Evan Ross Katz: 'Real Housewife' Aviva Drescher: 'Care About Kindness'

If being a "Real Housewife" is all diamonds and ros?, being a replacement "Housewife" is bit more like... jellybeans. Take Peggy Tanous, who joined the cast of the mother ship, The Real Housewives of OC, for its sixth season in 2011. Bringeth the drama she did not, so Peggy was demoted to "Friend of a Housewife" for the following season. Dana Wilkey had a similar fate on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills when she was brought in as a "friend' during the show's second season, only to see fellow "friend" (but not friend -- let's be clear) Brandi Glanville become the show's second-wind breakaway star.

But no franchise has had more difficulty with that 'ole routine maintenance than The Real Housewives of New York City. When Bethenny Frankel successfully crossed through the mythical reality star ether with her SkinnyGirl Cocktails (sold to Beam Global for an astonishing $120 million in 2011), she opted to depart the show at the conclusion of the third season, leaving behind an undeniable void. For Season 4, Cindy Barshop was brought in to be the sassy, downtown, single mother of twin baby girls, "juggling it all." Viewers let out a collective yawn, and suddenly Bravo was faced with the prospect of making room in the Housewives graveyard (to this date, a lonely plot, occupied solely by The Real Housewives of DC).

And then came the reboot. In September 2011, Bravo announced its amicable parting of ways with Ms. Barshop, Kelly "Honestly, if being inauthentic means graduating from Columbia University, writing three books, starting two magazines, bearing two children, being the ambassador for wool, running a marathon for charity -- if that's inauthentic? Tell me what authentic is" Bensimon, Alex "You Are In High School And I Am In Brooklyn" McCord, and fan-favorite Jill "You are an effing bitch" Zarin". Quietly entered the new class: Heather Thomson (another shapewear designer), Carole Radziwill (Emmy-winning journalist and author), and Aviva Drescher (philanthropist).

Everyone was getting along all fine-ish until Slutty Island (aka St. Barths) when the almighty Ramona "Pinot Grigio" Singer got into it with newbie Aviva. Sparks really flew off the handle when Ramona claimed Aviva's husband Reid was not expected upon the couple's arrival at St. Barth's for their girls trip. Words were had. Aviva infamously called Ramona white trash. Ramona infamously told Aviva to take a XANAX!!!!!!! The fight propelled the remainder of the season's dramatic arc, earning Aviva a coveted seat directly next to Andy Cohen during the reunion (a seat occupied by Bethenny just two seasons earlier).

Aviva quickly earned her place in the 'Housewives' pedigree going tow-to-tow with Ramona, all but assuredly securing a spot on the show's still unconfirmed sixth season. In the off-season, besides raising her four children, Aviva spends a great deal of time promoting various charitable organizations. When we sat down, Aviva was shooting an ad campaign for The ShineOut Musical Festival, a three-day LGBT music festival happening this October in NYC. Aviva, a straight ally, donned a "SO STRAIGHT SO SUPPORTIVE" T-shirt for the campaign.

After the shoot I sat down with Aviva to talk equality for all and, of course, some Housewives prattle.

Viva Aviva! Talk to me about how you got involved with the ShineOut Music Festival and what it means to you.

Well, I had met the people behind the campaign, Darren Melchiorre and Chris Ryan, and I really believed in it. And for as long as I can remember, I've always been an advocate for differences. I'm an advocate for amputees and physically challenged and I believe that that goes right into celebrating people's differences.

I was listening to you talk to your children earlier, and you said, "We're here today because gay people deserve to happy just like everyone else."

Everyone should feel good about themselves. Whatever it is, own who you are: The good, the bad, the ugly, the different. Nobody's perfect. Gay, in my opinion, is beautiful. Love is beautiful. And we should celebrate it all. My husband and I don't care about who's bonking who. We care about kindness.

I like that. Now, you and your husband must have had quite a year. How has your life changed since joining the ranks of a 'Real Housewife'?

Well, for starters, a lot of people stare at me.

Did you anticipate that?

I anticipated change, but I really didn't know what was going to happen. I expected worse, actually. Now I have to give myself 10 minutes before I go some place because people want to stop and get a picture or an autograph. But I feel like if you put yourself in a public light, no matter what, you have an obligation to give people that time.

And these people are honest-to-god superfans. They really seem to invest themselves in the well-being of you ladies.

They really do. It's an incredible phenomenon, this piece of pop culture. It's been an exhilarating and life-changing experience because I've been able to get the word out there to amputees and physically challenged and it's also opened up many doors for me. I have a lot of projects going on.

And then there's the social media.

Oh yeah. The whole social media thing is a complete mind F-U-C-K.

I've been following some of the RHOBH on Twitter recently -- which is new for me -- and the way they attack each other...

Oh, they do? You know, "Housewives" have been called narcissists, and I've thought a lot about that. A friend of mine who works with celebrities, told me she'd never seen anything as narcissists as the entire Housewives franchise. But there's no one else, besides reality stars, who put their lives on camera for everyone to dissect. That makes you a little self-conscious. I think the 'Housewives' that are responding on social media in an off-color way are probably just feeling defensive.

Which makes total sense if you feel like you're being backed into a wall.

I have a whole new respect for actors and real celebrities -- you know, we're just phonies -- because it's not easy. My favorite "Housewife" is always the one who puts herself out on the line for the sake of a good show. Any "Housewife" that drums up the drama has tremendous courage and is really putting themselves second for the franchise. 'Cause you're going to get beaten up no matter how you spin that wheel. Right now I really admire Brandi [Glanville] because I think that she's got guts. It's so much easier to just sit there and be quiet and not get involved in the drama and the minute you get out there -- and she's really radical -- you know you're making a great show. And believe me, she's going to get pummeled.

Do you have a favorite "Housewife"?

I love Lisa Vanderpump. I love Heather Dubrow. I think she's very chic. On my show, I honestly love the whole crew.

Oh, you do? Let's get into that. Do you hang out with them when you're not filming? I think that's the question people always want to know.

