Today came around like any other day. I woke up with my phone in hand, tweeting “Good Morning” before I even looked at the time. Then I started reading some tweets from my timeline as I got out of bed, heading to the kitchen to make some coffee. The first thing I read: “Steve Jobs has died.” – My “good morning” quickly turned into a really sad one. Rest in peace, Steve. You will be missed!

If you would like to share your thoughts, memories, and condolences, please email rememberingsteve@apple.com

[ Source: Apple.com ]

US President Obama once again stood up for LGBT rights during his address to the United Nations General Assembly saying:

“No country should deny people their rights — the freedom of speech and freedom of religion — but also no country should deny people their rights because of who they love, which is why we must stand up for the rights of gays and lesbians everywhere.”

I Love Obama!

Celebrate 13 years of saving young lives with a gift of $13 or more!

You may be asking yourself, Who is Trevor?

Trevor is the 1994 Academy Award®-winning film about a gay 13 year-old boy who, when rejected by friends because of his sexuality, makes an attempt to take his life. The film’s creators founded The Trevor Project after discovering there was nowhere for youth like Trevor to turn in times of crisis.

The Trevor Lifeline took its first call on August 8, 1998. Since then, The Trevor Project has answered over 200,000 calls.

We believe that everyone should have a safe place to turn. The Trevor Project is dedicated to providing life-saving and life-affirming resources to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth across the country.

Help celebrate Trevor’s birthday by giving a gift of $13 or more! Your gift will ensure The Trevor Project can continue to provide support for youth in crisis throughout its teenage years and beyond!

Family & Friends, Please help me support by making a donation through my page. Even a small donation will help me achieve my goal! The process is fast, easy, and secure. Thanks so much for your support.

http://www.stayclassy.org/fundraise?fcid=120713

… click here to watch this video!

Read the rest of this article »

Watch the video below where Steve Jobs presents Apple’s new office concept to the Cupertino city council. if everything goes as planned the mothership will be landing in 2015.

The proposed building reminds me of the futuristic city concepts of the Venus Project. I think that this building will become an important landmark in our society and that other companies will follow suit by embracing futuristic environmentally friendly architecture. So exciting!

CLICK HER TO READ THE FULL STORY ON PEREZHILTON.COM

Tomorrow, Monday June 6th Apple will host the 2011 Worldwide Developers Conference – Click here for pre-conference news and to view the WWDC schedule. I’ll be posting some news on all things Apple during the coming weeks to keep you guys updated with everything that happened at the WWDC. Stay tuned!

Following up on the president’s recent proclamation, kicking off Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month, the Office of Public Engagement has launched a new landing page, Winning the Future: President Obama and LGBT Americans.

The webpage is designed to keep you updated on the President and his Administration steps have taken, and continue to take to benefit the LGBT community.

The story of America’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community is the story of our fathers and sons, our mothers and daughters, and our friends and neighbors who continue the task of making our country a more perfect Union. It is a story about the struggle to realize the great American promise that all people can live with dignity and fairness under the law. Each June, we commemorate the courageous individuals who have fought to achieve this promise for LGBT Americans, and we rededicate ourselves to the pursuit of equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Since taking office, my Administration has made significant progress towards achieving equality for LGBT Americans. Last December, I was proud to sign the repeal of the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. With this repeal, gay and lesbian Americans will be able to serve openly in our Armed Forces for the first time in our Nation’s history. Our national security will be strengthened and the heroic contributions these Americans make to our military, and have made throughout our history, will be fully recognized.

My Administration has also taken steps to eliminate discrimination against LGBT Americans in Federal housing programs and to give LGBT Americans the right to visit their loved ones in the hospital. We have made clear through executive branch nondiscrimination policies that discrimination on the basis of gender identity in the Federal workplace will not be tolerated. I have continued to nominate and appoint highly qualified, openly LGBT individuals to executive branch and judicial positions. Because we recognize that LGBT rights are human rights, my Administration stands with advocates of equality around the world in leading the fight against pernicious laws targeting LGBT persons and malicious attempts to exclude LGBT organizations from full participation in the international system. We led a global campaign to ensure “sexual orientation” was included in the United Nations resolution on extrajudicial execution — the only United Nations resolution that specifically mentions LGBT people — to send the unequivocal message that no matter where it occurs, state-sanctioned killing of gays and lesbians is indefensible. No one should be harmed because of who they are or who they love, and my Administration has mobilized unprecedented public commitments from countries around the world to join in the fight against hate and homophobia.

