Apple improving factory conditions in China, still no place you'd want to work

Working conditions at the Chinese factories operated by Foxconn, where vast amounts of the gadgets used around the world are made, including Apple's iPhone and iPad, are improving. Granted, that's going from truly terrible to slightly less bad, but it's movement and momentum in a direction decidedly better for the people who make the stuff that we use. That according to Keith Bradsher and Charles Duhigg, writing as part of the New York Times' iEconomy series.

When [Apple senior vice president of operations, Jeff Williams], returned from that March meeting to California, changes began. Among them, say people with firsthand knowledge, was the hiring of roughly 30 professionals into Apple?s social responsibility unit in the last year, which tripled the size of that division and brought high-profile corporate activists into the company. Two widely respected former Apple executives ? Jacky Haynes and Bob Bainbridge ? were recruited back to help lead the unit, reporting ultimately to Mr. Williams and the chief executive, Timothy D. Cook.

The iEconomy series itself seems to have changed as well. Apple isn't in the title of this article. Cynically, it's possible that an article about improvements doesn't benefit as much from the added sensationalism. Optimistically, it's possible that the NYT realized their focus on Apple was undermining the seriousness of the very real problems they're covering. (Though Apple enjoys the positive effects of the massive amount of attention they're given, and being singled out for criticism is the equal and opposite edge of that sword.)

Yet working conditions remain arduous, and problems multifaceted.

But last summer, fed up with the 25-hour train trip to see his family, Mr. Zhang moved to Chongqing and joined Quanta. He enjoys the better facilities and dorms. He frequently visits his parents? home. But his take-home pay has fallen by nearly a third and the thought that his brother may have to drop out of school so he can help the family gnaws at Mr. Zhang. Instead of working in the factory each night, he spends hours playing an online game, Dungeon Fighter. ?I?d like to work 80 hours a week,? he said.

It's a complex social and economic issue, and one that will take massive global, perhaps generational, changes to solve. Hopefully the improvements continue, and the effects ripple.

Source: New York Times

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/Uk_5C6NHcqs/story01.htm

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Deal of the Day ? 10.1? Lenovo IdeaTab S2110 32GB Android 4.0 tablet with keyboard dock

Thursday’s LogicBUY Deal is the?10.1″ Lenovo 32GB IdeaTab S2110 Android 4.0 tablet with bundled keyboard dock (2258E5U)?for?$463.20. ?Features: Qualcomm 1.5GHz dual-core 1GB of LPDDR2 RAM Android 4.0 IPS screen with HD resolution Keyboard dock doubles the battery life compared to the tablet alone Two USB ports 3-in-1 card reader Front and rear cameras Dual speakers [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2012/12/27/deal-of-the-day-10-1-lenovo-ideatab-s2110-32gb-android-4-0-tablet-with-keyboard-dock/

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Taking Care of Your Home's Heating and Air Conditioning Systems

If you are installing an updated heating or AC system in your home, the most important things to think about are purchasing high quality materials and trusted service. There are many brands of furnaces which all have different advantages and disadvantages. Depending on your home and location, your home temperature and utility bill can improve greatly if you purchase an appropriate furnace. Air conditioning systems are also very different and it is essential to install a system that operates effectively. When you meet with a heating and cooling professional, they can evaluate your home and help pick the tools that best meets your needs. These specialists are also experienced in completing all kinds of heating and cooling repairs. Experience a large difference in your year-round comfort with professional heating and cooling specialists by your side. AC Repair Aurora CO

Source: http://www.lacc2010wjp.org/taking-care-of-your-homes-heating-and-air-conditioning-systems-2/

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The Best "White Christmas": Otis vs. Elvis

Let's get one thing straight right away: "White Christmas" is the best Christmas song. It has tradition, nostalgia, and romance. No church. There are more versions of it that you could ever care to hear—Bing Crosby's original 1941 performance is a classic, Frank Sinatra's 1944 version is good enough, and the Drifters' 1954 recording is doo-woppy and fun. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/uazwCHfRllg/the-best-white-christmas-otis-vs-elvis

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The Weekly Roundup for 12.17.2012

You might say the week is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workweek, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Weekly Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 7 days -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.

Continue reading The Weekly Roundup for 12.17.2012

Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/23/the-weekly-roundup-for-12-17-2012/

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Egypt's charter headed for approval, but troubles loom

The close of Saturday's voting makes it likely that the Islamist-back new constitution will be approved.

By Hamza Hendawi and Sarah El Deeb,?The Associated Press / December 22, 2012

Egyptian poll workers empty a ballot box as counting takes place in the second round of voting on Egypt's controversial charter.

Nasser Nasser/AP

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Egypt's Islamist-backed constitution headed toward likely approval in a final round of voting on Saturday, but the deep divisions it has opened up threaten to fuel continued turmoil.

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Passage is a victory for Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, but a costly one. The bruising battle over the past month stripped away hope that the long-awaited constitution would bring a national consensus on the path Egypt will take after shedding its autocratic ruler Hosni Mubarak nearly two years ago.

Instead, Morsi disillusioned many non-Islamists who had once backed him and has become more reliant on his core support in the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamists. Hard-liners in his camp are determined to implement provisions for stricter rule by Islamic law in the charter, which is likely to futher fuel divisions.

His liberal and secular opposition, in turn, faces the task of trying to organize the significant portion of the population angered by what they see as attempts by Morsi and the Brotherhood to gain a lock on political power. The main opposition group, the National Salvation Front, said it would now start rallying for elections for the next lawmaking, lower house of parliament, expected early next year.

"We feel more empowered because of the referendum. We proved that at least we are half of society (that) doesn't approve of all this. We will build on it," the Front's spokesman, Khaled Daoud, said. Still, he said, there was "no appetite" at the moment for further street protests.

