Israel's Sextival

A couple of weeks ago, Israel held its first sex festival.

From the Jerusalem Post:

Don't try comparing Nitzan Kirshenbaum with America's famous sex therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer. Kirshenbaum is a vivacious Tel Aviv-area former model and mother of two, and Dr. Ruth is, well, Dr. Ruth.

But while Kirshenbaum may not be able to offer couples any advice on their sex lives, she and Dr. Ruth do share a common goal of attempting to take the smirks, shadows and mystery out of sex. Kirshenbaum's avenue toward achieving that aim is just a little different than Dr. Ruth's; she's promoting the "Sextival," touted as Israel's first sex and erotica expo, which is slated to take place February 5-7 at Hangar 11 in Tel Aviv.

"We've been thinking about the idea for a Sextival for a long time, ever since we saw a sex fair in Berlin," said Kirshenbaum, who for the last seven years has run her company, NKP Innovative Productions, together with her husband. "The idea is to get the issue of sex out in the open. It's out there in the world, it's big and beautiful and everyone does it. Why not take it out from behind closed doors, enable people to ask questions, and decrease the fear and darkness surrounding it?"

"We see the Sextival as not only a venue for entertainment and pleasure, but also as educational. People are interested in learning more about sex, how to improve and make things interesting. Erotica is an integral part of the life of an adult. It's nothing to be embarrassed about. We want to present the issue to people in a way that they won't be ashamed, and they'll be able to freely check out what fits them best."

THE SEXTIVAL - which will have a live feed to the Ego channel on HOT - will be something like a sex supermarket. Among items on display and for sale will be sexual aids and accessories like lingerie, candles and oils: "Items that help create an atmosphere," explains Kirshenbaum.

Vendors will also be selling adult DVDs, there will be displays of erotic photographs and drawings and workshops focusing on improving sex life will be conducted.

As it turned out, the Sextival wasn't exactly an educational experience.

Contrary to the festival's promotional claims, while its overall atmosphere would not be earth-shattering to the mainstream public - which is fed a regular diet of sexuality in the media - it was certainly neither laid-back nor casual. This writer felt she had attended a large entertainment venue whose main focus and attraction was the strippers.

While fun and often funny, the educational aspect the public was led to believe would be the purpose of the event was not there. There were no workshops, no easy browsing or discreet shopping, and while subtlety is not Israelis' forte, the go-for-the-jugular and misleading approach was slightly intimidating for the average person, especially for the ladies.

Playboy was Sextival's largest sponsor. Local companies also supported the event.

Miller Brewing Company's allegiance to the Folsom Street Fair makes me wonder if Miller was an official sponsor of the Sextival in Tel Aviv.

If Miller wasn't a sponsor this time, maybe it will be next year -- if there is a next year.

_____________

Watch a video report of the event.

Latin Kings' Bullets Again

Milwaukee police have moved quickly in apprehending suspects for the murder of Miller executive Vic Milford.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Milwaukee police Wednesday promised a crackdown on the Latin Kings after arresting two members of a violent street gang in connection with the slaying of a Miller Brewing Co. executive.

"The Latin Kings are out there right now throwing their weight around a little bit, and we're going to make sure they feel our attention in a very special way in the next several weeks," said Chief Edward Flynn, adding that the effort will not be a sweep of Latino men, but arrests of specific gang members.

Promises, promises.

Flynn's remarks came during a 5 p.m. news conference announcing the arrests earlier in the day of two suspects, ages 17 and 21, both of whom he said had prior records. The 17-year-old was on probation for a robbery, Flynn said.

The 17-year-old was on probation for robbery.

Well, there's another stunning success story of the rehabilitation of a teen criminal.

The two are expected to be charged in the robbery and killing of Lodewikus "Vic" Milford, 43, after a robbery early Saturday in Walker's Point. Milford, the director of compensation and benefits for Miller, was returning to his car with three women after they had visited a nightclub when they were robbed about 1:10 a.m. Saturday, police said. After they all gave up their wallets and purses, Milford was shot inside his SUV in a parking lot near S. 2nd and W. Walker streets.

Flynn credited the department's homicide and gang units and District 2 police officers for arresting the suspects just a few days after the crime. He also said Miller's $10,000 reward was a "significant factor" in helping detectives break the case.

That's sort of vague. The $10,000 was a "significant factor."

If someone will be collecting that reward, it would probably be a good idea for the person to leave Milwaukee. Make that the Midwest.

