Here is some news that is coming from across the river in NYC. Apple recently released and then withdrew an application for the iPhone called the "Baby Shaker" which got the ire of many child abuse prevention groups.
Here is the story from the Daily News:http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2009/04/22/2009-04-22_apple_pulls_baby_shaker_iphone_app_after_child_welfare_groups_protest.htmlHere are two letters from the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation that I got from a distribution list that I am on:
Letter #1:
The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation held a news conference today outside the Apple Store in downtown Manhattan releasing the letter below to the Boards of Directors of Apple and AT&T. Just about every television network was represented at the news conference so watch your local evening news tonight for complete coverage. While Apple has removed the "BABY SHAKER" app from its online store, Steve Jobs and Randall Stephenson have not issued a personal public apology, Apple has not issued a full accounting of how this was vetted and launched and Apple and AT&T have not offered a significant plan to mitigate the damages they have done to prevent child abuse. Until they do, know we will continue to hold these organizations responsible for their actions. We have also provided the list of Board Members and their contact information. They have a fiduciary and corporate responsibility to ensure their companies do the right thing immediately!
All the best,
Jennipher
Jennipher Dickens
Communications Director
The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation
www.thebrainproject.orgLetter #2:Open Letter To the Board of Directors of Apple, Inc. and AT&T, Inc.;
Within the last 72 hours America has seen the soul of your organizations and something is very wrong. Your companies are reporting record earnings and yet you are showing no signs of corporate responsibility.
As you know by now, Apple released an iPhone application on Monday which simulated and encouraged the shaking and killing of babies called "BABY SHAKER". As the father of a 3-year-old daughter who was shaken when she was only 5 days old, breaking 3 ribs, both collarbones and causing a severe brain injury, I was shocked, appalled and angered! As the Founder of the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation, named after my daughter, with the mission to prevent pediatric acquired brain injury and to support the millions of children/young adults who suffer from the #1 leading cause of death and disability in the United States, the damage you have caused is immeasurable!
Apple displayed extreme recklessness in launching this application and the results were immediate and disturbing. Below are a few quotes from journalists and editors based on our press release yesterday who prove the seriousness of your actions. Go online and read the anonymous blog comments making fun of shaking a baby. The harm your organizations have caused in making light of harming and killing babies is enormous!
"I know! That baby shaker thing is so funny! We’ll mention your support in the review." - John Biggs, Editor-in-Chief, CrunchGear
"Uh, it’s a joke." - Ken Layne, Managing Editor, Wonkette.com
"Learn to take a joke." - Richard Nalley, Senior Editor, ForbesLife
"I couldn’t disagree with you more. The Apple App store is like a bookstore. It needs to be open to all the most repulsive ideas or we will have a regime of censorship. The next thing you know some corporate executive will decide that it is not politic to allow an app that furthers an idea you care deeply about." - Saul Hansell, Technology Reporter, The New York Times
While we are glad public outcry forced Apple to pull the application, the cynical way it was pulled without any explanation, any apology or any plans to rectify the damage they have already caused can only lead me to one explanation: this was a purposeful public relations effort coinciding with their campaign to promote their 1 billionth application download during Child Abuse Awareness Month and Shaken Baby Prevention week! The question I ask of you as fiduciaries of both Apple and AT&T is
"How many babies is your 1 billionth application download worth?"
We have asked for a public apology from Steve Jobs and we would like one from Mr. Stephenson as well.
We would like a complete accounting as to who was responsible for the vetting and launching of this sick application.
We would like Apple and AT&T to develop a significant plan to reverse the damage they have caused.
Anything short of this will reinforce the belief this was a purposeful and cynical plan to reach a 1 billionth application download! As Directors of both of these companies you have a fiduciary and corporate responsibility and the authority to act immediately - we expect nothing less from you.
On behalf of the millions of families across this country who are dealing with a child who suffers from a pediatric acquired brain injury (PABI), we are demanding action.
If we do not receive an adequate response from Apple and AT&T by the time we begin our 15-city American PABI Tour on May 3rd (pabitour.com - to promote awareness and support families who are dealing with PABI) we will hold a demonstration in front of the Apple Store in all 15 cities.
Regards,
Patrick B. Donohue, Esq.
Founder, The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation
www.TheBrainProject.org
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Iphone Application "Baby Shaker" Pulled from Virtual Shelves
Here are some photos of the event Peter Cammarno held this morning to help cleanup Observer Highway a bit. Mike Novak joined later in the morning and helped out as well. Even Dave Roberts stopped by for a quick hello and picked up a windshield wiper or rubber hose and pitched in. Maurice Fitzgibbons was there as well for logistics:
