George Clooney and Angelina Jolie top list of most wanted Valentine's Day
proposals

SEATTLE, On bended knee? Does size
matter? Clooney or Pitt? Aniston or Jolie? These are just a few of the
questions answered in the Valentine's Day Romance Survey* commissioned by Blue
Nile, the nation's leading online jeweler.
It also matters more to men (44 percent men vs.S. EOE M/F/D/V
To become a member of the Harris Poll Online(SM) and be invited to
participate in future online surveys, go to http://www. With more than 5,000
employees, over 2,800 financial representatives and nearly 100
agencies nationwide, Guardian and its subsidiaries protect
individuals, businesses and their employees with life, disability,
health and dental insurance products, and offer 401(k), financial
products and trust services.

those rings

-- Let's get personal . 39 percent women),
suggesting just how much they fret over the proposal and the engagement
ring purchase. In effect, you're paying for
something that you can't see. adults aged 18 and over. More information on Guardian can be
obtained at: www. For more information visit
www.

furry oldest

.95 carat diamond.harrisinteractive. Long recognized by its
clients for delivering insights that enable confident business decisions, the
Company blends the science of innovative research with the art of strategic
consulting to deliver knowledge that leads to measurable and enduring value.

Destiny Health plan
members who participated will receive a double rewards bonus for the
innovative Vitality incentive plan, a health and wellness program that
rewards members for taking care of themselves.

society this

However, the study also showed that traditional
proposal customs were much more important to younger adults, suggesting we're
entering a new era of romance..com), and through an
independent global network of affiliate market research companies ."
Walk + Roll Chicago is a 5 mile walk, 10 mile in-line skate, or 15
mile bike ride along Chicago 's lakefront.GuardianLife. With more than
50,000 members enrolled in the U.

ring those

Surprisingly , more men than women believe this is an important
tradition (40 percent men vs. It's
especially true in the South, where 58 percent say it's important,
compared to 50 percent of those living in other regions. Even a diamond with perfect color
and clarity, but a poor cut, will appear dull.
-- It's OK to be shy: Diamond prices jump at the carat and half-carat
marks, so try to buy just shy of these levels.
Customers can place orders for most items as late as Monday, February 13, at 3
p. Data were weighted to
reflect the total U. Sampling error for the various
sub-samples are higher and vary.cahttp://www.
With more than 530 participants , Team Destiny has raised
$31,476.

web by

At the bottom of the
list, Tanya Harding and Axl Rose each received one vote.
Web sites like BlueNile.

For Valentine's Day, all Blue Nile orders are shipped absolutely free.

Business Editors

OAK BROOK, Ill. As of December 31, 2003, Guardian and
its subsidiaries had $37.8 million members in its medical plan since 1992 . It is also available in
Massachusetts through a partnership with Tufts Health Plans and in
Wisconsin through affiliated insurance brokers.

themed furry

A surprising
number of adults are not enamored of the rich and famous, with 32
percent saying they wouldn't want a proposal from any celebrity . All are important, but a diamond's cut is the most critical
because it creates the most sparkle .

About Blue Nile, Inc. Blue Nile has established some
of the highest quality standards in the industry and provides consumers with
in-depth educational materials and unique online tools that place consumers in
control of the jewelry shopping process. "Our
health plan has always encouraged healthy behavior, but it's even more
rewarding when fitness activities can also help such a worthy cause. and Maryland.

alt society

"Our Valentine's Day Romance Survey shows romance is alive and well, but
also that many of the traditional proposal practices are evolving," said John
Baird, diamond and jewelry expert for Blue Nile.
-- Two's company .
-- Be honest, is it cheesy? No, a Valentine 's Day proposal is romantic,
according to 63 percent of adults."

Whether on bended knee or not, for those planning to pop the question this
Valentine's Day, Blue Nile offers the following tips:
-- Research, research, research: Buying a diamond is not rocket science. adult
population been polled with complete accuracy.bluenile.

Guardian and Destiny Health 3rd Highest Corporate Fundraisers for Walk + Roll Chicago 2005

Combined, Destiny Health and Discovery are the largest providers of
consumer-driven healthcare in the world. The Destiny Health Plan is currently marketed
by The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America in Illinois,
Virginia, Washington, D.

as rings

-- The sweet spots: As color and clarity grades improve, diamond prices
increase.S. This online sample is not a probability
sample. (http://www.harrisinteractive. In its 33rd year, it is the
Illinois ACS' largest and oldest event, with over 4,000 people
attending.

exemplified quot

Valentine's Day Study Shows Romance Is Thriving; Men Younger Adults More Likely to Adhere to Proposal Traditions

Americans would choose to propose at a spot that
has personal significance to the couple (83 percent), over a nice
restaurant (12 percent), a public sporting event (1 percent), or even a
romantic destination, such as the Eiffel Tower (4 percent).
-- Size matters -- Especially if you live in the Northeast.novatris.

lifestyle rings

. Perhaps men
want women involved in the process out of fear of choosing the wrong
ring (62 percent men vs.
-- Should I ask for their blessing? The majority, 53 percent, say it's
important to ask your future in-laws for their blessing.com have thorough education sections. The best have been
graded by independent gem laboratories . ET, to receive free overnight shipping in time for Valentine's Day.
Founded in 1999, Blue Nile is the leading online retailer of diamonds and
fine jewelry.C.

who usenet

However, young adults, aged 18-34 , are much more inclined to
feel it's important to propose on bended knee, 59 percent, compared to
an average of 25 percent for older age groups.S. For example, instead of
a 1 carat, look for a .S. It has built a well respected brand by providing consumers with
a better way to buy diamonds and fine jewelry.com.

rings furry

"

Key findings include:
-- To knee or not to knee? Only 36 percent of adults believe it is
important that a man get down on one knee when he proposes.

