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Tutti i commenti (472)
to respond to some comments: its not thor's hammer, its a pyritized ammonite. the tattoos are real. we were not on drugs. there was a pro camera involved but that doesnt mean we are not amateurs ;) glad everyone is enjoying it !!!
This is My favorite clip. Do you have anything else on the internet?
Is that Aimee ?
one of the few porn videos where the woman looks like she would want to fuck this guy even if she wasn't being paid to do it.
She gives him a really great sucking and really appears to enjoy it but why did he not suck her pussy and make her cum in his mouth. I like the way he had his dick balls deep in her snatch and the way she was very active in fucking him. She has great natural tits that should have been kissed and sucked. He should have cum inside her pussy and let it run out of her rather than on her back. She deserved to have gotten a cream pie since she actively fucked him so well in this flick.
Wow this couple can really fuck, they must be pros! Her blowjob is incredible and he's got an amazing cock.
His dick is fucking perfect! That girl is fine as hell too. I would fuck them both
This video made me so horny and now I want to have sex with someone tonight. I'm so horny, I'm rubbing my clit right now. I'll do anything tonight... you can cum on my face or tits, you can pound my ass, you can tie me up or you can let your friends watch and jerk off as I ride your cock so hard... anything you want. I just need to be fucked so bad!!
Need more women like you
cum on
one hell of a cumshot
Nice fuck
damn i got a boner. this is fkn sey af, fuck me up suck my dick girl mmmmmmm imma suck yo pussy
I cant get enough of watching this video. And I agree with Suzzie, oral sex is amazing. I think licking my pussy is the most sensual thing a person can do to me and when a guy loves to lick me as much as I love to suck him, its an incredible orgasm. I love when a guy likes to lick me because he knows how much I like it, not just because he thinks he has to. And yes, I can tell the difference. When I cum on a guys tongue, my whole body explodes and I cant even catch my breath, its amazing.
I love you Tina.
One of the best lay ever. Great stuff.
lo mejor es la cara de disfrute de la mujer No importa si es sexo pago o no lo que verdaderamente importa es la alegria de disfrutar sin pensar en nada mas Siempre les digo a la mujer con la que me voy a acostar por primera vez que lo unico importante es pasarla bien y ello se ve en las expresiones no en los gritos que den
As a woman and It was a pleasure seeing the female actually enjoy herself as opposed to being just used like a urinal. Girlfriend's got skills she's taught me a few things today
Lol awesome always good to learn alot of partners female or male do not let thier partner know what feels good or the way he or she may like a certin thing a certin way etc. Anyways thats cool, People let your parter, lover, fuck buddy whom ever what you like and how u like it always leads to a better time trust me, SPEAK UP IN BED PEOPLE.
Nice vid but not amateur
was our first video. pro camera and some lights. but no experience. yes it was edited professionally but we were amateurs
I have to show this to my girlfriend so she can take note of how a woman should be into it move like that. This is the sexiest clip on here I've seen to date. The sexy girl would make me cum like Peter North each time! Whoever made this clip, please post some more.
She screams!!
What is he wearing? Her old panties?! That aside, wicked fuck!!
she is hot. marry me please. i will get you all what you want. have sex with me like this every day.
what the hells so freaky about that wow she is awesome
amateur-hottie-freak-fuck-again-alexia-and-max search it to see another hot vid
HOLY FUCK!! That cum shot was amazing!! I want to get on that cock...My cunt is so fucking wet! That is what I like, make me fucking cum, then cum all over me, then keep on fucking me. Fucking amazing.
Mmmm, had to watch this one again this morning. I imagined myself being on top of that gorgeous cock and feeling it slide all the way in and out as I bounced on it. Then get on all fours and let him fuck me really hard doggy style until he cums all over my back like he does here. I love to feel a nice warm cumshot all over me and then rub it in and go back to more fucking. That is the best part of this video, after he cums, he continues to fuck her. I love a guy that can keep going after he cums all over me.
Made me so fucking wet, omg.
Max, wanna give us a hint? ;)
what you wanna know?
Very sensual lady. She's totally into her pleasure and forgets the camera. Perfect Amateur Porn IMO.
I love the way they kiss each other and totally vibe with their fuckin... But what gets me every time is when she reashes back, softly grabs on his dick and slides him back in... Man oh man... I need church after watchin this vid! Haha!
very sensual, but not wild/rough enough.... @ i like boobs: you def. got the wrong wife... trust me, women like all of it and enjoy cum on the butt, belly, boobs, face!!! but creampie is just the best!!!!
Who is that guy? He is so sexy!
Best video on this site.
Probably the single hottest video on you tube! They move for each other more naturally and passionately then the directed crap of most porn. Love it and she is simply fucking amazing how she moves and those fucking perfect......perfect natural tits are fucking incredible! I've had a girl who moves like her and sex with her was amazing.
Whats so freaky about it?
I'm housewife from malaysia...nice video...I want to try white & black cock..now I imagine fuck with white cock I need big & hard cock
Worth watching over and over.
And she is "freaky" because???????
quero uma trepada assim
I love that he shot his load in her hair and she just went with it rubbing it in her hair. Very hot!!
What a real hottie and performer. She moves like a snake. Truly one of the best I've seen here.
will any of u boyz want to hook up w/ a hot sexy teenager??(ME) i luv all of u just got out of the shower my hair is dripping wet
@prince are you for real?! Didn't connect? I'm not so naive to think they're a real couple but they have great chemistry and connected very well. And he didn't use her as some vessel for his sperm which as a woman I appreciate. No it's not perfect but real life sex generally isn't! There's always going to be moments of clumsiness and awkwardness - that's life! I resent porn giving us an idealised fantasy where everyone has perfect bodies and perfect-if-not-slightly-violent-and-derogatory-sex. This clip is awesome, I love it and wish all porn was "real" like this (would be even more perfect if he came inside her)
Sexy couple! Luv her full, natural tits and the way she fucks him back!
finally a fantastic and lustful blowjob. her movements are so sensual and hot.
just perfect not too fat. not too skinny. she has a perfect body !. Someone put up more of her video Please!!
she's the queen of blowjobs....lucky dude!!!
my cunt is so fucking wet after watching them lol sohot ilike him
One of them where the woman is actually looking like she is enjoying it. They actually make OUT!!! Kissing... Nice. Probably one of the few on here that is actually sentual. Sometimes you luck out I suppose.
OMG! how i wish i had a guy like him!!
Damn, my cunt is so fucking wet after watching them. That's the kind of fucking I like. Slowly, passionate and right on point. Like every move made the next better than the last. His cum shot was amazing! I'd like him to do that on my belly & tits for sure. Fuck, I got to go touch myself before I explode.
That was sooooooo sexy!!!!
I have watched this video so many times. WHAT A GREAT FUCK! I love being fucked doggy style. And that cumshot is incredible. I love to be lying on my back with my bf fucking me and watch him pull his cock out of my pussy and cum all over me with a cumshot like that.
So einen geilen ficker mit so einem irre langen schwanz will ich auch haben, der nach dem abspritzen so geil weiter fickt ...
dam were didi u find this girl shes great giving head
She is amazing - one of the most beautiful on YouPorn. Very lucky guy.
I would drill that pussy and suck that cock too. All good.
she is defenitly designed to be fucked !!!
Hottest vid in a long time. Exceptionally natural
gorgeous people.
THe money I'd pay to spend 5 minutes with this babe (I wouldn't last any longer)!!!
nice action, kinda freaky people but a good fk overall HOT
OMG, what an amazing fuck. I love his cock and he came all the way up her back and ON to her hair (I'd prefer a guy NOT cum on my hair, that shit is hell to wash out), but THAT was an awesome cumshot. I've got to find their other videos!
That was HOTTT
this is different than anything i saw before looks like she does not think this would be a porn later she is really doing it i saw one more clip from her awesome
pussy crott
I hate these videos where the guy pulls out and strokes himself off to cum. Weak.
This video should be made into a tutorial for all woman out there. Seriously this reminds me of my ex who was almost as sensual as this girl. Great video.
Damn! I love sucking cock like this...when a woman like me enjoys sucking it long and slow, the guy enjoys it sooo much more. I have friends that hate sucking cock, not me! This girl has a beautiful body and tits! Pretty pussy too! After that great blowjob, she did deserve a lot more oral attention. When I give a great blowjob like this, I like to know my pussy is gonna get the same attention! Mmmm...Love oral...Good stuff!
came to me l can make you very happy
we are real. i promise ;) theres 2 more out there... see if you can find us!
Great video! I'd love to clean both of them up after that action! She clearly loved his healthy size cock the way she was getting off!
Go mL loO
Wowawesome! I just love such videos, where there is a bit of love and not only mechanical fucking, it damn turns me on like nothing.... I loved the first position, scissors. I want my bf to fuck me deep like that.. I
Very nice pussy
they are perfect together
She got one big sexy pus that's sexy as hell
Hey, isn't that the lead singer out of The Commitments?
What a hot babe. She looks like she's coming from about the 1:30 mark.
what a nice couple... she and he
What's this hot ass girl's name?
what are the odds lol im 99.9% sure thats you aimee you always did have skills
there both on some sort of drug..
Alexia. 2 x videos on HGV
Tough to beat that. Quite a pair, indeed. Congrats on over 11 million views, Max. Would like to see the others.
homegrown 736, 739
Was that a headshot at the end? They seemed to enjoy it, so did i.
THe Woman is very good in bed moves with him while lying on the bed and rides him very nicely and fellates his Penis very sensuously bur should have finished him off herself and not let him do it to himself a more of a bond between them if he had let her do it
What a dream woman!
Che bella figa .................. sensuale e gran porca come piace a me . voto 10
I was that boyfriend she fucked lol
Had to watch this one yet again. I love this video. It gets me going every time. @ hard - yes, I saw your comment, why did you ask me to let you know if I saw it.
That dude should shut up.
worst sex ever. he has a big ass dick... girl u better learn how to ride that shit!!!!
Cojen perron
I agree, there was a real sensualness to it. A really great video. Sexy. She is very hot.
i like this... remebers my wife sucking my cock and rubbing her tits on me :)
i agree. this is really beautiful.
love how she pussy her cunt back on his fat cock
This is awsome, but i guess not in real life, my wife is far from that, she only knows missionary poss, all other possitions doesnt excite her. sucking once each 6 months with a condom, and her tits are off limit, so no tittyfucks. Not even mentioning she hates it when i cum on her butt, belly, boobs or face/mouth (god thanks i can come in her), ok i admite, im not perfect either but common, how unsexual can you be? I cant believe such women like this vid or like they pretend in their comments do exist but its nice to watch, fantasies and dream of it.........:'(
it was boring


