Rethinking Immunotherapy for Brain Tumors

As highlighted in our prior articles, growing evidence indicates that the field of cancer immunotherapy, broadly defined as including passive immunization, active immunization, and immunostimulation, is coming of age.? More than 40 unique active cancer immunotherapies are currently being tested in over 60 clinical trials, with nearly a dozen readouts from randomized Phase 2 or Phase 3 trials expected during the next 12-months.

Immunotherapy for cancers of the central nervous system [CNS], however, continues to be met with skepticism. ?Amongst the reasons for such incredulity are concerns that the nervous system may be immunologically privileged[i] and the presence of the blood-brain barrier, which only allows entry of select immune cells from the peripheral blood into the brain. ?However, all of these premises have now been substantially discounted and tumors in the CNS should not be considered ?off-limits? to immunotherapy[ii].

In addition, recent observations of how the CNS system behaves and interacts with the immune system have shed some light into the potential role of immunotherapy in the treatment of brain cancer. ?Consider the following facts:

• People with impaired immune systems have an increased risk of developing CNS lymphomas[iii], suggesting that the immune system has a role in the manifestation of tumors in these patients. ?People with compromised immune systems include organ transplantation patients taking immunosuppressive drugs, HIV patients, and cancer patients being treated with chemotherapy, which can weaken immune functionality.
• Bridget McCarthy, Ph.D. of the University of Illinois at Chicago found that patients with gliomas were significantly less likely to report having any type of allergy. ?In fact, patients who had more types of allergies, such as seasonal, medication, pet, or food allergies, had up to a 64% reduction in risk of developing glioma[iv]. This suggests a relationship between immunological activity and potential protection from the development of CNS tumors.
• Neurologists and neurosurgeons provide anecdotal reports that glioma patients who experience postoperative infections near the tumor bed seem to do better than the average patient similar to the observations made over a century ago by Coley[v]. ?This suggests that exogenous factors, such as infections, may result in the activation of the immune system and improve the odds of combating CNS tumors.

Collectively, these observations suggest that proper activation of the immune system in patients with CNS tumors could be beneficial.? Accordingly, we sought to review select companies advancing immunotherapy approaches for brain tumors [see Table 1].

Table 1. Eight Companies with Immunotherapy Approaches for Brain Tumors

Company	Market Cap	Clinical Pipeline	Corporate Partner(s)	Stage(s) [# of programs]
Agenus, Inc. (AGEN)	$62M	Prophage Series*, QS-21 Stimulon? adjuvant, HerpV	GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), ChemRar, and Integrated Biotherapeutics	Phase III [4], Phase II [10], Phase 1 [1]
Celldex Therapeutics (CLDX)	$202M	Rindopepimut [CDX-110]; CDX-011, CDX-1401, CDX-1127, CDX-301	n/a	Phase III [1], Phase II [3], Phase I [2]
Immatics Biotechnologies (private)	n/a	IMA-901, IMA-910, IMA-950	n/a	Phase III [1], Phase II [1], Phase I [1]
ImmunoCellular Therapeutics (IMUC)	$72M	ICT-107	n/a	Phase II [1]
Innocell Corp (031390.KQ)	n/a	Immuncell-LC**	n/a	Phase III [1]
Northwest Biotherapeutics (NWBO)	$31M	DCVax?	n/a	Phase II [1]
Oncovir, Inc. (private)	n/a	Hiltonol (Poly-ICLC)	n/a	Phase II [2], Phase I [2]
TVAX Biomedical (private, IPO planned)	~$80M at IPO	TV1-Brain-1, TV1-Kidney-1	n/a	Phase II [1]

* Marketed in Russia as Oncophage? for intermediate-risk renal cell carcinoma,?** Marketed in Korea for hepatocellular carcinoma

About Glioma

Glioma is the most common form of primary brain tumors. ?They are solid tumors that arise from glial cells, which help support the function of the neurons.? Glial cells include astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and ependymal cells.? The overgrowth of abnormal glial cells may begin in the brain or spinal cord tissues.

Gliomas can be divided into two categories: low-grade, which are not benign but have a better prognosis, or high-grade, which are malignant and often cause death within months, despite surgery or treatment with chemotherapy or radiation, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Glioblastoma multiforme [GBM], a high-grade glioma, is the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor.? In contrast, tumors originating from astrocytes [astrocytoma] range from Grade 1, which are very benign, to Grade 4, which is the same as a glioblastoma.

Amenable to Immunotherapy

Beyond recent observations suggesting a role for immunotherapy in treating brain tumors, several other factors make glioma an ideal indication for immunotherapy.? First, glioma rarely metastasizes beyond the brain, resulting in a low overall tumor burden within the body.? Second, while the blood-brain barrier is thought to restrict entry of immune cells from the peripheral blood into the brain of healthy individuals, glioma disrupts the blood brain barrier, allowing for the freer trafficking of T-cells.? Finally, glioma tumor tissue, especially in patients who are newly diagnosed, is amenable to surgical resection therefore lowering tumor burden at time of vaccination [minimal residual disease].? Studying cancer immunotherapy in settings with bulky or metastatic disease might help explain some of the past failures, as the immune system may not be able to thwart such extensive disease.? Accordingly, minimal disease settings are ideal for cancer immunotherapy.

Strategies for Immunotherapy in Glioma

In general, two categories of immunotherapeutic approaches for the treatment of glioma are currently being pursued: cell-free vaccines and cell-based vaccines.

