Killing prostate cancer cells with out harming the healthy cells ...

August 15, 2012

Experimenting with human prostate cancer cells and mice, cancer imaging experts at Johns Hopkins say they have developed a method for finding and killing malignant cells while sparing healthy ones.

The method, called ?theranostic? imaging, targets and tracks potent drug therapies directly and only to cancer cells. It relies on binding an originally inactive form of drug chemotherapy, with an enzyme, to specific proteins on tumor cell surfaces and detecting the drug?s absorption into the tumor. The binding of the highly specific drug-protein complex, or nanoplex, to the cell surface allows it to get inside the cancerous cell, where the enzyme slowly activates the tumor-killing drug.

Researchers say their findings, published in the journal American Chemical Society Nano online Aug. 6, are believed to be the first to show that chemotherapies can be precisely controlled at the molecular level to maximize their effectiveness against tumors, while also minimizing their side effects.

Senior study investigator Zaver Bhujwalla, Ph.D., a professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and its Kimmel Cancer Center, notes that a persistent problem with current chemotherapy is that it attacks all kinds of cells and tissues, not just cancerous ones.

In the theranostic imaging experiments, overseen by Bhujwalla and study co-investigator Martin Pomper, M.D., Ph.D., investigators directed drugs only to cancer cells, specifically those with prostate-specific membrane antigen, or PSMA cell surface proteins. Both Pomper and Bhujwalla are affiliated faculty members of Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology.

?Our results show a non-invasive imaging approach to following and delivering targeted therapy to any cancer that expresses PSMA,? says Bhujwalla, who also serves as director of the Johns Hopkins In Vivo Cellular and Molecular Imaging Center (ICMIC), where the theranostic imaging studies were developed.

Bhujwalla says the new technique potentially will work against any cancer in which tumors elevate production of certain cell surface proteins. Examples would include breast cancers with HER-2/neu and CXCR4 proteins, and some liver, lung and kidney cancers also known to express particular proteins. She notes that PSMA is expressed in the vessels of most solid tumors, suggesting that the nanoplex reported in the latest study could be used in general to image and treat a variety of cancers.

In their latest series of experiments, primarily in mice injected with human prostate tumor cells, Bhujwalla and the Johns Hopkins team tested their ability to track with imaging devices the delivery of anti-cancer drugs directly to tumors. Some of the tumors comprised cells with PSMA, while other so-called control tumors had none. Included in the drug nanoplex were small strands of RNA, cell construction acids that can be used instead to block and turn down production of a well-known enzyme, choline kinase, whose levels usually rise with tumor growth. All nanoplex components were imaged inside the tumor, in addition to dropping choline kinase production, which decreased by 80 percent within 48 hours of nanoplex absorption into cells with ample PSMA. When researchers used antibodies to block the action of PSMA, down went the level of nanoplex uptake and drug activation in cancerous cells as measured by dimming of the image.

Different concentrations of the drug nanoplex, tagged with radioactive and fluorescent molecules, were mixed in the lab with prostate cancer tissue cells, some of which had extra PSMA and others which had none. Only those cells with extra PSMA showed nanoplex uptake, as measured by image intensity, which later decreased when PSMA-blocking chemicals were added (back to levels seen in cells with almost no PSMA).

Additional experiments involving injections of three different concentrations of the drug nanoplex showed no damage to other vital mouse organs, such as the kidney and liver, nor any uptick in the mouse immune system response.

?Our theranostic imaging approach shows how the best methods of detection and treatment can be combined to form highly specialized, more potent and safer forms of chemotherapy,? says Pomper, a professor at Johns Hopkins who also serves as an associate director at ICMIC.

He says that an important goal for theranostic imaging is to move it beyond standard chemotherapy that attacks one target molecule at a time.

?With theranostic imaging, we can attack multiple tumor targets, making it harder for the tumor to evade drug treatment,? says Pomper, who is already working with colleagues at Johns Hopkins to identify other molecular targets.

The most recent studies were performed at Johns Hopkins over two years, starting in 2010, with funding support from the National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health. The corresponding grant numbers are P50-CA103175, RO1-CA138515 and RO1-CA134675.

In addition to Bhujwalla and Pomper, other Johns Hopkins researchers from the Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology involved in this imaging study were lead investigators Zhihang Chen, Ph.D., and Mary-France Penet, Ph.D. Additional study co-investigators were Sridhar Nimmagadda, Ph.D.; Li Cong, Ph.D.; Sangeeta Banerjee, Ph.D.; Paul Winnard Jr., Ph.D.; Dmitri Artemov, Ph.D.; and Kristine Glunde, Ph.D.