Saturday's voting in 17 of Egypt's 27 provinces was the second and final round of the referendum. Though the constitution is widely expected to pass, the key questions will be over turnout and the margin of victory. Preliminary results from the first round a week ago showed only 32 percent turnout and a relatively low edge of 56 percent for the "yes" vote. Preliminary results from the second round are expected to emerge by early Sunday.

The new constitution would come into effect once official results are announced, expected in several days.

In a sign of disarray in Morsi's administration, his vice president and ? possibly ? the central bank governor resigned during Saturday's voting. Vice President Mahmoud Mekki's resignation had been expected since his post is eliminated under the new constitution. But its hasty submission even before the charter has been sealed and his own resignation statement suggested it was linked to Morsi's policies.

"I have realized a while ago that the nature of politics don't suit my professional background as a judge," his resignation letter, read on state TV, said. Mekki said he had first submitted his resignation last month but events forced him to stay on.

The status of Central Bank Governor Farouq el-Oqdah was murkier. State TV first reported his resignation, then soon after reported the Cabinet denied he has stepped down in a possible sing of confusion. El-Oqdah, in his post since 2003, has reportedly been seeking to step down but in recent weeks the administration was trying to convince him to stay on. The government is eager to show some stability in the economy as the Egyptian pound has been sliding and a much-needed $4.8 billion loan from the IMF has been postponed.

Over the past month, seven of Morsi's 17 top advisers and the one Christian among his top four aides resigned. Like Mekki, they said they had never been consulted in advance on any of the president's moves, including his Nov. 22 decrees, since rescinded, that granted himself near absolute powers.

Those decrees sparked large street protests by hundreds of thousands around the country, bringing counter-rallies by Islamists. The turmoil was further fueled with a Constituent Assembly almost entirely made up of Islamists finalized the constitution draft in the dead of night amid a boycott by liberals and Christians. Rallies turned violent. Brotherhood offices were attacked, and Islamists attacked an opposition sit-in outside the presidential palace in Cairo leading to clashes that left 10 dead.

The turmoil opened up a vein of bitterness that the polarizing constitution will do little to close. Morsi opponents accused him of seeking to create a new Mubarak-style autocracy. The Brotherhood accused his rivals of being former Mubarak officials trying to topple an elected president and return to power. Islamists branded opponents "infidels" and vowed they will never accept anything but "God's law" in Egypt.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/zmE4kHO4H8Y/Egypt-s-charter-headed-for-approval-but-troubles-loom

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Understanding cell organization to tackle cancer

Dec. 23, 2012 ? Scientists at The University of Manchester have identified how cells know which way up they need to be. The discovery could help in the fight against cancer because in the early stages of the disease the cells become disorganised.

Professor Charles Streuli and Dr Nasreen Akhtar of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research have conducted new research that leads to a better understanding of cell polarity. Properly organised tissues are vital to maintaining functional organs and a healthy body. Part of being organised includes cells being in the correct position within the tissue and the right way up, because the top and bottom of cells have different functions.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a layer of protein rich material that surrounds tissues and helps to design and shape all of our organs. Previous studies have demonstrated that the ECM sticks to the cells and guides them into the right position. What hadn't been identified is how the ECM communicates that message.

To understand this better Professor Streuli and Dr Akhtar looked at epithelial cells, which make up the majority of tissues within the body. They studied epithelial cells of the breast, which make milk. These cells also form the linings of mammary ducts to carry milk towards the nipple. It's vital that these cells are organised correctly in order to make milk accessible for the baby. One of the first signs of cancer is that the epithelial cells become disorganised.

Breast epithelial cells connect to the ECM through receptors called integrins. In experiments using mice Professor Streuli and Dr Akhtar removed one of the genes responsible for integrins. They found that without that gene, the cells were both the wrong way round and in the wrong place so the breast tissue became disorganised. They then tried removing integrins in cultured cells from the breast, which produced the same effect of disorder.

Further study revealed that within the cell the integrin receptors connect to the protein ILK. This protein then links to microtubules, a network that forms the transport machinery of the cell. Integrins and microtubules ensure that inside the cell the correct proteins are transported to the top and the bottom of the cell.

The findings have been published in the journal Nature Cell Biology. Commenting on the research Professor Streuli says: "What we identified is a vital interplay between the transport machinery and the integrin receptors which makes sure that proteins are transported to the correct area of the cell. Without this interplay the proteins end up in the wrong place, and this can lead to cells becoming disorganised."

He continues: "What's really interesting is that when we compared breast tissue from our experiments with tissues of patients with early forms of breast cancer, they looked very similar. The cells were upside down and disorganised so they couldn't carry out their functions. We hope that our work to better understand cell polarity could ultimately lead to better diagnosis for cancer patients."

Whilst Professor Streuli and Dr Akhtar only looked at epithelial cells within the breast, they are confident their findings will translate to other organs. The accuracy of their experiments was greatly increased through the use of special 3D cultures to grow the cells, where they form tiny organs that look remarkably similar to real breast tissue.

Dr Akhtar explains: "Growing the breast cells so that they can form 3D structures rather than on hard petri dishes means they develop in a way that is much more akin to how they grow in the body. We were one of the first groups in the UK to be using this technology and we've been really pleased with the results."

Dr Akhtar has been working on this research for five years. She says: "I've been touched by cancer in my own family so I'm really passionate about understanding this devastating disease better. Over 90% of cancers come from epithelial cells, which is why we chose to study them. It's fundamental to understand how healthy cells work properly in order to fully appreciate why they go wrong when cancer develops, and how best to combat the disease."