We do. As much as time permits. When we're filming we have, like, no life, so when we're not filming, we want to work on our projects, we want to be with our families, we want to get back to regular life. But we do get together. I had dinner with Heather two weeks ago. I'm going to see Carole in the next few weeks.

Is the dynamic different when you hang out off camera?

Well, we're able to break the fourth wall. If we're on camera, we can't talk about being on camera. When we're off camera we can actually talk about the business. In that way, it's a little bit more authentic. You can't get on camera and say, "So what do you think about all these cameras around us all day?" It's a bond that we share. There's only like, 35 "Housewives" in the country. It's an experience that's incomparable.

Where do things stand with you and Ramona?

We're not speaking. At all.

When the cameras aren't rolling, are things as fiery and confrontational between the two of you?

First of all, a lot of time has passed and time heals all wounds. I will bump into her at an event. So we'll be on the red carpet together here or there and we're totally civilized. We're not uncivilized people. When you're seated at a table with somebody that you're not really fond of, you just don't talk to them. One thing I've noticed about "Housewives" is that there are spies everywhere.

And "Housewives" live to trash tweet.

I'm really a rookie, so when it was airing and Ramona would say things, I would actually get really annoyed. She did some things that were insensitive and I would respond to it on Twitter. And I know realize that that was completely stupid.

It's tough, though, because if you don't weigh in, you might feel misrepresented.

It's that old adage: What do you do when you're attacked, is it eye for an eye or do you turn the other cheek? I have not been hired to turn the other cheek. In life I believe in turning the other cheek, but to create a good show, kinda go with an eye-for-an-eye.

Where do things stand between you and Carole? I felt some unsquashed tension at the reunion. Am I nuts?

Carole definitely did not approve of me calling Ramona white trash. That is something that she felt was inappropriate. And I agree with her. So I think her opportunity to express that was on the couch. But we totally get along fine.

But "Quite frankly you're both white trash," has become among my favorite soundbites from the series. So, inappropriate it or not, it left its mark.

It's a catch-22. You're not hired to do this job to take the high road. I remember on my first day of filming, Ramona and LuAnn were talking and they were having a fight. And I was like, "You know, you guys, there are people in hospitals dying of cancer." And they were like, "Cut!" "Boring!" "That's not good TV." You're hired like a wrestler to get into some muk muk.

And the ones that don't are booted.

Unless you're very clever. I think Lisa Vanderpump really, really -- in part because she has that fabulous accent -- hit the mark at being witty and staying out of the fray. I'm not that good.

And good zingers in the confessional. Taking after Bethenny.

Right.

Of all of the things that happened during your first season with the show, what was the most batshit crazy thing that happened?

You want one thing?

I'll take several.

I couldn't believe that after I had asked Ramona for permission for my husband to come down to St. Barths on that little plane, that she said anything at all about it. I couldn't believe it.

Did you feel like she was doing that to drum up a fight?

Probably. But I couldn't believe it. That, and when she threw my dad out of a party. I still think that was wrong.

And he's become such a fan favorite.

People really love him. It makes it easier for me, because I'm so embarrassed of him. So when people love him, it makes it easier for me to face the world. A PR company dropped off a bag of make-up for me the other day and they wrote on the card, 'Can't wait for you to use this make up and everybody here loves your dad. Please tell him hello from us.' I need to take a picture of the card and send it to the old, horny geezer.

There's a rumor going around that Jill Zarin might be rejoining the cast.

You know, the cast is always the last to know. You all probably know before us.

Well, can you spill anything about Season 6? It's shrouded in so much mystery at the moment.

I wish I could.

Well... fabulous! I am looking forward to Season 6, if there's a Season 6. I believe there will be a Season 6.

For more information on The ShineOut Music Festival, click here. Photo credits: Aviva solo shots courtesy of Luxe by Leah; So gay so what picture by Jared Slater; other images courtesy of Bravo

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Follow Evan Ross Katz on Twitter: www.twitter.com/evanrosskatz

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/evan-ross-katz/real-housewife-aviva-drescher-interview_b_2957770.html

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Arizona gun proponents launch free gun program

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) ? A campaign promising free shotguns for people to protect themselves in Tucson's most troubled neighborhoods has divided some residents in a community still reeling from a shooting rampage in 2011that killed six people, left a congresswoman and several others wounded, and made the city a symbol of gun violence in America.

The Armed Citizen Project is part of a national campaign to give shotguns to single women and homeowners in the nation's crime-ridden neighborhoods, an effort that comes amid a national debate on gun control after mass shootings in Arizona, Colorado and Connecticut.

While towns in Idaho, Utah, Virginia and Pennsylvania have debated ordinances recommending gun ownership, the gun giveaway effort appears to be the first of its kind.

"If you are not willing to protect the citizens of Tucson, someone is going to do it, why not me? Why not have armed citizens protecting themselves," said Shaun McClusky, a real estate agent who plans to start handing out shotguns by May.

Arizona gun proponents have donated about $12,500 to fund the gun giveaway and McClusky, a former mayoral and city council candidate, hopes to collect enough to eventually arm entire neighborhoods.

Participants will receive training on how to properly use, handle and store their weapon, as well as trigger locks. It costs about $400 per participant for the weapon and training.

Tucson police officials declined to discuss the gun program or public safety concerns, but statistics published by the department show violent crime was at a 13-year low in 2010, with 3,332 incidents. That compares with 5,116 violent crimes ? including homicides, sexual assaults, and robberies ? in 1997. Tucson averages about 50 homicides a year.

"Just like any other city in Arizona and in the nation we have our issues, but it is not crime-ridden," said Vice Mayor Regina Romero. "I would never say you have to carry a gun or you have to be afraid for your life."

Research has produced inconclusive results on whether defensive gun use lowers crime. Some research suggests guns result in more suicides and accidental deaths, while other studies have shown criminals are wary of gun owners.

