Game Over: Zynga Shuts Down PetVille And 10 Other Titles To Cut ...

Executing the?cost-reduction plan CEO Mark Pincus announced in November, Zynga has shut down, pulled from the app stores, or stopped accepting new players to 11 games, with some turning off today. The gaming giant will reallocate resources to more successful titles as well as creating new ones. Along with layoffs, the shutdowns are part of the hard road to recovery for Zynga.

The San Francisco-based company had overextended itself. During its heyday on Facebook it built dozens of games, then aggressively launched mobile games as smartphones gained popularity. It didn?t seem like a problem when the company was preparing for a big IPO.

But Zynga?s share price got decimated over the past year. Investors feared it had become bloated, free virality on Facebook had been curtailed, competitors were proliferating, and the shift of Facebook users to mobile from Zynga?s stronghold on the desktop canvas would break the company. Zynga?s share price is down 3.52 percent to $2.33 from its $10 IPO price a year ago.

To get the company back on track, Zynga announced a deep set of cost-cutting measures, including laying off over 100 employees, closing offices, ceasing to renew deals with contractors, shutting down 13 titles, and significantly reducing investment in The Sims-style game The Ville.

Now the hammer has dropped on eleven of these games.?Keeping them alive spread engineers, designers, and product teams too thin and cost money Zynga can?t afford anymore.?Those that weren?t shut down or pulled from the app store already no longer accept new sign ups and will stop altogether next month. Here?s the full list:

PetVille ? Shut down December 30th
Mafia Wars 2?- Shut down December 30th
FishVille ? Shut down December 5th
Vampire Wars ? Shut down December 5th
Treasure Isle ? Shut down December 5th
Indiana Jones Adventure World ? Closed to new players, shuts down January 14th
Mafia Wars Shakedown ? Pulled from app stores
Forestville ? Pulled from app stores
Montopia ? Shut down December 21st
Mojitomo ? Pulled from app stores
Word Scramble Challenge ? Pulled from app stores

These shutdowns might not seem like a big deal to everyone, but they were near cataclysmic for some players who pumped countless hours and dollars into these games. If you?d spent years tending your virtual aquarium only to have it disappear, you can imagine how disappointed or angry you?d be.?Comments from gamers on the shutdown notices included things like ?my daughter is heartbroken? and ?Please don?t remove petville. I been playing for 4 yrs. and I?M going to miss my pet Jaime?.why do you want cause depression for me and others. Why do you want to kill my pet??

To numb the pain and try to get gamers hooked on titles that will keep running, Zynga offered people who played FishVille, Adventure World, and some other titles a free bonus package of virtual goods in one of its flagship games?CastleVille, ChefVille, FarmVille 2, Mafia Wars, or YoVille.

Though it may seem like a mass culling, Zynga will still have over 30 titles available across Facebook, Zynga.com, iOS, Android, Myspace, and other social sites.

The fact is that if Zynga wants to save these games, keep the rest of its workforce employed, and get its share price growing, it had to cut deadweight. While dead pooling 11 games was surely tough, it?s better than Pincus freezing up as the ship sinks. The teams from these games could help Zynga produce and publish more titles like Horn, a mobile adventure Zynga co-released with Phosphor that Appolicious named the best mobile game of 2012.

Sometimes you have to put old dogs to sleep.

?

For more on Zynga?s decline and attempt at recovery, read:

Why Zynga Failed

Zynga Just Shut Down Boston Office, Laid Off 100+ Employees From The Ville And Bingo Teams In?Austin

[Image Credit]

Zynga was founded in July 2007 by Mark Pincus and is named for his late American Bulldog, Zinga. Loyal and spirited, Zinga?s name is a nod to a legendary African warrior queen. The early supporting founding team included Eric Schiermeyer, Michael Luxton, Justin Waldron, Kyle Stewart, Scott Dale, John Doerr, Steve Schoettler, Kevin Hagan, and Andrew Trader. Zynga?s mission is connecting the world through games. Everyday millions of people interact with their friends and express their unique personalities through our...

? Learn more

Source: http://techcrunch.com/2012/12/30/zynga-shuts-down-petville-fishville-mafia-wars-2/

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Video: Compromise isn?t politically popular

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/50334371/

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baubag258: atm technology: My Pair of Boots: Old Fort- Wing Family ...

The Wing Fort House is located at 69 Spring Hill Road, East Sandwich, Massachusetts. Open Tuesday through Saturday from June 15 to September 30 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. There is a small admission fee. For off-season visits please call the Caretakers at (508) 833-1540. Cousins, if you ever have the opportunity, this is a "must do" visit. It is something you will never forget and something you will never tire of talking about.

The oldest house in New England owned and occupied continuously by the same family for over three centuries. Built in 1641.? In 1646 it became the home of Stephen Wing, one of the early settlers of Sandwich, son of the Reverend John Wing and Deborah Bachelor. Stephen?and his descendants occupied the house from then on, adding on as families grew and changing tastes dictated. Now restored, it is furnished almost entirely with Wing family antiques showing the different periods of its long history. The house is maintained by the Wing Family of America and open to the public.

?This house is a must see on my list of Historic Landmarks!

Source: http://mypairofboots.blogspot.com/2012/12/old-fort-wing-family-home.html

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Source: http://baubag258.blogspot.com/2012/12/atm-technology-my-pair-of-boots-old.html

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The Weekly Winston: Fiscal Cliff Edition (Powerlineblog)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/273796206?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Jordan says can handle any Syrian chemical threat

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) ? Jordan says it is prepared to deal with any potential chemical weapon threat posed by the ongoing violence in neighboring Syria, but adds it will not enter "any alliance" to protect itself.

Jordan, the U.S. and others have expressed concern that Syrian President Bashar Assad could use chemical weapons in a last-ditch effort to save his regime.

Information Minister Sameeh Maaytah did not provide details on Jordan's capabilities to thwart a chemical attack in remarks carried by the official Petra news agency Sunday.