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subset: commoncrawl


text:
December 28, 2005
In January, another downtown business fixture says so-long.
Mark and Jodi Van Metre are taking a well-earned break from the demands of the furniture business to seek new opportunities.
Two years ago, Pete Jubitz closed the doors on downtown anchor Franz Hardware. Pete is still a familiar face in town, and the building is home to three businesses.
A block away at Van Metre's, a furniture store has occupied the corner of Second and State for the better part of 70 years, and the Van Metre family owned it for nearly 50, as Esther K. Smith reports in Van Metre's goes out while it's still good.
Yet the closure of the furniture store is a sort-of-farewell: a new business will occupy part of the Van Metre building. The Van Metres keep ownership of the property and, fittingly, will stay involved in securing new tenants.
It is part of the Van Metre legacy that they passed the baton to another merchant who plans to make good use of a prime location.
We wish the Van Metre family well. The store will be missed, but their can-do spirit will go on.
Like their furniture, durability was a strong point. Downtown remains a vibrant place, thanks to merchants such as the Van Metres.
The community is blessed with longtime businesses that have stood the test of time, and with newer stores that bring other kinds of energy to the local economy.
The departure — if it can be called that — underscores the shifts and the successes that make the business sector such a critical part of this community.
As the new year dawns, the closure of a significant downtown neighbor points to the strengths of local merchants throughout the county who continue to improve their properties, adjust their merchandise and serve the community through times thick and thin.
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Heifer International
Heifer International''s mission is to end hunger and poverty and to care for the Earth using livestock and training in sustainable agriculture community development projects to help millions of people become self-reliant. Since 1944, Heifer has transformed the lives of over 20.7 million families by giving them gifts of cows, goats and other livestock. Along with the animals, families receive training in animal care and conservation for environmentally sound agricultural development. There is also training in community development, strategic planning and other subjects as needed, including literacy. The process takes several years and is not declared successful until the community shows sustained improvement in income and self-reliance. Each family that receives an animal agrees to Pass on the Gift by sharing the offspring of their animal with others in need, so each gift of livestock starts a chain of self-reliance that spreads throughout entire communities.


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When I saw the headline on the featured New York Times sports story yesterday — "A runner's belief: God is his coach" — I assumed it would be a story full of digs at the faith of the athlete involved, Olympic marathon runner Ryan Hall. But Jere Longman's byline prompted me to read the story.
Longman is the author of Among the Heroes: United Flight 93 and the Passengers and Crew Who Fought Back and an outstanding reporter. You can watch a video of Longman discussing the book here.
Longman's profile of Hall is an intriguing portrait of an unusual man. Hall is unusual in more ways than one. Longman really brings him to life and makes you want to get to know him better. His story inevitably calls to mind the story behind Chariots of Fire. It is something like an updated and Americanized version of the story. Here is Longman's nod to it:
It is while running or thinking of running, Hall said, that he feels most conversant with and dependent on God. And it is through this professional excellence that Hall believes he is best able to show God to the world, to display his goodness and his love.
Joe Bottom, who won a gold and a silver medal in swimming at the 1976 Montreal Games and attends Bethel Church [i.e., Hall's church], compared Hall's Olympic pursuit to that of Eric Liddell, a Christian runner from Scotland who won the 400 meters at the 1924 Paris Games. Liddell's story was featured in the movie "Chariots of Fire."
In the movie, Liddell is portrayed as saying, "I feel God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run, I feel his pleasure."
Bottom said in an e-mail: "It's fulfilling, even exhilarating, to feel God's pleasure in our willingness to pursue and occasionally fulfill the dreams He puts in our hearts and the purposes He built into us. Cooperating with that purpose and those dreams is the greatest fulfillment that one could experience."
Longman quotes the respectful if ambivalent observation of Alberto Salazar:
Among the most interested observers is Alberto Salazar, a former American marathoner who now coaches elite athletes. He, too, is a renowned tinkerer whose Catholic faith played a significant role in his career. Salazar said he had the utmost respect for Hall, but also believed that God wanted his followers to take responsibility for their daily actions and "not depend on him for the answer to everything."
"I don't believe God is necessarily interested in what workouts I should give my runners," Salazar said.
At the same time, he said, "I may not understand how Ryan believes, but what I respect him for tremendously is that he has the guts to share his faith."
Even the photographs that the Times runs with the article are striking. Despite the length of the article, Longman left me wanting more after giving Hall the last word:
His spiritual growth, he said, has freed him from caution and a dependence on results for his happiness.
"It's going to take a special day," Hall said of his gold medal chances. "But I feel like I went for it, regardless of how the race goes. I'll always look back on this as a season of joy. Sometimes it works out, and sometimes it doesn't. That's part of the fun of life, taking some chances and seeing what happens."


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tired of shopping blindfoldedly , spend few minutes and watch this video


text:
EEOC Said Long-Time Pharmacy Technician Fired Because of Gunshot Disability
BALTIMORE – Retail giant Wal-Mart will pay $250,000 and furnish significant injunctive relief to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today. The EEOC had charged that Wal-Mart failed to accommodate and then fired a long-time pharmacy technician who suffered a disability resulting from a gunshot wound.
In its suit (1:06-cv-2514), filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, the EEOC said that Glenda D. Allen had been employed with the Arkansas-based company as a pharmacy technician since July 1993, most recently at its store in Abingdon, Md. As a result of a gunshot wound sustained during the course of a robbery at a different employer in 1994, Allen suffered permanent damage to her spinal cord and other medical issues, including an abnormal gait requiring the use of a cane as an assistive device.
The agency charged that despite Allen's successful job performance throughout her employment, Wal-Mart declared her incapable of performing her position with or without a reasonable accommodation, denied her a reasonable accommodation, and then unlawfully fired her because of her disability. The lawsuit settled shortly after the court denied Wal-Mart's motion for summary judgment on March 10, and partially granted the EEOC's cross-motion for summary judgment finding that Wal-Mart had no undue hardship defense.
Disability discrimination violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The EEOC filed suit after first attempting to reach a voluntary settlement.
Commenting on her case, Allen said, "After beating all the odds -- surviving my injury when not expected to survive, walking again when told that I would never walk again, and returning to work where I received excellent performance evaluations and consistent merit increases -- I was devastated to have the rug pulled out from underneath me simply because Wal-Mart could 'no longer accommodate my handicap needs.' I am hopeful that this settlement will make Wal-Mart take a closer look at its policies and practices with respect to the employment of individuals with disabilities so that what happened to me will not happen to someone else."
Along with the monetary payment, the consent decree settling the suit requires Wal-Mart to:
The EEOC will monitor the company's compliance with the decree for the next three years.
"When an employer is faced with an employee who has difficulty performing certain tasks because of his or her disability, it cannot sit back passively and then turn around and fire the employee because of its own failure to accommodate," said EEOC Regional Attorney Jacqueline McNair. "Federal law mandates that employers engage in a good-faith interactive dialogue with the qualified disabled employee to identify potential reasonable accommodations."
This is the EEOC's second settlement this year with Wal-Mart concerning the ADA. In April 2008, the EEOC settled a lawsuit concerning Wal-Mart's failure to hire an individual with cerebral palsy in Richmond, Mo., (EEOC v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., No. 04-cv-0076 (W.D. Mo. April 18, 2008) for $300,000 and injunctive relief. According to its web site (www.walmart.com), "Today, 7,357 Wal-Mart stores and Sam's Club locations in 14 markets employ more than 2 million associates, serving more than 179 million customers a year."
During Fiscal Year 2007, disability discrimination charges filed with the EEOC under the ADA increased 14% to 17,734 -- the highest level in a decade. Approximately one out of every five private sector charge filings with the EEOC contains an allegation of disability discrimination.
The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Further information about the Commission is available on its web site at www.eeoc.gov.
This page was last modified on June 9, 2008.
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text: BICP-512×512 Posted by Lisa Sher Comments 0 comment Share: Lisa Sher You may also like WELCOME! 10 August, 2018 Press Release: USA CYCLING to Partner with BICP 12 November, 2018 What Inspires You To Coach? – Tal Rozow 6 November, 2018 Have You Updated Your BICP Profile? 3 November, 2018


