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AT2 receptor: Its role in obesity associated hypertension
Quaisar Ali* and Tahir Hussain*
*Heart and Kidney Institute, Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences,University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204.
#Department of Pharmacal Sciences, Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University, Auburn AL 36849.
*Corresponding Author
Tahir Hussain, PhD,
Head and Professor, Department of Pharmacal Sciences,
4306F Walker Building, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849,
E-mail: email@example.com
Article Type: Research Article
Received: July 23, 2012;Accepted: September 11, 2012;Published: October 16, 2012
Citation: Tahir Hussain (2012) AT2 receptor: Its role in obesity associated hypertension. Int J Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 1(1), 15-19, doi: dx.doi.org/10.19070/2167-910X-120003
Copyright: Tahir Hussain© 2012. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is a hormonal cascade that acts together to regulate blood pressure. Angiotensin II (Ang II) is the major octapeptide of RAS and mediates its cellular and physiological actions by acting on AT1 and AT2 receptor. Most of the cellular and physiological actions of Ang II such as cellular growth and proliferation, vasoconstriction, antinatriuresis and increase in blood pressure are mediated via AT1 receptor. The functions associated with the AT2 receptors are less studied, in part, due to its lower expression in adult tissues. However, AT2 receptor has been suggested as functional antagonist of AT1 receptors and thereby opposes the actions of Ang II mediated via AT1 receptor. Thus, the activation of AT2 receptors has been shown to cause vasodilatation, natriuresis and decrease in blood pressure. After the discovery of the AT2 receptor in various parts of the kidney, including in proximal tubules, there has been an interest in establishing a link between the renal AT2 receptor, renal Na-excretion and blood pressure regulation. Earlier, we have reported that activation of renal AT2 receptors increases urinary Na excretion in obese Zucker rats, in part via inhibiting Na+/K+- ATPase (NKA) activity and stimulating nitric oxide/cGMP pathway in the proximal tubules. An impaired pressure natriuresis and increased AT1 receptor function is believed to be the cause of hypertension in obese Zucker rats and other animal models of obesity. In this review, we are focussing on the role of renin angiotensin system especially AT2 receptors in obesity associated hypertension.
3.Pathological triad of obesity, diabetes and hypertension
4.AMechanism of obesity associated hypertension
5.Obesity associated hypertension
5.1 Role of sympathetic nervous system
5.2 Role of atrial natriuretic peptide
5.3 Role of renin angiotensin system
5.4 Overview of renin angiotensin system
6.Components of kidney renin angiotensin system
6.1 Angiotensinogen (AGT)
6.2 Renin and (pro) renin receptor [P] RR
6.3 Angiotensin II
6.5 Mas receptor
6.6 Angiotensin III
6.7 Angiotensin IV/AT4 receptor
6.8 AT1 receptor
7.AT2 receptor
7.1 General characteristics
7.2 Signal transduction
7.3 Expression
8.Physiological Function
8.1 AT2 receptor opposes AT1 receptor function
8.2 AT2 receptor and Na-excretion
8.3 AT2 receptor and blood pressure
9.Current therapeutic target
Obesity is defined as having a very high amount of body fat in relation to lean body mass, or body mass index (BMI). Person having BMI of >30 is considered obese. It is one of the most important nutritional disorders worldwide. It has become a global epidemic and is particularly true for the United States, where approximately 300 000 deaths each year are associated with being overweight and obese.
There is a dramatic increase in the prevalence of obesity in the United States within the last decade. In 1996 no states had obesity prevalence rates above 18%, whereas in 2008, almost all the states had obesity prevalence rates of 29% and 23 states are already in obese category (Source: Center for Disease Control and Prevention). Obesity is associated with an increased risk of hypertension and diabetes.
Pathological triad of obesity, diabetes and hypertension
Obesity leads to endothelial dysfunction and impairment of renal function that contribute to the maintenance and development of hypertension [20]. Obesity also increases fat mass in the body. These fat cells release a novel protein called PEDF (pigment epithelium-derived factor). PEDF is released into the bloodstream and causes the muscle and liver to become desensitized to insulin [22]. This results in increase in glucose because the pancreas then produces more insulin to counteract these negative effects. This is one of the mechanism by which obesity leads to diabetes. Moreover, adipose tissue also secretes a large number of cytokines in addition to leptin that modulate glucose metabolism and insulin action. These cytokines also induce suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (SOCS-3), an intracellular signaling molecule that impairs the signaling of both leptin and insulin and are elevated in obesity [21]. This increased glucose in obesity doubles the risk of mortality in hypertensive patients by affecting renal cellular functions including increase in sodium-glucose transport, cellular hypertrophy [78], synthesis of transforming growth factor-β [63] and matrix accumulation [78]. High glucose also directly affects the cardiovascular functions, vasculature, and neuron damage and also increases sympathetic activation, increased Na absorption which eventually causes hypertension. This pathological triad of obesity, diabetes and hypertension is becoming an economic burden on USA. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, it's costing more than $187 billion dollar each year to treat obesity associated hypertension. Since renin angiotensin system regulates blood pressure so it is the major therapeutic target to treat hypertension. Although, current available drugs like ACE inhibitors and AT1 blockers improve renal/cardiovascular functions in hypertensive patients but they remain ineffective in treating obesity/diabetes related hypertension where desirable blood pressure levels is below 120 mmHg. It is very difficult to achieve lower pressure in obese/diabetic patients and requires combination of three or more drugs.
Mechanism of obesity associated hypertension
There has been a strong positive correlation between weight gain and blood pressure. These obesity related hypertension affects several organs in the body such as heart, vasculature and kidney. The kidney is one such important organ whose function is severely affected by hypertension [30]. The mechanism by which obesity causes hypertension can be attributed to the enhanced sympathetic and renin angiotensin system activity, alteration of intrarenal physical forces, and hyperinsulinemia [37,38]. Obesity leads to excessive tubular absorption of Na and alters kidney function. This leads to increased extracellular blood volume and hence a shift in pressure natriuresis which is believed to be an important mechanism by which obese person develops hypertension [36]. It has also been postulated that increased renal interstitial pressure due to accumulation of subcapsular fat might lead to tubular compression which further leads to more sodium absorption in the proximal tubules thus raising the blood pressure.
Obesity associated hypertension
Sympathetic nervous system (SNS) plays an important role in cardio-renal function. Activation of SNS especially renal sympathetic nerve activity has been linked to the pathogenesis of obesity associated hypertension [39]. Activation of SNS is partly mediated by hyperinsulinemia, angiotensin II, melanocortin 4 receptors and adipokines such as leptin, tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-6. Binding of leptin to its receptors in the brain regions activates neuronal pathways that reduces appetite and increases SNS activity leading to an increase in blood pressure. Mutation in the leptin receptor leads to exaggerated plasma leptin which causes early onset of obesity. Several studies suggest a link between adipose tissue and exaggerated SNS activity in muscles and kidneys of normotensive humans [39]. Pharmacological blockade of α and β adrenergic receptors lowers the blood pressure in obese subjects by at least 50-60%. Moreover, renal denervation cause natriuresis and decrease in blood pressure. These observations suggest that increased SNS activity contributes to the development of hypertension in obesity.Hyperinsulinemia in obesity contribute to overactivation of SNS in different tissues including kidney [62]. However the role of insulin resistance in the development of hypertension is somewhat controversial. There is one study wherein aspirin treatment improved insulin resistance but did not prevent the development of hypertension in high-fat fed dogs.
Renal glomeruli contains peptides called atrial natriuretic factor (ANP) that plays an important role in regulating sodium homeostasis [11], fluid balance, vasodilatation and blood pressure. In the kidney, ANP opposes the actions of Ang II via AT1R and causes natriuresis. Low levels of ANP have been observed in obese people and are suggested as one of the mechanisms for obesity-related hypertension [73]. The mechanism associated with the decreased ANP levels in obesity is attributed to upregulated natriuretic peptide clearance receptors (NPR-C) which basically removes natriuretic peptides from the circulation [16]. Reduced ANP function on natriuresis has been reported in obese Zucker rats [5].
Renin angiotensin system (RAS) is a very important hormonal regulator of sodium homeostasis in the kidney [13]. RAS was believed to be an antinatriuretic but recent data suggest that it has both natriuretic and antinatriuretic components. However, during obesity associated hypertension there is an increased RAS activity which shifts the sodium balance from pronatriuretic to an antinatriuretic direction resulting in increased sodium absorption leading to increase in blood pressure. Moreover increased RAS also elevates plasma aldosterone [60] which again leads to an abnormal Na-reabsorption and elevation of arterial pressure. Increased RAS activity has been implicated in the etiology of obesity associated hypertension because blockade of RAS has been implicated as a therapeutic strategy in the management of obesity associated hypertension. Here increased RAS activity is mostly taken in terms of increased renin and/or AT1R function.
According to Guyton's theory, RAS was considered as circulating endocrine system that regulates blood pressure and Na-homeostasis. The discovery of RAS components in different tissues including brain, heart, vasculature, adipose tissue, gonads, pancreas, placenta, and kidney demonstrates the local/tissue production of Ang II [58]. The tissue RAS plays an important role in normal physiological processes and has been implicated in pathophysiological conditions such as hypertension, congestive heart failure and cardiovascular hypertrophy [19, 47]. The present view of RAS is very complex and is a group of related hormones that act together to regulate blood pressure [68]. When the blood pressure drops for any reasons, special cells in the kidney called juxta-glomerular cells detect those changes and release renin into the blood stream. Renin floats around and converts inactive forms of angiotensinogen into angiotensin I. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) converts inactive angiotensin I into angiotensin II. Ang I and Ang II are further converted into Ang 1-9 and Ang 1-7 by ACE2. Ang 1-9 gets converted to Ang 1-7 by ACE and acts on Mas receptors. Angiotensin II is the most important peptide of RAS and produces its effect by binding onto AT1 and AT2 receptors [15].Ang II via AT1 receptors causes vasoconstriction, salt and water retention, promotes cell growth, releases aldosterone, activates SNS and all these altogether leads to an increase in blood pressure. The effects of AT2 receptor activation are the opposite of those mediated through AT1 receptors [10,25]. Ang II via AT2 receptor promotes vasodilatation and inhibits cellular growth (figure 1). Numerous studies indicate that AT2 receptor has a potential role in blood pressure and natriuresis [32,34,69].
Components of kidney renin angiotensin system
AGT is a glycoprotein consisting of 452 aminoacids. AGT is synthesized in several tissues including liver, heart, blood vessels, adipose tissues and kidney. Renin converts this inactive angiotensinogen into angiotensin I. Increased expression of angiotensinogen gene is observed in plasma samples of hypertensive rats. The increased activity of this gene might lead to more Ang II formation and may cause more renal and cardiovascular damage [61].
Renin is a key enzyme of RAS and is produced from the juxtaglomerular apparatus of the kidney. Renin is considered as a rate limiting enzyme in Ang II production as it converts inactive angiotensinogen into angiotensin I. In addition to enzymatic action, renin and pro-renin also acts as ligands for two receptors leading to cellular responses. The first is the mannose-6-phosphate (M6P) receptor which binds and internalizes both renin and prorenin and hence is called a clearance receptor. The second receptor is the specific (pro) renin receptor ([P]RR), the activation of which initiates downstream signaling cascades [55]. [P]RR is made up of 350 amino acids and consists of single transmembrane domain. Since prorenin is an inactive form of renin, it undergoes proteolytic and non proteolytic activation which leads to the increased activity of the receptor. The binding of this active form of renin to [P]RR decreases its activation energy and leads to the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAP kinase p44/42 and extracellular regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2). The phosphorylation of these kinases leads to an increase in plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 and enhanced expression of transforming growth factor (TGF) β1. This result in synthesis of fibronectin and collagen 1 which is important in regulating actin filament dynamics, maintenance of cell structure, growth, movement and cell death [54]. Several studies suggest that overexpression of [P]RR leads to increased blood pressure and aldosterone secretion. As a result of which prorenin receptor inhibitors like allikskerin are used as a therapeutic target to treat high blood pressure [54].
