* Bangkok Riots
* Amazon Vs. GLBT
* Nonprofit Bubble Burst
* UK Dirty Tricks Campaign
* WH to GM: Prep For Bkrptcy
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These are the stories that interest me this morning:
Mass antigovernment protests in Bagkok are being met with military force. Western governments have warned travelers to stay away from Thailand as riots engulf the capital. Red-shirted protesters supporting ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra are pressing for overthrow of current PM Abhisit Vejjajiv.A state of emergency was declared over the weekend.
- Amazon has some fence-mending to do. Over the weekend, sales rankings for — it appears — every book that has anything to do with gay, lesbian, bi, or transgender, issues disappeared. Author Mark Probst inquired and received a message from Amazon: “In consideration of our entire customer base, we exclude ‘adult’ material from appearing in some searches and best seller lists.” Surely it is a mistake that Amazon is saying anything having to do with “gay” is “adult.” A Twitter frenzy is underway and even has a hash tag (#amazonfail).
- Atlantic Philanthropies’ head Gara LaMarche says the “nonprofit bubble has burst” due to the economy, and big change is needed in the sector. In an article for the Chronicle of Philanthropy he says foundations need to start scrutinizing their own and grantees’ budget management, small nonprofits need to think about merging with larger competitors, and large nonprofits need to reorganize.
- British PM Grodon Brown’s “attack dog” aide resigned over the weekend when a dirty tricks capaign he masterminded came to light. Damian McBride sent emails from his government email account to a liberal blogger containing false sexual rumors about key conservative figures. The targets are furious and Brown himself is facing calls that he personally apologize.
- A rumor circulating holds that the Treasury department is on the brink of telling General Motors to prep for bankruptcy. The item is getting lots of speculation from industry sources and comes amid weekend stories about what a GM bankruptcy might look like. [UPDATE: Rumor seems to be coming to pass. More definitive news here.]
Thanks for reading,
Brad
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