Internet access is not a human right. It’s not me saying that, either. It’s Vint Cerf, Google’s Internet Evangelist.

ESA May be backing SOPA, but we’re seeing developers themselves such as Curt Schilling’s 38 Studios come out against it. But support for the OPEN Act is growing, as it protects American rights without trying to censor the Internet or impose destructive burdens on Americans online.

Defeat SOPA. Pass OPEN. Everyone wins. Even if the RIAA and MPAA think they’d benefit from government picking winners and losers.

Read More →

Internet access is not a human right. It’s not me saying that, either. It’s Vint Cerf, Google’s Internet Evangelist.

ESA May be backing SOPA, but we’re seeing developers themselves such as Curt Schilling’s 38 Studios come out against it. But support for the OPEN Act is growing, as it protects American rights without trying to censor the Internet or impose destructive burdens on Americans online.

Defeat SOPA. Pass OPEN. Everyone wins. Even if the RIAA and MPAA think they’d benefit from government picking winners and losers.

Read More →

http;//www.mlgoodell.webs.com

Trash-Talking Santa
by Michael Goodell

http://www.mlgoodell.webs.com

I’m a great student of advertising, especially that found on television. More than just about any other medium, advertising can provide an accurate picture of contemporary society. Now, this is not a foolproof device by any means. For example, just the other day I remarked to my wife that the economy must be improving. When she asked why I told her I had been seeing a lot more jewelry, champagne and luxury car ads. It was clearly an indication that more people had more disposable income, and fewer concerns about their economic future.

“No, you idiot,” she replied sweetly. “It’s the holidays.”

Holiday ads do offer a snapshot on our society, though sometimes we might not want to look at the picture. Take the series of Best Buy ads, running under the slogan, “Game on, Santa.” These ads feature a woman gleefully stuffing her cart with incredibly affordable electronics. One of the Best Buy employees says, “Santa better watch out,” followed by a scene in which Santa Claus himself is trying to leave presents in a room and under a tree already heavily laden with gifts.

He sees the woman, sipping tea (though not offering him any), and rudely, contemptuously saying things like, “Oh, I didn’t leave any room in those stocking for your gifts, did I? Oh, awkward.” or “Daddy don’t want no cologne.”

Clearly, whoever came up with this campaign was going for humor, but it failed miserably. Why on earth would anyone think it would be funny to be cruel to Santa? Now, what is also clear, and this I have known for at least the past five years, is Santa Claus doesn’t really exist. Yet Santa represents niceness, kindness, generosity and love. Not a negative thing about him.

So what does it say about someone who comes up with an ad like this, let alone the executive who, laughing, signed off on it, or the marketing expert who thought it would resonate with a substantial portion of the consumer electronic purchasing public? In other words, isn’t it disturbing to think that decision makers have such a negative, cynical and bleak view of our society?

SPECIAL BONUS HOLIDAY ADVERTISING COVERAGE:

General Motors is running an ad right now featuring one of the special safety features on one of their Cadillacs. Not sure what it is, maybe an battery fire early detection system or something. Anyway, the ad shows a couple driving a Cadillac on a dark, snowy road when suddenly they manage to stop before hitting a team of reindeer standing in the road. There’s no sign of Santa, though he is definitely the implied pilot of this herd (no doubt he ‘s inside getting mocked and ridiculed by a Best Buy customer). The ad implies that without Cadillac’s special safety features the driver might have run over the reindeer. Thus, in addition to getting a good buy, you “Might save the holidays.”

Sorry, but in this case the holiday the prudent driver would be saving is Christmas. Yes, there are many different religious and faux-religious holidays around the Winter Solstice, but in only one of them do eight tiny reindeer feature prominently, and that is Christmas. Thus the driver is saving Christmas, not Hanukkah, not Kwanza, not Slip On a Suicide Vest and Blow Up a School Bus Day, nor any other holiday celebrated by any of the world’s major religions not listed above. Santa equals Christmas. Go ahead, say the word. Nothing really bad will happen to you.

I don’t write about being gay and conservative because to me it isn’t important.  I’m first and foremost a proud American who believes in the founding principles, the American Experiment in capitalism, the American Experience in democratic ideals, integrity, honesty, and fair play.  It just so happens that I’m also gay.  I am going to write about my fury over the Human Rights Campaign and their actions against Target and Best Buy, based here in Minnesota.  The HRC’s blatant and dishonest attempt at blackmailing them is reprehensible.  As such, I’ll give you the ridiculous extortion letter HRC had on their website and my own indignation over their actions regarding me, other gay people, but especially to our civil rights.

Human Rights Campaign’s “Open Extortion” Statement

“Target has been a champion for workplace equality for many years. That’s why their recent donation to MN Forward was so at odds with their sterling reputation as a great employer for LGBT people. The fact that their political contribution was used to advance an anti-equality candidate was extremely hurtful to all fair-minded Americans.

We appreciate Mr. Steinhafel’s statement to company employees this afternoon but it doesn’t go quite far enough. Target’s apology is welcomed but without tangible action behind it, the LGBT community and our allies will continue to question the company’s commitment to equality.

The promise to evaluate political contributions in the future, while a step in the right direction, is provided without details and does not mitigate their $150,000 supporting an outspoken opponent of equality for LGBT people. Target can still make it right by making equivalent contributions to equality-minded organizations and by making clear the procedure by which they will evaluate potential contributions in the future to include issues of LGBT-equality.” Emphasis added for effect.

My Response to this Blatant Attempt to Extort Money from Fellow Citizens

Don’t you dare speak for me, HRC.  Don’t you dare.

You are speaking for yourselves, not for me.  I don’t want to be connected in any way with this shady, disgusting shakedown of our fellow citizens.  You do not speak for the GLBT community.  Do not make that presumption.  You may speak for the few thousand who belong to your organization and those who contribute, but you do not speak for me and many in OUR community.  For you to speak for me, I need to voluntarily become part of your organization, which I once did.  I am no more.

Your organization has become nothing more than a useful shill for the far left wing of the Democratic Party, period.  Since I do not believe that robbing our future generations and handing over unrestrained political power over our lives to a bunch of empty-headed bureaucrats is wise, I am no longer affiliated with you and your Marxist philosophy.  That’s my first problem with the ‘proclamation’ in OUR name.

My second problem with your sham organization is your words and intent.  It is none of your damn business who Target or Best Buy contributes money to, nor is it your business to decide who ANYONE gives money to.  You are acting like a big thuggish mob shaking down the businesses for your bosses in the Democratic Party.  I do not want my name dragged into the mud by a far left group of extortionists who think they can bully, yes, bully the rest of the country with veiled threats of name calling and fake boycotts.

I’m a proud American, who happens to be gay and I’m not going to let you get away with smearing my name.  The shear audacity of your openly published blackmail letter should make us all sick to our stomachs.  Are we in a Developing Country where you have to pay off the right people in order to just do your business?  Have we slipped behind the Iron Curtain where if you want the right to be heard, you must politely ask and pay off the right bureaucrat?  Are we in the court of Louis XIV where only money talks and influence walks and courtiers demand payment for access to the king?

HRC, you embarrass me.  You are little collection agents for your masters on the left.  You have no morals, no ethics, no right to do this thing, especially in OUR names.  You want to decide for Target and Best Buy what causes they can contribute to?  Think again.

I am sick of this kind of corrupt, Tiger kidnapping scheme and will act against you.  I’m not the only one furious at your blatant power grab.

I am engaged, and soon there will be others.