text:
Onleilove Alston 12-03-2009
Our country has a long history of underserving and mistreating African-Americans and other marginalized groups.
Chandra White-Cummings 12-03-2009
I'll tell you up front -- I'm going to talk about race. I know some are tired of hearing about it, and I think that's mainly because we've been hearing about it in the same ways for so long.
Leroy Barber 12-01-2009
So there is something on my mind, and I'm not quite sure how to approach the subject.
Onleilove Alston 11-26-2009
Naomi Wolf, author of The Beauty Myth, discusses how images fueled by consumerism are used against women.
Edward Gilbreath 11-20-2009
In case you hadn't heard, Zondervan made a major announcement yesterday regarding the De
Jarrod McKenna 11-09-2009
"F%*# OFF! WE'RE FULL!" read the bumper sticker I saw this morning, written within the outline of the Australian continent.
Three General Thoughts on Deadly Vipers, Mike Foster, Jud Wilhite, Soong-Chan Rah, Chuck Norris, Joyluck Club, Angry Asian Man, Wanna-Be Ninjas and Everyone Else
Eugene Cho 11-04-2009
I don't know if I have the energy or bandwidth to write this but it's important so here goes
Edward Gilbreath 11-04-2009
One of the toughest parts of being the author of a book about racial reconciliation is that when the latest racial incident flares up, everyone expects you to chime in with your two cents.
Soong-Chan Rah 11-02-2009
Last month's Christianity Today featured an article on the state of evangelicalism by
Efrem Smith 10-27-2009
This morning as I was running on the treadmill, I was also watching CNN. A story came on about a shooting in Washington, D.C. The police chief was speaking, with the mayor of D.C looking on.
Edward Gilbreath 10-16-2009
One of the big conversations in my household this year has revolved around the question of whether my 9-year-old daughter is ready to get her hair "permed." Some girls at her school have already been initiated into the world of relaxed hair, so the peer pressure is in effect.
Jose Morales 10-14-2009
What is at the core of the immigration issue? What is the driving force of the debate? I say it is fear.
Ryan Rodrick Beiler 9-25-2009
There is some good conversation going around God's Politics partner blogs about what role race is playing in the current wave of opposition to Obama's policies, including Rep.
Lisa Sharon Harper 9-25-2009
The following is a message delivered at the "Stand for Freedom in Iran" rally that took place yesterday at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, across from the United Nations.
Brenda Salter McNeil 9-18-2009
I, perhaps recklessly, began to think that the debate on black hair had finally been put to rest, that black women could choose to wear their hair straightened or natural, in braids, locks, or twis
Jim Wallis 9-17-2009
Here we go again. Some people raise the issue of race (this time about the ways others are talking about or treating the first black U.S. president) and the media goes crazy.
Edward Gilbreath 8-13-2009
It has now been a couple of weeks since President Obama convened what was infamously dubbed the "Beer Summit." You know the story by n
Cathleen Falsani 7-31-2009
Jim Wallis 7-29-2009
I have been away for the last couple of weeks, first for a family wedding and reunion on a lake in northern Michigan, and then at the Chautauqua conference center in rural New York state.
Ryan Rodrick Beiler 7-28-2009
Audio of the 911 call that brought Sgt. James Crowley to the home of Henry Louis Gates Jr.


text:
how much does 2000 pounds of sandstone cost
As a leading global manufacturer of crushing, grinding and mining equipments, we offer advanced, reasonable solutions for any size-reduction requirements including quarry, aggregate, and different kinds of minerals. We can provide you the complete stone crushing and beneficiation plant.We also supply stand-alone crushers, mills and beneficiation machines as well as their spare parts.
How much coal, natural gas, or petroleum is used to
Electricity. Sales, revenue and prices, power plants, How much coal, natural gas, (2,000 pounds) Note: heat contentsLearn More
MGMT 303 Exam 1 flashcards Quizlet
Dillon has a standard of 1.5 pounds of materials per unit, at $6 per pound. In producing 2,000 units, The purchase price is $2 per pound,Learn More
How much does a yard of 2A modified stone weigh
How much does a yard of 2A modified stone weigh? Welcome New User! How much does a yard weigh A ton weighs 2000 pounds how much does a yard weigh?Learn More
12 Month Loans Pounds to Pocket
Apply Online for 12 Month Loans. Do you need some extra cash Apply at Pounds to Pocket for a 12 month loan of up to £2,000 12 Month Cash Loans from Pounds toLearn More
weight 4 inch concrete can hold Practical Machinist
What is the most heavy machine you think I can put on 4" of concrete? I tried looking up what lbs per weight at support points (i.e. 2500 lbs each 2000 psfLearn More
How much does hajj? just an average price plz? Yahoo Answers
How much does hajj? just an average price plz? am planing 2 go 2 hajj 1 day, i do nt id say about 2000 pound the max if and 1500 the least,Learn More
How much food and income can an urban farm produce
How much food and income can an urban farm produce? By John Robb Food. ~2000 pounds of leafy greens, Greens prices vary. ~$3 or so per pound,Learn More
Double Your Money Selling Old Pennies by the Pound
· Double Your Money Selling Old Pennies by the Pound. than $2,000, but a nice profit copper bullion,copper pennies,copper prices,copper+prices+perLearn More
Scrap Metal Recycling FAQs Page 2 - Basic
I thought a ton was 2,000 pounds? pay our scrap steel based on a Gross Ton, calculate how much our pricing is per pound, divide our current steel prices byLearn More
Commodity Profile: Pistachios UC Agricultural Issues Center
Arizona had 2,700 acres of pistachios under production in 2000, pistachio prices per pound have shown a very gradual downward slope from a high ofLearn More
how many square feet will one ton of one inch gravel cover
How many square feet will one ton of one inch gravel 2000 pounds = .644 cubic meters = 39,299 cubic What is the average cost for a ton of gravel?Learn More
The High Cost of Precision Attack Defense Update:
· Precision has its Cost. How much European Air Forces will be asked to pay for replenishing their stock is yet unknown. Guided weapons the 2,000 poundLearn More
Bulk Quantities in Landscaping Useful conversion tables
Bulk quantities needed for various size landscape stone and mulch. Includes conversion Coverage of Gravel and Crushed Stone per 1 ton = 2,000 poundsLearn More
How To Make Money Selling Scrap Metal ReCraigslist.com
or per 2,000 pounds for ferrous metals. This breaks down to approximately $10 per 100 pounds of metal. The price that scrap I'm trying to scrap metalLearn More
PCS whats the price for going over weight. Military
We went 2,000 pounds over and still haven't gotten a billthe movers told us about a dollar a pound as well though. I will warn you that our estimate was 2,000Learn More
Rates & Terms Pounds to Pocket
Rates & Terms Pounds to Pocket will always be upfront with you. How much do you want to repay per instalment? Apply for up to £2,000Learn More
Mulch Cost Comparison Play Safe Surfacing
Play Safe Surfacing Rubber Playground Mulch cost $42.00 more, over a five year period, when compared to hardwood mulch. This does not take into account the costs forLearn More
How much coal is required to run a 100-watt light bulb 24
Multiplying by 2,000 pounds/ton we get 714 pounds (325 kg) "How much coal is required to run a 100-watt light bulb 24 hours a day for a year?"Learn More

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Pleural Fluid
The British Thoracic Society (Hooper C, Lee YCG, Maskell N. Investigation of a unilateral pleural effusion in adults. Thorax 2010; 65: Supplement 2, ii4-ii17), recommends that Light's criteria are used for patients not receiving (or recently receiving) diuretics. Serum and effusion total protein and LDH should be measured. Fluid is an exudate if any of the following criteria are met:
- Fluid:serum protein ratio >0.5
- Fluid LDH >67% of the upper limit of normal for serum (i.e. >166 U/L in our laboratory)
- Fluid:serum LDH ratio >0.6
An alternative is to use the serum-effusion albumin gradient ( SEAG). Serum albumin and effusion albumin are measured and then the effusion albumin value is subtracted from the serum albumin value.
- SEAG <12g/L is an exudate,
- SEAG >12g/L is a transudate
This has been found to be useful in classifying patients on diuretics or who have recently been on diuretics.
Ascitic fluid
Measure the fluid total protein:
- Levels below 25-30 g/L classed as "transudates" (cirrhosis, CCF, nephrotic)
- Levels above 25-30 g/L classed as "exudates" (inflammation or infection)
An alternative to the exudate-transudate concept is Serum Ascites Albumin Gradient (SAAG). Serum albumin and ascitic fluid albumin are measured.
- SAAG = <11 g/L (low albumin gradient) associated with inflammation and infection
- SAAG = > 11 g/L (high albumin gradient) associated with portal hypertension


text:
Reviews by Genre
Like us on Facebook!
Follow us on Twitter!
Error: Twitter did not respond. Please wait a few minutes and refresh this page.
Tag Archives: romantic action
Review: The Lost Girls
The Lost Girls by Jason Halstead Kat, a cop with some major attitude, is working a hot case – women are going missing in Phoenix and the case is becoming personal. Judging by the steady increase in attempts on her … Continue reading


text:
We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.
This video will help you how to pick out a car seat. It will show how to pick the best car seats for infants and toddlers. Very helpful if you don't know anything about infant gear.
Latest posts by Pat (see all)
- Signs Your Baby is Ready for Solid Foods - November 3, 2015
- Should You Give Out Goody Bags While Flying with a Baby? - October 21, 2015
- How to Swim with a Baby - September 27, 2015


