May 15--When it comes to the question of color, Virginia's first lady quibbles not.

"Red, definitely red," said Maureen McDonnell, wife of Gov. Bob McDonnell, as she Tiffany Bangles in the great room of White Hall Vineyards, a small glass of viognier -- a crisp, fruity white wine -- in her hand.

"I've always preferred red wine and even more so when I learned about the natural chemicals -- resveratrol -- that help fight disease and keep your heart healthy."

If she loves red wine, why was she sipping a white?

"Viognier is a wonderful wine and Virginia viogniers are being recognized around the world," said Lisa Champ, sales manager for White Hall. "It's also known as the white wine for people who prefer red."

McDonnell joined Todd Schneider, chef at the Governor's Mansion, Todd Haymore, state secretary for agriculture and forestry and assorted business leaders, wine industry officials and news reporters on a Friday bus tour of Central Virginia wineries. The entourage stopped at Jefferson Vineyards and Veritas Vineyards before finishing up at White Hall.

The trip was part of McDonnell's First Lady's Initiatives Team Effort program that Tiffany Key Rings on calling attention to preventive health and wellness programs, economic development and opportunity for military families and for women.

"When Bob was inaugurated I knew that I wanted to help Virginia businesses receive national and global attention," she said. "I also wanted to find ways to let Virginians know of the great products within their own state."

Friday's tour was to call attention to the state's award-winning wine industry and local products, McDonnell said.

"For some time we lived in California and we really enjoyed the wines out there," she said. "When we came back to Virginia, we found the wine industry just beginning and some good wines being made. Now there are so many world-class wines produced in the state that we want others to hear about them."

McDonnell said studies showing that resveratrol helps fight cancer and heart disease made the trip fit in with her hopes of promoting a healthy lifestyle, as well.

"What could be better than something that tastes good being good for you?" she asked.

For Schneider, the trip was a chance to learn more about vintners' products and ways to discount tiffany Virginia wines with locally grown food.

"We try to serve local foods with local wines, and I like to find new combinations," he said. "We try a lot of new things."

Tony Champ, who owns White Hall Vineyards with his wife, Edie, said he appreciated the first lady and crew dropping by.

"What it shows me is that this administration is serious about helping local industry," Champ said. "It would be great to call more local attention to Virginia's wines. In California, people tend to drink more California wines but we don't seem to do the same in Virginia. Efforts like this could help change that."

Renowned physician, author and weight-loss expert Dr. Sanford Siegal, a practicing physician in South Florida best known as the creator of the popular Dr. Siegal's COOKIE DIET(R) weight-loss system and foods, confirmed today that he has offered Donna Simpson of Old Bridge, New Jersey, $50,000 if she'll tiffany sale her much-publicized quest to reach a weight of 1,000 pounds and, instead, achieve a healthful weight. Dr. Siegal made his offer in a letter that was delivered to Simpson's home yesterday morning.

"When I first heard about Donna Simpson's plan to reach a weight of 1,000 pounds I thought it was a joke. Then I read the news reports and realized she was serious. I was appalled," said Dr. Siegal. "I understand that people are encouraging this woman on Twitter and other social media sites, and that some food companies may even be jumping on the bandwagon. In my opinion, anyone who encourages this dangerous stunt is essentially guilty of assisted suicide."

In his letter to Simpson, Dr. Siegal warned her of the health consequences that he says she is certain to face if she doesn't reverse course soon:

"Since nothing I've read about you in the media suggests that you're suicidal, I have to conclude that you aren't intentionally trying to kill yourself and are doing so unknowingly. I must assume that you simply don't appreciate the severity--and certainty--of the premature death you face and the ghastly medical problems that will precede it."

In particular, Dr. Siegal warned Simpson about the horrors of diabetes which, he said, she is virtually certain to develop if she hasn't already:

"But, mercifully, you are not likely to reach your goal. Your early success will eventually work against you. As your diabetes becomes more severe and you become less mobile (probably bedridden), there's a good chance that one or both of your legs will be amputated. This will reduce your weight significantly. Of course, your legs will not be much use to you since you probably won't be able to walk anyway, with or without them. You may not even miss your legs since you won't be able to see them as a result of the blindness that often accompanies diabetes. But you may still feel pain in them even after they're gone. That often happens after amputation; it's called 'phantom pain'."