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Narita Airport Hotel Hokke Inn Nihonbashi(Japanese:ホテル法華イン東京日本橋)
Where to Buy Tickets / Where to Board
|Where to Buy Tickets
|Limousine bus ticket counter
|Where to Board
|Can I make a reservation?
|Bus Stop Name
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|Where to Buy Tickets
TCAT 3F Limousine Bus Ticket counter
Touchscreen ticket machines
|Can I make a reservation?
How to Board and Special Notices
Please make your reservation at Limousine Bus Reservation Center by the day before your travel date.
Limousine Bus Reservation Center: (+81)-3-3665-7220
Monday to Friday 9:00-19:00(JST)
Saturday and Sunday 9:00-18:00(JST)
Checked in baggage is limited to two pieces per person. Please refer to


text:
This is the second such incident within four days in which militants have used sniper rifle to carry out attack on security establishments.
Sourav Ganguly advises Indian batsmen to be wary of Brisbane's pace and bounce
India are ready to accept the challenge thrown by Australia, says Rohit Sharma
Coach Shastri bashes critics, says 'no team travels well nowadays, why pick on India?'
Exclusive | It will be a challenge for me to perform in Australia: Kuldeeep Yadav
Kurukshetra| Nov 20, 2018| PM Modi attack Congress over development issue in MP
Kurukshetra | PM Modi target Congress during inauguration of Western Peripheral Expressway
Kurukshetra | Nov 17, 2018: BJP, Congress release manifesto for Madhya Pradesh elections
Kurukshetra | Nov 16, 2018: People of India, not Nehru, made a 'chaiwala' Prime Minister, says PM Modi
Today's Horoscope, Daily Astrology, Zodiac Sign for Tuesday, November 20, 2018
Watch India TV Special show Haqikat Kya Hai | November 20, 2018
Yogi Adityanath on IndiaTV: 'BJP will form govt in Karnataka; Modi will return as PM in 2019'
Women's Day Spl : BSF women commandos all set to protect country at border
EXCLUSIVE: Rahul is visting temples, should clarify stand on Ram temple, says Fadnavis
Faisla: Special show on MP, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh elections 2018 | November 20, 2018
Jain monk accused of kidnapping girl, CCTV footage goes viral
Trishool: Reality Check of Major News Of The Day | July 25, 2018
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Select Your State:
Iroquois' compensation plan for its Member Agents is called the PartnerPlan®.
The PartnerPlan® rewards Iroquois Members for their production and performance every year. The more business you place with Iroquois-provided carriers, the more you are rewarded with commission increases, bonus and contingency opportunities, and additional services. Check with your local Iroquois representative for the details of the PartnerPlan® in your area.


text:
Judges in North Carolina are elected in nonpartisan races, and Judge Sam J. Ervin IV believes it should stay that way.
MOREHEAD CITY � Judges in North Carolina are elected in nonpartisan races, and Judge Sam J. Ervin IV believes it should stay that way.
Ervin currently serves on the N.C. Court of Appeals and is running against incumbent Judge Paul Newby for a seat on the N.C. Supreme Court.
There is no Democrat and Republican label on the ballot beside their names, and Erwin said the bench is no place for political agendas.
�A judge�s political views shouldn�t have an impact on his or her decisions, and since that is the case I think it is appropriate that judges are elected on nonpartisan ballots,� he said during a campaign stop recently in Morehead City.
There was a switch from partisan to nonpartisan elections for the judges in 2004.
Ervin, a native of Morganton, had a private law practice from 1981 to 1999 and was a member of the N.C. Utilities Commission from 1999 to 2009. He has served on the N.C. Court of Appeals since 2009.
Ervin said he�s always enjoyed legal analysis and his work with the Utilities Commission was similar to what he does now, with quasi-judicial work.
As a judge on Court of Appeals he has produced more than 325 opinions and helped decide more than 900 cases.
Key to the work, he said is remaining fair and impartial.
�I think I�ve demonstrated in my 13 and a half years of judicial and quasi-judicial work that, first of all, I work hard and that I play close attention to the facts, and I think I have a reputation of being fair and impartial without having an agenda,� he said.
He chooses not to comment on Newby�s work but said he�ll let voters look at his background and experience to decide. But he does comment on concerns he has about campaign financing in judicial elections
Both he and Newby participate in public campaign financing, which Ervin said helps keep big money out of judiciary races, preserving independence.
Political Action Committees, PACS, however, are able to raise unlimited funds to support a candidate, and super PACs have emerged this election with advertisements supporting Newby.
The PACs cannot coordinate with the candidates and any funds raised are indirect, but Ervin said, regardless of the judicial candidate, an influx of outside money behind judicial candidates could threaten the independence of the judicial system.
�I think ultimately what is at stake this election is the continued existence of an independent judiciary system,� he said.
For more information about Ervin�s campaign, go to the website at ErvinforSupremeCourt.com.
Contact Daily News reporter Jannette Pippin at 910-382-2557 or email@example.com.


text:
In a court system overburdened by the woes of thousands of debtors, what happened to Iheanyi D. Okoroafor is unheard of — a 73-year-old retiree being taken away in handcuffs because he had not paid a debt of $508.27.
As he exited the courtroom, he beseeched the judge: "My wife is in the hospital. I need to go and see her.''
It happened on June 11 in Belchertown District Court, where Judge Robert S. Murphy Jr. found Okoroafor in contempt and sentenced him to 30 days in jail for defying a small-claims order to pay a debt to a local heating contractor.
Murphy's decision that Okoroafor had the money to settle the debt, according to an audiotape of the hearing, was based on the fact that Okoroafor receives a $2,000 monthly state pension. Under state law, however, state pensions cannot be considered by the court as income when calculating whether a defendant has the resources to pay off such a debt.
Compounding that apparent error, the judge made his decision without asking whether Okoroafor had a bank account and, if so, whether it held any funds.
Greta LaMountain Biagi, an Amherst attorney who was in the courtroom for an unrelated case, said she was moved to tears when Okoroafor was taken away in handcuffs.
"The judge's decision was absolutely horrifying, and an abuse of discretion. He showed no empathy and no humanity,'' said Biagi, who represents consumers in personal bankruptcy cases.
Okoroafor was freed at about 2 a.m. the next day, after his daughter, Amara Okoroafor, drove from Boston to the Hampshire County Jail in Northampton and paid the debt.
Dalié Jiménez, a law professor at the University of Connecticut School of Law who has done extensive research on debt collection laws, said the Massachusetts law that exempts state pension income from debtor judgments is clear. Therefore, she said, "the judge could not have ordered Mr. Okoroafor to pay the judgment from this income.''
The State Retirement Board and other experts in debt collection agree with Jiménez's interpretation of state law.
Jiménez, who reviewed the case file and audiotapes at The Boston Globe's request, said that even if the income was not exempt, it was "particularly egregious'' that the judge sent Okoroafor to jail, given his age, family circumstances, and size of the debt.
Last week, a court spokeswoman sidestepped questions about whether Murphy might have stumbled legally, or whether court officials believed his decision to jail Okoroafor was justified, saying that judges cannot comment on pending cases.
AUDIO: Listen to the court hearing
The spokeswoman, Erika Gully-Santiago, declined to discuss the case, but issued a statement: "The applicability of a statute is a legal question decided by judges in the context of a particular case. Judges apply the law to the facts they deem credible in rendering decisions."
Contempt citations and jail sentences are rare in debt collection cases, and rarer still if the debtor is elderly or infirm. Court officials said they have no way to track how often it happens.
To some, Okoroafor is not a sympathetic figure: In the last 18 months, he has written angry letters denouncing the contractor, South Hadley's Board of Health, and its Police Department, asserting there was a conspiracy against him. He even sent a complaint to a prior judge in the case, threatening to report him to the Judicial Conduct Commission.
Raymond E. Boisjolie, the Granby contractor who sued Okoroafor, said in an interview last week that he has lost much more than the $508.27 through having to attend a half-dozen court sessions.
Okoroafor, Boisjolie said, "is an idiot.'' Okoroafor, in turn, has insisted all along that he should not have to pay Boisjolie because the contractor did not do the work but billed him anyway.
Okoroafor, who emigrated from Nigeria in 1978, has a doctorate in education from the University of Massachusetts. Before he retired in 2007 he was a supervisor in the state Department of Mental Health.
The case leaves Murphy, who was appointed to the District Court two years ago, in an awkward position. The judge, whose only role in the case was presiding over the June 11 hearing, is not permitted to comment.
District Court judges typically juggle large criminal caseloads, and cases such as health commitments and evictions. In the District Courts, where staff has been cut by 16 percent since 2006, judges must do their own legal research.
Against that backdrop, Murphy and his colleagues are supposed to know the intricacies of debt collection law, including which income is exempt from judgment.
And small-claims cases like Okoroafor's seldom require the intervention of judges; court clerks usually adjudicate the disputes.
In April 2013, Boisjolie won a default judgment because Okoroafor did not show up for a hearing. Okoroafor's subsequent hand-crafted motions to set aside the judgment and hold a hearing were denied.
When the case returned to court on June 11, it appears Murphy misunderstood another judge's notes in the case file, thinking the previous judge had ordered — not simply advised — Okoroafor to hire a lawyer if he refused to pay up. In court, Murphy asked Okoroafor if he had found a lawyer; the defendant said he had tried, but could not afford one.
Biagi, who was waiting for her own case to be heard, said she was alarmed. No judge, she said, can order a defendant — especially a small-claims defendant — to hire an attorney. And she noted that the cost of doing so would easily exceed the amount of the debt.
On the narrow merits of the case, Okoroafor and the two judges whose patience he tested at the successive hearings often seemed to be talking past one another: They kept asking why he had flouted several court orders over a year's time to pay the debt. He, in turn, kept insisting – politely — that he did not owe the debt because the contractor never did the work in question and had proof of that if they would only grant him a hearing on the merits.
"All right, sir, you have ignored an order of the court. I am going to give you a final opportunity to tell me why you can't pay this man the money the court ordered (you) to pay some time ago,'' Murphy told Okorafor on June 11.
"Your honor, the reason I've stated is that he did not do that job.''
Murphy, his voice rising, replied: "This is not your trial. That ship has sailed, sir. This court has made an order for you to pay the money.''
"And I didn't have the ability to pay that money,'' Okoroafor replied.
To issue a contempt citation, Murphy had to establish not only that the debt had not been paid, but that Okoroafor had the money to pay it. When Murphy asked about his finances, Okoroafor said he received the $2,000 monthly state pension.
And then he told the judge that he tithed, donating $200 from his pension to his church each month, a disclosure that, according to the audiotape, the judge seemed to see as evidence that Okoroafor could pay the debt.
"I find by clear and convincing evidence that he has an ability to pay . . . I find that he willfully refuses to pay,'' Murphy ruled. "He will be held in custody until he removes the contempt by paying the money owed.''
Jiménez, the consumer debt specialist, said the judge did not legally meet that standard, given the exempt income and the cursory inquiry into Okorafor's assets. Murphy, she said, could have ordered the payment if he believed Okoroafor was hiding assets or had lied when he said he couldn't afford to pay. But the transcript contains no hint that Murphy disbelieved him.
The Okoroafor case, she said, raises larger issues for the court. Jiménez expressed concern that judges may not be knowledgeable enough to know when certain income, like state pensions, is exempt from judgments; and that other debtors may have been ordered to pay debts from income that is legally walled off from court judgments.
The court system, she pointed out, "is set up to be adversarial,'' where lawyers ordinarily oppose one another. "But when one party is unrepresented,'' she said, "it's especially important that the court know and apply the law correctly.''
For Okoroafor, the court experience has been a traumatic exclamation point to a bad year or two. His wife Evelyn, who is 71, has dementia and he can no longer care for her at home. A bank foreclosed and took a single-family rental property he and his wife owned in Springfield. He's two months behind, he said, on his utility bills. And three months before Murphy declared him able to pay the debt, he said, he began weekly visits to an Amherst food bank because he did not have sufficient income to buy enough food.
Okoroafor, sounding subdued, expressed more sadness than bitterness last week. The judges, he said, "were trying to teach me a lesson because I demanded my rights. I have gone through a lot, too much really.''
Amara, his daughter, said the family experience has been "harrowing.'' She and her sister, who both live in Maryland, are preparing to move their parents there, she said, "for the family, financial, and emotional support they cannot get in Massachusetts."
Related coverage:
• Audio: Man sentenced over debt
• Discuss: What do you think of the judge's decision?Walter Robinson can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
NEW DELHI — India performed its first test firing of the submarine-launched variant of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile on March 20.
The missile took off vertically from a submerged platform off the coast of Visakhapatnam in southern India, followed a predetermined trajectory and achieved its full range of 290 km (180 mi.), according to program officials.
"Following a pre-defined trajectory, the missile emerged from underwater [and] took a turn toward the designated target, meeting all mission objectives. All the telemetry and tracking stations, including Indian naval ships positioned throughout the flight path, confirmed the pinpoint accuracy of the mission," a BrahMos official says.
This test marks the first time any supersonic cruise missile has been launched vertically from a submerged platform.
India plans to invest more than 550 billion rupees ($10 billion) on six new subs for its navy under a project named P75 (I). A. Sivathanu Pillai, CEO and managing director of BrahMos Aerospace, says the "BrahMos missile is fully ready for [integration with] P75 (I) of [the] Indian navy in [the] vertical launch configuration, which will make the platform one of the most powerful weapon platforms in the world."
A joint project by India and Russia, the BrahMos missile can carry a conventional warhead of up to 300 kg. (660 lb.) It has a top speed of Mach 2.8, about three times faster than the subsonic U.S. Tomahawk cruise missile.
The BrahMos can be launched from submarines, ships and aircraft. Ship- and ground-launched versions of the missile have been successfully tested and put into service with the Indian army and navy.
"The naval variant of the missile has already proved its mettle in both vertical and inclined launch configurations from moving warships," the official says. "The missile has been successfully inducted in a number of frontline Indian navy warships and will be deployed in other future surface ships. They are capable of both maritime strike and land attack."
The BrahMos test comes close on the heels of India's secretive K-15 subsurface-launched missile test in January.
India has already tested the Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM), designated K-15, more than a dozen times and in January conducted the SLBM's last development trial. The process of integrating SLBM with the INS Arihant, the indigenously-built nuclear submarine, is expected to begin soon.


