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C-19 | Our deliveries are subject to delays, thank you for your patience (Details by country).
Cognac Paradis Extra rare Hennessy
Bas Armagnac Darroze 1981
Rare Piper Heidsieck 1976
Vin de France Syrah Cordeloux Marie et Pierre Bénetière (Domaine) 2015
3 243€
Current price estimate per bottle
Deemed the world's greatest white wine, Château d'Yquem is located on a small hill and benefits from an exceptional micro-climate and terroir. The vineyard encompasses no fewer than 150 plots of different soil, and is pampered throughout the year, with each individual vine undergoing an average of 50 different annual treatments. The selection process in Yquem is particularly stringent, with a local saying holding that a single vine makes a single glass of wine. Harvesting involves a minimum of four different passes (seven in 1997!) in order to ensure the grapes harvested have reached perfect maturity and have been affected by noble rot. Note that the estate also produces a dry white called Y d'Yquem from grapes that are free from noble rot.In some years, the entire harvest is de-classified (no Yquem production in 1910, 1915, 1930, 1951, 1952, 1964, 1972, 1974, 1992). The wine is aged for up to 42 months in new barrels. For more information, visit the Château d'Yquem website.
This marvellous wine unfurls peach, pineapple, coconut, nutmeg and cinnamon aromas, backed by hints of grilled toast, caramel and vanilla from new oak. With uncommon richness and concentration, Yquem's wines have extraordinary aging potential. "Guitry once said that the silence that follows Mozart is still Mozart. I say that the moments that follow a sip of Yquem are still Yquem." (Frédéric Dard).
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3 243€
Current price estimate 1871
Auction historyChâteau d'Yquem 1871
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General :The «bio» designation covers certified wines produced by biodynamic or organic methods, sustainably produced wines, and «environmentally friendly» wines that are not officially certified.These designations apply to recent vintages (the date of certification, if known, is specified in the estate description).See the blog article for more information on this designation.
Biodynamic :The «biodynamic» designation is used for all estates certified as using biodynamic methods, as verified by one of the two official bodies, Demeter or Biodyvin. All wines produced by biodynamic methods are also certified as organic. This designation applies to recent vintages.
Organic :The «organic» designation covers all estates certified as using organic methods, as verified by one of the bodies approved by the Ministry of Agriculture, such as Ecocert. This designation applies to recent vintages.
Sustainable :The «sustainable» designation covers all estates certified as using integrated or High Environmental Value (level 3 Environmental Certification) techniques. This designation applies to recent vintages.
Evironmentally friendly :The «environmentally friendly» designation refers to estates practising environmentally friendly wine-growing techniques, but that have not opted for certification or who are still in the process of converting to organic agriculture or biodynamics. These estates may have adopted biodynamic principles (non-certified) or simply no longer use chemical products. This designation applies to recent vintages.
Natural :Wines which are produced without any added sulfur (or almost any) and with no other inputs. However, given that there is no official body to issue the natural wine label, it is based on winemakers' statements.This designation applies to recent vintages.


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Train Beaune → Montbard
Duration 1h06 - From $27
- Departure station : Beaune (Avenue du 8 Septembre 1944 21200 Beaune)
Beaune, capital of Burgundy's wines Beaune, a little fortified town, is located about 40 km south of Dijon. It is at the centre of the Burgundy wine trade. The wines of the region which are world-famous age and mature in the cellars of Beaune's prestigious wine houses. 580 hectares of exceptional vineyards produce red wine from the Pinot Noir grape, 380 of which are classified 1er Cru. Learn more about Beaune
Montbard, the perfect place to learn about nature Montbard is a little town of 5.500 inhabitants, located in Burgundy, in the south-eastern France. Montbard has a long history, stemming from Antiquity, and is now famous for its foundry set up here since this 18th century. Learn more about Montbard
Book your journey from Beaune to Montbard From $27 $32
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subset: commoncrawl


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Soon you will pack your bags, readying yourself to attend the annual National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) convention. You'll have your professional clothing, your casual gear, and a full stack of business cards.
These are the items you will physically take with you to the conference. There are also things you should carry with you, mentally, that will prepare you for seventy-two of the most important hours of your entire calendar. This yearly gathering of the best and brightest in the industry (you included) is an opportunity for you to grow, to learn, and to advance your skills
There is much to consider as you jump into your car or onto a plane. Whether this is your first time attending NACDA or your fifteenth, below is sage advice and words of wisdom from your colleagues in college athletics.
"It's 70% of who you know, 20% of who knows you, and 10% of what you know."
– Craig Pintens, Sr. Assoc. AD for Marketing and Public Relations, University of Oregon
"Be memorable and approachable. I wear loud pants and crazy hats and they are conversation starters with people that I might do business with. Now, does that work to become the next 'athletic director'? Don't know. But wear a bow tie or do something that makes you stand out. If you wear khakis and your school polo, you're going to just blend in."
– Zac Logsdon, Owner and CEO of Old Hat Creative and Old Hat Sports Branding
"As valuable as networking is perceived, you still need to invest in yourself with hard work, learning, and making yourself indispensable."
– Tariq Ahmad, Social Media Business Manager for IBM and Social Media Adjunct Professor. Founder #smsports, host #smsportschat
"Your network is one of your most valuable life resources, it is not mutually exclusive to business. You never know how the paths of those you have worked with and those you have had connected with in your personal life will cross down the road. Respect and gratitude go a very long way. We live in a "small world," so it's important to remember to always do your best, view every experience as an opportunity to learn something new and never lose sight of where you began on your journey.
– Amber Lilyestrom, Branding Strategist + Business Coach (former NACMA Board Member and Assoc. AD for Marketing at Univ. of New Hampshire)
"The key to successful networking is being genuine and investing in building lifelong, fruitful relationships with other industry professionals. Take time to do your homework, find and leverage personal connections, and have an invested interest in the lives and careers of others. Set aside 20 minutes each day to regularly check-in with mentors, former colleagues and key contacts, actively connect friends with related needs and interests, and consider ways to demonstrate thought leadership via a blog, website, or social media."
– Brian Gainor, Director of Global Sports & Entertainment Consulting at GMR Marketing
"Always be interested in the person you are talking to. Ask how you can help them. Find out something about them that is personal. If you only care about what you get, you'll likely end up with nothing. But helping others can pay off with a great friendship or relationship and you never know what might happen when you are there for someone else."
– Troy Kirby, Sports Business Consultant / Tao of Sports
"It's no coincidence that social channels are called "networks". Face-to-face communication is invaluable, but connecting online can help bridge you with peers in your industry or thought leaders and organizations that may set an example for you to learn from. The network you build (in person or via social media) will be willing to collaborate and share with you, so remember that it's important to add value in your social conversation. Don't just post for the sake of posting. Broaden your network by extending your personal brand to the social side."
– Katie Cavender, Assistant Commissioner, Strategic Communications, Mountain West Conference
"Social Media can be a great way to begin to network. It is a great way to get a feel for someone and a great way to share information about yourself, even though it's not 'face-to-face'. I'm surprised at how many of the professional relationships that I have now have started through Twitter interaction. The key, though, is to be genuine. Be genuinely interested in the folks that you meet and be genuine in how you portray who you are. This approach will help you determine whether this relationship can really be mutually beneficial or not. Make no mistake; every worthwhile relationship is beneficial to both parties."
– Jim Abbott, Athletic Director, Oklahoma City University (NAIA)
"Handwritten notes are a lost art. I send a hand written thank you note after every demo or sales meeting I have. It's a great way to demonstrate that you're willing to invest in the relationship and differentiates you from others."
– Kevin Barefoot, Director of Sales and Marketing, WinAD
"One of my most successful networking strategies is to connect with people online before an event. If you already have a relationship online it makes it even easier to engage in a conversation at an event in real life. Rather than feeling nervous, anxious or wondering what to say, you will already know a bit about each other based on conversations you might have had on Twitter. As an example, when I meet folks from Twitter in real life, they already know I went to three Pac-12 schools, like sports, marketing and Chipotle. It might be little things but it's a starting point for a conversation that breaks the ice and can lead to a more meaningful relationship."
– Christopher Lee,"Sportsologist" and Professor, Marketing in Sport and Recreation, Temple University
"'Networking' is a pretty fuzzy, catch-all term, that carries with it some baggage. As an executive recruiter, when I think of networking these days, I view it through the lens of "emotional intelligence". Specifically, I think the manner in which someone attempts to network with others provides a window into their emotional intelligence. That can be a good or bad thing for them; good if they communicate in a way that expresses high self-awareness, professionalism and likability, bad if the opposite. I can't count the number of times someone has tried to "network" with me by asking how I can help them, before developing any rapport or common ground. The people I know that are good networkers are a pleasure to spend time with. They are authentic, unselfish, and think long-term about relationships."
– Jeff Yocom, Founder & President, Marquee Search Inc.; Sports & Entertainment Executive Recruiter
"I am a big believer in Bob Beaudine's Power of Who. You must really build mutually beneficial relationships and help people who can in turn connect you with others who can open doors for you. But keep in mind it is all about reciprocity – be a giver as well as a taker."
– Dr. Bill Sutton, Founding Director, Sport & Entertainment MBA/MS Graduate Program, University of South Florida & Principal, Bill Sutton & Associates
Please visit AudienceView at booth #304 in the NACDA exhibit hall on June 11-12, 2017 and follow the conversation on Twitter via @audienceview and #NACDA17, the official conference hashtag.


