The Feel Good (Tech) Hit(s) of the Week
Thursday, October 8, 2009 at 9:41AM Sometimes I worry I might be perceived as all doom and gloom when it comes to these blog posts. I promise I’m not a negative guy (though if I were, would I admit to it?), but the bad stuff is often where the interesting stuff is, so that’s what I’ll tend to write about. BUT NOT THIS WEEK! This week, I’ve got a few good tech stories that might suggest humanity is still worth a damn.
The Lowdown
Washington State currently has a referendum, R-71, in play that if passed, will confirm the expansion of domestic partnership protections like extending public-employee pensions, basic family legal rights and survivor benefits to homosexual couples. This stuff was already signed into law by Governor Gregoire, but that hasn’t prevented a group of people who hate the idea of civil rights applying to everyone from trying to prevent the law from taking effect. In response, they came up with R-71. They went out and gathered (questionably) enough signatures to have the referendum on the ballot for the upcoming elections. If R-71 is passed, the law and its benefits will move forward. Right now, it’s looking like a very close call.
Local Pacific Northwest companies Boeing, Microsoft, Nike, Puget Sound Energy, RealNetworks and Vulcan Development issued a statement of support in September.
The Current Awesomeness
Microsoft threw its hat in the ring and gave $100,000 in support of R-71 and gay rights in Washington. This well eclipses the total amount raised by those opposed, and may be enough to sway the vote, which by current evaluations is dangerously close to not passing.
Microsoft, a company of about 60,000, has a history of supporting gay rights, though they did stumble in 2005 by withdrawing (under pressure from local zealot pastor Ken Hutcherson) and later renewing support for an anti-discrimination law.
From what I could find, the total combined amount contributed by Amazon, Boeing and Starbucks is roughly $0.
The Lowdown
Drew Olanoff has cancer. He also has the @drew twitter account. In an effort to raise money for LIVESTRONG, a cancer awareness and support foundation, he decided to put the account up for auction and donate the proceeds. Drew Carey, former marine (seriously?) and current comedian and game show host, who uses the twitter acount @drewfromtv, bid $100,000 for the account.
The Current Awesomeness
Because he’s that rich and apparently that awesome, Carey promised to donate $1 million if the number of followers to his current account reaches 1 million by the new year. He also said he would pro-rate it, so if he only gets to 500,000 then he would donate $500,000. As of this post, he has around 64,000 followers.
Got room on your Twitter account for one more person to follow?
Microsoft, Pop, Porter Novelli Seattle, Twitter, politics in Technology
Reader Comments (1)
Drew Carey= awesome. His "cool" factor just made a surprising leap in my book. Also, go Microsoft. Way to spread happiness, Will.