Wikipedia and Google BLACKOUT protests SOPA and PIPA

If you do not live in the United States, the second link has instructions for how you can help. Just scroll down.

I certainly hope not, but stranger things have happened! Let's keep up the fight to prevent this from happening to us all! Thanks, B. 🙂

They make it very easy to follow the links and write to your representatives. Just put in your zip code, and you will be provided with a list. Click on those and fill in your information. All you really have to say is that you are a constituent and that you are against SOPA and PIPA and that you will be watching which way they vote. Took me all of five minutes to write to four people.

You can do this whether or not you are in the USA:

Friends:

Today has been amazing, but there's one thing that could completely stop SOPA and PIPA in their tracks: President Obama has expressed concerns about the bills, but hasn't pledged to veto them.

Please urge President Obama to promise to veto SOPA and PIPA. Just click here:

http://act.demandprogress.org/sign/veto_sopa/?referring_akid=a4485625.63...

Thanks!

That might be a GOOD sign! It took a while for me, too, but it finally loaded.

Yes, we know -- another email. But this news is urgent UNBELIEVABLE:

One day after history's largest online protest, the U.S. Government nonchalantly responds with the middle finger. The Wall Street Journal reports:

The FBI shut down Thursday one of the world's most popular file-sharing websites, MegaUpload.com, and announced the arrest of four of the people behind it in a global crackdown against the suspected online pirates.

Please click here to tell your lawmakers to cut it out: No SOPA, no PIPA, no more website seizures.

Here -- check it out: If SOPA and PIPA pass it'll just broaden the government's power to do things like this: MegaUpload.com. (And make it illegal for us to link to sites that are seized -- like we just did in the last sentence.)

As MegaUpload's website notes -- er... noted:

The fact is that the vast majority of mega's Internet traffic is legitimate, and we are here to stay. If the content industry would like to take advantage of our popularity, we are happy to enter into a dialogue.

This is what we're up against. Please tell President Obama and your lawmakers to put an end to it. NOW.

Thanks,

Demand Progress

And please spread word to your friends!

So, true CL-Ed, this is ridiculous!

I LOVE Anonymous!

What scares me is "they" always find away around whatever and get what they want in the end. I am glad the people are finally waking up and fighting back. After all these years they cannot make these drastic changes and expect people to just "take it!"

I encourage everyone to do what they can to let our voices be heard!

Update in my email:

We said that earlier email would be our only one today. We were wrong. Because we just won.

From the Associated Press:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he was postponing a test vote set for Tuesday "in light of recent events."

So, in other words, because of all of us. Absolutely amazing.

Demand Progress has been fighting this legislation for more than a year -- having grown from nothing to over one million members during that period.

We rely on those members to fund our (2-person) operation -- are you able to help out?

Please click here if you're able to chip in 5, 10, or 20 bucks so we can keep on fighting for Internet freedom.

Even the Motion Picture Association's Chris Dodd is awed by what just happened. Here's what he said yesterday:

“This is altogether a new effect,” Mr. Dodd said, comparing the online movement to the Arab Spring. He could not remember seeing “an effort that was moving with this degree of support change this dramatically” in the last four decades, he added.

Thanks so much for your work on this. Will you consider a donation to Demand Progress so we can keep up the fight the next time the Internet comes under attack?

Please click here if you're able to chip in 5, 10, or 20 bucks so we can keep on pushing for Internet freedom, civil rights, and civil liberties.

You're amazing.

-Demand Progress

People are WAKING up! NO MORE APATHY! Woot! 🍷 🌹 🥳

I have heard back from only one Senator, so far, on this matter:

Thank you for contacting me about the Protect IP Act. I appreciate hearing from you and especially appreciate hearing the concerns you have raised.

On January 20th, 2012, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced an indefinite postponement of the scheduled Senate vote on the Protect IP Act. As Congress continues to consider this issue, please know that I will work to make sure your concerns are addressed.

The internet has dramatically altered the manner in which we communicate, conduct business, seek entertainment and find information. It is vital to ensure that online innovation and openness are preserved so the American people can continue to freely to express themselves and pursue personal and economic endeavors over the internet.

It is also important that foreign criminals not be allowed to steal the property of others without consequence. The pirating of intellectual property is not a victimless crime. Rather, it threatens the jobs and livelihoods of millions of middle class American workers and businesses. However, we must seek ways to protect people from online piracy, particularly foreign piracy, without limiting web-based innovation or a free exchange of ideas.

Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me. One of the most important parts of my job is listening to what the people of Minnesota have to say to me. I am here in our nation's capital to do the public's business and to serve the people of our state. I hope you will contact me again about matters of concern to you.

Retaliation:

http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/20/10199528-megaupload-foun...

I saw that, too, LM! Mr. Dotcom used his money to make a safe room, it sounds like, lol! This is so ridiculous, because that site is mainly legal and many recording stars endorse the site. I will be watching to see what happens with the lawsuit.

Very true and well-stated, CL-Ed.

The saga continues:

Hollywood thinks Congress is on their leash: Motion Picture Association of America President Chris Dodd just threatened to cut off Hollywood campaign contributions to any member of Congress who doesn’t pass his Internet-censorship legislation.

After Congress shelved the controversial PIPA and SOPA bills, Dodd told Fox News:

“Those who count on quote ‘Hollywood’ for support need to understand that this industry is watching very carefully who’s going to stand up for them when their job is at stake. Don’t ask me to write a check for you when you think your job is at risk and then don’t pay any attention to me when my job is at stake.”

Click here to urge your lawmakers to free themselves from Hollywood's choke collar. Tell them to give back the MPAA's money.

This is what corruption looks like in Washington. It’s outrageous that Dodd — himself a former senator — is leveling these threats. Our elected officials must send a signal back to Dodd and the rest of K Street that our nation’s laws can’t be bought.

It's time that Congress showed that its votes are no longer for sale. Congress must give back the MPAA’s dirty money or give it to charity. Congress must make it clear to the world that it won’t be bullied into supporting censorship.

Please click here to urge your lawmakers to return Hollywood's dirty dollars.

Thanks!

-Demand Progress

PS: Please ask your friends to help us make MPAA money toxic in DC. You can forward this email, or use these links:

Here is the link to sign the petition:

http://act.demandprogress.org/letter/mpaa_cash/?akid=1175.630085.F2GRS-&...

We have to keep fighting back. That is all that we can do. So much is out of our control, but we have to try. I get to the point where I don't want to here about ANYTHING anymore, too, so I understand. 😢

Good old Anonymous. No one is taking this sitting down anymore. Campaign = "war."

CL-Ed wrote:

That reminds me, I read a very interesting article about Kim Dotcom. The guys sounds like an absolute fruitcake. A very clever fruitcake mind you! But after reading this you can see why he has been targeted, as he is unlikely to win much sympathy from anyone who hasn't followed what has gone on closely.

Mega-man: The fast, fabulous, fraudulent life of Megaupload's Kim Dotcom

Yeah, these types of people have to be a little "out there." Makes him an every easier target, too. Love the "bath with balloons" photo, lol, and he paid to make his own, little movie. Maybe he is one of those "creative genius" people who go a "little" over the edge? Money and fame definitely went to his head.

Thanks for the link.