 2010
- "We're not messiahs. And God isn't going to hold us responsible for righting all the wrongs in the world." -@RichardMouw
Wed Sep 8 14:48:27 2010
- "Instead of telling Mormons what they believe, asking them what they believe." @richardmouw on a "gentle" approach w/ those we disagree with
Wed Sep 8 14:51:19 2010
- "GK Chesterton once said, 'It's bad to have false gods. But it's also bad to have false devils.'" -@RichardMouw
Wed Sep 8 14:52:44 2010
- "Seeing other people is a kind of exercise in art appreciation." – @richardmouw on the realization that all people are a work of art
Wed Sep 8 14:53:02 2010
- "Even in expressing our differences we're dealing with people that are precious works of divine art" @richardmouw
Wed Sep 8 14:57:41 2010
- "One of my stories about learning in civility was going to a gay Mass at an Episcopal church." -@RichardMouw
Wed Sep 8 14:58:38 2010
- "I'm gratified by a growing Christian subculture of the more conservative side that are willing to think some new thoughts." -@RichardMouw
Wed Sep 8 15:04:05 2010
- "There's a common life. There's something that bonds human beings together that politics can't create and shouldn't destroy." -@RichardMouw
Wed Sep 8 15:07:58 2010
- RT @expatminister: ah yes, the oft-quoted Jeremiah 29. Much more complex, much harder than "I know the plans…" bumper sticker. Good tho…
Wed Sep 8 15:09:57 2010
- "I think more and more we're committed to bringing people in (@FullerATS)… It's important to create these kinds of spaces." -@RichardMouw
Wed Sep 8 15:11:51 2010
- "We need safe places. The problem is that there aren't safe places any more." -@RichardMouw
Wed Sep 8 15:13:21 2010
- "If more people who have influence and leadership positions can give their blessing to this [civility] and encourage this…" -@RichardMouw
Wed Sep 8 15:19:56 2010
- "In many ways, we are living in a world that's much like some of the best years in Christianity in the past." -@RichardMouw
Wed Sep 8 15:23:50 2010
- "We have to bracket those kinds of [social] issues and live with more mystery on that." -@RichardMouw
Wed Sep 8 15:26:29 2010
- "We need to see He [Jesus] calls us to go out to identify with the things he cares about." -@RichardMouw
Wed Sep 8 15:31:00 2010
- And that concludes our live-tweeting of Krista's interview with evangelical leader @RichardMouw. Thanks for reading!
Wed Sep 8 15:32:35 2010


text:
Wyden: 'Don't prejudge' Cover Oregon investigation
BEAVERTON, Ore. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., is trying to stay out of the Cover Oregon fray while an independent investigation is underway to determine what led to the failure of the state's health care exchange website.
KATU News caught up with Sen. Wyden Monday night at a Town Hall meeting.
Wyden believes the state needs to figure out how to right the wrongs that have gone on with the project's mismanagement since it was a state decision to not use the federal Health Care Exchange.
"Obviously this has to be fixed and it seems to me all the state officials have acknowledged it," said Wyden.
Depending on who you ask, Cover Oregon is either achieving its purpose: making health care available to all; or it's a huge black eye on the state. What can't be disputed: the website, the project's star, doesn't work and millions of taxpayer dollars have funded that failure.
Wyden said he doesn't want the results of an independent investigation Gov. John Kitzhaber ordered in November 2013, which got underway earlier this month, to speak for themselves.
"The state is looking at the role of the company, the Oracle company, the various consultants, I think that's the point of the investigationThe point of an investigation is to not prejudge it and to make sure that you're fairly looking at all of the issues," explained Wyden.
The senator wouldn't say if he would intervene if the independent investigation shows that millions of federal taxpayer dollars have been misspent on the project.
"When you have an investigation you don't prejudge it, you let the facts come out and the chips fall where they do," he said.
While Oregonians wait for the outcome, state Rep. Dennis Richardson (R-Dist. 4, Central Point) and Rep. Jason Conger (R-Dist 54, Bend) want different action. They're calling on the governor to ditch Cover Oregon altogether. Richardson is running for governor. Conger is running for United States Senate.
Wyden said he would help Oregon switch to the federal Health Care Exchange if state officials come to him for help in the future.