Angiotensin II (Asp-Arg-Val-Tyr-Ile-His-Pro-Phe) is the most important hormone of RAS and produces its effect by binding onto AT1 and AT2 receptor [75]. Most of the actions of Ang II are mediated via AT1 receptors because these are abundant as compared to AT2 receptor. Ang II via AT1 receptor increases peripheral vascular resistance and increased blood pressure.
ACE is an important enzyme of RAS as it converts Ang I to Ang II. ACE also converts Ang 1-7 into smaller angiotensin fragments thereby reversing the vasodilatory effect of Ang 1-7. ACE is considered a pro-hypertensive enzyme because it generates Ang II and also inhibits the peptides such as bradykinin, responsible for vasodilatation [24,61]. ACE2 is a recently discovered enzyme which has 42% structural resemblance to ACE but implicated in reducing the actions of ACE. ACE2 converts Ang II to Ang 1-7 which acts on Mas receptor and causes vasodilation and natriuresis [17]. This enzyme also converts Ang I to Ang 1-9, however the affinity for ACE2 for Ang II is 400-fold higher than Ang I. Since ACE and ACE2 leads to the generation of peptides which has nearly opposite function, a novel concept has been proposed wherein imbalance between ACE/ACE2 could result in different functions. For example increased ACE activity concomitant with reduced ACE2 activity would lead to generation of peptides which would cause more vasoconstriction and vice versa. This balance of ACE/ACE2 in the regulation of different components of RAS is novel target to treat hypertension and renal damage [46].
Ang 1-7 (Asp-Arg-Val-Tyr-Ile-His-Pro) is formed from Ang II by the action of ACE2 and is the agonist for Mas receptor. The association of Ang 1-7, ACE2 and Mas receptor forms a separate branch of renin-angiotensin system called the ACE2/Ang 1-7/Mas axis [23]. The physiological effects mediated by Ang 1-7 is opposite to that of Ang II acting via AT1 receptor.
Ang 1-7 by acting on Mas receptor causes vasodilatation and antiproliferation. Several studies suggest that ACE2/Ang 1-7/Mas axis interacts with the AT1 and AT2 receptor stimulation. For example, it has been shown that stimulation of Mas receptor inhibits the AT1 mediated regulation of ERK1/2 activity which was reversed by Mas receptor antagonist [46]. However, the interaction between AT2 receptor mediated signaling cascade and the ACE2/Ang 1-7/Mas axis is still not known.
Ang III (Arg-Val-Tyr-Ile-His-Pro-Phe) is formed from Ang II by the action of aminopeptidase A. The physiological effects of Ang III are similar to that of Ang II but are less potent. Infusion of Ang III is known to increase BP and intracerebroventricular injection of Ang III is known to increase thirst, vasopressin release and hypertension in animal models [61]. Recent studies suggest that Ang III might be the preferred agonist for AT2 receptor.Infusion of Ang III produces natriuresis via AT2 receptor in AT1 blocked rats [57].
The receptor for Ang IV (Val-Tyr-Ile-His-Pro-Phe) is known as insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP) or AT4 receptor. IRAP/AT4 is a zinc-bound metalloenzyme attached to the transmembrane domain and their translocation to the cytosol is regulated by insulin. It has a molecular mass of 165 kDa and is made up of 1025 amino acid [2]. Since IRAP is an endopeptidase, it cleaves substrates at the N-terminal of cysteine and leucine amino acids. Ang IV produces its effect by inhibiting activity of IRAP/AT4. This might be one of the mechanism by which Ang IV binds to AT4/IRAP and reduce the cleavage of important peptides and prolong their actions [61]. IRAP/AT4 receptor has a role in maintaining homeostasis during pregnancy by cleaving and inactivating Ang III, oxytocin and vasopressin. The expression of IRAP/AT4 receptor is seen in heart, muscles, liver, spleen, colon and kidney. In kidney these receptors are restricted to proximal tubules, glomerulus, thick ascending loop and collecting ducts [41]. The physiological function of IRAP/AT4 receptor is believed to be similar to that of AT2 receptor in the sense that they can antagonize the function of AT1 receptor by regulating blood flow and promoting Na-excretion [15,40].
AT1 receptor belongs to the family of G-protein coupled receptors. Human AT1 receptor is made up of 359 amino acids and has almost 95% homology with bovine and rodent AT1receptors [14]. It has an extracellular N-terminus followed by a seven transmembrane domain which is connected by three extracellular and intracellular loops linked to the C-terminus. Ang II binds to the extracellular loop and to the transmembrane domain. Receptor internalization, desensitization and phosphorylation of AT1 receptors are linked to the C-terminus of AT1.
AT2 receptor Current therapeutic target Acknowledgement
AT2 receptor belongs to the family of G-protein cou -pled receptor with a molecular mass of 41,000 kDa [15, 69]. The gene which codes for AT2 receptor is present on the X chromosome and has 34% resem -blance with the protein sequence of AT1 receptor [48,51]. There are five potential N-glycosylation sites on the extracellular surface of AT2 receptor [15].
Although, AT2 receptor belongs to the family of G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR), but the entire signaling cascade through G-protein coupling is not known [43]. It is suggested that the third loop of this 7-TM receptor is involved in the downstream signal -ing cascade. Some evidence of AT2 signaling comes from studies in COS-7 cell line and neuronal cell line where it has been shown that agonist occupied AT2 receptor stimulates Giα [42,76]. This receptor is dif -ferent as compared to other GPCR as these agonist occupied receptor does not undergo desensitiza -tion. The reason is still not known but it is speculated that the third intracellular loop is short and does not provide enough binding sites for phosphorylation. Stimulation of AT2 receptor leads to an increase in phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity and inhibition of MAP kinase (p42/p44) or ERK1/2 [9,74]. AT2 re-ceptor stimulation also leads to increase in bradykin -in production which via NO/cGMP pathway causes vasodilation [67]. In our laboratory, we have demon -strated that in proximal tubules of obese Zucker rats, acute activation of AT2 receptor inhibits NKA via NO/cGMP pathway and promotes Na excretion [33].
The expression of the AT2 receptor is observed in sev -eral organs like heart, brain, vasculature, testes and kidney. Within the kidneys, proximal tubules, distal tubules, afferent and efferent arterioles express AT2 re -ceptor [12,59]. The AT2 receptor is widely expressed during embryonic stage and gradually decreases after birth [15,26]. AT2 receptor has drawn limited atten -tion mainly due to its low expression [77]. However, AT2 receptors are overexpressed in various patho-physiological and experimental conditions like obe -sity/diabetes, nephrectomy, atherosclerosis, cardiac overload and myocardial infarction. We believe thatthese overexpressed receptors in these pathophysiological conditions might have a protective role in disease conditions.
AT2 receptors have been shown to produce cellular and physiological responses that are opposite to that produced by AT1 receptor. For example AT2 receptor mediates cellular differentiation and apoptosis in various cells/tissues like vascular smooth muscle cells, endothelilal cells whereas AT1 receptor causes cellular hypertrophy and growth [50]. While Ang II via AT2 receptor causes vasodilation via NO/cGMP pathway whereas AT1 receptor causes vasoconstriction [9]. The mechanism by which AT2 receptor opposes the action of AT1 receptor is not clear. However, there are some studies which suggest that AT2 receptor binds directly to the AT1 receptor and antagonizes its function and this antagonism was linked to the heterodimeriza -tion of these receptors in transfected foetal fibroblast and myometrium of pregnanat women [1]. Ang II via activation of AT1 receptor is known to stimulate NKA causing anti-natriuresis while activation of AT2 receptors inhibits NKA and causes sodium excre -tion [32, 34,56]. Further, AT1 receptor stimulatesNKA activity by reducing cellular cAMP contents [45] whereas AT2 receptor increases cGMP generation which via a cGMP-dependent pathway inhibits NKA activity in the proximal tubules of obese rats [33]. Since cGMP is a known inhibitor of phosphodiesterase-3 (PDE-3), an enzyme that degrades cAMP, AT2 receptor, by increasing cGMP could be inhibiting PDE-3, preventing cAMP reduction and there -by reversing AT1-mediated NKA stimulation [18].
Studies on the role of AT2 receptors on renal sodium transport are limited. In-vitro studies suggest that AT2 receptor mediates inhibition of sodium transport in the proximal tubules of rabbit [31]. AT2 receptor knock-out mice show antinatriuretic hypersensitivity to Ang II and a shift in pressure natriuresis curve. Pres -sure natriuresis is the mechanism by which renal func -tion is linked to long-term blood pressure regulation. However it is difficult to predict whether the effects on sodium excretion are due to absence of AT2 receptor activation or due to enhanced AT1 receptor activity [70]. AT2 receptors are over expressed in the proximal tubules of obese Zucker rats. Activation of AT2 receptors inhibit NKA activity in the proximal tubules and promote natriuresis [3, 33]. Infusion of this AT2 receptor agonist does not affect the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) or mean arterial pressure, suggesting that the changes in natriuresis may be linked to the chang -es in tubular sodium transport [33]. It is known that acute activation of renal AT2 receptors promote natriu -resis/diuresis but whether the long-term AT2 receptor activation modulates the tubular sodium transport, leading to a decrease in sodium balance is not known.
The long-term regulation of blood pressure is linked to the ability of kidneys to excrete sufficient sodi -um to maintain normal sodium balance and blood volume [53]. The AT2 receptor is involved in the production of cGMP, NO and prostaglandin F2α thereby playing an important role in renal function, vasodilatation and blood pressure regulation [52,65]. Data from our laboratory and elsewhere sug -gest that AT2 receptor plays a protective role against increase in blood pressure by promoting sodium excretion. The argument that increase in sodiumexcretion due to AT2 receptor activation may shift the blood pressure can be supported by selective inhibi -tion/disrupting AT2 receptor gene in the kidney. AT2 receptor disrupted mice have increased blood pressure compared to the wild type control and there is sus -tained hypersensitivity of blood pressure and sodium excretion to Ang II [69]. In conscious rats, direct stim -ulation of AT2 receptor with its agonist CGP42112A in the presence of AT1 blocker lowers the arterial pres -sure. The studies so far have been focused on the acute stimulation of AT2 receptor by CGP42112A in spon -taneously hypertensive rat (SHR), normotensive or Sprague Dawley (SD) rats [74]. There is no study done to look at chronic activation of AT2 receptor and its role in long-term blood pressure regulation in obese rats.
Obesity associated hypertension and other renal-car -diovascular diseases are the leading causes of death in the United States. It leads to cardiovascular diseases in -cluding renal ischemia and its dysfunction. In obesity associated hypertension the regulatory function of kid -ney is severely disrupted resulting in irregular sodium excretion and retention. While the known therapeutic target such as ACE, renin inhibitors and AT1 receptor blockers have been effective in treating various forms of hypertension, these targets are often not sufficient to achieve blood pressure goals in obesity/diabetes re -lated hypertension. Recently, discovery of AT2 receptors in adult renal tissues has offered the potential for a novel approach in improving renal function and decreasing high blood pressure. An increase in AT2 receptor expression has recently been reported in animal models [34]. The selective activation of AT2 receptor leads to a greater increase in renal sodium excretion in hyperglycemic animals compared to the normalanimals [35]. Since excessive retention of sodium is a factor for developing hypertension in obesity and dia -betes, AT2 receptor may therefore be a potential candidate for treating hypertension in obese individuals. Un -derstanding the role of AT2 receptor in renal function and blood pressure control will provide a new potential target to treat obesity/diabetes related hypertension.
Current therapeutic target
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Baby's first Thanksgiving! CaCee Cobb gave thanks for her beautiful family and shared a sweet new photo of son Rocco and husband Donald Faison via Instagram on Thursday, Nov. 28. See more pics of CaCee Cobb.
"Happy Thanksgivings from the Faisons!" Jessica Simpson's BFF, 35, captioned the adorable shot, which shows her holding her 3-month-old son in her lap, with Faison seated next to them at a wooden table.
The picture is just the fourth glimpse Cobb has offered of her little bundle of joy. Earlier this month, the first-time mom shared a close-up of her baby son in blue-and-white striped pajamas. And in October, she posted a photo of the tyke in a white knit hat.
"And they say it gets even better," she gushed at the time. "I love my life."
Married since December 2012, Cobb and Faison, 38, welcomed baby Rocco on Aug. 15. (Faison is also dad to four kids from previous relationships.)
"Yesterday @CaCeeCobb and I welcomed the most amazing little boy into our lives! Oh Happy Day!!" Faison tweeted on Friday, Aug. 16. New mom Cobb added: "The happiest day of my life."
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subset: commoncrawl