At home, we are working to address and eliminate violence against LGBT individuals through our enforcement and implementation of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. We are also working to reduce the threat of bullying against young people, including LGBT youth. My Administration is actively engaged with educators and community leaders across America to reduce violence and discrimination in schools. To help dispel the myth that bullying is a harmless or inevitable part of growing up, the First Lady and I hosted the first White House Conference on Bullying Prevention in March. Many senior Administration officials have also joined me in reaching out to LGBT youth who have been bullied by recording “It Gets Better” video messages to assure them they are not alone.

This month also marks the 30th anniversary of the emergence of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which has had a profound impact on the LGBT community. Though we have made strides in combating this devastating disease, more work remains to be done, and I am committed to expanding access to HIV/AIDS prevention and care. Last year, I announced the first comprehensive National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States. This strategy focuses on combinations of evidence-based approaches to decrease new HIV infections in high risk communities, improve care for people living with HIV/AIDS, and reduce health disparities. My Administration also increased domestic HIV/AIDS funding to support the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program and HIV prevention, and to invest in HIV/AIDS-related research. However, government cannot take on this disease alone. This landmark anniversary is an opportunity for the LGBT community and allies to recommit to raising awareness about HIV/AIDS and continuing the fight against this deadly pandemic.

Every generation of Americans has brought our Nation closer to fulfilling its promise of equality. While progress has taken time, our achievements in advancing the rights of LGBT Americans remind us that history is on our side, and that the American people will never stop striving toward liberty and justice for all.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2011 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to eliminate prejudice everywhere it exists, and to celebrate the great diversity of the American people.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.

BARACK OBAMA

On March 11, 2011, at 14:46pm (JPT), a 9.0 magnitude earthquake hit the north-east coast of Japan, followed by a 124.3-foot wall of Tsunami. The quake and the tsunami crippled the Fukushima nuclear power plant, where radiation began to leak to air and water. As of May 1, the official death toll has been raised to more than 14,755, with more than 10,706 listed as missing, more than 190,000 people have lost their homes and are living in temporary shelters.

Immediately, charity events were organized in RL and within SL, this was no different. So many amazing charity events has been put together in such short time and the support has been tremendous. With the official approval by AmeriCares, Ji Nirvana and myself (Serene Faith), are organizing a fundraising event, Japan Relief Fundraiser (JRF), which will open to the public on May 14, at 12pm (noon) SLT and it will be a 2 weeks event where over 50 designers and creators have joined to support Japan.

Each creator will provide a unique item which will be sold at JRF. 100% of the proceeds and donations collected during JRF event will be donated to AmeriCares, to support Japan. Various entertainment will be performed on a separate sim and this sim will be available to the public during these 2 weeks.

Click here to visit the Japan Relief Fundraiser in Second Life

If we don’t act now, the “Kill the Gays” bill – a death sentence for LGBT people in Uganda – could come up for a vote in the next 72 hours. Sign the urgent petition now!

Conservative lawmakers in Uganda are working to advance a bill that would sentence LGBT people to death. That’s right, death for countless lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Uganda. We just learned the “kill the gays” bill could come up for a vote in the next 72 hours (1) if we don’t act now.

A conservative leader recently presented the Ugandan parliament with 2 million signatures in support of the law (2). They are trying hard to push the bill forward before the millions like us who oppose it have a chance to speak out. We need to create an international outcry to stop this bill and we need to do it fast.

We have 72 hours to act: can you sign this petition to President Museveni demanding that he publicly vow to veto this hateful bill? As soon as you sign, please pass it on to everyone you know. Our best chance at stopping the bill is each other—if thousands of us spread the word we can make clear that the world is watching and we will not allow this to stand.

SIGN THE PETITION: www.allout.org/uganda

While some conservative members of parliament have staked their political careers on this bill (3), Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni has shown himself to be sensitive to international pressure. Last year, a massive response from people around the world pushed him to stop the bill in its tracks.

