Komen learns power of social media: Facebook, Twitter fueled fury

Facebook and Twitter, take a bow. The head of Planned Parenthood on Friday credited the two social media platforms with forcing Susan G. Komen for the Cure to reverse course on its plan to withhold funding earmarked for breast health screenings.

Facebook and Twitter were the first to catch wind of the controversy -- and that led the mainstream media to sit up and take notice, said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The social media giants then led the online world in delivering a furious barrage of criticism over a move that many saw as trying to politicize women's health.

"It's been incredible; we're still sifting through the numbers," Richards said in a media conference call Friday morning. In addition to picking up $3 million in donations in just three days -- directly related to the awareness raised by social media -- Planned Parenthood's Facebook "likes" and Twitter followers increased by thousands upon thousands. Facebook alone picked up more than 10,000 "likes."

By contrast, Komen -- an organization accustomed to accumulating accolades and messages of support on its Facebook page -- was drowning in thousands upon thousands of critical comments.

"I absolutely believe the exposure on Facebook and Twitter really drove a lot of coverage by mainstream media," Richards said. "I've never seen anything catch fire [like this.]"

The uproar eventually led to Friday's dramatic conclusion (of a sorts), when Komen apologized and said it would change the internal guidelines that led the organization to strip funding in the first place.

Richards said that people used social media to tell stories about how they, or someone they loved, had used Planned Parenthood for basic health services. And they expressed outrage that politics may have played a role in the decision. (Many believe Komen was under pressure from conservatives and "political bullies" trying to undermine Planned Parenthood because it offers a variety of reproductive health services, including abortion. Komen denies politics had anything to do with the move.)

Social media attention also helped create new relationships, Richards noted, saying that she had been contacted by a representative of Livestrong, the nonprofit charity started by cyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong.

The immediacy of the social media reaction struck a nerve, she said, calling it an "incredible expression" of the nation's compassion for, and commitment to, women's health. It was "the authenticity of the response that carried the day," she said.

All that said, Komen still wins in both Facebook and Twitter's most common measurements of success: At last check, Komen's Facebook page had 545,365 "likes" compared to 235,796 "likes" for Planned Parenthood. And Komen's Facebook page also had many "shares" and comments supporting Komen's decision to strip funding.

Over on Twitter, Komen's official account has 39,086 followers at last check, while Planned Parenthood has 41,295. 

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Twitter / renelynch

Photo: Peter Foley / Bloomberg

Gabrielle Giffords: Poignant meetings mark final days in office

A day after announcing her intention to resign from Congress, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) on Monday completed the "Congress on Your Corner" event that was cut short more than a year ago when a gunman opened fire on her and her constituents in a Tucson parking lot. She and a dozen others were injured in the attack; six people were killed.

The congresswoman, who was shot in the head and has been struggling to recuperate, announced in a video posted online Sunday that she planned to resign this week to focus on her recovery, making Monday's gathering all the more poignant.

Among those who met with Giffords was Pat Maisch, who wrestled a gun magazine from the shooter and was hailed as a hero.

"I thanked her for her service, wished her well, and she just looked beautiful," Maisch told the Arizona Star.

Maisch, who was not injured in the shooting, said she was touched that Giffords returned to finish the meeting at the Safeway store, and was sad to see her leave public office.

"I've always said I would love for her to continue to be my congresswoman, but I want her to do what's best for her," Maisch said. "She's got to take care of herself."

On Monday, Gifford’s Facebook and Twitter feeds showed images of her meeting with survivors and others in her hometown of Tucson, the heart of her 8th Congressional District.

Giffords appeared holding the hand of Suzi Hileman, who brought 9-year-old Christina Taylor Green to meet the congresswoman outside the supermarket that fateful day. Christina was among those slain in the shooting. Hileman was shot three times.

In another picture, Giffords is shown embracing her former intern, Daniel Hernandez, who helped save her life by stanching her bleeding until paramedics arrived.

Giffords smiled and shook hands during the event, once again wearing the glasses she has sported during her recovery (but which she did not wear in the video released Sunday).

As reported in a tweet, Arizona rancher Gary Thrasher said after meeting with Giffords on Monday: "She had true grit then & she has true grit now."