The next stage of the research will be to investigate the link between altered levels of integrin and cancer, to determine whether this causes the disorganised nature of cells seen in the early stages of the disease.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Manchester.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Journal Reference:

1. Nasreen Akhtar, Charles H. Streuli. An integrin?ILK?microtubule network orients cell polarity and lumen formation in glandular epithelium. Nature Cell Biology, 2012; DOI: 10.1038/ncb2646

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/bGVz8MTIJx0/121223152622.htm

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Why Some Kids Have An Inflated Sense Of Their Science Skills

If you're a student at the halfway point of the academic year, and you've just taken stock of your performance, perhaps you have reason to feel proud of yourself.

But a recent study suggests some of the pride you feel at having done well ? especially in science ? may be unfounded. Or at least your sense of your performance may not be a very accurate picture of how good you actually are.

A massive analysis of some 350,000 students at nearly 14,000 schools in 53 countries has uncovered a paradox: Students in many countries that are mediocre at science have an inflated sense of how good they are.

First the good news: The United States isn't among the worst offenders. Students in countries such as Thailand, Jordan, Mexico and Brazil seem to be worse than U.S. students when it comes to science knowledge, but they have even higher levels of self-esteem when it comes to their beliefs about how good they are at science.

But compared to countries such as New Zealand, Australia, Sweden, Japan, South Korea and Great Britain, American students appeared to have an inflated sense of their science abilities. Students in those other countries were better when it came to scientific knowledge than American students, but it was the Americans who had the higher opinion of themselves as students of science.

The study, published in the Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, focused on the academic performance of 15 year-old students. It was conducted by Eva Van de gaer, Aletta Grisay, Wolfram Schulz and Eveline Gebhardt.

The paradox between performance and students' impression of their performance has been noted before. The paper proposes an explanation for it: The reference group effect.

The study argues that countries have very different standards when it comes to science education.

In countries with elite science education standards, you can be a very good science student but, since you measure yourself against an elite standard of performance, you think of yourself as mediocre. On the other hand, if you live in a country with average (or mediocre) science standards, you might be just a decent student, but compared to general expectations of how good students are supposed to be, you feel like a genius.

In an interview, Schulz offered me an analogy. He asked me to think about a person who was 5-foot-10 in China and a person who was the same height in the Netherlands. The Dutch, on average, are taller than the Chinese.

"The person would in China probably think of themselves as a tall person," Schulz said. "If you go to the Netherlands, such a person would rather say, 'ah, I'm a short person,' because you compare yourself to those who surround you."

The same thing happens with science education, he said. Students in countries with elite science standards are much more likely to think of themselves as mediocre, whereas students in countries with mediocre standards are much more likely to think of themselves as elite.

Schulz works at the Australian Council for Educational Research, which studies educational issues in science, mathematics and reading.

Schulz told me the reference group effect could potentially be a double-edged sword: In terms of preparing students for competition with one another, it makes good sense to get a realistic sense of how good you actually are compared to, say, your peers in South Korea. On the other hand, Schulz said, there was also something to be said for having an inflated sense of your own abilities.

"For motivating students to take up science studies, how you perceive yourself is actually more important than how much you know," he said. "If your general belief (is) you're not that good at science, that might have this powerful effect of saying, 'Ah, I'd better stay away from it in the future.' "

Source: http://www.npr.org/2012/12/21/167718275/why-some-kids-have-an-inflated-sense-of-their-science-skills?ft=1&f=1007

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Tim Scott, Tokenism, and the Lessons the GOP Still Hasn't Learned (Atlantic Politics Channel)

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

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/272331653?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Snapguide Comes To The iPad Because The Future Of The How-To Is On The Tablet

I wouldn't have an iPad if I didn't have to do two things: Cook and do interviews. The first I have to do for work but the second I do for fun. Which is why I think that Snapguide's bold and stylish move to the tablet is not only inevitable, but means that the service has finally landed in its true home. For those of you who don't know Snapguide, it is basically How-To guides for Generation Mobile, founded by former Yahoo Pipes PM Daniel Raffel and former Google Chrome engineer Steve Krulewitz. TechCrunch founder Michael Arrington called the duo "blank check guys? in his original post on their launch.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/1EiCSrh9DFY/

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Wallaby?s Android App Tells You Which Credit Card To Use To Get The Best Rewards

Wallaby, a startup which had been originally working to develop a universal credit card that optimizes consumers' credit card points, rewards, airline miles and more, recently launched a more simplified version of that concept via an iPhone application. Instead of routing purchases to the appropriate card after swiping a Wallaby-branded credit card,?the new iPhone app instead just tells you which card you should use. Today, the company is launching that same application on Android.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/z6D1ulmHKCM/

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2012 Traffic Law School - Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum

Returning to the ICLEF curriculum is our annual ICLEF Traffic Law School seminar on December 20^th. Former Prosecutor now Defense Attorney Bradley Keffer chairs this year?s effort which will cover a wide variety of issues pertaining to the State?s traffic law courts.

The morning will begin with a discussion of ethical considerations relevant to this arena including thoughts on how traffic offenses of practicing attorneys are considered by the Indiana Disciplinary Commission. Danville attorney Tom Brenton will follow this discussion with a practical approach dealing with those offenses that bring about license suspensions. The morning concludes with Tom Hirschauer of the Marion County Prosecutor?s Office addressing automobile search and seizures.

The afternoon begins with what has always been an active discussion regarding the BMV with Indiana BMV General Counsel Elizabeth Murphy and BMV Staff Attorney Melissa Reynolds.

The day concludes with an overview of administrative regulations form veteran attorney John Tompkins and a ?view from the bench? from Superior Court Judge William Nelson.

Join us for a full day of essential information as well as tips from these leading experts in the area of Traffic Law.