It's unfortunate that it takes lots of cash for some people to do the right thing; but if that's what it takes then that's what it takes.

Milford's killing was tragic, but the circumstances surrounding the crime are also rare in Milwaukee, Flynn said. Some 80% of the homicides in the city in 2007 involved a victim who had a criminal record, he said.

I have a problem with that.

Milford's killing was tragic -- period. There is no solace in the rare circumstances of his death.

The rarity provides no comfort whatsoever to his family and friends.

It also should provide no comfort to people in Milwaukee.

FACT: Gang members, cold-blooded killers, are on Milwaukee's streets right now.

While it's statistically highly unlikely for one to become a victim like Milford, it's possible. That possibility matters.

Flynn said he understands that the slaying had a profound impact on the Walker's Point area, but he believes the neighborhood is safe.

"My message to them is that justice will be done in this case. Don't lose heart, and don't lose faith," Flynn said.

The neighborhood isn't safe. A murder took place there.

Other neighborhoods also aren't safe.

Why?

Milwaukee has a gang problem. As long as the gangs are operating, the threat of a horror like the murder of Vic Milford exists.

...Federal prosecutors have indicted large numbers of Latin Kings several times over the past two decades for drug peddling and homicides, including 49 people in a 2005 case. A 2007 U.S. Justice Department drug trafficking intelligence report indicated that other members keep stepping up to take positions of authority in the gang.

And others do some time and resume their criminal activities as soon as they're released.

I wonder what the recidivism rate is among gang members.

...Flynn said police will keep up the pressure on the gang. "Their behavior has been intolerable, and we have a responsibility to our citizens to stop them," he said.

Milwaukeeans have heard that before.

"Let's send a message here," said Mayor Tom Barrett. "If you commit a crime in this city, if you disrupt our neighborhoods, terrorize our residents or businesses, or create fear in our streets, we're coming after you, we will find you and hold you responsible."

Barrett said the same thing when 4-year-old Jasmine Owens was murdered. He said the Neighborhood Safety Inititative would "send a message to the drug dealers, gang members and the thugs: We're coming after you."

Barrett also said that one year ago about the Bay View crime spree, that "we're coming after you" line.

At a community meeting at Bay View High School, Barrett said there were two ways to approach the crime problem.

One is to make it clear to the bad guys that "we're coming after you."

The other approach is to say "everything's out of control." He said that such a reaction to the thugs from leaders and the media and citizens serves to "encourage them."

Barrett claimed, "Public safety is my #1 priority."

"We're never going to throw up our arms and say it's out of control because it isn't out of control."

Mr. Mayor, it is out of control.

Murder and Crime in Milwaukee: "Isolated Events"

Here I go again... Talking about the crime crisis in Milwaukee.

And once again I ask the question: Where is Mayor Tom Barrett?

The brutal, senseless, cold-blooded murder of Miller executive Vic Milford prompts me to ask.

Before continuing, I want to make it clear that I'm mindful of the grieving family and friends of Mr. Milford. They are mourning the sudden loss of their loved one. For them, a discussion of crime in Milwaukee isn't an abstraction. They are suffering the reality of the out of control situation in the city very personally. In no way do I want to diminish the enormity of their loss and the intensity of their pain.

Mr. Milford's family and friends aren't mourning the state of the city today. They are living a nightmare.

They're reading the press and listening to reports that his death was a rare case and an isolated event. That's no comfort to them.

It should be of no comfort to anyone in the greater Milwaukee area.

Back to my first question: WHERE IS BARRETT?

He usually trots out to give a news conference whenever a child is murdered. He gets angry, calls out the thugs, and eventually his outrage degenerates into a whining rant about guns.

NO GUN EVER KILLED ANYONE. PEOPLE USE GUNS TO KILL.

In the murder of Vic Milford, I sense an effort on the part of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and local news broadcasts to spin it as an aberration. It's no public service to give an inaccurate picture.

Is there pressure to downplay the violence with the location of the headquarters of Miller and Coors still up in the air?

TMJ4 provides a description of the suspects in Mr. Milford's murder but then concludes its report with an idiotic statement.

The suspects are described as two Hispanic males in their late 20’s to early 30’s. They are 5’4” to 5’7”, weighing anywhere from 140 to 160.

This is Milwaukee's seventh homicide of the year compared to eight last year on this date.

