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Yesterday was Valentine’s Day. Just like any other year, the controversy surrounding V-day brought no news. There were calls to drop Valentine’s Day off the calendar. Also, there were talks about a ban for celebrations in public places. There were large shopping outlets that did not have any red balloons or other decorations usually associated with Valentine’s Day. On the other side of the spectrum, there were more entrepreneurial businesses that had piled red teddy bears and toys and were selling

heart-shaped chocolates.

Residents in Kuwait still marked the day, that many say, celebrates love by contributing to the flower, tiffany jewellery sweets and toy industries. Some shops, as this reporter observed, were also decorated for the occasion. There were smaller businesses, especially the gift shops, that were showered in red decoration. The same was true for the flower shops.

Adel, a 50-year-old Muslim man, says that there is no need to dedicate a special day to love since the appreciation for our beloved ones should be celebrated every day of the year. “If you love someone, you should express your feeling to her every day and not only on this occasion. I know this is a pagan celebration and not one of our Islamic celebrations, so why not show love to our beloved ones by presenting a gift or even a flower. It’s not necessary to take it from the religious aspect, it’s only about

making people close to us feel happy.

Most of the well-known hotels and restaurants made special offers for Valentine’s Day. Some hotels offer price offers for the stay at the hotel during the Valentine’s. They also offer special meals and atmospheres at their restaurants. The Al-Bustan Restaurants at the Radisson SAS Hotel for instance prepared special offers. “silver cufflinks We offer an open buffet on this day for a special price of KD 15 per person. We also have special decorations for this occasion,” said Arbis from the SAS Hotel.

The La Brasserie Restaurant at the JW Marriott Hotel, for instance, had a special offer for dinner with a discounted price, and Terrace Grill also offered a special new menu with special prices for couples. “We have special offers for the rooms and restaurants for this occasion and for the Hala February Festival, so there is no special decoration for Valentine’s,” pointed out Mariam from the JW Marriott.

Some people celebrate Valentine’s Day in their own way with their beloved ones; others don’t have anybody to celebrate with. “Unfortunately I’m not married, and I neither have a lover or a boyfriend. So I won’t be celebrating this occasion in the proper way. Nevertheless, I invited my friends to come to my house and celebrate with me, so I won’t feel sad and lonely. We won’t be buying gifts for each other, but we will spend some time together, have dinner and talk,” said Nicole, 30, from Lebanon.

Some expatriates find Valentine’s Day in Kuwait a regular day like any other. “I can’t feel the spirit of silver money clips Valentine’s in Kuwait, while in the Philippines, the Valentine’s atmosphere and decorations are everywhere. I will not hang out as I can’t feel it here, but if I was in the Philippines now, I would take my wife out for dinner,” noted Rick, a 30-year-old Filipino.

Some people like to celebrate this occasion with their families. In the words of Lina, a 25-year-old Syrian woman, Valentine’s Day is a happy occasion for the whole family where they can all dine out. “I will hang out with my family and go to a restaurant to have dinner. I don’t expect any special Valentine’s atmosphere in the streets, but I want to make my family happy so we will dine outside,” said Lina.

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Guest pianist John Wustman will accompany soprano Barbara Steinhaus and others Saturday night, Feb. 14, in a Valentine’s Day performance of Spanisches Liederbuch, a collection of 44 “art songs” by Austrian composer Hugo Wolf, at 7:30 p.m. at Brenau University’s Pearce Auditorium. The concert is free and tiffany open to the public.

In addition, at 2:15 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 13, in Pearce Auditorium, Wustman will conduct a “master class” for Brenau music students and others. That is open to the public as well.

Saturday’s performance highlights the work of Wolf that used the works of Spanish poets Cervantes, Camoes and Lope de Vega as well as folk poetry in the composition of expressive songs in the European romantic style. The evening at Brenau is part of a “road show” by the performances that also includes concerts at Furman University in Greenville, S.C., and East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C.