Cell-free vaccines

Cell-free vaccines may contain heat-shock protein-peptide (HSP) complexes derived from the patient?s tumor following surgery [autologous] or incorporate one or more defined tumor peptides plus an adjuvant [non-autologous].? The following companies are advancing cell-free vaccines:

• Agenus, Inc.: autologous HSPs that elicit both CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell response and also innate response
• Celldex Therapeutics: a single EGFRvIII peptide
• Immatics Biotechnologies: 11 tumor associated, synthetic peptides

Cell-based vaccines

Cell-based vaccines often incorporate dendritic cells [DC] pulsed with defined tumor peptides, tumor cell lysate, brain tumor stem cell mRNA.? Alternatively, some cell-based vaccines consist of adoptive lymphocyte infusion and/or irradiated tumor cells.? The following companies are advancing cell-based vaccines:

• ImmunoCellular Therapeutics: DCs pulsed with shared HLA-A1/A2 tumor peptides
• Innocell Corp: adaptive transfer of cytokine-induced T-cells/NK cells
• Northwest Biotherapeutics: DCs pulsed with tumor lysate
• Oncovir, Inc.: a-type 1 polarized DCs pulsed with defined HLA-A2 peptides plus poly-ICLC adjuvant
• TVAX Biomedical: whole cell vaccination plus adoptive transfer of lymphocytes

To date, commercializing cell-based vaccines has been challenging.? For example, Dendreon?s (DNDN) Provenge? [sipuleucel-T] for prostate cancer is a cell-based vaccine that fell short of Wall Street analyst expectations during the first full year of commercial launch.? Provenge and other DC-based cancer vaccines require leukopherisis to acquire a patient?s dendritic cells. ?This process adds to the overall cost of producing the vaccine and makes the logistics somewhat complicated. ?In contrast, cell-free vaccines can be derived from synthetic peptides or from the patient?s tumor following standard surgical resection, making the treatment process more user friendly from both a physician and patient perspective.

Clinical Development of Immunotherapy for GBM

The current standard of care for GBM, based on a prospective, randomized controlled trial published in 2005, involves maximal surgical resection with adjuvant radiation therapy and temozolomide[vi].? Despite this therapeutic regimen, median overall survival is between 14.6 and 19.6 months for newly diagnosed patients and between 6 and 9 months for recurrent GBM[vii]^,[viii].

While immunotherapy approaches for GBM would be expected to perform better in the newly diagnosed setting, some companies first established proof-of-concept for their product candidates in the relapsed setting.? Due to the shorter expected survival, these Phase I/II studies may be faster and less expensive.? If hints of efficacy are observed in the relapsed disease setting, the product candidates can then be explored in the newly diagnosed setting.

In view of differences among histologies, ages, trial designs, and the small number of patients with immunotherapy studies published to date in the recurrent GBM setting, comparing and contrasting the findings is difficult [see Table 2].? For example, in the largest single study [56 patients] from the Catholic University of Leuven, the median age was the lowest [45 years] due to the inclusion of children above the age of seven.? In addition, some of the studies included patients that were not diagnosed with GBM, such as astrocytomas that can vary in grade.

In contrast to the results obtained with current standard of care, several of the studies with cancer vaccines for recurrent GBM have demonstrated a median overall survival greater than nine months. ?Some of these trials where immune responses have been measured, such as the Prophage G-200 [HSPPC-96] trial, have shown impressive immunological activity post vaccination. ?More impressive and certainly more relevant, these responses have also been measurable locally at the tumor site, which suggests such a response may be more meaningful from the perspective of effectively combating the disease.

Table 2. Recurrent GBM Vaccine Data

Company/ Institution	Product/ Reference	Clinical Stage	# Patients w/ GBM	Median Age	Overall Survival
Agenus, Inc.	Prophage G-200 [HSPPC-96][ix]	Phase II	33/33	53 [n=33]	11 [n=33]
Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium	DC pulsed w/ tumor lysate [+/- booster of lysate without DC][x]	Phase I/II	56/56	45 [n=56]	9.6 [n=56]
Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, California	DC pulsed w/ tumor lysate[xi]	Phase II	21/32	54 [n=32]	13.4 [n=12] to 20 [n=9]
TVAX Biomedical	TV1-Brain-1[xii]	Phase I	16/19	50 [n=19]	12 [n=19]
Niigata University School of Medicine, Niigata, Japan	DC pulsed w/ tumor lysate[xiii]	Phase I/II	18/24	53 [n=18]	16 [n=18]
Oncovir/University of Pittsburgh	a-type 1 polarized DCs pulsed w/ defined HLA-A2 peptides plus poly-ICLC adjuvant[xiv]	Phase I/II	13/22	54 [n=13]	12 [n=13]

?

Several companies are also currently conducting immunotherapy trials in newly diagnosed GBM, with encouraging results presented to date, including Agenus [ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00905060], Celldex Therapeutics [ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01480479], Immatics [ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01222221], ImmunoCellular [ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01280552], Innocell Corporation [ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00807027], and Northwest Biotherapeutics [ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00045968].

An important future direction for the successful treatment of these very difficult tumors may involve the combination of immunotherapeutic agents with other synergistic treatments. ?Such approaches could simultaneously address the immunosuppressive, angiogenic, invasive, and hypoxic nature of GBM.? In this regard, combination approaches with Avastin? [bevacizumab] and other potentially synergistic agents would make imminent sense to pursue.

Note: For further information on this topic, click here to view a replay of the plenary session ?Advances in immunotherapy for glioma? by Andrew T. Parsa, M.D., Ph.D., University of California, San Francisco, from MD Becker Partners? 2nd Annual ?Cancer Immunotherapy: A Long-Awaited Reality? Conference held October 6, 2011.

References

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[i] Medawar PB.? Immunity to homologous grafted skin: the fate of skin homografts transplanted to the brain, to subcutaneous tissue, and to the anterior chamber of the eye. Br J Exp Pathol. 1948 Feb;29(1):58-69.

[ii] Heimberger AB, Sampson JH.? Immunotherapy coming of age: What will it take to make it standard of care for glioblastoma?? Neuro Oncol. 2011 Jan;13(1):3-13. Epub 2010 Dec 10.

[iii] Guinto G, F?lix I, Ar?chiga N, Arteaga V, Kovacs K. Primary central nervous system lymphomas in immunocompetent patients.? Histol Histopathol. 2004 Jul;19(3):963-72.

[iv] McCarthy BJ, Rankin K, Il?yasova D, Erdal S, Vick N, Ali-Osman F, Bigner DD, Davis F. Assessment of type of allergy and antihistamine use in the development of glioma.? Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2011 Feb;20(2):370-8.

[v] Nauts HC, McLaren JR. Coley toxins ? the first century.? Adv Exp Med Biol. 1990;267:483-500.

[vi] Stupp R, Mason WP, van den Bent MJ, Weller M, Fisher B, Taphoorn MJ, Belanger K, Brandes AA, Marosi C, Bogdahn U, Curschmann J, Janzer RC, Ludwin SK, Gorlia T, Allgeier A, Lacombe D, Cairncross JG, Eisenhauer E, Mirimanoff RO; European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Brain Tumor and Radiotherapy Groups; National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group. Radiotherapy plus concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide for glioblastoma.? N Engl J Med. 2005 Mar 10;352(10):987-96.