text:
Collaborative divorce attorneys wisconsin
If that did not work out properly, they should collaborative divorce attorneys wisconsin colllaborative from their families and buddies. Therefore, it could be useful to counsel a particular lawyer to your loved ones when it comes time to read the doc. The good news is that increasingly people are turning into aware of sexual addiction and there's help out there that offers specifically with this situation. This implies the petitioner gets what they have requested for, and the respondent will not have an opportunity to inform their side of the follaborative. Plan to hook up with local people organizations or your alumni chapters in the new location. Super Attorneys listing is an index of attorneys who exhibit excellence in the practice wisconsjn law. If the property purchased is on loans, do keep a copy of the house loan particulars with you. The fact that panchnamas of the burials were duly recorded reveals that there was nothing clandestine about collaborative divorce attorneys wisconsin burials, and the Gujarat High Courtroom needs to query Ms. Do not be. A pair years ago wlsconsin hit a rough spot and she ended up leaving me for someone else. When you have any questions about Google Translate, please click on the following link: Google Translate FAQs. Even you possibly can level out some circumstances of comparable nature if you have an concept about it. The U. However the legislators' intention was for parents to have a chance to reconcile. Nonetheless, if you happen to get a legal separation and later need a divorce, you then have added costs, whereas in case you just went for a divorce instantly, you'll have just one set of prices. We have now influenced policy and observe including the Maternity Companies Overview in 2007 and as a member of the NYCC (Nationwide Young Carer Collaborative divorce attorneys wisconsin The Kids and Families Act 2014 and the Care Act 2014 underneath which holistic household assessments needs to be undertaken and there must be higher communication between adult and children's services. If ?you actually are. The Shift - what is it. Most youngsters sacrifice their sleeping time so as divorfe watch films, play games and even chat with their buddies wiisconsin. So be sure to take this critically and let's hope your spouse will collaborate in this wiconsin so as to not render issues tougher. The more you realize, the more snug you can be once you fill out the necessary courtroom types and are available to court. When you find yourself obsessing over their deficiencies, remind collaborative divorce attorneys wisconsin of how candy, thoughtful, and affectionate they attorenys be. Francis in Western New York). You really have to wisdonsin it possible for your own needs are at first. The difficulty often is that the confusion becomes so great attoorneys we throw up our arms metaphorically (and typically bodily!) in defeat collaborative divorce attorneys wisconsin either stop caring or revert to our collabotative instincts where concern and anger take hold; this just makes issues attornwys. I want a referral for a very really sturdy divorce attorney for sophisticated household matter. That is attodneys very long time, so more than small speak would have been exchanged. The Agency For Males is a Virginia Seaside law agency composed of men's rights attorneys Hampton Roads Virginia Seashore that defends males and males only. No, they don't dwell on that query much, collaborattive a result of for them attonreys saying let's go for mutual divorce almost seems like a How to file an uncontested divorce in illinois in comparison with the being married expertise collaborative divorce attorneys wisconsin seen thus far. 00 complete all divorce court episodes divorce, contact collaborative divorce attorneys wisconsin lawyer TOLL-FREE at 800-486-4070. And also you need to always be taking steps that get you nearer to that destination. Authorized Custody collaborative divorce attorneys wisconsin grants a caretaker legal rights to make medical decisions, instructional decisions, living preparations, and so on. Judges Resolve Little one Custody - Not Kids On the finish of the collaborative divorce attorneys wisconsin, when dad and mom can't agree, it's up to the decide collaborative divorce attorneys wisconsin determine who will get the kids. This Service consists of Full Priority Phone, e-mail and Dwell Chat Assist how file for divorce of your Devoted Case Manager. For compassionate and consequence-driven household regulation advocacy in all household authorized issues, contact the Regulation Workplaces of Michael H. Typically, particularly if each agree, only one former associate has a solicitor usually the collaborative divorce attorneys wisconsin who starts collaborative divorce attorneys wisconsin divorce or dissolution. At a trial, the decide will hear testimony and will determine the problems that might not be disconsin upon. Even so, this misunderstanding is well resolved. The cruel and inhuman treatment of the plaintiff by the defendant such that the conduct of the defendant so endangers the physical or mental properly being collaborative divorce attorneys wisconsin the plaintiff as renders it unsafe or improper how to get divorce in nj the plaintiff to cohabit with the defendant. If you are going by way of major life adjustments, the Maine Facilities collaborative divorce attorneys wisconsin Ladies, Work and Community may give you help and help. By default, any property owned or acquired by both partner earlier than or during the marriage is held to be group collaborativve and will doubtless be divided equally between the two. This was hard for my youngsters as a result of they colpaborative spending time with certainly one of their uncles and he rarely got here round after the divorce. Consequently, we cannot virtually have an extended and meaningful dialog. Documentation which will prove your level are very important to divorce settlement agreements. A father or mother attofneys not refuse to permit or reduce the other mother or father's visitation with the kids simply because the other dad or mum has not paid hisher baby help. The Dar-ul-Uloom upheld the neighborhood Panchayat's view that Imrana is mechanically divorced, wiwconsin directed her husband to maintain their 5 children. Actually it might have mattered to him that not only are these the UPA chairperson's lincoln county court divorce, however belong to the identical majority Christian sect, headquartered in Vatican City. Such information include particulars you can shortly make use of regardless of best way to divide property in divorce function for free divorce records search. Many individuals handle their own divorces with out formal attorney representation. Chicago: ACTA Publications. It is no wonder many marriages fail collaborative divorce attorneys wisconsin to scott weiland divorce settlement one drawback. It will likely be an uphill battle and you will in all probability lose. If you're on a low revenue or benefits there may be remittance available on court docket charges. It dlvorce time to start to avoid wasting your marriage.More...
Comments:01.08.2015 at 01:48 Tojazuru:
Matchless topic, it is interesting to me))))
05.08.2015 at 07:19 Gomuro:
Very curiously :)
10.08.2015 at 18:50 Goltizil:
Yes, it is the intelligible answer
16.08.2015 at 05:00 Akinos:
I apologise, but, in my opinion, you commit an error. I suggest it to discuss. Write to me in PM, we will communicate.
16.08.2015 at 19:24 Faugor:
Bravo, seems to me, is an excellent phrase
23.08.2015 at 18:32 Meshakar:
I agree with told all above. We can communicate on this theme.
29.08.2015 at 01:04 Gokazahn:
I am sorry, that has interfered... I here recently. But this theme is very close to me. Write in PM.
01.09.2015 at 08:01 Tygogrel:
I will know, many thanks for the information.
03.09.2015 at 02:48 Grolmaran:
I can not participate now in discussion - there is no free time. I will return - I will necessarily express the opinion.


