Monday, January 30, 2012

Stealthy leprosy pathogen evades critical vitamin D-dependent immune response

Monday, January 30, 2012

A team of UCLA scientists has found that the pathogen that causes leprosy has a remarkable ability to avoid the human immune system by inhibiting the antimicrobial responses important to our defenses.

In one of the first laboratory studies of its kind, researchers discovered that the leprosy pathogen Mycobacterium leprae was able to reduce and evade immune activity that is dependent on vitamin D, a natural hormone that plays an essential role in the body's fight against infections.

The pathogen manipulated micro-RNAs, tiny molecules made of ribonucleic acids that carry information and that help regulate genes to direct cell activity, including immune system defenses. Micro-RNAs are short RNAs that do not code information for proteins, which carry out all cell activity; rather, they bind to the RNAs that do code for proteins and block them.

Published in the Jan. 29 online edition of the journal Nature Medicine, the findings demonstrate how an infectious disease pathogen like M. leprae can use micro-RNAs to impact the immune system's fight response.

"We may find that these tiny micro-RNAs can be exploited by pathogens to weaken our immune response," said the study's first author, Dr. Philip T. Liu, an assistant professor of medicine at the Orthopaedic Hospital Research Center and in the department of dermatology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. "By better understanding how pathogens can escape our immune cells, we can design more effective therapies to boost our immune responses to these difficult to treat infections like leprosy."

Leprosy, one of the world's oldest known diseases, is a chronic infectious disease that affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, the upper respiratory tract and the eyes and can lead to disfigurement of the hands, face and feet. In 2008, approximately 249,000 new cases of leprosy were reported worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.

For the study, researchers compared the micro-RNAs in human skin lesions from two types of leprosy: tuberloid leprosy, a milder infection that is more easily contained, and lepromatous leprosy, which is more serious and causes widespread infection throughout the body.

In the lab, the scientists identified 13 micro-RNAs that differed between the two types of leprosy. The micro-RNAs that were found to be more common in lepromatous leprosy seemed to target the genes important for directing key immune system cells, including macrophages and T cells.

The team found that a particular micro-RNA, hsa-mir-21, inhibited the gene activity of the vitamin D?dependent immune pathway used to help fight infection. When researchers neutralized the activity of hsa-mir-21 in macrophages, the cells were able to kill the bacteria again.

"The leprosy pathogen was able to effectively evade the host's immune response by regulating critical immune system genes," said senior investigator Dr. Robert Modlin, UCLA's Klein Professor of Dermatology and chief of dermatology at the Geffen School of Medicine. "It's like having the enemy sending a decoy message to your combat troops and telling them to lower their weapons."

To test the significance of this micro-RNA with other infectious diseases, the researchers also introduced hsa-mir-21 to human macrophages that were then infected with tuberculosis in the lab. Researchers found that the micro-RNA similarly blocked the ability of the macrophages to kill the bacteria.

Researchers also demonstrated that immune activation of the leprosy-infected immune cells decreased the leprosy bacteria's viability four-fold ? but only when hsa-mir-21 activity was silenced. In fact, an over-expression of this micro-RNA blocked immune activity, resulting in a five-fold increase in bacterial viability.

"We were surprised at the devastating effects that even a single micro-RNA had on the ability of immune cells to fight the infections," Liu said.

In addition, the team showed that this micro-RNA was found in human immune cells only 18 hours after the onset of leprosy infection. The presence of the micro-RNA so early in the infection suggests it might play a role in actual disease development, the researchers said.

Further investigation of this single micro-RNA in leprosy may provide a framework for analyzing other micro-RNAs to help determine their cumulative role in regulating the immune response.

The micro-RNAs are small, and therefore it is possible to develop treatments which neutralize them, the researchers said.

"We may find that a combination of vitamin D supplementation with a genetically targeted therapy could provide an optimal treatment approach to leprosy and possibly other chronic infectious diseases," said Modlin, who also serves as vice chair for cutaneous medicine and dermatological research at UCLA and is a distinguished professor of medicine and of microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics.

"Vitamin D insufficiency has been associated with a number of infectious and autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular disease and cancers," Modlin added. "Our study indicates that micro-RNAs can alter human vitamin D responses and contribute to disease pathology."