Press release by David March

Therapeutic nanolex containing multi-modal imaging reporters targeted to prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA), which is expressed on the cell surface of castrate resistant PCa. (Image by Chen et al. from ACS Nano 2012).

?

Source: http://inbt.jhu.edu/blog/2012/08/15/killing-prostate-cancer-cells-with-out-harming-the-healthy-cells/

suzanne somers colbert colbert report legionnaires disease underwear bomber unclaimed money godspell

Ecuador: UK threatened to break Assange out of embassy

Martin Alipaz / EPA file

A composite file photo of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange , left, and Ecuador's President Rafael Correa, right.

By NBC News wire reports

QUITO - Ecuador said on Wednesday that the British government had threatened to raid its embassy in London if Wikileaks founder Julian Assange was not handed over, and that Quito would make its decision on his asylum request on Thursday.


"We are not a British colony," Ecuadorean Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino said in an angry statement.

Former computer hacker Assange, who enraged Washington in 2010 when his WikiLeaks website published secret U.S. diplomatic cables, is wanted in Sweden to face trial for rape.

Assange has been taking refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy in London since June 19. The Australian anti-secrecy campaigner says he fears he could be bundled to the United States where his life would be at risk.

President Rafael Correa, who is openly sympathetic to Assange,?said via Twitter on Tuesday that a "rumor of asylum for Assange is false. A decision has not yet been made. I am awaiting a report from the Foreign Ministry."?Britain's Guardian newspaper had earlier quoted an unnamed Ecuadorean official as saying asylum had been granted for the Australian.

However, granting asylum would offer no legal protection in Britain where police will arrest him once they get a chance.?

Assange has no way of leaving his refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy in London without being arrested, even if Quito grants him asylum shortly, lawyers say.?

"The question of asylum is arguably a red herring," said former British government lawyer Carl Gardner.

Watch World News videos on NBCNews.com?

Assange, who is also liable to arrest for skipping bail, would still have to find a way of getting from central London to South America without passing through British territory.

"I can't see the UK backing down and just allowing him safe passage out of the country," said Rebecca Niblock, an extradition specialist at London law firm Kingsley Napley.

Stay informed with the latest headlines; sign up for our newsletter

"I think the UK will see their obligations under the European extradition system as overriding any diplomatic relations with Ecuador, who haven't really been considering their diplomatic relations with the UK, apparently."

Assange would be protected from arrest if travelling in a diplomatic car, but the embassy is on the first floor of a building that is being watched by police day and night.

The tall red-brick block just behind the Harrods department store also houses the Colombian embassy and private apartments. A police van was parked outside the main entrance on Wednesday and police officers were patrolling the area in pairs.

The property has several gated entrances and a private car park, but the Ecuadorean embassy is not linked internally with any of them, making the front entrance its only point of exit, a security manager at the building told Reuters.

"There is no other exit. He is going to have to come out of the main entrance," said the manager, who asked not to be named. "There is no way to bring a vehicle in because the car park is private and it is not connected in any way to their premises."

He added: "He can climb out of a window, of course, but there are CCTV cameras everywhere."

Even if he somehow managed to get out of the building and into a waiting car unnoticed by police, he would have to leave the vehicle at some point to board a flight out of Britain, offering more opportunities for his arrest.

Other scenarios lawyers are discussing on the Internet include smuggling him out in a diplomatic bag, which would be illegal, or appointing him as an Ecuadorean diplomat to give him immunity. But lawyers and diplomats said neither was realistic.

Even if Assange were willing to try his luck packed in a crate all the way to Quito, a risky plan by any measure, it seems unlikely Ecuador would attempt such a scheme.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

?

Related stories:

WikiLeaks' Assange defiant over UK police request

NBC News partner ITV News's coverage of Assange: 'Not going near a police station soon'

?

More world stories from NBC News:

Follow World News from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook

Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/15/13301851-ecuador-uk-threatened-to-break-wikileaks-julian-assange-out-of-embassy?lite

emily maynard kola boof burmese python national signing day ferris bueller god bless america earned income credit

Health & Fitness Calendar for Aug. 15 to 21 | The Eagle | Bryan ...

CLINIC
Thursday
Free Medical Clinic, 4 to 6 p.m. Templo Del Espiritu Santo United Methodist Church, 3715 Elaine Drive, Bryan. 450-7258.

Tuesday
Free Medical Clinic, 4 to 6 p.m. Templo Del Espiritu Santo United Methodist Church, 3715 Elaine Drive, Bryan. 450-7258.

Free Medical Clinic, 6 to 8 p.m. The Bridge Ministries, 1002 E. 29th St., Bryan.