Dr. Siegal explained in his letter that, although he hopes to stop Simpson from "eating herself to death," his tiffany rings sale motivation in making his offer is to reverse the damage that may have been done to children and impressionable teenagers who he says have been sent a dangerous message by Simpson's actions and the publicity they have received.

"As I've said, I've devoted my life to educating the world about the perils of obesity and to helping people get thin. Many others, including the current First Lady, are also involved in this struggle. Your mission--and the publicity it has generated and will continue to generate--undermine our efforts and send a very bad message. While I sincerely want to save you from eating yourself to death, it is the population as a whole--especially children and impressionable teenagers--that I hope to help by convincing you to stop setting a terrible example and start being a good role model."

Dr. Siegal's offer to Simpson provides for specific payments to be made as she achieves certain milestones. If she accepts, the first $10,000 will be paid upon her (1) ending her weight-gain diet and agreeing not to resume it in the future, (2) beginning a weight-loss diet of her choosing under a doctor's supervision, and (3) agreeing to speak to the media about her unequivocal decision to end her self-destructive behavior and pursue a healthful weight.

"The first $10,000 would come very quickly as it doesn't require her to lose weight, just to stop trying to gain weight," explained Dr. Siegal. "The other $40,000 will be paid as she reaches certain weight milestones."

Simpson, who reportedly weighs 600 pounds, would receive $10,000 for every 100 pounds she loses until she reaches 200 pounds.

"Once she hits 200 pounds, I think she'll have all the motivation she'll need to lose the rest," said Dr. tiffany bracelets sale. "By that point she'll look and feel so much better."

Dr. Siegal's offer allows Simpson to choose any weight-loss approach as long as it is approved and supervised by a doctor and doesn't involve surgery:

"As for how you lose the weight, that's up to you. I don't care which method of weight loss you choose as long as it doesn't involve surgery (let's not try to correct one ill-advised action with another) and is approved by your doctor. If you wish to follow Dr. Siegal's COOKIE DIET, which has worked very well for generations of dieters, I'll provide for free the cookies and shake mixes that will keep your hunger in check as you follow a reduced-calorie diet. Also at your option, I'll recommend a physician in New York City who uses Dr. Siegal's COOKIE DIET in his practice and who I believe would treat you at no cost."

Dr. Sanford Siegal is a practicing physician, author, and weight-loss pioneer whose South Florida medical practice, Siegal Medical Group, has treated more than 500,000 overweight patients. Although he has received recognition for his books on topics including high fiber diets, hunger control, and hypothyroidism, he is best known as the Cookie Doctor(R) behind the internationally popular Dr. Siegal's COOKIE DIET(R) (www.CookieDiet.com) weight-loss approach and foods.

WOMEN with sickle cell disease will be trained and counselled to help them tiffany pendants sale their mark in the workplace.

The initiative aims to transform the lives of female sufferers and is being spearheaded by the Bahrain Society for Sickle Cell Anaemia Patient Care.

A total of BD8,000 has been raised to pay for the programme at the Bahrain Training Institute (BTI) for one year, but the society hopes to collect even more cash to extend the training for more women as well as men.

Society chairman Zakareya Ebrahim Alkadhem said the society had started with women because their futures were most affected by the disease.

"Some girls end up divorced because the disease puts a strain on the family, so we will give them skills and help them solve their problems," he told the GDN.

"There is an idea that no-one will look at or marry a woman with sickle cell disease and she doesn't have any future and this will affect her health. We want to build women's confidence and skills and show them that they can be independent from men."

The students will take a one-year UK BTEC diploma in a subject of their choice, such as tiffany earrings sale, computing, marketing, administration or graphic design.

Along with the training the women will have access to counselling at the BTI that will help them solve any personal problems they could be facing.

In addition, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland-Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI-MUB) will give the women medical counselling to help them change their lifestyles and reduce the number of days they spend in hospital and on medication.

