Victory In Virginia Community

A porn shop closes its doors after a year and a half of 

defending the business in court.

Krial (the porn shop owner)

told the newspaper that if his store stayed open, 

"They were going to come at me with all the charges they could. 

Nobody needs this kind of aggravation."

This is a perfect example of a community taking action!!

Read the whole story here.

SI One

Just when you think you've seen it all. . .Southwest Airlines has put a decal of a Sports Illustrated swim suit model on the ENTIRE airplane. This is just despicable. Do you know how Southwest Airlines views this? The title of their blog post is -Raising the Bar.

"This plane, N922WN, is wrapped with a temporary decal featuring the cover model, from the 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. This definitely seals the deals on Southwest Airlines’ FUN and edgy factor!" (SWA blog)

Why does an airline business promote the Sports Illustrated Issue? There are serious problems with this. The obvious problems of sexualizing women and not protecting our young children from images.

I wanted to put a picture on this post, but I will spare you the image.

I appreciate some of the comments from the SWA blog:

I am a Southwest Pilot. I will not fly this plane. I am offended.

I am a SWA Employee and am disgusted and embrassed by this!!!!!!! To our SWA Customers...."I am sorry!"

This is not art, it's just plain old bad taste. I feel very sorry for the female employees of Southwest Air. This is just sign that it's time for me to sell my shares and get out of the airline business.

i agree with the other posters who believe that this was in poor taste. At some point we'll make the full connection that these types of images are damaging...attention getting, obviously, but overall they are demeaning and diminishing to women in our society.

Victory in the Court

A federal appeals court on Friday upheld a law that requires pornographers who take photos of people engaged in sexually explicit acts to provide "proof of age," a ruling that strengthens prevention on the exploitation of children by pornographers.

A federal appeals court on Friday upheld a law that requires pornographers who take photos of people engaged in sexually explicit acts to provide "proof of age," a ruling that strengthens prevention on the exploitation of children by pornographers.

The full panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit upheld the Child Protection and Obscenity Enforcement Act of 1988, after a three-judge panel ruled it unconstitutional in October 2007.

The law requires pornographers who take photos of people engaged in sex acts to keep records of their names and ages to prove they are not minors.

(Taken from Illinois Family Institute email alert.)


Thanks to the Alliance Defense Fund and Alan Sears!

Breaking News- David Ogden

Unfortunately, after all the calls and emails, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to approve David Ogden by a vote of 14-5. His name will now be sent to the full Senate for a confirmation vote.

"All Democrats voted in favor of Ogden's nomination. Those opposing Ogden were Sens. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), and Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.)." (story here)

Thank you Senators!

Now we are on our way to have David Ogden as the #2 spot in the Department of Justice. Ogden has a long history of fighting for pedophiles, Playboy and Penthouse. We can only hope the Senate will fully research his record and vote to protect our children.

Thanks again for contacting John Kyl and the Senate Judiciary Committee to oppose this nomination.


The Arizona Family Council worked hard to voice our opposition to this nomination. We sent out a press release and were able to get Patrick Trueman on the Glenn Beck Show to talk about David Ogden.

Thanks, Pat, for speaking up on this critical appointment!

The Three C's - Tips on Contacting Lawmakers

I know I have felt nervous when asked to contact lawmakers regarding different issues.  

There is no need to feel anxious or hesitant!

Keep these tips in mind next time you contact your Representative or Senator!

The Three C's - From Focus Action:

1.) Be Concise - State your name and the reason for the call or email.

2.) Be Confident -  Your Representative or Senator works for you. 

3.) Be Courteous - No matter what happens, be polite and courteous to those you are contacting.

To read more, click here.

Facebook

I never had intentions of becoming a regular Facebook user. Now that I have a Facebook page, I've had a great time reconnecting with some old friends and keeping in touch with people I talk with regularly. I never would have imagined which friends I would meet up with. I guess it's important to be nice to everyone in Jr. High & High School, because you'll reconnect with them on Facebook.

Parents, your kids likely have a Facebook page. Have you asked them? Do you have one yourself? Have you talked about Internet safety with them? Now is the time. Here's some advice from Common Sense Media to get you up to speed.

WATCH A SHORT VIDEO HERE.

It only takes a moment to learn.

Facebook. Our teens love it. We hear lots of negative things about it -- the sex, the bad behavior, the drinking pictures, the irresponsibility. And all that stuff can be there. But Facebook can also be a great way for kids to stay in touch with their friends and showcase their interests (and have fun). Take a look at our 90 second video because it will help you learn the essentials for creating your own page. Once you do that, you can ask your kids to link to you. Even if they don't, there's nothing like understanding how something works to lessen our anxieties. Read our review, watch the video, then have fun exploring.

