When it comes to planning your brand's content strategy, pay special attention to the micro-copy -- wording on a website's interface such as "submit" or call-to-action links, according to Amy Thibodeau, a content strategist for Facebook. Thibodeau explains the social site's reasoning for choosing the "Like" button and breaks down three steps that other strategists can use to ensure that their copy works in harmony with the rest of the website. Full story at SmartBlog on Social Media by SmartBrief. More SmartBrief stories. Permalink | Leave a comment »
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Most Topular Stories
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Understanding the role of micro-copy in a brand's content strategy
Holy Kaw!9 Feb 2012 | 9:58 am -
Efforts to Stop Use of Underage Models During New York Fashion Week
NYT > Home Page9 Feb 2012 | 9:33 amArguing that a model at the age of 16 may have the maturity to deal with designers and photographers. -
Euro ministers doubt Greek plans
BBC News - Home9 Feb 2012 | 9:41 amGreece's planned new austerity measures may not be enough to win a 130bn euro bailout, say eurozone ministers meeting in Brussels. -
Wael Ghonim: Creating A 'Revolution 2.0' In Egypt
News9 Feb 2012 | 9:24 amThe protests that led to the Egyptian revolution last year were organized in part by Wael Ghonim, who use an anonymous Facebook page to coordinate the demonstrations. Ghonim explains how social media helped transform Egypt in Revolution 2.0.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us -
Avast, Me Hearties: How The Pirate Bay Changed The Way We Steal
TechCrunch9 Feb 2012 | 9:41 amThe Pirate Bay, in many ways, is disappearing. It is one of the most popular torrent sites on the web and its database of millions of torrent files – essentially pointers to pieces of files hosted elsewhere – has long been the go-to spot for budding pirates around the world. While it still exists in spirit, the admins are now moving all of the torrent files off the site and are instead offering magnet links. This is an important distinction that will move the locus of general piracy from a single site to any number of sites, reducing the Pirate Bays importance as a source. First,…
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Holy Kaw!
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Understanding the role of micro-copy in a brand's content strategy
9 Feb 2012 | 9:58 amWhen it comes to planning your brand's content strategy, pay special attention to the micro-copy -- wording on a website's interface such as "submit" or call-to-action links, according to Amy Thibodeau, a content strategist for Facebook. Thibodeau explains the social site's reasoning for choosing the "Like" button and breaks down three steps that other strategists can use to ensure that their copy works in harmony with the rest of the website. Full story at SmartBlog on Social Media by SmartBrief. More SmartBrief stories. Permalink | Leave a comment » -
Pizza Hut's proposal package
9 Feb 2012 | 9:36 amLove and pepperoni: the perfect delicious match. Pizza Hut wants to help you pop the question to your main squeeze with the $10,010 Ultimate Valentine’s Day Proposal in a Box. The package includes limo service to a local Pizza Hut location, a professional photographer and videographer, fireworks display, flowers, ruby engagement ring, and, most deliciously, a Pizza Hut $10 Dinner Box. Domino's, your move. Full story at Eater. Love is pizza. Permalink | Leave a comment » -
Uncertain choices light up ‘explorer’ brains
9 Feb 2012 | 9:19 amPeople who consistently select for uncertainty may harness the computational power of a specific brain region. Some people—”explorers”—choose to grapple with uncertainty head on. It’s a strategy of maximizing rewards by discovering whether as yet unexplored options might yield better returns. While some might stick with the usual, “explorers” might order the special in a restaurant because they aren’t sure they’ll like it. Prior to the Brown University study, there was no consensus that a precise area of the prefrontal cortex, in this case… -
Valentine's Day rebooted as Generosity Day [video]
9 Feb 2012 | 9:05 amOut with the chocolate, roses, and edible underwear, in with spreading kindness. The big hearts at Causes.com have set out on a mission to rebrand Valentine's Day as Generosity Day and it starts with you pledging to share the love on February 14th. The Generosity Day pledge: Just say YES. This February 14th, let's reboot Valentine's Day as Generosity Day. Practice saying YES to every request for help and by being generous. I pledge to spend February 14th saying YES to all requests for help. Say "yes" to generosity at Causes.com. Spread the love by doing something good. Permalink | Leave a… -
How coffee changed America [infographic]
9 Feb 2012 | 8:57 amFull-size version at Lumin Consulting. Delicious coffee. Permalink | Leave a comment »
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NYT > Home Page
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Efforts to Stop Use of Underage Models During New York Fashion Week
9 Feb 2012 | 9:33 amArguing that a model at the age of 16 may have the maturity to deal with designers and photographers. -
Breakthrough on Austerity Clears Way for Greek Deal
9 Feb 2012 | 9:27 amAfter days of talks, Greek political leaders reached a deal Thursday to support a package of harsh austerity measures demanded by Greece’s financial backers in return for a bailout. -
Mortgage Plan Gives Homeowners Bulk of the Benefits
9 Feb 2012 | 9:21 amUnder the settlement, officials said Thursday, about $5 billion will go in cash payments to states and federal authorities, $17 billion will be earmarked for homeowner relief and roughly $3 billion will go for refinancing. -
A Word With: Paul Epworth: Paul Epworth, on Producing Adele
9 Feb 2012 | 9:21 amNominated for a Grammy as producer of the year, Paul Epworth describes what went into Adele’s monster hit “Rolling in the Deep” and other songs he worked on with her. -
House Passes Bill Banning Insider Trading by Members of Congress
9 Feb 2012 | 9:18 amThe Senate has approved a similar measure, but the lopsided votes concealed deep disagreements over the details of the legislation.
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BBC News - Home
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Euro ministers doubt Greek plans
9 Feb 2012 | 9:41 amGreece's planned new austerity measures may not be enough to win a 130bn euro bailout, say eurozone ministers meeting in Brussels. -
US House backs insider trade ban
9 Feb 2012 | 9:38 amThe US House of Representatives passes legislation barring insider trading by members of Congress by an overwhelming 417 to 2 vote. -
China investigating police chief
9 Feb 2012 | 9:35 amChinese authorities are investigating after a top police chief spent a day at the US consulate, state media says, amid rumours he sought asylum. -
US banks in mortgage settlement
9 Feb 2012 | 9:31 amFive of the biggest US banks agree to provide $25bn in assistance to homeowners to settle claims over improper foreclosure practices. -
Clifford talks of media 'cancer'
9 Feb 2012 | 9:22 amMax Clifford tells the Leveson media probe phone hacking was a "cancer" in journalism, while Heather Mills spoke of having her messages accessed.