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Born in Shandong, China in 1983, Guo Huawei graduated from the Faculty of Painting at the China Central Academy of Fine Arts in 2007 with a Master's Degree. He currently resides and works in Beijing, where he has gained considerable attention in recent years for his unique and current take on Chinese ink painting. By mixing the gentle fluidity of his chosen medium with the lineal, dreamlike quality of his style, Guo has in fact revisited the original intention of Chinese landscape painting, which is to inspire viewers to feel the subject matter rather than look at it. The polychromatic palette and textured look of Guo's works are considered anomalous for traditional ink landscapes, but also create a more clearly delineated compositional framework for his paintings. Aside from his graceful depiction of smoky, surrealistic mountainous regions, Guo occasionally features abstract shapes and patterns of colour that endow his works with an otherworldly beauty. Read More
Yu Gallery, Paris
Shanghai Spring Art Fair
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Admin13 necesitaba un nuevo diseño de página web y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 11 diseños de 5 diseñadores freelance.
We have over 15 years experience in the hosting industry, expanded and entered the privacy software market 5 years ago and now are starting an easy and fun VPN service.
Individual users, some business users. A large part of the market will be people who do not know what a VPN is.
Standard design, 1024 x 768, flexible such that it can be easily adapted to other resolutions. See attachment for design we did not like.
Other designs we did not like:
Header: must contain area for logo and possibly stats info such as number of VPN locations available, and list of countery VPN locations we offer. May contain IP/location data of user/visitor in a pretty format like strongvpn.com at the top. Must contain menu bar with options such as Home, Order, FAQ, Configuration and Contact.
Homepage body: creative way of listing VPN service features, availible locations, and ordering information.
Order page: very pretty way of showing different VPN packages and alling user to order for different term lengths.
Configuration page: shows screen shots and text of how to manually configure the VPN.
FAQ page: creative way of showing the FAQs.
Contact page: Lists contact info (phone, E-mail). Maybe have contact web form.
Footer: make it look good like some of the URL examples already provided.
Overall, we prefer a very simple design (more simple than the examples we gave), a very modern "web 2.0" look, such like the style of crowdspring or twitter.
The design must NOT have a template feel to it.
The company phone number should be large near the top header.
Our main competitor with great site design:
(your design must not look too similar to this, not be a clone or similar)
Other site designs we like:


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Product Description:
8' U.S. Air Force Pool Table Cloth by Covers by HBS
Looking to set your pool table apart from the others? Look no further than our Covers by HBS logo billiard cloths! Manufactured by Hainsworth of England with over 225 years of experience, you'll be getting the very best for your pool table. The logo itself is woven right into the fabric to ensure ball play is not compromised. Do not settle for anything but the best when it comes to your pool table. Display your pride boldy across your table with help from Covers by HBS! Cloth sets come with enough material to cover rails and bed.Product Features:
Product Color: .
Top Size:8'
Minimum Order Quantity:1


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Have an account?
Need an account?Create an account
A communications network forms the backbone of any successful organization. These networks transport a multitude of applications and data, including high-quality video and delay-sensitive data such as real-time voice. The bandwidth-intensive applications stretch network capabilities and resources, but also complement, add value, and enhance every business process. Networks must provide secure, predictable, measurable, and sometimes guaranteed services. Achieving the required Quality of Service (QoS) by managing the delay, delay variation (jitter), bandwidth, and packet loss parameters on a network becomes the secret to a successful end-to-end business solution. Thus, QoS is the set of techniques to manage network resources.
Review additional information about Quality of Service (QoS) in the Technical Support site area.
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Flow meters
The oil flow for each lubrication point is measured and adjusted by flow meters. Measuring principles are variable orifice (float and cone), turbine type or gear-type flow meters.
Flow meters are mainly inserted into the oil circulating lubrication systems of paper machines or other heavy machines. Flowmeters are reliable, flexible and easy to maintain. The flowmeters divide oil flow from the main pipe to the lubrication points and shut off the individual pipes if necessary.
The oil flow is monitored by means of a combination of visual and electrical controls.
- oil circulating lubrication systems
- paper machines or other heavy machines
In the table you can find the technical details of flow meters.


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Pconcept necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 37 diseños de 13 diseñadores freelance.
Brand name is "Crepes Village", we are looking for inspiring & distinctive contemporary design to promote this new brand in the F&B industry. Let your imagination run free for the Font, Lettering, Graphic, Format, Colors, etc... just integrate "Crepes Village" into the logo. Beside the official logo, it will be great to have a recognition sign (unique, simple, easy to print).
Crepes Village
We always add new food creation to our menu and developed modern cooking methods to surprise everyone, everyday with our delighting gourmet cuisine. We maximize fun and pleasure associated with good food and make a welcome refreshing change from the major players in the fast-food market. "Crepes Village" is providing original and unique cuisine such as Crepes, suitable for casual dining, fine dining, or takeaway with a home delivery service. The "Crepes Village" is a great place where you can eat & relax, the area offer traditional wooden style bungalows, they are set in beautiful tropical garden adjacent to the entertainment/playground for children, a place where we are at harmony with mother nature. The style and decor of our Village (modern and warm ambiance, bit loungy and jazzy), like the food and drink, is pleasurable, simple, fresh and trendy.
Abstract Contemporary artwork, something curvy rather than straight & square, the logo must offer a great lisibility of "Crepes Village". Going along with the concept of "Crepes Village", our new logo must increase appetite, must be the symbol of product's quality and service: clean, relaxing, innovative, elegant, comfortable, practical. Giving the brand an air of sobriety, the colors are tranquile and eco-friendly with a certain hint of pop...(ie. soft green, violet & orchid color scheme)
I don't want "deja vu", no design stolen, definitely avoid similitude with other brands in F&B industry, especially fast-food. It must be a bit "Frenchy" but I don't want to see something like "the eiffel tower" neither the "french flag"....
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


text: Seller: 2ways-xport (3.434) 99.6%, Location: Eckwersheim, Ships to: Worldwide, Item: 254559455266 Antique hand mirrorLouis XVI stylemade in France, 19th century, bronze height : 10" , diameter : 5"weight : 1lbNice overall condition Who I amMy name is Greg, I'm a French guy who had business in Charlotte NC for 3 years. Unfortunately, I had to move back to France because of a slow activity. I fell in love with the US, particulary Charlotte!So now my only goal is to return to Charlotte, and for that I want to export French furnitures and antiques there! This idea came because of my love for wood and history.My picking areaI am now living in my hometown in the French Alps. It is a great area to find valuable furnitures and smalls because of the proximity of wealthy ski resorts like Megève and Chamonix Mont-Blanc.It is also close to Geneva (switzerland), about 45minutes by car. The Geneva area is one of the richest in Europe due to finance and whatchmaking. Italy's not to far as well, 40 minutes .So when you're living and picking in this kind of environment, It is not rare to come across real pieces of art and history,PaymentBecause, I am for now living in France, I only accept paypal payments.ShippingAll packages are shipped from France.- Economy shipping is Free, with tracking numbers, 10 to 15 days- Standard shipping (colissimo) , with tracking numbers , 5 to 8 days- Expedited shipping ( chronopost) , with tracking numbers, 3 to 5 days Condition: Nice overall condition, Primary Material: bronze, Age: 1850-1899, Original/Reproduction: Original, Weight: 1lb, Type: Mirrors, Color: gold, Country/Region of Origin: France


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Set in the Carolinas in the 1940s, The Road to Bittersweet is a beautifully written, evocative account of a young woman reckoning not just with the unforgiving landscape, but with the rocky emotional terrain that leads from innocence to wisdom. For fourteen-year-old Wallis Ann Stamper and her family, life in the Appalachian Mountains is simple and satisfying, though not for the tenderhearted. While her older sister, Laci—a mute, musically gifted savant—is constantly watched over and protected, Wallis Ann is as practical and sturdy as her name. When the Tuckasegee River bursts its banks, forcing them to flee in the middle of the night, those qualities save her life…
The Road to Bittersweet came exactly at the right moment for me. This past month has been a bit difficult because of work stuff and I tried to keep myself busy, so I didn't read as much as I usually do. However, I loved this book from the moment I started it, and even though it took me almost a week to finish it, I must say I adored every page. I had a feeling it would eventually drag a little because of the slow pace, but the truth is that it kept me engaged the whole time. I highly recommend it.
The Education of Dixie Dupree was one of my favorite books last year and I was excited to dive into Donna Everhart's new novel. That being said, I was instantly surprised when I started reading it because although both books are set in the southern United States, in my humble opinion, they have nothing else in common. Dixie Dupree was a tougher read, dealing with darker themes and featuring a more cynical perspective. On the other hand, The Road to Bittersweet had more of an "epic" feeling and I think it was much more hopeful and innocent in some ways.
Don't get me wrong, this is not a happy book. It's actually so dramatic that for the first 50%, I kept wondering how could anyone endure so many tragedies and still be willing to go on. I loved the Stamper family and wanted them to be happy, but Donna Everhart kept making that particular goal less clear with every page. So I guess the title fits perfectly, since this novel truly felt like a journey. The Road to Bittwesweet tells us all about Wallis Ann's coming of age (although not your usual one by any means) and how families never give up, even under the worst of circumstances.
The book was emotional (I cried when something terrible happened) but it never felt overly sentimental, I think it portrayed everything in a very realistic way and I loved the writing. As for the characters, Wallis Ann was amazing, I loved everything about her and I could understand her jealousy and insecurities as well. She was fourteen years old, after all. She was the main protagonist of the story, but it was nice to read about Laci, Seph, the parents, and Clayton too.
All in all, this was such a beautiful book that I would recommend it to all those looking for a different kind of historical read, one that deals with a family's struggle to live happily ever after. I removed part of the blurb because I feel it reveals way too much and it's better to read it without knowing some things.
Edelweiss, Kensington, 2017


