Apple Passes 500,000 Apps

(Source)

Put Down The Phone

There are people trying to conversatiate with you!

Pomplamoose - Angry Birds Theme

Exodus International Whines To CBN About Campaign To Remove iPhone App

Check out the screaming queen CBN announcer. And from the bio of Exodus spokesdick Jeff Buchanan: "Jeff has been a mentor to countless men seeking freedom from homosexuality." (Emphasis motherfucking mine.)

Hacking Times Square Via iPhone

(Source)

Truth Wins Out Launches Petition To Remove "Ex-Gay" App From iPhone

Truth Wins Out, the organization that fights the "ex-gay" movement, has launched a petition calling on Apple to remove Exodus International's new iPhone app.

This new iPhone app is the latest move in Exodus’ dangerous new strategy of targeting youth. In light of the recent wave of LGBT youth suicides, this tactic is particularly galling as it creates, legitimizes, and fuels the ostracism of LGBT youth by their families. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, LGBT teens who experienced negative feedback from their family were 8 times more likely to have attempted suicide, 6 times as vulnerable to severe depression, and 3 times more likely to use drugs (Caitlin Ryan, San Francisco State University, June 2009). Apple doesn’t allow racist or anti-Semitic apps in its app store, yet it gives the green light to an app targeting vulnerable LGBT youth with the message that their sexual orientation is a “sin that will make your heart sick” and a “counterfeit.” This is a double standard that has the potential for devastating consequences. Apple needs to be told, loud and clear, that this is unacceptable. Stand with Truth Wins Out — demand that the iTunes store stop supporting homophobia and remove the Exodus app.

Sign the petition here.

"Ex-Gays" Launch iPhone App

I wonder if it comes with a Grindr-like GPS function so they can find each other. To talk about Jeebus! And totally nothing else! Ex-Gay Watch has the app's description:

Exodus International is the world’s largest ministry to individuals and families impacted by homosexuality. With over 35 years of ministry experience, Exodus is committed to encouraging, educating and equipping the Body of Christ to address the issue of homosexuality with grace and truth.

George Michael Gets Scruffy

An Australian newspaper is breathlessly reporting that George Michael is spending his downtime in Sydney by cruising men on the iPhone app Scruff. And that's apparently news because he usually works it on Grindr.

Now a fixture on the Northern Beaches after arriving in town for New Year, the on-the-prowl performer has apparently joined Scruff, a new iPhone application marketed to "bears, furred, inked, uniformed, jocks, geeks and more". According to the app's description: "Meet hundreds of thousands of scruffy gay guys in your neighbourhood." The profile said to be Michael's is operating under the screen name "Sydney rocks". Like Grindr, which the swinging singer used during his extended Aussie jaunt last year, Scruff is location-based, using the iPhone's built-in GPS to instantly "connect" with other users in the same area.

And right now half of you are searching your iPhone for "Sydney Rocks."

UPDATE: The Perth Now says "huh uh," that's an impostor. So now two newspapers are finding this newsworthy.

Chuck Colson: We Won't Stop Until Apple Ends Its Censorship Of Christians

Even though the iPhone app store boasts literally hundreds of Christianity-related items, Manhattan Declaration co-author and convicted Watergate felon Chuck Colson says his group will continue to battle Steve Jobs for "censoring Christians."

Unicorns Are Real

The release of long-believed to be mythical Verizon iPhone was announced today.

Apple Rejects Anti-Gay Manhattan Declaration iPhone App For Second Time

The second attempt to get Apple to accept a retweaked version of the anti-gay Manhattan Declaration iPhone app has failed. And the Christianists are so not happy.