The collaborative pianist and educator Wustman has been professor of music at the University of Illinois cufflinks since 1968. As a performer he has appeared in the leading concert halls on six continents with some of the world’s best-know singers, including Maria Callas, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Birgit Nilsson, R’gine Crespin, Christa Ludwig, Nicolai Gedda, Carlo Bergonzi and Luciano Pavarotti. Highlights in his career included a series of televised recitals with Pavarotti, including the first recital from the Metropolitan Opera House in 1978. His recording of Mussorgsky and Rachmaninov songs with Irina Arkhipova won the Grand Prix du Disque and he has many other recorded music credits as either an accompanist or guest performer. For some time he was also associated with the famed conductor and chorale director Robert Shaw, who for two decades was the principal conductor and music director for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Wustman performed for numerous recordings of the Robert Shaw Chorale

“I cannot imagine anything more wonderful than singing lieder with John Wustman at the piano,” said Steinhaus, who has studied under pianist/vocal coach at the University of Illinois and who is currently director of the music program at Brenau. Michelle Rouech’, another Brenau music professor, also studied piano accompaniment under money clips Wustman at Illinois.

Steinhaus, a lyric soprano, will be joined on the Brenau stage by Sharon Munden, mezzo-soprano who is chair of the vocal studies program at East Carolina University, and by baritone John Kramar, who is also associate dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication at ECU.

Steinhaus concedes to getting a special kick from having her former professor and mentor Wustman as a guest lecturer for her students – so much so that she has opened his “master class” for Brenau students to the public.

“He is an authentic musician in the truest sense of the word,” she said. “He selflessly gives himself to promote its place in our world.”

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Romantics with a big heart, but poor time management caught a break today as Travelocity scoured its customer reviews to name 10 great, well actually 12, romantic places to stay in North America. Travelocity customers can even receive up to a 25-percent discount on their romantic Valentine’s weekend to those specific properties.

Travelocity looked at the hotels that were most highly rated overall, and that also tiffany and co received the highest ratings for “romance” in San Francisco, New Orleans, New York City, Hawaii, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Travelocity allows customers to rate hotels based on their appropriateness for certain visitors, such as family, romance, and business travel, to help customers find reviews relevant to them as they shop for hotels. Travelocity currently features more than 190,000 hotel reviews on site.

“We wanted to find our most highly rated, romantic hotels in creating this exclusive list,” said Noreen Henry, vice president, hotels Travelocity. “These all are great hotels and to get this kind of discount on Valentine’s Day weekend is a big plus for travelers and might even enable some people to travel who hadn’t planned on it, or just get out in their own town.”

Keywords: Travelocity.

This article was prepared by Leisure & Travel Business editors from staff and other reports silver bracelets. Copyright 2009, Leisure & Travel Business via VerticalNews.com.

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The University of Hawaii issued the following news release:

The University of Hawai’i men’s basketball team concludes its three-game homestand when it hosts Nevada in a Western Athletic Conference match-up on Saturday, Feb. 14. Tip-off is 7:05 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center. Fans who purchase a ticket will receive a second ticket for free as UH helps celebrate tiffany jewellery Valentine’s Day during this “Bring A Date” game.

UH picked up a pair of impressive wins last week, trouncing Fresno State (69-43) and Idaho (71-49). The ‘Bows (12-11, 4-7 WAC) are now in a tie for sixth place in the WAC following San Jose State’s loss to Nevada on Thursday night.

Nevada (14-10, 7-4) sits in second place in the WAC after an 80-68 road win over the Spartans. Last weekend, the Wolf Pack suffered two straight home losses to Louisiana Tech (78-75) and New Mexico State (62-60), marking the first time in seven years that the Wolf Pack suffered back-to-back WAC home losses. Nevada is 6-4 on the road this year. UH has lost six straight games versus Nevada, including the last two meetings in Honolulu. The team’s met earlier this year in Reno with the Wolf Pack winning, 74-63. The ‘Bows last defeated the Wolf earrings Pack three years ago in an overtime thriller, 73-69, in Honolulu. Following their game versus Nevada, the ‘Bows will head to Fresno State for a nationally-televised game on Thursday, Feb. 19.For more information please contact: Sarabjit Jagirdar, Email:- htsyndication@hindustantimes.com.

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Q: A patient of mine has sworn by the effectiveness of a `bioflow’ magnetic tiffany jewellery bracelet for her arthritis pains. Is there any evidence that such treatments are effective?

A: I too have patients who swear by magnetic bracelets. A variety of devices is available: designs to fit different joints, belts and back supports, even magnetic mattresses.

Manufacturers, as well as purchasers who feel they benefited, offer interesting if implausible explanations: for instance that magnets influence red blood cells (because of their iron content) and thereby improve circulation.

As GPs we all know the healing power of a good story, but unfortunately I could find no reliable research confirming the efficacy of weak magnetism.

Perhaps our patients’ experiences should prompt more research into these potentially silver rings safe and cheap treatments.

