Gizmodo: donations

The Pirate Bay Founders Issue Post-Verdict Statement: "The Site Will Live On!"

Dan Nosowitz — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:30:00 EDT

Though The Pirate Bay suffered a defeat last week, the founders' latest statement is anything but defeated. They've started the years-long appeals process, and urge TPB users to download and seed as much as possible.

Interestingly, the Head Pirates ask that users stop donating money for them to pay down the fines they've been slapped with: They don't intend to pay a single cent (or whatever the Swedish denomination may be) toward these fines.

We have seen that some people that we don't know have started collecting donations for us, so we can pay those silly fines. We firmly ask you NOT to do this. Do not gather or send any money. We do not want them since we will not pay any fines!

Instead, they request that users seed their torrents as much as they can, bring in new users/pirates, and oh yeah, maybe buy a t-shirt if you really want one.

They've also officially announced that they've started the appeals process, which they estimate will take 2 or 3 years, and all in all seem more convinced than ever that they're in the right. Agree or disagree, you've got to admire the chutzpah of these guys. [The Pirate Bay]

At Gizmodo Gallery: Charity and Prizes

matt buchanan — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST

If you're not already on your way to the NOW OPEN Gizmodo Gallery to see all of the amazing gadgets we've brought together, here's another reason to come: sweet prize giveaways.

Here's how it works—donate over $10 or bring a brand new toy for Toys for Tots, and you'll be entered into the drawing for prizes. Want some incentive beyond helping the needy and unfortunate in these financially trying times? How 'bout all this cool stuff?

• Dyson's Han Solo blaster-looking Root 6 hand vac
• Lego, Lego, Lego
• A cornucopia from Logitech: two premium Kinetik laptop cases, two PureFi sound docks, some V550 mice, two pair of ClearChat headsets and more.
• A few Zunes (Obama's secret favorite portable player)
• Xbox 360
• SanDisk Sansa 8GB Fuze, 8GB Clip, 8GB Ultra MicroSD card and more
• Over a dozen pieces of certified excellent geek apparel from Gama-go
• Agent 18 iPod cases, Ten One Design Pogo iPhone stylus and a pink mStation Orb dock
• SmartShopper personal shopping list maker
• Hercules Wii Accessory Pack
• Several beautiful TokyoFlash watches
• A few crazy Thanko USB gadgets
• The lovable Wi-Fi beanbag, Chumby
• Wicked Laser to start some forest fires
• TiVo HD
• Gundam Slippers
• Make Magazines
• Bunch of Incase stuff.
• There's even more to come...

Special thanks to all those companies mentioned above for donating products for our fundraiser!!

We'll also publish a gallery of winners later on, so everyone can see how charitable you are. It's for a great cause, unless you hate children. We really hope to see you, even if you are a cheap bastard!

Salvation Army Santas Now Take Credit Cards

matt buchanan — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:40:00 EST

I hate having change in my pockets. It's clutter. Besides, I rarely carry any cash nowadays—the almighty debit card tackles all transactions. So whenever I see a Salvation Army Santa endlessly tingling his little bell, I keep on marching 'til I'm out of earshot. But those days are over. The Salvation Army is loading up Santas in the Dallas area with credit card machines that will beam money directly from your bank account and into their charitable coffers. The minimum donation via plastic is $5.

Which means that, one, the no cash excuse will soon be gone forever, and two, even if there wasn't a five-dollar minimum, giving anything less than five bucks when you bust out the plastic would've officially made you a dick anyway, so it's an exceptionally shrewd maneuver. I think I actually feel somewhat violated by this, but how do you have hard feelings against a charity? I guess I am a dick. [Star Telegram via Crunch Gear]