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Hirogane graduated from Tokyo's Commercial High School in 1916 and began working for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Nagoya as General Affairs accountant. His professional career allowed him the luxury of pursuing photography. He printed in both silver gelatin and bromoil. His subject matter, both rural and industrial scenes, are presumed to have been photographed around Aichi prefecture. Hirogane's work is documented in "Art Photography in Japan, 1920–1940" by Peterson, Ross, et al, 2003.
Hirogane made important contributions to the Pictorialist movement in Japan between the Wars.
Please contact the gallery for a quote on shipping and insurance costs. If applicable, residents of New York will be charged sales tax. International clients will be responsible for their VAT. Please note that we do not ship internationally on items under $1,000.
Price $5,000
Ref.# 8131
Medium Vintage Gelatin Silver Print
Photo Date c. 1920s Print Date c. 1920s
Dimensions 8.75 x 10.75 in. (222 x 254 mm)
Photo Country Japan
Photographer Country Japan
Email firstname.lastname@example.com
Phone 1-212-534-4496
Charles Schwartz Ltd.


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HookinItbyBellaBeanz in an amazing shop on Etsy operated by Crystal Ferk where she offers her handmade hats, mitts, scarves, blankets, slippers, diaper covers and other creative crochet pieces. All of her work is custom designed, and she is always eager to attempt a new design idea. She says "I'm a "freestyle" crocheter. I do not follow patterns, I make them up as I go along so it truly makes each piece unique. I have a passion for detail because let's face it, the fine details are what makes a piece stand out from the rest."
Crystal has been doing crochet work for about 4-1/2 years now, which started with a way to bond with fellow moms in a group she was in that held a monthly crochet/knit night. Up untill last August she had only made square or rectangle items, but decided to make a leap and attempt making hats. They turned out to be a huge hit with her friends, and she had so many requests for them that she decided to turn it into a business for herself. She started a facebook fan page and on November 17th opened up her shop on Etsy. "Thankfully, opening up shop on Etsy has been a major piece in the development and success of my business."
Some of Crystal's biggest accomplishments so far for her shop have been to pair up with amazing photographers that help her products to shine, and to get her web site going on her own. With very little knowledge of web building and html Crystal managed to get her domain set up and get her site looking pretty good on her own. Another big accomplishment that she is quite proud of is how she was able to handle the Christmas rush. The first week of December, orders were piling in, and she took on what seemed to be more than she could handle at some points. After a minor crisis, she pulled it together, and got all orders completed on time. She is also ver proud to have added 20 new stitches to her repritore, which was a personal goal she had set for this year.
Short term, Crystal's goals are to continue expanding her line of products and personal capabilities. She would also love to get some of her products into local, or non-local, brick and mortar retail stores. Also, really branding her business is a current goal she is working on, which is a struggle and long process in the going. Long term, she would love to see her work in a number of stores, from discount to high end, and in magazines and/or shows. She hopes to one day have a store, or chain of stores, showcasing her own work as well as work from other yarn worker small business.
Crystal says, "my inspiration comes from everywhere, I always keep a notebook with me to jot ideas or sketches down. Nature, my children, tv, media, cultures, color, shapes, textures, the list goes on and on. I love when a customer comes to me with an image in thier mind of what they want and with the right info I'm able to create that image into a tangable item." Right now, her business is Crystal's only job, but she is also a full time stay at home mommy of two little children; they are 4 and 3. She does plan to get back into working as a youth counselor and in shelters for women and children once her own children are in school full time. She also enjoys sewing, photography, scrapbooking, reading and spending as much time as possible outside.
These are a few of Crystal's favorite items currently listed in her shop on Etsy:
To see more of Crystal's work or connect with her please visit:
twitter: https://twitter.com/#%21/Hookin_It
pintrest: http://pinterest.com/hookinit/
wanelo: http://www.wanelo.com/Hookin_It
website: http://www.hookin-it.com/
email: email@example.com


