WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congressional negotiators burrowed into their offices on Saturday to see if they could stop the U.S. economy from falling off of a "fiscal cliff" in just three days when the biggest tax increases ever to hit Americans in one shot are scheduled to begin.
Aides to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell worked through the day on a possible compromise that would set aside $600 billion in tax increases and across-the-board government spending cuts that are set to kick in next week.
A variety of lower taxes are scheduled to expire at the end of Monday, the last day of the year. If allowed to rise, the approximately $500 billion value of the revenue increases would represent a historic hike when taken together.
The combined punch of the tax increases and spending cuts could push the U.S. economy back into recession.
"We're now at the point where, in just a couple days, the law says that every American's tax rates are going up. Every American's paycheck will get a lot smaller. And that would be the wrong thing to do for our economy," President Barack Obama said in his weekly radio and Internet address, which was broadcast on Saturday.
At midday, McConnell walked into his office on the second floor of the U.S. Capitol. Asked by journalists if he thought his efforts would succeed, McConnell responded: "I hope so."
A source with knowledge of the talks, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: "We are still very far apart with almost no time left on the clock."
TEMPORARY PATCHES
One congressional aide close to the talks said that most of what was being discussed late on Saturday would provide temporary patches to the "fiscal cliff" dilemma. The negotiations, the aide said, likely could extend into Sunday.
"They continue to go round and round," the aide said of the negotiations, with ideas constantly in flux.
The aide, who asked not to be identified, said negotiators were discussing the possibility of putting off for a few months the $109 billion in automatic spending cuts due to start on Wednesday. Those cuts would be divided equally between military and non-military programs. It is feared that they could cause severe disruptions inside federal agencies if allowed to occur.
Earlier this week, talk of a temporary delay in the spending cuts was met with derision by some congressional aides.
The extension of the low income tax rates first put in place under Republican former President George W. Bush would also be on a temporary basis, probably one year, the aide said.
But no deal had been reached on the most difficult question: Democrats' demand that upper-income earners - families making more than $250,000 a year - would see their tax rates go up.
Republicans had been opposed to any rate increase, but lately have signaled a willingness to go along with a higher threshold - and a $400,000 figure has been floating around for days.
Under proposals being discussed, top earners could see their income tax rate rise to 39.6 percent, from the current 35 percent, in order to help tame budget deficits.
The aide added that Republicans still had not agreed to Obama's call for extending long-term unemployment benefits, but that they were demanding some spending cuts to be included in a stop-gap deal.
Disagreements over what to do about low estate taxes that are expiring also had not been worked out, the aide said.
Unless Congress acts, the tax is set to jump on Tuesday - the first day of 2013 - to 55 percent with the first $1 million exempted for individuals. Currently, there is a 35 percent tax and a $5 million exemption.
A Senate Republican leadership aide said that it might not be known until sometime on Sunday whether these talks bear fruit. That is when the leaders are expected to brief their rank-and-file members.
The Senate is scheduled to hold a rare Sunday session beginning at 1 p.m. EST (1800 GMT), but it was not clear whether the chamber would have "fiscal cliff" legislation to act upon.
One Democratic aide was pessimistic that McConnell would come up with a counteroffer that Reid would find acceptable. Such a counteroffer would have to be calibrated in a way that also could attract votes from conservative House of Representatives Republicans, many of whom have balked at tax rate increases on anyone.
'HARD TO SEE'
A senior House Republican aide on Saturday voiced pessimism about prospects for a deal.
"It's hard to see Reid agreeing to anything that can get the votes of the majority of the majority in the House, thereby allowing a bipartisan accomplishment," the aide said. A "majority of the majority" refers to the 241 Republicans who are in the 435-member House.
The Republican aide placed the blame squarely on Democrats, as many Republican members have done publicly, saying that going off the "fiscal cliff" is a "policy upside" for them. "Higher taxes, devastating defense cuts. The polls tell them they can win the PR (publican relations) war in January. From their perspective, why stop the cliff dive?"
Democrats, in turn, have publicly accused House Speaker John Boehner, the top Republican in Congress, of preferring to put off any tough "fiscal cliff" votes until after a January 3 House election in which he is expected to win another two-year term as speaker.
If McConnell and Reid can manage to reach a deal on inheritance taxes and raising income tax rates on the wealthiest Americans, they likely would throw into the compromise some other "fiscal cliff" solutions.
Those could include extending an array of other expiring tax breaks such as one that encourages companies to conduct research and development. Also, Congress wants to prevent a steep pay-cut in January for doctors who treat elderly patients under the Medicare health insurance program.
Lawmakers also want to prevent middle-class taxpayers from inadvertently creeping into a higher tax bracket, known as the alternative minimum tax, intended for the wealthiest.
If the Reid-McConnell effort fails, Obama has asked the Senate to hold a vote on Monday on a "basic package" that would stop taxes from going up on the middle class and would extend long-term unemployment benefits that are about to expire. If it passes the Senate, its fate would be in the hands of the Republican-controlled House.
(Additional reporting by Thomas Ferraro and Jeff Mason; Editing by Will Dunham)
Think of it as the New Years? Eve version of the Norad Santa Tracker. Instead of tracking Santa, you are tracking how everyone reacts or celebrates New Years? Eve when the clock strikes 12am. The EarthCam app will give you a glimpse of how?everyone else celebrates New Years? Eve this year. I?m guessing it?s the same mix of drinking and messy dancing, but you can find out for yourself from the comfort of your home or nearest bar.
EarthCam features over 40 live streams from major world cities, showing off what New Years? Eve has in store for New York City, Tokyo, Rio, and loads more. You can start in the far east and move west to catch all the countdowns, as the new year washes over the world like a giant tidal wave of bad decisions.
EarthCam is available here as a download for $3.99.Google+
ORLANDO, Fla. - - Behind strong team defense and balanced scoring, Belmont University men's basketball defeated Boston University, 64-48, Friday night in the first round of the UCF Holiday Tournament.