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A Truth Journal: Jon Stewart, Late Nite Jokes Roundup: New Pope, Easter, Funny Politics, Gay Marriage, April Fools: 2 funny video clips, lots of hilarious photo memes and great jokes!
From Denny: How the comedy fun just keeps rockin' on! These guys just don't give up. They create the funniest news commentary in America. OK, some of it is borderline tasteful but then you wouldn't be checking out this post if that mattered.
These jokes and video clips are just from the month of March 2013. Yes, these comics are prolific and it takes a good week to round up the jokes and a few of the best clips. If you have some additional comedy clips you really enjoyed, and want others to know about, just leave the urls in the comment box, and, thanks!
* * * Please support Warriors Pearl Foundation - contributing to fund efforts to help homeless female military veterans come home. Visit Denny Lyon Gifts @ CafePress.com - see what's new! And a special thanks to those of you supporting this effort! You rock!


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Details on United States v. Windsor: In Plain English
The federal Defense of Marriage Act defines "marriage," for purposes of over a thousand federal laws and programs, as a union between a man and a woman only. Today the Court ruled, by a vote of five to four, in an opinion by Justice Kennedy, that the law is unconstitutional. The Court explained that the states have long had the responsibility of regulating and defining marriage, and some states have opted to allow same-sex couples to marry to give them the protection and dignity associated with marriage. By denying recognition to same-sex couples who are legally married, federal law discriminates against them to express disapproval of state-sanctioned same-sex marriage. This decision means that same-sex couples who are legally married must now be treated the same under federal law as married opposite-sex couples.
Recommended Citation: Amy Howe, Details on United States v. Windsor: In Plain English, SCOTUSblog (Jun. 26, 2013, 11:09 AM), https://www.scotusblog.com/2013/06/detail-on-united-states-v-windsor-in-plain-english/


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HAILEY, Idaho, June 7 (UPI) -- The parents of U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl said they have received threats since their son was released from captivity in Afghanistan.
The decision to release five Taliban prisoners from Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba in exchange for Bergdahl's freedom has been met with some criticism by opponents.
Some call Bergdahl a deserter, others question why five Taliban prisoners were released for one U.S. soldier and still others disagree with U.S. President Obama negotiating with terrorists without the approval from Congress.
The backlash has resulted in threats against Bergdahl's parents, who live in Hailey, Idaho.
"We are working jointly with our state and local partners and taking each threat seriously," FBI Special Agent William Facer told CNN of the threats the soldier's parents have received.
The specific nature of the threats weren't released.


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IP Power 9820 is a new generation of the Power Distribution Unit (PDU) & Remote Power Control (RPC) system.Rack mounted, Wifi enabled and total Max current load up to 20A. You can now monitor your power consumption (watts, voltage per port and external temperature) and connect an USB camera to monitor the installation environment.
1) 8 port "1U 19" Rack mount remote Power Controller: Wireless & Wired control.
IP 9820 Remote Power Switch
1 year.
Available Network.
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Jay-Z's American Gangster Tour Preview On MSN
Hip-hop royalty returns home when Jay-Z takes the stage in New York's Hammerstein Ballroom as part of his six-city tour to promote American Gangster, his tenth studio album. With tickets sold out to all six North American shows, Control Room and MSN offer the only opportunity for fans worldwide to catch this historic performance, back-stage interview, and surprise guests, Diddy, Li'l Wayne, and Rock Boyz on the MSN Music in Concert series premiering on Tuesday, November 20 at 2:00 PM EST/11:00 AM PST at music.msn.com/jayz
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
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Girlfriend Describes Waking Up, Finding Haleigh Gone
68 Hours After Amber Alert, Search For Missing 5-Year-Old Continues
SATSUMA, Fla. – The 17-year-old girlfriend of a man whose 5-year-old daughter disappeared early Tuesday morning told Channel 4 that she woke up, found the kitchen light on, the back door wide open and the girl missing.
Haleigh Cummings was last seen at 10 p.m. Monday in her father's mobile home in Satsuma, where Misty Croslin said she put the girl to sleep in a bedroom with her 3-year-old brother. At 3:30 a.m., the girl was reported missing. By first light, a massive search was under way and an Amber Alert was issued.
Croslin has been interviewed by detectives and volunteered to take a lie-detector test -- which she said she passed -- but had not spoken publicly until midday Thursday when she spoke to Channel 4's Laura Mazzeo.
"I didn't hear anything at all. If I'd heard something, I would have got up and I wouldn't have let them take her," Croslin said.
Croslin said after putting Haleigh to sleep about 8 p.m., she was up doing laundry, which was right by the back door, which she knew was locked when she went back in the bedroom. She said she put a blanket on Haleigh and lay down in a bed nearby.
It's unclear whether Croslin left the bedroom prior to Haleigh disappearing. Croslin's account indicates that she left the room at some point. She said she woke up about 3 a.m. to go to the bathroom.
"I didn't make it to the bathroom. I seen the kitchen light on and I walked in the kitchen and the back door is wide open," Croslin told Channel 4's Laura Mazzeo. "I go in the room and she's gone. And that's all I know. When I went to bed she was there and then when I got up and she was gone."
Police have said they believe Croslin was with Haleigh until waking up at 3 a.m. Investigators said Croslin called 911 to report the girl missing about the time Haleigh's father, Ronald Cummings Jr., came home from working a night shift at his job in Palatka. [Listen To Croslin, Cummings Calls To 911]
Croslin said she and Cummings, 25, had been dating for five months. Cummings had legal custody of Haleigh and her brother.
Croslin said Haleigh and her 3-year-old brother "look at me like their mom."
"I love her like she's my own," she said. "I just want her to come home."
Croslin said she doesn't blame herself, but she's emotionally devastated and just want to know that Haleigh is safe.
"I wished they'd took me instead of her, because I could have fought," Croslin said. "She's only 5; she can't really do anything. What do they want with a little 5-year-old?"
Cummings also spoke Thursday, defending Croslin and addressing rumors that he or his girlfriend were involved in Haleigh's disappearance.
"She had nothing to do with this. I had nothing to do with this," Cummings said. "I have been slandered as a sorry father. Obviously, in most cases, fathers don't get custody of their children. A lot of people are talking like this is a custody battle. It's not a custody battle. It's about finding my 5-year-old daughter."
Haleigh's Mother Has Questions, But Same Plea Crystal Sheffield, who now lives in Baker County, has been in Satsuma since getting word Tuesday her daughter was missing.
Sheffield gets visitation with Haleigh twice a month. The 5-year-old was scheduled to spend this coming weekend with her mom.
"If somebody went in there and grabbed her, they'd have to know her," Sheffield said Thursday afternoon. "Haleigh's not going to wander off or let some stranger pick her up without making a noise. It all sounds fishy to me, but I don't want to make any accusations, I don't want to talk about them. I just want my baby home."
Putnam County Sheriff Jeff Hardy said both sides of the family have done everything asked of them and been supportive of law enforcement in every way.
"Everybody, including the family -- and I want that for the record -- has been extremely cooperative with us," Hardy said.
From Ronald Cummings' statements, it's clear he believes a stranger took Haleigh.
"If you have my daughter and you're watching this, drop her off somewhere safe, call 911, call the local authorities," Cummings said. "If you've done something with her, tell us where she's at. I'm not out for revenge ... I want my daughter back."
Search For Haleigh Expands
Thursday morning, Hardy said that detectives have followed leads and interviewed everyone connected to the kindergartner and were adding new resources to the search.
"We'll expand our investigation as far as it needs to go,? Hardy said. "As far as whether or not Haleigh is still in the area, that is an unknown."
The Putnam County Sheriff's Office said they must assume Haleigh was abducted because house-to-house searches of the neighborhood Wednesday found no evidence that she wandered away.
Cummings, Croslin and other family members and acquaintances -- even an air conditioning repairman that was at the house Monday -- were interviewed and offered lie-detector tests.
Hardy would not confirm who had taken polygraph tests or discuss the results.
The third morning after an Amber Alert was issued, a low cloud ceiling prevented helicopters from being used, but boats and divers were in the St. Johns River, which is only about 1,000 yards from the mobile home park.
Texas Equusearch, a mounted search-and-rescue group that helped search for missing Orlando toddler Caylee Anthony last fall, arrived in Satsuma on Thursday afternoon.
"A fresh set of eyes and they'll be able to cover some of the terrain that's very difficult to get to and they'll be able to get to it by horseback," Hardy said.
Caylee's grandfather, George Anthony, came to the Putnam County command post on Thursday, met with Ronald Cummings, his family and friends, and offered any support the family needs.
"They need the community's support. They do not need to be judged. They do not need to be scrutinized," Anthony said. "They need your help. (The) community needs to come together to help this family to bring this beautiful little girl home."
Celebrity bounty hunter Leonard Padilla, who was also involved in the Anthony case, has offered a $25,000 reward if Haleigh is returned before midnight Saturday.
The missing girl's loved ones have stayed in a tent yards away from Cummings' double-wide mobile home for most of the past two days as they leaned on each other for support.
Putnam County Sheriff Jeff Hardy said early Thursday that searches for Haleigh by air, ground and water would continue through the day. In addition to dozens of deputies and officers from surrounding counties, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI were also involved in the case.
Authorities ask anyone with any information to call the Putnam County Sheriff's Office at 386-329-0800 or the FDLE's Missing Endangered Persons Information Clearinghouse at 888-FL-MISSING.
Previous Stories:
- February 12, 2009: Search For Haleigh 'Will Expand As Far As It Needs To Go'
- February 12, 2009: 48 Hours Pass With No Sign Of Missing Girl
- February 11, 2009: School Prays For Haleigh's Safe Return
- February 11, 2009: Detective: Haleigh's Disappearance Considered Abduction
- February 10, 2009: Family, Friends Pray As Search For Missing 5-Year-Old Continues
- February 10, 2009: 5-Year-Old Vanishes From Bedroom; Father Says She Was 'Stolen'
Copyright 2011 by News4Jax.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Hay Yall
Introduce yourself. Tell us about your training history, how long you've been vegan, share some of your goals and some of your interests.
Moderators: Mini Forklift Ⓥ, C.O., Richard, robert, SyrLinus
4 posts • Page 1 of 1
Hay Yall
Names John, i got started by listening to a local radio host Dr Joe Espisito in marietta ga, those that live in atlanta are familiar . then i watched forks over knives, fat sick and nearly dead, hungry for a change, engine 2 diet, then i got the books by rip esselstyn, and from then im now a vegetarian! im a firefighter and do not want to be a statistic ! not dying by fire by heart disease. so ive made the switch, eating a plant storong diet and cut outs the meats and dairy and ive felt so awesome! of course ive got the friends and a few family members that just cant give up the meat but i say well its your health im just trying to kick some knowledge your way, i can bring you to the well but its up to you to drink it! lol any way glad to be here and hope to meet some local fellow vegetarians.
- Scott Shetler
- Manatee
- Posts: 222
- Age: 44
- Joined: Wed Jun 12, 2013 9:30 am
- Location: Atlanta, GA
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Re: Hay Yall
John - nice to meet another GA local! I live in Duluth and own a business in Norcross. Congrats on making the switch to a plant-based nutrition plan, I've enjoyed the same documentaries you mentioned. Welcome!
"Every human being is the author of his own health or disease." -Buddha
"Every human being is the author of his own health or disease." -Buddha
Re: Hay Yall
Hey John, welcome to the forums!
Good on you for you role as a firefighter, massive ups. What do your colleagues think of your eating?
Good on you for you role as a firefighter, massive ups. What do your colleagues think of your eating?
Just do it.
Re: Hay Yall
Hey John, welcome to the group. Thanks for posting, Im definitely going to see if I can check out Dr Espisito somewhere online.
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In high school biology, we're taught that biological sex is a game of X and Y. Women have two X's, and men have one of each, X and Y. In recent decades, though, scientists have learned that things might not be so clear-cut. There are people whose biological sex can't be easily determined because they're born with both genitals or because the female presents with an XY and the male presents with the XX. People with congenital abnormalities that leave them unable to be classified as male or female are considered intersexual, a term which has come to replace the word "hermaphrodite" in humans.
In the plant and animal world, though, hermaphrodites aren't the atypical abnormalities they are in the human world. These species are evidence that there's more to biological sex than just genes and chromosomes -- sometimes, all it takes is an environmental factor to alter your sex and gender.
There are two kinds of hermaphrodites in the plant and animal world: simultaneous hermaphrodites and sequential hermaphrodites. Fish and gastropods make up the bulk of both types. Simultaneous hermaphrodites have both male and female reproductive parts for their entire life and can mate with any other member of their species they should find. That can be a huge reproductive advantage, because it's easy to have a large number of children -- your mating options are doubled, compared to humans.
Sequential hermaphrodites are born as one sex, but change completely into the other sex during the course of their lives. When something is born as a male, but becomes a female, it's called protandry, while protogyny refers to a female becoming a male. Anemonefish, or clownfish, are one of the most prominent examples of sequential hermaphrodites. These fish live with an anemone for most of their lives in a very hierarchal structure in which the sole female and the largest male do all the mating. When the female dies, the largest fish becomes a female, and she begins mating with the next male. Just as with the simultaneous hermaphrodites, this mating strategy is advantageous for reproduction, particularly since this fish never ventures very far from home.
Reproductive success and continued survival are the main reasons that species change sex. The change could also occur due to environmental factors or chemical triggers that scientists don't understand yet. Another thing scientists don't understand is why more species don't undergo the process of changing sex. In 2009, Yale researchers established that the benefits of sex change far outweighed the biological costs, for while rewiring a human to become the other sex would be tricky, it's quite simple for fish, frogs and plants [sources: Yale University, Tidwell]. However, it's possible that more species will start changing sex due to environmental factors. A 2004 report detailed the ways in which manmade pollution could affect the endocrine system of creatures like polar bears and alligators [source: Owen]. Because of the hormones in human waste and chemicals, these animals have experienced abnormal sex changes that have made breeding difficult.
Related Articles
- "Hermaphroditic Fish." MarineBiology.org. (Sept. 27, 2010)http://www.marinebiology.org/fish.htm
- Owen, James. "Animals' Sexual Changes Linked to Waste, Chemicals." National Geographic News. March 1, 2004. (Sept. 27, 2010)http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/03/0301_040301_genderbender.html
- Sample, Steven D. "Frogs That Change Sex." Newton Ask a Scientist. (Sept. 27, 2010)http://newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/bio99/bio99128.htm
- Tidwell, John. "The Wilder Side of Sex." National Zoo. 2004. (Sept. 27, 2010)http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Publications/ZooGoer/2004/2/wildersideofsex.cfm
- Yale University. "Why Don't More Animals Change Their Sex?" ScienceDaily. Feb. 4, 2009. (Sept. 27, 2010)http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090203110326.htm