That's accentuating the positive. This was only the seventh homicide in Milwaukee compared to eight on that date last year. There's some good news!

While factually true, it's a ridiculous way to end the report.

It's disingenuous to say that the Walker's Point neighborhood is not a violent area. How does one define the "area"? Where are the boundaries?

In reality, the near and not so near south side have been the scenes of many shootings and armed robberies in this first month of 2008. Only ten days ago, there were two murders.

Let's stop pretending. The city is a mess.

Look at this overview. It points out just a few of Milwaukee's violent incidents in 2008.

This weekend alone was bloody.

In addition to the murder of Vic Milford, there was other violence. A 7-year-old girl was shot.

A man walking through Kosciuszko Park was shot on Saturday at 6:45 PM. Three men tried to rob him. That ended with the 38-year-old victim having surgery for torso wounds.

Around 2:00 AM on Sunday, a "36-year-old Milwaukee man who was trying to help clear an accident scene was shot."

There's more:

A 73-year-old Milwaukee woman was shot about 11:20 Sunday night while watching television in her living room and her 42-year-old son was wounded moments later while confronting a man he suspected of firing the initial shots.

The 21-year-old suspect is still on the loose, and his two victims are recuperating in a local hospital, Milwaukee police reported today.

The first shots crashed through the front of the house in the 3600 block of N. 14th St. The second shooting occurred on the street, after the 42-year-old confronted and punched the suspect, police said.

The fact is the status quo in Tom Barrett's Milwaukee is violent and bloody.

Nonetheless, he's running unopposed for a second term. That's mind-boggling. It doesn't bode well for the city's future.

God knows Milwaukee needs a change of leadership. Let me rephrase that: Milwaukee needs leadership.

There are a handful of officials struggling to make a difference, but they are outnumbered by the "What, me worry?" crowd.

The Journal Sentinel reports:

Denver, with a population of 568,465, reported 1,748 violent crimes, including 19 homicides, during the first six months of 2007, according to FBI data released this month. Milwaukee, with a population of 581,005, reported 3,984 violent crimes, including 50 homicides.

London-based SABMiller Plc and Molson Coors Brewing Co., which splits its headquarters between Montreal and Denver, in December signed a definitive agreement to combine their U.S. operations. The proposed joint venture needs antitrust approval, and the transaction isn't expected to be final until midyear.

Until MillerCoors officially becomes a company, executives from Miller Brewing and from Coors Brewing, based in Golden, Colo., will not be commenting on where the joint venture's headquarters might be located.

Where would you locate the headquarters?

It seems like a very easy choice to make.

Lodewikus "Vic" Milford

The victim in the Walker's Point shooting has been named -- Lodewikus "Vic" Milford.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

A man killed in a rare robbery and shooting outside of a Walker's Point bar was Lodewikus "Vic" Milford, 43, the director of compensation and benefits for Miller Brewing Co., Milwaukee police and the company said today.

Milford, a citizen of South Africa, had lived in Milwaukee since taking the Miller Brewing job in February 2005, said Miller Brewing spokesman Julian Green. He previously worked for Miller Brewing's parent company, SABMiller, since 2002, Green said.

"Vic was one of our best and brightest and will be remembered as a motivating presence whose generous spirit helped others realize their full potential," the company said in a statement.

According to police, Milford and two or three women had left a Walker's Point bar and were getting into his vehicle near S. 2nd and W. Walker streets about 1:10 a.m. Saturday. As they reached the car, they were approached by two men, one of whom was carrying a handgun. Milford handed over his wallet and was shot. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

...Milford is survived his parents, who are residents of Zimbawe, a sister in Australia and a man described as Milford's life partner, who lives in South Africa, according to the Miller statement.

Now we know who Milwaukee's 7th homicide of 2008 was.

He's no longer a statistic.

Milford sounds like he was an extremely talented and generous man.

What a terrible loss! How senseless!

His family and friends are in my prayers.

...The corporate owners of Miller Brewing Co. and Coors Brewing Co. announced Dec. 21 they had signed an agreement to combine the two brewers into MillerCoors.

Milwaukee-based Miller and Golden, Colo.-based Coors have said they won't comment on where the joint venture's corporate headquarters might be located until after the proposed merger gets antitrust approval from the U.S. Department of Justice. That could come later this year.

Asked about the headquarters question, Green said: "Out of respect for the family, our attention at this time is caring for those affected by this tragedy."