"Certainly. I'll be interested in any state recommendation," said Wyden.
For now, the state is staying its course with Cover Oregon. Dr. Bruce Goldberg, the project's executive director, told a legislative committee last week progress is being made to fix the website. But, he also claimed the state could eventually scrap it.
Sen. Wyden told KATU News he plans to follow the state's progress with Cover Oregon.
He also said he's working with other federal lawmakers on both sides of the aisle on a way to make it easy for employers with 50 or more employees to sign up to provide health insurance for those employees. That part of the Affordable Care Act goes into effect in 2015.


text:
NEW: The Slides of invited talks can be found here.
Scope and Background
CANS 2011 welcomes research results on all aspects of applied cryptography and network security. Although papers that blend these two areas are preferred, results within applied cryptography or network security are also of interest.
This year's CANS conference is the 10th in its series. Previous incarnations of CANS took place in Taipei (2001), San Francisco (2002), Miami (2003), Xiamen (2005), Suzhou (2006), Singapore (2007), Hong Kong (2008), Kanazawa (2009), and Kuala Lumpur (2010).
Important Dates:
Submission deadline:June 27, 2011 (passed).
Acceptance Notification: August 25, 2011(passed).
Camera-ready Copy Due: September 15, 2011(passed).
Conference: December 10-12, 2011
Topics of Interest Include:


text:
Extending the extra unemployment insurance benefits would be bad for the federal budget and bad for the economy, and there is a better long-term solution for unemployment than the current UI system.
Downsizing Blog
USPS Sends a Message to Congress
On Monday, the U.S. Postal Service filed its proposal to reduce service standards with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC). The USPS is seeking to cut costs by closing about half of its mail processing facilities, which would mean slower mail delivery. Given that the USPS is running on financial fumes and Congress is still trying to figure out how to kick the can down the road, management apparently decided that it had to act.
Income Inequality Data Has Flaws
In the Wall Street Journal yesterday, Alan Reynolds pointed out some of the flaws in the data being used in the income inequality debate. Far too many policymakers, analysts, and reporters assume that the data showing rising inequality is carved in stone, but it isn't. Some portion of the supposed change in income inequality in recent decades is a statistical artifact due to changes in marginal tax rates and other factors.
Four More Things Washington Shouldn't Do
AEI's Rick Hess and Stanford's Linda Darling-Hammond—two folks who don't always see eye to eye—have a New York Times op-ed that decries federal micromanagement in education, then lays out four things they think Washington should do.
Looking for Serious Program Terminations
The House passed a bill last week eliminating the Presidential Election Campaign Fund, which the Tax Foundation calls a "voluntary tax that stirs little enthusiasm." It would also save a whopping $14 million by eliminating the Election Action Committee and transferring certain functions to other federal agencies.
Congress's Budget in Perspective
A new poll conducted for The Hill found that 67 percent of likely voters think members of Congress should take a pay cut. With the economy still struggling and the government's debt continuing to mount, congressional pay is – understandably – a sore subject with voters. However, I get the impression that a lot of people think that cutting Congress's budget would have a sizable impact on the government's financial situation.
Revisiting the 'Christmas Tree Tax'
Three weeks ago, a national commotion erupted when the Drudge Report headlined a story from the Heritage Foundation on the Obama administration's implementation of a new tax on Christmas trees. I noted here that the 1996 legislation enabling the U.S. Department of Agriculture to implement the tax received most of its support from Republicans, including co-sponsor John Boehner.
Keynesian Policies Have Failed
Lawmakers are considering extending temporary payroll tax cuts. But the policy is based on faulty Keynesian theories and misplaced confidence in the government's ability to micromanage short-run growth.
Senate Postal Reform Bill Needs a New Title
The USPS is supposed to operate like a business by relying on the revenues from the sale of postal products to cover costs. Congress makes that harder by imposing various obligations and stifling attempts to reduce costs. Add in a weak economy, the growth in alternative forms of communication, and a predominantly unionized workforce that has secured excessive compensation and privileges and the result is a financial mess.
