Catching up on the week's weirdness.

[lance_sibley]

Some of you have already read the details on gurudata's LJ, but those of you who are members of LGBT fandom who aren't on his friendslist should be informed of this development... and even those of you who aren't may want to read this.

A few weeks ago, gurudata (who is head of Publications for Gaylaxicon) contacted a printer (Moffitt Print Craft Limited in Guelph, Ontario) to get a quote for our Programme Book. He managed, thanks to whitesangria, to find a printer that would do the job at an excellent price. He sent them the files on Monday night, well before their June 1 deadline to get the job done, and was reassured that everything was fine, and that they would have no problem getting the order done.

Fast-forward to Wednesday, and they contacted him, saying that they were unable to complete the project. When gurudata pointed out that they had only recently told him there were no problems, the guy made excuses: they were too busy, they were understaffed, and so on.

Now, stuff happens, sure... but it gets stranger.

gurudata decided to remove the files from their FTP server, so he logged on... and discovered that the files had already been removed. That may not seem strange in and of itself, but there were several other, older, files still there. Including files from the "World Of Life Bible Institute" and several other Christian organizations. (That's right... these guys have no security to prevent you from seeing what their other clients have submitted.)

When gurudata first posted about this yesterday, I was suspicious, but not as quick to jump to conclusions as he and others were. Perhaps some big job came in from a regular client that had to be done quickly, who knows?

Except that this morning, dx4 phoned them, pretending to be seeking quotes for a fairly large print job that needed to be done quickly... and they said, "Sure, no problem - we can do that."

A call to the Better Business Bureau is definitely in order. Had I known about this at 8:45 this morning when I was on the phone with the Xtra writer who had to submit her article on the convention this morning, I would have mentioned it to her then.

This is a country where discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is Constitutionally prohibited. And the more I think about this, the angrier I get. I'm thinking "lawsuit". (Okay, maybe that's a little overboard... but I'm still upset.)

Fortunately, gurudata was able to find another printer who would take on the job for only slightly more money. But still... there's a principle here.

Come to think of it, I think there was a similar case recently that also involved a printer refusing to take on a job for a gay-related organization. I just can't remember if it was in the States or here... perhaps one of my TrekBBS friends will remember, since I think I read about it in TNZ?

On a lighter note, bovil shared the following with his friendslist the other day, and I'm sharing it with you. You know the carnival game that involves throwing beanbags at a hole in a plywood wall for prizes? Well, apparently in Cincinnati this game is known as 'cornhole'...

And you can even buy 'Cincinnati World Cornhole Championship' t-shirts...

And here's another amusing t-shirt, from Offworld Designs:



Crap, there goes a flash of lightning. And I was thinking about running over to Dominion for a loaf of bread, because I feel like having a peanut butter sandwich. At least I think it was lightning. I wasn't actually looking out the window at the time.

Comments

[montrealais.livejournal.com]

This is is a country where discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is Constitutionally prohibited.

To be precise, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation by the law and government is constitutionally prohibited.

Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation by private parties is prohibited by statute, to wit the various human rights acts.

(Of course, following Vriend v. Alberta, you could argue that the Constitution requires the government to ban s.o. discrimination by private parties by statute, but still.)

Just as a heads up. You're still protected, for what it's worth, but it would be kind of unfortunate to be demanding recourse under the wrong law ^_^

matt_mcl, policy wonk

[boywhocantsayno.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the clarification.

FYI, I just emailed the person writing the article for Xtra... we'll see if she does something with it in this issue.

[antikythera.livejournal.com]

I was going to ask that... I didn't think government could decide who a private business could refuse as a client.

[kanecool.livejournal.com]

Is that squid for gurudata? ;)

[boywhocantsayno.livejournal.com]

Hee!

Actually, it's Cthulhu, the Old One from the works of H.P. Lovecraft.