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Your analysis of your local problem should give you a better understanding of the Your analysis of your local problem should give you a better understanding of the factors that are contributing to it. Once you have analyzed your local problem and established a baseline for measuring effectiveness, you should consider possible responses to address the problem.
The following response strategies provide a foundation of ideas for addressing your particular problem. These strategies are drawn from a variety of research studies and police reports. Several of these strategies may apply to your communitys particular problem. It is critical that you tailor responses to local circumstances, and that you can justify each response based on reliable analysis. In most cases, an effective strategy will involve implementing several different responses. Law enforcement responses alone are seldom effective in reducing or solving the problem. Do not limit yourself to considering what police can do to better address the problem: carefully consider who else in your community shares responsibility for the problem and can help police better respond to it. The responsibility of responding, in some cases, may need to be shifted toward those who have the capacity to implement more effective responses. (For more detailed information on shifting and sharing responsibility, see Response Guide No. 3, Shifting and Sharing Responsibility for Public Safety Problems).
You should consider a few general principles when developing your response strategy. Which particular responses you adopt should depend on what you learn from a careful analysis of your local problem. The responses selected should be carefully focused on the angle of the problem that you are trying to resolve. Strategies seeking to reduce the harms caused by and experienced by prostitutes are more likely to work than those seeking to eliminate prostitution altogether. Strategies focused exclusively on arresting prostitutes are unlikely to be effective. [25] At a minimum, both prostitutes and clients conduct should be addressed. An effective strategy not only must force prostitutes off the streets and get them to stop their offensive behavior, but also must give them viable alternatives: either to get out of prostitution altogether, or to operate in less-offensive locations, times, or ways. This usually requires greater cooperation between the police and various service organizations. [26] The most effective responses to the problem of street prostitution rely heavily on social services for prostitutes to encourage their permanent exit from the street. Police must work closely with service providers to ensure the various enforcement- and treatment-based responses are well-coordinated.The transient nature of street prostitution and the fact that some responses may lead to displacement mean that jurisdictions must share information to make a significant regional impact on the problem.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg (North Carolina) Police Departments multiagency response to street prostitution required social service providers to ride with police officers in the patrol districts implementing the program. These ride-alongs helped to create mutual understanding and appreciation for each stakeholders role in the program (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department 2003).
See Response Guide No. 1, The Benefits and Consequences of Police Crackdowns, for further discussion of how crackdowns work.
However, street prostitutes can provide valuable information to police about other crimes, and the threat of enforcement gives the police leverage for information. In some jurisdictions, controlling street prostitution is left to the vice squad. Limiting patrol officers involvement is intended to reduce corruption, but it can give the public the impression that only corrupt officers would ignore the problem. Whether using patrol or specially trained vice officers, police agencies should properly train, supervise, and monitor officers performance to reduce the likelihood of misconduct.
Historically, the police have arrested far more prostitutes than clients, although many police agencies have shifted toward a more balanced enforcement strategy, targeting clients as well as prostitutes. To promote a consistent response and improve the chances for successful prosecutions, police agencies should prepare written guidelines governing how and under what circumstances they will enforce prostitution laws.
The Cleveland (England) Police Departments Middlesbrough Police District scheduled all defendants charged with soliciting for court on the same day. Concentrating the cases in this way helped judges to become aware of the problems scope, ensured consistent sanctions, and raised media interest and, as a result, public awareness (Cleveland Police, Middlesbrough Police District 2000).
The particular statutory and evidentiary requirements vary across jurisdictions. United Kingdom police do not use this strategy because neither prostitution itself nor proposing the exchange of sex for money is illegal. Prostitutes use a variety of methods to determine if a prospective client is an undercover police officer, including exposing themselves or asking the client/ officer to expose himself. The city of St. Petersburg, Florida passed an ordinance that specifically mentioned prostitutes efforts to identify police officers as among the behaviors that constitute a verified pattern of solicitation activity.
Intensive arrest campaigns may inadvertently increase the risk of harm street prostitutes face. [29] To avoid police detection and to compensate for the reduced number of men soliciting services, prostitutes may work longer hours in more isolated, unfamiliar, or unsafe areas. The clientele in these areas may be unfamiliar, and yet the prostitutes may not take their usual safety precautions. As a result of increased competition for fewer clients, some prostitutes lower their prices, and thus must work in these conditions for longer periods to earn the same amount of money.
See National Research Council (2004) for further discussion of the effectiveness of so-called hot-spots policing.
See Problem-Specific Guide No. 38, The Exploitation of Trafficked Women.
In San Diego, California, men charged with soliciting are required to appear before a panel consisting of community members, prosecutors, public health workers, social service staff who work with prostitutes, and police (San Diego Police Department and San Diego City Attorneys Office 2003). Men charged with soliciting in Indianapolis, Indiana, are required to return to the community in which the offense occurred to publicly face area residents and to perform community service work there (American Prosecutors Research Institute 2004).
Local street patrols conducted by community members can also provide valuable information to police.By recording the nature and volume of activity, these patrols can help police decide where to target their efforts. Effective patrols are difficult to establish and maintain without a highly committed leader to recruit, organize, and mobilize members. [39]
See Campbell (2001) for specific guidance on developing community leadership skills to address prostitution and a variety of other nuisance problems.
Certain groups are especially vulnerable to being recruited or drawn to street prostitution, among them juvenile offenders, juvenile runaways, and juveniles in group homes (residential custody). Young people at high risk for being recruited into prostitution usually have multiple critical social and psychological problems that require attention if they are to be kept out of prostitution. Addressing them requires that police develop effective partnerships with schools, the juvenile justice system, and child welfare systems.
Among the high-risk client groups are male conventioneers, male soldiers, and previously arrested clients. The education and warning information can be conveyed through letters, lectures, video presentations, billboards, warning signs, or media outlets. A growing number of jurisdictions have established court-ordered education programs for convicted clients. These so-called john schools confront prostitution clients about the consequences of their behavior. [40] They usually include information about the legal and health consequences for clients, the impact of street prostitution on the community and local businesses, and the negative effects of prostitution on prostitutes. Many programs have led to positive changes in attitude among participants and enjoy substantial support from participants, stakeholders, and the public. The program fees charged to clients are often used to support services designed to help prostitutes to leave the trade. Recidivism rates for clients who participate in court-ordered education programs are low (around 2% to 7%). [41] It is less clear what added deterrent value there is in the education program beyond what is achieved by any official intervention, from a warning to an arrest. [42] Further, official recidivism statistics may not reflect actual behavior because they are driven by the enforcement level, which varies over time. [43] Finally, john schools do not specifically target potentially violent clients and therefore may deter only those least likely to victimize the prostitutes they solicit. [44]
In several jurisdictions, the police have coordinated with merchants whose business is negatively affected by street prostitution to obtain restraining orders against prostitutes, prohibiting them from engaging in specific behavior within a specific area. [46] In San Bernardino, California, certain existing municipal codes have been incorporated into court-ordered civil injunctions against known prostitutes. Violations of the restraining orders result in jail time and fines that exceed the usual penalties.
The specific prohibitions mentioned in the San Bernardino restraining order are:
You should consult with legal counsel about the requirements for obtaining restraining orders. It may also take a lot of time and effort to obtain the documentation necessary for a restraining order.
The Prostitution Empowerment, Education, and Resources Society (PEERS) in Victoria, British Columbia helps women quit street prostitution in favor of mainstream employment. The program was specifically designed by and for women involved in prostitution who were deterred from using other non-prostitution-specific services (Rabinovitz and Strega 2004).
Key services include the following:
Some communities offer a service-and-support network through either precharge or postcharge diversion programs, and some even offer these programs on the street, with no formal connection to the criminal justice system. [55] Although these programs do not necessarily persuade many prostitutes to quit, they are essential for those motivated to do so, and they can be effective in reducing some of the risks to street prostitutes, such as sexually transmitted disease and assault. [56]
Merseyside, England police developed a computer application to systematically collate reports of crime committed by clients so that this information can be used across the region (Penfold et al. 2004).
Police might also support efforts to promote caution in dealing with clients by prostitutes who insist on continuing their trade. This might include encouraging prostitutes to do the following:
The New Westminster (British Columbia) Police Service developed a voluntary forensic identification registry for prostitutes. In the event that women working the streets are abducted or go missing, police have a photograph, fingerprints, DNA sample, and physical description to use when investigating the disappearance. This effort greatly improved relations between police and prostitutes by demonstrating police concern for prostitutes safety. The strategy also increased prostitutes willingness to provide information on various crimes. The medias interest in this initiative may have also deterred potentially violent clients. [59]
Obviously, some people will object to police efforts to protect prostitutes, believing that doing so condones prostitution.
Clients are generally more easily deterred than prostitutes. [60] Almost any form of official or community intervention in clients behavior is sufficient to deter most clients from patronizing street prostitutes, at least at a particular location. This offers some justification for focusing responses on clients. However, since there are many more potential clients than street prostitutes, deterring individual clients does not necessarily reduce the overall demand for street prostitution. [61] To deter potential clients, they must believe there is a high likelihood they will be caught and publicly identified.
Some police agencies and local governments have publicized the names and photographs of clients who are either arrested for and/or convicted of prostitution-related offenses. The names and photographs may appear on television, in newspapers, or on internet websites.Many media outlets, however, refuse to participate, deeming it unnewsworthy and not wanting to appear to be an agent of the government. Some local governments have purchased advertising space to publish the information. There should be safeguards so that innocent people are not unfairly implicated or accused in illegal activity. Further, once a client has faced publicity from an initial arrest, he has little to lose, and subsequent threats of publicity are unlikely to be effective. [64]
In 2003 in Omaha, Nebraska, billboards with the slogan If you are convicted of soliciting a prostitute, you will see your name here publicized the names of six to 12 offenders at a time (Hughes 2004). In Akron, Ohio, the Operation John Be Gone website, which posted the photographs of men charged with soliciting a prostitute, drew more than 100,000 hits in its first year online (MacMillan 2005).
See Persons (1996) for a thorough discussion of the effectiveness and legality of publicizing prostitution clients names.
See Response Guide No. 2, Closing Streets and Alleys to Reduce Crime, for further discussion of how this response works.
See Response Guide No. 4, Video Surveillance of Public Places, for further discussion of police use of CCTV.
Legalization implies that the government will regulate various aspects of prostitution, just as it regulates other forms of commerce. Decriminalization implies no government regulation.
Prostitution itself is not illegal in either the United Kingdom or Canada, as it is in most of the United States, but nearly all forms of soliciting prostitution on the street are illegal, so the net effect is substantially the samestreet prostitution is outlawed. Prostitution has been legalized in the Netherlands and recently decriminalized in New Zealand. In Sweden, selling sexual services is legal, but buying them is illegal. Some forms of indoor prostitution have been made legal in Victoria, Australia, but street prostitution remains illegal. The legalization of prostitution in several Nevada counties has not eliminated the problems associated with street prostitution in the cities of Reno and Las Vegas.
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Some weekend odds and ends
17 Comments
sewtakeahikeMay 11, 2010 at 6:18 am
I reeally love those earrings! Your daughter has great taste!
Thanks for the link to the etsy shop, I'm going to have to go take a look around when I have a bit more time.
LeslieMay 11, 2010 at 6:26 am
oh man…that art on the quilt would have been devastating
angelaMay 11, 2010 at 6:37 am
Your daughter picked out very cute earrings for you! And great job on the flower, it certainly doesn't look like you winged it!

