Today, the United States Supreme Court has rejected a California law banning the sale or rental of violent video games to children. In 2005, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was the governor at the time, signed the law which prohibited those in California under 18 from buying or renting games that depict acts such as the "needless mutilation of the victim's body."
Today’s ruling will be pivotal for the video game industry in the US, as the industry had been fighting the law on the basis that it was a violation of the first amendment. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia agreed, saying in the ruling here: “Video games qualify for First Amendment protection, Like protected books, plays, and movies, they communicate ideas through familiar literary devices and features distinctive to the medium." Interesting comment right?
More than 46 million American households have at least one video-game system, and Canadian households aren’t far behind. In fact, a 2010 study noted that 47% of Canadian households have at least one video game console such as an Xbox 360, Wii or PlayStation.
My opinion? Let retailers sell the games. They don't have the obligation to determine what is appropriate for people to watch or play. I firmly believe that it should be up to the parents to censor what their child watches and plays because what is appropriate for one household might not be for another! My geekling can hardly handle watching the opening sequence of Tangled without getting upset, while another child his age that we know is already playing first person shooter Star Wars video games.
The Entertainment Software Rating Boards Rating system provides enough detail to make an initial decision on a video game. If you’re really concerned about the content my suggestion is always to rent the game first and play it with your child so you can answer any questions or concerns they may have about the story line or content.
As far as retailers are concerned, in order to address Canadian parental concerns, The Retail Council of Canada (RCC) created The "Commitment to Parents" Code which includes a pledge by participating retailers to:
Not sell or rent games that carry an M-Mature or AO-Adults Only -rating to anyone under the age of 17 or 18 respectively
Display point-of-sale consumer education signage featuring the slogan, "OK to Play? — Check the Ratings," illustrating how to use the ESRB rating system, and confirming the store's policy regarding sales and rentals to minors
Provide training materials about the rating system to sales associates, and respond promptly to consumers complaints about Code infractions
As a parent, you can also consult Family Friendly Video Games.com for list of family friendly video games and be sure to review the Entertaiment Software Rating Boards Rating System to figure out which rating category your child fits into.
I’m glad to see this law repealed, and the responsibility back on the shoulders of the parents. I know many parents who will be outraged by this though and am wondering how do you feel about it? Would you keep the law in place? Would you institute a similar law in Canada?
You have probably heard the stories in the last couple of weeks about Research in Motion (RIM). Due to declining sales projections, the smart phone champion’s stock prices are dropping quickly, and they have begun employee layoffs.
What’s the issue? In the past year we’ve seen RIM jump into the tablet market, and I’ve talked about how great I thought the BlackBerry Playbook is here, but let’s face facts: people LOVE Apple. Steve Jobs and his team have managed to convince everyone in the world that they want – no scratch that- NEED an iPad. Not a tablet – but an iPad. Think about it, if I held a BlackBerry Playbook an iPad 2 or Motorola Xoom in front of your face, told you could have any one of them for free which would you grab? Now, think of what your parents, kids, or neighbors would do. I’m guessing most will grab the iPad but couldn’t even tell you for sure why.
So now, industry analysts are saying that the demise of RIM is on the horizon. But, is this due to the product, or could it be that Apple, a well established American company, has more brand power behind it to push new technologies? In my opinion, it’s the latter.
BlackBerry as a brand has touted itself as the secure business device for years, and after pushing that as an image, it’s hard for a company to do an about face and try and become something, that it’s been claiming all along, it isn’t.
Apple, using every possible advertising channel available, became the fun and cool name. BlackBerry became the secure business name, and to most people business and security just isn’t cool. To me, RIM’s latest marketing attempts feel kind of like Donald Trump throwing on a pair of jeans and polo shirt with a popped collar and heading out for a night on the town. Sure the change in outfit will get him into the nightclub, but when people start interacting with him it won’t take them long to realize he’s more about business than having fun. And it doesn’t matter how many times he’s photographed with Jennifer Lopez, people aren’t going to think he’s cool
There is nothing wrong with the devices; in fact I love – and I do mean LOVE - my BlackBerry and everything about it. The full line of BlackBerry devices fit well in the hand, they work well, and RIM’s recent partnering with QNX to develop handheld software was an amazing move that will make the new BlackBerrys and PlayBooks even more amazing.
But now RIM will have to work harder. They have to work with application developers and accessory manufacturers to convince the world that BlackBerry as a brand is functional and cool. They need to work with so called 'non-traditional smartphone market segments to grow their business (ahem - women? moms?), get some positive media buzz and up their cool factor.
I hope RIM won’t be like the typical Canadian and go out politely. I want them to succeed. I want to see politicians and celebrities (especially Canadians) carrying PlayBooks to events, and I want to see RIM fighting it out with Apple and regaining their market share– I just hope it isn’t too late.
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Whether or not my pasty white legs choose to agree, one thing is for sure, the weather here in Ontario is H-O-T and that means it is beach season.
Fortunately, I’m lucky enough to live within driving distance of the Great Lakes of Ontario, which means we have lots of beaches. Unfortunately, many times we have driven to one of these beaches and have either: a) gotten lost on the way to a beach which has resulted in a giant argument between myself and the GeekDad, or b) have gotten to a beach only to find that the water wasn’t suitable for swimming which has resulted in tears from the Geekling.
Arguments aside, the thought of swimming in a polluted lake isn’t exactly high on my list of things I’d like to do this summer, so I was thrilled when I was sent information about ‘The Swim Guide.’
The Swim Guide was created by a network of non-profit watershed protection groups and it provides real-time information about water quality and cleanliness for beaches right in our own backyard. The app uses data from more than 70 different beach monitoring sources and more than 70,000 points of data to confirm if the beaches in 3 provinces and 9 states are safe to swim in.
Swim Guide gives you the most up-to-date information about water quality at your beaches using a familiar 'Green, Amber, Red' scheme that is calculated based on current and historical beach status. And, with a companion iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch app available in the App Store or here, you can stay current on the beach information wherever you are!
I used the website and app to check on the status of the Sandbanks Provincial Park, and found it was a Green which means “This beach is currently open for swimming, based on most recent monitoring authority.” Great news for our upcoming camping weekend!
I should also note that since this app is developed by a non-profit, and they are providing the data for free. If you care about your beaches, you can donate to various provincial water keeper organizations by clicking here
So before you jump in Lake 'Wannagetapinkeye', check theswimguide.org online, or via their Apple apps and make sure you're hitting the best beach in your area. (And the beach, for the record is THAT way. And yes, I know you can't see me flexing, but just trust me on this one.)
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