Now is hardly the time to be asking about the headquarters question.

Good grief.

Summerfest Beer Prices

Step aside, mon ami.



Mess with the High life and the High Life will mess with you. $11.50 for a hamburger-- You all must be crazy.


What's this? A Summerfest price increase? On beer?

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Summerfest will tap its customers another 50 cents for 16-ounce draft beers and another $1 for 16-ounce bottles of brew during the 2008 festival.

The price increases endorsed Thursday by the Milwaukee World Festival Inc. finance committee will help the nonprofit corporation cover the cost of filling stages with quality acts and boost its reserve accounts for future renovation of Maier Festival Park, according to President and CEO Don Smiley.

...The first increase in beer prices since 2003, and the first of the Smiley era, will push the price of a Miller product bottle to $6 and a draft beer to $4.50. Leinenkugel's specialty brands and microbrews will cost $5 for a 16-ounce serving.

Beer will cost less at the Big Gig than at other venues and events in the area, including Miller Park and the Bradley Center, according to an analysis shared by Smiley. State Fair prices have been slightly lower, but the 2008 tabs weren't available for comparison.

I don't fault Summerfest for raising the price of beer, but I certainly don't welcome the news.

$6 for a beer makes $11.50 for a hamburger sound like a good deal.

To Buy or Not to Buy Miller

Charlie points out that Miller has issued an apology for the use of its logo on a promotional poster for the Folsom Street Fair.

Here is Miller's Press Release, October 26, 2007:

Miller Brewing Company today issued a formal apology for the offense caused by the use of Miller brand logos on a poster promoting the Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco. The company said it has taken action to ensure that such an incident will not happen again.

Miller has just completed an exhaustive audit of its marketing procedures for approving local marketing and sales sponsorships, and it is implementing plans to tighten its compliance procedures. The company has received assurances from its local distributor in San Francisco and from Folsom Street Events that future marketing materials and event activities will fully comply with Miller’s marketing policies and procedures.

“We deeply regret that we did not adhere to our own policies with regard to the Folsom Street Fair,” said Miller Senior Vice President Nehl Horton. “We apologize to everyone we offended as a result. We hope people will forgive us for this serious error and have confidence we will not repeat it.”

Miller did not have the opportunity to review or approve the Folsom Street Fair poster, but accepts full accountability for this serious mistake.

“Miller Brewing was never afforded the opportunity to review our Fair poster before it was printed and distributed,” said Andy Copper, Board President of Folsom Street Events. “The approval was made by a third party without Miller’s knowledge and consent.”

Copper also issued an apology on behalf of the organization which distributed the controversial poster.

“I would like to apologize to anyone who felt that the image was disrespectful to their religious beliefs,” said Copper. “No malicious intent was involved.”

In addition to issuing a formal public apology today, Miller sent letters of apology to Catholic Archbishops George H. Niederauer of San Francisco and Timothy M. Dolan of Milwaukee.

“Like all major brewers, Miller seeks to market respectfully to a wide and diverse array of consumers,” Horton concluded. “But when one group actively disrespects another, we cannot support its events and activities.”

It's clear that Miller has apologized for the poster incident.

What's not so black and white is whether Miller will sponsor the Folsom Street Fair again.

The final paragraph states that Miller won't support the events and activities of a group that actively disrespects another.

Does that mean that Miller has dropped sponsorship of the fair?

The press release doesn't directly address that.

I haven't purchased or consumed any Miller products for about a month.

Is it time to buy Miller again?

If I don't buy it, it won't be because of Miller's sponsorship of a group that smeared Catholics.

It will be because there are better beers.

MillerCoors

Miller and Coors on the same team?

They've become allies in the Beer Wars.

DENVER -- Brewers Molson Coors Brewing Co. and SABMiller PLC said Tuesday they will combine their U.S. operations in a joint venture.

The makers of Miller Lite, Original Coors and Coors Light said they will share ownership equally in the new venture which they said should help them compete more effectively.

The industry leader in the United States is Anheuser-Busch Cos., maker of Budweiser, Michelob and Bud Light.

The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The new company will be called MillerCoors, the companies said. London-based SABMiller, which brews Miller Lite as well as a slew of European beers, and Molson Coors, the brewer of Coors Light and the craft beer Blue Moon, will each have a 50 percent voting interest in the venture and have five representatives on its board of directors.

Under the terms of the agreement, the companies said they will conduct all of their U.S. business exclusively through the venture.