The Bruins, looking to build off of impressive home victories over Middle Tennessee and South Dakota State leading into the Christmas holiday, faced yet another confident and defensive-minded mid-major stalwart in the Terriers.
Five early points from senior Ian Clark (Memphis, Tenn.) gave the Bruins a 8-5 lead five minutes in. With passes and shots contested at every turn, consecutive three-pointers from senior Trevor Noack (Keller, Texas) pushed Belmont to an 18-15 edge midway through the first half.
After Nathan Dieudonne trimmed the margin to 22-20, Belmont intensified its defensive pressure and sharpened its offensive execution to close the half on an 18-4 run.
Junior J.J. Mann (Smyrna. Ga.) supplied two three-pointers and Clark produced two jaw-dropping drives during the run as Belmont took a 40-24 lead at halftime.
Belmont shot 46 percent (15-for-33) from the field in the opening 20 minutes - including 6-for-16 from three-point distance. The Bruins limited the Terriers to 38 percent shooting while forcing 11 turnovers.
But just as the Bruins appeared poised to seize control, Boston University offered a stern reply and fought back into the game.
A deep three-pointer for Dom Morris capped a 7-0 Terrier run in the first 1:51 of the second half to close the margin to 40-31.
Three free throws and a basket from junior Blake Jenkins (Knoxville, Tenn.) increased the Bruin lead to 47-34 with 13:29 left, but Boston U. pushed onward.
With Belmont?missed opportunities?mounting, back-to-back baskets from Malik Thomas got the Terriers within 53-48 with 6:49 remaining.
But the experienced Bruins held Boston U. without a made field goal thereafter, closing in impressive fashion in all facets. A gorgeous baseline feed from senior Kerron Johnson (Huntsville, Ala.) set up Jenkins for a dramatic slam dunk to push the advantage back to seven.
Jenkins then added a conventional three-point play moments later to give the Bruins a 58-48 lead with 5:31 to go.
A string of defensive stops and two determined driving layins from Johnson enabled Belmont to secure the victory.
All told, Belmont shot 42 percent (25-for-59) from the field, outrebounding Boston U., 40-30. The Bruins limited the Terriers to 34 percent shooting, and 4-for-20 from behind the arc.
Clark and Jenkins paced four Bruins in double figures with 15 points each. Johnson had 12 points and six assists, while Noack recorded his first career double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Maurice Watson led Boston University (5-7) with 11 points.
Belmont (9-3) returns to action Saturday against host UCF in the championship game of the UCF Holiday Tournament. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. CT.
The live play-by-play of Voice of the Bruins Kevin Ingram can be heard on the Bruin Sports Network. Live video streaming will be available via UCF All-Access (subscription rates may apply). Live updates will be available on Twitter @BelmontMBB.
NOTES: Belmont records its fifth victory away from home this season ... The Bruins got timely bench contributions from Chad Lang, Reece Chamberlain, and Craig Bradshaw.
203K loans are popular as they allow individuals to borrow financial funds for improvement as well as ownership of a house by only taking one loan. 203K loans are issued by the Federal Housing Administration. 203K Loans typically come with a lower interest rate. Moreover, the terms of paying back the loan varies from 15-30 years.
Basics To Know About 203K Loans
203K loans are best suitable for individuals in the United States who are seeking to buy a house or remodel their existing house but need finance to do so. 203K Loans are also referred to as ?fixer? or ?rehab loans?. Through these types of loans, one cannot only fund finance new homes but also acquire them for home improvement projects. The most important thing to know about the 203K Loan is that it is issued in the form of one loan and not separate loans.
With two different loans, there is a lot of hassle involved such as hassle of paper work, cost, payment of interest and more. Two loans come with a greater price as compared to single loans. With single loans, the interest payments that will have to be made back by the loan taker will typically be low as a result of which, the act of paying back the loan and maintaining your credit history will become a relatively easier task.
203K Loans are offered at competitive rates as a result of which, they make a reasonable choice of selection as loans for home improvement or buying homes altogether. The Federal Housing Administration issues the 203K Loans for single to four unit properties but condo owners as well as townhome owners can also use them to enhance the looks of their properties. The 203K Loans offer nearly 110percent in loans of the speculated value of the property in question, after improvement. The minimum value of finance that is offered is $5,000 but the FHA permits users to take up smaller projects that permit facilitation of easy payment processes.
Another thing to note about 203K loans is that it is mandatory to complete the work in 6 months of closing and if the project reaches more than its expected amount, more amounts will be inserted in the total. Experts advise against padding up the total cost of loan, which occurs in the case when total amount of loan exceeds the cost of improvement or the new property itself and therefore, it is always recommended to hire a reputable contractor who can provide you with accurate estimates.
Tags: administration, cost, Federal, finance, Home, house, housing, improvement, interest, K Loan, K Loans, loan, united states
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JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Former South African President Nelson Mandela is doing well after being discharged from hospital, although he is still not fully recovered, a government spokesman said on Thursday.
"He is not yet fully recovered, but he has sufficiently moved forward so that he can be discharged," Mac Maharaj told local broadcaster eNCA.
"He is sufficiently well to be home."
The 94-year-old anti-apartheid leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate was discharged from the hospital on Wednesday, ending a nearly three-week stay during which he was treated for a lung infection and had surgery to remove gallstones.
Mandela, who has been in frail health for several years, is now receiving care at his suburban Johannesburg home.
Mandela has a history of lung problems dating back to when he contracted tuberculosis while in jail as a political prisoner. He spent 27 years in prison, including 18 years on the windswept Robben Island off Cape Town.
The former president was admitted to a Pretoria hospital on December 8 and this was his longest stay in a hospital since he was released from prison in 1990.
Current President Jacob Zuma visited Mandela on Christmas Day and said the former South African leader was doing much better, making progress and in good spirits.
Mandela was also admitted to a hospital in February because of abdominal pain but released the following day after a keyhole examination showed there was nothing seriously wrong with him.
He has spent most of his time since then in another home in Qunu, his ancestral village in the impoverished Eastern Cape province.