2012 Traffic Law School
6 CLE ? Thursday,?December 20, 2012 ?9:00 A.M. ? 4:30 P.M.

Live In-Person Seminar
? ICLEF Conference Facility
? 230 E. Ohio St., 5th Floor, Indianapolis, IN ?46204 ??view map?

Live Group Webcasts
? Burke Costanza & Carberry Law Office
? 156 South Washington St., Valparaiso, IN 46383???view map?

??DeFur Voran Law Office
? 400 S Walnut St, Suite 200, Muncie, IN 47305???view map

??Grand Wayne Center
? 120 W. Jefferson Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN 46802???view map

??Reiling Teder & Schrier Law Office
? 250 Main Street, Suite 601, Lafayette, IN 47902???view map

Live Individual Webcast
From your home or office computer with internet access

?ICLEF ? Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, Indianapolis, IN

Source: http://iclef.org/2012/12/2012-traffic-law-school/

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Source: http://cchinni30.typepad.com/blog/2012/12/2012-traffic-law-school-indiana-continuing-legal-education-forum.html

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Four officials are out at State Department following ARB report ? does the buck stop with them? (Powerlineblog)

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

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/272011821?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Kirksville stops Mexico in wrestling

Read?more: Local, Kirksville Wrestling, Mexico Wrestling, Kirksville Tigers, Kevin Powell, Matt Kelly, Makenna Cook, Logan Summers, Joe Brawner, High School

Kirksville? 57.0 Mexico 18.0

106: Riley Stewart, KIRK, forf. .

?113: Ethan Rentschler, KIRK, received a bye.

120: Hunter Smith, MEXI, pinned William Kraust, KIRK, 0:00.

126: Jordan Jones, MEXI, dec. Branden Beeler, KIRK, 6-0.

132: Matt Kelly, KIRK, dec. Ethan Musgrove, MEXI, 6-0.

138: Jayde Moran, MEXI, dec. Mitch Kriegshauser, KIRK, 13-6.

145: Jake Vitale, MEXI, pinned Ryan Moronda, KIRK, 0:00.

152: Tre Stewart, KIRK, pinned Samuel Fayad, MEXI, 0:00.

160: Dorian Sneddon, KIRK, pinned Dalton Logerman, MEXI, 0:00. 170:

Kylan Easley, KIRK, pinned Dalton Wilson, MEXI, 0:00.

182: Makenna Cook, KIRK, pinned Anthony Brower, MEXI, 0:00.

195: Jordan Kissick, KIRK, pinned Jaylen Lee, MEXI, 0:00.

220: Logan Summers, KIRK, received a bye.

?285: Joe Brawner, KIRK, pinned John Lummis, MEXI, 0:00.

Source: http://www.heartlandconnection.com/sports/story.aspx?id=838930

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Iraqi president suffers a stroke

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Source: http://news.uk.msn.com/world/iraqi-president-suffers-a-stroke

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Forty Percent of Houzz's 10 Million Monthly Users Now Remodeling ...

Company Introduces Android App and New Local Features in its 5-Star Rated iPad/iPhone App in Response to Record Mobile Growth

PALO ALTO, CA (PRWEB) December 19, 2012

Houzz, the world?s leading platform for home remodeling and design, today announced a record 40% of its users are remodeling their homes from a mobile device. The growth of Houzz?s mobile usage aligns with several other company milestones, including 5 million app downloads ? a 400% increase in the last year ? and 10 million monthly unique users. Houzz also announced the availability of an Android app, as well as new features for its 5-star rated iPad/iPhone app, through which users viewed 500 million projects with retina-quality images in November.

?At Houzz we are using technology to put everything you need for renovating a home at your fingertips,? said Alon Cohen, President and co-founder of Houzz. ?We succeed when we give people the tools they need wherever and whenever they want them. To have 4 million people using Houzz from a mobile device each month to find remodeling inspiration, research the best professionals, and discover innovative products means we are at an historical turning point for an industry previously underserved by web technologies.?

Mobile Use

Houzz mobile activity highlights:

• Houzz users spend over 160 man years in mobile Houzz usage every month
• Activity by platform is dominated by iPads at 65%. Android users make up 18% of the mix.
• 9PM is the peak time of day for Houzz mobile usage
• Houzz technology serves 300 Terabytes of image data ? more than what is archived at the Library of Congress ? to support 500 million monthly views of projects with retina quality photos

The App

The Houzz app is the #1 home design app on the iPad and is the highest rated app in the iTunes store?s lifestyle category, with more than 64,000 reviews averaging 5-stars. The new features include the addition of Discussions to the app, where mobile users can post their design dilemmas and get help from the community, and the ability to add photos to an ideabook or discussions directly from the camera or camera roll. Houzz is also adding localized searches for home improvement professionals ? a feature that will be released in the next version of the app expected to be available at the end of the month.

Houzz is also releasing an Android app to better support Android users who have become a significant percentage of mobile Houzz users.

Houzz mobile users include both consumers and home professionals who use the app as a key communication and collaboration tool at home, in showrooms and on the job site.

Professionals:

• Jerry Bussanmas, a custom home builder in Des Moines Iowa, keeps an iPad in his truck, taking the Houzz app to all of his client meetings, as well as to the job site, where he uses the app to walk sub-contractors visually through key details.
• Landscaper Jason Lee in Los Angeles, CA says using the Houzz app on his iPad and iPhone saves him more time than he could have imagined. If he?s waiting for a meeting, between clients, or is on the road, he can work on creating ideabooks for his clients and get things done.

Consumer Reviews on iTunes:

• ?We are starting the process of building a home, and the app has been invaluable, from communicating what we want to our architect, to picking colors and finishes with the designer! I am sure we will use this tool through the completion of our project.?
• ?Now I can show my contractor exactly what I want by opening Houzz on my iPad, even while we?re standing in the Tile store.?