Dr. Barry Bloom of Harvard University, who was not an author of this study but is part of the research team studying this field, agreed.

"Such a novel approach may be especially worth exploring in treatment of drug-resistant pathogens such as some forms of tuberculosis, where antimicrobial therapy is becoming increasingly problematic," Bloom said.

###

University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences: http://www.uclahealth.org/

Thanks to University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences for this article.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/117167/Stealthy_leprosy_pathogen_evades_critical_vitamin_D_dependent_immune_response

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'Scary Potter' movie comes to theaters

CBS Films

Daniel Radcliffe is no Harry Potter in "Woman in Black."

By Gael Fashingbauer Cooper

Some big names show up in movie theaters this week. Daniel Radcliffe is onscreen with "Woman in Black," while Madonna is behind the camera with "W.E." And on?the small screen,?"The Voice" returns with another season of musical competition. Here's our look at the week ahead in entertainment.

Movies
Daniel Radcliffe will forever be Harry Potter to many, but in "The Woman in Black," dubbed "Scary Potter" by some, he plays a more adult role. Radcliffe's character is an English lawyer and young father who travels to a spooky house where all kinds of creepy things are going on -- maybe you've seen the shivery posters featuring old photographs with scratched-out eyes. Unfortunately,?this time Radcliffe?doesn't have his Potter powers to help out. This looks like a regular scare-fest, and it's good to see Radcliffe back on the big screen. (Feb. 3)

Madonna goes behind the camera for "W.E." The pop star directed and co-wrote the film, which tells the story of Wallis Simpson and King Edward VIII's romance through the eyes of a modern New York woman, Wally Winthrop, ?who's obsessed with the historic romance. Look for Madonna's daughter, Lourdes, as a young Winthrop, and stay through the ending credits to hear "Masterpiece," Madonna's Golden Globe-winning song. (Feb. 3)

TV
"The Voice" has grabbed the prime spot after the Super Bowl and will premiere there before moving to Mondays. Music coaches Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine, Cee Lo Green and Blake Shelton are all returning, as is host Carson Daly.? (Feb. 5, NBC, after Super Bowl ends)

"Grey's Anatomy"?delves into?alternate history this week. What if Meredith's hard-driving mother, Ellis, hadn't had Alzheimer's? What if Derek, Cristina, Bailey and the others had all traveled different paths on their way to Seattle Grace? This episode promises to be a fun trip for "Grey's" fans, with their usual dark and twisty Meredith replaced with a sweet smiler who wears pink, at least in a photo in TV Guide. (Feb. 2m 9 p.m., ABC)

College sororities are an American tradition for the most part, but can they transfer across the pond? The new show "Sorority Girls" tries to do just that by taking five American women to England to try and start a sorority there. (Jan. 31, 9 p.m., TLC)

DVD
Fans of Ryan Gosling's dark and chilling "Drive" were upset last week when the film wasn't nominated for any of the major Oscars. Don't let the title throw you off as it did one Michigan woman -- "Drive" is no "Fast & Furious." Instead, it's a quietly menacing drama about a movie stunt driver with a criminal side. Albert Brooks really should have been Oscar-nominated for his role as the producer-criminal who meets up with Gosling, and some thought Gosling himself earned a nod. Judge for yourself whether the film was unfairly snubbed -- it hits DVD and Blu-ray?this week. (Jan. 31.)

"Stand up! Your father's passing." That scene, from "To Kill a Mockingbird," has been proclaimed one of the best in movies, and the movie itself?is often touted as one of the best films ever made.?"Mockingbird" is 50 this year, and a special anniversary DVD and Blu-ray is being issued. It included three hours of bonus material, including two documentaries, as well as a hardcover book that reproduces some script pages complete with star Gregory Peck's handwritten notes. (Jan. 31.)

Related content:

Source: http://entertainment.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/29/10227826-best-bets-scary-potter-movie-comes-to-theaters

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Sunday, January 29, 2012

Obama holds fundraiser with American Indians (AP)

WASHINGTON ? President Barack Obama, raising money for his campaign among tribal leaders, said Friday he wants American Indians to be "full partners" in the economy.

Obama met with 70 to 75 supporters from Native American tribes. Democratic officials said the fundraiser would benefit the Obama Victory Fund, a joint committee of the Obama campaign and the Democratic National Committee. Tickets started at $15,000.