(Reporting by David Dolan; editing by Todd Eastham)
It is no secret that distance is one of the most difficult things for any relationship to overcome. The most common advice given to people planning on attempting a distance relationship is to give up before even trying.
While it?s true that most long distance relationships don?t end up working out, it?s not impossible. Here are 5 ways to make a long distance relationship a little more bearable.
Have A Clear Plan For Your Next Meeting
One of the things that make the distance so hard to deal with is the hopelessness. When your unable to see the person you love for any extended period it?s easy to start to feel like you will never see them again.
Having a clear defined time for your next meeting gives you both something to look forward to and helps a lot when things are especially hard. The more concrete and detailed the planed meeting the better.
Find A Way To Keep Intimacy Alive
Distance doesn?t change the needs of either person in the relationship. The foundation of any good relationship is intimacy and that doesn?t just mean sex. There are a number of things that can be done to maintain a feeling of closeness even from a far.
A good example is to set up nightly talks on the phone where you share thoughts, feelings and details of the day. Knowing that your voice is last they hear every night before they drift to sleep can be one of the most intimate feelings in the world.
Honesty and Avoiding Any Doubt
Another reason long distance relationships are so difficult is trust. It?s easy to say you trust someone, but when you?re far away and all you have to go on is his or her word it?s much more difficult. In this situation more than any other it?s positively vital that you are 100% honest about everything.
Chances are you are both going to make mistakes. Talking about them and not covering them up is the only possible way for this sort of relationship to work. The moment any doubt is expressed it?s extremely hard or even impossible to get back to a place of trust.
Spend Plenty of Time Together
Just because you?re far away from each other, doesn?t mean you should spend all of your time apart. With the help of cell phones, it?s easy to stay connected to each other and talk often even on the go.
Another great resource to ease the pain of a long distance relationship is Skype. Skype allows the two of you to see and talk to each other face to face. All that?s required for Skype is an Internet connection and a computer. It doesn?t even cost you a penny.
Do More Than Just ?Talk?
No matter how much you enjoy talking to someone, there comes a point when conversations start to get a little stale. Planning activities to do together on the phone or on the Internet is a great way to enjoy each other?s company without getting bored.
The easiest example of something like this is to watch a movie together while on Skype. Calling the other person on Skype and then watching the same TV program or a movie on HBO is fun, easy and most importantly breaks up the monotony.
Well, there are countless ways to make it work. It all depends on your perspective.
Maria Rainier is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at First in Education where she?s written on?online adult education programs?along with?optometry jobs. In her spare time, she enjoys yoga, playing piano, and working with origami.
HOUSTON (AP) -- The average price across Texas for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline increased 4 cents this week.
AAA Texas reported Thursday the average price increased to $3.07. Motorists in Texarkana are paying the most, with an average of $3.12 per gallon. Drivers in Beaumont are paying the least at $3.02 per gallon.
The average price for fuel in Texas is 19 cents less than the national average of $3.26.
AAA Texas says gas prices may be impacted by what happens regarding the "fiscal cliff" ? budget cuts and tax hikes that would kick in on Jan. 1 unless the White House and Congress agree on a budget deal. The group says a deal will likely been seen as an economic positive, sending prices higher, while no deal could lower prices.
Vice President Joe Biden, right, re-enacts the swearing in of Sen. Brian Emanuel Schatz, D-Hawaii., left, as wife Linda Schatz, holds the bible and watches at center, during a ceremony in the Old Senate Chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012. Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie named Schatz, his lieutenant governor, to fill the Senate seat left vacant following the death of the late Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii. Earlier, Biden officially administered the Senate oath to Schatz on the Senate floor. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Vice President Joe Biden, right, re-enacts the swearing in of Sen. Brian Emanuel Schatz, D-Hawaii., left, as wife Linda Schatz, holds the bible and watches at center, during a ceremony in the Old Senate Chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012. Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie named Schatz, his lieutenant governor, to fill the Senate seat left vacant following the death of the late Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii. Earlier, Biden officially administered the Senate oath to Schatz on the Senate floor. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Hawaii's newest Sen. Brian Schatz, the current lieutenant governor, smiles as he talks with reporters on the tarmac after deplaning Air Force One, Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie appointed Brian Schatz to the post Wednesday to replace the late Sen. Daniel Inouye. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Hawaii Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz speaks the state Capitol in Honolulu on Wednesday, Dec. 26. 2012 after Gov. Neil Abercrombie, right, announced he was appointing Schatz to fill the seat vacated by the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy)
FILE- In this Nov. 3, 2010 file photo, a supporter congratulates then-Lt. governor-elect Brian Schatz, center, as his wife Linda looks on at the Neil Abercrombie-Brian Schatz Hawaii governor's post election party in Honolulu. Schatz was appointed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2012 to succeed the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner, File)
Hawaii Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz, left, shakes hands with Gov. Neil Abercrombie at the state Capitol in Honolulu on Wednesday, Dec. 26. 2012 after the governor announced he was appointing Schatz to fill the seat vacated by the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy)
WASHINGTON (AP) ? Brian Schatz symbolized a generational change in Hawaii's Senate delegation, taking the hand of his new colleague, 88-year-old Sen. Daniel Akaka, moments before being sworn in Thursday as the successor to the late Democratic Sen. Daniel Inouye.
Vice President Joe Biden administered the oath of office in a chamber peopled by a dozen Democratic senators and a handful of Republicans.
As he walked up the center aisle to meet Biden, Schatz, 40, took Akaka's hand and helped the frail Democratic senator, who is retiring, stay at his side.
Schatz had flown to Washington hours earlier on Air Force One with President Barack Obama. Democratic Gov. Neil Abercrombie named Schatz, who had been lieutenant governor, to succeed Inouye. Inouye died last week of respiratory complications at the age of 88.
The selection went against the dying wishes of Inouye, who is revered in Hawaii politics. He had wanted Rep. Colleen Hanabusa to succeed him.
Schatz is a former state representative and onetime chairman of the state Democratic Party who ran Obama's 2008 campaign in Hawaii.