[hoskie.livejournal.com]

That is appauling and if I were you, I would definitely raise a big stink about that. :/

(That Cthulhu t-shirt is amazing! ... the last thing I need is more funny t-shirts, but... *grins wickedly*)

Crap, there goes a flash of lightning.
That's going on over at my end as well. I unplugged my laptop and I'm running on battery power right now... I should probably switch over to wireless internet as well because my cable modem is plugged into the wall... :/

[boywhocantsayno.livejournal.com]

That is appauling and if I were you, I would definitely raise a big stink about that. :/

I just sent the writer doing the Xtra article the links to gurudata's LJ, in which he details the whole thing. I'll likely send it to the editor of fab as well. And maybe the reporter from Outlooks who is coming to the con.

(That Cthulhu t-shirt is amazing! ... the last thing I need is more funny t-shirts, but... *grins wickedly*)

That was my thought as well. When I did those 16 loads of laundry a few weeks ago, I had to fold about two dozen t-shirts and put them on top of my dresser, because they wouldn't fit in the drawers. :(

That's going on over at my end as well. I unplugged my laptop and I'm running on battery power right now... I should probably switch over to wireless internet as well because my cable modem is plugged into the wall... :/

Yes, be careful... I don't think it's as big an issue for me because I'm surrounded by much taller buildings. (My apartment building is 14 stories, and there are several 20- and 30-story buildings around the area.) I've been using my computer when the power and cable went out before, and never had a problem.

[yellow-freshia.livejournal.com]

That is just disgusting. I cannot believe the convention was treated that way. Have you thought about confronting the company?
I would have been on the phone so fast, giving them a piece of my mind and then telling them how maybe I was thinking the press might be interested in this.... but that's me.

[boywhocantsayno.livejournal.com]

I've emailed the links to gurudata's posts to the writer who's doing the article on the con for Xtra. gurudata was saying that he may contact the BBB.

[cuteteenboy.livejournal.com]

I have a print shoppe I'm working with through Darian's Friends who can probably do the project immediately for less money than you're paying.

But I need the details.

[boywhocantsayno.livejournal.com]

As I said in my last phone message (but I'll post this here in case you see this first), they'd already started, alas. Unfortunately, gurudata had to move quickly on this. But thanks for the offer.

[antikythera.livejournal.com]

Okay, so you did find someone else to do the job fast enough.

I was going to suggest killing two birds with one stone -- spreading the word in the gay community as fast as you could, and offering ad space to any friendly print shop that would be able to do the job on time. You get your printing done, a trustworthy business gets ad space, and the outfit in Guelph gets baaaaad publicity. Everybody wins who should win. ^^

[boywhocantsayno.livejournal.com]

That's an excellent idea... though gurudata was able to find another printer and they've already started work.

But word will be spread about this, never fear...

[indydark.livejournal.com]

things that happen on the days that I can't get to my LJ!!

It's great to have friends to give you legal advice.

On that note, as far as I know about companies refusing to do business with people/organizations they don't 'approve' of....they can refuse anyone the wish, but once they enter a contract to do business, they have to finish said business.

I say Sue, Sue, Sue!!!

lightning and tentacles and sex, oh my!

[sciffy-circo.livejournal.com]

*boggles*

Lightning and tentacles (tentacle sex, hentai?) make you think about running to the Dom(inion) store, which is sex obsessed, for some (gay?) guy in a banana suit singing about peanut butter jelly time?

Do I need more caffeine and sugar, or did I get that right the first time?

Hrm, maybe I should actually READ stuff, rather than just skimming it. My imagination is wandering again. It still thinks it's old enough to be out on its own...

Re: lightning and tentacles and sex, oh my!

[boywhocantsayno.livejournal.com]

Do I need more caffeine and sugar

I think you've had enough, young lady. ;)

[sciffy-circo.livejournal.com]

Ed Cox, store manager at Dick's Sporting Goods in Florence, Ky., said

Naah, that's gotta be coincidence, in an article about cornholing...

[boywhocantsayno.livejournal.com]

Indeed. :) I'd missed that particular line...

[sciffy-circo.livejournal.com]

I will not joke about real names.
I will not joke about real names.
I will not joke about...

Did I mention that one of my last temp jobs, I worked for a "Richard Gaylord"? No, really, at a bank.

And we do have Dick's Sporting Goods here. They used to be called "Galyan's". But the name, in connection with the store name, in that article... that kinda deserves a OMGWTFLOLBBQ!!!