[vii] Grossman SA, Ye X, Piantadosi S, Desideri S, Nabors LB, Rosenfeld M, Fisher J; NABTT CNS Consortium.? Survival of patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma treated with radiation and temozolomide in research studies in the United States.? Clin Cancer Res. 2010 Apr 15;16(8):2443-9. Epub 2010 Apr 6.

[viii] Caroli M, Locatelli M, Campanella R, Motta F, Mora A, Prada F, Borsa S, Martinelli-Boneschi F, Saladino A, Gaini SM.? Temozolomide in glioblastoma: results of administration at first relapse and in newly diagnosed cases. Is still proposable an alternative schedule to concomitant protocol?? J Neurooncol. 2007 Aug;84(1):71-7. Epub 2007 Mar 15.

[ix] A. Parsa, C. Crane, S. Han, V. Kivett, A. Fedoroff, N. A. Butowski, S. M. Chang, J. L. Clarke, M. S. Berger, M. McDermott, M. Aghi, C. Yanes, M. Prados, A. E. Sloan, J. N. Bruce.? Autologous heat shock protein vaccine (HSPPC-96) for patients with recurrent glioblastoma (GBM): Results of a phase II multicenter clinical trial with immunological assessments.? J Clin Oncol 29: 2011 (suppl; abstr 2565)

[x] De Vleeschouwer S, Fieuws S, Rutkowski S, Van Calenbergh F, Van Loon J, Goffin J, Sciot R, Wilms G, Demaerel P, Warmuth-Metz M, Soerensen N, Wolff JE, Wagner S, Kaempgen E, Van Gool SW.? Postoperative adjuvant dendritic cell-based immunotherapy in patients with relapsed glioblastoma multiforme.? Clin Cancer Res. 2008 May 15;14(10):3098-104.

[xi] Wheeler CJ, Black KL, Liu G, Mazer M, Zhang XX, Pepkowitz S, Goldfinger D, Ng H, Irvin D, Yu JS.? Vaccination elicits correlated immune and clinical responses in glioblastoma multiforme patients.? Cancer Res. 2008 Jul 15;68(14):5955-64.

[xii] Sloan AE, Dansey R, Zamorano L, Barger G, Hamm C, Diaz F, Baynes R, Wood G.? Adoptive immunotherapy in patients with recurrent malignant glioma: preliminary results of using autologous whole-tumor vaccine plus granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and adoptive transfer of anti-CD3-activated lymphocytes.? Neurosurg Focus. 2000 Dec 15;9(6):e9.

[xiii] Yamanaka R, Homma J, Yajima N, Tsuchiya N, Sano M, Kobayashi T, Yoshida S, Abe T, Narita M, Takahashi M, Tanaka R.? Clinical evaluation of dendritic cell vaccination for patients with recurrent glioma: results of a clinical phase I/II trial.? Clin Cancer Res. 2005 Jun 1;11(11):4160-7.

[xiv] Okada H, Kalinski P, Ueda R, Hoji A, Kohanbash G, Donegan TE, Mintz AH, Engh JA, Bartlett DL, Brown CK, Zeh H, Holtzman MP, Reinhart TA, Whiteside TL, Butterfield LH, Hamilton RL, Potter DM, Pollack IF, Salazar AM, Lieberman FS.? Induction of CD8+ T-cell responses against novel glioma-associated antigen peptides and clinical activity by vaccinations with {alpha}-type 1 polarized dendritic cells and polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid stabilized by lysine and carboxymethylcellulose in patients with recurrent malignant glioma.? J Clin Oncol. 2011 Jan 20;29(3):330-6. Epub 2010 Dec 13.

Source: http://lifesciencedigest.com/2012/02/22/rethinking-immunotherapy-for-brain-tumors/

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Morgan Rotondi: "You Speak German Well... for an American"

Contrary to popular belief, the above-mentioned phrase is decidedly not a compliment, regardless of the intentions of the speaker. These words can be said in English, in German, or with any variety of well-meaning tones of voice. The phrase remains the worst sort of backhanded compliment: an unintentional one.

The unsaid statement behind the phrase is, "I'm surprised you can speak a foreign language well, because most Americans can't." My immediate reaction is to refute such a claim: What the hell does my Passport have to do with my knowledge of German? Since when does citizenship determine foreign language proficiency? Unfortunately, when my righteous anger died down, I came to a terrible realization. They might be right.

My Massachusetts public education first exposed me to foreign languages in the 7th Grade, when I was 13 years old. We had a trimester of French, Spanish, and German, giving each of us a taste of the language so we could better decide which introductory language course to take in the 8th Grade. In most European countries, students start learning a foreign language when they are eight years old. For most U.S. eight-year-olds, learning a foreign language is not even an option. Only 24% of public elementary schools in the United States offer foreign language courses, according to the Center for Applied Linguistics. Among those schools that do offer foreign language instruction, 79% focus on introductory exposure rather than overall proficiency.

As someone who values foreign language education, I have a huge problem with these figures. But am I just biased on the issue? Europeans come into contact with foreign languages much more often than U.S. citizens, simply by living in a part of the world where so many countries with different cultures, languages, and dialects of language coexist. Of course someone from Luxembourg is going to need to speak multiple languages; Luxembourg has three official languages and borders Belgium, France, and Germany. And isn't English a so-called "world language" anyway? To achieve international success in either business or science, a strong grasp of the English language is crucial. At least, that's what my U.S. upbringing has led me to believe.

I cannot disprove the usefulness of English as a first language; on the contrary, I can only confirm from various traveling experiences that my knowledge of the English language allowed me to communicate when I otherwise could not. And yes, from my hometown in Massachusetts the nearest non-English speaking country is Canada, in the Quebec province, and that's quite a trip. So why should U.S. citizens bother to learn a foreign language when "everybody speaks English anyway," when opportunities to use foreign language skills are few and far between?
Studies have shown that learning a second language benefits students in other academic subjects. Students in the U.S. who study a foreign language statistically perform better on standardized tests than those who do not in core areas such as math, reading, and English language literacy. Even problem solving skills are positively affected. If enhanced academic performance is not reason enough, let's look at the "global dominance" of the English language. In terms of global population, the percentage of native English speakers is on the decline. With a worldwide decrease in native English speakers, it is only natural that other languages, like Mandarin Chinese, will grow in proportion to their native-speaking populations. While I'm not suggesting we all begin learning Mandarin, I am suggesting that the U.S. needs to re-assess its values in education. We cannot simply assume English is the "world language," or that English will indefinitely remain vital in global discourse.