Ongoing
Brazos County Health Department immunization clinics. 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Mondays; to 10:30 a.m. (19 and older) and 2 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays; 10 a.m. to noon Fridays. 201 N. Texas Ave., Bryan. $5 per child, $30 per adult. www.brazoshealth.org, 361-4440.

Move
Wednesday
Seniors Golf Tournament, 7:30 a.m. Bryan Golf Course, 206 W. Villa Maria Road in Bryan. $5 entry.

Brazos Valley Laughter Yoga Circle, 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. Unity Church, 4016 Stillmeadow Drive. Combination of laughter exercises, deep breathing and relaxation. Good for seniors, but open to everyone. No mats required. $5 suggested donation. laughwithangelika@yahoo.com or 422-8394.

Friday
Senior Ladies Tennis, 8 a.m. Gordon?s Tennis at Aerofit, 4455 Carter Creek Parkway, Bryan. 846-8925.

Monday
Seniors Golf Tournament, 7 a.m. Texas A&M University Golf Course, College Station. $5 entry. No advance registration; just show up and play.

Mind and Body workout, 9 a.m. Waldenbrooke Estates, community room, Bryan. Get your daily dose of laughter and stretching. 774-1298.

Tuesday
Brazos Ladies Golf Association Playday, 8 a.m. Travis B. Bryan Golf Course, 206 W. Villa Maria Road, Bryan. All women welcome. $12 per year.

Ongoing
Contact the individual centers for class days, times and costs:

Bariatric post-op exercise. St. Joseph Rehabilitation Center, 1318 Memorial Drive, Bryan. Classes at the fitness studio, aquatherapy pool and cardiac rehab gym. 821-7558.

Brazos Healing Center: Kundalina yoga, adult yoga, pilates, meditation, tai chi, hatha. BrazosHealingCenter.com or 402-3595.

Dance Center: ballet, tap, jazz, modern, belly dance, pilates mat and reformer, yoga fitness, prenatal yoga, meditational yoga, cardio-dance and karate fitness. www.dancecentreCS.com or 764-3187.

The Navasota Center: weekly exercise class. 936-825-2241.

Navasota Municipal Pool: Lap Swim, 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. Water Aerobics, 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays. www.NavasotaTX.gov.

Our Saviour Lutheran Church: Tai Chi for seniors, yoga for seniors. 739-3165.

Peaceful Winds: Hatha yoga, chair yoga, Senior yoga, Kundalina yoga classes: www.peacefulwinds.com or 575-6078.

Susan?s Ballroom Dance: Quickstep, Argentine tango, Latin, waltz, foxtrot, salsa, rumba, samba, American dance and more. Classes for all ages and levels. www.susansballroomdance.com or call 690-0606.

University of Sidekicks, 12845 FM 2154, Suite 120. Self-defense classes. 661-1560.

learn
Wednesday
Newborn Infant Care Course, 6 to 9 p.m. St. Joseph Education Annex, 3030 E. 29th St., Suite 100, in Bryan. Course teaches techniques to assist a mother and one additional caregiver with skills needed to make infant care easier: feeding patterns, comfort strategies, home safety, diapering, etc. $30 per couple. 731-1231.

Guided Meditation & Energy Share, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Brazos Healing Center. $5 suggested donation with all proceeds going to a local charity. BrazosHealingCenter.com or 402-3595.

Thursday
Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid Course, 6 to 9 p.m. St. Joseph Education Annex, 3030 E. 29th St., Suite 100, in Bryan. $40 per person. Good for child care workers, parents, or anyone involved with children. The course includes injury prevention, and recognizing and treating emergencies. Register: 731-1231.

Saturday
Healthcare Provider Basic Life Support Course, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. St. Joseph Education Annex, 3030 E. 29th St., Suite 100, in Bryan. $65 per person for nursing students, radiology students or anyone seeking licensing. One and two-person CPR, infant and child CPR, choking rescue procedures, barrier usage, and AED training. Register: 731-1231.

Tuesday
New Baby Day Camp Sibling Tours for big brothers and sisters. 5 p.m. St. Joseph Regional Health Center lobby. For ages 2 to 8. Free. Registration required. 731-1231.

3-session Comprehensive Diabetes Program, 9 a.m. to noon. St. Joseph Education Annex, 3030 East 29th St. Designed for people with pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes. Topics include meal planning, exercise, medications, complications, self-care management and blood glucose monitoring. Costs $50 for the 3-session course and includes a blood glucometer and a one month membership to the wellness gym. 731-1231.

support
Wednesday
Narcotics Anonymous, 7 to 8 p.m. (Spanish) and 8 to 9 p.m. Grimes St. Joseph Health Center activity room. 450-1750 or 936-662-0825.