text:
List of 50 Hottest Christmas Toys For 2016
Its 2016.
Christmas presents are around the corner. Haven't you seen Christmas already in your local markets?
Many of you are already planning what gifts to bring to your children and families.
Here are the top 50 affordable Christmas presents for 2016. Many of these toys will help develop your child with math, spacial reasoning, puzzle solving and critical thinking.
#1 Little Tikes Anchors Away Pirate Ship Water Play Table
A fun pirate ship that is themed for outdoors, it is water resistant and has spinning features for children. Attached on the table is a squirting water cannon. Children can also raise an attached anchor by raising and lowering a handle.
#2 Harry Potter Gryffindor Tie Costume Accessory
A Harry Potter Gryffindor necktie that is an officially licensed Harry Potter costume.
#3 LEGO City Town Advent Calendar Building Kit (290 Piece)
Easily one of the hottest toys around right now. The Lego City Advent Calendar Building Kit features 24 different items, including buildings, vehicles, items and opening each "door" to reveal the surprise of the day. It includes 2 firefighters, a volcano worker, a volcano adventurer, 2 ice hockey players, a Santa and a dog! (wow!)
An easy and fun hauler for Hot Wheels vehicles. It has multiple layers and will load your favorite hot wheels cars. It's built to transpart with sleek style and can hold up to 50 Hot Wheels vehicles on 6 levels. You can also connect the Mega Hauler to the Hot Wheels orange tracks.
#5 8″ LumiStick Brand Glowsticks Glow Stick Bracelets Mixed Colors (Tube of 100)
Authentic Lumistick brand glow products, that includes 100 connectors that can make bracelets, necklaces and more. Contains 5 bright colors: Pink, Green, Blue, Yellow & Orange. It glows up to 8-12 hours. They are brand new from the factory. Great for Halloween, parties, bath tubs, bars, & more.
#6 Disney Princess Dress Up Trunk
This set includes 21 pieces, and comes with a princess decorated trunk. The dress pieces fit sizes 4-6 and they are for ages 3 and up. 21 piece set includes 4 shirts, 3 skirts, 2 headbands, 1 tiara, 1 choker, 3 bracelets, 1 pair of earrings, 1 necklace, 3 rings and storage trunk. The trunk is princess themed decorated.
#7 Manhattan Toy Winkel Rattle and Sensory Teether Activity Toy
This crazy looking maze is a bunch of soft tubes that is perfect for a teething baby to chew on. The toy is made out of teething plastic loops that are BPA free. Visually appealing to babies, it also promotes clutching and two handed play, and the middle piece contains a pleasing rattle sound.
#8 VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker (Frustration Free Packaging)
An interactive learning baby walker has a removable play panel, with frustration free packaging. It means it comes in a plain box that is easy to open. The early learning center has 5 piano keys that play music and encourage creativity from your child. It features two colorful spinning rollers, 3 shape sorters, and 3 light-up buttons that develop your child's motor skills. It also comes with a pretend telephone handset and mechanical elements to enhance role-play fun. As an added bonus they included 70 sing along songs, music, sound effects, and fun phrases.
#9 Crayola 50ct Long Colored Pencils (68-4050)
Beautiful colored pencils made by Crayola that is made from reforested wood, and never from a tropical rainforest. They lay down smooth with no scratchy colors that are perfect for color mixing and blending. They are also presharpened so they stay sharp longer and reshape easily. They contain 50 bright intense colors and they are strong and durable.
#10 Kangaroo Experimental Crystal Growing Kit
This science kit contains everything you need to perform the seven unique crystal growth experiments. It comes with a beautiful display case to store and admire the crystals in once they are fully grown. There are also instructions for each experiment included, recommended for ages 8 and up. Recommended for young scientists and science enthusiasts with concentrations in geology.
A hilarious pie face game might just be the present you want to give to a few of your family members. A pie throwing arm is put in place and could go off any moment. Score a point every time you turn a handle without getting splattered. Includes 1 pie thrower, 1 throwing arm, 2 handles, chin rest, splash guard mask, spinner and sponge.
The classic Jenga game. Pull out a bock without crashing the stack to win at Jenga. It comes with 54 hardwood Jenga blocks, and you win by being the last player to remove a block without causing the stack to crash.
#13 100 Assorted Pokemon Trading Cards with Bonus 6 Free Holo Foils
100 of assorted Pokemon Cards spanning all sets. A ton of cards – for cheap. The perfect collection for your Pokemon Fan or for someone that is passionate about Pokemon.
#14 LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar Building Kit (282 Piece)
Star Wars vehicles include a Slave I, a TIE Interceptor, AAT, T-16 Skyhopper, Sleigh, Republic Cruiser, Droid Gunship, Jedi Interceptor, Skiff, and an Imperial Landing Craft. This features 8 mini figures and a Battle Droid, including an exclusive holiday-themed mini figure. Weapons are also included such as Luke Skylwalker's light saber, 2 blaster pistols, 3 blasters and a snow caster.
Nerf N-Strike Elite Strongarm Blaster
This blaster holds 6 elite darts and fires darts up to 90 feet. Slam fire slide lets you rapid fire and includes the 6 elite darts. Rotating barrel flips open for easy loading as the darts work with any elite blaster and most N-Strike blasters. Blaster colors may vary.
#17 VTech Drop and Go Dump Truck
Drop colorful rocks into this cheery dump truck toy and watch them tumble into the bucket to learn numbers. This toy truck is a great toy to help your child learn many and learn counting through spacial reasoning. This toddler toy truck includes 3 colorful buttons that play melodies, phrases and teaches tools and colors.
#18 Uno Card Game
A classic card game of matching colors and numbers. Special action and wild cards for unexpected moves and excitement. Use the Swap Hands cards to change hands with any other opponent. Write your own rules for game play with the custom cards.
#19 Fisher-Price Little People Surprise & Sounds Home
An incredibly adorable game for kids that want to touch, sing and hear their way to "home" schooling with over 50 sounds, songs, and phrases. Press on the alarm clock to flip "Emma" right of her bed and hear fun sounds! Open the oven and refrigerator doors for lights and phrases. You can also lift the toilet seat for flushing and other sounds. An absolute favorite for the holidays.
An interactive childrens book that has big easy to turn pages, and 6 complete nursery rhymes. Talking books features 5 colorful piano buttons that make sounds and introduce colors and instruments. There are also two modes of play, music mode and learning mode. The interactive book is also visually stimulating with bright pages and a light up star that flashes with sound. These learning toys are great for babies and toddlers. This book is intended for kids 6 months to 3 years of age.
#21 Little Tikes 3′ Trampoline
Little tikes is a perfect trampoline for toddlers to burn off energy, it features a large jumping surface and a handle bar for stability. There is a combination of plastic and metal and the trampoline is used for indoors only.
#22 156 Piece Mega Halloween Toy Novelty Assortment; 12 Halloween Ducks, 12 Halloween Pencils, 12 Halloween Sticker Sheets; 48 Halloween Erasers; 72 Halloween Glitter Tattoos!!
This kit includes 12 Halloween ducks, 12 Halloween pencils, 48 mini erasers, 24 bats and 24 pumpkins. There are also 12 Halloween sticker sheets with 72 packs of glitter Halloween tattoos.
#23 Star Wars The Black Series Rogue One Imperial Death Trooper
A classical detailed 6-inch replica of the Imperial Death Trooper from Star Wars: Rogue One. It has an amazing collector-grade quality and multiple points of detailed sculpting.
#24 Click N' Play Pack of 200 Phthalate Free BPA Free Crush Proof Plastic Ball, Pit Balls – 6 Bright Colors in Reusable and Durable Storage Mesh Bag with Zipper
A pack of 200 pieces of "crush proof" balls. Made with Phthalate Free; Lead Free and non-PVC plastic. Each ball can withstand over 90 pounds of weight, its guaranteed crush proof, and manufactured with non-recycled plastic material. Each ball measures 2.3 inches in diameter, a perfect size for a small child's hand. There are 6 colors in blue, red, pink, green, orange and yellow. You can use them to fill up any ball pit, tent, playhouse, or a small pool. They are strong and reusable.
4 Petkin Backpacks included, and 20 shopkins. There is also an included collectors guide. These products are really hot right now, we have no idea why.
#26 LEGO Creator Red Creatures
This LEGO set features large movable wings, long scaly tails, a fiery breath! (and some fearsome horns) This one is a 3-in-1 model, which means you can rebuild this into a snake or a scorpion. The Dragon measures over 1″ high and 11″ long. The Scorpion measures over 4″ high and 11″ long. The Snake measures over 1″ high and 14″ long.
#27 Fisher-Price Think & Learn Code-a-pillar
Have your children test their brain power by connecting the Code-A-Pillar (the image above) to go fowards, left, right or any direction. Each segment lights up as the action happens. Motorized head segement features lights, sounds, and blinking eyes to bring Code-A-Pilar to life.
#28 Hot Wheels 9-Car Gift Pack (Styles May Vary)
The perfect gift for all vehicle lovers for any age. Contains 9 of the coolest 1:64 scale die-cast vehicles. Each pack is a cool collection.
#29 Play-Doh 24-Pack of Colors (Frustration Free Packaging)
Endless color combinations. There are 24, three ounce cans of play-doh compound. Each are a different color, and will keep you busy for days and weeks on molding fun.
#30 Kangaroo's Flashing LED Light Up Toys, Bumpy Rings, 18-Pack
LED flashy bumpy rings, with each box containing 18 kids toy rings. They are LED rings and they also glow in the dark. Great toys for kids birthdays and adult dance parties, raves, and celebrations. Press the toy ring for non-stop flashy fun and it will begin to flash.
#31 Melissa & Doug Let's Play House! Dust, Sweep and Mop
A six piece cleaning play set, that includes a broom, mop, duster, dust pan, brush, and storage stand. All pieces are durably made and sized for kids. The dust pan snaps onto all handles and it made of a sturdy wooden construction.
#32 Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Baby's First Blocks
Want your baby to be quick on their feet as they grow? This can help your baby sort and stack to learn to identify and match shapes. This shape sorting lid and 5 different shapes can help build early identification skills. There are 10 colorful blocks that are easy to grasp and hold and store inside the bucket. Also comes with a handle to grasp, hold, and store inside a bucket.
#33 Scientific Explorer Mind Blowing Science
#34 Creativity for Kids Grow 'n Glow Terrarium
Craft it, planet it, water it, and watch it GROW! Just plant wheat and chia seeds in one plastic terrarium jar that is 5″ x 3.25″ This mason-style jar has star-shaped air vents in the lid and a wide mouth for easy assembly. A planet mister for keeping your terrarium plants watered. There are two resin figures and a bunny with toadstools. 15 garden inspired stickers and 45 glow in the dark stickers to light up your terrarium at night.
#35 LEGO Minecraft 21116 Crafting Box
Includes a Steve with an accessory, plus a skeleton and a mooshroom. (Yes you heard that right, MOOSHROOM) This also includes a skeleton's bow, a pickaxe, and 521 assorted lego pieces. This is absolutely one of the COOLEST toys you can get your kids or someone who is REALLY into minecraft.
#36 VTech Touch and Swipe Baby Phone
Touch screen kids phone with 12 light up pretend apps including pretend calendar, clock, and weather. The perfect gift for the CEO-in-training. The home button saves your phone number so toddlers can pretend to call home. 15 melodies, different phrases and sing along songs keep kids engaged. Educational kids toy introduces a role-playing phone to keep kids ready and prepared. They will be steps ahead of the other children by using this.
#37 LEGO Classic Medium Creative Brick Box 10696
Includes a wide range of LEGO bricks in 35 different colors; features 18 tires and 18 wheel rims. Special pieces also include a green 8cm x 16cm baseplate, window with frame and 3 sets of eyes. All special pieces encourage imaginative building. We highly recommend a product like this to put your child's creative right brain to work.
#38 Melissa & Doug Birthday Party Cake
A 34 piece set that come with velcro tabs that hold pieces together, and then slice apart. This includes 6 ready-to-cut slices of cake, removable candles, removable toppings, cake plate, and sever. Stores neatly in a wooden box. Includes extension activities for play and learning.
#39 Little Live Pets Snuggles My Dream Puppy Playset
This is one of the most absolutely ADORABLE toys we have ever seen. Hands down this is the #1 cutest toy of 2016. We aren't kidding. We felt like this was a real puppy. This snuggles puppy will send you love as soon as she opens her expressive eyes.
#40 Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Chair
50 sing along songs, tunes and phrases. Features smart stages technology, automatic smart stage level changes or manually change levels with the switch. The seat activates songs and phrases with the baby sits and stand. This chair teaches first words, numbers, shapes, colors and more. A great way to stimulate your brain while learning new material for children.
#41 HedBanz Game – Edition may vary
The goofiest game and also one of the highest rated games. "What am I" with Hedbanz. Kids can use their heads in more ways than one while asking yes or no questions to figure out if the cartoon on their head. If you are the first play to guess what you are, you win. Comes with everything including rule sheet, 74 cards, 24 chips, 6 headbands, and sand-clock timer.
#42 CNFT Pokemon Action Figures, 144-Piece, 2-3 cm
Assorted plastic Pokemon action figures. They are imported and are made of colorful high quality PVC material.
#43 VTech KidiBeats Kids Drum Set
Have your child learn through three drum pads and cymbals with its own unique sounds for sensory development. Toddlers can play along to 9 melodies from different styles including rock, dance, and pop. Music toy teachers letters, numbers, and music. Educational kids toy includes two drumsticks that allow your child to feel like a real drummer. These toys are intended for roddlers aged 2 to 5 years old. (Batteries are included)
#44 LeapFrog Scribble and Write
Trace the lights and learn how to write with the new LeapFrog scribble and write! New writing accuracy feedback systems are integrated as well as an easy-grip stylus. Make sure your children are well prepared and ahead of their peers with this new LeapFrog scribble and write.
#45 Creativity for Kids Fashion Headbands
Includes a rainbow arrow of satin headbands, rhinestones, flowers, feathers, a butterfly, yards of ribbon and more. Great for play days and small group activities. Each come with 10 beautiful accessories.
#46 Syma X5C 2.4G 6 Axis Gyro HD Camera RC Quadcopter with 2.0MP Camera
Equipped with an HD camera and 2GB memory card. This quadcopter performs flips at the press of a button with 360 degree eversion. It is wind resistant and can be flown indoors or outdoors. The flight time on this quadcopter is 7 minutes and a 100 minute charge time.
#47 Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Rock-a-Stack
Bright colors and shiny reflections with swirling beads stimulate a visual development with the child. Placing rings on post strengthens eye-hand coordination as well as helping the baby learn to differentiate among colors and sizes of rings.
#48 Candy Land The World of Sweets Game (Amazon Exclusive)
As a classic game, you can play with 2-4 players and this is a
"sweet version" of the classic boardgame that features a race to the castle. You will encounter a bunch of delicious surprises and this includes a game-board, 4 pawns, card deck, and instructions.
#49 Paw Patrol Marshall's Fire Fightin' Truck/Rescue Marshall (works with Paw Patroller)(Packaging Title Varies)
With the Spirograph, you can spend literally HOURS on this. The design has interlocking gears and wheels, anyone can draw elegant and spiraling designs. Inspired by the design of the original 1965 Spirograph, this set will entertain the whole family for years and years to come. This set includes everything you need to get started which is 7 wheels, 1 ring, 1 rack, Spiro-putty, 2 pens, 10 page guide book, design paper, and a snap-in storage tray.