Obama told participants that he has worked to include American Indians in his administration and wants Native Americans to be "full partners in our economy." The president noted that he had signed laws to improve health care for Native American tribes and pushed for better educational opportunities and more improvements to tribal economies.

"We want new businesses and new opportunities to take root on the reservations," Obama said. Attendees included Democratic National Committee chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Florida congresswoman, and former Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I.

Obama raised more than $220 million for his re-election campaign and the Democratic National Committee in 2011. The president returned to Washington after completing a three-day, five-state trip following his State of the Union address.

When Obama ran for president in 2008, he visited Montana's Crow Indian reservation and was adopted into the nation during a private ceremony.

Obama quipped, "If my adoptive parents were here, I know what they'd say, "Kids just grow up so fast."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120127/ap_on_el_pr/us_obama_fundraiser

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Saturday, January 28, 2012

Ramiro Garcia on American Idol: Now Ear This!


Stories do not come much more inspiring than that of Ramiro Garcia.

This church worship leader closed out American Idol auditions in Texas last night and he did it with a background that's hard to believe: the aspiring singer was born without ears and told by doctors he'd never hear.

But Garcia started to undergo a series of surgeries at age four and here he is years later, bringing the judges to tears. We gotta imagine we'll be seeing a lot more of Ramiro in Hollywood...

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/01/ramiro-garcia-on-american-idol-now-ear-this/

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George Clooney Plans to End Brad Pitt's Career With a Prank

George Clooney and Brad Pitt are known throughout Hollywood not just for their acting talent, blockbuster appeal, or good looks, but for their penchant for executing some really elaborate pranks on their costars and friends. But as Clooney tells it, Pitt should be afraid -- very, very afraid.

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/george-clooney-plans-end-brad-pitts-career-prank/1-a-422647?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3Ageorge-clooney-plans-end-brad-pitts-career-prank-422647

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Friday, January 27, 2012

Mortgage rates for the past 52 weeks, at a glance (AP)

Mortgage rates for the past 52 weeks, at a glance - Yahoo! News Skip to navigation ? Skip to content ? AP By The Associated Press The Associated Press ? Thu?Jan?26, 5:17?pm?ET
The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 3.98 percent, Freddie Mac said Thursday. It was the first increase in four weeks and up from last week's record low of 3.88 percent.
Here's a look at rates for fixed- and adjustable-rate mortgages over the past 52 weeks:
Current week's average Last week's average 52-week high 52-week low
30-year fixed 3.98 3.88 5.05 3.88
15-year fixed 3.24 3.17 4.29 3.16
5-year adjustable 2.85 2.82 3.92 2.82
1-year adjustable 2.74 2.74 3.40 2.74
All values are in percentage points.
Source: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey.
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  • Copyright ? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

    Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/personalfinance/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120126/ap_on_bi_ge/us_mortgage_rates_glance

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    Oil hovers near $100 amid Iran tensions (AP)

    BANGKOK ? Crude prices were steady Friday amid a weaker U.S. dollar and expectations that Europe will be able to find oil elsewhere if Iran makes good on its threat to immediately halt exports to the region.

    Benchmark crude for March delivery was down 12 cents at $99.59 a barrel at late afternoon Bangkok time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose 30 cents to finish at $99.70 per barrel on the Nymex on Thursday.

    Brent crude for March delivery was down 4 cents at $110.76 on the ICE Futures Exchange in London.

    The latest threat from Iran follows a European Union decision to enforce an oil embargo against Iran starting this summer because of Iran's secretive nuclear program.

    EU nations account for about 18 percent of Iran's oil sales, and Iranian lawmakers think cutting off oil to Europe would hurt those nations more than it would Iran.

    But analysts said the shortfall to Europe could be made up with other suppliers.

    "Our view is that any shortfall in oil supplies will be offset by increased crude supplies from other regions, including Saudi Arabia, Libya and Iraq," said Natalie Robertson, commodities analyst at ANZ Banking Group in Melbourne.

    She said oil prices were also supported by pledges this week by the U.S. Federal Reserve to keep interest rates at record low levels through 2014. The move weakens the dollar and makes dollar-priced oil less expensive for investors with other currencies.