Thursday
Palmer Drug Abuse Program Brazos Valley. 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. First Baptist Church Bryan, 3100 Cambridge Drive. Ages 13-25. 739-4253.

Monday
Eating Disorders support group, 6:30 p.m. St. Joseph Rehab, conference room across from Quilter?s Cafe. Informal, peer-based group for those living with eating disorders, going through recovery and needing positive support. Family members welcome. kbeathard@tamu.edu or 845-4426.

Pre-natal class, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. 1651 Rock Prairie Road. Topic: Pain Management for Labor & Delivery. 693-2762.

Alcoholics Anonymous, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Grimes St. Joseph Health Center activity room, Navasota. 450-1750 or 936-662-0825.

MADD Support Group, 6:30 p.m. MADD, 307 South Main St. #111, Bryan. For victims/survivors of DWI crashes and those interested. 823-7008.

Alzheimer?s Support Group, 6:30 p.m. Hudson Creek Alzheimer?s Special Care Center. Talk with others about the experience of caring for a loved one living with dementia. www.jeaseniorliving.com or 774-0700.

NAMI BV Family and Consumer Support Groups, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Bryan Community Health Center, community classroom, 3370 South Texas Ave. Open to any persons with a mental illness or to the families of persons with mental illnesses. Free. 774-4713.

Loss of a Child, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Hospice Brazos Valley Sterling House. Learn about the unique difficulties parents face and meet other grieving parents. Register: 821-2266.

SIA ? Female survivors of childhood sexual abuse, 7:45 p.m. A&M Methodist Church, Room 131. 281-814-5781.

Narcotics Anonymous, 8 to 9 p.m. Grimes St. Joseph Health Center activity room, Navasota. 450-1750 or 936-662-0825.

Tuesday
New Cancer Patient Orientation, 8:30 a.m. St. Joseph Cancer Center. Free class designed for new chemotherapy patients, family members, caregivers or patients who have already begun treatment and have questions and concerns about disease process of cancer, symptom management and availability of services. Not limited to persons receiving treatment at St. Joseph. Pre-registration required: 774-0808.

Beyond Grief, A Bereavement Support Group, 1 to 2:30 p.m. Hilltop Lakes. Open to all adults. Share the challenges of grief with others who are grieving. Free. Register: 821-2266.

TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), 5:30 to 7 p.m. St. Joseph Rehab Center, Quilter?s Cafe, Bryan. 846-0617.

NAMI Brazos Valley Peer Recovery Support Group, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Bryan Community Health Center community classroom, 3370 South Texas Ave. National Alliance on Mental Illness. 774-4713.

tell us
This calendar includes information about Brazos Valley clinics, screenings, classes, support groups, fitness events, lectures and other events. Items may be emailed to calendar@theeagle.com.

Source: http://www.theeagle.com/article/20120815/BC0111/120819789/1018&source=RSS

tyson chandler stephen hill draft tracker the pirates band of misfits cleveland browns minnesota twins green bay packers

A look at tech companies with recent IPOs

Groupon became the latest of the newly traded tech companies to report quarterly earnings. Zynga and Facebook reported quarterly earnings that disappointed investors, while Yelp and LinkedIn followed with stronger results. Groupon beat expectations on earnings, but disappointed investors on revenue.

Here's a look at earnings reports from some tech companies that had IPOs since last year. The companies are all loosely Internet-related, though their businesses vary widely.

? July 25: Zynga Inc. says it lost money and received less revenue than anticipated in the second quarter because "CityVille," ''FarmVille" and other games are not attracting as many paying players as they should. Its stock tanked and dragged Facebook's shares as well because the social networking icon relies on Zynga for a good chunk of its revenue ? 12 percent last year. Revenue fell below Wall Street forecast, while expenses grew. The company says the number of players increased only because it got more players from its acquisition of OMGPop, the maker of the mobile game "Draw Something." Zynga began trading on Dec. 16, 2011.

Angie's List Inc. reports that its losses are still piling up as the company spends more to lure people to its online business-review service and persuade them to pay to see ratings on everything from plastic surgeons to sewer cleaners. Angie's List began trading on Nov. 17, 2011.

? July 26: Facebook Inc. says revenue grew 32 percent to $1.18 billion in the second quarter, slightly above analyst expectations. It had a net loss of 8 cents per share, mainly due to stock compensation expenses following its IPO. Adjusted earnings of 12 cents per share matched Wall Street's expectations. Investors weren't impressed and after a brief spike, Facebook's stock tumbled. It was Facebook's first quarterly earnings report since public trading began on May 18, 2012. Facebook now has 955 million users, up about 50 million during the quarter.

