Author: Brett

The Age of the Female-Centric Startup

Brett

http://thenextweb.com/insider/2012/03/18/who-runs-the-world-the-age-of-the-female-centric-startup/

Only 10% of venture-backed entrepreneurs are women. Yet women control a majority of consumer spending, are over 50% of the US population, and go to college in greater numbers than men. However, this dearth of female-run startups could be about to reverse in dramatic fashion, with nascent signs of a boom in female-centric startups founded by women and targeting the female market.

Companies such as LearnVest, BeachMint, and BirchBox are leading this gold rush, which arises from two trends. First, VCs are finally understanding the scale and power of building products for women. Second, more and more women are stepping forward to start companies, encouraged by a new woman-friendly attitude in the VC community. As a result, 2012 will mark the inflection point for female-centric startups as we will see a shift from under-investing in women, to making female-centric businesses a venture capital focus.

PBS KIDS GO! and WGBH Debut First App from Arthur Series

Brett

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/pbs-kids-go-and-wgbh-debut-first-app-from-arthur-series-2012-03-29

ARLINGTON, Va., Mar 29, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) — PBS and WGBH today announced the first app from the PBS KIDS GO! series ARTHUR — D.W.’s Unicorn Adventure for iPhone and iPod touch, available now on the App Store. Funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and produced by WGBH, D.W.’s Unicorn Adventure encourages nutritious snacking for kids ages 4-6, and ARTHUR fans of all ages. In the app, players have the opportunity to help Arthur’s little sister D.W. save a lost unicorn using the power of healthy foods.

“PBS is committed to helping kids learn and grow through healthy food choices,” said Lesli Rotenberg, Senior Vice President, Children’s Media, PBS. “D.W.’s Unicorn Adventure App is the latest addition to our resources across platforms — from online games, to on-air programming, to offline activities — that help families lead healthy and active lives.”

“D.W.’s Unicorn Adventure combines highly engaging mobile game play with a simple yet critical nutritional message: healthy snacks give you the energy to complete your grandest adventures — including those involving unicorns!” added Christine Zanchi, Executive Producer, Interactive, Children’s Media, WGBH.

Disney Jr. Announces Advisory Board Members to Guide Learning and Development Curriculum

Brett

http://www.toonzone.net/news/articles/42183/pr-disney-jr.-announces-advisory-board-members-to-guide-learning-and-development-curriculum/

Disney Junior has announced a newly formed council of academic advisors, comprised of experts in the fields of transmedia, storytelling, early education, language development, diversity, emotional learning, digital trends and literacy, to guide Disney Junior’s learning and development curriculum designed specifically for kids age 2-7. The announcement was made today by Nancy Kanter, Senior Vice President, Original Programming and General Manager, Disney Junior Worldwide, in advance of the new Disney Junior 24-hour basic cable/satellite channel launching in the U.S. on Friday, March 23 (12:00 midnight, ET/PT).

Kanter said: “We are thrilled to have assembled this prominent group of leading academics, the best in their fields, who will share with us their research, innovation, trends and knowledge in childhood education. Storytelling and character engagement is the key component in Disney Junior programming, and emerging technological advancements allow us to extend the television experience and deepen our viewers’ engagement via a multitude of platforms. Our advisory board will offer valuable insight into how we can best translate our series from television to online, games, apps and other extension experiences.”

Dan Savage’s TV Moment Continues in MTV Show

Brett

http://weblogs.variety.com/bltv/2012/03/mtv-continues-dan-savages-tv-moment.html#ixzz1qaaIN9Lg

A writer and provocateur, Dan Savage has an easy-going, glib manner when the subject is sex advice that’s well suited to TV — and especially engaging college students, as he tours and lectures dispensing much-needed wisdom to the hormonally challenged population.

MTV tries to bottle that in a new series, “Savage U,” premiering on April 3 at 11 p.m. And while Savage’s quick wit, no-nonsense observations and racy ripostes play well, the show proves a little bit too cute for its own good by seeking to create a sort of rom-com-style banter (minus the sex) between its star and his producer, Lauren Hutchinson, who’s basically reduced to following him around saying “Oh no you didn’t!”