Giffords has said she plans to travel to Washington to attend President Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday.

There, Giffords plans to sit between Reps. Jeff Flake, a Republican, and Raul Grijalva, a Democrat, according to a statement released by her office to The Times on Monday.

At last year’s State of the Union speech, held shortly after Giffords was shot and wounded, Flake and Grijalva flanked an empty seat reserved for her.

Giffords has invited Brian Kolfage to attend as her guest. Kolfage is a triple amputee who was injured during a mortar attack in Iraq in 2004 and serves on the congresswoman’s Veterans Advisory Council.

Obama has also invited Giffords’ husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, to attend the address, at which he will sit with the first lady, according to Monday's statement.

Jared Lee Loughner was later charged in connection with the Jan. 8, 2011, shooting outside the Safeway. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia and remains in federal custody as officials attempt to restore his competency to stand trial.

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Photo: Rep. Gabrielle Giffords greets Arizona rancher Gary Thrasher during a "Congress on Your Corner" constituent event in Tucson on Monday. Credit: Twitter

Wisconsin recall webcam: In this surprise hit, viewers write plot

Wisconsin bureaucrats -- and the recall effort to which they’re devoted -- make for surprisingly compelling video. Tens of thousands of viewers have tuned in to watch via webcam this week as state employees count petitions to recall Gov. Scott Walker and five other Republicans.

Workers with the Government Accountability Board -- which of course has its own blog -- are in the midst of sifting and scanning more than 1.9 million recall signatures submitted Tuesday. That amounts to three tons of paper.

Because of intense public interest in the proceedings (held at an undisclosed location), a webcam was set up to allow public monitoring -- but without the potential security problems of full public access.

Now the soundless webcam has developed a following of sorts, with devotees popping up on its Twitter account to nickname the anonymous petition counters and invent fictitious subplots to enliven the proceedings.

First, the nameless stars were nicknamed: "Sideburns," ''White Glasses" and "Flirty von Flirtenheimer."

Then came the intrigue. Among the Tweets:

"Flirty goes over to Sideburns' computer, only to find he scanned in a drawing of them riding a dolphin together that he drew."

"Looks like sideburns and flirty were just warned about inter office romance."

"Conflict arises when Sideburns realizes his sideburns signed a recall petition without his knowledge."

"Things still a little icy between Sideburns and Flirty so far today. He might need to cast his net a little wider."

"Sideburns probably told her that his estranged wife came back and threatened to ruin the recall with scandal if he didn't go with her."

Many viewers were further inspired Thursday when the webcam was adjusted to provide a fuller view of the eight computers and four folding tables in a windowless room with cinder-block walls.

By Friday, the recall mockery had reached fever pitch.

"Each recall volunteer was quickly assigned the personalities that the raw feed simply could not provide, ranging from the klutzy petition dropper to the boring guy obsessed with falconry to the pervy dude busted for having a staring contest with his co-worker’s rack," blogged Mark Riechers at A.V. Club Madison. "If you too would like to be mocked via the Internet for the amusement of the public, remember that the GAB is still looking for contestants, err, volunteers."

By Thursday afternoon, the webcam -- provided for free by 5Nines.com of Madison -- had logged 29,308 visitors, officials told the Associated Press.

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Photo: A frame grab from a webcam put up by the Government Accountability Board shows Wisconsin state workers in Madison processing about 1.9 million petition signatures to recall Republican Gov. Scott Walker and five other Republicans from office. Exciting stuff, right? Wrong. That's why viewers have begun making up their own plots. Credit: Government Accountability Board

Paula Deen: Public critical, 'Dancing With the Stars' intrigued

Paula Deen is in unfamiliar territory: The Queen of Butter is feeling the heat after she revealed this week that she kept her Type-2 diabetes secret while continuing to serve up the rich foods that some say led to the disease.

Not helping matters? She disclosed her illness while simultaneously announcing she's repping a diabetes drug. Reaction was swift, and almost universally negative toward Deen, who's much more accustomed to a warm reaction from the fans who swarm her wherever she goes. Here's a sampling from Twitter:

--"the paula deen thing is horrible. she waits 3 yrs, now is a sponsor for her meds? the world needs better people to teach them how to cook"

--"After years of promoting unhealthy foods, Paula Deen has won a sweet gig as a pharmaceutical spokeswoman. Pass the butter."