? Aug. 1: Online review site Yelp Inc. reports a smaller net loss and sharply higher revenue than Wall Street expected, surpassing analysts at a time when many of its fellow freshly public Internet companies are taking a beating from investors. Its outlook was also better than anticipated. Yelp began trading publicly on March 2, 2012.

? Aug. 2: LinkedIn Corp.'s net income fell in the latest quarter as the professional networking site spent more money to grow its business. But revenue grew faster than expected, and the company raised its forecast for the year. LinkedIn began trading publicly on May 19, 2011.

? Aug. 7: Jive Software Inc., which makes Facebook-type social networks for businesses, reports a smaller loss and higher revenue. But the midpoint of its full-year guidance falls below analysts' expectations. It began trading on Dec. 13, 2011.

? Monday: Online deals website Groupon Inc. says its quarterly earnings beat Wall Street's profit estimates, but it underwhelmed analysts with sales growth hurt by unfavorable currency movements. A weaker euro and U.K. pound meant that sales made in Europe got converted back into fewer U.S. dollars. Groupon began trading publicly on Nov. 4, 2011.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/look-tech-companies-recent-ipos-214354594.html

ozzie guillen buster posey eric holder eric holder carole king crystal renn matilda

Julia Child was a spy. Was she any good at it?

People remember Julia Child for her wit, charm, and cheer. But before Wednesday's Google Doodle, before her TV shows, and before she moved to Paris, Julia Child worked as an?intelligence officer.

By Chris Gaylord / August 15, 2012

Child, Julia Child. Don't let Wednesday's Google Doodle fool you. Julia Child helped run America's spy network.

Google

Enlarge

Julia Child's?recipe?for celebrity was obvious. The TV chief introduced many Americans to French cooking with her overflowing cheer,?unmistakable?voice, and?a charming dash of clumsiness. Not exactly the best traits for a spy.?

Skip to next paragraph

' + google_ads[0].line2 + '
' + google_ads[0].line3 + '

'; } else if (google_ads.length > 1) { ad_unit += ''; } } document.getElementById("ad_unit").innerHTML += ad_unit; google_adnum += google_ads.length; return; } var google_adnum = 0; google_ad_client = "pub-6743622525202572"; google_ad_output = 'js'; google_max_num_ads = '1'; google_feedback = "on"; google_ad_type = "text"; google_adtest = "on"; google_image_size = '230x105'; google_skip = '0'; // -->

Nonetheless, Ms. Child worked for many years at the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the?precursor?to the CIA. Throughout World War II, the OSS ran America's intelligence operations and?controlled?a network of spies around the world.?

In interviews, Child always played down her wartime?achievements. She was just "a clerk." But her husband told a different story.?Paul Child, who met Julia while working with the OSS, wrote to his brother about her high-level clearance. She was actually?"privy to all messages both incoming from the field or Washington, etc., and outgoing to our agents and operatives all over China-Burma-India."

How did she arrive at this critical position in American intelligence? It's all because she was too tall.

When the war broke out, Child ? then Julia McWilliams ? tried to join the?military. She didn't make the cut. She joked that both the Navy and Army turned her away because her 6-foot-2-inch frame was "too long" to enlist. Instead, she moved to Washington and applied for jobs at OSS and?the Office of War Information. According to a trove of previously top-secret documents, Child's height may have actually made her stand out at OSS. During her interview, the OSS rep noted,?"Good impression, pleasant, alert, capable, very tall."

Child rose through the ranks. She worked as a typist and researcher, at one point working directly for General William Donovan, the leader of OSS. The jobs varied from "typing up thousands of names on little white note cards" to developing shark repellent. "The repellent was a critical tool during WWII, and was coated on explosives that were targeting German U-boats," says the CIA's official history of Child. "Before the introduction of the shark repellent, curious sharks would sometimes set off the explosives when they bumped into them."

After two years in Washington, Child headed overseas. The OSS sent her to Sri Lanka and China, where she oversaw the flow of information and coded messages through the foreign offices. She had top security clearance. In fact, the CIA says that while she served in Sri Lanka, "Julia handled highly classified papers that dealt with the invasion of the Malay Peninsula. Julia was fascinated with the work, even when there were moments of danger."?She?received the Emblem of Meritorious Civilian Service while in China.

Biographer?No?l Riley Fitch says that Child's intelligence work actually helped create the future celebrity chief. The OSS introduced her to Paul and he introduced her the joy of "real" cooking. A California upbringing had tricked her into thinking that meals came from cans and?freezers. Working in China opened her eyes.