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No Way! Looks like you've been crushin' a bit too hard on this style and its no longer available
Encrust your ankle with embellishment in a classic barely there. These stiletto high heels feature jewel finished clear perspex ankle straps and simple front toe strap. Put your best foot forward and let your outfit shine. Pair with block colour cold shoulder dress for any occasion be it prom or a wedding.
Tracked Delivery: 6-8 Working days $9.95Express: 1-2 working days $14.95
Tracked: 7-14 working days $20
We accept the following methods of payment:
Visa, Visa Delta, Visa Electron, MasterCard, Maestro, Switch/Solo and PayPal.
We hope you love your Public Desire shoes as much as we do, but if for some reason you would like to return any items, that is not a prob! We accept returns 14 days after your purchase date. If you need any help at all, please contact customer services at email@example.com and one of our lovely team members will be happy to help! For more information please visit our returns policy.
Public Desire uses cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. By continuing we'll assume you're on board with our cookie policy.
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The #MAVEN navigation team successfully performed a period correction maneuver on Wednesday, August 12, which increased the orbital period of the spacecraft to 4 hours & 38 minutes. This maneuver was performed in order to keep the spacecraft within the required science corridor.
The maneuver was necessary because there is drag or an aerobraking effect exerted on the spacecraft during periapsis (lowest altitude), when MAVEN enters a more dense region of the #Martian atmosphere, which can reduce the orbital period. This effect is especially pronounced during the deep-dip campaigns, where the spacecraft flies through a density corridor during periapsis that is twenty to thirty times the atmospheric density encountered during normal science operations.
As a result of the period correction maneuver, which had a ∆V (change in velocity) of 31 m/sec, the apoapsis (highest altitude) of the spacecraft is now 6,508 km from the surface of #Mars and the periapsis is 147.5 km.
The 4th deep dip campaign is on schedule and will begin with a walk-in maneuver on September 2nd.
Article Courtesy of NASA's MAVEN Mission to Mars


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Automobile in India is now moving (or has already moved if I am late) from one being part of basic needs onto a luxury for the middle class. And when anything becomes a luxury, it doesn't just have to fulfil the basic requirements of that product (like for an automobile, to ferry people around) but have to satisfy the ego or even shoot up the status (in his or her own mind) of the owner. So for an automobile product to be bought it has to satisfy many criteria. And the top most of them would be the looks or the design of the product.
If we observe the automobile products launched in India over last decade, by having only a (and first) look at the product you can easily tell whether the product is going to be successful or not. Or you can even write obituary of the product at first look if looks are not very striking. In my mind I wrote the same for three Suzuki two wheeler products and two Honda products (Unicorn and Shine). In retrospect, I think I am fairly correct (no braggin or boasting) on those counts as these launches have not been so successful for their respective companies.
Today when a consumer in India (Indian consumer is mostly going to be a young person) buys a product he (mostly the automobile buyer is "definitely male") sees the look of the product as the most important thing. Yamaha has not been able to make any presence in Indian two wheeler market simply because none (except the latest launch FZ. Oooh! that's the best bike in India so far by looks) of their product have been worth looking at. The same could be the case of Suzuki two wheeler as well, since all three products launched so far are not at all good at design. Yamaha and Suzuki are well known world over for their superb two-wheeler technology still they are failing in Indian market. I am sure the only reason is that they do not have great product designers in their studios. Superb technology only gets appreciation when it's presented in best designed box. Even Honda is not able to make much of an impact in two wheeler because of the same reason. Bajaj would not be successful or worthy competition to Hero Honda until they hire some top-notch designers. Right now their products looks like underfed dogs or foxes. Pulsar had been successful mainly, because the category which it sells in, did not have worthy competition so far. By the way now Pulsar design has improved considerably but still not the best and has a long way to go. In this category the two new entrants TVS Apache and Yamaha FZ are going to be the scorching hot products, if they have good enough technology.
Obviously when a product's design is great second most important thing should be the underlying technology. Hero Honda has got these two things right in the same order in most of their products and we can see the results.
Same could be said of the passenger car market as well. Unknown (at start) Hyundai is successful in Indian market whereas the mighty GM and Ford are still struggling here for precisely the same reason.
I always wonder why can the management of Yamaha, Suzuki, Bajaj etc not see this point? A business magazine "Businessworld" (oooh, my favourite) carried a cover story on product design couple of years back but probably CEOs of these above companies did not read that issue and paying price now. Had they paid Rs 5 for that issue they would have made a few thousand crores for their companies and we Indian consumers would have had even superior product marquees to choose from.