But other Jordanian officials have said U.S. and British military experts have provided training in protecting civilians in case of a chemical attack on Jordanian territory.

Maaytah also said the 21-month Syrian crisis has put enormous pressure on Jordan's infrastructure as it now hosts 275,000 refugees.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-12-30-Jordan-Syria/id-66927a0e59554f87af255d4ed4a695e4

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Statue of Hitler praying in Warsaw spurs controversy

Tomasz Gzell / EPA

The statue of Hitler as a schoolboy kneeling in prayer is visible through this viewing hole as part of an exhibit in Warsaw, Poland.

By Isolde Raftery, NBC News

A statue of Adolph Hitler kneeling in prayer in a courtyard in the former Warsaw Ghetto ? where hundreds of thousands of Jews were forced by Nazis to live in inhumane conditions during World War II ? has upset those who say the statue's placement is offensive.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish Advocacy group, described the decision to place the statue in the former ghetto as ?a senseless provocation which insults the memory of the Nazi?s Jewish victims,? according to the Guardian of London.

Before World War II, Warsaw had the largest Jewish community in Poland and Europe; worldwide it was second only to New York City, according to the Holocaust Encyclopedia. During World War II, about 300,000 Jews in the ghetto died ? most of hunger and disease and after being sent to concentration camps where they were killed.

---

Tomasz Gzell / EPA

Through the hole in a wooden gate, viewers can see a kneeling figure with his back turned. Viewed from the front, that figure is Adolph Hitler, the leader of the Nazi party who sought to exterminate Jews.

Organizers argue that the statue is intended to be thought-provoking, according to The Associated Press. The exhibition?s catalogue says art ?can force us to face the evil of the world.?

The statue, made by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan in 2001, is titled, ?HIM? and has drawn thousands of viewers since it was installed in Warsaw last month. ?

The body of the statue is of a schoolboy kneeling in prayer, and the head is made to resemble Hitler?s. Before being installed in Poland, the statue was shown in galleries, usually at the end of a long hallway with its back to viewers. Only when viewers approached could they see Hitler?s face. Reviewing an exhibit at the Guggenheim Museum in 2011, The New York Times described the statue as ?Hitler as a kneeling schoolboy possibly asking forgiveness.?

Cattelan created a similar effect in the former ghetto, where the statue is visible only through a hole in a wooden gate. Cattelan, who is based in New York, has been described as a satirical artist who produced another piece that generated controversy in Warsaw -- an effigy of Pope John Paul II being crushed by a meteorite. Titled ?La Nona Ora,? or ?Ninth Hour,? the work was also displayed in Poland, a deeply Catholic country.

Zofia Jablonska, 30, told The Associated Press that she thought the best spot for the statue was in ?the place where he would kill people.?

Poland?s chief rabbi, Michael Schudrich, was consulted about the installation, according to the Guardian, and said he believes it has educational value. Rather than support Hitler, Schudrich told the Guardian it shows that even evil lurks in the shape of a ?sweet praying child.?

More world stories from NBC News:

Follow World News from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook

Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/29/16237772-statue-of-hitler-praying-is-displayed-in-former-warsaw-ghetto-to-controversy?lite

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canterbury travel: robertjump: Most Popular Diets of 2012 | Health ...

Most Popular Diets of 2012

Michael Phelps' 12,000-calorie-a-day training diet and Beyonce's maple syrup cleanse may top Google's list of the 10 most-searched diets of 2012, but the popular website Diets in Review.com found that when people want to get serious about weight loss, ?
See all stories on this topic ?

Source: http://health-fitness.holidayinndeals.net/?p=2297

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Source: http://canterbury-travel.blogspot.com/2012/12/robertjump-most-popular-diets-of-2012.html

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Fantasy Football Week 17 Injury Report: Gronk and Roll

Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

The Injury Report offers fantasy football owners with up-to-date information on notable injuries from around the NFL. Find out which injured players will be ready to suit up or will be warming the bench in Week 17.

Quarterbacks:

Carson Palmer, Oakland Raiders

Palmer (ribs) has been ruled out for Week 17, as the Raiders have nothing left to fight for except pride. The versatile yet raw Terrelle Pryor will get the start over Matt Leinart, who will serve as his backup.

Running Backs:

Arian Foster, Houston Texans

Foster (irregular heartbeat) is fully expected to start on Sunday. His heartbeat is no longer an issue and he?ll be a full-go in a must-win for the Texans if they want to keep their first-round bye.

Trent Richardson, Cleveland Browns

Richardson (ankle) has been ruled out for Week 17. There?s no reason to rush a hobbled Richardson into the lineup with the Browns out of the playoff hunt (a long time ago). RB Montario Hardesty gets the nod.

Wide Receivers:

Mike Wallace, Pittsburgh Steelers

Wallace (hip) has been ruled out for Week 17 against the Cleveland Browns. He failed to practice all week and is looking like he?s played his final game in black and yellow. Wallace is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this off-season. He?ll finish the season with 64 catches for 836 yards and eight touchdowns. WR Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders will man the aerial attack.

Jordy Nelson, Green Bay Packers

Nelson (hamstring) is set to return in Week 17. That leaves the Packers with a much easier decision to rest WR Randall Cobb (ankle) this week. Expect Nelson to get back in sync with his quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons

White (knee) is not expected to play in Week 17 with the Falcons already locked-in with the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye.

Tight Ends:

Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots

Gronkowski (forearm) is expected to play in Week 17 against the Miami Dolphins, per CSN New England?s Tom Curran. The big question is how much will coach Bill Belichick play his star tight end? I guess that depends on how the Houston Texans fair on Sunday, because if they lose, the Patriots will have a chance to earn a first-round bye with a win. Either way, with the inconsistencies at the tight end position this season, Gronk will be worth the risk even in a limited role.