"People don't want to confront an armed person at home," said Garen J. Wintemute, director of the UC Davis Violence Prevention Research Program. "But, separately, there is solid evidence that in communities with higher rates of gun ownership, burglary rates are up, not down, and that's because guns are hot loot."

Wintemute said it's likely the risk of violence in the home participating in the gun giveaway will go up.

But those behind the program argue shotguns are affordable, easy to use and don't require precise aim when shooting, making them the perfect home protection weapon. The goal is to arm hundreds of people in Tucson, Houston, New York, Chicago, Detroit and at least 10 other cities by the end of the year.

"It is our hypothesis that criminals have no desire to die in your hallway. We want to use that fear," said Kyle Coplen, 29, the project's founder and a University of Houston graduate student.

Tucson became a symbol of American's gun violence in 2011 when a mentally ill man opened fire at a political meet-and-greet hosted by then-Rep. Gabrielle Giffords outside a Tucson-area supermarket. Giffords, who is still recovering from her critical wounds, has in recent months become a champion of universal background gun checks and other gun restrictions denounced by Second Amendment proponents.

Moved by Giffords advocacy, the Tucson City Council recently approved a measure requiring universal background checks at gun shows held on city property. City officials said the gun giveaway program appears to be legal, so they have no recourse to shut it down.

One of the neighborhoods targeted by the program is Pueblo Gardens, an ethnically diverse, blue-collar neighborhood in southern Tucson where residents say occasional shootings, drug busts and car thefts are not uncommon.

The no-frills landscape is dotted with pickup trucks, palm trees, window bars, cacti, chain fences and toy-littered lawns. Many residents own guns, if only because of the handful of sex offenders who call the area home. More than 90 percent of the humble, single-story homes are occupied by renters.

Pueblo Gardens could benefit from a public safety campaign, but some residents say they are appalled anyone would think the answer is more guns.

"We could take that $400 per shotgun and give it to these people so they could go buy groceries, pay rent, pay their utility bills, something useful," said neighborhood association president Cindy Fayala. "Vigilantism is not the answer."

McClusky argued that like signs posted in yards advertising alarm systems, signs that warn the homeowners have guns would get the message across, he said.

"I'd like to prevent them from becoming a victim," he said.

At least 13 single women in Houston have already benefited from the program.

Tiffany Braggs, 44, said she had never owned or fired a gun before she signed up for The Armed Citizen Project in Houston after her condominium management board warned residents of growing crime.

"I feel a little bit more secure knowing that I can defend my home and my children," said Braggs, who now plans to buy a handgun to keep in her purse.

Alan M. Gottlieb, founder of the Second Amendment Foundation in Bellevue, Wash., said he expects to see more gun giveaways as President Barack Obama and other leaders call for gun restrictions.

"All this is happening because it's a pushback," he said. "If others weren't screaming for more control you wouldn't see all the sales for guns and ammunition."

___

For more information about the national gun giveaway program, visit http://www.armedcitizenproject.org/

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/arizona-gun-proponents-launch-free-gun-program-073229701.html

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Grand jury indicts about 3 dozen educators in Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal

By Simon Evans March 28 (Reuters) - United States forward Landon Donovan, returning to soccer after a three-month break from the game, said on Thursday he hopes to be back with the national team for June's World Cup qualifiers. Donovan announced last December that he needed a break from the game, saying he had lost his passion and enjoyment for the sport, raising the question as to whether he would play at next year's World Cup finals in Brazil should the U.S. qualify. But after returning to training with his Major League Soccer club L.A. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/grand-jury-indicts-3-dozen-educators-atlanta-public-213500486.html

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Republicans Blast Don Young, Demand an Apology

Alaska Congressman Don Young's use of racial slurs in reference to Latinos prompted a strong backlash from his fellow Republican Party members today as both House and Senate leaders demanded an apology from Young.

Young used the derogatory term "wetbacks" to refer to Latino workers on his father's ranch in an interview Thursday. His comments came only a few weeks after the Republican National Committee released a party "autopsy" report on the presidential election that outlined revitalization strategies, which included prioritizing Hispanic voter outreach.

Sen. John Cornyn of Texas was the first to condemn the congressman's words:

"Migrant workers come to America looking for opportunity and a way to provide a better life for their families. They do not come to this country to hear ethnic slurs and derogatory language from elected officials. The comments used by Rep. Young do nothing to elevate our party, political discourse or the millions who come here looking for economic opportunity," Cornyn said in a statement.

House Speaker John Boehner followed quickly with a statement of his own:

"Congressman Young's remarks were offensive and beneath the dignity of the office he holds. I don't care why he said it - there's no excuse and it warrants an immediate apology."

Representative Joaquin Castro tweeted the following:

"@ castro4congress: Congressman Young, your words are disgusting. fb.me/F07xSx8T" @ repdonyoung

- Joaquin Castro(@JoaquinCastrotx) March 29, 2013

Sen. John McCain also responded online:

Don Young's comments were offensive and have no place in our Party or in our nation's discourse. He should apologize immediately

- John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) March 29, 2013

RNC Chair, Reince Priebus released this statement:

"The words used by Representative Young emphatically do not represent the beliefs of the Republican Party. As I have continued to say, everyone in this country deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Our party represents freedom and opportunity for every American and a beacon of hope to those seeking liberty throughout the world. Offensive language and ethnic slurs have no place in our public discourse."

Top House Democrat Nancy Pelosi called for an apology from the congressman.

Congressman Young should fully apologize for deeply offensive comments that were not appropriate in his youth or now.

- Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) March 29, 2013

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/republicans-blast-don-young-demand-apology-192021851--abc-news-politics.html

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EPA taking aim at auto emissions, sulfur in gas

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Reducing sulfur in gasoline and tightening emissions standards on cars beginning in 2017, as the Obama administration is proposing, would come with costs as well as rewards. The cost at the pump for cleaner air across the country could be less than a penny or as high as 9 cents a gallon, depending on who is providing the estimate.