"American food in China was terrible; we thought it was cooked by grease monkeys," Childs wrote. "The Chinese food was wonderful, and we ate out as often as we could. That is when I became interested in food. I just loved Chinese food."

Child's true culinary epiphany came later, when the couple moved to France. But her work at OSS changed Child in another way. Ms.?Fitch explains that:?"Seen from a view of posterity, her 'boring' job was to provide Julia Child with the discipline, the autonomous organizational skill, the patience to devise, test and perfect the recipes in her encyclopedic?chef-d'oeuvre: 'Mastering the Art of French Cooking' (1961, 1970), on which her immortality can be said to rest."

Wednesday would have been Julia Child's 100th birthday. ?

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/7smwaNto0vo/Julia-Child-was-a-spy.-Was-she-any-good-at-it

paul babeu kevin costner budweiser shootout animal house invincible jesse jackson whitney houston funeral video

Sara's Vintage, Luxury Find House Tour | Apartment Therapy

azani_01.jpg

Name: Sara, Blogger and Real Estate Consultant
Location: Dupont Circle, Washington D.C
Size: 718 square feet
Years lived in: 2 years; Owned

When you have a blog that focuses on how to achieve high fashion at a bargain, there is a good chance your home will reflect that same sensibility. Blogger Sara's home radiates world charm, luxury, and her keen ability to mix her taste in high-quality vintage pieces with great low-price steals from her favorite bargain shop, Home Goods, and D.C stores Good Wood and Miss Pixies.

AzaniThumbnail.jpg

A little over two years ago Sara found her home via a friend who was also in real estate. He had renovated his apartment with new moldings, flooring, track lighting, and carved-out nooks in the living room and bedrooms. After one visit Sara immediately knew she wanted a place just like it. The timing worked out perfectly, as her friend was looking to sell, and soon after Sara sold the condo she owned in Maryland and made the move to the District.

Her modern home in D.C is filled with colorful accents and original art, mixed prints and bold patterns. Rich pops of red, blue, orange and yellow play off white painted brick walls and black planked floors. Her Iranian heritage is folded into her aesthetic with the use of Iranian rugs gifted from family members. Her affinity for prints and patterns is evident in everything from her curtains (which she had custom made) to the pillows and poufs. Her home functions as her office, as she often works from home, but also as a place to entertain family and friends. "Having a dining area with plenty of seating was really important", she says. What's equally evident is Sara's ability to see design elements and furniture as having multiple functions. She converted what once was a vintage headboard into a black and white table stand for her foyer. To display her collection of shoes, she converted an old CD rack into a shoe rack. Antler d?cor from Home Goods transforms into a display stand for rings and necklaces. And heads up to anyone looking to get a piece of her style; Sara's looking to sell her couch very soon!

Apartment Therapy Survey:

MY Style/Inspiration: My style is a mix of rustic, modern, and vintage. I love mixing modern pieces with vintage pieces. There are two local stores that I go to often: Miss Pixies and Good Wood. I'm a big bargain shopper. You'll see me a lot at Home Goods and TJ Maxx.

Favorite Element: All the colors work well with one another. I really like to keep things clean and simple in my bedroom and bathroom. You'll see things are a bit more muted than the living room. Having a clean simple area that's relaxing is important.

Biggest Challenge: The built-in for the entertainment system. It limited how I arranged in this space, especially since I like to entertain. If it weren't for the entertainment center, I would have put two sofas facing each other. I wouldn't have put the entertainment system as the focal point.

What Friends Say: "Wow!" They can't believe I've done all this by myself. They also say, "Wow, it's so clean".

Biggest Embarrassment: After two years of living here I still haven't found a piece of artwork for that big white wall!

Proudest DIY: In my bedroom I have a jewelry and sunglasses display. I made that myself. I took a bulletin board from Home Goods and added wire and nails so I could display my collection.

Biggest Indulgence: My poufs from Gilt Group.

Best Advice: You can't rush the design or buying process. With the design process, when I found myself rushing I found myself returning things. I'm a firm believer in buying only what you love. If that means it takes a year or two years, wait it out and don't rush it. Definitely do your research.

Dream Sources: I really love Room and Board and Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams. I also love Gilt Group; their home section is amazing.