text:
Chapter One: Hey Harry, I hear you
play Quidditch
"Every endless
night, has a dawning day,
Every darkest sky
has a shining ray
"Oh, what a shame," murmured Ginny, cupping her hand around
a rose bloom encased in ice. "Hagrid forgot to put an anti-freezing
charm on his roses."
She had noticed the bush on a walk to inspect the grounds after it's
first snowfall of the year. She loved how the castle looked, covered in
snow. The turrets and archangels were even more beautiful surrounded by
a dreamy white background.
She snapped the bloom off the bush and raised her fist to rap on Hagrid's
door. Much to her surprise, the door swung open and her hand smacked into
something decidedly not the door.
Ginny clamped a hand over her mouth and squeezed her eyes shut. "Oh
my goodness! I'm so sorry!"
She didn't want to look to see who it was
what if it were a Professor?
Oh dear, what if she just socked the Headmaster
She braved a glance upward. It wasn't the Headmaster. It was worse.
Harry staggered backwards, hand covering his nose, where Ginny had obviously
just hit him.
'Oh my gosh! I just slugged Harry Potter' Ginny thought incredulously.
"I'm sorry!" Ginny gasped, "I meant to knock on the door
and the-."
"Then I got in your way," finished Harry with a groan. "Ever
consider a career as a Beater? You hit HARD for a girl."
For a girl, indeed! "I've got six older brothers, what did
you expect?" said Ginny snappily. Then she realized she had just
smacked him in the face. "Sorry, Harry
. I didn't hit you on purpose."
"What's all this?" Hagrid had stepped into his doorway, staring
at the two of them. "You all right there, Harry?"
"Fine," Harry said, he removing his hand and nodded at Hagrid.
Oh no.
thought Ginny when she saw the state of his face.
Hagrid gaped at Harry. "Why, you've got a bloodied nose!"
Harry stared at Ginny in amazement. "No wonder Ron's scared of you!"
Hagrid ushered Harry and Ginny into his cabin and promptly set Harry
in a chair with a towel to hold on his face. Ginny was bright red with
"I really am sorry," Ginny was bright red, "I hope you're
really not angry with me
Harry shook his head. "I didn't mean
for a girl," he apologized.
"I was surprised
that was all."
Hagrid was being very jolly about the whole affair. "Jus' think,
Harry, that twasn't on purpose."
"Oh, Hagrid," said Ginny remembering why she had knocked on
his door in the first place, "look at what happened."
She set the rose in Hagrid's enormous hand and he shook his head sadly.
"I forgot about tha bush. The blooms on it are ruined
you might as
well take 'em. They'll live for a few days in yer dorm if you cut 'em."
"Oh, can I?" Ginny smiled. "Thank you!" She took
the rose back from Hagrid. "Where's Ron and Hermione?" she said,
realizing that Harry was uncharacteristically by himself.
"Having Christmas a bit early, I expect," said Harry with a
Ginny cocked her head curiously, then realized what he meant. Ron and
Hermione had recently and finally admitted to liking the other
and no doubt they were making use of the free time during school holidays.
No wonder Harry had made himself scarce, the thought of her brother snogging
anyone made Ginny feel ill.
Hagrid chuckled at this. "Ron an' Hermione aren't trying to disinclude
ya, they just don't know how to handle everythin yet."
Harry shrugged. "I'll let them figure it out."
Harry touched his nose gingerly and stood up. "I'm going to the
History of Magic essay." Hagrid took the towel from him and
patted his shoulder.
"I really am sorry," apologized Ginny, once again.
Harry smiled briefly. "Hey, don't be so upset. You didn't mean it.
Maybe we'll do some beating practice on the field, sometime. I bet you
do some real damage with bat."
"I play Chaser," responded Ginny automatically. Oh, shut
up, Ginny, she thought, mentally kicking herself. He was joking.
Harry shrugged. "Tryouts
next year."
He waved at Hagrid and slammed the cabin door behind him.
Ginny couldn't help it, her eyes filled with tears. "Oh, Hagrid,
he's furious at me!"
Hagrid poured her a mug of hot chocolate and shook his head. "There
now, don't start crying on me. He's not mad at you. He's upset about Ron
an' Hermione, talked 'bout them for a good hour an' a half, just now.
Harry's not used to them not being around, and it's not exactly easy being
him. He'd probably like ta have you around
to talk to."
Ginny shook her head. "Harry and I don't talk. I'm Ron's little
sister, that's it."
Hagrid pushed a bowl of marshmallows towards her. Ginny miserably plopped
one into her hot chocolate and popped another into her mouth.
"You don't think you and Harry have got anythin' in common?"
asked Hagrid gently.
"No," said Ginny firmly.
"What does Hermoine have in common with Harry, then?"
Ginny swallowed her marshmallow and frowned, trying to think of something.
"Well, then?" smiled Hagrid.
"She's clever," said Ginny, naming the first thing she could
think of, "and so is Harry."
"An' you aren't clever? Why, I heard Professor Flitwick talking
on about you the other day
about your perfect summonin' charms."
Ginny blushed and smiled at Hagrid. "I'm a bit clever."
"An' who won the match last week?"
"Gryffindor over Ravenclaw, 220 to 70," she rattled off.
"Ron would know that and he's Harry's friend. In fact, Harry talked
a bit about that game to me today."
Ginny grinned. "Everyone likes Quidditch."
"Not Hermione."
Ginny laughed. "Okay."
Hagrid put his hand on his giant tortoise shell knees and leaned toward
her. "Know why else Harry'd want to be yer friend?"
Ginny leaned forward. "Why?"
"Yer pretty as a sunrise, Ginny Weasley," smiled Hagrid patting
her head.
Ginny burst out laughing and blushed. "Hagrid! That's so nice!"
Hagrid chuckled and filled up her cup with more hot chocolate. "Harry's
a good person an' so are you. I don't see the troubles."
"It's not that easy talking to him, Hagrid," Ginny sighed,
rolling her eyes.
Hagrid looked at her as if she were mad. Of course, Hagrid wouldn't understand.
He never had a problem talking to anyone.
"Harry? He's just a bit shy, tha's all," said Hagrid.
"Harry's not shy!" said Ginny disbelievingly.
"Sure he is, until you get to know him. You know, come to think
of it, yer the same way."
Ginny ignored the last comment. "I haven't the slightest idea how
to approach him," she put on a high annoying voice, "Harry,
you want to talk about Quidditch? I hear you play."
Hagrid smiled. "He might like tha' better than a punch in the nose."
"Oh, Hagrid," groaned Ginny burying her face in her hands.
Harry sat on the windowsill, finishing his letter to Sirius. He wished
Sirius would come to Hogwarts for Christmas
Dumbledore could surely work
something out. Maybe if he outwardly asked Sirius for a visit, he might
Harry ran his quill along the glass, deep in thought. He couldn't ask
him to come
that was stupid. It would be his fault if he got caught.
Harry sighed, utterly bored. The new snow looked awfully nice on the
grounds. If Ron had been acting normally they might have had a
snowball fight this morning
that was stupid too. He supposed they
had outgrown snowball fights. Harry rolled his eyes. Growing up was highly
overrated. Although, the way Ron and Hermione were acting, it didn't seem
as though snogging was highly overrated. Harry wrinkled his nose. Ron
and Hermione snogging
yech. He was really going to have to get
used to that.
He glanced down at his parchment and smiled at his last couple of sentences.
Things have been really dull around here, ever since
Ron and Hermione decided to like each other
I never knew that all that
fighting would lead up to this! I'm missing their daily fights really,
although I expect that should start up again any day now. This might be
a record for Ron, who has failed to make Hermione mad in two weeks.
(I'm not kidding.) They just smile at each other
scary actually, sort
of like watching a Howler about to explode.
Harry didn't want Hermione and Ron to really be angry at one another,
but it would be sort of nice and back to normal. He glanced out the window
again and sat up.
Ginny had just walked out of Hagrid's cabin. He'd recognize that hair
anywhere, just like Ron's except
. It looked like she was
getting the roses Hagrid had told her she could have. Harry touched his
nose. It was still very tender, but he realized he had been too snappy
towards her. She probably really did want to punch him now.
Harry smiled and added more to his letter.
Ginny Weasley punched me in the nose today, as I was
walking out of Hagrid's cabin. It was an accident, but it honestly felt
like a load of bricks. She'd make a good Beater, but I don't think I'm
going to argue with her when she says she plays Chaser. Fred and
George are here for the holidays too, but they haven't been around the
castle much since Mr. Zonko, from Hogsmeade, offered to let them work
for him during the holidays. They're happier about it than anything
They're usually too tired after working all day to play jokes on us, but
I have a feeling we're all going to have to be especially wary of our
Christmas presents this year. So, really, there isn't much to do around
here, since most of the students have all gone home for the holidays.
Well, I think I'm going to finish up some History of
Magic research in the library. Hope you and Buckbeak are safe and well,
write soon.
Harry collected his things moodily and made his way down the staircase;
he really didn't want to go read about goblins.
Ginny held her wand over the edge of the vase. "Aquaes," she
said, watching the vase fill with water. Ginny flicked the excess water
off the end of her wand and pocketed it again. She frowned, moved a bloom
toward her and studied her arrangement. There, that should do it. She
pushed the vase to the center of the common room table and stepped back
to admire her work.