text:
Code: 531/88AMT
(Inches) Diameter 34.65, Height 18.11
Lights number
6 (MAX 60 Watt)
Light type
Ingress Protection Rating
Price: $240.63
Original spare parts, Assembly Manual
Crystal ceiling lamp mesh like working, Pendants in lead crystal. Metal finish in white color.
The fixture is equipped with a central spotlight to illuminate and brighten the pendants in lead crystal, this product is not painted but coloured with fusion
Electric system and Certification
This item is certified according to CE standards, the wiring system will be done according to the installation country. You can change the installation country in the shopping cart page. Click here for informations about the certification
The item must be produced, See production time
Manufacturer certifications
Review by: Vera Ida, United States, 8/14/2015
This chandelier is beautiful. The process of purchase was easy, and I received periodic updates of when they started production, and when it was done, when it was shipped. Very correct way to do it. And then it arrived, in two huge boxes. Well packaged, safe. Upon initial viewing of the pink part it seemed very pale pink, and I was disappointed. It was a far cry from the "amethyst" color, from the deep pink chandelier I fell in love with. I called them, and wrote, asking for darker color parts to be sent. Alessandro was very polite and understanding, but he claimed that their engineers chose the correct shade of pink that would not change the color of the light. He offered to completely refund the purchase price, including shipping, and have it shipped back. But I loved that chandelier in the photo and was sad about it. My husband then decided to completely assemble it, so we can make an intelligent final decision. Assembled, the pink got somewhat deeper, and the whole thing was beautiful. It still was not the deep amethyst color from the photo, but it was beautiful nonetheless. Also, please note that it is not actual mesh work in glass, it is solid glass that looks like mesh work. It is going to be gorgeous above our modern white lacquer dining table. As our new home is still in renovation, my husband took it apart again, till we are ready to install it. It really is a piece of modern art, very unique chandelier. I can't wait to see up in our new home. Their customer service went above and beyond, offering to refund full price and shipping. That is the professional and honorable way to do business. I gave them four stars only because of the color discrepancy and the mesh not being a mesh. I hope they will change the photo on the website to a truer photo on a white background , and that they correct the wording to "mesh like", instead of glass mesh. Beautiful product worthy of Venice, excellent , polite, responsive and reliable customer service. Highly recommended. Thank you.
Documenti allegati:
Copyright © 1999-2016 MGS - Murano Glass Shop - All rights reserved.
All products contained in this document are trademarks of M.G.S.
Reproduction and copies (either total or limited) are strictly banded.
MGS - P.IVA 03508080276 - REA VE314645 - Muranoglass-shop
Payment Methods


