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Women of faith learn about Islam

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 02:26:48 +0000

Women of different faiths joined together at Christ Church Cathedral downtown Thursday night to shatter negative stereotypes of Muslim women and to observe the traditions of the Ramadan iftar.

The sold-out event drew 200 women who were there to teach or learn about Muslims, the pillars of their faith and how they recognize Ramadan, one of the holiest months in the Islamic calendar, which is a time marked by fasting, prayer and repentance. The evening included the iftar — a full meal that marks the breaking of the fast at sunset. Three dozen local Muslim women of diverse backgrounds were recruited to sit at the dining tables to discuss their unique life experiences with their guests.

A true picture

Kafah Bachari Manna of Houston, co-founder of the committee that organized the program, said the event was the first of its kind in Houston focusing on the Islamic faith and was designed to present a true picture of Muslim women. Those Muslims heading discussions at the dining tables Thursday included doctors, lawyers, associate professors, engineers,Bead bracelet, authors, writers and mothers.

"We’re simply here to present ourselves as we are," said Manna, a corporate attorney and writer. "We are outspoken, independent, strong-minded, successful, professional women from all walks of life."

Rose Ashraf of Spring, an American Italian who converted from Catholicism to Islam 36 years ago, was among those leading the table discussions. "This was my very small way of reaching out to non-Muslims to really help depict a different light about Muslims," she said. "It’s so frustrating for me to see how Muslims are painted as these terrible,Atlas charm bracelet, criminal terrorists — it’s heartbreaking because I know that it’s not true. It is a few people who have hijacked the name of Islam for their own agenda.

"We’re not here to convert anybody," said Ashraf, executive director of food services at Aramark/Houston Independent School District. Of her own conversion experience, she said, "I don’t feel like I’m praying to a different God. We share so much of the same doctrine between the Catholics, the Jews and the Muslims. And we are truly of one Abrahamic faith. We may pray in a different language and we may have different styles, but the message is absolutely the same."

A major difference is that Muslims view Jesus Christ as a prophet,Charm pendant, she said.

Baptist wants to learn

Anneliese Davis of Houston,bangles, a Baptist, said she attended the event to learn more about Islam, particularly in light of today’s cultural events. "With everything that’s going on now, I think things like this are more important than ever so we can understand each other," Davis said of the educational event. "I think it’s such an opportunity to learn about another culture and religion, and that’s the only way we’re going to get to any kind of understanding."

Manna echoed that need for understanding. She told the audience the image of Muslim women in the media never matched up to her own self-image.

"Today in the shadow of 9/11, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq,Beads necklace, the Israel-Palestine conflict and all the other ailments that plague humanity, including the current controversy over Park 51, we find ourselves overcome by the differences and difficulties we find in each other," Manna told the audience. "It’s often too easy to (confine) ourselves within a narrow belief system … rather than reach out into the unknown certainty of the other. Tonight is about looking beyond stereotypes and shedding our fears."

Woman sentenced in theft from elderly man

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 02:21:49 +0000

A woman accused of stealing a substantial amount of money from an elderly family member was sentenced to 90 days in jail Thursday.

Deana L. Watkins, 45, of Reubens, entered an Alford plea in Asotin County Superior Court for first-degree theft,bangles, a class-B felony. An Alford plea means that while not admitting guilt, Watkins feels a jury would find her guilty if presented with evidence against her, Asotin County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Curt Liedkie explained. Watkins pleaded innocent to first-degree theft on May 20, and a trial was scheduled for Sept. 1.

Although Watkins has no criminal history, Judge Ray D. Lutes imposed the maximum sentence under standard range. She must also pay restitution to the victim in the amount of the money she spent. Watkins did not have anything to say to the judge prior to sentencing, but let her attorney, Richard Laws, speak for her.

"She’s maintained from the very beginning that she lacked the necessary intent to deprive Mr. Watkins permanently of anything, but she does understand how it looks and how it could look in front of a jury," Laws said.

According to court documents, while caring for 90-year-old Clarkston resident William (Murphy) Watkins, Deana Watkins spent at least $160,000 of his money in just less than two years. From January 2008 to September 2009, Murphy Watkins’ $80,Bead bracelet,000 checking account was whittled down to around $500, documents say. This included monthly deposits of $1,Beads necklace,900 to $2,500 from Social Security and retirement and a $42,000 CD she cashed and deposited into her own account.

Liedkie said it’s difficult to tell how much money Watkins actually spent, because she didn’t keep a record of the transactions. Documents used to charge Watkins say she stole in excess of $5,000.