An oil industry study says the proposed rule being unveiled Friday by the administration could increase gasoline prices by 6 cents to 9 cents a gallon. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates an increase of less than a penny and an additional $130 to the cost of a vehicle in 2025.

The EPA is quick to add that the change aimed at cleaning up gasoline and automobile emissions would yield billions of dollars in health benefits by 2030 by slashing smog- and soot-forming pollution. Still, the oil industry, Republicans and some Democrats have pressed the EPA to delay the rule, citing higher costs.

Environmentalists hailed the proposal as potentially the most significant in President Barack Obama's second term.

The so-called Tier 3 standards would reduce sulfur in gasoline by more than 60 percent and reduce nitrogen oxides by 80 percent, by expanding across the country a standard already in place in California. For states, the regulation would make it easier to comply with health-based standards for the main ingredient in smog and soot. For automakers, the regulation allows them to sell the same autos in all 50 states.

The Obama administration already has moved to clean up motor vehicles by adopting rules that will double fuel efficiency and putting in place the first standards to reduce the pollution from cars and trucks blamed for global warming.

"We know of no other air pollution control strategy that can achieve such substantial, cost-effective and immediate emission reductions," said Bill Becker, executive director of the National Association of Clean Air Agencies. Becker said the rule would reduce pollution equal to taking 33 million cars off the road.

But the head of American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, Charles Drevna, said in an interview Thursday that the refiners' group was still unclear on the motives behind the agency's regulation, since refining companies already have spent $10 billion to reduce sulfur by 90 percent. The additional cuts, while smaller, will cost just as much, Drevna said, and the energy needed for the additional refining actually could increase carbon pollution by 1 percent to 2 percent.

"I haven't seen an EPA rule on fuels that has come out since 1995 that hasn't said it would cost only a penny or two more," Drevna said.

A study commissioned by the American Petroleum Institute estimated that lowering the sulfur in gasoline would add 6 cents to 9 cents a gallon to refiners' manufacturing costs, an increase that likely would be passed on to consumers at the pump. The EPA estimate of less than 1 cent is also an additional manufacturing cost and likely to be passed on.

A senior administration official said Thursday that only 16 of 111 refineries would need to invest in major equipment to meet the new standards, which could be final by the end of this year. Of the remaining refineries, 29 already are meeting the standards because they are selling cleaner fuel in California or other countries, and 66 would have to make modifications.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the rule was still undergoing White House budget office review.

___

Follow Dina Cappiello on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dinacappiello

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/epa-taking-aim-auto-emissions-sulfur-gas-071021486--finance.html

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Woman Fired for Tweeting 'Dongle' Joke Finds 'Good' in Tech-Sexism Dialogue

Adria Richards ? the developer "evangelist" fired by startup SendGrid last week because of a tweet?about sex jokes that turned into a backwards conversation about free speech and sexism in the tech world ? has publicly commented on the situation for the first time. And, well,?she sounds pretty upbeat about where that conversation is headed next, considering she just lost her job after an onslaught of Internet?harassment.

RELATED: 'Why Is Reddit So Anti-Women?': An Epic Reddit Thread Counts the Ways

While insisting that she, unlike her former employer, won't comment on the specifics of her termination, Richards writes in a statement today: "All I wish to do is find the good in what has been one of the most challenging weeks of my life." It might be difficult to find a lot of "good" in the aftermath of an isolated incident at the PyCon developers conference that devolved into a lot of nasty name-calling and displaced blame from hackers and Redditors and others (mostly men), but Richards at least can appreciate the "dialog," it seems. "Debate and recrimination can and must give way to dialog that explores the root causes of these issues in the tech industry," she writes. "What happened at PyCon has cast a spotlight on a range of deep issues and problems in the developer world."?Which is pretty much the "right" kind of response in these situations: Richards is taking the high road, hoping that?all this talk?will ultimately lead to some modicum of a solution for an industry with its fair share of diversity problems and the slander therein.?

RELATED: How the Tech World Bends Free Speech into an Excuse for Sexism

But there certainly has been a lot of talking ? both good and bad ? considering the Richards firing centers on the role of women, minorities, and open discourse in the tech world. While many people didn't agree with Richards decision to tweet a photo of a couple guys making a "dongle" joke that she viewed as sexist, those critics saw the reaction to that tweet as offensive and disappointing?? and demonstrative of larger issues that women and minorities face in the tech world. Some found her employers 'decision to fire her, after trolls and hackers jumped on the bandwagon, as a problem for "call-out" culture, which can protect women in the geek world. Others still, including female developers, find Richards insulting. At the very least, the people harassing Richards with gendered remarks online?show that sexism is alive and not well.

RELATED: The 'Rock Stars' of Reddit Won't Stop Being Sexist Just Because Reddit Says So

And, to her credit, Richards has already shifted the discussion in the tech space ? at least a little bit. PyCon has opened its Code of Conduct up to edits from the greater community. But, even so, it's hard not to see her statement as a bit too?optimistic, especially considering the specifics of the darker side of the "dialogue." Richards suggests that all the talking over her incident and beyond could lead to "answers to the many questions that have arisen in the last week." But judging by the comments on the posts I've written about Richards on The Atlantic Wire, not that many people think things need changing. And despite a statement from Reddit's own co-founder Alexis Ohanian, a direct followup to the Richards debacle in which he said?that the growing history of sexist remarks on Reddit need to stop, it doesn't look like that will happen any time soon either.

RELATED: SOPA to Get a Second Chance on Capitol Hill

Richards, however, maintain she will become more proactive, that "conversation" can't magically lead to change: "I want to be an integral part of a diverse, core group of individuals that comes together in a spirit of healing and openness." Meaning: Some sort of?committee?or something? Maybe that would work. Now that she's unemployed, guess she has to do something with her free time, anyway.?