"Inasmuch as the Manhattan Declaration simply reaffirms the moral teachings of our Christian faith on the sanctity of human life, marriage and sexual morality, and religious freedom and the rights of conscience, Apple's statement amounts to the charge that our faith is 'potentially harmful to others,'" a statement at ManhattanDeclaration.org reads. "It is difficult to see how this is anything other than a statement of animus by a major American corporation against the beliefs of millions of Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox citizens. The statement adds, "It is our sincere hope that Apple will draw back from this divisive and deeply offensive position. The corporation's leaders must be made to understand that they do the country no good service in capitulating to efforts to stigmatize, marginalize or defame people on one side or the other in important moral debates."

The Manhattan Declaration asks its signees to vow to civilly disobey any law that grants LGBT rights. Its authors say they will make a third run at Apple in the new year. Oh, and they'll need you to send them LOTS OF MONEY for that.

iPhone App Of The Year

OK, this one kinda blows my mind.

(Via - The Daily What)

GLAAD Action Alert: Tell Apple To Stay Strong On The Manhattan Declaration

Two weeks ago, I asked to you to use the Family Research Council's own link to thank Apple for keeping the Manhattan Declaration app off the iPhone. (And thousands of you did.) Responding to yesterday's video from NOM, today GLAAD echoes that request.

The 'Manhattan Declaration' calls gay and lesbian couples "immoral," it calls the recognition of their relationships "false and destructive," and claims that allowing them to be married will lead to "genuine social harms." The original application also contained a quiz in which the "right" answers were those that oppose equality for gay and lesbian people. This application fuels a climate in which gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people are put in harm's way. Apple did the right thing in recognizing that this application violates the company's guidelines. Join GLAAD in thanking Apple for their action to remove the app and urging them to stay strong in the face of anti-gay activism.

Sign GLAAD's petition to Apple.

New NOM Ad Slams Apple's Steve Jobs Over Banned Manhattan Declaration App

Hate groups are being relentless in their campaign to see the anti-gay Manhattan Declaration app restored to the iPhone. Signers of the Declaration vow to disobey any laws that protect LGBT Americans from discrimination.

(Tipped by JMG reader Christopher)

Manhattan Declaration Authors Beg For Money To Continue Their Battle With Apple

Saying that gay activists have forced them to redesign their iPhone app, the backers of the Manhattan Declaration today asked for more donations.

This controversy has caused us a lot of unanticipated expenses: The servers of the Manhattan Declaration website couldn't handle the crush of visitors to the site, so we had to upgrade the servers; we engaged in a public relations battle-a battle we had to win. By the way, we placed an op-ed with the San Francisco Chronicle-right in Apple's back yard. We have also had to pay to re-design the app. The questionnaire that we included in the app was a lightning rod for gay activists, so we deleted the questionnaire. All of this has put us behind budget by $30,000.

As you know, we operate on a shoestring, depending on ministries and organizations to donate their employees' time. But we must meet these unexpected expenses we just mentioned. We don't have any choice but to carry on this fight and win it. If Apple can arbitrarily block the Manhattan Declaration from its app store, then it can do so with any organization that bases its work on the Bible. I truly believe that the Manhattan Declaration was targeted by activists as a test case. If they succeed this time, they will be emboldened to target others.

RELATED: From Manhattan Declaration co-author Chuck Colson's op-ed in today's San Francisco Chronicle:

If the Manhattan Declaration's positions are offensive, then so are those of mainstream Christianity for the past 2,000 years. There is no doubt that the half a million signers of the Manhattan Declaration - along with the 50-plus Catholic bishops, numerous evangelical leaders and the metropolitan of the American Orthodox Church - would disagree strongly with those who support same-sex marriage. But disagreement is not hate. If the Manhattan Declaration's positions alone are enough to have its app removed, then I have to wonder whether Apple is considering removing other Bible-based - or even Jewish or Islamic - apps from its store.

Signers of the document vow to "civilly disobey" any law granting discrimination protections to LGBT Americans.

Quote Of The Day - Chuck Colson

"So often today, conscientious objectors to homosexual marriage are being accused of hatred. It’s a dangerous trend. Anyone who’s read the Declaration knows that’s not so, but so much for civil discourse. More and more, rather than engage in a reasoned and civil discourse about the issues, backers of so-called 'gay marriage' are determined to silence opposition.