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News
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Wael Ghonim: Creating A 'Revolution 2.0' In Egypt
9 Feb 2012 | 9:24 amThe protests that led to the Egyptian revolution last year were organized in part by Wael Ghonim, who use an anonymous Facebook page to coordinate the demonstrations. Ghonim explains how social media helped transform Egypt in Revolution 2.0.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us -
Gorbachev: Russia's Putin Has 'Exhausted' Himself
9 Feb 2012 | 9:21 amThe former soviet leader warned if things don't change after the upcoming presidential elections, protests will continue.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us -
'We Are Still Awake,' Says Egyptian Protester
9 Feb 2012 | 9:00 amIt's been nearly one year since Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stepped down, and the country is still experiencing the growing pains of transition. Last year, host Michel Martin spoke with a young protester minutes after Mubarak's resignation. Now, Martin catches up with her again to see if she's still optimistic about changes in her country.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us -
Conservatives Hope To Reach Hard-Pressed Youth
9 Feb 2012 | 9:00 amYoung conservatives are bringing new energy to this year's Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) with a panel called, "Why Am I Living in My Parent's Basement?" Host Michel Martin talks with two young people attending, about how they hope to bring under-30 voters to their side of the aisle.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us -
Another Senate Campaign Could See SuperPAC Truce (Or Not)
9 Feb 2012 | 8:29 amSen. Jon Tester, a Democrat, sent a letter to Rep. Denny Rehberg, the Republican who seeks to unseat him, requesting a truce on outside money funding negative ads for their campaigns, meaning superPACs.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
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TechCrunch
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Avast, Me Hearties: How The Pirate Bay Changed The Way We Steal
9 Feb 2012 | 9:41 amThe Pirate Bay, in many ways, is disappearing. It is one of the most popular torrent sites on the web and its database of millions of torrent files – essentially pointers to pieces of files hosted elsewhere – has long been the go-to spot for budding pirates around the world. While it still exists in spirit, the admins are now moving all of the torrent files off the site and are instead offering magnet links. This is an important distinction that will move the locus of general piracy from a single site to any number of sites, reducing the Pirate Bays importance as a source. First,… -
Cinemagram Turns iPhone Photos Into Animated Gifs In Seconds
9 Feb 2012 | 9:07 amRemember when the iPhone app GLMPS launched last summer, seemingly heralding the start of a new image format that blended static photos and video? No? That’s OK. Today, there’s a new twist on the idea of reinventing the mobile photo, this time by turning static photos into animated ones. With the newly launched app called Cinemagram, you can turn your iPhone pics into animated gifs in a matter of seconds. Cinemagram isn’t quite the same as GLMPS, to be clear. “The GLMPS app embedded an entire video as a picture-in-picture onto the image,” explains… -
Google, Microsoft Search Queries Grow In January While Yahoo Continues To Slide
9 Feb 2012 | 8:56 amcomScore has released its ‘explicit’ U.S. search data for January of this year and while Google and Microsoft Bring’s search share continues to grow, Yahoo’s share dropped both year over year and month over month. This comes after Bing overtook Yahoo in terms of search queries for the first time in December. While Bing grew slightly from December 2011 to January, Google reached its highest share since December 2010 this past month. Google search queries increased 6% year over year in January, to 66.2%, compared with 65.9% in December 2011 and 65.6% in January 2011. -
Fab.com Rolls Out New Mobile Apps With Browse By Color & “Fab Shops”
9 Feb 2012 | 8:05 amAfter hitting 2 million members at the end of last month, design shopping startup Fab.com is today rolling out new iOS applications that offer a number of new features and improvements. In addition to an updated layout, search and navigational elements, one of the apps’ biggest new features is the inclusion of the recently launched new storefronts called “Fab Shops.” These Fab Shops went live late January, allowing Fab.com members to visually browse through products via dedicated online storefronts that were organized around product categories, as opposed to by designers. -
YouTube’s Latest Original Programming: Olympic-Style Lightsaber Relays
9 Feb 2012 | 8:00 amHere’s a fun example of the original programming that YouTube is supposed to be investing in these days — a relay from Santa Monica to San Diego. With lightsabers. Geek celebrity Chris Hardwick is announcing the event, dubbed Course of the Force, on the YouTube blog. Hardwick hosts the popular Nerdist podcast, and he plans to launch a Nerdist YouTube channel in April,which he says will include “Neil Patrick Harris, Rob Zombie, Awkward Family Videos, The Dudesons and The Kids in the Hall,” plus more programming that covers “gaming, science, tech and cosplay.” As…
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Slate
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Pourquoi autant de records de consommation électrique battus
9 Feb 2012 | 7:03 am101.700 MégaWatts (MW), voici donc le nouveau record de consommation électrique de l'hexagone, décroché mercredi 8 février à 19h. C'est 1.200 MW de plus que le précédent record, frais de tout juste 24 heures, et surtout 4.990 MW de plus que le 15 décembre 2010, celui «d'avant». Car c'est presque devenu une habitude: à chaque vague de froid, la consommation électrique française s'emballe. Mais au fait, pourquoi le froid provoque-t-il presque automatiquement des pics de consommation? Et pourquoi ces pics progressent-ils d'année en année? «Thermosensible»: c'est un fait… -
Sarkozy réfléchirait à l'arme du référendum
9 Feb 2012 | 5:04 amSELON LE BLOG DU MONDE L'ELYSÉE CÔTÉ JARDIN, dont les informations ont été confirmées à l’AFP par une source proche de l’UMP, Nicolas Sarkozy annoncerait, dans un entretien au Figaro Magazine à paraître samedi, qu’il songe à soumettre à référendum une ou deux questions en cas de réélection, sur «des sujets larges de société». La première porterait sur la possibilité pour les chômeurs de refuser une formation ou un emploi, la seconde sur la possibilité de confier le droit des étrangers, et notamment les décisions d’expulsions, à la justice administrative. Le… -
Petit lexique pour l'après-Midem
9 Feb 2012 | 3:55 amSon service de presse le proclame fièrement dans un communiqué: l’édition 2012 du Midem, qui s’est tenue du 28 au 30 janvier, était celle d’une «version 3.0, où la musique, la technologie, les marques et les musiciens se sont connectés, pendant 4 jours électrisants de concerts, de business et d’extension de réseaux.» Méthode Coué, réalité économique ou dissimulation positive du gigantesque braquage d’un secteur sur l’autre —les «nouvelles» technologies contre l’industrie musicale? L’heure n’était pas au cynisme, dans les couloirs d’un Palais des… -
Sarkozy et Hollande, un «moment de campagne» au dîner du Crif
9 Feb 2012 | 2:40 amLa plume de Guéant sur les civilisations, le «New Deal» de Hollande, les confidences de Hulot, les négociations Front de gauche-PS... La revue de web de la présidentielle.1. «Vous n'avez retenu que ça de la soirée?» Comme un avant-goût d’un éventuel débat de second tour: Nicolas Sarkozy et François Hollande ont eu un très bref échange, mercredi soir, lors du dîner annuel du Crif. Comme le rapporte le JDD, le candidat socialiste s’est «faufilé» pour saluer son futur adversaire, lors d’«un vrai moment de campagne». Un moment «pas prémédité car ce n’était pas un… -
Le soft power à la française
9 Feb 2012 | 1:18 amLe soft power, méthode douce des relations internationales, c'est la capacité d'un pays à élargir son pouvoir d'attraction, et à dominer les échanges mondiaux en employant des outils non-coercitifs, dont l'action culturelle fait partie. «L'action culturelle a une véritable fonction politique et il est crucial que notre pays maîtrise son image externe.» Diplomate et géographe, Michel Fouchet a bien voulu confier à Slate.fr ces cartes de l'action culturelle extérieure de la France, prise en charge depuis décembre 2011 par l'Institut français. Pour lui, il ne peut y avoir…
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Lolcats 'n' Funny Pictures of Cats - I Can Has Cheezburger?
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i meen boops
9 Feb 2012 | 9:00 ami wuv ur boobs i meen boops ai resentz dat remark… LoL by: ljg52843Picture by: Unknown -
GIF: I Meant to Do That!
9 Feb 2012 | 8:00 amLove cyoot and funneh animal gifs? Check out our brand new gif site! -
Cheezburger Is Getting a Makeover!
9 Feb 2012 | 7:00 amOhai, Cheezfrends! Cheezburger is getting a makeover! When you visit Cheezburger on Monday, Feb. 13, you will notice things look a bit different. Some of the changes include: – Voting buttons will no longer appear on Front Page LOLz. If you love a piece of content, we encourage you to “Post It to Your Cheezburger,” which includes adding a LOL to your “Favorites” and/or one of your Cheezburger Sites, or share it with your friends on Facebook. – Voting buttons will still appear on Vote Page LOLz. – New and improved buttons! Our drop-down “Post to… -
CAMOUFLAGED MOBILE MISSLE
9 Feb 2012 | 6:00 amCAMOUFLAGED MOBILE MISSLE DEFENCE SYSTEM READY TO TEST SIR! dese r wepponz ob moose destrukshun! LoL by: StinkyrayPicture by: Unknown -
Classics: Now With Favorite Buttons!
