What Are the Pink-and-Red Equal Signs on Facebook?

Users are showing support for a cause by changing their profile pictures.

The bold yet simple graphic, of a pink equal sign inside a red block, originated with the Human Rights Campaign, as a social media/marketing campaign to garner support for Marriage Equality during the Supreme Court hearings [audio and trasncript from Tuesday] on the topic. The Human Rights Campaign describes itself as "the largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans." As you scroll through Facebook, you can find a variety of interpretations of the original symbol, some uploaded here. What's your take on this Facebook phenomenon?

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Patch Facts

Five Things: Ringing in the New Year and First Night Festivities

A quick look at what you need to see, do and know on Dec. 31 in Concord.

1. First Night Festivities: Looking to formalize those last-minute plans for rining in the new year? We just so happen to have a refresher of Boston's First Night Festivities right here? 2. Make Noise-Makers to Ring in the New Year: Looking for crafts with the kids this afternoon? Why not head over to the Discovery Museums in Acton between 12 and 3 p.m. today to make your own noise makers and create party hats to use as you celebrate the coming of a new year. 3. Today in Public Meetings: According to the town website, there are no public meetings posted for today. 4. Like Us On Facebook -- If It's the Last Thing You Do! Our push for 1,000 Facebook "Likes" by the close of 2012 has, quite obviously, fallen short. But we'll continue plugging …

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And the Winner of Concord Patch's Facebook Cover Photo Contest Is ...

You told us which photo you think best represents Concord (and Concord Patch).

We asked, you answered and we received some great entries to our Concord Patch Facebook page cover photo contest.  The voting closed at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 21, and the winner: a black-and-white of the Old North Bridge snapped (or at least uploaded) by Jared Kofsky. Congratulations, Jared: Your winning submission will receive a $50 gift card plus bragging rights that your photo is the top of our Facebook page! Just contact Concord Patch editor Patrick Ball to tell us where to send your gift card. Thank you everyone for your submissions, and check out our Facebook page to see Jared's Concord Patch cover photo!

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Vote for Concord Patch's New Facebook Cover Photo

Tell us which photo you think best represents Concord Patch.

  We asked, you answered and we received some great entries to our Concord Patch Facebook page cover photo contest.  Voting opens today, so, scroll through our photos, pick your choice to win and tell us which in the comments section by indicating the picture number. One vote per person, please.  Voting will end at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 21. The winner will be announced Monday morning, Nov. 26. And don't forget, we’ve added a little incentive: the winning submission will receive a $50 gift card plus bragging rights that their photo is the top of our Facebook page!  Happy voting and thank you everyone for your submissions! Please remember to read the contest rules in the .pdf to the right.

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Contest: Your Photo Could Be Concord Patch’s Facebook Cover!

Upload a picture taken by you that best represents Concord.

Our readers are our site’s biggest assets and when we were thinking about what photo to use for the top of our Concord Patch Facebook page, we figured we’d leave it up to you. We are inviting you to share your favorite photo of your hometown. So readers, now is your chance to get your best town photo out there for all to see! Upload a picture taken by you that you think best represents the town of Concord. The winning photo will be the featured photo at the top of the Concord Patch’s Facebook page. You have until noon on Friday, Nov. 16 to upload a photo you think best represents Concord. Here’s how to enter: Our readers will help us pick the winner! You, the reader can vote for the winner in the comments section of an article that will …

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Help Concord Beat Bedford Patch in a Friendly Facebook Battle

As the football teams from Concord-Carlisle and Bedford prepare for their annual Thanksgiving clash on the gridiron, Concord Patch and Bedford Patch are squaring off in the social media arena.

Fall is here, and the annual Thanksgiving Day clash between Concord-Carlisle and Bedford High is just around the corner. As the Patriots prepare to battle the Bucaneers, you can get in the “Beat Bedford!” spirit by helping Concord Patch beat Bedford-MA Patch in a Facebook friends contest! The contest starts today, and whichever Patch site gets the most new “Likes” by the end Midnight on Nov. 21, Thanksgiving Eve, wins. Visit Concord Patch’s Facebook page to “Like” us, and Let’s Beat Bedford (Patch)!

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Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: Sept. 17

'Listening Generously' and a lack of meeting and sports action today in Concord.

1. Rachael Naomi, "Listening Generously": From 9:45 to 11:15 a.m., the Spiritual Enrichment Group at Trinitarian Congregational Church will listen together to Rachael Naomi's "On Being" podcast on "Listening Generously," regarding the difference between curing and healing, and how our losses help us to live. 2. Today in High School Sports: According to High School Sports.net, there is no CCHS high school sports action scheduled for today.  3. Today in Public Meetings: According to the town website, there are no public meetings posted for today. 4. Like Us on Facebook: For even more information and engagement, like Concord Patch on Facebook. Over there, we'll be asking questions, looking for feedback and continuing the conversation with the…

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Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: Aug. 7

Music, meetings, social media and more today in Concord.

1. Concert on the Library Lawn: The Concord Free Public Library's Music on the Lawn Series will feature Annalivia at 7 p.m. this evening on the Main Library's front lawn. 2. More Music: Jimmy Mazzy & the Last Minute Men are scheduled to perform from 8 to 11 p.m. tonight at the Village Forge Tavern at Concord's Colonial Inn. There is no cover charge. 3. Today in Public Meetings: According to the town website, public meetings posted for today include the Public Celebrations and Ceremonies Committee at 6 p.m. and the West Concord Advisory Committee at 7:30 p.m. 4. Like Us on Facebook: For even more information and engagement, like Concord Patch on Facebook. Over there, we'll be asking questions, looking for feedback and continuing the …

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Strong Open for Kayak as Shares Surge

The Concord-based online travel company enjoyed a 28 percent rise in its first day of trading last week.

Concord-based online travel company KAYAK Software Corp saw shares travel in the right direction on the local outfits first day of trading last Friday, July 20. In a July 19 company press release, KAYAK announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 3,500,000 shares of its Class A common stock at a price to the public of $26.00 per share, to be traded under the ticker symbol "KYAK." According to reports, in its first day, company shares rose about 28 percent to close at $33.18 after going public at $26 per share. “Becoming a public company marks an important and exciting milestone for KAYAK,” said co-founders Steve Hafner and Paul English in a statement, via the Boston Herald. “Our team intends to stay focused on creating the best…

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POLL: Should Facebook Monitor Chats for Criminal Activity?

If you're a fan of social media, let us know what you think about Facebook's approach in today's poll.

  Facebook users who chat often on the social media platform may want to think twice about the discussions they're having. That is, if those discussions fall into what could be considered as "suspicious." The network, as well as other social media platforms, are now monitoring user chats for potential criminal activity, and subsequently notifying authorities if suspicious behavior is discovered, according to an article this week on Mashable.com. A new software used by Facebook scans chats for keywords and phrases that could potentially fall into the "criminal" category, and pays more attention to chats between users who don’t already have a well-established connection on the site and whose profile data indicate something may be wrong, such…

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