    Oil prices ? which rose above $100 a barrel Wednesday ? have been nudged higher this week on Western naval buildups in the Persian Gulf and Iran's threats to close the oil tanker lanes through the Strait of Hormuz, the route for about one-fifth of the world's crude.

    The EU embargo announced Monday is the latest attempt to try to pressure Iran, the world's third-largest oil exporter, over a nuclear program the United States and its allies argue is aimed at developing nuclear weapons but which Iran says is for purely peaceful purposes.

    In other energy futures trading, heating oil fell 0.4 cent to $3.04 per gallon and gasoline futures were up 0.2 cent at $2.85 per gallon. Natural gas was down 0.8 cent at $2.60 per 1,000 cubic feet.

    Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/energy/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120127/ap_on_bi_ge/oil_prices

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    Wednesday, January 25, 2012

    Space Shuttle Discovery headed to the Smithsonian

    (AP) ? The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum is preparing to welcome the space shuttle Discovery into its collection.

    Smithsonian Secretary Wayne Clough (cluff) says the shuttle will be flown to Washington Dulles International Airport on the back of a Boeing 747 in April. A flyover is planned above the nation's capital before Discovery makes its final home at the museum's massive hangar in northern Virginia.

    Clough said Monday the flyover is planned for April 17. A formal welcome ceremony is planned for April 19 at the museum's Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va.

    Shuttle Endeavour will travel to the California Science Center in Los Angeles in the second half of the year.

    Associated Press

    Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/b2f0ca3a594644ee9e50a8ec4ce2d6de/Article_2012-01-24-Smithsonian-Space%20Shuttle/id-41c906c2200c42f2ae6631362ea1bb87

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    The Science of Cramming [Science]

    Many of us don't learn in optimal ways. We know that we forget new material, neglect to review older material, and study in ways that elevate cramming and procrastination to art forms. But there is research about how to be more efficient in these things. For example, dating back to 1885, there is a rich literature that explores how timing our learning of new and old material can affect education. More »


    Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/oQ1vERHMxZw/the-science-of-cramming

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    Tuesday, January 24, 2012

    EU wants "bold" peace bids by Palestinians, Israel (Reuters)

    RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) ? EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton will meet Israeli and Palestinian leaders over the next two days to try to push exploratory peace talks beyond a Thursday deadline and back to full negotiations.

    Negotiators from the two sides have held four meetings in Amman, Jordan, this month, but so far there has been no breakthrough that would permit resumption of the top level talks that were suspended in late 2010.

    A fifth meeting is scheduled for Wednesday and without compromise, the initiative could grind to a halt.

    The European Union wants Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to set aside his 2010 demand that Israel call a total halt to Jewish settlement building in the occupied West Bank before full talks resume.

    Israel is being urged to make confidence-building moves, which could include the release of long-term prisoners and easier conditions for Palestinians in Israeli army-controlled areas of the West Bank.

    "The fact that negotiators are talking to each other face-to-face is encouraging," Ashton said in a statement.

    "I'll be looking for positive signs from both sides that they are prepared to turn this progress into real gestures and negotiations."

    Israel has signaled it is willing to carry on with the talks, meaning the pressure is on the Palestinians.

    The so-called Quartet on Middle East peace diplomacy, which comprises the United States, the EU, Russia and the United Nations, said last September it wanted to see direct talks resumed by January 26, and completed in a year.

    But Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Tuesday that January 26 "is not a sacred date" and that he believed the Quartet shared that view and that talks should go on.

    NEW APPROACH NEEDED

    Some analysts doubt whether Washington will be prepared to exercise its influence during a presidential election year. U.S. Republicans are eager to make inroads with Jewish voters, whose traditional loyalty to the Democratic Party has been tested by doubts about President Barack Obama's policies on Israel.

    Other leaders have also expressed grave doubts about the peace process and urged a new approach.

    "Should we accept a complete freeze between the Palestinians and Israelis, when the rest of the region is moving? We have to change the method," French President Nicolas Sarkozy said in an annual address to ambassadors on Jan 20.

    "The Quartet has failed. Let's stop kidding ourselves. We have to widen the circle of negotiations and involve everybody who can help resolve the conflict."

    Former Palestinian peace negotiator Nabil Shaath predicted failure for the latest talks, which are intended to set out the terms of negotiation on the borders of a future Palestinian state and its security arrangements with Israel.