Groundbreaking Mobile Ads

Houzz?s mobile innovation also extends to advertising. The company?s mobile brand ad units are contextually integrated into the browsing experience, providing the same high-quality beautiful images and product information through the interactive green tags that users love. As a result, users find the ads helpful rather than intrusive, and spend extensive time engaging with their content.

View and download the full infographic here.

About Houzz

Houzz (http://www.houzz.com) is a leading online platform for home remodeling, providing inspiration, information, advice and support for homeowners and home improvement professionals through its website and mobile applications. Houzz features the largest residential design database in the world, articles written by design experts, product recommendations, a vibrant community powered by social tools, and information on more than 1.3 million remodeling and design professionals worldwide who can help turn ideas into reality. @houzz_inc

Skye Pillsbury
Houzz
(415) 379-9524
Email Information

Article source

This entry was posted on December 19, 2012 at 8:50 am and is filed under Android Apps. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

Source: http://androidnewscenter.com/index.php/2012/12/19/forty-percent-of-houzzs-10-million-monthly-users-now-remodeling-their-homes-via-mobile-devices/

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Nissan's ?250m Investment in UK to Create 1000 New Jobs - IBTimes.co.uk

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Deciding fate of massacre site can help healing

AURORA, Colo. (AP) ? As Newtown, Conn., grieves the deadly mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, victims' families and residents will eventually have to decide what to do with the building and how to remember the fallen.

Will they decide to demolish the school where authorities say Adam Lanza killed 20 children and six adults before killing himself? Or just the parts where he opened fire? Will there be a memorial on school grounds, or in town? Or both?

Whatever they choose, it will give them a measure of control over a situation in which they have had very little, said Dr. Louis Kraus, chief of child and adolescent psychiatry at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

"To be able to have some control and say in that process I think is going to be very important" to the healing process, he said.

Here's a look at what communities that have faced deadly mass shootings have done:

? After a white supremacist opened fire in a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wis., in August, killing six people and injuring four, temple officials held a purifying ceremony and removed bloodstained carpeting, repaired shattered windows and painted over gunfire-scarred walls.

But they left one reminder of the violence ? a dime-size bullet hole in the door jamb leading to the prayer room. The hole is now marked with a small gold plate engraved with "We Are One. 8-5-12," a memorial to the victims.

"It frames the wound," Pardeep Kaleka, son of former temple president Satwant Singh Kaleka, who died in the massacre, said recently. "The wound of our community, the wound of our family, the wound of our society."

? After a gunman killed 12 people at a midnight showing of the Batman movie in Aurora, Colo., officials conducted an online survey and more than 70 percent of the 6,300 people who responded wanted the movie theater to reopen.

"There are dozens of ways a community comes together following any blow, be it from what Aurora experienced in July, Connecticut experienced just days ago, or the physical devastation of Sandy," Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan said in a written statement.

"Having places to meet and be together is one such way," he said.

A memorial that sprang up near the theater is gone but a new sign offers sympathy to those suffering from the nation's latest mass shooting ?"Newtown, CT We feel your pain."

? In Norway, extensive remodeling is planned on the small island of Utoya, where 69 people, more than half of them teenagers attending summer camp, were killed by a far-right gunman in 2011.

Utoya's main building, a cafeteria where 13 of the victims were shot to death, will be torn down and replaced by a cluster of new buildings surrounding a square, creating the feel of a "small village," project manager Joergen Frydnes said.

The idea is to bring back the positive atmosphere that characterized Utoya before the tragedy, he said. There was no summer camp this year and it's unclear when the left-wing youth group will be back at Utoya for what used to be its annual highlight.

Frydnes said it will happen, eventually. "It's a sign that terrorists can take lives, but they will not defeat us," he said.

? At Virginia Tech, the scene of the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history, a classroom building where a student gunman killed 30 people in April 2007 is now home to the Center for Peace Studies and Violence Prevention.

The center at the Blacksburg, Va., school was established in 2009. The building also houses space for the engineering department. A dormitory where the two other students were killed has been turned into a residential college. The gunman killed himself.

As at many other scenes of mass shootings, a memorial was created on the campus' main lawn recreating the 32 stones ? one for each person killed ? placed there in the hours after tragedy.

? In Pennsylvania, the Amish community quickly decided that removing the schoolhouse where five girls were killed and five others were wounded in October 2006 by a gunman would be the best way to help bring resolution, mainly out of sensitivity to their children.

Ten days after the shooting, heavy machinery moved in before dawn to demolish the West Nickel Mines Amish School, making the site indistinguishable from the surrounding pasture. Dump trucks transported the wreckage to a landfill.

New Hope Amish School, its replacement with added security features, was built a few hundred yards away and opened April 2, 2007 ? six months to the day after the massacre.

? After two students went on a deadly rampage at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., in April 1999, students finished the year at another school. Columbine reopened in time for the following school year after extensive repairs.

"The intent of the school district is to put this back as a high school," Jack Swanzy, lead architect on the refurbishing project, said at the time. "We don't want to make it a shrine to the tragedy."

School district officials originally considered remodeling and reopening the second-floor library, where most of the students were killed, but parents objected and asked that it be demolished and replaced.

The district eventually agreed and the old library, which sat above the school cafeteria, was removed and the space converted into an atrium.

A memorial to those killed ? 12 students and a teacher ? opened years later on a hill above the school. The broad oval sunken into the rolling terrain still attracts people.

On Friday, after the Newtown shooting, Amber Essman, 24, made her first visit. She was in grade school at the time of the shooting and had been hesitant to visit before because of the emotions it would bring up.