Ginny swung around when she heard footsteps on the dormitory stairs;
she had thought she had been alone in the tower. Then Harry bounded into
view, arms full with parchment and books.
Harry was startled to find Ginny had already returned to the common room.
He was so startled in fact, that when the red curls swung around to face
him, he couldn't think of anything more to do than to hurry on out of
the common room. He knew it was rude, but he didn't know what to say to
Ginny watched him rush toward the portrait and felt a twinge of guilt.
He was pretty sore at her for hitting him in the face. How did she get
into these messes? Ginny sighed, of course he'd rather go study than talk
to her.
Then her conversation with Hagrid echoed in her head.
"Harry's not used to them not being around, and it's not exactly
easy being him. He'd probably like ta have you around
to talk to."
"Harry and I don't talk. I'm Ron's little sister, that's it."
Ginny frowned. That wasn't it. She wasn't going to hold for that. She
wasn't just Ron's little sister. If Harry could be best chums with
an idiot like her brother, they could at least have one conversation.
She nearly stomped her foot in angry determination.
Harry had just reached the handle of the portrait when Ginny built up
her resolve to say something. Anything. She didn't care.
"Hey, Harry, I hear you play Quidditch," Ginny blurted.
Oh dear God.
Harry halted. What a curious thing to say.
He smiled funnily, "You heard I play?"
"Are you any good?" she asked.
Harry was at a loss of words. He looked at the vase of roses on the table
as she swept the trimmings into her hands and tossed them into the fire.
"Those are very pretty," he said, stepping nearer.
"I like them," said Ginny, gathering the last of the leaves
and petals, "I thought they'd be nicer in the common room so everyone
can enjo-oooh ouch!" Ginny dropped her handful of petals and winced,
looking down at her finger. Harry saw a bright bead of blood bubble up.
His History of Magic book slipped from his hands and skittered across
the floor. Harry ignored it and set his parchments down also, pulling
a handkerchief from inside his robes.
"Put this on it," he said, handing it to her.
Ginny hesitated.
"It's clean," added Harry as an afterthought.
"I know," she said with a small smile, "but I don't want
to ruin it by bleeding on it."
"Take it before you bleed on your robes," he said, shaking
it at her.
"Of course Hagrid has the roses with the wicked thorns. I had been
so careful, then right at the end, sliced my finger
." Her brown
eyes looked more amused than hurt.
"Let's hope he doesn't chat with Professor Sprout about getting
a rosebush that bites," nodded Harry.
"Muggles don't know what they're missing," said Ginny sarcastically.
Harry laughed and cleared the rest of the trimmings up for her. "No
one ever tells them that pixie dust causes a rash," he grinned.
"Or that anti aging potion tastes like it was drained through a
"Or that we literally do mean
eye of newt
wing of bat."
Ginny sat down in a chair and giggled. "Are you as bored as I am?"
"About to climb the walls with cabin fever," said Harry, happily
sitting down across from her.
"Then I say we find something to do," she said cheerfully.
"Only if you don't punch me."
"Do you play chess?" Harry asked her.
"No, Ron is the only one who does that. Drives the rest of us nuts.
If you've been able to put up with that for five years, you should really
be given an award or something," Ginny said, feeling surprisingly
comfortable around Harry.
Harry smiled sheepishly. "I lose every game."
"Bill got so tired of Ron beating him one day, that he charmed all
of Ron's chess pieces to only accept commands in Gobbledegook. Ron was
hopping mad
Harry laughed. "What do you play then?"
"I say we go to supper," said Ginny smiling.
"Mind games," said Harry grinning mischievously, "you
play mind games."
" An' she punched 'em, right in the nose!" roared Hagrid, wiping
a tear from his eye as he clunked his mead down on the table.
Professors McGonagall, Sprout, and Dumbledore laughed appreciatively.
"Ah, that explains it," said McGonagall with a rare smile,
"I thought I had been seeing things when I saw Harry having dinner
with the wrong Weasley."
"Ginny's jus' the ticket to get him out of that slump he's been
in this holiday," smiled Hagrid, "I think she's a right good
influence on him."
McGonagall cleared her throat. "Miss Weasley is certainly a good
friend, but I'm afraid she and Harry share the same mischievous influences.
I certainly hope they can occupy themselves to tasks of the non destructive
Dumbledore raised a silver eyebrow over his spectacles. "As Mr.
Weasley and Miss Granger have?"
Professor Sprout hooted into her drink glass.
Professor McGonagall pursed her lips. "That is most certainly not
what I meant, of course."
Dumbledore chuckled, "Come now, Minerva, it isn't doing them any
harm. It wasn't as if any of us didn't see it coming. Let them have their
"Hermione Granger is a respectable young lady," said McGonagall
defensively. "I know she is behaving appropriately."
Professor Sprout nodded solemnly. "Minerva's right, Hermione and
Ron are good kids, they aren't doing any harm." She glanced at McGonagall's
face and her face twitched.
"Oh, do stop looking like the cat that ate the canary and tell us,"
said McGonagall, who was obviously not enthused that she had the most
responsibility this holiday, with by far the most students staying behind.
"My garden gnomes," she paused," the helpful little ones
that pull weeds for me now and again, in exchange for food. They ran up
to me this afternoon absolutely bursting at the seams to tell me
about the two students in Greenhouse one."
"And," remarked McGonagall dryly.
"Well, they didn't have much of interest to say, they were just
overly excited about the prospect that I'd be furious at a pair of my
students. They were quite disappointed when I told them to go pull some
weeds. So, yes, apparently your students are behaving themselves."
Hagrid nodded. "You've got a good lot of kids staying behind, Professor.
I wouldn't worry a wink about them."
"I see they've got you fooled," smiled Professor McGonagall.
"To the Holidays," interrupted Dumbledore, raising his glass
of hot chocolate.
"Snape doesn't sleep," laughed Ginny.
"He has to sleep," insisted Harry.
"Well, it isn't beauty sleep, that's for sure."
Harry snorted and added a card on top of the card castle they were making
in front of the fireplace. "I've never seen any of the Professor's
"I wouldn't want to see Snape's under any circumstances," said
Ginny picking up a card from the deck. Her hand wavered over a spot towards
the top.
"Bad move," said Harry.
"No it isn't," said Ginny, "nothing would happen."
"The deck would blow up in your face," pointed out Harry, "try
to the left."
"No, it wouldn't blow up," insisted Ginny.
"Suit yourself," said Harry taking a handful of popcorn.
"I will," said Ginny setting the card into place.
Harry made an exaggerated face like the castle was going to explode right
Ginny looked at him smugly. "You're a terrible bluffer."
"I like my eyebrows NOT on fire, thank you."
"Your move, Harry."
Harry plucked the topmost card off the deck and confidently placed it
where he had told Ginny to place her card.
He turned back to her, with an equally smug expression. "Did it
blow up?"
"No," smiled Ginny, "your point?"
"My point is I wasn't trying to get you to make a bad move."
"Your move was less points," said Ginny. "Nice try."
"Well, Ron falls for it."
"I'm not Ron, now am I?" said Ginny cheerily placing a card
onto the castle.
Harry smiled. "No, you aren't Ron."
"There. That puts me at a twenty point lead." Ginny said raising
an auburn eyebrow that Harry noted was definitely not on fire.
Harry's smile faded as he surveyed her work. "Well, you're no fun
at all, for starters."
"Not when I'm winning, right?"
Harry was still smiling inwardly; he was having quite a bit of fun with
Ginny. He hadn't realized that Ron's little sister was so entertaining.
He supposed she had gotten over that crush she had on him a few years
back. Harry found himself wishing that he had talked to her before this.
Chalk that up onto the board of stupid things he had done.
"Easy move," he said setting a card down.
Ginny waved the smoke away from her, in peals of laughter.
Harry coughed and turned to glare at her, but failed, in that he couldn't
help laughing.
"Your eyebrows aren't on fire," said Ginny helpfully, "you
backed away just in time."
"Shut up!" he laughed.
"Ron falls for that one all the t-."
"Don't say it!"
While Ginny was laughing, Harry promptly put up the cards.
"I'll be right back," he said picking himself up off the rug.
"Your eyebrows look fine," teased Ginny.
Hagrid had been right. She was having lots of fun with Harry.
He made a far better friend than just a silly crush. Although, she wished
she hadn't waited until her fourth year to really talk to him. That was
stupid move.
Harry jogged down the stairs and smiled at her. "I've got a better
idea than Exploding Snap."
Ginny tried to make an unconvincing face. "Well if it's anything
like your Exploding Snap tactics, I don't think I should get within five-."
Harry rolled his impermeable green eyes at her. "Are you in or are
you out, Ginny?"
He stood up and shook out a mass of silvery material in front of her.
His invisibility cloak.
"Start talking," said Ginny without hesitation.
Disclaimer: Heard the lines at the beginning on the radio a few days
before I started writing this fic! Who would of thought I would have used
Ricky Martin for an H/G Christmas fic? **grins** The lines are
from Private Emotion, by Mr. Ricky Martin, wherever he is now
. Harry
and Ginny and all those other awesome HP characters belong to Ms. J.K.
Rowling. I'm just borrowing them for a bit of Christmas fun