Dustin Keller, New York Jets

Keller (ankle) has been ruled out for Week 17 against the Buffalo Bills. He hasn?t missed a game in his previous two seasons with the Jets but has been limited to just eight games in 2012. He?ll wrap up the season with 28 catches for 317 yards and two touchdowns. He?s scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in the off-season and is a candidate for the franchise tag.

Owen Daniels, Houston Texans

Daniels (hamstring) missed practice all week, but is fine and fully expected to start on Sunday.

Source: http://www.rantsports.com/fantasy/2012/12/29/fantasy-football-week-17-injury-report-gronk-and-roll/

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The Pros and Cons of buying a FSBO Business | Buy Sell a ...

When choosing to purchase a business, you will need to decide whether you will purchase a venture through a real estate company or other professional means or if you will buy an FSBO. FSBO stands for ?For Sale By Owner? and refers to a business being marketed and sold directly by the venture owner themselves. This can be a fantastic option when investing in entrepreneurship; however there are many setbacks as well. Pros and cons of FSBO opportunities include:

Pros

1. Price ? When someone choses to use an agent or broker to sell their business, franchise or venture the agent will always charge fees for their service of marketing and selling their property. This will almost always cause the price of the business to be higher than if you had bought it directly from the owner (FSBO). In short, the price of the business will be lower on average and will save you money.

2. Time ? The process of buying FSBO businesses is likely to be a lot shorter as communications are directly between the business owner and prospect owner without the lengthy involvement of a business broker/agent. Note: It is advised that both buyer and seller should have their legal advisors confirm verify the financial information and purchase/transfer agreement.

Cons

1. Price ? Many business owners may be ill-informed or ignorant about the value of their business and upon selling it through the FSBO method, end up over-pricing it. Commercial brokerages and professional commercial agents can assess and evaluate businesses properly as they have the proper experience and knowledge to do so. This way, you will not lose money on the cost of purchase.

2. Information Accuracy- When purchasing a business from its owner, it is hard to verify the authenticity and accuracy of everything that is advertised, along with other information you may receive. Business owners often exaggerate profits and popularity while leaving out any hidden problems. This can leave you disappointed and potentially cause you to lose of a lot of money. Having a commercial broker or professional intermediary to assist the process will help validate financial information as well as reviewing legal documents and agreements.

3. Negotiation ? During negotiations in the FSBO process, there may be points when negotiation is rocky and the process comes to a stall. The advice of an experienced third party such as the previously mentioned broker or agent, negotiations will likely become quicker and the broker can help to make the sale.

4. ?Due Diligence? ? Before deciding to invest money in a business, it is highly advised that a buyer first perform ?due diligence? on the business, a complete and thorough review and investigative report of the business and its past. Due diligence is often made difficult when you have interest in a FSBO business; this takes a lot of skill and time which only a commercial agent or broker may have. This becomes an advantage to using a brokerage service.

Source: http://blog.businessforsale.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-buying-a-fsbo-business/

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Hire a Home Improvement Contractor for Your Home ... - Audio Video

Whether you are managing the demands of a growing family, or are financially sound enough to invest in a home addition, you need to get in touch with a reputable home improvement contractor in Arlington Heights. That?s the first and most important step in a home renovation project. You might need to speak to a structural engineer also if you are planning on altering your home?s structure as well.?

You should talk to more than a few of them in order to ensure that you get the very best available home improvement contractor. But sometimes that will put you in a catch-22 scenario because you will be tempted to go for the lowest bidder. It?s even better if you can talk to every one of them individually to discover why their prices are the way they are. The lowest bidder will not always provide you with the best service; unless it is a newbie trying to secure an impressive portfolio.?

Stay away from the substandard companies and avoid the ones who show up at your door step promising you wonders. One of the very first things that you ought to check about the home remodeling contractor is his track record; demand references and be aware that they are liable to give you a few.?

Generally a firm hires out their contractors, so it is essential they?re both registered by the correct associations. All states have their own licensing firms that hand out Home Improvement Contractor Licenses. Check in the Licensing and Business Registration Information Section of your state to see if the company is included. Every thing you can do to your house will require a different type of contractor, for example a General Building Contractor. The firm and the contractor should be properly insured so you will be safe in case of property damage, worker?s compensation and personal liability.?

Keep these things in mind while selecting your home improvement contractor:

? ? ?Inquire about his experience

? ? ?Check for references

? ? ?Check if he is licensed and registered

? ? ?See if the firm is registered

? ? ?Make sure he has insurance coverage

?

For more interesting facts and tips about home improvement contractors,?click here.

Source: http://audiovideo.au.pn/2012/12/27/hire-a-home-improvement-contractor-for-your-home-improvement-project/

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Source: http://neglectfulness-mindoro.blogspot.com/2012/12/hire-home-improvement-contractor-for.html

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War vets showing fewer heart ailments - The Orange County Register

Today's servicemen have atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, less frequently than fighters generations ago, but "the national battle against heart disease is not over," according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

A study, led by a doctor at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md., examined the prevalence of atherosclerosis in veterans killed in Iraq between October 2001 and August 2011. According to autopsy reports of those who died in combat or from unintentional injuries, only 8.5 percent had the condition, caused by a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other deposits inside the walls of arteries.

An American soldier begins his journey home from Iraq in this Dec. 15, 2011 photo. U.S. servicemen suffer atherosclerosis, hardening of the arteries, less frequently than fighters of conflicts generations ago.

PHOTO BY KHALID MOHAMMED, AP

ADVERTISEMENT

Seventy-seven percent of men who died during the Korean War had hardened arteries. Among those killed in the Vietnam War, the prevalence was 45 percent.

An editorial accompanying the study notes that death rates from heart disease have declined 72 percent since their Vietnam War-era peak, but "cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. The national battle against heart disease is not over; increasing rates of obesity and diabetes signal a need to engage earlier and with greater intensity in a campaign of pre-emption and prevention."