She wanted to pay belated respects to those killed at Columbine and provide some comfort to their families. "They need comfort and peace today in addition to the families in Connecticut that have been affected," she said.

___

Associated Press writers Karl Ritter in Stockholm, Dinesh Ramde in Milwaukee, Michael Felberbaum in Richmond, Va., and Mark Scolforo in Harrisburg, Pa., contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/deciding-fate-massacre-help-healing-225047531.html

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New Retirement Rules Hit Alaska?s Parks and Preserves Hard

[unable to retrieve full-text content]New rules in the federal retirement system are forcing sweeping changes at Alaska?s parks and preserves as scores of top officials take early retirement.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/17/us/new-retirement-rules-hit-alaskas-parks-and-preserves-hard.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

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Once more to the judicial elections well (Offthekuff)

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

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Mandela honored by South Africa's governing party

JOHANNESBURG (AP) ? Nelson Mandela's political party sang praises for the anti-apartheid icon Sunday, as the 94-year-old leader remained under doctors' care in the longest hospitalization he's faced since leaving prison decades ago.

President Jacob Zuma led delegates of the African National Congress in song as they opened their Mangaung convention, being held in the city also known as Bloemfontein. The song, in Zulu, calls out: "The journey is long, ... Mandela told his followers that we'll meet on freedom day."

In his address, Zuma also touched on Mandela, who has been hospitalized since Dec. 8 for tests while receiving treatment for a lung infection. He also underwent a successful gallstone surgery Saturday.

"He is receiving good care from a competent and caring medical team," Zuma said. "We wish him and the family all the best during this time."

Mandela, South Africa's first democratically elected president, was admitted to a hospital in South Africa's capital, Pretoria, the government has said. At first, officials said Mandela was undergoing tests and later they acknowledged he had been diagnosed with a lung infection.

The Nobel laureate has a history of lung problems, after falling ill with tuberculosis in 1988 toward the tail-end of his 27 years in prison before his release and subsequent presidency. While doctors said at the time the disease caused no permanent damage to his lungs, medical experts say tuberculosis can cause problems years later for those infected.

On Saturday, Mandela underwent endoscopic surgery to remove gallstones, a procedure in which a patient usually receives sedatives and an anesthetic to allow a surgeon to put an endoscope down their throat, authorities say. The surgeon then can remove the gallstones, which are small, crystal-like masses that can cause a person tremendous pain.

Mandela's nine-day hospital stay, his longest since leaving prison in February 1990, has sparked increasing concern about a man who represents the aspirations of a country still struggling with race and poverty. South Africa, a nation of 50 million people, reveres Mandela for his magnanimity and being able to bridge racial gaps after centuries of white racist rule.

___

Jon Gambrell can be reached at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP .

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/mandela-honored-south-africas-governing-party-145102078.html

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Relationships: Dating For Boomers Article Category | Rings - Typepad

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Source: http://barlowtory.typepad.com/blog/2012/12/relationships-dating-for-boomers-article-category-rings-typepad.html

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Hamilton, Angels finalize $125M, 5-year deal

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) ? Feeling "a little upset" that Texas didn't move quickly enough to re-sign him, free-agent outfielder Josh Hamilton donned a Los Angeles Angels jersey on Saturday after finalizing a $125 million, five-year contract that he called a new chapter in his life.

"I started off with the Devil Rays and now I'm an Angel," said the five-time All-Star who was drafted by Tampa Bay before making his major league debut with Cincinnati in 2007.

Hamilton, the 2010 AL MVP, joins a batting order that already includes Albert Pujols and AL Rookie of the Year Mike Trout. The 31-year-old Hamilton hit a career-high 43 home runs last season and batted .285 with 128 RBIs in 148 games.

"To get a guy like Josh and combine him with Albert is going to give us building blocks for what we hope is years to come," manager Mike Scioscia said. "We can't wait."

Neither can dozens of red-clad Angels fans, who lined up outside a restaurant where Hamilton was introduced. The team had a table set up for ticket sales and he signed autographs on his way inside.

Hamilton's $25 million average salary matches Philadelphia first baseman Ryan Howard for the second-highest in baseball, trailing only Alex Rodriguez's $27.5 million average with the New York Yankees.

"It was a great investment," said Angels owner Arte Moreno, who insisted he wasn't trying to keep up with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are on track to surpass the New York Yankees as baseball's biggest spending team in 2013.

"I think it's just great," he said about the Dodgers' spending spree this week that got them former Angels pitcher Zack Greinke for a $147 million, six-year deal and South Korean left-hander Ryu Hyun-jin for a $36 million, six-year contract.

"Why would I ever want to wish something bad on someone? I really liked Greinke, but you make a decision how much you're going to spend on one player. We said we're going to get a couple relievers and a pitcher. I personally can't wait to play them."

Hamilton agreed to the deal with the Angels on Wednesday after having talked with them since the winter meetings in Nashville, Tenn.

"They like to get after it," he said.

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels had hoped to re-sign Hamilton, who led Texas to consecutive World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011. He said he was disappointed the Rangers never got a chance to match any offer during the process, as they had expected, or be contacted before Hamilton agreed with another team.

"I gave them everything I had for five years," Hamilton said. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little upset they didn't put the press on."

Hamilton's wife, Katie, spoke up and compared the situation to dating.

"We were with them for five years. If you're going to date someone, you make it known and official pretty quick," she said. "They let us date other teams and Josh had said he would give them first chance and they didn't (make a move)."

Hamilton interjected, saying, "She said, 'You should have put a ring on it.'"

He said he met with Daniels a week earlier and "told him where my heart was. I was feeling like it was time for me to move on in general. There was no specific thing, like I'm upset or anything like that. It was just time to move on."

