Category Archives: Supporting people / a community / a cause

Boycott Kage Games

Until the staff at Kage Games realizes and states that their video game “Dog Wars” promotes dog fighting, and they pull the game entirely, destroying every copy of such and promising to NEVER release the game, please boycott Kage Games, and tell your friends to do the same. I’m not linking to the company’s web site, but it’s easy to find online if you really want to see it for yourself: the Web sites features an illustration of a pit bull with a bloody muzzle next to the “Dog Wars” logo.

“Dog Wars” instructs players on how to condition a dog using methods that are actually used in organized dog fighting. This game not only encourages users to not be disgusted by dog fighting (instead, to delight in the pain and suffering of such) – it is a virtual training ground for would-be dog fighters!

Defenders have said the game is no worse than video games that allow users to shoot other people or engage in illegal behavior, like stealing cars. For the record: I’m disgusted by those games as well. If I had kids, I would NOT let them play such, and I do not allow such software on my computer or under my roof. But following that defense – why doesn’t Kage Games create a software called “Child Sex Trade”? Players could trick virtual parents into giving up their virtual daughters for “a better life” abroad, or trick virtual young girls into thinking they are accepting restaurant jobs in other countries, and then take the virtual girls’ passports and force them into a virtual sex trade, with players getting points with how many virtual girls they entrap, how many men their girls have sex with in a day, etc. I’m sure that will go over REALLY well, Kage Games, and you can use the same defense you are using now – it’s just a game!

Kage Games, it’s time for you to do the right thing: dump “Dog Wars”, delete it, and apologize for ever thinking this was a good idea. And take a hard look at your software developers who thought this was a good idea – many serial killers start off as animal abusers. How did these guys know so much about how to train dogs to fight? How do they know SO MUCH about dog fighting? What a scary workplace you must have…

Dog Fighting is making a comeback in a big way in the U.S. 16,000 dogs killed each year in organized dog fights and that number continues to grow. It is a growing problem in every state in the USA. Report anything you hear about dog fighting in your area to the police (and if you think the police might be in on it, call your STATE police), and read more at the Humane Society web site about what they are doing to stop this barbaric practice and what you can do to help. And blog about this issue as well and then let Kage Games now you have done so! You will get a pathetic automated email response.

A few fun links for Friday

logoA few links for Friday, when I’m not sure anyone actually reads my Blog or my Facebook entries and I’m not feeling very creative…:

  • Howard Sherman, Executive Director of the American Theatre Wing and a good friend (and my former boss at Hartford Stage!) has a delightful blog about after-performance discussions following live stage performances. I have attended these more than a few times, and lead two myself at two different theaters, and he’s spot on with these observations. Made me smile. As does this photo of Howard next to one of my favorite people in the world.
  • I also recently reconnected with another colleague from my theater days, Sharron Boilini, now of the Westport Country Playhouse, who helped give me insight into what attendees might be expecting out of the live online event I’m helping to coordinate for TechSoup (it’s March 30 – join me and hear me try to talk about accounting software for nonprofits!).
  • Was thrilled to find this Japan-based organization: Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support. Speaking of Japan, because I’ve raised more money on the monetized pages of my web site (the pages focused on helping individuals find volunteering, community service and humanitarian work abroad), I’m donating anything I raise in March above my target goal to an organization focused on helping in Japan. It won’t be much — I’m not making anything to brag about on these pages — but it will be better than nothing.
  • I’ve created a Flickr set of photos of me at work. Very fun to compile. It’s obvious, isn’t, that I really love to work! See all that I can do when it comes to training for your nonprofit, NGO, or other community-focused organization.
  • Are you a trainer? An online community architect? A techie? A marketer? An oh-so-engaging online facilitator or online event producer? And do you love nonprofits and understand their unique culture and needs? If so, you should check out the cool open jobs at TechSoup.
  • One of my favorite people to follow on Twitter is Frank Conniff. One of his latest: If FAA doesn’t want air traffic controllers sleeping, why not use the screaming babies that always keep me awake on planes.
  • Another favorite Twitter feed of mine is FakeAPStylebook: Affect is verb: “The songs of Liza Minnelli affected the crops.” Effect is noun: “Behold the effect Liza has on the corn!”

One last thing: please don’t be offended if I don’t follow you on Twitter, particularly if I already subscribe to your blog via RSS and have friended you on Facebook and subscribe to your email newsletter, in which case I know what you’re up to, really!

 

Dec. 3, International Day of Persons With Disabilities

Knowbility is encouraging corporations, nonprofits, government agencies, web developers, software designers, IT managers, policy developers and others to join in using the United Nation’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities, December 3, to start or renew their commitment to online accessibility.

The goal of full and effective participation of persons with disabilities in society and development was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1982. The annual observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities aims to promote a better understanding of disability issues with a focus on the rights of persons with disabilities and gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of the political, social, economic and cultural life of their communities.

“The UN’s day provides a great opportunity for all of us to talk about the vital importance of digital inclusion,” said Sharron Rush, executive director of Knowbility, an Austin, Texas-based national nonprofit with a mission to support the independence of children and adults with disabilities by promoting the use and improving the availability of accessible information technology. “Without the commitment of everyone to online and software accessibility, millions of people who are blind, are visually-impaired, have mobility impairments or who have cognitive or learning disabilities will be left out as customers, clients, and students.” 

A great way for companies and various professionals to start or renew their commitment to online accessibility is to attend AccessU West, January 10-12, 2011, to be held at San Jose State University and presented by Knowbility.

AccessU provides three days of cutting-edge IT accessibility classes lead by world renowned accessibility experts. The keynote speaker will be Dennis Lembree, author of the internationally-recognized Web Axe, a podcast and blog focused on web accessibility. Lembree is an accomplished web developer who has worked for a variety of companies including Ford, Google, Disney, and currently, Research In Motion.

Other classes include:

    * “Real World Accessibility for HTML5, Css3 and ARIA” with Derek Featherstone
* “Testing for Web Accessibility” by Jim Thatcher
*  “How accessibility ties to usability goals” by Whitney Quesenbery, past President of the Usability Professionals Association (UPA).
* “Bake Accessibility into the CMS: Drupal & Accessible Content” with Kevin Miller

See you at AccessU West!