Now the art….you see, he's used to so much wonderful color and pattern around with quilts and fabric, that the white sheets were just calling out for him to decorate 🙂
NedraMay 11, 2010 at 6:58 am
Next year I am going to have to make it a point to go to the Beehive Bazaar. You always find the best stuff.
Great job on your flower corsage. It goes perfect with your outfit.
DiddleDaddleDesignsMay 11, 2010 at 7:05 am
Your flower turned out wonderful. I love making things like that to add some pizaaz to an outfit. The earrings are gorgeous. Daughter did great.
Teresa
LoriMay 11, 2010 at 7:20 am
Nice art on the bed sheet!

I saw those earrings at the Beehive Bazaar. I bought two cute vinyl headbands for my nieces there. fun stuff. and cute corsage.
DesMay 11, 2010 at 8:00 am
I am going to venture out of Idaho one of these days and make it to the BB. Sounds wonderful.

I would totally use that elastic on the 20 minute skirt!! http://www.rufflesandstuff.com/2010/04/20-minute-skirt.html

Cute!
SherriMay 11, 2010 at 8:30 am
One of my children used to be a "resident artist"–permanent marker on her closet door, bedroom walls, and kitchen wall…guess that's how I got so good at painting…and she did finally grow out of it!
audreyMay 11, 2010 at 8:31 am
Awesome stuff!!!

My resident artist (2) likes walls, every time I clean it up he colors more, so I just leave it now, I'll clean it up when he's 5 LOL!
Lori HoltMay 11, 2010 at 8:33 am
Hi Amy…
Your corsage is beautiful and so perfect for Mothers Day!
I love the earrings and I bought the hairclip that matches..
Well, I think that you should teach your little artist to embroidery over the drawn lines for a set of swanky sheets!
BTW…I would use the elastic for a skirt too.
Have a great day Amy,
x
lori
AlisaMay 11, 2010 at 9:28 am
Your corsage is very pretty!

I have a resident hairdresser/makeup artist.
Señora H-BMay 11, 2010 at 9:48 am
I love the corsage! So cute.

My sisters were the resident artists in my house. They decorated my sheets with hot pink lipstick when I was at school one day. Kids… 🙂
Blue Is BleuMay 11, 2010 at 11:03 am
Love the flower corsage and earrings.. your daughter's got great taste! And that last picture made me gasp lol Oh boy…
KaceyMay 11, 2010 at 1:03 pm
those plain white sheets are just a blank canvas BEGGING for some color 😉
Aunt SpicyMay 11, 2010 at 4:33 pm
What fun finds! I need my box to arrive and then I can do my post from both Oh Sweet Sadie and Beehive Bazar!
ChristineMay 11, 2010 at 7:15 pm
You can have him bring his crayons to our house anytime! Having you store ours really cured her of drawing on things she should not.

Mark told me to come out to the Bazaar, but unfortunately I never had time. Looks like I missed out.
Kim WalusMay 13, 2010 at 7:30 am
I hope the drawings permanent. It's so cute. Maybe he should go into designing children's sheets. It could be really fun for him.

I love the schnibble quilt. I recently bought the book so I'm excited to make one this summer. Maybe two or three. We will see.


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Story highlights
- Dean Obeidallah says Twitter has become a home to sharp exchanges, fights
- He says the social network allows people to release aggression
- Obeidallah: It's inexcusable when people engage in racist, sexist, homophobic rants
- He says Twitter users must unite in declaring there's no room for hate
For some, Twitter is a social media platform that enables you to keep up with breaking news, raise political issues or offer amusing thoughts. But for many others, including myself, Twitter has become the new "Fight Club." It has in essence become the cyber version of the basement of "Lou's Bar" from that 1999 classic film.
To those who have not made it onto Twitter yet, let's make something clear: Twitter is not Facebook. Facebook is as dangerous as visiting a P.F. Chang's. Twitter, on the other hand, is the Wild West in the 1800s -- it's new, unsettled and often savage.
In "Fight Club," people from all walks of life -- from professionals to blue collar workers -- would nightly shrug off their mundane existence to experience a visceral rush by beating the crap out of each other in the basement of a neighborhood bar.
"Fight Club" celebrated the duality of life. By day, actor Ed Norton played a mild-mannered, timid insurance adjuster leading the quintessential life "of quiet desperation." But by night, Norton became his brash and bold alter ego, Tyler Durden, portrayed by Brad Pitt. The difference between these two characters was succinctly summed up by Tyler Durden while talking to his more staid alter ego: "I am free in all the ways that you are not. "
This is what Twitter is to many. A place to be free. A place where people from all walks of life are on equal footing to battle each other -- from the rich and powerful to the poor and angry. And on Twitter, you're not required to be polite like you are in the real world. In fact, cutting and snarky remarks are not only accepted, they are glorified.
But there's an increasingly dark underbelly to these Twitter fights. What might start out as a disagreement about a political or social issue, at times can escalate into racist, sexist or homophobic rants. In fact, Humboldt University recently created a map entitled "The Geography of Hate" which charted the hate filled comments being spewed on Twitter. It's truly alarming.
I've experienced it firsthand. Some I've fought with on Twitter have called me ethnic slurs like "towel head" because I'm of Arab heritage or a "stupid guinea" because I'm also of Italian descent. But these comments are tame when compared to the far more hateful comments launched on Twitter against Blacks, Latinos, gays, and the disabled as noted by the Humboldt study.
I know some reading this are asking: Why do you fight at all on Twitter? Why not just ignore those people who challenge you? Sure, you can do that, but as Tyler Durden instructively told us in "Fight Club": "How much can you know about yourself if you've never been in a fight." So many engage in these battles to test their mettle.
There's nothing wrong with the great percentage of Twitter fights. You get a chance to test your opinions on issues of the day. In today's hyperpartisan climate, many just associate with like-minded people and consequently their views on political issues are never challenged. But Twitter provides a forum to debate with others who passionately hold opposing views. True, these battles can become heated and include nasty comments, but for the most part they remain issue-oriented and avoid bigotry.
More than once, I've engaged in a fiery battle over an issue and then found common ground on an unrelated subject that has led to a Twitter friendship.
After one intense argument with a conservative over President Obama's policies, we both discovered our mutual dislike of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. (I'm a NY Giants fan and he's a Buffalo Bills fan.)
That's not to excuse the alarming rise of racist, sexist, homophobic and other hate filled comments on Twitter. And while the Humboldt University report doesn't indicate how many of these comments were made during Twitter fights, I can assure you that is where I have seen them rear their ugly face most often.
Here's my plea to my fellow Twitter users: We need to make it clear that there's simply no place for that type of hate on Twitter. You can win a battle on substance -- or even with cutting remarks --- without descending into the realm of racism and bigotry.
And the best people to police this are my fellow Twitter users. If enough of us collectively speak out, Twitter can become a social media platform where users share info, joke around and even fight with each other, but all without being subject to hate.
Follow us on Twitter @CNNOpinion.
Join us on Facebook/CNNOpinion.


text:
Thursday, May 26, 2005
When, where at the ICA
Today I will just be dropping in to pick up the conference material and register, not staying for the opening session or for the reception.
Friday I am there for the whole day: Teens and media and online literacy, Online games, possible lunch break in the plenary session, Challenges in Computer Game Research and Theory, Alternative media reframing of the media mainstream, then so many interesting panels are clashing that I may just have to get a cup of coffee and a break, before the Interest group in Game Studies - exploratory meeting.
Saturday I thought I could sleep in until 7 am, but thanks to Kaye and Alex Halavais I will be out of Brooklyn before 7 to catch the early morning Emerging tecnologies lecture. Then there's Blogs and the media emperors/new clothes, possibly doing the lunch during the plenary session thing again, althought this one looks the most interesting to me, Digital libraries and sites of communication and technical practices next, and that's it for Saturday.
Sunday I have very few plans, but the plans I have are early morning and late afternoon: Culture and media - internet use at 8.15, and then no real plans until 5.15 pm; Research methodology for communication and technology.
Monday is fairly filled up all morning: Games and human interaction, The internet - technoactivism and the public sphere, Methodological challenges of computer game research, and that's it for the current plans.
This is however a crowded conference, it is unfamiliar to me, and the only two people I know will be there are Kaye Trammel and Alex Halavais - both great bloggers and nice people - so I can't guarantee I will not change my mind somewhere along the route if something comes up. The blog- and game-topics are pretty safe bets though.
(And in honour of my own complaints about the CCCC abbreviation: ICA stands for International Communication Association, and the full name is right up there next to the acronym on their website. Good communication work there!)
3 comments:
- Joolz said...
A million apologies this is not a comment about this post specifically. Sorry to mislead.
Anya left a message on my metabolg here that you had put a link to a discussion abut contacts on Flickr. Is this true? I am really interested in the social dynamics (and power)on web communities and would be really grateful for the reference if you can show me it.
Now I have found your blog I am really pleased. It is a mine of info for which I am very grateful!!
Wish I could see you in New York this weekend!! Look forward to reading about it anyway!
- 4:00 pm
- k said...
Great to see if you today even if there was no time to talk - thanks for making the sacrifice & coming to the very early morning panel. :)
- 11:55 pm
- Torill said...
Great to see you as well, Kaye, and your talk was really interesting. I think yours was perhaps the best of the weblog presentations, although the paper on tracking content across the map was great too. I will have to read the actual papers to find out though :)
- 3:40 pm