Personally, learning the German language has shaped and enriched the person I am today. Since moving to Dresden, Germany I have met so many wonderful, patient people not only willing, but excited to help me learn German. Even after all the embarrassing mistakes, misunderstandings, and unintentional backhanded compliments, at the end of each day I've learned something, and it's not always language-related. Learning a foreign language has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, a learning experience from which all people, regardless of citizenship, can benefit.

?

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/morgan-rotondi/post_3019_b_1287879.html

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2012 Trends in General Aviation | Golden Wisdom Nuggets

General aviation has sure been a tough row to hoe in the last good many years. Nevertheless things are not looking so bad moving forward. It looks as if China will open their general aviation market meaning wealthy Chinese will own private business jets, and light aircraft. That?s good news for US aircraft manufacturers, but it also means that China will be breaking into the general aviation manufacturing sector, which has typically been owned by US companies. That will change the global dynamics of this sector.

Business jets are finally making a comeback, after being maligned by the Obama Administration, and the class warfare issues which currently are pervasive throughout our society. The costs to operate aircraft today are an incredible challenge for general aviation, thus, things like lighter materials, better aerodynamic designs, and more efficient electronics will be in demand to help in overcoming those challenges. Many of the new carbon composite advances in the airline sector and the military sector are now making their way into general aviation.

This also means lighter and more efficient aircraft with better performance, safety, and fuel economy. One trend which has some folks on edge is the prospect of more autonomous aircraft flying around in the same airspace posing a safety risk for general aviation aircraft. In fact these dangers may cause the Federal Aviation Administration to require all small light aircraft of any size to have special electronics for positioning data at all times. In some regards this takes away the freedom in general aviation, but it also introduces safety features which may come forth allowing for the future flying cars.

Another challenge is that with GPS systems, especially those devices on the lower end. The interference of devices made by light squared for mobile communication are a real issue now in debate. This ?could? or ?might? also cause safety risks, and it has the general aviation sector up in arms, as well they should. Some say these challenges are blown out of proportion, but we have to wait and see.

There have been some concepts floated in Congress about establishing taxes for each flight, if those are imposed as stated it would have a dire effect on general aviation overall. We don?t know if that legislation will move forward, but perhaps not.

The very light jet market seems to have had a bubble burst in its early lifecycle just as it was getting off the ground, but you can expect in the future that this sector will be moving along at a more practical growth rate. Well, that?s all for now, however you might wish to subscribe to my articles so that you don?t miss future trends as they occur. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

Cake Pops Recipe

This entry was posted on Monday, February 20th, 2012 at 2:10 am and is filed under Outdoors. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Source: http://www.goldenwisdomnuggets.mobi/2012-trends-in-general-aviation/

target

On West Coast, Obama courts campaign donors

President Barack Obama greets supporters as he arrives on Air Force One at Los Angeles International airport Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

President Barack Obama greets supporters as he arrives on Air Force One at Los Angeles International airport Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

President Barack Obama arrives at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012.(AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? Courting donors in Democrat-rich California, President Barack Obama is raising millions of dollars for his re-election bid while warning supporters that a long campaign awaits.

Obama was holding four fundraisers Thursday in the Los Angeles area and in San Francisco, reeling in campaign cash from reliable Democratic donors at a time when the Republican presidential contest remains unsettled. The president was expected to raise more than $8 million from events that will take him from Los Angeles and San Francisco on Thursday to the Seattle area on Friday.

At the posh home of a Hollywood soap opera producer, the president urged Democrats to mobilize, telling supporters that the 2012 election "is not going to be easier this time. It's going to be harder this time."

"People out there are hurting and they need us to do more," Obama said on a star-studded night that included a performance by the Foo Fighters and appearances by actors Jack Black and Rashida Jones.

Obama later told donors at an intimate dinner ? including actors George Clooney and Jim Belushi ? that he understood that some of his supporters remain frustrated that the war in Afghanistan has yet to end and the U.S. naval prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, remains open. He reminded the guests that former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo often referred to campaigning in poetry and governing in prose.

"We've been slogging through prose for the last three years," Obama said. "People, they like the poetry."

California has been a mainstay of Democratic party fundraising ? and a reliably blue state ? and Obama's campaign expected to collect millions from six events in Los Angeles and San Francisco over two days.

On Thursday, Obama was attending a fundraising luncheon in Corona del Mar, Calif., outside Los Angeles, with 125 supporters paying tickets starting at $2,500.

The president was then traveling to San Francisco, where he was meeting with 20 supporters paying $35,800 per person, and then attending a dinner for 70 people paying the same amount.

A larger fundraiser was planned at the Nob Hill Masonic Center for 2,500 people, featuring a performance by singer Chris Cornell. Tickets started at $100 for the reception. The events support the Obama Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee of the Obama campaign and the Democratic National Committee.

The president raised more than $220 million for his campaign and the DNC in 2011 and is trying to use a protracted Republican presidential primary to build a financial buffer zone to help his cause in the November general election. Democrats have warned that outside groups supporting Republicans will pour hundreds of millions of dollars into the campaign against Obama.

Obama was making his first fundraising trip outside Washington since his campaign announced it would encourage supporters to donate to a Democratic super PAC backing Obama's re-election. Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and their wives do not plan to appear at events for the super PAC, Priorities USA.

It was also Obama's first trip to Hollywood since Congress delayed action on legislation cracking down on online piracy. The legislation was pushed by the film industry and garnered major opposition from Internet companies, pitting two Democratic constituencies against each other, before it stalled.

Obama has said any legislation must protect intellectual property that creates jobs in the U.S., while still respecting the integrity of the Internet as an open system. The president made no mention of the issue during remarks Wednesday.

The president was traveling along the West Coast as Congress reached a tentative agreement to extend a payroll tax cut that would mean an extra $40 per paycheck for a typical family, along with an extension of unemployment benefits. The payroll tax break was as the heart of Obama's jobs plan.

___

Follow Ken Thomas on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AP_Ken_Thomas

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2012-02-16-Obama/id-515d7f5e29e04175a88c33e3007de086

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Your Backyard Is Likely To Improve By Using Window Boxes And ...