The study draws a strong connection between advanced age and risk of atherosclerosis: Service members with the condition had an average age of 30.5, about 5 years older than those who didn't have it. Service members 40 and older were 7 times more likely to have it (45.9 percent) than those 24 and younger (6.6 percent).

Also, lower education levels were "significantly associated" with atherosclerosis prevalence.

Contact the writer: lhall@ocregister.com

Source: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/percent-381758-cork-marijuana.html

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Is Your Healthcare Data Vulnerable to Hacks?

Is healthcare information the next major target for hackers? A year-long investigation by the Washington Post asserts that online healthcare data is susceptible to hacks, especially considering the increasing number of ways patients and doctors can access health information these days.

?I have never seen an industry with more gaping security holes,? Avi Rubin, a computer scientist and technical director of the Information Security Institute at Johns Hopkins University, told the The Post. ?If our financial industry regarded security the way the health-care sector does, I would stuff my cash in a mattress under my bed.?

Mobile technology, including video conferencing and apps, have helped to spread healthcare to rural communities and allow consumers to be proactive in monitoring their own health. The downside of this, according to research by The Post, is that hackers might easily be able to access this data for identity theft and disruptive attack purposes.

Other groups and organizations have known about the vulnerabilities in healthcare information systems for some time. In May, the Department of Homeland Security issued a warning reminding consumers that although mobile devices make accessing healthcare information more convenient, it also leaves users vulnerable to data breaches. And in 2007, The Post reports, the eHealth Vulnerability Reporting Program, a group that included senior healthcare officials, concluded that ?commercial EHR systems are vulnerable to exploitation given existing industry practices? and that the ?skill level required to exploit is low.?

Perhaps the lack of security is because compared to government, military and major corporations, the healthcare sector's online security hasn't been compromised often enough to make it a huge priority. Although, the healthcare sector hasn't been without security breaches.

According to GovernmentHealthIT the largest healthcare security breach of 2012 happened to the Utah Department of Health where 780,000 patient's personal information was hacked.

Are you concerned with the security of your personal health data? Tell us in the comments.

Image via iStockphoto, sjlocke

Source: http://mashable.com/2012/12/27/healthcare-data-vulnerable-to-hacks/

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Rules for Outsourcing Branded Content

By Sandie Young | Posted December 28, 2012 | 0 Comment(s) | Filed in: Traditional Media / Journalism, Content Marketing

On June 29, 2012, WBEZ?s This American Life sparked a debate with no foreseen expiration date.

Producer Sarah Keonig of WBEZ examined the relationship between the Chicago Tribune and its new content partner, Journatic.

An update from This American Life defined Journatic under the following terms:

?Journatic is a company that outsources labor to generate 'hyperlocal' news content for newspapers all over the country. To create this content cheaply, it uses offshore researchers and writers, especially from the Philippines.??

The episode states that Chicago Tribune writers were cast aside to allow for more (outsourced) content from Journatic. Not only did this ignite anger, but Koenig also revealed that Journatic writers were using fake bylines to sound more American. The reaction to the story was not a positive one.

On July 13, the Chicago Tribune announced the suspension of Journatic services after uncovering plagiarism in a story. ?And on July 14, the head of editorial at Journatic resigned.

As a result, other news organizations also decided to leave Journatic.

But, the story doesn?t end there!

On July 22, the Chicago Tribune published an article that discusses the ongoing struggle between large news organizations and quality?hyper-local journalism. After five months of investigation into Journatic article quality, and debate both within the Tribune and media community at large, the Tribune recently announced its decision to resume working with Journatic. However,?the Tribune will continue the partnership with renewed limitations, only using Journatic for informational pieces like listings.?

So the question remains ? What are the universal standards for outsourcing content?

The answer is simple. And complex. There aren?t any.??

In the spirit of traditional journalism, local news might not be the best place to outsource content. For many, local news is personal and emotionally meaningful.?

But what about business output? Following the above controversy, I decided to examine the nature of outsourcing in terms of business content.

When Should Your Brand Outsource Content?

?Content is king? has become something of a marketing mantra over the past few years. So, naturally, agencies and marketers alike are trying to find new ways to produce more content.

Between Google algorithm updates and perceptions in the marketplace (such as seen in the Journatic controversy) some might be apprehensive to try outsourcing at all. But, if done right, outsourcing can be beneficial for your business in the long run.

Before you outsource, define the ethical standards and business goals that are specific to your organization. In order to make a justified business decision, make two lists. The first will consist of content traits that you feel are prime for an outsourced team or writer. The other will list characteristics of content that must be written by in-house writers. Share these lists with all employees to stick to a uniform set of principles. When it comes to content, similar to the approach the Tribune took when it chose to re-engage with Journatic, it is key to analyze the purpose and nature of each piece before delegating items.?

Branded Content Outsourcing "Rules"

There are times when it?s unnecessary (and maybe even risky) to outsource content. Define these lines for your business and maintain that standard as you experiment with outsourcing.

If there is an intimate element to a topic, then it?s smart to give the content your own personal touch. But, if you must turn to outsourcing for business support?for example, if you don?t have the capabilities or resources in-house?you can outsource even intimate content, if you choose the right partner.

If you are under-staffed or searching for writing talent, don?t settle quickly. The right agency or organization can partner with your business and, over time, become an extension of your team. A trusted partner spends time getting to know your business and your industry in order to write efficiently and ethically. During the discovery process, be transparent, share industry resources and make time for interviews. It?s key to know that your writers not only know your industry, but also identify with your brand.

If you are able to find the right match, then outsourcing might look like a lot like insourcing.

In any case of outsourcing, you still need to serve in an editor role to make sure the content meets your standards, conveys the right feelings/messages and also is technically sound. If you choose to outsource all company content, be sure that someone is acting as editorial head in order to review (and make personal additions to) all content.