text:
|Home | About | Journals | Submit | Contact Us | Français
This article outlines a theoretical framework for research concerning secondhand smoke exposure (SHSe) prevention as a means to curtail the tobacco industry.
The Behavioral Ecological Model (BEM) assumes interlocking social contingencies of reinforcement (i.e., rewards or punishments) from the highest level of society (e.g., taxing cigarette sales) to physiological reactions to nicotine that influence smoking and SHSe. We review selected research concerning both policy and clinical efforts to restrict smoking and/or SHSe.
Research to date has focused on smoking cessation with modest to weak effects. The BEM and empirical evidence suggest that cultural contingencies of reinforcement should be emphasized to protect people from SHSe, especially vulnerable children, pregnant women, the ill, the elderly, and low-income adults who have not "elected" to smoke. Doing so will protect vulnerable populations from industry-produced SHSe and may yield more and longer-lasting cessation.
Interventions that reduce SHSe may serve as a Trojan horse to counter the tobacco industry. Future studies should: (a) guide policies to restrict SHSe; (b) develop powerful community and clinical interventions to reduce SHSe; (c) test the degree to which policies and other contexts enhance the effects of clinical interventions (e.g., media programs disclosing the disingenuous marketing by the industry); and (d) investigate the effects of all health care providers' ability to reduce SHSe and generate an antitobacco culture, by advising all clients to avoid starting to smoke, to protect their children from SHSe, and to quit smoking.
Behavior change is required to prevent morbidity. Behavior explains more than 50% of the variance in infectious diseases, degenerative diseases, and injuries (Cuff & Vanselow, 2004; McGinnis & Foege, 1993). An individual's health is a function of the behavior of many people on multiple levels, and a broad systems approach to understanding both the individual's and the population's behavior is critical to achieving health promotion for all. Investigators cannot ignore the behavior of politicians who enact legislative policies that influence public health research, the behavior of medical care providers and insurers, and the behavior of industries (e.g., pharmaceuticals, tobacco) that may profit from behavior that prevents disease or that harms the public. The confluence of these many agencies defines complex behavioral ecological subcultures that determine health-related behavior and morbidity outcomes. We have used a Behavioral Ecological Model (BEM), where social ecological systems are emphasized and integrated with individual factors (e.g., genetic and personal learning histories) to understand and engineer change in the populations' behavior (Hovell, Wahlgren, & Adams, 2009; Hovell, Wahlgren, & Gehrman, 2002). In this context, we discuss the role of secondhand smoke exposure (SHSe) in the overarching process of tobacco control.
This article describes the BEM, how it applies to SHSe research, and how elevating SHSe as the key target within the overarching tobacco control science may be a means of preventing tobacco addiction in whole populations.
The tobacco industry creates more smokers and disease than clinicians can prevent by clinical services alone. The focus on clinical care is understandable, as it helps seriously damaged members of society, but it only indirectly contributes to prevention. Alternatively, smoke-free policies and increased taxation hold promise for complete tobacco control, where no one uses tobacco products. Such policies are consistent with the BEM and illustrate a more comprehensive prevention model.
Popular theories offer "rational" or cognitive models of decision making that depend on understanding the health consequences of lifestyle practices (Bandura, 1989; Prochaska, DiClemente, & Norcross, 1992). However, these models are not complete, and they underemphasize principles of learning and the influence from physical and social environments. Jeffery (2004) and West (2005) have called for a return to principles of learning with emphasis on contingencies of reinforcement to influence lifestyle practices. Simplistically, contingencies of reinforcement reflect a specific behavior followed by a consequence (usually immediately) that influences the likelihood of future instances of the same behavior class. These behavior consequence chains ultimately become linked to antecedent events or contexts that prompt similar behavior. A contingency of reinforcement is the relationship between a behavior (e.g., smoking) and the preceding (e.g., offer of a cigarette) and following environmental events (e.g., relief from nicotine withdrawal symptoms and social approval from another smoker) that influence future instances of similar behavior (Skinner, 1969).
The BEM is based on principles of behavior (Baer & Wolf, 1987; Baer, Wolf, & Risley, 1968). However, the BEM extends these principles to the role of cultural factors in a complex web of influence that integrates concepts from biology, ecology, and Darwinian selection. Figure 1 depicts sources of influence on behavior, from within the body (lower triangle) and from the society (upper triangle). The model presumes that influences from genetics, and biological (e.g., experienced immune system) and behavioral-learning history (e.g., addiction to smoking), interact with influences from the local family, friends, and to societal ecology, all interacting with physical ecology. This perspective redirects public health and medical investigators to understand how contingencies define cultures, how cultures interact across levels of society, and how to change system factors to promote protective behavior community wide.
Tobacco control requires more than altering nicotine addiction. Social processes can enhance the addicting properties of nicotine or compete with nicotine to prevent or treat addiction. This means that engineering social/cultural systems offers both prevention and treatment for tobacco addiction. Research on SHSe may inform such engineering.
Culture begins with interlocking behavior across individuals, within and across generations (Glenn, 1988, 2004; Malagodi & Jackson, 1989). "Interlocking behavior" occurs when a person's behavior, or its consequences, serves as prompt and reciprocal reinforcement for another's behavior (Houmanfar & Rodrigues, 2006). For example, accepting an offer to light a cigarette and later offering to return the favor promotes and reinforces smoking. These behaviors are embedded in a complex social context of attracting a sex partner and other possible reinforcers. These social reinforcers are achieved in a probabilistic (i.e., intermittent) but contingent manner, thereby sustaining smoking practices.
Nicotine addiction is one example of a biological contingency for smoking. The most proximal consequence for smokers is relief from nicotine withdrawal symptoms that build when they go without nicotine. These consequences interact or add to social consequences taking place proximal to smoking. These interactions represent interlocking physical contingencies (relief from nicotine withdrawal symptoms), social contingencies, and more delayed financial or sexual contingencies reflected by paying for one another's drinks or by establishing sexual relationships. These examples reflect a cluster of interacting contingencies that support smoking and recruitment of new smokers. These proximal contingencies are independent of health effects of smoking or SHSe. To emphasize health consequences in order to motivate smoking avoidance or cessation is to ignore inadvertently a myriad of more powerful and immediate contingencies.
Social contexts are markers for unique contingencies of reinforcement. As an individual moves from one social context to another, his/her behavior changes to match the contingencies in the new context. For example, moving from one nation to another involves acculturation, where the contingencies from the new culture compete with those of the old (Kottak, 2006). Acculturation implies social contingencies and adoption of new social practices by the immigrant. However, the BEM guides the identification of explicit social contingencies operating that result in new normative behavior. Entering a bar where smoking is allowed increases the likelihood of reinforcement for smoking and for "tolerating" SHSe consistent with the "bar culture."
In communities that prohibit smoking in pubs, such microenvironments no longer represent cultures defined by smoking, SHSe, and supportive contingencies. This change can have far-reaching effects (Pierce & León, 2008). It disrupts the interlocked behaviors of drinking, smoking, and SHSe; it disassociates social/sexual and other powerful reinforcers for smoking and tolerating SHSe. Theoretically, disruption of these interlocking contingencies may generalize to other microenvironments, to weaken the tobacco industry's influence on smokers more broadly.
Government policies also influence local social contingencies. Such is the case with bars that have restricted smoking. Most of these changes have been predicated on new national or local government policies that restrict SHSe in public buildings. Thus, policies can jump-start the prohibition of smoking (to prevent nonsmokers' SHSe) and by doing so speed the new culture that disassociates smoking, SHSe, and drinking and their past common contingent reinforcers. The combination defines multiple levels of "contingencies" where policies alter bar owners' practices that alter smoking, and that alters SHSe, and so forth. Changes in community norms in turn can produce feedback to influence new government policies. While more research is necessary to test these hierarchical relationships, there is already a growing body of research that has shown an association between implementation of smoke-free public policies and more favorable attitudes toward secondhand smoke (SHS) regulations (e.g., Fong et al., 2006; Hyland et al., 2009) and adoption of household smoking bans (e.g., Borland et al., 2006; Fong et al.; Norman et al., 2000).
Korean businessmen serve as a model subculture with respect to tobacco use and interlocking contingencies. Traditional Korean men smoke as part of a social contingency system that includes providing cigarettes and tobacco paraphernalia as gifts. Business success depends on smoking, drinking, and partying with supervisors and coworkers after work. However, when these men emigrate to California, their smoking prevalence drops from about 60% to about 30% (Song et al., 2004). We believe that this is due to the antitobacco culture in California countering the effects of former Korean cultural contingencies. Korean males emigrating from Korea to California might compromise their business standing if they continue to smoke. When Korean women move to California, their smoking prevalence goes from 7% in Korea to 17% in California as they approximate full acculturation (Song et al., 2004). This probably represents the effect of acculturation in California, with substantially more gender equity, interacting with the previous Korean contingencies that suppressed female smoking (Hofstetter et al., 2004). These results show that "gender" acts as a marker for unique social contingencies for males and females. This interaction demonstrates the power of subculture contingencies and the importance of engineering gender-specific contingencies to protect women or other "high risk" immigrants from the tobacco industry. One such example is a media program modeled after the "truth" campaign (Farrelly et al., 2002), to counter the industry's luring women to smoke with promises of equality and freedom.
The tobacco industry has been changing cultures. Brandt (2007) summarized how the industry has employed concepts from the BEM (e.g., promoting tobacco use among women as a demonstration of gender equality) and made tobacco a central feature of Western culture, if not worldwide cultures. The industry lobbies for laws that protect it. The industry illustrates how to engineer social contingencies that define our tobacco culture.
Even as the industry has come under attack through civil litigation, it has turned failures into protectionist policies. However, as recent large-scale litigation has produced "losses" for the industry, there is an impression that the larger culture can exact counter-control (Gostin, 2007). However, negotiated settlements have included clever stipulations. For example, awards to the Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute (FAMRI) were provided to conduct research to prevent or control diseases linked to SHSe. This spans basic, clinical, and epidemiological science, including large centers of excellence. The FAMRI will yield discoveries that contribute to disease prevention; some studies will improve clinical treatment of tobacco-related diseases, and some will inform effective smoking cessation treatments or prevention of SHSe. However, the settlement precluded research funding for new tobacco policies, including those that might inform means of population-wide protection from SHSe. Nevertheless, the FAMRI remains a model settlement, in contrast to the track record for the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) between the tobacco industry and attorneys general of 46 states. The MSA is the largest dollar "award" from the industry (Wilson, 1999) but provides almost no support of tobacco control interventions such as media campaigns or tobacco prevention research. So when the industry "loses" a civil suit or fails to block new tobacco taxes, the industry promotes contingencies that deflect attention from tobacco control. As antismoking advocate Godshall (1999) has asserted, "[W]ith unprecedented future legal protection granted by the state [attorneys general] in exchange for money, it appears that the tobacco industry has emerged from the state lawsuits even more powerful."
With regulation of the industry (the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act), a new experiment in tobacco control may begin (Kennedy, Cornyn, Waxman, & Davis, 2007). Theoretically, such regulation would eliminate nicotine and toxic agents from cigarettes. However, it is unlikely that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be allowed to eliminate the industry. Thus, the outcome of regulation, based on the BEM, will involve new contingencies that may limit the industry's life or prolong it.
Since the World Health Organization tobacco treaty (Framework Convention Alliance, 2008), the processes now unfolding are a function of changes in the antitobacco subculture in the United States, western Europe, and other nations. This suggests future curtailments as nations develop antitobacco cultures, but the timing and degree remain uncertain. One reason for this is that the industry actively pursues systems that guarantee long-term existence. Its ability to lobby legislators is partially based on incredible wealth acquired by selling an addictive product. The industry has also systematically supported all levels of society, from funding local fire departments to funding science in our most prestigious universities (Chapman & Shatenstein, 2001). Its business success attracts investors, including pension funds. Thus, efforts to curtail the industry may hurt the retirement and health services of thousands of workers in the United States alone. Theoretically, such contingencies cause legislators to pause in their efforts to curtail a deadly industry. Research to confirm this is warranted.
The tobacco industry funds academic research in the context of academic freedom norms, offering the public possible "cures" for cancer, heart disease, and so forth. By targeting treatment first and smoking cessation second, the industry ensures minimal effect on its business. These industry contingencies support research and clinical care by the very professionals who should be leading efforts against a harmful industry. Potentially biased behavior of academics is supported by cultural contingencies of academic freedom. Recognizing these interacting contingencies is a step toward altering them. More research should focus on the direct and indirect effects of industry support for civil governments as well as academic investigators.
Concepts of self-control and personal decision making prevail in most cultures. These are not consistent with systems theory or the BEM with regard to empirically defined bases for behavior, but such cultures define social contingencies that promote risk practices and suppress the communities' effort to curtail them. Smokers assert that they have a "right" to smoke (Cardador, Hazan, & Glantz, 1995; Smith & Malone, 2007) and can decide whether to smoke or quit. Such cultural norms of self-control are contradicted by biological and behavioral sciences and retard tobacco control. Exaggerated concepts of self-determination are symbiotic with industry contingencies and are promoted by the industry (Cardador et al., 1995; Smith & Malone), producing a pathological social system. Thus, tobacco control might require reeducation of the public on the complex social systems that determine "personal decisions."
The picture we have provided is incomplete but sufficient to show that the United States and other cultures support the industry. This context is so pervasive and continuing to be built by the industry that it is critical to take a macro view of these systems and to launch a tobacco control research policy that includes study of policies that transition the industry to a health neutral or health promoting business. We suggest that one pathway toward this end might emphasize SHSe control.
It is established that SHSe can harm nonsmokers. The adverse health effects include respiratory infections, otitis media, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), heart disease, and lung cancer (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [USDHHS], 2006). Secondhand smoke exposure also increases the risk of a person's becoming an addicted smoker as a young adult (Becklake, Ghezzo, & Ernst, 2005). This SHSe may occur through prenatal or postnatal exposure to nicotine that could establish early sensitivity to nicotine and predispose the child to addiction. These theoretically plausible effects warrant confirmation by empirical studies. Exposure to secondhand smoke also might cause children to imitate smoking as a function of modeling and socially reinforcing contingencies for smoking, starting with parents, family members, close friends, and ultimately adolescent peers who smoke. For susceptible youth, symptoms of dependence appear within 2 days of first inhaling (Difranza et al., 2007). The industry exploits these modeling processes by advertisements that promote smoking by women and preteens and this perpetuates smoking into the next generation.
The damage done by SHSe is huge. From coronary heart disease alone, up to 75,000 deaths are attributable to SHSe (Lightwood, Coxson, Bibbins-Domingo, Williams, & Goldman, 2009). Secondhand smoke exposure costs billions of dollars in excess medical care for U.S. children and billions more in annual loss of life (Adams & Young, 1999; Aligne & Stoddard, 1997).
In 2000, 25% of U.S. children were exposed to SHS (Soliman, Pollack, & Warner, 2004). Healthy People 2010 objectives are to reduce child SHSe prevalence below 10% (USDHHS, 2000). However, the U.S. Surgeon General has declared that there is no safe level of SHSe (USDHHS, 2006). Ultimately, no one should be exposed.
A recent study estimated that California's antismoking program saved the state $86 billion in health expenditures between 1989 and 2004 (Lightwood, Dinno, & Glantz, 2008). These estimates exclude the treatment costs for other diseases or indirect costs. This study also showed that declining SHSe rates can prevent disease, related deaths, and related costs. The results suggest that culture change can produce huge health effects and cost savings. Realizing billions of dollars in health benefits and financial savings warrants far more attention to SHSe prevention research and related policies to effect culture-wide change. Smokers are products of the industry and our cultures. Based on the BEM, antitobacco efforts should capitalize on existing societal contingencies to protect vulnerable members and members who have not "elected" to smoke but are exposed to SHS. One such norm is the protection of vulnerable members of society, such as infants, young children, the poor, and the ill. Another norm is that nonsmokers should not suffer the consequences of smokers. Imitating the techniques employed by the industry to address SHSe including half of the world's children (World Health Organization, 1999) would likely be powerful "medicine" against tobacco. However, these should be restricted to legal and ethical interventions. Consider SIDS: Some cases of SIDS probably reflect medically compromised infants who happen to obtain sufficient exposure to maternal smoking during pregnancy and to postnatal SHS (Brownson, Eriksen, Davis, & Warner, 1997; USDHHS, 2006). It seems critical to protect all infants from SHSe to avoid these unnecessary deaths. For others, lifelong exposure to low doses of SHS remains a public health problem of importance due to the increased risk of morbidity and premature mortality.
A greater investment in prohibiting SHSe is theoretically likely to curtail the industry. The United States and other nations should emphasize the elimination of SHSe in all microenvironments such as work settings, private homes, and outdoor settings where nonsmokers could be exposed, such as parks (Giles-Corti et al., 2001; Henriques, Newton, & Marshak, 2003). The new agenda represents a shift to prevention. To be comprehensive, modeling of smoking and SHSe should be avoided, including in artistic and recreational media (e.g., TV, movies, the Internet).