Posted on February 15th, 2012 | by Joshinator |

Homes come with many tiny jobs that you don?t exactly anticipate. Some of these jobs tend to be on the inside of the house, but many are for making the outside of your home look nicer. When you take the time to improve your yard, it will make your home a much nice placer to look at. Nothing will make your home look nicer than a lush, green, magnificently landscaped yard.

Landscaping is one thing that just about every house needs. It could be nice to always have a landscaping expert come in and tidy up everything. Even though you do, there are times that you would like to touch up some spots, such as where water drifts, or maybe you want to adds some minor layers. Though simple in nature, these kinds of improvements often require the right tools and equipment needed to do the job properly. There are some equipment that are absolutely essential, where others would just be nice to have, but you can get by without. Specific tools are very expensive, and are generally only in the possession of those who are in the landscaping business.

Renting can be the most efficient choice as it is not viable to spend a lot of money on something that you?ll use less than three times a year. A lot of people possess tools such as certain kinds of applicators or fertilizer spreaders but do not know how they are used for landscaping. Landscape design tools are not always classified properly. If you have these tools, and they may be just laying there unused, then it is time for you to start taking advantage of them. These kinds of tools can give your yard the style you want, and transform into something more beautiful than you expected. can have lush looking turf that is flourishing, instead of having outbreaks of those ugly weeds.

Even though we are offering a solid overview with some pertinent details about Hpotter.com, there is much more than you may realize. We really had to pare down a lot of content to squeeze so much into this, but we are not done by any means. As you go through this, some things will standout more than others, but do not throw the baby out with the bathwater, either. Once you have more time to think about things, we think you will arrive at the conclusion that it actually is helpful. We urge you to be open to information even if at first glance it does not seem like it will help you. In the rest of our discussion, we will offer more information that will reinforce what you have already learned, and then you will be better equipped to understand.

So, if you think that you will not be able to remember it all, you can and we have confidence that it will gel with some helpful tips to follow. Irrigation tools really are a must to be used very often if you intend to keep up with your yard work yourself. Irrigating is needed for new foliage or cultivating any plants or trees. If you have any flowers or shrubs that happen to be dying, they will definitely need to be watered consistently. Timed sprinklers will be the best possible solution in terms of watering your plants. When you elect to get timers, you can be on holiday and your plants, shrubs, and grass will still get watered. Additionally it is able to take advantage of limited water supplies, to enable you to water at the proper times.

Landscaping tools can make having lush greenery in your yard much easier and complement the way your home looks. While using the internet, it is less difficult to locate the best deals for landscaping equipment and tools.

Source: http://www.strappedupwaistwear.com/strapped-up-waist-wear/of-improvements-often

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Source: http://uliybcmut.posterous.com/your-backyard-is-likely-to-improve-by-using-w

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Batman Mr. Potato Head Is the Tuber Gotham Deserves [Toys]

Many years ago SNL created a commercial for the fictional toy line available for the Tom Hanks' film Philadelphia. It was of course completely inappropriate for the tone of the film, just like this Dark Knight-themed Potato Head. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/HK86WdLSKj8/batman-mr-potato-head-is-the-tuber-gotham-deserves

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Nokia accidentally reveals white Lumia 900

It looks like it. It seems plenty of you were enraptured by that hypnotic white Lumia 800 we paid a visit to yesterday, but in all the glossy fun, Nokia accidentally revealed the above press shot -- a white Lumia 900. The picture was soon lifted from Nokia's Conversations blog, but it remains on its Facebook page, flashing an exposed micro-USB port and front-facing camera that identifies this snow-white slab as the Lumia 900 kind. The press shot also flashes a view of that non-curved glass front; it certainly looks like our wishes are coming true. Now we just have to wait and see if this color option is ready for that plausible March release date.

Update: Dave Zatz was apparently offered a choice of white or black models when discussing his Lumia 900 pre-order options at a Microsoft store. Maybe we'll see this one from launch.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in.]

Nokia accidentally reveals white Lumia 900 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Experienced Bankruptcy Attorneys in Warren, MI | clotildereiss.org

My brother asked me to help him find information on Bankruptcy Attorneys in Warren MI. Last year was a bad time for his family because he lost his job and his wife was forced to take a pay cut in order to keep her job. On top of that, their son had an accident that required a hospital stay and physical therapy sessions, so they also had expensive medical bills. It got to the point where his family had to occasionally go to the local food banks to try to make ends meet. Fortunately, things started to get better for them recently because my brother finally found a good job and their son is doing much better. Unfortunately, since their focus is no longer on trying to survive, they realize just how bad their financial situation is, so they may need to file for bankruptcy to keep things from getting worse.

Comments are closed.

Source: http://www.clotildereiss.org/business-finance/debt-consolidation/experienced-bankruptcy-attorneys-in-warren-mi

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Kirkland Roofing Terminology | | Home ... - Home Improvement

Knowing common roofing lingo will enable you as a property owner to make an informed choice about roofing supplies that are great matches for your home?s style and the region in which you reside. It will also aid you realize the deal with your roofing professional and the undertaking updates.

Some crucial roofing terms are outlined beneath:

?

Asphalt: A waterproofing agent used to roofing materials in the course of manufacturing.

?

Asphalt plastic roofing cement: An asphalt-based sealant utilised to bond roofing materials. Also recognized as flashing cement, roof tar, bull or mastic.

Back surfacing: Granular materials utilized to the back again side of shingles to maintain them from sticking for the duration of delivery and storage.

Base flashing: That portion of the flashing connected to or resting on the deck to immediate the flow of drinking water onto the roof.

Constructed-up roof: Several layers of asphalt and ply sheets bonded together.

Butt edge: The bottom edge of the shingle tabs.

Caulk: To fill a joint to prevent leaks.

Closed valley: The valley flashing is lined by shingles.

Coating: A layer of viscous asphalt used to the outer roof surface area to defend the roof membrane.

Collar: Pre-shaped flange put over a vent pipe to seal the roof about the vent pipe opening.

Also referred to as a vent sleeve.

Concealed nail approach: Software of roll roofing in which all nails are covered by a cemented, overlapping training course.

Counter flashing: That portion of the flashing hooked up to a vertical floor above the airplane of the roof to stop water from migrating driving the base flashing.

Training course: Row of shingles that can operate horizontally, diagonally or vertically.

Cricket: A peaked h2o diverter mounted at the back again of a chimney to stop accumulation of snow and ice and to deflect water.