Watkins, who married into the family, had power of attorney over Murphy Watkins. Although the agreement was never official, lacking a doctor’s signature, the family operated as though it was.

"Her name was on the account," Liedkie said.

Her expenditures started small — withdrawals of $300, groceries or clothing — and quickly escalated. Family members believe during the two-year time period, Deana Watkins purchased a washer and dryer, a new car, two pickup trucks, a riding lawn mower, a boat,watches, a 24-foot trailer and a 30-day trip to Texas.

She also withdrew around $30,000 for a down payment on a house that her and Murphy Watkins — who lived in a nursing home after breaking his hip — planned to share.

Sheriff’s reports indicate Murphy Watkins was "very upset" when he learned about Deana Watkins’ activities and insisted they had no agreement that allowed her to spend his money. Deana Watkins, however, told detectives they had a verbal agreement.

Roy (Skip) Watkins, Murphy Watkins’ nephew,earrings, said Murphy trusted Deana Watkins, and that trust was breached.

"I don’t think anyone realizes the emotional stress this has caused for Murph," he said in the courtroom Thursday. "He was devastated when he found out that his account was depleted to $585."

He added that despite her power of attorney, Deana Watkins did not pay many of Murphy Watkins bills, including medical and prescription insurance and numerous doctors’ bills.

"She started out in good faith by cleaning and running errands for Murph, and then it progressed to power of attorney, and then her greed became excessive and snowballed," he continued.

Following the proceedings, Roy Watkins said the family intends to file a civil suit against Deana Watkins.

Gaboury may be contacted at kgaboury@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2275.

User Engagement Survey for Water Resources Forecas

admin — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 03:22:27 +0000

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before October 22,bangles, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at dHynek@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Kevin Werner, (801) 524-5130 or kevin.werner@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a proposed new information collection.

As part of the NOAA mission: "To understand and predict changes in the Earth’s environment and conserve and manage coastal and marine resources to meet our Nation’s economic, social, and environmental needs", the proposed survey will be part of a stakeholder engagement effort to more clearly define what those needs are. The proposed survey will be used to engage with and assess the science and forecasting needs of stakeholders in the water resources sector. The water resources sector includes agencies and companies operating reservoirs,watches, and private and public interests in regulating rivers. The survey is designed to (1) assess the accessibility and utility of water and climate information and data, (2) assess participants’ perceptions and knowledge about water and climate, and (3) evaluate user needs and the gaps in existing water and climate information. Participation in the survey will be entirely voluntary and will usually be in conjunction with workshops related to water resources and/or climate. This information collection will be conducted by the National Weather Service.

II. Method of Collection

Respondents will have a choice of either electronic or paper forms. Methods of submittal include electronic forms, and mail and facsimile transmission of paper forms.

III. Data

OMB Control Number: None.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Regular submission (new collection).

Affected Public: Non-profit institutions; State, local, or tribal government; business or other for-profit organizations; Federal Government.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 90.

Estimated Time Per Response: 30 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 45.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $100 in recordkeeping/reporting costs.

IV. Request for Comments

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality,cuff Links, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

Dated: August 18, 2010.

Gwellnar Banks,Beads necklace,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.

Artistic luxury: Faberge, Tiffany, Lalique

admin — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 01:11:42 +0000

This catalogue for a Cleveland Museum of Art exhibition provides a sumptuous survey of precious objects sold to the fabulously rich by Fabergé, Lalique, Tiffany & Co., Lewis Comfort Tiffany, and other highstatus vendors around 1900. Costly jewelry of nearly every imaginable sort predominates, augmented by a dazzling array of (mostly) small, very expensive objects, including parasol handles, vases, opera glasses, clocks and watches, tea/beverage sets, inkwells, toilet sets, combs, fans, perfume bottles, candlesticks, cigarette boxes, and the famous Fabergé eggs. They are drawn from over 60 institutions/collections around the world. The text describes the international luxury market and strategies these firms adopted to promote sales – exhibiting at worlds fairs, exploiting the appeal of exclusivity, cultivating patrons, seeking high exposure, and stressing their goods’ “museum quality.” Readers looking for nuanced analysis and critique of the material world of the rich or detailed descriptions of individual objects will find neither in the derivative, repetitive, and occasionally confusing text, where small essays (perhaps once exhibition sidebars?) unaccountably appear within large ones. Although it offers little new to specialists and advanced students, Artistic Luxury is an impressive pictorial resource and an informative peek into the beautiful lives of the privileged few. Summing Up: Highly recommended, “kick Lower-level undergraduates through graduate students; general readers. – K. L. Ames, Bard Graduate Center

Bracelets working as DWI deterrent: Alcohol detectors surpassing hopes

admin — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 03:09:47 +0000

Authorities a year ago started putting ankle bracelets tiffany jewelry on chronic drunken drivers to tell if they have had a drink.