Public health harm-reduction proponents argue correctly that smokeless tobacco products are less harmful than smoke (and may eliminate SHSe). If emphasis on SHSe were to eliminate cigarette smoking and SHSe (possibly in favor of smokeless products), it would reduce the disease burden. However, the contribution from smokeless products and SHSe reduction requires empirical confirmation. We suggest that public health policies and tobacco control research that emphasizes SHSe prevention will move the industry to alter its products, possibly starting with smokeless tobacco. The harm reduction proponents would see such change as a major public health success. We agree. However, advertising and modeling smokeless products will communicate more use of smokeless products, leading to disease, even if in a smaller subgroup than is true of cigarettes. Thus, smokeless tobacco products are not free of harm. Should such a shift take place, we would argue that since there is no benefit derived by the tobacco user or the public from tobacco products, any harm justifies precluding the production and sale of even smokeless tobacco products.
The BEM provides concepts of additive and synergistic effects of community level contingencies. This includes the role of clinicians in treating existing tobacco-related diseases, promoting tobacco cessation, and even promoting SHSe prevention in private homes and cars for their patients. Increased services focused on tobacco control in general and SHSe reduction in particular will sensitize patients and whole families, possibly supporting larger scale community-wide interventions aimed at prevention of SHSe, tobacco initiation, and consequential addiction and disease. The combination will yield an antitobacco culture that might eliminate or change the industry. Such culture change might be sufficient to preclude tolerance of smokeless tobacco products. Research is needed to identify specific policies and social contingencies that greatly reduce smoking and SHSe.
Secondhand smoke exposure is caused by smoking. In addition to smoking cessation interventions, we need programs that focus on SHSe to protect children and others, since most smokers do not quit and most who do quit return to smoking within 1 year (Fiore, Bailey, & Cohen, 2000; Fiore, Smith, Jorenby, & Baker, 1994; Ranney, Melvin, Lux, McClain, & Lohr, 2006; Rigotti, Munafo, & Stead, 2007).
Following the BEM, a community-wide systems approach should be constructed to protect all nonsmokers from SHSe. This will require designing interlocking contingencies that promote a culture that does not tolerate smoking in the presence of nonsmokers. Theoretically, such a system would involve community-wide "interventions," including policies, media campaigns, educational services, and clinical services, to name a few.
The clinical service industries offer a potential means of moving the culture forward without having to build major new policies. All clinical services, not limited to smoking cessation, can include requests to stop smoking, referral to clinical cessation services, and advice to protect children and other nonsmokers by never smoking at home, in the car, or other settings. If such advice were routinely delivered, most of the population would obtain advice and recommendations to stop smoking and to protect all others from SHSe. Theoretically, the degree to which such advice becomes universal begins to define an antitobacco culture.
Five minutes of brief smoking cessation advice by physicians could increase quit rates from about 5% at baseline to about 15% at follow-up (Folsom & Grimm, 1987; Janz et al., 1987; Russell, Wilson, Taylor, & Baker, 1979). The current U.S. policies promote the "five A's" (ask, advise, assess, assist, and arrange) and encouraging physicians to ask and advise their patients not to smoke. While more physicians are delivering brief advice, more research is needed to learn how to promote such advice from all health care providers. If all providers employed brief advice, the cumulative effects might be significant.
The most affordable interventions are likely to be brief advice, but they tend to be the least powerful. A subset of clinicians—for example, preventive medicine specialists—might offer more intensive interventions. This might include medications such as nicotine replacement therapy and Zyban for assisting with cessation. Some services are a good fit for this type of care. Families returning regularly for well-baby visits might be provided intensive clinical services by the pediatrician or assistants using tailored counseling, feedback, and incentives. Interventions could also provide financial and social contingencies to motivate cessation. Financial contingencies include vouchers—for example, $50/month to pregnant women for quitting smoking (Donatelle, Prows, Champeau, & Hudson, 2000), or $100 to employees for completing a smoking cessation program (Volpp et al., 2009). Social contingencies include social support provided by a nonsmoker who has a close relationship with the smoker (Donatelle et al.). More research is needed in these promising areas.
Minimal interventions for SHSe have not yet been tested. In a randomized trial with more than 2,000 families, Wall, Severson, Andrews, Lichtenstein, and Zoref (1995) provided minimal counseling and video materials for maternal smokers and explained that quitting would protect their child from SHSe and its health consequences. Parents were shown a video at the first well-baby visit and were provided written materials and brief advice from the pediatrician at well-baby visits at 2 weeks and 2, 4, and 6 months. This resulted in 7-day abstinence of 2.7% in control families and 5.9% in experimental families at 6 months. However, the study focused on smoking cessation outcomes. No SHSe measures were obtained to determine whether changes in SHSe were obtained in homes, or whether parents smoked outside. Had this study included measures of SHSe, it might have demonstrated a direct effect on SHSe.
Future studies should determine the likely effect of brief and low-intensity interventions for SHSe that could be distributed across many clinical services. Such studies should involve direct instruction on how to establish home bans and how to keep children from contact with smokers outside the home. Following our work with tobacco prevention among preteens, we assume relatively small effects from such minimal interventions (Matt et al., 2008b; Wahlgren, Hovell, Meltzer, Hofstetter, & Zakarian, 1997). If so, these studies require large sample sizes. However, minimal interventions may be sufficient to promote change in an important but small percentage of the patient population. If so, population-wide effects could have profound clinical benefits.
Clinical interventions for SHSe have emphasized counseling parents to smoke away from their children. Motivational interviewing techniques and similar counseling procedures provide a combination of health education about SHSe and its health consequences and practical means of avoiding smoking around children; and counselors who prompt and provide social reinforcement for parents' report of change in exposure practices. The number of sessions have varied across studies from as few as 3 to as many as 14 over weeks. A limited number of sessions (e.g., <4) provides education and promotes verbal contracts to avoid smoking when the child is present (e.g., in the same room). Longer and more frequent sessions approximate shaping procedures by gradually encouraging the parent to reduce the child's exposure.
Several counseling trials have reported significant SHSe reductions, including studies of asthmatic children, Latinos, and low-income mothers (Emmons et al., 2001; Greenberg et al., 1994; Hovell et al., 1994, 2000, 2002; Wahlgren, Hovell, Slymen, Conway, Hofstetter, & Jones, 1997). Thus, individualized parent counseling may reduce children's SHSe for low-income and racially diverse families. Frequent contacts for home-based interventions appear most effective (Gehrman & Hovell, 2003). However, because most studies have been limited to parents avoiding smoking in the same room with a child, the parent may have met that standard, but SHSe reduction may have been insufficient to detect by air dosimeters or cotinine markers. Nicotine and cotinine markers may better reflect the degree to which all sources of exposure have been eliminated. No study has tried to eliminate all sources of exposure. Almost all studies have been efficacy trials; none has demonstrated effectiveness (Zakarian et al., 2004). Thus, advancing the clinical science requires testing more aggressive efficacy and effectiveness trials that target complete protection from SHSe.
In some of our studies, most of the reduction in SHSe followed after 3–5 sessions. This suggests that early responders make relatively easy changes that reduce their child's exposure. Such changes do not require parenting skills or much compromise in normal smoking patterns. To achieve more will require more powerful interventions not yet tested in counseling. For instance, a home "ban" on smoking might require teaching mothers skills to deal with husbands, grandparents, and other smokers who are not normally restricted from smoking. Future research should focus on the social skills needed to enforce complete tobacco bans in private homes and/or other means of protecting nonsmokers who establish home bans from smokers who disagree (Escoffery, Kegler, & Butler, 2009; Winickoff et al., 2009).
We have seen families in which the parent has skills to require a smoking ban but the child remains exposed. This is a problem of motivation and may not respond to counseling. In these cases, counseling should be bolstered by more powerful "incentives" or formal contingencies of reinforcement, such as payments for change in smoking behavior (Donatelle et al., 2000; Petry, Alessi, Marx, Austin, & Tardif, 2005).
We have not yet identified the combination of procedures that reliably produces marked reductions in SHSe (Priest et al., 2008). One direction is to test combinations of existing clinical procedures. This might involve counseling, financial, and social contingencies for change. Evidence to date suggests that counseling can reduce exposure, but not always and not completely. To test more intensive interventions, clinical services should be more sophisticated by use of shaping and contingency contracting procedures and by immediate and ongoing feedback; cotinine assays should be available to providers; and both financial and social contingencies should be engineered as part of the intervention. With additional tests of intensive interventions for SHSe reduction and with new trials devoted to minimal interventions, it may be possible to identify both relatively intensive treatments for highly addicted smokers and minimal interventions that may be sufficient for most families to protect children from SHSe. Collectively, combined procedures, minimal interventions, and intensive interventions could yield interventions theoretically more powerful than any tested yet and might contribute to an antitobacco culture.
Clinical services are part of the process of influencing communities to change risk practices. Varying degrees of educational, clinical, and motivational interventions could be institutionalized in all types of services. This includes all medical specialties, incidentally providing brief advice not to start smoking, not to smoke around anyone else and never in one's home or car, and to quit, if a smoker. If this advice were provided for all nonemergent patient visits, it would reach a huge proportion of the population. Most parents and their children would obtain advice multiple times per year. Ignoring the potential direct effects, the cumulative effects of such advice might change community-wide norms from tobacco acceptance to intolerance of SHSe. Since this logic is dependent on both theory and limited empirical evidence that brief advice can change a small but important proportion of the population's behavior dramatically (e.g., quit rates when advised by physicians) and might result in more subtle changes in larger groups, wholesale adoption of brief advice may be premature. However, it could be implemented and tested in selected communities following quasi- and natural experimental models. Women, Infants, and Children programs might add tobacco control services as families return for nutritional services for one or more children over years. Extension to services outside the health care system (such as advice from one's barber or hairdresser) across social classes of the population could produce significant results. There is precedence for such research (Linnan, Emmons, & Abrams, 2002; Solomon et al., 2004) suggesting a prevention role for businesses in the community.
We have shown that measuring tobacco use and SHSe can be "reactive" and can decrease the "control group's" smoking level and its children's SHSe (Hovell et al., 1994; Wahlgren, Hovell, Meltzer, et al., 1997). Parents are sensitive when studies use cotinine biomarkers, nicotine wipes, air dosimeters, and vacuuming of dust samples from homes and cars (Matt et al., 2004, 2008a). Such reactivity complicates randomized trials and raises questions about use of minimal measurement to reduce reactivity. Most measures are not provided frequently or immediately following behavior change; this may reduce their reactive influence. Measurement itself might be designed as inexpensive interventions with relatively powerful effects. Principles of learning suggest that immediate and frequent feedback could be more influential. If clinicians provide parents with feedback at the office about their child's cotinine, it might prompt greater changes at home; if the child's cotinine decreased at subsequent visits, feedback and praise from the provider might reinforce decrease in SHSe to the child. If feedback were provided in the home immediately as the exposure occurs, it might prompt and reinforce changes in exposure even without the clinician's involvement. However, if the clinician also received home exposure readings via telemetry, he/she could provide additional prompts for change and/or offer social reinforcement for successfully keeping one's home smoke free for extended periods. The biomarker technology is available for clinic-based feedback but not immediate feedback. The technology for environmental markers to deliver immediate SHSe feedback to family members is available now but requires system development and effectiveness testing. Studies of feedback systems are exciting directions for SHSe research.
Homes and cars become contaminated by cigarette smoke. Such contamination can be a source of thirdhand exposure when the child comes in contact with contaminated surfaces or breathes the air when such contamination "off-gasses" (Matt et al., 2004, 2008a). Children are more likely to engage in floor contact and hand-to-mouth behavior (e.g., putting contaminated objects in their mouths), and, compared with adults, their higher rate of respiration may result in greater inhalation of off-gassing from cigarette smoke contaminants. Thus, allowing children into homes contaminated by cigarettes, even if no one smokes when the child is present, may result in thirdhand exposure. Since most counseling studies have relied on cotinine as the "objective" outcome measure, and cotinine may be sensitive to contamination sources of exposure that were not the targets of change, this may contribute to failure to reduce cotinine or to find group-by-time interactions. Future trials should use environmental markers to verify parent reports for proximal effects of counseling, such as reduced air contamination. Eventually, counseling should promote complete bans of smoking in the home, car, and all microenvironments that children frequent. This will require more intensive counseling procedures than have been tested to date. Future research should also determine levels of SHSe attributable to contaminated homes and cars versus visible smoke and the time it takes to off-gas completely. Depending on the results, this information can be leveraged for stronger tobacco control policies against smoking in microenvironments that include children, such as banning smoking in housing where children live or might live in the near future (Winickoff et al., 2009).
Public smoking bans and workplace smoking bans may alter the social network in the community, making tobacco and SHSe culturally unacceptable. Policies that restrict smoking in public buildings have reduced SHSe, have been associated with lower rates of smoking, and have not caused a loss of business revenue (Brownson et al., 1997; USDHHS, 2006). Taxing tobacco sales has also suppressed tobacco purchases and contributed to lower level smoking if not cessation (Levy, Chaloupka, & Gitchell, 2004; USDHHS, 2006). Media campaigns offer face valid means of educating the public but may have limited influence for those already addicted. However, if media conveyed an antitobacco culture or a tough love approach, where nonsmokers were encouraged not to tolerate smokers while they are smoking, it might reduce smoking and SHSe rates (Bala, Strzeszynski, & Cahill, 2008; Evans et al., 2006; USDHHS, 2006). Media also can promote consumer activism by encouraging the public not to patronize businesses that directly or indirectly support tobacco. This could include boycotting movies that show smoking. Policies are difficult to pass through legislative systems and media advertising is expensive, with most "programs" designed to entertain and/or promote commercial products. Thus, it will require considerable empirical support and culture change to motivate legislators to aggressively establish policies that counter the industry and protect the public from SHSe. It will also require legislative policies to promote media programs to the same end. This will take time, and cumulative research concerning SHSe prevention may contribute to such media and policies.
SHSe policy development is advancing for high-density housing and families undergoing divorce. Some communities are using regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency for protection from SHSe in apartments and condominiums (Bandura, 1989; Helburn, 2007; Hong, Barnes, & Glantz, 2007; Prochaska et al., 1992; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2005). These usually involve formal restriction policies and even threats of fines or eviction if others are exposed to smoke. Divorce proceedings also have considered the child's SHSe in custody rulings (Rosenblatt, 2005). Again, these custody decisions threaten parents with aversive consequences, such as loss of custody. These policies are evolving in the absence of adequate consideration of policies that might promote positive means of restricting SHSe to children and nonsmoking adults. Addicted parents, even if divorcing, are a product of an industry and culture that promotes such addiction. They should not be treated as perpetrators of crime (Hovell & Daniel, 2005). Parents may require tobacco cessation services and intensive social skills training to establish and enforce complete home bans for tobacco use. They might warrant court contingencies for long-term monitoring of their home to ensure that it remains smoke free. This domain warrants more research that emphasizes "natural experiments" and experimental analyses.
Our research and review suggest that emphasis on treatment of disease or smoking cessation services cannot offset the industry's ability to produce new addicts. Similarly, smokeless tobacco products will likely promote new addicts via modeling and social contingencies. Thus, even if they reduce harm relative to smoke-producing cigarettes, they too may yield more harm than benefit. We believe that interventions can reduce SHSe, lower smoking initiation, and increase long-term cessation rates. Moreover, as more and more people get accustomed to a smoke-free environment, this strengthens an antitobacco culture.
Based on the BEM, we expect that emphasis on SHSe elimination in all micro- and macroenvironments, in both outdoor and indoor areas, if achieved, will eliminate places where smokers can smoke without criticism. As criticism increases, it may generalize to other sanctions. For example, used cars sell for about 9% less if contaminated by an owner who smoked compared with an uncontaminated car owned by a nonsmoker (Matt et al., 2008b). This suggests that the culture is shifting in subtle ways that generate financial costs for contaminating microenvironments. While the evidence is not yet available, we suspect similar and greater costs for contaminated private homes, apartment owners, and hotels. This is implicitly supported by the trend in hotels restricting all smoking in all rooms (Stoller, 2009; USDHHS, 2006). As smoking areas lessen, we expect smoking initiation to decrease and quitting to increase. Decreases in the prevalence of smokers will further decrease social acceptance of tobacco and make smoking less convenient. This might move many to question investments in the industry or acceptance of its support. With financial pressure, industry stockholders might be motivated to work with governments to transform their business from sale of an addictive product to sale of health-enhancing products.
These types of changes are predicated on cumulative and synergistic changes in contingencies within and across national cultures. It is guided by the BEM. To the extent that this model is valid, it serves as a basis for national and international research to inform the World Health Organization and national government agencies to design policies that could curtail SHSe and promote a change in the industry. One example is the first international health treaty—the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control—which has been signed by most member nations (Framework Convention Alliance, 2008).
This work was supported by intramural funding from the Center for Behavioral Epidemiology and Community Health (CBEACH), the Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute, and the Robert Wood Johnson Smoke-Free Families Program (grant No. 027946 SFP).
This research was supported by Grants R40 MC 00185 and R40 MC 02494 from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (Title V, Social Security Act), Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Grant R01 HL066307 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, and Department of Health and Human Services.
None declared.
We acknowledge the two anonymous reviewers for making helpful recommendations to improve the manuscript.
PubMed Central Canada is a service of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) working in partnership with the National Research Council's national science library in cooperation with the National Center for Biotechnology Information at the U.S. National Library of Medicine(NCBI/NLM). It includes content provided to the PubMed Central International archive by participating publishers.