The slugger was considered a risk by some teams because of his history of alcohol and substance abuse, which derailed his career before his surge with the Rangers over the past five seasons. Hamilton had a relapse with alcohol last January and another one in 2009.

"I have a past history of making mistakes with drugs and alcohol, drinking twice in seven years, which is not good for me," he said. "They're going to help me with my support system to put things in place that I had with the Rangers. Nothing that is straining the organization or the clubhouse."

However, Moreno said there's no special protection for the Angels in Hamilton's contract if he relapses other than what is standard in any MLB contract.

Shayne Kelley, who worked in a support role for Hamilton in Texas, will be a daily presence with the team, according to Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto.

"We've done our fair share of due diligence," Dipoto said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/hamilton-angels-finalize-125m-5-deal-193402119--mlb.html

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News Summary: SKorea pins worker cancer on Samsung

(Reuters) - U.S. school districts have spent millions of dollars on metal detectors, security cameras and elaborate emergency-response plans since the 1999 massacre at Columbine High School, but almost nothing could have prevented Friday's massacre at a Connecticut elementary school, security experts say. A 20-year-old, heavily armed gunman opened fire Friday morning at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, killing 20 children and six adults before taking his own life, police said. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/news-summary-skorea-pins-worker-191251719.html

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Alternative De Montfort Analysis: Banks have just ... - CoStar Finance

Banks? UK commercial property loans at risk of loss were less than ?5bn at the end of June, reflecting just 2.4% of the outstanding ?204.1bn of debt captured by the mid-year De Montfort property lending survey published today.

This ?4.93bn figure at the end of June?contrasts with the ?9.55bn equivalent identified by?CoStar News?in May, based on?De Montfort?s end of year 2011 survey?which captured ?212.3bn in outstanding UK property debt.

On which basis, the fall in UK commercial property loans held by banks which is at risk has fallen by 48.4%, or by ?4.62bn, in the six months to the end of June.

This analysis ? based on the?Mid-year 2012 De Montfort University?UK?property?lending survey? is derived from the loan-to-value (LTV) structural breakdown of the ?204.1bn outstanding balance secured against UK property.

Responses to the mid-year De Montfort survey?s LTV structural breakdown question reflected ?182bn out of a total outstanding ?204.1bn in UK property-secured debt captured by the survey.

According to the De Montfort survey, 17% of this ?182bn is comprised of UK property loans above 100% LTV, which equals ?30.94bn.

Aggregating this up ? to reflect the full ?204.1bn sample captured by the mid-year De Montfort survey ? would imply that the total proportion of UK commercial property loans above 100% LTV is ?34.7bn.

The LTV composition of outstanding UK property loans with LTVs above 100% is as follows:

• 9% of loans, or ?16.38bn, are at LTVs between 101% and 120%, which aggregated to full sample would imply ?18.37bn
• and 8% of loans, or ?14.56bn, are at LTVs of 121% and above, which aggregated to full sample would imply ?16.33bn

Within these two components of the overall UK property market?s LTV, it is the balance of outstanding debt above 100% where the bank risk of loss applies. That is, if a bank enforces against a 110% LTV property loan, the lender would receive back the first 100% and crystallise a loss thereafter (less enforcement, sales and legal costs which are omitted here).

Assuming, then, that the average LTV across the 101% to 120% category was an even 110%, based on the original ?182bn gross lending figure captured by De Montfort, only ?1.49bn of the outstanding ?16.38bn is at risk.

For the second component ? the 8% of loans above 121% LTV ? based on a conservative assumption that the average LTV here is 125%, only ?2.91bn of the ?14.56bn is at risk.

This takes the total at risk, as captured by the ?182bn sample, to ?4.4bn.

When this is aggregated up to reflect the full ?204.1bn De Montfort sample, this implies that the total property loan exposure at risk of loss above 100% LTV ? virtually if not entirely held by banks ? is just ?4.93bn.

This reflects a considerably healthier picture for the state of the UK commercial property lending market than is often represented, although there are a number of implicit caveats, as with all research.

?The new De Montfort figures show further material progress by bank funders,? said Paul Rivlin, co-founder of Palatium Investment Management.

?This evidence will be a surprise only to those who were previously forecasting chaos. The figures, however, also show the very substantial challenge to existing owners with high LTV loans who are faced with stark choices between getting in new equity (or mezzanine) and making sales.?

Equity owners? dilemma

An equivalent piece of analysis can be applied to the two tranches of the LTV structural breakdown for UK property loans above 70%, which have the challenge of refinancing still to face.

• 16% of loans, or ?29.12bn, are at LTVs between 71% and 85%; which aggregated to full ?204.1bn sample would imply ?32.65bn
• 13% of loans, or ?23.66bn, are at LTVs between 86% and 100%; which aggregated to full sample would imply ?26.53bn

This aggregate 29% equals ?52.78bn in the value of UK property loans between 71% and 100%.

Many owners in this pool will likely see enduring value in their properties which still have equity remaining and many will be keen to refinance.

Assuming that borrowers sought to refinance back to 70% LTV, this would reflect an average (from an average 85% LTV), this would require an equity injection of 15% across the ?52.78bn pool, which equates to ?7.92bn.

Aggregating this up to the De Montfort?s full ?204.1bn sample would imply a required equity injection of ?8.88bn. If the new normal for refinancing is down to 60% LTV, the required equity injection would be ?15.52bn.

This ?6.64bn difference ? which excludes existing borrowers with loans in the 60% to 70% LTV range ? is where the many mezzanine lenders eye their enduring opportunity to lend against UK property.

jwallace@costar.co.uk

Source: http://costarfinance.wordpress.com/2012/12/14/alternative-de-montfort-analysis-banks-have-just-5bn-uk-property-loans-at-risk/

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Massacre leaves America shocked and grieving ... again

President Obama addressed the nation in an emotionally charged speech Friday, wiping away tears as he expressed sympathy for the families of the victims killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre.