    "The government in Israel feels totally safe and they know that neither the Quartet nor any of its parties will put any pressure on them. Therefore, they are making fun of them and of us as well," he told Reuters.

    He said a 21-point proposal presented by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lacked any detail and was "rather a composition about peace done by a high school student."

    Israeli officials are quoted as saying Abbas is preparing to let the process collapse again and "play the blame game."

    (Additional reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi, Ori Lewis and John Irish. Writing by Douglas Hamilton)

    Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/mideast/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120124/wl_nm/us_palestinians_israel_talks

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    Sunday, January 8, 2012

    Richard_Florida: RT @gshibayama: @Richard_Florida Osaka mayor @t_ishin is referring to Great Reset on his vision on metropolitan based prefecture re-org ...

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    @Richard_Florida Osaka mayor @t_ishin is referring to Great Reset on his vision on metropolitan based prefecture re-org bit.ly/x0hyXs gshibayama

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    Source: http://twitter.com/Richard_Florida/statuses/155436110900756481

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    Saturday, January 7, 2012

    Blackwater suit ends 7 years after Fallujah deaths (AP)

    RALEIGH, N.C. ? The families of four private security guards whose killing by Iraqi insurgents marked a turning point of the war are ending their lawsuit against the company formerly known as Blackwater.

    Family members and the company now called Academi said Friday the confidential settlement ends the case pending before a federal appeals court in Virginia.

    Insurgents killed the four men in March 2004 and two of the corpses were hung from a bridge. Images from the scene flashed around the world, triggering a massive U.S. military attack on Fallujah.

    The settlement disturbs Jason Helvenston of Orlando, Fla., whose brother was slain guard Scott Helvenston. He says the deal means details of what happened won't be aired in court.

    The settlement was first reported Friday by The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk, Va.

    Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/iraq/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120106/ap_on_re_us/us_iraq_blackwater_deaths

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    Obama's Constitutional Gamble on Consumer Finance Nomination ...

    President Obama is announcing today that despite the fact that the Senate is not in recess, he?s going to recess appoint Richard Cordray to be the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), created under the Dodd-Frank Act.

    Of course the President is actually claiming that the Senate isn?t in session and that its ?pro forma? sessions are just a ?gimmick?.? Funny I don?t remember then Senator Obama complaining about gimmicks when the Senate used the sames tactics to block Bush recess appointments.? But then again this is the guy who signs a bill allowing indefinite detention of American citizens after having campaigned on shutting down Guantanamo.? Only a former constitutional law professor could be so creative with the Constitution.

    More importantly the ?recess? appointment of Cordray doesn?t solve the President?s problem.? The Dodd-Frank Act is very clear, even a law professor can probably understand this section, that authorities under the Act remain with the Treasury Secretary until the Director is ?confirmed by the Senate?.? A recess appointment is not a Senate confirmation.? Now don?t ask me why Dodd and Frank included such unusual language, they could have just given the Bureau the new authorities, but they didn?t.? So even with this appointment, the CFPB won?t be able to go after all those non-banks, like the pay-day lenders and check-cashiers that caused the financial crisis (oh wait, those industries didn?t have anything to do with the crisis).

    This appointment also guarantees that Obama, even if he gets a second term, is unlikely to ever get a CFPB Director past the Senate.? Maybe not such a big deal for Cordray since the rumor has always been this is just a political stepping stone so he can go back to Ohio and run for office.? The real harm is that Obama has decided to take a gamble with the?Constitution, risk the further erosion of the Senate?s advise and consent powers, solely to have another campaign issue.? So he can try to paint Republicans as captive to Wall Street, all despite the fact the new agency exempts Wall Street (who will continue under the ever effective oversight of the SEC).? Maybe he can have Geithner and the various Goldman alum in the Administration stand next to him to help remind us how hard he is fighting for the middle class.

    Source: http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/obamas-constitutional-gamble-on-consumer-finance-nomination/

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    Friday, January 6, 2012

    Autoglass casts Facebook competition winner in TV ad

    Ian Graham: Facebook competition winner stars in Autoglass TV ad

    Ian Graham: Facebook competition winner stars in Autoglass TV ad

    Motorist Ian Graham won the Facebook competition.