"We need to motivate these patients and change their lifestyle, so that instead of only going to the hospital they can study and work," said Mr Alkadhem.

"We want to show these patients that they deserve more. We want this training to continue every year, so we instigate further fundraising activities.

"We are also looking at helping them set up their own micro-businesses."

There are currently 18,000 men and women in Bahrain with sickle cell disease, as well as 65,000 carriers.

Sickle cell disease is inherited from parents who are both carriers. The disease causes episodes of pain, increased susceptibility to infections and psychological problems.

People who inherit the sickle cell gene from one parent will not have the disease, but can pass the gene on to their children.

Bahrain has had an active programme for the prevention of sickle cell disease for decades and pre-marital screening has been mandatory for all Bahrainis since 2005.

Efforts by the Health Ministry to reduce the number of children being born with the tiffany necklaces sale have been successful.

In 2008, 0.7 of every 100 live births had sickle cell disease, but the figure dropped to 0.5 last year.

Donations in support of the training programme can be made at the BTI, in Isa Town.

Credit: Gulf Daily News, Manama, Bahrain

comScore, an Internet information company, reported retail e-commerce spending for the tiffany jewelry on sale season from November 1 through Christmas Eve.

During this period, approximately $27 billion was spent online, which represents an increase of 5 percent over the same period a year ago. For the period from Black Friday through Christmas Eve, and after adjusting for the additional shopping day in 2009, sales grew by approximately 3.5 percent.

"Following last year's disappointing performance when sales fell by 3 percent, the e-commerce sector saw a positive 2009 holiday shopping season with sales up by 5 percent," said comScore chairman Gian Fulgoni. "Online sales growth this year was driven by a continued increase in the number of people buying online, but consumers' economic challenges resulted in a slight decline versus last year in the amount spent per buyer. The season featured a strong start as a result of early retailer promotions and a very strong finish helped by the snow storms tiffany jewelry sale occurred the weekend of Dec 19 - 20, retailers' willingness to offer free shipping later in the season, and consumers' confidence in expedited shipping arriving in time.

"This was also a year when retailers substantially boosted their use of social network marketing and the larger retailers significantly outperformed their smaller brethren. In these tough economic times, the retailers with sufficient financial resources and a willingness to invest in aggressive marketing and free shipping offers were clear winners. In terms of individual product categories, consumer electronics saw particularly strong sales growth of slightly over 20 percent, while jewelry and watches also turned in a strong performance, but which followed a very weak tiffany bracelets season."

((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com))

Indiana University issued the following news release:

Indiana University's School of Fine Arts Gallery will present its annual holiday sale, this year titled "tiffany bracelets Night: A Holiday Art Sale and Auction," Dec. 10-11.

The two-day sale begins Dec. 10 at noon and features current work donated by faculty and students from IU's Henry Radford Hope School of Fine Arts with additional works donated by local artists. Items for sale and auction will include photographs, paintings, prints, ceramics and textiles. Jewelry will be created specifically for the event by IU students and faculty who specialize in metalsmithing and jewelry design.

Proceeds from the sale support the SoFA Gallery's visual arts programming and the advocacy programs administered by the Friends of Art, including student scholarships.

"The Holiday Art Sale and Auction is an essential fundraising event for us because it not only provides funding for gallery exhibits and programs, but it allows us to offer professional training for student employees," said Betsy Stirratt, director of the SoFA Gallery.

The sale runs Dec. 10-11 from noon-4 p.m. both days. A Fine Arts Student Award tiffany on sale is scheduled for Dec. 11 from 5:30-7 p.m. (Fine Arts 015). The two-day event culminates with a silent auction and holiday party art opening Friday, Dec. 11, from 6:30-8 p.m. in the SoFA Gallery.

For more information, see the SoFA Gallery Web site, http://sofa.fa.indiana.edu.libproxy.library.wmich.edu, or contact the SoFA Gallery at 812-855-8490 or sofa@indiana.edu. The SoFA Gallery is accessible to people with disabilities and is open Tuesday Saturday, noon 4 p.m., closed Sunday and tiffany sale.For more information please contact: Sarabjit Jagirdar, Email:- htsyndication@hindustantimes.com.