"The methods range from judicial activism and censorship, to accusations of 'hate.' But the goal remains the same: to shut down the debate. Nearly half a million signers of the Manhattan Declaration have pledged to defend the sanctity of life, traditional marriage, and religious freedom. And one way to defend these principles is to stand up to the political bullying. And we will. But we will always respond in love to those who accuse us of hate." - Manhattan Declaration co-author Chuck Colson, responding to Apple's decision to delete his iPhone app.

RELATED: Colson and the Family Research Council have had their followers bombard Apple with tens of thousands of complaints. The Manhattan Declaration's signers vow to "civilly disobey" all laws that grant LGBT rights.

Quote Of The Day - Fake Steve Jobs

From the online diary of Fake Steve Jobs:

Let’s move on and return to our discussion of hating the homos. Let him who is without sin cast the first stone? Ring any bells? Or how about this: Judge not, lest ye be judged? Oh, and here’s one that you even put on your own Manhattan Declaration document, which is ironic because you don’t seem to understand what it means and in fact what you’re doing is the exact opposite of what this statement intended: Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s. In other words, do not become entwined with the state. Focus on the next world, not on this one. Or, to be more blunt: Stay the hell out of politics, you boneheads. If a state or federal government wants to marry gay people, that’s their decision. Leave it alone. Go say some prayers. [snip]

It’s bad enough that you’re hateful bigots. But to dress up your hate and bigotry as an expression of Christianity? That, my friends, is pure evil. If you want to go around hating people, fine. Go for it. It’s stupid, and pointless, but whatever. Go hate people. Just don’t go around saying Jesus told you to do it. So, listen up. You can’t put your bullshit in my app store. I’m sorry. But I won’t let you use my store to spread your hate. I don’t want any part in the spreading of your phony religion, either. There is no God. There is no heaven. There also is no hell, which is too bad, because if hell did exist, you would surely be spending eternity there, with red-hot pokers up your butts. And nothing would make me happier.

(Tipped by JMG reader Larry)

More Christian Anger At Apple Over Removal Of Manhattan Declaration App

Last week Apple deleted an app for the Manhattan Declaration, a document whose signers pledge to disobey any law protecting LGBT Americans from discrimination. The Family Research Council, an SPLC-certified hate group, is leading a petition campaign calling for Apple to restore the app. Today Christianist "humorist" Stuart Sheppard takes on the issue.

(Via - Good As You)

Tony Perkins Is Ever So Pissed At Apple

After complaints from LGBT activists, a few days ago Apple quietly removed an iPhone app for the Manhattan Declaration, whose signers vow to disobey all laws granting rights to gay Americans. Tony Perkins, head of the Family Research Council hate group, is furious.

Silencing opposition has become a winning strategy for the Left because fewer people seem willing to speak up. On issues like marriage, where homosexuals are clearly losing the debate, they'll simply try to put the question beyond debate. And until we push back, liberals will continue to throw the trump card of hate until there are no longer two sides to any issue. America is starting to play by their rules of "if you can't say anything nice about homosexuality, don't say anything at all." And increasingly, the Left is recruiting the big hitters of the cultural and corporate movements to join them. When they offend us, it's "tolerance." When we disagree with them, it's "hate." Speak out, America! Contact Apple and urge them to support real equality--and that means giving both sides a say.

Let's all use Perkins' link (above) and thank Apple for not giving a voice to hatred.

iTunes Has A "Huge" Announcement

Apple is teasing a "huge" announcement for iTunes that will make the product "unforgettable." Tech watchers are betting on a change to a cloud-based service in which your library would be hosted remotely, but accessible from any web-enabled device such as your iPhone. Others are guessing on a Zune-like subscription service in which you'd have access to all of iTunes for a flat monthly fee. Or it could be some combination of both.