9 Feb 2012 | 5:59 amWe r adding favorite buttons 2 sum classic lolz, so u can favorite dem! Check owt sum other classic lolz dat nao has favorite buttons! View the original here. Photo By: Ore-sama / LOL By: Marcy
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Wired Top Stories
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Brightbox Cloud Serves Up Windows Server 2008 R2
9 Feb 2012 | 8:59 am?Any OS, any app, any time? is one step closer now for Brightbox customers. The company announced this week the availability an Windows Server 2008 R2 official image for Brightbox Cloud. -
Bitly Fights for Social Analytics With Weapons-Grade Math
9 Feb 2012 | 3:30 amBitly is just one of many tools that are trying to make sense of people's behavior on social networking services -- and put this information to use inside marketing departments. Like Bitly, the Vancouver, Canada-based HootSuite offers a "social dashboard" that seeks to analyze the performance not only of shortened links, but other media. Big names like IBM and Salesforce.com offer social analytics tools. And Google has gotten into the game with its acquisition of another Canadian outfit, PostRank. -
Up Your Game With Banned Sports Gear
9 Feb 2012 | 3:30 amThese athletic aids — from bats to balls to hockey sticks — aren?t approved for official play, but they can give you the unfair advantage you deserve. -
Amphibious Network Lets Marines Share Data From 250 Miles Away
9 Feb 2012 | 3:30 amThe Marines think they have their data network of the future, an experimental communications system that can keep jarheads linked to sea bases 250 miles away. If it works, it'll be a big win for a Navy/Marine plan to take U.S. troops off of land bases where the locals don't want them. And it got its first test this week off the Atlantic coast during a massive wargame. -
Feb. 9, 1870: Feds Get on Top of the Weather
9 Feb 2012 | 3:30 amPresident Ulysses S. Grant signs a bill creating what we now call the National Weather Service. Forecasting models were simple but generally effective.
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CJR
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Audit Notes: Off the Hamster Wheel, The Dumb Money, iPad Newspapers
8 Feb 2012 | 10:53 pmI like this Nieman Journalism Lab piece on how Salon hopped off the hamster wheel and saw site traffic increase dramatically. Salon's traffic jumped 40 percent even though it posted a third less than it had a year earlier. Adrienne LaFrance talks to Salon editor Kerry Lauerman: “I remember we had aggregated a Charlie Sheen story, and I... -
Remembering the Golden Age of Book Publishing
8 Feb 2012 | 12:14 pmThe Tender Hour of Twilight | By Richard Seaver | Farrar, Straus, and Giroux | 480 pages, $35.00 An engaging memoir about the history of the publishing industry sounds about as plausible as a successful magazine about plumbing; people normally just want to read the books that get published, not the vulgar details of how these books made their way... -
Some Mistakes at MoneyWatch
8 Feb 2012 | 11:37 amA recent CBS MoneyWatch piece titled “Social Insecurity” was one of those breezy, glib stories that seemed to telegraph important stuff, especially to the younger set, but actually typified the kind of shallow, incomplete coverage of Social Security we’ve seen in the last two years. That kind of reportage does a disservice to audiences and leaves them with... -
Park Slope Pundits Get the Story Wrong
8 Feb 2012 | 9:47 amI grew up in Park Slope, Brooklyn, so a headline on The New Yorker's homepage Monday, declaring "Park Slope is Dead," piqued my interest. Alas, the story contained no new information, only inaccurate riffing on something I already knew about: that Southpaw—a live-music club around the corner from my parents' house, where it replaced a 99 cent store in 2002—had... -
What Drives Public Opinion About Climate Change?
8 Feb 2012 | 9:00 amThe media influence public opinion about climate change, but not as much as national politicians and the state of the economy do, according to a new analysis of eight years of polling data. Over time, activists have pointed their fingers in many directions while trying to explain society’s failure to address the threat of climate change. Scientists, policymakers, captains of...
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The Latest from VanityFair.com
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HOLLYWOOD 2012: Brad Pitt and Bennett Miller (Part Two)
9 Feb 2012 | 9:01 amKrista Smith talks with Moneyball star Brad Pitt and director Bennett Miller about the accuracy of the business of baseball as portrayed in the film, and Jonah Hill as superhero, actor, and houseguest. -
"Let Love Rule" (Justice Remix) - Lenny Kravitz
9 Feb 2012 | 9:01 am"Let Love Rule" (Justice Remix) - Lenny Kravitz -
Hollywood 2012: Olivia Munn, Part 1
9 Feb 2012 | 9:01 amOlivia Munn opens up to Krista Smith about making out with Channing Tatum, male strippers, and Jon Stewart’s choice of underwear. Plus, behind the scenes at her V.F. photo shoot with Williams & Hirakawa. -
HOLLYWOOD 2012: Brad Pitt and Bennett Miller (Part One)
9 Feb 2012 | 9:01 amKrista Smith talks with Moneyball star Brad Pitt and director Bennett Miller about the themes of the film, its long road to the big screen, and the thrill of seeing it connect with audiences. -
Hollywood 2012: Olivia Munn, Part 2
9 Feb 2012 | 9:01 amOlivia Munn opens up to Krista Smith about working with Aaron Sorkin, meeting the Black Eyed Peas’ Fergie, and her fear of crowds. Plus, behind the scenes at her V.F. photo shoot with Williams & Hirakawa.
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Drudge Retort
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Hannity Can't Accept Obama Got Bin Laden
9 Feb 2012 | 9:25 amFox News host Sean Hannity, arguing that President Barack Obama shouldn't be credited with the U.S. finding and killing Osama bin Laden, said, "The public does give him credit for that. But it wouldn't have happened if he had his way, and I think that can be proved as well on tape." Hannity never explained what the tape is, or why he's never broadcast such evidence. -
Pol: AIDS Came From Man-Monkey Sex
9 Feb 2012 | 9:18 amA Republican state senator from Tennessee claimed in a radio interview that AIDS originated from "one guy screwing a monkey, if I recall correctly, and then having sex with men." State Sen. Stacey Campfield (R-Knoxville) authored a bill requiring only sexuality involving "natural human reproduction" to be addressed in the state's K-8 public-school classrooms. His AIDS claim rates "pants on fire" false from PolitiFact Tennessee. -
Congress OKs Drones Over U.S.
9 Feb 2012 | 7:53 amThe FAA Reauthorization Act, which Congress passed this week, orders the Federal Aviation Administration to develop regulations for licensing commercial drones by 2015. Privacy advocates believe this will lead to drone use over the U.S. by police and private companies. The Electronic Frontier Foundation is "concerned about the implications for surveillance by government agencies," said attorney Jennifer Lynch. -
Wash. State Approves Gay Marriage
9 Feb 2012 | 4:32 amWashington state lawmakers voted to approve gay marriage Wednesday, which will make the state to become the seventh in the U.S. to allow same-sex couples to wed. The action comes a day after a federal appeals court declared California's ban on gay marriage unconstitutional, saying it was a violation of the civil rights of gay and lesbian couples. The Washington House passed the bill on a 55-43 vote after the state Senate approved the measure last week. Gov. Chris Gregoire (D) said she's going to sign it. -
O'Reilly Defends Ellen DeGeneres
8 Feb 2012 | 6:09 pmAfter an American Family Association-affiliated group called a boycott of J.C. Penney unless the retailer fires Ellen DeGeneres from its commercials because she's a lesbian, Fox News host Bill O'Reilly compared the effort to McCarthyism. "What is the difference between the McCarthy era of the '50s and the Million Moms saying, 'Hey, JCPenney and all you other stores, don't you hire any gay people. Don't you dare.' What is the difference?"