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/woman-fired-tweeting-dongle-joke-finds-good-tech-192618045.html

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Watch a Genius Two-Year-Old Use Nail Clippers to Pick a Lock and Steal His Sister's Toys

Here is the most adorable theft ever. A two-year-old toddler figured out how to use nail clippers to pick the lock on his eight-year-old sister's door so that he could steal a stuffed animal at night. His parents set up a baby camera to see the incredible "crime" go down. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/VSyefWY-CZM/watch-a-genius-two+year+old-use-nail-clippers-to-pick-a-lock-and-steal-his-sisters-toys

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Winsbury Apartments

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New apartments in London. With over 500 apartments. All kinds of people will be living here.

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Mobile Web Browsing Traffic Is Steady - Business Insider

Mobile Insights?is a daily newsletter from?BI Intelligence?delivered first thing every morning exclusively to?BI Intelligence?subscribers.?Sign up for a free trial of BI Intelligence today.

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Hour-by-Hour Examination: Smartphone, Tablet and Desktop Usage Rates (Chitika)
Chitika just completed a report examining tablet, smartphone, and desktop Web browsing by hour of the day. Here are some key findings:

• Overall, mobile browsing rates are much more consistent throughout the day as compared to browsing from desktops and laptops
• The bump in usage during commuting hours is much higher for smartphones (>90 percent of daily high) as compared to tablets (~65 percent of daily high)
• Smartphone browsing's peak is more extended during the evening hours as compared to tablets, and the trough is not as deep (~43 percent as compared to ~26 percent)

The data emphasizes how mobile browsing behavior patterns have evolved to become markedly different from what's seen from desktops: a major consideration for advertisers, developers, and online marketers. Read >>

Mobile Search Engine Optimization Tips (SEOMoz)
According to the Head of Global Mobile Search Ads at Google, here are five key mobile SEO trends to look out for, based on all of the exciting changes that are happening in the world of paid mobile search.

1. Local Organic Search is More Valuable than You Think
2. Mobile Search Is Really, Really Way More Valuable Than You Think
3. Stop Building Mobile Sites
4. If You Must Have a Mobile Site, Don?t Dumb it Down
5. User Context Is The Key

Many of the mobile search concepts are applicable to both paid and organic mobile search. Read >>

One-Fourth Of Teens Are Mobile-Mostly Internet Users (Pew Research via Fierce Developer)
The number of teenagers who own smartphones has risen 23 percent in the last two years, underscoring the demographic differences in potential app users, according to the most recent Pew Internet and American Life report. Perhaps even more significant, the Pew research study found that, compared with the 15 percent of adults who mostly access the Internet via their phones, one in four teen smartphone owners are strictly mobile Internet users. "While many teens have a variety of Internet-connected devices in their lives, the cell phone has become the primary means by which 25 percent of those aged 12 to 17 access the Internet," the report said. "Among teens who are mobile Internet users, that number rises to one in three (33 percent). Among teen smartphone owners, 50 percent say they use the Internet most via their cell phone." Read >>

The Larger The Smartphone Screen, The More Web Usage (OpenSignal via TNW)
For its latest study, OpenSignal set out to compare the amount of data used on devices of different screen sizes, on both 3G and WiFi. Given that OpenSignal is Android-only, it obviously doesn?t factor in iPhones. But given that Android constitutes more than half the smartphone market in most western countries, and there?s a myriad of different screen sizes across the board, it actually lends itself better to this test anyway. Over WiFi, as screen sizes get bigger people tend to munch more data. Indeed, data consumption doubles between a 6 square-inch device and a device with a 9 square-inch screen such as a Galaxy S3. For every additional square inch of screen real-estate, this leads to 288MB of extra data downloaded each month. Read >>

iPhone 5S Expected To Launch This Summer (CNet)
Apple will likely bring out its next iPhone in late June, projects Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster. Assuming that forecast comes true, Munster believes Apple will sell 4 million units of the new phone before the month and the quarter are over. That estimate compares with the 5 million iPhone 5 handsets sold during that model's opening weekend. The analyst expects Apple to sell 30 million iPhones over the June quarter, a 15 percent increase over the same quarter a year ago. Like most analysts and Apple watchers, Munster expects the phone to include a faster processor, better camera, and new software features tied into the hardware. Read >>

Is T-Mobile Finally A Threat To AT&T And Verizon? (The Verge)
At $70 for unlimited data, T-Mobile undercuts Sprint, AT&T, and Verizon considerably, and it doesn't hurt that it's got a brand-new LTE network that it promises to ramp up quickly. But will people know this is all happening? Read >>

Nominate The Best Mobile Advertising Campaign So Far In 2013 (Business Insider)
Business Insider is prepping for our upcoming Mobile Advertising Conference, scheduled for June 13, 2013, in New York. We want to include the best of the best at the conference ? and need your help. To learn more about nominating the best mobile campaign, click the link.?Read >>

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/mobile-web-browsing-traffic-is-steady-2013-33

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Suites In Mumbai For A Comfortable And Quiet Stay

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Penn Researchers attach Lyme disease antibodies to nanotubes, paving way for diagnostic device

Public release date: 26-Mar-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Evan Lerner
elerner@upenn.edu
215-573-6604
University of Pennsylvania

Early diagnosis is critical in treating Lyme disease. However, nearly one quarter of Lyme disease patients are initially misdiagnosed because currently available serological tests have poor sensitivity and specificity during the early stages of infection. Misdiagnosed patients may go untreated and thus progress to late-stage Lyme disease, where they face longer and more invasive treatments, as well as persistent symptoms.

Existing tests assess the presence of antibodies against bacterial proteins, which take weeks to form after the initial infection and persist after the infection is gone. Now, a nanotechnology-inspired technique developed by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania may lead to diagnostics that can detect the organism itself.

The study was led by professor A. T. Charlie Johnson of the Department of Physics and Astronomy in Penn's School of Arts and Sciences along with graduate student Mitchell Lerner, undergraduate researcher Jennifer Dailey and postdoctoral fellow Brett R. Goldsmith, all of Physics. They collaborated with Dustin Brisson, an assistant professor of biology who provided the team with expertise on the bacterium.

Their research was published in the journal Biosensors and Bioelectronics.