Strong electromagnetic fields are another matter.

A 1959 study showed they enhance regeneration of severed amphibian limbs and subsequent controlled trials of strong electromagnetic fields have demonstrated therapeutic effects in fracture healing, tissue repair, and osteoporosis.

Their impact on depression, reported in a 1996 Lancet study, seems perhaps more surprising.

Dr David Peters, Clinical Director Complementary Therapies, Centre for Community Care and Primary Health, University of Westminster

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A Mayo Clinic Jacksonville study has found that some specially treated metal bracelets touted in infomercials as reducing pain and improving physical performance are no more effective than untreated bracelets.

Targeting golfers and other athletes, QT, Inc. of Illinois has sold millions of its Q-Ray “ionized” metal bracelets costing $50- $250, saying they use ancient Chinese principles to alleviate pain.

But the research, published in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings, found that the company’s tiffany and co bracelets were no more effective than untreated placebo bracelets.

“There is no true medical benefit,” said Mayo’s Dr. Robert Bratton, who conducted the study on 610 people who complained of joint and muscle pain. He pursued the study after seeing patients seeking relief from the bracelets.

QT defended its bracelets. It says ionization – the process of creating electrically charged atoms – is key to the proper flow of the body’s electrical currents. That theory is also important in the Chinese practice of acupuncture. QT does not describe how its bracelets are ionized.

Loren Skagen, QT’s vice president, issued a statement saying thousands of satisfied customers are the company’s best proof that the bracelets work.

“Many thousands of people have expressed to us their relief through using our product,” Skagen said. “Their experiences provide powerful evidence of the very real benefits.”

The company’s web site, however, states, “The manufacturer makes no claim there is a scientific consensus regarding this product.”

In the study, half of the participants were given ionized bracelets provided by rings QT, and the other half identical placebo bracelets.

Neither participants nor researchers knew which were which.

Participants with neck, back and other aches rated their pain on a scale of 1 to 10 at 6 intervals over 28 days.

In the end, both groups reported less pain but the decrease was not significantly different, Bratton said (Bratton RL, Montero DP, Adams KS, et al., Effect of “ionized” wrist bracelets on musculoskeletal pain: a randomized, double-blind, placebo- controlled trial. Mayo Clin Proc, 2002;77(11):1164-8).

Despite the study’s findings, several bracelet wearers stood by the product.

“It worked. That’s all I care about,” said Archie Griffin, a Lawtey resident playing at the Golf Club of Jacksonville. Griffin said he paid $80 for a bracelet that relieved pain in his shoulder.

This article was prepared by Pain & Central Nervous System Week editors from staff and bracelets other reports.

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The Indiana Department of Health issued the following news release:

State health officials today reported that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and manufacturer Riviera Trading Inc. of New York, New York have announced a voluntary recall of about 7,100 of the company’s children’s metallic costume bracelets.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the tiffany jewellery bracelets contain high levels of lead and pose a lead poisoning hazard to children. Consumers should immediately take these bracelets away from young children and contact Riviera Trading Inc. to receive a refund.

Health officials warn that elevated levels of lead in blood are dangerous for children, especially for children younger than six years of age, whose developing brains are particularly vulnerable. In addition to injury to the brain and the nervous system, lead can negatively affect learning and behavior.

The U.S. Product Safety Commission said there have been no reported incidents or injuries associated with these bracelets.

The recalled bracelets, which were manufactured in China, have heart, oval, and rectangular shaped charms that have the phrases, “I like sports,” “I like movies,” “I like shopping,” and “I like music,” printed on them. The bracelets also contain various colored plastic trinkets. The bracelets were sold at Belk, Bloomingdales, Carson pendants Prie Scott, Kohl’s, Parisians, and Proffitts department stores nationwide from October 2003 through November 2004 for about six dollars.

Consumers can contact Riviera Trading Inc. toll-free at 1-800-524-0110 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday. The Consumer Product Safety Commission Recall Hotline is 1-800-638-2772 and their media contact is 301-504-7908.

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Until There’s a Cure (UTAC), an organization aimed at raising money and awareness to combat HIV/AIDS has launched the 2005 ad campaign for its red ribbon bracelets, with help from a few famous faces.

This year’s ads feature a diverse group of celebrities including actress Susan Sarandon, rocker Dave Navarro and his wife, actress Carmen Electra, basketball player Tracy McGrady, and teen queens Hilary and Haylie Duff.