Tips for "friending" on Facebook

Start with your kids' age. If they're in middle school, it may be a sound policy to know what they're posting, since kids that age don't necessarily understand that they're creating a digital footprint that will long outlast the passions of the moment.

Talk to your high school-aged teens about whether or not they're comfortable letting you friend them. Many will be. This is a case of "know your kid," and it comes down to trust. But establish rules: No drug talk, no nudity, no pictures of drinking, no hate speech, no bullying, and no posting party locations -- all of these lead to ruin. Most of all, remind your teens that whatever they post will be in the cyberworld forever. (Keep watching Facebook's Terms of Service, by the way, since a recent -- and almost as recently recanted -- update said that the company owned everything anyone posted forever.)

Don't fill your kids' pages with your comments. As it is, simply having parents is mortifying enough at this age. Their friends don't need evidence of your existence (and you can always send them private messages).

Don't friend your kids' friends. See reasons above.

Remember: They can see what you post. If you're a friend, also be a role model. Keep your nose clean.

Choose your battles. You will see the good, the bad, and the truly unfathomable. If you don't want your kids to unfriend you, don't comment on every transgression. Keep it general.

Remember, you're the parent. Even if you aren't your kids' Facebook "friend," your job is still to pass your values along to them and to help them learn how to be safe and responsible on or offline.

Note- After reading these tips, I did go in and adjust my own privacy settings. Also, the Arizona Family Council will be coming soon to a Facebook near you.

Contact Your Senators!

National Coalition reported:

Pres. Obama has nominated David Ogden, a porn lawyer, for Deputy Attorney General. 

He would be the second-highest-ranking official in the Department of Justice.  He has defended Playboy and Penthouse and has opposed restrictions on abortion and hardcore porn. 

 The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on the nomination of Ogden for Deputy Attorney General on Thursday, February 26.

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR SENATORS!!

www.senate.gov

To read more about David Ogden, click here.

Visit National Coalition's Website for more information

Sexting

Connect With Kids reports:

Today in several states, a handful of children are facing felony charges of obscenity and child pornography. Their crime: sending nude photos of themselves or others over their cell phones. The kids call it "sexting."

Parents, what are you doing about the images on your child's cell phone? What are your family rules regarding cell phones?

This is an enormous problem. If you want to know how big, just Google 'sexting' to find story after story. Teens are even being charged for child porn.

Read more and watch a video about SEXTING.

Violent TV

*30 years of research and more than 1000 studies confirm that violent television creates fear and anxiety in young children
*Repeated exposure can impact kids' readiness for school
*Televised violence increases feelings of hostility and can decrease empathy for human suffering
*By the time our kids reach middle school, they've seen more than 8,000 televised murders. By age 18, that number escalates to *40,000 (and over 200,000 total violent acts)
*CSI, 24, and Law & Order: SVU are regularly watched by elementary school kids
*The nightly news is among the most violent TV that kids watch
*Violent TV promos are completely unregulated

To watch a video about this click here.

Thanks Common Sense Media.

Porn Filmed at a Local Park

We already know that it is easier and easier to view porn and for our children to gain access to inappropriate material. However, it is almost shocking that our children could be exposed just by going to the local neighborhood park at the wrong moment.

In Bartlett, Tennessee, a public neighborhood park was recently used as the setting for an adult web-site porno shoot. Evidently the web-site that filmed the pornographic video promises to visit other public places as well.

Neighbors were understandably upset when they found out about the shoot. I'm sure they worried about their children and even themselves if they had come upon the scene inadvertently. When asked about his reaction, the minister that lives across the street from the park said, "I don't have the words. I'm a Baptist minister and I have no words."

The police in Bartlett are investigating the incident and have indicated that several laws have been broken - one of them being public indecency.

It is heartbreaking to know that no matter how well we try to protect our children from the harm of pornography, they could walk right into it as they go to play on the slide at the park. It makes me realize just how vigilant I must be in protecting my children.

Original article at:
http://current.com/items/89238767/x_rated_video_shot_in_tennessee_public_park.htm

SI Swimsuit Issue

The Swimsuit Issue is about to hit stores and mailboxes. Our friends at American Decency have provided us with some interesting facts: (By the way, don't search for 'sports illustrated,' because you will get several inappropriate pictures.)