    Traditionally, the brand uses its own staff in its ads, which feature the catchy jingle, "Autoglass repair, Autoglass replace," and are created by the brand's ad agency Tellyville.

    Graham plays a minor role as a disgruntled motorist, frustrated at rising petrol prices and the cost of running his car.

    He then becomes even more annoyed when he finds his windscreen is chipped, before realising it doesn't have to be expensive with Autoglass.

    More than 137 people entered the Facebook competition on the Autoglass social networking page.

    Entrants were asked to post a video or picture of themselves, their friends and family, with their cars. A shortlist was drawn up and the finalists were invited to complete a short audition to camera, which was judged by the Autoglass marketing team.

    Tim Craig was the creative director on the ad, working alongside creative Ben Fairman. Outlook was the production company.

    David Meliveo, marketing director at Autoglass, said: "At Autoglass, we love putting our staff at the forefront of our brand, but we thought we'd experiment to include our valued customers as well.

    "There were some fantastic entries to our Facebook competition, but Ian was such an absolute natural in front of the camera."

    Graham said: "It's been such a great experience to see behind the scenes of filming an advert and how it all comes together."

    Follow Sara Kimberley on Twitter @SaraKimberley

    This article was first published on campaignlive.co.uk

    '; } else if (google_ads.length > 1) { /* * For text ads, append each ad to the string. */ for(i=0; i

    Source: http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/go/news/article/1110477/autoglass-casts-facebook-competition-winner-tv-ad/

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    UK's Hague visits Myanmar to urge reforms (AP)

    LONDON ? Britain's William Hague was arriving in Myanmar on Thursday for the first visit by a U.K. foreign secretary since 1955 ? a new sign of the Southeast Asian nation's warming relations with the West.

    Hague was scheduled to hold talks with Myanmar's president Thein Sein and government ministers in the nation's capital Naypyitaw before meeting with opposition leader and Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in Yangon.

    His visit follows a trip by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in November, as Western nations offer cautious support for reforms that have led to the release of some political prisoners and seen Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy rejoin the country's political process ahead of April parliamentary elections.

    In a statement, Hague said his trip was intended to encourage the "government to continue on its path of reform, and to gauge what more Britain can do to support that process."

    Though the two-day visit signals a shift in relations, Britain won't promise any immediate change in European Union sanctions on arms sales, asset freezes and travel bans ? or change a policy that discourages U.K. businesses from trade with Myanmar.

    Britain recently pledged 185 million pounds ($289 million) over three years to fund health and education projects ? becoming Myanmar's largest bilateral aid donor ? but the U.K. channels funds only through non-governmental groups.

    Hague will lay out a series of demands for Myanmar's leadership to meet before it considers offering funds direct to the government, or before the EU can lift any sanctions.

    "We hope to see the release of all remaining political prisoners, free and fair by-elections, humanitarian access to people in conflict areas and credible steps towards national reconciliation," Hague said.

    Sein, a former army officer, has begun some reforms after 50 years of military rule that saw violent crackdowns on pro-democracy activists, the detention of Suu Kyi and international isolation.

    Britain believes there are likely between 591 and 1,700 political prisoners held by Myanmar authorities, though poor record keeping and disputes over the status of captives means an accurate figure is difficult to gauge.

    Diplomats also acknowledge Britain is wary of the potential for Myanmar's regime, which took office in March and is dominated by a military-proxy political party, to reverse on recent reforms.

    "Further steps are needed that will have a lasting impact on human rights and political freedom," Hague said.

    Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120105/ap_on_re_eu/eu_britain_myanmar

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    Thursday, January 5, 2012

    Well hi there.

    Topic Tags:

    New (or returning) members post here to announce your arrival and be greeted by our wonderful community. Also, if you're going away on leave, post here and we'll say our goodbyes.

    Well hi there! I'm new to this site!I am however not new to roleplaying. So... Yeah just thought I would say hi. How are all you people?