Deck: The leading surface area of which a roof method is utilized, surface area set up over the supporting framing members.

Ambigu coverage: Asphalt roofing whose lapped part is at least two inches wider than the uncovered part, ensuing in two layers of roofing substance above the deck.

Downspout: A pipe for draining h2o from roof gutters to drain.

Also named a leader.

Drip edge: L-shaped flashing utilised alongside the eaves and rakes to let water run-off into the gutters and to drip crystal clear of underlying building.

Eave: The part of the roof that overhangs or extends outward and is not directly above the exterior partitions or the structures inside.

Uncovered nail method: App of roll roofing exactly where nails are driven into the overlapping course of roofing. Nails are uncovered to the aspects.

Fascia: A wooden trim board utilised to cover the minimize ends of the roof?s rafters and sheathing.

Felt: Fibrous content utilized as an underlayment or sheathing paper, describes roll roofing supplies.

Flashing: Items of steel or roll roofing used to form drinking water seal close to vent pipes, chimneys, adjoining walls, dormers and valleys.

Gable: The end of an exterior wall that arrives to a triangular stage at the ridge of a sloping roof.

Granules: Ceramic-coated and fired crushed rock that is utilized as the top rated surface area of asphalt roofing merchandise.

Gutter: The trough that channels h2o from the eaves to the downspouts. Usually connected to the fascia.

Head lap: An overlapping of shingles or roofing felt at their higher edge.

Hip: The fold or vertical ridge shaped by the intersection of two sloping roof planes. Runs from the ridge to the eaves.

Ice dam: Condition forming water back-up at the eave areas by the thawing and re-freezing of melted snow on the overhang. Can drive h2o underneath shingles, causing leaks.

Interlocking shingles: Individual shingles that mechanically fasten to each other to give wind resistance.

Laminated shingles: Strip shingles made of two separate parts laminated collectively to create additional thickness. Also named three-dimensional and architectural shingles.

Lap: Surface exactly where one particular shingle or roll overlaps with one more for the duration of the app method.

Mansard roof: A style with a virtually vertical roof plane linked to a roof plane of a lot less slope at its peak. Includes no gables.

Mineral stabilizers: Finely ground limestone, slate, traprock or other inert materials additional to asphalt coatings for durability and improved resistance to fire and weathering.

Nesting: A approach of reroofing, installing a second layer of new asphalt shingles, in which the leading edge of the new shingle is butted versus the bottom edge of the present shingle tab.

Pitch: The degree of roof incline expressed as the ratio of the rise, in ft, to the span, in ft.

Lower Slope ? Roof pitches that are less than thirty degrees.

Typical Slope ? Roof pitches that are amongst 30 and 45 degrees.

Steep Slope ? Roof pitches that are a lot more than forty five degrees.

Rafter: The supporting framing that makes up the roof construction immediately beneath the deck the roof sheathing is nailed to the rafters.

Rake: The inclined edge of a sloped roof more than a wall from the eave to the ridge. They can be near or prolonged.

Ridge: The horizontal external angle formed by the intersection of two sloping sides of a roof at the greatest position of the roof, hip or dormer.

Run: The horizontal distance between the eaves and a position immediately underneath the ridge or one fifty percent the span.

Selvage: That portion of roll roofing overlapped by the software of the roof covering to get double protection.

Sheathing: Exterior grade boards employed as a roof deck materials.

Shed roof: A single roof aircraft with no hips, ridges, valleys or gables, not related to any other roofs.

Slope: The diploma of roof incline expressed as the ratio of the rise, in inches, to the operate, in ft.

Smooth-surfaced roofing: Roll roofing that is covered with floor talc or mica rather of granules (coated).

Soffit: The finished underside of the eaves that extends from the fascia to the siding and hides the bottom of an overhang.

Soil stack: A vent pipe that penetrates the roof.

Span: The horizontal distance from eaves to eaves.

Specialty eaves flashing membrane: A self-adhering, waterproofing shingle underlayment created to shield in opposition to drinking water infiltration due to ice dams or wind driven rain.

Starter strip: Asphalt roofing utilized at the eaves as the very first program of shingles put in.

Tab: The weather conditions exposed surface area of strip shingles amongst the cutouts.

Telegraphing: Shingles mounted over an uneven floor that show distortion.

Truss ? A mixture of beams, bars and ties, typically in triangular units to kind a framework for assistance in broad span roof building.

UL label: Label exhibited on packaging to reveal the level of hearth and/or wind resistance of asphalt roofing.

Underlayment: A layer of asphalt dependent rolled materials mounted underneath main roofing content just before shingles are mounted to give extra safety for the deck.

Valley: The inner angle formed by the intersection of two inclined roof surfaces to provide drinking water runoff.

Vapor barrier/retarder: Any material that prevents the passage of drinking water or water vapor by way of it.

Vent: Any system mounted on the roof as an outlet for air to ventilate the underside of the roof deck.

Kirkland Roofing is a roof contractor specializing in various types of commercial, multi-family & residential roofing including: roof restorations and coatings, single ply roofing systems, and various other flat roofing membranes.

Related posts:

1. Choosing Asphalt Roofing Shingles To Reduce Cost
2. Environmentally Pleasant Kirkland Roofing
3. The Best Kind Of Mill Creek Roofing Shingles
4. Why Hire A Kirkland Roofing Company To Get A New Roof Set Up
5. Charlotte Roofer Explains Roof Shingles

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Source: http://homeimprovement24.com/kirkland-roofing-terminology/

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Madonna's Super Bowl Show: Halftime Fumbles

Queen of Pop slips and M.I.A. flashes the bird during performance.
By James Dinh

Nicki Minaj, Madonna and M.I.A. perform at Super Bowl XLVI
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic

During the 13 minutes Madonna took over Super Bowl XLVI for her highly anticipated halftime show, there were plenty of surprise cameos, high-tech stage lights and, of course, some of the biggest classics in pop music.

But even though the Queen of Pop's glitzy show Sunday night (February 5) appeared to run smoothly, the over-the-top theatrics might have shadowed some of the fumbles. Take a look at the list of onstage slip-ups MTV News caught during the pop performer's set.

Madonna's Almost Fall(s)
It was only a few minutes into the show, but Madonna lost her balance and almost fell as she jumped around the flashing bleachers with her dancers during her performance of "Music." She also teetered a few minutes later while getting up after getting down with LMFAO. Fortunately, the singer found her ground and demonstrated how a professional handles a little performance slipup, continuing without missing a beat.