He said his top priorities in the Senate would be addressing global climate change, preserving federal funds used in Hawaii for things like defense spending and transportation and getting federal recognition for Native Hawaiians to form their own government, similar to many Indian tribes.
Schatz told reporters in Washington that he slept for most of the long flight, but he also spoke briefly with Obama.
"We're anxious to get to work" to try to avert the fiscal cliff, Schatz said, referring to a package of large tax hikes and spending cuts that will take effect in the new year unless Congress intervenes.
Schatz said it was "difficult to understand why we've inflicted this on ourselves." He said the only thing worse than some of the tax hikes and spending cuts proposed to avert the cliff "is not fixing it."
"I'll be looking forward to supporting the administration's priorities," he added.
Schatz, wearing on overcoat bought specifically for the trip, said Abercrombie informed him of his appointment shortly before it was announced publicly. He said he didn't know he would fly with the president to Washington. The rest of his family, including his parents, wife and children, flew commercially.
Schatz beat out Hanabusa and Esther Kiaaina, a deputy director in the state Land and Natural Resources Department. The three candidates were selected by state Democrats Wednesday morning from a field of 14. The candidates briefly made their cases before the state party's central committee.
Obama returned home early from his Hawaii Christmas vacation as Congress considered what to do about the so-called fiscal cliff.
Schatz will become Hawaii's senior senator in the new Congress, which convenes in a few days. Akaka is retiring after 22 years, and Democratic Rep. Mazie Hirono was elected in November to succeed him.
Inouye was by far Hawaii's most influential politician and one of the most respected lawmakers in Washington after serving five decades in the Senate. He sent Abercrombie a hand-signed letter dated the day he died, saying he would like Hanabusa to succeed him, calling it his "last wish."
Four days after eulogizing Inouye in the courtyard of the Hawaii Capitol, Abercrombie said he had to consider more than just Inouye's wishes in filling his seat.
"Of course Sen. Inouye's views and his wishes were taken into account fully, but the charge of the central committee, and by extension then myself as governor, was to act in the best interests of the party ... the state and the nation," Abercrombie said.
Under state law, the successor had to come from the same party as the prior incumbent. An Abercrombie spokeswoman said the governor did not feel any political pressure from within his party to make the choice he made.
___
Associated Press writers Matthew Daly and Becky Bohrer in Honolulu contributed to this report.
Along with health conditions and illnesses, skin and hair are some of the important quotas where you need to put in your best efforts to keep them healthy and clean. Skin diseases and hair problems are some of the common and prevalent issues that you might have to face irrespective of age and gender. Not only is skin and hair a major protection to your body but also something that greatly affects your looks and personality.
You really need to work on keeping the skin clean, clear and radiant if you want to catch the eye of people around you. Just wearing good clothes is not always enough to look attractive. There is a lot more where you need to work if you want a flawless appearance. There are a lot of tips and tricks that you can adhere in your daily routine where skin care is concerned along with various good products available to help you achieve your goals.
However, every individual needs to know the requirements of their skin and work accordingly.?Acne breakouts are one of the most frequent occurring problems not only for people with oily skin but also those who suffer from extreme dryness on facial skin. Acne breakouts are little bumps on the skin and make the overall look dull and ugly.
However, it is not at all advisable that you opt for expensive beauty treatments in the salon for such a subtle problem. Consider some natural and home remedies in this regard and work with them on a regular basis if you want to achieve satisfying outcomes.
There are a lot of well researched ideas that you can actually stick to where home remedies for acne is concerned. Once you know which ones to opt for and the ones that will best suit your needs and priorities, you can follow them regularly to see what wonders it has for the skin and on the treatment of acne. Check out this guide for more information-
How to Treat Facial Acne Naturally
Use Salty Water for Cleansing?
Soap is known to lead to extreme dryness of the skin and thud cause dry acne. It is best suggested that if you suffer from acne on a regular basis you use lukewarm salty water to clean the face of the excessive oil rather than using soap and water. This will ensure a balanced Ph and you can be assured of healthy skin free from breakouts and ugly acne bumps.
Benefits of Aloe Vera Juice
One of the safest and the most effectual natural liquid that works wonders not only on acne but also on the scars that it leaves behind on the face is Aloe Vera Juice.
This beneficial liquid is available in all the departmental stores and should be applied twice in a day on the affected areas to see visible results. This liquid is not very expensive on the pocket and truly an affordable home remedy for facial acne.
Sandalwood and Black Gram Combo?
You can easily make a pack from good quality sandalwood powder and black gram powder and use on the facial skin to treat acne in an effective manner. This should be applied on the skin just before going off to sleep and then washed with cold water in the morning. Applying this method of treatment will give you satisfying results in just a few weeks.
Use Cucumber for Treatment?
Cucumber is another very good product straight from your refrigerator that works well on the skin and treat acne. You can either make a facial mask using cucumber as one of the main ingredients or else just make a simple paste of cucumber by blending it well.
Also Read
Thirteen Excellent Acne Facial Recipes Home Remedies For Acne Great Ideas For Home Made Acne Facials Natural Acne Masks For Different Types Of Skin
This should be applied on the acne for the next 45 minutes or so and then rinsed off. Following this treatment regularly will show ideal results on acne. Cucumber juice can also work well on the problem. It will also refresh and rejuvenate the skin as a dual benefit.
Drink Loads of Water
Water is one of the liquids that flush out the toxins, dirt and impurities from not only the body but also from the skin leaving it refreshed and renewed. Drinking plenty of water will help you in keeping away from dirt and oil accumulation on the face that leads to acne.
Also, it will help in hydrating the skin making sure that there are no traces of dryness on the face that well again might lead to the problem. About 10 glasses of water is recommended each day if you want to be satisfied with the outcomes. Along with this you can adhere to some other healthy liquids like fresh fruit juices to trigger the process.
Eat Healthy
A lot of times junk food, fried and spicy food aggravates the occurrence of acne on the facial skin which dulls your appearance. It is very important that you include a healthy diet in your every day routine which is packed with nutrients and antioxidants for the skin and keep them healthy. Eating good amount of fruits and vegetables, low fat dairy products, high levels of protein is suggested and this will ensure good and clear skin that you always desired for.