"When you're initially infected with the Lyme disease bacterium, you don't develop antibodies for many days to a few weeks," Johnson said. "Many people see their physician before antibodies develop, leading to negative serological test results. And after an initial infection, you're still going to have these antibodies, so using these serological diagnostics won't make it clear if you're still infected or not after you've been treated with antibiotics."

The research team's idea was to flip the process around, using laboratory-produced antibodies to detect the presence of proteins from the organism. This is an extension of previous work Johnson's lab has done connecting other biological structures, such as olfactory receptors and DNA, to carbon nanotube-based devices.

Carbon nanotubes, rolled-up lattices of carbon atoms, are highly conductive and sensitive to electrical charge, making them promising components of nanoscale electronic devices. By attaching different biological structures to the exteriors of the nanotubes, they can function as highly specific biosensors. When the attached structure binds to a molecule, that molecule's charge can affect the electrical conduction of the nanotube, which can be part of an electrical circuit like a wire. Such a device can therefore provide an electronic read-out of the presence, or even concentration, of a particular molecule.

To get the electrical signal out of these nanotubes, the team first turned them into transistor devices.

"We first grow these nanotubes on what amounts to a large chip using a vapor deposition method, then make electrical connections essentially at random," Johnson said. "We then break up the chip and test all of the individual nanotube transistors to see which work the best."

In their recent experiment, Johnson's team attached antibodies that naturally develop in most animals that are infected with the Lyme disease bacterium to these nanotube transistors. These antibodies naturally bind to an antigen, in this case, a protein in the Lyme bacterium, as part of the body's immune response.

"We have a chemical process that lets us connect any protein to carbon nanotubes. Nanotubes are very stable, so we have a very reactive compound that binds to the nanotube and also has a carboxylic acid group on the other end. For biochemists, getting any kind of protein to bind to a carboxylic acid group is just child's play at this point, and we have worked with them to learn how to perform this chemistry on the side wall of nanotubes. "

After using atomic-force microscopy to show that antibodies had indeed bound to the exteriors of their nanotube transistors, the researchers tested them electrically to get a baseline reading. They then put the nanotubes in solutions that contained different concentrations of the target Lyme bacteria protein.

"When we wash away the solution and test the nanotube transistors again, the change in what we measure tells us that how much of the antigen has bound," Johnson said. "And we see the relationship we expect to see, in that the more antigen there was in the solution, the bigger the change in the signal."

The smallest concentration the nanotube devices could detect was four nanograms of protein per milliliter of solution.

"This sensitivity is more than sufficient to detect the Lyme disease bacterium in the blood of recently-infected patients and may be sufficient to detect the bacterium in fluids of patients that have received inadequate treatment," Brisson said.

"We really want the protein we are looking to detect to bind as close to the nanotube as possible, as that is what increases the strength of the electrical signal," Johnson said. "Developing a smaller, minimal version of the antibody what we call a single chain variable fragment would be a next step.

"Based on our previous work with single chain variable fragments of other antibodies, this would probably make such a device about a thousand times more sensitive."

The researchers suggested that, given the flexibility of their technique for attaching different biological structure, eventual diagnostic tools could incorporate multiple antibodies, each detecting a different protein from the Lyme bacterium. Such a setup would improve accuracy and cut down on the possibility of false-positive diagnoses.

"If we were to do this type of test on a person's blood now, however, we would say the person has the disease," Johnson said. "The first thought is that if you detect any protein coming from the Lyme organism in your blood, you are infected and should get treatment right away."

###

This research was supported by the Department of Defense U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, the National Institutes of Health, Penn's Nano/Bio Interface Center, the National Science Foundation and Penn's Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter.

---

[ | 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.

Public release date: 26-Mar-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Evan Lerner
elerner@upenn.edu
215-573-6604
University of Pennsylvania

Early diagnosis is critical in treating Lyme disease. However, nearly one quarter of Lyme disease patients are initially misdiagnosed because currently available serological tests have poor sensitivity and specificity during the early stages of infection. Misdiagnosed patients may go untreated and thus progress to late-stage Lyme disease, where they face longer and more invasive treatments, as well as persistent symptoms.

Existing tests assess the presence of antibodies against bacterial proteins, which take weeks to form after the initial infection and persist after the infection is gone. Now, a nanotechnology-inspired technique developed by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania may lead to diagnostics that can detect the organism itself.

The study was led by professor A. T. Charlie Johnson of the Department of Physics and Astronomy in Penn's School of Arts and Sciences along with graduate student Mitchell Lerner, undergraduate researcher Jennifer Dailey and postdoctoral fellow Brett R. Goldsmith, all of Physics. They collaborated with Dustin Brisson, an assistant professor of biology who provided the team with expertise on the bacterium.

Their research was published in the journal Biosensors and Bioelectronics.

"When you're initially infected with the Lyme disease bacterium, you don't develop antibodies for many days to a few weeks," Johnson said. "Many people see their physician before antibodies develop, leading to negative serological test results. And after an initial infection, you're still going to have these antibodies, so using these serological diagnostics won't make it clear if you're still infected or not after you've been treated with antibiotics."

The research team's idea was to flip the process around, using laboratory-produced antibodies to detect the presence of proteins from the organism. This is an extension of previous work Johnson's lab has done connecting other biological structures, such as olfactory receptors and DNA, to carbon nanotube-based devices.

Carbon nanotubes, rolled-up lattices of carbon atoms, are highly conductive and sensitive to electrical charge, making them promising components of nanoscale electronic devices. By attaching different biological structures to the exteriors of the nanotubes, they can function as highly specific biosensors. When the attached structure binds to a molecule, that molecule's charge can affect the electrical conduction of the nanotube, which can be part of an electrical circuit like a wire. Such a device can therefore provide an electronic read-out of the presence, or even concentration, of a particular molecule.

To get the electrical signal out of these nanotubes, the team first turned them into transistor devices.