M.I.A.'s Finger Flash
Madonna wouldn't be Madonna without even a little controversy, but this time, it wasn't even her fault. During the performance of the pop titan's new single, "Give Me All Your Luvin," M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj appeared as sideline cheerleaders to spit their rap contribution to the pop gem. Known for her rebellious attitude, M.I.A. flashed her middle finger for a split second that has already fueled headlines all over the Internet.

Backing Track
While Madge is getting lots of love from celebrities, there are many who are criticizing the Queen of Pop for what appears to be a mostly backing-track performance. However, lip-synching isn't unfamiliar territory for the Super Bowl. Back in 2009, the championship game's producer Ricky Minor told the Associated Press that he requested Jennifer Hudson lip-synch her rendition of the national anthem to limit the chances of possible mistakes.

Did you catch any other fumbles during Madge's performance? Tell us below!

Related Photos

• Super Bowl XLVI Performances: Madonna And Kelly Clarkson

Related Artists

• Madonna
• Nicki Minaj
• Lmfao
• M.I.A.

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1678570/madonna-super-bowl-halftime-fumbles.jhtml

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Enhance your real estate buying experience when finding Paradise ...

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://ezinepr.com/household/security-household/enhance-your-real-estate-buying-experience-when-finding-paradise-valley-homes-for-sale/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=enhance-your-real-estate-buying-experience-when-finding-paradise-valley-homes-for-sale

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Internet Articles Database ? Social Business Can Be Great Business

If you are thinking about a new business start up, this may be a good time to also think about a social business start up. A social business is one that does make a profit and pay salaries. It also helps to further some socially responsible goal. Are you interested in this idea?

Of course, this idea is not entirely new. There are, actually, some very ethical business models from the past. We tend to pay attention to the bad guys, and sometimes the good guys do not get a lot of notice. But this new term, social business, tends to refer to enterprises that really focus on helping some worthy cause as a big part of their business model.

Is a social business the same as a not-for-profit company? As we understand it, a social business is not exactly the same thing as a non-profit business. A non-profit, as the name implies, does not make a profit for the owners. It may, however, pay salaries to employees. Social businesses do try to make profit. They use a portion of this profit to fund their social aims though.

One good example is peer to peer lending. Investors hope to earn a nice return on their money. However, borrowers may also hope to get loans with more friendly terms than they could get from major financial companies.

How do these businesses work? Actually, there are several types of social business models. Some may do business with the aim of giving a share of profits to worthy causes. Some may offer a service, at a lower cost, than traditional companies offer that service at. Some companies may just strive to do business in a very socially responsible way. Still others may concentrate on employing a certain group of people. And finally, some of these companies manufacture goods. For each purchase, the manufacturer may donate another product.

You can see that there are several ways to make a business socially responsible. By now, you have probably figured out that a lot of different kinds of businesses could apopt this business idea. They could still make a profit, but could do it while benefiting people locally, nationwide, or all around the world.

Social business may also be very good business. A lot of consumers would not mind spending their money at a company that promotes some of the same ideas that they have. Some people might even be willing to spend a bit more for their soup.

Consider an example. One small comany cooks their own line of healthy, tasty, organic soup. As part of its social business, this soup maker will donate a can of soup for every 12 cans of soup purchased. Would you be willing to purchase 5 cans of soup, instead of your normal brand, if the soup was also healthy and tasted good? If so, you are not alone.

Social business may be good business. Maybe it is time for you to incorporate some socially responsible business ideas into your next business start up idea!

Related Posts

Source: http://internetarticlesdatabase.com/2012/02/social-business-can-be-great-business/

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Car Auto Insurance ? Blog Archive ? Car Insurance Quotes ? Try 3rd ...

Never forget that little bit of everything and the information you find on the Internet related to auto insurance representative. The insurance company reserves the right to make changes to any aspect of the policy to deal directly with you. This is because the information that you can be influenced via the Internet by many factors and parameters. Most insurance companies hide the fact that to win and convince you that they offer the best deal.

This does not mean you should stop using online car insurance quotes. Instead, you must understand that it does not show the final price charged by the insurance. Of course, this advantage in both directions. You always have the option of negotiating with the insurance and to reduce the premium on the values ??in the estimation. This is consistent with the finding of specific information that was not included in the web form possible.

Rather than going into a global insurance, you can click on the bare essential part of protecting the third stay connected with additional coverage for personal injury. You can completely prevent theft, fire, riots and other such risks when it comes to protecting your car. The resulting policy will be much cheaper than full insurance. However, coverage is not as poor as plain vanilla protect single third party.

The insurance quote is based on generic information, which calculates the potential client has specified. Where to sleep, an area with a high risk of escape to be. This can cause your premium to increase automatically. If you indicate that you have a community and shows that you are taken concrete steps to reduce the risk of theft made in your part of the neighborhood, it can easily have a positive impact on the premium charged.

Do not rush, you search for the best for when you find online congratulate offering affordable. Similarly, lean is not an option, simply because it seems to be too expensive. The number may change according to negotiation skills.

Of course, you can auto insurance quotes to support your argument and demand a better deal. More often than not, the possibility that one to another insurance company to change a great influence on the final price that you are obligated to pay to the insurance company as a premium for your policy.

This entry was posted on Saturday, February 4th, 2012 at 7:58 am and is filed under article. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

Source: http://www.xjwsy.com/car-insurance-quotes-try-3rd-party-instead-of-comprehensive-to-lower-costs

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Mel Gibson may be witness in discrimination trial (omg!)

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? Attorneys for a deputy who arrested Mel Gibson on suspicion of drunken driving want to call the Oscar-winner as a witness during an upcoming trial to determine if the officer suffered discrimination because of the case.

The trial will focus on what happened to Deputy James Mee after he arrested the actor-director in 2006, and whether he endured discrimination because he is Jewish.

Mee's attorneys are hoping to show the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department moved to protect Gibson because the star had a close relationship with the department before his arrest.

Attorneys for the county have denied Mee faced discrimination or retaliation.

The case is likely to focus heavily on Gibson's arrest, when the actor made anti-Semitic comments that Mee claims his superiors forced him to remove from a report.

Mee also alleges he was ostracized and his opportunities for promotion were blocked after he arrested Gibson.