Resources of Note:

ENTRY

? Mirror: Home Goods
? Converted Vintage Headboard used in foyer : Miss Pixies
? Foyer Rug: Home Goods

LIVING ROOM

? Arm chair: Home Goods; Pillow: Marshalls
? Lamp and table: Miss Pixies
? Wine cart: Found along side of road
? Original Art: Her cousin Dr. Matthew Moshirfar
? Plant stand: Home Goods
? Blinds: Blinds To Go, customized
? Tassels: From Etsy shop.
? Dog sculpture: Home Goods
? Antler candle stick holders: Nieman Marcus
? Bamboo magazine stand: Miss Pixies
? Bike: REI Cruiser
? Antlers: Thrift store in Colorado
? Frame: Marshalls
? White vase and red coral: Z Gallerie
? Couch: Macy's
? Zebra pillows: West Elm
? Yellow pillow: Urban Outfitters
? Coffee table: Anora home
? Wooden horn: Home Goods
? Red faux leather tray: Home Goods
? Shells in glass jar: Home Goods and TJ Maxx
? Poufs: Gilt Groupe
? Entertainment System: Vintage Herman Miller cabinets; white cabinets from Ikea
? Rug: Target
? D?cor: Home Goods
? White Lamp shade: Ikea
? Orange-painted flower decor: Home Goods

DINING ROOM

? Chairs: TJ Maxx (Black chair)
? White Chairs: Bax Studio
? Sheep skin backs: Ikea
? Green chair: West Elm
? Candle: Gilt Groupe
? Napkin holder: TJ Maxx
? Vintage wooden Table: Miss Pixies (She managed to bring it home in her Rav4 when the store wasn't able to hold it!)
? Curtains: Bought fabric and found a seamstress to make them into curtains
?Tray: Marshalls
? Rug: Iranian rug given as gift
? Light: Z Gallerie

KITCHEN

? Frames: TJ Maxx
? Home Goods
? Pot: Home
? Spice Containers: Anthropologie
? Cabinets: Ikea
? Saucer/Espresso cups: Target
? Stool: Home Goods
? Rug: Home Goods
? Tray: Home Goods
? Dining Room Rug: Iran. Gift from family member

BEDROOM

? Mirror/ decoration: Home Goods
? Headboard: Target
? End Table: Target
? Knobs: Anthropologie
? Telephone: Home Goods
? Mirror: Jewelry holder
? Reindeer jewelry holder: Home Goods
? Pillows: Target
? Gold/Cream pillows: West Elm
? Bedding: West Elm
? Throw: TJ Maxx
? Bed Stools: Home Goods
? Rug: Persian rug from Iran
? Curtains: Curtain Works
? Mannequin stands: Home Goods + Contest for ABC, gifted
? Chairs: Overstock
? Gold Vase: Ross
? Grass vase: Ross
? Bulletin Board: Home Goods with gold duck tape

BATHROOM

? Shower Curtain: Home Goods
? Towels: Anthropologie
? Accessories: Home Goods
? Trash can: Home Goods
? Perfume Tray: Home Goods

Patio

? Chairs and table from Home Depot
? Chair with blue pillow: TJ Maxx

Thanks, Sara!

(Images: Nicole Crowder)

? HOUSE TOUR ARCHIVE: Check out past house tours here.
? Interested in sharing your home with Apartment Therapy? Contact the editors through our House Tour Submission Form.
? Are you a designer/architect/decorator interested in sharing a residential project with Apartment Therapy readers? Contact the editors through our Professional Submission Form.

Source: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sara-azanis-vintage-luxury-find-house-tour-175513

walking dead comic kratom broncos broncos lehigh walking dead season finale matt flynn

Atlanta - Home Depot Sees Signs Of Improving Housing Market ...

Atlanta - The Home Depot Inc. is feeling more optimistic about the recovery of the housing market after customers spent more on sprucing up their homes in the second quarter.

The country?s biggest home-improvement retailer said Tuesday that strong cost controls and healthy sales of paint, bathroom accessories and kitchen installations helped lift its net income by 12 percent during the period.

The Atlanta-based company boosted its full-year outlook, citing its performance so far this year.

In a conference call with investors, Chairman and CEO Frank Blake noted that some of the strongest growth in the latest quarter came from the markets that were hit hardest in the downturn, such as California and Florida.

?These are encouraging signs of stabilization in the housing market,? Blake said.

He also noted that the housing market is now a contributor to the country?s gross domestic product, rather than a drag. Another positive sign for Home Depot: the Commerce Department said Tuesday that Americans boosted their spending at retail businesses in July by the largest amount in five months, as spending increased on furniture and building materials, among other items.

Still, the housing market is still a long way from returning to its heyday before the recession. Home Depot?s net sales in the quarter rose just 2 percent from a year ago and came in short of Wall Street expectations. And although the company lifted its earnings-per-share forecast, it didn?t update its outlook that sales for the year would grow by 4.6 percent.