The Decision Behind the Dollar Sign

There?s no escaping the budget factors of outsourcing your content. If you decide to outsource, it?s important to analyze the relationship between price and quality. Generic writing from a stable of content farm freelancers might be cheaper, but is it really better? ?

Productivity and quality are key. High quality articles will make a stronger impact on prospective and existing customers, giving them a reason to come back. Plus, readers often share great articles they love with followers on social media, resulting in an added SEO boost. However, if content quality is low or obviously rushed, Google may purposefully penalize your site. Analyze the balance between content quality and quantity before allocating resources to an outsourced writer.

A well-populated, resourceful website is great; one that brings value with each article and asset is better. Strive to do both?with or without outsourcing.

How do you tackle content creation for your organization? Have you ever been burned by outsourcing? We?d love to hear the community?s thoughts on this important topic.

Stay updated:?Subscribe to the?PR 20/20 blog,?check us out on?Facebook?or?follow the team on?Twitter.?

Image source: NS Newsflash.

Source: http://www.pr2020.com/blog/rules-for-outsourcing-branded-content

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Who Was the Most Charitable Celeb of 2012?

Taylor Swift's new album Red -- and her love affairs -- garnered lots of headlines this year, but behind the scenes, she gave so much of her time and money to charity that she's been named the number one "Celeb Gone Good" by DoSomething.org, an organization that connects teens with social change and that highlights charitable celebrity role models throughout the year.

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/taylor-swift-named-most-charitable-celeb-2012/1-a-510928?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3Ataylor-swift-named-most-charitable-celeb-2012-510928

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Amazon most satisfying website to shop: survey

(Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc remained the best website for shopping online while JC Penney Co Inc suffered the largest drop in customer satisfaction of any major online retailer this holiday season, according to a survey released on Thursday.

Flash sale sites Gilt.com and RueLaLa.com were among the worst performers in online shopping satisfaction this season, according to ForeSee's Holiday E-Retail Satisfaction Index.

"The importance of satisfying them and giving a great consumer experience is going to pay back huge dividends in terms of profitability for these retailers," said Larry Freed, president and chief executive officer of ForeSee, which measures customer satisfaction for companies, including retailers.

Amazon has held the highest score in each of the eight years of the index, due in part to the wide variety of merchandise it offers and a site that is easy to use.

"They've really done a great job in setting the standard for everybody else," Freed said of Amazon.

Amazon's score was again 88 out of 100, while Gilt.com and Fingerhut.com shared the lowest score of 72. LLBean.com had the second-highest ranking, 85, up 4 points from a year earlier.

A score of 80 or higher is considered strong, Freed said.

JC Penney's score fell to 78 from 83.

"They've struggled a lot in their stores as they've tried to reinvent themselves a bit and that's carried over a little bit to the website," Freed said.

Other retailers that saw their ForeSee satisfaction scores drop included Apple Inc - down to 80 from 83 - and Dell Inc, which fell to 77 from 80.

At Apple, as the popular tech company has brought out more products, navigating the site has become more of an issue, said Freed. Improving the functionality of the site would give it the biggest boost, he said.

No. 1 U.S. retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc, which is trying to grow its online sales, scored a 78 for its Walmart.com website, down from 79 in 2011. Rival Target Corp's website scored 79, up from 76 last year, when it had some struggles after taking over control of the site from Amazon.

As for those flash sale sites coming in at the low end of the scores, Freed noted that some are trying to grow beyond the premise of flash sales, which offer a limited amount of marked down merchandise at specific times.

"It works for some kinds of consumers, it's not going to work for every kind of consumer," said Freed. "Their models today are going to work and they're going to have a chance to be successful, but at the end of the day it's not the right answer for everybody."

ForeSee's 2012 report was based on more than 24,000 surveys collected from visitors to websites of the 100 largest online retailers from Thanksgiving to Christmas, up from 40 retail sites in prior years.

(Reporting by Jessica Wohl in Chicago; Editing by Phil Berlowitz)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/amazon-most-satisfying-website-shop-survey-050250095--finance.html

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The Tech Writing Prof: Things that Technical Writers Need to Provide ...

A recent discussion on the Technical Writer group at LinkedIn asked how to explain to a client that a technical writer need not be an expert in the subject matter of the manuals. As technical writers, we have to be learners, but we usually do not begin as experts in the scientific topics we cover. However, we must be:

• Experts in Document Design
Although technical writers do not need to be experts in semiology, psychoanalysis, or content analysis, we need to know enough about document design to create manuals, web sites, brochures, and other communication packages that speak to the audience. We need to know enough about the audience's eye movement across the page to make a page that flows. That is, for English speaking audiences, we need to know that the audience's eye will track from the upper left to the lower right of the page. For audiences who primarily read Chinese, Hebrew, or Arabic, those eyes will track in different directions.

Additionally, we need to be aware of the limitations of the fonts we incorporate (Are the lines so thick that they are hard to read from a distance?), the mix of colors we use (Can the elements of our pictures be distinguished as separate elements?), and the amount of white space incorporated in our illustrations and text. Although Jan White claims that serifs have a functional value in that they direct the eye and san serif fonts anchor the eye (Kostelnick and Roberts, 1998, p142), there have not been corroborating studies confirming these findings. Therefore, other than my own anecdotal evidence in support of White's study, I really cannot recommend this limitation on use of fonts. However, I can point to more than a few sources that would confirm that using more than two or three fonts on a page will reduce the readability of the page (Becker, 2009)(Krug, 2006, p36).

As mentioned previously, we also need to consider the cultural side of our pages and illustrations. Do procedural photos that are directed at Americans include someone pointing to the audience with the middle finger? Does a photo for an Arabian audience show the sole of a model's foot?

Becker, E. (2009). AMWA Presentation to UHD.
Kostelnick, C., & Roberts, D. D. (1998). Designing Visual Language: Strategies for Professional Communicators. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
Krug, S. (2006). Don't make me think: A common sense approach to web usability. Berkeley, Calif: New Riders.