Fortunately, the half-hour episodes (MTV’s ordered 12) go down pretty quickly, and to give you an idea of Savage’s approach to sex ed, there’s no way he’d let someone say something as suggestive as “go down pretty quickly” without making a joke about that.

Savage recently hosted the MTV spec “It Gets Better,” a much weightier effort based on his admirable viral video campaign, designed to provide a comforting shoulder to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youths.

 

 

‘Lesbian Families in the Deep South’ at Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

Brett

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/29/lesbian-families-in-the-deep-south_n_1389868.html

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Founded to teach about human rights and the fight for equality during the days of racial segregation, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is introducing a new topic: Lesbian awareness in the South.

The museum opens a new exhibit Friday night featuring photographs of lesbian couples and families living in the Deep South. Some women are depicted arm-in-arm or embracing with their faces fully visible. Others who weren’t comfortable being identified publicly are pictured with their backs to the camera. Some photos include the women’s children.

The 40 images are stark and plain. Shot against a white background, there’s nothing but the women and their kids to draw viewers’ eyes.

Two women are shown in military uniforms with their faces to the side; two female ministers were photographed in clerical garb. The women are young and old; While one couple is kissing there’s nothing sexual about the photos, and everyone is fully clothed.

GLSEN youth activists gather to support safe schools legislation

Brett

Washington, D.C. — On Saturday, March 24th, roughly 40 queer students and allied adults from across the country who “demonstrate superior leadership skills, live in key legislative districts, and have shown an interest in legislative advocacy” convene in Washington, D.C. for GLSEN’s 2012 Safe Schools Advocacy Summit.

According to Nathan Smith, the public policy associate for the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network, “the overall goal is to empower participants to make change at the local, state, and national level to create safer schools and to draw attention to the need for safe schools legislation.”

 

http://chicago.gopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/27799696/glsen-youth-activists-gather-to-support-safe-schools-legislation

GLSEN Releases Groundbreaking Study of Bias, Bullying and Homophobia in Grades K-6

Brett

NEW YORK – Jan. 18, 2012 – The Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) today released a new report on school climate, biased remarks and bullying, Playgrounds and Prejudice: Elementary School Climate in the United States. The report, based on national surveys of 1,065 elementary school students in 3rd to 6th grade and 1,099 elementary school teachers of K-6th grade, examines students’ and teachers’ experiences with biased remarks and bullying, and their attitudes about gender expression and family diversity. The surveys were conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of GLSEN during November and December 2010.

 

http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/library/record/2832.html?utm_source=GLSENResearch&utm_medium=twitter&utm_content=051&utm_campaign=GLSEN%2Bresearch

Keeping LGBT students safe from bullying

Brett

WASHINGTON, March 28, 2012 — America’s parents are worried. Every day, moms and dads watch their children go to school hoping that they will learn what they need to become happy and productive members of society.

They worry, as parents always have, about whether their child is receiving the attention he needs to master Algebra, to fulfill her potential as a scientist, or to excel on college entrance exams. But with a recent high profile string of teen suicides linked to harassment in public schools, parents are also worrying about their children’s safety in ways they never have before.

 

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/politics-and-pride/2012/mar/28/keeping-lgbt-students-safe-bullying/#.T3MB36n9Nyo.twitter

Warner Bros. Plots ‘Mandrake the Magician’ Movie

Brett

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/warner-bros-plots-mandrake-magician-298627

Warner Bros. is conjuring up Mandrake the Magician, picking up the movie rights to the classic comic strip with Atlas Entertainment producing.

Created by Lee Falk in 1934, Mandrake told of the adventures of an illusionist who had the power to hypnotize his foes at great speed. With his companion Lothar, an African strongman, he fought evildoers ranging from gangsters to masters of disguise to aliens. He also had a twin brother who used his power for evil instead of good.

Mandrake is one of those characters that Hollywood has long tried to nail down in a viable movie adaptation. Columbia Pictures made a 12-part serial in 1939, and a TV movie aired in the 1970s, but nothing has made it to screens since.