text:
The price of oil rose more than a $1 for the third time in the last four trading days, and closed above $104 for the first time since July 3.
Benchmark U.S. crude for August delivery rose $1.46 to $104.59 on the New York Mercantile Exchange. On Friday, the Nymex contract fell 6 cents to $103.13. Oil has gained 4.6 percent over the past four trading sessions.
Brent crude for September delivery, a benchmark for international oils, gained 44 cents to $107.68 on the ICE exchange in London.


text:
Abade Self Catering Holiday Cottages in Perthshire
Abade Self Catering Holiday Cottages in Perthshire has a superb selection of hand-picked holiday homes. Sleeping 2 – 10, from luxury town apartments in Crieff and Perth, romantic hideaways for two, flats at Gleneagles, family homes where dogs are welcome, logs fires, onsite leisure facilities and an idyllic lochside spot.
Abade aims to give you exactly what you want in a location that's perfect for what you want to do, whether it be a holiday, business trip or visiting friends and family.
Visit our website to make your selection, see prices, availability and book online. Late booking discounts and short breaks.
Get in Touch
- 01764 684100
- firstname.lastname@example.com
- Dalreoch, Dunning, Perthshire, PH2 0QJ
- Visit website


text:
(Dec. 12, 2012) -- The UTSA administrative team always is mindful of the safety of the UTSA community and continually monitors weather conditions, whether we are in an icy winter or the hurricane season.
Any time of year, whether there is excessive rain or ice, there are three venues through which the UTSA administration communicates the operational status of the university:
UTSA faculty, staff and students can call 210-458-SNOW (7669) at any time for information about the Tri-Campus community regarding the status of classes and employee work schedules. The information line can manage up to 138 calls at a time, but you may encounter a busy signal during peak usage. (Please try again in a few minutes.)
In the advent of extreme weather, UTSA provides all area broadcast and print media outlets with the latest information in a timely manner.
FAQ: UTSA weather closures
When does UTSA determine whether to close the campuses because of adverse weather?
When adverse weather occurs during the night, UTSA administrators make a decision as soon as possible but generally by 5 a.m. regarding whether to close the UTSA campuses. Subsequently, staff members continually update the 458-SNOW message and the UTSA Campus Alerts website, and contact media outlets.
What criteria are used to close UTSA?
UTSA is committed to making the best decision concerning the safety of students, faculty and staff. In San Antonio, a small amount of ice might create an unsafe situation, considering that students and employees travel to the university from various distances. For example, weather in the Hill Country may not be the same as in southern portions of Bexar County.
What if travel in my area appears dangerous?
Individuals are encouraged to make a prudent decision about traveling to campus in consideration of the weather in their area.
The institute will feature a performance from Eva Ybarra, the "Queen of the Accordion." Manuel Medrano will premiere a documentary on Ybarra's career. Two people receive free admission with a voucher available here.
Institute of Texan Cultures, Hemisfair Campus
Take the short drive up I-35 to root on your Roadrunners in this I-35 Showdown.
Bobcat Stadium, 1100 Aquarena Springs Dr., San Marcos
Get involved and register to vote. Click on the link to find out the locations on the Main and Downtown Campuses.
Multiple locations on the Main and Downtown Campuses
Learn about products and services available for studying, working, and making it to graduation! Speak directly to OIT managers, provide feedback on UTSA tech, and have your voice heard! Lunch and OIT gear provided. RSVP at: www.utsa.edu/oit/sic.
University Center, Denman Ballroom (2.01.28), Main Campus
Come meet the candidates looking to take home the crown as Mr. and Ms. UTSA 2017-2018. This is your opportunity to hear the candidates platform and learn how they plan to represent and transform UTSA.
University Center, Retama Auditorium (UC 2.02.02), Main Campus
UTSA's Friends of Shakespeare hosts this annual performance seried by Actors from the London Stage, Sept. 27, 29 and 30 at 7:30 p.m.
Arts Building, Recital Hall (ARTS 2.03.02), Main Campus
The Monks of Drepung Loseling Monastery will prepare a mandala sand painting on the main exhibit floor and offer various lectures and activities.
UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures, Hemisfair Campus
Meet researchers and practitioners from academia, industry and government who are working to address smart cities related issues. Register here: https://utsaresearch.wufoo.com/forms/smart-cities-networking-luncheon/
Durango Building, La Villita Room (DB 1.116), Downtown Campus
Other Calendars
» UTSA Events | » Academic | » Institute of Texan Cultures
The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.