Gibson's reputation was damaged for years after details of the arrest and his anti-Semitic and sexist rant was leaked to celebrity website TMZ.

The actor apologized for his conduct, and his conviction was expunged in 2009 after he completed all the terms of his sentence.

Sheriff Lee Baca also could be called to testify, according to a witness list filed Thursday.

Attorneys for the county are asking a judge to block jurors from seeing a video of Gibson in a jail booking area and a public service announcement that Gibson recorded for the agency prior to his arrest.

Gibson appeared in a deputy's uniform for the spot, and Mee's attorneys claim it is important context for jurors to consider.

Gibson's work as a spokesman for the department helps explain "the circumstances that serve as a backdrop to the harassment and hostile work environment that Deputy Mee suffered," his attorneys wrote in a court filing. Gibson "wasn't just another arrestee. He was the 'public face' of the department."

Neither Gibson nor Baca have been deposed in advance of the trial, which is scheduled to begin on Feb. 14. If they are called as witnesses, Baca's testimony is expected to last about an hour, while Gibson may spend about 90 minutes on the witness stand.

"He'll do whatever is legally appropriate," Baca's spokesman Steve Whitmore said. "We look forward to telling the whole story."

Gibson's spokesman Alan Nierob declined comment.

In all, 28 possible witnesses are listed in a pretrial filing, but it's unlikely all will testify.

Mee's attorney Etan Lorant said he has been unable to serve Gibson with a subpoena but may not need to call the actor to the stand if he is able to show jurors footage from an interview with Diane Sawyer after the arrest.

Superior Court Judge Barbara Scheper ruled last month that the case should go to trial if it cannot be settled, but noted that Mee's attorneys might have trouble proving their case.

"While I think it's thin, I think there are enough facts to create a question for the jury to decide," Scheper said during a January hearing.

She noted that Mee remains a deputy, although he no longer patrols for drunken drivers in the coastal community of Malibu.

___

Anthony McCartney can be reached at http://twitter.com/mccartneyAP

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/entertainment/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/omg_rss/rss_omg_en/news_mel_gibson_may_witness_discrimination_trial201209633/44408533/*http%3A//omg.yahoo.com/news/mel-gibson-may-witness-discrimination-trial-201209633.html

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BBC accuses Iran of intimidating its staff (AP)

LONDON ? The head of the BBC on Friday accused Iran of intimidating staff members of its Persian service through slander, snooping and the arrest of their relatives.

BBC director-general Mark Thompson said "a campaign of bullying and harassment" against the broadcaster had worsened in recent months.

Thompson said in a blog post that last week the sister of a BBC Persian staff member was detained and held in solitary confinement in a Tehran prison. She has since been released.

He said it was one of several occasions on which employees' relatives have been detained and "urged to get their relatives in London to either stop working for the BBC, or to 'cooperate' with Iranian intelligence officials."

Thompson said staff members' email and Facebook accounts had been hacked, and they had faced false accusations of sexual assault, drug trafficking and financial crimes in official Iranian media outlets.

Britain's Middle East minister, Alistair Burt, said Iranian officials' "deplorable tactics illustrate again the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran, and the desperation of the Iranian regime to silence any independent voices."

"The international community has repeatedly called on the Iranian authorities to cease harassment and intimidation of journalists and to prevent illegal jamming of broadcasts," he said. "We will continue to do so."

Diplomatic relations between Britain and Iran have deteriorated as tensions mount over Tehran's disputed nuclear program.

Britain downgraded ties with Iran following a major attack on its embassy in Tehran in November, which it insists was sanctioned by the Islamic republic's ruling elite.

After the attack, Britain pulled all of its diplomats out of Iran and expelled Iranian diplomats from U.K. soil.

Iran has repeatedly jammed the broadcasts of BBC's Persian-language service and other international broadcasters, and last month Britain's broadcast regulator revoked the license of state-owned Iranian channel Press TV. It insisted the move was not politically motivated.

New York-based Human Rights Watch said Iran's harassment was part of a wave of arrests against journalists and bloggers ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for next month.

"Detaining a BBC reporter's relative seems to be part of a wider campaign to harass Iranian journalists by putting pressure on them and their families," said Sarah Leah Whitson, the group's Middle East director.

"The recent wave of arrests, especially against relatives of journalists working abroad, is a reprehensible escalation in the current campaign to stifle freedom of information in Iran."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/britain/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120203/ap_on_bi_ge/eu_britain_iran_bbc

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Passionate About Crafting: Scrapbooking | Family Fun Time at the ...

Today I am featuring for you a 12x12 scrapbook layout that I made a few weeks ago. The photos are from a recent trip that we took to the Cape May Count Zoo in New Jersey. This scrapbooking layout took me around 45 minutes to make and cost me around $3.50.

My background is a sheet of 12x12 paper that has a "tree bark" texture to it. I then made 2 border strips that each measure 3/4" by 12" in size. (mint green dots on brown paper print). I glued one strip at the top and one at the bottom of my layout. I then cut 2 more strips from solid mint green paper and each strip measures 1/4" by 12" and glued one along one edge of the previous strips. (to form top and bottom borders).

My title block is a piece of vellum that says "This Place Is A Zoo" which I framed out onto matching brown polka dot paper and solid brown cardstock. I accented the top right corner of my title block with a 3-dimensional butterfly. It is on the top right of the layout design. I slightly cropped down my bottom right photo and framed it out onto brown polka dot paper and brown cardstock. I accented the right top corner of that photo with a 3-dimensional embellishment button that says "Wild Thing" and the bottom right corner of the photo is accented with a 3-dimensional sticker of a green lizard.

I cropped down my 2 remaining photos into square shapes and matted them onto the polka dot paper and then framed them up with the brown cardstock so that I actually had a solid strip and glued that on the left side of my layout. To the left of the photos is a 3-dimensional flower. Underneath those photos are three 3-dimensional words that say "Lions", "Tigers" and "Bears". Right underneath the word "Tigers" I placed a clear adhesive backed sticker that is simply a "swirl".

In a few days I will post about the companion page that matches this one which has an additional 2 photos and my fancy dancy journaling block. I love how I off-centered my photos on this layout with the one on the right being down towards the bottom and the two on the left are placed upwards onto the page.

Source: http://passionateaboutcrafting.blogspot.com/2012/02/scrapbooking-family-fun-time-at-zoo.html

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