Ice Application
You can use some ice to cool down the inflammation caused by acne on the face and get some instant relief. It helps you gradually clear the acne from the skin along with other methods mentioned here. It is simple to follow, so you can include it in your everyday routine.
Tea Tree Oil and its Advantages
One of the essential oils that have good benefits for the skin especially those who have oily skin is tea tree oil. You can either dab some of them on the acne directly or else use products that has this essential oil one of the active ingredients. It should not be taken internally and not used on conditions of acne rosacea as it causes irritation.?These are the best that you can get in your bag of home remedies and natural treatments for facial acne.
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Natural and Home Treatments Of Facial Acne , 5.0 out of 5 based on 1 rating
WASHINGTON --?A measure of the burden of U.S. household debt tumbled in the third quarter to its lowest level in 29 years, which should help free up money for consumer spending and support the economy.
The household debt service ratio -- an estimate of the share of debt payments to disposable personal income -- fell to 10.61 percent from 10.72 percent in the second quarter, the Federal Reserve said on Thursday.
It was the lowest level since the fourth quarter of 1983.
"Consumers have more money in their pockets to spend, which should be positive for the economic recovery going forward," said Gennadiy Goldberg, an economist at TD Securities in New York.
U.S. households built up a massive debt load as the housing bubble expanded and efforts to pay down those debts have been a restraint on spending and the economy's recovery.
The debt service ratio, which takes into account outstanding mortgage and consumer debt, peaked in the third quarter of 2007, shortly before the economy tipped into recession.
The Fed has sought to help consumers dig out by keeping interest rates near record lows. It has held overnight rates near zero since December 2008 and has bought around $2.4 trillion in bonds to further lower borrowing costs.
Even though households are now in better shape, analysts caution that consumer spending could stall if Congress fails to prevent higher taxes from taking hold next year.
An even broader measure of financial obligations that includes automobile lease payments and the cost of renting a home also fell in the third quarter, dropping to 15.74 percent of disposable income -- the lowest level since the first quarter of 1984.
That drop reflected an easier burden for homeowners as mortgage debt payments dropped to 8.90 percent of disposable income in the third quarter, the lowest in 11 years.
Both the overall homeowners measure and separate mortgage gauge peaked in the third quarter of 2007.
"You have a lot of people refinancing their mortgages at lower rates," Goldberg said.
In contrast, the relative cost of rent rose to its highest level since the first quarter of 2010.
The weak housing market has led Americans away from home ownership and toward renting, pushing up rents. At the same time, a modest economic recovery has encouraged some people who had moved in with family and friends to seek their own lodgings, further strengthening the rental market.
While a lightening of household debt burden puts the recovery on firmer ground, it also highlights a hesitance to take on new debt, which could be an obstacle to spending.
"We all (would) like to see better growth in credit, banks being more willing to make more loans to consumers, demand for loans rising," said Omair Sharif, an economist at RBS in Stamford, Connecticut.
"That would push the ratio higher, but that's not necessarily a such a bad thing, especially if rates are so low and you are able to service that debt."
AXION International Holdings, Inc. , a leader in recycled plastic and plastic composite technologies used to produce ECOTRAX rail ties and STRUXURE building products, announced today that it has launched Free Printable Handwriting Practice Pages
Construction Costs Continue to Increase in Fourth Quarter 2012 NEW YORK, Dec. 11, 2012 PRNewswire ? Turner Construction Company announced that the Fourth Quarter 2012 Turner Building Cost Index which measures costs in the non-residential building construction New Years Eve Party Checklist Printable
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Construction Industry Loses 20,000 Jobs in November According to employment report by U.S. Department of Labor, national construction industry unemployment rate was 12.2 in November, up from 11.4 the previous month. Nonresidential building construction sector lost 4,300 jobs, while residential building construction sector lost 6,800 jobs, and nonresidential specialty trade contractors lost 7,400 jobs. In contrast, residential specialty trade Personal Hygiene Activities Worksheets Printable
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Dec. 13, 2012 ? Scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have discovered a molecular switch that enables advanced prostate cancers to spread without stimulation by male hormones, which normally are needed to spur the cancer's growth. They say the finding could lead to a new treatment for prostate cancers that are no longer controlled by hormone-blocking drugs.
The researchers report in the Dec. 14 issue of Science that the molecular switch occurs in a protein, EZH2, which is increased in these tumors, termed castration-resistant prostate cancers (CRPC).
EZH2 is part of a protein complex that normally shuts off the expression of genes. But in CRPC cells, "It isn't working the way people had thought," said Myles Brown, MD, co-senior author of the report. Instead, EZH2 switches into a different mode, activating cell-growth genes -even in the absence of androgen hormones -- that spur the dangerous growth and spread of these cancers.
As a result, the researchers suggest that drugs designed to stifle this unexpected function of EZH2 might be effective as a new treatment strategy for CRPC tumors.
Brown's co-senior author is X. Shirley Liu, PhD; together they lead Dana-Farber's Center for Functional Cancer Epigenetics.
Most prostate tumors are fueled by male hormones, or androgens, which interact with a molecule called the androgen receptor in cancer cells. When the receptor receives androgen signals, it transmits orders to the cell's nucleus to divide and grow. Surgical castration or administering drugs that halt androgen production can control cancers that have spread outside the prostate gland.
However, these cancers often escape their need for androgens after a few years of treatment and become resistant. Brown said the tumor cells reprogram the androgen receptors so that they activate cell-growth genes despite the absence of hormone stimulation.
EZH2 is known as an "epigenetic regulator," meaning that it regulates the activity of genes without changing their DNA structure. Previously it was found that EZH2 levels are dramatically increased in late-stage castration resistant prostate cancer, Brown said, but researchers thought the protein was acting primarily to turn off gene activity -- which is its normal role.
