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BIG BROTHER IMPOSES $11,000 FINE FOR NOT DISCLOSING INFORMATION
In yet another disparaging attack on First Amendment rights, the Federal Trade Commission this week announced new regulations that threaten the free speech of bloggers and Internet users across the country.
According to the new regulations, the FTC will level an $11,000 fine against a blogger who does not disclose “material connections they share with the seller of a product or service” that they are promoting.
[VIEW THE ENTIRE DOCUMENT HERE]
For example: I receive a free book and am asked to review it. If I write about the book but do not disclose the fact that it was given to me for free, I could be fined.
The “guidelines” came as an update to the FTC’s “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising,” which the commission passed by a 4-0 vote. It was the first time the FTC has changed those guidelines since 1980.
The FTC says it is looking to crack down on fraudulent marketers. But the extremely broad wording of the document gives way to an impending infringement of First Amendment rights on the Internet.
“[T]hey are, in the end, an attack on markets and free speech, based on a 20th Century notion of media and advertising that simply doesn’t map to the new era,” wrote Dan Gillmore on his blog. “The advertising of the past was a one-to-many system. Call it broadcasting. The Internet is a many-to-many system. Call that conversation. They are not the same.”
Traditional media, meanwhile, appear to have been given a free pass from the FTC.
Not only are these new “guidelines” ripe for a plethora of Constitutional lawsuits, but they are wholly unenforceable.
If they were to truly go after everyone who does not disclose possible conflict of interests, they would need a task force of thousands of employees and billions of dollars. And, frankly, I think we have a hell of a lot more important things to be worrying about.
In addition, the guidelines are vague and place a seemingly endless limit on what should be disclosed.
“The regulations raise no end of questions,” blogged Jeff Jarvis. “For example: How much do I have disclose? Before I say anything nice about anyone, do I need to list every advertiser I’ve ever had? Every possible business relationship?”
Folks, I’m the farthest thing in the world from a conspiracy theorist, but have no doubt about this: Big Brother is definitely watching.
Folks, I’m the farthest thing in the world from a conspiracy theorist, but have no doubt about this: Big Brother is definitely watching.* Adam
In fact you are so far away from being a Conspiracy nutcase, that you ended up being one by supporting the Republican party and it’s Loons…….My Son, it is called coming full circle with your head up your ass thinking you were born without brains………..
New Rule: Everyone deserves equal rights.
That’s why they’re called “equal” and “rights.” Tomorrow night President Obama will speak before a gay rights group, and on Sunday there will be a massive gay rally in Washington, or as I call it, the Million Mo March. Which makes this weekend the perfect time for Obama to announce he’s repealing “don’t ask, don’t tell” and committing to a full-throated endorsement of gay marriage. One, because it’s the right thing to do and two, because it will throw the conservative base into such a frenzied, pants-shitting panic that they’ll drop all that BS about death panels and socialism and let us all get some actual work done.
But of course that’s not going to happen. I can tell you what the president is going to tell his audience tomorrow: How much he supports them. How much he agrees with them. And how he wishes he was President so he could help them out. But here’s the thing about being president. There isn’t a lot you can do without either Congress, Oprah or Goldman Sachs behind you. But there is one thing the president can do with the stroke of a pen: He can let gays serve openly in the military. It’s called an executive order. Harry Truman wrote one in 1948 for blacks in the military, and that was that.
“Don’t ask, don’t tell” has always been bad policy that was made out of a bullshit political compromise. You know, like you’re doing now with health care. It never made sense to begin with: “Here in the Army we’re all about honor. And trusting the man next to you. Now lie to my face about your sexuality, Johnson, or I’ll report you behind your back.” But forget all the good arguments for repeal, like because it was promised to us in the campaign or because it gets lonely on a submarine. Do it because it’ll make Rush Limbaugh explode like a bag full of meat dropped from a helicopter. Do it because it’ll make Sarah Palin go rogue in her pants.
Because here’s the thing about today’s conservatives: they’re not bright. They can’t keep a lot of ideas in their head at once. And by “a lot” I mean “two.” If we can get them all worked up about fighting the gay menace, it will siphon away all that crazy, right wing, town-hall energy from all the other big issues they’ve been fighting. The tea-baggers don’t know what the word “socialism” means. But they do know what the word “gay” means, because their hairdresser explained it to them once, and they don’t like it. They will be drawn to it like a moth to a flamer. Bush was practically re-elected on a promise to keep boys from kissing. Which is ridiculous, because if you want to stop gays from having sex, wouldn’t you let them get married?
But seriously, the sheer rage of the tea-baggers can be so easily redirected that some times I wonder if Rush doesn’t just spin a giant wheel of hate every morning to come up with ACORN! William Ayers! Birth certificate! It’s like faking throwing a stick for the dog. “War on Christmas.” “Obama’s talking to school children.” And “gay” is the easiest stick to throw.
Health care and the environment are complicated, but it’s not hard to keep track of the places that God allows you to put your pee-pee. I mean, you can count those places on one hand. And that hand isn’t something you should be using either. A year ago, if you had asked your average wing-nut neighbor what he thought about health care reform, he would have shrugged his shoulders and gone right back to eating his Moon Pie. But he’s pissed-off about it now, why? Because it’s in their nature to be pissed-off. They have a pre-existing condition called the Conniption Fits. The tea-baggers have taught us all an important lesson in modern politics: If you want to be taken seriously, act like a fucking loony-tune.
In fact, let me explain how the right-wing mind works: wing-nuts get up in the morning, get their “news” from Fox or Drudge, and then spend all morning drinking coffee and getting all worked up about whatever Fox and Drudge tell them to get worked up about. “Mexicans – Grrr! Socialism – Grrr! Van Jones – I don’t know who he is, but sure… Grrrrrr!” By the time Rush comes on at noon, they’re ready to just start demanding we build a wall around Andy Dick. And when Glenn Beck shows up at five, they’re seeing red – right through the blue from the Viagra.
But while Glenn is busy explaining to his viewers that when he cries it’s a butch thing, Obama and the Democrats can sweep in under the gaydar and pass real health care and real climate change bills. This is how we fight fire with Fire Island. When Obama speaks tomorrow, he should not only revoke “don’t ask, don’t tell,” but also change our military’s slogan to “An Army of Buns.” And starting next year, gay busing. Yes, if there aren’t any gay families in your community, we’ll bring them to you. Your field hockey team can thank us later.
And when they get out there on Sunday, Gay Nation also needs to do everything in their power to scare the hell out of right-wing homophobes. I want to see you guys rollerblading down the Mall in nothing but a speedo and a nun’s habit, holding a sparkler in one hand and a penis popsicle in the other.
Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-maher/new-rule-everyone-deserve_b_315406.html
Why would “cross gender” what the hell does that mean anyway. people want to be cross dressed in military uniforms,. Is it something like the HOmo parade down in Key West .where everyone gets to dress like a Queen or Pirate, Is that what this is all about. YOu can’t have gay men running around in womens cothes on the battlefield. or lESBIAN WOMAN DRESSING LIKE GI JOE., COMPLETE WITH THE FAMILY JEWELS ATTACHED LIKE HAND GRENADES.
[...] — pretty much sums up why I can’t stand Furman. Now, since the Federal Trade Commission requires full disclosure, I did attend Georgia Southern University, so I’m predisposed to thinking that Furman is the [...]