George Takei, Young Activists and Facebook Team Up to Make HRC Logo a Mega-Meme

As you’ve probably noticed, your Facebook feed turned red last Monday when all of your friends, particularly those in the US or with US friends, including people you had no idea had an opinion on gay marriage, changed their profile pictures to a little pink or white equals sign on a red background. The symbol is a re-colored version of the yellow-on-blue logo designed in 1995 by Stone/Yamashita who declined to comment for this story and its been changed a grand total of once since then. Anastasia Khoo, director of marketing for the Human Rights Campaign is possessive of the image, which looks a little like a corollary to the Swiss flag.

And is she biting her nails over all the variations the internet has come up with? “I have to say, I guess when we decided to make this decision it was almost preordained—in for a penny, in for a pound,” she said, “and I’ve loved it. I’ve been so impressed by the creativity weve seen out there, even from people like Martha Stewart.”

Even George Takei has had a go.

 

 

via George Takei, Young Activists and Facebook Team Up to Make HRC Logo a Mega-Meme | Adweek.

Privacy winds blow through Clouds towards Switzerland • The Register

Unsafe harbour

Companies with links to the US will have to prove they are not simply shipping all data to the US, and this may prove impossible. The lack of oversight and control over use of the US PATRIOT Act renders the whole Safe Harbor agreement effectively meaningless, yet companies without such links will only have local legal leverage available as an offset to the risks posed by laws that effectively seek to bypass due process. Europe may be safer, but not safe.

via Privacy winds blow through Clouds towards Switzerland • The Register.

Data cops: Facebook privacy plans must be ‘modified’ • The Register

Facebook remains tied to a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) settlement that “prohibits the company from changing privacy settings without the affirmative consent of users or misrepresenting the privacy or security of users’ personal information”.

Indeed, as of November 2011, Facebook agreed to bi-annual privacy audits for two decades as part of its deal with the FTC. At the time the US watchdog said Facebook must be clear about changes to its website, including providing a “prominent notice” to users.

The social network was told it should obtain “express consent” before a user’s information is shared beyond any privacy settings already established by an individual connected to Facebook.

Arguably then, Facebook is failing to honour at least part of its agreement with the FTC: the website did inform all of its users of the plans in an email outlining the proposed tweaks. But it may have fallen down on the requirement to seek “express consent” for sharing data beyond the limits set in place by users. That said, the stateside regulator is yet to publicly express any disquiet about the company’s incoming privacy policy overhaul.

In contrast, here in Europe, the office of Ireland’s Data Protection Commissioner confirmed late last week that it was seeking “urgent clarification” from Facebook – whose European headquarters are in Dublin – about the changes.

via Data cops: Facebook privacy plans must be ‘modified’ • The Register.

Hungover? There’s a ‘cure’ for that as detox patch goes on sale – Health News – Health & Families – The Independent

As usual it’s the comments that make most articles on news sites in my opinion and this is no exception as DJL2 highlights the irresponsible ‘journalism’ at work simply running a press release as news.

“…after nine or 10 Martinis…works great”

DLJ2 – “that’s 20 units? nearly 3 bottles of wine?
fully enough to pose probable alcohol poisoning and risk of death then. with a proposed solution of a berocca under a sticky plaster?!

It’s really irresponsible journalism to just run with a quote like that in this article and not point out the health risks. Is this even an article or just a paid-for advertisement?”

As the Indie runs the following story/press release…

Christmas revellers have been offered a helping hand with an American hangover “cure” that claims to be second only to having an “intravenous stuck in your arm”.

The Bytox Hangover Prevention Patch, invented by the US plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr Leonard Grossman, has gone on sale in the UK following its launch in New York late last year.

via Hungover? There’s a ‘cure’ for that as detox patch goes on sale – Health News – Health & Families – The Independent.

Cadbury Screme Eggs Are Amusingly Rotten in Halloween Spots | Adweek

Hardly surprising that Cadbury recently owned by US mega company Kraft and now owned by another US corporation Mondel?z is now creating Halloween products.
Cadbury has finally started recognizing Halloween with its Cadbury Screme Egg, and these three Canadian TV spots for it—by ad agency The Hive in Toronto—are as spooky as ads for candy eggs will allow. They do a good job of showing off the Screme Egg’s special Halloween wrapper and green-and-white yolk (which looks a bit more like snot than they probably intended).