Drugs aimed at blocking EZH2 activity are being tested in other cancers, where they are designed to block the protein's gene-suppressing role. However, they carry a risk of harmful side effects as a result. "But we found that isn't the important function of EZH2 in CRPC," Brown explained. "In these cancers, EZH2 works with the androgen receptor to turn on genes involved with cell growth." As a result, he proposes that inhibitors of EZH2 that avoid targeting its gene-repressor function might be a safe and effective strategy for use in castration-resistant prostate cancers.
Further, said Brown, the EZH2 protein itself is activated by a molecular signaling pathway known as PI3K, or PI3 kinase. Several PI3K inhibitors are in clinical trials at present, and Brown said that a combination of drugs to inhibit both that pathway and the EZH2 protein might be yet another way to attack the resistant prostate cancers.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
K. Xu, Z. J. Wu, A. C. Groner, H. H. He, C. Cai, R. T. Lis, X. Wu, E. C. Stack, M. Loda, T. Liu, H. Xu, L. Cato, J. E. Thornton, R. I. Gregory, C. Morrissey, R. L. Vessella, R. Montironi, C. Magi-Galluzzi, P. W. Kantoff, S. P. Balk, X. S. Liu, M. Brown. EZH2 Oncogenic Activity in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Cells Is Polycomb-Independent. Science, 2012; 338 (6113): 1465 DOI: 10.1126/science.1227604
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
Posted by leftkrapf681 on December 15, 2012 in Articles with No Comments
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For a long time now we've heard Apple has television prototypes in the lab, but nothing even approaching a final design or go-to-market plan for the product. According to the Wall Street Journal, nothing has changed in that regard.
Two people said Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., 2317.TW +0.63% which assembles the iPhone and iPad, has been collaborating with Japan's Sharp Corp. 6753.TO +7.80% on the design of the new television. "It isn't a formal project yet. It is still in the early stage of testing," said one of the people.
Jony Ive is almost certainly doing the design, though Hon Hai and Sharp are just as likely collaborating on the prototypes.
The late Steve Jobs famously said the go-to-market strategy for a television was even more difficult than a phone, with entrenched, regionalized monopoly cable companies and future-adverse content providers. The Apple TV set top box has often been called a "hobby" compared to the serious business of Apple's iPhone, iPod, iPad, and Mac product lines.
Making a television, or even a decoupled panel to along with a more easily upgradable brain box, would give Apple control of "input zero", or the initial startup and default user experience, and relegate everything from cable and satellite boxes to game consoles like the Xbox, to other media streamers like Roku to inputs further down the chain.
Yet panels remain a limited, low-margin business, and no matter how smart the brain or brain-box, and how good the user experience, it would be tough for Apple to disrupt even the current, pathetic status quo without compelling content offerings, including live events, news, sports, and the other living room staples.
My guess remains that we'll keep seeing the slow, steady evolution of the current Apple TV product for now, with more and more channel partners like Netflix and Hulu coming on line. Apple can be remarkably patient. If the goal is a unified interface to search across all content, find the program you want, and watch it when you want, that can be broken down into manageable steps. If they can't overcome the myopia of cable and content companies, they can outmaneuver it or simply outlast it.
Apple shareholders are anxious about the timing and nature of the company's plans. While iPhones and iPads are selling briskly, they believe television could be one of the next big catalysts for Apple's business as those products eventually peter out. Apple shares fell to $541.39 on Tuesday from all-time high of $702.10 in September amid concerns about the company's future profits and growth.
Apple has had 3 big products. It was decades between the Mac and iPod, and over a half a decade between the iPod and iPhone (and its iPad offshoot). Treating Apple like Hollywood or the video game industry, and expecting them to deliver blockbusters on a year basis is folly and will likely be rewarded as such.
It's normal for people to want the "next big thing" -- if and when Apple ships a television, Apple iCar rumors will probably spring up within weeks if not seconds -- but it's just as normal for Apple to follow a far saner, and more measured product strategy.
It?s a tough month to be a European finance minister. Just after EU finance ministers met yesterday and formed an agreement to appoint the ECB as the head of Euro-zone wide banking supervisor, Euro-zone finance ministers are again meeting today to discuss releasing the 34.4 billion Euro aid tranche to the Greek government.
The Greek government completed a buyback of bonds on Tuesday, and that was one of the measures it agreed upon with its creditors in hopes of lowering the country?s debt to GDP ratio to 124% by 2020. Yet despite all the positive predictions, judging from Euro performance in forex markets today, there seems to be doubts over the ministers? ability to reach an agreement today.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the buyback program qualified Greece for aid and that Greek reforms will boost growth. EU?s Rehn also said that he is confident that a decision will be made to go forwards with Greek aid today, and his comments were also reflected by optimistic comments from the French and Dutch finance ministers.
The only doubts about today?s meeting were raised by the Cyprus finance minister, who said that ?we?ll see? if Greece gets approval for more aid. As those comments were released, the Euro began a 40 point decline from 1.3090 that more than erased the gains made following the announcement of the banking supervisor approval that was made towards the end of the Asian session. The comments do not seem significant enough to be the sole reason behind the decline, and therefore it is tough to say exactly what was behind the Euro selloff, and it might have been just some unwinding of a 3-day and 200 point rally.
At the start of the Euro decline, the SNB also announced that it will maintain the 1.20 Franc ceiling against the Euro, and there is no limit to the central bank?s purchase of foreign currencies. The central bank also said that the Franc is still too high, and the SNB might take further action. SNB President Jordan later said he hasn?t ruled out negative interest rates.
The Euro is currently trading around 1.3050 against the US Dollar in currency markets, and resistance has been provided over the last 3 month around 1.3139.
In other economic news, the European Central Bank said in its monthly bulletin that it expects the Euro-zone economy to gradually recover in late 2013 following further weakness. The statement echoed ECB?s Draghi comments at the press conference following the rate decision on December 6. The IFO also predicted today that the German economy will contract 0.3% in the current quarter, but expand by 0.7% in 2013. Spain sold bonds today for 2.02 billion Euros versus a 2 billion Euro target, and Italy sold 2015 bonds for 2.50% average yield versus 2.64% in November. Greek unemployment rose to 24.8% in Q3 according to today?s release.