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Daily Writing Tips
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A Quiz About Parenthetical Punctuation
9 Feb 2012 | 4:13 amEm dashes are woefully underused and misused. Here are five sentences that would be much improved by their proper use, or by proper use of other punctuation in cooperation with them. Determine how each sentence would benefit from changes in punctuation and compare your revisions with my suggested solutions at the bottom of the page: 1. “Not in years, like more than ten years, have I seen someone so committed to owning the stage.” 2. “Such pioneers trigger and indeed hope for gentrification — leading to more and more middle-class home buyers being willing to take a chance on the… -
16 Misquoted Quotations
7 Feb 2012 | 8:09 pmMany quotations attributed to famous people are at best paraphrases — though often superior to the original. Others might be subtly altered in the retelling, sometimes with little impact on their effect, at other times irresponsibly changing the meaning. Here is a selection of well-known sayings or writings that aren’t quite accurate (followed by a couple that are but are mistakenly identified as erroneous): 1. “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” This quotation attributed to Gandhi is a later invention by an unknown person, likely inspired by the following passage: “As… -
50 Synonyms for “Idea”
7 Feb 2012 | 2:47 amWhat’s the big idea? Or, more appropriately, what kind of idea is it? Many ways of expressing the idea of an idea await your consideration; here’s an extensive but not necessarily comprehensive list (including other connotations and meanings of the various synonyms): 1. Abstraction: a theoretical idea; also, the process of abstracting, the condition of being disassociated, an abstract work of art, or the quality of being preoccupied 2. Apprehension: the act or quality of becoming aware or grasping a meaning; also, the act of arresting someone or to a sense of foreboding 3. Assumption: a… -
A Quiz About Missing Connections
5 Feb 2012 | 8:01 pmWriting is often compromised by a writer’s failure to think a sentence through to its logical conclusion. Often, along the way, a small but crucial word or phrase is omitted that leaves a gap in a parallel construction, thereby contributing to the reader’s confusion. In each sentence below, determine the missing element, then check my revisions at the bottom of the page to see how our solutions compare: 1. “The corporation runs hydropower plants from Maine to Montana.” 2. “Because Martinez was so young, it was natural to compare his potential with Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy… -
75 Synonyms for “Hard”
3 Feb 2012 | 8:31 pmIt’s easy to write about how hard something is, because so many synonyms exist for that vague word and its more formal cousin difficult. Many of these terms are somewhat interchangeable (that’s why they call them synonyms), but even then, the senses are often slightly distinct; do a little more research on usage when you find a promising variation for that abstract (or is it abstruse?) phrasing you’re attempting to finesse. 1. Abstract: disassociation from a practical reference that would aid in comprehension 2. Abstruse: difficult because of technical considerations 3. Arduous: great…
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Most Viewed
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FIGHTING THE ELEPHANT - Ray William Johnson Video
7 Feb 2012 | 7:21 pmFIGHTING THE ELEPHANT - Ray William Johnson Video THANX FOR SUBSCRIBING TO MY VIDEOS!! :D MY TWITTER: https://twitter.com/RayWJ MY FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/raywilliamjohnson MY GOOGLE+ http://Gplus.to/RayWJ STORE: http://www.raywj.com/shop/ WEBSITE: http://raywj.com =3 Tshirt Girl: http://twitter.com/TheKylaLeon EQUALS 3 IN SPANISH: http://www.youtube.com/IgualATres ********************************************************************** Here are the links to the full reviews of the content discussed in this video. Please don't harass the video creators or send them hate-messages. -
LINDSAY LOHAN AS TALENTED AS PROP 8 IS CONSTITUTIONAL!!
7 Feb 2012 | 2:52 pmLINDSAY LOHAN AS TALENTED AS PROP 8 IS CONSTITUTIONAL!! Check out today's SourceFed!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWIosqbTnzc&list=PL8F30E917C5D2E4D4 FACEBOOK: http://on.fb.me/mqpRW7 TWITTER: http://Twitter.com/PhillyD Philly D OFFICIAL APP: http://bit.ly/aIyY0w ---------------------------- ALL of today's Stories: Motorcycle Circus Crash: http://gizmo.do/wtFsMD Lilyhammer Netflix Launch: http://gaw.kr/yIhQQb Machete Sequel?? http://bit.ly/x8GcAC New Spiderman Trailer: http://chzb.gr/zL5dwi Best. Bet. Ever: http://bit.ly/wuK5Pf Lindsay Lohan Photos: http://gaw.kr/xAWWoc Jessica… -
Minecraft - The Tourist - Part 1, The Basilica
7 Feb 2012 | 2:13 pmMinecraft - The Tourist - Part 1, The Basilica The boys have a much needed holiday in France, but they fall asleep on the tour bus and things... er... well, they take a turn for the worse. As usual. ♪ Music from Kevin Macleod "Agnus Dei X" "Chromatic Fantasia" "Spring Thaw" http://www.incompetech.com https://yogscast.com/showthread.php?46450-ADV-PUZ-THE-TOURIST-an-amazing-adventure-in-PARIS Editing by Hannah: http://www.youtube.com/yogscast2 ● Yogscast Gear: http://yogscast.spreadshirt.co.uk/ ● Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/yogscast ●… -
God Bless America Trailer HD
7 Feb 2012 | 11:41 amGod Bless America Trailer HD Starring: Joel Murray, Tara Lynne Barr, Larry Miller, Melinda Page Hamilton, Geoff Pierson Director: Bob Goldthwait Studio: Magnet Releasing Genre: Comedy / Drama Rating: NR Running Time: 1 hour 39 minutes Release Date: May 11, 2012 Official Site: http://www.facebook.com/godble... SYNOPSIS: Loveless, jobless and possibly terminally ill, Frank has had enough of the downward spiral of America. With nothing left to lose, Frank takes his gun and decides to off the stupidest, cruelest and most repellent members of society with an unusual accomplice: 16-year-old Roxy,… -
Giants Parade FAIL. What Giants player do you want to see? ... SANCHEZZZZZZZZZ!
7 Feb 2012 | 9:34 amGiants Parade FAIL. What Giants player do you want to see? ... SANCHEZZZZZZZZZ! Girl says the Giants player she wants to see is Sanchez ... SMH SHE FOLLOWS IT UP WITH SAYING PEYTON LMAOOOOO DISGRACEFUL. I guess when you win the Superbowl everyone becomes a fan. From: WHYTEWUNDER Views: 901301 709 ratings Time: 00:26 More in Sports
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The Globe and Mail - Home RSS feed
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Should shoppers trust Walmart’s ‘Great for You’ nutrition labels?
9 Feb 2012 | 9:31 amThe multi-national retail giant launched a new health-labelling program for its grocery products this week -
Why you should give Greek wines a chance
9 Feb 2012 | 9:31 amGreece’s wines are not always easy to love - a hint of floor polish, anyone? - but a new LCBO release proves they deserve a second look (and taste) -
Personal bankruptcies set to start rising again, CIBC says
9 Feb 2012 | 9:27 amBut march back upward will be mild, bank says -
Apple shares near $500-mark
9 Feb 2012 | 9:25 amWhat's not to like? Big profit share, big margins...oh, and a new iPad on the way -
Guys, strip away your lingerie-shopping phobias
9 Feb 2012 | 9:19 amA little bit of research - that could involve sneaking into your sweetheart’s underwear drawer - can take the guesswork out of this Valentine’s Day rite of passage
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NYT > Global Home
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Breakthrough on Austerity Clears Way for Greek Deal
9 Feb 2012 | 9:13 amAfter days of talks, Greek political leaders reached a deal Thursday to support a package of harsh austerity measures demanded by Greece’s financial backers in return for a bailout. -
Mortgage Plan Gives Homeowners Bulk of the Benefits
9 Feb 2012 | 9:12 amUnder the settlement, officials said Thursday, about $5 billion will go in cash payments to states and federal authorities, $17 billion will be earmarked for homeowner relief and roughly $3 billion will go for refinancing. -
U.S. and Israel Split Over How to Deter Iran
9 Feb 2012 | 9:08 amAn intense debate has erupted over when Tehran’s nuclear facilities will become invulnerable to an Israeli attack, and if economic sanctions need more time to work. -
G.O.P. Report Criticizes Transfers From Guantánamo
9 Feb 2012 | 8:56 amThe report criticizes both the Bush and the Obama administrations for taking too many risks in releasing detainees from the prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. -
Afghan Detainee’s Case
9 Feb 2012 | 8:56 amA military defense team found new evidence that cast doubt on decade-old terrorism charges and offers a case study on how those deemed to be low-level insurgents remain stuck at Guantánamo Bay.
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TMZ.com
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Suge Knight Arrested After Cops Find Weed [Mug Shot]
9 Feb 2012 | 9:14 amSuge Knight was arrested in Las Vegas yesterday after a traffic stop gone bad, TMZ has learned ... and to make things worse, cops say he was carrying weed on him at the time. Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the former Death Row rap mogul was… -
Michael C. Hall & Jennifer Carpenter -- Happily Divorced Ever After
9 Feb 2012 | 8:40 amAlthough "Dexter" co-stars Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter finalized their divorce in December, the former couple couldn't be any closer as they walked arm-in-arm and snuggled in Venice Beach on Wednesday.So much for irreconcilable… -
Halle Berry -- I'm Moving to Europe with Olivier Martinez AND Nahla!!
9 Feb 2012 | 8:00 amHalle Berry is asking the judge in her custody war for permission to move to France with Nahla -- and baby daddy Gabriel Aubry is saying ... over my dead body.TMZ has learned Halle filed papers with the court requesting the move and the hearing is… -
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone -- The Couple That Surgeries Together
9 Feb 2012 | 7:23 amArnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone got his and his shoulder surgeries at a hospital yesterday ... making millions of fans feel sad and old at the same time. Ahnald posted the pic yesterday ... with the caption, "After all the action,… -
NY Knicks Sensation Jeremy Lin -- My Couch-Sleeping Days Are OVER!!!