When the housing market is weak, companies such as Home Depot struggle because new construction slows and contractors don?t spend as much on supplies. Homeowners also pull back on projects, such as kitchen or bathroom renovations.

Although customers still aren?t spending as much on their homes as during the housing bubble, Home Depot said it saw signs of improvements in key areas.

Overall, revenue at stores open at least a year rose 2.1 percent, which was slower than the 4.3 percent growth last year. The company noted that the warm winter pulled sales of many seasonal items, such as gardening products, into the first quarter.

In the U.S., where the majority of Home Depot?s stores are located, the figure rose 2.6 percent. The metric is a key gauge of a retailer?s health because it strips out the impact of recently opened or closed locations.

Transactions of $900 or more, which make up about 20 percent of U.S. sales, rose 3.4 percent in the quarter, as appliance, kitchen and flooring sales increased. Transactions of $50 or less, which also make up about 20 percent of sales, were down 0.7 percent.

The company attributed the decline to the sales of seasonal items into the first quarter.

Brian Sozzi, chief equities analyst with NBG Productions, noted that the improvement in sales of bigger-ticket items suggests consumers are opening up to the possibility of larger projects, such as redoing their cabinets. They?re also spending on other items.

?People are buying lawn mowers and other items they weren?t necessarily buying in 2010 or 2011, when they just didn?t want to put that on their credit cards,? he said.

Home Depot?s total operating expenses also eased to $4.46 billion during the quarter, down 3 percent from a year ago. The improvement was partly the result of tight cost controls and a new regulation that caps the amount banks can charge retailers when customers pay with debit cards.

In the second half of the year, however, Home Depot expects expenses to rise as it spends on new call centers and other operational improvements.

Looking ahead, Home Depot now expects fiscal 2012 earnings of $2.95 per share, up from the $2.90 per share it previously forecast. Revenue is still expected to rise 4.6 percent, implying $73.63 billion.

Analysts expect earnings of $2.92 per share on revenue of $73.95 billion.

Home Depot runs more than 2,200 stores. Its smaller rival Lowe?s Cos. reports its earnings Monday.

Shares of Home Depot rose $1.89, or 3.6 percent, to close Tuesday at $54.71.


?

Source: http://www.vosizneias.com/111763/2012/08/14/atlanta-home-depot-sees-signs-of-improving-housing-market/

tracy morgan ground hogs day 2012 goundhog day punxsutawney facebook ipo facebook ipo egypt soccer riot

'Meet the new way' at tomorrow's Samsung event: Note 10.1 on the horizon?

'Meet the new way' at tomorrow's Samsung event: Note 10.1 on the horizon?

We got our not-so-mysterious invite earlier this month, and now Samsung's "Meet the new way" event is just a day away. Will we see the much-anticipated Galaxy Note 10.1? Given that Sammy already pulled the curtain on the global model, all signs point to yes. As always, we'll be on hand to serve up the details as they unfold tomorrow from Jazz at Lincoln Center (might we expect a full-blown orchestra a la the Galaxy S III launch, we wonder?).

Our liveblog goes down at 11 AM tomorrow, and you'll want to park your browser here for the full play-by-play.

August 15, 2012 11:00 AM EDT

Filed under:

'Meet the new way' at tomorrow's Samsung event: Note 10.1 on the horizon? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Aug 2012 11:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/14/samsung-galaxy-note-10-1-event/

shld 2012 sec football schedule medifast sinead oconnor braylon edwards jimmer fredette mall of america

World's First Deep-Sea Mining Project Gets Green Light

Humanity's never-ending search for resources has taken a dive -- into the sea.

Canadian company Nautilus Minerals is embarking on the world's first commercial deep-sea mining project, called Solwara 1.

The venture aims to extract gold and copper from the floor of the Bismarck Sea in Papua New Guinea. In 2009, the local government granted Nautilus an environmental permit to develop the project for a 25-year term, expiring in 2035.

But detractors say deep-sea mining could negatively impact the environment.

"Sea floor volcanic systems, deep-sea ecosystems and the spread of pollution from deep sea mining are not well understood," according to the Deep Sea Mining Campaign, a group dedicated to stopping experimental seabed mining in the Pacific. "It's not possible to predict the impacts of any individual DSM project, let along the cumulative impacts of the many DSM projects proposed for the [Bismarck] Sea and throughout the Pacific."

Check out the video above for more on the story.

This story originally published on Mashable here.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/worlds-first-deep-sea-mining-project-gets-green-053252405.html

memorial day ivan rodriguez planetary resources mothers day gift ideas natalee holloway scotty mccreery megan fox pregnant