The 'Tea Party Budget'
The "Tea Party Debt Commission" affiliated with FreedomWorks recently released a budget plan (download here). In formulating its plan, the commission took into account fifteen budget plans introduced by various groups and policymakers, including Cato's Downsizing Government website.


text:
Engineered specifically for the marine environment
Drop-in replacements for many boats
Available in 10' - 20' lengths
These Lubri-Core cables are designed to fit virtually any engine, transmission, or throttle. Engineered specifically for the marine environment, they meet or exceed all industry standards. Type 3300 Control Cables are drop-in replacements for many boats using aftermarket controls or the following engine makers' controls: BMW, Chrysler, Honda, Nissan, Suzuki, Tohatsu, Volvo, and Yamaha. 10-32 threaded ends. Available in 10' - 20' lengths.
Lubri-Core Type 3300 Control Cables may require the purchase of a connection kit to complete installation.
Engine Connection Kits For Use With 3300 Control Cable
Item #24038 Kit For Mercury Outboard
Item #24039 Kit For Mercruiser I/O
Item #24040 Kit For OMC
Item #24041 Kit For Johnson/Evinrude Pre-1978
Item #24043 Kit For Inboard


text:
Even though it's only September, it's never too early to start thinking about sending your sponsored friend a Christmas card! Because mail can be slow, we recommend scheduling six to eight weeks for a letter to arrive at your friend's project.
We interviewed several CFCA projects around the world about last year's Christmas celebrations for sponsored friends and their families. Here are the answers from three projects: Merida, Mexico; Santa Ana, El Salvador; and Bogota, Colombia.
Sponsored friends buy their own gifts during CFCA Christmas celebrations in Bogota, Colombia.
How do you select the types of gifts for sponsored children?
Merida: When Christmas approaches, one thinks about cold days coming. Those lucky enough to live close to family take this time to meet, and those who are not as close spend time with friends. The point is to spend time with those around us.
But while this season fills us with smiles, snow, warm clothing and abundant food, Christmas is a moment of reflection. Christmas is the date when Jesus Christ was born.
Christmas is a moment of humility that fills our hearts, but not with chocolates, stuffed turkey or Christmas carols. We must open our hearts to peace, love, happiness, contentment, and give back for all the blessings we have received.
Santa Ana: Christmas is a season of sharing. By tradition, it is celebrated with family. This is why each community organizes its own celebration. Participating in this are not only the sponsored members but also family members like the mothers and younger siblings, united to the CFCA community.
CFCA Christmas celebrations in Mexico.
Bogota: One of the things that has impacted us most in the sponsorship program is the phrase, ìOffering hope and dignity.î We decided the most appropriate and dignified was for the children to select their gift as a principle of autonomy, liberty and, above all, enjoyment and happiness for them.
We see not only our loved ones, but all those people around us who are part of this great home called CFCA. Christmas is celebrated even amid difficult situations and adverse circumstances.
What gifts did you offer sponsored friends for Christmas 2010?
Merida: We select different types of gifts depending on what the communities ask for. In some areas, we give Christmas food baskets with cookies, sweets for children and additional consumer articles. In other cases, we provide better bedspreads, shoes and clothing.
Children prepare presentations at CFCA Christmas celebrations in El Salvador.
In other areas, we organize parties and buy small items for the participants of the dances organized by CFCA scholars. At the end of the events, we serve typical food from their regions.
Santa Ana: Our 2010 Christmas gifts, at the CFCA familiesí suggestions, were as follows. Sponsored friends had the opportunity to share a Christmas celebration and lunch with their families and the community. For the smallest children, we let them play a game.
Our lunches consisted of chicken, rice or bread, and salad. The mothers organized the lunch. The children prepared the presentations of the season, such as the Nativity, dances, skits, etc. Afterwards, they enjoyed dessert, piÒatas and candy.
Bogota: For Christmas 2010, each sponsored friend received a stipend to buy clothing. We have undertaken this activity for three years with excellent results.
The sponsored members enjoy all the clothing they buy. We see an independence in the children, since they select the clothing and items they need. In addition, we see their happiness and emotion while they make their purchases in the store.
