Want to redesign NYTimes.com? (Via Matt Haughey’s blog.)

That is all. (Via.)

Kevin is the latest to call my attention to a story that’s been roiling the gay blogosphere. Microsoft, long beloved of gays for its progressive partnership policies, done did us wrong (in the eyes of many) by “withdrawing its support for a state bill that would have barred discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.”

Thing is, this isn’t a straightforward “cruel, giant corporation screws oppressed minority” story. This is more like “giant corporation declines to back legislation preventing cruel majority from screwing oppressed minority,” which makes it a bit murkier in my view. Why?

As gay MeFite dirtynumbangelboy points out in the related MetaFilter thread, progressives usually decry corporate muddling in politics. That MS is stepping out of the legislative fray rather than throwing its dirty corporate weight around should give us cheer, right?

While I don’t know that there are any progressives out there who want corporations to have no voice in civil affairs, I do think this is a matter best decided by the Washington state legislature, not Microsoft. A solid, coherent progressive strategy on this front might be to say, “Oh, so you’re withdrawing your voice on legislation now? How about you dial down your attacks on some of these antitrust laws then?” I have a sneaky suspicion that using this to rally for Microsoft’s greater withdrawal from public affairs would have a more positive effect than excoriating them for dooming this bill.

It’s not Microsoft’s fault that employers can still discriminate against gays in Washington, it’s the fault of the legislature. Let’s not forget that.

Douglas Rushkoff, who’s only the coolest ever, not only has a new book coming out (via), but also has a book available as a PDF online — Open Source Democracy: How Online Communication Is Changing Offline Politics.

Lexicon is a game in which you and your fellow players create an encyclopedia for a world that doesn’t exist. For example. (Via.)

Cross-posted from the Beehive, ’cause I’m just that lame, sorry.

Tucked into The Fresno Bee‘s wire feed is this nugget — The Gap will be opening a new chain targeted to boomer women, called … wait for it … “Forth & Towne.”

From the press release:

“We created an address with the name ‘Forth & Towne,’

because we wanted it to evoke a sense of place — to signify a special

and unique shopping destination,” explained Gary Muto President, Forth & Towne. “‘Forth’ references our fourth brand, and ‘Towne’ conveys a sense of community that we want to create for our customers when they shop with us.”

Would it be snarky to point out that they misspelled both “fourth” and “town”? I’m sure they’ll correct that oversight by the store’s fall launch.

“Fitting rooms will be at the center of the store, with ‘neighborhoods’ of merchandise around them,” Gap CEO and President Paul Pressler told the AP.

Oh! Cu-ute! So the checkout counter will be sort of like ‘City Hall,’ and the sales racks will be the ‘crack slums,’ right? And instead of mopping the store, it’ll be like ‘neighborhood beautification’ or whatever. I can’t wait to shop there. Oh wait, I’m not a boomer woman. Totally forgot. Just over-enthusiastic.

In addition: Steve at the other snark blog points out that the F&T ampersand just dodges what would be a very unfortunate acronym, given the store’s target demographic.

Actually, Dijjer.org says,

You don’t need to install anything. Just put a file on your site as you normally do, but add “http://www.dijjer.org/get/” to the beginning of your links. …

When they click a Dijjer link, users will get some of the file from your website, but most of it will come from other people running Dijjer. That’s how you save bandwidth. And when someone clicks on the link who hasn’t used Dijjer before, they’ll get help installing it. After that, downloads happen seamlessly inside their web browser.

Via TRFJ.

One of my favorite Olde Worlde reporters, Anne Hull (c.f.), has been a Pulitzer finalist six times, but not yet a winner. Now, the Washington City Paper is calling on the Pulitzer board to give Anne one of their rare “Special Awards” for her continually outstanding work.

A group of gay people mad about Australia’s ban on same-sex marriage are petitioning the UN to let them establish a sovereign gay nation. Love it.

Images of the N.Y. that might have been. This was apparently on Boing Boing and Kottke a month ago, but I missed it coming and going. (Via Things.)