A broad coalition of human rights activists, including Bishop Christopher Senyonjo (4), an internationally respected religious leader and outspoken supporter of LGBT equality in Uganda, will deliver our petitions directly to the President.  Will you please take a moment to speak up for what’s right:

SIGN THE PETITION: www.allout.org/uganda

This terrible bill is part of a pattern from conservatives in Uganda to marginalize pro-democracy forces – in recent weeks, opposition activists have been beaten, teargassed, jailed and even killed (5).   And In the last year LGBT Ugandans have been repeatedly targeted, attacked, and murdered—like beloved activist David Kato (6), murdered just months after a local tabloid published his picture under the headline, “Uganda’s Top Homos: Hang Them.”(7). Others have been driven out of the country as refugees, and sometimes even threatened abroad by the government (8).

Enough is enough.  Please sign this petition to Ugandan president Museveni, demanding that he veto the bill should it be passed in Parliament–and then pass it on to all of your friends.

SIGN THE PETITION: www.allout.org/uganda

This is so important.  Thank you.

SOURCES:

1a. Uganda Antigay Bill Going Forward – 6 May 2011
http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/05/06/Uganda_Antigay_Bill_Going_Forward/

1b. IGLHRC Shocked at Possible Passage of Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill – 6 May 2011
http://www.iglhrc.org/cgi-bin/iowa/article/pressroom/pressrelease/1384.html

2. Anti-gay activists call for passing of Bill against homosexuality – 7 April 2011
http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1140310/-/c2sydtz/-/

3. Americans’ Role Seen in Uganda Anti-Gay Push
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/world/africa/04uganda.html

4a. “God Created You”: Bishop Supports Gay Ugandans, Defies Death Threats
http://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/sexandgender/4211/%E2%80%9Cgod_created_you%E2%80%9D%3A_bishop_supports_gay_ugandans,_defies_death_threats/

4b. Bishop Christopher Senyonjo’s St. Paul Foundation for International Reconciliation
http://stpaulsfoundation.com/Donate.html

5. Uganda protests ‘only the beginning,’ leader says (AP) – 7 May 2011
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110507/ap_on_re_af/af_uganda_politician_arrested

6a. David Kato, Uganda Gay Activist, Brutally Slain
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/27/david-kato-uganda-gay-act_n_814775.html

6b. EU tells Uganda to protect gays
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/02/2011217203236369881.html

7. Outcry as Ugandan paper names ‘top homosexuals’
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/outcry-as-ugandan-paper-names-top-homosexuals-2113348.html

8.  Fears for safety of Ugandan lesbian due to be deported
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/26/brenda-namigadde-deportation-fear-uganda

9. Anti-Homosexuality Bill – Original Text
http://docs.google.com/a/purpose.org/viewer?url=http://wthrockmorton.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/anti-homosexuality-bill-2009.pdf

Tonight, President Obama has given a live statement from the White House that Al Qaeda Leader Obama Bin Laden has been captured and killed by American military forces and that they have his body in custody. – This marks the end of an era on the war against Al Qaeda.

Keep an eye on your local news source for full coverage on the story over the next few days.

April 22nd is Earth Day! This year, Earth Day’s theme is themed after A Billion Acts of Green: our people-powered campaign to generate a billion acts of environmental service and advocacy.

Ready to take part in Earth Day 2011? Here is how you can get involved: Visit the EarthDay.org website to Share your commitment t0 the environment this Earth Day – declare your Act of Green.

Songs for Japan is a charity compilation album created to benefit relief efforts for the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. A collaborative project between the music industry’s “big four” record labels (EMI, Sony, Universal, and Warner).

The album features 38 tracks by various popular artists on 2 discs. – Click here to listen and download via the Apple iTunes Store.

Quick, grab some cake and candy because it’s time for a celebration! I am proud to announce that DAVIDVENTER.NET has crossed over into its second year on the web. Even though I have been blogging since 2005, this very site has only been live on the world wide web since March 21, 2010. – Just in case you’re wondering: Yes, this did slip my mind which is why I am only posting about this 4 days later than on the actual creation date.

Since the launch of DAVIDVENTER.NET, I have posted 471 articles and received 247 comments. – I would like to take this opportunity to look back at a few highlights from the last 12 months:

• In March of 2010 I adopted a new puppy.
• I also shared my American dream in March.
• In April of 2010 I joined DailyBooth.
• In August of 2010 I shared a very important article.
• In January of 2011 I thanked YOU for your support.
• I also had a fun photo session in January.
• In February of 2011 I covered New York Fashion Week.
• And most recently I took up a new hobby.