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When I posted about my niece's tea cup and tea pot collection, which can be found HERE, I received a few emails inquiring about her Alice in Wonderland tea set. It was given to her as a gift, but she did a little research and sent me this link where it can be purchased from Cardew Design (click HERE.) She was excited to see she can order more pieces to add to her set, as well! I especially adore the tea pot!
Friday, January 20, 2012
Alice in Wonderland Tea Party ~
When I posted about my niece's tea cup and tea pot collection, which can be found HERE, I received a few emails inquiring about her Alice in Wonderland tea set. It was given to her as a gift, but she did a little research and sent me this link where it can be purchased from Cardew Design (click HERE.) She was excited to see she can order more pieces to add to her set, as well! I especially adore the tea pot!
33 comments:
- smalltownme said...
So cute! I have two humpty dumpty teapots.
- January 20, 2012 at 4:40 PM
- Gina said...
The teapot is so cute! I have some Cardew teapots, but they're tiny.
The cupcakes are amazing. I don't think I'd ever have the patience to try making those.
- January 20, 2012 at 5:01 PM
- Queenie Believe said...
I love the tea pot and cup set... I have a set configured like that but it is a vegitable theme.
The cup cakes are way fun! Cupcakes have come a long way from the days of elementary school birthday celebrations back in the day -lol-
Have a great day.
Always, Queenie
P.S. Thank you for your prayers for B the Brave.
- January 20, 2012 at 5:15 PM
- Lorraine said...
What a fun teaset! And those cupcakes!! Seriously cute! Thanks for sharing. Happy Pink Saturday!! ~Lorraine ♥♥♥
- January 20, 2012 at 5:45 PM
- Jil~Say It With Roses said...
Hi Cindy,
How have you been? I hope you have not had too much snow! It is snowing here as I write, but....we are not expected to get what Detroit is to get. Still we will be out shoveling in the morning! Good for the winter waist line. lol!
This teapot is exquisite and so are those cupcakes. I don't think I could bite into one so cute!
♥ Jil
- January 20, 2012 at 7:49 PM
- Magic Love Crow said...
Those tea pots are so cute!! And, those cupcakes, you are right, they look too pretty to eat!! Have a great weekend ;o)
- January 20, 2012 at 7:58 PM
- Suzann said...
Hello Cindy,
Love those cupcakes and the Alice in Wonderland teapots.
Thank you for stopping by and leaving your comment.
Happy Pink Day!!!
Suzann ~xoxo~
- January 20, 2012 at 8:17 PM
- xinex said...
Oh so cute! I have a teapot but have not used it cause I am still trying to complete the set. Love the cupcakes too....Christine
- January 20, 2012 at 8:25 PM
- Au and Target said...
Oh my, that's one of my husband's favourite films! Together with The Maltese Falcon and Repo man. Lovely teapot.
Gong Xi Fa Cai! Wishing you a prosperous, auspicious and joyous Year of the Dragon.
- January 20, 2012 at 8:29 PM
- Trish - Sweetology101 said...
super fun - I love Alice related Tea Parties and of course cupcakes! HPS!
- January 20, 2012 at 8:47 PM
- Myric said...
That can be an awesome birthday party theme! Oh how cute!
I tagged you via post. Check it out if you would like to join the fun! I thought this is a nice way to know my blogger friends :)
- January 20, 2012 at 8:54 PM
- Grace said...
What sweet teapots and amazing cupcakes. Alice would be proud! lol Happy Pink Saturday. Grace
- January 20, 2012 at 9:30 PM
- Michele said...
what an adorable post! happy pink saturday Cindy! xo from michele
- January 20, 2012 at 10:06 PM
- Terra said...
Great tea pot, and those cup cakes are tremendously detailed.
- January 20, 2012 at 10:17 PM
- Julie Tucker-Wolek said...
OMYGOSH!! These are just magical! :):):):):):):):):):):)
- January 20, 2012 at 10:18 PM
- High Heeled Life said...
These are too adorable!!! thanks for sharing the links.. wishing you a wonderful and blessed week-end, xo HHL
- January 20, 2012 at 11:37 PM
- chubskulit said...
Wow, beautiful selection of pink!
My PINK is inviting you to come and see. Have a nice weekend!
- January 21, 2012 at 12:47 AM
- 1CardCreator said...
Happy Pink Saturday! ~Diane
- January 21, 2012 at 10:27 AM
- Marti McClure said...
That cupcake tower is amazing! Happy Pink Saturday. ~Marti
- January 21, 2012 at 11:01 AM
- Carolyn Robbins said...
What a fun Tea party. Thank you for sharing. Visiting via Pink Saturday!
- January 21, 2012 at 1:16 PM
- Jillian's Bella Rosa Antiques said...
Wow, really cute! I love the cupcakes too!
- January 21, 2012 at 2:37 PM
- Cindy Adkins said...
Oh WOW, how gorgeous this all is and I LOVE those cupcakes!!! Happy Pink Saturday, my friend.
- January 21, 2012 at 7:11 PM
- Red Rose Alley said...
I'm so glad you posted about this. I'm going to send Jess over here. She will love it, as Alice In Wonderland is a favorite of hers. The tea pot is so delightful, and those cupcakes!!! Thank you for the info. on the teapots. Have a good weekend.
~Sheri at Red Rose Alley
- January 21, 2012 at 7:13 PM
- Daniella said...
Love the tea sets! The tea for one is super cute!!
And I'm with you Cindy, those cupcakes are almost too pretty to eat. Almost!!
- January 21, 2012 at 8:39 PM
- Jeanne said...
Good morning Cindy, A day late but life has been busy here with company for the past two weeks. Thank you for your visit on PS.
I love the Alice in Wonderland teapot series. I hope your niece finds lots of pieces. I also love the cupcakes and the great quote.
Hugs, Jeanne
- January 22, 2012 at 10:02 AM
- Linda M. said...
Happy Day After Pink Saturday Cindy, My daughter has one of Alice In Wonderland tea sets too. Those cup cakes look amazing. I'm off to read more of your blog. Joyous Wishes, Linda
- January 22, 2012 at 10:15 AM
- Jen @ Creating with the J's said...
Such a fun post! Love the quote! Hope you had a great weekend!
- January 22, 2012 at 5:48 PM
- Debbiedoo's blogging and blabbing said...
Oh my patience and beauty on those cupcakes. Too pretty to touch. Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy your Sunday.
- January 22, 2012 at 6:03 PM
Still catching up on my pinks since I was away on Sat. This is unreal, Cindy. Oh my!!!! They are gorgeous and I'm glad you shared them. Wow!
HPS...or should I say, HBPS (B for belated). ;)
- January 23, 2012 at 10:21 AM
- Kristy Creighton said...
Hi, Cindy! I found your blog and am your newest follower, too! This is simply gorgeous! My husband is from Scotland and we are big tea-drinkers here. Tea pots, cozies - oh all the paraphernalia - fill several kitchen cabinets! I love the Alice in Wonderland items!
- January 23, 2012 at 4:47 PM
Such adorable pots and cupcakes! I have many of my late mom's teapots, coffee sets, chocolate sets and lemonade sets - I guess we are "heavy" drinkers! ha
- January 24, 2012 at 2:52 PM
- Sherry @ A Happy Valentine said...
I love teapots of all kinds! Wouldn't a cup of tea go great with one of those cute cupcakes?
I'm so very late with my Pink Saturday visits but I hope you had a great one!
- January 25, 2012 at 11:33 AM
- Ivy and Elephants said...
I love anything Alice in Wonderland so that tea pot made me swoon! Thanks so much for sharing it with us at WIW, we loved having you and hope to see you again this week, too!
- January 30, 2012 at 10:21 PM


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Do you know? The first video is a standard definition(SD) video. It had 352 lines and it was in widescreen format, made to fit the aspect ratio of old televisions (4:3 aspect ratio). It was very probably captured from a high-definition source and resized to standard definition so the video file wouldn't be so large. The compression algorithm used was XviD, and the file (42 minutes of video) weighs in at 350 MB.
HD AND SD are the two terms that would be familiar to every layman in the society. AS HD TV's and videos are the new sensations in the market. Everyone nowadays, want to have HD TV in their house. HD and SD are two common terms related to video quality standards. HD stands for High Definition (720/1080p) and SD stands for Standard Definition (360/480p).Below in this article, we have detailed the terms and carefully jotted the differences in the tabular form.
What is HD?
HD stands for high definition and is used to describe videos having higher picture resolution than the standard ones. HD TV or video has 720p by 1080p resolution that means 720 by 1080 lines of pixels in the widescreen format are used to fit in the aspect ratio of the screen. It's a new technology and their demand has been increasing day by day due to the better picture quality and viewing experience that you get on the HD TV or video as compared to the standard one.
What is SD?
The main purpose of providing HD capable screens is to provide finer display than SD. They can be related to the digital camera, where a better quality camera has higher megapixels as compared to standard. Similar is the case with the display, more the pixel resolution the better the display would be. The difference between HD and SD quality is hardly noticeable on small screens (as 360by480 can cover up well on the small screens) however, on large screens the difference can be easily seen. A 720p display thus can provide the same viewing experience on 1.5 times larger screen than what a 480p would.
To have complete HD experience you need to have not only the HD TV but also HD signals. Having HD TV and SD signals would only mean that SD pictures would be only stretched to fit into the HD screens, thus deteriorating their quality. The reverse also, having HD signal and SD TV would mean that the HD TV signals would be compressed in order to fit into your SD capable screen, deteriorating the quality. However seeing the current trade we are quickly moving into towards all HD viewing experience.SD devices and signals are becoming outdated with each passing day.
However, it is true there are only a handful of media that are being sold in HD; even less is the number of TV stations that are broadcasting in HD. Buying HD TV set might not result in an instantly better viewing experience across the board, but it prepares you for the eventuality.
|HD provides you with much better picture quality and viewing experience than SD.
|Picture quality is lower than HD.
|Images are much finer and sharper than in SD.
|Images are less finer and sharper than HD.
|HD contains more pixel than SD.
|SD has lesser pixels than HD.
|The normal resolution for HD is 720/1080p.
|The normal resolution for SD is 360/720p.
|The number of lines of pixels fitting in a screen to produce the image is thus 720/1080.
|The number of lines of pixels fitting in a screen to produce the image is thus 360/4080.
|For HD TV you need to have HD signals in order to get the best experience.
|Standard signals are sufficient for SD experience.
|In a case of the big screens, the difference becomes quite visible, with big screens demanding HD resolutions for better viewing.
|IN big screens SD picture quality is very bad as the same number of 360/480 lines have to spread now on a bigger screen.
|On small screens, there is no big difference between SD and HD.
|These are best suited for smaller screens.
|This is a new technology and their use is becoming popular day by day.
|This is the conventional technology used from earlier times but their usage is declining very fast.
High Definition technologies have become very popular nowadays. They offer better picture quality both in terms of fineness and sharpness of an image. On the big screens, the difference between the two is easily noticeable with HD images being shown in top quality while the standard one having poor quality due to less number of lines to fit on the big screen. However, HD technology is new and its use is not common and would take some time before it completely replaces the old SD technology