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Decorated in a chic, contemporary style, Cinnamon is a wonderful choice at any time of the day. Breakfast offers a choice of international and regional favourites, while for lunch or dinner enjoy either an à la carte menu or a decadent buffet. The perfect choice for a working lunch, guests can take their time or choose our express two or three course lunches, which can be served in just 30 minutes.
International All-Day Dining
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6 - 10pm
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For many people from California, we are affected by the new law preventing talking on cell phones while driving. So now the sight of the cyborg like bluetooth devices are everywhere. So I stumbled upon this new video and I thought it might be interesting for the rest of you.
http://www.hackszine.com/blog/archive/2 ... h_hea.html


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SHANGHAI, U.S. - As part of its aggressive expansion strategy, Starbucks has opened the world's largest, most lavish Starbucks opens in Shanghai.
The Seattle-based coffee retailer opened a store which is nearly 30,000-square foot compound that does much more than simply serve coffee and is the world's largest.
On Tuesday, the newly opened Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Shanghai is also the first non-U.S. location of a new series of shops designed to offer a more "immersive" experience for coffee lovers.
According to Starbucks, which opened its first such roastery in Seattle in 2014, the new one in Shanghai is about half its size.
Starbucks said that the Shanghai location is the world's largest and includes three coffee bars, one of which clocks in at 88 feet long - the chain's longest to date.
According to reports, the coffee bars will serve cups made from beans grown in China's Pu'er in Yunnan Province.
The roastery is a two-story, 40-ton copper cask towers over the store, refilling the coffee bars' various silos.
The company said that the cafe will also include a tea bar made from 3D printed materials, and an in-house bakery employing more than 30 Chinese bakers and chefs.
This would be the first Starbucks location to integrate augmented reality - technology that combines real-world surroundings with tech.
Customers can point their phones at various spots around the cavernous room to learn about the coffee brewing process.
Considering Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz said the company struggled when it opened its first store in China in 1999, he has now said, "We had to educate and teach many Chinese about what coffee was - the coffee ritual, what a latte was. So in the early years, we did not make money."
The company is now expanding faster than frothed milk and has been on pace to open an average of one new store every day for five years, since 2016.
The company plans to have almost 5,000 stores across the country by 2021.
Schultz said in an interview, "When people ask me how much can you really grow in China, I don't really know what the answer is, but I do believe it's going to be larger than the U.S."
Despite the increased prices, over the past year, sales in China grew by seven percent compared to a three percent in the rest of the word.


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On the back of record low interest rates, an ongoing improvement in the world economy, favourable financial market conditions and higher confidence by CEOs, a surge in global mergers and acquisitions (M&A) took place over the past year. In addition to the flurry of US deals, a growing number of cross-Atlantic mergers occurred, for example Walgreens buying Alliance Boots and Siemens buying Dresser-Rand. But the peak in the M&A cycle has yet to be reached, as indicated by the number of large deals announced so far in 2015. Against the backdrop of the likes of Shell buying BG Group, Heinz buying Kraft Foods and AbbVie acquiring Pharmacyclics, the number of large deals already exceeds last year's.
M&A drivers
Companies undertake M&As for a variety of reasons, including the pursuit of growth, diversification of their businesses or to consolidate an industry. The most common rationales for such deals are industry capacity reduction, the extension of product or market lines, geographic roll-ups, industry convergence and a substitute for in-house research and development capabilities. Often, tax also acts as a motivator. In 2014, we saw increased M&A activity related at least partly to tax inversions, which involves companies' deliberate relocation of their legal headquarters overseas to reduce tax payments. Among those were Pfizer's attempted acquisition of AstraZeneca, which would have significantly reduced the company's effective tax rate, AbbVie's attempted acquisition of Shire and Burger King's bid for Tim Hortons.
The value to shareholders
Empirical evidence[1] shows that on balance acquisitions create economic value. Shareholders of targets gain overall, while shareholders of acquirers experience mixed results[2]. The main reason why most M&A deals fail to create value for buyers is that acquirers tend to pay too much for targets. A host of factors might explain this tendency, including an overly optimistic assessment of market potential, an overestimation of synergies, poor due diligence and hubris.
While it stands to reason that company executives would seek to create shareholder value with the deals they agree, the evidence shows that most do not. Often, executives focus on accounting-based measures instead of considering the extent to which synergies can exceed the premium paid to shareholders. Executives view earnings per share (EPS) accretion favourably and dilution unfavourably. Nonetheless, just like with other investments, the immediate EPS impact gives little indication of a deal's prospects for creating long-term value.
Long-term accountability
At Hermes EOS, we take a particular interest in the acquisitive growth of companies to establish that the investment plans have been critically analysed in terms of their ability to create long-term shareholder value. Equally important is to check whether the deals follow the communicated acquisition criteria. Unfortunately, on occasions even sensible self-imposed acquisition hurdles – such as the need to have positive economic value added or generate double-digit cash flow returns within a couple of years after closing of a transaction – are disregarded when a takeover is classified as strategic. While this may exceptionally be justified, disregarding communicated acquisition criteria without adequate explanation may impact the trust and confidence of investors.
[1] According to McKinsey research on 1,415 acquisitions from 1997 to 2009, the combined value of the acquirer and target increased by about 4% on average. Werner Rehm and Carsten Buch Siverstsen, "A Strong Foundation for M&A in 2010," McKinsey on Finance, no. 34 (Winter 2010): 17–22.
[2] 'Taking Stock of What We know about Mergers and Acquisitions: A review and Research Agenda," Haleblian, Devers, McNamara, Carpenter, Davison, Journal of Management, Vol 35 No 3, June 2009
The benefits of engagement for passive investors
Shortening executive contracts is short-sighted


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Starship Modeler is the complete information resource for the science fiction, factual space, fantasy, mecha and anime scale model builder. The site is maintained by John Lester, a wholesome, all-American, starship-modeling kinda guy. It's best viewed on a system with the Haettenschweiler and Arial fonts installed (you can get them here). Except where noted, all copyrights are retained by the authors. Portions may be reproduced for non-commercial use only (such as club newsletters, etc) with written permission of the authors. We do not maintain this site for commercial gain, but rather to share information on a hobby we find engrossing and exciting. Our reviews represent our honest personal assessments of the individual authors and should not be construed as commercial endorsements by them, or us.Copyright Notices.
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What are you waiting for? Wake up the child inside you! Take a look on your window and be wondered by the snowing flakes and the Christmas spirit. The joy is all around you! Now, wake up! You can listen this looping sound anytime you wish, or you can use it for Christmas flash greetings or other stuff you want.
Keywords: christmas music, christmas song, joy, happy, child, christmas theme, looping christmas song, loop music