Now the initial results are in, and the experiment has worked better than judges and anti-DWI advocates expected.

“We’ve gotten much better results than we dreamed,” said Buffalo City Judge Patrick M. Carney, who oversees the Erie County cases.

None of the 61 offenders was arrested again for drunken driving during the program’s first year in Buffalo and Niagara Falls courtrooms. Only a handful tampered with the monitoring device or were caught consuming alcohol, according to a preliminary report.

The report found that offenders:

–Tampered with the bracelets or failed to show up in court six times.

–Failed four drug tests out of 215 given.

–Fully passed unannounced breath tests during probation home visits.

–Showed up at 95 percent of 1,007 scheduled individual treatment visits and pendants 2,420 group counseling sessions.

–Attended 3,330 support group meetings sponsored by Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous or some other group.

More cities are in line for the program next year.

The program is scheduled to expand into Lackawanna, Tonawanda and Lockport by early next year. And by the end of 2009, the program should be running in Jamestown, Dunkirk and Batavia, said Jeffrey D. Smith, the principal court analyst for the 8th Judicial District.

Smith, working with others, secured the grants that made the local courts the first in New York State to use the devices.

All of the offenders have been convicted of a felony DWI. Wearing the ankle bracelet doesn’t reduce their charges, but gives them a chance to stay out of prison.

“We’re making a bigger impact on community safety” than if the felony offenders were simply sent to prison, said Niagara Falls Chief City Judge Mark A. Violante, who handles more than a dozen Niagara County cases.

The judges, as well as others involved in the program, credit the intense supervision that accompanies the ankle monitors.

In Buffalo, offenders show up to court two or three times a week to be tested, and they appear before Carney at least once a week.

They’re required to see a therapist and attend group self-help sessions several times a earrings week, in addition to meeting with their probation officers.

The Erie County offenders appear before Carney on Wednesday afternoons.

During a recent session, the judge encouraged some offenders.

“Don’t get down on yourself. You can get through this,” he told a man who was days away from entering an in-patient treatment center.

Another offender was about to have his ankle bracelet removed because he completed six months without any problems.

But unlike Drug Court, another specialty court, there is less sentiment or emotional outpouring in Carney’s DWI Court.

“We don’t hug. We don’t clap. We just say congratulations,” he said to the offender.

The device, called a secure continuous remote alcohol monitor, or SCRAM, is the key component of Carney and Violante’s DWI courts.

The monitor, about the size of a pack of cigarettes, measures alcohol use through the skin.

The device takes a reading at least once every hour, and as often as once every 20 minutes. key rings It vibrates when the reading is taken, providing offenders a regular reminder they’re being monitored.

Once a day, the person wearing the monitor must be near a phone modem so that this data can be uploaded to the computer network that operates the program.

A $301,170 grant — federal money funneled through the state — paid for 60 monitoring devices and the operation of Erie County’s new DWI Court.

A second grant of $290,000 paid monitoring fees and for more equipment, bringing the number of ankle bracelets to 70. Sixty-one are currently in use, all but a half-dozen or so worn by men, Smith said.

A third grant will help pay for expanding the program into other communities. The program will be self-sustaining after the grants as the courts pick up some costs and the DWI offenders pay monitoring costs, Smith said.

Offenders in the program today live in 19 cities and towns, with just under one-third from Buffalo.

The program is open to felony offenders who have been convicted of DWI, so long as they have not caused a death or injury in an accident, and who have no prior record of any violence, Smith said.

Nearly 100 have participated in the DWI Court program since it started last June.

In the past year, judges put a handful of offenders in jail for three to seven days for the tampering.

Judges admonished four others for missing treatment.

“We make it very clear and simple for them. If there’s alcohol in your system, you’re responsible necklaces for it. And you will be sanctioned,” Carney said.

The judges, however, won’t automatically boot from the program someone caught drinking.

Carney said he will put an offender in jail for three days if caught drinking or tampering with the device for the first time. A second violation will mean 10 days in jail and 28 days at an in-patient treatment center. Anyone caught a third time will be sent to prison to begin serving their sentence.