Related links:


text:
The Hotels of Havana
The best places to stay in Cuba's capital city
Sitting on a bluff above a slight inward curve in Havana's seaside promenade, the Malecón, the twin cupola towers of the Hotel Nacional stand like two sentinels. Built by the New York City firm of McKim, Mead and White and opened to the public on December 30, 1930, this hotel has served as an iconic image of Havana as much as the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Empire State Building in New York City or Big Ben in London.
The grand old dame of hotels in Cuba is more than a hotel. It is a must-see destination, a living museum of a past long gone. Nostalgic? Absolutely. The soaring, grand stucco-walled foyers, tile-floor hallways and stone arcades overlooking the gardens are wonderful places to wile away an afternoon or late evening, enjoying the parade of package-tour visitors, some staying there but most just sightseeing. The hotel remains a throwback to the revolution's early days, locked in its own time warp when it served as lodging for diplomats and foreign dignitaries, and as much a palace for that revolution, not
Havana's storied past.
Havana's storied past.
Contrast the Nacional with the newly opened Palacio del Marqués de San Felipe y Santiago de Bejucal, down near the docks in Habana Vieja, or Old Havana. Enter its sleek reception area with deep mahogany woods, and bright tropical-hued walls and you might think you were in South Beach or Milan. The suites are post-modern chic, with large bathrooms and Jacuzzis, and the latest in sleek wood cabinets and metal and glass furniture.
The hotel sits on the Plaza San Francisco, an ancient colonial square with stone paving, flanked by an old sixteenth century church and some colonial buildings from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The streets around the hotel in Old Havana are almost completely restored, the stucco exteriors smooth and painted, and the interiors modernized. The narrow pedestrian walkways wind between two- and three-story buildings that house restaurants, museums, government offices, even residences. The area bursts with charm and life, from early in the morning until late at night.
Those two establishments represent two ends of the hotel spectrum in Havana for foreign tourists. There are many hotels, managed by the government, which are very similar to the Nacional; clean, Spartan and reasonably efficient but not necessarily for every traveler. There also are a group of hotels built and managed by foreign hotel chains, principally the Sol Melia, Barcélo and Iberostar groups from Spain; they almost all fall in Cuba's five-star hotel category, although most foreigners would not give them that high an accolade based on standard international benchmarks. But they are among the best hotels in Cuba.
Room prices don't vary that much. There are often three categories for the rate: low, high and very high season, corresponding to summertime, late fall and winter and the latter being applied for some holiday weeks.
For the standard Habaguanex hotels, the rates range from $90 to $125 for a single occupancy, $140 to $205 for double occupancy, $195 to $315 for suites with double occupancy. The Saratoga and the Marqués San Felipe are more expensive, with suites at the latter running up to $450 a night. Most room rates include breakfast, a standard buffet of fruits, eggs, breakfast meats and breads of various types, all accompanied by the hearty Cuban coffee; one tip, I usually order espresso or regular Cuban coffee instead of the weaker café Americano. Finally, we've included websites and phone numbers for all the hotels; rates change rapidly and there are often special deals posted on the websites, especially in the off-season months, so it's worth checking in on the rates being offered.
There are some quirky things about Havana hotels, and in a nutshell, it means that any experienced foreign traveler needs to lower his or her expectations. If you do, everything will be fine. For instance, there seems to be one type of mattress supplied to hotels in Cuba—it is firm, almost hard, but since I'm a fan of a solid mattress, it has always been fine for me. For those who like a softer mattress, don't expect it there.
Internet service is spotty. Nearly every hotel now sells Internet service cards to provide access to their wireless services in the lobby. If you have in-room service, sometimes wired, sometimes wireless, there is a separate username/password card that is provided, usually with an extra charge. For instance, the Hotel Nacional sells in-room access for 20 cuc a day. In general, be prepared for very slow Internet service, especially at peak load times in the morning and late afternoon. I once waited 20 minutes for my company web mail site to load at a cyber café outpost, the only terminal that worked at the Hotel Marqués San Felipe.
The list of hotels is organized by our preferences. We stayed in three different hotels this trip, and every hotel mentioned here was visited during our stay, unless otherwise noted.