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Car Deals
Minivan and Van Deals: March 2013
There are several great minivan and van deals available in March. We've listed some of the top incentives and special offers on our favorite vans. That way, you don't have to worry about hunting for the best deal as you sort through the many different trim levels and options available in today's vans.
Chevrolet Express
Chevrolet's full-size Express van offers both cargo and passenger configurations. In March, shoppers can take advantage of several deals on the 2013 Express. One is for qualified buyers looking to finance the van. Through the end of the month, each of the van's trims - 1500, 2500 and 3500 - are offered with zero percent interest for 48 months, regardless of whether buyers choose cargo or passenger configurations. The van is also available with up to $1,000 cash back. That number jumps to $2,500 cash back for shoppers who don't mind a 2012 model. Finance deals are also better for the 2012 Express, with zero percent interest available for up to 60 months.
Find a Chevrolet Express Van for sale
Chrysler Town & Country
Chrysler is offering lease, finance and purchase incentives on its Town & Country minivan in March. For lease shoppers, a 2013 Town & Country Touring is available for 36 months at $289 per month after $2,999 at signing. Finance customers will also find good deals on the minivan. The 2013 Town & Country is available with zero percent interest for 60 months, while the 2012 model offers the low rate for 72 months. Finally, cash buyers also get a good deal on the van. The 2012 Town & Country is available with up to $2,750 back, while Chrysler is offering up to $2,000 back on the 2013 model.
Find a Chrysler Town & Country for sale
Dodge Grand Caravan
Like its Chrysler Town & Country sibling, the Grand Caravan is offering lease, purchase and finance incentives in March. Shoppers looking to finance the minivan can get zero percent interest for up to 60 months. Unlike the Town & Country, that offer doesn't rise to 72 months for 2012 models. Lease customers can get a 36-month term on a Grand Caravan SXT with payments starting from $299 after $2,999 at signing. And finance shoppers get up to $2,000 cash back, regardless of whether they choose a remaining 2012 model or a brand-new 2013.
Find a Dodge Grand Caravan for sale
Honda Odyssey
The Odyssey is available with lease and finance offers in March. The best lease deal is on the 2013 Odyssey LX, which starts at just $259 per month for 36 months after $2,999 at lease signing. For shoppers who would rather not put anything down, the Odyssey LX can also be leased for 35 months at $335 per month with nothing down. Finance customers can also get a good deal this month on the 2013 Odyssey. Honda is offering 0.9 percent interest for up to 60 months to qualified buyers. Unfortunately for buyers looking to pay in full, Honda rarely offers cash back deals.
The compact Mazda5 is the smallest minivan of all, boasting just six seats and a four-cylinder engine. While that means it's smaller than rivals inside, it also leads minivans in fuel economy. In March, it's also a good deal thanks to two financing offers. Shoppers looking for a brand-new 2013 Mazda5 can get interest rates as low as zero percent for up to 36 months. Those who don't mind choosing a highly similar 2012 Mazda5 can also get zero percent. But the 2012 model extends that offer to 60 months, making it a far better deal than its 2013 stablemate.
Nissan Quest
Nissan's minivan is available in March with incentives for buyers looking to lease, finance or pay with cash. Qualified finance shoppers can get zero percent interest for up to 36 months. For those who would rather lease, Nissan is touting a 39-month term with payments starting at $299 per month. While that figure requires $2,999 down, it provides $500 cash back on 2012 models. Cash buyers also get a great deal on a new Quest, as Nissan is offering up to $4,000 cash back on the model in March. That's a tremendous savings which is further enhanced by a $2,100 package savings for drivers who choose the Quest's DVD entertainment system.
Toyota Sienna
Shoppers interested in a Toyota Sienna can choose between three different offers in March. For lease customers, the 2013 Sienna is available for 36 months with payments starting at $259 per month. While that offer requires $2,999 down, shoppers can get $500 cash back this month. For drivers looking to pay in full, Toyota is offering $750 cash back. And for those interested in financing, Toyota is offering very low interest rates. Qualified buyers can get zero percent interest on the Sienna for up to 60 months through the end off March.
Volkswagen Routan
The newly cancelled Routan is only available with one special offer in March. As with all other 2012 Volkswagen models, the 2012 Routan is available with zero percent financing for up to 66 months. While Volkswagen will make a 2013 Routan, it will only be available to rental car companies and other fleet buyers.
What it means to you: Our list of great minivan and van deals can put shoppers' minds at ease as they consider the many minivan choices available today.


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Here's how North Carolina members of Congress voted in the week that ended Dec. 13.
Here's how North Carolina members of Congress voted on major issues in the week ending Dec. 13.
TWO-YEAR BUDGET DEAL: Voting 332 for and 94 against, the House on Dec. 12 approved a two-year budget deal that would enable Congress to operate through September 2015 without real or threatened government shutdowns or lurches from one stopgap budget to the next. The measure (HJ Res 59) would soften the impact of sequestration on defense readiness and critical domestic programs; raise a variety of taxes and fees by $7 billion over 10 years; reduce deficit spending by $23 billion over 10 years; slightly raise discretionary spending to an average of $1.013 trillion per year in fiscal 2014-2015 and avert cuts in Medicare payments to doctors.
Among its revenue provisions, the bill would raise pension contributions by newly hired federal employees; trim certain payments to Medicare providers; raise airline ticket fees; curb cost-of-living increases for military pensioners holding civilian jobs; increase fees paid by corporations to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and require states to pay a larger share of the cost of managing mineral leases on federal land.
A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate, where speedy approval is expected.
Voting yes: Democrats G.K. Butterfield and David Price, and Republicans Renee Ellmers, Virginia Foxx, Howard Coble, Richard Hudson, Robert Pittenger and Patrick McHenry
Voting no: Democrats Mike McIntyre and Melvin Watt, and Republicans Walter Jones, Mark Meadows and George Holding
EXTENDED JOBLESS BENEFITS: On a procedural vote of 227 for and 195 against, the House on Dec. 12 blocked a bid by Democrats for a direct vote on their amendment to provide three more months of unemployment checks for 1.3 million of the long-term jobless whose current allotment of extended benefits will expire Dec. 28. Democrats forced this vote after the Republican leadership refused to include the extension in a two-year budget agreement (HJ Res 59, above). The $6 billion cost of the extended benefits was to have been offset by cuts in farm subsidies.
A yes vote opposed the bid for extended jobless benefits.
Voting yes: Ellmers, Jones, Foxx, Coble, Hudson, Pittenger, McHenry, Meadows, Holding
Voting no: Butterfield, Price, McIntyre, Watt
2014 MILITARY BUDGET: Voting 350 for and 69 against, the House on Dec. 12 approved a bill (HR 3304) to authorize a $625.1 billion military budget for fiscal 2014, including $80.7 billion for actions in Afghanistan, Iraq and other war zones; up to $60 billion for active-duty and retirement healthcare; $17.8 billion for nuclear-weapons programs run by the Department of Energy; $10 billion for the U.S. Special Operations Command and $9.3 billion for space- and land-based missile defenses. The bill funds a 1 percent military pay raise, bars higher copayments or enrollment fees in the military healthcare system and sets active-duty end-strengths of 520,000 for the Army, 327,600 for the Air Force, 323,600 for the Navy and 190,200 for the Marine Corps.
The bill keeps the handling of sexual assault cases within the chain of command where they occur but ends commanders' authority to dismiss the findings of a court martial. The bill establishes a special counsel to help survivors of sexual assaults navigate the military legal system and makes it a crime under the Uniform Code of Military Justice to retaliate against those who report sexual assaults.
A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate, where quick passage was expected.
Voting yes: Butterfield, Ellmers, Price, Foxx, Coble, McIntyre, Hudson, Pittenger, McHenry, Meadows, Holding
Voting no: Jones, Watt
MELVIN WATT CONFIRMATION: Voting 57 for and 41 against, the Senate Dec. 10 confirmed the nomination of Melvin L. Watt, 68, a Democratic congressman from North Carolina, to a five-year term as director the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). The agency is the lead regulator of housing markets, overseeing Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the Federal Home Loan Banks and other players in America's secondary mortgage market. It was established in 2008 in the throes of the U.S. housing meltdown.
A yes vote was to confirm Watt.
Voting yes: Democrat Kay Hagan and Republican Richard Burr
PATRICIA MILLETT CONFIRMATION: Voting 56 for and 38 against, the Senate on Dec. 10 confirmed Patricia Ann Millett as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Millett, 50, worked most recently in private practice, and before that she was an assistant solicitor general in Democratic and Republican administrations. She became the first judge confirmed under new Senate rules that set a simple-majority vote as the standard for advancing presidential nominees other than Supreme Court selections.
A yes vote was to confirm Millett.
Voting yes: Hagan
Voting no: Burr
CORNELIA PILLARD CONFIRMATION: Voting 51 for and 44 against, the Senate on Dec. 12 confirmed Cornelia T. L. Pillard, 52, to sit on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. A Georgetown University law professor, Pillard held high Justice Department positions in the administrations of presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
A yes vote was to confirm Pillard.
Voting yes: Hagan
Voting no: Burr
In the week of Dec. 16, the Senate will vote on a two-year budget deal, the 2014 defense budget and presidential nominees. The House is in recess until the Second Session of the 113th Congress begins Jan. 6.


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George Lucas might be one of the most divisive people in film culture. Many people love him for giving us the gift of Star Wars, while others aren't exactly championing him due to the prequels, the changes to the original trilogy, and the fourth Indiana Jones. Say what you will about his film work, but you can't deny that at his core he really wants to make a difference in the world, which is why he plans on donating the majority of the money from his Lucasfilm sale to charity.
A representative from Lucasfilm told THR, "George Lucas has expressed his intention, in the event the deal closes, to donate the majority of the proceeds to his philanthropic endeavors."
"For 41 years, the majority of my time and money has been put into the company," Lucas said, "As I start a new chapter in my life, it is gratifying that I have the opportunity to devote more time and resources to philanthropy."
The sale of Lucasfilm to Disney should be finalized by the end of the year and the final dollar mark on the sale was $4.05 billion. Neither Lucas nor his representatives have said if the George Lucas Educational Foundation will be the recipient of the donation or whether he will spread it across several foundations. In the past, Lucas has donated to the Film Foundation, Stand Up To Cancer, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and his alma mater, USC.
"I am dedicating the majority of my wealth to improving education," Lucas said in a 2010 letter to The Giving Pledge. "It is the key to the survival of the human race. We have to plan for our collective future—and the first step begins with social, emotional, and intellectual tools we provide to our children. As humans, our greatest tool for survival is our ability to think and to adapt—as educators, storytellers, and communicators our responsibility is to continue to do so."
(Photo Credit: WENN.com)