text:
Billy Cooper was an outstanding clinical mycologist and was the first recipient of the award in 1983, which was renamed in his honor after his untimely death. Each year we continue the tradition and recognize an outstanding contributor to the practice of diagnostic clinical mycology. Please refer to the list of previous recipients below when considering nominees:
1983 Billy Cooper
1984 Leo Kaufman
1985 No award given
1986 Smith Shadomy
1987 Michael McGinnis
1988 Demothenes Pappagianis
1989 Glenn D. Roberts
1990 Norman L. Goodman
1991 Ira F. Salkin
1992 Geoffrey A. Land
1993 William G. Merz
1994 Michael A. Pfaller
1995 Michael G. Rinaldi
1996 Thomas J. Walsh
1997 No award given
1998 Leslie Hall Stockman
1999 No award given
2000 Donald L. Greer
2001 Lynne Snyder
2002 Arvind A. Padhye
2003 Ana Espinel
2004 Thomas G. Mitchell
2005 Davise Larone
2006 Wiley A. Schell
2007 Gary Procop
2008 Deanna A. Sutton
2009 Mahmoud Ghannoum
2010 Leonel Mendoza
2011 Annette Fothergill
2012 No award
2013 Dimitrios P. Kontoyiannis
2014 Stan Bauman
2015 Joe Wheat
2016 David Andes
2017 Liise-anne Pirofsky


text: So I woke up this morning and all of a sudden I can't retrieve my Gmail. I have the widget from the market that tells you how many new messages you have, and that still works. It will pop up with a 1 or 2 next to the icon, but I don't get the normal notification bar popups and when I open gmail it won't load any messages except for the first 3 or 4 that were already loaded and tells me there is a connectivity issue. Has anyone experienced this yet? Any advice? I am running the Smoked Glass custom ROM OCed at 1.1GHz. Thanks for the help!


text:
Nobody wants an IRS tax agent knocking at the door and asking for a shoebox full of receipts. Unfortunately, there's no surefire way to avoid an audit.
However, you can sharply reduce the odds of an IRS inquiry by avoiding some common mistakes when filing your taxes. Here are seven that should be on your radar.
1. Hiring the wrong tax preparer
Ronald Sumners / Shutterstock.com
This mistake might occur before you even get your name on the tax return. Select a tax preparer who is incompetent or unethical, and he or she could spell big trouble for you.
If the IRS audits one of the returns the tax preparer filed and finds significant problems, the agency might decide to audit all the returns that person prepared for the year, or for the past several years.
Don't make this mistake. Read our advice on how to select the best tax pro.
2. Saying your hobby is a business
Mikhail_Kayl / Shutterstock.com
Let's say you breed and sell dogs, or sell blankets on Etsy, or resell garage sale purchases on eBay. At the end of the year, you realize expenses exceeded what you made and decide to deduct a tax loss from your "business."
However, if you do that for several years, the IRS is going to get suspicious. A business is something that makes money. If you haven't made money in at least three of the past five years, what you have might actually be a hobby.
The IRS doesn't allow business deductions for hobbies.
3. Filing certain schedules or forms
RomanR / Shutterstock.com
You might say the third item on our list isn't a mistake because, in many cases, there is no way to avoid it. For example, if you have a business, you need to file a Schedule C. And yet filing a Schedule C increases your chances of an audit.
However, it would be a mistake to file a Schedule C if you have an unprofitable business that is more like a hobby.
Ask your accountant if it's also a mistake to file a Form 5213. Form 5213 prevents the IRS from auditing you for the first five years of your business, and it is typically used when transitioning a hobby into a business.
This form allows you to claim losses from your hobby-turned-business, no questions asked. That is, until the five years are up, and the IRS comes calling to see what you've been up to.
4. Taking questionable deductions or credits
Rawpixel.com / Shutterstock.com
Experts generally agree that claiming excessive charitable contributions and claiming a home office are two of the deductions most likely to raise red flags with the IRS.
If you donate a large percentage of your income to charity, be sure to keep careful records. Too many contributions relative to your income can be a problem. So, think twice about inflating the value of those items you dropped off at the thrift store.
Keep careful records of all donations and get a written acknowledgement from any charity to which you donate $250 or more per year.
As for the home office, take the deduction to which you're entitled, but be ready to defend it if needed. The most important thing to remember is that you can only deduct a home office if you use that space exclusively for business.
Under the category of credits, abusing the Earned Income Tax Credit is likely to get you in trouble, according to experts.
Back in 2013, the IRS came under fire for not taking enough action to curtail improperly awarded Earned Income Tax Credits. In a statement reported by multiple news outlets, the agency fired back by saying EITC claims were twice as likely to be audited as other returns. If you claim the EITC, consider yourself warned.
5. Claiming a loss from a rental
kurhan / Shutterstock.com
When housing prices were depressed, some people converted homes into rentals rather than sell them. Those who found the rent didn't cover the mortgage and taxes might have assumed they were entitled to take a deduction for the losses.
Not so fast. You must either be an active participant in the management of your rental or a real estate professional to do that. The IRS has a long and confusing page with the details, but Nolo.com has a much clearer explanation.
Make sure you're eligible to deduct the losses before doing so. Also check out "10 Keys to Finding and Owning the Perfect Rental Property."
6. Failing to claim all your income
Nikolai Moiseenko / Shutterstock.com
Thinking you can keep secrets from the IRS is a mistake:
- You might think the government won't know about the money you earned freelancing on the side. But if the company you worked for files a 1099 form, the IRS knows.
- You might think you can keep your alimony checks a secret. But if your spouse is reporting those payments on his or her return, the IRS knows.
- You might think the interest you earn from foreign bank accounts is between you and that country's bankers. But if those nice bankers are sharing information with the U.S., the IRS knows.
Don't take the chance of getting caught in a lie. Claim all your income. Then, the IRS won't have any discrepancies to note, giving it one less reason to flag your return for an audit.
7. Making math errors
alphaspirit / Shutterstock.com
The last mistake on our list is also the simplest misstep to avoid: math errors.
If you can't add and subtract correctly, the IRS might start wondering what else you got wrong in preparing your return. Avoid this audit trigger by using tax software or an online program that will virtually ensure the calculations are correct. If you earn less than $66,000, you can find free online tax prep through the IRS Free File program.
What's your experience with the IRS? Share in our comments section below or on our Facebook page.


text: The Syracuse Architecture Film Society is a group of students that come together to show/view Architecture films that place cinema at the intersection of faculty and student interests. In spring 2014 the group launched a weekly series called PLAYTIME. Viewings are free and open to the public and lively discussion often follows.


text:
|NewsUSA) – School-age children receive regular vision screenings, but childhood blindness can start long before elementary school. Early detection makes treatments more effective, so parents should have their children's vision checked in preschool.
Ambylopia, or lazy eye, is one of the most common disorders detected in young children. Lazy eye, which occurs when one eye is significantly stronger than the other, affects two to three of every 100 children. If left untreated, the weaker eye tends to wander inward or outward, leading to permanent vision impairment.
Any factor that causes eyes to blur, cross or turn out can lead to lazy eye. The most common cause is strabismus, a muscle imbalance that prevents eyes from coordinating their movements. Congenital problems, like cataracts or oddly shaped eyes, can also lead to lazy eye.
Most of the time, conservative treatments like corrective eyewear, eye patches or eye drops can fix lazy eye. Droopy eyes, crossed eyes or eyes that are fixed outward might require surgical correction. Treatments typically start improving vision after a few weeks or months — if the problem is caught early in life.
Some programs aim to screen young children for vision problems. For example, Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) established a preschool vision screening program in 1999. Trained volunteers screen children ages one through five. If they see a problem, the volunteers refer the child to an eye doctor.
So far, Lions volunteers have screened 1 million children in the United States and Taiwan. Volunteers refer about 6 percent of the children they see. Of those, approximately 65 percent have a vision disorder that can cause lazy eye.
Parents need to schedule eye screenings. Newborns should have their eyes examined at every wellness visit. Children with a family history of vision impairment, either childhood or adult, should see an eye specialist by 18 months. By age 3, all children should see an eye specialist on a regular basis.
For more information, visit www.lionsclubs.org.
This article is copyright free. You are free to use it on a blog, website, in a newspaper, or newsletter.
To re-post this, copy the content above, or HTML on the right, and paste onto your site.


