In My Head: How can they possibly justify this as an aswer to the piracy issues? It’s like the Dark Ages all over again.
In My Cup: green tea with honey in it.
Currently Playing: Silence, blissful silence.
On My Desk: The Mighty Knights
On My Nightstand: “Fiddler on the Roof” script and the Encyclopedia of Alchemy.
Today’s Run: Not sure – depends on whether the coughing lessens over the course of the day – if so, then I’ll probably run 2-3 miles, if not, I’ll go to the doctor.
SO, long, long ago, in times I like to read about, write about, and teach, only the wealthiest could afford educations. Only those with the political and economic wherewithal to buy knowledge and wield it with authority (vested in them through their political and economic connections) had control over who knew what, and who had access to what.
If you have visited Google or Wikipedia today (Or even the front page of wordpress) then you have probably noticed there’s a blackout going on. Inconvenient? Sure. But what would the Internet be, if most sites you visited looked like that?
That’s essentially what SOPA and PIPA threaten us with.
Emmie Mears has written an outstanding summation of the most prescient elements of this issue. She also has a direct “write Congress now” link here.
Consider this one of your #JustOneMore actions for the day – do just one more thing and read her comments, then email Congress demanding they not pass this foolish law, for all of the very common sense reasons she presents.
Certainly my blog, among many, many others, would fall under the categories the bill threatens to hit, and frankly, I don’t look good in orange and would prefer not to go to jail for five years because I linked you to Wikipedia so you could learn more about Robert the Bruce and William the Conqueror. I know, I know, I’m a damned communist/socialist, aren’t I, with my desire to give you access to the same knowledge I have. Sheeeeeeesh.
There are ways of handling the problems that SOPA and PIPA are intended to address. This is not a good one. Tell Congress to start over and do their job thoroughly and correctly, for a change, rather than blanketing everyone under a cloud of “we don’t really want to deal with this problem so we’ll just shut the whole thing down for now and go on recess and let the next sorry saps who are sworn in handle it”.
I’m sick of it… aren’t you?
hear hear – but except the silence I am embracing loud music just now trying to get myself pumped to write a gazillion words by tea time – unrealistic? Moi?
Not in the slightest! How many words did you end up with?
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