By Hunter Walker 7/26/12 12:36pm

Dogs Against Romney

Cover art for "The Crate Escape: Seamus Unleashed"

Tying Your Dog To The Roof?–There’s An App For That

The founders of Dogs Against Romney, the PAC that has been, well, dogging Mitt Romney for the infamous tale of the time he strapped his Irish Setter, Seamus, to the roof of his station wagon during a family road trip in 1983, are releasing a new mobile game about the incident. The Crate Escape: Seamus Unleashed will be available as a free download for iPhone and iPad users late next month.

“We have over 65,000 passionate supporters in Dogs Against Romney whom I know will love this game,” Dogs Against Romney co-founder Scott Crider said in a statement. “In addition to being fun and hilarious, it raises awareness about a shocking incident of animal cruelty.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 6/15/12 2:04pm

Binary Burglary

Matt Ortega (Photo: Facebook)

Democratic Web Consultant Accuses The RNC Of Stealing His Code

Matt Ortega, a former Democratic National Committee employee and the deputy director for digital at the D.C. Democratic consulting firm “{new} partners,” is accusing the Republican National Committee of stealing his CSS code for a website attacking President Barack Obama. The RNC’s website, “Obama’s New Idea’s To Fix The Economy,” was launched yesterday following the president’s campaign framing speech. It features a blank page with a blinking cursor to imply the president has no ideas to improve the country’s economic situation. Mr. Ortega claims the code used to make “Obama’s New Idea’s To Fix The Economy” was stolen from a site he made last September called “Exciting Things About Tim Pawlenty” that also featured a blank slate with a blinking cursor that Mr. Ortega says was an effort to lampoon the erstwhile presidential candidate “for being boring.”

“When the RNC launched this website today, a friend of mine IM’ed it to me and it was very clear the idea was the same idea I had done,” Mr. Ortega told The Politicker yesterday evening. I started examining their code just to look at it, because digital nerds like me, we tend to do that sort of thing. And I was like, wait a minute, this is my code. I did this from scratch by hand.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 5/07/12 11:35am

Fingerpointing

David Axelrod (Photo: Twitter)

Axelrod Blames Obama Campaign Conference Call Technical Difficulties On Right Wing Conspiracy

There were some glitches on the Obama campaign’s conference call with reporters this morning, but senior advisor David Axelrod knew who to blame. After several reporters waiting in line to ask questions were disconnected when the operator tried to patch them in, Mr. Axelrod joked that the GOP was responsible.

“There’s some problem here,” Mr. Axelrod said. “Republicans will stop at nothing.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 3/21/12 3:03pm

Silicon Alley

mail-8

Scott Stringer Tours MakerBot’s 3-D Printing Operation

Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer took a field trip to Brooklyn yesterday to check out the headquarters of MakerBot Industries, a company that makes desktop “3-D printing devices” that enable users to manufacture plastic products of their own design at home. In his 2012 “State of the City” address, Mr. Stringer mentioned how MakerBot was “leading the revolution in 3-D printing right here in New York City” and is an example of the type of business that can help make the city “a go-to hub for innovation.” During his trip to MakerBot’s headquarters, Mr. Stringer got a tour of the facility from co-founder Bre Pettis and asked what New York’s elected officials can do to help tech companies take root in the five boroughs. Read More

By Hunter Walker 2/13/12 8:04pm

Not So Fresh Feeling

A truck from the FreshDirect fleet. (Photo: FreshDirect.com)

Fight Over FreshDirect Facility Continues

The plan to open a new headquarters for online grocer FreshDirect in the the Bronx continues to draw a mixed reception from local politicians and community members. Today, Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito sent a letter to the NYC Industrial Development Agency asking them to slow the approval process for the $74 million in tax exemptions being provided to the company as part of a $127.8 million package of grants, tax credits and other incentives from the City, the State, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.’s office and the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation. Meanwhile, Mr. Diaz and the BOEDC announced they reached an agreement with FreshDirect to address concerns of those opposed to the plan and the Bronx Chamber of Commerce issued a statement in support of the FreshDirect facility. Read More

By Hunter Walker 1/23/12 2:14pm

SOPA Opera

Senator Chuck Grassley (Photo: Twitter)

Senator Chuck Grassley Hacked On Twitter (Update)

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley withdrew his support for the controversial Protect I.P. Act, better known as PIPA, last Wednesday, but that didn’t stop an angry PIPA opponent from hacking into his Twitter account today. As of this writing, over 20 Tweets have been sent from Senator Grassley’s account this afternoon that appear to be the work of a hacker.

“Yes I was hacked,” one of the Tweets said.

A few of the Tweets posted on Senator Grassley’s account indicate the hacker is upset over the senator’s initial support for PIPA, a bill designed to protect intellectual property and curb piracy that has drawn the ire of internet users.

“Chuck is a supporter of SOPA, PIPA, and ACTA, meaning he wants no privacy for private accounts,” read another one of the Tweets. Read More

By Hunter Walker 1/13/12 1:58pm

Brave New World

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (Photo: Hunter Walker)

Kirsten Gillibrand On New York's 'New Digital Future'

At the ABNY breakfast this morning, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said growing New York’s technology sector is key to improving the state’s economy. She said she hopes to help high tech companies flourish in New York by pursuing new legislation, investment and tax credits, and by supporting the push for an NYU and Polytech applied sciences campus in Brooklyn.

“We are becoming the new technological powerhouse, a viable East Coast sister to Silicon Valley,” Senator Gillibrand said.  Read More