Perhaps it's no surprise that celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain also got in a little dig. Although he denies calling Deen a "diabetic scam artist" as TMZ's headline screamed, he did offer up this tart Twitter take on Deen's actions:

"Thinking of getting into the leg-breaking business, so I can profitably sell crutches later."

Bourdain, of course, once famously called Deen the ''most dangerous person to America" for proudly serving up food that she knows is bad for viewers.

Not everyone is bashing Deen. Time magazine's Healthland blog offers a thoughtful reality check about the multiple factors that lead to Type 2 diabetes, quoting Constance Brown-Riggs, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, as saying, "It’s an oversimplification to say that her cooking brought about her diabetes."

And in this "knock-'em-down-so-we-can-build-'em-back-up" media-and-entertainment world we live in, there's this new development: HollywoodLife.com says it has exclusively confirmed that ABC producers are trying to lure Deen onto Season 14 of its hit show, "Dancing With the Stars." (Would it be snarky to suggest that ABC might also be hoping for a little Novo Nordisk ad buy? OK, forget we said anything.)  

A representative for Deen said she wasn't available for comment this week, but might be available next week.

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Photo: Paula Deen. Credit: Carlo Allegri/Associated Press

'Sexperiment': Texas pastor beds down with wife atop church

A Southern Baptist pastor recently bedded down with his wife atop their Dallas-area church for what they called a 24-hour "Sexperiment."

"We're bringing the bed back in church," the Rev. Ed Young said.

"For far too long, the church has been silent," added Lisa Young, his wife.

Ed Young told Houston's KHOU that he decided to camp out with his wife of 29 years on the roof of their Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas, to send a message about faith and marriage.

The message: “Bring God back into the bed,” by having sex with your spouse for seven days straight.

The couple expound upon this point in their new book,"Sexperiment: 7 Days to Lasting Intimacy With Your Spouse."

The couple started what they billed as a "24-hour bed-in" at 6 a.m. Friday. They had a live webcam and even held "bedside interviews," taking questions and comments on Facebook and Twitter.

They cited John Lennon and Yoko Ono's famous bed-ins for peace as their inspiration.

"We're trying not to go for the same hair styles and facial hair," Lisa Young said.

At one point, the couple's four children joined them in bed. Lisa Young asked her teenage daughter what it was like to have her parents write a book about sex.

"It's pretty cool actually," she said. "It's reassuring to know y'all are doing OK, that your marriage is kind of a model."

She urged fellow teens to "save yourselves" for marriage.

Once the kids left, things got a little chilly.

"We have an electric blanket -- it's getting cooler; the wind's picked up," Lisa Young said as she sat next to her husband in bed, tucked under a comforter, both wearing coats and sunglasses ("looking Hollywood," as she put it). In the background, cars zoomed down nearby highways.

"It's like an Arctic zone," Ed Young said.

Several guests chatted with the couple via Skype.

"It is obvious Lisa is doing all the work of the bed-in," joked Steven Furtick, of Charlotte, N.C. "I might make an analogy... "

They all laughed.

Furtick, a young father of three married for almost a decade, quoted Proverbs 29:13, "Where there is no vision, people cast off restraint."

"Usually we approach sexuality from a restrictive standpoint," he said, as the Youngs nodded in agreement. "You can put on all the rules and scare people with tactics, but if there's no vision, no preferable future they're driving towards, the restraint will be cast off. You guys have a vision."

The Youngs agreed.

Judah Smith, a Seattle pastor, also Skyped with the couple. He and his wife said they plan to hold their own "Sexperiment."

"If anybody should have the best sex, it should be the people who worship the one who created it," Smith said.

Critics have called Young's approach extreme, saying he is too focused on sex. Young told KHOU “it’s not a gimmick,” but necessary for pastors to discuss sexuality.

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Is America ready for a bald Barbie?

Barbie dolls are known for legs that go on forever, a Vogue-worthy wardrobe, an impossible hourglass figure -- and impossibly luxe locks.