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Assemblyman Anthony Portantino says he's been stripped of a committee chairmanship and singled out for deep cuts to his staff because he refused to toe the party line.
Others in Sacramento say everyone is facing staff cuts and that the Pasadena pol is grandstanding in the runup to a possible Congressional bid, a charge he denies.
The trouble began, Portantino said, after he opposed the suspension of Prop 98.
U.S. & World
"As a result of my principled stand against cutting education, they did take my chairmanship away," he said. "My budget at the beginning of the year had not been cut. It was threatened to be cut. Because you know what? I was told I better behave better."
He didn't. In June Portantino cast the lone "no" vote on the governor's budget deal
Assembly Speaker John Perez "told me that he didn't like my outspoken nature and he said he hoped that these warnings would repair our relationship," Portantino said. "It's wrong."
Your potential candidatcy for Congress: does that have anyting to do with it?
Portantino denies that his actions are related to a potential Congressional bid, saying they have "absolutely nothing" to do with one another.
"I don't do anyting now that I didn't vote the same way five years ago, four years ago, three years," he said. "The only difference is, we have leadership now that wants 100 percent voter turnout on every single bill."


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CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Even as President Barack Obama on Friday promised to end the combat mission in Iraq in 18 months, he and others — from his defense chief to powerful lawmakers — danced around some of the specifics about dates and troop numbers.
Six years after an invasion he opposed and six weeks in office, Obama drew a finish line for the Iraq war, setting a date for the end of the combat mission and vowing to follow that by pulling all troops out by the end of 2011 as per an existing accord with Iraq.
"Let me say this as plainly as I can: by August 31, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end," he said in a speech at the Marine Corps base at Camp Lejeune. "As we carry out this drawdown, my highest priority will be the safety and security of our troops and civilians in Iraq."
But even with the end of the combat mission, which would come nearly three months later than Obama pledged during his presidential campaign, a U.S. force numbering between 35,000 to 50,000 will stay behind in non-combat roles, with the final troops not slated to leave until Dec. 31, 2011.
"Our enemies should be left with no doubt: This plan gives our military the forces and the flexibility they need to support our Iraqi partners, and to succeed," the president said.
McCain supportive; Reid hesitates
Obama and his national security team briefed lawmakers on the Iraq plan Thursday evening.
His decision to leave a sizable force was welcomed by some congressional Republicans, including former presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, while some Democrats were concerned too many troops would remain in Iraq.
"I am cautiously optimistic that the plan as laid out by the president can lead to success," McCain said Friday on the Senate floor.
"I think the plan is significantly different than the plan Obama had during the campaign," said McCain, referring to Obama's campaign pledge to pull combat troops out of Iraq within 16 months of taking office if possible.
But Democratic congressional leaders — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid — both questioned the need for residual forces as large as 50,000.
"I am happy to listen to the secretary of defense and the president," Reid said Thursday night. "But when they talk about 50,000, that's a little higher number than I had anticipated."
Pelosi on Friday issued a statement calling the plan "good news" but also noting a concern about troop numbers. "The remaining missions given to our remaining forces must be clearly defined and narrowly focused so that the number of troops needed to perform them is as small as possible," she said.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates added to the debate Friday, telling reporters after Obama's speech that he felt it would be a good idea to keep a small number of U.S. forces in Iraq past 2011 to train Iraqi forces, help with new equipment and perhaps perform intelligence operations.
Eye on Iraqi elections
Obama gave few details about the pace of the withdrawal, but administration sources said it will guided by the needs of Gen. Raymond Odierno, the top commander in Iraq. They said Odierno felt it was important to keep an adequate combat force in Iraq at least until national elections there in December.
One official said Odierno wants a "substantial force on the ground in Iraq to ensure that the elections come off." Another official said Odierno wanted flexibility around the elections. "The president found that very compelling," the official said.
The pace of withdrawal means that although Obama's promised pullout will start soon, it will be backloaded, with most troops returning in the last few months of the time frame.
Obama earlier telephoned Iraq's prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, and former President George W. Bush to brief them on his announcement, the White House said.
Video: Obama's timeline Gates and Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told lawmakers in a briefing Thursday that ground commanders in Iraq believe the plan poses only a moderate risk to security, McCain said.
There were no assurances that the residual force would not be pulled into battle should Sunni Muslim insurgent holdouts or disaffected Shiite Muslims resume wide-scale fighting.
Depending on the number of forces left behind, the military will have withdrawn between 92,000 and 107,000 American fighting personnel from Iraq after the United States invaded and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein.
According to an AP count as of Thursday, at least 4,251 members of the U.S. military have died in the Iraq war since it began in March 2003. Total Iraqi deaths are unknown but number in the tens of thousands and are perhaps above 100,000.
Post-combat missions
Obama said the U.S. force that remains after the combat mission is closed out will have a threefold mission:
- To train, equip and advise Iraq forces;
- To offer force protection for both U.S. military and civilian operations that will continue in the country;
- To engage in targeted counterterrorism missions either alone or in conjunction with Iraqi troops.
Senior administration officials said the plan was drawn up after a month of consultations with Gates, Mullen, Odierno and the military service chiefs.
Obama had promised the faster drawdown pace of 16 months during his campaign but also said he would confer with military commanders on a responsible exit.
Officials said Obama would not set a more specific schedule, such as how many troops will exit per month because he wants to give his commanders in Iraq flexibility. "They'll either speed it up or slow it down, depending on what they need," said one official.
17,000 more troops for Afghanistan
On a parallel track, Obama has ordered the dispatch of 17,000 more American forces to Afghanistan, to fight resurgent Taliban insurgents. As U.S. troops leave Iraq, that would free even more forces for deployment in Afghanistan.
An existing U.S.-Iraq agreement, negotiated under Bush, remains in force and calls for U.S. combat troops to withdraw from Baghdad and other cities by the end of June, with all American forces out of the country by the end of 2011.
Gates has said that whatever Obama decided would be "a way station" since all U.S. troops must be out of Iraq by the end of 2011 under that agreement with Iraq.
"The thinking all along had been that any force left after we stopped combat operations would be focused on the counterterrorism mission, on training, advising, assistance, and that sort of thing," he has said.
With Obama planning to ramp up the U.S. military effort in Afghanistan and banking on using the Iraq troop reduction to help slash a ballooning $1.3 trillion deficit, Stephen Biddle, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, said that once the drawdown began it would be "a one-way movement."
"The issue now is slow calendar-based versus fast-calendar based," he said.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.


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Orphan Boy, Davion Only's Desperate Plea for Loving Home 'Made Whole Church Cry,' Says Pastor; 500 People Inquire About Adoption
Davion Only, a 15-year-old orphan who recently made a desperate plea for someone to adopt him at a church in St. Petersburg, Fla., "made the whole church cry" with his story, and now more than 500 people have enquired about adopting him.
Davion's story took America by storm after the Tampa Bay Times reported on the teen's heart-wrenching plea at the pulpit of St. Mark Missionary Church in St. Petersburg, Fla.
The teen, who was born while his mother was in jail, had been waiting all his life for his mother to come back for him and take him out of foster care. But that plan ended in June, when after a search for information on the Internet he discovered that his mother had died.
Instead of giving up on his dream of finding a loving family, however, Davion put himself together and accompanied by his foster care case worker, Connie Going, he took his faith to church.
"My name is Davion and I've been in foster care since I was born. I know God hasn't given up on me. So I'm not giving up either," the amazingly optimistic boy told the 300-member congregation.
"I'll take anyone," he said. "Old or young, dad or mom, black, white, purple. I don't care. And I would be really appreciative. The best I could be."
St. Mark's pastor, the Rev. Brian Brown, who allowed the boy to talk to his congregants said the whole church burst out in tears.
"It just ripped at me. I had a number of them (congregants) saying 'pastor if I just had room I would take him tomorrow,'" said Brown according to an ABC News report.
Going said Davion's bravery has been an inspiration to the 12 other teenage boys at Eckerd's Carlton Manor residential group home where Davion currently resides.
"I think it's a human's right to be loved and feel wanted and when you don't feel that you are, it's hard to succeed in life," said Going.
When asked what he wanted to tell America, the boy who has captured America's heart simply said, "It's that to love me forever. I just want people to love me and to grab me and keep me in their house no matter what."
More than 500 people have inquired about adopting Davion but no decision on a family for him has yet been made.
(If you would like to adopt Davion call Eckerd at 866-233-0790. If you can't adopt but want to donate time or money, call Eckerd at 727-456-0600.)


