Thea’s Blog

On Wednesday, January 18, Gift Guide Online, along with Google, Wikipedia, Reddit and thousands of other websites, will take part in a massive Internet blackout protest. The blackout is a protest against proposed legislation in the United States—the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the U.S. House of Representatives, and the PROTECTIP Act (PIPA) in the U.S. Senate—that, if passed, would seriously damage the free and open Internet.

SOPA & PIPA are two US bills racing through Congress that threaten prosperity, online security, and freedom of expression. The PROTECT IP Act is dangerous, ineffective, and short-sighted. The House version, SOPA, just introduced by Rep. Goodlatte is far worse. By blacking ourselves out, even at the expense of lost revenue, all participating Web sites hope to raise awareness of what we know is a dangerous bill that will attempt to curb online piracy in an inherently unconstitutional manor.

At Gift Guide Online, we support everyone’s right to freedom of thought and freedom of expression. We believe in a free and open Internet where information can be shared without impediment. We believe that new proposed laws like SOPA and PIPA, and other similar laws under discussion inside and outside the United States, do not advance the interests of the general public but instead the special interests of those that lobby and pay to have their bidding done at the legislative level. SOPA threatens, rather than protects, property rights, and also threatens the Internet for all Americans (despite all the talk about this bill being directed only toward “rogue” foreign sites, there is no question that it targets U.S. companies as well).

Hollywood appears to have grown tired of those pesky DMCA laws that help protect innovation, economic growth, and creativity- rather than outdated business models- so they are trying to rewrite the rules and regulate the Internet without regard for the consequences posed on the rest of us. Please join Stop American Censorship and SOPA Strike, or Blackout SOPA if you’re on Twitter, Facebook or Google+.

On Jan 24th, Congress will vote to pass internet censorship in the Senate, even though the vast majority of Americans are opposed. We need to kill the bill - PIPA in the Senate and SOPA in the House - to protect our rights to free speech, privacy, and prosperity. It’s time to stand up for the Internet. Please join Gift Guide Online, as well as thousands of websites and individuals, in protesting SOPA and PIPA.

You can’t spell selfish without elf! Orrr, put the elf back in selfish!

Uhh, just use coupon code: Selfish to save an extra 20% on all clothes and accessories in this sale at JackThreads. Sale ends soon so saddle up the reindeer and get extra s/elfish.

Chicago based LuvCharlie is closing it’s online boutique on October 12, 2011. As LuvCharlie.com goes the way of the dinosaurs, it bequeaths onto us an extra 70% off (!!) coupon code.

The leftover selection is much smaller than their usual haul (I was hoping to snag a Goddis sweater at a ridiculously low price and landed on a blank page) so make your life easier and shop by category as opposed to designer. And still there are great deals on the Sale and Outlet pages, never-mind that you can use code GOODBYE for an extra 70% off of already slashed prices!

There are still some good staples and statement pieces left for you to grasp with your evil clutches as you say GOODBYE to the online boutique. There’s only a few days left so take time out this Columbus Day weekend and give LuvCharlie some love for the last time.

Catch an interactive screening of Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s delightfully filthy 2004 comedy during the Team America: World Police Sing- and Swear-Along (92YTribeca, 200 Hudson St at Canal St; 212-601-1000, 92ytribeca.org; 10pm; $13; includes one beer). Audience members are invited to croon along with such songs as “America, Fuck Yeah!” and “Montage.” The best part: the catharsis you will get from shouting the f-word (and other profanities) in unison.