But a couple of cross-coastal friends are convinced that a bald Barbie doll -- in honor of those who have lost their hair to cancer and other illnesses -- will sell.

They've launched a Facebook campaign to make it happen.

Rebecca Sypin of Lancaster, Calif., and friend Jane Bingham of New Jersey launched "Beautiful and Bald Barbie! Let's see if we can get it made" on Dec. 20. It steadily picked up of "likes" over the holidays, and as of Tuesday it had 7,000.

After the online media got hold of the story (example: Mashable), the page exploded in the past week. At last check it had 101,288 "likes."

"I can't believe how fast it has grown," Sypin said.

Sypin and Bingham are hoping to convince Barbie's maker, Mattel, or another doll maker to come out with a doll that will help inspire those who have lost their hair to cancer treatment, alopecia, or something else.

It's something that both women have had to deal with in their personal lives: Sypin said her 12-year-old daughter, Kinley, is battling leukemia, and Bingham has lymphoma. Thankfully, Sypin said, both are progressing well with their treatment.

A doll would be a potent symbol that they are not alone, Sypin said.

"My daughter handled the baldness really well, but there were other little girls we met throughout treatment and it was harder for them," Sypin said. "They said losing their hair was the hardest part of it all."

She said that neither she nor Bingham are hoping to get rich off this.   

"The profit is really not important to us," she said. "We just want a doll that people [who are sick] can relate to. I think it would make them see it as more OK and not so different. They would have something that looks like them and they could relate to."

Mattel's response to a request for comment from the Los Angeles Times: 

Mattel appreciates and respects the passion that has been built up for the request for a bald Barbie doll. As you might imagine, we receive hundreds of passionate requests for various dolls to be added to our collection. We take all of them seriously and are constantly exploring new and different dolls to be added to our line. 

Sypin was undaunted. "I understand," she said. "But with such a large demand, maybe they could make it happen."

She said she would be happy to see another doll maker pick up the idea. But "Barbie would just be more universal than any other doll," she said. "It relates to someone who is 3 years old on up to 70. Everyone knows who Barbie is. There's no other doll that reaches such an audience."

Sypin said she thinks that such a doll would be a money maker for the manufacturer. All the Barbie collectors would buy it, of course. And so would people with friends or loved ones who had cancer. Sypin also thinks that donors would buy up the dolls and donate them to hospitals where children are being treated for cancer. "I can see a lot of people doing that," she said.

And then there is the Facebook page. At least 101,000 people -- and counting -- say they would also "like" to buy one.

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--Rene Lynch
Twitter / renelynch

Illustration credit: Rebecca Sypin and Jane Bingham

TSA fighting back in case of the confiscated cupcake

Were you among those rolling your eyes at the latest Transportation Security Administration flap, in which an agent confiscated a cupcake from a passenger in Las Vegas because the frosting was deemed a security threat? Well, the TSA would like you to hear the other side of the story.

But first, some background. The report, on its face, seemed outrageous: The TSA confiscated the cupcake last month at McCarran International Airport because there are strict limits on how much of a "gel-like" substance passengers can take aboard. In this case, the rich creamy frosting was deemed a gel-like substance, and there was too much of it.

The media made much of the killer-cupcakes story during the holiday travel season. "Cupcake Deemed 'Security Threat'" said one headline. The traveler with the offending cupcake, Rebecca Hains of Peabody, Mass., changed her Twitter bio to include "Cupcake Terror Expert!" and created a Facebook page called Rebecca and the Threatening Cupcake. It has 265 "likes" so far.

And Wicked Good Cupcakes, which made the questionable confection, got in on the fun. "Apparently we're a tasty terrorist threat," Brian Vilagie told the Boston Channel.

Now, the TSA is using its blog to weigh in on what it calls "Cupcakegate."

"I wanted to make it clear that this wasn’t your everyday, run-of-the-mill cupcake," TSA blogger Bob Burns wrote Tuesday. His post included the photos above to illustrate that this was not a traditional cupcake, but a cupcake-in-a-jar.