"We first grow these nanotubes on what amounts to a large chip using a vapor deposition method, then make electrical connections essentially at random," Johnson said. "We then break up the chip and test all of the individual nanotube transistors to see which work the best."

In their recent experiment, Johnson's team attached antibodies that naturally develop in most animals that are infected with the Lyme disease bacterium to these nanotube transistors. These antibodies naturally bind to an antigen, in this case, a protein in the Lyme bacterium, as part of the body's immune response.

"We have a chemical process that lets us connect any protein to carbon nanotubes. Nanotubes are very stable, so we have a very reactive compound that binds to the nanotube and also has a carboxylic acid group on the other end. For biochemists, getting any kind of protein to bind to a carboxylic acid group is just child's play at this point, and we have worked with them to learn how to perform this chemistry on the side wall of nanotubes. "

After using atomic-force microscopy to show that antibodies had indeed bound to the exteriors of their nanotube transistors, the researchers tested them electrically to get a baseline reading. They then put the nanotubes in solutions that contained different concentrations of the target Lyme bacteria protein.

"When we wash away the solution and test the nanotube transistors again, the change in what we measure tells us that how much of the antigen has bound," Johnson said. "And we see the relationship we expect to see, in that the more antigen there was in the solution, the bigger the change in the signal."

The smallest concentration the nanotube devices could detect was four nanograms of protein per milliliter of solution.

"This sensitivity is more than sufficient to detect the Lyme disease bacterium in the blood of recently-infected patients and may be sufficient to detect the bacterium in fluids of patients that have received inadequate treatment," Brisson said.

"We really want the protein we are looking to detect to bind as close to the nanotube as possible, as that is what increases the strength of the electrical signal," Johnson said. "Developing a smaller, minimal version of the antibody what we call a single chain variable fragment would be a next step.

"Based on our previous work with single chain variable fragments of other antibodies, this would probably make such a device about a thousand times more sensitive."

The researchers suggested that, given the flexibility of their technique for attaching different biological structure, eventual diagnostic tools could incorporate multiple antibodies, each detecting a different protein from the Lyme bacterium. Such a setup would improve accuracy and cut down on the possibility of false-positive diagnoses.

"If we were to do this type of test on a person's blood now, however, we would say the person has the disease," Johnson said. "The first thought is that if you detect any protein coming from the Lyme organism in your blood, you are infected and should get treatment right away."

###

This research was supported by the Department of Defense U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, the National Institutes of Health, Penn's Nano/Bio Interface Center, the National Science Foundation and Penn's Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter.

---

[ | 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.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-03/uop-pra032613.php

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Arizona Legislature overhauls unemployment claims

PHOENIX (AP) -- A bill that would make it more difficult for recently unemployed people in Arizona to collect unemployment benefits is likely to land on Republican Gov. Jan Brewer's desk.

The state House approved legislation Tuesday that would require unemployed workers to present documents showing they were fired before they can receive benefits. Under current law, the burden is on employers to fight fraudulent claims.

The 34-24 vote came a week after the Senate passed the proposal along party lines. Republicans control the Senate and House.

The proposed change follows complaints from business leaders about workers who walk off jobs and then file for benefits.

Democrats slammed Republicans for making it harder for struggling families to seek assistance while also doing little this to promote job creation. They said it would be nearly impossible for workers to prove they were let go because employers often don't provide documentation informing workers of their dismissal.

"They are already going through a hard enough time as it is," said Democratic Rep. Jonathan Larkin.

Minority Leader Chad Campbell said workers might not be able to prove they were fired if the company they worked for shut its doors. He blasted Republicans for "creating more problems for the people who don't need more problems in their lives"

"Those are the people we should be helping," he said. "We should be down here trying to create jobs."

Republicans countered that the bill would create jobs because it would protect businesses from devoting hours to fighting fraudulent claims instead of filling open positions.

"They are begging for workers," said Republican Rep. Steve Montenegro. "They need people employed, but sometimes, unfortunately, not everybody, but there are people who chose to be on unemployment rather than take some of those jobs."

Republican Rep. Eddie Farnsworth said too often state unemployment assistance workers err on the side of jobless workers over businesses "because they have deep pockets and the person who quit has no responsibility."

"You have the responsibility to show that and not the business," Farnsworth said.

The U.S. Department of Labor initially raised concerns about the legality of the bill. Under federal law, applicants who have lost a job through no fault of their own and are able to work are eligible to receive benefits. The burden of proof is not on the employee.

"It is the state's responsibility to make reasonable efforts to obtain the information necessary to determine whether an individual is eligible," federal officials wrote to lawmakers in early March.

In the Senate, lawmakers amended the bill to address those federal concerns. The legislation now requires the state to make a final determination based on all submitted evidence.

Under the measure, employers would be allowed to claim that the employee submitted a resignation orally to prove the worker voluntarily left the job. Employers also could challenge claims if they say the worker skipped work.

Thousands of people could be impacted by the proposed change. The number of people claiming benefits in Arizona was about 75,000 in January, according to the state Department of Economic Security.

Arizona is already tougher than many other states when it comes to unemployment claims. The maximum weekly unemployment benefit in Arizona is $240. The national average has been $300 since 2010, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington, D.C. sequester

___

Cristina Silva can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/cristymsilva .