"Just as proposal traditions change over time, so is the manner in which
adults are buying engagement rings," said Mark Vadon, CEO of Blue Nile. With a
little research men can quickly become experts and buy like a
professional diamond buyer. Blue Nile can
be found online at http://www., this consumer-focused strategy is
modeled after Destiny Health's parent company, Discovery, an
international life and health insurance company that has successfully
enrolled over 1.

is furring

Insist your diamond is
accompanied by an independent grading report from either the GIA
(Gemological Institute of America) or AGSL (American Gem Society
Laboratories ). Diamonds accompanied by grading reports from these labs
are the most highly valued, as their quality is considered guaranteed. In theory, with a probability sample of this size, one can say with 95
percent certainty that the overall results have a sampling error of plus or
minus 3 percentage points of what they would be had the entire U.

adhere those

Even more
important? -- Leave family and friends at home, say 91 percent of
respondents. While only 41
percent of adults admit that the size of the diamond is important, it's
a bigger deal in the Northeast, where 49 percent indicate size matters,
compared to 39 percent of those living in other regions of the country .
-- Buy certified: All diamonds are not created equal. You'll save a significant
amount of money and the slight size difference will never be noticed.

*Survey Methodology
Harris Interactive(R) fielded the study on behalf of Blue Nile, Inc. adult population on the basis of region, age within
gender, education, household income, race/ethnicity, and propensity to be
online .
Blue Nile's shares are traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol
NILE.
Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide through its United States, Europe
(http://www.harrispollonline .----Destiny Health, a
locally based consumer-driven healthcare company, is proud to announce
that in partnership with the Guardian Life Insurance Company of
America, it is the third highest fundraising corporate team for The
American Cancer Society's Walk + Roll Chicago 2005, and fourth highest
among all teams overall. Guardian and Destiny Health
co-sponsored the event and encouraged employees of both companies and
members of The Destiny Health Plan to participate.
"We are proud to be involved with The American Cancer Society and
Walk and Roll Chicago, and delighted to see that so many of our
members are joining us," said Destiny Health CEO Scott Spiker.

who is

"Traditions such as proposing
on bended knee and the man choosing the engagement ring alone are much less
popular than anticipated . Out West it's even
less important, as 71 percent plan to keep both feet firmly on the
ground. 58 percent women).com

About Destiny Health

Destiny Health's innovative consumer -driven health plan is
designed to make people healthier and enhance and protect their lives,
by balancing comprehensive health insurance coverage with incentives
that motivate active participation in healthcare and rewards member
behavior change necessary for a healthier lifestyle.

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32 percent women). Adults choose Angelina Jolie
(chosen by 19 percent of men) and George Clooney (chosen by 27 percent
of women) as the celebrities they would most want to receive
Valentine's Day proposals from this February. "Our
commitment to consumer education , award-winning customer service and quality,
along with the value we provide, has made Blue Nile one of the largest sellers
of high-quality diamond engagement rings in the U. However, above certain color and clarity grades the human eye
cannot detect these subtle differences. The Blue Nile Web site showcases more
than 60,000 independently certified diamonds and more than 1,000 styles of
fine jewelry at prices significantly below traditional retail.

About Harris Interactive (R)
Harris Interactive Inc.

About Guardian

Founded in 1860, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America,
New York, NY (Guardian) is the fourth largest mutual life insurance
company in the United States.2 billion in assets.destinyhealth.

this furry

com), based in Rochester,
New York, is the 13th largest and the fastest-growing market research firm in
the world, most widely known for The Harris Poll(R) and for its pioneering
leadership in the online market research industry.S.

oldest web

Sixty percent of adults believe both members of the
couple should be involved in choosing an engagement ring.m.bluenile.com

**American Wedding Study 2002.

quot those

. Again, young
adults (61 percent ), and especially young men (68 percent), were most
likely to adhere to this tradition, compared to 49 percent of those in
other age groups. Unlike other traditions where
younger adults were more likely to adhere to romantic traditions,
respondents find a Valentine's Day proposal more and more romantic as
they age. For example, to achieve the best value
consider a near-colorless (G-H) instead of a colorless (D, E, F)
diamond or a VS2 (Very Slightly Included) clarity grade as opposed to
an FL (Flawless) clarity grade.uk.37 to date toward cancer research. Last year's event raised over $800,000.

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lifestyle usenet

With more than 50,000 Americans
popping the question this Valentine's Day**, Blue Nile's survey examines many
of the traditions -- old and new -- that have become synonymous with romance,
proposals, February 14, and of course, diamonds . from
January 19-23, 2006, via its QuickQuery(SM) online omnibus, interviewing a
nationwide sample of 2,417 U.co.

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-- Jolie or Aniston? We'll take Jolie.
-- Of "The Four C's," don't sacrifice on cut: A diamond has four major
characteristics -- cut, color, clarity, and carat weight , known as "The
Four Cs." These characteristics determine the diamond's quality and
price.com/europe) and Asia offices, its wholly-owned
subsidiary Novatris in Paris, France (http: //www.