Source: http://techwritingprof.blogspot.com/2012/12/things-that-technical-writers-need-to.html

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House Speaker Boehner urges Senate to act on "fiscal cliff"

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner on Wednesday urged the Senate to pass its version of legislation to avert the "fiscal cliff," in a sign that congressional efforts to avoid a budget crisis are coming back to life days ahead of the year-end deadline.

In a statement issued by Boehner and his top lieutenants, the Republican leadership team said "the Senate must act first" to revive efforts to avert the $600 billion in automatic tax hikes and spending cuts due to be triggered on January 1.

They promised that the House would weigh whatever legislation the Senate produced.

Last week, Boehner's back-up plan to keep most income tax rates low collapsed amid opposition from fellow Republicans who opposed raising taxes on those making more than $1 million a year.

The failed effort left uncertainty about what the next steps would be in avoiding the "fiscal cliff," which economists have warned could hobble the U.S. economy and lead to another recession.

The Republican leaders added that if the Senate sent the House new "fiscal cliff" legislation, "The House will then consider whether to accept the bills ... or to send them back to the Senate with additional amendments. The House will take this action on whatever the Senate can pass, but the Senate first must act."

"The lines of communication remain open," the leaders said, borrowing the same characterization they used for Boehner's ultimately unsuccessful talks with President Barack Obama over the past month.

The House Republican leaders argued that it was the Senate's turn to come up with a legislative solution because the House had produced two bills earlier this year to avert the "fiscal cliff." One would have continued the Bush-era's low income tax rates for another year, despite strong Democratic opposition to continuing the tax break for household incomes above $250,000.

Another bill would have replaced $109 billion in automatic spending cuts due to begin next month by stopping all of the planned military cuts and placing the entire burden on domestic activities, including some social safety net programs funded by the federal government.

Those bills were passed by House Republicans knowing they would be stopped in the Democratic-controlled Senate, which is insisting on raising tax revenues to help reduce the federal deficit.

(Reporting By Richard Cowan; Editing by Paul Simao)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/house-speaker-boehner-urges-senate-act-fiscal-cliff-215915289--business.html

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Authorities: Storm blamed for man's death in Texas

NEW ORLEANS (AP) ? Freezing rain and sleet made for a sloppy Christmas morning trek in parts of the nation's midsection on Tuesday, while residents along the Gulf Coast braced for thunderstorms, high winds and tornadoes.

Winds toppled a tree onto a pickup truck in the Houston area, killing the driver. Icy roads already were blamed for a 21-vehicle pileup in Oklahoma, where authorities warned would-be travelers to stay home. Fog blanketed highways, including arteries in the Atlanta area where motorists slowed as a precaution. In New Mexico, drivers across the eastern plains had to fight through snow, ice and low visibility.

At least three tornadoes were reported in Texas, though only one building was damaged and no injuries were reported, according to the National Weather Service. Tornado watches were in effect across southern Louisiana and Mississippi.

More than 180 flights nationwide were canceled by midday, according to the flight tracker FlightAware.com. More than half were canceled by American Airlines and its regional affiliate, American Eagle.

American is headquartered and has its biggest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

Meanwhile, a blizzard watch was posted for parts of Indiana and western Kentucky for storms expected to unfold Tuesday amid predictions of up to 4 to 7 inches of snow in coming hours. Much of Oklahoma and Arkansas braced under a winter storm warning of an early mix of rain and sleet forecast to eventually turn to snow. About a dozen counties in Missouri were under a blizzard warning from Tuesday night to noon Wednesday.

Some mountainous areas of Arkansas' Ozark Mountains could get up to 10 inches of snow, which would make travel "very hazardous or impossible" in the northern tier of the state from near whiteout conditions, the National Weather Service said.

Elsewhere, areas of east Texas and Louisiana braced for possible thunderstorms as forecasters eyed a developing storm front expected to spread across the Gulf Coast to the Florida Panhandle.

The holiday may conjure visions of snow and ice, but twisters this time of year are not unheard of. Ten storm systems in the last 50 years have spawned at least one Christmastime tornado with winds of 113 mph or more in the South, said Chris Vaccaro, a National Weather Service spokesman in Washington, via email.

The most lethal were the storms of Dec. 24-26, 1982, when 29 tornadoes in Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi killed three people and injured 32; and those of Dec. 24-25, 1964, when two people were killed and about 30 people injured by 14 tornadoes in seven states.

Quarter-sized hail reported early Tuesday in western Louisiana was expected to be just the start of a severe weather threat on the Gulf Coast, said meteorologist Mike Efferson at the weather service office in Slidell, La.

Storms along the Gulf Coast could bring winds up to 70 mph, heavy rain, more large hail and dangerous lightning in Louisiana and Mississippi, Efferson said. Furthermore, warm, moist air colliding with a cold front could produce dangerous straight-line winds.

The storm was moving quickly as it headed into northeast Louisiana and Mississippi into the late afternoon and early evening, said Bill Adams at the weather service's Shreveport, La., office.

In Mississippi, Gov. Phil Bryant urged residents to have a plan for any severe weather.

"It only takes a few minutes, and it will help everyone have a safe Christmas," Bryant said.

In Alabama, the director of the Emergency Management Agency, Art Faulkner, said he has briefed both local officials and Gov. Robert Bentley on plans for dealing with a possible outbreak of storms.

No day is good for severe weather, but Faulkner said Christmas adds extra challenges because people are visiting unfamiliar areas and often thinking more of snow than possible twisters.

___

AP Business Writer Daniel Wagner in Washington and Associated Press Writer Ramit Plushnick-Masti in Houston contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/authorities-storm-blamed-mans-death-texas-185028448.html

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Lawmakers look to restrict gun magazine capacity

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Lawmakers from both parties voiced their willingness Sunday to pursue some changes to the nation's gun laws, but adamant opposition from the National Rifle Association has made clear than any such effort will face significant obstacles.

NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre dismissed efforts to revive a ban on assault weapons as a "phony piece of legislation" that's built on lies.

Democratic lawmakers in Congress have become more adamant about the need for stricter gun laws since the shooting of 20 children and six teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California is promising to push for a renewal of expired legislation that banned certain weapons and limited the number of bullets a gun magazine could hold to 10.

"I think we ought to be looking at where the real danger is, like those large clips," said Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas.

"I think we need a comprehensive approach," said Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., a longtime gun rights supporter. "I'll look at all the proposals. . I think it looks at mental health, I think it looks at protecting our schools but I also think it looks at these high-volume magazines, you know, that can fire off so many rounds."

Both lawmakers appeared on CBS' "Face the Nation," where NRA President David Keene said lawmakers were asking the wrong question when discussing how many rounds a gun magazine should have.

The right question, he said: "Can we keep guns out of the hands of people who are potential killers?"

LaPierre made clear it was highly unlikely that the NRA could support any new gun regulations.

"You want one more law on top of 20,000 laws, when most of the federal gun laws we don't even enforce?" he said.

Instead, LaPierre reiterated the group's support for putting police officers in every school.

"If it's crazy to call for putting police and armed security in our schools to protect our children, then call me crazy," LaPierre said on NBC's "Meet the Press." ''I think the American people think it's crazy not to do it. It's the one thing that would keep people safe."

Sen. Joe Lieberman, a Connecticut independent, said he found the NRA's statements in recent days to be "really disheartening." Still, he said he agrees with some of the points the group has made about the causes behind violence in America.

"But it's obviously also true that the easy availability of guns, including military-style assault weapons, is a contributing factor, and you can't keep that off the table. I had hoped they'd come to the table and say, everything is on the table," Lieberman said.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said LaPierre was "so extreme and so tone deaf" that he was making it easier to pass gun legislation.

"Look, he blames everything but guns: movies, the media, President Obama, gun-free school zones, you name it. And the video games, he blames them," Schumer said.

Lieberman said the NRA's stand on new gun rules means passing legislation next year won't happen easily.

"It's going to be a battle. But the president, I think, and vice president, are really ready to lead the fight," he said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/lawmakers-look-restrict-gun-magazine-capacity-082617451.html

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Daily Share ? How Do I Handle THIS Relationship? - The Daily Love

Hello

I came here because I?ve been receiving The Daily Love emails and they are always inspiring. I wanted to share my story because I simply am just incredibly confused right now, and I?d like advice on how to approach and think about this situation coming from a place of love. Here we go.

My boyfriend of 1.5 years is slowly recovering from cancer. Going through treatment was difficult on him, me, and our relationship. We have been friends for about 6 years and had a relationship in the past, but maintained the friendship until we found each other single again. We are incredibly attracted to each other and get along really well, we simply enjoy one another?s company. A few weeks ago, he came to me confused, depressed and upset, saying that he needed a break from our relationship. We spent the entire night crying and talking together, about cancer, our relationship, missed opportunities. He is struggling with a huge amount of depression and just isn?t sure where he will be when he comes out the other end. He cares for me but he doesn?t want me to go through this. It?s not you, it?s me.

After that night, we seemed to have reconnected again and are not talking much over the phone, but have been texting and have been seeing each other once a week, which typically turns into sex. It has now been a month and I?m not sure what to do. Our relationship isn?t what it was, I?m craving for him to call me, to want to see me more often. It is very hard for me to have this connection with someone but to be held at a distance. We are both very busy ? him with two jobs and health issues and me with two jobs and grad school. I try to make space for him in my life but I?m not sure he can focus on a relationship right now.

Today I told him that we can last through the holidays like this (one month) but then we really need to make a decision about our relationship, that I am feeling insecure with the way things are right now.

I want to be with him, he is the love of my life, but I don?t know if he can be with me. I?ve been maintaining this thinking that he is going through a life changing situation (cancer) and that I need to stick by and hold the space for him. But it?s hard, and I am not sure if he will one day reject me again or push me away.

What to do? How do I handle this?

Any & all advice welcome.

Thanks!

A TDL Reader

Source: http://thedailylove.com/daily-share-how-do-i-handle-this-relationship/

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NY surfer who survived Sandy drowns in Puerto Rico

NEW YORK (AP) ? The Belle Harbor section of the Rockaways in New York where so many heroes emerged during Superstorm Sandy has lost one of them to a tragic surfing death in Puerto Rico.

Friends of 23-year-old Dylan Smith and his family expressed sorrow Monday that someone who saved so many lives during the October storm could lose his own on vacation. A local funeral parlor said funeral arrangements were being made.

The New York City lifeguard was widely praised after the storm for using his surfboard to move several Queens neighbors endangered by high water and a fire to safety.

Smith's body was found floating Sunday morning near his surfboard in waters off Maria's Beach in the western Puerto Rican community of Rincon. The town's beaches attract surfers from across the world.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-12-24-Puerto%20Rico-Tourist%20Death/id-716de9aacc1047cb810ed4221f383295

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Some in Conn. town couple activism with mourning

CHASE KOWALSKI, 7: Chase was always outside, playing in the backyard, riding his bicycle. A week earlier, he was visiting neighbor Kevin Grimes, telling him about completing ? and winning ? his first mini-triathlon. "You couldn't think of a better child," Grimes said. ---- Names of Connecticut school shooting victims, including Chase, are displayed on a makeshift memorial as people walk by on Friday, Dec. 21, 2012, in Newtown, Conn. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

CHASE KOWALSKI, 7: Chase was always outside, playing in the backyard, riding his bicycle. A week earlier, he was visiting neighbor Kevin Grimes, telling him about completing ? and winning ? his first mini-triathlon. "You couldn't think of a better child," Grimes said. ---- Names of Connecticut school shooting victims, including Chase, are displayed on a makeshift memorial as people walk by on Friday, Dec. 21, 2012, in Newtown, Conn. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

