News Byte

HP CEO Meg Whitman Changes Opposition Stance to Same-Sex Marriage

Hewlett-Packard CEO Meg Whitman has switched a previous political stance, signing a legal document saying that gay people have a constitutional right to be married. The move — which was coordinated by dozens of high-profile Republicans — came in the form of a brief to the Supreme Court as part of a case it is hearing to strike down California’s controversial Proposition 8, which barred same-sex marriage. Whitman was a vocal supporter of the ballot initiative when she ran unsuccessfully for governor in the state.

Whitman Makes Comms Appointment at HP (We Got Your Memo)

New CEO Meg Whitman appoints acting communications head as part of new “one-voice” rule.

Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman Being Considered for HP CEO Job to Replace Apotheker

Would the former Internet exec star be open to running one of Silicon Valley’s most notoriously difficult companies? Sources say yes, indeedy.

Viral Video: Arnold Gets Taiwanesed (And Probably Deserves It)

Former California Governor and Hollywood action star Arnold Schwarzenegger got the CGI treatment from Next Media Animation, which should come as a surprise to exactly no one.

Should the Next Commerce Secretary Be a Tech Exec (or Would It Cause a Schmidtstorm?)

Yesterday, the Obama administration dribbled out the news that it was going to nominate current Commerce Secretary Gary Locke as the next ambassador to China. The move leaves open a post that could get a true turbocharge if it were filled by an exec from the fast-growing and innovative digital arena. Here are BoomTown’s nominations.

Help! I'm Addicted to CityVille

Among the early adopter types I know in the tech industry, there’s a sense that casual gaming on Facebook serves an entirely different demographic from their own. The thinking is that games from Zynga and the like replace relatively mindless activities like soap opera watching. But as someone who has just reorganized her virtual retail shops to be surrounded by virtual trees so as to accumulate more virtual bonus points, I see how social gaming–especially as it gets more social–might appeal to the desire for mindless diversions in all of us.

JibJab Picks Puppets and Politics for 2010 Recap

JibJab went for a bit of a narrower focus on American politics in its annual original music video recap of the year, constructing a regretful duet between U.S. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.

Voices

Many Valley Execs Write Checks To Whitman Campaign

Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman may be destined to lose her campaign to be the next governor of California–recent polls show she’s running considerably behind long-time California politician Jerry Brown–but she sure can’t blame a lack of support from Valley big wigs and corporate America in general.

Happy Thanksgiving From ATD

Sarah Palin's Dead Turkey Interview

Boybama: Bizarrely Addictive