SHOPPING FOR AN ENGAGEMENT RING?
Printer-friendly version Tips for finding a reputable jeweler, quality stones, settings and designs By Terry Whyte, master goldsmith at www.GoldenArtistry.com in La Mesa March 4, 2015 (La Mesa)—When it comes time to choose your engagement and wedding rings, start by checking Yelp to find a reputable jeweler. Call and ask if they have a goldsmith on staff. Ask if they make their own original jewelry. (Do you really want one of 10,000 made in Bangkok?) Clerks at a store that only sell jewelry, not design the products, may have limited knowledge of how they are made. If possible, purchase American-made jewelry. Before selecting a piece of jewelry, decide on your budget. Do you want a lot of mediocre stones, or a smaller stone of fine quality? When you can look at a piece of jewelry, examine it carefully. It should be finished inside and out. Feel the piece to make sure that there are no sharp areas. If you want a halo or other Diamond-encrusted design, make certain that the small Diamonds are set in a recessed manner. They will stay in longer. Are the gemstones bright? If there are multiple gems, are they set at the same level and oriented in the same direction? The labor (finishing), weight of metal, carat weight of gemstones and quality of gemstones will factor into the price. Gemstones’ prices go up exponentially with carat weight. A one carat will often be three times the price of a half carat. Smaller stones are more commonly found than larger stones. Remember, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. If you are looking for white gold, ask the clerk if it’s been Rhodium plated. Rhodium is a platinum-group-metal (PGM) and is hard and white. It’s commonly used to cover-up unattractive yellowish white golds. Annual maintenance costs for you, the consumer, could be $60 or more as the plating will wear off. White golds that do not require plating are available, but are not easy to find. Platinum or Palladium are available, but are not as hard as white gold and consequently do not hold a shine very long. If you’ve got a center stone, four prongs are preferable to six. Clerks will tell you that six are more secure. As a Master goldsmith who has also repaired jewelry for over forty years, I can assure you that six prong settings consistently have more issues than four prong settings. The reason for this is simple: the prongs on six prong settings are thinner (meaning weaker) than prongs on four prong settings. Some couples want something completely unique for their one-of-a-kind love. One advantage of a unique design is that you can pick the quality of the gemstones that are incorporated into your jewelry. Custom work costs a bit more as there is more labor. There are three ways to go about that. Most stores offer computer-assisted-design (CAD). This consists of creating a piece of virtual jewelry, then 3D printing it, casting, finishing and stone-setting, most of which is outsourced. These tend to be less outside-the-box designs than the other two ways to make jewelry. You could have a goldsmith carve a wax for you, so you can see a 3D representation of the design, then casting, finishing, and stone-setting follow, asssuring an original. The third way is to have a goldsmith fabricate the jewelry. You get to see a drawing or CAD image, but not the process. The goldsmith forms the precious metals and brazes them together, then finishes and sets the stones, insuring that your piece is unique. Ask the clerk is their jewelry guaranteed? If you have to pay extra for a warranty, you’re at the wrong place. A quality-minded manufacturer will stand behind his or her product. Finally, get something quality and within your budget. You have to live with your purchase. Don’t let your emotions cloud your judgment and end up with something you’ll regret. Get something you can build on for future anniversaries. Printer-friendly version
SCIENCE AND HEALTH HIGHLIGHTS
Printer-friendly versionMarch 4, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) — Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY In ongoing war with Islamic State, Twitter suspends 2,000 accounts (CS Monitor) DNA documents ancient mass migration (BBC) Can You Dig It? More Evidence Suggests Humans From The Ice Age (NPR) How do you solve a problem like the ‘Beefalo’? (BBC) Yahoo and NSA clash over encryption (BBC Tech) Hacking Life’s Code and Creating New Organisms with 3-D Printed DNA (Reason) VIDEO: Brain-controlled drone shown off (BBC) Lenovo Sued Over Superfish Adware (NPR) HEALTH 3D holograms help Israeli heart surgeons (CBS News) 3 Men Receive World’s First Mind-Controlled Bionic Hands (Jewish World Review) UCSD Study Finds Root Cause of Type 2 Diabetes (NBC 7 News) Water Fluoridation May Trigger Depression And Weight Gain (JWR) The Olive Oil Compound That Kills Cancer Cells (MWR) Study links common food additives to Crohn’s disease, colitis (Reuters) Man sees wife after 10 years of blindness: How new tech provides hope (+video) Study: Salt fights infection (U-T) States move to toughen vaccination laws in wake of measles outbreak (CS Monitor) Parents Choose A Simple Device To Reshape A Baby’s Ear (NPR) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY In ongoing war with Islamic State, Twitter suspends 2,000 accounts (CS Monitor) The Islamic State is well known for its savvy use of social media to spread threats and propaganda. But social media companies in the United States, including Twitter, are fighting back. DNA documents ancient mass migration (BBC) DNA analysis has revealed evidence for a massive migration into the heartland of Europe 4,500 years ago. Can You Dig It? More Evidence Suggests Humans From The Ice Age (NPR) Initially dismissed as a hoax a century ago, scientists have found evidence in Florida of humans living 14,000 years ago. If the findings hold up, they will help rewrite the history of early man. How do you solve a problem like the ‘Beefalo’? (BBC) The hybrid animal causing havoc in the Grand Canyon Yahoo and NSA clash over encryption (BBC Tech) Yahoo’s Alex Stamos challenged the NSA’s director over whether encryption “backdoors” should be made available to the Russian and Chinese governments. Hacking Life’s Code and Creating New Organisms with 3-D Printed DNA (Reason) Q&A With Cambrian Genomics’ Austen Heinz VIDEO: Brain-controlled drone shown off (BBC) A drone specialist in Portugal demonstrates a flight controlled by human brainwaves, and suggests a future of large-scale unmanned flying…. / Longer term the firm said piloting of larger jets, such as cargo planes, could be controlled in this way without the need for a crew on board. Lenovo Sued Over Superfish Adware (NPR) Renee Montagne talks to Jordan Robertson of Bloomberg News about computer maker Lenovo, which allowed controversial spyware to be embedded onto the operating systems of laptops sold in the U.S. HEALTH 3D holograms help Israeli heart surgeons (CBS News) RealView Imaging LTD says it has recently completed a successful clinical study in which surgeons used live-action 3D holograms of their patients’ beating heart to help them operate. 3 Men Receive World’s First Mind-Controlled Bionic Hands (Jewish World Review) In their study, now published in the online journal The Lancet, the team of researchers from the Medical University of Vienna in Austria have outlined how they were able to successfully complete, not one, but three bionic reconstructions. Previous bionic hands were controlled by the owners using manual settings, The Associated Press reported. This new bionic hand is able to directly get the brain’s messages to the new body part, eliminating the need for a third party. UCSD Study Finds Root Cause of Type 2 Diabetes (NBC 7 News) Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, believe they have discovered the “root cause” of Type 2 diabetes — a molecular link between obesity and diabetes that may lead to new treatment. Water Fluoridation May Trigger Depression And Weight Gain (JWR) A new study carried out by Professor Stephen Peckham at the Centre for Health Service Studies at the University of Kent in the UK claims that fluoride in drinking water is actually far more harmful than we thought, and it can lead to an increase in underactive thyroid — which is linked to depression, obesity, and fatigue. The Olive Oil Compound That Kills Cancer Cells (MWR) Gone in a half hour. How, when, why. Study links common food additives to Crohn’s disease, colitis (Reuters) Common additives in ice cream, margarine, packaged bread and many processed foods may promote the inflammatory bowel diseases ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease as well as a group of obesity-related conditions, scientists said on Wednesday. Man sees wife after 10 years of blindness: How new tech provides hope (+video) A Minnesota man can now see his wife after being blind for 10 years. How technological advancements are bridging the gap between human limitations and human potential. Drinking Several Cups Of Coffee A Day May Keep MS Away (JWR) The more coffee you drink the better, at least when it comes to reducing the odds of multiple sclerosis, according to a recent study to be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 67th Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., April 18 to 25, 2015. Study: Salt fights infection (U-T) Sodium sent to the skin mobilizes the immune system to fight infection, study finds. States move to toughen vaccination laws in wake of measles outbreak (CS Monitor) At least 14 states have introduced bills that would make it harder for parents to gain vaccination exemptions. But one expert says the proposed laws focus on the wrong thing. Parents Choose A Simple Device To Reshape A Baby’s Ear (NPR) Sometimes a baby’s outer ear may be a tad misshapen. Surgery can help later on, but a plastic mold makes the most of the fact that a newborn’s ears are pliable. They can reshape within weeks Printer-friendly version
ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS
Printer-friendly versionMarch 4, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)– East County Magazine’s World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include: U.S. United Airlines warns pilots after four safety incidents (Reuters) Among CEOs, women are outnumbered by men named John (APM Marketplace) Engineer pleads guilty in U.S. to trying to take jet materials to Iran (Reuters) U.S. charges three with conspiring to support Islamic State (Reuters) Ohio man accused of providing support for Middle East terror (Reuters) Ex-CIA chief David Petraeus pleads guilty to mishandling classified materials (CS Monitor) Education Department Terminates Contracts With Debt Collectors Accused Of Wrongdoing (Huffington Post) Dare to Dream: IRS Subject of Criminal Probe Over Missing Emails (Reason) WORLD Nemtsov killing follows slaying of other Kremlin critics (AP) Police capture Mexico’s most-wanted drug lord ‘La Tuta’ Gomez (CS Monitor) Islamist militants shell two Libyan oilfields, port pipeline damaged (Reuters) Brickbat: The Swedish Way of Life (Reason) Sanctioned North Korea shipping firm still active, renamed ships – U.N. panel (Reuters) UNICEF: Hundreds of South Sudanese boys believed abducted (AP) Why are mysterious drones flying around Paris landmarks? (CS Monitor) With wary eye on Russia, Lithuania to reintroduce the draft (CS Monitor) Exclusive: Iran smuggles in $1 billion of bank notes to skirt sanctions (Reuters) What is intellectual privacy, and how yours is being violated (CS Monitor) FBI Hangs Whistleblowers Out to Dry, Says Government Watchdog (Reason) Opposition Grows To Nicaragua Canal Connecting Atlantic And Pacific (NPR) Unidentified attackers hack US blogger to death in Dhaka (AP) Pew Study On Religion Finds Increased Harassment Of Jews (NPR) For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down. U.S. United Airlines warns pilots after four safety incidents (Reuters) United Continental Holdings Inc warned its pilots last month to double down on safety procedures after one flight was in danger of crashing and another landed with fewer fuel reserves than regulations require, the airline confirmed Wednesday. Among CEOs, women are outnumbered by men named John (APM Marketplace) If your name is John, congratulations. If you’ve got a woman’s name — literally any woman’s name — well, here’s the deal. The New York Times’ data journalism venture The Upshot reported Monday there are more CEO’s named “John” at S&P 1500 companies than there are women CEOs. If you toss the names Robert, William and James in the mix, you end up with four CEOs with those names for every female CEO. The Upshot has dubbed that measurement the “Glass Ceiling Index… it’s a stark snapshot of women’s standing in the boardroom. Engineer pleads guilty in U.S. to trying to take jet materials to Iran (Reuters) A former engineer for Pratt & Whitney and other defense contractors pleaded guilty on Wednesday to trying to export sensitive information about U.S. military jets to his native Iran, where he hoped to find a job, the U.S. Department of Justice said. U.S. charges three with conspiring to support Islamic State (Reuters) Three [Brooklyn] men were charged on Wednesday with conspiring to support Islamic State, including two who planned to travel to Syria to fight on behalf of the radical group, U.S. authorities said. Ohio man accused of providing support for Middle East terror (Reuters) A judge on Wednesday set bail at $1 million for an Ohio man accused in state charges of providing support and money laundering in support of terror, prosecutors said without identifying the people he was accused of aiding. Ex-CIA chief David Petraeus pleads guilty to mishandling classified materials (CS Monitor) The Justice Department said Tuesday former CIA Director Petraeus was charged with one count of unauthorized removal and retention of classified information. The former top army general had signed an agreement pleading guilty to the single criminal count. Education Department Terminates Contracts With Debt Collectors Accused Of Wrongdoing (Huffington Post) The U.S. Department of Education, under fire for its lackluster oversight of student loan contractors, said Friday it will terminate its relationship with five debt collectors after accusing them of misleading distressed borrowers at “unacceptably high rates.”