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/arizona-legislature-overhauls-unemployment-claims-221438455.html

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Housing, manufacturing give US economy lift

In this Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013, photo, an employees carts a dishwasher to a customer's vehicle at the loading docks of Nebraska Furniture Mart in Omaha, Neb. U.S. orders for long-lasting goods that signal business investment plans fell in February by the largest amount in seven months, although the decline followed a strong month in January and may prove to be a temporary setback. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

In this Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013, photo, an employees carts a dishwasher to a customer's vehicle at the loading docks of Nebraska Furniture Mart in Omaha, Neb. U.S. orders for long-lasting goods that signal business investment plans fell in February by the largest amount in seven months, although the decline followed a strong month in January and may prove to be a temporary setback. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

In this Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013, photo, washing machines are for sale at Green's, a furniture and appliance store, in Albany, N.Y. U.S. orders for long-lasting goods that signal business investment plans fell in February by the largest amount in seven months, although the decline followed a strong month in January and may prove to be a temporary setback. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

In this Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013, photo, stoves at Green's, a furniture and appliance store, are on sale in Albany, N.Y. U.S. orders for long-lasting goods that signal business investment plans fell in February by the largest amount in seven months, although the decline followed a strong month in January and may prove to be a temporary setback. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

In this Feb. 25, 2013 photo, a new townhouse is under construction at the Crossings adult community in Colonie, N.Y. Sales of new homes fell in February after climbing to the highest level in more than four years in January. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

In this Feb. 25, 2013 photo, a new townhouse is under construction at the Crossings adult community in Colonie, N.Y. Sales of new homes fell in February after climbing to the highest level in more than four years in January. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Gains in housing and manufacturing propelled the U.S. economy over the winter, according to reports released Tuesday, and analysts say they point to the resilience of consumers and businesses as government spending cuts kick in.

U.S. home prices rose 8.1 percent in January, the fastest annual rate since the peak of the housing boom in the summer of 2006. And demand for longer-lasting factory goods jumped 5.7 percent in February, the biggest increase in five months.

February new-home sales and March consumer confidence looked a little shakier. But the overall picture of an improving economy drove stocks higher on Tuesday. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 99 points in late-afternoon trading. The Standard & Poor's 500 index gained 10 points.

"There is nothing in this data that says the economy is falling back," said Joel Naroff, chief economist at Naroff Economic Advisors.

A recovery in housing has helped lift the economy this year and is finally restoring some of the wealth lost during the Great Recession.

The year-over-year rise in home prices reported by the Standard & Poor's/Case Shiller 20-city index was the fastest since June 2006. Prices rose in all 20 cities and eight markets posted double-digit increases, including some of the hardest hit during the crisis. Prices rose 23.2 percent in Phoenix, 17.5 percent in San Francisco and 15.3 percent in Las Vegas.

The strength in home prices has far from erased all the damage from the crisis. Home prices nationwide are still 29 percent below their peak reached in August 2006.

Still, steady gains should encourage more people to buy and put their homes on the market, keeping the recovery going. And higher home prices make people feel wealthier, which leads consumers to spend more and drives more economic growth.

Sales of new homes cooled off in February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 411,000. That's down from January's pace of 431,000, which was the fastest since September 2008. But February's pace was still better than every other month since April 2010, when a temporary home-buying tax credit was boosting sales. And sales are 12.3 percent higher than a year ago.

"We are still far from the healthy level of 700,000, but we're slowly making our way in that direction," said Jennifer Lee, senior economist with BMO Capital Markets. "We just have to accept the fact that the path will be interrupted once in a while and that's what happened in February."

Manufacturing is also boosting the economy this year, and factories were busier in February, according to the Commerce Department report on durable goods orders.

February's increase was driven by a surge in commercial aircraft orders, which tend to be volatile. Still, orders for motor vehicles and parts increased solidly, suggesting demand for cars and trucks remains strong.

Orders for machinery and other goods that signal business investment plans fell sharply in February. But the decline followed the biggest monthly gain in nearly three years. Economists had expected companies to ease up after January's spending spree. When looking at the two months together, business investment has accelerated from the end of last year and should contribute to economic growth.

"The picture of business spending to start the year is fairly healthy," said Dan Greenhaus, chief global strategist at BTIG

One concern is that tax increases and government spending cuts could stunt the economy's momentum. Both weighed on consumers' minds in March.

The Conference Board, a New York-based private research group, said its Consumer Confidence Index fell to 59.7 this month, down from 68 in February. The decline was mainly due to a drop in expectations for the economy over the next six months, though consumers also were more pessimistic regarding current economic conditions.

Some economists think the timing of the survey may have exacerbated the decline.

The survey was conducted from March 1 through March 14, just as $85 billion in automatic spending cuts began. Consumers were already feeling pinched by higher Social Security taxes that have reduced take-home pay for most workers this year. And gas prices rose sharply in February, before easing slightly this month.

"It was sort of a perfect storm," said Chris G. Christopher Jr., director of consumer economics at IHS Global Insight. "I do expect confidence to rebound as long as there is no government shutdown and the political bickering in Washington doesn't reach a fever pitch."

A healthier job market is also likely to make people feel a little better about their finances.

Employers have added an average of 200,000 jobs per month since November. That's nearly double the average from last spring. The job gains helped lower the unemployment rate in February to a four-year low of 7.7 percent.

Christopher expects economic growth in the January-March quarter to rise at a 2.9 percent annual rate. That would follow a meager gain of 0.1 percent in the October-December quarter, which was largely due to temporary factors, including sharp cuts in defense spending.

Naroff says the government spending cuts taking effect, known as sequestration, could reduce growth by a full percentage point this year. Still, even with the drag, he expects economic growth for 2013 to be around 2.6 percent. That would be better than the 2.2 percent growth in 2012.

__

AP Business Writers Paul Wiseman and Marcy Gordon contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-03-26-Economy/id-a6b09e61183c451386e0a4cae163b6c3

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LTE model Chromebook Pixel to ship in early April

Google has updated the Play Store device page for the LTE-enabled Chromebook Pixel, and it tells us that orders should ship out by April 8. The upgraded model offers 64GB of internal storage, as well as 100MB of free Verizon LTE service per month, Users can contact Verizon for additional use, and if things haven't changed from previous Chromebooks, you can get a monthly no contract plan or a standard LTE device data plan.

The Pixel isn't cheap. Wifi only models are $1299, and the LTE version checks in at $1449. They also aren't for everyone, as Chrome OS is an entirely different animal from the Windows, Mac, or Linux operating system you're probably used to. To learn more about the strengths and weaknesses of Chrome OS, and more about the Pixel itself, be sure to check out our review. 

Source: Google Play. Thanks, everyone who sent this in!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/IGdO4doFTPw/story01.htm

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