FILE - In this Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012 file photo, Christmas stockings with the names of shooting victims hang from railing near a makeshift memorial near the town Christmas tree in the Sandy Hook village of Newtown, Conn. In the wake of the shooting, the grieving town is trying to find meaning in Christmas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

FILE - In this Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012 file photo, Addison Strychalsky, 2, of Newtown, Conn., pets Libby, a golden retriever therapy dog, during a visit from the dogs and their handlers to a memorial for the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims in Newtown. As the shock of Newtown's horrific school shooting starts to wear off, as the headlines fade and the therapists leave, residents are seeking a way forward through faith, community and a determination to seize their future. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)

FILE - In this Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012 file photo, a woman with flowers walks past a Christmas tree which has become a memorial to the Newtown shooting victims in Newtown, Conn. In the wake of the shooting, the grieving town is trying to find meaning in Christmas. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

Connecticut's Bria Hartley leaves a news conference holding two teddy bears given to her by children from the Newtown Youth Basketball Association after an NCAA women's college basketball game against Hartford at the University of Hartford in West Hartford, Conn., Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) ? People drawn to Newtown to share in its mourning brought cards and handmade snowflakes to town Monday while residents prepared to observe Christmas less than two weeks after a gunman killed 20 children and six educators at an elementary school.

On Christmas Eve, residents said they would light luminaries outside their homes in memory of the victims. Tiny empty Christmas stockings with the victims' names on them hung from trees in the neighborhood where the children were shot.

"We know that they'll feel loved. They'll feel that somebody actually cares," said Treyvon Smalls, a 15-year-old from a few towns away who arrived at town hall with hundreds of cards and paper snowflakes collected from around the state.

Organizers said they wanted to let the families of victims know they are not alone while also giving Connecticut children a chance to express their feelings about the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

At the Trinity Episcopal Church, less than 2 miles from the school, an overflow crowd of several hundred people attended Christmas Eve services. They were greeted by the sounds of a children's choir echoing throughout a sanctuary hall that had its walls decorated with green wreaths adorned with red bows.

The church program said flowers were donated in honor of Sandy Hook shooting victims, identified by name or as the "school angels" and "Sandy Hook families."

The service, which generally took on a celebratory tone, made only a few vague references to the shooting. Pastor Kathie Adams-Shepherd led the congregation in praying "that the joy and consolation of the wonderful counselor might enliven all who are touched by illness, danger, or grief, especially all those families affected by the shootings in Sandy Hook."

Police say the gunman killed his mother in her bed before his Dec. 14 rampage and committed suicide as he heard officers arriving. Authorities have yet to give a theory about his motive.

While the grief is still fresh, some residents are urging political activism in the wake of the tragedy. A grassroots group called Newtown United has been meeting at the library to talk about issues ranging from gun control, to increasing mental health services to the types of memorials that could be erected for the victims. Some clergy members have said they also intend to push for change.

"We seek not to be the town of tragedy," said Rabbi Shaul Praver of Congregation Adath Israel. "But, we seek to be the town where all the great changes started."

Since the shooting, messages similar to the ones delivered Monday have arrived from around the world. People have donated toys, books, money and more. A United Way fund, one of many, has collected $3 million. People have given nearly $500,000 to a memorial scholarship fund at the University of Connecticut. On Christmas Day, police from other towns have agreed to work so Newtown officers can have the time off.

In the center of Newtown's Sandy Hook section Monday, a steady stream of residents and out-of-towners snapped pictures, lit candles and dropped off children's gifts at an expansive memorial filled with stuffed animals, poems, flowers, posters and cards.

"All the families who lost those little kids, Christmas will never be the same," said Philippe Poncet, a Newtown resident originally from France. "Everybody across the world is trying to share the tragedy with our community here."

Richard Scinto, a deacon at St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, which was attended by eight children killed in the massacre, said the church's pastor, Rev. Robert Weiss, used several eulogies this week to tell his congregation to get angry and take action against what some consider is a culture of gun violence in the country.

Praver and Scinto said they are not opposed to hunting or to having police in schools, but both said something must be done to change what has become a culture of violence in the United States.

"These were his mother's guns," Scinto said. "Why would anyone want an assault rifle as part of a private citizen collection?"

A mediator who worked with gunman Adam Lanza's parents during their divorce has said Lanza, 20, was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, an autism-like disorder that is not associated with violence. It is not known whether he had other mental health issues. The guns used in the shooting had been purchased legally by his mother, Nancy Lanza, a gun enthusiast.

Gun control and mental health have also been topics at Newtown United meetings, along with what types of memorials would be most appropriate and any other action residents can take to feel like they are doing something.

"We don't want Newtown to go on the list with Columbine, Tucson and Virginia Tech and only have it associated with horrible acts," said Lee Shull, who moderated a Newton United meeting just days after the shootings. "We want to turn this into something positive. What can we do?"

A handful of people showed up to the group's first meeting at the town library two days after the Dec. 14 shooting. The next night, 35 attended, most scrawling ideas and notes on white paper covering the tables. A few days later there was barely room to maneuver around the meeting room when two guests showed up: Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Sen.-elect Chris Murphy, Connecticut Democrats who told the group they planned to push for gun control legislation and needed their constituents to help them press the issue in Washington.

The group sees itself as a way to spark a local and national dialogue and action in the aftermath of a tragedy. It's also a way to do something, anything, to cope with the sadness that has settled over Newtown.

Said resident John Neuhall: "Our hearts are broken wide open and we're here out of grief and out of love for those families."

___

Associated Press Writers Pat Eaton-Robb and John Christoffersen contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-12-24-Connecticut%20School%20Shooting/id-7614af687c5249eaa1f45ddcf766fb19

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