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Ro 12:8 1 Th 5:12 1 Co 12:28
Dt 21:17


text: Reese Boyko prototyping the newest board from Rayne. Reese can shred anything with 4 wheels and 2 trucks, so Rayne put this new fun stick under his feet to see where he took it. Prototyping is all about testing the design and ideas to see if they well thought out and work one the road. The Forge has a directional shape with twin double kicks and just the right amount of flex and rebound, it's as versatile as it is fun. Rayne made the new Forge a little shorter than the original from back in the day for increased mobility, and they extended the cuts to allow for more wheel options. The Forge easily accommodates up to 70mm wheels (or bigger depending on the setup), but Reese was rolling on Rayne's new 64mm Envy wheels while testing.


text:
Von Miller's Sex Tape Partner, Elizabeth Ruiz, Claims She Didn't Extort Him, Kept Footage For Masturbation Purposes
Von Miller's sextape partner, Elizabeth Ruiz, is firing back at the NFL star for claiming that she tried to extort him.
Ruiz spoke with TMZ and denied the allegation from the NFL star that she's trying to shake him down for money. Ruiz also went on to say tha Miller was the one who pushed to record the sexual acts.
Via TMZ
"When I finally gave in I was like, 'OK, fine we'll record it,'""So I pulled out my phone and we started recording. The whole time, everything was consensual. After the trip Von did call me and we talked briefly. He was like,' Do you still have the tape?' I was like, 'Yes, I do.' He was like 'OK, cool, send it to me.' I was like, 'No I don't want it to get out.'"
"He never asked me to delete it. I never ever went up to Von to ask him for $2.5 million or $1," "My attorney told them what the situation was and they threw out the first offer, and my attorney counter-offered with the $2.5 million."
When asked by TMZ host Harvey Levin why she didn't delete the video after the vacation in Cancun, Ruiz admitted she wanted to use it to pleasure herself.
Scroll down for pics of Miss Ruiz.


text:
Today's culture isn't a positive place to be if you're a Christian. Our culture is so messed up we don't even know the difference between male and female anymore with the transgender issue. The world tells us there are no moral absolutes, God doesn't exist, and the Bible isn't truth. Parents, we need to teach our kids to defend their faith: Christian apologetics. Here are a few ways to start with our kids (from Natasha Crain).1 Make sure you have daily Bible time. Start by reminding them that "God has revealed Himself to people in TWO ways: through the Bible and through the world around us." Then, remind them that "without God, there would be nothing." Then, use the Bible to begin studying books about space. These are three beginning steps. More tomorrow.
1From "14 Ways I Teach Apologetics to My 5-Year-Olds" by Natasha Crain, ChristianMomThoughts.com
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text:
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a technology solution that allows your organization to automate repetitive tasks, by rule-based processes through computer software. RPA is smart software that interacts with business applications to streamline processes. RPA solutions are designed to mimic the same "manual" paths taken by a human using a combination of user interface interaction. RPA Software, or "bots," will perform repetitive tasks and rule-based processes to free your employees for value-added tasks such as analysis… You leverage configurable software to perform the tasks you assign and control. RPA interacts with any other systems or applications (cloud or on premise) the same way you do. You do not need to code anything within your systems. It is non-disruptive, non-invasive and easy to use.
The rise of RPA will help to eliminate repetitive tasks and let your employees focus on value-added tasks, allowing them to apply their innate creativity and problem-solving abilities. With just a few clicks, the bots will help you to connect to your solutions, allowing you to process and exchange data. The bots will help you to transform data so that each of your systems can consume it. Finally, the bots will help you to automate tasks, streamline processes, increase employee productivity, while reducing costs and time, with a direct impact on the bottom line.
RPA Infographic
What are the Benefits of Using Bots?
The bots are 2-5 times faster than employees*, can be executed in parallel and can work 24/7. The bots will bring your business a cost reduction from 25% to 50%*! Bots are predictable, consistent, error-free and scalable. Employees are happier, as they can focus their time on activities that are highly valuable and non-repetitive, such as increasing morale, job satisfaction, and productivity.
Leverage RPA in These Key Areas
To quickly realize the benefits of RPA, the following activities can be targeted:
Ataway RPA consultants have proven experience in automation using Automation Anywhere RPA software. Guiding customers in all stages of the RPA lifecycle; from process review, opportunity selection, business case development onto building the RPA solution as well as providing support. Our consultants have the right skills to work with line of business employees, understanding business requirements and translating them into the best solution. We provide flexibility to organizations, reducing costs and improving business operation performance awhile generating ROI.
Solve your Robotic Process Automation challenges, Consult with Ataway's team of experts today to learn more or send us an email: email@example.com.
* Source: Institute of Robotic Process Automation


text:
Qing Dynasty Beauty 德珍绝美工筆人物畫 - 清宫怨
Der Jen has achieved fame in her homeland and that fame is now spreading to other parts of the world as more and more people become familiar with her beautiful paintings. This Taiwanese artist depicts these beautiful ladies in classic, traditional dress that would have been worn by members of the royal court or an empress herself. Traditional hair styles and jewelry depicted in her pieces are also considered authentic. Der Jen's art can be found in Chinese advertising, children's magazines, romance novels, tarot cards, and even on public transit tickets. It's also making its way to our pictures as desktop wallpaper.
美畫 Paintings Playlist


text:
Page from the Liber Visionis
Ren Po Ken 30 Sep 2011 18:33
1 x Page from the Liber Visionis
A page torn from 'The Book of Faces'. Benjamin Villein's menacing magnum opus
Click on this item in your inventory to use it.
I have no idea where I got this item or what it does if I click on it. All I really know about it is it's mouseover text and it's sell value to the bazaar (50 pence). Also I can find no mention of it on this wiki.
Unfold Page from the Liber Visionis by Ren Po Ken, 30 Sep 2011 18:33


text:
Artist: RICHARD PAPIERCUTS
Title: IF
Format: LP
Label: Ever/Never
Country: USA
Price: $15.00
"Influenced in equal measure by both sides of the street and the top and bottom of the charts, Richard Papiercuts "IF" sets a new
standard for ambitious pop music on a shoestring budget. Meticulously recorded throughout New York City over the course
of a turbulent year, Papiercuts & co. traffic in shades of light and dark. Like a master of ceremonies at an underground cabaret,
Papiercuts -- a mystery man of uncertain origin and pedigree -- is an expert guide to the many quandaries of a modern metropolitan existence. "IF" is unafraid to explore a complex inner life rife with
anxiety and doubt, yet reveling in the sensual pleasures only the contemporary cityscape can provide. "IF" is the ultimate marriage
of subversive, underground sensibilities and classic songwriting craftsmanship silhouetted on a larger-than-life canvas. This music
encompasses an ordinary life played out in widescreen. We are all our own celluloid heroes, Papiercuts seems to be telling us.
Embrace your starring role, be your biggest fan.
"How It Really Begins" opens the album as an interruption -- the band in mid-rock-out -- a throbbing pulse peppered with sudden starts and stops, used here not as demonstrations of musical prowess, but as building blocks of tension. Papiercuts deep voice walks a thin line between utter sincerity and gentle mocking -- here used to excellent effect as the band engages in a sort of stately post-punk, all jagged propulsion and knowing winks. "How It Really Begins" is a suitably thrilling beginning to the masterful new album by enigmatic troubadour Richard Papiercuts. "Bull and Cup Relax" is a slowly twisting trip through latter-day psychpop, an update on Tears For Fears update on The Beatles. Future smash "Peanut Butter Is Back" features an instant hook that could be chanted by cheerleaders or groups of school children. Viral YouTube videos are waiting in the wings for this one....
Dousing cocaine dreams in cascades of champagne, "The Sorrow Of Faith" is a late-night lament that summons decadent images of 1980s excess -- an attempt to maintain an unsustainable harem, and no amount of silk pillows will cushion the inevitable fall. Bryan Ferry is on the phone right now, asking his manager why nobody has brought him a song this good in years. "The Sorrow OF Faith" works perfectly as both reflecting pool and enticing come-on -- it is the hand that reaches out from the darkness to clasp your own. "Twelve Days" is a beautiful pop-psych gem that gleams like The Byrds covering The Velvet Underground. The song tries to hide its darkness from you, but it is unmistakably present in the gently roiling verses. "They Tried To Change Me" taps back into Richard Papiercuts aggressive side, utilizing sheets of guitars and a pounded piano to air its complaints. "Now Ive Found You" leans hard into its romantic overtures, but allows them to include family into its lovefest. "Tired Of Playing The Drums" is some kind of funhouse mirror take on a Dire Straits or Don Henley '80s chestnut. It shouldnt work, but it does, and how. The smoldering Papercuts of "Personality" is the smoothest talker at the bar, and you cant resist his charms; the music swooning and swelling along with you. After such an eventful journey, "Manhattanville" is the perfect endpoint, its deadpan coda telling us that "Life is only so long."
Richard Papiercuts is adult music made by adult adults. "IF" is an album that harkens back to the old world of Brecht and Weill, Bowie and Cale -- and is surely one of 2015s boldest musical statements."- Ever/Never.