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30 December 2011 at 11.29am | 3 Comments
What a busy year we've had at the Royal Opera House. From mysterious demonic visitors to human insects, tardy rabbits to Playboy bunnies – our stages have seen them all. We thought we'd take a look at 12 of our stand-out productions from 2011. Following the first six, here are the rest of our top picks...
A whirlwind trip through the sights of Rome (and one of Conductor Antonio Pappano's favourites), Tosca offered up the thrilling trio of Angela Gheorghiu, Bryn Terfel and Jonas Kaufmann in the summer's hot ticket. Jonathan Kent's production, originally staged in 2006, is a firm Royal Opera favourite and didn't disappoint on its return this year.
The Metamorphosis
ROH2's dance theatre adaptation of Franz Kafka's seminal novella saw Edward Watson in the role of Gregor Samsa, a travelling salesman who wakes up one morning to discover that he's been transformed into a giant insect. Garnering critical acclaim, the production was memorable for Watson's insectoid writhing to Frank Moon's glitchy, oppressive soundscapes across a stage splattered and stained with gooey treacle.
A diabolical visitor made a memorable appearance in David McVicar's visually impressive Faust with René Pape as Mephistopheles providing a performance of real personality and depth, prompting at least one reviewer to cry with a wink and a nudge, "It's one hell of a show!". Angela Gheorghiu and Vittorio Grigolo as Marguerite and the title character respectively, also impressed.
Dmitri Hvorostovsky as Valentin and Angela Gheorghiu as Marguérite in Faust © Catherine Ashmore/ROH 2011
Il trittico
A rare outing for Puccini's triptych in October saw Richard Jones direct a bill of drama, tragedy and comedy conducted by Antonio Pappano. Sandwiched between the atmospheric Il tabarro and the famous comedy Gianni Schicchi, the tragic Suor Angelica received particular acclaim for Ermonela Jaho's portrayal of a grief-stricken mother.
Ermonela Jaho as Sister Angelica, Gillian Webster as Alms Sister, Elizabeth Woollett as Nursing Sister, Elizabeth Sikora as Mistress of the novices in Suor Angelica © ROH / Bill Cooper 2011
Rebecca Evans as Nella, Lucio Gallo as Gianni Schicchi and Marie McLaughlin as La Ciesca in Gianni Schicci © ROH / Bill Cooper 2011
Francesco Demuro as Rinuccio, Alan Oke as Gherardo, Robert Poulton as Marco, Gwynne Howell as Simone, Lucio Gallo as Gianni Schicchi in Gianni Schicchi © ROH / Bill Cooper 2011
Ekaterina Siurina as Lauretta and Lucio Gallo as Gianni Schicchi in Gianni Schicchi © ROH / Bill Cooper 2011
Asphodel Meadows / Enigma Variations / Gloria
Named after the area of the underworld where the Ancient Greeks believed ordinary souls resided, Liam Scarlett's Asphodel Meadows kicked off a programme centred around themes of love and death. Followed by Enigma Variations and Gloria - a tribute to the dead of World War I – the bill showcased a trio of Dame Monica Mason's (deservedly) favourite short works and reminded audiences of the talent of choreographer Liam Scarlett.
La traviata
Featuring the Covent Garden debut of Ailyn Pérez, La traviata table danced its way onto our stage in October in a flurry of ballgowns, champagne and muffled consumptive coughs. Pérez had stepped into the role at short notice during The Royal Opera's tour of Japan in 2010 to huge acclaim. Alongside the likes of Piotr Beczala as Alfredo and Simon Keenlyside as Giorgio Germont she didn't disappoint on her first performance as Violetta in London.
What did you most enjoy here in 2011?


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davidcharleshopkins_1 on Family Tree Circles
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Evans family in South Wales and Illinois in 19th century
Many of my ancestors were Evans's living in South Wales. They mostly came from Pentyrch area of Glamorgan. Mary Evans b 1854. Elizabeth Evans b 1825. William Evans b 1825. Some of the family emigrated to the USA, Illinois mostly.
Anyone know anything about them?
Battersby Family in Lancashire, England
I am trying to research my wife's family history. It would seem that her Grandparents were Battersbys who came from Lancashire, particularly the Morecambe area. I would welcome any information on northern Battersbys
Hopkin Hopkins in South Wales
I am currently researching my family history. I am particularly interested to find my Welsh ancestors. There seems to have been a tradition in the family that the eldest Son of each generation was called Hopkin. There is also a seeming variation in the surname between Hopkins and Hopkin.
Has anyone out there got any information? If so I would like to hear from you.
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Bedazzle with this starburst flower Women's Belt Buckle of dark brushed silver and pink rhinestones. Turn heads with this dazzler of an accessory. The belt buckle is designed to fit a 1 1/2" belt strap. Choose a matching strap from our collection of Leather Belt Straps.
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text: 100IOC Marketing Report – Beijing 2008 Chapter FourSponsorship State Grid Corporation As China's primary energy utility company, State Grid has an unparalleled sales network across the country. State Grid's promotional activities for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games were thereby able to reach a very large number of people in towns and villages throughout China. On a corporate level, State Grid was an active participant in the Beijing 2008 Partners Club, a forum alternately hosted by BOCOG and one of the partners to encourage co- operation and exchange of experiences between sponsors, and used this opportunity to promote the values of corporate social responsibility among the Games sponsors. Volkswagen As the exclusive automotive partner of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and the supplier of the mainland segment of the Torch Relay, Volkswagen provided 5,000 Olympic official vehicles to be used for transporting athletes and VIPs, while its technicians and staff provided repair and maintenance services for the vehicles during the Games. Volkswagen also presented an Olympic Pavilion on the Olympic Green, showcasing the company's expertise in the automotive industry, China's development and the Olympic Movement. " The BOCOG marketing programme was a remarkable success. I think marketing should have two inseparable sides, like a coin. One side is the investment of sponsors and the other is their return. We attached great importance to both elements during the whole process and as a result provided a powerful marketing platform for our sponsors." Mme. Yuan Bin, Director, BOCOG Marketing


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On March 5, 2015, City Council voted to adopt the West Quadrant Plan. The adoption by City Council followed a two-year planning process in which the diverse 33-member Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) worked with interested community members and land use and transportation planners to develop the plans. The plans were adopted by resolution, indicating the City Council's support for their recommendations. Specific recommendations in the West Quadrant Plan will go into effect once the entire Central City 2035 Plan (the update of the 1988 Central City Plan) is complete, expected in 2016.
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MONDAY, May 17, 2010 (HealthDay News) -- Hospitals using guidelines from the American Heart Association have been able to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities when caring for heart attack patients, a new study finds.
Called Get With The Guidelines, the program shows that disparities in care can be eliminated while at the same time improving overall care, the researchers say.
"Using a system that provides feedback about the use of performance measures decreases racial disparities over time," said lead researcher Dr. Mauricio G. Cohen, an associate professor of medicine in the cardiovascular division of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
"While overall care improved over time, the difference in care of minority patients started to decrease over time and by the end of the study these difference were eliminated," he added.
The report is published in the May 17 online edition of Circulation.
For the study, Cohen's group looked at the medical records of 142,593, white, black and Hispanic patients being treated for heart attack in 443 hospitals that use the guidelines. Currently, almost 1,500 of the over 7,000 U.S. hospitals use the Get With The Guidelines program, according to the American Heart Association.
The guidelines for treating heart attack include therapies such as giving medications like aspirin and blood pressure drugs, and starting patients on statins to lower cholesterol. The guidelines also call for helping people change their lifestyles, for example, by stopping smoking.
The researchers looked at the overall rate of patients getting a combination of the treatments for which they were eligible, known as "defect-free care." At the start of the study in 2002, Cohen's team saw a gap in defect-free care for blacks, but by 2007 it was gone.
- In 2002, 68 percent of white patients received defect-free care, compared with 93 percent in 2007.
- In 2002, 58 percent of black patients received defect-free care, compared with 93 percent in 2007.
- In 2002, 65 percent of Hispanic patients received defect-free care, compared with 95 percent by 2007.
Over the five years of the study, defect-free care overall was 81 percent for whites, 79.5 percent for Hispanics and 77.7 percent for blacks. These differences resulted from the unequal care given during the early years of the study, Cohen said.
"These findings are reassuring," Cohen said. "We need to engage hospitals in quality monitoring and improvement programs," he added.
Dr. Nakela L. Cook, from the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and author of an accompanying journal editorial, said that eliminating 100 percent of disparities in care is a worthy goal, however, other factors in addition to quality assurance programs also play a role.
"This study does not take into account the many factors that we use to estimate quality of care," she said. "Such factors may include health literacy, economic status, and social support. Addressing these factors may be crucial to eliminating disparities."
In addition, there may be a misperception that disparities are disappearing, she said. "The authors did see that disparities in these measures disappear over the time. However, these measures evaluate short-term aspects of care, and while important in their own right, they are limited in their ability to predict long-term outcomes in disparities," Cook said.
Cook added that it is not clear that this quality improvement program alone eliminated disparities. "It is possible that increased attention to disparities in these hospitals may have resulted in other programs that are not assessed in this study," she said.
Disparities in care are a significant problem, Cook noted.
"We need to shift our focus from identifying disparities to finding solutions to eliminate disparities," she explained. "Quality improvement programs may be one way in which we can do this, but the field and patients will benefit from ongoing research to find the most successful approaches to do this."
More information
For more information on Get With The Guidelines, visit the American Heart Association.