Contact: David Ruth david@rice.edu 713-348-6327 Rice University
Deep-sea microbes that thrive in high temperatures are key to light-activated catalysis
HOUSTON (Dec. 13, 2012) Since Edison's first bulb, heat has been a mostly undesirable byproduct of light. Now researchers at Rice University are turning light into heat at the point of need, on the nanoscale, to trigger biochemical reactions remotely on demand.
The method created by the Rice labs of Michael Wong, Ramon Gonzalez and Naomi Halas and reported today in the American Chemical Society journal ACS Nano makes use of materials derived from unique microbes thermophiles that thrive at high temperatures but shut down at room temperature.
The Rice project led by postdoctoral fellow Matthew Blankschien and graduate student Lori Pretzer combines enzymes from these creatures with plasmonic gold nanoparticles that heat up when exposed to near-infrared light. That activates the enzymes, which are then able to carry out their functions.
This effectively allows chemical processes to happen at lower temperatures. Because heating occurs only where needed at the surface of the nanoparticle, where it activates the enzyme the environment stays cooler.
Blankschien thinks that's fascinating.
"Basically, we're getting the benefits of high-temperature manufacturing without needing a high-temperature environment," said Blankschien, who won the Peter and Ruth Nicholas Postdoctoral Fellowship two years ago to work on these ideas. "The challenge was to keep the higher temperature at the nanoparticle, where the enzyme is activated, from affecting the environment around it."
The technique holds great potential for industrial processes that now require heat or benefit from remote triggering with light.
"The implications are pretty exciting," said Wong, a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering and of chemistry. "In the chemical industry, there's always a need for better catalytic materials so they can run reactions more inexpensively, more 'green' and more sustainably. You shouldn't run through gallons of solvent to make a milligram of product, even if you happen to be able to sell it for a lot of money."
For industry, the potential energy savings alone may make the Rice process worth investigating. "Here we're using 'free' energy," Wong said. "Instead of needing a big boiler to produce steam, you turn on an energy-efficient light bulb, like an LED. Or open a window."
The particle at the center of the process is a gold nanorod about 10 nanometers wide and 30 long that heats up when hit with near-infrared light from a laser. The rods are just the right size and shape to react to light at around 800 nanometers. The light excites surface plasmons that ripple like water in a pool, in this case emitting energy as heat.
Halas' Rice lab is famous for pioneering the use of gold nanoshells (a related material) to treat cancer by targeting tumors with particles that are bulk heated to kill tumors from the inside. The therapy is now in human trials.
The new research takes a somewhat different tack by heating nanoparticles draped with a model thermophilic enzyme, glucokinase, from Aeropyrum pernix. A. pernix is a microbe discovered in 1996 thriving near hot underwater vents off the coast of Japan. At around 176 degrees Fahrenheit, A. pernix degrades glucose, a process necessary to nearly every living thing. The enzyme can be heated and cooled repeatedly.
In their experiments, Blankschien and Pretzer cloned, purified and altered glucokinase enzymes so they would attach to the gold nanoparticles. The enzyme/nanoparticle complexes were then suspended in a solution and tested for glucose degradation. When the solution was heated in bulk, they found the complexes became highly active at 176 degrees, as expected.
Then the complexes were encapsulated in a gel-like bead of calcium alginate, which helps keeps the heat in but is porous enough to allow enzymes to react with materials around it. Under bulk heating, the enzymes' performance dropped dramatically because the beads insulated the enzymes too well.
But when encapsulated complexes were illuminated by continuous, near-infrared laser light, they worked substantially better than under bulk heating while leaving the solution at near-room temperature. The researchers found the complexes robust enough for weeks of reuse.
"As far-fetched as it sounds, I think chemical companies will be interested in the idea of using light to make chemicals," Wong said. "They're always interested in new technologies that can help make chemical products more cheaply."
He sees other possible uses for the new approach in the production of fuels from degradation of biomass like lignocellulose; for drug manufacture on demand maybe from nanoparticle-infused tattoos on the body; or even for lowering blood sugar concentrations as a different way to manage diabetes.
"That we can now make these particles is great," Wong said. "The next exciting part is in thinking about how we can deploy them."
Ryan Huschka, a co-author of the paper, is a former Rice graduate student and now an assistant professor of chemistry at Newman University. Halas is the Stanley C. Moore Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering, a professor of biomedical engineering, chemistry, physics and astronomy and director of Rice's Laboratory for Nanophotonics. Gonzales is an associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering and also of bioengineering
The research was supported by the Peter and Ruth Nicholas Postdoctoral Fellowship Program administered by the Richard E. Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, the Rice University Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering Hamill Innovations Award Program, the Rice University Faculty Initiatives Fund, the Robert A. Welch Foundation, the National Security Science and Engineering Faculty Fellowship, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the National Science Foundation.
###
Read the abstract at http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/nn3048445
This news release can be found online at news.rice.edu.
Follow Rice News and Media Relations via Twitter @RiceUNews
Related Materials:
Wong Group: http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~wonglab/index.html
Gonzalez Group: http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~metabol/
Halas Group: http://halas.rice.edu
Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology: http://cnst.rice.edu
Chemical processes can be activated by light without the need for bulk heating of a material through a process developed by researchers at Rice University. The technique involves coating nanorods with thermophilic enzymes that are activated at high temperatures. Lighting the plasmonic gold nanorod causes highly localized heating and activates the enzyme. (Credit: Lori Pretzer/Rice University)
Members of the Rice team that created light-induced biochemical reactions include, from left, graduate student Lori Pretzer, professors Ramon Gonzalez, Michael Wong and Naomi Halas, and postdoctoral fellow Matthew Blankschien. (Credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)
David Ruth
713-348-6327
david@rice.edu
Mike Williams
713-348-6728
mikewilliams@rice.edu
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Contact: David Ruth david@rice.edu 713-348-6327 Rice University
Deep-sea microbes that thrive in high temperatures are key to light-activated catalysis
HOUSTON (Dec. 13, 2012) Since Edison's first bulb, heat has been a mostly undesirable byproduct of light. Now researchers at Rice University are turning light into heat at the point of need, on the nanoscale, to trigger biochemical reactions remotely on demand.