Editors' Choices
(In order of preference for the top five hotels)
Palacio del Marqués de San Felipe y Santiago de Bejucal
Calle Oficios 152, esquina Amargura
Plaza de San Francisco
La Habana Vieja
Tel: (537) 864-9191
Calle Oficios 152, esquina Amargura
Plaza de San Francisco
La Habana Vieja
Tel: (537) 864-9191
This is one of the newest hotels in Havana. It opened in late 2010. There are 27 rooms including three large suites with living room, separate sleeping area, a Jacuzzi and large bathroom, with windows that overlook the Plaza San Francisco. Some inner rooms don't have nice views. This hotel approaches European levels of luxury.
The inner atrium has a bar and a dining area with large marble columns, and has diffused light from a skylight. Waiters serve breakfast instead of the standard buffet. There is a great rooftop terrace with views of the city. A suite in high season is the city's most expensive room at nearly $450 per night. There is one caveat here: the Internet service was not functioning during our stay and guests were relegated to a single terminal off the hotel lobby; hotel management assured it would be fixed soon and would deliver Internet to each room and provide a wireless connection in the lobby.
If there's another negative, it is that you don't really feel like you are in Cuba.
Hotel Saratoga
Paseo del Prado 603, esquina Dragons
La Habana Vieja
Tel: (537) 868-1000
Website: www.hotel-saratoga.com
E-mail: email@example.com
Paseo del Prado 603, esquina Dragons
La Habana Vieja
Tel: (537) 868-1000
Website: www.hotel-saratoga.com
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
The Anacona restaurant serves a buffet breakfast and lunch and dinner. The Mezzanine Bar is open 24 hours a day, and has good wireless service with the ubiquitous password cards sold by the hour (here, it's 8 cuc). Great place to have a smoke, a glass of rum and catch up on e-mails. The rooftop pool/terrace area is spectacular with one of the best views of the city. The daiquiris here are good too. I found the hotel a little noisy if you have windows on the square or overlooking any of the side streets. But the trade-off is the view of the Capitol building.
And, the same caveat applies here as to the San Felipe; this hotel could be anywhere.
Hotel Nacional
Calle 21 y O
Vedado, Plaza, Ciudad de la Habana
Tel: (537) 836-3564
Web: www.hotelnacionaldecuba.com
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Calle 21 y O
Vedado, Plaza, Ciudad de la Habana
Tel: (537) 836-3564
Web: www.hotelnacionaldecuba.com
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
This is the grand old dame of Havana's hotels. The 457 rooms either have views of the Malecón or Vedado, the part of the city between Old Havana and the Miramar section. The lobby has soaring ceilings with large arches, and it runs from the dining room at one end to the Cabaret Parisien at the other end. The two-story portico has a drive-thru, and you walk up the stairs into that spectacular vista. The rooms are comfortable, but Spartan and a little threadbare in places, even on the executive floor, which charges a 20 to 25 percent premium over the regular rooms.
The executive floor is recommended at least in part because of the Internet service both in the room and in the floor's private reception area, which is a welcome way to avoid lines when you are checking in. The arcade on the side opposite the entrance surrounds the garden, which leads out to a view over the Malecón; it's a fantastic place to sit in the large, comfortable chairs with a cigar and a glass of Santiago rum. There is a good Casa del Habano in the basement.
One of the amusing things to do is ask the front desk which famous celebrity of yesteryear has stayed in the room you have for the night: You might get the room favored by Errol Flynn, Tyrone Power, Fred Astaire, Rita Hayworth, Gary Cooper or ol' blue-eyes himself, Frank Sinatra.
Hotel Meliá Cohiba
Av. Paseo, entre 1 y 3
Vedado, Cuidad de la Habana
Tel: (537) 833-3636
Website: www.meliacuba.com
E-mail: email@example.com
Av. Paseo, entre 1 y 3
Vedado, Cuidad de la Habana
Tel: (537) 833-3636
Website: www.meliacuba.com
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Every city needs a top-notch business hotel. In Havana, it is without a doubt the Meliá Cohiba. The high-rise hotel with 462 rooms towers high above the Malecón, and if you squint just a little, you might imagine you are in a hotel in Madrid or Atlanta. There is a great pool, nice restaurants (some say La Piazza produces excellent Italian food) and a well-
appointed Casa del Habano on the second floor.
appointed Casa del Habano on the second floor.