The companies project MillerCoors will have combined annual beer sales of 69 million U.S. barrels with revenue of about $6.6 billion.

It takes some getting used to when competitors become partners.

From the Wall Street Journal:

Coors and Miller both have long histories in the U.S. Miller began brewing in Milwaukee in 1855, while Coors was founded in Golden, Colo, in 1873. The two companies have historically been competitors, both brewing popular, mid-priced American-style lagers.

Those long histories are becoming history.

I foresee a time when Anheuser-Busch Cos. and MillerCoors will merge, taken over by Chinese interests. The product will be sold exclusively at Wal-Mart.

Of course, the beer will be plagued by recalls because of its dangerously high lead levels.

____________________

Read more.
____________________

Read Miller's news release.

Miller Time to Review its Marketing

Charlie points out a report from today's New York Sun, "Miller Beer Eyes Its Marketing Practices Over Racy Ad."

One of America's largest beer brewers, Miller Brewing Co., is reviewing its marketing practices after Christian groups complained about the firm's sponsorship of a raunchy San Francisco festival, the Folsom Street Fair.

"We regret that our failure to adhere with our own policy led to an inappropriate use of our trademark and apologize to anyone who was offended as a result, particularly members of the Christian community who have contacted us to express their concern," a company spokesman, Julian Green, said in a written statement yesterday. "We are conducting an immediate audit of our procedures for approving local marketing and sales sponsorships to ensure that this does not happen again."

I contacted Miller to express my concern.

I accept the apology, though I doubt its sincerity.

I don't think Miller cares about offending Christians.

Miller cares about sales. Miller cares about money.

Not that there's anything wrong with that. It's a business. It should. But how it conducts its business is important to me.

If Miller really took the matter seriously, its sponsorship of the Folsom Street Fair would have been pulled, not just the logo from the fair's despicable promotional poster depicting The Last Supper as an S&M affair.

...While apologizing for any offense, Miller seemed to argue yesterday that it should be free to market to audiences whose practices are found offensive by many Americans. "It is important to understand that the Folsom Street Fair does not target the general public in its communications," Miller's Mr. Green said. "The fair itself and the organization's Web site are only intended for the adult alternative lifestyle community."

I'm not suggesting that Miller shouldn't be free to market to any audience.

Let Miller be the official beer of BIGOTED adult alternative lifestyle communities.

Clearly, Miller doesn't want to alienate those markets while apologizing to Christians.

Miller wants to leave the door open to sponsoring other events held by BIGOTS. It has every right to do so and be the BIGOTS' choice.

I question Green's assertion that "It is important to understand that the Folsom Street Fair does not target the general public in its communications."

Why is that important? Who cares?

I suppose peddlers of child porn don't target the general public in their communications.

Green is saying that the general public wasn't supposed to see that offensive poster, as if that makes it OK.

It doesn't.

Miller's sponsorship of religious bigotry is unacceptable whether or not the general public is targeted in promotions.

Would it be OK for Miller to sponsor a KKK event, arguing that the KKK doesn't target the general public in its communications?

How utterly lame is that?

Here is a press release from the Catholic League:

“The response from Miller has been encouraging, though incomplete. The Milwaukee brewer issued a news release on September 26 saying it took exception to the use of its logo on an offensive poster mocking the Last Supper. Today, it extended its original statement by apologizing for the misuse of its logo, ‘particularly [to] members of the Christian community who have contacted us to express their concern.’ It also said, ‘We are conducting an immediate audit of our procedures for approving local marketing and sales sponsorships to ensure that this does not happen again.’

“We called Miller today asking for clarification of this statement, and we are pleased to note that a full-scale review of all its promotional policies is underway. It is not certain at this time whether Miller plans to sponsor events like the Folsom Street Fair in the future. Accordingly, while we are not calling off the boycott, we are tabling a serious course of action that we were going to announce today. We expect that Miller will resolve this issue before too long.”

It's good that Miller claims to be reviewing its policies. That sounds good.

I'm sure much more caution will be taken when it comes to having its logo on BIGOTED advertising.

However, I highly doubt that Miller will stop sponsoring events by BIGOTED groups.

I'm done with Miller. Not gonna buy it.
_______________________

Miller's REVISED Statement Regarding Folsom Street Fair

While Miller has supported the Folsom Street Fair for several years, we take exception to the poster the organizing committee developed this year. We understand some individuals may find the imagery offensive and we have asked the organizers to remove our logo from the poster effective immediately.

We regret that our failure to adhere to our own policy led to an inappropriate use of our trademark and apologize to anyone who was offended as a result, particularly members of the Christian community who have contacted us to express their concern.

We are conducting an immediate audit of our procedures for approving local marketing and sales sponsorships to ensure that this does not happen again.

It is important to understand that the Folsom Street Fair does not target the general public in its communications. The fair itself and the organization’s website are only intended for the adult alternative lifestyle community.

Compare it with Miller's previous statement, no longer available on its site.

Statement Regarding Folsom Street Fair

While Miller has supported the Folsom Street Fair for several years, we take exception to the poster the organizing committee developed this year. We understand some individuals may find the imagery offensive and we have asked the organizers to remove our logo from the poster effective immediately.

Folsom Street Fair

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Miller Brewing Company's Community Support

I came across a page on Miller's website that is jaw-droppingly hypocritical.

Miller professes to be a company interested in building strong communities here.

"Ultimately, there can be no choice between doing the right thing for the company and the right thing for society."

WHAT A LOAD!

Then again, maybe Miller isn't being hypocritical. Perhaps the company believes bigotry is the right thing for society.

Great beer and strong communities — Miller Brewing Company has been a leader in both for more than 150 years. We continue that legacy today as a key employer with six breweries providing economic and community benefits to our hometowns around the country: Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Irwindale, California; Albany, Georgia; Trenton, Ohio, Eden, North Carolina and Fort Worth, Texas.

From the millions we invest in community initiatives to the taxes we pay and local goods and services we purchase, Miller is connected to the people and economies that make our communities strong.

At the heart of our community spirit is Miller REACH®, the program that establishes the focus and standards for our corporate social investments. Miller REACH® aligns our community support with five focus areas of shared importance to the community and to Miller: Responsibility, Employment, AIDS/HIV, Cultural Diversity and Heritage Initiatives.

Responsibility: Miller REACH® investments support community-based initiatives to help prevent underage drinking and youth access to alcohol, promote responsible decision-making and prevent drunk driving.

Employment: To support employment priorities, Miller REACH® investments are devoted to initiatives that promote entrepreneurship, job creation and job training.

AIDS/HIV: Miller REACH® supports life-saving efforts by investing in community-based organizations that provide services from AIDS/HIV awareness and counseling to treatment.

Cultural Diversity: Miller REACH® supports and partners with organizations that celebrate our country's cultural differences and work on issues important to advancing diversity.

Heritage Initiatives: Miller REACH® supports long-standing cultural, ethnic and festive experiences that enrich our communities and positively impact our business.

Does the Folsom Street Fair fall under Miller's commitment to cultural diversity?

Does Tom Long, President and Chief Executive Officer of Miller Brewing Company, think an event that uses disparaging images of Christianity in its promotions conveys a commitment to diversity?

I think it's unconscionable.

We live and work in a diverse nation, where a wide range of ethnic, cultural and other differences enrich our communities, businesses and experiences. Cultural diversity can be one of this country's greatest strengths, reflecting democracy and fueling the entrepreneurial spirit.

Miller REACH® supports and partners with organizations that celebrate our country's cultural differences and work on issues important to advancing diversity. Miller is a founding corporate sponsor of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and ¡Adelante! U.S. Education Leadership Fund, which each honor deserving students with college scholarships. For more information on these two programs, click on the links below.

Thurgood Marshall College Fund
Adelante

That's nice. Miller promotes diversity. Way to go!

So why does Miller slap Christians in the face by sponsoring an event that openly mocks the faith with a disgusting poster that depicts a leather version of The Last Supper?

Why the tolerance for bigotry aimed at Christians?

In my opinion, this news release doesn't go nearly far enough to redeem Miller.

Statement Regarding Folsom Street Fair

While Miller has supported the Folsom Street Fair for several years, we take exception to the poster the organizing committee developed this year. We understand some individuals may find the imagery offensive and we have asked the organizers to remove our logo from the poster effective immediately.

What's particularly disturbing is that the leaders at Miller are willing to bend over backwards to support bigoted extremists within the LGBT community, but they have no problem with offending Christians.

I'm waiting for Miller to issue an apology to its loyal consumers. That includes Christians within the LGBT community. At this point, an apology doesn't seem to be in the works.

