Blackouts.

[dodger_sister]

Today major sites across the internet are going blackout to protest two bills, SOPA and PIPA. Both of these bills threaten to shut down the internet and the right to free speech in an attempt to stop online piracy. SOPA and PIPA are serious threats to the internet. Under the loose wording of these bills, Livejournal wouldn't last a day. And honestly, once we do this in America, how long before other countries follow suit - countries that need these sites for much needed reform?

For more, go here and see the official stance from Livejournal. (though I do kind of wish they had blacked-out too, just so we could all see how deranged we would become without it for one day, let alone forever).

Go here to Wikipedia and see the one and only English-page visible today - Wiki's stance on SOPA and PIPA. For US citizens, this page also offers you the option of putting in your zip code and finding the information for your local representatives.

If you want a really good write-up of how these bills will kill the internet, The BFF sent me this fantastic article yesterday. If you only click one of these links I am offering you, Click This One. How SOPA and PIPA will land us all in federal-pound-me-in-the-ass prison.

Lastly, Write To Your Representatives. Wikipedia informs me that my local rep has a Twitter, so I'll be sure to point out to him how Twitter will be gone in a heartbeat.


Now I must go lie down. I have a really bad stomach ache. I hope Kevin didn't get me sick.

Comments

[dodger-sister.livejournal.com]

I think, no matter what we do on the internet/downloading/copyright issue, that major changes are about to be made and sadly, our internet will never be the same. I am looking into backing up my LJ in a pdf form, so I at least don't lose all the posts on my daily life when it all goes to shit.

Which is ridiculous, because if the takedown of Megaupload shows us nothing, it shows us that we don't need all these bills to stop illegal downloading - the rules we have in place right now seem to be working just fine.

The latest on the bills here (http://www.infowars.com/sopa-and-pipa-fully-alive-and-a-new-bill-joins-them/).

[wolfrider89.livejournal.com]

*clutches at internet* But, but... internet!

It really does feel like they're trying to destroy it no matter what, huh? And yeah, taking down Megaupload proves that the law is already enough. They just want to monitor us. :S

And what is it with all these catchy abbreviations they come up with? OPEN? Do they think we'll like it better if it has a funny name? *growl*