9 Feb 2012 | 7:05 amNY Knicks breakout star Jeremy Lin -- the no-name from Harvard who's been sleeping on his brother's couch -- has some great news ... HE'S FINALLY MOVING INTO HIS OWN PLACE!!Lin broke the news in D.C. yesterday on his way to the team bus ... telling…
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chrisbrogan.com
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Throw Away the Maps
6 Feb 2012 | 1:30 amPeople judge us by the path they’ve seen us walk before. They can’t anticipate our future steps. We, ourselves, look to how things have been, what seems to be the lay of the land, without realizing that the maps are not the territory. Want to succeed at work? Then don’t try to do your job. Instead, work towards something larger, more meaningful, and something that blends your convictions internally with your best ability to help others externally. Want to create something new? Then throw away the old, or maybe join two disparate old things together into something new. The… -
The Next Social Networks
5 Feb 2012 | 1:30 amThe rage in social networks right now is Pinterest, partly because it’s probably the first social network that has a much higher adoption rate by females than males, and partly because it’s an interesting concept: somewhere between visual social bookmarking and scrapbooking. What also might not be immediately obvious is that it’s just “easier” to interact there. In that way, Pinterest has something in common with Instagram, which is community around photos. What I’m interested in, though, is Gentlemint, which I keep calling “Pinterest for… -
Learn From Adele – Build Your Platform
3 Feb 2012 | 1:30 amJacq and I just watched Adele Live At The Royal Albert Hall (amazon affiliate link), and though every song was just wonderfully done, I found myself fascinated by what Adele was doing in between each song. Because even though most people would be interested in hearing her belt out her amazing repertoire of hits, what I took away from the performance was Adele’s real magical ability: the ability to resonate with her audience. What Adele Could Teach You About Impact I’m writing something about this right now for my upcoming book with Julien Smith, but I had to share some of the… -
Rob Gokee is a Musical Wizard
2 Feb 2012 | 8:05 amI had such a great experience working with award winning musical composer Rob Gokee. We did some musical work together, and the process was so amazing. Rob helped me create my theme song for Shhh! The Secret Show. So anyhow, he and I sat down to do an interview, and it’s a bit long, but it’s totally worth it. We talk about what collaboration feels like at a distance, what it takes to get music like this made for your own show, and a lot more. Rob’s a hero to me, and has been part of the community for a while. I was so fortunate to have worked with him. Can’t see the… -
Build Your Platform – Start
30 Jan 2012 | 1:30 amThe following is part ONE of a series called Build Your Platform. If you find it interesting, please consider subscribing for free to get the rest of the series. This post is long. You might want to bookmark it for later. The age of social media oversaturation is upon us. People are declaring Twitter bankruptcy to go along with their email bankruptcy. They cite not wanting to start on yet another social network as their reason for not getting more involved with Google+. And just as soon as you start getting into Pinterest, you hear about Path, but wait: there’s Gentlemint, which is…
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HowStuffWorks Daily Feed
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How Yoga Works
9 Feb 2012 | 1:00 amSan Francisco International Airport opened a dedicated yoga room this week, free to all ticketed passengers. Yoga is big business in the U.S. But what are the breathing exercises, meditation and poses of yoga all about? -
Top 10 Tech Tools for Managing Your Money
9 Feb 2012 | 1:00 amKnowing how to manage your money is a valuable skill, regardless of the state of the economy. And in today's tech-savvy climate, an array of tools can help you do just that. Read on to see the top 10 tech tools for managing your money. -
I love you and you and you and you
9 Feb 2012 | 1:00 amIs it really possible to love more than one person? People who practice polyamory think so. Find out how much you know about polyamorous relationships with this quiz. -
5 Memorable NASA Mission Videos
9 Feb 2012 | 1:00 amOn Feb. 9, 1995, Bernard A. Harris Jr. became the first African-American to perform a spacewalk. NASA has conducted several successful missions to space. These are some of the most famous. -
How Flirting Works
9 Feb 2012 | 1:00 amA woman plays with her hair. A man makes eye contact. Is this flirting? How do you tell if the person is showing a romantic interest or a friendly one?
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The Onion
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American Voices: Spanking Doesn't Work
9 Feb 2012 | 8:15 amA study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal analyzed two decades of research and found that children who were punished physically became more aggressive over time, while those who weren't became less aggressive. -
Alarming Study Finds More Than 12 Instances Of Racism Occurred Last Year
9 Feb 2012 | 7:15 amNEW YORK—A shocking study released Thursday by sociologists at Columbia University found that more than 12 instances of racism occurred in 2011, suggesting not only that prejudice based on the color of one's skin still exists, but that it remains di... -
[audio] Junior Building Inspector Closes Down Area Tree House
9 Feb 2012 | 6:30 amJunior Building Inspector Closes Down Area Tree House -
TV Listings: Cryojennifer
8 Feb 2012 | 4:30 pmCW 8 p.m. EST/7 p.m. CST Tonight: The beautiful but absentminded Cryojennifer completely messes up a sales report at work, makes the mistake of questioning her sister's weight, and burns a meal she cooks for her boyfriend, realizing once again that the o... -
Letters To The Editor: Cloning Update
8 Feb 2012 | 3:15 pmDear The Onion, Where are scientists at on cloning? Since the sheep it seems like there’s been nothing. Paul Goethe, Rochester, NY
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Pogue's Posts
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Things That Were Once Amazing
2 Feb 2012 | 11:04 amDavid Pogue is amazed that people are still amazed at children's tech prowess. It's too bad there's no List of Things That Were Once Amazing, but Are Really Kind of Old News at This Point, he says. It would be a handy clip-and-save document that you could review, perhaps to avoid unwittingly embarrassing yourself at the next cocktail party. -
Look, Ma, No Hands! Operating a Laptop With Eyes Only
26 Jan 2012 | 10:43 amTobii, a Swedish company, is demonstrating eye-tracking software that really rocked my world. Imagine reading a Web page or Word document on the screen and the page scrolls automatically, gracefully and effortlessly as you proceed through the article. The system knows where your eyes are and how fast you're going. -
A New G-Shock Watch Awaits a New Bluetooth
24 Jan 2012 | 5:57 amCasio's G-Shock GB6900 watch uses a new, low-power Bluetooth chip called Bluetooth Smart (or Bluetooth 4.0) to do amazing things with a PC or smartphone. Butt the watch doesn't work unless your phone also has Bluetooth 4.0 - and right now, only a couple of them do. -
Put Down the Pitchforks on SOPA
19 Jan 2012 | 9:50 amNot enough people have acknowledged that the opposition was arguing two totally different points - the "you're going about it the wrong way" group and the "we want our illegal movies!" group. In the new world of Internet versus government, the system worked. The people spoke, government listened, and that's good. But let us do it responsibly, people. Both sides have an obligation to do the right thing. -
A Gadget Is More Than the Sum of Its Parts
5 Jan 2012 | 12:36 pmIf you think Amazon's real cost to make that Kindle Fire is $201, then by all means go to China and cobble one together yourself. The components are only part of the cost of any gadget.
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PerezHilton
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Check Out Jay-Z And Kanye West's N****s In Paris Music Video HERE!!!!
9 Feb 2012 | 9:32 amAWE-SOME!!!!!!! Check out the newly released/highly anticipated music video for Jay-Z and Kanye West's N****s In Paris (above)! Enjoy! -
Kris Jenner Wants More Pleasure! Signs As Spokeswoman For Lady Lube!
9 Feb 2012 | 9:20 amJust add this to their ever-growing list of endorsements! Kris Jenner has reportedly signed on to the be the spokeswoman for Zestra Essential Arousal Oils, which are apparently supposed to enhance lady pleasure in the bedroom by heightening sensitivity to touch! A source explains: "She's tried it and uses it. She wants to promote great sex. Zestra is an over-the-counter product clinically proven to enhance a woman's sexual pleasure." Uh-oh! Does this mean that Bruce Jenner isn't doing it for her anymore?! LOLz! [Image via WENN.] -
7,987 Signatures For Perez Hilton's "Get The Muppets On The Oscars" Petition In 24 Hours!!! Let's Keep The Momentum Going!!!