text:
We're going on a 3-night/4-day getaway in November from the NYC area. We want a direct flight and a hotel close to the airport to cut travel time.
We're looking for:
--as uncrowded a beach as possible without leaving the safety of a resort
--clean rooms
--special occasion, so we don't want to be disappointed by a rundown hotel
--room with some privacy features would be nice (like a private balcony or plunge pool) but not necessary
--laid back, not stuffy vibe
Not looking for:
--night life
--a plethora of activities
We'd go to the Bahamas but too hard to travel to the out islands. Also probably more expensive. Turks and Caicos was another option but also expensive. So we narrowed it down to Punta Cana for convenience and the most value.
What is the least crowded resort beach that you've ever been to in PC?
Thanks for your help!
Recent ActivityView all Caribbean Islands activity »
- 1 Cuba via cruise
- 2 BVI: Comparable Islands?
- 3 Is everything open on elbow cay in early nov?
- 4 Grand Cayman Top Dining and To-do's
- 5 Cuban Cigar & Scavenger Hunt - Travel Report
- 6 Booking hotels in Cuba
- 7 Cuba Help
- 8 Restaurants & Activities In Grand Cayman
- 9 Barbados Beach and Hotel Question
- 10 Living in the Caribbean
- 11 st.thomas vs st. croix
- 12 Young Couple Looking for a Vacation Destination
- 13 Exumas, Abacos or Eleuthera?
- 14 Nassau Restaurants & Activities
- 15 Honeymoon ideas Quick!
- 16 Where to stay 3 days Montego Bay.
- 17 Marriott St Kitts vs 4 Seasons Nevis
- 18 Where to stay 3 days Montego Bay.
- 19 5 day pre cruise stay in San Juan
- 20 Starting Hurricane Irma thread
- 21 Seeking a boutique/intimate Caribbean honeymoon in March 2018
- 22 Looking for fab day tour in Ocho Rios
- 23 How far is Montego Bay from Ocho Rios
- 24 St. Croix
- 25 St Kitts & Irma
DR - Uncrowded & Laid-Back
Report Abuse
Punta Cana caters to AI crowds, so each resort will be crowded.
What's your budget? General statements like "expensive" doesn't mean anything as we would just be guessing. Also include if you want air and other things in your budget.
Time of year also affects prices and crowds.
Report Abuse
Jetblue starts flying nonstop from JFK to Samana on November 14. That's the most tranquil part of the DR, and it has a few AI resorts. But Punta Cana will be crawling with tourists then.
In Punta Cana itself, you'll find that the beach at Punta Cana Resort is probably the least crowded since it has only one resort close by (Club Med). It's on the Caribbean side, where there are only 2 hotels. Note, however, that the hotel is not all-inclusive.
Report Abuse
I don't think Punta Cana is known for uncrowded beaches. It's pretty much a strip of tourist resorts, right? Sorry I've been only to Santo Domingo, Sosua and Puerta Plata in DR.
Comments have been removed by Fodor's moderators
Sign in to comment.


text:
COMMENTS by Theantdaily readers
My Realist: After following the Sarawak elections, I found that the PBB Malays, unlike Umno Baru Malays, are:.
NOT confused by tokongs/churches and can distinguish between mosques, churches and temples.
ABLE able to quote from the "English" Bible and not confused by just a single word from even the Malay version.
SO fluent in English that they can sing "The Young Ones" with perfect intonation etc…
As such, they have sharper eyesight, more knowledgeable and widely read, mentally and intellectually stronger, linguistically more proficient, etc…
If they are the leaders (instead of the Umno Baru Malays), Malaysia would have been more advanced, richer, harmonious and progressive.
Latiff Ishak: It all boils down to leadership. Umno is led by self-serving, corrupt leaders who want to hang on to power forever. In Sarawak, Adenan Satem is asking for just five more years. By 2021, he will voluntarily leave office. That is the difference.
Kinson Ashok: But Adenan has better watch out. There are some PBB people who are being used by Umno Baru leaders to do their bidding in Sarawak. With promises of fame and fortune, of course.
And these people are likely to bring Umno to Sarawak when Adenan is no longer in office. So Sarawakians, you better be on your toes. Umno Baru is still very influential and certain PBB people are also greedy and selfish. They care not for Sarawak but only their selfish interests.
Herbert Yong: In a nutshell, PBB Malays are less hypocritical, unlike the Umno Baru Malays.
My Realist: The ease and frequency with which Umno Baru leaders are confused is most alarming. One reason why Malaysia is sliding down the abyss while our neighbours are progressing by leaps and bounds.
Jimmy qrikert: Mahathir once said Melayu mudah lupa, Malays are weak-minded and Malays are not capable of competing on their own without help from the government. But at the same time, Mahathir was able to put Malaysia on the world map, drag Malays into the 21st Century and engineer the emergence of a class of Melayu Baru who believed themselves to be world-beaters.
Now, this man ruled the Malay world for 22 years vacillating between 'Malays are dumb' and 'Malays are world-beaters'. This is also the man who said Malaysia is an Islamic nation while the reality is we are a secular nation. He told Malays to buck up while insisting they could not achieve anything on their own. He hammered through the supremacy of Malays while telling Malays they were inferior in many fields to the non-Malays.
In 22 years, Mahathir ensured the greatness of Malays was manufactured through a mangling of history, misrepresenting of facts, purging of truth to elevate the position and image of Malays to the extent that Malays could no longer differentiate reality from wild imaginings, from a fantasy fed by outright lies, many supposedly proven by Melayu Baru academics only to be quietly abandoned when they gained no traction at all beyond Ketuanan Melayu forums.
And today, Mahathir is trying to dismantle the very policies and practices he once put in place to ensure the hegemony of Umno and Malays. Faced with this which Malay would not be confused, more so Umno Malays?
Mages Vari: We are staying in a Muslim-majority country and we are not even confused.
Vincent Cheong Kam Weng: I'm a Christian and I've taken Christians, Arabic Muslims and Buddhists to all sorts of places of worship and I have yet to find one that is confused or wanting to embrace the religion of the place of worship after their visit. Am I supposed to be confused?
Benjamin Phang: It is all about power and politics. Sadly these 'unconfident leaders' are using religion to keep their followers in check. This is not good for our multi-racial and cultural society. Non-Muslims do not deny Islam as the official religion of this beautiful country and it is also an undeniable fact that Muslims formed a huge majority of our population.
Vincent Cheong Kam Weng: Respect in any society is earned and not demanded just because you have the numbers. It's about how much you contribute to making the society you live in a better place for everyone.
Sukhato Aramo: In that case, Malaysians from other faiths (Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Sikhsetc.) should NOT be blamed for "the confused mind" of our other fellow Malaysians if there are certain people in Malaysia who caused them to be confused!
Cyndee Gan: I am staying in an apartment/condominium. There is a surau on the ground floor where religious activities such as weddings, birthday parties, baca quran etc are being carried out. About 80% of the owners are non-Muslims. Please help me. I am very confused when I see all these religious activities in the surau.
Tc Ling: I wonder if she thinks that Muslims occasionally go to pray at Chinese shrines and wonder, hmm...masjid ini banyak aneh. Hello~ It is a Chinese shrine, how can you be "confused"? Joss sticks, altars, statues, big signboard in Chinese.
The truth is, this macik, like many others BN politicians, have nothing else better to do than to exaggerate issues to attract negative publicity to the Oppositions. This time it is so ridiculous that it backfired on her.
Fidel Ho: Five times a day I hear the azan in my neighborhood, not from one mosque but also two smaller mosques in the same vicinity. I am so confused why they can wake up so early everyday in the morning but always late for work?
Jason YF: I think the stupid politician needs to be moved to an obscure corner because her comment is damn stupid. She is no longer relevant in a progressive state like Penang. The only place relevant to her is an old folks' home.
Zammer Zaini: The truth has been spoken. Melayu Umno is easily confused.
These comments are in response to the article Why is it that Umno Baru Malays are so easily confused? published on May 18. However, these views from our readers should not be represented as fact.-The Ant Daily


text:
Digital Marketing Intern
Grand Slam Fitness Pvt LtdDelhi
Internship DescriptionThe candidate should fulfill the following requirements:- 1. Aspiring professionals that love technology. 2. Who seek an opportunity to expand their work experience. 3. Who can dedicate their time to increasing brand awareness and building a buzz around our growing company.
ResponsibilitiesThe candidate should fulfill the following job responsibilities:- 1. Organizing and conceiving grassroots marketing campaigns. 2. Brainstorming and executing promotional ideas. 3. Building relationships with publications and getting people talking about us. 4. Helping to expand our blog and social media following.


text:
Heartland Christian College's mission to "equip and prepare students to be servants of Jesus Christ, lifelong learners, and effective workers in local churches and communities around the world" has just taken a giant leap forward... HCC has been granted approval to accept international students! Our aim is to see them trained in the Word of God, and then to be sent out to the nations to make a difference.
Because many of the students who apply will need significant financial assistance to make this possible, we have set up a scholarship program. Please consider partnering with HCC by joining us at the upcoming Friends of the College Banquet.
Please RSVP by April 26th. Tickets for this fundraiser evening are available by contacting the College office at 660-284-4800, or by mail (500 New Creation Road N., Newark, MO 63458). To register online visit our website at heartlandcollege.org. All proceeds will benefit the International Scholarship Fund.