… Dare to Dream: IRS Subject of Criminal Probe Over Missing Emails (Reason) Last night during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing, an official revealed that they had tracked down more than 30,000 allegedly missing/deleted emails from former IRS official Lois Lerner. Futhermore, now federal officials are considering whether any criminal activity occurred in relation to their disappearance. INTERNATIONAL Nemtsov killing follows slaying of other Kremlin critics (AP) Prominent Russian opposition figure Boris Nemtsov’s killing follows the slaying over the past decade of several other high-profile critics of President Vladimir Putin and his policies. Here is a look at some of the best-known cases. Police capture Mexico’s most-wanted drug lord ‘La Tuta’ Gomez (CS Monitor) ‘La Tuta’ Gomez, a former school teacher and head of the Knights Templar, was captured early Friday by federal police, according to Mexican officials. Islamist militants shell two Libyan oilfields, port pipeline damaged (Reuters) Islamist militants shelled Libya’s Bahi and Mabrouk oilfields on Monday, damaging a pipeline to the Es Sidra oil port, a spokesman for forces protecting energy infrastructure said. Brickbat: The Swedish Way of Life (Reason) Sweden’s resettlement assistants are supposed to help immigrants learn the language, assist them in filling out paperwork, and generally help them fit into Swedish society. But the government says many of them instead were recruiting people to fight alongside terrorist groups such as ISIS. It has disbanded the entire network of resettlement assistants. Sanctioned North Korea shipping firm still active, renamed ships – U.N. panel (Reuters) A U.N.-blacklisted North Korean shipping company has renamed most of its vessels in a bid to disguise their origin and continues its illicit shipments in violation of United Nations sanctions, according to a U.N. experts report seen by Reuters on Wednesday. UNICEF: Hundreds of South Sudanese boys believed abducted (AP) The U.N. children’s agency said on Saturday that hundreds
EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS
Printer-friendly versionMarch 4, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)– East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include: LOCAL Sexual harassment claim within El Cajon Police Department (ABC 10) San Diego schools seek relief (U-T) Settlement Victory Over San Diego Sheriff’s Facebook Page Censorship (Reason) Felony Arrests Up, Misdemeanor DUI Arrests Down (SANDAG) Car dealer settles Lexus deaths lawsuit (U-T) Economist: Chargers Leaving San Diego Would Make Minimal Impact (KPBS) San Diego Attorney Briggs Responds To Questions About His Business Practices (KPBS) Graffiti at La Jolla High called hate crime (U-T) SDG&E Gets $5M Grant To Expand Borrego Springs Microgrid (KPBS) Peevey rallied Pio Pico approval(UT San Diego) Today’s Debt Is Tomorrow’s Burden In Some School Districts (KPBS) Sempra earnings rise, with help from overseas (U-T) STATE Cal Fire scandal widens to prostitution, sexual advances (Sacramento Bee) California halts 12 injection wells over water concerns (Reuters) University of California to cap out-of-state enrollment at Berkeley, UCLA ,(Reuters) Sex photos on state cellphones surface in Cal Fire discipline cases (SacBee) Cal Fire scandal widens to prostitution, unwanted sexual advances (SacBee) Lawmakers question PUC lawyer costs (U-T) California Committee Explores Road Usage Charge In Place Of Gas Tax (KPBS) Lawsuit Could Change How Californians Pay For Water (KPBS) Feds: Zero water for Central Valley farms (Sacramento Bee) UCLA student told she could not serve—because she is Jewish (The College Fix) Metrolink collision: Why was a pickup truck on the tracks? (CS Monitor) For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down. LOCAL Sexual harassment claim within El Cajon Police Department (ABC 10) El Cajon Police insiders claim a sergeant sent lewd pictures and text messages to several women in the department. At least one of those women filed a sexual harassment claim. San Diego schools seek relief (U-T) Officials from all 42 school districts in the county met with San Diego Gas & Electric Co. executives last week to vent their frustration and reiterate their plan to fight the increases by appealing to state lawmakers and regulators…. A survey conducted by the districts showed that 22 of the county’s 42 districts saw electricity rates jump more than 43 percent — or $9.6 million — in the last six months of 2014 versus the same period in 2013. Settlement Victory Over San Diego Sheriff’s Facebook Page Censorship (Reason) Dimitrios Kassas of Ares Armor Accepts a $20 Settlement Plus Legal Fees Felony Arrests Up, Misdemeanor DUI Arrests Down (SANDAG) Over the past five years, the adult felony arrest rate in San Diego County increased by 8 percent while misdemeanor DUI arrests declined by 31 percent, according to the latest report compiled by the SANDAG Criminal Justice Research Division. The report, titled Arrests 2013: Law Enforcement Response to Crime in the San Diego Region, found that San Diego County had the state’s second highest arrest rate for adults and the state’s highest arrest rate for juveniles. Car dealer settles Lexus deaths lawsuit (U-T) Trial was set to begin this week in the deaths of CHP Officer Mark Saylor and family (in Santee). Economist: Chargers Leaving San Diego Would Make Minimal Impact (KPBS) Economists seem to agree, sports stadiums have little impact on the economy San Diego Attorney Briggs Responds To Questions About His Business Practices (KPBS) San Diego attorney Cory Briggs published an open letter on his website