Not everyone was convinced that the program would work.

In fact, the Erie County Probation Department’s DWI Unit didn’t even know the court’s DWI staff existed, and that generated some early distrust.

However, after establishing communication, everyone began working together, said Nancy Lauria, a probation supervisor who oversees a case-load of some 425 high-risk DWI offenders.

Despite the rocky start, everyone is on the same page and working toward a common goal: holding defendants accountable and reducing the number of DWI arrests, she said.

“Most of the time they’re held accountable,” Lauria said of offenders. “That’s what we like. Judges don’t tiffany accessories put up with any nonsense. They’ll put them in jail for a day or two the first time and then the sanctions will increase with additional violations.”

John F. Sullivan, project coordinator for Erie County’s STOP-DWI program, also likes what he sees of the program.

Sullivan’s support is important, because his anti-DWI program has garnered statewide notice over the years for being ambitious and effective. He has also consistently urged prison terms for those who have repeatedly been arrested for drunken driving.

“My initial impression was it was simply another last chance for our worst offenders, an additional chance to stay out of jail, which I didn’t favor,” Sullivan said. “But it’s so intrusive, the program is able to look after them, even if they’re not in jail, in an effective way so they’re not drinking and driving.”

The report was prepared by Richard Washousky, associate vice president of academic affairs at Erie tffany keys Community College and president of Recovery Solutions Research and Develop — ment.

plakamp@buffnews.com

IT TAKES A BRACELET

admin — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 02:21:55 +0000

IN MARRIAGE AND MYTH, RINGS ARE the tiffany and co jewelry everyone is after. But for a growing number of African women, it’s O Bracelets that offer the keys to a better life. Since the magazine debuted them in May 2007, our partner, Fair Winds Trading, has trained 250 jewelrymakers in Rwanda, Zambia, and Kenya; the women earn up to 12 times the average daily wage, allowing them to put food on their tables and send their children to school. Orders for the previous O Bracelets (May 2008) not only paid the women of Umoja, Kenya, for their work but raised an extra $47,000 to help install a water system for eight villages.

This new African gemstone collection is made by Rwandans like Marie-Rose Mukambasabire, 26, who says, “If all the girls my age had as good a job as I do, the spread of HIV/AIDS would diminish. Most girls are infected because they fall into the trap of men who offer them material things.” And 10 percent of the price will go to Hope Shines, a mentoring program for orphaned girls. One supporter is Rwanda’s president, Paul Kagame, who notes that the Hutu and Tutsi, enemies during the 1994 genocide, are coming together tiffany necklaces to bead bracelets. “That’s where reconciliation takes place,” he says. “Then to see that things they make with their own hands can bring income, and to know they are linked to women in the U.S. who are interested in their products — the whole story is one of tremendous transformation in these women’s lives.”

[Photograph]: PHOTOGRAPH BY BEN GOLDSTEIN STYLIST: CLAIRE TEDALDI FOR HALLEY RESOURCES

TO ORDER: Go to macys.com/obracelet, and get an ethical bang (and bangle) for your buck.

Best-seller returns to QVC with new matching charm and bracelet

admin — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 01:35:05 +0000

When Renee Greenstein decided to capture a rainbow of free-floating gemstones inside a tiffany jewelry sterling silver-encased glass pendant, the top designer at Attitudes by Renee(R) had no idea that her jewelry creation would catch lightning in a bottle.

An instant favorite of QVC viewers, the popular designer’s “Life is Half Full” Enhancer returns to the air Thursday, October 22nd at 10 p.m., this time with two fabulous companion accessory charms and bracelet.

“It thrills me that the message of my Life is Half Full collection has touched the hearts of stylish ladies at a time when our hearts need healing,” said Greenstein. Unsolicited comments from QVC views leave no doubt: The unique designs are more than beautiful baubles; they’ve become tiny symbols of hope.

The enhancer and new charms can beautifully update a favorite necklace, chain or cord. A striking sterling silver bracelet, with Renee’s signature unity links carved throughout, is another way to wear the charms for a most up-to-date fashion look.

The Life is Half Full enhancer and matching charm feature genuine gemstones and are encased in glass Tiffany Accessories with a sterling silver scrolled frame and graced with eight and a half carats and one and one-third carats of dazzling gems

About Attitudes by Renee

Attitudes by Renee(TM) is a reflection of designer Renee Greenstein’s flair, serious playfulness and her amazing life experience.

After studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology, Renee made her industry debut as a showroom model, which led to a stint as a fitting model. She learned from the ground up, literally, traveling across America to see what real women were really wearing. Wherever she went, Renee drew rave reviews on her own jewelry and clothing, most Tiffany Keys of which she had designed herself.

Eventually, Renee set off on a new path and began creating her own collections. Widowed with a teenage son when she was in her 30s, she learned to “shoot for the moon and the stars.” Through it all, her girlfriends proved to be the gems in her life. They always helped her see that the glass is half full. Renee’s gem-filled “Life is Half Full” necklace was created in their honor. Like all Attitudes by Renee(TM) designs, this best-selling enhancer is made with love, inspiration and attitude!

“My career has taken me to every corner of the world, affording me the opportunity to be with beautiful women from all tiffany bangles different walks of life,” Renee says. “Something we all have in common is that we have the little bit of ‘attitude’ that helps us stand out from the rest.”

Consumers plan to do more Christmas shopping online

admin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:11:55 +0000

Recent postal strikes have not deterred public from shopping online for presents tiffany jewellery. By Rosie Baker

Do you plan to do more or less of your Christmas shopping online this year?

Despite the recent postal strikes, online retailers should be relieved that people plan to do more online shopping this year than in previous years, according to a MarketingWeek.co.uk poll.

When asked if they planned to do more or less of their Christmas pendants shopping online this year, more than two-thirds (68.7%) said they intend to do more. Only 31.2% of respondents plan to do less Christmas shopping online.

Polling was carried out before the Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) called off further strike action between now and Christmas.

Strikes in September and October and the threat of more to come, led many e-retailers including Amazon.co.uk, John Lewis and Argos, to switch mail carriers.

Last week a report by the Centre for Retail Research on behalf of online earrings comparison site Kelkoo predicted that internet retail sales would grow 24% this year to pound 8.9bn and account for a fifth of all shopping during the festive season.

Biomass Harvest from Natural Willow Rings around Prairie Wetlands

admin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:37:35 +0000

The study followed the harvest of natural willow from three wetlands using a silver jewellery prototype modified agricultural round baler nicknamed a Bio-Baler. The study reports fuel characteristics and combustion testing of biomass harvested from natural willow rings. Composition of native willow species in the harvested willow rings was determined. We specifically measured regrowth of the biomass and number of regenerated stems per stump 1 year after harvest to determine how different willow species responded to mechanical biomass cutting with the Bio-Baler. The results of combustion testing for the natural willow were essentially similar to those with “conventional” wood chips or planted willows. The ash content was approximately 1.65%, slightly lower than for bangles planted willow plantations. The calorific value of the natural willow was 19.6 MJ kg-1 (dry basis) similar to what is expected for wood and planted willow. Four Salix species (Salix bebbiana Sarg., Salix petiolaris Sm., Salix eriocephala Michx., and Salix discolor Muhl) were identified in the willow rings. Stem biomass increased for all species except S. bebbiana after willow was harvested with the Bio-Baler. Overall, willow regeneration was not affected by mechanical harvesting compared to hand cutting. Regenerated stem density was 93 stems per square meter for mechanically harvested stumps compared to 105 stems per square meter for hand-pruned stumps. Based on the results rings, biomass harvested from natural willow rings has acceptable fuel characteristics when compared to purpose-grown willows and mechanical harvest with a Bio-Baler does not have a negative effect on willow regeneration.

Authorities raid suspected PA cock fighting ring

admin — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:22:42 +0000

Port Arthur authorities confiscated Wednesday 80 Tiffany and co roosters believed to be used in local cock fights.

Anthony Mitchell, supervisor of Port Arthur Animal Control, said the roosters were found in a wooded area near Wilson Street.

The birds were brought to the city’s attention at a Tuesday night meeting town hall style meeting in the Montrose addition of Port Acres.

Mitchell said when he and local law enforcement arrived at the location about 10 a.m. Wednesday, they found the roosters in dozens of cages, as well as other birds wandering loose around the property.

There was no running water or other utilities Tiffany Accessories nearby.

Mitchell said he spoke with three Hispanic men at the site who agreed to turn the birds over to Animal Control.

Mitchell said he did not find a cockfighting ring or stage in the secluded area.

“The birds were hidden, we feel basically, for the purpose of doing illegal activity,” he said.

No charges have yet been filed.

Mitchell said that since cock fighting was banned last year in Tiffany Keys Louisiana — the last state to ban the practice — that a lot of such activity is “moving this way.”