The method created by the Rice labs of Michael Wong, Ramon Gonzalez and Naomi Halas and reported today in the American Chemical Society journal ACS Nano makes use of materials derived from unique microbes thermophiles that thrive at high temperatures but shut down at room temperature.
The Rice project led by postdoctoral fellow Matthew Blankschien and graduate student Lori Pretzer combines enzymes from these creatures with plasmonic gold nanoparticles that heat up when exposed to near-infrared light. That activates the enzymes, which are then able to carry out their functions.
This effectively allows chemical processes to happen at lower temperatures. Because heating occurs only where needed at the surface of the nanoparticle, where it activates the enzyme the environment stays cooler.
Blankschien thinks that's fascinating.
"Basically, we're getting the benefits of high-temperature manufacturing without needing a high-temperature environment," said Blankschien, who won the Peter and Ruth Nicholas Postdoctoral Fellowship two years ago to work on these ideas. "The challenge was to keep the higher temperature at the nanoparticle, where the enzyme is activated, from affecting the environment around it."
The technique holds great potential for industrial processes that now require heat or benefit from remote triggering with light.
"The implications are pretty exciting," said Wong, a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering and of chemistry. "In the chemical industry, there's always a need for better catalytic materials so they can run reactions more inexpensively, more 'green' and more sustainably. You shouldn't run through gallons of solvent to make a milligram of product, even if you happen to be able to sell it for a lot of money."
For industry, the potential energy savings alone may make the Rice process worth investigating. "Here we're using 'free' energy," Wong said. "Instead of needing a big boiler to produce steam, you turn on an energy-efficient light bulb, like an LED. Or open a window."
The particle at the center of the process is a gold nanorod about 10 nanometers wide and 30 long that heats up when hit with near-infrared light from a laser. The rods are just the right size and shape to react to light at around 800 nanometers. The light excites surface plasmons that ripple like water in a pool, in this case emitting energy as heat.
Halas' Rice lab is famous for pioneering the use of gold nanoshells (a related material) to treat cancer by targeting tumors with particles that are bulk heated to kill tumors from the inside. The therapy is now in human trials.
The new research takes a somewhat different tack by heating nanoparticles draped with a model thermophilic enzyme, glucokinase, from Aeropyrum pernix. A. pernix is a microbe discovered in 1996 thriving near hot underwater vents off the coast of Japan. At around 176 degrees Fahrenheit, A. pernix degrades glucose, a process necessary to nearly every living thing. The enzyme can be heated and cooled repeatedly.
In their experiments, Blankschien and Pretzer cloned, purified and altered glucokinase enzymes so they would attach to the gold nanoparticles. The enzyme/nanoparticle complexes were then suspended in a solution and tested for glucose degradation. When the solution was heated in bulk, they found the complexes became highly active at 176 degrees, as expected.
Then the complexes were encapsulated in a gel-like bead of calcium alginate, which helps keeps the heat in but is porous enough to allow enzymes to react with materials around it. Under bulk heating, the enzymes' performance dropped dramatically because the beads insulated the enzymes too well.
But when encapsulated complexes were illuminated by continuous, near-infrared laser light, they worked substantially better than under bulk heating while leaving the solution at near-room temperature. The researchers found the complexes robust enough for weeks of reuse.
"As far-fetched as it sounds, I think chemical companies will be interested in the idea of using light to make chemicals," Wong said. "They're always interested in new technologies that can help make chemical products more cheaply."
He sees other possible uses for the new approach in the production of fuels from degradation of biomass like lignocellulose; for drug manufacture on demand maybe from nanoparticle-infused tattoos on the body; or even for lowering blood sugar concentrations as a different way to manage diabetes.
"That we can now make these particles is great," Wong said. "The next exciting part is in thinking about how we can deploy them."
Ryan Huschka, a co-author of the paper, is a former Rice graduate student and now an assistant professor of chemistry at Newman University. Halas is the Stanley C. Moore Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering, a professor of biomedical engineering, chemistry, physics and astronomy and director of Rice's Laboratory for Nanophotonics. Gonzales is an associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering and also of bioengineering
The research was supported by the Peter and Ruth Nicholas Postdoctoral Fellowship Program administered by the Richard E. Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, the Rice University Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering Hamill Innovations Award Program, the Rice University Faculty Initiatives Fund, the Robert A. Welch Foundation, the National Security Science and Engineering Faculty Fellowship, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the National Science Foundation.
###
Read the abstract at http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/nn3048445
This news release can be found online at news.rice.edu.
Follow Rice News and Media Relations via Twitter @RiceUNews
Related Materials:
Wong Group: http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~wonglab/index.html
Gonzalez Group: http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~metabol/
Halas Group: http://halas.rice.edu
Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology: http://cnst.rice.edu
Chemical processes can be activated by light without the need for bulk heating of a material through a process developed by researchers at Rice University. The technique involves coating nanorods with thermophilic enzymes that are activated at high temperatures. Lighting the plasmonic gold nanorod causes highly localized heating and activates the enzyme. (Credit: Lori Pretzer/Rice University)
Members of the Rice team that created light-induced biochemical reactions include, from left, graduate student Lori Pretzer, professors Ramon Gonzalez, Michael Wong and Naomi Halas, and postdoctoral fellow Matthew Blankschien. (Credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)
David Ruth
713-348-6327
david@rice.edu
Mike Williams
713-348-6728
mikewilliams@rice.edu
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
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Think of it as the New Years? Eve version of the Norad Santa Tracker. Instead of tracking Santa, you are tracking how everyone reacts or celebrates New Years? Eve when the clock strikes 12am. The EarthCam app will give you a glimpse of how?everyone else celebrates New Years? Eve this year. I?m guessing it?s the same mix of drinking and messy dancing, but you can find out for yourself from the comfort of your home or nearest bar.
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Public release date: 13-Dec-2012
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