2008 and 2009 SI Swimsuit Editions:
A few comparisons --

Advertisements:
2008 - 50 ads in 225 pages
2009 - 37 ads in 178 pages

Photos:
2008 - 26 topless
2009 - 13 topless

The following companies that advertised in 2008 did not advertise in 2009:

Zune
Gillette
Pernod Ricard liquor
Calvin Klein
Sprint
Craftsman tools (sears)
Lifestyles condoms
Samsonite luggage
Callaway golf
Suzuki
Foot Locker
Yamaha
Schick
Honda
Stetson cologne
California Almonds
AT&T
Marc Ecko
Peak antifreeze
Jack in the Box restaurants
Redman tobacco
Columbia sportswear
Wrangler jeans
Head and Shoulders
San Diego visitors bureau
DaSani water – Coca-Cola
Razr2 phones
Corona
Taco Bell
Alterna eyewear
Godiva chocolate
Diamond is Forever

Repeat advertisers - did advertise in 2008

Pontiac
Old Spice
Chaps
Evan Williams whiskey
Perry Ellis
Jack Daniels
Rockport
Match.com
Axe
Budweiser
Giorgio Armani
Canadian Club
Dodge
GMC
Jeep
Ford
Abilify
Wrigley

Parents need to show the right kind of love.

At this Valentine's Day, Rebecca Hagelin reminds us of the right kind of love that our children need. She always says it perfectly:

The sad reality is that showing true love for our own flesh and blood in today's society, for many parents, is often replaced with a totally selfish desire on the part of the parent to be liked by their child.

In other words, so many moms and dads today want to be our children's "friend" more than we want to protect, nurture, and mold them into the best that they can be. Simply put, we're so afraid to challenge them that we're failing in our duties to show real love toward our children by protecting them.

Read more here.

Keep calling!

The Senate Judiciary Committee is being flooded with phone calls by people who are opposing the nomination of David Ogden. If you haven't called yet, please do. (See the following post for contact information.)

Testimony of David Ogden

You can read what David Ogden said today before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Also, the Honorable John Warner testified in his behalf.

Read the testimony here.

The AP has a story about David Ogden's testimony today. Yesterday, we contacted Jon Kyl's office to voice our concern over this nomination. Here is what Kyl said to Ogden today:

"You've taken some very extraordinary positions, some left-leaning and unorthodox positions," Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz. told Ogden, citing the lawyer's past work opposing some anti-pornography statutes and mandatory parental notification for teenage girls getting abortions.



Thank you Jon Kyl!

Super Bowl Mishap

Many people in Tucson were interrupted while watching the Super Bowl with a porn clip. Right after Larry Fitzgerald scored a touchdown, Comcast cable viewers were exposed to a 30 second pornography clip.

Comcast appears to be innocent in this mishap and is doing everything possible

This is completely disturbing that families were subjected to this explicit material when they didn't want to be. That is one of the biggest problems I have with pornography. They are targeting me and bombarding me and my family.

I have lost my choice, but I have not lost my voice.

Read the story here.

Urgent Action Alert!

Obama has appointed David Ogden to the DoJ. Ogden has represented many companies that produce pornography. We need to call the Senate Judiciary Committee offices Wednesday (since the vote occurs on Thursday), and try to bombard the offices with callers, to let the Judiciary Committee know that we do not want someone in this position who has represented Playboy, Penthouse, and who has fought library porn filters.

The Senate Judiciary Committee phone numbers are below. Ogden will be #2 at the DOJ, unless we can get citizens to voice their opposition to his nomination. Someone is needed who will protect families, not pornographers.

Senate Judiciary Committee Majority & Minority Offices: 202-224-7703 & 202-224-5225

Read more stories about this:

FRC Blog

PR Newswire

Obama Picks Porn Lawyer for #2 at Justice

This is incredibly alarming!!

Fidelis: Obama Picks Porn Lawyer for #2 at Justice

This story has been broken by Brian Burch at Fidelis. We appreciate your work!

Take Action!

From Citizen link email alert:

When millions of Americans tuned in to NBC to watch the Super Bowl on Sunday, they saw not only a close football game, but also a lot of sexually explicit commercials. Advertisers like GoDaddy.com and Doritos gave families an eyeful of scantily clad women.
Melissa Henson, spokeswoman for the Parents Television Council, said parents should take action.
"I don't think we need to silently sit back and accept the direction television is going," Henson said. "There is an opportunity to let our voices be heard, and to help set the network that's broadcasting the Super Bowl and the NFL straight."
TAKE ACTION
Tell the National Football League, NBC and the Federal Communications Commission that you have seen enough raunchy ads on TV. You can find contact information through our Action Center.

(This action alert is different because it goes to the FCC, NBC and NFL Commissioner.)

Super Bowl Ads

The Super Bowl ads went beyond anything I have seen before. And I only saw about 3 of them. When I saw this latest action alert, I couldn't believe that NBC would so blatently censor. Why should somebody else shove sex and alcohol down my throat for an entire 3 hour game? Where are the good, clean, funny, classic Super Bowl commercials? The commercials yesterday were not appropriate for children of any age.

Please join with us by emailing NBC. Read more here.

Watch the video here.
(I've previously blogged about this commercial.)