By Allison Linn, NBC News

President Barack Obama reacted to news of the horrific elementary school shooting in Newtown, Conn., Friday like many other Americans: As a parent first.

?I know there?s not a parent in America who doesn?t feel the same overwhelming grief that I do,? the president said in a tearful midday speech.

Obama was among many public figures who were left feeling overwhelming grief ? and parental empathy - ?for the families who were victims of the massacre that killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

?The majority of those who died today were children ? beautiful little kids between the ages of 5 and 10 years old,? the visibly emotional president said. ?They had their entire lives ahead of them: birthdays, graduations, weddings, kids of their own.?

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Obama went on to say that the nation had gone through too many mass shootings too many times.

?This evening Michelle and I will do what I know every parent in America will do, which is hug our children a little tighter, and we?ll tell them that we love them, and we?ll remind each other how deeply we love one another,? he said.

The heartbreaking mass murder at Sandy Hook Elementary School was met with disbelief and tears from people across the country. NBC's Kevin Tibbles reports.

Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy reacted with sadness. "Evil visited this community today. And it's too early to speak of recovery, but each parent, each sibling, each member of the family has to understand that Connecticut - we're all in this together. We'll do whatever we can to overcome this event. We will get through it. But this is a terrible time for this community and these families."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said the shooting hit him as a parent and a politician.

?I am in shock and disbelief at this horrible tragedy that took so many innocent lives today. As a father and grandfather, it is beyond my comprehension why anyone would want to hurt innocent children. I join the millions of Americans whose thoughts and hearts are with those suffering because of this horrible crime in Connecticut,? he said in a statement.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan said that the department's hearts and prayers were with the school's students and staff and surrounding community. He, too, reacted as a parent.

See more video on the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary on NBCNews.com

"School shootings are always incomprehensible and horrific tragedies. But words fail to describe today's heartbreaking and savage attack at Sandy Hook Elementary School. As the father of two children in elementary school, I can barely imagine the anguish and losses suffered today by the Newtown community," he said.

Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut also said that he and his wife were heartbroken for the nation, and as parents.

"Hadassah and I are shocked and heartbroken by the horrific events in Newtown today. We know this community and its people well. It is a beautiful town with wonderful people. As parents and grandparents, our hearts grieve for them today, and we send our prayers to each of them,? Lieberman said in a statement.

House Speaker John Boehner appealed to Americans to come together, and to seek solace in religion.

"The horror of this day seems so unbearable, but we will lock arms and unite as citizens, for that is how Americans rise above unspeakable evil.?Let us all come together in God's grace to pray for the families of the victims, that they may find some comfort and peace amid such suffering,? Boehner said in a statement.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell offered the hope that such violence could be eradicated.

"We are all crushed by the news of today's horrifying massacre in Newtown. I invite everyone to lift their hearts in prayer for the victims and their families and to unite around the hope that there will soon come a day when parents no longer fear this kind of violence in our nation again,? McConnell said.?

The outpouring of sympathy also came from overseas.

Students described hearing shots and screams over the intercom at school, which is how they first knew something was wrong. The survivors lived because of the bravery of their teachers. NBC's Anne Thompson reports.

England's Queen Elizabeth II sent a message to Obama reading: "I have been deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the dreadful loss of life today in Newtown, Connecticut; particularly the news that so many of the dead are children. Prince Philip joins me in extending our heartfelt sympathy to you and the American people at this difficult time. The thoughts and prayers of everyone in the United Kingdom and throughout the Commonwealth are with the families and friends of those killed and with all those who have been affected by today's events."

Pope Benedict XVI's spokesperson, Cardinal Tarcisio Berton, wrote in a statement: "The Holy Father was promptly informed of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown and he has asked me to convey his heartfelt grief and the assurance of this closeness in prayer to the victims and their families, and to all affected by the shocking event. In the aftermath of this senseless tragedy he asks God, our Father, to console all those who mourn and to sustain the entire community with the spiritual strength which triumphs over violence by the power of forgiveness, hope and reconciling love."

Some public figures also called on the nation to re-evaluate gun laws.

Mark Kelly, husband of former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was gravely injured in a?shooting on Jan. 8, 2011, said he and his wife were sending their prayers to the victims.

"As we mourn, we must sound a call for our leaders to stand up and do what is right. This time our response must consist of more than regret, sorrow, and condolence. The children of Sandy Hook Elementary School and all victims of gun violence deserve leaders who have the courage to participate in a meaningful discussion about our gun laws - and how they can be reformed and better enforced to prevent gun violence and death in America. This can no longer wait,? Kelly?s statement on Facebook read in part.

There have been several mass shootings in 2012 alone, and on Friday President Obama said politicians will need to come together to take action regardless of the politics. NBC's Tom Costello reports.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said his deepest sympathies were with the families of the shooting, and he called on national figures to do more than send their thoughts and prayers.

"With all the carnage from gun violence in our country, it's still almost impossible to believe that a mass shooting in a kindergarten class could happen. It has come to that. Not even kindergarteners learning their A,B,Cs are safe. We heard after Columbine that it was too soon to talk about gun laws. We heard it after Virginia Tech. After Tucson and Aurora and Oak Creek. And now we are hearing it again. For every day we wait, 34 more people are murdered with guns. Today, many of them were 5-year olds. President Obama rightly sent his heartfelt condolences to the families in Newtown. But the country needs him to send a bill to Congress to fix this problem,? Bloomberg?s statement said in part.

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Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/14/15912936-massacre-leaves-america-shocked-and-grieving-again?lite

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