9 Feb 2012 | 9:10 amFirst of all, we are SO excited and thankful for UR support!!! And so is Jason Segel!! He said so on Twitter, LOL!! Since The Muppets have meant to so much to so many FOR DECADES, we really thought it was necessary to do something about the lack of respect shown by The Oscars! They're not letting either of the Best Original Song nominees perform this year!! What bull!! So we have a petition going to show The Oscars we want The Muppets on that stage!! And we mean business!!! Thousands of your signatures have come in, with comments expressing your outrage and we THANK U!! In fact, we've read… -
Eva Longoria Gets Into A Bit Of Fender Bender In WeHo
9 Feb 2012 | 8:50 amA guy scored Eva Longoria's number. But he probably won't be getting much more than that! Eva was leaving her BFF's salon in West Hollywood when she pulled into traffic and bumped the car in front of her. Her Beamer left only minor scratches on the other car but the WeHo guy didn't care. He was just happy to have Eva's celly! [Image via WENN.] -
Breezy Plans On Super BIG Performance At This Year's Grammys
9 Feb 2012 | 8:20 amChris Brown has been planning his Grammy performance for awhile and sources says he wants this one to be HUGE! Breezy is nominated for three Grammys this year and he's hoping his performance can help him take one of them home. However, we're a bit concerned about his behavior at the Grammys...circa 2009 with Rihanna. A source said the following: Chris is hopeful that his performance will close that chapter on his life. He will be bringing his mom to the awards ceremony, she is his biggest fan, and he has told her he is dedicating his performance to her. We truly don't understand why he thinks…
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@ProBlogger
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6 Powerful Guest Post Tactics that No One’s Talking About
9 Feb 2012 | 6:05 amThis guest post is by Tom Ewer of Leaving Work Behind. Guest posting is a hot topic amongst startup bloggers. It is one of the most widely-adopted blog promotion strategies in existence, and has been made perhaps even more popular by the success of “serial” guest posters such as Danny Iny of Firepole Marketing. His “blitzkrieg” strategy may come across to some as a triumph of quantity over strategy, but nothing could be further from the truth. He understands the key concepts that we will be exploring in this post, and executes them in a highly effective manner. Whilst… -
How to Succinctly Report a Blog Issue to Tech Support
8 Feb 2012 | 6:07 amThis guest post is by Matthew Setter of Malt Blue. How often do you find it happening to you? You discover an issue with your site, or one of your community members emails you to tell you about it, and soon you start to see tweets about it too. Maybe it’s as simple as an error message that detracts from the professional appearance of your site. Perhaps the contact form doesn’t send messages to your contact email address. Or is it that the whole site just displays as a blank page, otherwise known as the white page of death? You’re not a programmer, a software engineer or a seasoned… -
Make Your Blog Load Faster than ProBlogger: Part 2
7 Feb 2012 | 12:05 pmThis guest post is by Devesh of WP Kube. A few months ago, I wrote a guest post here called How to Make Your Blog Load Faster than ProBlogger. Today, I’ll go into some more detailed advice to help you speed up your site even more. If you’re a blogger, you already know about the importance of blog loading speed, and the role it plays in search engine rank and marketing your blog. But if this is new territory for you, here are three quick reasons why you need to speed up your blog: Google includes website loading speed as an important metric in their ranking algorithm. If you want… -
How I Beat my Best Month Ever by Doing Something Good, Better [Case Study]
7 Feb 2012 | 6:04 amMid-December 2010: on my photography site, we launched a new campaign—our first ever 12 Days of Christmas promotion. The result was my biggest month of earnings ever up to that point. The idea was simple: offer discounts on 12 products over the 12 days leading up to Christmas. I used a mix of my own ebooks and products from other photography sites with affiliate commissions. The result was massive. Not only did we see some great revenue generated, it created some lovely buzz on the site. Due to the success of the 2010 campaign, in mid-December 2011 we launched our second 12 Days of… -
Six Steps to Make Sure Your Site Is Ready to Go Viral
6 Feb 2012 | 6:00 amThis guest post is by Nancy Sathre-Vogel of Family on Bikes. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Surely Google Analytics was confusing my site with another, way more popular site. There was no way my visitor numbers could be so high! And yet they were. One of my posts had taken off and was spreading like wildfire. Those viral post phenomena that happen to others were now happening to me. The first day, 17,000 visitors came to my website. The next day we topped out at 56,000. Readers were coming in droves. It was exciting. It was exhilarating. My site, viral! Wow! And then I took a…
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The Mac Observer
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News: FBI Releases Steve Jobs Dossier: Driven & Deceptive
9 Feb 2012 | 8:32 amApple co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs was in the running for a presidential cabinet appointment under the first President Bush in 1991, and the FBI has released its background investigation file on the man. According to the people the agency interviewed, Mr. Jobs was driven, deceptive, and would be great for the job. -
Hot Forum Topic: Reader Discussion: Apple, the Trillion Dollar Company
9 Feb 2012 | 7:02 amApple’s market value keeps rising, and has even climbed up above Exxon Mobil to become the most valuable company in the world — at least on paper. Today one TMO forum reader is asking how long it will be before Apple becomes a trillion dollar company. Chime in and share your thoughts. -
TMO Appearances: Ted Landau Discusses Macworld|iWorld, OS X 10.7.3 on MacNotables
9 Feb 2012 | 6:31 amTMO columnist and popular author Ted Landau joined Chuck Joiner on the MacNotables podcast to talk about the recently completed Macworld|iWorld Conference along with issues some users are having after upgrading to OS X 10.7.3. -
News: Apple Planning March iPad 3 Announcement
9 Feb 2012 | 5:41 amApple is apparently ramping up for an iPad 3 announcement event in the first week of March. News of the planned media event comes courtesy of unnamed sources who also say Apple will unveil the next generation multimedia tablet in San Francisco. -
News: Apple Supplier Foxconn’s Servers Hacked
8 Feb 2012 | 9:49 pmApple supplier Foxconn has reportedly been hacked, exposing the usernames and passwords of the company’s clients and employees, according to online reports. Hacker group SwaggSec claimed credit for the breach, which temporarily allowed outsiders to access Foxconn’s network.
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317am.net
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Twain on Dickens: “Only a Man”
9 Feb 2012 | 1:13 amCharles Dickens, probably the greatest nineteenth-century British novelist, is celebrating his 200th this week. Or would be if he were alive. This week I also happen to be working up a short seminar called “Mark Twain: The Man and His … Read more » -
A Thanks for Gordon Lightfoot
7 Feb 2012 | 9:01 pmHere in Washington DC last week—the last week in January—the temperature hit 65 and the sky burned a fathomless blue. This could be just a harbinger of some climatological catastrophe in which the rivers dry up and the cows keel … Read more » -
Books in Print: They Don’t Smell
7 Feb 2012 | 1:34 amBooks – that is, the old-fashioned kind (in print, between covers, a.k.a. dead-tree content) – are much on my mind this week. I’ve been reading Gary Shteyngart’s delightfully clever satirical novel of a dystopian future, Super Sad True Love Story, … Read more » -
“Sanctuary! Sanctuary!”