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    clone8642
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    Return to Welcome Desk: Introductions, Arrivals, and Departures

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    Wednesday, January 4, 2012

    staatalent: Sports talk hosts: for great examples of "making it relatable," one of your most valuable tools, listen to J. Smith filling in now for Rome

    Twitter / STAA: Sports talk hosts: for gre ... Loader Sports talk hosts: for great examples of "making it relatable," one of your most valuable tools, listen to J. Smith filling in now for Rome

    Source: http://twitter.com/staatalent/statuses/153900692132724737

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    Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Cancer Support Group

    Driving Directions to Duke Clinic (Trent Drive off Erwin Road)

    From Greensboro and Points West
    Via 1-85 North:
    Exit onto N.C. 147 (Durham Freeway).
    Take first exit off Durham Freeway onto 15-501 S. toward Chapel Hill.
    Stay in right lane, and take second exit (#107) to N.C. 751.
    Turn LEFT onto N.C. 751 S., go under the highway, and take next left turn onto Erwin Road.
    Stay on Erwin Road past Duke Hospital. Turn right onto Trent Drive and park in the Duke Clinic Parking garage on the left.

    From Richmond and Points North
    Via I-85 South:
    In Durham, take the left-lane exit (#174B) for US 15-501 S. Bypass - Duke University/Chapel Hill.
    Continue on U.S. 15-501 to the fourth exit (#107) a right-lane exit for N.C. 751.
    Turn LEFT onto N.C. 751 S., go under the highway, and take next left turn onto Erwin Road.
    Stay on Erwin Road past Duke Hospital. Turn right onto Trent Drive and park in the Duke Clinic Parking garage on the left.

    From RDU Airport, Raleigh and Points East
    Via I-40 West:
    Exit onto the Durham Freeway (N.C. 147).
    Take Durham Freeway to Fulton Street exit (#15B).
    Turn left onto Fulton Street, take to end at Erwin Road.
    Turn left onto Erwin Road past Duke Hospital. Turn right onto Trent Drive and park in the Duke Clinic Parking garage on the left.

    From Chapel Hill
    Via U.S. 15-501 North:
    Take 15-501 N. marked Duke Univ./Med Ctr. (Do NOT take 15-501 Business.)
    Take N.C. 751 exit (#107) marked Duke. Univ. West Campus.
    Turn right onto N.C. 751, make the next left turn onto Erwin Road.
    Stay on Erwin Road past Duke Hospital. Turn right onto Trent Drive and park in the Duke Clinic Parking garage on the left.

    Source: http://www.dukehealth.org/events/gastrointestinal_and_pancreatic_cancer_support_group/20120103?utm_source=dukehealth.org&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS_events

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    Tuesday, January 3, 2012

    This clever iPhone case helps make sure that you never run out of battery

    Perhaps the biggest frustration with modern-day smartphones is no matter how little you use them, they very rarely last more than a day thanks to their constant data connectivity and background?synchronisation.

    Whilst many have mitigated the issue by purchasing a battery extender such as a Morphie Juicepack, additional batteries can be bulky and also still require charging, so if you forget, you are still left with a dead iPhone.

    Enter the Cord-On-Board case by CaseInity.

    Emerging as a prototype on community funding website KickStarter, the Cord-On-Board case solves your charging problems by incorporating an iPhone USB cord within its case. The case is light and is slim enough to slip in your pocket, ensuring that you can slip it in and out of your pocket to charge it using one of the hundreds of USB ports you encounter each and every day.

    caseinity cord on board main holidays 520x390 This clever iPhone case helps make sure that you never run out of battery

    The CaseInity team explains how the case works:

    Each Cord-On-Board iPhone 4/4s Case by CaseInity case comes with a custom 9.5? USB cord that is EMI certified and lets you both charge your phone and transfer data. The ends of the cord snap securely into the allotted spaces inside the case, and the cord itself easily folds into the deepened channel.? It only takes a few seconds to get your USB cord in and out of your Cord-On-Board case!

    If that wasn?t enough, the case is made from shock-resistant thermoplastic material, ensuring your iPhone can be protected from the rigors of your daily life ? oh, and it is self-standing too:

    caseinity cord on board self stand handsfree 520x390 This clever iPhone case helps make sure that you never run out of battery

    The team says that the design is complete and they have already begun the mold-making process. It now wants KickStarter users to pledge money to help with costs associated with further production processes.

    The Cord-On-Board Case is durable, functional and houses that all-important USB cable for on-the-go charging. Want to help make the accessory a reality? Head on over to the KickStarter page and pledge away.

    Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/tnw_mobile/~3/tJjDOY3g5_E/story01.htm

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