text:
Ebube Nwagbo moves into Kcee's apartment
Nollywood actress, Ebube Nwagbo and the Limpopo crooner, Kcee, have been an item for sometime now. The pair had dated on and off in the past. Back in 2010, Kcee left Ebube to marry a young lady known as Ijeoma who later bore him a child, but their two year old marriage crashed last year, due to allegations from his wife that he was still having an affair with Ebube.
Well, Ebube is back with Kcee, she has moved into his home and this time around they might take it a step further.


text:
A pledge to keep to our youth of the other 99 percent
Julianne Malveaux | 6/16/2014, 8:36 a.m.
(NNPA) – As young people graduate from high school, or finish the school year as sophomores and juniors, they begin to search for summer jobs. For the past several summers, the jobs have not been there, and this summer will be no different. It is true that economists are projecting a better employment situation for the college graduates who are entering the labor market now. At the same time, those high school graduates who must save money for college incidentals or for other needs will have a hard time finding work.
The Brookings Institute says that in our nation's top 100 metropolitan areas, the employment prospects for teens and young adults dropped drastically. Indeed, Brookings used the word "plummeted" to describe changes of the employment situation between 2000 and 2011. White youth had an official unemployment rate of 15.9 percent in April, while African American youth have a rate of 36.8 percent, more than twice the White rate. These are just the official numbers. The unofficial numbers would suggest that a third of White youth, and about 70 percent of Black youth, are out of work.
Many choose to focus on adult unemployment. And certainly, the ability of adults to support their families is of greater concern. But in addition to earning money, the 16- to 19-year-old population benefits from summer jobs because they learn work habits, such as promptness and appropriate dress, when they are exposed to the labor market. Many who do not find summer employment will find that later an employer will prefer someone who has worked to someone who had not.
In the past, some city governments have provided resources to help put young people to work. In economic hard times (though some say they are improving), it is often easier for young people to find unpaid opportunities than those that generate income. That's fine for those who can afford to work for free, but there is a definite class-bias when unpaid internships are considered. Those whose parents are moderate earners are more likely to be willing or able to work without pay. Yet, unpaid internships are often stepping-stones to lucrative paid-employment opportunities.
The youth employment situation is dire, and it is all the more dire when our rhetoric about valuing youth is examined. How often have you been to an event focused on youth issues that played the Whitney Houston song, The Greatest Love of All? The song begins with the words, "I believe that children are the future, teach them well and let them lead the way." What are we teaching our youth when we fail to provide opportunities for them?
We have made it more difficult for young people to find summer work, and more difficult for them to attend college, but very easy to fast track them into the criminal justice system. We are determining our nation's future tomorrow by our actions today.
All youth are not in the same position. Race, class and ethnicity shape the opportunities presented to young people. The offspring of the top 1 percent certainly don't have to worry about summer jobs or college costs. And some children of the 1 percent can murder with impunity. A Texas teen got probation for killing four people when he was so drunk that his blood alcohol was three times the legal limit. His defense said he suffered from "affluenza," which means he had too much money to have any sense. The judge bought the bizarre argument.


text:
Riskware/BitMiner Coin Miner Process on the PC
When Riskware/BitMiner infects the system, it makes it so naturally and discreetly that users do not know about that. Sadly, but to remove the source of such threat it will take a lot of efforts without special software. The malware, or a Trojan if to be specific, aims to disrupt digital currency due to the infected files that it uses for own needs. It is obvious that such visitor will not add any advantages to the work of the PC.
The fact of the Riskware/BitMiner presence means that there are drawbacks with the defense, otherwise, the Trojan wouldn't start high CPU usage for own needs. You may forget about normal functioning of the computer as the overload device will often freeze. That is why we classify this kind of threat as especially unwanted. There are no concrete symptoms of malware presence except general slowness and suspicious overload of the processor. Many people also tell about the problems with mouse, it does not want to move when they wiggle it in different sides.
Riskware/BitMiner Trojan is a sort of infection that appears because of users fault. The mishap is related to the mindless installation. It usually does not take plenty of time to read pre-installation agreements to block the penetration of unwanted objects. When users avoid doing this step, they permit installation of different infected samples while they obtain utilities. One more important moment concerns computer defense. Loads of people live without anti-virus applications relying on their own fortune. We strongly offer doing the scan of the system regularly to detect and delete unwanted objects in time and prevent sad results of malware invasion.
To get rid of Riskware/BitMiner Trojan we offer you only a time-tasted anti-malware application. Meet our Trojan Remover tool and forget about slowness and freezes. The tool will remove the source of infection and all related components that might be linked to this sort of infection. Remember to reset infected browsers.
Riskware/BitMiner automatic remover:
Loaris Trojan Remover aids in the removal of various malicious and unwanted stuff – Trojan Horses, Worms, Adware, Spyware, Malware, Ransomware Traces – when standard anti-virus software either fails to detect them or fails to effectively eliminate them. Standard anti-virus programs may be good at detecting threats like Riskware/BitMiner, but not always good at effectively removing it… Also, Loaris Trojan Remover can be considered as a simple cleaner – it removes not only infected files, but also other junk files that were brought by viruses and unwanted programs.
NOTE: Loaris Trojan Remover is absolutely free! You can use it for 30 days without any restrictions! Follow the removal guide below to know how to get the key.
Riskware/BitMiner – how dangerous is it?
Riskware/BitMiner may add a lot of different extensions to all popular browsers such as Internet Explorer, Opera, Google Chrome and Mozilla FireFox. This way it stores your personal data and another private information. For example, your search queries, to show you thousands of ads based on your preferences, but absolutely useless. Also, this behavior can provide other malicious programs and viruses a way inside of your computer. Moreover, Riskware/BitMiner may generate adverts and pop-ups that will annoy you a lot! It will slow down your system and redirect you to the malicious domains.
Do not neglect the fact that misfortunes never come alone, so probably the it would lead a lot of unwanted guests on your PC – rootkits, backdoors, spyware and other malicious applications.
So don't waste your time and wait for your computer death – follow the simple removal guide below and get rid of Riskware/BitMiner in a few minutes!
How to remove Riskware/BitMiner?
- Download Loaris Trojan Remover and scan your computer with it (advised Full scan).
- Click on "Apply" to remove all infections found after the scan is completed:
- Shut down all your available browsers.
- In Loaris Trojan Remover click on "Tools" and then on "Reset browser settings":
- Confirm your choice using next window.
- Follow the instructions and click on "Yes" button:
- Finally, restart your computer to apply all made changes.
"Riskware/BitMiner" remover tool:
Loaris Trojan Remover aids in the removal of Malware – Trojan Horses, Worms, Adware, Spyware – when standard anti-virus software either fails to detect them or fails to effectively eliminate them. Standard antivirus programs are good at detecting Riskware/BitMiner, but not always good at effectively removing it… Also, Loaris Trojan Remover can be considered as a simple cleaner! It removes not only infected files, but also other junk files that were brought by viruses and unwanted programs.
If all these steps didn't help and you still have to deal with Riskware/BitMiner on your PC, just contact us and we will help to set your computer free from this annoying ads!


text:
While many are getting excited about the movie adaptation of Attack on Robot (no idea what popular franchise that might be aping...), Ping Pong's very own table tennis robot is continuing down his single-minded path.
In reality, it would probably be unrealistic to compare Smile to a robot - your average mechanical man probably wouldn't treat his team-mates like dirt while he went about his business, whereas Smile views the fellow members of the table tennis club as either an irritation or a slave to his requirements. Given his complaints about the equipment, the club members and anything else that pops into his head, the question of why he's yet to join Kaio looms ever larger as it seems to offer everything that he wants and needs as he vies to constantly improve in his abilities.
All of this is really just a precursor to the wider view that this week's episode takes on those with the will and dedication to master their skills and craft, and those who just want to go with the flow - while Peco (and others like him) spend their Christmas Eve on dates, getting drunk and "living life to the full", Kazama and Smile lock themselves away to continue their endless cycle of training. In the midst of all of this is Kong, who seems to have rebuilt himself at the leader of the club he's in charge of, fitting perfectly into a role where those around him seem to appreciate him. Perhaps, however, Peco's care-free attitude is about to come to an end as circumstances force him to realise what he really wants to do with his life.
This may not have been Ping Pong at its strongest when it comes to engaging the viewer, but it still did a pretty good job of building its characters and story for the most part - Peco's "revelation" could maybe have been provided in a more unique way than the old "life flashing before his eyes" trick, but it's moved the story forward in a tantalising way that bodes well for future episodes while also giving it more scope beyond simply trying to figure out what drives Smile. Its animation is increasingly looking more bad than stylish at the moment, but as long as it's capable of relating what remains an interesting story of sporting ambition (or, on occasion, the lack thereof) then it's fine by me.
Thursday, 15 May 2014
Ping Pong the Animation - Episode 6
Posted by Andy Hanley at 19:42
Labels: ping pong
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