The scenario: Two sites are out there, the difference in the domain names? One "s" at the end. One wants the other one to cease & desist.

Sounds familiar don’t it?

Well, this one’s different.

We all fought like hell to crush the one with the "s" the last time, because they were greedy. Now we’re fighting to save the one with the "s", because it’s all about reputation and hard work.

Sick of the mystery and metaphors?

The Digital Divas, founded by Dana Whitmire, have been offering tutorials and services (for free) on the web since 1997. The Digital Divas have also founded and sponsored many causes, most notably, Grey Day, to acknowledge the rights of artists and their copyrighted work on the web.

In April 2000, Microsoft launched their own "Digital Diva", Stacy Elliott. She also offers tutorials and services for free. It’s an open & shut case of "Trademark Dilution". A Cease & Desist was sent to Microsoft on April 25th, 2000.

Microsoft, to this day, has ignored it.

Just change her name, already!
I’m sure the bottom line is that Ms. Whitmire & the Digital Divas fear all their years of hard work and reputation will be swept away by the Microsoft Publicity Machine. Apparently, this is one of the "kinder, gentler Microsoft" tactics (You know, like how Uncle Bill is on the TV, every night, talking about how "They’ve changed so many lives…need to be free to invent…yadda yadda yadda" )… Well hey, it’s not too late! The site is still under construction, Stacy Elliott is out promoting the site, and Microsoft can easily change the name of this project…..

Here have been some reader’s suggestions that Mrs. Elliott can use:
Cybergrrl Digital Woman Cyber Diva Techno Diva Webmistress (OOPS! sorry, Jo!) Computer Chick	Pixel Pixie Mistress of Technology La Femme Digitale Technologica Snow Bitch (What the hell is this one supposed to mean???)

The simplest, easiest way out. Here’s your chance to be heroes, Bill & Stacy!!!!! Otherwise Microsoft is going to look real bad with the Digital Diva’s "Diva & Goliath" campaign. The list of supporters grows stronger every day…. Your tv ad runs for 30 seconds, usually while we’re getting a beer or going to the bathroom. Our Web Pages are on 24/7. Think about it.

Why are you doing this, Eric?

I struggled like hell with this for two weeks…I felt like it would be hypocrisy on my part to say in one breath "etoy" had every right to exist and then say "The Digital Diva" site didn’t. I publicly announced that I couldn’t support the Divas.

But it’s totally different. Etoy (who doesn’t even sell toys) was shut down by a greedy corporation in an unfair court battle, where they weren’t allowed to even defend themselves; interNIC pulled their plug (not required in the injunction) at the request of e-toys …. all in the name of the almighty buck in the holiday shopping season. Corporate greed was the bottom line.

This time it’s about hard work and reputation. The 70+ members of the Digital Divas have worked very hard in the past three years to improve the web, fight for the rights of artists, and help instruct new designers and newly-connected surfers make the most of the web.

Deciding factor…

Today, I was stuck with a bit of a technical problem. Dana Whitmire, knowing full well what a total prick I’ve been to the Divas, still helped me. So as far as I’m concerned, if this sort of kindness, helpfulness and courtesy is what her Digital Divas is all about, then I want them around forever…..

"Every one has a story to tell…" - Derek Whatzisname "Yeah, but can they tell it without putting me to sleep?" - Uh…I’d rather not say.

Rants are SO 1999. Weblogs are in.

Rants, Site updates, diaries, and online journals have merged and evolved into the new mega-trend: Weblogs (That’s "blogs" to you ultra-hip types!).

Bullshit! It’s the same damn thing, recycled, repackaged…and as annoying as ever! Escargot, by any other name, is still a nasty, slimy-ass SNAIL!

(Memo to me: Write another rant, thanking the goddamn French for their obnoxious contributions to our society and culture!)

Here is an excerpt from a "blog" I stumbled across recently:
(Note: The names were changed, as I noticed a "Copyright Warning" at the bottom of the page…OH YEAH! This is EXACTLY the crap Oliver Stone’s looking for in his next movie!).

Monday, Decembruary 10^th 1999- Bob came by for coffee.

Sunday, Decembruary 9^th 1999- I bought a new chair. Bob came with me. Afterward, we had coffee.

Saturday, Decembruary 8^th 1999- I have come to the conclusion that Bob has NO life WHATSOEVER! He wants to have a weblog, just like me…what’s he gonna talk about? How he always comes over for coffee? Who wants to read that crap? (except my readers, of course!)

Site after site after site after site……of this STOOPID DRIVEL…JEEZ-US!!!!

They’re not ALL bad.

This one is great! The Webmistress Blogs Again is well thought out, witty as hell…
And proof positive that the Legendary Jeffrey Zeldman rips her off every chance he gets*….

(*It’s a GOOF guys! Relax!!! She’s a buddy of mine, and we BOTH admire the hell out of JZ…. flame her, and you’ll answer to me.)

So’s Baylink. Thanks to Jay Ashworth, I learned that May 7th was the "National Masturbate-a-thon", where you get your friends, family and co-workers to sponsor you to…uh….well, THAT should be self explanatory. Proceeds went to good causes.

But May 7th??? What were the promoters thinking? I would’ve done it on "Palm Sunday"!

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Come on! Make it exciting, at least!
It just seems so restrained… like they worry. "Oh God, what if ’so-and-so’ reads this???".

FUCK EM!!!! If people can drag a loved one on a talk show, and drop a bomb like: "Honey, there’s a reason why we haven’t had sex in our eight years of marriage…I’M REALLY A MAN.", in front of 20 million people….Why can’t we call someone an asshole on our webpages????

(Yeah…I just realized I left myself wide open with that remark.)

Imagine the following a "blog" would get with entries like:

February 30th, 2000: I can’t believe I caught my hubby jerking off and having cybersex!!!!

Click here to see the moron make a fool of himself.

Or….
April 32nd, 2000: Me, Jack and Chad got drunk tonite, and thought it would be funny to drop an upright piano off Chad’s roof, at 216 Christopher Street, NYC… looked just like the cartoons too! (Well, except it killed two people, and smashed a Domino’s delivery truck!).

The Police have NO clue who did it! LOL!

Or…. you can make something up! Hell, I don’t care! Just stop boring the shit out of me with little quips about your BORING-ASS LIVES!!!!

Ahhhh… LONG LIVE THE RANT PAGE!

(Natural predator of the weblog! Bwahahahah!)

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Weblogs we’d like to see….

O.J. Simpson’s Weblog

Thursday June 10, 1999 - This little girl’s cat, which has been missing for over a week, turned up dead today. Three guesses who everyone thinks did it. I am so sick of this! Every time something, or someone ends up dead in this neighborhood, they always think it’s ME! Do you want to know why? I’ll tell you why… because I’m BLACK. I bet if Jeffrey Dahmer or Charles Manson lived here, they wouldn’t accuse them! Well, that’s probably not a good example. Those men are convicted murderers. I, however, am not. Wednesday June 9, 1999 - Kato came by for coffee today.

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Gwen Stefani (of No Doubt)

Wednesday, May 2nd 2000 It’s official, I have the TOTAL HOTS for Eric Brooks! OMG! I can’t help it, he’s soooooooo cute! I’m at his website every chance I get!!!! Tuesday, May 1st 2000 Did some more touring-n-stuff, met the Pope & the President or something like like that, I dunno… All I keep thinking about is Eric Brooks …. Ohhhhhhhhhhhh…..

Now THAT’S some innerestin’ Blogging!

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