5 Feb 2012 | 9:01 pmKids like stories about ugly ducklings because, deep down, they all think they’re ugly ducklings. They like stories about Cinderella because they all think they have worth that’s gone unrecognized. They await a prince. They like stories in which characters … Read more » -
Bloggers at the Gates
3 Feb 2012 | 1:36 amDo we live in the last days of that venerable pillar of our culture – the term paper? A 2011 survey of college students reveals that 82 percent of freshman and more than half of seniors weren’t asked to do … Read more »
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Mysterious Matters: Mystery Publishing Demystified
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Top 5 List: Reasons to Read
4 Feb 2012 | 12:45 pmLooking over my last post, it occurs to me that I didn't mention "readers' advocate" as one one of the top challenges of my job. I think that's because it undergirds everything else I do. Because commercial success is built on readers' opinions (especially on word of mouth), readers' reaction to a book is always uppermost in my mind. Of course, there are many types of readers; and, of course, the publisher's greatest joy is publishing a book that even non-readers pick up and read, just because they want to see what all the fuss is about. So, with all… -
Top 5 List: The Mystery Editor's Challenges
22 Jan 2012 | 8:25 pmLast week, or thereabouts, I blogged/opined on the mystery novelist's top 5 challenges. I have been giving some thought to what my top challenges are as an editor/publisher, so here goes: 1. How do I find the heart or core of this book? Like many editors, I take particular pleasure in finding and developing new talent. This requires no small amount of patience, which is why I'm fortunate to be at an independent publisher. If I find a manuscript I really like, or in which I see a lot of potential, I can work with the writer on both a micro and macro basis. At the micro level,… -
Top 5 List: The Mystery Novelist's Challenges
14 Jan 2012 | 6:18 pmMost of the time, I blog about the editing and publishing of mysteries/crime fiction, rather than the writing thereof. But over the last few months I've been having conversations with writers from my list, and the talk has sometimes steered toward writing process, revision, audience considerations, and so forth. So, based on those discussions, I thought I might list what I see as writers' (or at least MY writers') top challenges as they write. 1. How do I balance plot and character? I find that many writers worry about finding this balance. Given length constraints, how do… -
John Grisham and the "Book Per Year"
4 Jan 2012 | 7:47 amI recently read an interview with John Grisham in the London Guardian. I'm not sure I'd include Grisham in my list of "mystery writers" - I think most would agree that he falls into the category of "thriller" writer. For me, the blockbuster mystery writers are Laura Lippman, Harlan Coben, Janet Evanovich, Patricia Cornwell, P.D. James, Ruth Rendell .... In the article, Grisham discusses one of his secrets of success, a tip shared with him early in his career. An editor said to him, "The big guys come out every year." By that, he meant that Stephen King,… -
Predictions for 2012
26 Dec 2011 | 2:36 pmSo, another year has come and gone. Hard to believe. And it's nice to see that, despite the constant threats/warnings/gleeful prognostications of the "death" of traditional publishing, a lot of us are still here. In fact, a recent news report indicated that, contrary to expectations and predictions, some people are willing to pay the same amount for an ebook as they would pay for a print book (the Steve Jobs biography was the example given). Because 2011 was the year of prognostications (including several for the impending end of the world), I thought it might be fun to close…
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Website Makeover Workshop
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Happy New Year
19 Jan 2012 | 6:28 pmIf you’re etching out a plan as you normally do to kick off 2012, then I want you to check out this video because it’s time to re-focus on how to map out your 2012! Press play to watch this brief video that will surely getting thinking and moving in the right direction. SURVEY: Need help? Click here to take survey RESOURCES: Need Money to Market Your Business? www.SmashFunding.com Free Guide: 25 Essential Marketing Tools Free Email Marketing Newsletter Templates Unlimited Web Hosting Package: Just $3.49 a Month! -
10 Ways To Leverage Social Media & Email Marketing
23 Feb 2011 | 12:03 amHave you heard about the social media and email marketing war? Rumor has it that email marketing is dead. On the other hand social media is king. It’s like a great tennis match… Venus verse Serena! If you’re on Facebook, Twitter or any other social media platform then you’re on the right track. If you’re investing in building a quality relationship via email marketing then you’re ahead of your competition. At the end of the day you’re a champion once you discover how you can leverage social media and email marketing. Here are 10 easy ways to leverage… -
CD/DVD Duplication and DVD Replication Services
31 Aug 2010 | 12:08 pmHave heard of CD fulfillment or how about ebook CD publishing? Want to self publish: i.e. sell, or want to sell CDs or DVDs (any digital product like software, music audio CDs, video DVDs, or any digital files etc). Want to offer your customer the added value of a physical product instead of just a download which is proven to increase conversions. Want to avoid the hassle of producing and shipping your CDs or DVDs. Here’s the perfect resource for you. CD/DVD on Demand Self Publishing Service. You take orders on your website. They produce the CD or DVD for you. They package and ship them… -
Email Marketing Solutions
4 Aug 2010 | 12:02 pmDo you need help with your email marketing services or your email marketing newsletter? Are you struggling with your email marketing tools? By now you’ve discovered that it’s time to grow your company, your brand, and your profits. Email Connecting manages it all for you, while you focus on what you’re great at. Just because you can do it doesn’t mean you know how to do it. Grab hold of their free DVD titled “One Dyamic Method” just simply go to http://www.EmailConnecting.com -
3 Simple Getting Started Online Marketing Strategies
11 Jan 2010 | 10:30 amAre you seeking simple online marketing strategies get started online right or improve your current online results? Often we can overlook the obvious because we’re so focused on the big picture, “I need traffic to my website!” When I started to implement the smaller pieces to the puzzle, then big piece become a lot easier. So today we have three simple and easy ways to started online with marketing. 1. Blog 2. Categories 3. Domain I cover these in more detail in today’s video. So tune in to learn something new or refreshed on something that has slipped your mind. So…
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WritersWeekly.com - Freelance Writing Ezine
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BookLocker - Your Book Deserves the Best
8 Feb 2012 | 9:00 amAccording to attorney Mark Levine, author of The Fine Print, BookLocker is one of the top-rated POD publishers in the industry. -
Paying Markets And Jobs For February 8th
8 Feb 2012 | 9:00 amNew markets and freelance writing jobs. -
Whispers And Warnings For February 8th
8 Feb 2012 | 9:00 amHerman Cain and Simon and Schuster - Sued over alleged paying for photo for campaign use but then using it on Cain's book cover, too. Harper's Bazaar / Hearst Corporation - Sued by former intern for allegedly using interns to do labor the company should have paid employees to do, which, according to her lawyer, is a violation of labor laws. -
Breaking into Print By Julie Marie Maxwell
8 Feb 2012 | 9:00 amMy journey from non-published writer to regularly published journalist in a local paper began by responding to an advertisement posted by Lebanon Daily News looking for a freelance writer... -
Should I Send Queries Via Certified Mail? No!
8 Feb 2012 | 9:00 amI sent a story (to a magazine) via the post office, certified mail, to make sure it got there, and no one claimed it. It was sent back. I sent an email asking for their mailing address and it was where I had mailed it to. I sent another email asking about it, and in the email I got back, I was told that certified mail is not accepted, and to send the story via email. The guidelines specifically state that emailed stories are not accepted. I sent another email stating that, and never heard back.
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Inkygirl: An Illustrated Guide For Writers
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Interview: Hazel Mitchell & HIDDEN NEW JERSEY (Post a comment to be entered in the prize draw!)
8 Feb 2012 | 3:58 pmToday, I'm delighted to interview my Pixel Shavings friend, children's book illustrator and writer Hazel Mitchell, about her newest project. Published by Charlesbridge/Mackinac Island Press, HIDDEN NEW JERSEY is a new book written by Linda Barth and illustrated by Hazel. The book is packed with historical, cultural and fun facts about New Jersey shared in rhyming narrative and Hazel's wonderful art. Young children can search for the hidden pictures throughout as they learn more about the state. For a chance to win a copy of this book, just post in the comments section below! Be sure… -
Allen & Unwin opens Friday Pitch to kidlit/YA writers
8 Feb 2012 | 7:41 amPublisher Allen & Unwin recently opened up their Friday Pitch to children's/YA writers. Before making your pitch, make sure you read through all the guidelines carefully. They're not accepting pitches for picture book texts, for example, or poetry or short stories. -
One Of My Favourite New SCBWI Friends: Mike Curato
3 Feb 2012 | 5:10 amStill catching up from my week-long trip in NYC. I've decided I'm more likely to actually post about the event if I write up some shorter pieces rather than attempt one mega-long report. So here's my first! I love making new friends at these events, which is one reason I try very hard NOT to make too many plans in advance, or hang out with the same group of people throughout the weekend. Anyway, thanks to my Pixel Shavings friend Russ Cox for introducing me to Mike Curato (who just launched a NEW BLOG). Not only is Mike a funny and very sweet guy, he also won top prize in this year's SCBWI… -
Comic: Back from a writer's conference…now what?
2 Feb 2012 | 8:04 amJust posted a post-conference comic on the MiG Writers blog. Still catching up on e-mail and other work but promise to post about my Simon & Schuster visit and the SCBWI conference very soon! -
Comics for SCBWI conference newbies (or any writing/illustrating conferences)
23 Jan 2012 | 10:01 amI created this set of comics to help break the ice when I attended my first SCBWI conference (or at least the first in a long time) in 2009, knowing that 99% of the people there wouldn't know me. I was WAY nervous. I'm reposting the comics here in case they help anyone else. Feel free to repost individually or as a set anywhere online, as long as the goal is to help promote the SCBWI or to help kidlit writers and illustrators new to conferences. My advice for anyone who feels nervous about attending for the first time, or is normally very shy and introverted and not great at meeting new…
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Confident Writing
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Emotional Contagion
30 Jan 2012 | 5:08 amI found this video online a few weeks ago, shared by the lovely Jeanne Male. In sharing it she wrote: A wonderful example of emotional contagion. Notice how your attitude shifts during this brief video. And I know it’s Monday, and I know watching videos might take a whole few minutes… But if you do happen to have a few minutes to spare, please do watch it, and see what happens… (If you can’t see the video in the feed / your e-mail version please do pop over to the site to watch and enjoy.) It got me thinking: that’s it’s not just emotions that are… -
When You’re Stuck, Try Reducing the Frame
22 Jan 2012 | 10:15 pmSometimes the big picture can be enjoyable to look at, inspiring to watch. Sometimes looking at things in a big scale: global, universal, internet-sized, can be daunting. Intimidating even. Rather than fretting about how to live up to the demands of the bigger picture you might find it easier to shift perspective and reduce the size of your frame. We’re using frames all the time, even if you’re not consciously aware of so doing. You use a frame when you’re taking a photo of an image, a person, a place, a moment. A blog post works in the same kind of way: a frame around an… -
The Nature of Dreaming
19 Jan 2012 | 7:13 amDreams are eluding me. Not the night time sort, wild fragments of story-telling from my beautiful sub-conscious mind. No, I mean the daytime sort of dreams, those that come clearly defined and neatly delineated, the things others talk of dreaming about, dreaming of, planning for, working to make happen. I go to that place in my mind, in my heart, where I think the dreams might be, and there is nothing. Silence. A blank screen. I write, to myself, and some others whom I trust, that I feel lost without dreams, disconnected from the world of dreamers, puzzled by their dreaming, disconcerted by… -
37 Things
11 Jan 2012 | 2:30 am37 things you might find as you write your way to the finding of your writing voice: Comfort in your own skin Awkwardness Flow Impossible stuckness Pride Embarrassment Fear Unstoppable confidence Dull, cliched, weighted sentences Orchestras of music playing in your words Understanding Confusion. The collapse of all understanding Remembrance Forgetfulness Recognition, from others. Recognition, from yourself Unrecognisable patterns, fragments of meaning The desire to share The need to hide An audience, supporters, your tribe The understanding that you need to write beyond them, ignoring them,… -
The Next Thing
2 Jan 2012 | 10:47 amIt is so often the next thing that gets in the way. Not the declaration or the affirmation. Not the clearing away and beginning again. Not the liberation that comes with jumping off into the unknown Not the delight in the feedback that follows when you share a piece of your world, a glimpse of your vulnerability, a slice of your humanity, a fragment of your dreams. No, it is the next thing that’s the stumbling block: searching for the words, the actions, the evidence to match the grandeur of the leap. Perhaps there’s nothing for it but to begin again, and again,…
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Word Grrls
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Building the Character
9 Feb 2012 | 4:48 amBuilding the Character – Reprinted from the WordCraft newsletter on the BackWash site. One of the keys to building a living, breathing character lies in the details. We are constantly reminded to use all our senses. Sometimes, we need to step back and build the back story for some of the main characters using all those senses. If we look at the stories we like to read, we will also find that all of these details are not revealed to us at one time. A couple of lessons I used with my students are valuable for all of us to revisit once in a while: 1. Items from a wallet or purse give your… -
Are Workshops Any Good?
8 Feb 2012 | 4:46 amAre Workshops Any Good? – Reprinted from the WordCraft newsletter on BackWash.com If you can find the right Workshop group, it can be invaluable. These are people who care about you. They are people who want you to succeed. They are people who will honestly tell you what you have done well and what needs improvement. They will never attack you personally. A writer’s group can provide you with the essential feedback that you need. For many years I made the trip from the Outback of Nevada to Carson City to attend Ash Canyon Poets weekly poetry workshop. There were a few rules: 1. -
Do Some Writing
7 Feb 2012 | 4:45 amReprinted from the WordCraft newsletter on BackWash. It was late at night. I wandered into a Backwash chat. Had a good time. And I found myself saying “yes.” So, here I am, sending you a newsletter about writing, writers, books, literature, etc. And I have a difficult job to fill the shoes of she who precedes me. I hope I can do that. What makes me think I can do this? I’ve taught writing for more years than I care to remember. I have published poetry. I read too much. I love words. I live to write. Writing by nature is a lonely profession. No one sits with you and tells you… -
Making Resolutions for Writers
6 Feb 2012 | 4:36 amAn old post from BackWash, written by a friend, now deceased. Her blog, Anything Under the Sun, is still up on WordPress.com. She was a teacher and a poet, among other things. It’s the season for making resolutions. And this is no different for those of us in the writing world. I don’t know about you, but I have not been writing like I should for a few weeks now. Procrastination has set in with a vengeance. So, it’s time for me to make some resolutions: 1. I will write every day. I don’t care if I have anything I think is worth saying. The physical act of writing will… -
The Insecure Writer’s Support Group
5 Feb 2012 | 4:15 amPurpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer…
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Copyblogger
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How to Recover From a Social Media Hangover
9 Feb 2012 | 3:00 am“Hello. My name is Cori and I’m a social media addict. “Today is day 1 of my commitment to give myself a regular break from technology and the foggy, uncreative haze it can unwittingly lead to.” I was reading a post the other day by blogger Michael Brenner at B2B Marketing Insider, talking about getting your social media game on. Of course, being the skimmer that I am, the first thing that caught my attention and made me go back and read the whole thing was his mention of having a Social Media Hangover. His hangover was induced by sometimes (as we all do) forgetting to… -
The “New” SEO Secret Weapon
8 Feb 2012 | 3:00 amIf you have a web site, you may have noticed one of two things about the traffic you get from search engines. Your search traffic may have dried up overnight, with once-healthy streams turning into a sad little trickle. Or you may have noticed a nice, steady improvement as you’ve climbed higher in the SERPs (search engine results pages), while other sites that used to outrank you suddenly evaporated. There’s a super-secret new ingredient in SEO. It was always a factor, but it’s become even more important recently, as the Google team relentlessly declares war on what they see… -
8 Quick Tips for Writing Bullet Points People Actually Want to Read
7 Feb 2012 | 3:00 amIt’s a Twitterized world, we’re just living in it. Blog posts, Tweets, quick videos, Google+, the Facebook Timeline, and tens of thousands of images pinned to digital boards are flying past us faster than we can read them. Faster than we can even scan them, depending on the time of day. What does this mean for writers trying to cut through it all? At least two things that I can think of: You’d better know how to write a compelling headline You’d better know how to write bullet points that grab (and keep) your reader We’re not telling you to keep your copy short. -
7 Crucial Tactics for Writing a Wildly Successful Guest Post
6 Feb 2012 | 3:00 amWe all know that guest posts grow blogs. But not many people realize that tactical guest posting grows careers. Most bloggers I see pump out these articles while reciting the mantra “quantity over quality”; there’s no real strategy and there are no real long-term benefits. In this post I am going to show you the seven crucial tactics for writing a radically successful guest post. Done right, these strategies will get you more email subscribers, coveted Google ranking positions, and a big head-start on your content marketing goals. Who am I to teach you about guest blogging? -
7 Smashing Social Media Marketing Links
4 Feb 2012 | 3:00 amThis week on The Lede … What really works on Twitter One thing social media copywriters should never do 9 productive social media hacks A reminder of the power of the original social media If you just can’t wait for The Lede every Saturday, and you want even more practical, useable links than the seven we highlight here every week, follow @copyblogger on Twitter. It’s painless. Really. // 9 Social Media Hacks You Need to Embrace Now Mr. Baer makes a good case that though social media is inexpensive in monetary terms, it can get good and costly when it comes to spending your…