 

via Cadbury Screme Eggs Are Amusingly Rotten in Halloween Spots | Adweek.

Twitter Weekly Round Up for 2010-06-06

Twitter Weekly Round Up for 2010-01-31

Spam Mails

It’s been a while since I got some decent spam.

This one is from a mr.hamad Samni and he says he has good news! I’m very excited at the prospect of lots of free money!

Good Day,Sir/Madam Please Read and get back to me

How are you today? Hope all is well. Please be informed that I have decided to contact you for a fund transfer transaction worth the sum of US$ 10.8 million dollars into your reliable bank account as the sole NEXT-OF-KIN to the foreign deceased customer of our bank (an International Billionaire French Businessman) who was killed with his entire family by PLANE-CRASH in Central England atmost 3 years ago. Since his death occured, no body have show up as his next of kin for the claim because the account is untraceable. Upon the investigation I carried out from his records, I found out that his foreign business consultant who would have trace the account died earlier before the deceased. Therefore, this is a confidential and sealed deal.For the success of this transaction, you should apply and act as the only existing NEXT-OF-KIN to the deceased which our bank will replace the deceased account information through proper documentation in position of your own account. This transaction is risk-free, it will never harm your good reputation in your society because no one can trace the account, and on the instant of the transfer of the fund into your account, the chapter of this transaction will be closed entirely.Note that in a business of this nature, the bank dont want to know your difference between the deceased country, religion or believe because our bank inheritance law is against that. So, it is a preference for us achieve this success without any problem.Please note down that once the fund get transferred into your account, you will take 39% of the total sum while the rest will be for me as I will arrange myself down to your country to take my share.I need your urgent response and here is my private mobile number for easy communication.Please reply if you can be trusted in this deal. For more adivce you can get back to me on my private mobile Number;00226 76 339 335.

Paramount Importance:- About Late Engr. Anthony Douglas

Dear Friend,

Before I start, I must first apologize for this unsolicited mail to you. I am
aware that this is certainly an unconventional approach in starting a
relationship, but as time goes you will realize the need for my action. I cannot
imagine the surprise this will bring to you, but please be rest assured is with
good faith and intentions from a friend in dare need of your assistance to
assist me transfer the inheritance sum of US$8.5M (Eight Million, Five Hundred
Thousand United States Dollars) into your account or company’s account, in
which God will bless you for rendering a helping Hand to others.

My name is Barr. Richard Bilton, An Attorney at Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria
(SAN).I am the personal Attorney to Late Engr. Anthony Douglas, A National of
your country, who used to work with Chevron Development Company in Nigeria.
Herein after shall be referred to as my Client. On the 21st of April 2006, my
client, his wife and their three children were involved in a fatal car Accident
along Sagamum Express Road. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost
their lives. Since then I have made several inquires to the Embassy to locate
any of my clients extended relatives this has also proved unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his name over the
Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you. I have
contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property Left behind by my
client before they get confiscated or declared Unserviceable by the bank where
these huge deposits were lodged.

Particularly, the Bank manager where the deceased had an account valued at
about (US$8.5M) Eight Million Five Hundred United States Dollars has issued me a
notice to provide the Next of Kin or Have the Account confiscated within the
next 21 working days.Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives
for over some months now,I then seek your consent to present you as the next of
kin to the deceased since you are a foreigner so that the proceeds of this
account valued at (US$8.5M) Eight Million Five Hundred United States Dollars can
be paid to you and then you and me can share the money.

I’m amazed anyone reads these emails and believes them but anyway here is a a great 419 scam for details of this and other scams and the guys that scam the scammers checkout 419eater.com

From: Barrister Richard Bilton (ESQ)
Email: [email protected]

Subject: About Late Engr. Anthony Douglas

Dear Friend,
All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through. I
guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will
protect you from any breach of the Law. For more details, once I have your
consent and trust then we can proceed immediately. Your anticipated response is
urgently needed. Please do get in touch with me on my private mail box above

Yours Faithfully,

Barr. Richard Bilton (ESQ) LLB (HONS) BL. Richard Bilton & Co.
Principal Partner