Looking back at it now I find it sad that there were so few highlights, to be honest. Last year was not the best of years and I even blogged about it being a shitty year when I posted the “Reaching The End of 2010 – Good Riddance” article. – I trust that 2011 and the next 12 months of DAVIDVENTER.NET will be filled with great success. And come this time next year I will hopefully be able to share many more highlights that are going to be a million times more exciting than the ones above.

Thanks again for all your support! – Happy Birthday Me!! *Yay* \o/ Let’s party like a one year old. GooGoo xxx – On second thought, let’s not! Bring on the booze, the tunes and the dirty words! FUCK YEAH!!!

By now you should be well aware with the fact that google changes their home page logo (or Google Doodle) as they call it from time to time in conjunction with relevant events, traditions or even in remembrance of important people. Today they are celebrating the birthday of a dead man.

Happy 164th birthday to American inventor, scientist and businessman Thomas Edison. – He died back in 1931. Sure he was a great man whom developed devices such as the motion picture camera, not to mention the long-lasting practical electric light bulb. But surely we can celebrate his achievements instead of labeling this day as his 164th birthday? Personally I think that it’s moronic to call this his birthday – he is NOT 164 years old, he died when he was 84, in fact.

I think that google should have put ‘Celebrating the achievements of Thomas Edison’ or ‘Thomas Edison was born this day, 1847′ instead of putting ‘Thomas Edison’s 164th birthday.’

Makes no sense to me. *SMDH*

You may have already heard of The Venus Project which presents a bold new direction for humanity, totally redesigning our culture. If you are still unaware of this project, click here to visit The Venus Project website for further details.

The Zeitgeist Movement is an arm of The Venus Project – The following basic observations have been taken directly from The Zeitgeist Movement website:

In the view of The Movement, the world today has become very detached from the physical world, with techniques of production and distribution that have no relationship to the environment. Our use of a profit based, “growth” driven monetary system has become one of the greatest destroyers of the natural world, not to mention sustainable human values. It is important to understand that the entire global economy requires “cyclical consumption” to operate, which means that money must constantly be circulating. Thus, new goods and services must be constantly introduced regardless of the state of the environment and actual human necessity. This “perpetual” approach has a fatal flaw, for resources as we know it are simply not infinite. Resources are finite and the Earth is essentially a closed system.
The true goal of any economy is to preserve – or “economize” – this is not occurring and cannot occur in a monetary driven system where labor for income requires consumer demand. We actually live in a global “anti-economy” by all rational standards. – Read more > here <.

The Zeitgeist Movement has released three films. I would like to introduce you to these films – PLEASE take some time out of your schedule to watch these films (if you have not already seen them). It all starts with The Movie, released in 2007 as a huge awakening to what we think we know today in terms of religion, government, war, terrorism, power, etc. If you haven’t already seen The Movie then you are in for a serious rude awakening. Watch the full movie here below:

You can download the companion source guide > here (.PDF) < for free. – I’m not going to overwhelm you by posting the other two films right away. First have a look at The Movie, let it sink in, share your thoughts below and after a week or so I’ll update with information and online streaming of the other two films. – WATCH THIS SPACE

I’m sure that you’ve been following the news about the latest events in Egypt. I’m not going to bore you with more news but I am going to ask you to stand with Egypt.

Millions of brave Egyptians are right now facing a fateful choice. Thousands have been jailed, injured or killed in the last few days. But if they press on in peaceful protest, they could end decades of tyranny.

The protesters have appealed for international solidarity, but the dictatorship knows the power of unity at a time like this – they’ve desperately tried to cut Egyptians off from the world and each other by completely shutting down the Internet and mobile networks.

Satellite and radio networks can still break through the regime blackout – let’s flood those airwaves with a massive cry of solidarity showing Egyptians that we stand with them, and that we’ll hold our governments accountable to stand with them too. The situation is at a tipping point – every hour counts – click below to sign the solidarity message, and forward / tweet / blog / email this message to everyone that you know.