"If you’re not familiar with it, we have a policy directly related to the UK liquid bomb plot of 2006 called 3-1-1 that limits the amount of liquids, gels and aerosols you can bring in your carry-on luggage. Icing falls under the 'gel' category. As you can see from the picture, unlike a thin layer of icing that resides on the top of most cupcakes, this cupcake had a thick layer of icing inside a jar."

Let's forget, for just a moment, that there's no such thing as too much frosting on a cupcake. Burns defended the TSA officer's right to confiscate the confection. He added that such a cute container is precisely why authorities should screen it more carefully.

Exhibiting a sense of humor, he wrote that "intelligence gathered from all over the world tells us ... that unless Wile E. Coyote is involved, the days of the three sticks of dynamite with a giant alarm clock strapped to them are long gone....When you think about it, do you think an explosive would be concealed in an ominous item that would draw attention, or something as simple as a cute cupcake jar?"

The TSA blogger points to two attempted attacks involving liquid or gel-like substances -- a 1995 plot to explode a dozen passenger planes bound for the U.S., and that foiled 2006 plot, which tried to use liquid explosives to blow up at least 10 jetliners.  

Hains told The Times on Tuesday she was surprised that the TSA bothered to respond to Cupcakegate. But she believes the comments only reinforce her belief that the TSA goes overboard too often -- as in this case.

"I think there just needs to be some common sense here," she said.  

She also wondered about the uniformity of TSA's screening practices, noting that she started her Boston-to-Vegas holiday travel with two cupcakes in a jar, and both made it through Boston's security screening. She and her husband ate one on the flight west. And they planned to eat the other on the flight back. (You have to pause and appreciate such sweet, tasty scheduling.)

When the cupcake-in-a-jar was flagged in Vegas, she offered to scoop the contents into a plastic baggie. Nope. Turns out the TSA was OK with her bringing a glass jar aboard -- just not all that potentially dangerous frosting.

Hains, an assistant professor of communications at Salem State University in Massachusetts and author of a new book called "Growing Up With Girl Power," was probably the wrong person to mess with. After the cupcake-in-a-jar was confiscated, she proceeded to her destination -- but not before writing this little missive and sending it to Boing Boing. Needless to say, it went viral.

A funny aside: When Wicked Good Cupcakes learned of the flap, they gave Hains a dozen cupcakes to make up for her trouble.

What do you think about this showdown? Do you think TSA went too far? Or do you think Hains made too big of a deal out of this sweet controversy? 

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Photo comparison: Regular cupcake versus cupcake-in-a-jar. Photo credit: TSA

Casey Anthony video: Attorney says it was leaked, vows to sue

Casey Anthony's criminal defense attorney says an investigation has been launched into what he says is the illegal hacking and leaking of his client's online video diary. Legal action will be taken against the guilty party, he says.

As soon as investigators find out who did it.

Anthony was the target of national outrage last year when she was found not guilty of killing her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee. In one online poll, she was dubbed "the most hated person in America."

Since then, she has largely been out of public view. That is, until her first video diary entry was posted online last week, creating a fresh media sensation.

"It certainly wasn't meant to be disseminated in any way," attorney Jose Baez told Geraldo Rivera last night on Fox News' "Geraldo at Large." "This was a private message solely intended for her private journal."

Baez rejected any suggestion by Rivera that perhaps Anthony was engaging in online video chatting and was somehow responsible for the video's disclosure. Absolutely not, Baez said, adding that a search was underway for the culprit.

"Right now we're investigating everything. We're taking steps. And if lawsuits need to be filed ... as a result of a criminal act, that's exactly what's going to happen," Baez said.

He also said that he might even pursue criminal charges, although he suggested that law enforcement officers in Florida might not exactly fall all over themselves to help Anthony. (She has been ordered to pay more than $97,000 to law enforcement officers who spent weeks following up on Anthony's claims -- since retracted -- that her daughter had been kidnapped by a babysitter.)

"I think this is outrageous that this is happening," Baez said of the reported leak, adding: "I think it's criminal. And if it is, we're going to ask that it be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and let's see if the authorities are brave enough to do it."