Dozens of magazines and newspapers have donated space for the advertisements, tiffany jewellery including Elle, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment Weekly, US Weekly and InStyle.

The California-based organization has sold the bracelets for the past 12 years to earn money for vaccine development and care services for those affected by the AIDS virus. To date, UTAC has sold more than 580,00 bracelets and raised more than $7 million.

In addition to the original cuff-style bracelet, UTAC bracelets come in many styles, ranging in price from about $15 for a copper bracelet to about $400 for a 14-karat gold version. Ben Bridge Jewelers, Fortunoff and Bachendorf’s are among the retailers selling them.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firms named below, on Thursday announced a voluntary recall of the following:

–Reebok has recalled the Reebok Heart-Shaped Charm Bracelet, which has been linked to a child’s lead poisoning death.

The recalled jewelry contains high levels of lead, posing a risk of lead poisoning and adverse health effects to young children. Reebok has received a report of a death caused by lead poisoning of a 4-year-old child from Minneapolis. The child reportedly swallowed a piece from one of these bracelets.

The recall involves an 8-inch long metal bracelet with a heart- shaped charm. The name tiffany and co “Reebok” is engraved on one side. The charm bracelet was provided as a gift with some purchases of children’s footwear.

They were sold at major shoe stores nationwide from May 2004 through March 2006. The manufacturer’s retail price of the shoes ranged from $33 to $50. They were made in China. Consumers should immediately take the charm bracelets away from children and dispose of the entire bracelet.

For additional information, contact Reebok at 1-800-994-6260 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, or visit www.reebok.com [http:// www.reebok.com].

–Dollar Tree Stores Inc. has recalled the Dollar Tree Mood Necklace and Ring, Glow-in-the Dark Necklace and Ring, and UV Necklace and Ring. The recalled jewelry contains high levels of lead. No incidents or injuries have been reported.

The rings are silver, adjustable and have one of a variety of designs with a toy “gem” in the center. rings The necklaces have a black string with silver colored clasps and a silver charm with a “gem” in the center. The following are printed on the charms’ packaging: “Mood Necklace,” “Mood Ring,” “Glow in the Dark Necklace,” “Glow in the Dark Ring,” “UV Necklace” or “UV Ring.” The “UV” jewelry packaging reads, “The Sun’s Energy Will Change The Color.” On the reverse of the packaging is “SKU#815485″ and the name “Mannix.”

They were sold at Dollar Tree, Dollar Bill$, Dollar Express, Greenbacks, Only $1 and Super Dollar Tree stores nationwide from September 2003 through February 2006 for $1. They were made in China.

SARO-Gem Jewellery Watch Co., Bettlach, Switzerland, has found a new tiffany jewelry use for synthetic sapphire in watches. SARO, which stands for Sapphire Round Over, uses synthetic colorless sapphire not only as the crystal over the dial but also as an overlay on the bracelet itself, making the entire watch scratch resistant. (Sapphire rates 9 on the Mohs’ hardness scale.)

In a process called physical vapor deposition (PVD), transparent sapphire plates are coated with particles of white or yellow gold, palladium, or a pigment (sapphire blue, emerald green, ruby red, aubergine, or black). The sapphire plates overlay the stainless-steel bracelet, with the coating toward the bracelet. A typical men’s watch has up to 100 cts. of synthetic sapphire, while the women’s version sports approximately 45 cts.

“Since all our watches are handmade in Switzerland, we have the ability to customize each watch at the time of manufacturing,” says Gerard Diffin茅, executive vice president, North American sales. “For instance, if the customer wishes the entire outer edge of the dial face to contain diamonds, we can easily achieve this.”

To boost consumer confidence, the International Gemological Institute will certify the identification of these crystals. The IGI certificate is a standard jewelry report that includes an assessment of each watch and contains a description of individual and total sapphire and diamond carat weight, cut, finish, proportions, clarity, color, as well as content and weight of precious metals. An enlarged color photograph is included with each certificate.

“We chose IGI to certify our watches because of the very nature of the extensive sapphire content and the quality of diamonds we use,” says Diffin茅. “We also seek to give our customers the added value of an independent company certifying the watch contains what we say it does, and also to give the customer an appraised value of the watch for insurance purposes. With the large amount of counterfeit watches being dumped in the market, we think it is important to our clients to have this assurance.”

For more information about SARO-Gem, call (212) 382-4677, or visit www.saro-gem.us. Visit IGI at www.igiworldwide.com.