An open letter from the Editor:

On Wednesday, January 18, Gift Guide Online, along with Google, Wikipedia, Reddit and thousands of other websites, will take part in a massive Internet blackout protest. The blackout is a protest against proposed legislation in the United States—the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the U.S. House of Representatives, and the PROTECTIP Act (PIPA) in the U.S. Senate—that, if passed, would seriously damage the free and open Internet.

SOPA & PIPA are two US bills racing through Congress that threaten prosperity, online security, and freedom of expression. The PROTECT IP Act is dangerous, ineffective, and short-sighted. The House version, SOPA, just introduced by Rep. Goodlatte is far worse. By blacking ourselves out, even at the expense of lost revenue, all participating Web sites hope to raise awareness of what we know is a dangerous bill that will attempt to curb online piracy in an inherently unconstitutional manor.

We at Gift Guide Online support everyone’s right to freedom of thought and freedom of expression. We believe in a free and open Internet where information can be shared without impediment. We believe that new proposed laws like SOPA and PIPA, and other similar laws under discussion inside and outside the United States, do not advance the interests of the general public but instead the special interests of those that lobby and pay to have their bidding done at the legislative level. SOPA threatens, rather than protects, property rights, and also threatens the Internet for all Americans (despite all the talk about this bill being directed only toward “rogue” foreign sites, there is no question that it targets U.S. companies as well).

Hollywood appears to have grown tired of those pesky DMCA laws that help protect innovation, economic growth, and creativity- rather than outdated business models- so they are trying to rewrite the rules and regulate the Internet without regard for the consequences posed on the rest of us. Please join Stop American Censorship and SOPA Strike, or Blackout SOPA if you’re on Twitter, Facebook or Google+.

On Jan 24th, Congress will vote to pass internet censorship in the Senate, even though the vast majority of Americans are opposed. We need to kill the bill - PIPA in the Senate and SOPA in the House - to protect our rights to free speech, privacy, and prosperity. It’s time to stand up for the Internet. Please join us…

Cheers,
Thea Reid
Founder/Editor-at-Large
Gift Guide-Online.com

Baby showers are a great distraction for mothers to be, while they wait in anticipation for their brand new little bundle of joy. For those arranging the party, it can be a lot of fun setting up beautifully themed baby shower decorations and preparing the seating and side dishes, along with the most important part - the gift table.

While all of the preparation is going on, the guests are just as busy. Guests have their own little mission and that is to compete with all of the other guests to find the mom and baby-to-be the coolest, most unique baby shower gifts. Gone are the days when a few diapers, bibs, bonnets and booties were considered to be an ample gift. Although these are useful baby gifts, they are lacking in fun, uniqueness and will quickly be forgotten by the mother to be when her bundle of joy comes into the world. So how does a guest make sure that their baby shower gifts are both remembered and treasured? By making sure that the baby gift is useful, unique and can be used long after the baby has been born; a gift that will stand the test of time.

Personalized photo albums, wall prints that can hold the new born birth certificate or even personalized treasure boxes are great examples of new baby gifts that will keep on giving long after the diapers and booties have gone or are lost. You may notice that all of the above baby shower gifts have one thing in common - they are personalized.

Cool baby shower gifts are those that look as though a lot of thought has gone into them which show that you really care. When choosing baby shower gifts that are unique, useful, personalized and absolutely cool, your imagination really is the limit. So don’t just look for traditional, every day, run-of-the-mill newborn baby gifts that everyone else will be purchasing and bringing along to the party. If outrageous baby gifts like diamond set pacifiers aren’t your cup of tea, then why not consider getting a beautifully packaged personalized baby gift basket, overflowing with an array of different things for the baby.

Most importantly, remember to include a great greeting card, oftentimes, baby shower cards, along with newborn and birthday cards, are kept as keep sakes. Make your card funny, personal or what ever really describes the relationship with the new baby and mom to be.

Baby showers are supposed to be fun, so enjoy yourself!
Sarah Williams,
BabyShowerIdeasandGifts.com
@ideasbabyshower on Twitter

GiftGuide-Online.com guest blogger Sarah Williams says the goal of her site, Baby Shower Ideas and Gifts, is to provide moms-to-be with baby shower ideas, baby shower themes, and to arm your friends and family with the tools they need to throw you a kick ass baby shower extravaganza! We pretty sure she’s serious.