Baez also took offense when Rivera posted a clip of Anthony giddily showing off a new nose ring and ear piercings. Rivera asked whether she was being respectful and showing proper sorrow over her daughter's death. But Baez said it was unfair to take a brief, single moment from the last six months and use that to illustrate Anthony's demeanor.

Baez also pointed out a key fact: A jury that heard all the evidence as presented by prosecutors found her not guilty.

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Casey Anthony video: Hacked and leaked?

Casey Anthony's video diary has gone viral -- the result, her attorneys say, of hacking.

Anthony's attorneys say the video was hacked and illegally posted online, ABC News reported. The news outlet quoted one of her lawyers as saying: "She does not know who did it. When they did it. Why they did it. It was not authorized, therefore it had to be obtained criminally by an illegal act."

The report raises the possibility that Anthony -- acquitted last year of killing her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee -- could find herself on the other end of a legal battle in 2012, pursuing justice against an alleged hacker.

VIDEO: Casey Anthony is back -- with a blond makeover

Anthony's attorneys told ABC News that the videos were for personal use in future counseling sessions, to help Anthony "remember her thought process." (It's worth watching ABC's video, above, for its recap of just how many times Anthony uses the words "I," "me" or "mine"; she never mentions Caylee.)

Her parents, according to their attorney, Mark Lippman, were among those caught by surprise by the video diary, which surfaced this week. They're once again fearing for their daughter's safety, according to a media statement released by Lippman: "Cindy and George were made aware of the video diary of their daughter this morning, January 5th 2012. They are concerned that the release of this video or any future videos could endanger their daughter."

The statement also suggests that Cindy and George Casey are in the dark about their daughter's whereabouts. "Cindy and George hope that Casey remains safe wherever she may be," the statement said.

The video created an online sensation this week, delivering one of the first widespread sightings of Anthony since she went into seclusion last year after death threats from some of those who believed she was responsible for her daughter's death.

Outrage over the case led to being named as "the most hated person in America" in one online poll.

The video, in which Anthony muses about life and expresses happiness over a computer and other devices that will allow her to become a blogger, raises several questions. Among them: Was she planning on monetizing the videos?

The video has also led to speculation about her specific whereabouts in Florida and about her day-to-day life.

Radaronline.com says it has some answers on the latter matter. The 25-year-old is actually not in hiding but is frequently out in public, and regularly attends church, the website said. She is reportedly dating someone and does work for his company. Although the video (reportedly shot in October) shows her with a blond bob, her hair is now red, the website said.

Attorneys for Anthony and her parents did not return phone calls seeking comment.

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Casey Anthony video: She's back -- with a blond makeover

A Casey Anthony video diary has emerged, showing a different side of the woman once dubbed "the most hated person in America." In it, she has a new look, a new attitude and a new life.

The woman acquitted last summer in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, has ditched her long brown hair in favor of a blond bob and now wears stylish glasses -- the overall result being that she isn't immediately recognizable. During the course of the video diary entry, dare we call it a vlog?, she talks about how happy she is to have a new computer, a new phone, a new video camera and a new dog.

"I have something that I can finally call mine," she says. "It's been a long time since I've been able to call something mine." The video, seen above, was first aired on the "Today" show; NBC says it has verified that the speaker is indeed Anthony.

Anthony has largely been in seclusion since July 2011, when death threats were lodged against her after her trial and acquittal.

In the video, Anthony shows off toned shoulders in a white tank top and says the date is Oct. 13, 2011. The video is among the first public "sightings" of Anthony since she returned to Florida to serve out a probation sentence stemming from unrelated check fraud charges.

She doesn't mention Caylee, or her parents, but refers to hopes that she "gets off probation early." She also suggests that her new devices and gadgets are "all a blessing in so many ways."

Anthony adds: "It's just a little surreal how much things have changed since July, and how many things haven't changed... But the good thing is that things are starting to look up and things are starting to change in a good way." 

The purpose of the video diary is unclear. Is she considering a career as a vlogger? Or is this somehow part of a requirement for checking in with her probation officer or some other kind of therapy? (The video has a bit of a dutiful quality to it.)

Wording that flashes at the bottom of the video refers to "Up-to-Date News/Videos from around-the-World & Casey Anthony" but it doesn't appear to lead to a valid website.

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