OK. Miller can sponsor an openly bigoted event.

And I, a consumer of Miller products, will no longer support Miller.

I will not buy Miller anymore.

I am going to BOYCOTT MILLER.

Will that make a difference? I'm just one person.

That's beside the point. It matters to me. I, in good conscience, cannot support a company that knowingly supports such bigotry.
_______________________

Tell Miller what you think.

1-800-MILLER 6


________________________

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_____________________

Michelle Malkin links to Jessica McBride's discovery that the Folsom Street Fair welcomes underage guests to join in the fetish festivities.
_____________________

UPDATE: A Day at the Fair

Miller Boycott

When I drink beer, I drink Miller.

What can I say? I'm loyal to Wisconsin.

My motto: Better Diet Coke than Bud.

However, my loyalty to Miller has its limits.

I back the boycott.

NATIONAL BOYCOTT OF MILLER BEGINS; OVER 200 RELIGIOUS GROUPS CONTACTED

Catholic League president Bill Donohue announced a national boycott of Miller Beer on this morning’s “Fox and Friends.” He explains why today:

“Never have we experienced greater corporate arrogance than in this dispute with the Miller Brewing Company. Miller is sponsoring an incredibly outrageous and palpably anti-Christian event in San Francisco: the Folsom Street Fair (see its website at folsomstreetfair.com and be prepared to see the shocking photos of what goes on). Be sure to access our website at catholicleague.org to see the pictures not only of the fair, but of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, an anti-Catholic group that is holding a mock Last Supper dinner tonight in San Francisco. The Sisters is one of the organizations that is receiving funding from this Miller-sponsored event.

“This all started when we learned that Miller was sponsoring an event that featured an obscene ad thrashing the Last Supper. After being pressured, Miller offered a lame statement of regret and said it was pulling its logo from the ad. Not only has it not done so—it is still posted on the website of the street fair—Miller refuses to withdraw its sponsorship. To top it off, when we informed them that some of the money being raised at this festival was being funneled to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, they were unimpressed.

“Accordingly, Miller leaves us with no options: we are calling on more than 200 Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu organizations to join with us in a nationwide boycott of Miller beer. We feel confident that once our religious allies kick in, and once the public sees the photos of an event Miller is proudly supporting, the Milwaukee brewery will come to its senses and pull its sponsorship altogether. If it doesn’t, the only winners will be Anheuser Busch and Coors.”

Miller should not be sponsoring an event like the Folsom Street Fair.

In 2007 the world's largest leather event, the Folsom Street Fair, will take place on Sunday, September 30, 2007 from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. We hope to see the fairgrounds filled with people in their most outrageous leather/rubber/fetish attire enjoying the world's largest and best loved Leather fair.

View pictures of past fairs here.

I'm surprised that Miller would agree to slap its name on this fair.





Some of the profits will be going to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Read more on this "charity."

Here's an event by this "charity" that's scheduled for today:

Thursday 27 September 2007

The Last Supper With The Sisters

There is no better way to prepare your mortal flesh for the kinkiest weekend on Earth than to nourish your bones and boost your spirit with a divine feast: The Last Supper With The Sisters, at Eureka Restaurant. Savor each morsel from a very special menu designed by Chef Gaines. Indulge your senses and confess your indulgences with The Sisters as if it were your last meal. No gastric craving will go unsatisfied, no bag of silver will go unspent and no sin will go unforgiven. And, to make all this indulgence even better, Eureka Restaurant will donate 10% of your bill to the Sisters! In addition, each person at the Sisters' Last Supper table will be entered to win a gift certificate for a dinner for two at Eureka Restaurant and many other indulgences will be available to make your Last Supper with The Sisters indulgently delicious!

Don't be a Judas! Come, eat, drink and be Mary! Be sure to mention The Last Supper With The Sisters when you make your reservation through OpenTable.com or when you phone Matt Walker at (415) 431-6000. Hurry, limited seating is available for this event so make your reservation now!

Eureka Restaurant
4063 18th Street (map »)
6:30-10p

Nice.

Bottom line: Miller can be proud to have its name on Milwaukee's Miller Park and connected with baseball, the all-American pastime.

Being associated with an outrageous event that mocks Christ at the Last Supper is a marketing and public relations disaster.

Miller should withdraw its sponsorship and issue an apology to its consumers.

Boycott Miller.

1-800-MILLER 6
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UPDATE: A Day at the Fair