Tuesday responding to inewsource stories investigating his business practices, including potential conflicts of interest. Graffiti at La Jolla High called hate crime (U-T) A swastika, profanity and other graffiti was found spray painted on walls of La Jolla High School this weekend, and a school district official said the incident is being investigated as a hate crime SDG&E Gets $5M Grant To Expand Borrego Springs Microgrid (KPBS) The state grant will help the utility company provide electricity to all 2,800 customers in Borrego Springs. Peevey rallied Pio Pico approval(UT San Diego) CPUC boss took over process after plant was first rejected. Today’s Debt Is Tomorrow’s Burden In Some School Districts (KPBS) School districts in San Diego County and across California that use capital appreciation bonds saddle future generations with debt, sometimes at double-digit debt ratios. Sempra earnings rise, with help from overseas (U-T) Soaring overseas profits stoke Sempra Energy earnings STATE Cal Fire scandal widens to prostitution, sexual advances (Sacramento Bee) A Cal Fire assistant chief is accused of hooking up with prostitutes on his state cellphone and then taking a state vehicle to meet them, according to new records released to The Sacramento Bee. Another firefighter was fired after claims of making graphic, unwanted sexual advances toward a woman at a bar and lying about it, according to the documents. A third employee is alleged to have condoned drinking on the job, the documents say. Those events and others … add new chapters to a tale of claimed boozing and sexual misbehavior among employees at the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Ione academy. California halts 12 injection wells over water concerns (Reuters) California oil drilling regulators on Tuesday ordered operators of 12 underground injection wells in Kern County to halt injections out of fear that they could contaminate drinking water supplies. University of California to cap out-of-state enrollment at Berkeley, UCLA (Reuters) The University of California will cap enrollment of out-of-state students at its most popular campuses next year amid criticism of the paucity of spots available for California residents, UC President Janet Napolitano said on Tuesday Sex photos on state cellphones surface in Cal Fire discipline cases (SacBee) One Cal Fire captain supposedly received an Internet link from a colleague for a private sex club on his state cellphone. An assistant chief allegedly thought nothing of a supervisor slapping the rear end of a female cadet. Investigators said another captain put hundreds of sexually explicit pictures of his wife on his state cellphone. And, according to Cal Fire employee discipline records released Friday, there was drinking on the job. Sometimes a lot of it. Cal Fire scandal widens to prostitution, unwanted sexual advances (SacBee) A Cal Fire assistant chief is accused of hooking up
EL CAJON LEGAL CLINIC RETURNS, NEW DAY AND HOURS
Printer-friendly version March 4, 2015 (El Cajon) – The El Cajon legal clinic is back—with new hours, open Wednesdays from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Free legal assistance is available in the areas of family law, immigration, consumer law, employment law, business law, wills and trusts, civil litigation and more. The clinic is located at 350 East Main Street. You can schedule an appointment by calling 619-550-4879 or by emailing solocenter707@gmail.com. Walk-ins are also welcome. This clinic is a joint project between the El Cajon City Council and the Thomas Jefferson School of Law Center for Solo Practitioners. Printer-friendly version
HOMELAND SECURITY FUNDED THROUGH SEPTEMBER
Printer-friendly version San Diego delegation splits on vote March 4, 2015 (Washington DC)–The Department of Homeland Security won’t be shutting down. Both houses of Congress have now passed legislation to fund the agency through September. The action came after Republican leadership finally allowed a vote on a “clean” funding bill without language overturning President Obama executive orders deferring deportation for some 5 million undocumented immigrants. Previously, Republicans had voted to hold the Homeland Security measure hostage unless they could block the immigration reforms. But San Diego’s two Republican Congressmen, Duncan Hunter and Darrell Issa, still voted against funding Homeland Security, despite the Republican leadership change of position. Democrats Susan Davis, Juan Vargas and Scott Peters voted for the bill. Last week, Congress had passed a seven-day funding extension that would have expired this Friday. The new vote assures that Homeland Security, which includes Customs and Border Patrol , Coast Guard and Transportation Safety administration employees, will continue to have full funding until September. As for the President’s immigration reforms, over two dozen states have filed a legal challenge which is currently working its way through the federal court system. Printer-friendly version