There is no Internet service in the rooms, but the business center has half a dozen computer terminals, and the wireless Internet in the lobby, accessed through a prepaid card with passwords, is functional, if not always reliable. The Spanish hotel company Sol Meliá, operates the hotel, and it caters to a well-heeled business crowd.
Prices are somewhat higher than the standard government hotel, with double occupancy rooms running about $150 in the off-season and over $200 during the winter months. There is a pool and a gym, and the highly regarded Havana Café nightclub is in the same building, down about 20 yards from the main entrance.
Tie, for 5th placeHotel Conde de Villanueva
Mercaderes 1202, esquina Lamparilla
La Habana Vieja
Tel: (537) 862-9293
Website: www.habaguanexhotels.com/en/hotels/
This is a personal favorite, and will be on my must-stay list next time in Havana. The term boutique hotel would best describe it: there are only nine rooms, all opening out onto an interior courtyard, which is open to the sky. It was an old colonial mansion, so the rooms are spacious, and the marble staircases up to the second floor speak of a grander time.
There is a quaint but extremely well-appointed Casa del Habano on the mezzanine, and you often have to navigate around the peacock to get up the narrow staircase to the shop. The rooms are shabby-chic, but well-appointed, and reminiscent of your grandmother's old house. The rest of the hotel is well-equipped, and the people here are friendly. It was one of the first refurbished Habaguanex hotels in Old Havana, which dates it to around 1999. It may be in for an update soon, but the hotel won't lose any of its charm or historical allure.
Hotel Meliá Habana
Av. 3, entre 76 y 80
Playa, Habana
Tel: (537) 204-8500
Website: www.meliacuba.com
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Av. 3, entre 76 y 80
Playa, Habana
Tel: (537) 204-8500
Website: www.meliacuba.com
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
It would be wrong to leave out the hotels along the ocean in the Miramar section of Havana just because we love the historic nature of the hotels in Old Havana. Not everyone wants to be surrounded by stucco and paving stones. There was a time when the Hotel Comodoro fit the bill of a great beach hotel, but today, the spot that earns the best of Havana's beachfront hostelries nod is the Meliá Habana.
It is a modern high-rise with a beautiful pool; there actually is no beach at the hotel, just a rocky ledge, but you can see the ocean from more than 80 percent of the 397 rooms. The executive floors, known as Servicio Real, are well-appointed by Cuban standards and worth the extra fee to stay there. I have no specific recommendations on the restaurants, but the local cognoscenti don't mention any as the place to dine, unless you just don't want to leave the hotel. The hotel also has an excellent Casa del Habano, with a friendly staff and a great cigar selection.
There are 10 other hotels in Havana that warrant consideration for any stay. The following in Old Havana are listed in order of preference with specific notes about what makes them special. I've left out a couple, including the Hotel Florida and the Hotel Ingleterra, partly because they seem to have been part of that first wave of hotel renovation 10 to 15 years ago, and seem a little more rundown than some of the other places on the list, but they would be acceptable for most visitors.
Comments2 comment(s)
David Oliver Cronulla, NSW, Australia, September 8, 2015 8:16pm ET
Be wary of accommodation scam in Havana. We booked and pre-paid for the Hotel Conde de Villanueva only to be told at check-in they were overbooked and had moved us to a different hotel. New hotel - much lower standard and cheaper rooms. But no rebate on our booking ! Someone is pocketing the difference.
Stephen Fannon Marlton, New Jersey, USA, March 5, 2017 10:53am ET
We just returned from a stay in Havana at the Iberostar Park Central Hotel. Our party of 4 found the Hotel to be excellent in every way. We were also able to book it and pay from here via Credit Card. Other than very spotty WiFi/internet, the Hotel was 5 Star in every way. We loved Our time in Havana. Beautiful weather, food, drinks, cigars, people. Would go back in an instant.
Log in if you're already registered.
Or register for Cigar Aficionado today—it's free.
Registration allows you to:
Keep track of your favorite cigars in your personal humidor.
Comment on all our stories.
Ratings & Reviews
Search our database of more than 17,000 cigar tasting notes by score, brand, country, size, price range, year, wrapper and more, plus add your favorites to your Personal Humidor.