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Category: Investment, Biotech, Biodefense
Medical Technology Breaking News: Aethlon Medical (OTCBB:AEMD) Note: An Emerging Strategy to Treat Metastatic Breast Cancer
Visit this company: www.aethlonmedical.com
SAN DIEGO - January 15, 2013 (Investorideas.com newswire) - Aethlon Medical, Inc. (OTCBB: AEMD), today released the following note authored by its Chairman and CEO, Jim Joyce.
In 2012, researchers published the discovery that small particles known as exosomes are secreted by tumors to seed the creation and spread of cancer metastases. These same tumor-secreted exosomes have also been implicated in death of immune cells necessary to combat cancer and they facilitate the ability of tumors to create their own blood supply for survival. The Aethlon Hemopurifier« is the first therapeutic strategy to address these vital targets in cancer care. Based on our early research in the field, we have issued patent protection that provides an opportunity to establish a dominant position within the marketplace. In this regard, we envision the elimination of tumor-secreted exosomes through Hemopurifier« therapy will optimize the performance of cancer therapies and augment the immune system's ability to combat cancer. Based on evidence that our Hemopurifier« captures exosomes underlying breast cancer, I am pleased to provide you with the following review authored by Dr. Annette Marleau, our Director of Tumor Immunology.
Current Perspectives on Breast Cancer Exosomes
Breast cancer represents a challenging clinical scenario that exhibits heterogeneous molecular types and enormous diversity of malignant behavior of tumors between patients. As the second most common cancer afflicting women in the United States, it is estimated that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in their lifetime (1). Significant improvements in disease-free survival have been achieved; however, there is still a need to address the aggressive and metastatic forms of breast cancer.
Advances in the understanding of breast cancer pathogenesis at a molecular level have pointed toward central roles for exosomes, nano-vesicles released in abundance by cancer cells. Exosomes are packed with proteins and genetic material from the tumor, and act as cellular messengers that distribute these malignant factors systemically to target cells, including cancer cells as well as healthy cells. Recently, the dissemination of pro-cancer cargo by exosomes is has been appreciated as promoting several critical aspects of cancer pathogenesis, including signaling for tumor growth, metastasis, angiogenesis, and resistance to chemo- and immunotherapeutic agents. These scientific discoveries, some of which are discussed below, have been accompanied by a growing interest in means for targeting exosomes therapeutically.
Recent studies have identified several mechanisms underlying the secretion of breast cancer exosomes and their uptake by target cells. In the breast tumor microenvironment, hypoxia is a pathological state of oxygen deprivation that affects the expression of genes required for many critical aspects of cancer progression. A study by Dr. Jonathan Gleadle's laboratory in the journal BMC Cancer demonstrated that hypoxia stimulates exosome secretion by breast cancer cells (2), which can serve as a means for distributing a supply of cancer-promoting signals for the tumor mass. These investigations and many others also point toward exosomes as biomarkers for predicting the aggressiveness of a tumor.
Adding to the understanding of the physiological triggers of exosome secretion, Dr. Josiah Ochieng's group reported in PLoS One that exosomes are secreted in response to detachment of breast cancer cells from extracellular matrices (3). In turn, the secreted exosomes concentrate on the surfaces of breast cancer cells to facilitate their re-adhesion to surfaces. This study implicates cancer-secreted exosomes as having crucial roles in tissue invasion by metastasizing breast cancer cells. Aberrant glycosylation is a hallmark of cancer that promotes adhesiveness of cancer cells to one another and to extracellular matrices, endowing them with invasive and metastatic phenotypes. Indeed, tumor-secreted exosomes also display highly glycosylated surface structures (4), which could serve as binding targets of lectin affinity capture agents for pulling nanovesicles out of the circulatory system.
Recent studies have also provided considerable insight into the impact of breast cancer exosomes as vehicles for spreading oncogenic signals to diverse target cells. A pivotal publication in PNAS by Dr. Richard Cerione's group at Cornell University showed that the transfer of cargo by cancer exosomes is involved in cellular transformation, whereby healthy cells acquired the growth characteristics of tumor cells (5). Along these same lines is the recent publication in PLoS One, authored by Drs. Chang Lau and David Wong at UCLA, where breast cancer exosomes interacted with salivary gland cells, as evidenced by changes in the protein and genetic composition of exosomes secreted by the target cells(6). This report provides mechanistic insight as to how tumors are capable of communicating with target cells at distant sites via secretion of exosomes, making a therapeutic strategy for systemic removal of exosomes an attractive possibility for slowing cancer progression.
Significantly, there is also evidence that breast cancer exosomes might exert a direct role in resistance of tumors to therapeutic agents. In a paper by Dr. Serenella Pupa and colleagues published in the Journal of Cellular Physiology, exosomes from breast cancer cells that over-expressed the HER2 oncoprotein also displayed surface HER2, which bound to and sequestered the therapeutic antibody Herceptin in vitro (7). It was suggested that this decoy effect of cancer exosomes could lower the therapeutic benefits of immunotherapeutic agents, particularly in patients with advanced cancer where the exosome burden is expected to be high. On this basis, a strategy aimed at alleviating the exosome load might prove to be a promising adjunct therapy to improve the benefits of standard of care breast cancer treatments.
(1) http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/understand_bc/statistics
(2) King HW, Michael MZ and Gleadle JM. Hypoxic enhancement of exosome release by breast cancer cells. BMC Cancer 2012; 12:421.
(3) Koumangoye RB, Sakwe AM, Goodwin JS, Patel T, Ocheing J. Detachment of breast tumor cells induces rapid secretion of exosomes which subsequently mediate cellular adhesion and spreading. PLoS One 2011; 6(9)e24234.
(4) Batista BS, Eng WS, Pilobello KT, Hendricks-Munoz KD, Mahal LK. Identification of a conserved glycan signature for microvesicles.J Proteome Res. 2011 Oct 7;10(10): 4624-33.
(5) Antonyak MA, Li B, Boroughs LK, Johnson JL, Druso JE, Bryant KL, Holowka DA, Cerione RA. Cancer cell-derived microvesicles induce transformation by transferring tissue transglutaminase and fibronectin to recipient cells. ProcNatlAcadSci U S A. 2011 Mar 22; 108(12):4852-7.
(6) Lau CS, Wong DT. Breast cancer exosome-like microvesicles and salivary gland cells interplay alters salivary gland cell-derived exosome-like microvesicles in vitro. PLoS One. 2012; 7(3):e33037.
(7) Ciravolo V, Huber V, Ghedini GC, Venturelli E, Bianchi F, Campiglio M, Morelli D, Villa A, Della Mina P, Menard S, Filipazzi P, Rivoltini L, Tagliabue E, Pupa SM. Potential role of HER2-overexpressing exosomes in countering trastuzumab-based therapy. J Cell Physiol. 2012 Feb; 227(2):658-67.
About Aethlon Medical
The Aethlon Medical mission is to create innovative medical devices that address unmet medical needs in cancer, infectious disease, and other life-threatening conditions. Our Aethlon ADAPT™ System is a revenue-stage technology platform that provides the basis for a new class of therapeutics that target the selective removal of disease enabling particles from the entire circulatory system. The Aethlon ADAPT™ product pipeline includes the Aethlon Hemopurifier® to address infectious disease and cancer; HER2osome™ to target HER2+ breast cancer, and a medical device being developed under a contract with DARPA that would reduce the incidence of sepsis in combat-injured soldiers and civilians. For more information, please visit www.aethlonmedical.com.
About The Aethlon Hemopurifier®
The Aethlon Hemopurifier® is a first-in-class medical device that selectively targets the rapid clearance of infectious viral pathogens and immunosuppressive proteins from the entire circulatory system. In the treatment of Hepatitis C virus (HCV), human studies have demonstrated that Hemopurifier® therapy may improve immediate, rapid and sustained virologic response rates when administered in the first few days of standard-of-care drug therapy. In addition to accelerating viral load depletion, post-treatment analysis of the Hemopurifier® has documented the capture of up to 300 billion HCV copies of HCV during a single six-hour treatment. Access to Hemopurifier® therapy is available on a compassionate-use basis through the Medanta Medicity Institute (Medicity), a leading center for medical tourism in India. The Medicity is offering treatment access to infected individuals who previously failed or subsequently relapsed standard-of-care drug regimens. The Hemopurifier® is also being offered as a salvage therapy to infected individuals who suffer a viral breakthrough during standard-of-care therapy. U.S. studies of the Hemopurifier® are currently pending approval of an IDE submitted to FDA.
The Aethlon Hemopurifier® and Cancer
In addition to the opportunity to address a broad-spectrum of infectious viral pathogens, the Hemopurifier® has been discovered to capture tumor-derived exosomes underlying several forms of cancer. Tumor-derived exosomes have recently emerged to be a vital therapeutic target in cancer care. These microvesicular particles suppress the immune response in cancer patients through apoptosis of immune cells and their quantity in circulation correlates directly with disease progression. Beyond possessing immunosuppressive properties, tumor-derived exosomes facilitate tumor growth, metastasis, and the development of drug resistance. By addressing this unmet medical need, the Hemopurifier® is positioned as an adjunct to improve established cancer treatment regimens.
Certain statements herein may be forward-looking and involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements involve assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Aethlon Medical, Inc. to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, that the company can successfully protect its intellectual property, that removal of exosomes from the human body will impact or lead to successful treatment of cancer, or that exosomes are the cause of tumor growth and progression, that the FDA will not approve the initiation of the Company's clinical programs or provide market clearance of the company's products, future human studies whether revenue or non-revenue generating of the Aethlon ADAPT™ system or the Aethlon Hemopurifier® as an adjunct therapy to improve patient responsiveness to established cancer or hepatitis C therapies or as a standalone cancer or hepatitis C therapy, the Company's ability to raise capital when needed, the Company's ability to complete the development of its planned products, the Company's ability to manufacture its products either internally or through outside companies and provide its services, the impact of government regulations, patent protection on the Company's proprietary technology, product liability exposure, uncertainty of market acceptance, competition, technological change, and other risk factors. In such instances, actual results could differ materially as a result of a variety of factors, including the risks associated with the effect of changing economic conditions and other risk factors detailed in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
James A. Joyce
Chairman and CEO
858.459.7800 x301
Jim Frakes
Chief Financial Officer
858.459.7800 x300
Marc Robins
Published at Investorideas.com Newswire
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