CLICK CLICK CLICK > > > https://secure.avaaz.org/en/democracy_for_egypt/?vl

I stand with Egypt. Join me by making this your status message today!

I just signed an urgent petition to support Brenda Namigadde, a young Ugandan lesbian who is scheduled to be deported from the UK this Friday and sent back to the life-threatening persecution she fled from eight years ago.

With memories of a home burned to the ground and the threat of the new Ugandan “Kill the Gays” laws looming, the situation for her could not be more desperate.

One thing could save Brenda: we know that with enough international attention the one U.K. politician who has the power to stay her departure, the UK Home Secretary, might be open to reversing the UK government’s decision — but we need to act fast.

Will you join me and sign this urgent petition before Friday to stop Brenda’s removal — it could very well save her life:

CLICK CLICK CLICK > > > > > > www.allout.org/brenda

Look at the bottom for the reason: “Drove motor vehicle while driving” – And now people wonder why I want to leave this country.

Many thanks to Chris for sharing this first.

UPDATE: Voting is now closed. The top three requested topics are: 1) Personal 2) Fashion 3) Lifestyle. I am really glad that you guys voted for these topics because this is the exact direction in which I have planned to take with this blog. You can expect to see a lot more personal, fashion, and lifestyle related posts.

-

I would like to know what you would like to read about so I have set up a readers poll to discover just that. Please take some time to vote on your favorite topic. – My website received an average of 4000 unique visitors per month (not much I know, but it’s been growing) and I would like to get to know my audience so I have decided to leave this poll active until I have received at least 200 votes (a small percentage in comparison to the viewer count). I have no idea how long that is going to take. It could take a few days or a few months, all depending on whether you, my dear readers would like to tell me what you want to read more about here on davidventer.net – Let the voting begin…

( See Website Sidebar -> )

I’ll update this post with the results once I have received at least 200 votes.

Phoenix Jones wears a bullet-proof black & gold rubber suit and scares away criminals with tear gas and tazer’s. No folks, I’m not kidding, there is a man running around in Seattle who thinks that he is a superhero. Quite tragic if you ask me, cute for the children perhaps or maybe someone’s rubbery sexual fantasy but quite honestly this guy is just going to get himself hurt when he is confronted by real criminals. Thus far he’s only been “fighting” small crimes.

Sky News reported that [ He has already managed to stop a man breaking into a car and possibly stealing it. The would-be victim, known as Dan, was walking back to his vehicle in a car park when he saw a man with a metal strip trying to open his car. Dan said: "He started sticking it down between the window and the rubber strip." Dan began to call 911, but said help arrived before he even finished dialing.  He explained: "From the right, this guy comes dashing in, wearing this skin-tight rubber, black and gold suit, and starts chasing him away." Phoenix is not the only costume-clad crime-fighter in Seattle.  There are other eight members of his Rain City Superhero group who also walk the streets, looking out for crime and prepared to fight it. Since Phoenix started his crusade nine months ago, he has been stabbed and was threatened with a gun several times, but received no serious injuries. Unfortunately, he did not find the man who was breaking into Dan's car. He told CBS: "When I walk into a neighbourhood, criminals leave because they see the suit. "I symbolise that the average person doesn't have to walk around and see bad things and do nothing. ]

… Thoughts?

National Unfriend Day (NUD) is a day on which FaceBook users are encouraged to “unfriend” people who aren’t actually their friends. I personally did this quite a while ago be removing everyone from my facebook friends list, including those that I consider friends. Now I am slowly working to re-friends a select few that I do consider real friends, or like to become good friends with. For the rest of you, there is my Fan Page to keep you updated. Check out the video below:

Cut some of the “friend fat” out of your life! Who will you be unfriending today?

Many countries in the New World and elsewhere celebrate the anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas, which occurred on October 12, 1492, as an official holiday.

The day is celebrated as Columbus Day in the United States, as Día de la Raza in many countries in the Americas, as Día de las Culturas (Day of the Cultures) in Costa Rica, as Discovery Day in the Bahamas, as Día de la Hispanidad and Fiesta Nacional in Spain and as Día de las Américas (Day of the Americas) in Uruguay. These holidays have been celebrated unofficially since the late 18th century, and officially in various countries since the early 20th century. (source)

From myself, David Venter – I would like to wish you all a happy Columbus Day!